[5.] This part of the life of faith is necessary, not only for the supplies of the outward man, but for the sanctifying of our outward condition, that it may not be a snare to us. If we have outward blessings, we should see them couiing from tlie covenant ; and so they are sweeter, and turn to a better use, when we receive them from the promise by faith ; for it is said_, 1 Tim. i. 4, 5, that ' all the creatures are sanctified by the word of God and prayer to them that believe and know the truth.' There is but a sour taste iu these outw;ird comforts, meat, apparel, riches, honour, favour of men; if they be not received and improved by failh, they soon taint and pervert the heart, and withdiaw it from God and heavenly things. But when we see his love in them, and they come from our heavenly Father, they are much sweeter and better. To be carved to by a great jierson is counted as great a favour as affording the meal itself. To take these things out of God's hand, to
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see tlmt he reraenibereth lis, and sendetli in our provisions at every turn, this endeareth the mercy, and raiseth our thankfulness. So on the other hand, if we want these blessings, it keepeth us from a snare to find them in the covenant, Disti'ust in temporal ])romises hath driven the faithful servants of the Lord to many iiard and dangerous shifts, and hath occasioned their falls more than other things. Abraham thought to save his life by a lie, and David by dissembling, when he could not trust God. And daily experience shows it, what a shrewd temptation this is, even to the godly.
2. Let me give you some maxims, grounds, and principles of faith, which, being well digested, w'ill help us to depend upon God for this kind of blessings.
[1.] That God hath the sole di.sposing of this life, and the interests thereof. It is by his ])rovideuce that everything is oixlered, when, where, and how we shall live — ' He hath determined aforelumd the times, and the bounds of our habitation,' Acts xvii. 26. The land of Canaan was divided by lot, and the partage thereof was merely by God's decision, and his governing the chance of the lot. So it is true of all other countries ; a man hath not a foot of laud more than God hath set out for him by his all-wise providence ; so all the wealth that we enjoy : Dent. viii. 18, ' Thou shalt remember the Lord, who giveth thee power to get wealth.' It is (^od appointeth who shall be wise, and who shall be rich ; who shall have great gifts of the mind, and who shall have great and ample revenues by tlie year. The world is not governed by blind chance, but by his wisdom: However wealth Cometh to us, it is from God as the first cause, whether it come by dona- tion, purcha.se, labour, or inheritance. If it come by gift, the hearts of all men are in God's hand ; he that sendeth the present is the giver, not the servant that bringeth it to us ; it was God that made them able and willing. If it come by inheritance, it is l)y the providence of God that a man is born of rich parents, and not of beggars. He hath cast the world into hills and valleys, put some in a high and some in a low condition. If by our own labour and purchase, it is God gives the ability, the skill to use it, and the success in our callings ; the faculty, the use, the success, ai-e all fi'om God. He doth not leave second causes to their own work, as an idle spectator, but intei-poseth in all the affairs of the world. So for fnvour and respect in the eyes of enemies, or people averse from us: Prov. xvi. 7, ' When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh his enemies to be at peace with him.' There is a great deal of difference between pleasing God and pleasing men — please men, and yet God may be angry with you, andl)iast allyour happiness; but ])lease the Loi-d, and that is the way to be at peace with men too. So for favour in the eyes of princes : Prov. xxix. 26, * Many seek the ruler's favour, but every man's judgment is from the Lord.' Among the multitude of suitois and expectants, the event is as God casts it, who is the great judge and umpire in human affairs. And humble prayer doth more than ambitious affectation. Notwith- standing all our blowing, the fire will not burn without the Lord.
[2.] Another principle that hath an influence uj)on our faith is this, that he is ready and willing to distribute and dispense the blessings of this life to his people ; for his fatherly providence is ever watching
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