13 When God stirs up in the heart a particular faith in a business: as sometimes He doth, and upholds the heart to wait for it, maugre all discouragements. So he did in David, Psal. 27. 3. David was then in great hazards by reason of Saul or Absalom, and those such and so often, as that to sense and outward probabilities he was like never to live quietly again at Jerusalem ⟨p. 108⟩and enjoy Gods Ordinances there in peace; but for this David had prayed, and had made it as the grand request of his whole life (as every man hath some one great request of all other, even as He hath some special grace above all other, or gift, &c. so request to God next to His salvation, as haply for his Ministry, or the like, therefore says David, verse 4. This one thing have I desired) and accordingly God gave him a special faith in this thing above all other, because it was his great request, In this will I be confident▪ verse 3. And though an host of men should again ⟨p. 109⟩and again encompass me, says he, yet in this I will be confident, that I shall still escape, and see Jerusalem again, and enjoy the Ordinances and live in peace; and though his faith failed him often (as in the persecution of Saul it did) for he said he should one day perish by the hand of Saul: 2yet at other times his faith was marvellously upheld, and he was confident in this. He used not to be so, in other requests thus absolutely particularly and distinctly, and therefore he says, In this, &c. As there is a witness of the Holy Ghost immediate to the heart, sealing up adoption to a ⟨p. 110⟩mans person, so in some cases, there is the like testimony for the obtaining of some eminent thing we have asked. Which particular special faith, doth in a kind of similitude answer to the faith of miracles of old, whereby a man had a particular confidence, that God would do such a miracle by him: so in & by means of prayer, in some things there may be a particular strengthening & assuring the heart, that God will do such a thing for a man: which I confess is rare and extraordinary, as also that immediate testimony concerning our persons is, which many want that go to heaven. ⟨p. 111⟩And haply this other concerning the accomplishment of special mercies, is much more rare; and but in some businesses;
13 When God stirres up in the heart a particular faith in a businesse: as sometimes He doth, and upholds the heart to wait for it, maugre all discouragements. So hee did in David, Psal. 27. 3. David was then in great hazards by reason of Saul or Absalom, and those such and so often, as that to sense and outward probabilities hee was like never to live quietly againe at Ierusalem ⟨p. 108⟩and enjoy Gods Ordinances there in peace; but for this David had prayed, and had made it as the grand request of his whole life (as every man hath some one great request of all other, even as Hee hath some speciall grace above all other, or gift, &c. so request to God next to His salvation, as haply for his Ministery, or the like, therefore sayes David, verse 4. This one thing have I desired) and accordingly God gave him a speciall faith in this thing above all other, because it was his great request, In this will I be confident▪ verse 3. And though an hoste of men should againe ⟨p. 109⟩and againe incompasseme, saies he, yet in this I will be confident, that I shall still escape, and see Ierusalem againe, and enjoy the Ordinances and live in peace; and though his faith failed him often (as in the persecution of Saul it did) for he said he should one day perish by the hand of Saul: 2yet at other times his faith was marvellously upheld, and hee was confident in this. Hee used not to be so, in other requests thus absolutely particularly and distinctly, and therefore he sayes, In this, &c. As there is a witnesse of the Holy Ghost immediate to the heart, sealing up adoption to a ⟨p. 110⟩mans person, so in some cases, there is the like testimony for the obtaining of some eminent thing we have asked. Which particular speciall faith, doth in a kind of similitude answer to the faith of miracles of old, whereby a man had a particular confidēce, that God would doe such a miracle by him: so in & by meanes of prayer, in some things there may be a particular strengthning & assuring the heart, that God will doe such a thing for a man: which I confesse is rare and extraordinary, as also that immediate testimony concerning our persons is, which many want that goe to heaven. ⟨p. 111⟩
- 1§. 4. God some times stirs up a particular faith of assurance in some businesses.§. 4. God some times stirs up a particular faith of assurāce in some businesses.
- 21 Sam. 27. 1
