fear the Lord I say assure but this and then in the serious consideration of this sovereign truth thou mayst sit down and say it is enough for view the promises look over them all and that from one end of the Bible to the other and see how many so ever they be or how great and pretious soever they be they shall all certainly be fulfilled be performed and made good My Covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gon out of my mouth Psalm 89. 34. God has spoken saies David in his holinesse I will rejoice i. e. he has promised so and so and I will rejoice I and there is great cause for what ever God has spoken and promised it shall certainly be performed it shall certainly be ful filled and made good it shall not fail no Heaven and Earth shall pass away but Gods Word shall not pass away Psalm 119. 89. For ever O Lord thy Word is setled in Heaven Here was Davids Comfort how ever things went on Earth how moveable or unsetled soever they were Gods Word on which he fixt his Faith was for â—ver setled in Heaven that was a sure rock still to bear up his Faith that would never fail what ever else did And this kept up his spirit Psal 27. 13. I had fainted unlesse I had belived to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the Land of the Living And therefore the People of God should remember God of his promises and urge him with them and sue them out as Jacob Gen. 32. 9. Hast not thou said so and so and is it not Scripture Lord and the Scripture cannot be broken thus David does often in the 119. Psalm verse 41. Let thy mercies come unto me O Lord even thy Salvation according to thy Word and 49. Remember thy Word untâ— thy Servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope and 76. Let I pray thee thy merciful kindness be to my comfort according unto thy Word unto thy Servant and 107. I am afflicted very much quicken me O Lord according to thy word and 116 uphold me according to thy word that I may live and let me not be ashamed of my hope thus he pleads 2 Sa. 28 29. And now O Lord God thou art that God and thy Words be true and thou hast promised this Goodnesse therefore now let it please thee to bless the House of thy Servant that it may continue for ever before thee for thou O Lord God hast spoken it c. Whatsoever things saith the Apostle Rom. 15. 4. were written afore time were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scripture might have hope n Scriptur a Consolationem assurt cum promissiones innumeras de dei praesentia auxilio fiberatione ab aerumins de salutari malorum exitu de gloria denique in Câ—lis reposita nobis proporit Par. in Rom. 15. 4. And how does the Scripture more work Patience and cause comfort than in the consideration of these promises wchit propounds And in regard of this that they cannot be broken O if the Scripture cannot be broken how many wayes may this comfort and cheer the hearts of the People of God Give me leave a little to instance in some of them and as it were but to open this box of so pretious ointment that so you may the better resent the fragrancy and sweetnesse thereof and that your spirits may be the better cheered and refreshed therewith as 1. If the Scriptures cannot be broken then the People of God shall not want any good thing for this is part of the Scripture it is one of the Scripture promises Psalm 34. 10. 84. 11. They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing no good thing will he with-hold c. 2. If the Scripture cannot c. then all things are theirs for this likewise is Scripture promise 1 Coâ— 3. 21 22. All things are yours c. 3. Then they shall not be forgotten for this likewise is a Scripture-promise Isay 49. 15 16. Jer. 29. 10 11. Yet will I not forget thee c. For I know the thoughts that I think towards you c. 4. Then shall they not be left nor forsaken for this is c. Hebrewes 13. 5. I will not leave thee nor forsake thee 5. Then is and shall Gods Grace be sufficient for them for this is c. 1 Cor. 12. 9. And he said My Grace is sufficient for thee c. 6. Then shall all things work together for their good for this is c. Rom. 8. 28. That all things work together for good c. 7. Then shall they be upheld and sustained in their greatest weakness for this is c. Isay 40. 11 28 29 30 31. 1 Cor. 10. 13. Lam. 3. 31 32. He shall gather the Lambs with his Armes and carry them in his Boseme c. 8. Then shall nothing be able to separat them from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus their Lord for this is c. Romans 8. 35 38 39. John 13. 1. 9. Then they shall never perish for this is c. John 10. 28. 10. Then sin shall not have dominion over them for this is c. Romans 6. 14. 11. Then Satan shall shortly be bruised under their feet for this is c. Rom. 16. 14. 12. Then there is no condemnation to them for this likewise is c. Rom. 8. 1. And so I migh add then will God be with them when they pass through the waters and through the Rivers they shall not overflow them and through the fire it shall not burn them c. For this is a Scripture-promise Isay 43. 2. Then in 6. troubles shall they be delivered and in 7. there shall no evil touch them for this is c. Iob 5. 19. Then shall they shortly be received to Christ and be where he is for this is c. Iohn 14. 3 17. 24. 12. 26. And thus I might still further run forth and abundantly enlarge and expatiate my self but this I shall leave for the further inlarging of your own Meditations and Observations having shewen you the way Thus that the Scripture cannot be broken is matter and ground of singular comfort to the People of God â—or if the Scripture cannot be broken then the promises which are a main chief part thereof cannot be broken And as this is matter ground of singular comfort to the People of God so let them improve it and make use of it for their comfort let them suck out the sweetness of it cheer themselves with it Seeing the promises cannot be broken neither let your Faith nor your hopes be broken seeing the one cannot fail neither let the other fail stagger or â—efoiled but feal to the firmness and steadiness of what God has premised which shall certainly be performed by the firmness steadiness of your Faith say as David Psalm 42. 5. Why art thâ—â— cost down O
