(2d.) It is mercy, if we consider not only our want, but our forfeiture. It is not only mercy, but pardoning mercy ; at least a reprieving from
Mat. VI. 11.] THE lord's prayer. ^t>3
trouble, for we deserved the contrary. There is a kind of temporary pardon, which continueth all these blessings. It is as great a curse as possibly David could thunder out against obstinate sinners and God's implacable enemies : Ps. xxviii, 4, ' Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours.' Do we think this would be matter of mischief only to David's enemies ? No ; every one of us, if we had our deserts, we should soon be shift- less, harbourless, begging from door to door, yea, howling for one drop of mercy to cool our tongues. Oh, then, surely the Lord is to be praised and acknowledged in bestowing the good things of this present life. Well, then—
As these blessings come from God, let them carry up your heart to God again. As all rivers they run from the sea, and they discharge themselves into the sea again, so let all be returned to God with thankfulness, with acknowledgments that you have received them from God. I shall urge it with one example : Jesus Christ, though he were heir. Lord of all things, ' Who thought it no robbery to be equal with God,' yet you find him ever giving thanks when he used the creatures : Mat, xv. 36. And it is the main thing John taketh notice of, and passeth by the miracle : John vi. 23, ' Where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks.' Nigh to Tiberias, there was the place where our Lord fed many with five loaves and two fishes ; but he only saitli this, ' Where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks.' He saw this was a notable circum- stance, so he doth but cursorily mention the miracle, only calls it eat- ing bread, but expressly mentioneth Christ's blessing the creature. He would teach us that the blessing of all enjoyments is in God's hand.
Use 4. If the Lord be the donor and giver of all these outward things, let us beware we do not abuse these gifts of God, as occasions of sinning against the giver, that we fight not against him with his own weapons. Jesus Christ, speaking to his own disciples, though they were trained up with him, a company chosen out, and select family, who were to be his heralds and ambassadors to the world, yet he gives them this caution : Luke xxi. 34, ' Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunk- enness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.' He saw it needful to warn his own disciples. We had two common parents, Adam and Noah, and one miscarried by eating, and the other by drinking ; these sins are natural to us. The throat is a slippery place, and had need well be looked unto. Mark, Christ there doth not mean surfeiting and drunkenness merely in a gross notion. When we hear of surfeiting and drunkenness, we think of spuing, staggering, reeling, vomiting, and the like ; but we are to consider it in a stricter notion : ' Take heed lest the heart be overcharged.' The heart may be overcharged when the stomach is not ; that is, when we are less apt to praise God, grow more lumpish and heavy, or rather when we settle into a sensual frame of spirit, and by an inordinate delight in our present portion, are taken ofi:' from minding better things. Look, as the heart is overcharged with the cares of the world, so likewise with creature delights and comforts of this world, when it is set for ease and vanity. Many that would be bathers of the other drunken-
164 AN EXPOSITION OF [MaT. VL 11.
ness, yet are guilty of this kind of surfeiting and drunkenness ; the heart is overcharged with an inordinate affection to present things. Tliere cannot be a more heavy judgment than when our table is made our snare : Ps. Ixix. 22. A snare, it is God's spiritual judgment ; when the comforts of this life serve not so much to lengthen and strengthen life, but when their hearts are hardened in sin, and they grow neglect- ful of God and heavenly things. Kaining snares is an argument of God's hatred. First, ' The Lord shall rain snares ;' and then, ' Brim- stone and an horrible tempest shall be their portion/ Ps. xi. 6. So it makes way for his eternal anger.
Use 5. Let us be contented with that portion which God hath given us of worldly things, if the Lord be the donor. Why ?
1. Because God stands upon his sovereignty; you must stand to God's allowance, though he gives to others more and to you less ; for God is supreme, and will not be controlled in the disposal of what is his own. The goodman of the house pleaded, Mat. xx. 13-15, ' Friend, I do thee no wrong ; is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own ?' The fulness of the earth and all is his ; and, therefore, though others have better trading, and finer apparel, and be more amply provided for than we are, God is sovereign, and will give according to his pleasure, and you must be content.