it lookes upon all things it hath or desires to have as comming from God and his free grace and power it desireth not onely wisdome but to be wise in his wisdome to see in his light to be strong in his strength the thing it selfe contents not this grace of trust but Gods blessing and love in the thing it cares not for any thing further then it can have it with Gods favour and good liking Hence it is that trust is an obsequions and an observing grace stirring up the soule to a desire of pleasing God in all things and to a feare of displeasing him Hee that pretends to trust the Lord in a course of offending may trust to this that God will meet him in another way then he lookes for Hee that is a tenant at curtesie will not offend his Lord hence it is that the Apostle inforceth that exhortation to work out our salvation with feare and trembling because it is God that worketh the will and the deed and according to his good pleasure not ours Therefore faith is an effectuall working grace it workes in Heaven with God it workes within us commanding all the powers of the soule it workes without us conquering whatsoever is in the world on the right hand to draw us from God or â—…n the left hand to discourage us it works against Hell and the powers of darknesse and all by vertue of trusting as it draweth strength from God It stirres up all other graces and keepes them in exercise and thereupon the acts of other graces are attributed to faith as Heb. 11. It breeds a holy jealousie over our selves lest we give God just cause 〈◊〉 stop the influence of his grace toâ—…ds us so to let us see that wee stand â—…ot by our owne strength Those that take liberty in things they either know 〈◊〉 doubt will displease God shew they want the feare of God and this want of feare shewes their want of dependancy and therefore want of trust dependancy is alwayes very respective it studieth contentment and care to comply this was it made Enoch walke with God â—…d studie how to please him when wee know nothing can doe us good or hurt but God it drawes our chiefe care to approve our selves to him Obedience of faith and obedience of life will goe together and therefore he that commits his soule to God to save will commit his soule to God to sanctifie and guide in a way of well pleasing Not onely the tame but the most savage creatures will bee at the beck of those that seede them though they are ready to fall violently upon others disobedience therefore is against the principles of nature This dependancy is either in the use of meanes or else when meanes failes us true dependancy is exactly carefull of all meanes When God hath set down a course of meanes wee must not expect that God should alter his ordinary course of providence for us deserved disappointment is the fruit of this presumptuous confidence the more wee depend on a wise Physitian the more we will observe his directions and bee carefull to use what hee prescribes yet we must use the meanes 〈◊〉 meanes and not set them in Gods room for that is the way to blast our hopes The way to have any thing taken away and not blest is to set our heart too much upon it Too much griefe in parting with any thing shewes too much trust in the enjoying of it And therefore he that uses the meanes in faith will alwayes joyne prayer unto God from whom as every good thing comes so likewise doth the blessing and successe therof where much indeavour is and little seeking to God it shewes there is little trust the Widdow that trusted in God continued likewise in prayers day and right The best discovery of our not relying too much on meanes is when all meanes faile if we can still relye upon God as being still where he was and hath wayes of his owne for helping of us either immediately from himselfe or by setting a worke other meanes and those perhaps very unlikely such as we thinke not of God hath wayes of his â—…ne Abraham never honoured God more then when he trusted in God for â—…son against the course of nature and when he had a son was ready to sacrifice him upon confidence that God would raise him from the dead againe This was the ground upon which Daniell with such great authority reprooved Baltbazar that he had not a care to glorifie God in whose hand his breath was and all his wayes The greatest honour we can doe unto God is when wee see nothing