It is a great piece of wisdom to foresee danger, and a greater to provide well against it. A prudent man (saith Solomon, Prov. 22.3.) foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple puss on, and are punished. Noah heard of the flood, and being warned of God, moved with fear (he both feared God, and was afraid of the danger) prepared an Ark to the saving of his house, that is, his household and family. In all cases, as 'tis our wisdom to foresee danger, so 'tis our duty to provide against danger; not to leave our eggs, any thing we have, much less our lives, least of all our own souls, or the souls of others, in danger. How many leave the souls of their children, the souls of their relations in the earth, yea, to the earth, or (as we say) to the wide world; and forget what snares, what temptations they may fall into, what foot may crush them, what wild beast may tread upon them; yea, many that have the charge of souls, as Ministers, leave their flocks, and forget the danger that may come to them, they forget that the foot may crush them, that Satan, and those wild beasts, their lusts, may ruin and destroy them. We may say to such, as Eliab, the elder brother of David, said to him (when he was sent by his ⟨p. 403⟩father to visit his brethren in the Camp) (1 Sam. 17.28.) With whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? dost thou know what will become of thy sheep? thou hast left them for Lions and Bears to devour and to tear. So we may say to many (who are hardened like the Ostrich against her eggs) with whom have you left your flocks? with whom have you left those few sheep, those poor souls left under your charge? may not wild beasts, Bears and Lions destroy them? Not to foresee danger, shows some want of prudence; but not to provide against danger foreseen, is an argument of greatest folly.
It is a great piece of wisdom to foresee danger, and a greater to provide well against it. A prudent man (saith Solomon, Prov. 22.3.) foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple puss on, and are punished. Noah heard of the flood, and being warned of God, moved with fear (he both feared God, and was afraid of the danger) prepared an Ark to the saving of his house, that is, his houshold and family. In all cases, as 'tis our wisdom to forsee danger, so 'tis our duty to provide against danger; not to leave our eggs, any thing we have, much less our lives, least of all our own souls, or the souls of others, in danger. How many leave the souls of their children, the souls of their relations in the earth, yea, to the earth, or (as we say) to the wide world; and forget what snares, what temptations they may fall into, what foot may crush them, what wild beast may tread upon them; yea, many that have the charge of souls, as Ministers, leave their flocks, and forget the danger that may come to them, they forget that the foot may crush them, that Satan, and those wild beasts, their lusts, may ruin and destroy them. We may say to such, as Eliab, the elder brother of David, said to him (when he was sent by his ⟨p. 403⟩father to visit his brethren in the Camp) (1 Sam. 17.28.) With whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? dost thou know what will become of thy sheep? thou hast left them for Lions and Bears to devoure and to tear. So we may say to many (who are hardened like the Ostrich against her eggs) with whom have you left your flocks? with whom have you left those few sheep, those poor souls left under your charge? may not wild beasts, Bears and Lions destroy them? Not to foresee danger, shews some want of prudence; but not to provide against danger foreseen, is an argument of greatest folly.
