But then fifthly, Let not our hearts sink in despairing thoughts, though we see that we are able to do but little for God, and though 1we are unworthy of love; Though there be much vanity and folly in our hearts, and in our lives, yea, though there hath been much stubbornness, yet still let not our hearts sink in despairing thoughts, I loved them when they were a child, They could do little for me, and they knew little of me, and they were vain, and foolish, and stubborn, and yet I loved them. Certainly the ways of God towards 2Israel are as a type of his ways towards his Saints, as the afflictions of Israel are Typical to the Church; and we gather an argument to be patient in afflictions when we read how God dealt with the people of Israel in the wilderness; so we may gather an argument to help our faith when as we read how God dealt with them, though they were unworthy and were poor and weak, yet God loved them. Therefore you poor people that find your selves weak in understanding, alas! you know little, and can remember little of that which is good, and alas! you can do little for God, •ea I find (perhaps saith one) much frowardness and stubbornness in my heart against God; but do you bewail it? if so, let not your hearts be discouraged, do not think that these are things that will hinder the love of 3God; Gods heart may be towards you notwithstanding this, when God comes to love he doth not find the object ⟨p. 9⟩to be lovely before he loves, but his love makes the object to be lovely, therefore God can love though thou knowest little, and can do but little.
But then fiftly, Let not our hearts sink in despairing thoughts, though we see that we are able to do but little for God, and though 1we are unworthy of love; Though there be much vanity and folly in our hearts, and in our lives, yea, though there hath been much stubbornness, yet still let not our hearts sink in despairing thoughts, I loved them when they were a child, They could do little for me, and they knew little of me, and they were vain, and foolish, and stubborn, and yet I loved them. Certainly the waies of God towards 2Israel are as a type of his waies towards his Saints, as the afflictions of Israel are Typical to the Church; and we gather an argument to be patient in afflictions when we reade how God dealt with the people of Israel in the wilderness; so we may gather an argument to help our faith when as we reade how God dealt with them, though they were unworthy and were poor and weak, yet God loved them. Therefore you poor people that find your selves weak in understanding, alas! you know little, and can remember little of that which is good, and alas! you can do little for God, •ea I find (perhaps saith one) much frowardness and stubborness in my heart against God; but do you bewail it? if so, let not your hearts be discouraged, do not think that these are things that will hinder the love of 3God; Gods heart may be towards you notwithstanding this, when God comes to love he doth not find the object ⟨p. 9⟩to be lovely before he loves, but his love makes the object to be lovely, therefore God can love though thou knowest little, and can do but little.
- 1Obs. 5.
- 2Gods ways of mercy and affliction toward Israel, a type of his ways toward his people in all ages.Gods waies of mercy and affliction toward Israel, a type of his waies toward his people in all ages.
- 3Gods love doth not find, but make the person lovely.
