1. Comfort and encouragement to them that are under a gloomy day, this will not always last; he may try you for a while and you may be under great conflicts, and wants, and difficulties, as he tried the Woman of Canaan with discouraging answers, but at last, Woman! great is thy Faith, be it unto thee even as thou wilt, Matth. 15. 28. He tried his Disciples, when he meant to feed the multitude, John 6. 5, 6. Whence shall we buy bread, that all these may eat? This he said to prove them, for he himself knew what he would do. A poor Believer is tried Children increase, Trading grows dead in hard times, how shall so many mouths be filled? He promiseth Abraham a numerous posterity, but for a great while he goeth ⟨p. 198⟩childless. He promiseth David a Kingdom yet for a while he is fain to shift for his Life, and skulk up and down in the Wilderness. He intended to turn water into Wine, but first all the store must be spent. He meaneth to revive the hearts of his contrite ones, but for a while they lye under great doubts and fears, Moses his hand must be made leprous before it wrought miracles. Jesus loved Lazarus and meant to recover him, but he must be dead first. But I must not run too far! There will be tedious conflicts and trials, but yet there is hope of deliverance; God is willing and God is able. He is willing, because he is sufficiently inclined to it by the grace and favour that he beareth his people, Psal. 149. 4. The Lord taketh pleasure in his people, he will beautify the meek with salvation. The Lord loveth their persons, and he loveth their Prosperity and Happiness, Psal. 35. 27. He hath pleasure in the prosperity of his Servants. He is able either as to wisdom or power. Wisdom, 2 Pet. 2. 7. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation. Many times we know not which way, but God knoweth, he is never at a loss. Then for his Power, power hath a twofold notion, of Authority, and Might. ⟨p. 199⟩He hath Authority enough, the sovereign Dominion of God is a great prop to our Faith, all things in the World are at his disposal to use them for his own Glory, Psal. 44. 4. Command deliverances for Jacob; Angels, Devils, Men, the Hearts of the greatest men are all at his command. He hath might and strength, Dan. 3. 17. Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us, and what then can let?
1. Comfort and encouragement to them that are under a gloomy day, this will not alwayes last; he may try you for a while and you may be under great conflicts, and wants, and difficulties, as he tryed the Woman of Canaan with discouraging answers, but at last, Woman! great is thy Faith, be it unto thee even as thou wilt, Matth. 15. 28. He tryed his Disciples, when he meant to feed the multitude, Iohn 6. 5, 6. Whence shall we buy bread, that all these may eat? This he said to prove them, for he himself knew what he would do. A poor Believer is tryed Children increase, Trading grows dead in hard times, how shall so many mouths be filled? He promiseth Abraham a numerous posterity, but for a great while he goeth ⟨p. 198⟩childless. He promiseth David a Kingdom yet for a while he is fain to shift for his Life, and skulk up and down in the Wilderness. He intended to turn water into Wine, but first all the store must be spent. He meaneth to revive the hearts of his contrite ones, but for a while they lye under great doubts and fears, Moses his hand must be made leprous before it wrought miracles. Jesus loved Lazarus and meant to recover him, but he must be dead first. But I must not run too far! There will be tedious conflicts and tryals, but yet there is hope of deliverance; God is willing and God is able. He is willing, because he is sufficiently inclined to it by the grace and favour that he beareth his people, Psal. 149. 4. The Lord taketh pleasure in his people, he will beautifie the meek with salvation. The Lord loveth their persons, and he loveth their Prosperity and Happiness, Psal. 35. 27. He hath pleasure in the prosperity of his Servants. He is able either as to wisdom or power. Wisdom, 2 Pet. 2. 7. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation. Many times we know not which way, but God knoweth, he is never at a loss. Then for his Power, power hath a twofold notion, of Authority, and Might. ⟨p. 199⟩He hath Authority enough, the soveraign Dominion of God is a great prop to our Faith, all things in the World are at his disposal to use them for his own Glory, Psal. 44. 4. Command deliverances for Iacob; Angels, Devils, Men, the Hearts of the greatest men are all at his command. He hath might and strength,
