Use 3. It reproves such as do not believe this Power of God. We say we do not doubt of God's Power, but his Will*. But indeed it is God's Power that we question. Is any thing too hard for God? Jer. 32.27. yet we stagger through Unbelief, as if the Arm of God's Power were shrunk, and he could not help in desperate Cases. Take away a King's Power and we un-king him; take away the Lord's Power and we un-God him: yet how guilty of this are we. Did not Israel question God's Power? Can he prepare a Table in the Wilderness? Psal. 78.19. they thought the Wilderness was a fitter place for making of Graves, then spreading of a Table. Did not Martha doubt of Christ's Power? John 11.39. He hath been dead four days. If Christ had been there while Lazarus was sick, or when he had been newly dead, Martha did not question but Christ could have raised him, but he had laid in the Grave four days, and now she seemed to question his Power. Christ had as much ado to raise her Faith, as to raise her dead Brother. And Moses, though an holy Man, yet limits God's Power through Unbelief, Numb. 11.21. The People amongst whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen, and thou hast said I will give them flesh for a whole month; shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them to suffice them? or shall all the Fish of the Sea be gathered for them to suffice them? And the Lord said unto Moses, is the Lord's hand waxed short? This is a great Affront to God, to go to deny his Power. That Men doubt of God's Power, appears 1. By their taking indirect Courses. Would they defraud in their Dealings, use false Weights, if they believed the Power of God; that he could provide for them? 2. By their depending more upon second Causes then upon God, 2 Chron. 16.12. In his disease he sought not to the Lord but to the Physician.
Use 3. It reproves such as do not believe this Power of God. We say we do not doubt of God's Power, but his Will*. But indeed it is God's Power that we question. Is any thing too hard for God? Jer. 32.27. yet we stagger through Unbelief, as if the Arm of God's Power were shrunk, and he could not help in desperate Cases. Take away a King's Power and we un-king him; take away the Lord's Power and we un-God him: yet how guilty of this are we. Did not Israel question God's Power? Can he prepare a Table in the Wilderness? Psal. 78.19. they thought the Wilderness was a fitter place for making of Graves, then spreading of a Table. Did not Martha doubt of Christ's Power? Iohn 11.39. He hath been dead four days. If Christ had been there while Lazarus was sick, or when he had been newly dead, Martha did not question but Christ could have raised him, but he had laid in the Grave four days, and now she seemed to question his Power. Christ had as much ado to raise her Faith, as to raise her dead Brother. And Moses, though an holy Man, yet limits God's Power through Unbelief, Numb. 11.21. The People amongst whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen, and thou hast said I will give them flesh for a whole month; shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them to suffice them? or shall all the Fish of the Sea be gathered for them to suffice them? And the Lord said unto Moses, is the Lord's hand waxed short? This is a great Affront to God, to go to deny his Power. That Men doubt of God's Power, appears 1. By their taking indirect Courses. Would they defraud in their Dealings, use false Weights, if they believed the Power of God; that he could provide for them? 2. By their depending more upon second Causes then upon God, 2 Chron. 16.12. In his disease he sought not to the Lord but to the Physitian.
- *Not the posse, but veil.Not the posse, but velle.
