You err (poor souls) not knowing the Scriptures, and the manner of your God, and of his dealings with his people: to think that his mind is changed, when his countenance is; and so to run away from him; as Jacob did from Laban: to think he hath cast you off, when he is but returned to his place, that […] ⟨p. 10⟩[…] ⟨p. 11⟩⟨p. 12⟩you may seek him more earnestly. 1Like children, when their mother is gone aside a little, you fall a crying, as if you were undone. So it […] that you are always in the extremes; if he […] on you, then your mountain shall never be removed, if he hides his face, then he will never be merciful. […] as it is a fond and a childish fault, so it is beastly and brutish also, thus to judge. I term it so, because ye are led therein by sense▪ and like beasts, believe nothing but what you feel and see; and measure Gods love by his looks and outward carriage which when Asaph did in other afflictions, as you in this; he cries out he was ignorant, and as a beast, Psal. 73. 22. What will you trust God no further then you see him? It will shame you one day, to think what a great deal of trouble your childishness put the Spirit of God unto. As what a trouble is it to a wise man, to have a fond and foolish wife, who if he be but abroad, and about necessary business, haply for her maintenance; yet then she complains he regards her not, but leaves her; if he chides her for any fault, then she says he hates her; and is so much distempered by it, as a whole days kindness cannot quiet her again: Thus deal you with God, and though he hath given you never so many fair, and clear evidences of his love, and these never so often reiterated and renewed; yet still you are jealous, never quiet, always doubting, questioning all upon the least frown: that either God must undo you, by letting you go on in your sinful dispositions, without ever rebuking of you; or else lose the acknowledgement of all his love formerly shown, and have it called in question by ⟨p. 13⟩your peevish, jealous misconstructions, upon every small expression of his anger towards you.2 Some of you that are less troubled, and thus wanton against Christ, I would chide out of it.
You erre (poore soules) not knowing the Scriptures, and the maner of your God, and of his dealings with his people: to thinke that his minde is changed, when his countenance is; and so to run away from him; as Iacob did from Laban: to thinke hee hath cast you off, when he is but returned to his place, that 〈…〉 ⟨p. 10⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 11⟩⟨p. 12⟩you may seeke him more earnestly. 1Like children, when their mother is gone aside a little, you fall a crying, as if you were undone. So it 〈…〉 that you are alwayes in the extreames; if he 〈…〉 on you, then your mountaine shall never be removed, if he hides his face, then he will never be mercifull. 〈…〉 as it is a fond and a childish fault, so it is beastly and brutish also, thus to judge. I tearme it so, because ye are led therein by sense▪ and like beasts, beleeve nothing but what you feele and see; and measure Gods love by his lookes and outward cariage which when Asaph did in other afflictions, as you in this; he cryes out he was ignorant, and as a beast, Psal. 73. 22. What will you trust God no further then you see him? It will shame you one day, to think what a great deale of trouble your childishnesse put the Spirit of God unto. As what a trouble is it to a wise man, to have a fond and foolish wife, who if he be but abroad, and about necessary businesse, haply for her maintenance; yet then she complains he regards her not, but leaves her; if he chides her for any fault, then she sayes he hates her; and is so much distempered by it, as a whole dayes kindnesse cannot quiet her againe: Thus deale you with God, and though he hath given you never so many faire, and cleare evidences of his love, and these never so often reiterated and renewed; yet still you are jealous, never quiet, alwayes doubting, questioning all upon the least frowne: that either God must undoe you, by letting you goe on in your sinfull dispositions, without ever rebuking of you; or else lose the acknowledgement of all his love formerly shewne, and have it called in question by ⟨p. 13⟩your peevish, jealous misconstructions, upon every small expression of his anger towards you.
- 1Hosea 5.
- 2Two sorts of such; some more lightly troubled, some more deeply.
