Book III. of Jesus Christ. i8t

the Meafure lefs ormore^ 'tis rtill thy Diitribution. He who receives moft is indebted for the whole to thy Liberality ; and he who hath leaf!;, could not have had that little but from Thee. He to whom thou halt dealt thy Blellings moft plentifully, is not from that Difpenfation to take an Eftimate of himfelf-his Plen- ty will not juitifie any Confidence or Boaitof hisown Merit, nor may heinfult over his Brethren, or behave himfelf uncomely 3 and difefteem or defpife thofe.from whom thy Mercies have diftinguifhed him. For the Greatnefs of Mens Deferts is moft eminently difcove- red by a Modeft and Mean Opinion of themfelvesj Courtefie and Condefcention toothers. Gratitude and Devotion towards God. And the more they are fen- fible of their own Wants and Unworthinefs, the bet* ter they qualifie themfelves for frefh and greater De- raonftrations of thy Love and Liberality. Again, the Man to whom thou haft diftributed more fparingly^ muft not repine and be difcouraged, nor fret and grudge the larger Portion of his wealthier Neigh- bour; but keep his Eyes and mind wholly intent up- on thee, and admire the Freedom of thy Grace, which as it cannot be obliged to any, fo gives to all largely jj and without partial Refped of Perfons.
For thou art to be praifed in all thy Gifts hyQvery Man, becaufe all comes from thee : And thou art .Ma- tter of thy own Favours; thou giveft without Up- braiding, and withholdeft without Injuftice i Thy Wifdom knows what Meafures are proper and expe- dient for each Perfon ; andtheReafons Vv'hy one Man differs from another , lie not within the compafs of o.ur Knowledge , but muft be left entirely to thy Judg- ment, to determine the Fitnels of them.
In this Perfwafion, Lord, I readily acknowledge and adore thy Mercy, in fuffering me to want many of thofe Advantages, which the generality of Man- kind fee a mighty Value upon. Nay, lam fadsfied, that
H " Mm
1 8 2 €>f tint gimttation Book IIL
Men ought to be afflided, and humble their Souls^, with the Confideration of their own Wants and Un- worthinefs ; yet fo, as not only not to give way to fad Defpondencies and Diftruft of thy Mercy ; but, even from this very Subjed to draw Matter of Comfort and Joy ; becaufe thou haft fo particularly declared thy AfFedion to the contrite and humble Souls, and given them Marks of more than ordinary Favour.
Such were thofe Apoftles, fo mean in their own and theWorld's Efteem, whom thou madeft choice of for Witneffes of thy Truth, and Attendants upon thy Perfon. Thefe very Heroes in the Chriftian Story, whom thou haft appointed Judges and Rulers of the whole World in Matters of Religion, were recorri- mended to that High Promotion, by being Meek and Poor in Spirit, void of Guile, and mortified to the •World ; patient in SuiFering, content with Infolence, and barbarous Treatment ; and proud of nothing, but being thought worthy to endure Shame and Pain for theNaine of Jefus. Sodiftantfrom common Men^ fo fingular were their Notions, which difpofed them with Joy and Eagernefs to embrace, what others dread and deteft, and (hun with all their Induftry and Might. The never-failing Spring of Joy and Comfort, which they who truly love and fear thee, and are thankful for thy Infinite Goodnefs, find within, flows from the conftant Refignation of their Minds to thy Difpofals, and the Reflections upon thy Wife Eternal Purpofes^ which check their Pronenefs to Partiality and Dif- content, and make every Difpenfation of thy Provi- dence v/elcome to thera. They are abafed with e- qual Satisfacftion, as others are exalted : And regard! not High or Low , Honourable or Defpifed, accord- ing to common Reputation, but confider that their Sta- tion and Circumftances in the World are chofen and ordained by Thee , and cannot therefore but be good^ nay, better than any other, becaufe the Effect of thy