of Christ as it is the aim of the Writer of this treatise who after all his sufferings and sorrowes in which and under which he behaved as a good souldier of Jesus râ—…ist and was observed to have acquired a special dexteritie in making use of the shield of Faith is now got above them and eternally comforted over them in the sight and fruition of that God in whose service he lived as devoted to his fear and died in that noble posture So it is for you the earnest desire of his soul who is Your poor Welwisher and Companion in tribulation THE LIFE of FAITH in times of PERSECUTION PART II. THE INTRODUCTION A Word spoken fitly saith the Wise man Prov. 25. ver 11. or in its season or as it is in the Original upon his wheels is like apples of gold in pictures of silver that is is both pleasant and profitable We began in the foregoing Treatise of this Subject to explaine the nature of this Life which is to be had by faith in a very sad and trying time how and what way faith interesteth a Soul in this Life and how they should Act faith who would partake hereof in a day of Difficulty and Temptation wherein because of adhereing to Christ and his Truth the life of his people is made bitter unto them and they are exposed to many Troubles and sharpe Exercises And for a further Encouragment unto a faithful and stedfast adhereing to the Truth in a day of stormy Tempests and fierie Trials we mentioned some of those many Considerations which the Lord had left on record in his word that we through patience and comfort of these Scriptures might have hope and so might be perfect and of good comfort such as 1. Gods promised Presence with them in all their Trials how sharpe and fierie so ever the faith of which would make the weak and fainting soul become couragious and valiant as David 2. Christ's Sympathie with them in all their Distresses Troubles Necessities Dangers Paines Losses Crosses and Sufferings for Him and His Cause which if firmly beleeved according to the sâ—…re and undoubted grounds thereof could not but make them sing all their Sorrow out of countenance 3. The Lord's Stile of being a Redeemer which if fled unto by faith in an evil day would prove a strong Tour to which they might â—…un and be saife 4. The promises which are Many Great Glorious Sutable Pertinent Precious Sure and Covenanted and as these are made and registred of purpose that His People might have strong Consolation so the Christian faith Improvement of them in a day when Dispensations would seem to cross them is both the special duty of His people in that day and also the only mean to keep them in life and hold their head above water when called to swime against both tide and stream and the fixed faith of these would both stablish strengthen the tossed and wearie soul. 5. Former Experiences of God's Care Faithfulness Tenderness Readiness to deliver and supply wants to carry thorow Troubles and at length in due time to deliver out of them These when rightly improven according to Gods warrand and Gospel grounds will fournish a feast whereupon faith may feed and the soul become strong in the Lord and in the power of his might and with Courage Hop and Confidence wade thorow a Sea of Affliction 6. The quarrel and controversie is the Lords A noble ground of courage comfort and confidence when beleeved and rightly Improven 7. Their Sufferings are the Sufferings of Christ when they are for His sake and upon His account And this cannot but be a wel full of Consolation unto the poor afflicted and persecuted Childe of God when it is beleeved and fed upon by faith These I have as the Lord was pleased to assist spoken a little unto in the foregoing Piece onely in order to this End That the faithful and honest hearted Beleever who either hath already met with or layeth his account to meet with Sufferings of one kind or of another in following his Lord and Master in the way of Truth and Righteousness according to the Commands of God and Institutions of Christ may in part be helped to know his own strength where the stock thereof is and how he may improve the same to his own rich advantage in every Case and Condition that the Lord in his wise and holy Providence bringeth him into and that so as notwithstanding of all the fiery Trials sharpe Afflictions sore Temptations sad Exercises cruel Persecutions continual Tossings and Harassings and pinching Straits and Difficulties that he may meet with in his way he may be helped unto a Christian Deportment a Rejoicing evermore and a bearing of the cross with Joy Valour Christian Courage undaunted Resolution and a fixed Stedfastness and Unmovablness in the way of the Lord and so win to a life of faith and through faith in the midst of all the deathes that he is to rancountre with in his way to the everlasting possession of that Crown of life and of the Inheritance that is Incorruptible and Undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for