The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…

He may deliver his Church, and may deliver particular persons out of trouble; and yet do it in a way, and by such means as they never dreamed of. Sometimes he foretelleth us his means, when it is we that in duty are to use them. And sometimes he keepeth them unknown to us, when they are only to be used by himself. In the Mount will the Lord be seen ▪ but yet Abraham thought not of the Ram in the Thicke•. The Israelites knew not that God would deliver them by the hand of Moses, Acts 7.25.

Direct. 16. Take not the promises proper to one time or age of the Church, as if they were common to all, or unto us.

There were many promises to the Israelites, which belong not to us, as well as many precepts: The increase of their seed, and the notable prosperity in the world which was promised them, was partly because that the motive should be suited to the ceremonial duties, and partly because the eternal things being not then so fully brought to light as now, they were the more to be moved with the present outward tokens of Gods Love. And so the gift of the Spirit of Miracles, and Infallibility, for writing and confirming Scriptures, was promised to the first age, which is not promised to us.