but rather all contrary to that we looke for then to shut our eyes to inferiour things below and looke altogether upon his Al sufficiency God can convey himselfe more comfortably to us when he pleaseth without meanes then by meanes True trust as it sets God highest in the soule so in danger and wants it hath present recourse to him as the Conyes to the Rockes And because Gods times and seasons are the best it is an evidence of true trust when we can waite Gods leisure and not make hast and so runne before God for else the more hast the worse speed God seldome makes any promise to his Children but he exerciseth their trust in waiting long before as David for a Kingdome Abraham for a sonne the whole world for Christs comming c. One maine evidence of true trust in God is here in the text wee see here it hath a quieting and stilling vertue for it stayes the soule upon the fulnesse of Gods love joyned with his ability to supply our wants and releeve our necessities though faith doth not at the first especially so stay the soule as to take away all suspitious feares of the contrary There be so many things in trouble that presse upon the soule as hinder the joyning of God and it together yet the prevailing of our unbeliefe is taken away the raigne of it is broken If the touch of Christ in his abasement on earth drew vertue from him certain it is that faith caÌ„not touch Christ in heaven but it will draw a quieting and sanctifying vertue from him which will in some measure stop the issues of an unquiet spirit the Needle in the Compasse will stand North though with some trembling A Ship that lyes at Anchor may bee something tossed but yet it stil remains so fastned that it cannot bee caried away by winde or weather the soule after it hath cast anchor upon God may as we see here in David be disquieted a while but this unsetling tends to a deeper setling the more we beleeve the more we are established faith is an establishing grace by faith we stand and stand fast and are able to withstand whatsoever opposeth us For what can stand against God upon whose truth and power faith relyes The devill feares not us but him whom
expectation of them 3. and preparatiâ—… for them When any thing is strange and sudden and lights upon us unfurnished and unfenced it must needs pâ—… our spirits out of frame It is good therefore to make all kinde of troubles familiar to us in our thoughts at least and this will breake the force of them It is good to fence our soules before-hand against all assaults as men use to keepe out the Sea by raising bankes and if a breach bee made to repaire 〈◊〉 presently We had need to maintaine a strong Garrison of holy Reasons against the assaults of strong passions wee may hope for the best but feare the worst and prepare to beare whatsoever We say that a set diet is dangerous because variety of occasions will force us upon breaking of it So in this world of changes wee cannot resolve upon any certaine condition of life for upon alteration the minde is out of frame We cannot say this or that trouble shall not befall yet we may by helpe of the Spirit say nothing that doth befall shall make mee doe that which is unworthy of a Christian That which others make easie by suffering that a wise man maketh easie by thinking of beforehand If we expect the worst when it comes it is no more than wee thought of If better befals us than it is the sweeter to us the lesse wee expected it Our Saviour foretels the worst In the world you shall have tribulation therefore looke for it but then hee will not leave us Satan deludes with faire promises but when the contrary falls out hee leave his followers in their distresses Wee desire peace and rest but wee seeke iâ—… not in its owne place there is a rest for Gods people but that is not here nor yet but it remaines for them they rest frâ—… their labours but that is after they are dead in the Lord. There is no sound rest till then Yet this caution must be remembred that wee shape not in oâ—… fancies such troubles as are never likely to fall out It comes either from weaknesse or guiltinesse to feare shaddowes We shall not need to make crosses they will as we say of foule weather come before they be sent for How many evills doe people feare from which they have no further hurt then wâ—… is bred onely by their causelesse feaâ—… Nor