Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

As touching Temporal Promises Faith experiments them in every blessing which the Believer hath. Indeed outward things are but the nether-springs, and blessings of the left hand, dispensed promiscuously as if they were ludibria fortunae, the sports of chance. Providence is still ringing the changes; here an Ishmael may have his portion and full cup; even Crowns and Kingdoms, which lie at the upper end of the World, may come to the basest of men, Dan. 4.17. All things come alike ⟨p. 343⟩to all; the Sun of Prosperity shines on the Bramble as well as on the Flower; the tempest of Adversity falls on the Garden as well as on the Wilderness. Love or Hatred cannot be known by these things, not by them as they are in themselves, or merely issuing out of Providence: But the Believer hath them by a singular Privilege, and in a way of Promise, and by reflection may know that he hath them so: When he doth not arrogate ought to himself, or like churlish Nabal, all in his Possessives say, My bread, my water, and my flesh; but really confess God to be supreme Lord of all, and himself but an accountable Steward of them; When he can cast his goods on the waters, and as it were send them to Sea in a voyage of Charity, expecting no return but in the other World, where these Corruptibles so used will rise in the incorruption of eternal glory; When he can charge all outward things to stand without in their own station, and not approach that heart which is a sacred Temple or holy place for God to dwell in; When he looks on all the World as forfeited by Sin, and new founded by Christ the Mediator, and so tastes his precious blood in every good thing, and gathers all his comforts from his reconciling Cross; When upon a just call to Suffering he is willing to venture all his part in this life upon the mere Promise of a better, and had rather cast all his Mundane pearls over board than hazard a wrack of Faith or Conscience; When the purest sweetest Comforts here below do not ⟨p. 344⟩satisfy his Soul, as smelling of the cask and channel of Creature-vanity, but in the fullest affluence of them he cries out, Dul•ius ex ipso fonte; a single God is infinitely sweeter than all; and none but he can sill up the gaping chinks and chasms of my Hear; Deus meus & omnia, My God, and my all: Then undoubtedly he hath outward blessings not upon the common title of Providence only, but in a way of Promise;