And they being sometimes led by sense and reason, whilst they walk in darkness, they are apt to interpret Gods mind towards them, rather by his works and dispensations, which they see and feel, then by his word, which they are to believe. This we may see in Gideon, Judges 6. Who because God wrought not miracles as he had formerly for his people; but had delivered them into their enemies hands, from thence reasoneth against the message of the angel, (Christ himself) who had told him, the Lord is with thee ver. 12. But he objects, oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen ⟨p. 33⟩us? Where be all the miracles which our fathers told us of? But now the Lord hath forsaken us, &c. This we may also see in Asaph, or what other holy pen-man of the 73. Psalm; his heels were well nigh tripped up in the dark: My feet were almost gone (says he) ver. 2. that is, from keeping his standing by faith, as the Apostle speaks, Rom. 5. and this by an argument framed by carnal reason, from Gods dispensation of outward prosperity to wicked men; but on the contrary, chastening of him every morning, with outward afflictions, as the opposition doth there import. And how peremptory is he, in his conclusion thence deduced? Verily, I have cleansed my heart in vain: ver. 13. and what reason hath he? For all the day long I have been plagued, &c. ver. 14. He thought his reason strong, and irrefragable, else he would not have been so concludent [Verily, &c.] But what would this man have said and thought if he had been in Heman's condition? or in Jobs, or Davids? if in those shallows of outward troubles, which are common to man, his faith could not find footing; but he was well-nigh carried away with the common stream and error of wicked men; to have condemned himself, and the generation of the righteous, ver. 15. How would his faith have been over-borne, If all Gods waves and billows had gone over him? as David complains; Psal. 42. 7. How would he have sunk in Heman's deeps, Ps. 88. or in Davids, Ps. 69. 2. I sink in the deep mire where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods over-flow me. Speaking of such waters as came in unto his soul; ver. 1. Even the floods of Gods immediate wrath breaking ⟨p. 34⟩in upon his conscience, over flowing the inward man, and not the outward only.
And they being sometimes led by sense and reason, whilest they walke in darknesse, they are apt to interpret Gods minde towards them, rather by his workes and dispensations, which they see and feele, then by his word, which they are to beleeve. This we may see in Gideon, Iudges 6. Who because God wrought not miracles as he had formerly for his people; but had delivered them into their enemies hands, from thence reasoneth against the message of the angell, (Christ himselfe) who had told him, the Lord is with thee ver. 12. But he objects, oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befollen ⟨p. 33⟩us? Where be all the miracles which our fathers told us of? But now the Lord hath forsaken us, &c. This we may also see in Asaph, or what other holy pen-man of the 73. Psalme; his heeles were well nigh tript up in the darke: My feete were almost gone (sayes he) ver. 2. that is, from keeping his standing by faith, as the Apostle speakes, Rom. 5. and this by an argument framed by carnall reason, from Gods dispensation of outward prosperity to wicked men; but on the contrary, chastening of him every morning, with outward afflictions, as the opposition doth there import. And how peremptory is he, in his conclusion thence deduced? Verily, I have clensed my heart in vaine: ver. 13. and what reason hath hee? For all the day long I have beene plagued, &c. ver. 14. He thought his reason strong, and irrefragable, else he would not have beene so concludent [Verily, &c.] But what would this man have said and thought if he had beene in Hemans condition? or in Iobs, or Davids? if in those shallowes of outward troubles, which are common to man, his faith could not finde footing; but he was well-nigh caried away with the common streame and errour of wicked men; to have condemned himselfe, and the generation of the righteous, ver. 15. How would his faith have been over-borne, If all Gods waves and billowes had gone over him? as David complaines; Psal. 42. 7. How would he have sunke in Hemans deepes, Ps. 88. or in Davids, Ps. 69. 2. I sinke in the deepe mire where there is no standing: I am come into deepe waters, where the floods over-flow me. Speaking of such waters as came in unto his soule; ver. 1. Even the floods of Gods immediate wrath breaking ⟨p. 34⟩in upon his conscience, over flowing the inward man, and not the outward onely.
