MY Text preſents us not only with the duty, but the incomparable priviledg of every faithful, obedient Chriſtian, who is here enjoined a ſervice ſo ſa­tisfactory, pleaſing, and advanta­geous, that as no man in the world beſides can have half the reaſon to do it at all; ſo every good2Chriſtian hath all the reaſon in the world to perform it always.

To be pleaſed and ſatisfied, to be merry and joyful, one would think were a ſervice ſo natural and delightful to all the world, that the very commanding of it would appear one of the vaineſt and moſt needleſs injunctions ima­ginable; and to do all this upon the juſteſt ſcore, and upon a ne­ver-failing account; to entertain and accept, preſerve and always keep in ones poſſeſſion an inexhau­ſted Fountain of joy, ſuch as will ſupply all our wants, ſerve all our neceſſities, gratifie and pleaſe us in all conditions; to place this joy of ours in God, in whoſe preſence is fulneſs of joy, and at whoſe right hand there are pleaſures for evermore: To command a Chri­ſtian to do this, one would fancy3 (at firſt hearing it) were a very ſuperfluous Precept; it looks all one as if a man ſhould be deſired not to be a ſtock, or ſtone, or ſwine; for if he were but a man, much leſs a Chriſtian man, he can­not but do it of his own accord, without commands or entreaties: And yet Heaven knows, ſuch de­generate creatures are we grown, that God is fain to oblige us to that by poſitive expreſs command which (did we behave our ſelves in the leaſt like Chriſtian people) we could not but perform by a meer inclination of nature. Nay, did but a man obſerve the general dejectedneſs, ſullenneſs, murmur­ings and repinings that are to be met with in the converſation of moſt Chriſtians, againſt the deal­ings and diſpoſings of God him­ſelf, 'twould let us ſee ſufficient4 reaſon why St. Paul ſhould in this very Epiſtle ſo often inculcate and impreſs this one duty. He thought it not enough to ſay, My brethren, rejoyce in the Lord;Cap. 3.1. but as if people were apt to forget nothing more than what they ſhould and cannot (when they truly under­ſtand it) but delight in moſt, he repeats his Injunction in the words of the Text, Rejoyce in the Lord always: Nay, as if this bare repe­tition were not ſufficient, but that people would ſill perſiſt to neg­lect it, though they both know it, and remember it too, he does re­double and impreſs it over again, hereby intimating it to be a duty of that concern, that it can never be too much repeated, becauſe af­ter all the inſiſting upon it, 'tis every where amongſt all ſorts of perſons too little practiſed; and5 therefore ſays he in the next words, and again I ſay, Rejoyce.

Now to rejoyce in God always, is evermore to have a heart and mind ſo diſpoſed and ordered, that it can in an humble waiting, con­ſtant depending, and faithful ſerv­ing of God, derive and continue to its ſelf an inexpreſſible com­fort, ſatisfaction, and delight, from this one conſideration, that the Lord is her God; this ſecures, that in all conditions whatſoever, ſhe is certainly under the protection of his Providence, and the care of his love, and in the arms of his mercy. And this happy aſſurance does beget and break open ſuch a fountain of joy in the ſoul, as does never, or at leaſt never need leave ſtreaming, until it empty it ſelf into thoſe Rivers of joy that are at Gods right hand; for we ſhall6find that the conſideration of ha­ving the Lord for his God, does furniſh the obedient humble Chri­ſtian (for of ſuch only I would have this whole Diſcourſe un­derſtood) with two ſuch migh­ty arguments of joy, that the due weighing of them cannot chuſe but make him in all condi­tions to rejoice in this Lord, yea and again I ſay to rejoice.

• 1. The obedient good Chriſti­an may very juſtly rejoice in God always, becauſe he is ſecure; the Lord will ſo order and govern the concernments of this temporal life as ſhall be moſt for his bene­fit and advantage.
• 2. He may again rejoice in the fame God, and that always too, be­cauſe he is ſecured by him that he ſhall be prepared for and hereafter put in poſſeſſion of a better, even7a heavenly life with himfelf in his glorious Kingdom.

