Thus we see this truth, that God is true, and what follows thence, his Word is true as himself, and not inconstant, yea, and nay. Besides all this 1that I have said, Let us make this Use of it, not to think Gods Word to be too good to be true, but yield obedience to it: yield the obedience of faith to it in the Promises. Here is a foundation for faith: the foundation of faith is without us; the evidences of faith are within us, by love, by purging our hearts, and stirring us up to pray, &c. but the foundation is out of our selves: here is a foundation, and pillar for faith to lean on; God is true, and his Word is true, and not yea, and nay, it is eternally true. Therefore apply all the Promises in the Old, and New Testament to thy self. It was not yea to Abraham, and not to thee: Gods Promises of forgiveness of sins, were not yea to David, and not to thee; they were not yea to Manasseh, and not to thee: but Gods truth is yea, eternally yea, Whatsoever was written heretofore, was written for our comfort; and we are now the Davids, and the Manasseh, and the Abrahams of God: we are now the beloved of God; for every one in their age are as they were in theirs: and as the Promises of God were yea to them, and saved their souls, because they trusted on them; so certainly every Promise of God is a shield for those that will have recourse to it. The Name of God is a strong Tower; and his Word is his Name whereby he will be known in his Promises. Have recourse to it on all occasions, rely on the Word: wrestle with him when his dealings seem contrary; though his dealings with us seem to be yea, and nay. We have been Gods Children, he hath assured us that we were in the state of grace; but now he deals with us as if we were not his children; he afflicts us, he suffers Satan to be let loose on us to tempt us: here flesh and blood is ready to say, Certainly I am not Gods child, can I be thus and thus followed as I am? No, no, Gods gifts are without repentance. Hadst thou ever grace? God hath said it, who is truth it self, that his gifts are without repentance. Build on it therefore, if thou hadst ever any grace, where he hath begun, he will make an end; Where he hath begun a good work, he will perfect it to the day of the Lord.
Thus we see this truth, that God is true, and what followes thence, his Word is true as himself, and not inconstant, yea, and nay. Besides all this 1that I have said, Let us make this Use of it, not to think Gods Word to be too good to be true, but yield obedience to it: yield the obedience of faith to it in the Promises. Here is a foundation for faith: the foundation of faith is without us; the evidences of faith are within us, by love, by purging our hearts, and stirring us up to pray, &c. but the foundation is out of our selves: here is a foundation, and pillar for faith to lean on; God is true, and his Word is true, and not yea, and nay, it is eternally true. Therefore apply all the Promises in the Old, and New Testament to thy self. It was not yea to Abraham, and not to thee: Gods Promises of forgivenesse of sins, were not yea to David, and not to thee; they were not yea to Manasses, and not to thee: but Gods truth is yea, eternally yea, Whatsoever was written heretofore, was written for our comfort; and we are now the Davids, and the Manasses, and the Abrahams of God: we are now the beloved of God; for every one in their age are as they were in theirs: and as the Promises of God were yea to them, and saved their souls, because they trusted on them; so certainly every Promise of God is a shield for those that will have recourse to it. The Name of God is a strong Tower; and his Word is his Name whereby he will be known in his Promises. Have recourse to it on all occasions, relie on the Word: wrastle with him when his dealings seem contrary; though his dealings with us seem to be yea, and nay. We have been Gods Children, he hath assured us that we were in the state of grace; but now he deals with us as if we were not his children; he afflicts us, he suffers Satan to be let loose on us to tempt us: here flesh and blood is ready to say, Certainly I am not Gods child, can I be thus and thus followed as I am? No, no, Gods gifts are without repentance. Hadst thou ever grace? God hath said it, who is truth it self, that his gifts are without repentance. Build on it therefore, if thou hadst ever any grace, where he hath begun, he will make an end; Where he hath begun a good work, he will perfect it to the day of the Lord.
- 1To yield obedience to Gods Word.
