First To believe in God or on God and Christ for both these Expressions are frequently used in the New Testament as any one in reading may easily observe is so to believe God or Christ as to trust in him to rely on him to stay our selves on him Isa 26.4 Phil. 2.19 24. 2· Chron. 13.18.16.7 Isa 50 10. to roll our selves on him as Dr. Hammond expresses it in his Practical Catechism Lib. 1. Sect. 3. and before him our Translators of the Bible in the Margent of Psal 22.8 To believe we know in its most proper signification is to assent to any thing upon the Authority of him that speaks it Therefore he that believes not makes God a Lyar That is accounts him such by Interpretation or deals with him as if he were so 1 John 5.10 Whereas on the contrary he that doth believe him or receive his Testimony sets to his Seal that is owns and acknowledges that he is true John 3.33 But this is such a Faith as wicked men may have and not that saving Faith which the Scripture so often speaks of but that is a fiducial resting upon him for the accomplishment of what he hath promised in the way and upon the terms whereon he hath promised it and no otherwise For that would be an unwarrantable presumption not properly a believing in him he having not promised such things on any other terms Now for the further clearing of this we may observe that there are Words not only in Scripture but in Heathen Authors many Instances of which I could give you which they call pregnant words which include or comprise some other word in them As where it is said all the People trembled after Saeul as you see in the Margent the Hebrew word signifies 1 Sam 13.7 which our Translators well render They followed him trembling So Joab and Abiathar helped after Adonijah That is following after Adonijah 1 King 1.7 helped him So to wonder after the Beast is to follow him wondering Rev. 13.3 So God heard David from the horns of the Unicorns Which doth not imply that God was there when he heard him as he is said to hear from Heaven his dwelling-place but to hear him so as to save him from the danger wherein he was which is set forth by that Metaphor as in the foregoing words by the Lions Mouth Psal 22.21 Heb. 5.7 As Christ was heard from his Fear or that which he was afraid of Neither do we need to render it as it is in the Margent for his piety For the word doth not only signify a religious Awe or fear of Reverence but a fear of danger as is evident from Acts 23.10 In like manner God loved the Soul of Hezekiah from the Pit of Corruption That is as our Translators render it in love to his Soul delivered it from the Pit of Corruption Isa 38.17 Acts 8.22 So to repent from wickedness as the Greek words imply is so to repent of it as to turn from it or depart from it and to be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ is to be corrupted so as to depart from it 2 Cor. 11.3 I know some Learned men observing how the prepositions both in the Hebrew and Greek are redundant or superfluous that is signify nothing in many places They conclude that to believe in God or Christ signifies no more but to believe them I answer that tho' we must suppose improprieties of speech defects or redundancies where the nature of the thing in hand doth necessarily require it yet there is no reason why we should so do when the matter in hand doth not require it but rather that we should take in such words or make use of them It is further to be observed that some words signify a complex act made up of many particular acts For example to Nurse a Child tho' it signify in the strictest sense to nourish or feed it by giving it meat or milk yet in the larger and most ordinary sense it is to take care of it in all that is necessary to be done to it So a Shepherd in most languages hath his name from feeding his Flock but there is more belongs to it than giving them Food or leâ—ding them into green Pastures Psal 23.2 1 Pet. 5.2 Or if we understand thereby Spiritual Pastors that are to feed the Flock of God This signifies not only feeding them with the Doctrine of the word as 1 Cor 3.2 And as some understand feeding with knowledge and understanding not of the manner but the matter of feeding Jer. 3.15 but it comprehends the whole duty of a Shepherd strengthening the diseased healing the sick binding up that which is broken bringing again that which is driven away seeking that which is lost Ezek. 34.4 Gathering the Lambs with his arms carrying them in this bosom gently leading those that are with young So tho Faith in its most strict and proper sense be an Assent to the Truth Isa 40.11 yet it comprehends many other Acts in it when we speak of a justifying or saving Faith I may further add That there are some words in Scripture which are not to be understood their in strict and precise Sense but presupposing some other things and comprehending such things as should or may be presumed to accompany or follow them For example Justification is sometimes ascribed to the knowledge of Christ as it is said by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many and therefore doth the Apostle so magnify the knowledge of him Phil 3.8 accounting all things but loss for the excellency thereof Isa 53.11 But it is not a bare knowledge of him that is of such value and excellency but of his Work and Office