Diary of a Thankful Christian, Chapter 4

Diary of a Thankful Christian · Chapter 4

p. 66CHAP. IV.

The manner how a Journall or Diary is … be uſed, and firſt what is to be done … way of obſervation.

THus far of the materials whereof Journall may be compounded: No… in the next place I ſhall ſpeak of the mann… how ſuch a Journall is to be uſed. And he… in two things would be commended to th… Chriſtian Reader.

1. Rules of Obſervation: And,

2. Rules of Practice.

For obſervation take notice of theſe thre… Rules:

1. Labour by faith to ſee and obſerv… God in all things that are beſtowed on you▪ Kin▪ … ▪ 14.continued to you; ſay as Eliſha, Here is t… mantle, but where is the God of Elijah? He… is health, and peace, and liberty; but wher… is the God of theſe comforts? The Na… of God; that is, the wiſdome of God, th… power and faithfulneſſe of God, is writt… p. 67upon every ſpire of graſſe, upon every drop … rain, in ſuch great letters, that he that …ns may read. Let the ſame minde be in us …at was in Jacob, the Iſrael of God, who when … told his Wives his reſolution to leave his …ncle Laban, uſeth this language, God hath Gen. 31. ….Gen 31…ken away your Fathers cattle, and given them to …e. And when he met with his Brother …ſau, who asked him of the children whoſe …ey were; he anſwered, they are the children …hich God of his grace hath given me. At the …me time urging his Brother to accept the …eſſſing that he had ſent him, he uſeth this …rgument, I have ſeen thy face, as though I & 33. 10, 11▪…nd ſeen the face of God. And again, Take …hat is brought thee, becauſe God hath de… …ac…ouſly with me. He that cannot ſee God …n a judgement, will never be truely hum…le; and he that cannot ſee God in a mercy, …an never be truely thankfull. Check your …elves therefore often for this neglect, as this …acob did, who when in his journey to Laban …e had in a viſion a ſight of a Ladder, whoſe …oot ſtood on the earth, and whoſe top did …each to heaven, and the Angels of God were …ſcending & deſcending upon it, and the Lord …ood above it: All which was a lively diſco…ery of Gods provident care of him; ſaid, God was in this place, and I knew it not. So& 28. 16. …y you, God was in this friend that relieved …e, in this ordinance that refreſhed me, …n this creature that comforted me, and I obſerved him not. There are none of the p. 68wayes of God, wherein he uſeth either th… miniſtery of Angels, or the wiſdome of me… or the ſtrength of any creature; but God is … the top of the Ladder, and orders all, though we obſerve him not.

We may by an eye of reaſon ſee a man is his works, though his perſon be not preſent… As, when we ſee a piece of ground well ploughed, the fences well made, the cattle well ordered, we ſay, Here is a good Hu… band, though we do not ſee the Farmer▪ When we ſee a houſe built very well, and every room well contrived, we ſay, Here i… a good Work-man, though we do not ſee the Carpenter. And may we not as well by an eye of faith behold the wiſdome, goodneſſe, and power of God in his works▪ though he be inviſible. Say you therefore▪ Here is ſo much of the prudence of a P…nce, ſo much of the policy of a State, ſo much of the valour and faithfulneſſe of a Governour; but how much do you obſerve of God, who rules the hearts and wayes of all men? Here is ſo much of the coſt of a Father, ſo much of the affection of a Mother, ſo much of the faithfulneſſe of a Friend, but how much of the mercy and wiſdome of God?

A great Cardinall (that I have read of) writing down in his Diary what ſuch a Lord did for him, how far ſuch a Prince favoured him, what incouragement he had from ſuch a King, and how ſuch a Pope preferr'd p. 69him, but not a word of God; one …eading of it, ſaid, This man remembred …is friends, but forgat God. Like another Haman, who when he told his friends, and …ereſh his Wife, of the glory of his riches, …nd the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the King had pro…oted him, who had advanced him above …ll the Princes and Servants at the Court, …nd what honor Queen Eſther did him, whoEſt. 5. 11.Esth 5:11 …nvited him onelyonly with the King to the ban…uet, never made any mention of God. Do …ou rather as David, who when he had …old King Saul how he had ſlain the Lion and the Bear, ſaid moreover, The Lord that 1 Sam. 17. 37.1 Sam 17:37…elivered me, &c. He comes over with it a…ain, rather then not mention the Name of the Lord, and let Saul know he obſerved Gods great power in that victory.

All the letters in the Alphabet, without a …owel, will not make one word; nor all the …ars in the firmament, without the Sun, will make a day; nor all the world, the profits of it, or pleaſures in it, can make a man happy without God.

The Jews (ſome ſay) when they read the Book of Eſther, let the book fall on the ground, and they give this reaſon for that …eremony, though they eſteem it a Canonitall piece of Scripture, yet they ſomewhat undervalue it, becauſe the word of God is not found in all the Story. Though a man have as much health, ſtrength, and beauty p. 70as Nature can afford him; and to that a… much wealth, honor, and friends, as th… world can bring him; and to all theſe a… much learning as Tutors can put into him; yet if he be a man without God, he falls in the thoughts and eſtimation of ſuch as are ſpirituall, and can diſcern him, though they may acknowledge him a very diſcerning man.

2. Labour by faith to ſee and obſerve all theſe good things in God. For as omnia mal… may be ſeen in ſummo malo: All evils in the world may be ſeen in ſin, the chief evill; as blindneſſe, nakedneſſe, poverty, death, hell; for he that is ignorant, is blind indeed; he that is without God, is naked indeed; he that hath no grace, is very poor; he that is dead in ſins and treſpaſſes, is truely dead; he that is under the power of ſin, and given up wholly to his hearts luſts, is in an he…l above ground. So omnia bona are in ſumm… bono, all good things are in God the chiefeſt good. All creatures may be ſeen in the Creator, as all the ſtars may be ſeen in the ſun.2 Cor. 1. 3.2 Cor 1:3 So the Apoſtle thought, who called God the God of all comfort. Honor is not the God of comfort, nor liberty, nor health, or wealth; nor hath honor the comfort of liberty, nor liberty the comfort of health, nor health the comfort of children or wealth, &c. But the comfort of all theſePſal. 84. 11.Ps 84:11 may be found in God. Hence he is called our Son. He will be a Sun and a ſhield to thoſe p. 71that walk uprightly. The light and com…ort of all theſe things may be found in God, … the light of all the ſtars may be ſeen in …he Sun: As a Sun he gives all the light, ſo … a ſhield he gives all the protection to all …en, and means of our good: The ſhield in …ncient times (to which the holy Ghoſt …eems, as ſome think, to allude) was made …o big, as it covered the whole man, and all …is armour; as appears by that ſpeech of Ajax, to or of Ʋlyſſes, when he contended …im about the armour of Achilles: Oppoſui molem clypei, texique jacentem.

