of TYTHES. and Trust in Ged: For without Grea-. ter, we shall hardly arrive at Heaven.

And, for this Reason, all this that I have faid, by way of Introduction, has not been unneceffary, nor Foreign to the Subject in hand; for when I confider that the Chief Argument against Tythes is thinking them too much to Give to God, and proceeds from a Dif fidence in Him, and a Trusting to Second Means, for our Wealth and Profperity; it was neceffary to Prepare the Way, by fhewing how Great a Dependence God has all along Requi→ red from Us, upon Himfelf; and that our Wealth and Health, and all even Worldly Profperity, is more to be attain'd by our Obfervance of His Commands, than by our own Endeavours. or Craft: For that it is only His Bleffing which maketh Increase, and giveth Succefs to whatever Second Means. All which was wonderfully Exemplify'd to Us, in the Infenfible Multiplication of a Few Loaves and Fishes, by the Bleffing of our Saviour, to Feed many Thoufands. And it is fuch a Bleffing of God upon our Honeft Endeavours, which gives us Increase C 2

and

and that in every thing, in all and every Circumstance of our Lives, though we Perceive it not, but think foolishly, that all is the Effect of our own Industry and Wit: And we facrifice to our Net, (as the Prophet fpeaks, Habbak. i. 16.) to thofe Second Means, by which our Portion is Fat, and our Meat Plenteous.

And this Disease and Blindness is fo Rooted in Mankind, that ther is nothing in the World fo hard to overcome, though nothing be so Neceffary.

I fay, Whoever confiders this, will think that this Preparative was not without Caufe; and will Excufe me to Enforce this yet fomewhat further, but very Briefly.

SECT. II.

Judgments upon Diftruft.

Will therefore only add a few Intances of God's Judgments upon our Distrust of Him, in those

Things which He has Commanded Us.

1. He grievoufly Punish'd the Ifraelites Murmuring for want of Water, even when they were ready to Perish for Thirst,in a waste Wilderness,where, without a Miracle, ther was none to be had. And their several other Provocations in Diftrusting His Power, though in their Greatest Extremities: Of which ther is an Admirable Recapitulation in Pfal. lxxviij. where, Ver. 41. the Heighth of their Sin is fumm'd up in LIMITING the Holy One of Ifrael; Stinting His Power as if any thing were too hard for Him; and not Trufting wholly and abfolutely to it, in all and every Cafe, wherein He has Commanded it, how Defparate and Impoffible foever it fhou'd appear.

And this Sin is brought down to us, and this very Example propos'd to us, I Cor. x. 10. And all thefe Paffages of the Ifraelites fhewn to belong to us, and to have happen'd unto them, for Examples to us; and that they were written for our Admonition, upon whom the Ends of the World are come, Ver. 11. C 3 2. Now

2. Now this Sin of which I speak, was a Fearfulness and Mistrust in the Power or Promifes of God; of which you may Read the full Account, in Numbers, Chap. xiij. and xiv. Ten of the Twelve Spies, who were fent to fearch out the Land of Canaan, were Difcourag'd becaufe of the Mighty Giants which they faw there, and the Strength of their High-Wall'd Towns. And upon their Report, the People also loft, their Courage, and were afraid to go up against them. Which fo Provok'd the Lord, that He ftruck thefe Ten Spies Dead upon the Spot; and Pronounc'd fo Heavy a Curfe upon the whole Congregation, that He kept them 39 Years after in the Wilderness, till all that whole Generation were Dead, (except only the Two Courageous and Believing Spies,) and their Children He brought into the Land. Nay, He had Destroy'd them, Children and all, and Rais'd of Mofes a Greater Nation than they, had not Mofes strongly Interceded for them. And it is obfervable that Mofes Fafted and Pray'd as long (that is, 40 Days) to Attone for this Sin, as

for

for the Idolatry of the Golden-Calf, (Deut. ix. 25.) to fhew that this Sin of Diftrust in God, is as Heinous as that of Idolatry it felf; and, no doubt,

is the Reason that Covetousness is cal- Ephef. v.5. led Idolatry: For the Covetous Man is Colof.iij.5. he that Trufts in his Riches and Trust being the Higheft Act of Worfhip, confequently, we make that our God, wherein we Trust.

1.

SECT. III.

Of Truft in Riches.

HOW

OW hard is it, not to Traft in Riches! And it is very eafily known when we do fo: For while we have that wherein we Trust, our Heart is at Reft, and we Fear not. But when we want that wherein our Truft is, we Faint, and are Difcouraged. Now, Who is not Difcourag'd, and Fears Want, when he has no Money? And, Whofe Heart is not lifted up, and thinks himself fecure, when he has Money enough? Who is not C 4

apt