that precious art of chimiftry, that will ext: act gold out of any thing. Thou wilt be able in fome measure with bleffed Paul to fay, I have learned in all eftates to be content, O labour and pray for this happy posture of Spirit; and that thou maift attain unto it, be especially careful to secure thy intereft in his favour, who is the great Governour of the world, and difpofer of all events; What a strong confolation will it be to thee, if this God be thy God, thy reconciled Father in Chrift? thou maist then be affured all things fhall work together for thy good. Let the wind blow from what point of the compaffe it will, it hall blow thee on towards thy haven. Thou needst not fear the bittereft potion, ifit come from the hand of a loving Father. The Cup that my Father hath given me, fhall I not drink it? faies our Saviour, John 18.11. What my Father prescribes, I have no reason to fear any hurt from. If God be thy Father, and thou his adopted child, thu maist comfort thy felf with this, that whatever he takes from thee, or deprives thee of, he wil! fupply to thee again (as one faics) either in kind, or in kindneffe, fome way or other, he will make it up to thee. Kindneffe is Gods fure pay to his children: if he takes all and gives himself to thee, he makes thee an abundant amends. 'Tis want of Faith that we cannot find all in God.

And as this confideration will exceedingly be

calm

calm thy mind in afflictions, fo when God difpenses himself in a way of mercy to thee, it will exceedingly raife and quicken thy heart to thankfulneß. Thou wilt give God the Glory of all his mercies. Thou wilt not facrifice to thine own net, to thine own wit, wisdom, industry, friends, or any fecond caufe, (much leffe to chance, fortune, or good luck, as ignorant people fpeak) but thou wilt caft the Crown of all thy mercies at his feet, humbly afcribing all Honour and Glory unto him. He will be owned and acknowledged by thee as thy chief Lord. Thou wilt look upon thy felf, as holding all from him, and to be but his tenant at will, and therefore obliged to pay him his rent duly and faithfully. And what is the rent he requires of thee? but only to give him the Glory of all his mercies, and to honour him, and magnifie him, in the use of them. In a word, to love him, and thank him, to ferve him, and obey him, and to walk humbly before him all thy daies.

Pfal.135.6. What foever the Lord pleafed, that did he in Heaven, and in Earth, in the Seas, and in all deep places.

Ifa.5.12. And the harp, and the viol, the tabret and the pipe, and wine are in their feafts, but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither confider the operation of his hands.

Pfal.10.4, The wicked through the pride of his

countenance

countenance will not feek after God, God is not in all his thoughts.

Mat.10.29. Are not two Sparrowes fold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

V.30. But the very haires of your head are all numbred.

V.31. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many Sparrowes.

Prov.16.33. The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole difpofing thereof is of the Lord.

Prov.21.1. The Kings heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water, he turneth it whither foever he will.

Jer.10.23. O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself, it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

Hab.1.16. Therefore they facrifice unto their net, and burn incenfe unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plen

teous.

Lam.3.37. Who is be that faith, and it cometh to paß, when the Lord commandeth it not? Ifa.45.7. I form light, and create darkneffe, I make peace, and create evil, I the Lord do all these things. Amos 3.6. Shall a Trumpet be blown in the City, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in the City and the Lord hath not done it? Pfal.46.11. The Lord of Hofts is with us, the God

of

of Facob is our refuge.

Selah.

Pfal 39.9. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth because thou didst it.

1

Micah 7.9. 1 will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have finned against him: untill he plead my caufe, and execute judgment for me, he will bring me forth to the light, and 1 fhall behold his righteoufneffe.

1 Sam.3.18. And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him, and he said it is the Lord, let him do what feemeth him good. Job 1.21. And Fob faid, naked came I out of my mothers womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, bleffed be the Name of the Lord.

2 Sam.16.10. And the King faid,what have I to do with you, ye fons of Zerviah ? fo let him curfe, because the Lord hath faid unto him, curfe Da vid, who shall then fay, wherefore haft thou done fo? 2 Sam.15.25. And the King faid unto Zadok, carry back the Ark of God into the City: if I fball find favour in the eies of the Lord, he will bring me again, and fhew me both it, and his habitation.

fee

V.26. But if he thus fay, I have no delight in thee, behold here am I, let him do to me as meth good unto him. Deut.8.10. When thou hast eaten, and art full, then thou shalt bleffe the Lord thy God for the

good

good land which he hath given thee.

V.11. Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his Commandements, and his Fudgments, and his Statutes, which I command thee this day.

V.12. Left when thou haft eaten, and art full, and haft built goodly houses, and haft dwelt therein,

V.13. And when thy beards and thy flocks multiply, and thy filver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou haft is multiplied,

V.14. Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, (which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

V.15. Who led thee through that great & terrible wilderneffe, wherein were fiery Serpents, and Scorpions, and drought, where there was no water, who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint.

V.16. Who fed thee in the wilderneß with Manna, which thy Fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end,) V.17. And thou fay in thine heart, my power, and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.

V.18. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God, for it is he that giveth thee power toget wealth, that he may establish his Covenant