Thirdly, faith setteth a man about his work, that is, seriously to make inquiry into his heart and ways, ⟨p. 349⟩deeply to humble himself before God, and fervently to […] mercy for sin past, wisdom to make use of •resent misery, and favour and mercy to be delivered •nd set free. Sinful men (if well advised) strike not without cause: the just God when he correcteth, hath ever just reason. And forasmuch as our consciences for the most part are blinded with ignorance and self love, or over clouded with sinful lusts, (as looking-glasses covered with dust) that we cannot find out of our selves much that is out of order, nor amend what we espy to be amiss, faith directeth to seek unto God by hearty prayer, who can throughly acquaint us with our selves, and teach us to reform what he would have us to amend. Why doth the Lord give his children the repulse when they cry unto him in their calamities,1 but that he would have them search more narrowly into their courses, and more unfeignedly prepare themselves to seek and return unto him? And if they pray unto him, he will instruct what is to be done.2 He who will have sinful men to join instruction with correction, yea and putteth into man such regard of dumb creatures, that he will not strike a dog, but he will make him see, so well as he can, what it is for which he striketh him; shall not he instruct us, when his hand is now upon us for want of duty to him? But when we see our faults, and smart for them in such sort as we account grievous, there is no power in us to redress, and set straight what is crooked and out of frame. It is God only, who is able to bless afflictions and make them profitable: we of our selves are like little children, who being taken in the fault, and fearing the rod, promise to do no more, but presently forget both the fault and danger. This we learn by faith, which soundly lessoneth us to deny our own wisdom, and strength, and in all purposes, resolutions and endeavours to beg wisdom and strength from God above, and wholly to rely upon his power and ⟨p. 350⟩grace. In vain should iron be beaten, did not fire soften it:
Thirdly, faith setteth a man about his worke, that is, seriously to make inquirie into his heart and wayes, ⟨p. 349⟩deepely to humble himselfe before God, and feruently to 〈…〉 me•cy for sinne past, wisedome to make vse of •resent miserie, and fauour and mercy to be deliuered •nd set free. Sinfull men (if well aduised) strike not •ithout cause: the iust God when hee correcteth, hath euer iust reason. And forasmuch as our consciences for the most part are blinded with ignorance and selfe loue, or ouer clouded with sinfull lusts, (as looking-glasses couered with dust) that wee cannot finde out of our selues much that is out of order, nor amend what we espie to be amisse, faith directeth to seeke vnto God by heartie prayer, who can throughly acquaint vs with our selues, and teach vs to reforme what he would haue vs to amend. Why doth the Lord giue his children the repulse when they cry vnto him in their calamities,1 but that he would haue them search more narrowly into their courses, and more vnfainedly prepare themselues to seeke and returne vnto him? And if they pray vnto him, he will instruct what is to bee done.2 Hee who will haue sinfull men to ioyne instruction with correction, yea and putteth into man such regard of dumbe creatures, that he will not strike a dogge, but he will make him see, so well as hee can, what it is for which hee striketh him; shall not hee instruct vs, when his hand is now vpon vs for want of dutie to him? But when wee see our faults, and smart for them in such sort as wee account greiuous, there is no power in vs to redresse, and set straight what is crooked and out of frame. It is God only, who is able to blesse afflictions and make them profitable: we of our selues are like little children, who being taken in the fault, and fearing the rod, promise to doe no more, but presently forget both the fault and danger. This we learne by faith, which soundly lessoneth vs to denie our owne wisedome, and strength, and in all purposes, resolutions and endeuours to begge wisedome and strength from God aboue, and wholy to relie vpon his power and ⟨p. 350⟩grace. In vaine should iron be beaten, did not fire soften it:
- 1Judg. 10.13.14.15.Iudg. 10.13.14.15.
- 2Hos. 14.2. Math. 11.19.