what he is and for what he was sent into the World which doth suppose what our own estate is and of what use he is to us and such a knowledge of him as puts us upon making use of him for the end for which he was given to mankind and came into the World then do we truly know him as we know that we know God when we keep his commands 1 Joh. 2.3 Tit. 1.16 Otherwise we do but profess to know him when in works we deny him When Josiah judged the cause of the poor and the needy and did Judgment and Justice this was to know God Jer. 22.15.16 Joh. 20.31 Acts 8.37 1 Joh. 5.1 Mark 1.24 Thus Salvation sometimes seems to be suspended upon our believing that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God But this faith will not save if it go no further For the Devils believe this as well as that there is but one God But as there must be such a knowledge of him supposed as I have before spoken of so it must be such a belief as brings us to him or makes us come to him Joh. 6.35 37. Isa 45.24 as having both righteousness and strength in him
working of fancy but it must be imputed to God's immediate support putting Gladness into their hearts Ps 4.7 shedding abroad his love in their hearts by the Holy Ghost given to them Rom. 5 5. But to suppose this to be God's ordinay way of dealing with his People and to allow them no Assurance but what God gives them in such an immediate way would leave many humble serious Christians that dare not boast of what God hath not wrought in them under perpetual doubts and fears And because many are ready to think that what the Scripture speaks about the witness of the Spirit the seal of the Spirit and the earnest of the Spirit do imply some immediate way of the Spirit communicating himself to Christians I will endeavour to shew you what may be the true and proper import of such Expressions As for that the Spirit 's witnessing with our spirits or to our spirits that we are the Children of God Rom. 8.16 supposing what I before said about his immediate Comforts in extraordinary Tryals and Temptations which seems to be the state of Christians at that time the Spirit may ordinarily be said to witness with our spirit or to our spirit 1st With our spirit and for the clearing of this we must consider that whatever is written in Scripture is the Testimony of the Spirit he doth therein testify 1 Pet. 1.11 and it is said particularly that the Holy Ghost is a witness to us of the perfection of Christ's Sacrafice and this he is in the Scripture Heb. 10.15 or what he hath there testified as is evident from the words following Now it no where saith in Scripture that this or that person is the Son of God our Names may be written in Heaven but not in the Scripture so it is said to testify of Christ but not by Name but describing him by his works which verse 36. are said to testify of him or to bear witness that his Father had sent him Joh. 3.39 these put together the testimony of the Scripture and his own works did witness that he was the Messiah Thus the Spirit of God witnesses in general who are the Sons of God giving Characters whereby they may be known as walking after the Spirit loving the Brethren c. This we know by the Spirit of God speaking in the word but that we do these things we know by our own spirits which we must appeal to and examine about it this being the Candle of the Lord which searches the hidden parts of the belly Prov. 20.27 2 Cor. 1.12 that is our most secret thoughts and the witness thereof is the testimony of our Consciences therefore if we would have the witness of the Spirit we must see in the Scripture what that witnesses about those that shall be saved and then consult our own spirits and if we find those things in our selves that do accompany Salvation the Conclusion follows that we shall be saved But further it may be said to witness to or with our spirits as it witnesses in its effects which the Spirit it self may be properly said to do things are said to witness in Scripture when they are a real proof of any thing as the rust of Silver and Gold witnesseth against the owners So mens wickedness saith or testifies Jam. 5.3 Psal 36.1 that they have no fear of God before their Eyes So persons are said to testify or bear witness by their Works as the Holy Ghost is a witness of Christ's Exaltation by the Miracles which he wrought Act. 5.32 and God did bear the Apostles witness both with signs and wonders and divers gifts of the Holy Ghost Heb. 2.4 and thus the Spirit bears witness with our spirits that we are the Children of God Ezek. 36.27 by that filial frame or Spirit of Adoption which he puts in us And by bringing forth in us the fruits of the Spirit Gal. 1.16 she reveals his Son in us We knowing that he abides in us 1 Jo. 3.24 by the Spirit which he hath given us I will now proceed to speak of the sealing of the Spirit and I desire this may be observed that whenever the Scripture speaks thereof it doth not speak of the Covenant or of our Salvation being sealed to us but of our being sealed 2 Cor. 1.22 Eph. 1.13.4.30 Now we must know that a Seal is not a Natural but an Instituted Sign and it being a particular mark belonging to some person it signifies his ratifying or confirming any thing that it is applied to And Seals were used in three Cases 1st For the confirming of Writings