then we judge righteous judgement when we judge of things according to the righteous and unerring judgement of the word of God for we are sure that is according to truth and not according to the world or outward appearance There is a woe denounced against them that câ—ll evill good and good evill that put darkness for light and light for darkness that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter Isaiah 5. 20. That call that evill which the Scripture calls good and call that good which the Scripture calls evill that put that for darkness which the Scripture calls light and that for light which the Scripture calls darkness that put that for bitter the Scripture calls sweet that for sweet the Scripture calls bitter Woe to such because they say of things quite contrary to the Scripture which cannot be broken which cannot err and so judge not righteous judgement According to outward appearance such as are poor seem miserable and so the world judges of them but now let us judge of such as the Scripture saith of them for that cannot err and judging according to that we may judge of them as such as may be happy for all their poverty Luke 6. 20. Blessed be ye poor for yours is the Kingdom of God Jam. 2. 5. Hearken my beloved hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in Faith and Heirs of the Kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him So according to the outward appearance and as the world judges such seem the only happy men who are rich and great and in high place and in health and at ease but now judge we of such as the Scripture saith of them which cannot err and that tells us they may yet be miserable enough for all their riches and outward greatness as Luke 6. 24 25. But woe unto you that are rich c. James 5. 1 2 3 Go to now ye rich men weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you your riches are corrupted c. Job 20. 22 in the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straights c. Zach. 1. 15. And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease c. So Amos 6 1 4 5 6. Job 20. 6 7. 5. 3. c. So according to the outward appearance and as the world judges it seems long before the Lord fulfills his promises prophecies threatnings but now judge hereof according to the Scripture and it is but a little while for yet a little while and he that shall come will come c. Hebr. 10. 37. surely I come quickly Rev. 22. 20. Rom. 16. 20. And the God of Peace shall bruise Satan shortly under your feet Rev. 1. 1. which must shortly come to pass and v. 2. for the time is at hand Psal 90. 5. for a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past and as a watch in the night Psal 37. 10. for yet a little while the wicked shall not be So Job 20 5. 24. 24. So according to outward appearance and as the world judges such seem enemies that reprove others and it is deemed hatred but let us judge of such as the Scripture judges of them and that speaks them friends that their reproof is love and the contrary hatred Lev. 19. 17. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour and not suffer sin upon him So to cause offences to lay stumbling blocks in peoples way heaven-ward to scandal such as are weak and infirm this seems as the world judges of it no great matter but let us judge of this as the Scripture judges of it and that saith woe to such a one and it was better a Milstone were hanged about his neck and he cast into the Sea than that he should offend any of Christs little ones Luke 17. 1 2. So to be saved to go to heaven this as the world judges of it and as men generally think is no such great matter it is no such difficult thing what needs all this ado say some I but let us judge hereof as the Scripture judges and saith of it and then we shall see it is otherwise for that saith strive to enter in at the straight gate for many I say unto you will seek to enter in and shall not be able Luke 13. 14. and if the righteous scarcely be saved where shall the sinner and ungodly appear scarcely not but that the righteous are wholly and altogether saved saved to the utmost Heb. 7. 25. but the meaning is not without much difficulty and much ado not without great pains labour and lassitude not without many trials afflictions the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used of such things as not without much labour and difficulty are brought about as Acts 27. 7. and scarce were come over against Guidus scarce the Greek is the same as here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 scarce signifies not without a great deal of labour and difficulty so Hâ—b 4. 11. let us labour therefore to enter into that rest labour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word is very emphatical let us labour or study it notes both care labour and expedition setting our heads a work and hands a work all a work with all expedition too So Luk 21. 