Sermons preached

IV. The wisest and best of Men must not expect always to be happy, but must prepare themselves for sinister Chances; ⟨p. 266⟩for the Words are brought in upon this occasion, of rejoicing in our Comforts. In an uncertain World we must always reserve a Liberty of full and free Submission to God's Providence, if the Event should not answer Expectation. For the Race is not always to the Swift, nor the Battle to the Strong. We must not be too confident of future worldly Events; for in these things, God, by whose Providence all things are governed, would leave us to uncertainty. Alas! many times we mistake and miss of fit Opportunities, and then the best Preparations and Sufficiencies will be lost. My Times are in thy Hand, saith David. Psal. 31. 15. And sometimes God interposeth, and will be glorified by us in an afflicted Condition. Therefore you must reserve a Liberty to God, to order and govern you according to his own pleasure, as to Success in your Callings, Comfort in your Relations, Favour with Men in your Employments. God may make every Relation a Door to let in Affliction. You should often consider the Sovereignty of God, the Uncertainty of your own Lives, the Mutability of all worldly things. You speak arrogantly when you presume of Success, and take more upon you than you are able to perform. 1 Sam. 2. 3. Talk no more exceeding proudly, let not Arrogancy come out of your Mouth, that is, presumptuous Conceits of absolute Success. And the Apostle James, Jam. 4. 13, 14, &c. Go to now, ye that say, To day, or to morrow, we will go into such a City, and continue there a Year, and buy and sell, and get Gain.—Your Life is a Vapour, and ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. Now ye rejoice in your Boastings; all such Rejoicing is evil. There are certain times when God is resolved to proceed with his People in a Judiciary Way, and then all Means we can use will not keep off the Stroke. Amos 2. 14, 15, 16. Therefore the Flight shall perish from the Swift, and the Strong shall not strengthen his Force, nor the Mighty deliver himself; neither shall he stand that handleth the Bow, nor he that is swift