1. The obedient good Chriſti­an may very juſtly rejoice in God always, &c. for the performance of this he hath the expreſs promiſe of the God of mercy and truth, with whom is no variableneſs nor ſhadow of turning. For St. Paul having laid down this as a Propo­ſition of unqueſtionable truth, We know that all things work toge­ther for good to them that love God:Rom. 8.28 He triumphantly proceeds to con­clude, That none of the miſeries of this inferior world can do us the leaſt hurt, becauſe they cannot ſeparate us from the protection of Gods Providence, nor the graci­ous diſpoſals of his mercy, and the over-ruling beneficialneſs of his love: 'Tis not, ſays he,Verſ. 35. tri­bulation, or diſtreſs, or perſecuti­on,8 or famine, or nakedneſs, or pe­ril, or ſword, that ſhall ſeparate us from the love of Chriſt. And there­fore none of theſe can hinder his mercy from doing us good, in and by our afflictions. Nay (ſays heVerſ. 37.) in all theſe things we are more than conquerours through him that loved us. There are few in­deed but will readily grant men may juſtly rejoice in God when the world ſmiles upon them, and their contrivances are ſeconded with ſucceſs; ſo that by this means they proſper in the world, have ri­ches in poſſeſſion, flouriſh like a green bay-tree, and do even what they liſt; who is he ſo wretched but hath gladneſs in his heart in the time that his corn, and wine, and oyl increaſes? when their oxen are ſtrong to labour, when their barns are full of corn, when there9is no leading into captivity, no want nor complaining in their houſes, when their ſheep bring forth thouſands, and ten thouſands in their ſtreets, then men can be content to thank God for his goodneſs, and rejoice in him for the great bounty he beſtows upon the children of men. But if this very God ſhould by his wiſe and gracious Providence change the ſcene of their affairs, give their fruits to the caterpiller, and their labour to the graſhopper, blaſt the work of their hands, ſtrike their flocks with hot thunder-bolts, and bring an evil diſeaſe amongſt their herds; ſhould he make them poor in their eſtates, ſick in their per­ſons, unproſperous in their under­takings, forſaken of their friends, and a reproach and deriſion to them that are round about them,10 how ready would they then be to forget the joy of their heart, and the rock of their Salvation, and think themſelves ſufficiently excu­ſed and juſtified too, if they now murmur, repine, and are angry at the dealings of Heaven; And in the height of their diſcontent and in­dignation not only quarrel with, but ſome of them curſe God to his face: This men are naturally or­dinarily the more apt to do upon this great miſtake, becauſe they believe God then only loves and does them good when he proſpers them in their temporal concerns; and that when he ſtretches out his hand and blaſts their expectation in thoſe particulars, he then only hates them, and does them miſ­chief; but how groſs an error this is, that proſperity ſhould be an infallible ſign of Gods love, and11 adverſity of his hatred, will in a good degree appear hereafter. Nay I hope 'twill be made out, that as few men do truly rejoice in God in either condition, ſo none but the obedient, humble Chriſtian, hath the higheſt inducements to rejoice in God in both conditions, yea and again I ſay to rejoice.

1. 'Tis the obedient humble Chriſtian who hath the trueſt rea­ſon to rejoice in God in the time of proſperity, and that upon this account, becauſe he is well aſſured, ſo long as he continues his faithful ſervice to God, he will bleſs his fortune, and make his proſperity do him good. But moſt people will be ready to reply, This ſeems to make a queſtion of what is gene­rally taken for granted; whoever doubted Gods bleſſing to go along with a great Eſtate? for proſperi­ty12 (ſay they) is that, and every thing elſe that is deſirable. Did ever a large Fortune do any man hurt? who was ever the worſe for wearing ſoft clothing? for fa­ring deliciouſly every day? for lying at eaſe, taking his pleaſure, and commanding round about him? Alas! ſenſual ſottiſh Crea­tures that we are! that can think a Swine happy becauſe ſhe hath her Trough full of waſh, which ſhe ſwills up greedily, and grunts over for joy, and having fill'd her belly, lies down and ſnorts without care or thought for the next days pro­viſion. But if we will give our ſelves the leiſure to hearken to Gods inſtruction, we ſhall find our ſelves taught by the Wiſdom from above, that 'tis not the grea­teſt Temporal affluence without true Godlineſs can make any man13 happy; if a man be wicked, though he be never ſo rich, he's but in the 'worſe condition for his wealth; ſuch a mans riches are kept for the owner to his hurt, ſaith Solomon. Eccleſ. 5.13.And therefore when the Prophet Jeremiah undertook to argue with God concerning his Judgments, viz. Wherefore the way of the wicked proſpered? And wherefore all they were temporally happy that dealt very treacherouſly? In the concluſion of the debate he makes this reſo­lution,Jer. 12.1,2,3. Though thou haſt planted them, ſo that they have taken root, grow and bring forth fruit, yet thou O Lord, ſhalt pull them out like ſheep for the ſlaughter, for thou doſt prepare them for the day of ſlaughter. Intimating hereby, that all the good thing of this world which God ſometimes ſo liberally heaps14upon wicked men, is intended as no greater a kindneſs to them than the variety of freſh Paſture, and plenty of the pureſt Hay, is deſigned by the Graſier upon one of his fatting Bullocks; which he does not beſtow upon him only that the beaſt may grow fat and ſhine, and wallow in the enjoy­ment of his eaſe, and the abun­dance of his Provinder, but only that he may the more certainly and quickly become fit ware for the market and the ſhambles. And therefore how much ſoever wicked men may think themſelves behol­den to any man that wiſhes them proſperity, yet