Commandment of the Lord but you do not so Is not Gods servicâ— contemned by you Do not you looâ— upon it as a disgrace to be Religious When do you hear Gods word or wheâ— doth God hear from you in prayer Anâ— not all dayes alike with you even thaâ— holy time God hath chosen for himself is it not many times more vainly and wickedly spent then the week day What are your Consciences but graves wherein you have buried all the good principles you had in your education Are not your bodies the sinks of lust and the epitome of Diseases Youâ— estates so wasted in the service of thâ— Devil that they are become but a meaâ— skeleton Your breath is become morâ— infectious then the steam of a Sepulcher who more bitter against Godliness then you Who more ready to shake hands with the wicked then youâ— Who more ashamed of their Godly Ancestours then you are Do not many â—f you think their strictness and circumâ—pect walking a crime and for fear least you should be involved in it you think â—hat you have no way to clear your selves but by doing the quite contrary And now Sirs do you think to scape I tell you in the name of God except you repent your condition will be doubly miserable 1. In this life the judgements of God will overtake you Deut. 32.20 They â—e Children in whom is no faith saith God in the 23 I will heap mischief â—pon â—â—em I will spend mine arrows upon them What a fatal deluge befel those Sons of God and of the Church that corrupted themselves and fell from God Gen. 7.8 What a dreadful curse befel degenerate Cham in Noahs family How heavy was Gods hand upon Ishmael and Esau the time would fail to let off the sad ends wicked children of Godly Parents have come to to speak of Nadab and Abihu Hophni and Phineas Absolom the Sons of good Samuel of Jehoram the Son of good Jehoshaphat of the Children of Josiah of theâ— posterity of the seven Asian Churches O you degenerate ones read these examples and tremble at them 2. But most miserable will you be iâ— the day of judgement Mat. 8.13 Wheâ— the Children of the Kingdom shall be casâ— into utter darkness There shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth that day will be a sad day to two sorts of persons to wicked Parents and Rebellious Children when Christ shall say to a Child who taughâ—â—ou to swear drink c. and they shall say Lord I had a Father and Mother did nâ— more for me then beasts do for their young I never was taught any thing was good â— was never warned against sin I knew little of thee and Christ except it were how to abuse and prophane thy Name O the misery of those Parents But oâ— the other side when Christ shall say tâ— another who taught you to take sucâ— courses and do such things and the Parents shall say Lord this our Son â—ur Daughter were Children of Belial we warned them night and day with tears we were gentle to them and exhorted them as fathers should do their their Children we corrected them we â—rayed for them we entreated others to â—ray for them we wept over them Lord thou knowest the sighs and tears the heart-breakings we had from them but they would not hear O the misery of â—hat Child and of all such Children Now let me add but a little Counsel to you which if followed will do you much good 1. Engage your hearts to God give up your selves to him Avouch the Lord to be your God and resolve to be his Servants then you will easily answer those many temptations that will come a suiâ—oring for your hearts and be very importunate with you Satan is Gods rival in suing for the heart the world and the flesh are his Pandors Now Oâ— young man engage thy heart to God and then thou mayest say I am not mine own I have bestowed my affections already and I like my choice too well to change 2. Do not think your selves too wise to learn and too good to be taught which is the sin of most young people It is your great wisdome to hearken to instruction Prov. 12.15 He that hearkneth to counsel is wise Prov. 13.1 A wise Son hears his Fathers instruction There is no greater folly in young people ahen to think themselves wise enough already It is reckoned in Sacred Scripture great impiety not to hear instruction and there is a curse promised against those that like the deaf Addeâ— stop their ears and will not hearken to Parents Ministers Godly wise friends Whom do you despise but God himself Ezek. 3.7 You find it the brand of Reprobates 1 Sam. 2.25 Eli hiâ— â—ons hearkned not to the voice of their father because the Lord would slay them 2 Ch. 25.16 The Prophet tells Aâ—aziah that his not hearkning to counsel was an argument God had determined to destroy him I have read a story of Bernard who had a younger brother that was a Souldier and led a wicked life his brother used many wayes to reclaim him but he slighted all Well saith he to him Brother the time may come that God may let my â—ords into your heart by a hole in the side not long after this gallant was wounded in his side then his Brothers words came to his mind with great astonishment You that have faithfull Parents Masters Friends that advice and counsel you take heed of shutting it out of your ears and hearts least God let it in with a witness afterwards I would intreat young persons to study that place Eph. 6.1 2. It is the first Commandment that hath a promise with it and there is a four-fold cord to bind to the performance of it 1. It is just and equal this is right 2. That it is the first