them who are kept by the power of God through faith unto Salvation I shall now in the prosecution of this Matter for the end mentioned mentione and speak a little unto some other Considerations such as CONSIDERATION VIII It is the decreed will of God IF the afflicted soul that is tossed with Tempests and not comforted and is like to sinck under the heavy burden of Affliction Temptation and Tribulation were considering aright how that affliction cometh not forth of the dust nor troubâ—…e springeth not out of the ground Iob 5 6. that is That afflictions come not by meer Chance neither have they all their Original from Inferiour agents carnal and worldly Instruments but there is an higher hand to be observed and espied in all that the men of this world the Instruments of Satan devise and execute and that there is an higher Resolution Decree and Determination to be heeded than what is taken by man If the afflicted soul I say were considering this he would finde himself called to far other Thoughts and Meditations than he hath or can have when his mind is onely poreing upon the secondary and far inferiour rise of his trouble to wit as from men We see what course Peter took Act. 4 27 28. When thinking upon the rage of Enemies against our Lord and against them his Servants for his sake for of a truth saith he against thy holy Child Iesus whom thou hast anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilat with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together for to do whatsoever thy hand and thâ—… Counsel determined before to be done So Act. 2 23. He tels them who had been Instrumental in killing of the Lord of life that he was delivered by the determinat Counsel and fore knowledg of God otherwise they had had no
and lay his conclusions of new Then I should wish He were not God for the true God is a God that changeth not Mal. 3 6. and a God whose Purposes cannot fail for they have a hand with them to effectuatall Esai 14 26. as he purposeth so shall it stand Esa 14 24. Who can disanull what He purposeth Vers. 27. And what he purposeth he will also do Esai 46 v. 11. So that if I should once imagine that His decrees could alter upon one account or other I should in so far deny the true living God And if one of his purposes could alter why not another how then should I think that his purpose according to election should staud Rom. 9 11. 8 28. Ephes. 1 v. 11. 3 10 11. 2 Tim. 1 9. And if there were the least ground of doubt here where were all my Hop Comfort Confidence Therefore would the beleever say Because it is my joy comfort that His purposes fail not and that He is a God that cannot change but whom he loveth he loveth to the end therefore will I with joy subject my self unto all his decreed Dispensations towards me how hard so ever they may seem to flesh because He is Unchangable and Almighty and thereupon hangeth all my Hope and Salvation 2. All his determinations and decrees are for his own glory He worketh all things according to the Counsel of his own will that we should be to the praise of his Glory Ephes. 1 11 12. He maketh all things for Himself Prov. 16 4. Hence the beleeving soul reasoneth with himself Shall I stand in the way of God's getting his glory He hath determined this to befall me for his own glory and should I wish it to be otherwayes Should I not comply with his holy designe of glorifying himself by this his Dispensation towards me Should I not acquiesce in all the meanes and methods His infinit wisdom hath thought upon and He in infinite wisdom hath determined to make use of for glorifying of his own name Should not I be satisfied with his being exalted Nay should not this Consideration that hereby God will be glorified make mine heart sing under all my sorrow cause me conclude all my meditations on His dispen fations towards me as Paul did his Discourse Rom. 11. For of him through him to him are all things to whom be glory for ever Amen v. last 3 As all that God hath decreed to do in the world is for his own glory so all that he hath determined to do with or to bring upon His own people who are called according to the election of grace is for their good according to that Rom. 8 28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to his purpose Hence the Godly Soul can reason Shall I be against mine own good and advantage Shall I wish that things were otherwise than they are when the only Wise and Gracious God hath ordered and ordained them so for my good He hath made many noble connexions in his Purposes that I see not and seing He hath said that all things work together for good to such as love Him and are called according to his purpose why should I not beleeve against sense and carnal reason Am I able to search out the Almighty unto perfection Can I finde out all the depths of his Counsel and Wisdom Shall I think then that he can bring about my good and felicity by no meanes and