An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of…

Man must and will have somewhat to trust to, or lean upon. And therefore rather then fail, he will trust that which cannot but fail, Vanity. Like one that's ready to drown, he catcheth at any thing, a rotten stick, or a straw, and would support his whole body, by that which is not able to bear the weight of his little finger. Man is a weak creature, sense and nature are enough to make him sensible of his natural weakness; and these also are enough to prompt and provoke him to seek help without himself, though they are utterly insufficient to direct him whither to go for the surest help; It is the privilege of God alone to have nothing to trust to, or to be above ⟨p. 179⟩trust: He who is all strength needs not trust. As he doth not put trust in his Saints (Vers. 15.) because he knows they are frail and mutable: so he hath no need to trust them, because he knows himself not only strong, but immutable. God is all that he is from himself, and therefore he ever continues to be what he is, by himself. But man who is not a spring to himself of Being, cannot be a support to himself for the continuance of his Being; much less for the continuance of his well-being. And as mans necessity calls him to trust, so his duty calls him to trust God: Man fell at first by his desire to stand alone, he would be independent; and men fall every day, because they desire to stand by that which cannot stand alone. It is a special part of that worship which we owe to God, to trust him; and whatsoever we trust besides God, we make a God of it. He that trusts not in the God that made him, makes many Gods (such as they are) by trusting them. While Job puts that negative supposition (as to his own case) Chap. 31.24.) If I have made Gold my hop•, or have said to the fine Gold, thou art my confidence: He more then implieth that many had. Man ought to trust God, but few will; many will trust in Creatures, but none ought: Man will be trusting in somewhat, and he is so forward to trust in vanity (which indeed is nothing) that it is the hardest thing in the World to take him off. We cannot press either our selves or others too much, to trust God, and we cannot repress them enough from trusting vanity: Man is very ready to exercise and put forth an act of trust, and he is as ready to mistake the object of trust.

Man must and will have somewhat to trust to, or leane upon. And therefore rather then fayle, he will trust that which cannot but fayle, Vanity. Like one that's ready to drowne, he catcheth at any thing, a rotten stick, or a straw, and would support his whole body, by that which is not able to beare the weight of his little finger. Man is a weak creature, sense and nature are enough to make him sensible of his naturall weaknesse; and these also are enough to prompt and provoke him to seek helpe without himselfe, though they are utterly insufficient to direct him whither to goe for the surest helpe; It is the priviledge of God alone to have nothing to trust to, or to be above