The Christians labour and reward, or, A sermon, part of which was preached at…

Fourthly, The merciful indulgence which the Lord gives them as to their failings: hard work, indeed, God calls them to, but the harder the work is, the more his pity is expressed towards them; in pardoning those invincible infirmities, which notwithstanding their faithful endeavour, will be found in their doing it. It was hard for the Apostles to keep their eyes wakeful in the dead of the night; Christ considereth this, and Apologizeth for them, even while he chides them; the Spirit is willing, but the Flesh is weak. It is hard when Afflictions are strong, and long, not to fall into some indecencies ⟨p. 51⟩of speech and behaviour: we have heard of Jobs Impatience, as well as Patience, yet the Lord was graciously pleased to to take his part against his accusing Friends; ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath, Job 42.7. It is hard to act Faith, when sense and reason are nonplussed; the Lord therefore is pleased to overlook the weaknesses of his Children's faith, which in such deep plunges they bewray, so they strive against them, and be humbled for them; in magnis tentasse aliquid, non parvum, in great and difficult enterprises, an essay and endeavour is not little: Peter showed great Faith in venturing to go upon the Sea, but discovered infirmity when he began to sink; therefore Christ pitieth and succoureth his weakness. Davids strait was in a manner as great at Land, as Peters was at Sea. When at Gath amongst his Enemies, whose Champion he had slain; much fear and unbelief he borrowed in this his strait, yet some secret actings of Faith were ⟨p. 52⟩mingled with these his fears, as appeared by the Prayer he then lift up to God; and even this Prayer attended with so many distrustful fears, found acceptance with God; which made the good man bring this forth as an encouragement for others; This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his Troubles, Psalm 34.6. A poor man, indeed, he was at this time, not only in his outward state, but his inward; poor and low in the actings of his Faith. O what encouragement is here to come into the service of God; hard work thou mayst meet with, but not an hard Master; do but thou thy best, and God will forgive thy worst. Beware of wickedness, in not doing what thou canst, and God will not reject thee for thy weakness;