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A78621 Faith in Gods promises, the saints best weapon: or, The great use and availableness of faith, both for the support and growth of saints in times most perilous. Plainly discovering that the want of faith in the way of Gods promises, is the great cause of the want of Gods presence. With several considerations for the encrease of faith, tha[t] henceforth the saints may by faith so draw nigh unto God, and in faith so wait upon God, as with certainty of receiving from him. Whereunto is added something concerning the great errour and mistake of many men concerning the true Christ, and how he is said to be in his people; with other things very necessary to be known in order to saints resisting the temptation of the present times. / Set forth as (useful for all people, but) especially intended for the good of such as are returned to the good old way of the Lord, by Matthew Caffyn ... Caffyn, Matthew, 1628-1714. 1660 (1660) Wing C207; ESTC R170345 46,339 55

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Sacrifices and sprinkling the blood thereof that Jesus Christ should be slain and his blood shed as the glorious substance thereof all which part of the Fathers Law was and is of no effect God thereby bearing false witness to the world if the Eternal Spirt which dwelt in the visible Man and which the Apostles afterwards received in them be the Christ which Spirit never was slain nor never had blood to shed but let God be true and all these men lyars Fifthly Because he most plainly is said to be the Christ Ordained of God to be Judge of quick and dead to whom all the Prophets gave witness he I say with whom the Apostles did eat and drink and that after his Resurrection from the dead Act. 10.38,41,42,43 which must needs respect the visible Man Sixthly Because the true Christ blamed his Disciples when they supposed him to be a Spirit saying to them Handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have Luke 24.37,38,39 Seventhly Because the true Christ was seen with visible and carnal that is fleshly eyes for 't is written the eyes of all them that were in the Synagogue were fastned on him to wit Christ and sure I am that the Quaker cannot imagine from any show in the Scriptures that these had any other eyes as invisible and spiritual eyes because 't is said also that all they in the Synagogue were filled with wrath and thrust him out of the City Luke 4.20,28,29 Eightly Because he is declared in the Holy Scriptures to be Jesus Christ who was Circumcised which were also a false account if the Quakers opinion were true namely That the Eternal Spirit in the Man and not the Man was the Christ Ninthly Because the Eternal Spirit which dwelt in the Man Christ which afterwards the Apostles received in them is called another Comforter and that by Christ himself which would not come unto the Apostles unless he the true Christ went away John 14.16,17 16.7 Tenthly Because 't is said Jesus Christ lift up his eyes to Heaven and Prayed to God his Father John 17. Both the action and the manner thereof shewing that the visible Man is the Christ And besides if the Quaker shall suppose that 't was the Eternal Spirit in the visible Man Christ that prayed and that the same Eternal Spirit is one essence or being with God the Father and Christ his Son without distinctions I then would demand of them two things first Who it was that the Spirit Prayed unto And secondly For what he prayed or what he stood in need of Elevently The Eternal Spirit which was given to and received by the visible man cannot be the Christ that is in English Anointed because he is said by the Apostle to be the Anointing with which the Saviour was anointed as 't is written how God anointed Jesus that is the Saviour of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit Act. 10.38 If the Eternal Spirit as Spirit was anointed I would know with what and wherefore Twelfthly Because the true Christ even Sions King is said to come sitting and riding upon an Ass meek and lowly who also in lowliness washed the Disciples feet all which proves that the visible man is the true Christ Zecha 9.9 Mat. 21.5 John 13.14 Object Henceforth know we no man after the flesh yea though we have known Christ after the flesh yet now henceforth know we him so no more Answ What Paul intends by these words I verily believe but that Christ is departed from and without that outward body of flesh which once was visible on Earth and so not to be known after the flesh that is not now having that body of flesh this indeed I believe not First Because that then and upon the very same ground we are to know henceforth none amongst men to be the Children of God but such onely as are departed from and without their outward bodies of flesh and where those men are or what kind of men they are I verily know not I thus speak because in like manner as the Apostle saith Henceforth we know Christ no more after the flesh so also he saith even in the same words that henceforth know we no man after the flesh if true in one then in both but that it is untrue in one you have hereby a weight of reason forbidding that the other is also untrue consider the Scriptures forbidding it As Secondly Because those that were of the number of Gods Elect in Ages past Waited for the Son of God from Heaven who was raised from the dead 1 Thes 1.4,10 Now sure I am that 't was the visible body of flesh which was dead and so raised from the dead that which was raised from the dead the Saints of God waited for and therefore they ceased not to know Christ as having the body of flesh which