Four useful discourses viz. ... /Four usefull discourses viz. ... /

I but that's not all neither, If God gives you an estate, and you know not how to be full; then all that thou ⟨p. 40⟩hast is cursed to thee: There is a secret curse of God goes a long with it. As now, when a man gives a thing in an anger, saith he, Here take it if you will and choke with it. Such kind of speech men have when they give things in anger. But if you give to your Children things out of love, you do not only give it them, but if there be any danger, you have a care that there be a right use of the things. So now, when God gives out to his own people, God hath a care of them after he hath given them; I give it them, but I must have a care least this turn to their hurt. But now, when God gives to a wicked man, Take them, saith God, if you will; but God never minds them farther, to look after them, to see whether this shall do them good or no; God never minds them, but lets them take them, and spoil themselves with them, God doth not care. Were it not a sign of hatred to a man, if I should see one that is a mad man; and give him a Sword into his hand, I may be guilty of murder: It is as great an argument of hatred, that God doth hate a man, when he doth give him an estate, and yet doth not give him a heart to make use of that estate; he puts (as it were) a Sword into a mad mans hand. But though I cannot do it justly, yet God may do it justly, as a punishment of sin. The curse of God is mixed with Wine as well as Water; and then it's stronger in Psal. 69. 22, 23. There you may see how full comforts may be cursed unto men; it is threatened as a punishment of their sin: Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. O this is a terrible text, Let their table become a snare: It is a prophecy against those that gave Christ Gaul for his Meat, and Vinegar when he was upon the Cross? And so it is against all ⟨p. 41⟩such as shall insult over the people of God in their affliction. As men, when they are full and rich and prosperous in the world, they will add to the affliction of Gods people. Now this is the curse of God upon them, that shall add to the affliction of the people of God; Let their table become a snare before them, and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. Thou hast a Table well furnished, but how dost thou know but that it is a snare for thee, and a trap?