The saints inheritance and the worldlings portion representing the glorious condition of a child…

and in the powder plot and at other times? and though we be in some straits, remember what God did before.

and in the powder plot and at other times? and though we be in some streights, remember what God did before.

This should appease your hearts, what though thou have not present audience for the thing thou seekest: yet think, I deal with a God that hath an understanding that I cannot search. God it may be lets the adversary prevail sometimes, I cannot tell what glory God may get by it, I cannot conceive how God can bring his own glory about when Israel flees before ⟨p. 231⟩the Philistines. But why sayest thou so O Jacob? there is no searching of Gods understanding, God sees further then thou canst see: that thing that thou thinkest will make against his name may make for it: therefore lay thine hand upon thine heart. He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might. God stays till men have no might, till they faint, and are ready to fail, and then he comes and helps them. That is the meaning of that Scripture in Luke, where Christ saith, God will avenge his elect that cry night and day to him, though he tarry, he will avenge them, he will hear their prayers, he will answer their requests. But it follows upon it, notwithstanding when the Son of man comes shall he find faith on earth? I verily think that that want of faith, hath reference to that very promise specially, that God will hear his elect that cry: but God may stay so long, as that the very time when God shall come to perform it, and shall intend to do it, it may be a time when their ⟨p. 232⟩faith is overcome, and fails in the promise, that they begin to give over, and think they have sought God in vain. And usually the time when God comes to fulfil his promise, and to answer the prayers of his people, it is that very time when they fail and are ready to s•ck. Therefore that may be another argument, it may be thou hast not believed this promise. Thou sayest thou hast prayed, and thou thinkest thou hast not answer: hast thou believed this promise in the Text? hast thou relied on it? God hath commanded it, and hast thou done as he commanded with belief, Call unto me and I will answer thee.