when they conſi­der of it better, perhaps they may ſee good cauſe to give them little thanks for ſo miſchievous an Im­precation (rather than a Prayer); for 'tis all one as if in other words15 he prayed to God to take ſuch a courſe with them as ſhould cer­tainly ruin them. So ſays Solomon,Prov. 1.32. The turning away (or the eaſe, as 'tis in the Margent) of the ſimple ſhall ſlay them, and the proſperity of fools ſhall deſtroy them. As if there were no more certain way only to undo and irrecoverably to ruin wicked men (for ſuch are meant by fools and ſimple in the lan­guage of Solomon, than the enjoy­ment of proſperity, and the per­mitting them to live according to their own hearts, luſts. For in­deed, ſo many and great are the temptations which a proſperous condition does bring along with it, that none but a very good man can uſe it with any tollerable in­nocency. Let but Nabal live in eaſe and plenty, and the wicked fool preſently tarns a Drunkard,16 and a Churl; for though himſelf kept a feaſt in his houſe like the feaſt of a King, and his heart with­in him was merry and drunk, yet would he not part with one mor­ſel to David and his Soldiers who had preſerved him and his in the Wilderneſs. 1 Sam. 25.10,36.So alſo that wretched rich man in our Saviours Parable, when he grew ſo wealthy that he was fain to pull down his Barns, and build greater, becauſe he wan­ted room to lay his fruits; when he had thus done, the next thing he ſets about was to reſolve upon a life of eaſe and ſenſuality, for ſo he beſpeaks his Soul (hugging himſelf in the enjoyment of his beloved Goods), Soul, take thine eaſe, eat, drink, and be merry, for thou haſt goods laid up for many years. Luk. 12.18,19.Nor was the caſe otherwiſe with Gods own people of old:17Deut. 32.15. When Jeſurun waxed fat, he pre­ſently fell a kicking againſt Heaven, and quite forgot the God that made him, and lightly eſteemed the rock of his Salvation. And we are told concerning the ſame Iſrael in ano­ther place,Pſal. 78.24,30. that when God rained Manna upon his people, and gave them all that they deſired, then they were not eſtranged from their luſts. And becauſe 'tis ſo na­tural for a man to be tranſported with proſperity, for this reaſon Moſes could not admit his people to the delights of Canaan before he had given them this extraordi­nary Caveat to warn them againſt the poyſonous inſinuations of that plentiful and delightful place:Deut. 6.10,11,12. When the Lord thy God ſhall have brought thee into the land, to give thee great and goodly cities, and houſes full of all good, things, then18beware that thou forget not the Lord who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, and out of the houſe of Bon­dage. And as if this one Caution were not ſufficient, he doubles it,Chap. 8. from v. 10, to v. 18. When thou haſt eaten and art full, and haſt built goodly houſes and dwelt therein, then beware leſt thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God who brought thee out of the houſe of bondage, and ſay in thy heart, My power and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth: But thou ſhalt remem­ber the Lord thy God, for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth. By all which 'tis very eaſie to col­lect how prone the heart of man is to abuſe the riches and good things of this world to the diſho­nour of that God who graciouſly beſtowed them upon him; and in­ſtead of returning him the ſacri­fice19of praiſe and thankſgiving who hath bleſſed their endeavours in the getting all they have, to imi­tate thoſe wicked men in the Prophet Habbakkuk,Ch. 1.16. In ſacrificing to their net, and burning incenſe to their drag, becauſe by them their portion is fat, and their meat plen­teous. Nay the man after Gods own heart, holy David himſelf, began to boaſt of himſelf, and ſay in his proſperity he ſhould never be moved;Pſal. 36. when yet 'twas this very proſperity which betrayed him to thoſe two reproaches of his Piety, viz. the murder of Ʋriah, and the adultery of Bath­ſheba; for ſo the Text tells us,2 Sam. 11.1,2. when his Armies were victorious abroad, and himſelf lived in plen­ty and eaſe at home, then was the time he was tempted, by the com­miſſion of theſe very Sins. And20indeed Agurs Prayer will ſuffici­ently inſtruct us,Prov. 38.9. how much more dangerous a proſperous condition is than an adverſe one; and there­fore how much reaſon we have to petition God to deliver us from the Sins which the one tempts us to as well as the other. Poverty indeed, he tells us, does naturally tempt men to ſteal; but riches, he aſſures us, invite and incline men to the commiſſion of a ſin of a much higher nature, even down­right Atheiſm; for when once men are full, they are then in the likelieſt condition to deny God, and ſay, who is the Lord? So that upon the whole, ſince Proſperity is attended with ſuch manifold danger, and ſuch variety of temp­tations, then certainly no man hath equal reaſon to prize and re­joice in it, that the humble21 obedient Chriſtian hath; for he it is that hath the greateſt ſecuri­ty, it ſhall do him the leaſt hurt. He hath not only a gracious pro­miſe from the mouth of his bleſ­ſed Saviour, that the comforts of this life ſhall be added to him, (if the Allwiſe God ſees they'l do him good) upon his ſeeking firſt of all, and moſt of all, the Kingdom of God, and the righteouſneſs there­of. Mat. 6.33.But he is ſecured (that if God vouchſafes to beſtow the good things of this life upon him) he ſhall (upon his humble walking with God, and meek behaviour towards men) have Gods bleſ­ſing go along with him in the enjoyment of them. Mat. 5.5.And this is that that gives a value to them, and makes them good things indeed. Proſperity in fects wicked men with ſuch a ruſt and corrup­tion,22 that eats into their ſoul as a canker does into their fleſh: But all this is a good man preſerved from, by vertue of Chriſts Incarna­tion, (one end whereof was