36. Watch yea therefore and pray alwayes that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all those things that â—â—all come to pass and to stand before the Sâ—â— of man 1 Cor. 9. 24. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all but one receives the prize so run that ye may obtain So that there must not be only running but such running 9. Again cannot the Scripture be broken then let us be exhorted from hence First Not to be offended nor scandalized nor overmuch troubled at the sufferings and afflictions of the Church and people of God when it seems to go ill with them as to their outward state and condition why because this is no other than what the Scripture hath spoken and foretold shall be and the Scripture cannot be broken Many are the afflictions of the righteous Psa 34. 19. and we must through many tribulations enter into the Kingdom of God Acts 14. 22. and in the world you shall have tribulation John 16. 33. yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution 2 Tim. 3. 12. and if any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross and follow me And the rather we should not be offended nor scandalized at them not only in regard that the Scripture which cannot be broken hath foretold them but likewise in that the Scripture which cannot be broken hath spoken so much of the good and comfort and benefit of them Rom. 8. 28. and we know that all things work together for good to â—hem that love God to them who are the called
into the fire or into the water would he stand to deliberate whether he should recover himself yea or no no he would not and thou art in such a condition as that thou art falling into the fire of hell into everlasting fire and wilt thou stand to deliberate whether thou should'st get out of such a condition or no no what thou dost do do speedily lest thy self be broken before thou gettest out of that estate in which thou canst not be saved except the Scripture be broken Again cannot the Scripture be broken Use 5. Of Terror but what ever it speaks will it certainly come to pass then here 's matter and ground of terror and trembling First to all wicked and ungodly in general to all such as are enemies to God and persist and go on still in their sins for if the Scripture cannot be broken then look what ever the Scripture threatens against them they continuing such it shall certainly be fulfill'd upon them and made good to them and truly the Scripture threatens such heavy and sad things which being such they continuing such as cannot but be fulfill'd for the Scripture cannot be broken may well fill their hearts with horror and amazement As there is great cause why the Saints the Scripture being that which cannot be broken should be comforted in regard of what is promised so upon the like ground there is as great cause why the wicked should tremble and be terrified in regard of what is threatned it being that which shall as certainly be fulfill'd as if it were already fulfill'd We find in the prophecy of Hab that Hab. 3. 2. the Prophet there though he had matter enough of joy in the Lord himself yet he fears and trembles at what was threatned against others for their invincible obstinacy in their sins O Lord I have heard thy speech and was afraid at thy threatnings and v. 16. when I heard my belly trembled my lips quivered at thy voice rottenness entred into my bones and I trembled in my self c. here are various expressions to shew how deeply he was affected and afflicted with Gods threatnings why because he knew they would be fulfilled and if the holy Prophet thus trembled and was affected how much more cause was there for the sinners themselves to tremble and be fill'd with terror upon whom they were certainly to be fulfill'd O let all wicked and ungodly men take a survay of the threatnings God hath made in his word let them look over them and that from one end of the Bible to the other and look how many or grievous soever they be they continuing such they shall none of them all fall to the ground but shall all certainly be performed and fulfill'd which might well fill their hearts with terror and amazement so as to cause with Belshazzar the joints of their loins to be loosed and their knees to smite one against another And they shall know saith God that I am the Lord and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evill unto them no but I will do it I will not leave what I have threatned unfulfilled and Eze. 12. 25. for I am the Lord I will speak and the word that I shall speak shall come to passe some expound these words I am the Lord as being an asseveration or an Oath and the sense to be this As sure as I am Jehovah the Lord that have my being of my self and give being to all others so sure will I give being to my promises and threatnings so that not only heaven and earth must pass away before any tittle of any truth of the Lords shall fall to the ground But even the Lord himself must cease to be before his word shall be without effect If the Scripture cannot be broken then many sorrows shall be to the wicked for this is part of the Scripture one of the Scripture threatnings and so cannot be broken Psal 32. 10. If the Scripture cannot be broken Proâ— 11. â—1 then though hand joyn in hand the wicked shall not go unpunished Then it shall Eccl. 8. 13. not be well with the wicked nay it shall be ill with the wicked the wicked shall 1 Sam. 2 9 10. be silent in darkness and the adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces out of heaven shall be thunder upon them Then destruction shall be to the workers Prov. 10. 