…n his flight he came to me, and I covered …im with my ſhield, and ſo ſaved his life. So I ſay, as a Sun and ſhield all comfort is from him. Hence he that can call the Lord his God, may call God any thing that at any time he ſtands in need of. As David ſometimes did, whileſt compaſſed about with many enemies. The Lord is my rock, and my fortreſſe, Pſal. 18. 2.Ps 18:2my deliverer, my high tower, my buckler; and why ſo? He is my God, and in that all. If he be my God (ſaith a believer) he is my Father, and no father like him for affection; if my God, … my Friend, and no friend like him for faithfulneſſe; my Phyſician, and none like& 41. 3. him for skill; nay, my Bed-maker, and none can make my bed ſo eaſie as he. So that if we loſe the comfort of any creature; as, the comfort of a wife by death, of health by ſickneſſe, of liberty by a priſon, of wealth by poverty; they may all be found in a God; who is health in ſickneſſe, liberty in priſon; yea, all things in the want of all. He that is the Alpha and Omega hath ſaid it,Rev. 21. 7.Rev 21:7 He that overcometh ſhall inherit all things: But how ſhall that be? I will be (ſaith the Lord) his God, and he ſhall be my Son. All comfort is divided amongſt the creatures, as by ſeverall channels, but united in God as the fountain.

The King of Bohemia (as ſome have reported) when he was beaten out of Prague, and therefore almoſt out of all in that Kingdome, was encouraged by ſome great Commanders about him, that he had many Princes his friends and Allies, that were potent, and would readily aſſiſt him; to which he made no anſwer, but wrote the word DEƲS in great letters; implying thereby, that all theſe muſt be found in God, or they could do him no good; whence ſome pickt out his meaning, and found Denmark in D, England in E, Hungary in Ʋ, and the Swedes in S.

But I have read that Herod in a ſpeech that he made in the head of his Army that was ready to joyn battle with the enemy, the better to encourage his Souldiers, had this paſſage: Where juſtice is, God is; and where God is, there is no want of men or fortitude. God is a perfect good, as well as a ſolid good. Id bonum perfectum dicitur (ſaith Lactantius) euj nil accedere, ſolidum cui nil decedere poteſt: p. 73That is a perfect good, to which nothing can … added; that a ſolid, from which nothing can be ſpared. Hence it is, that God in wiſdom and mercy plucks theſe ſtools from under us, that we ſit ſo ſecurely upon, that we may look up to him, and finde that comfort in him that we loſt in them. When David's1 Sam. 30. 6.1 Sam 30:6 Captains and Commanders, that ſo long had ftuck ſo cloſe to him, ſpake of ſtoning ſtoning him, he comforted himſelfe in his God. When Habbakuk could finde no bloſſome in the figtree, nor fruit in the vines; when he could finde nothing in the fold, nor in the field, nor in the ſtall; yet he would rejoyce in the Lord Hab. 3. 17, 18,Hab 3:17Hab 3:18and joy in the God of his ſalvation; becauſe all might be found in a God. When Micah looked upon the miſerable face of the Time in which he lived, wherein there was ſcarce a good man to be found nor a friend to be had, the beſt was but as a b…yar, and a mans enemies were thoſe of his owne houſe; ſo that neither the childe of a mans loyns, nor the wife that lay in his boſome were to be truſted; he reſolves to look up to God. Therefore I will look unto the Lord, I will wait Mic. 7. 1, 2. 3, 4, 5, 7.Mic 7:1Mic 7:2Mic 7:3Mic 7:4Mic 7:5Mic 7:7for the God of my ſalvation, there I ſhall finde all comfort. How happy is he then that hath the Lord for his God! He is one of St. Paul's2 Cor. 6. 10.2 Cor 6:10 rich men, as having nothing, yet poſſeſſing all things. So that I ſhall conclude this paſſage with that of the Prophet, Let not the wiſe Jer. 9. 23.Jer 9:23man glory in his wiſdome, neither let the mighty man glory in his ſtrength, nor the rich man in his p. 74riches, but let him that gloryeth, glory in this, that he knoweth me, &c. Not the wiſe man in his wiſdome, Satan is wiſer then he, and yet a Devill; nor the ſtrong man in his ſtrength, for the Horſe is ſtronger then he, and yet a Beaſt; nor the rich man in his wealth, the Earth is richer then he, and yet he treads upon it every day; but let him that gloryeth, glory in this, that he knoweth the Lord to be his God. Happy is the people that is in Pſ. 144. 15.Ps 144:15ſuch a caſe (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) yea, happy is that people that hath the Lord for their God. That any of us have the cap and the knee from our inferiours, is our priviledge, but not our happineſs; that any of us have the uppermoſt ſeat in the Church, or chiefeſt room at a feaſt, is our honor, but not our happineſſe; that any of us eat the fat, and drink the ſweet, when others eat aſhes as bread, and mingle their drink with their tears, is our comfort, but not our happineſſe; but happy is that people that is in ſuch a caſe; yea, happy is that ſoul that can ſay, The Lord is my God.

Thirdly, obſerve well the mediums, the choyce wayes and means by which all good things are conveyed to us. It is good to know how we come by what we have.

Theſe three wayes take ſpeciall notice of as moſt obſervable. All good things come to us:

1. By Chriſt, ſavingly.

2. By the promiſe, certainly.

3. By the creatures, ſenſibly.

p. 751. Obſerve how all good things come in by Jeſus Chriſt ſavingly. God gives all good things to his through Jeſus Chriſt. If God ſpared not his owne Son, but delivered him Rom. 8. 32.Rom 8:32… for us all, how ſhall he not with him alſo freely give us all things? Peace with him, and liberty, and riches, and honor with him, are a good portion indeed. All things are 1 Cor. 3. 21, 22.1 Cor 3:211 Cor 3:22yours, ſaith the Apoſtle to the Corinthians, Paul and Apollos, things preſent and things to co…e, &c. But how come they in? Ye are Chriſts (ſaith the Apoſtle) and Chriſt is Gods. All comes to us by Jeſus Chriſt, as all the corn in Aegypt came through Joſeph's fingers, ſo all comforts come to us by Jeſus Chriſt, who is our Mediatour; who hath not onelyonly by his blood purchaſed all things for us, but ſanctified all to us; he turns our waters into wine, and makes our bitter waters ſweet. Hence as all our duties are preſented from us to God by Jeſus Chriſt, and therefore are accepted; ſo all things are conveyed to us from God by Jeſus Chriſt, and ſo are ſanctified. Chriſt is not onelyonly our Mediator, but our Husband alſo, and ſo we enjoy all good things with him and by him; we have conjugal communion with him; ſo that we may ſay as Hamor and Sechem ſaid to their people (the better to perſwade them to be circumciſed, and to marry into Jacob's family) Shall not all their Gen. 34. 23.Gen 34:23cattle, and ſubſtance, and every beaſt of the field be ours? So, if we be married to Jeſus p. 76Chriſt, and become one with him, ſhall not all be ours through him who is heir of all? Not onelyonly his wiſdome to inlighten us, and his power to uphold us, but the world to ſupply us; ſo that if this Husband of ours he honorable, we cannot be mean; if he be rich, we cannot be poor; and ſo a little with him is a great portion, when the whole world without him is nothing. Hence the Saints of God, out of their love to Jeſus Chriſt, do uſe to ſet Jeſus Chriſt above all; his name alſo ſhall be above every name. Princes in their Proclamations, Charters, and Grants, ſet their names in the beginning, on the top, as James by the grace of God King of England, &c. Subjects do alwayes uſe to ſubſcribe their names to their Wills, Letters, Leaſes in the bottome: Both the Old Teſtament and the New, wherein the Will of God is contained, have the name of God ſet down in the beginning, asGen. 1.Gen 1 In the beginning God created, &c. Gen. 1. 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was Job. 1.Job 1with God, and the Word was God, Joh, 1. 1. It is good to ſet Jeſus Chriſt above all, for he is the ſumma totalis of all our comforts. The Grecians ſet the ſumma totalis of their bills of accompt in the top of the page, as we do in the bottome. Chriſt and riches, Chriſt and honors, Chriſt and liberty is the totall ſum of all we enjoy. Let us make Jeſus Chriſt our Generaliſſimo, Commander in chief, Primate, Supreme, All in all, ſet him above all.

p. 771. Above all comforts and outward contents. Like thoſe brave Germane Ladies in a fiege; who when the Emperor at the ſurrender of the Town gave them liberty to carry with them what they could, but excepted the men, who were to ſtand to his mercy; left all their gold and ſilver, with their rich jewels, and took up their Husbands, and carryed them out with them. Let us leave all, ſo we may enjoy Chriſt. Let 2 Sam. 19. 30.2 Sam 19:30Ziba have all (ſaith Mephiboſheth to David) ſo that the King return. Let the men of the world have all the wealth, though we be impoveriſhed; let them have all the honour and friends, though we be diſgraced and forſaken, ſo Jeſus Chriſt may rule in us, and rejoyce over us, and be all in all to us.

2. Set Jeſus Chriſt above all the men and means of any good. Men are apt to make idols of ſuch as have been inſtruments of their outward peace and happineſſe: Chriſt will admit of no corrivals, he will be all or none. When Tiberius the Emperour of Rome ſent to the Senate, and required that the Image of Chriſt might be ſet up in the Capitoll, they returned this anſwer from their Prieſts, that if he were ſet up, all the other Images of their gods muſt down; if1 Sam. 5. 4.1 Sam 5:4 Jeſus Chriſt be ſet up, all our Idols muſt fall, our Dagons will fall before the Ark.

3. Set Jeſus Chriſt above all your duties, parts, gifts, and abilities. Your ſelfiſhneſſe p. 78proves often your greateſt prejudice. Like the viper in Paul's bundle of ſticks, which he brought in to make a fire and warm his fingers with, would ſting you to death,Act. 28. 3.Acts 28:3 did not God in mercy prevent the miſchief. If you compoſe your ſelves with ſuch ſparks, you ſhall lie down in ſorrow, if God be not more gracious to you. In all your duties… Sam. 12. 30. therefore it is beſt to do as Joa… did, when he had won Rabbuh, he ſent to David to take the Crown; and good reaſon, for all the men and means, the money and ammunition were David's. So here, all your ſufficiency is from Chriſt, you can do all things through Phil. 4. 15.Phil 4:15Chriſt that ſtrengthens you. Let him therefore go away with the Crown. Be not like proud…ſt. 6. 8. Haman, whom nothing could content, but the royall apparell, the royall horſe and crown. Chriſt will part with any thing to you but his crown, but his glory; take heed of uſurping that. What part or member of the body ſoever is uſed in getting the victory, by the conſent of all the head is crowned: However you ſpeed, let Chriſt have the crown.

When Caeſar and Bibulus were Conſuls, Caeſar did all, Bibulus▪ did nothing, being overawed by Caeſar: whereupon the Wits of Rome would in jeſt ſubſcribe their Letters, Julio & Caeſare conſulibus: Do you ſo, if through the grace of Chriſt you can bear afflictions patiently, perform duties fruitfully, pray with heart, confeſſe with ſorrow, p. 79beg with life, hear with fruit, ſay, we can do all things by Jeſus Chriſt aſſiſting us.

