CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

2. The Lord will remove sensible supports, That we may grow up in grace, and get more strength therein every day. The Scripture tells us of babes and young children, as also of young strong men, who have overcome the wicked one. Now if we were always kept at the breast, or with milk, we should never get masculine strength, Heb. 6. The Apostle blameth such as stood still in their first principles, and were not carried out to further perfection: God will not use his people always to a tender and delicate way, they shall know Christianity is a warfare. Hence Ephes. 6. they are commanded to put on the whole armour of God; and can this strength and heavenly fortitude be ever put forth, if God remove not all thy sensible comforts, and make thee grapple with great adversaries? God will have Job at last go into the field and combat with Satan and all his temptations. The winds and storms shaking the tree, make it root the faster, and thus God by bringing thee into hardship, makes thee the more sound and solid Christian: So that though for the present thou hast no spiritual adversaries upon thee, yet lay not aside this holy armour, as the people of Israel marched in the wilderness, in a warlike posture, and their Camp exactly ordered, though for the present no enemy appeared.

2. The Lord will remove sensible supports, That we may grow up in grace, and get more strength therein every day. The Scripture tels us of babes and young children, as also of young strong men, who have overcome the wicked one. Now if we were alwaies kept at the breast, or with milk, we should never get masculine strength, Heb. 6. The Apostle blameth such as stood still in their first principles, and were not carried out to further perfection: God will not use his people alwaies to a tender and delicate way, they shall know Christianity is a warfare. Hence Ephes. 6. they are commanded to put on the whole armour of God; and can this strength and heavenly fortitude be ever put forth, if God remove not all thy sensible comforts, and make thee grapple with great adversaries? God will have Job at last go into the field and combate with Satan and all his temptations. The windes and storms shaking the tree, make it root the faster, and thus God by bringing thee into hardship, makes thee the more sound and solid Christian: So that though for the present thou hast no spirituall adversaries upon thee, yet lay not aside this holy armour, as the people of Israel marched in the wilderness, in a warlike posture, and their Camp exactly ordered, though for the present no enemy appeared.