yet if they be probable must wee thinke of them so as to be altogether so affected as if undoubtedly they would come for so wee give certaine strength to an uncertaine crosse and usurpe upon God by anticipating thâ—… which may never come to passe It was rashnesse in David to say I shâ—… one day perish by the hand of Saul If they be such troubles as will certainely come to passe as parting with friends and contentments at least by death than I thinke of them so as not to be much dismayed but furnish thy heart with strength before-hand that they may fall the lighter 2. Thinke of them so as not to give up the bucklers to passion and lye open as a faire marke for any uncomfortable accident to strike to the heart nor yet so think of them as to despise them but to consider of Gods meaning in them and how to take good by them 3. Thinke of the things we enjoy so as to moderate our enjoying of them by considering there must be a parting and therefore how wee shall bee able to beare it when it comes 2. If we desire not to be overcharged with sorrow when that which we feare is fallen upon us we must then before-hand looke that our love to any thing in this world shoot not so farre as that when the time of severing commeth we part with so much of our hearts by that rent Those that love too 〈◊〉 will alwayes grieve too much It is tâ—… greatnesse of our affections which câ—… seth the sharpnesse of our afflictions 〈◊〉 that cannot abound without pride aâ—… high-mindednesse will not want wiâ—… out-too-much dejectednesse Love 〈◊〉 planted for such things as can retuâ—… love and make us better by loving them wherein we shall satisfie our loâ—… to the full It is pitty so sweet an affection should be lost So sorrow is 〈◊〉 sinne and for other things as they mâ—… sinne the more bitter to us The 〈◊〉 of a Christian should be a meditatiâ—… how to unloose his affections from inferiour things hee will easily die that 〈◊〉 dead before in affection But this will never be unlesse the soule seeth some thing better than al things in the world upon which is may bestow it selfe In that measure our affections die in theâ—… excessive motion to things below 〈◊〉 they are taken up with the love and admiration of the best things He that 〈◊〉 much in heaven in his thoughts is free from being tossed with tempest here below the top of those mountaines that are above the middle Region are so quiet as that the lightest things as ashes lie still and are not moved The way to mortifie earthly members that bestirre themselves in us is to mind things above The more the wayes of wisedome lead us on high the more wee avoyd the snares below In the uncertainty of all events here labour to frame that contentment in and from our owne selves which the things themselves wil not yeeld frame peace by freeing our hearts from too much feare and riches by freeing our hearts from covetous desires Frame a sufficiencie out of contentednesse If the soule it self be out of tune outward things will doe no more good than a faire shooe to a gouty foote And seeke not our selves abroad out of our selves in the conceits of other men A man shall never live quietly that hath not learned to be set light by of others He that is little in his owne eyes will not be troubled to be little in the eyes of others Men that set too high a price upon themselves when others will not come to their price are discontent Those whose condition iâ—… above their worth their pride above their condition shall never want sorrow yet wee must maintaine our authority and the Image of God in our places for that is Gods and not ours and we ought so to carrie our selves as we approve our selves to their consciences though we have not their good words Let none despise thy youth saith Saint Paul to Timothy that is Walke sâ—… before them as they shall have no cause It is not in our owne power what other men thinke or speake but it is in oâ—… power by Gods grace to live so thâ—… none can thinke ill of us but by slandering and none beleeve ill but by too much credulity 3. When any thing seiseth upon us wee must take heed we mingle not oâ—… owne passions with it wee must 〈◊〉 ther bring sinne to nor mingle 〈◊〉 with the suffering for that wil trouble the spirit more than the trouble it 〈◊〉 We are more to deale
