2. It is the Wisdom and Will of God, not to give to all alike, that some should have more and some should have less. He puts ten Talents into the hands of some of his Servants, and but one into another's, Mat. 25. Therefore if your Portion be straiter than others, it is what God hath allotted. 1 Sam. 2. 7, 8. The Lord makes poor, and the Lord makes rich: he bringeth low and he lifteth up: he setteth some among the Princes, and to inherit the Throne of Glory, whilst others sit on the Dunghill, or roll in the Dust. The World is not governed by Chance, nor is it the blind Idol Fortune that dispenses Honours and Estates, but every Mans Portion and the bounds of his Habitation are set forth by God. It comes not from second causes, or an uncertain rolling about the Sphere of humane Mutability, but God's Ordinance and Appointment, who as he hath cast the World into Hills and Valleys, hath made the Estate of one Man differ from another. No Estate in this World is universally good for all, as no gale of Wind can serve for all Passengers on the deep Waters. Nor doth the ⟨p. 235⟩same Weather fit every Soil: that drought which burneth up the hotter Grounds, comforteth those which are more chill and cold. If one Man had another's Blessings he would soon run wild, as another would grow desperate if he had their Crosses. Therefore the infinite Wisdom of the great Governor of the World allots every one his Portion. God knows the reasons of this unequal distribution, though they be hidden from us. Now this also hath an influence upon Contentment, for we ought to submit to the good pleasure of God, and can no more quarrel with his Providence for keeping us low and bare, than his Creation, that he made us Men and not Angels, or that he will furnish the World with all kind of Creatures, Worms and Beasts as well as Men. Shall the Clay say to the Potter, Why hast thou made me thus? Isa. 45. 9.
2. It is the Wisdom and Will of God, not to give to all alike, that some should have more and some should have less. He puts ten Talents into the hands of some of his Servants, and but one into anothers, Mat. 25. Therefore if your Portion be straiter than others, it is what God hath allotted. 1 Sam. 2. 7, 8. The Lord makes poor, and the Lord makes rich: he bringeth low and he lifteth up: he setteth some among the Princes, and to inherit the Throne of Glory, whilst others sit on the Dunghil, or roul in the Dust. The World is not govern'd by Chance, nor is it the blind Idol Fortune that dispenses Honours and Estates, but every Mans Portion and the bounds of his Habitation are set forth by God. It comes not from second causes, or an uncertain rouling about the Sphere of humane Mutability, but God's Ordinance and Appointment, who as he hath cast the World into Hills and Valleys, hath made the Estate of one Man differ from another. No Estate in this World is universally good for all, as no gale of Wind can serve for all Passengers on the deep Waters. Nor doth the ⟨p. 235⟩same Weather fit every Soil: that drought which burneth up the hotter Grounds, comforteth those which are more chill and cold. If one Man had anothers Blessings he would soon run wild, as another would grow desperate if he had their Crosses. Therefore the infinite Wisdom of the great Governour of the World allots every one his Portion. God knows the reasons of this unequal distribution, though they be hidden from us. Now this also hath an influence upon Contentment, for we ought to submit to the good pleasure of God, and can no more quarrel with his Providence for keeping us low and bare, than his Creation, that he made us Men and not Angels, or that he will furnish the World with all kind of Creatures, Worms and Beasts as well as Men. Shall the Clay say to the Potter, Why hast thou made me thus? Isa. 45. 9.