Command thaâ— which leads to all the rest he or shâ— that keeps this will keep the other hâ— or she that breaks this is in danger oâ— breaking all the other 2 Tim. 3.1 3. It is a Command with a promisâ— to allure them to it and that of a temporal blessing and that blessing whicâ— every one desires long life And 4. The Apostle in Col. 3.20 adds one more this is well-pleasing tâ— the Lord and who is there that woulâ— not please him O remember how iâ— all other things you are willing to bâ— instructed What Schollar is not willing to learn of his teacher the Tongueâ— and Arts What Servant is not willing to learn his trade and to be instructed and bind himself seven eight nine years to learn an Art or Mystery that he may live by hereafter And are youâ— souls nothing to you Are you so wise for saving them you need no help 3. Though you are in strength and health likely to live many years yet remember all you Young ones that you must dye and come to judgement It is Solomons counsel Eccles 11.9 There are in Goigotha skulls of all sizes
Shechemites of Jacobâ— Sons These men are peaceable with us therefore let them dwell in the land Gen. 34.21 It is a question yet unresolved whether the persecutions oâ— enemies or the divisions of brethren have done the Church of God moâ— harm 4. Thou must walk charitably labour after a beneficialness in thy conversation to be profitable to men to bâ— publick spirited open handed to thâ— poor to be as Job was eyes to the blind to cloath the naked visit the sick defend the fatherless and widow This iâ— well pleasing to God these things arâ— good and profitable to men This is the way to adorn thy Conversation and to be a pattern of gooâ— works and without such things as these thy profession and religious performances will have no great lustre noâ— beauty 8. If God give thee prosperity and riches increase be not overjoyed with it Trust not in uncertain riches do not bless thy self in abundance as if thy happiness did stand in possessing or thou wert sure to have these things continued If we rejoyce exceedingly in the day of prosperity we shall grieve immoderately when the time of parting comes 9. Therefore prepare for adversity Thy Saviour hath commanded thee to take up thy Cross daily in preparation and expectation And Solomon hath told us We know not what a day may bring forth If adversity comes be not impatient murmur not against God if he cut short thy Estate but say with holy Job Shall I receive good things at Gods hand and not evil The Lord gives and the Lord takes blessed be his holy Name Job 1.21 c. 2.10 10. In Recreations which the necessity of Nature calls for and Religion doth not deny Look to thy self for it is easie stepping out of the use into the abuse of them See therefore 1. To the kind of them that they be lawful innocent and of good report as also that thy recreations be in offensive That which is in it self lawfuâ— may be in expedient Use no recreation that hath got an universal eviâ— report among Sober Godly Wise grave persons 2. To the time We should abridge ouâ— selves Recreations in times of Common Calamity to our Country or thâ— Church of God See also that it bâ— not on the Lords day which is to bâ— employed in Heavenly exercise Wâ— must not suffer them to thrust out Family duties or croud them up in â— narrow compass And finally seâ— that they take thee not off from the important works of thy Calling 3. To the place that it be not too publick and open to draw others to seâ— us who notwithstanding thy libertâ— may be offended or that it be not place of gusling and drinking where we may be drawn to excess 4. To thy Company that we sort our our selves as much as we can with Godly wise Christians 5. In the continuance of them Recreations as they should not be over frequent so they should not be over-long Make not thy by-work thy work Use them as sauce a little here is enough and enough may be too much and as the Proverb saith Too much of one thing is good for nothing 6. To the end of them which must be to refresh the outward man to benefit the inward man We must not play to play No man uses a whetstone but to put a keenness upon an Instrument Imitate the Primitive Christians of whom Tertullian gives this account We sit not down to eat till we have first prayed to God we eat so as to satisfie hunger we drink so as not to enflame lust we feast so as to remember we must go to prayer and come away as if we had been at â— watch rather then a feast 11. Be ready to every good work and constantly perform such holy dutie as God calls thee to and do not willingly omit them If God calls thee to hear his word and pray to him go to it that not out of form but out of a conscience of thy duty and a sense of thy wants get some time every day foâ— Meditation of Gods Word and Works and if thou art so barren thou canst noâ— find matter meditate of thy barrenness and humble thy soul for it 12. And now in the Evening take â— view of the former particulars and examine all how thou hast prayed how thou hast performed the works of thy Calling what hath come into thy thoughts what hath gone out of thy mouth how thou dost find thy self in prosperity and adversity how it hath been with thee at home and abroad alone and in company in recreations and in religious duties And herein deal faithfully with thy own soul If thou hast upon due enquiry into thy self found that thou hast kept this order in some