First, We must find and ferret out the Infidelity that lurketh in our bosoms, condemn it, and make it odious. Ah, how is my heart fallen by unbelief?1 What a mass of infidelity harboureth in my breast? O Lord, I am grossly ignorant of thy ways, doubtful of thy truth, distrustful of thy power and goodness, disobedient to thy Commandment. Thou hast given rare and excellent promises in thy holy Word, but I enquire not after them, rejoice not in them, cleave not unto them in truth and steadfastness, settle not mine heart upon them, make them not mine own, keep them not safe, that I may know what to challenge by them, prize them not according to the worth and value of the good promised. Because by a civill faith men believe men, therefore they seek to get their security, and if they have a man of credit his word for what was desperate, they are glad; If they have bonds or specialties, they box them up, they know when they expire, what to challenge by virtue of them, they will do nothing that may be prejudicial to themselves therein. But ⟨p. 209⟩as for the promises of life made in thy Word, I seek them not, build not upon them, hide them not carefully in my heart, cast not seriously with my self what good I may assuredly look for by virtue of them, keep them not continually in thought to cut off all carnal reasonings and distractions, am not wary to prevent what may bring prejudice to my soul and state. Thou threatenest in thy Word, but I do not fear, am not careful to decline sin. Who is so hardy as to thrust his finger into the fire? But I have suffered my self often to be carried aside with lusts through unbelief. How many wicked motions have I entertained? what sinful passions have I nourished? how vainly, rashly, wickedly have I spoken, though I have bin warned by thy Word of threatening to the contrary? True and righteous are thy precepts according to which thou hast commanded me to walk: But I have followed the customs, examples, and traditions of men, the suggestions of Satan, and allurements of the World. Lust and passion have oft come betwixt my heart and thy holy precepts, whereby I am turned aside from the strait way of peace. I can find small relish and savour in the Word of life, I digest it not, feed not upon it, hunger not after it, am not changed into the nature of it.
First, Wee must find and ferret out the Infidelitie that lurketh in our bosomes, condemne it, and make it odious. Ah, how is my heart fallen by vnbeliefe?1 What a masse of infidelitie harboureth in my breast? O Lord, I am grossely ignorant of thy wayes, doubtfull of thy truth, distrustfull of thy power and goodnes, disobedient to thy Commandement. Thou hast giuen rare and excellent promises in thy holy Word, but I enquire not after them, reioyce not in them, cleaue not vnto them in truth and stedfastnes, settle not mine heart vpon thē, make them not mine own, keepe them not safe, that I may know what to challenge by them, prize them not according to the worth and value of the good promised. Because by a ciuill faith men belieue men, therefore they seeke to get their securitie, and if they haue a man of credit his word for what was desperate, they are glad; If they haue bonds or specialties, they boxe them vp, they know when they expire, what to challenge by vertue of them, they will doe nothing that may be preiudiciall to themselues therein. But ⟨p. 209⟩as for the promises of life made in thy Word, I seeke them not, build not vpon them, hide them not carefully in my heart, cast not seriously with my selfe what good I may ass•redly looke for by vertue of them, keepe them not continu•lly in thought to cut off all carn•ll reasonings and d•stractions, am not wary to preuent what may bring preiudice to my soule and state. Thou threatnest in thy Word, but I doe not feare, am not carefull to decline sin. Who is so hardie as to thrust his finger into the fire? But I haue suffered my selfe often to bee carried aside with lusts through vnbeliefe. How many wicked motions haue I entertained? what sinfull passions haue I nourished? how vainly, rashly, wickedly haue I spoken, though I haue bin warned by thy Word of threatning to the contrarie? True and righteous are thy precepts according to which thou hast commanded me to walke: But I haue followed the customes, examples, and traditions of men, the suggestions of Satan, and allurements of the World. Lust and p•ssion haue oft come betwixt my heart and thy holy precepts, whereby I am turned aside from the straite way of peace. I can find small rellish and sauour in the Word of life, I digest it not, feed not vpon it, hunger not after it, am not changed into the nature of it.
- 1Find out thy unbelief.Find out thy vnbeliefe.
