Thus God blesseth his word, and maketh it yield fruit in such measure, as his wisdom hath appointed. His blessing appeareth greater, when many are converted: yet is his word all one, and the power thereof no whit shorter when it is utterly refused, or received but of 1few. Surely (saith God) as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth & maketh it-fruitful, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to him that eateth: so shall my word be that goeth out of my mouth. It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I will, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. It is the word of the living God, which is blessed for ever. And ⟨p. 19⟩blessed is that hart which can receive it, which GOD instructeth, and to which he giveth knowledge of his word, which doth so learn it, that he is assured of the truth thereof, and nothing doubteth, but it is indeed the word of life: which sayeth thereof, this is the way, in which if I walk, I shall certainly go forward to the City of my GOD: this is the truth, if I hearken unto it, I shall never be deceived. Whosoever findeth himself endued with this grace, he doth as plainly and evidently judge of the words of God, and try out the trueth thereof, from the devises and doctrines of men: as a man of clear eye sight, is able to judge of colours, and to know one colour from an other. Yea, in this is the knowledge of that more certain, because colour doth fade and alter, and many times one colour thereby waxeth like an other: but the truth of GOD doth never alter: it continueth one through all ages: it is the word of everlasting life. Heaven and earth shall perish, but one title thereof shall not be lost. The truth of God shall be established for ever. The humble shall hear it, and be glad.
Thus God blesseth his word, and maketh it yéeld fruit in such measure, as his wisedome hath appointed. His blessing appeareth greater, when many are conuerted: yet is his word al one, and the power thereof no whit shorter when it is vtterly refused, or receiued but of 1few. Surely (saith God) as the raine commeth downe, and the snow from heauen, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth & maketh it-fruitfull, that it maie giue seede to the sower, and bread to him that eateth: so shall my word be that goeth out of my mouth. It shal not returne vnto me voide, but it shall accomplish that which I wil, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. It is the word of the liuing God, which is blessed for euer. And ⟨p. 19⟩blessed is that hart which can receiue it, which GOD instructeth, and to which he giueth knowledge of his worde, which doth so learne it, that he is assured of the truth thereof, and nothing doubteth, but it is indéede the worde of life: which saieth thereof, this is the waie, in which if I walke, I shall certainely go forward to the Citie of my GOD: this is the truth, if I hearken vnto it, I shall neuer be dereiued. Whosoeuer findeth himselfe indued with this grace, he doth as plainely and evidently iudge of the wordes of God, and trie out the trueth thereof, from the deuises and doctrines of men: as a man of cléere eie sight, is ahle to iudge of colours, and to knowe one col•ur from an other. Yea, in this is the knowledge of that more certain, because colour doth fade and alter, and manie times one colour thereby waxeth like an other: but the truth of GOD doth neuer alter: it continueth one throughal ages: it is the word of euerlasting life. Heauen and earth shall perish, but one title thereof shall not be lost. The truth of God shall be established for euer. The humble shall heare it, and be glad.
- 1Isaiah 55.Esaie 55.
