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. Although the promise of God be ground sure enough for us to trust in, ¹yet such is our weakness and infirmity, that experiences and sensible props do wonderfully promote our faith. Could we act purely and perfectly from Divine Motives, the promise of God would be as good to us, as all the experiences in the world; for it is the word of him that cannot eye; and therefore nothing of sense or reason, is so sure as that of faith. But because we consist of a body as well as a soul; therefore as in other things, God doth condescend to our weakness, so here also. The Sacraments and miracles were vouchsafed by God, to confirm our faith; not that they add any certainty to the promise, or can bring more authority to it; only in respect of our imbecility, so they became helps to our faith. Thus also when we have great and glorious promises, which may abundantly satisfy us, so as to conquer all distrustful and perplexing thoughts, yet experiences joined with these; and when we see him fulfilling with his hand, what he hath spoken with his mouth; this doth greatly add to our confidence. It is true, our Saviour saith, John 20. 29. to Thomas, who would not believe, unless his sense did confirm him, Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed, because such do give more glory and honour to God; As Abraham did, who regarded the power of God, resting on that, and considered not Sarahs dead Womb: Yet they are not wholly cast off by God, who do believe, and see also. There is a time when we are ⟨p. 347⟩to trust in God before we can have experience of Gods dispensations; such is the time of conversion. Then the soul being brought into the deeps of the Lord, then it being in divers and sad agonies, the heart is more difficultly brought to trust in God. For all things are then new; the soul never felt such temptations before; it was never in such fears before; it is ready to cry out, Never any was in the like case with me; what will be the issue of those wonderful things, in his soul he knoweth not. All this diffidence is, because at that time the believer had no experience of Gods dealings; is not acquainted with the deep mysteries of God in bringing us to salvation, our with the depths of Satan, who endeavours our destruction.