I answer, (as was touched before) he delivers him by declaring to him the mind of God, by acquainting the sick with the promises of deliverance, and by pressing him to believe and rest upon them; by assuring him that as God is able to perform the promise, so he is faithful and willing to perform it; yea that he hath given some tokens for good that he will deliver him from going down to the pit. Thus the work of Gods free grace, mercy, and power, is oftentimes attributed to instruments and second causes, because they have their place and use in the bringing about the purposes of God for the good of his people. Hence some men are called Saviours; And Saviours shall come up on mount Zion (Obad: v. 21.) No man can save either from temporal or eternal destruction; He that is our God is the God of salvation, and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death (Ps: 68.20.) yet saith the Prophet, there shall come Saviours; that is, God will raise up worthy men, principal men (as another Prophet calls them, Mic: 5.5.) who shall destroy Zions enemies. Thus Paul admonisheth Timothy, Take heed to thy self, and to thy doctrine, continue in them, for in so doing thou shalt save thy self and them that hear thee (1 Tim: 4.16.) The Apostle James (Chap: 5.20.) speaks the same thing; He which converteth a sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. And the same Apostle faith (as to the case in the text) at the 15th verse of the same Chapter; The prayer of faith shall save the sick. Though none can save, yet many are means of our salvation. And the Lord is pleased to honour those who are the means of any salvation, so far, as to say, They save. It is indeed the duty of all to ascribe the all of every work and piece of salvation and deliverance to God only. When the people stood wondering at Peter and John after they had healed the lame man, Peter answered (Acts 3.12.) Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as if we by our own power or holiness had made this man to walk. The God of Abraham, &c. hath glorified his Son Jesus; As if they had said, Therefore do ye also glorify him, not us for delivering this lame man. Though God is pleased to put much honour upon man, by speaking of what himself doth, as if man had done it;
I answer, (as was touched before) he delivers him by declaring to him the minde of God, by acquainting the sick with the promises of deliverance, and by pressing him to believe and rest upon them; by assuring him that as God is able to performe the promise, so he is faithfull and willing to performe it; yea that he hath given some tokens for good that he will deliver him from going downe to the pit. Thus the worke of Gods free grace, mercy, and power, is oftentimes attributed to instruments and second causes, because they have their place and use in the bringing about the purposes of God for the good of his people. Hence some men are called Saviours; And Saviours shall come up on mount Zion (Obad: v. 21.) No man can save either from temporall or eternall destruction; He that is our God is the God of salvation, and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death (Ps: 68.20.) yet saith the Prophet, there shall come Saviours; that is, God will rayse up worthy men, principall men (as another Prophet cals them, Mic: 5.5.) who shall destroy Zions enemies. Thus Paul admonisheth Timothy, Take heed to thy selfe, and to thy doctrine, continue in them, for in so doing thou shalt save thy selfe and them that heare thee (1 Tim: 4.16.) The Apostle James (Chap: 5.20.) speakes the same thing; He which converteth a sinner from the errour of his way, shall save a soule from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. And the same Apostle faith (as to the case in the text) at the 15th verse of the same Chapter; The prayer of faith shall save the sicke. Though none can save, yet many are means of our salvation. And the Lord is pleased to honour those who are the meanes of any salvation, so farre, as to say, They save. It is indeed the duty of all to ascribe the all of every worke and piece of salvation and deliverance to God only. When the people stood wondering at Peter and John after they had healed the lame man, Peter answered (Acts 3.12.) Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why looke ye so earnestly on us, as if we by our own power or holiness had made this man to walke. The God of Abraham, &c. hath glorified his Son Jesus; As if they had said, Therefore doe ye also glorifie him, not us for delivering this lame man. Though God is pleased to put much honour upon man, by speaking of what himselfe doth, as if man had done it;