Saints by calling: or Called to be saints A godly treatise of our holy calling to Christ, by the gospell. With the seuerall gifts proper vnto the called: and their counterfeits in the hypocrites which are not partakers of this effectuall calling. Written by Thomas Wilson, minister of Gods word, at S. Georges Church in Canterbury.

Of trust or confidence in God.

Aquila.

AMongst other things spoken by you touching the* 1.1 feare of God, your last words of fearing God ac∣cordingly, be very worthy of all Christians to be thought on: for it is not enough if we will doe our du∣ties and be safe, to feare God, and to doe it sincerely, vnlesse we doe feare him accordingly: that is, conside∣ring our owne infirmities, how weake wee are and prone to euill, vnable to doe well, feeble to resist en∣counters, and to beare off assaults, stumbling at euery straw, and fearing euery bush, or shaking of a leafe; and the malice and force, the subtilty and guile of our visible and inuisible enemies, how many, furious, and crafty they be; also considering, how sundry men stronger then our selues, haue beene surprized and o∣uertaken by them: moreouer, the awefull Maiesty of God, his terrible iustice, and almightinesse, so hating sinne, so able to annoy and hurt sinners, the infinite goodnesse and mercy and holinesse of God, so louing the righteous, so willing and able to blesse the iust; all these being duly pondered, it would be the duty and worke of all men to pray, and vse all good meanes that they may feare God, and feare him much and plenti∣fully, and continually. And to speake truth, how can hee bee too much feared, that hath already done so

much for vs? of whom also we looke for so much; from whom commeth all good: without whom nothing can be had that is helpefull and healthfull vnto vs; hee gouerning and disposing all things as he will, hauing all creatures subiect to his will and pleasure: Angels, Men, Diuels, Beasts, to make them friends, or ene∣mies. Blessed is therefore the man whose heart is al∣wayes, and much in his feare, being afraide of sinning against God, as of the greatest euill that can befall him; and studious of pleasing God, as the greatest good that can come to him. But now Sir, I would heare you proue vnto me, that to trust in God, is such a worke as the faithfull alone can doe it; and wherein it consisteth, and how it differeth from the confidence of wicked men, and what be the effects and markes of it in those that haue it, and how we are to be encou∣raged vnto it.

Apollos.

Of all other workes which be proper to* 1.2 the Elect, there is least question of this, whether it be appropriated to godly men alone; because the Scrip∣ture euery where doth describe the wicked hereby, as by an essentiall effectuall note, that they trust not in God; that there is in them an euill heart and vnbelee∣uing;* 1.3 that they with-draw themselues through vnbe∣leefe,* 1.4 that they are full of vnbeleefe; that they are faithlesse, that their trust is in their riches, or in the* 1.5 arme of flesh, or in man, and not in the liuing God.* 1.6 Which plainely proueth, that none saue the godly man can put his trust in God; it being put downe as the property and vnseparable marke to a righteous man, that his trust is in God, that hee maketh God his* 1.7 buckler, his tower, his shield, and defence, his fortresse* 1.8

and bulwarke; that his heart is fixed in God, and stay∣eth on him. The promises also which be made to them that they shall neuer be remoued; Psalme 125. 1. but be established and stand like mount Sion that cannot be remoued; that mercies shall compasse them on euery* 1.9 side, that they shall not perish; that God will be their God for euer, that his saluation belongeth to them, that he will neuer faile nor forsake them; Heb. 13. And many such like, do confirme to vs, that to trust in God, as it is a thing maruellous acceptable vnto God, so it is a duty which euery one cannot performe, but they onely with whom God hath stricken an euerlasting couenant.

This trust in God, causeth the godly man to repose* 1.10 and place his affiance and confidence in God, that through his onely goodnesse and power, he shall not onely be safe against all enemies and euils, so as not to be ouercome by them, though he be assaulted; but to obtaine whatsoeuer good thing is expedient for him to haue. The ground of this their confidence, it is first* 1.11 the knowledge of Gods nature, that he is mercifull, most true, and almighty. Secondly, the consideration of his promises, whereby he hath bound himselfe to doe his children good, and to keepe euill from them. Thirdly, the great experience of Gods great care and kindnesse, both to others and toward themselues. For the first ground of our trust in God; see Psal. 146. 5, 6. where the infinite power of God vttered in the worke of creation, and his fidelity in performing his word, are put for foundations of our trust. For the second, when Esau came against Iacob, hee gathered trust and heart from the remembrance and meditation of Gods

promises before made to him; O Lord (saith Iacob) thou speakest to thy seruant, and badst me goe into my Country, and thou wouldst be with me; Gen. 32. 9. Also Dauid here∣vpon built his confidence, as we may reade Psal. 119. In thy Word is my trust and comfort. And touching the third, his owne experience of Gods wonderfull pre∣seruation towards himselfe; Psal. 25. 4. Thou art the God of my saluation, in thee doe I trust all the day long; and towards others, Our Fathers trusted in thee, and were deliuered; Psal. 22. 4. did embolden him to rest himselfe in God. And this is to bee obserued in the* 1.12 trust and confidence of a godly man, that whether he haue few or many, little or great meanes, any or no meanes; yet his heart still trusteth in God, whom hee knoweth, and hath tried to be sufficient of himselfe, without, nay, against meanes to succour and saue him. And herein is the maine difference betweene the god∣ly* 1.13 and the wicked, in this point; that whereas both pro∣fesse to trust in God alone, and in prosperity & peace, both seeme so to doe; yet the trust of the vngodly, is not in the Lord, but in second causes, in outward meanes; as Asa trusted in his Phisicians, 2 Chro. 16. 12. The rich man in the Gospell trusted in his abun∣dance of goods; Luke 12. 19. Doeg in the multitude of his riches, Psalme 53. 5, 6. the Iewes in the AEgyptians, in whom they strengthened themselues; Esay 30. 2. the Assirians in their owne forces, Esay 36. and some (saith the Psalmist) trust in Chariots, some in Horses, whereas the godly doe trust in the name of the Lord; Psal. 20. This difference is manifested in the euill day, when meanes faile the wicked; then it appeares their hope was not in God: for of confident and bold, by the pre∣sence

