The prevention of poverty, together with the cure of melancholy, alias discontent. Or The best and surest way to wealth and happiness being subjects very seasonable for these times; wherein all are poor, or not pleased, or both; when they need be neither. / By Rich. Younge, of Roxwel in Essex, florilegus. Imprimatur Joseph Caryl.

SECT. 2.

Thus millions are miserable, melancholy, discontent, by their own conceit; when thousands would think themselves happy, had they but a piece of their happiness. Which discontent or melancholy occasions more murmuring amongsts us, than ever there was among those Israelites in the wilderness; an unthankfulness able to make or keep them poor and misera∣ble, and that everlastingly.

Indeed, because judgement is not executed speedily, Eccles. 8. 11. they think it no sin at all, such is their ignorance, Otherwise they might know, that as the Israelites was, so their murmuring is, against even the holy One of Israel; as Isaiah affirmed of Senuacherib, 2 King. 19. 22. And David of Goliah, a Sam. 17. 36, 45. The Lord (sayes Moses to the people, when they grum∣bled for want of bread, and also to Datban and Abiram) heareth your mur∣muring against him, and what are we? your murmurings are not against vs, but against the Lord, Exod. 16. 8. Numb. 16. 15, 21. Onely this is the difference, multitudes of them were destroyed suddenly (even fourteen thousand and seven hundred at a clap) yea, they had all been consumed in a moment for their murmuring, had not Moses stood up in the gap, and inter∣ceded for them, Numb. 16. 41. to 50. and 32. 10. to 14. and 26. 64, 65, and 11. 12, 33. and 14. 12, 22, 23. and 21. 5, 6. Whereas milli∣ons among us do the like, and are not stung with fiery Serpents as they were: because they are reserved without repentance, to a fiery Serpent in Hell. Nor stricken with death temporall, because reserved to death eternal. But God is the same God still, and as just now as ever, though now under the Gospel, instead of corporall judgements he inflicts many times spirituall, as blindness of mind, hardness of heart, and finall impenitency, the fore-runner of eternal destruction of body and soul in that burning lake, Revel. 19 20. For why is their ruine recorded? but for our learning and warning, 1 Cor. 10, 11. Neither is forbearance any acquittance; yea, to be let go on in a continual repeating of so great a sin (under such meanes of light and grace) uncontrouled, is the greatest unhappiness, the heaviest curse, because such seldom rest, untill they come to that evill, from which there is no redemption. God owes that man a greivous payment, whom he suffers to run on so long unquestioned, and his punishment shall be greater, when he comes to reckon with him for all his faults together. O that men would but seriously consider this, before it proves too late! and before the

draw-bridge be taken up; for favours bestowed, and deliverances from dan∣gers bind to gratitude; or else the more bonds of duty, the more plagues for neglect. The contribution of blessings require retribution of obedience, or will bring distribution of judgements.

Yea, argue with all the world, and they will conclude, that there is no vice like ingratitude; and meer ingratitude returnes nothing for good, but these return evill for good, yea, the greatest evill for the greatest good, be∣ing more ingrateful to God and Christ, than can be exprest by the best Ora∣tour alive. Our Redeemer hath done and suffered more, or would do (did we not so daily provoke him, for which read Gods goodness and Englands un∣thankfulness) more for us, than either can be exprest, or conceived by any heart, were it as deep as the Sea.

Yea, God hath removed so many evils from us, and conferred so many good things upon us, that they are beyond thought or imagination. And were the whole Heaven turned into a Book, and all the Angels deputed Writers therein, they could not set down all the good which Gods love in Christ hath done us. As consider, if we are so bound to bless God for his external, temporal, inferiour, earthly, perishing benefits (as food, ray∣ment, friends. fire, air, water, health, wealth, life, limbs, liberty, senses, and a thousand the like) what praise do we owe him for the lasting fruits of his eternal love and mercy? and how thankful should we strive to be? And as much do we owe unto God, for the dangers from which he de∣livers us; as for the great and many mercies he hath bestowed upon us. Neither could we possibly be unthankful, if we seriously thought upon what God gives, and what he forgives. Besides (which would also be thought upon) what should we have if we did truly love and serve Christ? who hath done all this for his enemies, neglecting and dishounouring him.