…. Obſerve how all good things are … upon you, continued to you, by the Promiſe certainly. All providences to a gr…cious heart, are but as ſo many fulfillings of promiſes. Carnall men have nothing but by common providence; but whatever this man hath, he enjoys by ſpeciall promiſe; ſo that his peace is the peace of promiſe, his liberty the liberty of promiſe, his deliverance the deliverance of promiſe. Labour therefore to ſee every comfort you have … in your Journal, conveyed to you in and by a promiſe. Thus did Joſhua, who when the people were ſetled in the Land of … told them, that they knew in their … and ſouls, that not one thing hadJoſh. 23 14.Josh 23:14 failed of all the good things which the Lord their God had ſpake concerning them, all was come to paſſe. It is good to obſerve how Gods judgements are executed upon tranſgreſſors, according to his Word, and to ſay as Jehu did, when the fierceneſſe of2 King. 9. 25, 36.2 Kgs 9:252 Kgs 9:36 Gods wrath was poured out upon Ahab and Ji…hel, This is the burthen that the Lord laid upon him, and this is the word of the Lord that he ſpoke by Elijah the Tiſhbit…. When we ſee Ad…lt…rers brought to ſhame, and a morſel of …ad, ſay. This is according to the Word of th… Lord, who hath ſaid, Whoremongers Heb. 13. 4.Heb 13:4… adulterers God will judge. When ye ſee ſwearers, and blaſphemers, and perjured perſons, puniſhed with a ſtroke from heaven, ſay, This day is this Scripture fulfilled in ourExod. 20. 7.Exod 20:7 eyes, God will not hold them guiltleſſe that take his name …vain. But it is far more comfortable to ſee all good things beſtowed according to a promiſe, and to be able to ſay as David, Pſa. 1…9. 65.Ps 1:9Ps 1:65Thou hast dealt well with thy ſervant, O Lord, according to thy Word▪ So did Solomon, when he ſate upon the throne of his Father David, Bleſſed be the Lord God of Iſrael. who hath fulfilled with his hand that which he ſpake with his mouth. And again in the ſame prayer,2 Chr. 4. 10.2 Chr 4:10 The Lord hath performed his word that he hath ſpoken, for I am riſen up in the room of my Father David, and am ſet on the throne of Iſrael, as the Lord hath promiſed. We talk much of Providences, and indeed we are apt to make Providences to ſerve our turns; as Jonah, though a Prophet, and a good man, when he was ſent to Nineveh, and not willing to go upon that Embaſſage, but to Joppa, and finding a ſhipJonah 1. 3.Jonah 1:3 going to Tarſhiſh, Oh ſurely (thought he) here's a providence, God would have me now go rather to Tarſhiſh, ſo providence leads me; and indeed this is a great part of the Religion of our time, here was a providence, and there was a providence; yea, a continned ſeries of providentiall actings: but no man asks, Where is the Precept requiring, or the Promiſe encouraging? He that walks by common providence, without a ſpeciall Precept to guide him, or ſingular Promiſe to comfort him, walks by a dark p. 81… and will finde that his ſucceſſes will prove but pitfalls in the concluſion, and will …ll ſhort of an happy iſſue; according to that ſaying:

—Careat ſucceſſibus opto

Quiſquis ab eventu facta notanda putat.

But let every wiſe man obſerve how his ſucceſſefull proceedings are fruits of a Promiſe. So did the Virgin Mary; God hath holpen hisLuk. 1. 54, 55,Luke 1:54Luke 1:55 ſervant Iſrael in remembrance of his mercy, as he ſpoke to our Forefathers, Abraham and his ſeed for ever. So did Zachariah; God hath raiſed up69, for … … born of ſalvation in the houſe of his ſervant70, David, as he ſpake by the mouth of his holy71. …, that we ſhould be ſaved from our enemies, and from the hands of all that hate us; to perform the mercy promiſed to our Fathers, and to remember his holy covenant. Go you, and do likewiſe; ſee how Promiſes run out into Providences. As, when we ſee a ſincere courſe of life bleſſed; ſay, This is according to Gods Word, who hath ſaid, No good thingPſal. 84. 11.Ps 84:11 ſhall be wanting to them that walk uprightly. When you ſee the children of honeſt godly parents proſper, you may ſee the promiſe that day fulfilled, which ſaith, The righteous walks inProv. 20. 7.Prov 20:7 …his integrity, and his children are bleſſed after him

Now that we may do this, that we may the better diſcern in what channel, by what promiſe ſuch a comfort flowes in to us, p. 82ſoure things would be skilfully attended:

1. Endevour to ſort the promiſes, and … know their ſeveral kinds. Some are abſolute ſome conditionall; ſome are generall, ſome are particular, made to ſome perſons; ſome for this life, ſome for the life to come. Godlineſſe 1 Tim. 4. 8.1 Tim 4:8(ſaith the Apoſtle) hath the promiſes … this life, and of that which is to come. Some promiſes are encouragements, as 1 Cor. 5. 20▪ Some are comforts, as 1 Cor. 10. 13. Some bring rewards, as Pſal. 84. 11. Some contain priviledges, as Joh. 1. 12. Tradeſmen ſo… their commodities, by which they live; ſo ſhould believers promiſes to which they truſt, and from which they have all.

2. Be ſure you underſtand the language of the Promiſe. Take heed that the Promiſe give not an uncertain ſound, nor let the promiſe be a Barbarian to you. Let the promiſe be cleered to you. Chriſt was very nearIoh. 21. 15.John 21:15 to Mary Magdalen, when he appeared to her after his re…urrection, but ſhe thought he had been the Gardener.

As for example:

2 Cor. 6. 17.2 Cor 6:17Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive yo…. This promiſe is neer to us, but few underderſtand what it ſaith. Touch not; that is, be not married to your l…ſts, be not wedded to your wills, but be divorced from every evill way: Scripture is the beſt interpreter1 Cor 7. 1.1 Cor 7:1 of Scripture, another text will open it: It is not good (ſaith the Apoſtle) as the caſe ſtandeth, p. 83for a man to touch a woman; that is, to be married.

Take another inſtance:

Pro. 28. 13.Prov 28:13He that confeſſeth and forſaketh his ſins ſhall have mercy; that is, he that for ſaketh his ſins, … the young married woman leaves her Father and Mother, and is joyned to her Husband; that is, ſhe leaves them in regard of communion with him, for ſhe muſt now live with her Husband, in regard of ſubjection to them; for her deſires muſt be ſubject … her Husband, and he muſt rule over her: So the ſoul leaves his ſin in regard of communion with it, ſubjection to it, as formerly; and now ſaith to Chriſt, as Paul did when converted,Act. 9. 6.Acts 9:6 What wilt thou have me do? How few underſtand the language of that promiſe, Heb. 13. 5. I will never leave thee, nor forſake thee? Where there are five negatives in the Originall, foreign. I will never never never never never leave thee. With the Latines two negatives do more ſtrongly affirm, with the Grecians they do more firmly deny. That you may thus underſtand the language of the promiſe; Let Col. 3. 16.Col 3:16… word of Chriſt dwell plentifully with you; nay, in you, in all wiſdome. The good word of the Lord ſhould be your Vade mecum, your companion, you ſhould have the promiſe alwayes with you, as Saul his ſpear and his cruſe of water at his beds head. Let it lead you walking, watch with you ſleeping, talk with you waking. By this means it will be cleared to you.