dispensations but such as I am satisfied with Shall I measure the unsearchable riches of his Wisdom and Councel thus Shall I rebell against his Dispensations and fret and murmure against Him who dealeth thus and thus with me because I see not how He can bring about my everlasting advantage hereby No Nay rather because his word is true beleeving the same I will embrace the sharpest of Dispentions He is pleased to tryst me with and waire to see how infinit Wisdom shall make good what Truth it self hath said Thus we see how the Consideration of the decreed will of God can preserve the Christians life in worst of times CONSIDERATION IX It is the Commanding will of God CHristian souls have much Peace and joy when they are going about a commanded duty and they know upon good grounds that what they are going about is a commanded duty notwithstanding of the many Hazards Difficulties Pinches and Distresses they are put to in the prosecution thereof and when they are called to suffer and to lye under outward Trouble and Affliction are oftentimes under much sadness of heart and disquietment of mind upon this account among others That they know not if their suffering be according to the will of God and whether or not they have ground to expect God's approbation which if they saw clear ground to beleeve and look for they would be no more disquieted than when going about other clear and necessary duties It will be useful therefore and advantagious to such as meet with a suffering life to know some thing whereby they may come to understand how and what way they may or may not be called of God to suffer I grant that Suffering as it is a meer passion doth not properly fall under a command But the Choosing Embracing patient cheerful couragious and Christian Enduring of Sufferings and Affliction fall under a command and this is all the subject of our present enquirie That we may know when we are to judge our selves called of God to choose Affliction with the people of God and to undergo it with courage and patience knowing that in so doing we are approven of God In order therefore to the clearing up of this we would know That as there is a time when God calleth to valient acting and appearing and hazarding lives and fortunes and all for Him and His interest and to jeopard our lives on the high places in the field and to come forth to the help of the Lord against the mighty as we would escape the Curse of Meroz Iudg. 5 23. So there is a time when He who only can change seasâ—…ns and times calleth for Valiant Suffering and to become a companion in Tribulation and in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ. And this appeareth from these particulars 1. There is a particular gift of God for this Suffering as wee see Phil. 1. vers 29. Vnto you it is given not only to beleeve on him but also to suffer for his sake And when God giveth a gift for such a peculiar work it saith there is a time and season when that gift is to be imployed and exercised for he giveth not gifts to lye by us and rust or to be hid in a napkin under ground 2. There are peculiar duties called-for at the hands of Christians relative only or mainly unto a suffering time as Taking up the Cross Patience Being faithful unto the death Revel
refused and therein have walked consonant unto both his former Doctrine Practice and Writtings by all which before this time he had declared that the Ceremonial Law was not obliging Christ the special end and substance of all these shadowes being now come and having established the Gospel way of worship and others though they will not blame Paul nor think he dissembled in what he did yet they think Iames and the rest should have forborne to have pressed him to do what they urged him to do Yet we see that notwithstanding of this which gave the rise and occasion to these his last sufferings this not being the ground or cause for which he was persecuted but his maintainance of the Gospel and opposing of the necessary observation of the Law of Moses which was now abrogate he is in all his sufferings which followed hereupon owned of God and approven of him If it be said Though I dar not deny the Truth upon which I am challenged and staged nor dar I say but I am suffering for Truth and that I could not have shunned this affliction but by sinning yet I am made to doubt of God's call and warrand because He hideth his face from me yea He hideth himself from me more than ever This causeth me suspect that all is wong and that I have run in this matter without his warrand and allowance I Ans. This is no certaine ground whereupon to draw such a conclusion These out-lettings of his free grace and sensible significations of his favour are dispensed according to the Soveraignity of his will and pleasure A person therefore may have an unquestionable call and warrand to hazard on suffering when he cannot otherwayes do unless he would sinne though he misse these