29. 11. 3. 19 16 29. 1. of iniquity and the perversness of transgressors shall destroy them Then he that despiseth his wayes shall dye Then he that being often reproved hâ—rdneth his neck shall be suddenly and that without remedy Then God shall wound the head of his Psa 68. 21. enemies and the hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his trespasses Then upon the wicked he shall rain Ps 11. 6. snares fire and brimston and an horrible tempest this shall be the portion of their cup. Then the wicked shall wring out and Psa 75. 8. drink the dreggs of that cup that is in the hand of the Lord the wine of which is red and full of mixture Then the wicked shall be turned into Psa 9. 17. hell Then as the tares are gathered and Matth. 13. 40 41 42. burnt in the fire so in the end of the world the Son of man shall send forth his Angels shall gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend and them which do iniquity and shall cast them in a furnace of fire there shall be wayling and gnashing of teeth For the Scripture cannot be broken and all these are Scripture and therefore cannot but be fulfill'd and so I might instance in many others but these may â—uffice to let all wicked and ungodly ones see what matter of terror and trembling this truth is to them that the Scripture cannot be broken for if it cannot then these and all other threatnings in the Word against them shall certainly be fulfilled they not getting reform'd Indeed at present they are as secure as if they had made a Covenaut with Death and as if Hell and they were at an agreement and they promise themselves when as the overflowing Scourge shall passe through it shall not come unto them for they have made lies their refuge and under falshood have they hid themselves but God tells such their Covenant with Death shall be disanulled and their agreement with Hell shall not stand No but Gods Word shall stand for it is said when the overflowing Scourge stall pass through then they shall be trod down by it and it shall take them Isa 28. 15 18 19. And as this that the Scripture cannot be broken is matter and ground of terror and trembling to wicked men in general so to several in particular As 1. First to all unregenerate ones for if the Scripture cannot be broken then all such continuing such cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven for this
of such a one frees us from everlasting pains and hence himself saith if a man ' keep my sayingt he shall never see John 8. 51 52. Death nor taste of Death that is eternal for that onely indeed deserves the name of Death why because Christ hath tasted Death for him his Soul has been in his Souls stead and so Gods Word comes to be salved man saved And how can we now but cry out O the depth of the riches of the Wisdom of God and of the grace of God how unsearchable is his Wisdom and Grace and the wayes thereof past finding out this love indeed we may admire but reach its demensions we never can O give thanks unto the Lord for he is good Psal 107. 1 2. for his mercy indureth for ever let the redeemed of the Lord say so I they have infinite cause indeed so to say I shall conclude this first part of this 6th use with that of the Apostle Iude Now to the onely wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and ever Amen Again Secondly cannot the Scripture be broken then from hence are we further to be exhorted and provoked to be much in blessing and praising of God that those things that are of so great importance and of such infinite concernment and afford so great cause and ground of comfort yea upon which our whole happiness and comfort depends are according to Scripture which cannot be broken As that Christ died for our sins it is according to the Scriptures and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day is according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15. 3 4. For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received how that Christ dyed for our sins according to the Scriptures and that he was buryed and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures mark according to the Scriptures For that he was delivered for our offences and raised again for our Justification Romans 4. 25. And that he ascended and now sits at the right hand of God and there makes intercession for us is according to the Scripture Iohn 20. 17. Romans 8. 34. And now what can be matter of greater comfort or sweeter consolation than this nay is not this that on which all our comfort and happinesse depends that Christ died for our sins and that he rose again and now sits at the right hand of God and there makes intercession for us is not this I say the sum of all our comfort and now blessed be God these they are according to the Scripture So 1 Peter 2. 6. It is contained in the Scripture Behold I lay in Syon a chief corner-stone elect precious and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded so he that believeth on me as the Scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow Rivers of living Watter John 7. 38. And so the Scripture saith whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed Rom. 10. 1. So it is written it is Scripture that Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2. 9. So that God is merciful and gracious Exo. 34. 6. long-suffering is according to Scripture That he forgives iniquity transgression Verse 7. and sinn is according to Scripture That he will sub due his peoples iniquities Mich. 7. 