being an Evidence of a man's consent to what he hath set his Seal to Esth 3 12. Jer. 32.10 Dan. 6.17 2dly It is for keeping a thing sure as the Lyons Den and Christ's Sepulchre not by force Wax is not proper for that but for securing it so as none can meddle with it but it will be known 3dly It was used for marking things that they might be known to whom they did belong and to distinguish them from other mens and they did not only mark things or Goods but Persons We read in Heathen Authors as Plutarch in Nicias that they did sometimes mark their Captives or Servants in the Forehead And hence probably the Scripture speaks so oft of Marking and Sealing the Servants of God Ezek. 9.4 Rev. 7.3 4.9.4 Rev. 13.16 Ps 4.3 so the Beast is said to mark those that did enjoy any privileges under him Thus when God doth set apart any for himself as David expresses it he seals them or marks them for his own And as the Emperors had not only their Superscription but their Image impressed on their Coin Matth. 22.20 Col. 3.10 so God impresses his own Image on his People or renews them after his own Image And if it be said That they were sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise after they believed as if it were not the Impression of the Image of God upon us at our first Conversion but some work of the Spirit afterwards I answer Those that make this sealing to be the confirming or assuring our Justification and Salvation to us suppose it is done at our first believing in the direct Act of Faith So if they make this Objection let them Answer it themselves I add that this is not an Act finished in a moment as a Seal may be set upon Wax but a Progressive Work and the Impression is made clear and deeper by degrees We being changed into his image from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3.18 And lastly The Greeks take much liberty in the change of their Tenses and there is the same Tense used here which is used where it is said Mark 16.16 he that believes shall be saved I will now add something briefly about the earnest of the Spirit which the Scripture speaks sometimes of 2 Cor. 1.22 Chap. 5.5 Eph. 1.14 By the
which we have 1 Sam. 21.11 c. on such grounds a godly man will chuse such for his necessaries his near or familiar friends These are the few things amongst many about which I would have Christians to examine themselves that they may be the better able to make a judgment concerning their Spiritual State and to take the comfort of their Christian Privileges especially in times of trouble and when we approach towards our latter end CHAP. VIII FAith is yet a great help against Trouble as we thereby have the comfort and benefit of the Promises of God which are so exceeding great and precious 2 Pet. 1.4 1. It is a great thing for God to oblige himself to us by promise as Austin saith Confes L. 5. c. 9. Thou art pleased because thy Mercy endures for ever to become a Debtor by thy promises to those to whom thou hast forgiven all their Debts We love to be free and disengaged and would have others stand to our courtesy for that which we intend to give them but we would not give them that advantage against us to challenge us upon our word But it hath pleased God for our more abundant consolation so far to condescend to poor sinners that we may as Austin saith in the place before cited of his Mother urge upon him his own hand-writing or plead as David Psal 119.49 1 Jo. 5.10 Remember thy word to thy Servant on which thou hast caused me to hope For we make him a lyar if we do not trust his promise 2. The promises of God are exceeding great and precious in respect of the matter of them he having promised so many and so great things which we should not have had the confidence to ask or think if he had not encouraged us by such promises And as there are in Physick some Catholick remedies and some particular Medicines for particular Diseases so there are some general comprehensive promises as that great promise in which all the promises of the life that now is and that which is to come are summed up That God will be our God or that he will be a God to us 1 Chr. 17.24 Heb. 8.10 So that promise which occurs so oft in Scripture that God will be with us which is not to be with us as he is in all places Jer 23.24 or so as to be an unconcerned spectator of what befalls us but so as to deal well with us as Jacob expounds it as we shall see by comparing Gen. 31.3 with Gen. 32.9 So there are some promises wherein several things are put together as many ingredients into one Cordial such is that promise Ps 84.11 that God will be a Sun and Shield that he will give grace and glory and will withhold no good thing from such as walk uprightly ThiS promise comprehends all the good things of the life that now is and of that which is to come And I know not but the Apostle may have particular respect to this promise there being a promise of things Temporal Spiritual Eternal 1 Tim. 4.8 of Comfort Direction Protection Provision But there are particular promises suited to the several conditions of Christians which are by some reduced to several heads and brothers summed together in the order wherein they stand in Scripture So that whatever circumstances we are in we may find promises suited thereto And as they are exceeding great and