once he had though both they and we believe that 't is glorified Thirdly Because the same Apostle that speaks these words is so far from such an opinion of undervaluing the fleshly body of Christ as that he tells the Church they were reconciled to God in the body of his flesh through death Col. 1.21,22 And surely neither Paul nor the Church was at any time to cease knowing or honouring that through which they were reconciled to God His flesh is meat indeed and his blood drink indeed and although in one sence it profited nothing yet such is it in another sence as that whosoever eateth and drinketh the same that is believeth in the Lord John 6.35 shall never hunger nor thirst And therefore for the constant remembrance thereof we have that Ordinance of Breaking Bread which surely was never instituted to hold forth an unprofitable thing But true it is That neither Christ nor men are to be known after the flesh and how once men were known after the flesh is plain from the same Apostles words as thus We are the Circumcision which worship God in Spirit and have no confidence in the flesh wherein if any might trust I more saith Paul Now what he means by this is manifest to wit being Circumcised of the Stock of Israel of the Tribe of Benjamin an Hebrew of the Hebrews c. Phil. 3.3,4,5 But he well knowing that the Ministration of the Law under which persons were thus known after the flesh then done away and a more glorious Ministration in being which forbids men to plead we have Abraham to our Father we are his Children after the flesh of the Stock of Israel of this or that Tribe and therefore let us be Baptized and known among you according as you may read the Pharisees did Mat. 3.7,8,9 Paul I say well knowing this declared that he had no confidence in the flesh as in reference to himself neither henceforth would he know any other man after the flesh as once during the time of the Law men were known and accounted even the Children of Promise in respect of temporal enjoyments being such
in their mindes c. Moreover as 't is said that Christ is in his Saints so likewise 't is said and that more frequently in the Scriptures That the Saints are in Christ and in God as thus Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ unto the Saints and faithfull Brethren in Christ that are at Colosse ch 1. v. 2. Vnto the Church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Iesus Christ ch 1.1 Unto all the Saints in Christ Iesus which are at Philippi ch 1.1 Unto the Saints and faithfull in Christ which are at Ephesus ch 1.1 Now that the Saints are in Christ after the manner that these men plead for Christs being in the Saints judge ye that fear the Lord and serve him with uprightness of heart remembring that he is the true Christ who was dead but is alive for evermore a Mediator betwixt God and Men the man Christ Iesus Moreover hear what the Lord Christ saith as a most clear resolve to this case as thus John 17.21,23 Thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us I in them and Thou in me that they may be made perfect in one compared with these his words John 15.10 If ye keep my Commandements ye shall abide in my love as I have kept my Fathers Commandements and abide in his love Most clearly shewing that Christs being in the Father is meant in the Fathers love as himself witnesseth and so the Fathers being in the Son is meant in the Sons love so likewise our being in the Eather and in the Son is meant in their love So even so Christs dwelling in the Saints is meant his dwelling in their love in their affections as hath been said Now whereas the Son was in the Fathers love there was given unto the Son from the Father the Holy Spitit without measure working in him whereby he did the works that no man ever did to the glory of the Father So in like manner the Saints being in Christ in his love and affections there is also given to the Saints through Christ the Holy Spirit in measure working in them whereby the deeds of the body are to be mortified Rom. 8.13 and the fruits of Righteousness brought forth to the Glory and Praise of God by Jesus Christ Obj. From these words of Christ John 14.16,17 I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter even the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you From these words I say 't is conceived and declared by the Quakers that Christ that was then with the Disciples should afterwards be in them c. Answ He that hath an ear to hear may easily understand that he who is said to be with the Disciples and should afterwards be in them was not the Christ but another Comforter whom the Christ would pray to the Father for even the Spirit of Truth whom the world could not receive because they saw him not nor knew him to be the Spirit of Truth from God though through him was done such works as no man ever did yea they were ready to say that he had a Devil in him but the Disciples knew him to be the Spirit of Truth and acknowleged the mighty works to be done through the Spirit of God in him therefore saith Christ Ye know him for he the Spirit of truth another Comforter dwelleth with you that is the Spirit being in Christ and so with the Disciples for he was not then given to them as he was afterwards Joh. 7.37 and shall be in you that is the Spirit of Truth another Comforter which when Christ was exalted having received of the Father the Promise of the Holy Spirit he made good to his Disciples by sending his Holy Spirit in them which before was with them being in Christ that was with them These men say Christ is come in them the second time and they look not for any other and withall have