Though such are not of this World, much less are servants to the World, yet God can make the wo•ld serve them with its best, and give them a full portion of the World, though the World be not their portion. The servants of God would not take all the World, if it were offered them, for their portion, no not a thousand Worlds, considering what a perishing thing this World is, and that at best it is but a finite thing; I say, a servant of God would not take all the World, at the hand of God, for his portion, though he is thankful for any thing, for a little of it, and unworthy of any, the least, part of it. Howbeit, many times God gives a large portion of this World to his people, and that which he sets upon their Table, that is, outward good, is full of fatness. Indeed some of the choice servants of God have been afraid when they have seen much of the World come in, least God should put them off with such worldly things; when their Table hath been full of fatness and dainties, when they have had Houses and Lands, Gold and Silver plenty, they have been troubled, least God should say to them, There is your All. It is said of Luther, when he had a considerable present sent him from a great Prince (the Duke of Saxony, as I remember) this came upon his heart, I hope God will not put me off with these things, with gifts from Princes; I shall be hungry as long as I live, if I have nothing to feed upon but ⟨p. 289⟩what is of the World, and poor as long as I live, if I have no other treasure, but what is earthly; & thereupon protested he would not be satisfied with the best things of this World, though content with any thing. Thus, I say, God deals bountifully, with a liberal hand, to some of his people especially. This was made good in the former, or Old Testament times, when the promises went more upon externals (as hath been showed) whereas now they go more upon spiritual and heavenly things; yet there wants not examples of Gods dealing bountifully in outwards with his faithful servants under the Gospel, he hath caused that which was set upon their Table, to be full of fatness.
Though such are not of this World, much less are servants to the World, yet God can make the wo•ld serve them with its best, and give them a full portion of the World, though the World be not their portion. The servants of God would not take all the World, if it were offered them, for their portion, no not a thousand Worlds, considering what a perishing thing this World is, and that at best it is but a finite thing; I say, a servant of God would not take all the World, at the hand of God, for his portion, though he is thankful for any thing, for a little of it, and unworthy of any, the least, part of it. Howbeit, many times God gives a large portion of this World to his people, and that which he sets upon their Table, that is, outward good, is full of fatness. Indeed some of the choyce servants of God have been afraid when they have seen much of the World come in, least God should put them off with such wo•ldly things; when their Table hath been full of fatness and dainties, when they have had Houses and Lands, Gold and Silver plenty, they have been troubled, least God should say to them, There is your All. It is said of Luther, when he had a considerable present sent him from a great P•ince (the Duke of Saxony, as I remember) this came upon his heart, I hope God will not put me off with these things, with gifts from Princes; I shall be hungry as long as I live, if I have nothing to feed upon but ⟨p. 289⟩what is of the World, and poor as long as I live, if I have no other treasure, but what is earthly; & thereupon protested he would not be satisfied with the best things of this World, though content with any thing. Thus, I say, God deals bountifully, with a liberal hand, to some of his people especially. This was made good in the former, or Old Testament times, when the promises went more upon externals (as hath been shewed) whereas now they go more upon spiritual and heavenly things; yet there wants not examples of Gods dealing bountifully in outwa•ds with his faithful servants under the Gospel, he hath caused that which was set upon their Table, to be full of fatness.
