A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

5. It is he that giveth us Ability to use them: We beg, that we may not only have the Comforts, but Life and Strength to use them; for God can blast us in the very midst of our Enjoyments. It is the case of many, when they have hunted ⟨p. 311⟩after a worldly Portion, and begin to think, now I will sit down and enjoy it; when the Gain is come into his Hands, and he thinks to waste that which he hath got in hunting, Death takes him away, and he hath not power to use them. Thus it was with the rich Fool, when he began to sing Lullabies to his Soul, and enjoy what he had got, he is taken away by Death; Luke 12. 20. Thou Fool, this Night thy Soul shall be required of thee; then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided? And it is said, Numb. 11. 33. when those People had gotten Quails: That while the Flesh was yet between their Teeth, ere it was chewed; the Wrath of the Lord was kindled against the People, and the Lord smote them with a very great Plague. And that Noble Man which saw Plenty in Samaria, but could not taste of it; 2 Kings 7. 19. So Job 21. 23. One dieth in his full Strength, being wholly at ease and quiet: When he has gotten abundance of worldly Comforts about him, Death seizes on him of a sudden.

5. It is he that giveth us Ability to use them: We beg, that we may not only have the Comforts, but Life and Strength to use them; for God can blast us in the very midst of our Enjoyments. It is the case of many, when they have hunted ⟨p. 311⟩after a worldly Portion, and begin to think, now I will sit down and enjoy it; when the Gain is come into his Hands, and he thinks to waste that which he hath got in hunting, Death takes him away, and he hath not power to use them. Thus it was with the rich Fool, when he began to sing Lullabies to his Soul, and enjoy what he had got, he is taken away by Death; Luke 12. 20. Thou Fool, this Night thy Soul shall be required of thee; then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided? And it is said,