But the rich, ungodly man, when he dieth (though while he lived, he had great provision) yet then he is thrown out unto the Dunghill, and comes no more into his Masters Presence. O! you that are godly, though in a low condition, would you then change your condition with the wicked? The ⟨p. 309⟩lower your Condition is, the higher is your Obedience; if you submit unto the work of your Condition, this is Angelical Obedience: for the Angels, though in order of Nature, they are above Men, yet at the Command of God, they are ministering Spirits unto Men, attend, and look to Men, that are much below them in Nature: and the lower the work is, that they do in tending Men, the higher is their Obedience to God. So say I; The lower the work of your Condition is, the higher, and more Angelical,1 is your Obedience in submitting unto your Condition, and to the work thereof. Luther said; A poor woman knitting of a pair of stockings in a way of Faith, doth a greater work, than Alexander did in conquering the World. It was the Speech of a good man that is now in Heaven; The more Riches, the more Debts: for if a man be not in Christ, all his present Riches will be future Debts; he will wish, O! that I had had less of them, O! that I had had never a penny. And I pray tell me, who have most Promises in Scripture? the Poor, or the Rich? the Oppressed, or the Oppressor? the High, or the Low? He that is most exercised, hath the most Promises; and a low Condition, is an excellent Commentary upon those Promises. When the Sun shines, ye see not the Stars; but in the night, the Stars appear. So, whilst Prosperity shines upon us, we do not see the Promises; but when the night comes, Adversity comes, a dark and low Condition comes, then we see those Promises which we saw not before. But suppose that a Father hath two Children, and to one he gives a brave Garment, saying unto him; Child, take, and wear this Garment; but there is all thy Portion, I shall give thee no more. The other he gives a mean Garment to; but saith he, Child, be contented, it is nor thy Portion; thy Brothers Garment is his Portion; but though thy Garment be mean, it is not thy Portion, I have a good Inheritance for thee: Will not this latter Child be contented? will he be discouraged think you, because he hath not so brave a Garment as the other hath?
But the rich, ungodly man, when he dieth (though while he lived, he had great provision) yet then he is thrown out unto the Dunghil, and comes no more into his Masters Presence. O! you that are godly, though in a low condition, would you then change your condition with the wicked? The ⟨p. 309⟩lower your Condition is, the higher is your Obedience; if you submit unto the work of your Condition, this is Angelical Obedience: for the Angels, though in order of Nature, they are above Men, yet at the Command of God, they are ministring Spirits unto Men, attend, and look to Men, that are much below them in Nature: and the lower the work is, that they do in tending Men, the higher is their Obedience to God. So say I; The lower the work of your Condition is, the higher, and more Angelical,1 is your Obedience in submitting unto your Cond•tion, and to the work thereof. Luther said; A poor woman knitting of a pair of stockens in a way of Faith, doth a greater work, than Alexander did in conquering the World. It was the Speech of a good man that is now in Heaven; The more Riches, the more Debts: for if a man be not in Christ, al his present Riches wil be future Debts; he wil wish, O! that I had had less of them, O! that I had had never a penny. And I pray tel me, who have most Promises in Scripture? the Poor, or the Rich? the Oppressed, or the Oppressor? the High, or the Low? He that is most exercised, hath the most Promises; and a low Condition, is an excellent Commentary upon those Promises. When the Sun shines, ye see not the Stars; but in the night, the Stars appear. So, whilst Prosperity shines upon us, we do not see the Promises; but when the night comes, Adversity comes, a dark and low Condition comes, then we see those Promises which we saw not before. But suppose that a Father hath two Children, and to one he gives a brave Garment, saying unto him; Child, take, and wear this Garment; but there is all thy Portion, I shall give thee no more. The other he gives a mean Garment to; but saith he, Child, be contented, it is nor thy Portion; thy Brothers Garment is his Portion; but though thy Garment be mean, it is not thy Portion, I have a good Inheritance for thee: Will not this latter Child be contented? will he be discouraged think you, because he hath not so brave a Garment as the other hath?
- 1Luc. 6. Vae vobis divitibus quoniam accepistis hic consolationem vestram: non simpliciter dicit Christus quoniam consolationem recipitis in hac vita sed addit Vestram quasi ista sit ipsorum portio, ultra quam nihil illis boni sit expectandum amplius unde in Graeco pulchre positum est [Greek or Hebrew]. Musculus in Matth. •. p. 67. Non est simplex verbum [Greek or Hebrew] •ed compositum [Greek or Hebrew] significat antein [Greek or Hebrew] non tamen simplic ter recip•re •t ha•e•e, fed portionem solat•i sui jam accepisse et jam habere, •t •o•tea m•llam aliam et ••hil ampl••• vel petere possit▪ vel expectare de•ent. Ch. mitt. […]. cap. •0. p. •., 2.Luc. 6. Vae vobis divitibus quoniam accepistis hic consolationem vestram: non simpliciter dicit Christus quoniam consolationem recipitis in hac vita sed addit Vestram quasi ista sit ipsorum portio, ultra quam nihil illis boni sit expectandum amplius unde in Graeco pulchre positum est 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Musculus in Matth. •. p. 67. Non est simplex verbum 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 •ed compositum 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 significat antein 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 non tamen simplic ter recip•re •t ha•ee, fed portionem solati sui jam accepisse et jam habere, t otea mllam aliam et hil ampl vel petere possit vel expectare deent. Ch. mit. . cap. 0. p. ., 2.
