How to live, and that well in all estates and times, specially when helps…How to liue, and that well in all estates and times, specially when helps…

The second false Rule is Sense, that is, seeing and feeling: by this men commonly live. If we enjoy the good blessings of God, health, wealth, liberty, peace, honour, good report, then we can trust God: but if he withdraw his blessings and present himself to us with an empty hand, we trust him no longer, nay we murmur and despair, and without fear of God use any unlawful means to relieve our selves. Though we have his precious word, yet do we not trust him upon ⟨p. 63⟩on his bare and naked word, unless withal he lay down unto us some good pawn, and make us to feel and enjoy his good blessings. Again if any man, that is our friend, make promise of help or deliverance in any danger, we rest content and find our selves much eased thereby: and yet the promises made by God in his word of help and deliverance, though they be often read unto us, and often urged, breed not the like contentation. He that on his death-bed hath commended his children to some trusty friend, departs more quieted in mind, then if he had commended them without help of friend to God their best ⟨p. 64⟩father. A man upon good security lends to an other, an 100. pounds hoping for the principal with the increase at the years end: yet dare he not skarse deliver an 100. pence to the poor members of Christ, upon the promise and bond of God himself, who saith, He that gives to the poor, lends to the Lord, and he will return the said gifts with a blessing. Now all this comes to pass, because men rather trust them whom they see, then God whom they never saw Moreover it is a property of them that do indeed believe, to judge their estate by feeling: but herein they deceive themselves. For we must live by faith and not by feeling: and feeling is often ⟨p. 65⟩deceitful. Because such as finally fall away from God may have a feeling, or taste of the good word of God,¹ and of the powers of the life to come.

The second false Rule is Sense, that is, seeing and feeling: by this men commonly liue. If we enioy the good blessings of God, health, wealth, libertie, peace, honour, good report, then we can trust God: but if he withdraw his blessings and present himselfe to vs with an emptie hand, we trust him no longer, nay we murmure and despaire, and without feare of God vse any vnlawful means to releeue our selues. Thogh we haue his pretious word, yet doe we not trust him vpon