3. Endevour to underſtand well the extent of Promiſes, their latitude, and what their boundaries are; that is, know how much they diſh out unto you, how far they will go with you: If the promiſe will go but a mile, do not compel it to go twain: Some promiſes are made to particular perſons, and will not reach you, as the promiſe to Abraham of a childe in his old age. Sometimes a particular promiſe will go farther,Joſh. 1. 5.Josh 1:5 as that to Joſhua, I will never leave thee nor forſake thee. Which St. Paul makes uſe of as a good motive to young married perſons to take heed of covetouſneſſe, and be content;Heb. 13. 5.Heb 13:5 For he hath ſaid, I will never leave thee, nor forſake thee. No good thing ſhall be wanting Pſal. 84 11.Ps 84:11to thoſe that walk uprightly, is a promiſe that muſt be confidered with boundaries and limits. This ſhall be fulfilled in Gods time, in Gods meaſure, after his manner, and by his means, and according to your capacity, ſecundum modum recipientis; the head is more capable of blood and ſpirits then the little finger, a Pottle-pot will hold more then a Pinte: Some man can uſe abundance of honor and wealth, better then you can (it may be) a low and a mean condition.

4. Be skilfull in the method of applying promiſes. A methodicall way is a ſucceſſeful way. Therefore, be ſure you make good p. 85the main promiſe, and then the reſt will follow: I will be thy God, is the main promiſe, the ſumme of all promiſes. Can you ſay as David, Thou art my God? You may ſay then, The Lord is my rock, my fortreſſe, my deliverer. Pſal. 18. 2.Ps 18:2Can you ſay as the Pſalmiſt, I am thine? You may then ſay, Save me, ſanctifie me, deliver & 119. 94.me, provide for me according to thy Word. God that by promiſe hath given us his Son, cannot but fulfill every promiſe to us, according to our neceſſity. There can be no limit in that love, no bound nor bottome in that bounty. If Pharaoh will give Jacob andGen. 45. 19, 20.Gen 45:19Gen 45:20 his family Goſhen, the beſt of all the Land of Aegypt, to dwell in▪ he will provide for them wagons and victuals for the way. If you be juſtified by the death of Chriſt, you ſhall certainly be ſaved by his life. So the ApoſtleRom. 5. 10.Rom 5:10 argues. Primitive acts of Gods grace, are engaging acts; there was no reaſon that a ſinner ſhould be juſtified, but there is a great deal of reaſon that a juſtified perſon ſhould be ſaved; if God will take you as his owne, he is bound to make you as his own for ever.

3. Obſerve how all thoſe good things mentioned in your Journall, are diſpenſed to you by the creatures ſenſibly. There is a vaſt and infinite diſtance betwixt God and man, majeſty and meanneſſe, and therefore we enjoy him, and receive good from him by men and means. All things both in heaven and earth are at his command. All p. 86Pſal. 50. 10.Ps 50:10creatures are his, and for our ſervice; not onelyonly the cattle of a thouſand hills are his,…. 95. 4. but the ſtrength of thoſe hills are his alſo. In all which obſerve Gods wiſdome and goodneſſe in this threefold choyce.

1. His wiſdome and goodneſſe in the choyce of the inſtruments. Why this man, and that means, rather then any other? God often chooſeth where man leaves, and leaves where man chooſeth. He is wiſer then the wiſeſt, and better then the beſt. Of all the Sons of Jacob, who would have thought of Joſeph, the youngeſt, and ſold by his Brethren; that he ſhould have proved the inſtrument of preſerving his Father and his family from periſhing in the famine,Gen. 50. 20.Gen 50:20 and providing for them a dwelling place in the Land of Aegypt? And yet God made choyce of him. Amongſt all the Sons of Jeſſe, even Samuel the Seer would not have choſen David, the youngeſt, and the leaſt regarded, and therefore ſet to keep the… Sam. 16. 13. ſheep, to be the man whom God would anoint amongſt his Brethren, to be King of Iſrael: And yet God made choyce of him, and leaves Eliab, and Shammah, and Abinadab, though proper perſons, great Souldiers, and prime Courtiers. When this David was ſent by his Father into the Camp to viſit his Brethren, none would have judged him a fit man to encounter with Goliah, yea even Saul himſelf could not believe it; Thou art not able (ſaith he) to go out againſt this p. 87Philiſtine, to fight with him; for thou art but a 1 Sam. 17. 33.1 Sam 17:33youth, and he is a man of war from his youth. And yet God choſe him as the man that ſhould ſlay that Giant, and ſave Iſrael that day. Jethro a Midianite ſhall give good counſel to Moſes, and Gideon ſhall be fetcht fromExod. 18.Exod 18 the threſhing floor, and made Captain Generall over all the forces of Iſrael; he ſhall ſave them from the hands of the Midianites, Judg. 7. 7.Judg 7:7and that with three hundred men alone. This God doth, not onelyonly to magnifie his power and wiſdome, whoſe wayes and thoughts are above ours, paſt finding out; often ſecret, but alwayes juſt; but to check the haughty thoughts of proud man, who is ready to limit the holy one of Iſrael, and to conclude, that if God go not his way to work, that cannot be effected, which is promiſed and expected.

It was the fault of good Melancthon, though a man of excellent parts, and very ſerviceable for Chriſts cauſe, who was extreme penſive, for fear of ſome ſad iſſues of the great meeting at Auſpurge; who though very humble, yet had this pride; his projects muſt like the counſels of God unerringly and unchangeably ſtand, or the cauſe was loſt; whereupon Luther wiſhed Spalatinus his friend to exhort him, yea charge him in his name, Nefiat Deus, that he make not himſelf a god.