that he might deliver us from this preſent evil world,)Gal. 1.4. and the prevalency of his Saviours In­terceſſion, who ſtill continues to petition God his Father to keep all his obedient ſervants from the evil of this world. Joh. 17.15.He hath Gods Spirit going along with him to lead him into the ways of Truth, Piety, and Peace; he hath the graces thereof to aſſiſt him in the ſubduing his corrupti­ons, and enabling him to reſiſt temptations. Nay, he hath no leſs than the Almighty God of Hea­ven and Earth to ſtabliſh, ſtreng­then and ſettle him. 1 Pet. 5.16.This God is his Sun to chear and comfort him;23 his ſhield to defend and protect him; one who hath promiſed to withhold no good thing from them that walk uprightly, and lead a godly life. Pſ. 84.11.And hereby we may collect whether we have Gods bleſſing in our proſperity, when our riches don't make us a jot the more proud, or the leſs devout; ſo that we are neither high-mind­ed, nor truſt in uncertain riches, but in the living God. Nay more, when we practiſe the advice of the Son of Syrach. Eccl. 3.18.And the greater we are, can humble our ſelves ſo much the more, when we can find our ſelves more fervent in Prayers, and more frequent in Alms-deeds, and more obedient to all Gods Commandments; when we can obſerve our ſelves endea­vouring to be rich in good works as well as in money; being ready24to diſtribute, and willing to com­municate to the diſtreſſes of our poor brethren; keeping our ſelves unſpotted from the world, and do­ing good to the poor and needy; when we are thus laying up in ſtore for our ſelves a good foun­dation againſt the time to come, that we may lay hold on eternal life; when we thus make our ſelves friends of the unrighteous Mammon; putting our money out to uſury in Gods bank; lending to the Lord by giving to his poor; hoping for nothing again but his gracious acceptance here, and his merciful reward hereafter: who­ſoever finds his heart thus wrought upon by proſperity, he may well conclude he hath the bleſſing of Gods right hand as well as his left; that he hath Gods favour and love as well as his bounty and benefa­ction;25 and this is that that admini­ſters life, comfort, and ſweetneſs to all his poſſeſſions, and makes them deſirable enjoyments; ſuch a man as this may not only juſtly be al­lowed to uſe the Prayer of David,Pſal. 118.25. O Lord, I beſeech thee ſend me now proſperity; and that becauſe he hath Gods bleſſing going along with him in it, and is made the better by it, and makes other peo­ple the better for it. But when God is pleas'd to vouchſafe it him, may in that day according to Solomon's advice,Eccleſ. 7.14. Be joyful. Nay in the language of David, he may ſhout for joy and be glad, and may continually ſay, Let the Lord be magnified, who is pleaſed not only to grant me proſperity, but moreover, which is the crowning joy of all, hath pleaſure in the poſterity of his ſervant:Pſ. 35.27. For this26 cauſe ſhall my tongue ſpeak of his righteouſneſs, and of his praiſe all the day long.

2. The obedient humble Chri­ſtian hath juſt reaſon to rejoice in God in time of Affliction: For being well ſatisfied that Affliction cometh not forth of the duſt, nor troubles ſpring out of the ground, but that man is born unto trouble (is appointed thereunto by the God that made him) as the ſparks fly upwards. Therefore in ſuch a time doth he (with comfort) ſeek unto God, and (with content­ment) doth he commit his cauſe unto him, to uſe the words of Eliphaz. Job 5.6,7,8.He is not now to learn that all the miſeries of this life come from an higher hand than created weakneſs is able to grapple with or controul; and therefore knowing it to be the Lords doing,27 he preſently lifts his eyes unto Heaven from whence cometh his help, caſting his burden upon the Lord, (who firſt laid it upon his back) who alſo hath promiſed to ſuſtain him, whileſt he doth with faith, patience and chearfulneſs ſet his ſhoulders to the bearing it; and who hath expreſly ſaid,Pſ. 55.22. That he will never ſuffer the righteous to he moved. He looks upon Afflicti­on as a meſſenger ſent from God, and thereupon receives it joyfully, hearkens to it attentively, and o­beys it with all ſubmiſſion. For he is well aſſured that our Hea­venly Father (unlike to our fleſh­ly Parents) chaſtens not his Chil­dren, as they ſometimes do, for his pleaſure, but altogether for their profit; and he does it for this bleſſed end, that they may be par­takers of his Holineſs. Heb. 12.10Every one28of Gods rods hath a voice as well as a laſh, and was ſent to inſtruct as well as to correct the extrava­gant. So that when once God lays his rod upon the back of an hum­ble obedient Soul, he preſently anſwers the call of Gods chaſtiſe­ment; Speak Lord, for thy ſervant hears. Strike on, Father, for thy child attends. O Lord, my heart is fixed, my heart is fixed. I will ſing and give praiſe, I will thank­fully receive thy corrections, and am ſteadfaſtly purpoſed to obey thy righteous judgments: 'tis true indeed, that no chaſtening for the preſent ſeems to be joyous but grievous; nevertheleſs afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of righteouſneſs to them that are ex­erciſed thereby. Heb. 12.11.'Tis the conſide­ration of the bleſſed fruits that affliction brings along with it, and29ſprings out of it that makes a good man rejoice in tribulation, and heartily thank God for his chaſtiſe­ment; he ſees how uſeful it is to reclaim him from ſome ſin he was too much addicted to; and to in­ſtigate him to the practiſe of ſome duties he was too forgetful of, or negligent in: So that upon the ſurvey of the ſpiritual benefit he receives by it, he cannot but expreſs himſelf in the lan­guage of holy David,Pſal. 109.67. Before I was afflicted I went aſtray, but now (ſince I was afflicted) have I kept thy word. I now am able to ſay by my own experience (upon the obſerving the happy reformation of my naughty life) that 