God Almighty in His most holy and wise providence,
hath so disposed of the condition of mankind as in all times some must be rich, some poor;
some high and eminent in power and dignity, others mean and in subjection. First, to hold
conformity with rest of His works, ... Secondly, that He might have the more occasion to
manifest the work of His spirit, ... Thirdly, that every man might have need of other, ...
All men thus (by divine providence) ranked into two sorts, rich and poor, under the first
are comprehended all such as are able to live comfortably by their own means duly
improved, and all others are poor, according to the former distribution. There are two
rules whereby we are to walk, one toward another; justice and mercy. ... There is likewise
a double law by which we are regulated in our conversation, one towards another; in both
the former respects, the law of nature and the law of grace, or the moral law of the
Gospel. (1) For the persons, we are a company professing ourselves fellow members of
Christ; (2) the care of the public must oversway all private respects by which not only
conscience but mere civil policy doth bind us; (3) the end is to improve our lives to do
more service to the Lord, the comfort and increase of the body of Christ whereof we are
members; (4) for the means whereby this must be effected, they are twofold: a conformity
with the work and the end we aim at. ... Thus stands the cause between God and us: we are
entered into covenant with Him for this work; we have taken out a commission, the Lord
hath given us leave to draw our own articles, ... if we shall neglect the observation of
these articles ... the Lord will surely break out in wrath against us. ... Therefore, let
us choose life, that we, and our seed may live; by obeying. His voice and cleaving to Him,
for He is our life and our prosperity.