precious in respect of the fulness and great variety of them so they are precious in respect of the truth and certainty of them This is it that makes other promises from men of so little value that every man is a lyar Psal 116.11 David indeed spake that rashly and it may be therein might have respect to the promises which were made to him from God by Samuel or Nathan as under temptation he said he should one day perish by the hand of Saul 1. Sam. 27.1 and then the promise would have failed But he did more deliberately say men of low degree are vanity and men of high degree a lye deceiving others either through weakness or wickedness Psal 62.9 either not being able to make good what they have unadvisedly promised or willingly flattering them into vain expectations of what they never intended to do for them But these are promises of God that cannot lye As he is faithful that hath promised Tit. 1.2 Heb. 11.11 Rom. 4.2 Psal 77.8 so he is able also to perform and tho we are ready to say sometimes doth his promise fail for evermore We do either through ignorance mistake the meaning of them as the Jews of Old and many still are ready to expound many promises too rigidly according to the letter or we are ready to understand those things absolutely which are to be understood with that limitation so far as they are for our good Psal 34.10 84.11 Eccles 6.12 which we are not always competent judges of or we are too quick and impatient of delays the vision is for an appointed time Hab. 2.4 and the things which God hath promised shall be fulfilled in their season Luk. 1. â—0 I will now shew you how by Faith we have the comfort and benefit of these promises 1. By Faith we have an interest in the promises We read of the covenants of promise Eph. 2.12 whereby we may either understand the promises of the Covenant there being the like Hypallage oft found in Scripture Rom. 9.31 as by the Law of righteousness is meant the righteousness of the Law And the Nations of those that shall be saved Rev. 21.24 are those that shall be saved of the Nations And it may be called the Covenants because tho it be one in the substance of it yet it is diverse in respect of its administration on which account it is called both Old and New Heb. 8.13 Or it is called the Covenants of promise as being founded on and consisting in promises In Scripture we find promises frequently called Covenants Gen 6.18 2 Chron. 7.18 Ezr. 10.3 Neh 9.38 Covenants consisting of mutual promises or engagements and where the promise on one side only is expressed the engagement on the other side is ordinarily implied Now there is no case wherein the words Promise and Covenant may with more reason be used promiscuously than in this case in hand Gal. 3.17.22 and so they are used by the Apostle for tho this Covenant be not an absolute promise there being something to be done by the Mediator of it for the confirmation thereof as likewise by us for partaking of the benefit of it yet it is ordered in all things and sure 2 Sam. 23.5 and not suspended on any uncertain condition depending on our fluctuating will but what is required on our part is likewise promised to be wrought in us Jer. 31.33 John 6.37 Eph. 2.8 So that as there are promises to conditions which I may speak without the
therefore he will shew his displeasure against it But it is so likewise in Spiritual blessings we read of great things ascribed to Faith Acts 15.9 as purifying the heart overcoming the World quenching all the fiery darts of the wicked 1 Jo. 5.4 Eph. 6.17 Now it doth not all these things in a moral way as Moses overcame by looking to the recompence of the reward but we are thereby strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Heb. 11.26 Ephes 6.10 2 Tim 2.1 1 Peter 1.5 Col. 1.11 or in the grace that is in Christ Jesus and we are kept by the power of God through Faith to Salvation It is the Divine Power that keeps us and we are strengthned thereby or according thereto and not only morally by his word as men may strengthen each other Job 43.4 Ezek. 13.22 but it is Faith that takes in this aid or assistance of Grace or the supplies of the Spirit of Jesus Christ Phil. 1.9 which are communicated from him to the several Members of his Mystical Body as the Spirits are from the Head in the Natural Body and as Christ dwells in the heart by faith Ephes 3.17 so we derive Spiritual Life and Virtue from him in the daily Exercise of Faith he leaving those usually to themselves that trust to their own strength as Youth and Young men are ready to do when those that wait on the Lord and look to him for supplies of Grace shall surmount all difficulties and persevere in well-doing without weariness or fainting Isaiah 40.30 31. Psalm 27.14 He will strengthen the heart of those that wait on him and give Grace to such humble Souls as distrusting themselves rely upon him for strength and assistance CHAP. IX THere is yet one way more whereby Faith becomes such an effectual Remedy against Touble and that is as we thereby have a view or prospect of the other World or of the Future state We thereby look to the things that are not seen which are eternal And if any shall say 2 Cor. 4.18 the word there used doth not imply that he saw them or had a view of them but only that he made them his scope or aim I answer The word