good words and fair speeches crying Grace grace Light light But let all assuredly know that they themselves are not in the True Light nor Grace of God that brings Salvation wherein the Saints of old walked for they thereby were taught to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to look for the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ Tit. 2.11,12,13 But saith Humphrey Smith Christ is come and we look not for any other another voice from another Spirit Moreover the Quaker utterly denyes as most men I suppose knows the Holy Scriptures to be a Rule whereunto Humphry Smith in his Book intitlued A true and everlasting Rule pa. 29. in the face of men and Devils affirmeth That there is no other Rule Wayes Means or Name by which man shall ever come to walk with God but by that which is manifest of God in him which say they is sufficient to guide in all the wayes of God without Scripture or any other outward means Answ The time was and that not long since in our Nation when it was no lesse then ridiculous and a matter of contempt for men and women to go to the publick Place of their Worship with the Bible under their Armes whereby to search whether those things they heard were so or no such and so great was the Romish cloud of darkness then spread over the faces of the multitude they being informed by their blind Guides that Ignorance was the Mother of Devotion But Satans device 〈◊〉 discovered in this and the Scriptures very generally searched into he hath now found out another way whereby to produce a low esteem to the Holy Scriptures even by his manifold endeavours to perswade people that there is a Light placed in them which is to be their Rule and is sufficient without the Scriptures or any other outward means to guide them in all the wayes of God which being believed unavoidably leads people to have a low and slender esteem of the Scriptures and by this means it is become again a very rare thing to see among these people called Quakers when they are assembled together the Book of the Holy Scriptures diligently searched whether those things spoken be agreeable thereunto yea or nay and thus the Ministers of these people are hereby put into a capacity greatly to deceive their Hearers while in their preaching up their manifold Errours they make use of with their own some Scripture Expressions also seemingly favouring their Opinions but not really as to instance Say they in their Doctrine Ordinances to wit Baptism in water and the Lords Supper are now ceased for Christ hath blotted out the hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us and nailed them to his Cross Col. 2.14 which being heard by the People they remember well that they have read such kind of words and for the tryal thereof they according as they have been taught begin to look within
Name who notwithstanding yet come short and are much below that more excellent estate which they have longed for and which is certainly to be attained These are therefore to inform or remind all such that there is yet one thing much lacking namely Faith or the stedfast believing Gods Promises graciously made in order thereunto for they that come to God must believe not onely that God is or that he is diligently to be sought unto but also that he is a Rewarder of such as thus seek him mark you must believe saith the Apostle Heb. 11.6 shewing plainly that notwithstanding what measure soever of holinesse in point of conversation diligency of seeking or importunity of praying there is unlesse it be accompanied with faith in the Soul that God will reward according as he hath Promised all other virtues found in the Creature will not reach the desired Blessings from God For without Faith 't is impossible to please God To which also agrees the Advise of the Apostle saying let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of Faith c. Heb. 10.22 Moreover I will saith the Apostle that men pray every where lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting 1 Tim. 2.8 Shewing that it is not enough for men to lift up holy hands to God though attended also with Charity so as to be without wrath both which are very special things unlesse attended also with that more special vertue of Faith so as to be without doubting not enough I say whereby to reach the prayed-for Blessings from God for as 't is the duty of Saints alwayes to be ready to do Gods Commandements thereby to acknowledge and declare him to be the Supream and Almighty God so also 't is their duty alwayes to be ready to believe Gods Promises thereby to acknowledge and declare him to be a just and faithful God for they that receive his Testimony sets to their seals that God is true John 3.33 Both which being experienced by the Prophet David caused him boldly to pray and confidently to conclude that he should not slide saying Judge me O Lord for I have walked in mine integrity I have also trusted in the Lord therefore I shall not slide Psal 26.1 Both which also being found in the Prophet Daniel did as it were fetch from God an extraordinary power for the stopping the Lyons mouths so as that he had not though among them the least hurt And why Because of his innocency towards God and man Dan. 6.22 and because he believed in his God ver 23. True it is that God hath promised his Spirit to them that ask him but 't is worthy all observation and I pray you to mark what kind of asking it is which the Promise is made to which you may observe from Christs own words where he saith What things soever ye desire when ye pray believe that ye receive them and ye shall have them Mark 11.24 To which agrees Pauls Testimony