VSE V. Comfort to the people of God. (7) to VSE V. Comfort to the people of God. (9)

VSE V. Comfort to the people of God. (7)

11. Consideration, Persons are usually better in Adversity than Prosperity, therefore stoop to Gods VVill. A prosperous condition is not alwayes so safe; 'tis true, it is more pleasing to the Palate, and every one desires to get on the warm side of the hedge where the Sun of Prosperity shines, but it is not alwayes best: In a prosperous Estate there is more burden; many look at the shining and glittering of Prosperity, but not at the burden; Plus oneris.

(1.) The burden of care; therefore Christ calls Riches, Cares, Luke 8.14. A Rose hath its prickles, so have Riches; we think them happy that flourish in their Silks and Cloath of Gold, but we see not the Troubles and Cares that attend them. A Shooe may have Silver Lace on it, yet pinch the Foot. Many a Man that goes to his day-labour lives a more contented life than he that hath his Thousands per Annum. Disquieting Care is the malus genius, the evil Spirit that haunts the Rich Man. When his Chests are full of Gold his Heart is full of Care how to encrease, or how to secure what he hath gotten; he is sometimes full of Care who he shall leave it to. A large Estate like a long trailing garment is oft more troublesome than useful.

(2.) In a prosperous Estate there is the burden of Account. Such as are in high places have a far greater account to give to God than others; Luke 12.48. Vnto whomsoever much is given of him shall be much required. The more golden Talents any are intrusted with, the more they have to answer for; the more their Revenues, the more their Reckonings. God will say, I gave you a great Estate, what have you done with it, how have you employed it for my Glory. I have read of Philip King of Spain, when he was to dye, he said, O that I had never been King, O that I had lived a private solitary Life; here is all the fruit of my Kingdom, it hath made my accounts heavier. So then may not this quiet our Hearts in a low adverse condition, and make us say, Lord, Thy Will be done; as thou hast given me a less portion of Worldly things, so I have a less burden of Care, and a less burden of Account.

2. A prosperous condition hath plus periculi, more danger in it. Such as are on the top of the pinacle of Honour, are in more danger of falling, they are subject to many temptations, their Table is oft a snare. Heliogabalus made Ponds of sweet Water to bathe in; Millions are drowned in the sweet Waters of Pleasure. A great Sail over-turns the Vessel; how many by having too great Sails of Prosperity have had their

Souls over-turn'd. [gap], Theophil. It must be a strong Head that bears heady Wine; he had need have much Wisdom and Grace that knows how to bear an high condition. It is hard to carry a full Cup without spilling, and a full Estate without sinning Agar feared if he were full, he should deny God, and say, Who is the Lord; Prov. 30.9. Prosperity breeds, 1. Pride: The Children of Kohath were in an higher Estate than the rest of the Levites, they were imployed in the Tabernacle about the most holy things of all, Numb. 4.4. they had the first lot, Iosh. 21.10. but as they were lifted up above others of the Levites in Honour, so in Pride, Numb. 16.3. In the Thames when the Tyde riseth higher, the Boat riseth higher; so when the Tyde of an Estate riseth higher, many Mens Hearts rise higher in Pride. 2. Prosperity breeds security. Sampson fell asleep in Delilahs lap, so do Men in the lap of Ease and Plenty. The Worlds golden sands are quick-sands. How hard is it for a rich Man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, Luke 18.24. the consideration of this should make us submit to God in adversity, and say, Thy Will be done: God sees what is best for us; if we have less Estate we are in less danger, if we want the Honours of others, so we want their Temptations.

12. Consideration, The having of our Wills melted into Gods, is a good sign that the present Affliction is sanctified: Then an Affliction is sanctified, when it attains the end for which it was sent. The end why God sends Affliction is to calm the Spirit, to subdue the Will, and bring it to Gods Will, when this is done, Affliction hath attained the end for which it came; it is sanctified, and it will not be long ere it be removed: When the sore is healed, the smarting Plaister is taken off.

13. Consideration, How unworthy it is of a Christian to be froward and unsubmissive, and not bring his Will to God.

(1.) It is below the Spirit of a Christian. The Spirit of a Christian is Dove-like, 'tis meek and sedate, willing to be at Gods dispose; Not my will but thy will be done; Luke 22.42. A Christian Spirit is not fretful, but humble, not craving but contented. See the picture of a Christian Spirit in St Paul, Phil. 4.12. I know [gap], how to be abased, and how to abound. Paul could be either higher or lower as God saw good; he could sail with any Wind of Providence, either a prosperous or a boisterous gale, his Will was melted into Gods Will; now to be of a cross Spirit that cannot submit to God, is unworthy of the Spirit of a Christian; 'tis like the Bird, that because 'tis pent up in the Cage, and cannot fly in the open Air, beats it self against the Cage.

(2.) A froward unsubmissive frame, that cannot submit to Gods Will, is unworthy of a Christians Profession: He professeth to live by Faith, yet repines at his condition. Faith lives not by bread alone, it feeds on Promises, it makes future Glory present; Faith sees all in God: When the fig-tree doth not blossom, Faith can joy in the God of its salvation, Hab. 3.17. Now to be troubled at the present Estate, because low and mean, where is Faith? Sure that is a weak Faith, or no Faith, which must have crutches to support it. O be ashamed to call thy self Believer if thou canst not trust God, and acquiesce in his Will, in the deficiency of outward Comforts.

