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

First, It informeth us that besides the general acts of faith a Christian ought to have particular applicative ones; It's not enough to believe in the general, God is the God of those that fear him, that trust in him, but also in particular with Thomas to say, My Lord, My God, Joh. 20.28. Hence are those expressions frequent, I am thy God, and the Lord your God; The child that walketh in darkness, having no light, is exhorted to trust in his God, Isa. 50.10. Oh it cannot be well with thee while thou art in generals only, if God be a stranger to thee, if apprehended to be none of thy God, or if doubted of, all this while thou art in a wilderness, not in the Land of Canaan, thou art but in the porch not taken into the presence-chamber; It's a great sin of the godly that they are not more particularly here, In other things you take no delight unless it be yours, a pleasant garden if not yours, health if not yours, makes no comfort, Propriety is the cause of joy; Oh then let not Satan, nor the black doubts of thy own heart make thee keep at a distance from God, Let not Popish or Arminian Doctrines that press no more then a general faith any ways move thee, but as God is thine, so labour to believe and know he is thine.

First, It informeth us that besides the general acts of faith a Christian ought to have particular applicative ones; It's not enough to beleeve in the general, God is the God of those that fear him, that trust in him, but also in particular with Thomas to say, My Lord, My God, Ioh. 20.28. Hence are those expressions frequent, I am thy God, and the Lord your God; The childe that walketh in darknesse, having no light, is exhorted to trust in his God, Isa. 50.10. Oh it cannot be well with thee while thou art in generals only, if God be a stranger to thee, if apprehended to be none of thy God, or if doubted of, all this while thou art in a wildernesse, not in the Land of Canaan, thou art but in the porch not taken into the presence-chamber; It's a great sin of the godly that they are not more particularly here, In other things you take no delight unlesse it be yours, a pleasant garden if not yours, health if not yours, makes no comfort, Propriety is the cause of joy; Oh then let not Satan, nor the black doubts of thy own heart make thee keep at a distance from God, Let not Popish or Arminian Doctrines that presse no more then a general faith any waies move thee, but as God is thine, so labour to beleeve and know he is thine.