Rect. judgm.
[2]
If Christ disable thee
From doing as before,
He calls thee to some other work
That he approveth more.
Passive Obedience
More hard then Active is:
And Christ will own and honour that,
Who owns and crowneth this.
⟨p. 117⟩[3]
Thou still art serving Christ▪1
Though in another way:
And he thy Service will accept
And crown another day.
Thy Suffering is his work,2
As well as Doing was:
Thy service in a suffering way
Christ rather chosen has.
[4]
If Christ hath called thee off,3
After a short assay,
From Public Service; cease dispute,
And cheerfully obey.
Masters are pleased best,
When as their will is done,
Although a nobler work be left
To do a meaner one.
[5]
If he be pleased to make it
Thy business to sit still:
Thou pleasest him the best, by meek
Submission to his Will.
God hath no need of us,
Nor any work of our:
Yet for the deed he takes our will,
Where he denieth power.
⟨p. 118⟩[6]
Although the work be small
Thou canst for him effect:
4Yet if there be a willing mind
He doth the same accept.
For not by the outward bulk
Of what we do fulfil,
God doth esteem our services;
But by the Doers will.
[7]
For this he will reward thee
As richly at the last:
As if thou able wert to do
More work then ever thou wast.
Thou hast a gentle Master,
That sets no cruel task:
But when he deitly abate thy strength
He doth less service ask.
[8]
Do what thou canst, my Soul
For God no more expects:
5Where much he gaves, he looks for much;
Where less, hevless accepts.
But make not this a cloak,
Vile Flesh, for Slothfulness:
6God will be ser•'d with all our might,
Be 't more, or be it less.
••••
⟨p. 123⟩[5]
He was a Rich Poor man,
Whose Poverty prepared him
For Heaven: But he a poor Rich man
Whose Worldly Wealth ensnared him.
That man is Poor indeed
Both when he lives and dies,
That hath some Treasure here on Earth,
But none above the skies.
[6]
He that enlarged his Barns7
To treasure up his store,
Was fetched away to Hell that night,
And died worse then poor.
And so is every man,
That being worldly-wise
Provides for the outward man, but doth
The Heavenly wealth despise.
[7]
All Poor men are not Rich
('Twere happy if they were)
But such as Christ enriched hath,
And unto God brought near.
All Rich men are not Poor
(That were a woeful case)
But such as have no part in Christ,
Nor any saving grace.
⟨p. 124⟩[8]
Let not the poorest Saint
Despond; for thou art rich:
Rect. judgm.
[2]
If Christ disable thee
From doing as before,
He calls thee to some other work
That he approveth more.
Passive Obedience
More hard then Active is:
And Christ will own and honour that,
Who owns and crowneth this.
⟨p. 117⟩[3]
Thou still art serving Christ▪1
Though in another way:
And he thy Service will accept
And crown another day.
Thy Suffering is his work,2
As well as Doing was:
Thy service in a suffering way
Christ rather chosen has.
[4]
If Christ hath call'd thee off,3
After a short assay,
From Publick Service; cease dispute,
And cheerfully obey.
Masters are pleased best,
When as their will is done,
Although a nobler work be left
To do a meaner one.
[5]
If he be pleas'd to make it
Thy business to sit still:
Thou pleasest him the best, by meek
Submission to his Will.
God hath no need of us,
Nor any work of our:
Yet for the deed he takes our will,
Where he denieth power.
⟨p. 118⟩[6]
Although the work be small
Thou canst for him effect:
4Yet if there be a willing minde
He doth the same accept.
For not by th'outward bulk
Of what we do fulfill,
God doth esteem our services;
But by the Doers will.
[7]
For this he will reward thee
As richly at the last:
As if thou able wert to do
More work then e're thou wast.
Thou hast a gentle Master,
That sets no cruel task:
But when he deitly abate thy strength
He doth less service ask.
[8]
Do what thou canst, my Soul
For God no more expects:
5Where much he gaves, he looks for much;
Where less, hevless accepts.
But make not this a cloak,
Vile Flesh, for Slothfulness:
6God will be ser•'d with all our might,
Be 't more, or be it less.
••••
⟨p. 123⟩[5]
He was a Rich Poor man,
Whose Poverty prepar'd him
For Heav'n: But he a poor Rich man
Whose Worldly Wealth ensnar'd him.
That man is Poor indeed
Both when he lives and dies,
That hath some Treasure here on Earth,
But none above the skies.
[6]
He that enlarg'd his Barns
- 11 Pet. 4.12, 13, 14.
- 2Coloss. 1.24.Col•ss. 1.24.
- 31 Kings 17.1, 3, 4.5.
- 42 Cor. 8.12.
- 5Luke 12.48.
- 6Deut. 10.2•.
- 7Luke 18, 20.
