Now you must know, that all those instances that we brought you, that where there is faith, there is peace and quiet; they were not only for resemblance, to show you, that as it is in those other things wherein we believe, so it is in the main; (as you do not believe any particular promise, except you have some quiet in your mind after it;) but likewise to show you whether that peace be good or no, whether that faith be sure or no. For if you believe the main, certainly you will believe the less. Therefore consider with your selves, (we will enlarge this sign so far) If thou wouldest know whether thy faith be good or no, whether thou have peace indeed concerning the main; Consider with thy self, whether thou art able to believe those promises which concern those particular things which thou hast daily use of. For there are many promises which thou hast use of continually in thy course: thou hast every day some occasion or other of trusting GOD: See in these how thou doest believe, ⟨p. 105⟩whether thou hast peace, and know, that if thou have not peace in these, it is a sign thou hast not peace in the main. I will name but one place for it: Look in Phil. 4.6.1 In nothing be careful, but in all things let your requests be made unto God: And then, saith he, The peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall preserve your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Mark the opposition; saith he, In nothing be careful, when matters of trouble come, when crosses come, when great businesses come, wherein thou knowest not which way to turn thee, (saith he) in such a case be not thou careful; do the thing, thou must have so much care as to set thy head awork, as to devise what to do, and to set thy hand awork to act it; but let there be no solicitude to disturb and disquiet thy affections within. Let thy request be made known to GOD; then, the peace of GOD which passeth all understanding, shall keep thy heart and mind in Christ Jesus. As if he should say, if thou be not able to do this, it is an interruption of that peace, it is a contradiction to that peace, which passeth all understanding, that keeps thy heart in communion with CHRIST: if thou be not able to cast thy care on him for other things, that peace belongs not to thee.
Now you must know, that all those instances that we brought you, that where there is faith, there is peace and quiet; they were not onely for resemblance, to shew you, that as it is in those other things wherein wee beleeue, so it is in the maine; (as you doe not beleeue any particular promise, except you haue some quiet in your minde after it;) but likewise to shew you whether that peace bee good or no, whether that faith be sure or no. For if you beleeue the maine, certainely you will beleeue the lesse. Therefore consider with your selues, (wee will inlarge this signe so farre) If thou wouldest know whether thy faith be good or no, whether thou haue peace indeede concerning the maine; Consider with thy selfe, whether thou art able to beleeue those promises which concerne those particular things which thou hast daily vse of. For there are many promises which thou hast vse of continually in thy course: thou hast euery day some occasion or other of trusting GOD: See in these how thou doest beleeue, ⟨p. 105⟩whether thou hast peace, and know, that if thou haue not peace in these, it is a signe thou hast not peace in the maine. I will name but one place for it: Looke in Phil. 4.6.1 In nothing be carefull, but in all things let your requests be made vnto God: And then, saith he, The peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding, shall preserue your hearts and mindes in Christ Iesus. Marke the opposition; saith he, In nothing be carefull, when matters of trouble come, when crosses come, when great businesses come, wherein thou knowest not which way to turne thee, (saith hee) in such a case be not thou carefull; doe the thing, thou must haue so much care as to set thy head aworke, as to deuise what to doe, and to set thy hand aworke to act it; but let there be no sollicitude to disturbe and disquiet thy affections within. Let thy request be made knowne to GOD; then, the peace of GOD which passeth all vnderstanding, shall keepe thy heart and minde in Christ Iesus. As if hee should say, if thou be not able to doe this, it is an interruption of that peace, it is a contradiction to that peace, which passeth all vnderstanding, that keepes thy heart in communion with CHRIST: if thou be not able to cast thy care on him for other things, that peace belongs not to thee.
- 1Phil. 4.6. opened.
