Thirdly, it may serve for instruction, and that divers ways: 1. First, we should beg of God the spirit of wisdom, and revelation, to show the exceeding greatness of his powers, that we might discern it, and believe it by faith; seeing we do not observe it by sense and reason: 2. Secondly, we should daily ascribe power unto God, even acknowledging continually his power in ⟨p. 45⟩keeping us from day to day, as our Saviour Christ teacheth us in the tLords prayer, when he teacheth us to ascribe kingdom, power, and glory to him: and with Peter we should learn to put off praise from our selves unto God, as he did in the cure of the Cripple, saying, unot by our power is this man made whole. 3. Thirdly, we should particularly of God seek the experience of his power. As for example, we should not rest in *the form, or show of godliness, but seek the power of it: we should not only get a little faith, but strive with God by prayer, till he xfulfil the work of faith with power: we should not think it enough to pray, but we should seek the spirit of prayer, and to do it with powery, even to be made by the anointing of Christ, Priests after the power of endless life: so we should seek the power of conference, and utterance in the confession of the truth, in admonition, instruction, consolation, or propounding of our own doubts: for zthe kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 4. Fourthly, we should hence learn to be undaunted in afflictions, though it were to adventure all, even life it self for the Gospel; seeing we are kept by Gods power, we may say in any distress, as Paul did: aI know whom I have believed, and he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him, till the day of Jesus Christ. If God keep our souls, it matters not, what else be in danger. 5. Fifthly, Ministers should hence learn to preach with power, and strive after it: For it is not the ordinance of God, but the power of God, that preserves the hearers: It is not preaching, but powerful preaching, that keeps the souls of men, till the day of Christ. 6. And lastly, the people should learn to place their faith not in the wisdom, learning, pains, or bgraces of men; but in the power of God.
Thirdly, it may serve for instruction, and that divers wayes: 1. First, we should beg of God the spirit of wisdome, and revelation, to shew the exceeding greatnesse of his powers, that we might discerne it, and beleeve it by faith; seeing we doe not observe it by sense and reason: 2. Secondly, we should daily ascribe power unto God, even acknowledging continually his power in ⟨p. 45⟩keeping us from day to day, as our Saviour Christ teacheth us in the tLords prayer, when hee teacheth us to ascribe kingdome, power, and glory to him: and with Peter wee should learne to put off praise from our selves unto God, as hee did in the cure of the Cripple, saying, unot by our power is this man made whole. 3. Thirdly, wee should particularly of God seeke the experience of his power. As for example, we should not rest in *the forme, or shew of godlinesse, but seeke the power of it: wee should not only get a little faith, but strive with God by prayer, till he xfulfill the worke of faith with power: we should not thinke it enough to pray, but we should seeke the spirit of prayer, and to doe it with powery, even to be made by the annointing of Christ, Priests after the power of endlesse life: so we should seeke the power of conference, and utterance in the confession of the truth, in admonition, instruction, consolation, or propounding of our owne doubts: for zthe kingdome of God is not in word, but in power. 4. Fourthly, we should hence learne to be undaunted in afflictions, though it were to adventure all, even life it selfe for the Gospell; seeing we are kept by Gods power, we may say in any distresse, as Paul did: aI know whom I have beleeved, and he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him, till the day of Iesus Christ. If God keep our soules, it matters not, what else be in danger. 5. Fifthly, Ministers should hence learne to preach with power, and strive after it: For it is not the ordinance of God, but the power of God, that preserves the hearers: It is not preaching, but powerfull preaching, that keepes the soules of men, till the day of Christ. 6. And lastly, the people should learne to place their faith not in the wisdome, learning, paines, or
- sEph. 1.18, 19.
- tMat. 6.13.
- uActs 3.12.
- *2 Tim. 3.5. 2 Cor. 6.7.
- x2 Thess. 1.11.
- yZach. 12.12.
- z1 Cor. 4.20.
- a2 Tim. 1.2.8.
- b1 Cor. 2.4.