soul-comforting and heart-establishing blainks of His face How oft do we finde the Saints of God in Scripture cry out of the hiding of God's face when outward trouble was lying heavy upon them As in Iob and David and why may not the Lord dispense thus with others I grant the Trial and the Exercise is upon this account the greater but what do we know but the Lord be ordering matters so in his holy wisdom for our further trial and for the exercise of faith It is easie to swime we say when the head is born up above the water And if the Lord thinketh good to double our Trials ought we not sweetly to submit His word should satisfie us and He hath promised enough to him that overcometh We ought to remember our duty that is hold fast what we have till he come and He will come quickly Revel 2. vers 25. and 3. vers 11. If He will have us venturing upon faith why should we not glorifie him thereby He knoweth when the fittest season is of intimating his favour and acceptance That holy martyr that complained of this want all the time he was in prison yet while going to the staik was made to cry out He is come He is câ—…me Let us now speak a word unto the improving of this Consideration to the end we may see how it can contribute unto life in an evil time 1. This Consideration may calme and quiet the Sufferer and may make him enjoy peace within what ever trouble he meet with from without because hereby he understandeth that he is about his Master's work he is following dutie and walking in a commanded path whatever trouble he meet with therein So whatever other thing occurre to cause disquietment this may bear him thorow all that he is in the way of duty and obeying the command of the great Lord and Law-giver Christians use to pacifie their own spirits with this when they meet with unexpected crosses and disappointments That they were following their duty So this may quiet them under all their Tossings Troubles Persecutions and Vexations that they have sinfully occasioned none of these things nor by their sin and foolly brought them on themselves 2. When on-lookers are ready to condemne them of Foolly Rashness Inconsideratness Pertinaciousness and the like this Consideration That they are about a commanded duty may counterballance all for then they may know that whoever condemne them their Lord and Master will approve of them and how ever men construe of their doings He will account their Sufferings loyal and faithful service to Him 3. The consideration of this will helpe the Beleever to a life of Patience and Submission without fretting at their lot for sure the honest beleever hath engaged himself unto God and hath promised absolute obedience unto him in all things and to take up his cross and yoke whatever it be that God shall think good to appointe for him and without all doubt he is to have respect to all the commands of God and is obliged to carry as a Son and as a Servant and therefore must willingly and with sweet submission do any piece of service that is laid upon him go about any commanded duty with cheerfulness because it is commanded how unpleasant so ever it be to the flesh The honest beleever will say I have given up my self to His service and count it my glory to be called the Servant of God and why should I not go willingly and cheerfully and with heart and hand without all repineing or murmuring about any piece of service He is pleased to put in my hand I made no reserves nor exceptions when I resigned and gave up my self unto Him and why should I not now submit to all He commandeth Sure it is He who is Lord and Master and so must command and give-out orders I am but a servant a sworn-servant and am highly advanced when I am called and accounted a servant to him and therefore must not carve-out my own work and service but be under Authority and go and abide or do this or that or bear this or that burden as commanded It is not seemly for a childe or for a servant or for a souldier to quarrel with his Father Master or Commander for putting him to any piece of service but rather sweetly to acquiesce and run cheerfully about what is commanded And should the beleever say it is more unseemly for me to quarrel with God who is my Father Master and Commander upon a more noble and substantial an account for any piece of service He putteth in my hands I never covenanted with Him upon condition He should not call me to suffering or put any piece of service in my hand that was not easie and sweet to the flesh So that the Consideration of this would certainly move to submission and shoot-out all contrary thoughts which distract and disquiet the soul and make his spirit bitter and his life less lively and comfortable 4. Hereby would the beleever be helped to a life of Patience and Long suffering under the Trial and Tribulation when continueing long and like yet to continue longer without fainting or wearying for the honest soul would think with it self I
