They are happy in times of prosperity; they have outward good things in a more excellent way than others; they have a ⟨p. 261⟩special title to them; they have them not only by Providence, but by Promise; they claim not upon mere Creation, but in and through Christ. All are yours, and you are Christs, 1 Cor. 3.22. They have not merely the things themselves, but the favour of God with them. In the blessing of Joseph, there are the dew and the deep; the precious things of the Heaven, Sun, and Moon; the precious things of the Earth, Hills, and Mountains; and, to sweeten all, there comes in at last, The good will of him that dwelt in the bush, Deut. 33.13, 14, 15, 16, verses. This good will is that which makes the stream of blessings run pure; Believers have blessings, and no curse in them; a table, and no snare in it; a prosperous state, and no sorrow added to it; the light of Gods Providence, and the light of his countenance are met in conjunction. Again, They look upon outward blessings in their dependence upon the original; they know the true sense of them to be this, That their hearts may be guided to the fountain of Goodness; the little beams, being rightly understood, point to the Father of Lights; the smallest drops of good here below, lead to the Ocean of sweetness above; no sooner do Believers open their eyes upon the creatures, but they see the stamps and signatures ⟨p. 262⟩of the first cause; they behold the rare Idea's of the divine Power and Goodness; every thing calls upon them to fall down and adore him, who is [Greek or Hebrew], the Fountain and Principle of all things. Further, They know the right use of blessings; they do not take Creature-comforts into their heart, which is an holy place for God, but bid them stand without, and minister to the body; they do not rest and centre in them, but as Pilgrims and Strangers march on to the heavenly Country: in the fullest affluence of outward things, still they cry out, Dulcius ex ipso fonte, a single God is sweeter than all: they look upon them not as fuel to lust, but as incentives to holy Love and Obedience; they do not as absolute Proprietors, engross all to themselves, but as faithful Stewards distribute to others; they know, they receive outward things, not to have and to hold, but to communicate; Mercies in their hands are, as blood in the Veins, or water in the Conduit, for public use;
They are happy in times of prosperity; they have outward good things in a more excellent way than others; they have a ⟨p. 261⟩special title to them; they have them not only by Providence, but by Promise; they claim not upon meer Creation, but in and through Christ. All are yours, and you are Christs, 1 Cor. 3.22. They have not meerly the things themselves, but the favour of God with them. In the blessing of Joseph, there are the dew and the deep; the precious things of the Heaven, Sun, and Moon; the precious things of the Earth, Hills, and Mountains; and, to sweeten all, there comes in at last, The good will of him that dwelt in the bush, Deut. 33.13, 14, 15, 16, verses. This good will is that which makes the stream of blessings run pure; Believers have blessings, and no curse in them; a table, and no snare in it; a prosperous state, and no sorrow added to it; the light of Gods Providence, and the light of his countenance are met in conjunction. Again, They look upon outward blessings in their dependance upon the original; they know the true sense of them to be this, That their hearts may be guided to the fountain of Goodness; the little beams, being rightly understood, point to the Father of Lights; the smallest drops of good here below, lead to the Ocean of sweetness above; no sooner do Believers open their eyes upon the creatures, but they see the stamps and signatures ⟨p. 262⟩of the first cause; they behold the rare Idea's of the divine Power and Goodness; every thing calls upon them to fall down and adore him, who is 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, the Fountain and Principle of all things. Further, They know the right use of blessings; they do not take Creature-comforts into their heart, which is an holy place for God, but bid them stand without, and minister to the body; they do not rest and center in them, but as Pilgrims and Strangers march on to the heavenly Countrey: in the fullest affluence of outward things, still they cry out, Dulcius ex ipso fonte, a single God is sweeter than all: they look upon them not as fuel to lust, but as incentives to holy Love and Obedience; they do not as absolute Proprietors, ingross all to themselves, but as faithful Stewards distribute to others; they know, they receive outward things, not to have and to hold, but to communicate; Mercies in their hands are, as blood in the Veins, or water in the Conduit, for publick use;
