This is like God's
sending plenty in Egypt just before the years of famine came.
(2.) Christians, even righteous men, are apt to lean too much to
their own doings; and God, to wean them from them, ofttimes defers
to do, what they by doing expect, until in doing their spirits are
spent, and they, as to doing, can do no longer. When they that cried
for water, had cried till their spirits failed, and their tongue did
cleave to the roof of their mouth for thirst, then the Lord did
hear, and then the God of Israel did give them their desire. The
righteous would be too light in asking, and would too much owrprize
their works, if their God should not sometimes deal in this manner
with them.
(3.) It is also to the advantage of the righteous, that they be kept
and led in that way which will best improve grace already received,
and that is, when they spin it out and use it to the utmost; when
they do with it as the prophet did with that meal's meat that he ate
under the juniper-tree, "go in the strength of it forty days and
forty nights, even to the mount of God." Or when they do as the
widow did--spend upon their handful of flour in the barrel, and upon
that little oil in the cruse, till God shall send more plenty.
A little true grace will go a great way, yea, and do more wonders
than we are aware of.
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