1. We are said to tempt God, when we put it to the proof, whether he will be as good as his word, either in the Comminatory or Promissory part thereof; Psalm 95. 9. When your Fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my Works: they tempted God, as they put him often upon the trial. To note that (by the way) there's a two-fold tempting or proving of God; either in a way of Duty, or Sin. In a way of Duty, when we wait to see his Promise fulfilled: And so, Mal. 3. 10. Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, I will not open you the Windows of Heaven, and pour you out a Blessing; come pay your Tithes and Offerings: He would have the Portion which belonged to himself; and prove me now herewith, &c. God submits to a Trial from Experience, when we wait for the Good promised. Thus we try God, and try his Word. Psal. 18. 30. The Word of the Lord is a tried Word: He is a Buckler to all those that trust in him. All those which build upon it, that wait to see what God will do, they will find it, upon experience, to be accomplished to a tittle: Never did any build upon it, or wait for the accomplishment of it in vain. 2. In a way of Sin. Many ways we are said to tempt God: When we set God a task, in satisfying our Conceits, and Carnal Affections; Psal. 78. 18. They tempted God in their Hearts, by asking Meat for their Lusts: And when we will not believe in him, but upon Conditions of our own making: or when we confine him to our ⟨p. 409⟩Means, or Time, or manner of working: or would have some extraordinary proof of his Being, and Power, and Goodness: or see whether God will punish us though we sin against him. All these ways we are said to tempt God in a way of Sin. But that's not my business now. Therefore,
1. We are said to tempt God, when we put it to the proof, whether he will be as good as his word, either in the Cominatory or Promissory part thereof; Psalm 95. 9. When your Fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my Works: they tempted God, as they put him often upon the trial. To note that (by the way) there's a two-fold tempting or proving of God; either in a way of Duty, or Sin. In a way of Duty, when we wait to see his Promise fulfill'd: And so, Mal. 3. 10. Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, I will not open you the Windows of Heaven, and pour you out a Blessing; come pay your Tithes and Offerings: He would have the Portion which belonged to himself; and prove me now herewith, &c. God submits to a Trial from Experience, when we wait for the Good promised. Thus we try God, and try his Word. Psal. 18. 30. The Word of the Lord is a tried Word: He is a Buckler to all those that trust in him. All those which build upon it, that wait to see what God will do, they will find it, upon experience, to be accomplished to a tittle: Never did any build upon it, or wait for the accomplishment of it in vain. 2. In a way of Sin. Many ways we are said to tempt God: When we set God a task, in satisfying our Conceits, and Carnal Affections; Psal. 78. 18. They tempted God in their Hearts, by asking Meat for their Lusts: And when we will not believe in him, but upon Conditions of our own making: or when we consine him to our ⟨p. 409⟩Means, or Time, or manner of working: or would have some extraordinary proof of his Being, and Power, and Goodness: or see whether God will punish us though we sin against him. All these ways we are said to tempt God in a way of Sin. But that's not my business now. Therefore,
