Only I make it plain by this familiar Comparison. 1Put case a poor man hath occasion to make use of some great Courtier for the effecting of some business of great consequence for him, even as much as his life lieth on, or all that ever he is worth, as suppose the procuring him his pardon for some capital crime from the Prince. And this great Courtier telleth him, that though he be but a stranger, one that can claim no such thing from him, yea one that hath deserved many ways evil of him, yet if he trust only to him, and rely wholly upon him, he will do that for him, which the poor wretch requireth of him. This poor man now in this case may trust only to him, & neglecting all other means that either others may advise him to, or himself sometime think on, rely wholly upon him; and yet he may not be fully persuaded that he will effect it for him neither. The consideration of his own want of worth and evil desert,n his immoderate fear arising from the apprehension of the great danger that he is in, and the subtle persuasion ⟨p. 160⟩of others that would bear him in hand that he will but delude him, and not do for him as he saith, may either severally or jointly be a means to hold his mind in suspense, and to keep him from such assurance. Yea his very mistaking and misconstruction of the great mans meaning, when he saith, If you will trust to, or rely upon me alone for it, being possest with a conceit that his want of a full persuasion that he will do it, which he cannot yet for his heart-blood bring his mind to any settled assurance of, doth evidently show that he doth nor trust to him, may be a means to make him believe, that he will never do it for him, because he doth not, what he supposeth is therein absolutely required of him, which to that great man also, if he should be demanded of it, not daring to tell an untruth, would appear. And yet for all this he may resolve to stick to his mediation only, and to rely wholly upon him, and not to seek or try any other way, whatsoever any man shall persuade him to the contrary, or whatsoever the issue and event of it shall be. And even so may it well be, and is questionless with a Christian soul many times.o God hath proclaimed and published a Patent of pardon and salvation by Christ, to all that trust to him for the same.
Only I make it plaine by this familiar Comparison. 1Put case a poore man hath occasion to make vse of some great Courtier for the effecting of some businesse of great consequence for him, euen as much as his life lieth on, or all that euer he is worth, as suppose the procuring him his pardon for some capitall crime from the Prince. And this great Courtier telleth him, that though he be but a stranger, one that can claime no such thing from him, yea one that hath deserued many waies euill of him, yet if he trust only to him, and rely wholly vpon him, hee will do that for him, which the poore wretch requireth of him. This poore man now in this case may trust only to him, & neglecting all other means that either others may aduise him to, or himselfe sometime thinke on, rely wholly vpon him; and yet hee may not be fully perswaded that he will effect it for him neither. The consideration of his owne want of worth and euill desert,n his immoderate feare arising from the apprehension of the great danger that hee is in, and the subtill perswasion ⟨p. 160⟩of others that would beare him in hand that he will but delude him, and not doe for him as he saith, may either seuerally or ioyntly be a meanes to hold his minde in suspence, and to keepe him from such assurance. Yea his very mistaking and misconstruction of the great mans meaning, when he saith, If you will trust to, or rely vpon me alone for it, being possest with a conceit that his want of a full perswasion that hee will doe it, which hee cannot yet for his heart-bloud bring his minde to any setled assurance of, doth euidently shew that he doth nor trust to him, may be a meanes to make him beleeue, that he will neuer do it for him, because he doth not, what he supposeth is therein absolutely required of him, which to that great man also, if hee should be demanded of it, not daring to tell an vntruth, would appeare. And yet for all this he may resolue to sticke to his mediation only, and to rely wholly vpon him, and not to seeke or trie any other way, whatsoeuer any man shall perswade him to the contrary, or whatsoeuer the issue and euent of it shall be. And euen so may it well be, and is questionlesse with a Christian soule many times.o God hath proclaimed and published a Patent of pardon and saluation by Christ, to all that trust to him for the same.
- 1Answer.
- n-quod nimis miseri volunt, Hoc facilè credunt, Immò quod metuunt nimis, Nunquā amovert posse, nec tolli p•tant. Prona est timori semper in pejus fides. Sen. Herc. fur. 2. 1. Nec tutum patitur esse securum pavor. Idē de gaudio. Luk. 24. 41.-quod nimis miseri volunt, Hoc facilè credunt, Immò quod metuunt nimis, Nunquā amovert posse, nec tolli p•tant. Prona est timori semper in pejus fides. Sen. Herc. fur. 2. 1. Nec tutum patitur esse securum pavor. Idē de gaudio. Luk. 24. 41.
- oJohn 3. 16, 36. & 5. 24.Iohn 3. 16, 36. & 5. 24.