disquiets and casts downe the soule very much is that inward conflict betwixt grâ—… and corruption this makes us most worke and puts us to most disquietment It is the trouble of troubles 〈◊〉 have two inhabitants so neare in one soule and these to strive one against another in every action and at 〈◊〉 times in every part and power in â—…e the one carying us upward higher â—…d higher still till we come to God the â—…er pulling us lower and lower furâ—…r from him This cannot but breed a â—…t disquiet when a Christian shall bee 〈◊〉 on to that which he would not and hinâ—…d from that which hee would doe or â—…led in the performance of it The â—…re light there is to discerne and life â—…f Orace to be sensible hereof and the â—…re love of Christ and desire from â—…ove to be like to him the more irkesome will this be no wonder then that 〈◊〉 Apostle cryed out O wretched man 〈◊〉 lam c. Here is a speciall use of Trust in the â—…e mercy of God in justification conâ—…ing all is stained that comes from 〈◊〉 it is one maine end of Gods leaving 〈◊〉 in this conflicting condition that 〈◊〉 may live and die by faith in the perâ—…st righteousnesse of Christ whereby 〈◊〉 God more then if wee had 〈◊〉 righteousnesse of our owne 〈◊〉 by likewise wee are driven to â—…e use of all the promises of Grace â—…d to trust in God for the perforâ—…ce of them in strengthening his owne party in us and not only to trusâ—… in God for particular graces but for hiâ—… Spirit which is the spring of all gracâ—… which we have through and frâ—… Christ who will helpe us in this fight untill hee hath made us like himselfe We are under the government of Grace sinne is deposed from the rule it had and shall never recover the right it had againe It is left in 〈◊〉 for matter of exeroise and ground of triumph Oh say some I shall never hold out as good give over at first as at last I 〈◊〉 such strong inclinations to sinne in me and such weaknesse to resist temptation that I feare I shall but shame the cause I 〈◊〉 one day perish by the hand of Satan streâ—… thening my corruption Why art thou thus troubled Trust in God Grace will be above Nature God above the devill the Spirit 〈◊〉 the flesh Be strong in the Lord the battell is his and the victory ouâ—… before hand If wee fought in our 〈◊〉 cause and strength and with our weapons it were something but as 〈◊〉 fight in the power of God so are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by that mighty power through faith 〈◊〉 salvation It lyes upon the faithfulâ—…e of Christ to put us into that posâ—…on of glory which he hath purchaâ—… for us therefore charge the soule â—…ake use of the promises and rely â—…n God for perfecting the good â—…ke that he hath begun in thee Corruptions be strong but stronger 〈◊〉 that is in us then that corruption 〈◊〉 is in us When wee are weake in â—…owne sense then are we strong in 〈◊〉 who perfecteth strength in our â—…nesse felâ—… and acknowledged Our â—…ptions are Gods enemies as well â—…rs and therefore in trusting to 〈◊〉 and fighting against them wee 〈◊〉 bee sure hee will take our part aâ—…st them But I have great impediments and maâ—… discouragements in my Christian course What is our impediments be Mounâ—…s faith is able to remove them Who â—…hou O Mountaine saith the Proâ—…t What a world of impediments â—…t there betwixt Egypt and the land 〈◊〉 Canaan betwixt the returne out of Babylon and Ierusalem yet faith removed all by looking to Gods power and truth in his promise The looking too much to the Anakims and Grants and too little to Gods omnipotency sâ—… the Israelites out of Canaan and pâ—… God to his oath that they should never enter into his rest and it will exclude oâ—… soules from happinesse at length if looking too much upon these Anakims within us and without us wee basely despaire and give over the field considering all our enemies are not onely conquered for us by our Head but shall be conquered in us so that in strength of assistance we fight against them God gave the Israelites enemies into their hands but yet they must fight it oâ—…r and what coward will not fight whâ—… he is sure of help and victory But I cary continually about mee a 〈◊〉 rupt heart if that were once changed I could have some comfort A new heart is Gods creature aâ—… hee hath promised to create it in us A creating power cannot only bring somthing out of nothing but contrary 〈◊〉 of contrary Where we