should not weary of prayer nor of hearing the word nor of any other religious duty and why should I weary of the cross seing the bearing of it christianly and handsomely is as much my duty and an act of obedience to Him when He calleth thereunto as is Prayer or the like in their season There is a time when He calleth for valiant acting there is also a time when He calleth for Christian suffering and every thing is beautiful in its season and if the season be longer than we would desire yet the Supreme Lord of Times and Seasons He knoweth better than I how long such a season should endure and so long as He thinketh fit to appointe the season so long is the duty seasonable and pleasant that is called for in that season 5. This would also help forward the inward Satisfaction of the Believer for hereby he might see that how unworthy and inconsiderable soever he thought his own sufferings yet the Lord would get glory thereby seing he might easily understand that the Lord would set him about no imployment or service but such as would be for his own glory the husband man will not command his servants to plow-up some cumbersome piece of ground wherein they must meet with much labour and toyl if he saw not how to reap some fruit thereby nor will God set any of His servants about an irksome piece of work if he saw not advantage to be had thereby to his Name Interest and Glory The faith of this That God will get glory by their sufferings that being a piece of work He hath put them about who doth nothing in vaine and whose glory is advanced by our obedience to His commands will quiet the heart of the honest beleever while he is sweating in tugging and toiling at that troublesome work And when such thoughts as these prove troublesome unto the honest hearted beleever Alas I am out of case now while thus shut up in prison to go about my Christian duties with my Christian Neighbours wherein I was wont to rejoice and God was glorified I cannot get Him now so served and glorified and his praises solemnly sung in the publick Assemblies of his people This may satisfie and comfort him That now he is called unto this piece of service and by his Christian deportment herein God will be as much glorified as He was by his Christian exercises while at liberty That now he hath as good occasion to advance in his Principal work of glorifying God though upon another account as when he was imployed in the most solemne service that Christians are called to 6. This consideration will also promove their life of inward Contentmenâ—… and Satisfaction under their suffering lot in that they will thereby be helped to see that as God will thereby get his due rent of praise and glory as we said so their own spiritual advantage and spiritual life will be promoved thereby if they foolishly hinder it not by their unchristian deportment under the crosse All obedience hath a native tendency to promove the spiritual good of Christians they walk and go from strength to strength in the pathes of obedience The doing of God's will is the exercise of the Christian life and the Christian's life is made more and more lively by this exercise So that all these Tribulations or Afflictions are so far from hindering their spiritual grouth and advancment in grace that on the contrary they promove the same when the Christian is helped through grace to yeeld obedience unto the good will of God in undergoing that lot and dispensation in a Christian manner even because the Christian is then in the way of God and carrying as a submissive obedient Son and Servant ought to do 7. Hereby which will also prove advantagious to their spiritual life they will see How Satan is disappointed of the two great Ends he aimeth at in raising up Persecution against the people of God to wit the dishonour of God and the hurt and undoing of the Child of God neither of which he can at taine by this mean for when Afflictions Distresses Tribulation and Persecution are borne in way of obedience to the holy will of God and the soul is sweetly complying therewith as its present duty both God is glorified and the Christian soul is edified as by all other Christian duties and thus Satan is disappointed Sure this can not but yeeld much peace and comfort unto the suffering beleever under all his hardships and sore pressures 8. This Consideration if rightly improven could not but make the suffering beleever sing and rejoice with Paul and Silas while in prison Act. 16. vers 25. and with the Apostles when shâ—…mfully beaten Act. 5. vers 40 41. Because they cannot but say that their hearts are glade and rejoice within them if they be not under the power of some evil frame when they are about known duty and that what they do they do with a piece of joy and gladness when they reflect upon it as a commanded duty and remember how therein they are doing the will of their Father and running His errands and why should