Works, Part 4 · Religious instruction · Chapter 55
CHAP. LV. Of Prosperitie.
IOsephs example in drinking wine, is not an example of excesse, wherein wee commonly offend at this day, for that is condemned and iudgements are prepared for it. AndExcesse condemned. Act. 4. 17. Austeritie. want and such like too much austeritie is not commended, for why then should there bee such diuers tastes in meates? And wine was giuen not onelyonly to quench the thirst, but also to make the hearts of men glad: for which purpose all the other creatures serue also and therefore the children of Israel were commaunded to eate and to bee merrie before the Lord. The same may bee gathered out of the second of Iohn, where Christ, albeit they had well drunke at the mariage, yet chaunged the water into wine, which hee wouldSobrietie. not hauehave done, if so austere order should hauehave beene obserued. Although then wee may not pamper vp our bodies, yet may wee hauehave a due care of the same, and so distinguishing our libertie learne to abound and likewise to want: for if we can be content with the want of things, it is a signe wee should well vse them, if we had them, as in pouertie, nakednesse, losse of friends. Againe, if wee vse abundance of things well, it is like wee should also wellColoss. 2. beare the want of them, as a rich man to come to pouertie. Let vsus therefore learne diligētly to search our hearts how we beare things present which we often let passe: and contrariwise in pouertie, imagine what we would doe if we were rich, and seeke not to beare pouertie well. Also being in quietnesse, wee imagine what we would doe in affliction, not seeking to deale well in the present estate.
2 Ioseph hauing forgiuen his brethren, as appeareth in thar hee wept for them, gaue them money, and curteously talked with them, and gaue them entertainment; yet dealt hee roundly with them in trying out their repentance, because hee had attained to great wisedome, which herein he vsed, and also had a louing and pure affection; yet his example we are not to follow in all respects, for he sustained the person of a Magistrate, and eueryevery one must keepe himselfe within the bounds of his calling. Ioseph did beare the person ofIoseph imprisoning his brethren. Christ in all this, where we learne, that although the Lord doe iustly afflict vsus, yet wee may be sure our sinnes are alreadie forgiuen vsus, as Ioseph dealt with his brethren.
3 Peace sometime is taken for a prosperous and quiet state in this life, as goe yee inPeace and prosperitie. peace: Sometime for quietnesse of conscience, but here it is taken for them both, and riseth wholy of the feeling of Gods mercies: we ought then to walke in the course of godlinesse, without feare; and to assure our selues of the preseruation of this our state: all our happinesse then is in Christs mercies, and it should be our chiefe care continually to come to the feeling of them. But because peace cannot bee without the feeling of Gods mercies, and his mercies, without the feeling of our miseries, therefore none shall hauehave euer peace of conscience, or quietnes and ioy of those things which he possesseth, except hee hath first been touched with the feeling of his miseries. The worldly rich men then hauehave not this peace, for they know they are but vsurpers, because they bee not liuely members of Christ, who was of his Father made heire of al things. Againe, the godly though they be in great want, yet hauehave all things because they hauehave the peace and quietnesse of their conscience, they do then preposterously, which first lay vp for them and their children the riches of this world, and doe not seeke the kingdome of heauen. The word saluation ought to make a difference betweene vsus and the Heathen, which say, health and peace is all with them, but let vsus be content with that which the Apostle vsed, and neither follow the Heathen, nor inuent courtly tearmes of our selues.
4 God is debter to none, & therefore he sheweth merciemercy vponupon whom he wil, against thePopish Predestination. Papists which say that the lord predestinateth eueryevery one according to the fore knowledge of his workes. If the Lord shew lesser mercies to vsus than to others, wee hauehave no cause to complaine, because he is no debter: so wee must not enuie then that hauehave great gifts, for if we hauehave any, it is more than due, or than wee hauehave deserued: and this will teach vsus to be contented with that we hauehave had. Let vsus then looke on that wee hauehave, and giuegive GodContentatiō. thankes for it, and know that if we should hauehave more, he would giuegive more: yea if wee consider, that they that hauehave much, must make the greater account, and that we are vnfit to doe so, wee will thanke God that wee hauehave no more than we hauehave. Iacob willeth his sonnes, that they should not measure the grace of God by outward signes: for albeit it bee a punishment to loose them, yet wee shall neuer rest soundly in God, vnlesse wee can learne toA note vponupon Gen. chap. 48. vers. 21. 22. I die but God shall be with you. leaue them. Secondly, whereas Iacob saide that they should looke for the performance of Gods promise quickly, but in the Lords time: hereby we learne to looke safely for whatsoeuer is promised in the word, as that we be heires of the world, though we be afflicted in it. Againe, he giueth that which hee neuer possessed, for hee had but onelyonly a burying place there, and yet this portion fell to them, Io… 14. 4. Wee learne then to striue to be strong in the faith, as the Fathers were.
5 In this did the saith of Iacob and Ioseph notably appeare, that they neither forgot theProsperitie. promsed land; nor thought worse of it for all the prosperitie which they had in Egypt, nor the paines which they suffered in Canaan. Where note that both prosperitie and aduersitie drawe vsus neere to God, if wee hauehave once receiued the Spirit of God; but without that in their owne nature, they are forcible to drawe vsus away from God: as may bee seene in the Israelites, who for all their trobles in Aegypt, could not bee brought to theTo glorifie God in our present estate Hebr 13. 7, Faith. Lord: let vsus learne then to glorifie God in our owne present estate, and to vse that well: and then shall wee bee prepared to …eare well whatsoeuer commeth. Iacob at his death giueth his Sonnes that which hee himselfe had neuer the possession of, which declared his faith grounded on the word: for he… faith, God said thus▪ Thus must we beleeue when wee hauehave the word though it seeme ridiculous, but wee must not beleeue without the word.