(3.) To be of a froward unsubmissive Spirit, that cannot surrender its Will to God is unworthy of the high Dignities God hath put upon a Christian. 1. He is a rich Heir; he is exalted above all Creatures that ever God made, except the Angels; yea, in some sense, as his Nature is joyned in an Hypostatical Union to the Divine Nature, so he is above the Angels: O then how is it below his dignity, for want of a few earthly Comforts, to be froward and ready to quarrel with the Deity. Is it not unworthy for a Kings Son, because he may not pluck such a Flower, to be discontented and rebel against his Royal Father. 2. A Christian is espoused to Jesus Christ, what to be married to Christ, yet froward and unsubmissive? Hast not thou enough in him? As Elkanah said to Hannah, 1 Sam. 1.8. Am not I better than ten Sons? Is not Christ better than a thousand Worldly Comforts? Omnia bona in summo bono. 'Tis a disparagement to Christ that his Spouse should be froward when she is matched into the Crown of Heaven.

(4.) To be of a froward unsubmissive Spirit is unsuitable to the Prayers of a Christian; he prayes, Thy Will be done, it is the Will of God he should meet with such troubles, whether Sickness, loss of Estate, crosses in Children, God hath decreed and ordered it, why then is there not submission? Why are we discontented at that which we pray for? It is a saying of Latimer, speaking of Peter who denyed his Master, Peter, saith he, forgot his Prayer, for that was Hallowed be thy Name: So oft we forget our Prayers, nay, contradict them, for we pray, Thy Will be done. Now if unsubmissiveness to God be so unworthy of a Christian, should not we labour to bring our Wills to Gods, and say, Lord, let me not disparage Religion, let me do nothing unworthy of a Christian.

14. Consideration, Frowardness and unsubmissiveness of Will to God, is very sinful.

(1.) It is sinful in its Nature; to murmur when God crosseth us in our Will showes much ungodliness. The Apostle Iude speaks of ungodly ones, ver. 15. and that we may better know who these are, he sets a mark upon them, ver. 16. These are murmurers. Some think they are not so ungodly as others, because they do not swear, or are drunk, but you may be ungodly in murmuring: there are not only ungodly Drunkards but ungodly Murmurers; nay, this is the height of ungodliness, namely, Rebellion. Korah and his Company murmured against God, and see how the Lord interprets this, Numb. 17.10. Bring Aarons rod to be kept for a token against the rebels: To be a murmurer and a rebel is in Gods account all one. Numb. 20.13. This is the water of Meribah, because the children of Israel strove with the Lord: How did they strive with God? because they murmured at his Providence, ver. 3. what wilt thou be a Rebel against God? It is a shame for a Servant to strive with his Master, but what is it for a Creature to strive with its Maker?

(2.) To quarrel with Gods Providence, and be unsubmissive to his Will is sinful in the spring and cause; it ariseth from Pride. 'Twas Satans temptation, Ye shall be as Gods; Gen. 3.5. A proud Person makes a God of himself, he disdains to have his Will crossed; he thinks himself better than others, therefore he finds fault with Gods Wisdom, that he is not above others.

(3.) Quarrelsomeness and unsubmissiveness to Gods Will, is sinful in the concomitants of it. 1. It is joyned with sinful risings of Heart. (1.) Evil Thoughts arise. We think hardly of God as if he had done us wrong, or as if we had deserved better at his hand. (2.) Passions begin to arise; the Heart secretly frets against God. Ionah was crossed in his Will, and Passion began to boyl in him; Ionah 4.1. He was very angry. Ionahs Spirit as well as the Sea wrought and was tempestuous. 2. Unsubmissiveness of Will is joyned with unthankfulness, because in some one thing we are afflicted, we forget all the Mercies we have; we deal with God just as the Widow of Sarepta did with the Prophet: The Prophet Elijah had been a means to keep her alive in the Famine, but assoon as her Child dyes, she quarrels with the Prophet, 1 Kings 17.18. O thou man of God, art thou come to slay my Son? So do we deal with God, we can be content to receive Blessings at his hand, but assoon as he doth in the least thing cross us in our Will, we grow touchy, and are ready in a Passion to fly out against him: Thus God loseth all his Mercies, and is not this high ingratitude?

(4.) Frowardness and unsubmissiveness to Gods Will is evil in the effects. 1. It unfits for Duty: It is bad sailing in a storm, and it is ill praying when the Heart is stormy and unquiet: It is well if such Prayers do not suffer shipwrack. 2. Unsubmissiveness of Spirit sometimes unfits for the use of Reason. Ionah was discontented because he had not his Will, God withered the goard, and his Heart fretted against God, and in the midst of his Passion he spake no better than non-sense and blasphemy, Ionah 4.9. I do well to be angry to the death. Sure he did not know well what he said: What to be angry with God, and dye for anger? He speaks as if he had lost the use of his Reason. Thus unsubmissiveness of Will is sinful in its Nature, Causes, Concomitants, Effects; may not this martyr our Wills, and bring our Wills to God in every thing, making us say, Thy Will be done.

