Secondly, §2If the Saints have such an excellent, such a transcendent, and such a matchless portion; Oh then let them be content with their present condition, let them sit down satisfied and contented, though they have but a handful of meal in their Barrel, 1and a little oil in a Cruse. Oh Sirs, in having of God you have much, in having of God you have enough, in having of God you have all; and why then should you not sit down quiet with your present allowance? Certainly, if much will not satisfy you, if enough will not satisfy you, if all will not satisfy you, nothing will ⟨p. 137⟩satisfy you, Heb. 13.5. Let your conversation be without covetousness (or love of silver, as the Greek word signifies) and be content with such things as you have, (or as the Greek hath it, [Greek or Hebrew], be content with present things) for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. There are five negatives in the Greek, I will not, not, not, not, not leave thee, nor forsake thee; fully to assure, and fully to satisfy the people of God that he will never forsake them, and that he will everlastingly stick close to them: What doth this unparalleled gemination, I will never, never, never, never, never, import but this, I will ever, ever, ever, yea and for ever and ever take care of thee, and look after thee, and be mindful of thee. Though they had changed their glory for contempt, their fine raiment for sheep-skins and goat-skins, 2their silver for brass, their plenty for scarcity, their fullness for emptiness, their stately houses for holes and caves, and dens of the earth, ⟨p. 138⟩yet they are to be contented and satisfied with present things, upon this very ground, that God will always cleave to them, and that he will never turn his back upon them. 3The Hebrews had been stripped and plundered of all their goods that were good for any thing, and yet they must be contented, they must sit down satisfied with their hands upon their mouths, though all were gone. Though men cannot bring their means to their minds, yet they must bring their minds to their means, and then they will sit down in silence, though they have but a rag on their backs, a penny in their purse, and a crust in their Cupboards, 4&c. O Sirs, a little will serve nature, less will serve grace, though nothing will serve mens lusts; and why then should not Christians be contented with a little.
Secondly, §2If the Saints have such an excellent, such a transcendent, and such a matchlesse portion; Oh then let them be content with their present condition, let them sit down satisfied and contented, though they have but a handful of meal in their Barrel, 1and a little oil in a Cruse. Oh Sirs, in having of God you have much, in having of God you have enough, in having of God you have all; and why then should you not sit down quiet with your present allowance? Certainly, if much will not satisfie you, if enough will not satisfie you, if all will not satisfic you, nothing will ⟨p. 137⟩satisfie you, Heb. 13.5. Let your conversation be without covetousnesse (or love of silver, as the Greek word signifies) and be content with such things as you have, (or as the Greek hath it, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, be content with present things) for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. There are five negatives in the Greek, I will not, not, not, not, not leave thee, nor forsake thee; fully to assure, and fully to satisfie the people of God that he will never forsake them, and that he will everlastingly stick close to them: What doth this unparallel'd gemination, I will never, never, never, never, never, import but this, I will ever, ever, ever, yea and for ever and ever take care of thee, and look after thee, and be mindful of thee. Though they had changed their glory for contempt, their fine raiment for sheep-skins and goat-skins, 2their silver for brasse, their plenty for scarcity, their fulnesse for emptinesse, their stately houses for holes and caves, and dens of the earth, ⟨p. 138⟩yet they are to be contented and satisfied with present things, upon this very ground, that God will alwayes cleave to them, and that he will never turn his back upon them. 3The Hebrews had been stript and plundered of all their goods that were good for any thing, and yet they must be contented, they must sit down satisfied with their hands upon their mouths, though all were gone. Though men cannot bring their means to their minds, yet they must bring their minds to their means, and then they will sit down in silence, though they have but a rag on their backs, a penny in their purse, and a crust in their Cupboords,
- 11 Kings 17.12.
- 2Heb. 11.36, 37, 38.
- 3Heb. 10.34
- 4Nature is content with a little, as not to starve, not to thirst, saith Galen.
