Use 1 Here cometh to be reproved that faintheartedness that is in many of Gods children in the days of their affliction: who seeing that they have many, and great and strange crosses lying upon them, begin to be clean out of heart and out of hope, and to make these or the like desperate conclusions; Surely I shall never wind out of these distresses; my state is past recovery, I never look to see joyful day more. These are base and naughty, and unbelieving speeches, which do dismay the soul, and cause the parties that use them to desist from seeking unto the Lord for help and relief: and wretched is that sorrow that driveth us from hope and from prayer. What? can the Lord wound, and can he not heal? can he cast down, and can he not raise up? can he kill, and not make alive? shall our faults be more forcible to procure his displeasure, then Christ his merits to recover his favour? Away with these unbelieving conceits, and distrustful thoughts and speeches: for he that saith he shall never live a comfortable life more, doth in effect say thus much, that either he is no true Christian, o• the Lord no true God of his word, who hath said, that light is sown for the righteous, and joy for all 1that are upright in heart. Why then should we not ⟨p. 158⟩sustain our selves with the expectation of deliverance to come? and why should we not sweeten our present tears, with the hope of future comforts? The Apostle James presseth the example of the husbandman, who though his barn be empty, and his seed that he hath cast into the earth, not yet appearing above ground, yet he waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath 2long patience for it, until he receive the former, and the latter rain. And what of this? Be ye also patient therefore (saith he) and settle your hearts, &c. And indeed all Christians have reason so to do: for they are good seeds-men, that are evermore sowing prayers and tears in the bosom of Jesus Christ: and therefore they have a crop growing, that cannot possibly miscarry; howsoever it fall out unto others, they shall be sure to speed well, and to have an happy issue out of all their temptations.
Vse 1 Heere commeth to be reprooued that faintheartednesse that is in many of Gods children in the daies of their affliction: who seeing that they haue many, and great and strange crosses lying vpon them, begin to bee cleane out of heart and out of hope, and to make these or the like desperate conclusions; Surely I shall neuer winde out of these distresses; my state is past recouerie, I neuer looke to see ioyfull day more. These are base and naughtie, and vnbeleeuing speeches, which doe dismay the soule, and cause the parties that vse them to desist from seeking vnto the Lord for help and reliefe: and wretched is yt sorrow that driueth vs from hope and from prayer. What? can the Lord wound, and can he not heale? can he cast downe, and can hee not raise vp? can hee kill, and not make aliue? shall our faults be more forcible to procure his displeasure, then Christ his merits to recouer his fauour? Away with these vnbeleeuing conceits, and distrustfull thoughts and speeches: for he that saith he shall neuer liue a comfortable life more, doth in effect say thus much, that either he is no true Christian, o• the Lord no true God of his word, who hath said, that light is sowen for the righteous, and ioy for all 1that are vpright in heart. Why then should we not ⟨p. 158⟩sustaine our selues with the expectation of deliuerance to come? and why should we not sweeten our present teares, with the hope of future comforts? The Apostle Iames presseth the example of the husbandman, who though his barne be emptie, and his seede that he hath cast into the earth, not yet appearing aboue ground, yet hee waiteth for the precious fruite of the earth, and hath 2long patience for it, vntill hee receiue the former, and the latter raine. And what of this? Be ye also patient therefore (saith he) and settle your hearts, &c. And indeede all Christians haue reason so to doe: for they are good seeds-men, that are euermore sowing prayers and teares in the bosome of Iesus Christ: and therefore they haue a crop growing, that cannot possibly miscarrie; howsoeuer it fall out vnto others, they shall be sure to speede well, and to haue an happie issue out of all their temptations.
- 1Psal. 97. 11.
- 2James 5. 7. 8.Iames 5. 7. 8.