15. Consideration, Unsubmissiveness to Gods Will is very impudent, we get nothing by it, it doth not ease us of our burden, but rather makes it heavier. The more the Child struggles with the Parent, the more it is beaten; when we struggle with God, and will not submit to his Will, we get nothing but more blowes. Instead of having our cords of Affliction loosned, we make God tye them the straiter. Let us then submit and say, Lord, Thy Will be done. Why should I spin out my own trouble by impatience, and make my Cross heavier? What got Israel by their frowardness, they were within eleven dayes journey of Canaan, they fall a murmuring, and God leads them a march of forty years longer in the Wilderness.

16. Consideration, The mischief of being unsubmissive to Gods Will in Affliction, it layes a Man open to many Temptations. When the Heart frets against God by discontent, here's good fishing for Satan in these troubled Waters. He usually puts discontented Persons upon indirect means. Iobs Wife fretted (so far was she from holy submission) and she presently puts her Husband upon cursing of God; Iob 2.9. Curse God and dye. What is the reason why some have turned Witches, and given themselves to the Devil, but out of envy and discontent because they have not had their Will. Others being under a Temptation of Poverty, and not having their Wills in living at such an high rate as others, have laid violent hands upon themselves. O the Temptations

that Men of discontented Spirits are exposed to. Here (saith Satan) is good fishing for me.

17. Consideration, How far unsubmissiveness of Spirit is from that temper of Soul which God requires in Affliction. God would have us in Patience possess our Souls; Luke 21.19 The Greek word for Patience, [gap], signifies to bear up under a burden without fainting or [gap]etting; but to be froward in Affliction, and quarrel with Gods Will, where is this Christian Patience? God would have us rejoyce in Affliction, Iam. 1.2. Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; that is, Afflictions. Count it joy, be as Birds that sing in Winter: 1 Thess. 1.6. Ye received the word in affliction with joy. Paul could leap in his Fetters, and sing in the Stocks; Acts 16.25. how far is a discontented Soul from this frame; he is far from rejoycing in Affliction that hath not learned to submit.

18. Consideration, What is it makes the difference between a Godly Man and an Ungodly Man in Affliction, but only this, the Godly Man submits to Gods Will, the Ungodly Man will not submit. A Wicked Man frets and fumes, and is like a wild Bull in a Net. He in Affliction blasphemes God; Rev. 16.9. Men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God. Put a stone in the fire, and it flyes in your face; stony hearts fly in Gods face. A stuff that is rotten, the more it is rubbed the more it frets and tears: When God afflicts the Sinner, he tears himself in anger; but a Godly Man is sweetly submissive to Gods Will, this is his speech, Shall not I drink the cup which my Father hath given me. Spices when they are bruised send out a sweet fragrant smell; when God bruiseth his Saints they send out the sweet perfume of Patience. Servulus an holy Man, long afflicted with the Palsie, yet this was his ordinary speech, Laudetur Deus, Let God be praised; O let us say, Thy Will be done; let us bear that patiently which God inflicts justly, else how do we show our Grace? What difference is there between us and the wicked in Affliction?

19. Consideration, Not to submit to Gods Providential Will, is highly provoking to God. Can we anger God more than by quarrelling with him, and not let him have his Will? Kings do not love to have their Wills opposed, though they may be unjust; how ill doth God take it when we will be disputing against his Righteous Will; it is a sin God cannot bear; Numb. 14.26, 27. How long shall I bear with this evil congregation which murmur against me? May not God justly say thus, How long shall I bear with this wicked Person, who when any thing falls out cross, murmurs against me; ver. 28. Say unto them, as truly as I live saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in my ears, so will I do unto you. God swears against a murmurer; As I live; and what will God do as he lived, ver. 29. Your carcases shall fall in the wilderness. You see how provoking a discontented quarrelsome Spirit is to God, it may cost Men their Lives, nay, their Souls. God sent fiery Serpents among the People for their murmuring, 1 Cor. 10.10. he may send worse than fiery Serpents, he may send Hell fire.

VSE V. Comfort to the people of God. (8)

20. Consideration, How much doth God bear at our hand, and shall not we be content to bear something at his hand? It would tyre the Patience of the Angels to bear with us one day; 2 Pet. 3.9. The Lord is long-suffering towards us, [gap]: How oft do we offend in our Eye by envious impure glances; in our Tongue by rash censuring, but God passeth by many injuries, he bears with us. Should the Lord punish us every time we offend, he might draw his sword every day; shall God bear so much at our hands, and can we bear with nothing at his hands? Shall God be patient with us, and we impatient with him? Shall he be meek, and we murmur? Shall he endure our sins, and shall not we endure his strokes? Oh let us say, Thy Will be done. Lord, thou hast been the greatest sufferer, thou hast born more from me than I can from thee.

21. Consideration, Submitting our Wills to God in Affliction disappoints Satan of his hope, and quite spoils his design. The Devils end is in all our Afflictions to make us sin. The Reason why Satan did smite Iob in his Body and Estate was to perplex his Mind, and put him into a Passion; he hoped that Iob would have been discontented, and in a fit of anger, not only have cursed his Birth-day, but cursed his God; but Iob lying at Gods Feet, and blessing him in Affliction, disappointed Satan of his hope, and quite spoiled his plot. Had Iob murmured he had pleased Satan, had he fallen into an heat, and the sparks of his anger flown about, the Devil had warmed himself at this fire of Iobs Passion, but Iob quietly submitted, and blessed God, here Satans design was frustrated, and he missed of his intent. The Devil hath oft deceived us, the best way to deceive him is by quiet submission to God in all things, and saying, Thy Will be done.