to wit That we might receive the promise of the Holy Spirit through Faith Gal. 3.14 Plainly discovering what kind of Prayer it is Gods ears are open unto which I wish all your hearts may be open to consider even that it is the Prayer of Faith that reaches the Blessing from God whereby to strengthen the weak and sickly Soul for when Gods Promises shall be so magnified in the heart as that like Abraham there shall not be so much as a considering the deadness of its own body that is to say it s own weakness and inability to bring forth fruit to God but shall confidently relye upon his Promises considering that he is both able and willing to cause the barren womb to bear even the unlikeliest of men the base things of the world things that are not to confound the things that are even the Wise and Prudent of the World surely Gods ears are open to hear the Prayers of such they shall not go empty away but rather as 't is written shall be like the Tree planted by the waters that shall not see when heat cometh whose leaf shall be green and shall not be careful in the year of drought neither shall cease from yielding fruit Jer. 17.7 .8 When Israel of old distrusted the help of the Lord and so went down into Egypt for help the Lord spake unto them saying In quietness and confidence shall be your strength Isa 30.2,3,15 Shewing that if Israel had been quiet so as not to have stirred for Egypts help but in confidence or Faith stayed upon the Lord he even the Lord would have been their strength and Salvation so as that they needed not to have feared though an Host had risen up against them but alas because of their unbelief God could do no mighty work of deliverance for them for said they We will flee upon Horses and ride upon the swift and therefore God in his wrath and great displeasure against them said That those that should pursue them should be swift a thousand of them should flye at the rebuke of one and the shadow of Egypt should be their shame ver 3 16 17. and he would wait that he might be gracious ver 18. If peradventure when they had tasted of his Judgements they would thenceforth believe in him and confidently relye upon him that so he might be their strength So much to do hath Faith with the powerful Vertue of the Lord it being the Lords pleasure that it should as that when the Woman that had an issue of blood twelve years was cured by means of the Vertue that was in Christ he casts her Cure upon her Faith saying Daughter thy Faith hath made the whole Mark 5.34 So likewise the Sanctification or Cleansing of the heart is ascribed unto Faith Acts 26.18 Yet not in the least as if Faith of it self or in its own strength could sanctifie or cleanse any heart or cure any mans body for that is the proper work of that spiritual Vertue and Power which is in the Lord but inasmuch as the good pleasure of his good Will is that the same powerful vertue shall serve for the cure of none but such as shall touch him by Faith whereby to draw the Soul-healing Vertue from him therefore 't is said that through Faith men are sanctified and kept by the Power of God through Faith to Salvation So tha notwithstanding the readiness and great willingness that there is in God to cure the distempered and diseased Souls as his many Promises and gracious Protestations in order thereunto plainly declares yet unless they shall make selious and ●…arty Applications unto him together with a holy dependance upon him and a serious waiting in Faith for the same they may nevertheless remain very much out of frame and greatly unhealthful in their Souls there being not ground otherwise for the Lord the great Curer of Souls to say Sons and Daughters your Faith hath ●ade you whole When the Church of the Hebrews were likely to faint in
multitude are as Grashoppers and their Camels as the sand by the Sea-shore shall be put to flight when the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it notwithstanding all the strong reasonings of flesh and blood that is for walking by sight because there is no more than three hundred men allowed by God to do it Judg. 7. Are we not to believe that the Meal in the Barrel and the Oyl in the Cruse shall not waste nor fail when the faithful God hath spoken it though never so much contradicted by the nature of flesh and blood because that at present it is but a handful of Meal in a Barrel and but a little Oyl in a Cruse 1 Kings 17. Are we not to believe that the great Walls of Jericho shall fall down flat there being a Promise of God that they shall without giving any heed to the many fleshly gain-sayings because of their height or great strength or because of the low means as blowing in Rams-horns appointed of God in order thereunto Josh 6. The sum of all which is whether such as have attained to a state of Justification from their old sins by Faith in Christ are not in Faith and full assurance to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit whereby to carry on and work through the work begun which otherwise will never be finished there being a plain and most certain promise of God to pour out the same John 2.28,29 Act. 2.38 Without the least hearkning to fleshly gain-sayings or yielding to fleshly dulness or any mistrust because of the low means as Imposition of Hands Heb. 6.1.2 Act. 8.12,15,17 appointed of God in order thereunto or whatsoever else shall attempt the making his word of Promise of no effect Yea and not onely a Promise of God but also very strong provocations whereby to believe the same being assured from the Lord Jesus that he doth not onely as readily as Fathers that are evil give to their Children but