good manner give God the praise and Glory If thou be conscious to thy self of any disorder blame and shame thy self beg pardon of God fly to the merits of Christ renew thy resolutions to walk with more watchfulness And as thou didst rise with God in the morning so close the day with him making thy peace with him that thou mayst rest in the arms of thy beloved and have good hope thou shalt go to heaven if thou should'st dye before the morning Objections against this daily order in our Conversation Obj. 1. O but saith the flesh this is more then needs more then God requires Ans But go and learn what that means to love the Lord with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind and with all thy strength and then thou wilt not say it is more then needs except thou thinkest there is no need to please God Obj. 2. But this will spoil all mirth to observe this order Ans It is nothing so these Rules observed will keep from nothing that is lawful delightful profitable thou mayest eat drink buy sell keep company recreate thy self onely it teaches thee to do these things without sin If there be no mirth but in sin then the Devil is the merriest creature in the world for he doth nothing but sin Obj. 3. But it is impossible to do this alwayes and this makes Religion a bondage Ans The love of God makes his Commandments not to be grievous when we first enter on it it seems harsh and hard not that it is so but it seems so because we have used our selves to so much liberty as a new garment is strait at the first putting on but after a little wearing it is easie Do not say Christs yoke is heavy and strait when he saith it is easie If God give thee a new heart thou wilt never complain of the difficulty of a new life The encouragements to observe this Order are these five 1. This will keep out many sins that overtake us for want of it The resolving against sin in the morning and prayer to God to strengthen that resolution are excellent helps to keep us from sin 2. It will preserve us from many troubles and sorrows which it doth by
keeping us from sin for Sorrow follows sin as the shadow doth the body 3. It preserves from lying and continuing in sin he that observes this order if he falls in the day through infirmity he rises the same day by repentance and evens his recknings with God through the mediation of Jesus Christ 4. It will keep us from foul and heynous sins from conscience-wasting sins which a man falls not ordinarily into but by degrees lessening his care and remitting in his duty as we see in David and Solomon The observing this daily order stops the disease in the beginning quenches the fire in the spark kills the Serpent in the Egg. 5. It makes a mans life very comfortable and joyfull The more carefully and constantly a man walks with God the more peace and joy he will find and retain By this means we shall be more fit for holy duties and to perform them in a right manner hereby we shal the more easily prepare our selves for a holy Communion By this way also we shall with more success manage our spiritual Conflict even to triumph over Satan Hereby we shall realize the profession of Religion we have been so solemnly dedicated to in our baptism Lastly hereby we are fit to live in all times and thus living we shall be fit to dye What need he that hath thus orderly walked with God fear Death since he knows he goes to that God with whom he is at peace §. 12. A Direction to Christians how to carry themselves in Evil dayes especially in in times of fear and danger 1. It highly concerns every man to examine and prove himself whether he be in the Faith or no how the case stands between God and him Lam. 3.40 Hag. 1.5 If we will not try our selves we shall be tryed and wo unto us if we be found too light 2. We should be every day weaning our hearts from the world Things that hang on a pin easily fall off but things that are glued are hardly severed inordinate love to any worldly thing makes the cross ten times heavier and it is like a heavy burthen on a sore back Let not thy heart so cleave to these things that judgements should rend and tear them from thee but let thy affections be so mortified that they may fall off easily as Elijahs mantle when he went up to Heaven 3. Be twice as much exercised in Religious Duties as before When Judas was plotting Christ went to the Passover When Haman was revelling Esther with her Maids were praying It is good to be well employed when God is riding circuit in his judgements Blessed is that Servant who when his Lord comes is found so doing 4. Labour to keep a good Conscience that though thou hast trouble without thou mayest have peace within No comfort like a good conscience it is a continual feast it is like that good Woman Prov. 31.12 It will do thee good and not evil all thy dayes no torment like a bad one for it is like that evil Woman Prov. 19.13 that is a continual dropping but drops fastest in a rainy day 5. Inure thy self to some hardiness Delicate persons can hardly suffer Soft flesh if it be pinched soon swells They that know not how to lay aside their fashions how will they endure the want of the necessities of Nature We should therefore deny our selves somewhat in meat drink and apparel and pleasures and abase our selves least the Lord abase us 6. Make sure of the favour of God It will be very sad to have God and man against us both at once The wrath of a King is like the