It was (as ſome have obſerved) the proud humour of Ferdinand Alvares Duke de Alva, to neglect the advice of others, if beneath him, though never ſo good; and would rather p. 88ſtumble then beware of that block that another had warned him of, becauſe he ſcorned the inſtrument. Such an one was Cardinall Matheo Langi Archbiſhop of Saltzburg, who at the Diet of Auſburg confeſſed that the reformation of the Maſſe was needfull, that liberty of meats was convenient, but that Luther a poor Monk ſhould reform all, and tell them what was to be done, muſt not be endured. But he that walks much with God, and obſerves him in the wayes of his providence, ſhall in his owne experience finde that he receiveth leaſt from thoſe from whom in reaſon he might expect moſt, and moſt oftentimes from thoſe from whom he could expect nothing. Even the Aegyptians ſhall favour the Iſraelites, and lend them jewels of ſilver and gold for their better accommodation in theirExo. 11. 13.Exod 11:13 journey. It was the Lord indeed that gave them favour in the eyes even of their enemies. The very Ravens in a famin ſhall bring Elijah food morning and evening; and when that means fails, a poor Widow ſhall provide for him, when never a Prince nor noble Lord in Iſrael did bear ſo much love to the Prophet, as to ſuſtain him in that extremity. Ebedmelech the Aethiopian is very kinde to Jeremiah, and through his intereſt with the King, works out his inlargement:Jer. 38. 6, 7.Jer 38:6Jer 38:7 When his own Countrey-men caſt him into the dungeon, Nebuzaradan by the commandment of Nebuchadnezzar, p. 89King of Babylon; delivers Jeremy out of priſon, & gives him liberty to go whither he pleaſe, when Zedekiah his own King ſhuts him up inJerem. 32. 3, 39, 11.Jer 32:3Jer 32:39Jer 32:11 priſon. It is an excellent rule, therefore I wiſh all that fear God to obſerve it. Uſe means, love prayer, and truſt God; which was well implyed in that embleme of ſome Heathens: A man with his hand on the plow, but his eye in heaven. There is no reſtraint 1 Sam 14. 6.1 Sam 14:6with God, ſaith Jonathan to his Armour-bearer. If there be many means, God muſt bleſſe them; if but few means, he can multiply them; if they be contrary means, he can uſe them; if there be no means, he can create them, or work without them: He it is that appoints all means of our good: He gives virtue to thoſe means that he appoints, he draws out that virtue that he gives, he bleſſeth that virtue that he draws out, and by the finger of his providence points us to the uſe of thoſe means that he will bleſſe; and in the want of all will work wonderfully for our good. In the Creation, God had light without Sun, Moon, or Stars. He made the earth fruitfull, and cauſed everyGen. 2. 5, 20.Gen 2:5Gen 2:20 plant to flouriſh when there was no rain, nor any man to till the ground, and could finde out an help for Adam that was moſt meet, though he could not.

2. Obſerve Gods goodneſſe in the choyce of the time. As God doth all things well, ſo he doth all at the beſt time. The greateſt things that God hath done in the p. 90world, he hath done for his Church; and the greateſt things that God hath done for his Church, he hath done as by the moſt unlikely inſtruments, ſo at the moſt unlikely time; and yet thoſe inſtruments were the beſt inſtruments, and that time the beſt time. The Aegyptians had wont to picture Time with three heads. Time paſt with the head of a greedy wolfe, as one that had devoured much time. Time preſent with the head of a crowned Lion, triumphing in the enjoyment of the preſent time. Time to come with the head of a dog, fawning on that which is to come. But all our times are in Gods hands (and in better hands they cannot be) our time to come into trouble, our time to continue in trouble, and our time to come out of trouble, is at his diſpoſe. God ſeldome comes at our time, alwayes at his owne. And if deliverance from dangers, ſucceſſe in our endevours, ſupply of our wants had come ſooner or later, it had not been ſo good for us. Chriſt is ſaidGal. 4. 4. …Gal 4:4 to be ſent at the fulneſſe of time, or at the full time; ſo called, becauſe it was juſt thatExo. 12. 41.Exod 12:41 time that God had deſigned. Moſes was ſent to deliver Iſrael out of Aegypt, at the full time, though the tale of bricks were doubled, and their burthens encreaſed; and at the end of 430 years, even the ſelf-ſame day as it was promiſed, it came to paſſe that all the hoſts of the Lord went out from the Land of Aegypt. Chriſt came to his Diſciples p. 91when they were diſtreſſed by a ſtorm …t Sea, in the beſt time, though it were atMatt. 14. 29.Matt 14:29 the fourth Watch in the night, and they moſt in danger. Our extremity is Gods opportunity to magnifie his wiſdome and goodneſſe to us; when we are worſt, God is ever beſt; when we are at our wits end, then he makes the ſtorm a calm, and bringsP. a. 107. 29. us to our deſired haven. When we know not what to do, he knows how to deliver.

Three perſons Chriſt is ſaid in the Goſpel to have raiſed from the dead; one was dead, but not carryed out, and that was Jairus Mar. 5. 41.Mark 5:41his daughter. A ſecond was dead, and carried out, and that was the widows Son of Naim. ALuk. 7. 14.Luke 7:14 third was dead, and carried out, and buried in the grave, where he had lyen foure days,Joh. 11. 39.John 11:39 ſo that he began to ſtink, and that was Lazarus. All theſe he raiſed at his owne time, and that the beſt time. He works as wonderfully in raiſing converts from the grave of ſin. Some are dead, but not carried out; theſe are civill perſons, who are dead in ſin, but more modeſt and moderate, whoſe diſorders are not ſo notorious, and in the publick view of the world; if they be drunk, they are drunk in the night. Some are dead, and carried out; theſe with Abſalom will play their pranks on2 Sam. 16. 22.2 Sam 16:22 the houſe top, that are almoſt in all evillProv. 5. 14.Prov 5:14 in the midſt of the congregation and aſſembly. Some are dead, carried out, and buried; p. 92whoſe filthy lives ſtink in the no… ſtrils of God and men. And yet when Gods time is come, if he ſpeak but the word only, Lazarus come forth, they ſhall live in his ſight. Even Manaſſeh the bloody, and Mary Magdalen the filthy, and Paul the perſecuter, ſhall be converted.

In all our tribulations, both Nationall and Perſonall, it is good to wait on God; who can and will at his owne time deliver our perſons from trouble, and our Nation from the grave of ſorrow; yea, even whenEzek. 37. 2. 10.Ezek 37:2Ezek 37:10 our bones are dead and dry, and ſcattered; he can then propheſie over us, and cauſe a gracious reſurrection, but we must wait till his Pſal. 123. 2.Ps 123:2time come, as the eyes of ſervants upon their Maſters, until he have mercy upon us. We are all for the time preſent, we would all be Maſters, no ſervants. Wilt thou now (ſay the Diſciples to our Saviour after his reſurrection) reſtore the Kingdome to Iſrael? Who anſwered them, It is Act. 1. 7▪Acts 1:7not for you to know the times and ſeaſons that the Father hath put in his owne power. And it is good to wait:

Lam. 3. 26.Lam 3:261. It is bonum honorandum, an honorable good. Happy are theſe thy ſervants (ſaith 1 Kin. 10. 8.1 Kgs 10:8Sheba's Queen) that ſtand continually before thee, O King Solomon. But a greater then Solomon is here.

2. It is bonum utile, a profitable good. The longer we wait, the better we ſpeed. Abraham waited long for a Son, Hanna waited long for a childe; ſo did Zachary and Elizabeth, p. 93and had they not all a moſt gracious iſſue?

When two Monkes came to King Will. Rufu…, to buy an Abbots place, and endevoured to out-bid each other; a third Monk that came to wait on them, was asked what he would give, and anſwered, Not a penny, I came to wait on him that ſhal have the place: upon which he gave the waiter the place.

