An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eleventh, twelfth, & thirteenth chapters of…

I knew thee in the wilderness: But according to their Pastures they were filled; they were filled, they minded nothing but filling themselves, now they gormandize, now they fill themselves; As it's usual with them that have lived very sparingly and meanly before, if they come to a full diet they fill themselves greedily more than others, so as to distemper themselves, and occasion Plagues and grievous ¹diseases by filling themselves greedily when they come to fuller diet than formerly they did enjoy; when a man hath fasted to starving almost, he had need be very careful what he doth when he comes to a full Table: Physicians will not suffer men that have fasted long to eat much; It's that which brings many diseases in Soldiers and others, because sometimes they want much, and sometimes they have abundance, and so they spoil themselves: As we read of Saul's men that they fell upon the Cattle so as they did eat the blood they were so greedy of it. Oh let us take heed of this, this should be a seasonable Lesson to those that have known what emptiness hath meant in these times, and now they are going into their Countries again, and to enjoy their Possessions, Oh let them take heed how they fall upon the comforts of the ⟨p. 459⟩Creature greedily, Oh they should rather prepare themselves before hand, and season their hearts with those thoughts, that may keep them from the danger that there is in fatness; and when they come to their Houses and Lands, and begin to stock them again, they should think, Oh! what were those sins of mine when I was here before in my house, and enjoyed fullness? how little honour had God by my fullness before! Oh! let me now remember all my murmurings and repinings when God took away my estate, and let me seek to make peace with God even for them; In the time of my distress, I cried to God then, and I was afraid that I should never come to enjoy my estate again, and hath God given it to me again? Oh let me improve it better for his Service than ever I have done. Such kind of thoughts men should have when they come to their estates again, and not to fall upon them, and only seek to make up all again, and think of nothing else. There's a great deal of danger here, God hath ways to make men cast out their sweet morsels when they regard nothing but the filling of themselves. It follows; And their hearts were exalted.²