CHAP. XLI. Questions, and Cases of Conscience about carnal Confidence.

Quest. WHat carnal confidence is particularly forbidden in Scripture?

Answ. First, trusting in riches, Job. 31.24. 1 Tim. [ I] 6.17.

Secondly, in men, Psal. 118.8. Though Princes, v. 9. [ II]

Thirdly, In strength of a City, Prov. 21.22. [ III]

Fourthly, in our relations, Mich. 7.5. [ IV]

Fifthly, in Gods enemies, Jer. 2.37. Hos. 14.3. [ V]

Sixthly, in places of idolatrous worship, Jer. 48.13. [ VI]

Seventhly, in the flesh, Phil. 3.3. [ VII]

Quest. What reasons doth the Scripture give against it?

Answ. First, all such confidence shall be rooted out, Job 18.14. [ I]

Secondly, its punishable, Job. 31.28. [ II]

Thirdly, it argues great folly, Prov. 14.16. [ III]

Fourthly, its deceitful, Prov. 25.19. [ IV]

Fifthly, its rejected by God, Jer. 2.37. [ V]

Quest. Why have men naturally confidence in outward things?

Answ. Their hearts being not filled with grace, they relish not Christ, but flie to these outward things for refuge. Thus the Jews boasted in the name of Ho∣ly people, their Law, Temple, Holy Land, &c. and many amongst us, of hearing the word, receiving the Sacrament, uncovering the head, bowing the knee, &c. Yet all these could not save them from captivity, nor us from de∣struction.

Quest. Why are men taken up with carnal confidence in these things?

Answ. First, because outward things are easie, and men cannot endure to apply [ I] themselves to the hard matters of the Law.

Secondly, they are glorious, and men desire to be taken notice of. [ II]

Thirdly, men have a foolish conceit that God is pleased with the outward act, [ III] though inward sincerity be wanting.

Fourthly, men want knowledge of themselves, an inward change, a sense of their [ IV] own unworthinesse, and Christs worthiness.

Quest. How shall we know whether our confidence is carnal, or no?

Page  397 [ I] Answ. First, Where this carnal confidence is, there is bitterness of spirit a∣gainst sincerity: None persecuted Christ more then the Scribes and Pharisees which sat in Moses chair, &c.

[ II] Secondly, where this is, such men secretly bless themselves in their outward performance of good duties without humiliation for their defects.

Dr. Sibs on Phil. 3.3.

[ III] Thirdly, when we venture on ill courses, and causes, thinking to be supported by the help of outward means: As in warre, with multitude of souldiers and Horses, &c. which cannot prevail, Isa. 30.1, 2, 3, &c. and 31.1, &c.

Fourthly, when we rest our souls upon meaner things, never seeking to Divine [ IV] and religious helps.

Fifthly, when men love to sleep in a whole skin, and therefore will take the [ V] safest courses (as they think) to secure themselves, not consulting with God, but with flesh and blood; and confiding in creature help: whereas,

1. The creature yeelds not that we expect it should: there is falshood in these things; they promise much, and perform little, and so deceive them that trust in them.

2. They are mutable, and subject to change: All things come to an end save God who is unchangeable.

3. They are snares and baits to draw us away from God by reason of the vanity of our hearts, which are vainer then the things themselves, Psal. 62.9. Eccl. 1.1.

Quest. How may we prevent or cure this carnal confidence?

Answ. A right apprehension of God will do it. For the more, or less that we conceive of God as we should do, so the more, or lesse we disclaime confidence in the creature, They who in their affections of love, joy, affiance, and delight, are taken up too much with the creature (say what they will) they professe to all the world by their practice that they know not God: But the who know and apprehend him in his greatness and goodness, in that proportion they with∣draw their hearts from the creature, and all things else. As in a paire of balances, so where God weighs down in the soul, all other things are light; and where o∣ther things prevail, there God is set light by. Dr. Sibs on Hosea.

Quest. What is confidence?

Answ. Its a certainty that we conceive of a future desired good, or of the love, and fidelity of a person, whereby the heart is filled with joy and love.

Quest. What is the only subject proper for mans intire confidence?

Answ. God, All-good, Almighty, and All-wise, without him all things that men use to repose their confidence upon are waves and quicksands. Men are mu∣table, and though they could give good security for the constancy of their wills, they can give none for the continuance of their life. The goods of the earth faile our expectation, or come short of our satisfaction, or slip from our possession: they will leave us, or we them: No wonder then if they that repose their full and whole confidence in them are seen so often to fall into despaire. Here then the true counsel for tranquility is to trust wholly upon none but God, on other things according to their nature and capacity: they shall never deceive us if we require nothing of them above their nature.

Confidence is good according to the goodness of the subject that it reposeth upon: wherfore confidence in God the only soveraign good, perfect, solid, immu∣table, is the best of all, and the only thing that can give assurance, and content to the soul. He that is blest with that confidence is half in Paradise already: He is firm, safe, meek, serene, and too strong for all his enemies, Psal. 84.12. God is to him a Sun to give him light, heat, life, and plenty of all goods: and a Shield to guard him, and shelter him from all evils: He gives him grace in this life, and glory in the next. O Lord of Hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

Dr. Du Moulin of contentment.