The poor doubting Christian drawn to Christ. Wherein the main hindrances, which keep men…

3. A third Rule how Faith may be fitted for the Work: Take notice of this; In the Want of any Means, do not first seek for them; and in the Presence of any Means GOD affords, ⟨p. 110⟩look not first to them for Succour and Supply, but first go to the Promise, that it may supply what you need, and that the Promise may bless what Means you have. It is an uncomfortable and disorderly Course, for a Man barely and firstly to look at those Things which are within the Compass of Sense, and so range up and down in the Use of the Means, when the Promise and CHRIST are the last Thought of in our Hearts. As for Instance: In a Time of Poverty, how doth the Soul unfit it self for the Promise? When a Man sees his Estate low, and he is like to come to Misery, he saith, I have some good Friends that will not see me Want, I have so much Means left yet, and I have my Health and Strength, and I hope to get a poor Living. Not one Word all this while of a Promise: But what say you to this? If Death take away all thy Friends, Sickness take away thy Health and Strength, Fire or Thieves take away all thy Goods, whither wilt thou now go? Why then at a dead Lift, as we commonly say, he is fain to go to that Mercy which endureth for ever. Oh Friend, are you there now? Why came you not thither at first? Well, since thou art come, reason thus: I am like to be poor, and my Friends may die, and Thieves may rob me of all my Goods, but the Mercy of the Lord endureth for ever. So a Minister that is faithful, desires to preach ⟨p. 111⟩fruitfully, and to the Benefit of the Congregation; and then we catch at the Helps that are near at Hand, and we go to our Books and Studies, our Wits and Pains, and think these will do the Deed. We do well in all this; but the Fault is in the Order of doing them. Haply GOD knocks off Man's Wheels, and a Man is not able to come to the Bottom of the Point; and if he be able to compass the Truth in some Measure, yet GOD blasts all he doth, and there is no good comes to the Souls of his People; at last he is fain to go to the Promise; and then the poor Minister saith, LORD, thou hast said thou wilt be with thy faithful Ministers to the end of the World; Little Strength there is in us; but be thou with us LORD: Now the Work goes on again. The Tradesman is honest and painful, and he hopes to compass a good Estate by his Calling;