And then come with resignation, we are the clay, thou art the potter, do with us as thou wilt; if thou dash us in pieces as a potters ⟨p. 329⟩vessel, thou mayest do it; that is the way to escape. That is well committed that is committed into Gods hand; some men shift by their wits, and will not trust God with their health, and strength, they be double minded, as Saint James saith, they will have two strings to their bow, if lawful means will not serve, unlawful shall: No, but we must commit our selves to God as to a faithful Creator, and then see what he will do; then it stands with his honour, he will look to the lowly, I am the clay, thou art the potter, here I am, do as thou wilt, as David saith, it is a blessed estate thus to resign our selves into Gods hands. If the Devil and Reprobates could be brought to this, they should never come there where they are in terrors of conscience. Let us labour to practise this duty, Lord I commit to thy hands my body and soul, I cast my self into thy bosom, do with me as thou wilt. Some that have stood out at the staves end with temptations many years, have gotten comfort by this resignation. We are the clay, thou art the potter, thou mayest mould and break us as thou wilt. The way now to escape the plague is not altogether to use tricks of wit, and policy (though lawful means must be used) but labour to get into Christ, and resign our selves into Gods hand absolutely, and say thus, We are the clay, &c. Lord, thou mayest dash us if thou wilt, as thou dost now many hundreds weekly, thou ⟨p. 330⟩mayest dash us in that fashion if thou wilt: Only we may have a desire that God would make our lives and health precious to him, that we may serve him as if we were now in Heaven, and that we may have grace to make good use of all. But if God have determined and decreed to take us away, let us resign our selves into his hands. It is no matter though the body be sown in dishonour, they shall be raised in honour, we are the clay, he is the potter, let him do what he will with our carcasses and bodies, so he be merciful to our souls. These vessels of clay when they are turned to earth, they shall be renewed of better stuff, like the glorious body of Christ; then our souls and bodies shall be glorious by him that took a piece of flesh and clay for us: O the humility of Christ!
And then come with resignation, wee are the clay, thou art the potter, doe with us as thou wilt; if thou dash us in peeces as a potters ⟨p. 329⟩vessell, thou maist doe it; that is the way to escape. That is well committed that is committed into Gods hand; some men shift by their wits, and will not trust God with their health, and strength, they bee double minded, as Saint Iames saith, they will have two strings to their bow, if lawfull meanes will not serve, unlawfull shall: No, but wee must commit our selves to God as to a faithfull Creator, and then see what hee will doe; then it stands with his honour, hee will looke to the lowlie, I am the clay, thou art the potter, heere I am, doe as thou wilt, as David saith, it is a blessed estate thus to resigne our selves into Gods hands. If the Divell and Reprobates could bee brought to this, they should never come there where they are in terrours of conscience. Let us labour to practise this dutie, Lord I commit to thy hands my body and soule, I cast my selfe into thy bosome, doe with mee as thou wilt. Some that have stood out at the staves end with temptations many yeares, have gotten comfort by this resignation. VVe are the clay, thou art the potter, thou maist mold and break us as thou wilt. The way now to escape the plague is not alltogether to use tricks of wit, and policie (though lawfull meanes must be used) but labour to get into Christ, and resigne our selves into Gods hand absolutely, and say thus, VVe are the clay, &c. Lord, thou maist dash us if thou wilt, as thou dost now many hundreds weekely, thou ⟨p. 330⟩maist dash us in that fashion if thou wilt: Only we may have a desire that God would make our lives and health pretious to him, that we may serve him as if we were now in Heaven, and that we may have grace to make good use of all. But if God have determined and decreed to take us away, let us resigne our selves into his hands. It is no matter though the body bee sowne in dishonour, they shall be raised in honour, wee are the clay, he is the potter, let him do what he will with our carkasses and bodies, so he be mercifull to our soules. These vessells of clay when they are turned to earth, they shall be renewed of better stuffe, like the glorious body of Christ; then our soules and bodies shall be glorious by him that took a peece of flesh and clay for us: O the humility of Christ!
