Now in the Examples proposed unto us, there is withal through the wisdom and care of the Spirit of God, represented unto us, the Temptations which befell those who are so our patterns, the Occasions of them, their Advantages, Power or Prevalency, wherein they missed it, or failed, exposing themselves unto the power of their Spiritual Enemies; and on the other hand what course they took for Relief, what Application they made unto God in their Difficulties and Distresses, and wherein alone they reposed their confidence of success. These things might be confirmed by manifold Instances. (4) There is in them also made known what Interveniences and Disturbances in our course of Obedience may befall us, which yet ought not to make us utterly despond, and give over our Profession as fruitless and hopeless. I confess great Wisdom and Caution is to be used in the consideration of the sins and falls of the Saints under the Old Testament, that they be no way abused to give countenance unto sin, either before or after its Commission. We know not their Circumstances, their Light, their Grace, their Temptations, their Repentance, nor what was the Indulgence of God towards sinners, before the fullness of the Dispensation of Grace came by Jesus Christ. But this is certain in general, that if every great sin or fall, when any is overtaken therein by the overpowering of Temptations, were absolutely inconsistent with that course of Obedience which leads unto the Inheritance of the Promises, the Holy Ghost would not without any particular exception as to their persons, have recorded such things in the lives of them whom he proposeth for our Example. (5) The certain end of a Course of Holy Obedience is in them proposed unto us. All those holy Souls that are now at rest with God in Glory, as having inherited the Promises, were sometimes as we are, conflicting with Corruptions and Temptations, undergoing Reproaches and Persecutions, labouring in Duties and a constant course of Obedience unto God. If therefore we follow them in their Work, we shall not fail to partake with them in their Reward.
Now in the Examples proposed unto us, there is withall through the wisdom and care of the Spirit of God, represented unto us, the Temptations which befell those who are so our patterns, the Occasions of them, their Advantages, Power or Prevalency, wherein they missed it, or failed, exposing themselves unto the power of their Spiritual Enemies; and on the other hand what course they took for Relief, what Application they made unto God in their Difficulties and Distresses, and wherein alone they reposed their confidence of success. These things might be confirmed by manifold Instances. (4) There is in them also made known what Interveniences and Disturbances in our course of Obedience may befall us, which yet ought not to make us utterly despond, and give over our Profession as fruitless and hopeless. I confess great Wisdom and Caution is to be used in the consideration of the sins and falls of the Saints under the Old Testament, that they be no way abused to give countenance unto sin, either before or after its Commission. We know not their Circumstances, their Light, their Grace, their Temptations, their Repentance, nor what was the Indulgence of God towards sinners, before the fulness of the Dispensation of Grace came by Jesus Christ. But this is certain in general, that if every great sin or fall, when any is overtaken therein by the overpowering of Temptations, were absolutely inconsistent with that course of Obedience which leads unto the Inheritance of the Promises, the Holy Ghost would not without any particular exception as to their persons, have recorded such things in the lives of them whom he proposeth for our Example. (5) The certain end of a Course of Holy Obedience is in them proposed unto us. All those holy Souls that are now at rest with God in Glory, as having inherited the Promises, were sometimes as we are, conflicting with Corruptions and Temptations, undergoing Reproaches and Persecutions, labouring in Duties and a constant course of Obedience unto God. If therefore we follow them in their Work, we shall not fail to partake with them in their Reward.
