Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

and by reflection on such things as these he may know that he hath them so, and arrive at a sweet experience of Temporal Promises. Such an experience multiplies the Loaves and wonderfully doubles and trebles the sweetness and comfort of every Blessing. Some learned Men have observed a difference between Jacobs Blessing and Esau's; Jacobs runs thus, God give thee of the dew of Heaven, and the fatness of the Earth, Gen. 27.28. Esau's thus, Thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the Earth, and of the dew of Heaven from above, ver. 39. In Jacobs the name of God is mentioned not in Esau's: its true all Blessings are from God, but his name is mentioned in the one not in the other. The experienced Believer hath more of God and his federal Love in every Blessing than other Men. The Jews by a pious custom used to say over their Bread, Blessed be God who brought Bread out of the Earth; over their Wine, Blessed be God who created the fruit of the Wine; over their Fruits, Blessed be God who created the Fruit of the Tree; nay, and over their Flowers, Blessed be God ⟨p. 345⟩who made the sweet smelling Herbs: and in general they added this, Whosoever takes ought out of this World without a benediction is as it were a robber of God. But the experienced Believer, as he hath a sweeter title to these things; so he may raise up his Praises for them to an higher strain than other Men; not only saying, Blessed be God and his Providence for such and such things, but blessed be God and his Promise also: All good things as well those of this life, as those of the other issue out of the Covenant of Grace. You will say, the Believer cannot yet make this experiment; for though he have some of the Temporal Blessings mentioned in the Promises, yet often and ordinarily he wants other of them. To which I answer, The Promises of Temporal Blessings are not absolute, but carry a tacit limitation of expediency. The main design of the Promises is Mans Salvation, and to this Temporals are not, as Spirituals are, simply necessary; but only have a remote tendency thereunto, and that not of themselves, but as they are over-ruled by God, who makes omnia cooperari in bonum, all things work together for good to them that love him. And hence the Believer expects from the Promises no other measure or proportion of outward things than what may conduce to his Salvation;

and by reflection on such things as these he may know that he hath them so, and arrive at a sweet experience of Temporal Promises. Such an experience multiplies the Loaves and wonderfully doubles and trebles the sweetness and comfort of every Blessing. Some learned Men have observed a difference between Jacobs Blessing and Esaus; Jacobs runs thus, God give thee of the dew of Heaven, and the fatness of the Earth,