roaring of a Lion But who knows the power of Gods anger 7. Make much of the Promises and get them in thy heart and labour to have them in a readiness upon all occasions Thy word saith David hath comforted me in my affliction God uses more words in promises then in any dispensation of his will when he threatens he speaks shortly when he promises he speaks largely 8. Get into thy heart the sound and experimental knowledge of the Truth and a fervent love to it It is the truth that thou art like to suffer for and a man can never suffer for that he doth not know much less for that he doth not love 9. Labour to better thy Knowledge in the Doctrine of Afflictions to know the nature usefulness end of them how to judge rightly of them how to bear them how to improve them fix in thy mind such things as these There is no Son of God without Chastisement That no Affliction comes but by the will of God That by Afflictions we are made both serviceable and conformable to Christ That all troubles losses strokes are proportioned to our strength that they all are for our profit and good the more we believe these things the more comfortable and couragious we shall be in evil dayes 10. Christians should by holy confeâ—â—nce edifie and comfort one another Mal. 3.16 They should improve the communion of Saints for instructing strengthning encouraging one another 11. Meditate often of the attributes of God the former experiences of Gods dealing with his people and the joyes of heaven and the reward is set before us as Christ did Heb. 12.1 as Moses did Heb. 11.27 and Paul Rom. 8.18 2 Cor. 4.17 12. Spare no sin unmortified Entertain no Dalilah no Herodias for in an evil day it will work more woe and bitterness then we are aware of It will fill thee with tormenting fears and racking doubts One fire-ball will burn thy house one sin unrepented of will burn thy soul Do not hide iniquity in thy heart when God is making inquisition for it 13. In an evil time the prudent shoulâ— keep silence There is a time to speak and a time to be silent Many times ouâ— speaking dishonours God gratifies enemies discovers corruption discredits religion endangers our persons Wâ— should therefore pray to God to set watch before our lips especially in evâ—â— times and endeavour our words may be few true and spiritual 14. But we must not be silent as tâ— God in ceasing to pray unto him for iâ— is his Command Call upon me in the day of trouble and he expects wheâ— his chastning is upon us we should pouâ— out our prayer unto him and that iâ— affliction we should seek him early thaâ— we should pray oftner and better The nearer Christ came to his suffering the more earnestly he prayed Go then and enter into thy Chamber and shut thy door Get under the wings of the Almighty and say with David Thou art my hiding place Psal 32.7 I fly unto thee Lord to hide me Psal 143.9 15. With other exercises of piety joyn â—harity exercise mercy forgive thy â—nemies be reconciled to thy brethren â—isit the sick and imprisoned plead the â—ause of the widow give a portion to even and also to eight for thou knowâ—st not what evil shall be upon the earth â—ccles 11.2 Therefore saith the Coâ—â—tous heart
behold thy Mother The fourth a word of sad complaint Mat. 27.46 My God my God why hast thou forsaken me The fifth a word of want and distress Iohn 19.28 I thirst The sixth a word of triumph and gratulation Iohn 19.30 It is finished The seventh a word of perseverance Luke 23.46 Father into thy hands I commend my spirit Twenty Directions how to live well and dye well from these seven last words of Christ being the heads of several Sermons preached by Mr. E. C. B. M. 1. He that would live well and dye well must be much in prayer The first fourth seventh words are prayers 2. He must be well versed in the Book of Psalms the fourth and seventh words are out of it 3. He must forgive his Enemies and pray for them 4. He must have a care of relations and dispose of his worldly estate 5. He must do what he can to convert others 6. He must not abuse the example of the penitent thief to delay his repentance 7. He must believe the souls of the Godly go immediately upon their death to a Heavenly Paradise 8. He must thirst after communion with God and the enjoyment of God in Heaven Jesus Christ thirsted after our salvation 9. He must meditate of the soul and body sufferings of Jesus Christ what he suffered in his soul when he uttered the fourth word what he suffered in his body when he uttered the fifth word 10. He must so live as that he may upon good grounds call God Father The first word was Father forgive them The last word was Father into thy hands c. 11. He must take more care for hiâ— precious soul then his mortal body 12. He must believe that Christ hath finished all things necessary for hiâ— salvation in point of merit and satisfaction and that nothing is required of him but to testifie his thankfulness in a holy life â—3 He must believe on good grounds that Christ hath finished His Salvation O happy man that when he is breathing out his last can say my salvation is finished â—4 He must finish whatsoever is behind and to be done by him to fit him for heaven something we are to do and we must finish it not only begin well but end well â—5 He must fly in the time of tentation to Christs sufferings there is a great deal of comfort in that word it is finished â—6 He must stay himself on God in a time of