The new covenantThe nevv covenant

In like manner, David had an exceeding great desire to build the Temple, when it was not the Lords will, that he should do it; was he a looser by it? David was at that time not fit to have done it, he was not able to have done it, as circumstances were: but was he a looser by it? had not he a house built him, as well as if he had built the house of God? had not he as great a reward, as if he had performed it? So likewise in the loss of his child, it was exceeding grievous to him, yet, was it not better that ⟨p. 25⟩that child should be taken away, and that another there should be given him, that was legitimate? Did not the Lord recompense it abundantly to him, when Solomon was given to him in his stead? And so Paul, he was exceeding desirous to be freed from that temptation, which, no doubt, was very grievous to him, that did gall, and vex his mind continually, even as a pricking of the flesh doth: yet it was much better for Paul, it was not because God was not All-sufficient, either in power, or in love to him: but he was an exceeding great gainer by that means, he was emptied of himself: for that is the scope of God, in the ways of his providence towards his children, even to magnify himself towards them, which cannot be without emptying them of themselves, by discovering to them their own insufficiency: and that is done partly, by affliction, and partly by sin, but chiefly by sin, because that works more immediately upon man, it makes him to see how little excellency, and how little worth, there is in him; it makes him again to see the glory, and the power, and the pureness of God, to magnify him, and to humble himself; this Paul got by it, and it was better for him, he was in a better condition by it. Therefore I say, this conclusion must be set down, that the Lord is All-sufficient, and when we fall short of any thing that we desire, lay it not upon God, that the Lord is short of his performance, of any promise, that he compasseth us not about with mercy, on every side, as much as we need, that he delivers us not from every evil: ⟨p. 27⟩for he will make that good alway, that no good thing shall be wanting to them that lead a godly life: He is a Sun and a shield to them. And whensoever it is otherwise, it is because it is not best for them: but this is a digression;

In like manner, David had an exceeding great desire to build the Temple, when it was not the Lords will, that he should doe it; was he a looser by it? David was at that time not fit to haue done it, he was not able to haue done it, as circumstances were: but was he a looser by it? had not he a house built him, as well as if he had built the house of God? had not he as great a reward, as if he had performed it? So likewise in the losse of his childe, it was exceeding grievous to him, yet, was it not better that