A39696:70
Two treatises the first of fear, from Isa. 8, v. 12, 13, and part…
Two treatises the first of fear, from Isa. 8, v. 12, 13, and part of the 14 : the second, The righteous man's refuge in the evil day, from Isaiah 26, verse 20 / by John Flavell.
London: printed by H.H. for Robert Boulter, 1682
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
To trust in any creature as if it had the power of a ⟨p. 15⟩God to help us, or to fear any creature, as if it had the power of a God to hurt us, is exceeding sinful, and highly provoking to God. This inordinate trust is taxed and condemned in Isai. 31. 3. They would needs go down to Egypt for help, and trust in their horses and horsemen, because they were strong (i. e.) in their opinion they were able to secure them against all those dangers the Prophet from the Lords own mouth had threatened them with, but to take them off from this sinful and inordinate dependence on the creature he tells them, v. 3. Now the Egyptians are men and not God, and their horses flesh, and not spirit, when the Lord shall stretch forth his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down; and they shall fail together, q. d.
To trust in any creature as if it had the power of a ⟨p. 15⟩God to help us, or to fear any creature, as if it had the power of a God to hurt us, is exceeding sinful, and highly provoking to God. This inordinate trust is taxed and condemned in Isai. 31. 3. They would needs go down to Egypt for help, and trust in their horses and horsemen, because they were strong (i. e.) in their opinion they were able to secure them against all those dangers the Prophet from the Lords own mouth had threatned them with, but to take them off from this sinful and inordinate dependence on the creature he tells them, v. 3. Now the Egyptians are men and not God, and their horses flesh, and not spirit, when the Lord shall stretch forth his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down; and they shall fail together, q. d.
'Tis a sinful and dangerous mistake for one creature to give that trust and dependence to another creature, which is due only to God, to look upon men as if they were Gods, and horses as if they were Spirits: All creatures, even the strongest, are but as the Hop, the Vine, or the Ivy, if they clasp about the pole, the wall, or the oak; they may be supported, as you also may by leaning upon God, but if they depend, and entangle themselves one upon another, as you and the Egyptians do, you shall fail, and fall all together.