Which way soever Providence ⟨p. 29⟩did blow, he had such heavenly skill and dexterity, that he knew how to steer his course. For his outward estate, he was indifferent; he could be either on the top of Jacobs ladder, or the bottom; he could sing either placentia or lachrymae; the dirge or the anthem; he could be any thing that God would have him: I know how to want, how to abound; here was a rare pattern for us to imitate• Paul in regard of his faith and […], was like a Cedar, he could not be stirred: but for his outward condition, he was like a Reed, bending every way with the wind of Providence; when a prosperous gale did blow upon him, he could bend with that, I know how to be full: and when a boisterous gust of affliction did blow, he could bend in humility with that; I know how to be hungry. Saint Paul was [Greek or Hebrew] (as Aristotle speaks) like a Die, that hath four squares; throw it which way you will, ⟨p. 30⟩it falls upon a bottom:1 Let God throw the Apostle which way he would, he fell upon this bottom of Contentment. A contented spirit is like a Watch; though you carry it up and down with you, yet the spring of it is not shaken, nor the wheels out of order, but the watch keeps its perfect motion: So it was with St. Paul; though God had carried him into various conditions, yet he was […] lift up with the one, nor cast down with the other. The spring of his heart was not broken, the wheels of his affections were not disordered, but kept their constant motion towards heaven; still content. The Ship that lies at anchor may sometimes be a little shaken, but never sinks: Flesh and blood may have its fears and disquiets, but grace doth check them: A Christian having cast anchor in heaven, his heart never sinks; a gracious spirit is a contented spirit.
Which way soever Providence ⟨p. 29⟩did blow, he had such heavenly skill and dexterity, that he knew how to steer his course. For his outward estate, he was indifferent; he could be either on the top of Iacobs ladder, or the bottom; he could sing either placentia or lachrymae; the dirge or the antheme; he could be any thing that God would have him: I know how to want, how to abound; here was a rare pattern for us to imitate• Paul in regard of his faith and 〈…〉, was like a Cedar, he could not be stirred: but for his outward condition, he was like a Reed, bending every way with the winde of Providence; when a prosperous gale did blow upon him, he could bend with that, I know how to be full: and when a boysterous gust of affliction did blow, he could bend in humility with that; I know how to be hungry. Saint Paul was 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 (as Aristotle speaks) like a Die, that hath foure squares; throw it which way you wil, ⟨p. 30⟩it falls upon a bottome:1 Let God throw the Apostle which way hee would, he fell upon this bottome of Contentment. A contented spirit is like a Watch; though you carry it up and down with you, yet the spring of it is not shaken, nor the wheeles out of order, but the watch keeps its perfect motion: So it was with St. Paul; though God had carryed him into various conditions, yet he was 〈…〉 lift up with the one, nor cast down with the other. The spring of his heart was not broken, the wheels of his affections were not disordered, but kept their constant motion towards heaven; still content. The Ship that lies at anchor may sometimes be a little shaken, but never sinks: Flesh and blood may have its fears and disquiets, but grace doth check them: A Christian having cast anchor in heaven, his heart never sinks; a gracious spirit is a contented spirit.
- 1Homo quadratus Erasm.