22. Consideration, It may rock our Hearts quiet in Affliction to consider, that to the Godly, the Nature of Affliction is quite changed; to a wicked Man it is a Curse, the Rod is turned into a Serpent; Affliction to him is but an effect of Gods displeasure, the beginning of Sorrow; but the nature of Affliction is quite chang'd to a Believer, it is by a divine Chymistry turn'd into a Blessing, it is like Poyson corrected, which becomes a Medicine, it is a Love-token, a Badge of Adoption, a preparatory to glory; should not this make us say, Thy VVill be done: The poyson of the Affliction is gone it is not hurtful but healing, this hath made the Saints not only patient in Affliction, but have sounded forth Thankfulness: As Bells when they have been cast in the Fire, do afterwards make a sweeter sound; so the Godly after they have been cast into the Fire, of Affliction have sounded forth Gods Praise, Psal. 119.71. It is good for me that I was afflicted. Iob. 1.21. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

23. Consideration, To make us submit our Will to God in Affliction is, to think how many good things we receive from God, and shall we not be content to receive some evil? Iob 2.10. Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In the Hebrew, hatton meeth ha[gap]elohim, shall we receive good from God, and not evil? This may make us say, Thy Will be done. How many Blessings have we received at the Hand of Gods Bounty? we have been be miracled with Mercy; what sparing, preventing, delivering Mercy have we had! the Honey-comb of Mercy hath continually drop'd upon us, Lam. 3.23. His Mercies are new every Morning. Mercy comes in as constantly as the Tide, nay, how many Tides of Mercy do we see in one day? we never feed but Mercy carves every bit to us; we never drink but in the golden Cup of Mercy; we never go abroad but Mercy sets a guard of Angels about us; we never lie down in our bed but Mercy draws the Curtains of Protection close about us: Now, shall we receive so many good things at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? Our Mercies far out weigh our Afflictions, for one Affliction we have a thousand Mercies; O then let us submit to God and say, Thy Will be done: The Sea of Gods Mercy should swallow up a few drops of Affliction.

24. Consideration, To bring our Wills to God in Affliction doth much honour the Gospel: An unsubmissive Christian reproacheth Religion, as if it were not able to subdue an unruly Spirit; it is weak Physick which cannot purge out ill Humours; and sure it is a weak Gospel, if it cannot master our discontent, and martyr our Wills: Unsubmissiveness is a Reproach, but a chearful resignation of our Will to God sets a Crown of Honour upon the Head of Religion, it shows the power of the Gospel, which can charm down the Passions, and melt the Will into Gods Will; therefore in Scripture submissive patience is brought in as an adorning Grace, Rev. 14.12. Here is the Patience of the Saints.

25. Consideration, The Example of our Lord Jesus; how flexible and submissive was he to his Father! He who taught us this Prayer, Thy Will be done, had learned it himself; Christs Will was perfectly tuned to his Fathers Will; it was the Will of his Father that he should dye for our sins, and he endured the Cross, Heb. 12.2. It was a painful, shameful, cursed death; he suffered the very pains of Hell equivalently, yet he willingly submitted, Isa. 53.7. He opened not his Mouth, he opened his sides when the blood ran out, but he opened not his Mouth in repining, his will was resolved into the will of his Father, Iohn 18.11. Shall not I drink the Cup which my Father hath given me? Now the more our Wills are subject to Gods Will in Affliction, the nearer we come to Christ our Pattern; is it not our Prayer we may be like Christ? by holy Submission we imitate him: His Will was melted into his Fathers Will.

26 Consideration, To Submit our Will to God is the way to have our Will; every one would be glad to have his VVill; the way to have our Will is to resign it; God deals with us as we do with froward Children; while we fret and quarrel God will give us nothing, but when we are submissive, and say, Thy Will be done; now God carves out Mercy to us: The way to have our Will is to submit it: David brought his Will to God, 2 Sam. 15.26. Here am I, Let him do to me as seems good to him. And after he resigned his Will, he had his Will; God brought him back to the Ark, and setled him again in his Throne, 2 Sam. 19. Many a Parent that hath had a dear Child sick, when he could bring his Will to God to part with it, God hath given him the life of his Child: There's nothing lost by referring our Will to God, the Lord takes it kindly from us, and it is the only way to have our Will.

27. and Vlt. Consideration, We may the more chearfully surrender our Souls to God when we dye, when we have surrendred our Wills to God while we live: Our blessed Saviour had all along submitted his VVill to God, there was but one VVill between God the Father and Christ; now Christ having in his life time given up his Will

to his Father, at death he chearfully gives up his Soul to him, Luke 23.46. Father, into thy hands I commend my Spirit. You that resign up your VVills to God may at the hour of death comfortably bequeath your Souls to him.

