A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm

3. Consider that of our selves we are not able to make a right judgement of what is good for us; what evil unto us, or what tends most directly unto our chiefest end, Psalm 39. 6. surely man walketh in a vain show; [Greek or Hebrew] in an Image full of false representations of things; in the midst of vain appearances that he knows not what to choose, or do aright, and therefore spends the most of his time and strength about things that are of no use or purpose unto him; Surely they are disquieted in vain. And hereof he gives one especial Instance, he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather; which is but one Example of the manifold frustrations that men meet withal in the whole course of their lives, as not knowing what is good for them. We all profess to aim at one chief and principal end, namely the enjoyment of God in Christ, as our eternal reward; and in order thereunto to be carried on in the use of the means of faith and obedience, tending to that end. Now if this be so, the suitableness, or unsuitableness of all other things being good or evil unto us, is to be measured by their ⟨p. 395⟩tendency unto this end. And what know we hereof? As unto the things of this life, do we know, whether it will be best for us to be rich or poor, to have houses or to be harbourless, to abound or to want, to leave wealth and inheritances unto our Children, or to leave them naked unto the providence of God? do we know what state, what condition will most further our Obedience, best obviate our temptations, or call most on us to mortify our Corruptions? and if we know nothing at all of these things, as indeed we do not, were it not best for us to leave them quietly unto Gods disposal? I doubt not but it will appear at the last day, that a world of evil in the hearts of men was stifled by the destruction of their outward concernments, more by their inward troubles. That many were delivered from temptations by it, who otherwise would have been overtaken to their ruin and scandal of the Gospel; that many a secret Imposthume hath been lanced and cured by a stroke, for God doth not send Judgements on his own, for Judgements sake, for punishment sake; but always to accomplish some blessed design of Grace towards them.

3. Consider that of our selves we are not able to make a right judgement of what is good for us; what evil unto us, or what tends most directly unto our chiefest end,