how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him Luke 11.13 That is the Scriptures compared the Lords good pleasure and great freeness is to give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him with lifting up of Holy hands unto him in Faith that they shall receive from him Mal. 21.22 And so waiting with opportunity till they do receive him Luke 11.8,9 so as to know his Power and enjoy his Comfort and Light in their Souls that as uncleanness wrath strife with many other such manifest fruits of the flesh heretofore reigned in them now love joy peace gentleness goodness with many other such like Vertues the manifest fruits of the Spirit may appear in them Gal. 6. for where such things are designed by the Soul so as that all other enjoyments of the world gives no satisfaction to it while this spiritual frame is wanting which it desires of any thing yea above all things that the world can afford and thereupon have diligently sought the Lord for it and now setting to its seal that God is True by believing that he is a Rewarder of them that so seek him where I say spiritual things are thus designed Gods ears are open to hear their Prayers he will be nigh unto them in all conditions Moreover for the growing and flourishing of Faith consider that the Lord sought after you when you sought not after him and said to you when you were in your blood turn turn for why will ye dye Turn at my reproof and I will pour out my Spirit unto you Pro. 1.23 And all this before you saw any beauty or excellency in the Holy Spirit and so had no desire after him and therefore sought not God for him and yet even then God thus magnified the riches of his Grace in the kind tenders thereof to you while such And will he not now much more take care for you and possess you with that which he before tendered unto you even the comfortable presence of his Holy Spirit Since you are now turned unto him and become his servants not seeking the honour of the world as before but his Holy Spirit whereby to do him service for the honour of his Name Will he not much more I say tender such Will he with-hold his good Spirit from such He the Lord the Righteous God that hath said He will with-hold no good thing from such as walk uprightly Psal 84.11 Surely no Hath God begot by his Word of Truth brought to the birth caused the Man-child the New-creature to be born into the world to whom he saith Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it Psal 81.10 and may you judge and not desperately sin through unbelief that God will now starve this New-creature of his own begetting and bringing forth that he will with-hold the spiritual Bread which onely will satisfie it and so famish his own adopted Children as starve they must and starve they will if God give not his Holy Spirit unto them No surely no carnal men will not starve but nourish and cherish their Children And will not God who is rich in mercy and delighteth in mercy nourish his Yea how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him as abovesaid Moreover consider that God having promised his Holy Spirit to such as seek him with Faith to receive the same both his Faithfulness and Righteousness is engaged for them that so seek him which the holy and believing man fears not to make mention before the Lord saying with David Hear me O Lord in thy Faithfulness and in thy Righteousness Psal 143.1 Moreover for men highly to esteem Gods Promises and so to magnifie them in their hearts as that all pleading of Flesh World or Devil because of the deadness of body or barrenness of the womb shall be utterly rejected as not worthy to be considered when God hath spoken I say for men thus to esteem Gods Promises there being every whit as much reason for them so to do as to esteem and keep his Commandments is not onely the way leading to their Happiness but also that which mightily gives glory to God Abraham staggered not at the Promise of God through unbelief but was strong in Faith giving glory to God Rom. 4.20 These things write I unto you O Friends that henceforth your sences might be much exercised and your minds more and more busied in the consideration of these and such like things that the knowledge which you have of Gods Promises may be a word so planted in your understandings by Faith as that all fleshly staggerings and carnal oppositions may fall down before it and by such endeavours on your part you shal appear to be such who are obedient to the wholsom Counsel of the Apostle who exhorted Timothy to follow after Godliness Righteousness Charity Faith Meekness Patience 1 Tim. 6.11 Who questionless knew how Faith was to be obtained as well as any of those that speak so much of Faith's being the gift
desiring of God the blessing of Remission of sins thou desirest not more of him than what he did freely for thee before thou desiredst it of him yea when thou wast an enemy to him And with these Considerations consider That if you shall distrust his mercy it renders you altogether uncapable to please God For without Faith 't is impossible to please God for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek him From these and such like considerations how may you be encouraged to throw your selves upon Gods Grace rejecting all fleshly staggerings at the Promises of God through unbelief that you may receive what is promised by Faith in the Promises even the sure and certain Pardon of all your sins that the hands which have hung down by reason of sin laying upon the Soul may be lift up with praises to God and the feeble knees now made strong and lively in the true sence of the Fathers love shining to the