19 and cast their Sinns into the depths of the Sea is according to Scripture That he delights in mercy and to Mich. 7. 18 Jer. 9. 24. exercise loving kindnesse in the earth is according to Scripture That he will heal his peoples back-slidings Hos 14. 4. and love them freely is according to Scripture That such as come unto Christ he will Joh. 6. 37 in no wise cast out is according to Scripture That a bruised Reed shall he not break Mat. 12. 20 and smoaking Flax will he not quench till he send forth judgement unto victory is according to Scripture That he will give the Holy Spirit to Lu. 11. 13. them that ask him is according to Scripture That they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength that they shall Isa 40. 31. mount up with wings as Eagles that they shall run and not be weary and walk and not faint is according to Scripture That he said unto the seed of Jacob Isa 45. 19. Seek not me in vain is according to Scripture That he will gather the Lambs with Isa 40. 11. his arm and carry them in his bosom c. is according to Scripture That the gates of Hell shall not prevail Mat. 16. 18 against the Church is according to Scripture That Christ holds his stars in his right Rev. 2. 1. hand is according to Scripture That he is with them alway even to Ma. 28. 20 the end of the World is according to the Scripture And now the Scripture being that which cannot be broken what a comfort is it what cause have we to bless God that these yea and innumerable more which are of like importance with these and make so much for our comfort are according to Scripture which cannot be broken Thirdly Again cannot the Scriptures be broken and it is easier for Heaven and earth to pass away than one tittle of Gods Word to fail then let such in the Third place be exhorted and provoked to be much in blessing and praising God whom he hath brought into such a condition for whom he hath done such great things Great things indeed as that they may be saved and the Scripture not be broken Let such I say be much in blessing and praising God for there is infinite cause for the Scripture cannot be broken for any it was not for Christ himself and for God to do that for thee to bring thee into such an estate and condition through Grace as that thou mayest be saved and the Scripture not be broken O what infinite cause hast thou to be much in blessing and praising God Now if thou art one who art regenerate born again become a new creature one who art holy and pure in heart thou mayst be saved and the Scripture not be broken So if thou art such a one who dost indeed believe and repent of thy sins and art fruitful in good works thou mayest then be saved and the Scripture not be broken nay let me tell thee to thy comfort that if being such an one thou shouldest not be saved the Scripture it would be broken it would not be fulfilled for that such shall be saved it is every where according to Scripture 1. That such as are regenerate and holy shall be saved is according to Scripture Matthew 5. 8. Rom. 6. 22. John 3. 3 5. And what doth this imply but that if a man be regenerate and born again he shall enter into the Kingdom of heaven 2. That
my Soul and why art thou disquieted within me hope in God â—e will certainly be as good as his Word make good what he has said the Scripture sayes it and I will believe it and comfort my self in it for the Scripture cannot be broken Let us do as Abraham did the Father of the Faithful it is said of him Romans 4. 20. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in Faith giving Glory to God As the promise was firm so was his Faith as the one could not fail so neither did the other In God sayes David I will praise his Word Let us do it really by relying thereon and so comforting our selves therein O what a singular means would this be to fill our Souls with joy as Gods promises are firm and cannot fail so to have our Faith firm to rest assured and fully perswaded of the accomplishment of what God hath premised why this is the very life of the Soul Is 38. 16. O Lord by these things men live and in all these things is the life of my spirit by these things what things why by or in through the proÌ„ises therefore some read it by these words and in all these is the life of my spirit i. e. the joy and comfort of my spirit the joy of the spirit being indeed the life of the spirit and the Dutch Anot do therefore interpret it a merry and a quiet life while I believe them seal to them rest assured and am fully perswaded of the accomplishment of them thus it is said the just shall live by Faith Hab. 2. 4. God having promised deliverance after such a time as appears in the foregoing verse it might be demanded but what shall the just do in the mean time do why they shall in the mean while live i. e. they shall still be comforted and cheared but how by Faith by a sweet and firm dependance on God for the fulfilling of what he had promised in due time by sealing to what God had said by believing and relying on the promises thus the just should live comfort and chear themselves and stay up their soules And thus David lived this was that which bore up and supported him in all his troubles he lived by faith in Gods promises a blessed sweet and comfortable life this is indeed Psa 119. 50. this is my comfort in my affliction for thy word hath quickned me i. e. what thou hast spoken and promised and unless thy word had been my delights I should then have perished in my affliction v. 92. and so often Psa 27. 13. I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the living Ps 28. 