Use 1. Take notice, hence, of the jioison and sinfidness of our corrupt nature, that defiles itself in the blessings of God ; so that God cannot otherwise fit us for gi-ace, but by stripping of us of those things that are good in themselves. This should abase us very much, considering that those things that should be rises to us, to raise us up to God, that should be glasses to see the love of God in, our nature useth them as clouds to keep God from us, and to fasten and fix upon the things themselves ; so that there is no other remedy, but God must strip us naked of them. This consideration should humble us.
Use 2. And let us make this use of it : let us know, ichen any abasement is sanctified to vs, it comes from God's love. If we find any affliction make us inwardly more humble and tractable, and more pliable, certainly it comes from love, and is directed to our good ; and therefore it is in love, because it is directed to our good. For it is well taken away in earthly things, that is supplied in heavenly and spiritual. What if God takes away such out- ward honours, and respects, and riches, if God make it up in graces that
240 THE RICH POVERTY ; OB,
are eternal, that make us truly and inwardly good, which all the outward things in the world cannot do ! All the empires in the world cannot make a man an honest man. They may make him worse ; they may be snares to make him forgot God and himself ; they may be a means of his damna- tion, without wondrous care. What if God take away a great deal of these things, and make them up in favours of a higher kind ! Therefore, if we find God sanctiiy any outward abasement for the inward good of our souls, let us bless him for it, and take it in good part as an evidence of his love ; for God thus deals with his children. He sanctifies their outward abase- ments for their inward good, to draw them nearer to himself.
Use 3. Therefore, those that are weak in their condition, for a man may be poor in regard of his condition, though not inwardly poor, those that are broken in their condition outwardly, they may know whether it be in love or no, ;/ they find this coiuUtion sanctified to a better disposition. For as all things in general work to the best ' to them that love God,' Rom. viii. 28, so this is one : especial afUiction and poverty work for good to them that love God. God sanctifies it to them for that end.
Therefore we should examine when we are under any cross, see how it works upon us, whether by it we are humbled or no, whether we join with God or no ; for those that belong to God have the grace of the Spirit to join with him in the work. AVhen he afflicts them, they labour to afflict themselves ; when he goes to humble them outwardly, they humble them- selves ; when he goes about to make them poor, to wean them from the love of the world, they wean themselves and join with God. As we see the physician by his art and skill, when he sees nature working away, then he will help nature till the cure be wrought ; so God gives his Spirit to those that are his, to work with him. When God goes about t'o take them down, they will take down themselves too, and so they grow inwardly better, together with their outward abasement.
Those therefore that swell, and storm, and murmur, and rage, what do they get but more stripes ! They get not out of trouble by it, but if they belong to God, they get stripes upon stripes. What doth the horse get at last by shaking ofiliis rider that is skilful ? More spurring and more strokes. So when men are under God's hand, afflicted any way, and labour not to make a good use of it, but will pull the rod out of God's hand and swell and pine, if they belong to God they get more stripes. Therefore let us kiss the rod, and the hand that holds it. God is about a good work, let him alone ; desire him rather to sanctify the visitation and abasement than remove it. A gracious heart desires rather the sanctification than the removal.
Use 3. Again, Hence we learn not to ' despise the brother of low defjree,' James i. 9, nor we should ' not have the faith of Christ in respect of per- sons,' James ii. 9. We should not take scandal at the church, that it is usually in a mean condition in this world, for the church is alway rich in another kind of riches. The church is rich in reversion. It hath heaven and hajipincss, and the church is rich in bills and promises. The church is rich in an apparent pledge, that is worth all the world besides ; that is, Christ. ' If he have given us his Son, will he not with him give us all thinffs else ?' Rom. viii. 32. The church is rich in this world indeed, ' for all things are yours, and you are Christ's,' 1 Cor. iii. 23. Christ carries riches for the church, and dispenseth them to the church as occasion serves. Indeed, Christ's riches are the church's riches. The church cannot be poor if Christ be rich. It is only a medicinal poverty. It is God's dispensation