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…

3. It is a special way to keep the heart in a serene and quiet frame, to ¹exercise trust in God for the future. Not only to bless God for the mercies we have, and do enjoy; but also as confidently and securely to trust in God for all future things, that shall befall us, as if we did for the present enjoy what we could desire. We shall find, that for want of this trusting in God for the future, all our anxieties and disquietness doth arise. We do continually create unto our selves constant molestations of spirit, because we make suppositions about the future. What if I should be brought into such a condition? What if such a sad estate should befall me? What if I be left unto such a temptation? Thus constant conflicts about what is to come, taketh off all joy and thankfulness, for what we have for the present. Therefore it is a special duty in the Children of God, to be acting dependently upon God for the future, as well as for the present. Our Saviour Mat. 6. 25. doth by several choice and precious Arguments, endeavour to conquer that ill temper in his Disciples, who were so solicitous what would befall them to morrow? how they should be clothed hereafter? how they should live hereafter? Therefore the Child of God is to live with as much joy and contentation in respect of future things, as if they were present; And this is the reason why the promises in Scripture are sometimes expressed in the past tense, and sometime in the present, because we are also as much assured of every good thing promised, as if we had it already in our hands.

3. It is a speciall way to keep the heart in a serene and quiet frame, to ¹exercise trust in God for the future. Not only to bless God for the mercies we have, and do enjoy; but also as confidently and securely to trust in God for all future things, that shall befall us, as if we did for the present enjoy what we could desire. We shall find, that for want of this trusting in God for the future, all our anxieties and disquietness doth arise. We do continually create unto our selves constant molestations of spirit, because we make suppositions about the future. What if I should be brought into such a condition? What if such a sad estate should befall me? What if I be left unto such a temptation? Thus constant conflicts about what is to come, taketh off all joy and thankfullness, for what we have for the present. Therefore it is a speciall duty in the Children of God, to be acting dependently upon God for the future, as well as for the present. Our Saviour