Use 3 3 If there be in GOD this simplicity that we have declared to you, 1then go to him upon all occasions; go not to the stream, go not to the creatures, which have what they have, but by derivation and participation: but go to him, that hath all that he hath naturally, and abundantly, not sparingly, as they have, that have it by participation. As when a man is in any miserable condition, wherein he desires pity, and would be respected and relieved, what wilt thou do in this case? Wilt thou ⟨p. 68⟩go to weak man, and have him to pity thee? No, go to the great GOD, in whom there is mercy it self. Amongst men, he that is the fullest of pity, he hath but a stream of it, a drop of it, therefore seek not so much to him; no not to parents, their pity falls infinitely short of what is in GOD; remember that he is mercy it self, that is, thou shalt find infinitely more mercy in him, then can be said to be in man; the most that can be said of man, is, that he is merciful, but that which can be said of GOD is, that the very thing it self is there. If you have a firebrand, and light it by the fire, it is something, but fire it self is another thing: man he hath a little mercy, but if you go to GOD, he hath a sea of mercy, and he is never dry; Therefore whatsoever thy misery or distress be, whether of conscience or estate, be sure, that thou go to God and say to him, If evil parents can be so merciful to their children when they ask it of them, what then shall I have of him that is mercy it self? Matth. 7.11. So likewise for wisdom; if thou hast a doubtful case, and knowest not what to do, thou goest to thy friends (which in deed is a good means, and ought not to be neglected, for in the multitude of counsel there is peace:) but remember this, that there is but a little wisdom in them, and therefore they will counsel thee but a little; but go to God, that is wisdom it self, Pro. 8. Go to him, for he will give thee wisdom liberally, and without ⟨p. 69⟩reproach. Jam. 1.5. think of him, that he is the fountain of wisdom, and fullness it self. So if thou needest grace, thou wouldest fain have more, thou wouldest have thy faith strengthened, and thy love and zeal more fervent, go to CHRIST then, from whom we receive grace for grace, and that is made to us wisdom, sanctification, and redemption;
Vse 3 3 If there bee in GOD this simplicity that we have declared to you, 1then goe to him upon all occasions; goe not to the streame, goe not to the creatures, which have what they have, but by derivation and participation: but goe to him, that hath all that he hath naturally, and abundantly, not sparingly, as they have, that have it by participation. As when a man is in any miserable condition, wherein hee desires pitty, and would bee respected and relieved, what wilt thou doe in this case? Wilt thou ⟨p. 68⟩goe to weake man, and have him to pitty thee? No, goe to the great GOD, in whom there is mercy it selfe. Amongst men, he that is the fullest of pitty, he hath but a streame of it, a drop of it, therefore seeke not so much to him; no not to parents, their pitty falls infinitely short of what is in GOD; remember that he is mercy it selfe, that is, thou shalt finde infinitely more mercy in him, then can be saide to be in man; the most that can be said of man, is, that he is mercifull, but that which can be saide of GOD is, that the very thing it selfe is there. If you have a firebrand, and light it by the fire, it is something, but fire it selfe is another thing: man he hath a little mercy, but if you goe to GOD, he hath a sea of mercy, and he is never dry; Therefore whatsoever thy misery or distresse bee, whether of conscience or estate, be sure, that thou goe to God and say to him, If evill parents can bee so mercifull to their children when they aske it of them, what then shall I have of him that is mercy it selfe? Matth. 7.11. So likewise for wisedome; if thou hast a doubtfull case, and knowest not what to doe, thou goest to thy friends (which in deede is a good meanes, and ought not to bee neglected, for in the multitude of councell there is peace:) but remember this, that there is but a little wisedome in them, and therefore they will councell thee but a little; but goe to God, that is wisedome it selfe, Pro. 8. Goe to him, for hee will give thee wisedome liberally, and without ⟨p. 69⟩reproach. Iam. 1.5. thinke of him, that hee is the fountaine of wisedome, and fullnesse it selfe. So if thou needest grace, thou wouldest faine have more, thou wouldest have thy faith strengthened, and thy love and zeale more fervent, goe to CHRIST then, from whom wee receive grace for grace, and that is made to us wisedome, sanctification, and redemption;
- 1Go to God rather than the creatures, he being mercy, wisdom it self, &c. by reason of the simplicity that is in him.Goe to God rather than the creatures, hee being mercy, wisedome it selfe, &c. by reason of the simplicity that is in him.
