Fourthly. The Promises of God are another Pasture, where the Sheep 1of Christ do daily feed. The Promises of God are of a Soul-fastening, and Soul-strengthening Nature: But there is no feeding here, without believing. A Sheep may as well feed on Grass, without Teeth, as a Christian can feed on the Promises without Faith. The Reason why the Soul cannot get into this rich Common, or rather fat Meadow, is, because he cannot get over the Slough of Unbelief. Man lives not by Bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds 2out of the Mouth of God. He can feed his People, and support them by a Word of Promise, when their Bread faileth: Nor must we take unlawful Means to supply our Necessities, nor distrust ⟨p. 136⟩the Care and Providence of God, tho we do not see which way we shall subsist: Trust in the Lord, and do good, so thou shalt dwell in the 3Land, and verily thou shalt be fed. We must depend upon the Providence and Promise of God, for Supplies both of Body and Soul: The young Lions lack, and suffer Hunger; yet they that seek 4the Lord shall not want any good thing. We must let God judg and choose for us; 'tis better for us sometimes to want, than to abound: There are Promises (as I have sometimes showed you) that answer every Condition we can be in.
Fourthly. The Promises of God are another Pasture, where the Sheep 1of Christ do daily feed. The Promises of God are of a Soul-fastening, and Soul-strengthning Nature: But there is no feeding here, without believing. A Sheep may as well feed on Grass, without Teeth, as a Christian can feed on the Promises without Faith. The Reason why the Soul cannot get into this rich Common, or rather fat Medow, is, because he cannot get over the Slough of Unbelief. Man lives not by Bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds 2out of the Mouth of God. He can feed his People, and support them by a Word of Promise, when their Bread faileth: Nor must we take unlawful Means to supply our Necessities, nor distrust ⟨p. 136⟩the Care and Providence of God, tho we do not see which way we shall subsist: Trust in the Lord, and do good, so thou shalt dwell in the 3Land, and verily thou shalt be fed. We must depend upon the Providence and Promise of God, for Supplies both of Body and Soul: The young Lions lack, and suffer Hunger; yet they that seek 4the Lord shall not want any good thing. We must let God judg and chuse for us; 'tis better for us sometimes to want, than to abound: There are Promises (as I have sometimes shewed you) that answer every Condition we can be in.
- 1The Promises are a rich Pasture for Christ's Sheep.
- 2Mat. 4. 4.
- 3Psal. 37. 3.
- 4Psal. 34. 10.