they not be also glade and rejoice in their sufferings when they may know that therein they are also about the will of their Father and actually evidencing their Loyalty Faithfulness Subjection and Obedience to Him 9. This Consideration may also quiet the honest-hearted Beleever when troubled with these or the like thoughts That now he cannot get God so served as he was wont to do He cannot get such a good work begun or perfected which he had intended for the publik good He cannot get the spiritual good of others Neighbours and Relations so promoved as he would desire From this I say the Beleever may draw grounds of peace to his own soul hush these perturbing thoughts to the door because the Lord is not now calling for these works at his hands but is now calling for another duty wherein if he carry himself aright God will be no less glorified than by all that work which he Intended nay this being the present duty and piece of work now put in his hand by God the doing thereof aright wiâ—…l more glorifie God And therefore this should allay all their sorrow and griefe which they finde upon their disappointments and cause them sweetly comply with the present duty and account that best which He accounteth best 10. Seing in choosing affliction rather than sin they are about a commanded duty and doing the will of God they have the same ground of hope that the Lord shall enable them thereunto and by his grace carry them thorow that they have as to other duties the same Covenant-Grounds and Covenant-promises reatch all duties and excepte none so that this very Consideration may raise the soul in hope may encourage the man to goe to Christ by faith and lean to him for seasonable strength and supplies of grace for through-bearing in the duty
8. We are troubled on every side yet not distressed we are perplexed but not in despair persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed 4. Their Impatience is likewise occasioned by considering that their Trouble and Affliction is still growing when they supposed that it should have decreased But the right Improvement of this Truth would frame the Soul for patience notwithstanding hereof because the beleever would see ground to say grow as it will the hand of the Lord is about it it will grow to no greater height than he seeth good let Enemies blow at the fire as fast and with as great earnestness as they will the furnace shall be no hoter than the Supream Master and Over-ruler of all seeth fit for the ends He intendeth He knoweth the nature of the mettall and how hote a fire will serve the turn to purge it 5. This also raiseth impatient thoughts in their heart That they can see no appearance of an outgate all doores are so shut that no hope appeareth thus was it with Iob therefore hath he many such expressions as Chap. 7. vers 6. My daies are swifter than a weavers shuttle and are spent without hope Vers. 7. Mine eye shall no more see good Vers. 8. The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more But this Impatience would evanish if this were beleeved That the Lord's hand were in and about the affliction making a faire way to a saife escape and at length in his own due time putting a period to the Trouble when his work is finished the end He designed attained and if it were firmly beleeved that let Enemies make all as sure as they can and rage as they will they shall not be able to keep them longer under their yron harrowes than He seeth good no not one day nor an houre 3. The right improvement of this Consideration would help unto an holy and sweet Submission and cause us say with David Psal. 39. vers 9. I was dumb not opening my mouth because thou didst it When Aaron met with a sad dispensation two of his prime sones Nadab and Abihu were taken away in the fiour of their age and that in a very terrible manner by fire from heaven for their rashness and when Moses told him Levit. 10. vers 3. That this was it which the Lord spoke saying I will be sanctified of all them that come neer me it is said of him And Aaron held his peace A sight of the hand of God though in a terrible manner in that dispensation made him lay his hand upon his mouth and sit silent in the dust He had not one word to say So that a sight of the hand of God in the dispensation ordering all things in it would help them unto a Christian yea unto a cheerful Submission It would not be patience by force but an hearty willing cheerful choosing bearing and embracing of that lot because bound on their back by the hand of God Shall we not drink would they say this potion with delight that God hath prepared and carefully made up for us He knoweth what is best for us Shall we not willingly lye under the crosse that God hath tyed upon us when He knoweth what He is doing and what we must not want and will not sufler us to be temâ—…ted above what we are able When His good time is come there will be an end and all the power of Enemies shall not obstruct our Delivery The Church Micah 7. vers 9. could sweetly sit down and bear the indignation of the Lord when by faith she could say Rejoice not against me O mine Enemie when I fall I shall arise when I sit in darkness the Lord shall be alight unto me He will bring me forth to the light and I shall behold his righteousness V. 8 9. 