All which his gifts, are unto those that fear God, double blessings, because he not only giveth the things themselves, but also the right use of them, whereby they become truly profitable. Secondly, because he maketh his gifts sufficient, in what proportion soever they are, for their preservation and comfort, and by giving contentment with them, causeth them to satisfy their desires; whereas worldly men are insatiable, like the grave and hell, which never say, Enough. Thirdly, because he doth measure out unto them such a proportion of worldly blessings, as is most fit for their spiritual estate, that they may be more mindful of him, and have their faith, hope, affiance, humility, and other saving graces exercised and increased, and doth not suffer them to abound in such superfluous excess, as would be rather an heavy burden unto them then a benefit; a means to quench his graces in them, and to distract them in all religious ⟨p. 713⟩duties; a snare to entangle them in worldly cares, and to withdraw their hearts from him, and to fasten them upon the world; an occasion to make them forget him, and like pampered horses, to kick against him that feedeth them; to weaken their affiance, and to make them trust in themselves and their own provisions; to puff them up in pride towards him, and insolencie towards their neighbours, as though they excelled them as much in true worth, as they exceed them in worldly wealth. The which is a singular benefit to the faithful; that seeing they cannot, through natural corruption, measure their appetite, the Lord, like a careful and skilful Physician, should stint and diet them, letting them have so much, not as they desire, but as they are well able to digest, seeing a greater quantity would but surcharge their stomachs and cause a surfeit, turning all the superfluity into crudities, and the hurtful humours of vice and sin, as pride, covetousness, love of the world, and such like, which would much hazard and impair their spiritual health. And thus the Lord promiseth corporal blessings unto them that serve him, not simply and absolutely, but so as they may be truly beneficial;
All which his gifts, are vnto those that feare God, double blessings, because he not onely giueth the things themselues, but also the right vse of them, whereby they become truely profitable. Secondly, because he maketh his gifts sufficient, in what proportion soeuer they are, for their preseruation and comfort, and by giuing contentment with them, causeth them to satisfie their desires; whereas worldly men are insatiable, like the graue and hell, which neuer say, Enough. Thirdly, because hee doth measure out vnto them such a proportion of worldly blessings, as is most fit for their spirituall estate, that they may bee more mindfull of him, and haue their faith, hope, affiance, humility, and other sauing graces exercised and increased, and doth not suffer them to abound in such superfluous excesse, as would bee rather an heauy burthen vnto them then a benefit; a meanes to quench his graces in them, and to distract them in all religious ⟨p. 713⟩duties; a snare to intangle them in worldly cares, and to withdraw their hearts from him, and to fasten them vpon the world; an occasion to make them forget him, and like pampered horses, to kicke against him that feedeth them; to weaken their affiance, and to make them trust in themselues and their owne prouisions; to puffe them vp in pride towards him, and insolencie towards their neighbours, as though they excelled them as much in true worth, as they exceed them in worldly wealth. The which is a singular benefit to the faithfull; that seeing they cannot, through naturall corruption, measure their appetite, the Lord, like a carefull and skilfull Physician, should stint and diet them, letting them haue so much, not as they desire, but as they are well able to disgest, seeing a greater quantity would but surcharge their stomakes and cause a surfet, turning all the superfluity into crudities, and the hurtfull humours of vice and sinne, as pride, couetousnesse, loue of the world, and such like, which would much hazzard and impaire their spirituall health. And thus the Lord promiseth corporall blessings vnto them that serue him, not simply and absolutely, but so as they may be truly beneficiall;
