Faith.
[2]
Perhaps I may not live
Those future Months to see:
And then 'twere folly to take thought
For what shall never be.
But if the Lord see fit
That I on Earth abide
1A longer time, he can and will
[…] sustenance provide.
[3]
2If I have Meat and Drink,
Though neither of the best,
And Clothes that will but keep me warm,
I shall not be distressed.
Mean things give me content;
For God can mean things bless,
3More then their overflowing Cups
That greatest things possess.
[4]
Those that abound in wealth
May lose it in a night;
And be despoiled of all they have
Before the morning light:
And if they have no God
To help them in their need;
It matters not what once they were,
They'll then be poor indeed.
⟨p. 129⟩[5]
But he that hath the Lord4
Engaged by Covenant
To stand his Friend at every turn,
That man can never want,
My Soul be thankful then;
Thou hast a better lot,5
Although thy substance be but small,
Then worldly men have got.
[6]
Thou hast a gracious God
Who never will forsake thee,6
But here on Earth he'll do thee good,
And then to Heaven take thee.
A blessed Portion He
To all that on him trust:
Whose Souls and Bodies he will feed;
But he'll not feed their Lust.
[7]
Our Saviour teacheth us
For daily bread to pray;7
Not for a twelve-months Bread at once,
But for each present day:
That so we might on God
From time to time depend,
Believing that our present help
Will help us to the End.
⟨p. 130⟩[8]
Of present things, my Soul,
What present need requires
8Thou dost possess: here stay thy thoughts
And bridle thy desires.
Beware lest future things
Thy careful mind distract:
For carking care can nothing else
But guiltiness contract.
[9]
9Good reason hath the man
To be content with small things,
Who when he is at lowest ebb,
Yet still possesseth all things.
For God is All in all
10Through Christ his gracious Son,
The Ocean whence all streams proceed,
And into which they run.
[10]
He is a living Spring,
A Fountain never dry:
Though water in the Pitcher fail,
The Fountain can supply.
That man is not i'th'dark,
11That still enjoys the Sun:
Although his Fire be quite gone out,
And Candle ends be done.
Faith.
[2]
Perhaps I may not live
Those future Months to see:
And then 'twere folly to take thought
For what shall never be.
But if the Lord see fit
That I on Earth abide
1A longer time, he can and will
〈…〉 sustenance provide.
[3]
2If I have Meat and Drink,
Though neither of the best,
And Clothes that will but keep me warm,
I shall not be distrest.
Mean things give me content;
For God can mean things bless,
3More then their overflowing Cups
That greatest things possess.
[4]
Those that abound in wealth
May lose it in a night;
And be despoil'd of all they have
Before the morning light:
And if they have no God
To help them in their need;
It matters not what once they were,
They'll then be poor indeed.
⟨p. 129⟩[5]
But he that hath the Lord4
Engag'd by Covenant
To stand his Friend at every turn,
That man can never want,
My Soul be thankful then;
Thou hast a better lot,5
Although thy substance be but small,
Then worldly men have got.
[6]
Thou hast a gracious God
Who never will forsake thee,6
But here on Earth hee'll do thee good,
And then to Heaven take thee.
A blessed Portion He
To all that on him trust:
Whose Souls and Bodies he will feed;
But hee'll not feed their Lust.
[7]
Our Saviour teacheth us
For daily bread to pray;7
Not for a twelve-months Bread at once,
But for each present day:
That so we might on God
From time to time depend,
Believing that our present help
Will help us to the End.
⟨p. 130⟩[8]
Of present things, my Soul,
What present need requires
8Thou dost possess: here stay thy thoughts
And bridle thy desires.
Beware lest future things
Thy careful minde distract:
For carking care can nothing else
But guiltiness contract.
[9]
9
- 1Mat. 6.26—34.
- 21 Tim. 6.8.
- 3Psal. 37.16.
- 4Psal. 23.•.
- 5Psal. 16.5, 6.
- 6Heb. 1 5. Psal. 7 24.
- 7Mat. 6.11.
- 81 Tim. •.8, 9. Ma•. 6 25—34.
- 9Rev. 21.7. Gen. 33.•• [Greek or Hebrew]Rev. 21.7. Gen. 33.•• 〈non-Latin alphabet〉
- 10I have All […] Jacob […] 17 Ro. 11.•6I have All 〈…〉 Jacob 〈…〉 17 Ro. 11.6
