From this ability of his spirit to endure hardness, 1. He doth not repent of his engagements of what he hath undertaken or done, when he meets with troubles, and many sore afflictions in his way, as the base spirit of a coward will do. That Scripture Exo. 13. 17. is very observable for this; God says there, that he would not lead the people of Israel through the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent them when they see war, and return into Egypt. God saw they were of a low, mean spirit, though they groaned under the bondage of Egypt, and cried for deliverance, & God had delivered them with a mighty hand, yet when they ⟨p. 97⟩met with any danger, they would begin to repent that ever they came out of Egypt, and wish themselves there again. And indeed we find in the History of their being in the Wilderness, that upon every strait they were in, they began to murmur, and often said, Oh that we were in Egypt again: But what would they have done then if they had presently met with wars, when the Spies told them of the children of Anak, that they must fight with? When they were even at the borders of Canaan, they were discouraged, & were about making themselves a Captain to return to Egypt: These were men of a poor vile spirit, hence God sware against them, that none of them should ever come into Canaan, only Caleb and Joshua, who were men of another spirit, as the holy Ghost testifies of them, they should go in & possess the land. Thus it is this day with us, how did we not long ago groan under our bondage? our liberties, our religion, our estates were almost gone, we scarce knew what was our own; our Ministers were banished, every man that departed from evil made himself a prey, superstition, oppression, cruelty prevailed throughout the Land. The whole Kingdom was filled with complaints, and sighs, and groans, by reason of their cruel bondage. Vile men were exalted, and men of precious spirits were cast out as filth. Now when we knew no means of help, but lay down under our burdens, and were as a Kingdom devoted to misery, then did the Lord appear in a glorious manner, when he saw there was no man that would stand up and help. Nay such was the malady, as it seemed even to be past help. The Lords own arm hath brought salvation;
From this ability of his spirit to endure hardnesse, 1. He doth not repent of his engagements of what he hath undertaken or done, when he meets with troubles, and many sore afflictions in his way, as the base spirit of a coward will do. That Scripture Exo. 13. 17. is very observable for this; God sayes there, that he would not lead the people of Israel through the land of the Philistims, although that was neare; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent them when they see war, and return into Egypt. God saw they were of a low, mean spirit, though they groaned under the bondage of Egypt, and cryed for deliverance, & God had delivered them with a mighty hand, yet when they ⟨p. 97⟩met with any danger, they would begin to repent that ever they came out of Egypt, and wish themselves there again. And indeed we find in the History of their being in the Wildernesse, that upon every strait they were in, they began to murmur, and often said, Oh that we were in Egypt again: But what would they have done then if they had presently met with wars, when the Spies told them of the children of Anak, that they must fight with? When they were even at the borders of Canaan, they were disouraged, & were about making themselves a Captain to return to Egypt: These were men of a poore vile spirit, hence God sware against them, that none of them should ever come into Canaan, onely Caleb and Joshua, who were men of another spirit, as the holy Ghost testifies of them, they should go in & possesse the land. Thus it is this day with us, how did we not long agoe groan under our bondage? our liberties, our religion, our estates were almost gone, we scarce knew what was our own; our Ministers were banished, every man that departed from evill made himself a prey, superstition, oppression, cruelty prevailed throughout the Land. The whole Kingdome was filled with complaints, and sighs, and groans, by reason of their cruel bondage. Vile men were exalted, and men of precious spirits were cast out as filth. Now when wee knew no means of help, but lay down under our burdens, and were as a Kingdome devoted to misery, then did the Lord appeare in a glorious manner, when he saw there was no man that would stand up and help. Nay such was the malady, as it seemed even to be past help. The Lords owne arme hath brought salvation;