'tis good for me that I have been afflict­ed, becauſe thereby have I learned thy ſtatutes. And therefore, O Lord, ſince thou haſt dealt ſo well30with thy ſervant in this ſeaſonable afflicting of me, continue, I be­ſeech thee, ſuch thy loving-kind­neſs unto me according to thy word. Verſ. 65.And indeed God hath paſs'd his word that he will in much mercy to their ſouls afflict his dear­eſt ſervants in their Bodies and Eſtates, in all the concernments I mean of this temporal life, that his Wiſdom ſees will do them moſt good. And ſhould he not do ſo, he would fail in two main Articles of his Divinity (which are the great ſupporters and incourage­ment of his moſt beloved Chil­drens obedience) and that is his truth and his love towards them. Thus David acquaints us,Pſal. 199.75. I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are rights and thou in thy faithfulneſs haſt afflicted me. Intimating, that if God had not afflicted him, he31would have forfeited his Juſtice and Veracity by ſo doing; nor would his love be leſs queſtionable than his truth, if he ſhould utterly leave off correcting his deareſt chil­dren. For this is that the Writer to the Hebrews lays down as a pro­poſition of everlaſting verity:Heb. 12.6. Whom the Lord loves he chaſtens, and ſcourges every Son whom he re­ceives. God, indeed, the Apoſtle tells us, expreſſes his Fatherly love in correcting of his Children, by inſtructing, chiding, and ſcourging of them, for ſo the Original doth ſignifie. And leſt we ſhould think that affliction alone is enough to intitle us to the relation of Gods Children, or ſhould argue with our ſelves, becauſe God ſcourges every ſon which he receives, there­fore every one whom he ſcourges, he receives for his ſon; The Apo­ſtle32to rectifie this miſtake, ac­quaints us, that though indeed 'tis true that our being without cha­ſtiſement (whereof all are parta­kers would) certainly evince us to be Baſtards and not Sons: Yet our bare having chaſtiſement, is not ſufficient to conclude us to be Sons and not Baſtards. For ſays he,Verſ. 7. If ye endure (not barely if you have chaſtening), God deals with you, &c. if ye endure, if you humbly receive, patiently bear, thankfully employ, and fruitfully improve Gods word, and Gods rod, Gods chidings, and Gods ſcourgings to your own amendment; if they yield the peaceable fruits of righ­teouſneſs in a conversation of ho­lineſs, then you may reaſonably conclude your ſelves to be Gods children: And for being ſo related, and in this ſort afflicted, whereby33 that relation is ſo clearly diſcover­ed, you have good cauſe to re­joice with joy unſpeakable and glorious. How are men tranſported, and with what exuberances of exultation do they ordinarily entertain an adoption into Caeſars Family, which puts them in hopes they ſhall one day ſway a Scepter, and govern and triumph over the Kingdoms of the Earth? And yet what a trivial petit Preferment is this, if it be but compared to that inexpreſſible advancement, of be­ing received into the number of Gods Children, and admitted to be an heir and a co-heir with the Eternal Son of his love, Jeſus Chriſt the righteous, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords! And then how much more reaſon have they not only more exceedingly to rejoice, but themſelves to be34turned as 'twere who have the ſureſt evidence of the King of Heavens love and prote­ction; who are able as 'twere to produce his gracious Letters-Pa­tents under his broad Authentick Seal of Affliction, and to ſhew in their Bodies and Eſtates theſe un­deniable marks of their Heavenly Fathers love! They who find them­ſelves thus ſealed to the day of Redemption, can't chuſe certainly but keep a perpetual Jubilee all their lives long, and in the over­flowing exultation of their ſouls amidſt all their croſſes and calami­ties, muſt needs lift up their heads with joy and thankſgiving to that God who hath vouchſafed them one of the moſt certain and infal­lible ſigns of his love and good­neſs to them, whileſt he hath been graciouſly pleaſed to exerciſe35them with affliction; and not on­ly ſo, but to compleat and crown his mercy and loving-kindneſs to them, hath moreover given them patience to bear, courage to en­dure, conſtancy to perſevere, and wiſdom to improve all the croſſes he lays upon them, to his honour and their own comfort; ſo that methinks if ever a man could be allowed to be a competent Judg of his own felicity, he hath the ſureſt grounds to conclude and pronounce himſelf a happy man, when the world poſſibly thinks him poor, and miſerable, and the moſt wretched perſon, piteous up­on earth. See the man whom Eliphaz brings in with a note of admiration, as if he had a mind to pick out and ſhew you that particular perſon whom all the world ſo much court and admire,36 and endeavour to make themſelves like, Behold the happy man, ſays he! Job 5.17.Behold him, will moſt people ſay; but alas! where ſhall we ever ſee him; a happy man indeed were a ſight worth our beholding, we ſhould never think our eyes bet­ter imployed than in viewing and admiring ſo rare an object: why ſays he, I'le ſhew you the man whom you ſo mightily long to ſee and glut your eyes, and bleſs your ſelves upon, your ſurveying a man whoſe condition is altogether bleſſed and deſirable: Behold him therefore whoſe Eſtate the wicked envy, the good admire, all men hope for, and the beſt only en­joy. Would you now, in a word know who this man is? Behold, happy is the man (ſays Eliphaz) whom God correcteth. See how moſt people are diſappointed, they37generally expect a happy man ſhould be deſcribed at the rate that Aſaph characters a wicked one;Pſ. 73.12. viz. that he is one that proſpers in the world, has riches in poſſeſſion, and can even do what he liſt; who is in no peril of death, but is always luſty and ſtrong; who comes into no misfor­tune like other folk, neither is plagued like other men. Verſ. 4, 5.Who hath his