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

Answ. 4 Fourthly: In your Humiliation, take heed that you do not ⟨p. 74⟩meddle too much with Gods Prerogative, and with Gods Peculiar. In Humiliation, a man is to meddle with that which belongs to man: Some things there are that are peculiar to God, and are his Prerogative. You see how it is with the Birds of the Air; so long as the Birds fly up and down here in the Air, they do live comfortably; but if the Birds do fly up to the Element of Fire, it will burn their Wings, and they will fall down head-long. So here, so long as a man in his Humiliation keeps within his own Compass and Element, he may walk comfortably there; but if a man in Humiliation, will soar up unto Gods Prerogative, certainly his Soul will fall down upon the Earth, and be much discouraged. Now I pray, what is more the Prerogative and Peculiar of God than this, To know who is a Reprobate, and who is not? When a man is humbled and grieved about his Sin, and he finds that he hath sinned much against God, and thereupon he concludes himself to be a Reprobate, is not this •o come upon Gods Prerogative? The Scripture tells a man indeed, what he is for the present, That a man for the present is a Drunkard, or a Swearer, or a Sabbath-breaker, or an Adulterer; and therefore the Scripture tells him for the present, that he is in the state of Nature, and under the wrath of God; but doth the Scripture tell him that he is a Reprobate, that he can never be converted and turned to God? Surely this is Gods great Prerogative to know, his Secret which he reserves to himself, and therefore when a man goes to be humbled before God, and concludes, O! I am a Reprobate, and there is no hope for me, and I shall never be converted; this is to soar too high into Gods Prerogative, and he will burn his wings, and he will fall down into great Discouragement. Therefore in all your Humiliation, take heed that you do not fall upon any thing that is the Peculiar and Prerogative of God, for then you will not be humbled, but discouraged.

Answ. 4 Fourthly: In your Humiliation, take heed that you do not ⟨p. 74⟩meddle too much with Gods Prerogative, and with Gods Peculiar. In Humiliation, a man is to meddle with that which belongs to man: Some things there are that are peculiar to God, and are his Prerogative. You see how it is with the Birds of the Air; so long as the Birds fly up and down here in the Air, they do live comfortably; but if the Birds do fly up to the Element of Fire, it wil burn their Wings, and they will fall down head-long. So here, so long as a man in his Humiliation keeps within his own Compass and Element, he may walk comfortably there; but if a man in Humiliation, will soar up unto Gods Prerogative, certainly his Soul wil fal down upon the Earth, and be much discouraged. Now I pray, what is more the Prerogative and Peculiar of God than this, To know who is a Reprobate, and who is not? When a man is humbled and grieved about his Sin, and he finds that he hath sinned much against God, and thereupon he concludes himself to be a Reprobate, is not this o come upon Gods Prerogative? The Scripture tels a man indeed, what he is for the present, That a man for the present is a Drunkard, or a Swearer, or a Sabbath-breaker, or an Adulterer; and therefore the Scripture tels him for the present, that he is in the state of Nature, and under the wrath of God; but doth the Scripture tel him that he is a Reprobate, that he can never be converted and turned to God? Surely this is Gods great Prerogative to know, his Secret which he reserves to himself, and therefore when a man goes to be humbled before God, and concludes, O! I am a Reprobate, and there is no hope for me, and I shal never be converted; this is to soar too high into Gods Prerogative, and he wil burn his wings, and he wil fal down into great Discouragement. Therefore in al your Humiliation, take heed that you do not fal upon any thing that is the Peculiar and Prerogative of God, for then you wil not be humbled, but discouraged.