As afore we learned, that God in the performance of his promises, giveth not always the thing promised: so here let us learn that he doth not always perform them to the same parties, and yet most truly performeth them. If therefore God doth not to our selves, nor in our times accomplish his promises, or prophecies, we must not be impatient, but wait in patience. For, as the holy Prophet saith, The vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the last it shall speak and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; it shall surely come, and shall not stay, Habba. 2.3. To this end David also most divinely saith, Psalm. 97.11. Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. See, light and joy belongs unto them: but how? It is sown; that is, it is in hope and expectation, and not always in fruition. Therefore as the Husbandman casts his seed into the earth, and is content to stay ⟨p. 188⟩almost a full year without it, or any profit of it, and yet is patient all that while, because he is sure it will come ▪ & bring increase with it. So must we wait patiently on the Lord, and know that whatsoever he hath promised, we or ours after us, shall be sure to enjoy it. And though we do not, what great matter is it, if our children do? For, we know, that oftentimes the Father soweth, and dieth ere the harvest, and so the son reapeth. So for Gods great and gracious promises, which are sown unto the Fathers; if themselves do not, their children are sure to reap the comfortable harvest of performance. And thus we see how Abraham inherited the land of Canaan; which is called the land of Promise, because it was so long, and so often promised to so many great Patriarchs.
As afore we learned, that God in the performance of his promises, giueth not alwayes the thing promised: so heere let vs learne that he doth not alwayes performe them to the same parties, and yet most truly performeth them. If therefore God doth not to our selues, nor in our times accomplish his promises, or prophecies, we must not be impatient, but waite in patience. For, as the holy Prophet saith, The vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the last it shall speake and not lie: though it tarie, waite for it; it shall surely come, and shall not stay, Habba. 2.3. To this end Dauid also most diuinely saith, Psalm. 97.11. Light is sowen for the righteous, and ioy for the vpright in heart. See, light and ioy belongs vnto them: but how? It is sowen; that is, it is in hope and expectation, and not alwayes in fruition. Therefore as the Husbandman casts his seede into the earth, and is content to stay ⟨p. 188⟩almost a full yeere without it, or any profit of it, and yet is patient all that while, because he is sure it will come ▪ & bring encrease with it. So must wee waite patiently on the Lord, and know that whatsoeuer he hath promised, we or ours after vs, shall be sure to enioy it. And though we doe not, what great matter is it, if our children doe? For, we know, that oftentimes the Father soweth, and dieth ere the haruest, and so the sonne reapeth. So for Gods great and gracious promises, which are sowen vnto the Fathers; if themselues do not, their children are sure to reape the comfortable haruest of performance. And thus we see how Abraham inherited the land of Canaan; which is called the land of Promise, because it was so long, and so often promised to so many great Patriarkes.
