Devotions in the ancient way of offices. With psalms, hymns, and prayers for every day of the week and every holiday in the year. / Reformed by A person of quality, ; and published by George Hickes, D.D.

Third Lesson.

BEcause Sentence against an Evil-doer is not speedily executed, therefore the Hearts of the Sons of Men are fully set in them to do Evil. But tho' a Sinner sin an hundred times, and his Days be prolong∣ed, I know it shall be well with them that fear the Lord. There are just Men to whom it happeneth according to the Works of the Wicked, and there are Wicked to whom it happeneth accord∣ing to the Works of the Righteous. The Righteous and the Wise are in the Hands of God, yet no Man knoweth either Love or Hatred by all that is be∣fore him; because all things come alike to all, and there is one Event to the Righteous and to the Wicked, to the Good, and to the Clean, and to the Un∣clean; as is the Good so is the Sinner, and he that Sweareth as he that feareth an Oath: Yea also the Hearts of the Sons of Men are full of Evil, and Mad∣ness is in their Hearts while they live, and after that they go to the Dead. I re∣turned and saw under the Sun, that the Race is not to the Swift, nor the Battel to the Strong, neither yet Bread to the Wise, nor Riches to Men of Understand∣ing, nor Favour to Men of Skill, but

Time and Chance happeneth to them all.

Resp.] And sure 'tis fit it should be so, for what can infinite Power and Good∣ness do but that which is best? Lord, I adore thy Providence which scatters these temporal things with a seeming Negli∣gence, as Trifles of so little importance, that they signifie neither Love nor Ha∣tred. Nothing indeed but Heaven is considerable; nothing but Eternity de∣serves our Esteem. Fix thou our Steps, O Lord, that we stagger not at the un∣even Motions of the World; but steddi∣ly go on to our glorious Home; neither censuring our Journey by the Weather we meet with, nor turning out of the way for any Accident that befals us.