The law unsealed

If it be asked, May not some things in the World be loved, and may not some confidence be placed in men, means, &c. I answer, Love may be given to some things, and naturally is called for to some things▪ but 1. Not simply, but with subordination to God; not for themselves, but out of obedience to God; and as they may be useful to us in helping us to honour him, and as they are his gifts. 2. We are not excessively to love or rest on these, but so, as from love to God, we be ready to quit, yea, to hate them, as Christ speaketh of Father and Mother, Luke 14. 26. Again, there may be some kind of confidence given to some things, but 1. Not simply, nor 2. For themselves. 3. Nor always. 4. Nor in all things; but 1. This confidence must be subordinate to Gods appointment. 2. It must be with dependence on his blessing for making means effectual, and so may we expect health from Meat, Drink, Physic, &c. for they are looked on as means conducing to such an end, and yet it is the Lord alone that must be rested on. 3. There may be comparative confidence, whereby men lean more to one mean then to another, as more to a skilful Physician then to an unskilful, and more to an Army, as to overcoming an Enemy, then when it is wanting, because that confidence is in some external thing, and concerneth not Salvation, and but compareth means amongst themselves, as they are ordinarily made use of by God for attaining these ends; but in this case the means are not simply confided in.

If it be asked, May not some things in the World be loved, and may not some confidence be placed in men, means, &c. I answer, Love may be given to some things, and naturally is called for to some things▪ but 1. Not simply, but with subordination to God; not for themselves, but out of obedience to God; and as they may be usefull to us in helping us to honour him, and as they are his gifts. 2. We are not excessively to love or rest on these, but so, as from love to God, we be ready to quit, yea, to hate them, as Christ speaketh of Father and Mother, Luke 14. 26. Again, there may be some kind of confidence given to some things, but 1. Not simply, nor 2. For themselves. 3. Nor alwayes. 4. Nor in all things; but 1. This confidence must be subordinate to Gods appointment. 2. It must be with dependance on his blessing for making means effectual, and so may we expect health from Meat, Drink, Physick, &c. for they are looked on as means conducing to such an end, and yet it is the Lord alone that must be rested on. 3. There may be comparative confidence, whereby men lean more to one mean then to another, as more to a skillful Physician then to an unskillfull, and more to an Army, as to overcoming an Enemy, then when it is wanting, because that confidence is in some external thing, and concerneth not Salvation, and but compareth means amongst themselves, as they are ordinarily made use of by God for attaining these ends; but in this case the means are not simply confided in.