4. The beleeving improvment of this would keep the beleever from fainting and sincking through discouragment many thoughts come into the minde while affliction is lying on their loines and Satan can suggest many things at that time to cause the poor man succumb while under the load but the faith of God's Soveraigne and Absolute O dering of all things in and about the Trouble according to his own mind would keep up their head and preserve them from a sinful and shamful fainting They look too much to instruments and pore too much upon their Nature Disposition Activity Power Wisdom Wickedness Maliciousness Rage Cruelty and Indefatigableness and forget that they are but under agents and can do nothing but as the Supream God Willeth Ordert he Disposeth and Permitteth and that He alone Over-ruleth all Moderateth and Ordereth all according to His own mind and for His own holy ends So that they cannot do any thing whether as to the Substance or as to the Circumstances of the affliction but as He who is the Supream Master of work is pleased to suffer and give way unto 5. The beleeving thoughts of this Truth would keep the Soul from that dreadful sin of Murmuring against the Lord upon occasion of any Trouble or Distress he meeteth with It is the Lord would the Soul say and who am I that I should quarrel with Him He is ordering disposing and moderating all that under agents and lixes are doing so that all things are done as He will and shall I yet be displeased and quarrelsome Enemies cannot get their will They are over-ruled in all their Consultations Projects Contrivances bloudy Resolutions and cruel Executions matters go not as they will but as He will who is over them and why then should I murmure and repine against Him 6. This would also airth the Eyes of the soul towards the right object in a day of Trouble They would not with Heathens look to chance or fortune as ruling and ordering all nor would they with the carnal multitude fâ—…x their eye upon the instruments and run with the dog to the stone that is cast at him but would see another more noble object of their sight to wit the Principal Agent Mover and Orderer of all in whose hand the wicked are as the ax and saw in the hand of the workman and as the rod in the hand of the father and this sight would help unto a Spiritual Christian frame of Godly fear Subjection of Soul and would put the soul in case to observe the Wisdom Soveraignity and absolute Dominion of God doing what He will frustrating the toakens of the liars and disappointing the craftie devices of wicked men as also this sight would minde the man of Christian duties of searching his wayes repenting of his sinnes and turning againe to the Lord for he would see it was the Lord with whom he had to do He would look for his Outgate and Salvation from God alone so that his Faith his Hope and his Confidence would be in the Lord alone His eye being fixed on this object he would not see cause of troublâ—…ng himself much about-Enemies
accuse Him of unrighteous dealing As those whom Paul bringeth-in reasoning against the truth of God and saying Rom 9 19. Why doth he yet finde fault For who hath resisted his will To whom he answereth Vers. 20 21. Nay but o man who art thouâ—… that answerest againe or disputest against God or repliest against God c. As if he had said Hath not the Lord Power and Soveraignity in that matter to do what he will as well as a Potter hath over a bit clay May not God dispose of His Clay which he made Himself as well as the Potter may do of the Clay which he made not and is not the Creator of but was created to his hand by the same God that created himself Why then dost thou quarrel with Him or disputest against Him Canst thou help the matter Canst thou make that straighter than it is 3. When we corrupt the truthes of God and abuse them perverting them to our corrupt and licentious Ends like that saying Rom. 6 vers 1. Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound And againe Vers. 15. Shall we sin because we are not under the Law but under grace And Chap. 7 v. 7. Is the Law sin So Chap. 3 v. 31. Do we then make void the Law through faith These and the like Objections which Paul in his Epistles preoccupieth shew what the corrupt heart and reasonings of men are set upon and how prone they are to turne the Grace of God into lasciviousness and to pervert the right Wayes of the Lord. Whereby they clearly demonstrate how displeased they are at the holy Truths and Wayes of God and how ready to thraw and pervert them that they may become more straight then they seem to them at present to be 4. When we Fret Repine Grumble and Grudge in our minde against any of the Lords Dispensations in and about us or our concernments This was the great sin of Israel they murmured against the Lord and against Moses Exod. 15 and 16 and 17. Numb 14 and 16 and 17. 