darkness when there is no light Christ said My God we must not let go the faith of adherance though we want the faith of evidence â—7 He must remember Christ wore a Crown of Thorns that we mighâ— wear a Crown of Glory he was forsaken for a time that we might noâ— be forsaken for ever 18. He must believe that through many tribulations we may enter intâ— the Kingdom of Heaven A man maâ— from the Cross go to Heaven Chriâ— was Crucified between two thieveâ— and yet died gloriously 19. He must study the love of Christ iâ— suffering such a cursed death on thâ— Cross for his sins that he may bâ— able to say He loved me and gavâ— himself for me and rejoyce in nothing save in the Cross of Christ 20. He must after the example of Chriâ— commend his soul to Gods hands and remember Christ hath commended thy soul and my soul already intâ— the hands of God and when we dyâ— God will remember the deposituâ— left with him §. 11. The order a Christian is to observe in his walking every day with an answer to objections and encouragement to set about it 1. In the morning awake with God Psal 139.18 i. e. season thy mind with awful and thankful thoughts of Gods morning and evening mercies and lift up thy heart in some short mental prayer to God that he would help thee to renew thy resolution to walk with him 2. When thou art up as soon as conveniently thou canst betake thy self to prayer Private prayer should be the first thing we do The first hour is the Golden hour and by so doing thou mayest open thy heart to God and shut it against all sin For family prayer that is the fittest hour when all the family or the greatest part can most conveniently meet together and if thou art a servant take heed of voluntary neglecting family prayer Let it be some urgent occasion that hinders thee anâ— when thou canst not be there with thy bodily presence yet be sure thy affection be with them 3. After prayer and other religiouâ— duties performed Go to thy calling anâ— follow the works thereof as that statioâ— God hath set thee in with diligence conscience and chearfulness and be contented with thy calling though mean Be not like worldlings who do all with a greedy mind of getting But remember a Christian hath two Callings one general the other particular and he is a happy and wise servant that so minds his general as not to neglect his particular and so follows his particular Calling as he doth not neglect his general Usually the former have some tincture of hypocrisie and the latter are too much over-grown with covetousness Labour therefore to keep thy eye upon thy heart and upon the rule Do all in thy particular Calling with uprightness and faithfulness in wisdom and order referring the success to Gods blessing and labour to be armed with patience against crosses and losses In buying and selling take heed of lying and dissimulation covetousness and frowardness of multiplying words carelesly and of over-praising thy own wares when thou sellest and saying it is naught when thou buyest 4. When thou art alone look to thy heart and say Heart where art thou what art thou doing where hast thou been whither art thou going keep thy heart with all diligence Prov. 4.23 Keep it as a Guardian would do a rich Heir that hath many Suitors or as a General would do a Castle that was a key or in-let to the whole Country and in order to this remember five things 1. Observe the motions of it thy mind is thy self Be not a stranger to thy self God looks at the heart 1 Sam. 16.7 he delights in truth in the inward man Psal 1.6 2. When any good thoughts and holy motions come into thy soul as those that are truly good shall not find themselves long without them cherish and entertain them say as the Spouse It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh say Come in thou blessed of the Lord why standest thou without but iâ— evil motions arise let them not lodge with thee but chase them from thee 3. Employ thy heart and set it tâ— work The mind is a restless mill alwayes in motion Calvin prayed every day the devil might never find him idle If our hearts be doing nothing they will be doing evil like a garden if yoâ— do not sow good seeds will soon bâ— overun with weeds Remember Goâ— and Nature abhor idleness and the Devil watches for the idle hour 4.
may grant in anger and withhold in love 5. If God in his providence do cross us in one thing it may be it is to bestow upon us some better thing When he shuts the hand of his common bounty it is that he may open the hand of his special grace Lastly In such providences God doth not simply cross us but many times by things and wayes that seem contrary he gives the good that we desire Gods way for Israel to Canaan was a straight way or a right way Psal 107.7 Though it had many turnings and windings going backwards and forwards So God makes the crossing us for the present a ripening circumstance for the future here is all the difference God brings the mercy round about and we look for it straight forward 3. Case The strength and successiveness of Afflictions That is when afflictions come one upon the neck of another like Jobs messengers and a whole series of providences are against as in Jacobs case Gen. 42.36 Joseph is not and Simeon is not and ye will take Benjamin also all these things are against me 1. Consider all afflictions take their commission from divine providence there is no rod but is of Gods making and sending Job 5.6 