Christian Geography and Arithmetic, Part 5 – Part 11
Anſwer.
1. Perhaps they know not what they ſay; are there not many that thought before they had no great ſtomack, that when good victuals are ſet before them, they find a ſtomack, and deſire there to taſte of one diſh after another? are there not many that deſigned to buy no great matters, that when they are in the fair, in the midſt of ſo many pretty commodities, deſire this thing and that thing? are there not many that when they put off from ſhore, thought to go but thus far to Sea for recreation, that the Wind ariſing are afterwards carried away into the deep God knows whither? So theſe unexpected Winds riſe as often by Land as by Sea, the wind of Affection, of too much Love and deſire towards the World and joy in it; and carries Men a way into the wide World God knows whither.
2. This that they ſay, that if they had ſo much they would be content, fully content and not deſire a whit more; this is only out of a ground of unlikely-hood that ever they ſhould come to more, or ſcarce to that, and not as though that ſame would abſolutely ſatisfy and content them; as ſickly Men, or old Men, that in likely-hood cannot live long, will ſay perhaps, that were they certain to live but ſo many years, they would never deſire to live longer, not as though ſimply that would ſatisfy them (for every man naturally hath an infinite deſire to live for ever) but becauſe conſidering their preſent ſtate in all likely-hood they cannot go beyond, or ſcarce attain unto that period of time; and therefore they ſay that were they but certain to live ſo long they would even deſire no more; but reſtore to the ſickly Man his perfect health again, and to the old man his former youth; and try my parties then if ſo few years will content them, if they will be ſo moderate in their deſires: juſt thus many men, becauſe in al likely-hood they can never attain to greater matters, and ſcarcely to thoſe they inſtance in, therefore they ſeem to have moderate deſires, and ſuch, and ſuch things will content them; but give them all the opportunities and means that others have, and then ſee if their deſires be not the like: there are many would climb higher, if they had but a ladder, and he that laid 38 years at the Pool of Betheſda, if he had had any to help him in, he would not have laid there any longer than the others.
3. And laſtly, if there be any that when they had got ſomuch or ſomuch, be truly for Worldly matters content, and neither ſeek for nor deſire more, then this contentedneſs ariſeth not out of the nature of the thing, but out of the moderation of their own minds; that ſeeing their bodies about which all the toil is, are neither ſo great, nor to laſt ſo long, therefore there is not need of much. Again, it ariſeth out of the ground of the Apoſtle; That Godlineſs is great gain with contentment, 1 Tim. 6.…neceſſarily drawing contentment with it, becauſe any thing will ſerve as preſent to him that hath the reverſion of Heaven, any place will ſerve him that looks at laſt for God's right Hand, any fare will ſerve him here in the day-time, that looks at night forthe Lamb's Supper; and therefore it remains ſtill good, that of themſelves theſe things cannot ſatisfy any man, and give content: but ſtil let him have never ſo much, yet like the Aſſyrian Monarch, he cannot keep at home, Hab. 2.enlarging his deſire as Hell, and as Death, but gathereth unto him all Nations &c. I have been the longer upon this point, becauſe it is ſo hard a thing, as was hinted, to perſwade even Profeſſors, that his World has no true comfort in it, nor can it poſſible have any. Trouble and enough of it … the genius of the World and the infeparable companions of every Man's Life in it, and thus God will have it to diſtinguiſh Earth from Heaven, that Men may be as it were driven to ſeek after that happineſs that is above. Give me leave to add one thing more before I come to the Application, & that is this; I would ask no plainer evidence that there is no ſatisfaction to be found upon Earth in any part or place of it, but trouble and enough of it; becauſe your greateſt Men with whom, if with any, ſome fair Halcyon peaceable quiet Dayes ſhould have been found, have complained ſo of diſcontents that they have been weary of their fortunes.De brev.…t. Auguſtus Caeſar, as Seneca hath it, that was ſo great a Monarch; yet often and often, again and again intreated the Senatours that he might lay down his Empire, and become a private Mans and never thought more joyfully of any day than of that wherein he ſhould lay down his greatneſs; he knew by experience what a deal of toil and trouble his greatneſs coſt, and felt how heavy the Crown was on his Head, whoſe glory and gliſtering others admire. And Tisberius after he could find no content in his Empire, nor could tell how with ſafety to turn private man, complained that fortune had ſet him a Cock-height, and then took away the ladder that he could not come down when he would. And above all Solomon that had ſo flouriſhing a Kingdom as the beſt, and ſought good ſo accurately and univerſally, what might be that good, for the Sons of Men, which they would ſo fain lay hold of under the ſun; and what can the man do that comes after the King: yet after all this ſearch: the ſum is this, all is vanity and vexation; this is proof enough of my Doctrine if I had no other: He went about to cauſe his Heart to deſpair of all the labour which he took under the Sun, King's Palaces ſay,Eccl. 2.20that peace and quietneſs is not in them, the Crown and Purple ſay they have not heard of it; (but on the contrary, trouble and vexation, and anguiſh and ſorrow and, enough of it;)why ſhould we then not think, that it is no-where to be found? if great Men that have ſo many fences againſt Affliction cannot eſcape, how ſhall poor, infirm, naked Men avoid the dint of it? I remember an anſwer of one Apollonius Thyaneus to one who asked him, whether he believed the ſtory of the Cup made of an Unicorns-horn, that he who ſhould drink out of it ſhould be priviledged from all Diſeaſes, wounds and poiſons? I will believe it, ſaies he, if I ſhall know that the King of the Country where the Unicorn lives ſhall be immortal and eſcape Death: Mr. G.he thought if any then the King would procure that Cup and enjoy the Benefit; ſo if there be any that could free their Dayes from trouble, or ſo much trouble as others may have, King's and Great-ones would ſurely hit on it; but we find it is quite otherwiſe. The Doctrine ſtanding thus clear with the grounds and reaſons of it; I come now to draw ſome Inferences from it.
