[2.] The fruits it produces. I shall name but two of many.
(1.) They are not distracted with great worldly business. They esteem that to be the best way that brings them nearest to their great end, which is not to enjoy happiness in this life, but in the world to come. Those whose hearts are all for the present, they must have the world to the full, or they are not contented ; they never think of laying up treasure in heaven, Mat. vi. 19, 20. That is not their end and scope, but to live commodiously here, that they and their posterity may flourish in the world : Ps. xvii. 14, ' They which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fiUest with thy hid treasures, they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.' But a good man that eyes another happi- ness, is not much troubled how it is with him here, so he and his may be accepted with God hereafter. Therefore their business is not to lay up treasure to themselves on earth, but to be rich towards God, Luke xii. 21.
(2.) They that can be contented with a little, are most likely to be true to God and conscience. They can better suffer hunger, thirst, nakedness, and other troubles for the gospel : Acts xx. 24, ' None of these things move me ; ' that is, made no great opposition and pertur- bation in his mind. It is no strange thing to them when trials come. They can part with all things under the sun, rather than quit their
314 THE THIRTEENTH SERMON. [1 TiM. VI. 8.
duty to Christ ; for temptations have lost their force when worldly de- sires and lusts are mortitied. They withered in persecution that re- ceived the ji:ood seed for a time, Mark iv. 17. When religion carries one way, and the world another, then fiirewell religion for the world's sake. When Christ had spoken so much of the cross, then Judas turneth apostate. When Demas saw the world went on otherways, he forsook Paul, 2 Tim. iv. 10. When Christ told the young man of ]>aiting with all, he went away sad, Mark x. 22. If heaven cost so dear, it is no pennyworth for him. So men will come into no danger or trouble for Christ, because they are not contented with a little.
Use 1. If the godly ought to be content with food and raiment, it shows the vanity of men's vast desires ; they have much above food and raiment, yet they are not satisfied. A true Christian is contented with necessaries, but worldly men ' enlarge their desires as hell,' Hab. ii. 5. They are so far from acquiescing in their portion assigned to them by God, though it be com])etent and enough to satisfy their wants, yea, and far beyond (so that many are glad of their leavings) ; yet tliey are always hunting after more, like death and the grave, which are never satisfied. They are restless, still adding, if they be princes, kingdom to kingdom ; if they be churchmen, preferment upon ]ireferment ; and if ordinary men, estate upon estate, house to house, Held to field. These desires are pettishly solicited, eagerly followed, and many times finally disappointed.
2. It checks our impatiency under disappointment. If we have not our will in worldly things, we are troubled, our desires are too ardent. We must needs have them, cannot be without them, trouble ourselves about them, and so murmur and re[)ine against God ; and this breedeth fearful tempests in the soul. As Jonah bitterly contended with God about his gourd, Jonah iv., and Kachel, ' Give me children, or else I die,' Gen. xxx. 1. If we cannot have what we would, all is nothing. Ahab is sick for one poor vineyard, Haman counteth his honour nothing as long as Mordecai sits at the king's gate. As in a carriage, if one pin be wanting all is at a stop.
3. It shows the evil of our distrust, notwithstanding we have God's fiitherly providence and promises to rely upon, and so large a covenant interest: 1 Cor. iii. 21-23, ' All things are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's.' All things are yours, ordinances, providences, this world, the next, life, death. Would you have more? All are instrumental for our good, if we resolve to be faithful to Christ.
ECCLES. IX. 11] THE FOURTEENTH SERMON. 315
SERMON XIY.
1 7^eiurned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the sivift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the loise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance hapijeneth to them all. — Eccles. IX. 11.
TuE wliole book is a search after true happiness. The particular paragraph whereof the text is a branch proveth th/it it cannot be obtained in this world, because of the various events of God's power- ful and unsearchable providence. The discourse beginneth, chap. viii. 16, 17, 'When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business which is done upon the earth, then I beheld all the works of God, that a man cannot find out the work which is done under the sun : because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not lind it ; yea farther, though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.' God's providence in the government of the world is secret. When a wise man hath applied his mind to reconcile all the seeming incongruities of it, he cannot get a clear and satisfying account of all the proceedings thereof, but must at last acquiesce in the sovereignty and dominion of God. The footsteps of providence are not easily traced, his judgments are a great depth, Rom. xi. 33; Ps. xxxvi. 6, xcii. 5. They may be adored, but not searched into. Now two things in our reflection upon providence perplex us : —