An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

2. It is therefore excellent, because the Lord so delighteth to put us upon ¹the daily practice of it. Insomuch that whatsoever he doth for his people either in spiritual or temporal mercies, they do obtain it wholly by trusting. What is that great way, whereby we are justified before God, how come we to obtain this blessed privilege? It is only by faith. And what is this faith, but a trusting and resting upon Christ alone? So that the most noble and essential consideration in justifying faith, is that it doth make the soul rest and depend ⟨p. 323⟩on the Lord Jesus. God would not justify us by any other way, by working, by doing, but by trusting; which doth greatly demonstrate the acceptableness of this grace to God. So also for temporal mercies, that assertion twice or thrice used; The just shall live by faith, doth in part relate to those temporal promises, which God maketh for the preservation and support of his people; and now God will have these performed to such who wait on him, who trust on him. It is not the just shall live by love, by repentance, but by faith; God therefore would have us wholly depend upon him for every mercy we have; hence we are commanded to pray for our daily bread: trust not in thy store or treasure; trust not in thy labour and skill, but be every day at the Throne of grace, begging for every mercy thou desirest. Oh but what dishonour is there to God in this respect? Doth not the rich man look more to his revenues then Gods promise. Doth not the Tradesman look more to his custom and his gains then Gods power; yea the labouring man is apt to trust in his health, and strength, as if he needed not to depend upon God all the while he hath that; Sanitas pauperis est patrimonium; a poor mans health is his patrimony, his freehold, and he is apt to make it his god to trust in. What excellency then is in this grace, when no mercy either spiritual or temporal can be obtained but by the exercise thereof. For the soul you must trust God, and the mercies thereof; for the body you must trust God, and the mercies thereof. And observe the deceitfulness of thy heart herein, who trusteth in Christ for thy justification and salvation, but art full of disquieting cares and fears about thy external preservation and maintenance. Oh foolish and unwise! which is greater, salvation then raiment and food?

2. It is therefore excellent, because the Lord so delighteth to put us upon