II. The second Means to bring our VVill to God in Affliction is, Study the Will of God.

(1.) It is a Sovereign Will, he hath a supream right and Dominion over his Creatures, to dispose of them as he pleaseth: A Man may do with his own as he list, Mat. 20.15. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own? A Man may cut his own Timber as he will. Gods Sovereignty may cause submission, he may do with us as he sees good; God is not accountable to any Creature for what he doth, Iob 33.13. He giveth not account of any of his matters. VVho shall call God to account? VVho is higher then the Highest? Eccl. 5.8. VVhat Man or Angel dare summon God to his Bar? He giveth not account of any of his Matters. God will take an account of our Carriage towards him, but he will give no account of his Carriage towards us; God hath an absolute Jurisdiction over us; the remembrance of this, Gods Will is a sovereign Will, to do with us what he please, may silence all discontents, and charm down all unruly Passions, we are not to dispute but submit.

(2.) Gods Will is a wise Will, he knows what is conducing to the good of his People, therefore submit, Isa. 30.18. The Lord is a God of Iudgment, that is, he is able to judge what is best for us; therefore rest in his VVisdom, and acquiesce in his VVill: VVe rest in the wisdom of a Physician, we are content he should scarify and let us blood, because he is judicious, and knows what is most conducible to our health: If the Pilot be skilful, the Passenger saith, let him alone, he knows how best to steer the Ship; and shall we not rest in Gods VVisdom? Did we but study how wisely God steers all Occurrences, and how he often brings us to Heaven by a cross wind, it would much quiet our Spirits, and make us say, Thy Will be done. Gods VVill is guided by VVisdom; should God sometimes let us have our VVill, we would undo our selves; did he let us carve for our selves, we should choose the worst piece; Lot chose Sodom because well watered, and was as the Garden of the Lord, Gen. 13.10. but God rained fire upon it out of Heaven, Gen. 19.24.

(3.) Gods VVill is a just VVill, Gen. 18.25. Shall not the Iudge of all the Earth do right? Gods VVill is Regula & Mensura, it is the Rule of Justice; the VVills of Men are corrupt, therefore unfit to give Law; but Gods VVill is an holy unerring VVill, which may cause submission, Psal. 97.2. God may cross us, but he cannot wrong us; severe he may be, not unjust; therefore we must strike Sail, and say, Thy Will be done.

(4.) Gods VVill is a good and gracious VVill; it promotes our Interest; if it be Gods VVill to afflict us, he will make us say at last, it was good for us that we were afflicted: Gods Flail shall only thresh off our Husks: That which is against our VVill shall not be against our profit: Study what a good VVill Gods is, and we will say, Fiat Voluntas, let thy Will be done.

(5.) Gods VVill is an irresistible VVill; we may oppose it, but we cannot hinder it: The rising of the VVave cannot stop the Ship when it is in full sail; so the rising up of our Will against God cannot stop the execution of his Will, Rom. 9.19. Who hath resisted his Will? Who can stay the Chariot of the Sun in its full Career? Who can hinder the Progress of Gods Will? Therefore it is in vain to contest with God, his Will shall take place; there's no way to overcome God but by lying at his Feet.

3. Means to submission to God in Affliction is, Get a gracious heart; all the Rules and Helps in the World will do but little good, till Grace be infused; the Boul must have a good Byas, or it will not run according to our desire; so till God puts a new Byas of Grace into the Soul, which inclines the Will, it will never submit to God: Grace renews the Will, and it must be renewed before it be subdued: Grace teacheth self denyal, and we can never submit our Will till we deny it.

4. Means, Let us labour to have our Covenant-Interest cleared, to know that God is our God, Psal. 48.14. This God is our God; he whose Faith doth flourish into assurance, that can say, God is his, will say, Thy VVill be done. A wicked man may say, God hath laid this Affliction upon me, and I cannot help it; but a Believer saith, My God hath done it, and I will submit to it. He who can call God his, knows God loves him as he loves Christ, and designs his Salvation, therefore he will with Saint Paul take pleasure in Reproaches, 2 Cor. 12.10. and in every adverse Providence yeild to God, as the Wax to the impression of the Seal.

5. Means to submission to God in Affliction, get an humble Spirit: A proud Man will never stoop to God, he will rather break then bend; but when the Heart is humble,

the Will is pliable. What a vast difference was there between Pharaoh and Eli? Pharaeoh cries out, VVho is the Lord that I should obey his Voice? Exod. 5.2. but Eli saith, It is the Lord, let him do what seems good in his sight, 1 Sam. 3.18. See the difference between an Heart that is swell'd with Pride, and that is ballasted with Humility; Pharaoh saith, VVho is the Lord? Eli, It is the Lord. An humble Soul hath a deep sence of sin, he sees how he hath provoked God, he wonders he is not in Hell; therefore whatever God inflicts, he knows it is less then his Iniquities deserve; this makes him say, Lord, Thy VVill be done. O get into an humble posture, the Will is never flexible till the Heart be Humble.

6. Means, Get your Heart loosened from things below; be crucified to the world: VVhence is Childrens frowardness but when you take away their Play-things; when we love the world, and God takes away these things from us, then we grow froward and unsubmissive to Gods Will. Ionah was exceeding glad of the Gourd, and when God smote it he grew froward, and because God had killed his Gourd, kill me too, saith he, Ionah 4.8. He who is, [gap], a Lover of the World, can never pray this Prayer heartily, Thy Will be done; his heart boils in anger against God, and when the World is gone, his Patience is gone too. Get mortified Affections to these sublunary things.

