An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-eighth, thirty-ninth, fortieth, forty-first, and forty-second,…

Strength is not always to be trusted. There is a twofold trust in strength; First, There is a trust in strength as to confidence in it for success; and thus we are not to trust any strength in the world, neither our own nor others. Cursed is the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm (Jer. 17.5.) The arm of flesh is too weak to be trusted in, though never so strong; though it have the strength of the Unicorn, it must not be trusted; no creatures strength is to be trusted in, as to dependence upon it. Secondly, There is a trusting of strength as to the using and employing of it; thus strength may be trusted. We may trust the strong that they will use their strength for us, only we must not rest in their strength. They who (like the Unicorn in the Text) have great strength, and yet are not to be trusted that they will use it, are in a much worse condition than they who have no strength to use, or to make them any way useful. There are three sorts of men to be considered, in respect of strength.

Strength is not alwayes to be trusted. There is a twofold trust in strength; First, There is a trust in strength as to confidence in it for success; and thus we are not to trust any strength in the world, neither our own nor others. Cursed is the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm (Jer. 17.5.) The arm of flesh is too weak to be trusted in, though never so strong; though it have the strength of the Unicorn, it must not be trusted; no creatures strength is to be trusted in, as to dependance upon it. Secondly, There is a trusting of strength as to the using and imploying of it; thus strength may be trusted. We may trust the strong that they will use their strength for us, only we must not rest in their strength. They who (like the Unicorn in the Text) have great strength, and yet are not to be trusted that they will use it, are in a much worse condition than they who have no strength to use, or to make them any way useful. There are three sorts of men to be considered, in respect of strength.

First, Some have a will to do more than they have strength to do; they have a will to do more in ordinary work, than they have strength to do, and they have a will to do more in extraordinary work & duty, than they have strength and ability to do. The Apostle speaking of the labour of love or charity, in the ministration of the good things of this life, to those that stand in