And thus the true worshippers of God should do in their service to God, that must be proportionable; if they be able to bestow but Marble for the present, if God raises their Estates, their Marble is to be turned into Gold, and not only in regard of their Estates,1 but of the Gifts, and Means they have, any Abilities; know that that which God will accept of when thou art low in thy Gifts, and Means, and Parts, it will not serve turn when God increases thee in thy Gifts, and Means, and Parts. Have you more than others? Account it your shame that it should be said of any in the world, That there is such an one that hath less mercies than I, and yet God hath more service from him than he hath from me. There is no proportion between many of your increases for God, and your increases from God. Now you must look to the proportion to make it as exact as can be, my increase from God, and my increase for God; Oh! be often paralleling these two together, and see whether one do not come longer than mother; and be not at rest, Oh Christian! except thou canst make thy ends be even: Those who are rich, must be rich in good works.2 In 1 Tim. 6. God giveth us richly; therefore be rich in good works. It is not enough for a rich man to give sixpence, or twelvepence for some great service, but he is to be rich in good works, and for relieving distressed ones, and the maintenance of the Gospel; he is to be rich in good works,3 and to account their riches to be as well in their good works as in their estates; thou hast so much comings in more than others, thou art rich in that; yea, but ⟨p. 322⟩what works goes from thee more than others? art thou rich in that? If we should judg the riches of men and women by their good works, how many rich men would there be accounted very poor? Every man must be serviceable as God hath blessed them,4 1 Cor. 16. 2. Oh! this meditation would be of very great use to those whose estates are blessed by God; think thus, Is there such a distance between what service I do for God, and the service others do, as there is between what I receive from God, and what others receive from God? This Meditation (I say) would be very useful;5 cast up your accounts thus, Consider what service doth others for God, and what do I?
And thus the true worshipers of God should do in their service to God, that must be proportionable; if they be able to bestow but Marble for the present, if God raises their Estates, their Marble is to be turned into Gold, and not only in regard of their Estates,1 but of the Gifts, and Means they have, any Abilities; know that that which God will accept of when thou art low in thy Gifts, and Means, and Parts, it will not serve turn when God encreases thee in thy Gifts, and Means, and Parts. Have you more than others? Account it your shame that it should be said of any in the world, That there is such an one that hath less mercies than I, and yet God hath more service from him than he hath from me. There is no proportion between many of your encreases for God, and your encreases from God. Now you must look to the proportion to make it as exact as can be, my encrease from God, and my encrease for God; Oh! be often parallelling these two together, and see whether one do not come longer than mother; and be not at rest, Oh Christian! except thou canst make thy ends be even: Those who are rich, must be rich in good works.2 In 1 Tim. 6. God giveth us richly; therefore be rich in good works. It is not enough for a rich man to give sixpence, or twelvepence for some great service, but he is to be rich in good works, and for releeving distressed ones, and the maintainance of the Gospel; he is to be rich in good works,3 and to account their riches to be as well in their good works as in their estates; thou hast so much comings in more than others, thou art rich in that; yea, but ⟨p. 322⟩what works goes from thee more than others? art thou rich in that? If we should judg the riches of men and women by their good works, how many rich men would there be accounted very poor? Every man must be serviceable as God hath blessed them,4 1 Cor. 16. 2. Oh! this meditation would be of very great use to those whose estates are blessed by God; think thus, Is there such a distance between what service I do for God, and the service others do, as there is between what I receive from God, and what others receive from God? This Meditation (I say) would be very useful;5
- 1Virg. Egl. 7.
- 21 Tim. 6.
- 3Riches in good works the best wealth.
- 41 Cor. 16. 2.
- 5A meditation for a rich man.