11. the Lord is my strength and my shield my heart trusted in him and I am helped so the people of God what comfort and help might they still have did they but trust in God and rely on his word The divine promises are saith Bernard panis cordis o Promissiones divine panis sunt cordis Scriptura sacra demulset animi affectus Bernard they are the bread of the soul and by Faith it is we do as it were feed on this bread and so come thereby to have our hearts strengthned Cant. 2. 5. stay me saith the spouse with flagons comfort me with apples now what are these flagons or apples but the pretious promises and comfortable doctrines of the Scripture and then do these flagons stay and support us when by Faith we do as it were drink of them and then do these apples comfort and chear us when by Faith we do as it were eat them And therefore to conclude this use yea and this whole discourse that which the Apostle prayes for in behalf of the Romans that shall I pray for in behalf of you Christians Now the Rom. 1â— 13. God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost why the Scripture-promises are full of joy and peace and they are such as cannot fail but are firm and shall certainly be performed and now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing for this is the way Christians to be fill'd with all Joy and peace to draw that joy and peace that is in the promises upon your selves it is to believe them to be thorowly perswaded of the truth of them and to rest fully assured of the accomplishment of them that they cannot be broken and the Scripture cannot be broken otherwise though the promises be full of joy and peace we may have little enough if we do not believe and seal to the truth of them if we believe 2 Tim. 2. 13. not saith the Apostle yet he abideth faithfull I but we may abide comsortless you know what the Prophet Isay said to Ahaz and his people Isay 7. 9. If ye will not believe ye shall not be established if ye will not believe i. e. the promise of God which I preach unto you if ye will not rest and rely on his good and gracious word whereby he ingages himself unto you surely ye shall not be established but your hearts and minds will still remain unsettled and disquieted though Gods word be for ever settled and established in heaven yet if you do not believe your hearts shall not be established much to the same purpose is that of Jehoshaphat 2 Chro. 20. 20. believe in the Lord your God so shall you be established believe his Prophets i. e. the truth of that word they deliver you from the Lord so shall you be established so shall you prosper And O fools saith our Saviour â—â—a slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spokâ—n O in being slow to believe what God hath said and promised is great folly for God hereby doth not only lose of his honour but we likewise of our peace and comfort what a foolish thing is it that God should say so much make so many sweet and gratious promises for to comfort and uphold us and we for want of believing them should both cause God to lose his glory and we our selves lose that comfort which otherwise we might have by them that he in and by the many gratious promises which he hath made should provide so abundantly for his peoples comfort and peace and they lose it for want of belief hence all the promises of God are said in Christ to be yea and in him Amen unto the glory of God by us p 2 Cor. 1. 20. Sicuti dixerat in Christo deum sanxisse omnium suarum promissionum sidem it a nunc nostrum officium esse admonet ejusmodi sanctioni accinere quod fit dum certa fide in Christo acquiescentes subscribimus signamus quod dens verax idque ad ejus gloriam quia hic finis est quo referri debent omnia Calâ— in locum i. e. while we believe them and seal to Gods truth in them else they are neither to the glory of God nor our comfort as it is said Rom. 4. 20. concerning Abraham he not staggering at the promise of God through unbelief but being strong in faith gave glory to God * Quod addit dedisse gloriam deo in eo Notandum est non posse deo plus honoris afferri quam dum fide obsignamus ejus veritatem Rursum nulla re gravins inhonorari quam diffidentia incertitudine Calv. in Rom. 4. 20. believing that God would and could do what he had promised and so setting to his seal that God is true and indeed as Calvin observes upon the place God cannot have more honour brought him than while by faith we seal to his truth and in nothing is he more dishonoured than by diffidence and unbelief q De promissionibus dei dubitare non aliud est quam deum vel mendacem vel infirmum facere Pet. Martyr in Rom. 4. 21. The God of hope therefore fill you with all joy and peace in believing that the word being that which cannot be made void for want of believing God may neither lose his glory nor you your comfort but that by believing and firmly relying on those promises which cannot fail but shall certainly in due time be fulfilled God may both have his glory and you live comfortably here till you come to live eternally hereafter Amen FINIS Some of the most material Faults escaped are thus to be corrected PAge 1 l. 2. for Scriptures read Scripture p. 54. l. 10. add a. p. 72. l. 21. for Stemmana r. Stemmana in the Margent 72. p. for Aemilias r. Aemilians p. 79. l. 16. for people joy ful read peoples joy full p. 91. l. 22. for Greeks r. Greek p. 93. Margent for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 93. l. 24. leave out the. p. 94. l. 25. add to to be p. 130. l. 3. for for r. sâ— p. 147. l. 11. after is add all p. 167. l. 21. â—ur our yet p. 177. l. 8. for eb read be