The Soul's Conflict with Itself

Now seeing trusting in God, is a remedy ¹against all distempers, it is necessary that we should bring the object and the act (God and the Soul) together; ⟨p. 265⟩for effecting of which, it is good to know something concerning God, and something concerning trust. God is only the fit object of trust, he hath all the properties of that which should be trusted on; A man can be in no condition wherein God is at a loss and cannot help him; if comforts be wanting he can create comforts, not only out of nothing, but out of discomforts; He made the Whale that swallowed up ²Jonah, a means to bring him to the Shore: The Sea was a wall to the Israelites on both sides: The devouring flames were a great refreshing to the ³three children, in the fiery furnace; That trouble which we think will swallow us up, may be a means to bring us to our haven; So mighty is God in power, and so excellent in working. God ⁴then, and God only is a fit foundation for the soul to build it self upon, for the firmer the foundation is, the stronger will the building be, therefore those that will build high must dig deep: the higher the tree riseth, the deeper the root spreadeth and fasteneth ⟨p. 266⟩it self below. So it is in faith, if the foundation thereof be not firm, the soul cannot build it self strongly upon it; Faith hath a double principle to build on, either a principle of being, or a principle of knowing, the principle of being is God himself, the principle of knowing is Gods word, whereby God cometh forth (out of that hidden light which none can attain unto) and discovereth his meaning towards us for our good.

Now seeing trusting in God, is a remedy ¹against all distempers, it is necessary that wee should bring the object and the act (God and the Soule) together;