Ʋſe. 1.
In the firſt place I note this; that every man thinks he has trouble enough, and would not willingly bear more than he has; take any man in the World, and come to him, what day you will chuſe, and what time of the day you will, and ſay to him: Sir, do you want any trouble? no, ſaies he, I have trouble enough; if it be a duty, I muſt take it though troubleſome, but cares and croſſes I want none; come to the King, and ſay, Sir, do you want any trouble? he will tell you, he has enough of his own; the Crown of gold has thorns in it, every man you meet with, if you would ſit down and hear him, he will give you a large catalogue of his griefs; and tell you either of ſome inward trouble from the fear and ſenſe of the wrath of God, from the temptations and bufferings and aſſaults, ſuggeſtions and injections of the wicked one, or elſe ariſing from the corruption; and deceitfulneſs of his own Heart; or he will acquaint you with ſome outward trouble, full of diſcontent, it may be, from Superiors, by putting up many a wrong and injury at their hands, from inferiours by back-biting, ſlander, and detraction; from equals by much unſociable fallings out, or being in every thing our rivals or emulous copemates to give us the check at every turn, from Friends by unkind falling away, or treacherous diſcloſing of ſecrets, or failing in the time of need, like Jobs friends: For now ye are nothing, ſaies he, ye ſee my caſting down are afraid. Job 6.15.21.My Brethren have dealt deceitfully with me as a brook, and as the ſtream of brooks they paſs away: From enemies alſo by doing us (as we look for no other) all the deſpite they can: from Wife or Husband by many frowns or unkind fits between them; from ſervauts by common negligence and unfaithfulneſs &c. And as from all ſorts of People, ſo in all ſorts of conditions; in the married eſtate, diſcontents ſometimes for want of Children, but much more for having unthriving Children, and little leſs from having good and hopeful ones ſometimes untimely taken away, or that they muſt leave ſuch to the wide World, without leaving any thing to ſuch pretty Babes. The married body hath diſcontents in being put to care for others, and the ſingle perſon is not without it, that he hath none to care for him; Maſters complain of bad Servants, and Servants think that Maſters are very croſs and froward; ſee the Apoſtle Paul's Catalogue of his Troubles, 2 Cor. 11.23. &c. There is trouble in getting the World, trouble in keeping it, and trouble in parting with it. I ſhall conclude this with that of the Wiſe-Man who ſpoke by experience, and there's nothing like it; Eccleſ. 2.22.23.What hath Man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his Heart, wherein he hath laboured under the ſun? For all his dayes are Sorrow, and his travel grief; yea, his Heart taketh not reſt in the Night; This is alſo vanity.
Ʋſe. 2.
I note the goodneſs of God, that ſeeing the day hath trouble enough, he has ſo ordered it, that trouble is but for a day; if many dayes, and many troubles met together it would be ſad; its well that Dayes of trouble and extream miſery are ſhortened. Mat. 24.22.In Hell there is a Life without end, and trouble without end; ſeeing it is ſharp, it is a comfort it is ſo ſhort.
Ʋſe. 3.
I note the great difference between this life, and the Life to come; many Dayes and full of joy, for few Dayes and full of troubles.Pſal. 16.11. In thy Preſence is fulneſs of joy, at thy right Hand are pleaſures for evermore.
Ʋſe. 4.
The great miſtake of promiſing a better morrow; if you have not the ſame trouble to morrow which you had to day, you ſhall have another in the room of it, and full as bad; to morrow may not be, and if it be, it will not be better; it is looked upon as great vanity and wickedneſs in them that ſaid, to Morrow ſhall be as this day and much more abundant.
Ʋſe. 5.
The great Mercy of God that has been pleaſed to order ſuitable ſupport, and ſufficient ſupply for the day. Deut. 33.25.As thy day is, ſo ſhall thy ſtrength be.
Ʋſe. 6.
There is comfort in this, that we canot expect a worſe morrow; more than enough cannot be, fear of a worſe makes this the worſt. The Lord will lay no more upon you, than he will enable you to bear: if thou ſhalt have burthen enough for thy bearing, ſo thou wilt have ſtrength enough for thy burden; if thou haſt but little trouble, thou has but little ſtrength, and the burden is enough for thy ſtrength; ſo if thou haſt great troubles thou haſt proportionable ſtrength, and ſo the ſtrength is enough for the burden. To conclude this Text, my care will not make to morrow's trouble leſs, and therefore why ſhould it make this day's trouble more; I am reſolved to part with a great many thoughts and cares, which have been very chargeable to maintain, have eaten up my ſtrength and comfort, and I have got nothing by them, they ſhall now all be baniſhed, let the morrow take thought for it ſelf, each day hath enough with his own grief.
Chriſtian Geography and Arithmetick.
Pſalm 90.12.
So teach us to number our Dayes, that we may apply our Hearts unto Wiſdom.
TO omit what might be ſpoken of the Pen-man, Scope, Diviſion and principal matter of this Pſalm; I come preſently to draw out the Obſervations and Doctrines which may be raiſed from the Text.