are sure of Gods â—…h let us never question that power 〈◊〉 which all things are possible If our â—…rts were as ill as God is powerfull â—…d good there were some ground of â—…scouragement In what measure we â—…e up our hearts to God in that meaâ—… wee are sure to receive them betâ—… That Grace which inlargeth the â—…art to desire good is therefore given â—…hat God may encrease it being both a â—…rt and a pledge of further grace There is a promise of powring cleane â—…er upon us which faith must sue out Christ hath taken upoÌ„ him to purge his â—…se and make her fit for himselfe But I have many wants and defects to â—…supplyed It pleaseth him that in Christ all fulâ—…sse shall dwell from whose fulnesse â—…ce sufficient is dispensed to us anâ—…erable to the measure of our faith â—…hereby we fetch it from the fountain The more we trust the more we have When we looke therefore to our owne â—…nt we should look withall to Christs â—…nesse and his neernesse to us and take advantage from our misery to reâ—… upon his al sufficiencie whose fulnesse ours as himselfe is Our fulnesse wiâ—… our life is hid in Christ and distilleâ—… into us in such measure as his wisdoâ—… thinketh fit and as sheweth him to bâ—… a free agent and yet so as the blame fâ—… want of grace lyeth upon us seeing hâ—… is before hand with us in his offers oâ—… grace and our owne consciences will tell us that our failings are more from cherishing of some lust then from unwillingnesse in him to supply us with grace But God is of pure eyes and cannot endure such sinfull services as I performe Though God be of pure eyes yâ—… he looks upon us in him who is blame lesse and without spot who by vertue of his sweet smelling sacrifice appearâ—… for us in heaven and mingles his oâ—… with our services and in him will God be known to us by the name of a kindâ—… Father not onely in pardoning our defects but accepting our endeavouâ—… Wee offer our services to God not 〈◊〉 our owne name but in the name of oâ—… high Priest who takes them from us â—…ents them to his Father as stirred 〈◊〉 by his spirit and perfumed by
be thought upon in trouble 466. The golden chaine of it 484 Satan and his instruments still casting-down the godly 14 Satans cunning in divers humours of Christians 26. To discourage those whom God encourageth 536 Satans study to unloose the heart from God 335 And to divide betwixt God and us Selfe-deniall requisite to praise God 440 Selfe what in the godly and what in others 110 Signes of a good estate 28 Sicknesse comfort in it 397 Sin ever unreasonable amidst seeming reasons 56 Sinne is the greatest trouble 400. Avoyd not trouble by sinne Ibid. Sinne sweet in committing bitter in the reckoning 353 Side with God in evill times 503 Sight of God not alwayes alike Reasons of it 532 Soliloquies of speciall use 220 Solitarinesse ill for afflicted ones 236. Intolerable to the wicked why 66 Sorrow weakens the heart 44 Sorrow not required for it selfe as sorrow 370. No sorrow can make satisfaction 371. Dangerous to desire it over-much 375. Popery in it Comfortable degree of sorrow for sinne when 378 Soules most constant estate in respect of sinne 577 Soule to be cited and pressed to give accounts 59 Soules excellency in reflecting on it selfe and judging all its issues 68 Soule debased by wicked men 70 Soule should be first set in order 73 Soule needs something beside it selfe to uphold it 110 Soules temper when right 97 Soule though over-borne a while gets free againe 262 Soule if gracious most sensible of the want of spirituall meanes 6. Knowes when it is well with it when ill 7 Superstition the force of it 182 Symmetrie of soule most lovely 137 T Temptation divine what it is 13 Thanks then best when it tends to praising 447 Thanks should be large 448 Thankfulnesse never without some taste of mercie 453. It is a speciall help in an afflicted condition 453. Excellent use of it 462 Thoughts to be set in order every morning 202. Are not free 203. Danger of that opinion 208 Thoughts of praise should be precious to us 430 Titles empty titles of goodnesse bring but empty comfort at last 523 Our Title in God to be maintained against all cavills 530 Trade of conversing with God the richest in the world 443 Triall of trust whether it be right 337 Troubles outward appointed to help the soule inwardly 68 Trouble inward