No Christian attaineth to this full assurance at the first, but in some continuance of time, after that for a long space he hath kept a good conscience before God and before men: and hath had divers experiences of Gods love and favour towards him in Christ. This Paul declareth to the Romans: lin afflictions God sheds abroad his love in their hearts, by the holy Ghost, which is given to them: hence ariseth patience, from patience cometh experience, from experience hope, and hope never maketh ashamed, or disappointeth him of eternal life▪ This is evident in Davids practise: mDoubtless, saith he, kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall live a long season in the house of the Lord. Mark this his resolute persuasion: and consider how he came unto it: namely by ⟨p. 54⟩experience of Gods favour at sundry times, and after sundry manners. For before he set down this resolution, he numbered up divers benefits received of the Lord: that nhe fed him in green pastures, & led him by the refreshing waters of Gods word. That he restoreth him & leadeth him in the paths of righteousness. That he strengtheneth him in great dangers, even of death, and preserveth him, that in despite of his enemies, he enriched him with many benefits. By means of all these mercies of God bestowed on him he came to be persuaded of the continuance of the favour of God towards him. Again David said before king Saul, olet no mans heart fail him because of Goliath: Thy servant will go and fight with the Philistine. And Saul said pto David: Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a boy, & he is a man of war from his youth. David answered, he was able to fight with, & to slay the uncircumcised Philistine. And the ground of his persuasion was taken from experience: for thus he said: qThy servant kept his fathers sheep, and there came a Lyon, and likewise a bear and took a sheep out of the flock. And 7I went out after him and smote him, & took it out of his mouth, and when he arose against me, I caught him by the ⟨p. 55⟩beard, and smote him and slew him. sSo thy servant slew both the Lion and the Bear: Therefore this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath railed on the host of the living God. The like proceeding must be in matters concerning eternal life. Little David resembleth every Christian:
No Christian attaineth to this full assurance at the first, but in some continuance of time, after that for a long space hee hath kept a good conscience before God and before men: and hath had diuers experiences of Gods loue and fauour towardes him in Christ. This Paul declareth to the Romans: lin afflictions God sheds abroad his loue in their hearts, by the holie Ghost, which is giuen to them: hence ariseth patience, from patience commeth experience, from experience hope, and hope neuer maketh ashamed, or disappointeth him of eternall life▪ This is euident in Dauids practise: mDoubtlesse, saith he, kindnes and mercie shall followe mee all the daies of my life, and I shall liue a long season in the house of the Lord. Marke this his resolute perswasion: and consider howe hee came vnto it: namely by ⟨p. 54⟩experience of Gods fauour at sundry times, and after sundrie manners. For before he set down this resolution, he numbred vp diuers benefites receaued of the Lord: that nhe fed him in greene pastures, & led him by the refreshing waters of Gods word. That he restoreth him & leadeth him in the pathes of righteousnes. That he strengthneth him in great dangers, euen of death, and preserueth him, that in despight of his enemies, hee enriched him with many benefites. By meanes of all these mercies of God bestowed on him he came to be perswaded of the continuance of the fauour of God towards him. Againe Dauid said before king Saul, olet no mans heart faile him because of Goliah: Thy seruant wil go and fight with the Philistine. And Saul saide pto Dauid: Thou art not able to goe against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a boy, & he is a man of war from his youth. Dauid answered, he was able to fight with, & to slaie the vncircumcised Philistine. And the ground of his perswasion was taken from experience: for thus he said: qThy seruant kept his fathers sheep, and there came a Lyon, and likewise a beare and tooke a sheepe out of the flocke. And 7I went out after him and smote him, & took it out of his mouth, and when he arose against me, I caught him by the
- lRom. 5. verse 45.
- mPsal. 23. verse 6.
- nPsal. 23. 2. 3. 4.
- o1, Sam. 17. 32.
- pVer. 33.
- qVer. 34.
- 7Ver. 35.
- sVer. 36.
