We acknowledge this with our tongue, yet it is a hard thing to be practised, to put our1 trust in Gods word. For howsoever we will grant indeed, that we must put our trust in God; yet we hardly yield unto this, that we must trust in his word: but we must here correct this unbelief, and learn that if we seek for help at God, we must trust in his word. Doth Gods word threaten his justice, and can we find in our lives, that if we use evil means, we shall be punished? Doth Gods word assure us, that God is merciful, and do we believe that Jesus Christ came to save sinners, although we were the greatest, and that he came to call sinners, and not the righteous to repentance, and that Jesus Christ came to save that which was lost, and to refresh all that are weary and heavy laden? Thus the man of God saith, portion 8. 1. O Lord, thou art my portion, I have determined to keep thy law. And portion 14. 6. Thy testimonies have I taken, as an heritage for ever, for they are the very joy of my heart. Thus he showeth, that we must seek for that in Gods word, which we seek for of2 him. For his word is a conduit or water-pipe, whereby the Lord conveying his mercies unto us; will have them run through unto us. Do we believe then the promises that God will provide for us? then let us beware of all wicked shifts, and trust only in his word. ⟨p. 491⟩For if we believe God to be our tower, we must look to Gods word. The Heathen men and the profane worldlings, will speak gloriously of the goodness, of the strength, and of the mercy of God: but when they come to see it in the word, they will err altogether out of the way; whereby they show how they utter more in their tongues, than they perform in truth. For the Lord hath laid that help on his word, which he would have us to seek for at his hand: so Christ by the word put the devil to flight, with these words in effect, Thou wouldest have me, Satan, to mistrust my Fathers providence, and to give my self to be taught of thee: but I know he will keep me in all my necessities, and why? because he hath said, Man liveth not by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God: the Lord hath provided ordinary means to nourish me, and hath not commanded that stones should be made bread, and why then should I use unlawful means? Wherefore I will stay my self upon my Fathers providence.
We acknowledge this with our tongue, yet it is a hard thing to bee practised, to put our1 trust in Gods word. For howsoeuer wee will grant indeede, that wee must put our trust in God; yet we hardly yeeld vnto this, that we must trust in his word: but we must here correct this vnbeliefe, and learne that if we seeke for helpe at God, wee must trust in his word. Doth Gods word threaten his iustice, and can wee finde in our liues, that if wee vse euill meanes, we shall be punished? Doth Gods word assure vs, that God is mercifull, and doe we beleeue that Iesus Christ came to saue sinners, although we were the greatest, and that he came to call sinners, and not the righteous to repentance, and that Iesus Christ came to saue that which was lost, and to refresh all that are wearie and heauie laden? Thus the man of God saith, portiō 8. 1. O Lord, thou art my portiō, I haue determined to keepe thy law. And portion 14. 6. Thy testimonies haue I taken, as an heritage for euer, for they are the very ioy of my heart. Thus he sheweth, that we must seeke for that in Gods word, which wee seeke for of2 him. For his word is a conduit or waterpipe, whereby the Lord conueying his mercies vnto vs; will haue them runne through vnto vs. Doe wee beleeue then the promises that God will prouide for vs? then let vs beware of al wicked shifts, and trust onely in his word. ⟨p. 491⟩For if we beleeue God to be our tower, we must looke to Gods word. The Heathen men and the prophane worldlings, will speake gloriously of the goodnesse, of the strength, and of the mercy of God: but when they come to see it in the word, they will erre altogether out of the way; whereby they shew how they vtter more in their tongues, than they performe in truth. For the Lord hath layde that helpe on his word, which he would haue vs to seeke for at his hand: so Christ by the word put the diuell to flight, with these words in effect, Thou wouldest haue me, Sathan, to mistrust my Fathers prouidence, and to giue my selfe to be taught of thee: but I know he will keepe me in all my necessities, and why? because he hath said, Man liueth not by bread onely, but by euery word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God: the Lord hath prouided ordinarie meanes to nourish me, and hath not commaunded that stones should be made bread, and why then should I vse vnlawfull meanes? Wherefore I will stay my selfe vpon my Fathers prouidence.
- 1Hard to trust and rest on Gods promises.
- 2Sim• •.
