Jnfj:).  2.  In  anfvi'er  to  all  the  Sayings  of  like  nature
to  thefe,  I  lay  down  this  as  a  general  and  certain  Rule,
That  ivhere  God  is  faid  to  give  any  thing,  the  Exercife
of  that  Fdiulty  is  fill  fuppofed  which  he  hath  given  us  al-
ready, and  God  is  only  faid  to  give  it  by  giving  us

Qi)  I  Kings  22.  23.  (f)  Rev.  6.  4,  8,

thofc


Common  and  Special  Qrace,      277

thofe  Faculties  by  which  we  are  enabled  to  obtain  ir,
and  the  Means  and  Motives  which  are  fufficient  to  ex-
cite thofe  Faculties  to  the  Performance  of  their  proper
Adions  5  I  fay,  the  Exercife  of  thofe  Faculties  is  al-
ways prefuppofed,  when  God  is  faid  to  give  that  which
*tis  our  Duty  to  perform,  and  which  will  turn  to  our
Advantage  and  Reward.     And,

lit.  Thus  is  it  always  with  refpecl  to  natural  Gifts  -,
for  thus  God  giveth  Riches^  Ecclef.  5.  19.  6.  2.  becaufe
\\Q.  giveth  Power  to  get  JVealth^  Deut.  8.  18.  but  yet  it
is  the  diligent  Hand,  and  the  BlefTing  of  God  upon  our
Labours //j)*^/  maketh  rich^  Prov.  10,  4,  22.  \ri,t  giveth
as  our  daily  Bread,  yea,  he  (d)  giveth  Food  to  all  Flejh,
and  yet  we  muft  eat  it  (<?)  in  the  Sweat  of  our  Brows,  and
with  the  Labour  (/)  of  our  Hands  procure  it.  So  he
gives  all  things  to  all  Men,  Ads  17.  25.  and  to  the  Beafis
their  Food,  Pfal.  147.  9.  but  then  they  muft  employ
thofe  Faculties  which  God  hath  given  them  to  procure
it:  Wherefore  to  argue  thus,  God  giveth  Faith  and
Repentance,  therefore  we  do  nothing  to  obtain  them,
but  God  does  all,  is  as  if  I  fhould  argue,  that  becaufe
God  giveth  us  our  daily  Bread  we  were  not  to  labour
for  it,  becaufe  he  giveth  Food  to  all  Flefh,  they  were
not  to  feek  out  after  it.
