I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

and this is my Name for ever. Now Faith comes, and closeth with this Name of God, leading the Soul into this rich Wardrobe, and so doth quiet the heart against all Discouragements.

and this is my Name for ever. Now Faith comes, and closeth with this Name of God, leading the Soul into this rich Wardrop, and so doth quiet the heart against all Discouragements.

Answ. 3 Thirdly: Faith doth put the Soul under Gods Commandment, and leaveth God to Answer unto all such Objections, and Inconveniences, as may come thereby; which if a man can do, he may be very quiet. Now true saving Faith will enable him to do this: for ye know how it was with the three Children, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; they put themselves under Gods Commandment: The Lord commanded, and said, Thou shalt not make to thy self, any graven Image: Well, but the King commands them to fall down before his Image: No, say they, we will not stir, we will not bow: but saith the King, I will make you ⟨p. 337⟩bow, or I will heat the Furnace seven times hotter for you: Well, be it so, say they; as for that, we are not solicitous, we will do the work that God hath set us to do; we will put our selves under Gods Command; we know that our God is able to deliver us; and whether he will deliver us, or no, we will leave that to him, let him answer to the inconveniences, and mischiefs that follow upon his Work; for saith the Text, They trusted in the Lord. And so you know it was with Noah; Noah was commanded to build an Ark, for saith the Lord, yet an hundred & twenty years, and the whole world shall be destroyed, and therefore Noah, build thou an Ark for thy self, and thy family; which Noah did, and put himself under this Command. But now the world, the old world might speak thus (as certainly the language of their Conversation was) Noah, Dost thou think that thou art the only man in all the world that God loves? Dost thou think Noah, that God loves thee, one man, more than all the men or the world? and thy one Family, more than all the Families in the world beside? And if thou dost believe what thou preachest, That the World shall be destroyed by Water, in an hundred and twenty years, why dost thou marry, and bege Children, as thou hast done since thou hast preached this Doctrine? And Noah, if thou dost make an Ark, or a Ship, who shall be the Pilate? who shall be the Mariner, the Sler? As for thy self, thou hast been a Preacher, and dost thou think that thou, and thy few Sons, are able to guide, and govern so great a Vessel? If it be as thou preachest, That the easts, the wild Beasts of the Field shall come unto this Ark; the Lyon, and the Bear, and the Tiger, will they not tear thee to pieces?