Rule 8.

Rule 8.

All Promises made to particular Saints are applicable to all Saints in the same condition. ¹God promiseth to Joshua, that he would never leave him, ²nor forsake him. This is applied by the Apostle for the comfort of every Saint.³ Christ tells Peter, Luke 22. 32. I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not. This is applicable to every Saint: Christ prayeth for thee and me, and therefore he adds, When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. Therefore the ⟨p. 201⟩Apostle Paul saith, That God comforted him in his tribulation, ⁴that he might be able to comfort those who are in trouble by the comfort wherewith he was comforted. ⁵And the Apostle James propounds the example of the Prophets in general, and of Job in particular, to persuade unto patience in affliction. And therefore when thou art in any strait, consider what God hath promised unto others, in thy condition, and what God hath done to them, he will do to thee, for he is unchangeable. And say not, If I were a Paul, a Peter, or a Job, God would do to me, as he did to them; but I am a poor, weak, unworthy creature, not worthy to be named that day in which these are named. But consider, If thou beest a member of Christs body (though but as the Toe) Christ will have a care of thee. If a child of God (though but weak and sickly) thy heavenly Father will provide for thee. A Father is tender of ⟨p. 202⟩every child, and a man of every member of his body; so will God be of all those who belong to him, though but Babes in Christ.