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

First: If you would not be discouraged under your Temptations; Take heed that when you are in Temptation, you do not expect too much from any one means of help; over expectation breeds discouragement; disappointment, doth breed Discouragement: it is not the sadness of your Condition, but Disappointment, that doth cause Discouragement. If a man be in debt, and under an Arrest; so long as he thinks he hath friends to bail him, or some Goods and Commodities to make sale of, he is not discouraged; but if he expect much from his friends, and all fail him, and his goods be seized, that he cannot have help come in at that door, nor from any other means, which he expected from, then he is quite discouraged. If a man be in the Water, wherein there is danger of drowning; so long as he can get hold of something that will bear him up, he is not discouraged; but if he lay hold of some tuft of Grass on the Bank side, and that breaks, he falls back again, and is more plunged into the Water; and if he be not scared out of all thoughts, he is more discouraged than ever. So here, In Temptation, we are as in the Water, and in fear of drowning, crying out, We sink, we sink; then we fly to some tuft of Grass, some means or other, and if that break, or fail, then we are quite discouraged: Would you not therefore be dejected, or cast down in time of Temptation; take heed that you do not lay all your strength upon one tuft of Grass; this, or that mans Counsel; this, or that particular means; but say rather, I am now indeed in the deep, and in fear of drowning, see no means of deliverance; but Gods ways are in the deep, and he is infinite, he hath ways and means that I know not of; therefore though I use the means, yet I will not rest on them, and though all tufts of Grass break, and ⟨p. 147⟩Anchors come home; yet I will wait on God.

First: If you would not be discouraged under your Temptations; Take heed that when you are in Temptation, you do not expect too much from any one means of help; over expectation breeds discouragement; disappointment, doth breed Discouragement: it is not the sadness of your Condition, but Disappointment, that doth cause Discouragement. If a man be in debt, and under an Arrest; so long as he thinks he hath friends to bail him, or some Goods and Commodities to make sale of, he is not discouraged; but if he expect much from his friends, and all fail him, and his goods be seized, that he cannot have help come in at that door, nor from any other means, which he expected from, then he is quite discouraged. If a man be in the Water, wherein there is danger of drowning; so long as he can get hold of somthing that wil bear him up, he is not discouraged; but if he lay hold of some tuft of Grass on the Bank side, and that breaks, he falls back again, and is more plunged into the Water; and if he be not scared out of al thoughts, he is more discouraged than ever. So here, In Temptation, we are as in the Water, and in fear of drowning, crying out, We sink, we sink; then we fly to some tuft of Grass, some means or other, and if that break, or fail, then we are quite discouraged: Would you not therefore be dejected, or cast down in time of Temptation; take heed that you do not lay all your strength upon one tuft of Grass; this, or that mans Counsel; this, or that particular means; but say rather, I am now indeed in the deep, and in fear of drowning, see no means of deliverance; but Gods waies are in the deep, and he is infinite, he hath waies and means that I know not of; therefore though I use the means, yet I will not rest on them, and though all tufts of Grass break, and