A sermon preached before the Right Honourable the House of Peers, in the Abbey…A sermon preached before the Right Honourable the House of Peeres, in the Abbey…

Do not these men in the change of times and variety of conditions that God hath cast them into, keep a constant evenness in their respects to God, and their holy walking before him? It argues an excellency of spirit to be acted by such principles as carries the heart and life on in a gracious even course through changes of times and variety of conditions. Some men know not how to manage any condition, they are never well either full or fasting, as we use to say. As Hannibal said ⟨p. 9⟩of Marcellus, Nec bonam nec malam fortunam far potuit; but Grace knows how to manage every condition. That Ship is well ballasted that sails cleverly, though never so much tossed with winds and waves. It is the excellency of grace to be able to turn this way or that way, as God calls, to make use of the weapons of righteousness, both on the right hand and on the left.¹ Truth and falsehood, good and evil are at such a distance, as by the same principle a man cannot apply himself to either side; but as for honour or dishonour, poverty or riches, liberty or restraint, they are at no such distance, but that the same grace may apply it self this way or that way, as occasion serves.

Doe not these men in the change of times and variety of conditions that God hath cast them into, keep a constant evennesse in their respects to God, and their holy walking before him? It argues an excellency of spirit to be acted by such principles as carries the heart and life on in a gracious even course through changes of times and variety of conditions. Some men know not how to manage any condition, they are never well either full or fasting, as we use to say. As Hannibal said ⟨p. 9⟩of Marcellus, Nec bonam nec malam fortunam ferre potuit; but Grace knowes how to manage every condition. That Ship is well ballasted that sayles cleaverly, though never so much tossed with winds and waves. It is the excellency of grace to be able to turne this way or that way, as God calls, to make use of the weapons of righteousnesse, both on the right hand and on the left.¹ Truth and falshood, good and evill are at such a distance, as by the same principle a man cannot apply himself to either side; but as for honour or dishonour, poverty or riches, liberty or restraint, they are at no such distance, but that the same grace may apply it selfe this way or that way, as occasion serves.