A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

Thirdly, For what we affect: We are wont to murmur at the smallness of our portion, we have not so much as others, our condition in the world is not so great, so rich, so honourable, as theirs; we have but a single, but they a double, a Benjamins portion: Oh but consider this it mere murmuring, God never undertook to maintain all his children at the same rate, and we cannot expect so much; variety of conditions is necessary for the preservation of the world, levelling is not Gods dispensation; some must be high and some low; the wise preserver of all things distributeth his gifts variously, wealth to one, skill to another, strength to a third, one must reign, another serve, and all for the common good▪ a piece of Arras is composed of several parcels; we should all famish for company, if all were of one sort, who should endure the handy labours? how low soever thou art, thou art there where God hath set thee, and there thou must tarry till the said invitation of providence call thee higher. Look backward thou hast made some increase: Jacob took notice that his was become two droves, Gen. 32. 10. though when he first came into the Country he had nothing but his staff in his hand: many of Gods children are not so high as thou art, if you murmur; what should others do that have less; we cast our eyes forward on those before us, and because we have not so much as they, so good trading, houses so well furnished, such honour and esteem in the world, all is as nothing; h you do not look about you to the thousands that come short of you; you say why should not we thrive as they? be preferred as they? Joseph knew why Benjamin ⟨p. 453⟩had a larger mess, though the rest at the Table did not; so doth the Lord know why he goeth to one, and not to another.

Thirdly, For what we affect: We are wont to murmur at the smalness of our portion, we have not so much as others, our condition in the world is not so great, so rich, so honourable, as theirs; we have but a single, but they a double, a Benjamins portion: Oh but consider this it meer murmuring, God never undertook to maintain all his children at the same rate, and we cannot expect so much; variety of conditions is necessary for the preservation of the world, levelling is not Gods dispensation; some must be high and some low; the wise preserver of all things distributeth his gifts variously, wealth to one, skill to another, strength to a third, one must reign, another serve, and all for the common good a piece of Arras is composed of several parcels; we should all famish for company, if all were of one sort, who should endure the handy labours? how low soever thou art, thou art there where God hath set thee, and there thou must tarry till the said invitation of providence call thee higher. Look backward thou hast made some increase: Jacob took notice that his was become two droves,