belly full of treaſure, children at his deſire, and leaves the reſt of his ſubſtance to his babes. Pſ. 17.14, 85.And yet the very men but now deſcri­bed, notwithſtanding their proſ­perity, are the moſt unhappy mi­ſerable men upon earth; for they are but a company of ungodly wicked wretches, all this while, men abhor'd by God, and whoſe condition and company is avoided and prayed againſt by good men. Verſ. 13.38But now Aſaph (who was a man of a clean heart and innocent hands, one whom God loved; who had no leſs than God for the ſtrength of his heart and his portion for ever; and therefore one whom we may juſtly conclude happy. For certainly of all men happy is he who is in ſuch a caſe, yea hap­py is the man who hath the Lord for his God. Pſal. 144.15.This holy, this happy Prophet, I ſay, gives this account of his condition. All the day long have I been plagued, and chaſten­ed every morning. Pſ. 73.14.Nay he inti­mates this to be the condition of all Gods children too, as well as of himſelf; and that if he ſhould ſay otherwiſe, he ſhould condemn the whole generation of his Heavenly Fathers houſhold. Verſ. 15.And therefore they who are the moſt happy of all men, have the greateſt reaſon to39rejoice always in the Lord, who is the gracious beſtower of this their happineſs, yea and again I ſay to rejoice. Let us a while caſt our eyes upon ſome few afflictions which the world is apt to eſteem the moſt deplorable of miſeries, and ſee how a good Chriſtian can live above the ſadneſs of them all, and in the words of Samſon's rid­dle, draw forth meat out of the eater; and out of the ſtrong and the bitter, to derive inexpreſſible ſweetneſs. Judg. 14.14.Let but a worldly man, one of the ſons of Mammon, loſe his Eſtate, let him any way be re­duced to want and beggery, and you'l ſee his content and joy as ſoon departed as his money; he's ſo far from having a cheerful heart or merry countenance, that he ſcarce hath the look or the ſoul of a man left him; his heart40is dead within him, and he's be­come like a ſtone, utterly inſenſi­ble and incapable of all comfort, not a word comes out of his mouth but undone, undone, ru­in'd, and for ever miſerable; all which argue the height of diſcon­ſolateneſs and deſpair. And let a man attempt to appeaſe his paſſion and ſhew the unreaſonableneſs of his ſorrow, and he preſently re­plys in a foaming rage, and in a language not unlike that of Micah:Judg. 18.24 My Gold, my God, all that I eſteem precious, is raviſhed from me and carried away, and what have I more? and then, why do you ask me what I ail, or perſwade me to be comforted? But now an obedient, humble, faithful, good Chriſtian, who hath learned in whatſoever eſtate he is, therewith to be content, he knows both how41to be abaſed, as well as how to a­bound; every where, and in all things he is inſtructed, both to be full and to be hungry, both to a­bound and ſuffer need, to uſe the words of St. Paul. Phil. 4.11,12.He looks upon poverty when 'tis ſent from God, (and when that is, we ſhall ſee by and by) as no ſuch frightful ſad condition; he can receive it with­out tears, entertain it without grudging, nay give it a hearty cheerful welcome. For having the ſame heart, he may very well be allowed to uſe the language of St. Paul whenſoever he is in his eſtate; In all things I will approve my ſelf to God in much patience, in afflicti­ons, in neceſſities, in diſtreſſes. Though the meanneſs I am redu­ced to, makes me lookt upon as ſorrowful; yet in God can I al­ways rejoice; and though I am42poor and have nothing, yet can I by the benefit of my good exam­ple and heavenly inſtruction, make many rich; and by the contentment of my mind, and the ſatisfaction I receive in the inner man, my ſelf poſſeſs all things. 2 Cor. 6.4,10. Verſ. 11.Though I am reduced by Gods wiſe Providence to mean raiment, thin diet, and hard lodging; yet I am well aſſu­red that a bare morſel of bread and a cup of water, was thought by the Father of the Faithful a treatment not unbecoming the glorious Angels themſelves to be invited to, when they vouchſafed to converſe amongſt mortals. Gen. 18.3,4,5.And certainly Gods bleſſing can ſtill make bare bread and clear water comfort their hearts for whom his Providence hath provided no more plentiful proviſion; he can make it not only keep them alive,43 but in health too. Nay, with this can he preſerve them fat, flouriſh­ing, and cheerful alſo. I can de­rive as much warmth by Gods bleſſing from a coarſe coat, and ſleep as ſweetly upon a hard bed, when God in his wiſdom allows me no better, as they who are moſt gorgeouſly apparelled, fare deliciouſly every day, and lie up­on their beds of Ivory, and ſtretch themſelves upon their couches, and are lull'd to ſleep with a conſort of muſick. Amos. 6.4,5.Nay, ſhould my graci­ous Father think fit to bring me yet lower, and not vouchſafe me ſo much as one garment of my own to clothe me, not one morſel of bread to feed me, nor the leaſt cottage of my own to harbor and reſt my weary decaying body; however I am not hitherto made comfortleſs, but have great reaſon44to ſay, Whil'ſt I live will I praiſe the Lord; yea, as long as I have any being will I ſing praiſe unto my God, who though he hath ſtript me of many uſeful outward accommodations, yet hath conti­nued to me this never-failing com­fort, that he ſtill vouchſafes me his mercy to pray to, his promiſes to truſt in, and his good Providence to relye upon, which he hath aſ­ſur'd me ſhall preſerve and provide for me, as he knows will be moſt for my advantage. And being thus brought by God himſelf to be one of his family, to live in a more eſpecial manner by the pure pro­viſion of his Providence; To be fed out of his ſtore-houſe, and to be cloathed out of his Wardrobe, and take my reſt where he ſhall provide me a lodging; Certainly he who hath ſo bountiful, ſo com­paſſionate,45 and ſo powerful a Ma­ſter, can't chuſe but be ſufficient­ly accommodated