A treatise of delighting in God from Psal. xxxvij. 4. Delight thy self also…

But admit it did arrive to a rational certainty (as it easily might with them that have with the external requisite advantages, competent understanding, patience, diligence, and impartiality to consider); That is, suppose it to proceed upon that abundant evidence which the case will admit, that the Christian Doctrine hath been testified by God; And that Gods testimony cannot deceive: There needs more to win and overcome mens hearts; which must be done e'er the things revealed in the Gospel can be apprehended delectable. What can any man have greater certainty of, in a mere human way, than all men have that they must dye? And yet how few are there whose spirits are formed hereby to any seriousness agreeable to that persuasion? Whatever way a man comes to be ⟨p. 36⟩certain of any thing that hath a contrary tendency to the bent of his habitually wicked heart, he needs more than the evidence of the thing, to make it efficaciously determine his will against his former vicious course. If the matter be such as properly falls under Faith; That Faith grounds upon the Authority of God apprehended as avouching the Truth of that revelation to which we subscribe our assent. But then it is lively or languid, according as the apprehension is we have of that avouchment. But the apprehension which is only the product of the external revelation, even recommended by the most advantageous and convincing circumstances, is too faint to command the Soul. Who amongst all the people of the Jews at Mount Horeb, could have any doubt, but the Authority that avouched the Law there given them was Divine? And yet how boldly do they rush into Idolatry, against the express letter of that Law; while the sound of that dreadful voice of words which delivered it, could hardly, one would think, be well out of their ears! And though they could not doubt of Gods Authority, yet for all that, their frequent rebellions are plainly resolved into their infidelity. ¹How long will this people provoke me? And how long will it be ere [they believe me], ²for all the signs which I have showed among them? Yea they despised the pleasant land: [they believed not] his word. Or what place could be left for rational doubt, with the multitudes that beheld ⟨p. 37⟩