sometimes signifies to mark or observe as well as to consider or have respect to Rom. 16.17 Phil. 3.17 Heb. 11.27 And we do in a sort see the things which we aim at Moses is said to endure as seeing him that is visible which implies not the manner of his enduring but the ground of it not as if he had seen him that is invisible but because he saw him that is invisible or like one that saw the invisible God John 1.14 So as the glory of the only begotten Son of God is a glory becoming such an one And if it be said there is a Contradiction in the terms to see him that is Invisible I answer It is an Elegancy used frequently in Scriptures where a word in the same place is taken in different senses as to believe in hope Rom. 4.18 1 Tim. 5.6 against hope And she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she lives She lives Naturally but is dead Spiritually So God is invisible to our bodily Eyes but we see him by faith which is the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11.1 And if it be further objected that Faith and Sight are opposed in Scripture as We walk by faith and not by sight And in whom 2 Cor. 5.7 1 Pet. 1.8 tho now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory For this latter place distinguish of seeing as before and the sense is plain and for the former place Faith is there opposed either to the Vision of God which we shall have in the Future state or to present sense implying that we should govern our lives not by Sense or what we see but by what we belive or hereafter hope for And the Apostle when he would set forth the virtue of Faith and of what excellent use it is to support Christians under Trials and Sufferings he grounds it upon this Heb. 11.1 that it is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen It gives as it were a real and present subsistence to things that are yet but future and so hoped for and giveth us as full satisfaction concerning those things which we do not see as if we saw them clearly before our eyes And these two things make that which is future to affect us more and work more effectually upon us We say indeed among men that seeing is believing And they have Proverbial Speeches in other Nations like this of our own There is so much deceit and falshood to be found among men that persons will hardly believe till they see or have sufficient ground for it and so will not venture much on uncertain hopes But when we have to do with God that cannot lie believing is seeing that is when we have his Word to ground our Faith upon we are as sure as if we saw with our eyes or as if things were proved to us by a Mathematical Demonstration that is by such clear evidence as nothing can be objected against But tho we look upon things as certain they do not much affect us if we look upon them as at a great distance of time therefore wicked men relieve themselves against the fear of future Evils by looking upon them as at a great distance Ezek. 12.27 Amos 6.3 or putting far away the evil day We are likewise encouraged to patience by the near approach of the recompense of reward because he that shall come will come and will not tarry Heb. 10.37 James 5.8 9. Luke 21.28 The coming of the Lord draws nigh The judge stands before the door And our Saviour bids his Disciples lift up their heads when their redemption draws nigh If persons were going to some places and tired with the tediousness of their Journey and discouraged with the Difficulties and Dangers that they meet with in their way questioning whether they should find the way to it or hold out till they come at it should come to the top of an Hill and before they are aware see the place that they are going to a little before them what Courage and Life would it presently put into them As Columbus that first discovered the West Indies when his men were ready to Mutiny having been wearied with a Voyage of Sixty days over the Ocean he perceiving the Clouds to look clearer concluded that they were not far from Land and so promised them to return if they did not within three days discover Land which they did before the end of the third day So if we could get a sight of the other World as Moses did of the Land of Cannan on the top of Pisgah Deut. 3.27 What Vigour and Life would it add to us when we
last of which places it is evident that by the earnest of the Spirit he means the Spirit as an earnest as the sign of Circumcision is Circumcision for a Sign Rom. 4.11 Some take the word which is borrowed from the Eastern Languages in a large sense for a pledge pawn or earnest but in this case it is properly rendred earnest for there is a great difference betwixt a Pawn or Pledge and an Earnest The former is something deposited or left with another for securing what hath been taken up or borrowed and it is something of another kind and of greater or at least equal Value with what it is left in pawn for But an earnest is something given at the making of a Bargain for the ratifying and confirming of it and it is of the same kind with what is afterwards to be paid and but a small part of it Now we can have no Pledge of future Glory there being nothing of equal value to it but God gives us his Spirit or as he doth sometimes express it 1 John 3.24 Chap. 4.13 of his Spirit of the Gifts and Graces of it and this is the Earnest