7. Means, for submission to Gods Will: Get some good perswasion your sin is pardoned; feri Domine feri, quia peccata mea condonata sunt, Smite Lord, smite where thou wilt, said Luther, because my sins are pardoned: Pardon of sin is a crowning Blessing; hath God forgiven my sin, I will bear any thing, I will not murmur but admire, I will not complain of the Burden of Affliction, but bless God for removing the Burden of sin: The pardoned Soul saith this Prayer heartily, Thy VVill be done. Lord, use thy pruning Knife, so long as thou wilt not come with thy bloody Axe to hew me down.

8. Means, If we would have our wills submit to God, let us not look so much on the dark side of the Cloud, as the light side; that is, let us not look so much on the smart of Affliction, as the good of Affliction; 'tis bad to pore all on the smart, as it is bad for sore Eyes to look too much on the Fire; but we should look on the good of Affliction: Sampson did not only look on the Lions Carcase, but on the Honey-comb within it, Iudg. 19.8. He turned to see the Carcase of the Lion, and behold there was Honey in the Carcase. Affliction is the frightful Lion, but see what Honey there is in it: Affliction humbles, purifies, fills us with the Consolations of God; here is Honey in the Belly of the Lyon; could we but look upon the benefit of Affliction, Stubbornness would be turned into submissiveness, and we should say, Thy VVill be done.

9. Means, Pray to God that he would calm our Spirits, and conquer our Wills; it is no easy thing to submit to God in Affliction, there will be risings of heart, therefore let us pray that what God inflicts Righteously, we may bear patiently; Prayer is the best Spell or Charm against Impatience; Prayer doth to the Heart, as Christ did to the Sea, when it was tempestuous, he rebuked the Wind, and there was a great Calm; so when the Passions are up, and the Will is apt to mutiny against God, Prayer makes a gracious Calm in the Soul: Prayer doth to the Heart as the Spunge to the Canon, when hot cools it.

VSE V. Comfort to the people of God. (9)

10. Means, If we would submit to Gods Will in Affliction, let us make a good interpretation of Gods Dealings; take all God doth in the best sence: VVe are apt to misconstrue Gods Dealings, and put a bad Interpretation upon them, as Israel, Numb. 20.4. Ye have brought the Congregation of the Lord into this Wilderness, that we should die there. So God hath brought this Affliction upon us, because he hates us, and intends to destroy us; and such hard thoughts of God cause fullenness and stubbornness: O let us make a fair and candid interpretation of Providence. Doth God afflict us, say thus, perhaps he intends us Mercy in this; he will try us whether we will love him in Affliction; he is about to mortify some sin, or exercise some grace; he smites the Body that he may save the Soul. Could we put such a good meaning upon Gods dealings, we would say, Thy Will be done; Let the Righteous God smite me and it shall be a kindness, it shall be an excellent Oyl, which shall not break my Head, Psal. 141.5.

11. and Vlt. Means, If you would submit to God in Affliction, believe that the present Condition is best for you; we are not competent Judges; we fancy it is best to have ease and plenty, and have the Rock pour out Rivers of Oyl; but God sees Affliction best; he sees our Souls thrive best upon the bare Common; the fall of the Leaf is the Spring of our Grace. Could we believe the present Condition is best, which God carves out to us, the Quarrel would soon be at an end, and we should sit down satisfied with what God doth, and say, Thy Will be done. So much for this Third Petition.

MATTH. vi.11. Give us this Day our daily Bread.

IN this Petition there are two things observable,

• I. The Order.

• II. The Matter.

I. The Order. First, we pray, Hallowed be thy Name, before, Give us this day our daily Bread: Hence we learn;

Doct. That the Glory of God ought to be preferred before our own personal Concerns.

First. We pray, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, before we pray, Give us this Day our daily Bread. Gods Glory ought to weigh down all before it; it must be prefer'd before our dearest Concerns: Christ prefer'd his Fathers Glory before his own Glory, as he was Man, Iohn 8.49, 50. I Honour my Father, I seek not my own Glory. Gods glory is that which is most dear to him, it is the Apple of his Eye; all his Riches lye here, as Micah said, Iudg. 18.24. What have I more? So I may say of Gods glory, what hath he more? Gods glory is the most Orient Pearl of his Crown, which he will not part with, Isa. 42.8. My Glory will I not give to another. Gods glory is more worth then Heaven, more worth then the Salvation of all Mens Souls; better Kingdoms be demolished; better Men and Angels be annihilated, then God lose any part of his Glory. First we pray, that Gods Name may be hallowed and glorified, before we pray, Give us our daily Bread. We are to prefer Gods glory before our nearest concerns: Before there can be a preferring Gods glory before private concerns, there must be a New-Birth wrought. The natural Man seeks his own secular Interest before Gods glory, Iohn 3.31. He is of the Earth earthly. Let him have Peace and Trading, let the Rock pour out Rivers of Oyl, Iob 29.6. and let Gods glory go which way it will, he minds it not: A Worm cannot fly and sing as a Lark: A natural Man whose heart creeps upon the Earth, cannot admire God, or advance his glory, as a Man elevated by grace doth.

