The Breastplate of Faith and Love

We should do in this case as Jacob did, after he had once a promise from GOD, when he meets his brother Esau, Lord, (saith he) Thou hast promised to do me good, therefore deliver me from the hand of my brother. So, when we have a promise, and GOD hath said, He that will take CHRIST shall be saved, and ⟨p. 89⟩CHRIST is freely given, and the pardon is general, therefore what should hinder us? Urge GOD upon his promise, wrestle with GOD, as Jacob did, and let him not go without a blessing; wrestling implies resisting, it is a sign GOD resisted him for a time: so, it may be, GOD will deny thee a great while, yet continue thou to seek him, let him not go, he cannot deny thee in the end, thou shalt have the blessing at the last: we should learn thus to importune GOD; tell him, Lord, I have a sure promise, and thou hast made the pardon general, and I am sure I come within the number of that Commission: Go and preach the Gospel to every creature, go and tell every man under heaven, that Christ is offered to him, he is freely given to him by GOD the Father, and there is nothing required of you, but that you marry him, nothing but to accept of him; here is a word sure enough, if there were nothing else but this. Therefore learn to do in this as the Woman of Canaan did, though Christ denied her, yet she would not give over: for she had this ground to build upon, that he was Jesus, he was the Son of David, he was merciful, and she had exceeding great need of him, and therefore she would not give over; so, I say, having this ground for your faith, go to GOD with boldness, and never give over; it is impossible (if you seek him in good earnest, with all your heart) but that he should receive you.

We should doe in this case as Iacob did, after he had once a promise from GOD, when he meetes his brother Esau, Lord, (saith hee) Thou hast promised to doe me good, therefore deliuer me from the hand of my brother. So, when we haue a promise, and GOD hath said, Hee that will take CHRIST shall be saued, and ⟨p. 89⟩CHRIST is freely giuen, and the pardon is generall, therefore what should hinder vs? Vrge GOD vpon his promise, wrastle with GOD, as Iacob did, and let him not goe without a blessing; wrastling implyes resisting, it is a signe GOD resisted him for a time: so, it may be, GOD will deny thee a great while, yet continue thou to seeke him, let him not goe, he cannot deny thee in the end, thou shalt haue the blessing at the last: we should learne thus to importune GOD; tell him, Lord, I haue a sure promise, and thou hast made the pardon generall, and I am sure I come within the number of that Comission: Goe and preach the Gospell to euery creature, goe and tell euery man vnder heauen, that Christ is offered to him, he is freely giuen to him by GOD the Father, and there is nothing required of you, but that you marry him, nothing but to accept of him; here is a word sure enough, if there were nothing else but this. Therfore learne to doe in this as the Woman of Canaan did, though Christ denyed her, yet she would not giue ouer: for she had this ground to build vpon, that he was Iesus, he was the Sonne of Dauid, he was mercifull, and shee had exceeding great neede of him, and therefore she would not giue ouer; so, I say, hauing this ground for your faith, goe to GOD with boldnesse, and neuer giue ouer; it is impossible (if you seeke him in good earnest, with all your heart) but that he should receiue you.