and comforted during the whole diſcharge of his faithful ſervice. And therefore why ſhould I take thought, tor­ment and vex my ſelf about what I ſhould eat, and what I ſhould drink, and wherewithal I ſhall be clothed, when I very well know that the God whoſe I am, and whom I ſerve, liberally provides all theſe for the lillies of the field, and the fowl of the air, without the leaſt of their care and contri­vance. Math. 6.25,26.Nay, the Holy Book in­forms me, that the Son of his love, in whom the Father was always well pleaſed, was little better pro­vided for; he had neither houſe, nor land, nor revenues to furniſh him with a ſubſiſtence in the days of his fleſh, but lived all along for46above thirty years, eſpecially the three laſt of them, purely upon Gods Providence, and good mens charity. Though he hath often created food for his followers, yet he hath been ſometimes fain to beg it for himſelf; and for all that, never harbour'd the leaſt repining or diſſatisfaction at the meanneſs of his quality or entertainment. And moſt of thoſe renowned He­roes (both before and after our Saviours Incarnation) men ſo fa­mous for their Piety in their ſe­veral generations, that the un­grateful wicked world was not worthy of their continuance in it, trod the very ſame ſteps: They wander'd about in ſheepskins, and goatskins, being deſtitute, afflicted, tormented. Heb. 11.17.And yet all theſe by their faith in God, by their depen­dance upon his Providence, by47 their thankfulneſs for his protecti­on, and their obedience to his will, obtained a good report;Verſ. 39. very highly favour'd by God, and wor­thily reputed of amongſt men, their names and their vertues be­ing had in everlaſting remem­brance. And now if to compleat the ſcene of my Poverty, it ſhould pleaſe God to bring me to ſuch a paſs, that neither my own endea­vours, nor mens charity, nor any extraordinary diſpenſation, ſhould help me with bread to eat, nor clothes to put on (which hardly yet ever came to paſs); however it ſhould never come to paſs, but that the Lord ſhould be my God, him only would I ſerve, and on him alone would I place all my joy. And I ſhould think I had great reaſon to do ſo, if upon no other account, yet for this, that48he would be pleaſed amongſt all the children of men to make choice of me to witneſs to the world, that man lives not by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God;Mat. 4.4. And in a word, I ſhould neither have bread nor fleſh to ſu­ſtain me withal, I ſhould notwith­ſtanding have one ſort of meat to eat which the world knows not of, and can never take from me, and that is the refreſhment of a good conſcience; this would af­ford me many a delicious meal when every thing elſe is wanting; and the joy that does ariſe from the conſideration and proſpect of a well-led life, will furniſh me with a perpetual Gaudie, which will do more than adminiſter health to my navil, and marrow to my bones;Prov. 3.8. being able to ſtreng­then49then a fainting ſpirit, and to en­liven and cheer a dejected Soul. This will make ones heart merry, and that will without further care or trouble give a continual feaſt. Prov. 15.15.And when after all this ra­viſhing treatment, I ſhall find na­ture to decay, and no longer able to ſupport my fading-tabernacle of clay, I would in all humility and contentment of mind reſign up my ſoul into the hands of my gracious Father, breathing out my laſt breath in the accents of fain­ting Elijah,1 King. 19.4. It is enough now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am not better than my fathers. And I would not doubt but that God would in pity to my extream want and unreliev'd hunger, ei­ther mercifully take my Soul into his boſom of bleſſedneſs, or elſe (were I as good a man, and as uſe­ful50a perſon to Gods Church as Elijah was) would as miraculouſly provide me with food to ſuſtain my feeble fainting nature, as he did for that his diſtreſſed lan­guiſhing Prophet. But beſides this of Poverty, a good Chriſtian can bear up his heart, and lift up his head with joy, amidſt all the mi­ſery, pain and vexation of a long tormenting ſickneſs. Many people, 'tis true, are in this particular of Satans opinion; they think they could eaſily grapple with all the hardſhips of poverty, and the ut­moſt miſchief this world can bring upon them, ſo long as they enjoy their health; but if once God ſtretches out his hand upon their bodies, and ſmites them with a ſore diſeaſe, they can then no lon­ger hold their integrity, their hearts repine, and their tongues51 blaſpheme, and their whole life is nothing but a ſcene of quarrel­lings, and defying of the Almigh­ty. Skin for skin, and all that they have, they could be content to give for their life, and the preſer­vation of their health; but if once God puts forth his hand, and touches but their bone and their fleſh, they preſently ſet their mouths againſt Heaven, and let fly againſt God himſelf, and in this condition adventure to curſe him to his face. Job 2.4,5.But now a good Chri­ſtian when he once finds that God hath laid a ſore diſeaſe upon his loins, and caſt him upon his ſick­bed, he does in all humility quiet­ly ſubmit to his ſtroke, heartily implore his mercy, and patiently attend his pleaſure, and with a joy­ful confidence commits his body52 and his ſoul into the hands of his gracious Father. For this indeed is the never failing comfort and principal cordial of his afflicted heart, That 'tis the merciful Phy­ſician of the Univerſe who brought this ſickneſs upon him; that the ſame good God makes the ſore, and binds it up, and that he hath wounded him whoſe hands make whole. Job 5.18.So that though by reaſon of the infirmity of his fleſh he may poſſibly expreſs his unea­ſie ſad condition in the language of holy Job, ſaying,Chap. 7.3,4. I am made to poſſeſs months of vanity, and weariſome nights are appointed to me: When I lie down, I ſay, when ſhall I ariſe and the