An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…

A third design of God in working for us, is to make us trust him more, or, to be more in believing. 'Tis showed (Psal. 78.4.) what great things God did for the Jewish nation, and for their fathers; But what did God aim at in all? we have the answer (v. 8.) That they might set their hope in him, and not forget his works. The aim which God had in those great works, was that their hope might be set upon him; that they might trust in him more then ever they had done. The Lord, by the great works he doth, would gain upon our faith, or cause us to trust him for the future. How dishonourably do they carry it towards God, who believe not his word, much more they who believe not his works, that is, who believe him not, notwithstanding his works, as 'tis said of Israel (Ps. 78.32.) For all this they sinned still; and believed not his wondrous works. The Psalmist doth not mean, that they did not believe such works had been done; but the meaning is, they did not trust God who had done those wo•ks. These and many more duties the Lord teacheth us by his word, and he teacheth them also by his works, as it is said (v. 22.) who teacheth like him? The Lord teacheth us many excellent lessons by his works, if we had hearts to learn them. Lay these things together in practise, and they will be the best, yea, they are the only way of magnifying the works of God done for us. And, if the works of God are to be magnified all these ways, then they fall short of this duty,

A third design of God in working for us, is to make us trust him more, or, to be more in believing. 'Tis shewed (Psal. 78.4.) what great things God did for the Jewish nation, and for their fathers; But what did God ayme at in all? we have the answer (v. 8.) That they might set their hope in him, and not forget his workes. The aim which God had in those great works, was that their hope might be set upon him; that they might trust in him more then ever they had done. The Lord, by the great works he doth, would gain upon our faith, or cause us to trust him for the future. How dishonorably do they carry it towards God, who believe not his word, much more they who believe not his workes, that is, who believe him not, notwithstanding his workes, as 'tis said of Israel (