VSE. Of Trial. Do we prefer Gods glory before our private Concerns? Doth Gods glory take place? Minus te amat qui aliquid tecum amat quod non propter te amat, Aug. 1. Do we prefer Gods glory before our own Credit? Fama pari passu ambulat cum Vita. Credit is a Jewel highly valued, like precious Ointment it casts a fragrant smell; but Gods glory must be dearer then Credit and Applause: We must be willing to have our Credit trampled upon, if Gods glory may be raised higher, Acts 5.41. The Apostles rejoyced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his Name, [gap], that they were graced so far as to be disgraced for Christ. 2. Do we prefer Gods glory before our Relations? Relations are near, they are of our Flesh and Bone, but Gods glory must be dearer, Luke 14.26. If any Man come after me and hate not Father and Mother, he cannot be my Disciple. Here odium in suos is Pietas in Deum. If my Friends (saith Ierome) should perswade me to deny Christ, if my Wife should hang about my Neck, if my Mother should show me her Breasts that gave me suck, I would trample upon all and fly to Christ. 3. We must prefer Gods glory before estate: gold is but shining dust, Gods glory must weigh heavier: If it comes to this, I cannot keep my place of Profit, but Gods glory will be eclipsed; here I must rather suffer in my Estate, then Gods glory should suffer; Heb. 10 34. 4. We must prefer Gods Glory before our life. Rev. 12.11. They loved not their own lives to the Death. Ignatius called his Fetters, [gap], his Spiritual Jewels, he wore them as a Chain of Pearl. Gordius the Martyr said, it is to my Loss if you bate me any thing of my Sufferings: This Argues grace Crescent, and elevated in an high Degree. Who but a Soul inflamed in love to God can set God highest in the Throne, and prefer him above all private Concerns.

II. The second thing in the Petition is the Matter of it: Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, Give us this day our dayly Bread. The sum of this Petition is, that God will give us such a Competency in these outward things, as he sees most expedient for us; it is much like that Prayer of Agur, Prov. 30.8. Feed me with Food convenient for me; give me a Viaticum, a Bait by the way, enough to bear my Charges till I come to Heaven, and it sufficeth. Let me explain the Words; Give us this day our dayly Bread, [Give,] hence note, that the good things of this life are the gifts of God; He is the Donor of all our Blessings: Give us, not only Faith is the gift of God, but Food; not only dayly Grace is from God, but daily Bread; every good thing comes from God; Iam. 1.17. Every good Gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of Lights. Wisdom is the gift of God, Isa. 28.26. His God doth instruct him to Discretion. Riches

are the gift of God, 2 Chron. 1.12. I will give thee riches; Peace is the gift of God, Psal. 147.14. He makes peace in thy borders; Health, which is the cream of Life, is the gift of God, Ier. 30.17. I will restore health to thee; Rain is the gift of God, Iob 5.10. Who giveth rain on the earth; all comes from God. He makes the Corn to grow, and the Herbs to flourish.

VSE I. See our own poverty and indigence, we live all upon alms, and upon free gift, Give us this day: All we have is from the hand of Gods Royal Bounty. We have nothing but what God gives us out of his Storehouse; we cannot have one bit of Bread but from God. The Devil perswaded our first Parents that by disobeying God, they should be as Gods, Gen. 3.5. but we may now see what goodly Gods we are, that we have not a bit of bread to put in our mouths, unless God give it us: Here is an humbling Consideration.

Br. 2. Is all a gift? then we are to seek every Mercy from God by Prayer, Give us this day. The Tree of Mercy will not drop its Fruit unless shaken by the hand of Prayer. Whatever we have, if it doth not come in the way of Prayer, it doth not come in the way of Love; 'tis given as Israels Quails in anger. If every thing be a gift we do not deserve it, we are not fit for it, unless we ask for this alms; and must we go to God for every Mercy? How wicked are they who instead of going to God for food when they want, they go to the Devil, they make a compact with him, and if he will help them to a livelyhood they will give him their Souls: Better starve than go to the Devil for provender. I wish there be none in our Age guilty of this, who when they are in want, use indirect means for a livelyhood, they consult with Witches, who are the Devils Oracles; the end of these will be fearful as that of Saul was, whom the Lord is said to have killed, because he asked counsel at a familiar spirit.

3. If all be a Gift, then it is not a Debt; we cannot say to God as that Creditor said, Matth. 18.28. Pay me what thou owest. Who can make God a Debtor, or do any Act that is obliging and meritorious? Whatever we receive from God is a gift. We can give nothing to God but what he hath given us; 1 Chron. 29.14. All things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. David and his People offered to the building of Gods House Gold and Silver, but they offered nothing but what God had given them; Of th[gap]ne own have we given thee. If we love God, God it is that hath given us an Heart to love him; if we praise him, he both gives us the Organ of the Tongue, and puts it in Tune; if we give Almes to others God hath given Almes to us first, so that we may say, We offer, O Lord, of thine own to thee. Is all of Gift, how absurd then is the Doctrine of Merit? That was a proud speech of a Fryar that said Redde mihi Vitam Aeternam quam debes; Give me Lord Eternal Life which thou owest me. We cannot deserve a bit of Bread, much less a Crown of Glory. If all be a Gift then Merit is exploded, and shut out of doors.