3. It is bonum jucundum, a pleaſant thing to wait: For all Gods wayes are wayes ofProv. 3. 17.Prov 3:17 pleaſantneſſe, and all his paths are peace.

4. It is bonum aequum: It is moſt juſt that we ſhould wait upon that God that wouldJer. 30. 18.Jer 30:18 wait upon us, that he might be gracious unto us.

Some Hiſtorians have made this difference betwixt Charls King of Sicily, and Fabius the Romane Generall; the firſt ſtaid till the opportunity was paſt, and ſo loſt all; the ſecond waited till the time came, & cunctando reſtituit rem, by waiting the fitteſt ſeaſon, he reſtored the Common-wealth to her former beauty. I had fainted (ſaith the Pſalmiſt)Pſal. 27. 13, 14.Ps 27:13Ps 27:14 unleſſe I had believed to ſee the goodneſſe of the Lord in the land of the living. But he adds by way of advice to others, Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he ſhall ſtrengthen thy heart. Wait I ſay on the Lord. Waiting is nothing elſe but faith and patience and hope lengthened out to Gods time.

3. Obſerve Gods wiſdome and goodneſſe to you in the choyce of the meaſure; p. 94juſt ſo much comfort in the creature, and no more. He it is that gives us our daily bread, that feeds us with convenient food, that is, an allowance fitted to our ſize and ſtature, a proportion ſuitable to our condition. A cruſt of Gods carving is better then a banquet of our owne providing. IPſal. 37. 16.Ps 37:16 am ſure that is true that the Pſalmiſt hath taught us, A little that a righteous man hath is better then the riches of many wicked ones. Becauſe that little is Gods allowance. Plentifull proviſions have oftentimes large bills of accompt. How hard a matter is it to enjoy much, with an Omnia bene! Many rich owners are like weary Sumpter-horſes, who having travelled all day under the burthen of ſome great treaſure, at night lie down in a ſoul ſtable with gall'd backs: ſo theſe at laſt are laid down in their graves, with galled & diſtreſſed conſciences. And if it ſo fall out that their ſpirits are quiet, that the tears of the oppreſſed do not cry out againſt them, yet high places are ſlippery, and great eſtates lie open to the blaſts of envy and malice. It is as great a mercy to be able to want that patiently, that God denies juſtly, as to uſe that wiſely that God beſtowes bountifully. Gods meaſure is ever beſt; ſo much health, and no more; ſo much liberty, and no more; ſo much riches, and no more; ſo much content in a wife, ſo much comfort in a childe, ſo much love from a friend, and no more. It may be our neighbour hath ten talents, p. 95and we but two, Gods allowance is ever beſt; beg we for our daily bread, but let God be our carver. Joſeph thought that his good old Father had been miſtaken when he laid his right hand on Ephraim's head, who was the younger; and his left on Manaſſeh, Gen. 48. 18.Gen 48:18who was the elder. And we are ready to entertain hard thoughts of God, who oftentimes layes an heavy hand upon his Saints, that are his firſt-born, and is very openhanded to others. I was envyous at the fooliſh Pſ. 73. 3, 14.Ps 73:3Ps 73:14(ſaith the Pſalmiſt) when I ſaw the proſperity of the wicked, when all the day long I have been plagued, and chaſtened every morning. But God is wiſe, and knows what is beſt. Some live upon their lands, and ſome by their labours, and ſome by both; ſome live upon their trades, and ſome by alms, and ſome upon their friends. God often teacheth his by the want of ſome mercies how to value others, and to be thankfull for them, and fruitfull under them. Fulneſſe is the bane of thankfulneſſe, and want a good antidote againſt wantonneſſe. I am ſure ſurfet kills more then famine; more birds are taken with a net, then ſlain with a gun. The roaring of the Canon is good Rhetorick to commend peace, and that Spring is uſually moſt pleaſant that is uſhered in by a ſharp Winter. Yea further, the meaneſt condition is ſometimes the ſafeſt. Iob on the dunghill ſpeeds better then Adam in Paradiſe. David with his ſling and his ſtone hath better ſucceſſe 1 Sam. 17. 39.1 Sam 17:39againſt Goliah; then he could have expected in Saul's brave armour which he had not proved. And I am ſure a poor man on foot may get to heaven as ſoon as the rich on horſeback. God grant I may go to heaven on foot (ſaith good Mr. Welſh) when he ſaw the Biſhop of London ride in all ſtate to the Court. I have ſeen a great Lord in his Coach drawn with ſix horſes, ſtayed at the turning of a ſtreet either by a Carman or a Colliar, when many a poor man on foot hath ſlips by, and got ſafe home. We are apt to think thoſe men that have moſt wealth are of beſt worth, and we uſually call them the beſt men of the Pariſh, and our betters. Like ignorant people that judge thoſe Luminaries of heaven, as the Sun and Moon, to be the greateſt, becauſe the loweſt; when ſtellae prime magnitudinis ſeem leſſe, but are not, becauſe higher. The things of this world are ſuch as commonly the beſt want them, and the worſt have them, and they are often reſerved for their owners, to their hurt. Dantur bonis ne videantur mala, dantur malis ne videantur ſumma bona: They are ſometimes given to good men, leſt they ſhould ſeem evil; ſometimes to wicked men, left they ſhould ſeem the chiefeſt good things. Some have loſt their fingers for their gold rings, ſome their lives for their purſes, others their ſouls for their mammon. Many Papiſts in the Pariſian Maſſacre were butchered with the Proteſtants for their wealth, which made them p. 97… Naboth's vineyard was his greateſt1 K…. 21. 13▪ …aul…, not blaſphemy againſt God and the King. It was his land that coſt him his life. Sir. Iohn Cornwall Lord Fanhope at his death d…rſt ſay, that not himſelfe, but his brave houſe at Ampthel was guilty of treaſon. So…in told Croeſus, when he ſhewed him his great …reaſure of gold, If your enemies Iron be better then yours, he will carry away all your gold; and ſo it fell out afterward. Silver and gold I have none, ſaith Peter to theAct. 3. 6.Acts 3:6 …ame man. All theſe things will I give thee, Matt. 4. 9.Matt 4:9faith the Devil to Chriſt. If theſe things were ſo very good, as the world judgeth them to be, Peter ſhould not have wanted them, nor would the Devil ever have offered them. In ſublimitate metus, in mediocritate quiet: A mean condition hath ſafety, when high places are full of fears. The poor of the Land of Judea are ſpared by Nebuchad-…ezzar, Jerem. 52.Jer 52and left behinde to till the land; when Zedekiah the King had his eyes put out, his Princes ſlain with the ſword, and the wealthy carried into captivity. Medio…ria firma; a middle eſtate betwixt poverty and riches, food convenient for us, which the Wi…e man prayed for, is the more ſecure, when exceſſe hath danger. Which made Scipio Africanus ſay, when he was required to joyn with the Prieſt, who prayed for more encreaſe to the Romane State; No, our State is rich enough, I will rather pray the gods to keep and continue what we have. p. 98How many when they have found the… blood too rank, have been at the char… with a Chirurgeon to let ſome out?

