First, ato try their sincerity, their confidence2 in God, their constancy with God, whether their3 hearts be sincere toward him, and upright with him, or no; whether they will keep constantly in Gods ways, though God seem to neglect them, or seek to indirect courses, because God seemeth not to regard them. bGod left Hezekiah, saith the holy Ghost, to try him and to kn•w, that is, *to make known, what was in his •art. And cthe Lord tempteth you, saith Moses […] the Israelites, to humble you, and to prove you, and to know what is in your heart, whether you love him heartily, and will constantly keep his Commandments ⟨p. 13⟩or no. As a Father will sometimes cross his Son, to try the Child's disposition, to see how he will take it, whether he will mutter and grumble at it, and grow humorous and wayward, neglect his duty to his Father, because his Father seemeth to neglect him, or make offer to run away and withdraw himself from his Fathers obedience, because he seemeth to carry himself harshly and roughly toward him, and to provoke him thereunto: So doth God likewise oft-times cross his children, and seemeth to neglect them, to try their disposition, what metal they are made of, how they stand affected toward him: whether they will neglect God, because God seemeth to neglect them, forbear to serve him, because he seemeth to forget them, cease to depend upon him, because he seemeth not to look after them, to provide for them, or to protect them: like •orams profane Pursuivant; dThis evil, saith he, is of God; and why should I depend then on God any longer? Or whether they will still constantly cleave to him, though he seem not to regard them, nor to have any care of them; and say with Isaiah; eYet will I wait upon God, though he have hid his face from us, and I will look for him though he look not on us; for fthey are all blessed that wait on him; and he will not fail in due time to show mercy unto all them, that do so constantly wait on him. As gSamuel dealt with Saul; he kept away till the last hour, to see what Saul would do, when Samuel seemed not to keep touch with him. So ⟨p. 12⟩[…] ⟨p. 13⟩[…] ⟨p. 12⟩[…] ⟨p. 13⟩[…] ⟨p. 14⟩doth God with his Saints, and with those that be in league with him;
First, ato trie their sinceritie, their confidence2 in God, their constancie with God, whether their3 hearts be sincere toward him, and vpright with him, or no; whether they will keepe constantly in Gods waies, though God seeme to neglect them, or seeke to indirect courses, because God seemeth not to regard them. bGod left Hezekiah, saith the holy Ghost, to trie him and to kn•w, that is, *to make knowne, what was in his •art. And cthe Lord tempteth you, saith Moses 〈…〉 the Israelites, to humble you, and to proue you, and to know what is in your heart, whether you loue him heartily, and will constantly keepe his Commandements ⟨p. 13⟩or no. As a Father will sometimes crosse his Sonne, to trie the Childes disposition, to see how he will take it, whether he will mutter and grumble at it, and grow humorous and waiward, neglect his dutie to his Father, because his Father seemeth to neglect him, or make offer to runne away and withdraw himselfe from his Fathers obedience, because he seemeth to cary himselfe harshly and roughly toward him, and to prouoke him thereunto: So doth God likewise oft-times crosse his children, and seemeth to neglect them, to trie their disposition, what mettall they are made of, how they stand affected toward him: whether they will neglect God, because God seemeth to neglect them, forbeare to serue him, because hee seemeth to forget them, cease to depend vpon him, because hee seemeth not to looke after them, to prouide for them, or to protect them: like •orams prophane Purseuant; dThis euill, saith hee, is of God; and why should I depend then on God any longer? Or whether they will still constantly cleaue to him, though he seeme not to regard them, nor to haue any care of them; and say with Esay; e
- aAd examen.
- 2Reasons 8.
- 3Reason 1.
- b2 Chron. 32. 31.
- *Tentat Deus ut sciat, i. ut stire nos fa•iat; non ut sciat ipse, quem nil latet, sine tentatione enim nemo satis probatus esse potest, sive sibi ipst, sive alij. Aug. in Gen. contr. Manich. l. 1. c. 22. & de Trinit. l. 1. c. 12. & ibid. l. 3. c. 11. & in Genes. quaest. 57. & 83. quaest. 60. & in Deut. quaest. 19. & in Psal. 36. & in Psal. 58. & in Psal. 44. & de serm. Dom. in mont. l. 2.
- cDeu. 8. 2. & 13. 3.
- d2 King. 6. 33.
- eEsai. 8. 17. Nec sic probatus ab officio recessit. Tu, inquit, avertis faciem tuam à me, sed eg• non sum aversus à te. Ruffin. in Ps. 29.
- fIsaiah. 30. 18.Esai. 30. 18.
- g1 Sam. 13. 8, 10.