of our Inheritance Grace differing from Glory in degree only not in kind As here we know but in part but then shall know as we are known 1 Cor. 13.9 12. and as our Knowledg so our Love and Joy shall then be perfected and what we receive here of the Spirit doth assure us of receiving the full sum of the Glory promised Phil. 1.6 And as the Earnest that we receive at the making of a Bargain doth not only confirm the Bargain but is of some Vse to us at present tho it be but a small part of the whole so those Graces of the Spirit which he here works in us are in the exercise thereof our greatest Comfort and Happiness in this World and are Prelibations and Foretasts of our Future Happiness and are therefore called the first fruits of the spirit Rom. 8.23 being a small part of the full Harvest of Glory which we shall reap hereafter In short We do by the Spirit of God know the things that are freely given to us of God He enabling us to discern Spiritual things and to make a right Judgment of them 1 Cor. 2.12 13 14 15. Ephes 4.23 renewing us in the spirit of our minds as well as in our inferior Faculties so that as there is a saving work upon the whole Soul which we are to make a Judgment of there is likewise Knowledg and Judgment or Wisdom and Spiritual Vnderstanding Phil. 1.9 Col. 1.9 to determine concerning our Spiritual Estate As those of full Age by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil Heb. 5.14 But that communion of the holy ghost which the Apostle prays might be with all the Corinthians 2 Cor. 13.14 and so with all Believers whereby he communicates to us all those good things which Christ hath obtained for us John 16.15 is known only to those humble and circumspect Christians which love God and give proof of it by keeping his Commandments John 14.23 So that as it is the Blessing of the Lord that makes rich yet the hand of the diligent Prov. 10.4 22. the blessing of the Lord going along with our diligence So it is by the Spirit of God that we know the things given to us of God yet by giving all diligence we make our Calling and Election sure the Spirit of God both exciting us to and assisting us in the exercise of Grace and encouraging such diligence by Spiritual Comforts And as those that do his will shall know of the doctrine whether it was of God or whether he spake of himself John 7.17 So they shall know the Work which they find in themselves whether it be from moral Principles fleshly Wisdom restraining Grace or from renewing Grace and so of those things that accompany Salvation Heb. 6.9 CHAP. V. THAT I may do something towards the helping of Christians in the trial of their Spiritual state I will first premise some general Observations 1st Some persons may have much advantage of others before their Conversion and by reason of Natural Temper Fleshly Wisdom Education Restraining Grace or other things which keep them from the Polutions of the World and bring them to a form of Godliness Now it will be harder for such to judge of their Spiritual state than for others Sometimes the Nights are light by reason of the Moon shining and it is not so easy then to discern whether it be Day Yea if the fore-part of the Night be dark and the Moon rise before morning a man may think it Day before it is so and having found his error he may that he may not be deceived again be backward to believe that it is Day when it is really so In like manner some may as I said be free from the more gross Follies and Vanities of Youth others may have been Profane and Wicked in their Younger Years but through some Affliction or some special Providence of God or happening into some Religious Family or into some place where the Word of God is Zealously and Faithfully Preached their Consciences are awakened and they leave those sins which formerly they lived in and there is a great change wrought in them but not a saving-change this is but as the light of the Moon before Day hereby they may be deceived into a false opinion of their own state and when they come to see their own mistake may be more backward to believe a real thorough change in themselves when it is wrought There have been those that have dated their Conversion after they have not only done much but suffered much in the service of Christ 2dly It may so happen that persons may at some times seem better or worse than they are We are upbraided by some for painting Hypocrites or shewing what they may attain to so as to represent them better than we can ordinarily find sincere Christians to be And on the other hand in speaking of the Infirmities of the Saints we make them worse than most Hypocrites But as the Wise-man complains of it as a vanity upon the Earth that there be just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked and wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous So it is in their Morals Eccles 8.14 if we read 2 Sam. 11. we should judge looking no further that David was a grievous Apostate considering what profession he had before made which we may easily see in the 34. and 63. Psalms and that he had now sung away care that there was no fear of God before his eyes but we see afterwards by the 51. Psalm that the root of the matter was in him and his Grace did again flourish We have other instances in Scripture as Asa Peter 2 Chron. 16.