of the meanes, they weigh faint and heartlesse thorow the absence thereof; as appeareth by com∣mon experience. Whereas the godly, in desperate hopelesse cases, as Daniel in the Den of Lyons, the three seruants in the fiery Furnace, Ieremy in the dun∣geon, Ioseph in prison, Ionas in the Whales belly, Da∣uid in exile and flight from Saul; finally, Paul and Silas in the stocks, made God their strength and whole trust: and which is yet more then all this, the godly make the Lord their stay and trust, not onely when all men, and all things bee against them, but allso when God sheweth himselfe as an enimie vnto them, beleeuing in him vnder hope aboue hope; as it is said of Abra∣ham, Rom. 4. 18. Iob also professing that hee would trust in God, though he would kill him, Iob 13. The rea∣son hereof is euident, because they are assured, that whatsoeuer courses God holdeth towards them, yet his mercies, truth, and goodnesse, are firme, and vn∣changeable, and will neuer faile them. Now herein is the triall of our trust in God, when in time of peace* 1.14 and prosperity that wee haue meanes at hand, and in our power, wee so vse them, as our minds doth looke beyond them vnto God, looking for the good suc∣cesse, and for a blessing from Heauen; being assured, that as we haue all meanes, so we expect the good vse of the meanes from him alone: and when they are lacking to vs, or fight against vs, yet not to be so dis∣maide, but that we still cast vp our eye vnto God, with confidence of helpe from his goodnesse. When wee are put in the clests, and come to any great straites, we are then to resolue and say with Iehosaphat; 2 Chro. 20. 12. There is a great multitude come out against vs, and

wee know not what to doe, but our eyes are towards thee: and with Abraham, My sonne, God will prouide a sacri∣fiee, when he saw no likelihood of any; Gen. 25. and with King Dauid, Though my heart be per plexed and troubled, yet will I waite on God, he is my helpe and my God; Psa. 42.* 1.15 And againe, He hath beene my God euen from my mothers wombe, therefore I will trust in him, Ps. 22. and Happy is the man that hath his trust in the God of Iacob; for whosoe∣uer trusteth in him shall be assured, neuer any yet ashamed which put their trust in the Almighty; Psal. 22. 4, 5. Ther∣fore if thou dwell in the secret of the most highest, and abide in the shadow of the Almighty, saying to him, O Lord, thou art my hope and my rock, my God, in thee will I trust; surely then he will deliuer thee from the snare of the Hunter, and from the noysome pestilence, hee will couer thee vnder his wings, and thou shalt be safe vnder his feathers; his truth shall bee thy shield and buckler, thou shalt not be afraide of the feare of the night, nor of the arrow that flyeth by day, nor of the plague that destroyeth at noone day, nor of the pesti∣lence which walkes in the darke. Thus great is the peace, and wonderfull is the security and quiet of the man that maketh God his stay: for who can take out of the hands of God? If God will saue, who can destroy? Who can hurt, whom hee will keepe? which doth all what hee will in Heauen and Earth, whom none can resist; whereas God being neglected and set apart, all other things are too weake to helpe. Vaine is the helpe of man; an Horse cannot saue; no power, no policy, can releeue or rescue against God. Vaine is the helpe of Princes; Castles, Towers, Forts, Forces, Friends, wealth, wit, and whatsoeuer else, is vnable to preserue

him, who hath not God for his friend; and hee is not friend to any, saue such as make him their stay & 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Both Scripture, and other Stories, abundantly teach of very great and mighty men, how feurefully they haue liued, and how lamentably they haue perished, because they reposed themselues vpon other things besides God: which is sufficient to admonish all per∣sons to vse all good helpes giuen them of God, so as their trust be fixed in God alone; for he is the defence of his people, and their strong deliucrer. It were bet∣ter to haue the presence and protection of God onely, then a gard of many thousand men about vs. Thou O Lord alone (saith Dauid) makest me rest in safety. I laide me downe and slept, and rose againe, for thou O Lord makest me dwell in safety; Psal. 3. 5. & 4. But such as withdraw their hearts from God, he shall cause those very means wherein they put their trust, to be their ouerthrow: vse meanes therefore lest thou tempt God, trust not in them, lest thou denie him, and he destroy thee.

Notes

• * 1.1

  God must be feared accor∣dingly.
• * 1.2

  Trust in God, proper to the faithfull.
• * 1.3

  Heb. 3.
• * 1.4

  Heb. 10.
• * 1.5

  Psal. 53.
• * 1.6

  Tim. 1. 6.
• * 1.7

  Psal. 18.
• * 1.8

  Psal. 112.
• * 1.9

  Psal. 32.
• * 1.10

  What it is to trust in God.
• * 1.11

  Ground of trust in God.
• * 1.12

  The godly vse meanes, but haue their trust in God onely.
• * 1.13

  Wherein the trust of the godly differs from the trust of the wicked.
• * 1.14

  Markes for triall of our trust in God.
• * 1.15

  Encourage∣ments to trust in God.