Use BE careful in keeping the golden mean betwixt two enormous extremes: one of tempting God in neglect of the means which he hath appointed for our safety: the other, of presuming against God, in trusting so much to the means, as we seek not to him for help and succour. Into both these extremes fell the Israelites: ione while they would not venture to fight, and so tempted the Lord:k another while they would needs fight of their own head, without seeking help of the Lord, and so presumed obstinately. Rebellious are they who reject the means: they clean cast themselves out of the protection of God. Presumptuous are they who trust to the means, and call not upon God; they provoke God either lto strip them of such things as they glory in, or else to turn them to their own destruction,m as he did the strength of Goliath, nand wisdom of Ahithophel. The middle way betwixt the rock of rebellion, and gul•e of presumption, is, so to show our obedience in using all the means which the Lord prescribeth, as we manifest our⟨p. 343⟩ confidence in him, by seeking strength of him.o Those things which God hath joined together let no man put asunder. To all the forenamed graces add prayer: pray for Armour, pray for strength, wisdom, and ability well to use Armour, pray for a blessing on the well using it: be upright and pray, righteous and pray, patient, faithful, stead fast in hope, expert in Gods word, and pray: pray before the fight, fight and pray; without prayer no good success can be expected: through prayer we may be assured to be assisted.
Vse BE carefull in keeping the golden meane betwixt two enormous extreames: one of tempting God in neglect of the meanes which he hath appointed for our safetie: the other, of presuming against God, in trusting so much to the meanes, as we seeke not to him for helpe and succour. Into both these extreames fell the Israelites: ione while they would not venture to fight, and so tempted the Lord:k another while they would needs fight of their owne head, without seeking helpe of the Lord, and so presumed obstinately. Rebellious are they who reiect the meanes: they cleane cast themselues out of the protection of God. Presumptuous are they who trust to the meanes, and call not vpon God; they prouoke God either lto strip them of such things as they glory in, or else to turne them to their owne destruction,m as hee did the strength of Goliah, nand wisedome of Achitophel. The middle way betwixt the rocke of rebellon, and gul•e of presumption, is, so to shew our obedience in vsing all the meanes which the Lord prescribeth, as wee manifest our⟨p. 343⟩ confidence in him, by seeking strength of him.o Those things which God hath ioyned together let no man put asunder. To all the forenamed graces adde prayer: pray for Armour, pray for strength, wisdome, and abilitie well to vse Armour, pray for a blessing on the well vsing it: bee vpright and pray, righteous and pray, patient, faithfull, sted fast in hope, expert in Gods word, and pray: pray before the fight, fight and pray; without prayer no good successe can be expected: through prayer we may be assured to be assisted.
- iNum. 14. 2.
- kand 4. 4.
- lEzech. 16. 15. 39.
- m1. Sam. 17. 8▪ 49.
- n2. Sam. 17. 23.
- oMat. 19. 6.
