§. 7. A poor Christian is oft put to great plunges through the malice of Satan, because there is much weakness of spiritual life in him, he never felt any great strength of grace in himself,1 and what he formerly felt is now decayed.2 By this Temptation God doth chasten our pride and swelling of heart, unthankfulness, discontinuance of care to cherish and increase received graces by means sanctified, running into occasions of decay and cooling, and contentment with a small pittance of grace, faith, holiness: For all which sins and other of like kind, we must unfeignedly humble our selves before God, craving pardon of his mere grace and mercy. This Humiliation ⟨p. 178⟩is a special means to ease the conscience; as the wound doth cease raging when it is opened and well drawn.3 And it must be remembered, that we are but children, and therefore weak; yea, and subject to many spiritual diseases such as take away sense of life: and therefore we must seek to be cured, and not despair of life. When any one part or member is distempered or ill at ease, we despair not of the safety of the whole person, but labour to cure and restore it to health again: so when we have offended, we should resort to the Physician Christ Jesus, make our complaint to him, and be confident for his promise sake that he will help us. And if they who have fallen and offended God,4 may turn home again to their first Husband with good welcome, shall not they much more be beloved of him, and comforted by him, who have not provoked him, but are only held down through fear and infirmity. And though their graces be small, they may be true whiles they be small. Little faith is faith, as a little fire is fire. God despiseth not little things in obedience offered to him. In the sacrifices of the Law, not the price of the gift, but the ability and affection of the offerer was respected.5 And if weakness of grace was any just cause of fear, who might assure himself of Gods love? Not one. For though some have grace in greater measure then others, yet all are compassed with infirmities, and have not attained unto perfection. But it is not so much enquired how great or little, as how sincere our faith and obedience is. Faith if it be unfeigned, though but as a grain of Mustard seed;
§. 7. A poore Christian is oft put to great plunges through the malice of Satan, because there is much weaknesse of spirituall life in him, hee neuer felt any great strength of grace in himselfe,1 and what he formerly felt is now decayed.2 By this Temptation God doth chasten our pride and swelling of heart, vnthankefulnesse, discontinuance of care to cherish and increase receiued graces by meanes sanctified, running into occasions of decay and cooling, and contentment with a small pittance of grace, faith, hol•nesse: For all which sinnes and other of like kind, we must vnfainedly humble our selues before God, crauing pardon of his meere grace and mercie. This Humiliation ⟨p. 178⟩is a speciall meanes to ease the conscience; as the wound doth cease raging when it is opened and well drawne.3 And it must bee remembred, that wee are but children, and therefore weake; yea, and subiect to many spirituall diseases such as take away sence of life: and therefore we must seeke to be cured, and not despaire of life. When any one part or member is distempered or ill at ease, we despaire not of the safetie of the whole person, but labour to cure and restore it to health againe: so when wee haue offended, wee should resort to the Physitian Christ Iesus, make our complaint to him, and bee confident for his promise sake that hee will helpe vs. And if they who haue falne and offended God,4 may turne home againe to their first Husband with good welcome, shall not they much more bee beloued of him, and comforted by him, who haue not prouoked him, but are only held downe through feare and infirmitie. And though their graces bee small, they may bee true whiles they bee small. Little faith is faith, as a little fire is fire. God despiseth not little things in obedience offered to him. In the sacrifices of the Law, not the price of the gift, but the abilitie and affection of the offerer was respected.5 And if weaknesse of grace was any iust cause of feare, who might assure himselfe of Gods loue? Not one. For though some haue grace in greater measure then others, yet all are compassed with infirmities, and haue not attained vnto perfection. But it is not so much enquired how great or little, as how sincere our faith and obedience is. Faith if it bee vnfained, though but as a graine of Mustard seed;
- 1§. 7. 7. They never felt any great strength of grace.§. 7. 7. They neuer felt any great strength of grace.
- 2Remedy.
- 3We may have true faith, though we never had any great strength of grace.Wee may haue true faith, though we neuer had any great strength of grace.
- 4Jer. 3.1.Ier. 3.1.
- 5Luke 21.2, 3, 4.