1 Cor. 10 10. They were dissatisfied in their mindes and repined and murmured against the Lord and hereby they said they would have the wayes and dispensations of the Lord altered towards them they were crooked and they would have them made more straight 5. When our hearts do not sweetly comply with the Wayes and Dispensations of the Lord or we learne not nor study Christian Submission We should submit ourselves unto the Lord I am 4 vers 7. and humble ourselves under his mighty hand 1 Pet. 5 v. 6. We should be in subjection unto the Father of Spirits Heb. 12. vers 9. even when he Crosseth Chastneth and Afflicteth us But when we forget this Christian Duty we declare our displeasure at Gods wayes and dealings with us and say that we would have his work amended and that made straight which He hath made crooked 6. When we are Impatient and cannot waite God's leasure but take sinful courses to deliver ourselves or sit down discontented and sinfully longe for an outgate then we declare our dissatisfaction with God's way and would have his dispensations altered and matters running in another channel As when the labouring man would have the day of harvest the next week after the seed is cast into the ground he is displeased with Gods Order and Appointment of some Moneths interveening Whileas we should have Patience and waite Gods time with Patience I am 5 7 8. Luk. 8 15. 2 Pet. 1 v. 6. I am 1 4. Rom. 12 12. 7. When we are discontented with our own lot and grudge at others as having a better lot than we have an evil which Iames condemneth Iam. 5 vers 9. and which plainly sayeth we would amend Gods work and set straight what He hath made crooked As that wicked King was displeased when he heard the message of the Lord 1 Kings 20 42 43. 8. When we are excessively Anxious and Disquieted in our minde as to any passage of Providence that we meet with or as to any crosse that befalleth us David checketh his own soul as to this Ps. 42 vers 5 11. and 43 5. saying Why art thou disquieted within me We are discharged to be careful thus with a sinful anxiety for any thing Phil. 4 v. 6. 1 Cor. 7 32. But When we are thoughtful we clearly say that we would faine make straight what God hath made crooked though Christ hath told us Matth. 6 27. that by taking thought we cannot adde one cubite to our stature 9. When though we dar not speak against God in sending a crosse upon us yet we are not satisfied with the Manner or Measure or Season or Duration and Continuance or the Instrument of our crosse but say we would choose any other crosse but this we would be satisfied if it were not so Bitter and so Heavy and so Insupportable we would have taken it well had it come upon us at any other time than now we would most chearfully have borne it if it had been of shorter Continuance and had any other person been the Instrument thereof we would have laid our hand upon our mouth all which and the like though they seem to insinuate some sort of Submission yet are plaine Declarations that we think the way of the Lord crooked and that we would have matters better ordered and all things made more straight and even than they are 10. When in our prayers there is not that submission unto the holy and soveraigne Will of the Lord that ought to be but rather a limiteing of the holy One of Israel and a sinful unwarrantable Importunity as to things not necessary in themselves nor for us without submission of soul unto the holy Will of the Lord as to the Manner Time and Measure of the Lords granting of our suites When our Prayers are not commensurate unto the Promises as to their Substance nor put up with Submission to God's Will and Soveraignity as to the Manner Measure Season Way and the like circumstances which the great God hath keeped in His own hand By these and the like wayes we declare our dissatisfaction with the wayes and works of God and account them crooked and think and endeavoure though in vaine to make straight what God hath made crooked An evil at which God is highly displeased Wo unto him saith the Prophet Esai 45 vers 9 10. that striveth with his maker Let the Potsheards strive with the Potsheards of the Earth shall the Clay say to him that fashioneth it what makest thou Or thy work he hath no hands Wo unto him that saith to his Father what begettest thou Or to the woman what hast thou brought forth And the great sinfulness of this sin appeareth in these Particulars 1. It is a striveing against the Lord in the place now cited the word in the Original signifieth a Contending in judgment as Lam. 3 vers 58. Leading a processe against one Judging or Sentenceing in judgment so