An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…

There is yet another Query, for it may be said, Is this a truth, that they who obey and serve the Lord shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures? I answer to that,

There is yet another Query, for it may be said, Is this a truth, that they who obey and serve the Lord shall spend their dayes in prosperity, and their years in pleasures? I answer to that,

First, If we take it absolutely and universally, we cannot affirm that every one who serveth and obeyeth God, shall always have pleasure, that is, outward comforts and contentments in this world; many of the Lords faithful servants have lived in pain and sorrow; so that if (as David spake in this case, Psal. 73.5.) we should speak thus, we should offend against the generation of his servants. Some flourish in grace, who wither in worldly comforts. There is no certain connection between these two, Grace and outward peace or pleasure; the providences of God vary in this point as himself pleaseth. Neither is it true, that the true servants of God do uninterruptedly or always enjoy inward pleasures, comforts and contentments; for he that feareth the Lord, and obeyeth the voice of his servants, may walk in darkness, and trouble of spirit, and see no light, (Isa. 50.10.) We are therefore to understand this Scripture as others of like nature, of that which is commonly done, or of that which we may upon good ground expect from God, and in faith wait for, that if we serve and obey him, he will make our lives comfortable to us. I answer,

First, If we take it absolutely and universally, we cannot affirme that every one who serveth and obeyeth God, shall alwayes have pleasure, that is, outward comforts and contentments in this world; many of the Lords faithfull servants have lived in paine and sorrow; so that if (as David spake in this case, Psal. 73.5.) we should speak thus, we should offend against the generation of his servants. Some flourish in grace, who wither in worldly comforts. There is no certain connexion between these two, Grace and outward peace or pleasure; the providences of God vary in this poynt as himself pleaseth. Neither is it true, that the true servants of God do uninterruptedly or alwayes enjoy inward pleasures, comforts and contentments; for he that feareth the Lord, and obeyeth the voyce of his servants, may walk in darkness, and trouble of spirit, and see no light, (