The Christians Daily Sacrifice, Chapter 24
CHAP. XXIIII.
THE next imployment of the day … how to behaue thy selfe in enioying of good things,Of prosperity, and the right vse thereof. and in the right vse of prosperity: and the knowledge hereof is needefull.
First,Sect. 1. Necessary to be knowne. Because the best hauehave been tripped in this estate, as Salomon, Ionas, &c.
For first heereby religious exercises hauehave beene coldly performed and intermitted. Mat. 22. 5.
2 Liberty hath beene giuen to loosenesse, and inward gifts growne cold. Hab. 1. 16. Amos 6. 5.
3 Euils that were banished,Danger of prosperity in the best. hauehave beene recalled againe, as gaming, &c. 1. Cor. 10. 7.
4 They weaken our trust and confidence in God. Hab. 1. 16.
5 Withdraw our louelove and kindnes towards inferiours, with whom heretofore we hauehave been inward.
6 Breede policy, and so decei… euen in many professors. Genes. 20. 11. And
7 Cause couetousnes and louelove of this life. Psal. 62. 10. Luc. 12. 19. Amos 6. 3.
8 Yea, breed an vnwillingnesse to beare the crosse, and cunning to auoid it. Mat. 26.
9 GiueGive occasion to the world to thinke we are hers, and so causing her to presūe of vsus, makes hir hereby, being deceiued, when it comes to the proofe, our more heauie enemie. Gen. 31.
10 Hereupon also it comes to passe that the burthen lies heauier vponupon the afflicted, euen because of our prosperity, beeing not caried wisely, and tenderly. Amos 6. 5. Esay. 5.
11 Yea, it is the occasion that causes vsus many times to censure those that are afflicted, and to challenge their sincerity because of their afflictions. Iob 8. Iob 4. &c.
12 And not onelyonly so, but it causeth iealousie among professors, and so distrust of each other, when all beare not the same burthen. Romanes 15. 1. Romanes 12. 13. 16.
2 This estate is very slippery, and therefore wee had neede to get sure footing that we may stand vpright therein. Psal. 73.
3 It is most vncertain & changable and therefore it stands vsus vponupon to make vsus friends thereof while we hauehave it. Luk. 16.
4 The feare of the losse hereof doth much distract which the right vse therof will much abate and qualifie. Psal. 112. 7.
It being therefore apparant that the best may and do abuse prosperity obserue now how we may vse it a right:
First, then let vsus consider the ends, why the Lorde bestowes these outward blessings in this life vponupon his children, which are these
1 To trie whither we wil prefer him before them, and can louelove him better then them. Iob. 1.
2 To make vsus his stewards in an holy dispensation of them. Mat. 25.
3 To be pledges vntounto vsus, and furtherances of spirituall blessings. Gen. 17. 1.
4 That wee may humbled to giuegive him the glorie of thē. Ro. 11. 36.
And therefore,
1 We must not set our hearts vponupon them but keepe them intirely to God. Psal. 62.
2 We must not be puffed vp with them. Psal. 75.
3 Wee must not tie, nor measure God onelyonly by them. Psalme 30. 6.
4 Wee must bee willing for his sake to part with them either for the good of others or to auoyd our owne hurt. Mat. 10. 37.
5 And all this not as if they were ours, but Gods to dispose wholy to his glory, and the good of his church & children. Matt. 19. 29 13. Colos. 3. 23. Rom. 12.
Secondly, because the ouer high conceite of these things is no small occasion to bewitch our hearts with them, therfore let vsus labour to rectifie our iudgements concerning prosperity that so our ouerweening opinion thereof may be abated, and our affections rectified therein.
To this end.
First,Sect. 3. Considerations to this purpose. consider we that though they are Gods blessings, yet they are giuen for the most part to euil men & become snares & pits vntounto them. Ps. 69. and therfore, if there were no other preheminence, euen the wicked in these excell vsus. 1. Tim. 6.
2 Acknowledg we that the best hauehave bin tainted and much defaced by them, & behold we in their example what may befal vsus, as Solomon and Dauid.
3 That they neither hauehave bin, nor shall be any certaine inheritance to the best, but hauehave changed their master according to the good pleasure of the giuer.
4 That we deserue not the least of thē, & with al our industry without Gods blessing cannot compasse them, and when we hauehave them they are but lent vsus.
5 That in the iudgement of the best they are but vanity, and breed vexation of spirit; Nay, that indeed they are nothing, yea lesse then nothing. Eccles. 1. 2. 1. Cor. 7.
3 Wee must bee carefull in the right dispensation of them.
And that in this manner:
First, We must principally honor God with our substance. Prouer. 3.
And this is done,
1 By acknowledging we hauehave al of his free mercy. Gen. 32.
2 Willingly consessing from what a low estate the Lord hath raised vsus. Gen. 32.
3 By thankefulnes vntounto him for the least as well as for the greatest. 1. Tim. 6. 8. Ephes. 5. 20.
4 By faithfulnes in a lower state, that so the Lord may increase vsus. Matt. 25. and this is performed:
1 By following our calling, as cō tentedly & hūbling our selues therin being increased, as when we began with nothing. De. 8. 11. Phi. 4. 11, 12
2 We must now much more be open handed, and that especially to the houshold of faith. 2. Cor. 9. Gal. 6. 10.
3 We must not thinke it enough to comfort the body, but wee must also minister to the soule, which few rich men make cōscience of, neither indeed are able to performe. Ge. 18
2 We must honour our selues in God with thē, by eating the labours of our hands. Psa. 128. and that not only for necessity but for ornament also. But yet with these conditions:
1 That we exceede not our callings.
2 That wee remember Ioseph in trouble. Amos 6. 5.
3 That we be alwaies fitted to spirituall duties. Luke 21. 34.
4 And readie to be abased as we hauehave abounded. Phil. 4. 11.
The triall of the right vse of our prosperity is:
1 That our heauenly thirst goes forward with our earthly,Sect. 4. To know when we hauehave vsed prosperity aright. and exceeds it. 1. Tim. 6. Mat. 6. 33.
2 That these outward things weane vsus from the louelove of the world 1. Cor. 7. 29, 30, 31.
3 That we are prepared to suffer afflictions. Luke 9. 23.
4 That though wee giuegive these things their due, yet wee account them al as dung in respect of Christ. Phil. 3. 8.
5 That we make them our seruants to our Christian callings. Luke 16. 19.
Helpes hereunto are:
1 To consider,Sect. 5. Helpes hereto. we are but strangers and pilgrims in this life, and therefore had neede to goe lightlie on our iourney. 1. Pet. 2. 11.
2 We are but tenants at will. 1. Tim. 6. 17.
4 Stewards for other. Luke 16.
4 Must giuegive vp a large account at the day of Christ Iesus. Luke 12. 48