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

1. Dependence and trust; ¹as that like phrase imports, I will go in the strength of the Lord ⟨p. 224⟩God, &c. ²And that, I will strengthen them in the Lord, and they shall walk up and down in his name, at once shows us both the communication of the Divine Power [I will strengthen them in the Lord], and the way wherein it is communicated, [their walking up and down in his name], viz. in actual and continued dependence thereon. The blessed God hath settled this connection between our Faith and his own exerted Power. As the extraordinary works of the Spirit were not done, but upon the exercise of the extraordinary Faith, which by the Divine constitution was requisite thereunto: So that the Infidelity which stood in the privation of this Faith, did sometimes (so inviolable had that constitution made that connection) in a sort bind up the Power of God,³ (And he could do no might works there,—And he marvelled because of their unbelief. ⁴—Why could not we cast him out?—Because of your unbelief). Nor also are the works of the Holy Ghost, that are common upon all sincere Christians, done, but upon the intervening exercise of that more-common Faith. ⁵Therefore is this Shield to be taken above all the other parts of the Divine Armature, as sufficient to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked; therefore are we said to be kept by the Power of God through Faith. ⁶—And more expressly in terms to our present purpose;⁷ We are to receive the promise of the Spirit (i. e. the Spirit promised) through Faith. Hereby we draw the Power of that Almighty Spirit into a consent and co-operation ⟨p. 225⟩