3. See then what encouragement here is for Faith!1 Had Christ said, he would break the bruised reed, then indeed there were ground for despair; but when Christ saith, he will not break a bruised reed, this opens a door of hope for humble bruised souls: Can we say we have been bruised for sin, why do we not believe? Why do we go drooping under our fears and discouragements, as if there were no mercy for us? Christ saith, He will heal the broken in heart, Psal. 147. 3. No, saith Unbelief, he will not heal me: Christ saith, he will cure the bruised soul: No, saith Unbelief, he will kill it: Unbelief, as it makes our comforts void, so it goes about to make the Word void; as if all Gods Promises were but forgeries, or like Blanks in a Lottery: Hath the Lord said, he will not break a bruised reed, can Truth lie? O what a sin is unbelief! Some think it dreadful to be among the number of drunkards, swearers, whoremongers, let me tell you, it is no less dreadful to be among the number of* Unbelievers: Unbelief is worse than any other ⟨p. 324⟩sin, because it brings God into suspicion with the Creature, it robs him of the richest Jewel of his Crown, and that is his truth, 1 Joh. 5. 10. He that believeth not; hath made God a liar.
3. See then what encouragement here is for Faith!1 Had Christ said, he would break the bruised reed, then indeed there were ground for despair; but when Christ saith, he will not break a bruised reed, this opens a door of hope for humble bruised souls: Can we say we have been bruised for sin, why do we not believe? Why do we go drooping under our fears and discouragements, as if there were no mercy for us? Christ saith, He will heal the broken in heart, Psal. 147. 3. No, saith Unbelief, he will not heal me: Christ saith, he will cure the bruised soul: No, saith Unbelief, he will kill it: Unbelief, as it makes our comforts void, so it goes about to make the Word void; as if all Gods Promises were but forgeries, or like Blanks in a Lottery: Hath the Lord said, he will not break a bruised reed, can Truth lie? O what a sin is unbelief! Some think it dreadful to be among the number of drunkards, swearers, whoremongers, let me tell you, it is no less dreadful to be among the number of* Unbelievers: Unbelief is worse than any other ⟨p. 324⟩sin, because it brings God into suspition with the Creature, it robs him of the richest Jewel of his Crown, and that is his truth, 1 Ioh. 5. 10. He that believeth not; hath made God a lyar.
- 13 Bran.
- *Rev. 21. 8.
