The riches of Gods love unto the vessels of mercy, consistent with his absolute…The riches of Gods love unto the vessells of mercy, consistent with his absolute…

but rather of themselves conceiving it an unreasonable thing so to depend upon the promise of man or Angel, as not to use the best means that lay in their power: Forth with the Soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let it fall away, choosing rather to loose their boat (which yet was of good use too) then their Mariners. This was not all, but Paul useth spiritual means, and by exhortation comforteth them, that so they might take heart, and the better set themselves to the use of the best means, not weakly but courageously for their preservation. This is the Fourteenth day that y e have tarried, and continued fasting receiving nothing. Wherefore I exhort you to take meat, for this is for your safeguard, for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. And when he had thus spoken he ⟨p. 234⟩took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all, and brake it, and began to eat. Then were they all of good courage and they also took meat. Well at length the ship brake, and the Centurion commanded, that they that could swim should cast themselves first into the Sea, and go out to Land; and the others some on boards, and some on certain pieces of the Ship. Here to the end we see no means neglected; And so it came to pass (to wit by use of such means) that they all escaped to Land. Yet was the promise of their Salvation made to Paul in an absolute form, so is not the promise of Salvation made to us. Now I leave it to the indifferent to judge of the wisdom of this Authors discourse. Yet non deliberation is no sufficient evidence of the needless condition of means. For Aristotle saith that Ars non deliberat, not because he useth no means to bring about his ends, but because the Artificer which is his crafts-master, is not to seek of the means. For the same reason deliberation is not incident unto God, his wisdom is nothing the less in discerning congruous means to bring about his intended ends. As for that of our Saviour Cur estis solliciti de vestitu? Surely tis not of any thing above our power in respect of use of means; Indeed to ad one Cubit to our stature is not in our power, neither do I know any that take thought thereof, But it is no more in mans power to bless his own cares and labours for the procuring of himself meat, drink, raiment, then it is in his power to add a cubit or two unto his stature.

but rather of themselves conceiving it an unreasonable thing so to depend upon the promise of man or Angell, as not to use the best meanes that lay in their power: Forth with the Souldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let it fall away, choosing rather to loose their boat (which yet was of good use too) then their Marriners. This was not all, but Paul useth spirituall meanes, and by exhortation comforteth them, that so they might take heart, and the better set themselves to the use of the best meanes, not weakely but couragiously for their preservation. This is the Fourteenth day that y e have tarried, and continued fasting receiving nothing. Wherefore I exhort you to take meat, for this is for your safeguard, for there shall not an hayre fall from the head of any of you. And when he had thus spoken he