Preparation for sufferings. Or The best work in the worst times Wherein the necessity,…

4. Consid. Lastly, In this life of dependence lies your security: And indeed, this is the great difference, betwixt the two Covenants: In the first, Adam's stock was in his own hands, and so his security or misery depended upon the unconstrained choice of his own mutable and self determining Will: But now in the New Covenant, all are to go to Christ, to depend upon him for supplies, and are so secured against all destructive dangers, Jude 1. 1 Pet. 1.5. Should you go forth in your own strength against a Temptation, either your Grace would fail, and you fall in the Conflict: Or if you obtain any Victory over it by your own strength, yet 'tis a thousand to one but your Pride would conquer you, when you had conquered it: Like him that slew an Elephant, but was himself slam by the fall of that Elephant which he slew. But now, by this way, as God hath secured you against the Dangers without; so also the frame and constitution of this New Covenant is such, as prevents the danger arising from our own Pride too. Not. Ego, & Deus meus; I and my God did this: as was once said by a profane Mouth; But self is abased, and the Lord lifted up in his own strength, 1 Cor 4 7. And thus I have briefly evinced the necessity of this daily dependence.

4. Consid. Lastly, In this life of dependance lies your security: And indeed, this is the great difference, betwixt the two Covenants: In the first, Adam's stock was in his own hands, and so his security or misery depended upon the unconstrained choice of his own mutable and self determining Will: But now in the New Covenant, all are to go to Christ, to depend upon him for supplies, and are so secured against all destructive dangers, Jude 1. 1 Pet. 1.5. Should you go forth in your own strength against a Temptation, either your Grace would fail, and you fall in the Conflict: Or if you obtain any Victory over it by your owa strength, yet 'tis a thousand to one but your Pride would conquer you, when you had conquered it: Like him that slew an Elephant, but was himself slam by the fall of that Elephant which he slew. But now, by this way, as God hath secured you against the Dangers without; so also the frame and constitution of this New Covenant is such, as prevents the danger arising from our own Pride too. Not. Ego, & Deus meus; I and my God did this: as was once said by a prophane Mouth; But self is abased, and the Lord lifted up in his own strength, 1 Cor 4 7. And thus I have briefly evinced the necessity of this daily dependance.