The Soul's Conflict with Itself

And as we must wholly and only trust in God, so likewise we must trust him in all conditions and times, for all things that we stand in need of, until that time comes, wherein we shall stand in need of nothing: for as the same care of God moved him to save us, and to preserve us in the world till we be put in possession of salvation; So the same faith relies upon God for heaven and all necessary provision till we come thither; It is the office of Faith to quiet our souls in all the necessities of this life, and we have continual use of trusting while we are here: For even when we have things, yet God still ⟨p. 309⟩keeps the blessing of them in his own hands, to hold us in a continual dependence upon him: God trains us up this way, by exercising our trust in lesser matters, to fit us for greater; thus it pleaseth God to keep us in a depending condition, until he see his own •me; but so good is God that as he intends to give us what we wait for, so will he give us the grace and spirit of faith, to sustain our souls in waiting till we enjoy the same. The unruliness of a natural spirit is never discovered more, then when God defers, therefore we should labour the more not to withdraw our attendance from God.

And as we must wholly and only trust in God, so likewise we must trust him in all conditions and times, for all things that we stand in need of, untill that time comes, wherein wee shall stand in need of nothing: for as the same care of God moved him to save us, and to preserve us in the world till we be put in possession of salvation; So the same faith relyes upon God for heaven and all necessary provision till wee come thither; It is the office of Faith to quiet our soules in all the necessities of this life, and we have continuall use of trusting while wee are here: For even when we have things, yet God still ⟨p. 309⟩keepes the blessing of them in his own hands, to hold us in a continuall dependance upon him: God traines us up this way, by exercising our trust in lesser matters, to fit us for greater; thus it pleaseth God to keepe us in a depending condition, untill he see his owne •me; but so good is God that as he intends to give us what wee wait for, so will he give us the grace and spirit of faith, to sustaine our soules in waiting till we enjoy the same. The unrulinesse of a naturall spirit is never discovered more, then when God deferres, therefore we should labour the more not to withdraw our attendance from God.