The fourth means is, that we abuse not our prosperity to the nourishing of our security, nor suffer our selves to be abused by it; but if God send it, that we make such holy and right use of it, as that it may increase in us the true fear of God, and make us more diligent and spiritually watchful unto all religious and honest duties. And to this end let us not suffer our judgements to be blinded with a false conceit, that it is an infallible sign of Gods love, and that therefore because we enjoy it, we are highly in his favour, and consequently out of the gun-shot of any either present or future danger, so as we may be secure and fear nothing. For these worldly things are but of an indifferent nature in respect of their use; good or evil, as they are well or ill used, and no sure testimonies of Gods love, seeing these outward things happen alike to all, as the Wise-man speaketh Yea, in regard 1that (by reason of our corruption) they are seldom well used, but contrariwise abused to sin, forgetfulness of God, pride, ambition, covetousness, and many other vices, therefore the Lord ordinarily bestoweth them in greatest abundance upon wicked men, as Turks, Infidels, and carnal Christians, that surfeiting of their plenty (as the Psalmist speaketh) their Table may become a snare; and giveth them to his best and dearest children with a sparing hand; or if liberally, yet he seasoneth and tempereth them with many crosses and afflictions, that their hearts may not be too much set upon them. Which being rightly considered, our prosperity will not nourish security, but rather fear, lest we should be in the greatest and worst number. Secondly, let not our hearts trust in these earthly things, wisdom, strength, riches, friends, or any other thing, wherein men place their worldly happiness, and so be secure, as though they could free us from all danger; for these earthly things are weak and vain, unable to help us in time of trouble, and momentany and mutable, ready to forsake and leave us when we most rely upon them, or though they could do us some pleasure, in being means of our freedom from small perils; yet they will nothing profit us, if we live securely in our sins for the appeasing of Gods wrath, or satisfying his justice; they will do us no good when we shall most need it, namely at the day of death, or the day of Judgement.
The fourth meanes is, that we abuse not our prosperitie to the nourishing of our securitie, nor suffer our selues to be abused by it; but if God send it, that we make such holy and right vse of it, as that it may encrease in vs the true feare of God, and make vs more diligent and spiritually watchfull vnto all religious and honest duties. And to this end let vs not suffer our iudgements to be blinded with a false conceit, that it is an infallible signe of Gods loue, and that therefore because we enioy it, we are highly in his fauour, and consequently out of the gun-shot of any either present or future danger, so as wee may be secure and seare nothing. For these worldly things are but of an indifferent nature in respect of their vse; good or euill, as they are well or ill vsed, and no sure testimonies of Gods loue, seeing these outward things happen alike to all, as the Wise-man speaketh Yea, in regard 1that (by reason of our corruption) they are seldome well vsed, but contrariwise abused to sinne, forgetfulnesse of God, pride, ambition, couetousnesse, and many other vices, therefore the Lord ordinarily bestoweth them in greatest abundance vpon wicked men, as Turkes, Infidels, and carnall Christians, that surfetting of their plentie (as the Psalmist speaketh) their Table may become a snare; and giueth them to his best and dearest children with a sparing hand; or if liberally, yet hee seasoneth and tempereth them with many crosses and afflictions, that their hearts may not be too much set vpon them. Which being rightly considered, our prosperitie will not nourish securitie, but rather feare, lest we should be in the greatest and worst number. Secondly, let not our hearts trust in these earthly things, wisedome, strength, riches, friends, or any other thing, wherein men place their worldly happinesse, and so bee secure, as though they could free vs from all danger; for these earthly things are weake and vaine, vnable to helpe vs in time of trouble, and momentany and mutable, readie to forsake and leaue vs when we most relye vpon them, or though they could do vs some pleasure, in being meanes of our freedom from small perils; yet they will nothing profit vs, if we liue securely in our sinnes for the appeasing of Gods wrath, or satisfying his iustice; they will doe vs no good when wee shall most need it, namely at the day of death, or the day of Iudgement.
- 1Ecele. 9. 1, 2.
