Two treatises the first of fear, from Isa. 8, v. 12, 13, and part…

2. Let me beg you to be sure to shut the doors behind you, against all unbelieving doubts, jealousies, and suspicions of the faithfulness of God; the best ⟨p. 217⟩men may find temptations of that nature; so did good Asaph though an eminent Saint, Psal. 77. 78. Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? Doth his promise fail for ever more? These jealousies are apt to creep in upon the minds of men, especially when,

1. God delays to answer our Prayers as soon as we expect the return of them, we are all in hast for a speedy answer, forgetting that seasons of Prayer are our seed-times; and when we have sown that precious seed, we must wait for the Harvest, as the Husbandman doth. Even a precious Heman may find a faint qualm of unbelief and despondency seizing him by the long suspension of Gods answers, Psal. 88. 9, 10, 11.

2. Twill be hard to shut the door upon unbelief, when all things in the eye of our sense and reason seem to work against the Promise. It will require an Abraham's Faith at such a time to glorify God by believing in hope against hope, Rom. 4. 18. If ever thou hopest to enjoy the sweet repose and rest of a Christian in evil times, thou must resolve whatever thine eyes do see, or thy senses report, to hold fast this as a most sure conclusion; God is faithful, and his word is sure, and that although Clouds and darkness be round about him, yet righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne, Psal. 97. 2.