4. If all be a Gift, Give us this day, then take notice of Gods goodness; there's nothing in us can deserve or requite Gods kindness, yet such is the sweetness of his Nature, he gives us rich Provision, and feeds us with the finest of the Wheat. Pindar saith, it was an opinion of the People of Rhodes, that Iupiter rained down Gold upon the City. God hath rained down golden Mercies upon us; he is upon the giving hand. Observe three things in Gods giving.

(1.) He is not weary of giving; the springs of Mercy are ever running: God did not only dispence Blessings in former Ages, but he still gives gifts to us As the Sun not only inricheth the World with its Morning light, but keeps Light for the Meridian. The Honey-comb of Gods bounty is still dropping.

(2.) God delights in giving; Micah 7.18. He delighteth in mercy. As the Mother delights to give the Child the breast, God loves we should have the breast of Mercy in our mouth.

(3.) God gives to his very Enemies. Who will send in Provisions to his Enemy? Men use to spread Nets for their Enemies, God spreads a Table. The dew drops on the Thistle as well as the Rose; the dew of Gods bounty drops upon the worst. Those who have their mouths opened against God, yet God puts bread in those mouths. O the Royal Bounty of God; Psal. 52.1. The goodness of God endureth continually. Swinish sinners God puts Jewels upon, and feeds them every day.

5. If all be gift, see then the odious ingratitude of Men who sin against their giver. God feeds them, and they fight against him; he gives them their Bread, and they give him affronts. How unworthy is this, would we not cry shame of him who had a Friend alwayes feeding him with Money, and he should betray and injure that Friend. Thus ungratefully do Sinners deal with God, they do not only forget his Mercies but abuse them: Ier. 5.7. When I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery. O how horrid is this, to sin against a bountiful God, to strike (as it were) those hands that relieve us: This gives a dye and tincture to Mens sins, and makes them crimson. How

many make a dart of Gods Mercies and shoot at him; he gives them Wit, and they serve the Devil with it; he gives them Strength, and they waste it among Harlots; he gives them Bread to eat, and they lift up the heel against him; Deut. 32.15. Iesurun waxed fat and kicked: These are like Absalom, who assoon as David his Father kissed him, plotted Treason against him, 2 Sam. 15.10. like the Mule who kicks the Dam after she hath given it Milk. These who sin against their giver, and abuse Gods Royal Favours, the Mercies of God will come in as witnesses against them. What smoother than Oyl, but if it be heated what more scalding? What sweeter than Mercy, but if it be abused, what more dreadful? It turns to fury.

6. If God gives us all, let Gods giving excite us to Thanksgiving; he is the founder and donor of all our Blessings, let him have all our Acknowledgments. All the rivers come from the sea, and thither they return again, Eccl. 1.7. All our gifts come from God, and to him must all our Praises return. We are apt to burn incense to our own drag, Hab. 1.16. to attribute all we have to our own Skill or second Causes.

(1.) Our own Skill and Industry. God is the giver; he gives daily Bread, Psal. 136.35. he gives Riches, Deut. 8.18. He it is that giveth thee power to get wealth.

Or, (2.) We oft ascribe the praise to second Causes, and forget God. If Friends have bestowed an Estate, to look at them and admire them, but not God who is the great giver: As if one should be thankful to the Steward, and never take notice of the Master of the Family that provides all. O if God gives all, our Eye-sight, our Food, our Cloathing, let us sacrifice the chief Praise to him; let not God be a loser by his Mercies. Praise is a more illustrious part of Gods Worship. Our wants may send us to Prayer. Nature may make us beg Daily-bread, but it shows an Heart full of Ingenuity and Grace to be rendring Praises to God. In Petition we act like Men, in Praise we act like Angels. Doth God sow seeds of Mercy, let Thankfulness be the crop we bring forth. We are called the Temples of God, 1 Cor. 3.16. and where should Gods Praises be sounded forth but in his Temples? Psal. 146.2. While I live will I bless the Lord, I will sing praises to my God while I have any being. God gives us daily Bread, let us give him daily Praise. Thankfulness to our Donor is the best policy; there's nothing lost by it: To be thankful for one Mercy is the way to have more. Musicians love to sound their Trumpets where there is the best eccho, and God loves to bestow his Mercies where there is the best eccho of Praise: And it is not only offering the calves of our Lips is enough, but we must show our thankfulness by improving the gifts which God gives us, and as it were putting them out to use. God gives us an Estate, and we honour the Lord with our substance, Prov. 3.9. he gives us the staff of Bread, and we lay out the strength we receive by it in his service: This is to be thankful; and that we may be thankful be humble. Pride stops the current of gratitude: A proud Man will never be thankful; he looks upon all he hath, either to be of his own procuring or deserving. Let us see all we have is Gods gift, and how unworthy we are to receive the least favour, and this will make us much in doxology and gratitude, we will be Silver Trumpets sounding forth Gods Praise.

First, Give.] Hence I note, 1. That the good things of this Life are the gifts of God; he is the founder and donor. 2. From this word give, I note, that it is not unlawful to pray for Temporal things; we may pray for daily Bread, Prov. 30.8. Feed me with food convenient for me; we may pray for Health, Psal. 6.2. O Lord heal me, for my bones are vexed. As these are in themselves good things, so they are useful for us. They are as needful for the preserving the Comfort of Life, as the Oyl is needful for preserving the Lamp from going out. Only let me insert two things.