three-fold miscarriage of it 92 Trust is the meanes to bring God and the soule together 264. To settle trust know the minde as well as the nature of God 295. Trust must answer the truth of God 300. Directions about trusting 303. Whether we may trust to friends riches or helps 318. A sinne so to doe 323 Trust it selfe not to be trusted in 326 Trusting should follow Gods order of promising 330 Tryall of our selves exceeding necessary 127 V Victory over our selves signes of it 142. How it may be obtained 147 Vniformity necessary in the lives of Christians 139 Vnthankfulnesse to God most sinfull 445. Detestable to God and man 455 Vnworthinesse may not keepe from God 489 There is a sanctified use of all troubles to Gods children 250 W. Wayting on God a necessary duty 435. What it is to wayte 437. Be ever in a wayting condition 529 Wayting difficult Helps to wait on God Will of man hath a soveraignty 162 Will of the godly conformable to Gods will 421 Worldly good hath some evill and worldly evill hath some good 132 Y. Yet not in hell not at worst a mercie and undeserved 425 Youth to be curbed quickly 61 FINIS John 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 4. 〈◊〉 Ps. 95. ult Deu 28. 65 Tua praesentia Domine Laurentio ipsam craticulam dulceÌ„ fecit Judg. 7. 10. 2 Pet. 10. Heb. 7. 2. Praemium ante praemium Hoâ—…it in Gen. Respondit divinas consolationes Martyrum se sensisse Robur hostium apud Deum Ego miserrimas curas quibus te consumiscribis vehementer odi Quod sic regnat in corde tuo non est magnitudo causae sed ma gnitudo in credulitatis nostrae Si causa salsa est revocemus Si vera cur facimus illum tantis promissis mendacem I uctaâ—… contra teipsum maximum hostem 2 Cor. 1. ult 1. verse 1. 2. verse 2. Quest. Answ. verse 3. verse 4. verse 7. verse 8. Vers. 10 Obser. 1. Obser. 2. Reason Acrius urgent quae necessitatis sunt quam quae spectant ad voluptutem Obser. 3. Parts 1. 2. 1. 2. Obser. 1. 1. Christ the Head was a man of many sorrowes 2. The Church hath beene and is full of sorows 3. The members of the Church have been and are ful of crosses Acts 14. 22. Vse Obser. 2. Reas. 1. 2. 3. Outward causes of disconragement 1. God himselfe A divine temptation what Mat. 27. 46 2. In regard of Satan who is all for casting downe The devill envies our happinesse first and last 3. Satans instruments who are al for casting dovvne Psa. 35. 13. Psal. 39. 1. verse 3. Mat. 4. This was preached in the beginning of the troubles of the Church Gen. 22. 14. Quest. Vers. 10 A murther of the tongue 1 Iudg. 24. Iudges 7. 4. Discouragement comes from our selves Simile 5. A deluded fancy causes disquietnesse 2. Causes privative of discouragement in our selves 1. Ignorance in the understanding 2. Forgetfulnesse causeth discouragement 3. Not duely prizing of comforts Iob 15. 11 4. A childish peevishnes Gen. 16. 1 Kings Ionah 4. 9. Ier 31. 15. 5. False reasoning erroneous discourse A double cunning of Satan according to the humour of his patients 6. A fals method and order in judging of our estates 2 Pet. 1. Mat. 13. 20 Eph. 1. 13. 1 Iohn 4. 19. 1 Iohn 4. 20. Comfort sought in sanctification Phillip 3. Psal. 24. 3. Rom. 8. 39 To have and maintaine true comfort we must grow up holinesse 8. Want of a cleare conscience raises tumults in the soule Psal. 51. Gal. 6. 16. Ignorance of our Christian liberty Danger of abusing Christian liberty 10. Want of imployment 11. Omission of offices and duties of love Rom. 13 8 12. Want of resolution in good things 1 Kings 18. 21. Iames 1. 6. When meÌ„ lay up too much comfort in outward things Prov. 30. Mich. 2. 10 Psal. 39. 2. Too much relying upon the opinions of others Sic leve sic parvum est animum quod laudis avarum subruit aut reficit Job 1 Sam. 1. 14. 3. Too much looking and poring on evils in our selves abroad Philip. 4. 4 Vse 1. Vse 2. Obser. 1. Joh. 14. 1. Vse Obser. 2. Luk 18. 13 Reason How sorrow doth weaken the soule 1. 2. Eccles. 4. 10 Vse How to prevent casting downe Pro. 12. 25. Matt. 11. Obser. 1. Reason Remedies against casting downe disquieting Reasons against discouragement 1. It indisposes to all good duties 1. Thess. 5. 2. It Wrongs God making us thinke amisse of him 3. It makes a manforget former blessings c. 4. It makes us unfit to receive good Iames 1. 21. 5. It hinders beginners comming into Gods wayes 1 Pet. 3. Mat.