CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

1. They may have for a while many outward comforts and mercies. They may abound in wealth, in riches and honours, •o that they want nothing; they may have an heaven here, and then at last, God gathers black clouds, and so there are sudden storms and lightnings that spoil their sun-shine day. It was thus with Job, he tells us in what plenty, honour and ease once he lived in, but God had made a sad change upon him: Even as Jonah had got a gourd, whereby he defended himself from the scorching heat, and he began to think himself now very well, and presently God prepared worms to devour this defence. Oh then, if there be any of Gods children on whom he thus smiles, they have riches when others are in the depth of poverty, they have plenty, when others are pinched with want, remember all thy wealth is but like a little dust, if God breath on it, ⟨p. 331⟩it is scattered away: All these things run on a wheel, and that which is uppermost, may quickly be lowest. As the Grecians say, There are no beggars, but their ancestors have been Kings, and no Kings, but their ancestors have been beggars; such a change and mutation are all these earthly things subject unto.

1. They may have for a while many outward comforts and mercies. They may abound in wealth, in riches and honours, •o that they want nothing; they may have an heaven here, and then at last, God gathers black clouds, and so there are sudden storms and lightnings that spoil their sun-shine day. It was thus with Job, he tels us in what plenty, honour and ease once he lived in, but God had made a sad change upon him: Even as Jonah had got a gourd, whereby he defended himself from the scorching heat, and he began to think himself now very well, and presently God prepared worms to devour this defence. Oh then, if there be any of Gods children on whom he thus smiles, they have riches when others are in the depth of poverty, they have plenty, when others are pinched with want, remember all thy wealth is but like a little dust, if God breath on it, ⟨p. 331⟩it is scattered away: All these things runne on a wheel, and that which is uppermost, may quickly be lowest. As the Grecians say, There are no beggars, but their ancestours have been Kings, and no Kings, but their ancestours have been beggars; such a change and mutation are all these earthly things subject unto.