However God deal with you, whether he give you more or leſſe, it will be your wiſdome to hold theſe three concluſion… Faſt:

1. Conclude, that if God did ſee you … to uſe more, he could and would afford more. Are you ſtraightned in outwar… comforts? It is not becauſe there is an… want in God, the want is rather in you… 2 Sam. 12. 7, 8.2 Sam 12:72 Sam 12:8ſelves. So much God told David by N… than the Prophet; I anointed thee to be Ki… over Iſrael, and delivered thee from the hand … Saul; and I gave thee thy Maſters houſe, and … Maſters wives into thy boſome; and gave thee … houſe of Iſrael and Judah; and if that had bee… too little, I would moreover have given thee … and ſuch things. He ſaith to every childe ofCen. 23. 15. his, as Ephron the Hittite ſaid to Abraha… when he came to buy the field and the ca… in Machpelah, to bury his dead in; The lan… is worth 400 ſhekels, but what is that betwi… thee and me? What are riches, and honour and peace, and liberty? They are indeed o… great value, but they are little betwixt yo… and me, who am a great God, and have given you my Son; and can there be any limits in that love? any bounds or bottom… in that bounty? I am a great God, and can do more for you then you can ask or think, and that exceeding abundantly. When one, p. 99and he a poor man, asked Alexander a penny, he told him, it was too little for him to give; whereupon he asked a talent, he then told him, it was too much for him to beg. But of God we may ſay, he loves to give above our petitions, yea, our thoughts, and that very bountifully. Jacob confeſſed ſo muchGen. 48. 11.Gen 48:11 to …oſeph, I had not thought to have ſeen thy face; and loe, God hath ſhewed me alſo thy …eed.

2. Conclude, that it is a rich mercy when your mindes are conformable to your means; and ſhould your means come up to your mindes, it might be a miſery. In every eſtate to be content, requires not an ordinary meaſure of grace; St. Paul attainedPhil. 4. 12.Phil 4:12 to it, but he had learned ſo to do. It is an hard leſſon, we had need to take out that leſſon betimes. Yea, it is hard to learn to be contented, to be full, and to abound; for commonly they that have moſt are the moſt diſcontented perſons; and the more they have, the more they would have. He Eccl. 5. 10.Eccl 5:10that loveth ſilver (ſaith Solomon) ſhall not be ſatisfied with ſilver; and he that loveth abundance, with encreaſe. Whence one told Alexander, that had he the Eaſtern Empire in one hand, and the Weſtern in another, he would not be contented. Whereas on the other ſide, Diogenes the Cynicke houſed in his tub, and making even with his victuals and the day together; being invited to a great feaſt, could ſay, I had rather lick ſalt at p. 100Athens, then feaſt with Craterus. It is … ported of one of the old Philoſophen, that when he ſaw a Prince going by, with the greateſt pomp and ſtate that might be, he ſaid to ſome about him, See how many things I have no need of. He that hath food and rayment, and is therewith content, may ſay with Cato, (as Aulus Gelli… reports of him) Si quid eſt quo utar …to…; ſi non ſcio quis ſum, mihi vitio vertunt, qui… multis egeo; & ego illis, quia nequeunt egere. I have neither houſe, nor plate, nor garments of price in my hands; what I have, I can uſe; if not, I can want it: Some blame me, becauſe I want many things; and I blame them, becauſe they cannot want. And it is not ſtrange that herein a Heathen ſhould go beyond a Chriſtian.

3. Conclude that God hath many wayes to throw theſe things in upon you, if he ſee them good for you; and as many wayes to take them from you, if he perceive they prove hurtfull to you. He that can bleſſe a little, can blaſt a great deal. He can raiſe you up on high, and bring…ob 42. 12. you downe again. Job one while was the greateſt man in all the Eaſt, and in a ſhort time ſtript of all; and again, the Lord bleſſed the latter end of Job more then his beginning; who gave him twice as much as he had before. You are but Tenants at will to the great Landlord of all the earth, and all you have are but moveables. To be p. 101ble to bear extremities of heat and cold, …iſcovers a ſtrong conſtitution; ſuch were …r Henry the fifth, King of England, and … Adolphus King of Sweden; of whom … is reported in the Hiſtory of their Lives …nd Wars, that no weather, of heat, or …old, or wind, or ſtorms, came amiſſe to …hem. I am ſure it is an argument of a …ery gracious heart, that is ſtrong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, to be able to bear comfortably ſeverall con…itions, even in their extremes. This may be ſeen in Joſeph, who of all the twelve Patriarchs is only mentioned with honour amongſt thoſe famous believers in Heb. 11. To day he is his Fathers darling, the Son of his love, and none greater in that family then he, to morrow he is ſold for a ſlave by his owne Brethren, and carried into Aegypt. Now he is advanced by Potiphar, one of the prime Peers of that Kingdome, and none greater in that houſe then he: By and by a jealous Husband at the complaint of his beaſtly Miſtris, caſts him into priſon, where the irons entred into his ſoul: Not long after that he is advanced by King Pharaoh to great honour, even as high as Subjection could permit, or Sover…ignty endure; for onelyonly in the throne the King would be above him. And in all theſe turns and changes Joſeph kept his integrity. In the Countrey, and in the Court; in the Priſon, and at the Palace, Joſeph was ſincere p. 102and faithfull; neither did his low eſtate deject him, nor the high ſail of honor and greatneſſe overwhelme him, but he kept upright in both. Now as affliction cometh not forth of the duſt, neither doth troubleJob 5. 6.Job 5:6 ſpring out of the ground, as Eliphas told Job; but from on high: So promotions come neither from the Eaſt, nor from thePſal. 75. 6, 7.Ps 75:6Ps 75:7 Weſt, nor from the South, but God is the Judge; he putteth down one, and ſetteth up another.