A57982:307
The trial & triumph of faithThe tryal & triumph of faith
The trial & triumph of faith: or, An exposition of the history of Christs dispossessing of the daughter of the woman of Canaan Delivered in sermons; in which are opened, the victory of faith; the condition of those that are tempted; the excellency of Jesus Christ and free-grace; and some special grounds and principles of libertinism and antinomian errors, discovered by Samuel Rutherfurd, professor of divinity in the University of St. Andrews. Published by authority.The tryal & triumph of faith: or, An exposition of the history of Christs dispossessing of the daughter of the woman of Canaan Delivered in sermons; in which are opened, the victory of faith; the condition of those that are tempted; the excellency of Jesus Christ and free-grace; and some speciall grounds and principles of libertinisme and antinomian errors, discovered by Samuel Rutherfurd, professor of divinity in the University of St. Andrews. Published by authority.
London: printed by John Field, 1652
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The truly humble is the most thankful soul that is,1 unthankfulness is one of the sins of the age we live in: it floweth from 1. Contemning and despising Gods instruments: The valour of Jeph•ah is no mercy to Israel, because the Elders hate and despise a bastard, Judg. 11.1, 2, 6. The curing of Naamans leprosy is not looked on as a mercy: Why? washing in Jordan must do it, and there be better Rivers in his own land, in Damascus: Not only God, but all his instruments, that he worketh by, must be eye-sweet to us, and carry God and omnipotency on their ⟨p. 198⟩foreheads, else the mercy is no mercy to us. 2. Mercies cease to be mercies when they are smoked and blacked with our apprehensions; David, 2 Sam. c. 18. and 19. receiveth a great victory and is established on his Throne, which had been reeling and staggering of late, but there's one sad circumstance in that victory, his dear son Absalom was killed, and the mercy no mercy in Davids apprehension; Would God I had died for Absalom: so a little cross can wash away the sense of a great mercy: The want of a draught of cold water, strangles the thankful memory of Gods wonders done for his peoples deliverance out of Egypt, and his dividing the Red-sea. What a price would the godly in England have put on the removal of that which indeed was but a Mass-book, and the burdensome Ceremonies, within these few years? But because this mercy is not moulded and shapen according to the opinion of many, with such and such a Reformation, and Church-government, I am afraid there's fretting in too many, in stead of the return of praise: and hating of these, for whom they did sometimes pray; God grant that the sufferings of the Land, and this unnatural blood-shed may be near an end: except the Land be further humbled, I fear the end of evils is not yet come. This is a directing of the Spirit of the Lord, to teach God how to shape and floor his mercies toward us. Is it not fitting there be water in our wine, and a ⟨p. 199⟩thorn in our Rose? Shall God draw the lineaments and proportion of his favours after the measure of my foot? Shall the Almighty be instructed to regulate his ways of supernatural providence, according to the frame of our apprehensions? O, he is a wise Lord, and wonderful in counsel: Every mercy cannot be overlaid with Sapphires and precious stones, nor must all our deliverances drop sweet smelling-Myrrh.