I answer: His surest way is still to think, that this is the fruit of some sin, though possibly not sin in the management of his calling, yet of some other sin. God casteth away the substance of the wicked. Therefore let him still humble himself before his God, because his hand is upon him, and say, What sin is this, for which this hand of God is upon me? and let him be diligent to find it out, for some sin is the cause of this Judgment; for God doth not willingly afflict nor grieve the children of men. Either the heart is too much set upon the world, or Religion is too much neglected in thy Family, or some thing. There is a Snake in the grass, a Worm in the gourd; some sin in thy bosom, for the sake of which God doth thus deal with thee.
Thirdly, This thus done, let that man again consider thus with himself: Perhaps God is now changing of my Condition and state in the world; he has let me live in fashion, in fulness, and abundance of worldly glory, and I did not to his glory improve, as I should, that his good dispensation to me. [100a] But when I lived in full and fat pasture, I did there lift up the heel: Therefore he will now turn me into hard Commons, that with leanness, and hunger, and meanness, and want, I may spend the rest of my days. But let him do this without murmering, and repining; let him do it in a godly manner, submitting himself to the Judgment of God. Let the rich rejoyce in that he is made low. [100b]
This is duty, and it may be priviledg to those that are under this hand of God. And for thy encouragement to this hard work, (for this is a hard work) consider of these four things. [100c]
1. This is right lying down under Gods hand, and the way to be exalted in Gods time: when God would have Job embrace the Dunghill, he embraces it, and says, The Lord giveth, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord. [100d]
2. Consider, That there are blessings also that attend a low condition, more than all the world are aware of. A poor condition has preventing mercy attending of it. The poor, because they are poor, are not capable of sinning against God as the rich man does.
3. The Poor can more clearly see himself preserved by the providence of God than the rich, for he trusteth in the abundance of his riches. [100e]
4. It may be God has made thee poor, because he would make thee rich. Hearken my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in Faith, and heirs of a Kingdom which God hath promised to them that love him? [100f]
I am perswaded, if men upon whom this hand of God is, would thus quietly lye down, and humble themselves under it, they would find more peace, yea, more blessing of God attending them in it, than the most of men are aware of. But this is an hard Chapter, and therefore I do not expect that many should either read it with pleasure, or desire to take my counsel.
Having thus spoken to the Broken man, with reference to his own self; I will now speak to him as he stands related to his Creditors.
In the next place therefore, let him fall upon the most [101a] honest way of dealing with his Creditors, and that I think must be this.