Soul and then Oh! then with what boldness courage and confidence may you go to God for the manifold Operations and Discoveries of his Holy Spirit your sins being pardoned and your iniquities washed away by Faith in Christ What state or condition is there that possibly you can fall into through the utmost rage either of the world or Satan or both wherein there is not a Promise of God either to be delivered out of it or wonderfully to be supported and comforted in it All which Promises lyes before as tendred to such that by Faith are justified from sin whereon they by Faith may take hold and so therein rejoyce for evermore in all conditions If at any time the believing man fall into calamity and great tribulation he presently considers where his Refuge is and believes in God who hath said that he will be with his People in all their troubles and so during his continuance in the tribulation he experiences the truth of that within himself which he hath read was in others even tribulation working patience in him and patience experience in him and experience hope in him which makes him bold and not ashamed before all those that trouble him Rom. 5. and at length possibly is delivered from all his troubles and so made able to say with the Prophet I trusted in the Lord and he hath delivered me If at any time the believing man through the unexpected events of things come to be clouded with many piercing cares and Soul-vexations he considers that 't is written we should cast all our care upon God for he careth for us 1 Pet. 5.7 And through Faith he receives this word and so it becomes to him an engrafted word planted in his understanding concluding that he having on his side a word from God to care for him hath more on his side to free him from those piercing cares than if all the world were joyned together for his freedom so mightily doth he magnifie Gods Word in his heart Thus he believingly commits all and casts all his cares upon God and while others onely talk and read of being careful for nothing this believing man experiences the condition being supported in his serious consideration that God who hath declared himself willing to care for his People is every way more able to care for them than they for themselves And also how unsafe it is for them to trust to or lean upon their own understandings as former experiences sufficiently declare therefore this man believing in God is delivered and cared for by God and so made able to say what the Lord hath done for his Soul If at any time by reason of Wars and rumours of Wars or the great frowns of great men many fears shall assault the believing man he well remembers that these things must first be before the possession of the Kingdom and he while others that are not in Davids integrity and so not in his Faith yet talks much of his words but out of his life I say he even the believing man truly in both Davids Integrity and Faith in Davids words boldly saith The Lord is my Light my Strength and my Salvation of whom shall I be afraid though an Host should encamp against me my heart shall not fear though War should rise against me in this will I be confident Psal 27.1,2,3 If the believing man at any time fall into reproaches persecution for Christs sake by Faith he takes hold of the good and powerful hand of God to support him and in the greatest of afflictions to comfort him Faith so acquaints the Soul with the unspeakable riches and glory of Christ in the time of his suffering for him as that Moses-like he esteems the reproaches of him greater riches than the pleasure of sin for a season so he endures the persecution by Faith seeing him and his glory which he hath promised even him who is invisible If the believing man fall into temptation he remembers how 't is written 1 Cor. 10.13 that God is faithful and so will not suffer his People to be tempted above what they are able to bear Which word while among others onely talked of this man embraces often considers upon it leans and in it is comforted not suffering the violence of the temptation nor any unlikeliness of deliverance by other means to take the least place in his heart which is not an evil heart in departing from the living God Heb. 3.12 but a true heart drawing nigh unto God Heb. 10.22 whereby that should make the word of Promise of no effect but rather considers that God knows how to deliver the godly and that he is every way able to deliver them out of temptations If at any time Trading fail or loss of Goods come or Lands and Livings be taken away and he that is the believing man thereby come to be indebted yet he considers that Gods Promises fail not though all these things somewhat frown upon him and therefore he shelters himself in Gods most holy Word and waites patiently by Faith yea though he may see little or nothing in sight yea and no wayes able to conceive how he shall be in a capacity to live for the future which more than a little will trouble flesh and blood which would live by sight all which makes not him stagger or if stagger he do yet he falls not but keeps close to Gods Word magnifies it greatly in his heart knowing no reason why he should more esteem Gods Commandements than his Promises he therefore prises them above Gold yea fine Gold concluding that they are a more surer maintenance than the possessing of Kingdoms and so speaks peace and much satisfaction to himself through believing taking joyfully the loss or spoiling of goods rejoycing that he hath a merciful God on his side that knows all his wants yea and that is able to make that little Pot of Oyl which yet onely remains so wonderfully to encrease