To apply this to our profit, we must gather the particular out of the general doctrine1 on this manner: whosoever shall have the commandments of God ever with him, he shall be wiser then his enemies, than his teachers, than the ancient: but David did so, or we do so: therefore David and we shall find this wisdom. But some man will say, Experience teacheth us a clean contrary doctrine, that Gods children are not so wise in2 their light, as the children of this world are in their generation. I answer: That it is true, experience proveth, and our Saviour Christ teacheth, but this I add, that the experience cometh from our small sight of the word, and not for any want of the word it self, when Gods children have it on their side. And our Saviour Christ his speech tendeth rather to show what it is, through our corruption, than what it ought to be; so that justly he useth it to our shame. Indeed civill wisdom which choketh in them all temptations,3 ⟨p. 461⟩with worldly delights, having the devil to be their school master, doth work in them a contentation of mind, while for a season, they smother, as they think, the judgements of God breathing upon them. And because on the contrary, the spirits of Gods children are occupied in heavenly things, yet often the flesh so laboureth against the spirit, that whilst they would be wiser than the Lord, or would use any indirect means against their enemies, or in using good means, fail in prayer, or, in not staying themselves on Gods providence, and appointed time of deliverance, it cometh to pass that they are overcome. *But whilst they renounce themselves, and their own wisdom, and crave counsel of God in his word, and the direction of his Spirit by prayer, whilst they use good means in a good cause, and keeping a good conscience, wait on the hand of the Lord, they shall be sure to have the overthrow of their enemies. Proof doth teach us that a silly soul in the Country, which walketh in the ways of the Lord, will soon discover the shifting policies of a worldly learned man, brought up in the University; because the wrath of the Lord hangeth over the one, and his merciful spirit watcheth over the other: But so long as we will shoot with Satan in his own bow, and repel policy with policy, what5 folly shall be found in us?
To apply this to our profit, wee must gather the particular out of the generall doctrine1 on this manner: whosoeuer shall haue the commaundements of God euer with him, hee shall be wiser then his enemies, than his teachers, than the ancient: but Dauid did so, or wee doe so: therefore Dauid and we shall finde this wisedome. But some man will say, Experience teacheth vs a cleane contrarie doctrine, that Gods children are not so wise in2 their light, as the children of this world are in their generation. I answere: That it is true, experience prooueth, and our Sauiour Christ teacheth, but this I adde, that the experience commeth from our small sight of the word, and not for any want of the word it selfe, when Gods children haue it on their side. And our Sauiour Christ his speech tendeth rather to shew what it is, through our corruption, than what it ought to be; so that iustly he vseth it to our shame. Indeede ciuill wisedome which choketh in them all temptations,3 ⟨p. 461⟩with worldly delights, hauing the diuell to be their schoole master, doth worke in them a contentation of minde, while for a season, they smother, as they thinke, the iudgements of God breathing vpon them. And because on the contarie, the spirits of Gods children are occupyed in heauenly things, yet often the flesh so laboureth against the spirit, that whilest they would be wiser than the Lord, or would vse any indirect meanes against their enemies, or in vsing good meanes, faile in prayer, or, in not staying themselues on Gods prouidence, and appointed time of deliuerance, it commeth to passe that they are ouercome. *But whilest they renounce themselues, and their owne wisedome, and craue counsaile of God in his word, and the direction of his Spirit by prayer, whilest they vse good meanes in a good cause, and keeping a good conscience, waite on the hand of the Lorde, they shall bee sure to haue the ouerthrowe of their enemies. Proofe doth teach vs that a silly soule in the Countrey, which walketh in the wayes of the Lorde, will soone discouer the shifting pollicies of a worldly learned man, brought vp in the Vniuersitie; because the wrath of the Lord hangeth ouer the one, and his mercifull spirit watcheth ouer the other: But so long as wee will shoote with Sathan in his owne bowe, and repell policie with policie, what5 follie shall be found in vs?
- 1Application.
- 2Objection. Answer.Obiection. Answere.
- 3Carnal security.Carnall securitie.
- *How enemies are overcome.How enemies are ouercome.
- 5Not! to shoot with the devil in his own bow.Not! to shoote with the diuell in his owne bowe.