night he gone? I am full of toſſings to and fro unto the dawning of the day. Nay though he may continue his complaint to God in the words of holy David,53Pſal. 38. O Lord, thine arrows ſtick faſt in me, and thy hands preſſeth me ſore; there is no ſoundneſs in my fleſh, neither is there any reſt in my bones, my wounds ſtink and are corrupt, I am bowed down greatly, I go mour­ning all the day long. Yet can he cheer up his heart, and refreſh his ſoul with the comfortable lan­guage of the ſame holy Prophet, ſaying,Verſ. 9. Lord, all my deſire is be­fore thee, and my groaning is not hid from thee. Verſ. 15.And in thee do I hope, for thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. Nay, ſhould the ſame God bring him ſo low that he might truly ſay, The ſorrows of death compaſs me about, and the pains of hell get hold upon me: However he would have cauſe to ſay ſtill with the ſame David,Pſal. 1.2,3. I will love the Lord my strength, and I will call upon the Lord, who (though he hath54humbled me to the very duſt of death, yet) is he ſtill worthy to be praiſed. And herein will appear how worthy God is of praiſe, even when he does afflict his ſer­vant in this ſad manner, and there­fore how juſt cauſe ſuch an one hath even then to rejoice in the God that ſmites him; Becauſe as the ſame David tells us,Pſal. 23.4. Though I walk through the valley of the ſha­dow of death, I will fear none evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy ſtaff comfort me. 'Tis the con­ſideration and aſſurance of Gods preſence with them in their affli­ction, that bears up their hearts, and comforts the ſouls of Gods ſervants in the moſt diſmal cala­mity, enabling them to rejoice in the worſt of tribulations. And yet 'tis not bare being with them, but the love and kindneſs he diſcovers55to them, that makes them thus ſa­tisfied and joyful. He makes his very rod comfort them as well as his ſtaff. Ordinary rods indeed are dry inſipid things, fit for no­thing but to give blows, and create a ſmart; but Gods rod hath a Prerogative beyond all others, in that, like Aaron's Rod,Numb. 17.8. laid up by Gods appointment in the Ark, it blooms, bloſſoms, ſuch as by their ſweetneſs refreſh the ſpirits; and yields almonds, a fruit that delights and comforts the Soul. Nay, when the ſtrokes of his rod ſeem moſt to weaken and ſtrike them to the ground, then does God put his ſtaff into their hands, and that bears them up, and keeps them from falling; and therefore both together can't chuſe but afford an inexpreſſible comfort to thoſe good ſouls that56are exercis'd thereby. And 'tis for the continual ſupply of this com­fort, and the frequent refreſh­ment of this cordial, that a devout ſoul is rais'd to ſuch a degree of ſatisfaction and exultation amidſt the very agonies of death, as en­ables her in that dire conflict tri­umphantly to cry out in the lan­guage of afflicted Job,Chap. 3.15,16. Though he ſlay me, yet will I truſt in him. He alſo ſhall be my Salvation. And 'tis the ſame overflowing comfort that God vouchſafes a good Chri­ſtian that bears up his heart, and lifts up his head above all the diſ­graces and calumnies that the un­juſt ungrateful world throws up­on him. He knows a bleſſing goes along with him when men revile him, and perſecute him, and ſay all manner of evil againſt him falſely upon account of his con­ſtant57adhering to Chriſt and his Goſpel. And 'tis the aſſurance of this, that enables him to rejoice and be exceeding glad; anſwer­able to our Saviours encourage­ment in that particular affliction. Math. 8.11,12.Nay 'tis the ſame merciful God that ſupplys them with an exube­rant joy in recompence for all the unkindneſs they meet with at the hands of cruel relations and un­faithful friends. David indeed ac­quaints us,Pſ. 27.13. That he had certainly fainted but that he believed to ſee the goodneſs of the Lord in the land of the living. And herein God ex­preſt his goodneſs to him, that when his father and his mother for­ſook him, the Lord took him up. Verſ. 10.And 'twas his receiving this ſea­ſonable comfortable mercy that made him reſolutely wait on the Lord, and be of good courage,58 knowing that he did and would ſtrengthen his heart. Verſ. 14.Nay further, when he was brought to that ſad condition that his own familiar friend in whom he truſted, who alſo eat of his bread, had lift up his heel againſt him, an affliction that of all others ſeems to go neareſt to his heart, and which he was leaſt able to bear: For if it had been an enemy that reproached him, then he could have born it; by whom he implies the perfidiouſ­neſs of a friend to be almoſt in­ſupportable. Pſ. 55.12.And yet even in the worſt of miſeries was he not de­ſtitute of a ſatisfactory comfort: Thou, O Lord, ſays he, upholdeſt me in my integrity, and ſetteſt me before thy face for ever. And for this reaſon ſays he,Pſal. 41.9,12,13. bleſſed be the Lord God of Iſrael from everlast­ing to everlaſting. Amen and Amen. 59We have the cleareſt inſtance of what was but now delivered, in the perſon and practiſe of holy Job, a man afflicted beyond compare, and yet ſatisfied and joyful beyond all example. Let us but obſerve how of the richeſt man of the Eaſt, he was in a few hours redu­ced to be one of the pooreſt per­ſons upon earth. His ſervants we find ſlain, and his cattel carried away by the hands of thieves and murderers; his ſheep and his ſhep­herds were conſumed by fire from heaven; his ſons and his daughters kill'd by the fall of the houſe blown down upon their heads: And yet all the diſcontent that Job expreſſes at theſe ſad tidings, was only his worſhipping and praiſing God, ſo ſays the Text,Job 1.20,21,22. Then Job aroſe and rent his mantle, and ſhaved his head, and fell down upon60the ground and worſhipped, and ſaid, Naked came I out of my mothers womb, and naked ſhall I return thi­ther. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, bleſſed be the name of the Lord.