For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholdeth the righteous. The little wealth they have, is accompanied with Gods blessing, by which it is made more sufficient and durable for their use and comfort, then the rich Treasuries, and full store-houses of worldlings; their little pittance, being like the Widows cruse of oil and handful of meal, which as it was daily spent, so by the blessing ⟨p. 851⟩of God it was daily renewed and replenished, that there might be no want, when the full barns were emptied, and the storehouses of the rich without food; like Daniels pulse, which made him and his fellows fatter and in better liking, then the provision which was brought to others from the Kings Table. Finally, like the small streams of a living fountain, which continue running in the greatest drought, when great standing waters, and huge torrents arising from land waters are dried up. Again, though the godly have but little, yet that which they have, they have received from Gods own hand, as a testimony of his love and favour, as Jacob acknowledged to his brother Esau, Take, I pray thee, my 1blessing which is brought to thee, because God hath dealt graciously with me, and I have enough. Yea, they receive it from him as his free gift, and shall never be called with wicked men to account for intrusion and usurpation. Neither is it a gift to be esteemed only in its own value, but as an earnest-penny, which bindeth a greater bargain, and giveth them assurance of their heavenly inheritance, and everlasting happiness in Gods Kingdom. Finally, though they have but little, yet they have with it a good conscience, seeing they have gotten it by lawful means, the which will be in stead of a continual feast, and make a dinner of cold 2herbs, or simple roots, better then a stalled Ox, or the greatest dainties to them that want it. Whereas contrariwise, the greater plenty of wicked men bringeth no such comfort with it; because it is mutable and momentany in it self, and giveth no assurance of better and more durable riches which shall succeed it. Because their worldly abundance is often joined with many and great discontents, which depriveth the owners of all their joy, as we see in the example of Saul, Ahab, Haman, and many others. Because their prosperity slayeth them, whilst it serveth as a snare, to entangle 3them in all manner of sins;
For the armes of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord vpholdeth the righteous. The little wealth they haue, is accompanied with Gods blessing, by which it is made more sufficient and durable for their vse and comfort, then the rich Treasuries, and full store-houses of worldlings; their little pittance, being like the Widdowes cruze of oyle and handfull of meale, which as it was daily spent, so by the blessing ⟨p. 851⟩of God it was daily renued and replenished, that there might bee no want, when the full barnes were emptied, and the storehouses of the rich without food; like Daniels pulse, which made him and his fellowes fatter and in better liking, then the prouision which was brought to others from the Kings Table. Finally, like the small streames of a liuing fountaine, which continue running in the greatest drought, when great standing waters, and huge torrents arising from land waters are dryed vp. Againe, though the godly haue but little, yet that which they haue, they haue receiued from Gods owne hand, as a testimony of his loue and fauour, as Iacob acknowledged to his brother Esau, Take, I pray thee, my 1blessing which is brought to thee, because God hath dealt graciously with me, and I haue enough. Yea, they receiue it from him as his free gift, and shall neuer be called with wicked men to account for intrusion and vsurpation. Neither is it a gift to bee esteemed onely in its owne value, but as an earnest-penny, which bindeth a greater bargaine, and giueth them assurance of their heauenly inheritance, and euerlasting happinesse in Gods Kingdome. Finally, though they haue but little, yet they haue with it a good conscience, seeing they haue gotten it by lawfull meanes, the which will be in stead of a continuall feast, and make a dinner of cold 2herbes, or simple rootes, better then a stalled Oxe, or the greatest dainties to them that want it. Whereas contrarywise, the greater plenty of wicked men bringeth no such comfort with it; because it is mutable and momentany in it selfe, and giueth no assurance of better and more durable riches which shall succeed it. Because their worldly abundance is often ioyned with many and great discontents, which depriueth the owners of all their ioy, as we see in the example of Saul, Ahab, Haman, and many others. Because their prosperity slayeth them, whilest it serueth as a snare, to intangle 3them in all maner of sins;
- 1Gen. 33. 11.
- 2Pro. 15. 15, 17.
- 3Pro. 1. 32.
