And if ye look into Scripture, Where doth Gods promises fall more thick, than upon those that are weak in Grace? Christ begins his Preaching with the Promises, Math. 5. and I pray, what are those persons whom the promises are especially made unto, but such as are weak in Grace? Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are those that hunger and thirst after righteousness. Blessed are those that mourn. He doth not say, Blessed are those that are strong in Grace; or Blessed are those that rejoice in God: or those that have full assurance of their everlasting estate and condition; No, but as if his great work and business were, to comfort, uphold, and strengthen the weak, these he begins withal, and many Gracious, Rich, and blessed Promises he doth make to them. Yea, the Promises are so made to them, as (attended to) will give a full answer unto all their fears: as for example. The Lord Promises, Math. 12. That he will not break the bruised reed &c. Will the weak Christian say, O! but I am exceeding weak, and very feeble: then our Saviour says, He will not break the bruised reed. And what more weak and feeble, than a bruised reed? an whole reed is not v•ry strong at the best, but bruised it is weak indeed. Will the weak Christian say, O! but my weakness is mingled with many sins;1 so the fire in the smoking flax is mingled with smoke, yet says Christ, I will not quench the smoking flax. Will the weak Christian say, O! but, though God do not quench me, yet I shall be quenched; nay saith Christ, But I will bring forth judgment to victory, it lies on my hand to do it, and I will do it. Will the weak Christian say O! but, I have much opposition in my way, how can judgment come to victory? then Christ says, he will bring forth [Greek or Hebrew] Thirst forth with violence, it's the same word that is used in other Scriptures, noting a force: as if Christ should say, I will force this victory through all opposition, that it shall meet withal. So that the Lord doth not only give several promises to those that are weak in Grace, but he doth so lay them, as he doth help to apply them.
And if ye look into Scripture, Where doth Gods promises fal more thick, than upon those that are weak in Grace? Christ begins his Preaching with the Promises, Math. 5. and I pray, what are those persons whom the promises are especially made unto, but such as are weak in Grace? Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are those that hunger and thirst after righteousness. Blessed are those that mourn. He doth not say, Blessed are those that are strong in Grace; or Blessed are those that rejoyce in God: or those that have ful assurance of their everlasting estate and condition; No, but as if his great work and business were, to comfort, uphold, and strengthen the weak, these he begins withal, and many Gracious, Rich, and blessed Promises he doth make to them. Yea, the Promises are so made to them, as (attended to) wil give a ful answer unto al their fears: as for example. The Lord Promises, Math. 12. That he wil not break the bruised reed &c. Wil the weak Christian say, O! but I am exceeding weak, and very feeble: then our Savior saies, He wil not break the bruised reed. And what more weak and feeble, than a bruised reed? an whol reed is not v•ry strong at the best, but bruised it is weak indeed. Wil the weak Christian say, O! but my weakness is mingled with many sins;1 so the fire in the smoaking flax is mingled with smoak, yet saies Christ, I wil not quench the smoaking flax. Wil the weak Christian say, O! but, though God do not quench me, yet I shal be quenched; nay saith Christ, But I wil bring forth judgment to victory, it lyes on my hand to do it, and I wil do it. Wil the weak Christian say O! but, I have much opposition in my way, how can judgment come to victory? then Christ saies, he wil bring forth 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Thurst forth with violence, it's the same word that is used in other Scriptures, noting a force: as if Christ should say, I wil force this victory through al opposition, that it shal meet withal. So that the Lord doth not only give several promises to those that are weak in Grace, but he doth so lay them, as he doth help to apply them.
- 1[Greek or Hebrew] Matth. 7.5. [Greek or Hebrew], Matth. 9.38. [Greek or Hebrew] Matth. 10.5.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Matth. 7.5. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Matth. 9.38. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Matth. 10.5.