Affliction springs not out of the dust That wicked King or Lord 2 Kings 6.33 raised a true Doctrine when he said this evil is of the Lord But he made an ill application when he said I will tarry no longer 2. There is a Divine providence that qualifies successive afflictions and makes them all mercies to good men Whatever repeated rebukes and reiterated stroaks are to wicked men they prove good physick to the Godly 3. Divine providence proportions these renewed afflictions to our disease If he sends many afflictions it is because we need them 1 Pet. 1.6 manifold temptations come not but where need is We serve divers lusts no wonder God sends divers tryals Job could not have been without one of his afflictions Many times single afflictions do not make us understand we look upon the first as an accident as a by-blow but when it comes again and again we begin to think what is the matter somewhat is amiss When the report was brought to Galienus the Emperour Aegypt was lost what then saith he cannot I live without the flax of Aegypt And when it was told him Asia was lost and cannot I live without the delicacies of Asia Such a kind of spirit that slights single afflictions makes God double his stroak When God musters up an Army of afflictions and pursues us with Fire Sword and Pestilence it becomes us to think what is the cause sure here is somewhat done more then ordinary sure there is some Achan some abominable thing among us We do not send a train of Artillery and an Army to kill wasps nor doth the wise God make such preparations for death but where there is just occasion given 4. These troubles though they come thick like hail-stones yet they are all measured and moderated by God as to the time and continuance There will be a last affliction the last plague the last enemy to Gods people all afflictions as they are from the will of God so every circumstance the height breadth length of every one is measured by God and that is a singular comfort 4. Case The blasting of probabilities That is when things have been regularly sought of God by holy means and in a lawful way and we have come neer the Mercy in sight of it things have been wound up to the top of a suddee all things run backward and we lose the sight of the mercy so that we are to begin all anew 1. Consider God checks visible probabilities least we should ascribe all to means and rob him of his Glory 2. To shew us the vanity of Creatures and to convince us of the folly of promising our selves so much comfort and satisfaction from them The Creatures promise us great things and we are too apt to believe them Riches promise to ease us of our care and labour and we many times promise our selves a writ of ease too but they do but increase our cares they promise liberty but they bring us into bondage they promise us contentment but they fill us with disquietings and vexation and so in other things We expect great matters from changes and alterations The Servant promises himself great matters in his freedome the single man in his marriage the heir in getting out of wardship and minority But all these things are fewel to enflame our desires rather â—hen food to satisfie But there is no way to make us believe it till we feel it therefore God blasts many things that are probably like to prove comforts that we may experimentally see the vanity of Creatures 3. God many times interrupts probabilities to see how we can behave our selves in the midst of improbabilities whether we can live upon a promise â—or no. For though a promise be not so sensible a ground to relie upon yet a promise is a surer ground then the most probable providence that is In that God hath promised to be my God and my exceeding great reward and hath said if I commit my way to him â—he will bring it to pass this is a better ground to rest and stay upon then if I had all the probable means in the world Now when God cuts off probable succours and supports from us it is that we should live more upon himself and his promise 5. Case The pinching wants of our present Condition That is when there is a thinness and scantiness of outward provision many mouths little meat many backs little rayment many wants and small supplyes we have nothing but what we have from hand to mouth In this case 1. Consider Divine providence is a daily care Christs Disciples must take no care for to morrow Mat. 6.34 The whole congregation of Israel must gather Manna day by day Exod. 16 4â— They shall gather a certain rate every day that I may prove them Vatabluâ— refers Gods proving Israel to this particular Law of gathering Manna thiâ— was a great tryal of their dependance oâ— God and obedience to him 2. God can send means successivelâ— day by day as he did to Elijah Is noâ— the earth the Lords and the fulnesâ— thereof God hath strange wayes tâ— provide for his In the year 1573. when Rochel was besieged by the French Kings Army God sent them in daily with the Tyde an infinite number of small fishes such as before that time were never seen in that Haven and after the Siege ended retired again God can lengthen out a little means and put a secret sweetness and fatness and blessing into the morsels of the Righteous 3. God sees a depending life best for his Children Aegypt was a Countrey that owed its fertility to the over-flowing of the River Nilus This was not judged by God so fit a place for Israel as Canaan a Land that was watered with