First, they used prayer unto the divine powers for assistance: then they used such ordinary means as they knew best in such a time; which order is necessary to be used of all Christians in their necessity. First, to seek ⟨p. 83⟩for aid and assistance from God, and then to use all such good means to help themselves, as God shall enable them too; trusting that of his goodness he will bless their endeavours. God indeed is the last refuge, but he is also the first refuge which is to be sought unto: for he will have us to acknowledge that man liveth not by bread only, and an horse is but a vain thing to save a man, and except the Lord keep the City, the Watchman waketh ⟨p. 84⟩but in vain; no means can help without his blessing. But then, he will not have us negligent in using of lawful means: for he never or very seldom worketh without means, when the means may be used. Danger then we have seen made them to fear, but fear astonished them not, but gathered their wits together, for they used means with wisdom to save themselves. But when the Lord sends calamity upon many of the ungodly, ⟨p. 85⟩they have so guilty a conscience, that whilst they feel the great hand of God, they are even distraught of their wits, and made as it were senseless, that they know not what they do: yea when troubles come, it makes them like a headless Be, which buzzeth about she knows not whither, or like the Swallow, which by compulsion of the wind, flieth backward and forward till it fall into the Sea: or like Cain, whose head was ⟨p. 86⟩fraught with fears, so that he knew not whither to go, doubting to be slain of every one whom he saw. But whatsoever befalleth the child of God, he hath ever matter of consolation and some moderation of mind to bear it withal, expecting a joyful issue of all. Therefore blessed is he that hath the Lord for his God.
First, they used prayer unto the divine powers for assistance: then they used such ordinary meanes as they knew best in such a time; which order is necessary to bee used of all Christians in their necessity. First, to seeke ⟨p. 83⟩for aid and assistance from God, and then to use all such good meanes to helpe themselves, as God shall enable them too; trusting that of his goodnesse hee will blesse their endeavours. God indeed is the last refuge, but hee is also the first refuge which is to bee sought unto: for hee will have us to acknowledge that man liveth not by bread onely, and an horse is but a vaine thing to save a man, and except the Lord keepe the Citty, the Watchman waketh ⟨p. 84⟩but in vaine; no meanes can helpe without his blessing. But then, hee will not have us negligent in using of lawfull meanes: for he never or very seldome worketh without means, when the meanes may bee used. Danger then wee have seene made them to feare, but feare astonished them not, but gathered their wits together, for they used meanes with wisdome to save themselves. But when the Lord sends calamity upon many of the ungodly, ⟨p. 85⟩they have so guilty a conscience, that whilest they feele the great hand of God, they are even distraught of their wits, and made as it were senselesse, that they know not what they doe: yea when troubles come, it makes them like a headlesse Bee, which buzzeth about shee knowes not whither, or like the Swallow, which by compulsion of the winde, flieth backward and forward till it fall into the Sea: or like Caine, whose head was ⟨p. 86⟩fraught with feares, so that hee knew not whither to goe, doubting to bee slaine of every one whom he saw. But whatsoever befalleth the childe of God, hee hath ever matter of consolation and some moderation of minde to beare it withall, expecting a joyfull issue of all. Therefore blessed is hee that hath the Lord for his God.
