Again, Are not you liable to several changes in this world? As to be rich and poor, exalted and abased, now to relieve, and anon to be relieved; now well, and anon sick; 1now strong, and anon weak; now in storms, and anon in calms; now tempted, and anon delivered; now in one condition, and anon in another condition; now up, now down; now forward, now backward, &c. Now pray tell me, doth not the several cha•ges and variety of providences that we meet with in this world, bespeak us to be rich (not in some) but in every grace? Don't a state of prosperity bespeak a man to be rich in wisdom, rich in humility, rich in love, and rich in compassion? that his heart may be kept close to God in that state, and that he may do nothing unworthy of God, who ha's done so much for him: And now when God shall change the manner of his administrations towards such a man, when God shall put out his Candle, pull off his Robes, and clothe him with rags, and set him, with Job, upon the dunghill, don't this condition bespeak much patience, much contentation, much self-denial, much faith? how else will this man bravely bear up, when God shall write such bitter things against him, and pass the sentence of death upon his nearest, and his dearest comforts? If a man be not rich in one grace, as well as in another, when God shall bring changes upon him, and pour him from vessel to vessel, his life will be a burden, a hell unto him, &c.
Againe, Are not you liable to severall changes in this world? As to be rich and poore, exalted and abased, now to relieve, and anon to be relieved; now well, and anon sick; 1now strong, and anon weak; now in stormes, and anon in calmes; now tempted, and anon delivered; now in one condition, and anon in another condition; now up, now downe; now forward, now backward, &c. Now pray tell me, doth not the severall cha•ges and variety of providences that we meet with in this world, bespeak us to be rich (not in some) but in every grace? Don't a state of prosperity bespeak a man to be rich in wisedome, rich in humility, rich in love, and rich in compassion? that his heart may be kept close to God in that state, and that he may doe nothing unworthy of God, who ha's done so much for him: And now when God shall change the manner of his administrations towards such a man, when God shall put out his Candle, pull off his Robes, and cloath him with raggs, and set him, with Job, upon the dunghill, don't this condition bespeak much patience, much contentation, much self-deniall, much faith? how else will this man bravely bear up, when God shall write such bitter things against him, and passe the sentence of death upon his nearest, and his dearest comforts? If a man be not rich in one grace, as well as in another, when God shall bring changes upon him, and poure him from vessel to vessel, his life will be a burden, a hell unto him, &c.
- 1Whilst Pompey prospered, and Rome flourished, Cato stoutly held and defended a Divine providence; but when he saw Pompey overthrown by Caesar, his body cast upon the shore without honour of burial, and himself exposed to the danger of Caesars Army, he changed his opininion, denying tha• there was a Divine providence, but that all things fell out by chance▪ &c.Whilst Pompey p•ospered, and Rome flourished, Cato stoutly held and defended a Divine providence; but when he saw Pompey overthrowne by Caesar, his body cast upon the shore without honour of buriall, and himselfe exposed to the danger of Caesars Army, he changed his opininion, denying tha• there was a Divine providence, but that all things fell out by chance▪ &c.
