Now the means whereby we may attain unto this firm affiance, are these: The first is the often consideration of Gods saving attributes, as of his omniscience, whereby he taketh notice of all our wants and dangers; of his omnipotency, and all-sufficiency, whereby he is able to relieve and preserve us; of his providence, which in especial manner watcheth over us who are his sons and children, to dispose of all things to our 1good; of his mercy, bounty, goodness, and truth of his promises, whereby we may be assured of his good will and readiness to help us. The second means is, to observe Gods mercy and goodness in time past, showed both towards others and towards our selves, in freeing us from evil, and procuring our good. We must consider what God hath done formerly to others, assuring our selves that he is ready to do the like for us, if with them we fear and serve him, seeing he is no respectre of persons, 2but is alike to all. So David confirmed his affiance in God, by remembering his goodness towards their ancestors; Our fathers trusted in thee, 3they trusted in thee, and thou didst deliver them; they cried upon thee, and were delivered; they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. So when he could with no comfort rest upon God in his present sense and feeling, he remembered ⟨p. 107⟩Gods wonders of old, in delivering his people Israel, and drowning their 4enemies in the red Sea. And thus he saith, others would confirm their affiance by his example. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved 5him out of all his troubles. But much more will the experience of Gods mercy and goodness towards our selves, in providing for us in the time of want, and delivering and preserving us from former dangers, confirm our trust and confidence in him, seeing he is immutable in his love, and changeth 6not, though we be changed. And thus David strengthened his affiance in God, that he would give him victory over Goliath, because he had former 7experience of Gods goodness towards him, and power assisting him against the Lyon and the Bear. And the Apostle concludeth, that as the Lord had formerly delivered him out of former afflictions, so he would 8be a-like gracious still, and deliver him out of like afflictions in the time to come.
Now the meanes whereby we may attaine vnto this firme affiance, are these: The first is the often consideration of Gods sauing attributes, as of his omniscience, whereby he taketh notice of all our wants and dangers; of his omnipotencie, and all-sufficiencie, whereby hee is able to relieue and preserue vs; of his prouidence, which in especiall manner watcheth ouer vs who are his sonnes and children, to dispose of all things to our 1good; of his mercy, bounty, goodnesse, and truth of his promises, whereby we may be assured of his good will and readinesse to helpe vs. The second meanes is, to obserue Gods mercy and goodnesse in time past, shewed both towards others and towards our selues, in freeing vs from euill, and procuring our good. Wee must consider what God hath done formerly to others, assuring our selues that he is ready to doe the like for vs, if with them we feare and serue him, seeing he is no respecter of persons, 2but is alike to all. So Dauid confirmed his affiance in God, by remembring his goodnesse towards their ancestors; Our fathers trusted in thee, 3they trusted in thee, and thou didst deliuer them; they cryed vpon thee, and were deliuered; they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. So when he could with no comfort rest vpon God in his present sense and feeling, he remembred ⟨p. 107⟩Gods wonders of old, in deliuering his people Israel, and drowning their 4enemies in the red Sea. And thus he saith, others would confirme their affiance by his example. This poore man cryed, and the Lord heard him, and saued 5him out of all his troubles. But much more wil the experience of Gods mercy and goodnesse towards our selues, in prouiding for vs in the time of want, and deliuering and preseruing vs from former dangers, confirme our trust and confidence in him, seeing he is immutable in his loue, and changeth 6not, though we be changed. And thus Dauid strengthened his affiance in God, that he would giue him victory ouer Goliah, because he had former 7experience of Gods goodnesse towards him, and power assisting him against the Lyon and the Beare. And the Apostle concludeth, that as the Lord had formerly deliuered him out of former afflictions, so he would
- 1Rom. 8. 28.
- 2Act. 10. 34.
- 3Psal. 22. 4, 5.
- 4Psal. 77. 14, 15.
- 5Psal. 34. 6.
- 6Mal. •. 3.
- 71. Sam. 17. 34.
- 82. Cor. 1. 10.
