Saturday, February 23, 2008

Puritan Wisdom

On I Peter 5:7 --

"By All, he means all superfluous and distrustful care. God bids that we should labor, strive, seek, give all diligence in matters of Salvation, to get Knowledge, Faith, Repentance, &c. therefore must hear, read, meditate, pray, confer, &c. for though God work both the will and the deed, yet he will have us work out our salvation with fear and trembling; he will not save us without us: So for this life, we must be painful; as Adam both before and after his fall: Every man must have an honest calling, and therein take pains (else he must not eat) that he may be a profitable member in his place: As the wise man commendeth diligence, so doth he well speak against idleness; yea, we must have an honest and moderate lawful care; therefore is the sluggard sent to the Ant to forecast, and save somewhat in youth against age, in health against sickness, as Joseph in the time of plenty saved for the years of famine: All this God likes well: When these two meet, as they did in that good woman, Pro. 31. Or when one is husbandly both for soul and body, as either of them is better then not, so both of them are excellent: Who may tend upon the good of their souls, better than the diligent and provident? Why may do more good to others then they? For idle persons and unthrifts, are neither good for themselves, nor any body else."

-- John Rogers, 660.

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