To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
Of a faithfull selfe-resignation.
SEcondly, to make up a true contentment with the most adverse estate, there is required a faithfull selfe-re∣signation into the hands of that God, whose wee are; who, as he hath more right in us, then our selves, so he best knows what to doe with us: How graciously hath his mercy invited us to our own ease? Bee carefull (saith he) for nothing; but in eve∣ry * 1.1 thing by prayer, and sup∣plication,
with thanksgiving, let your requests bee made known unto God: we are naturally apt in our necessities to have recourse to greater powers then our own; even where we have no engagement of their help; how much more should we cast our selves upon the Almighty, when he not onely allows, but solicits our reliance upon him? It was a question that might have befitted the mouth of the best Christian, which fell from So∣crates, Since God himselfe is carefull for thee, why art thou solicitous for thy selfe? If evils were let loose upon us, so as it were possible for us to suffer any thing that God were not aware of, we might have just cause to sink under adver∣sities; but now, that we know every dram of our affliction is weighed out to us, by that all-wise, and all-mercifull Provi∣dence;
Oh our infidelity, if we doe make scruple of taking in the most bitter dose! Here then is the right use of that main duty of Christianity, to live by faith: Brute creatures live by sense, meer men by rea∣son, Christians by faith. Now, faith is the substance of things * 1.2 hoped for; the evidence of things not seen; In our extre∣mities, we hope for Gods graci∣ous deliverance, faith gives a subsistence to that deliverance, before it be: The mercies that God hath reserved for us, doe not yet show themselves; faith is the evidence of them, though yet unseen: It was the Motto of the learned and godly Di∣vine Master Perkins, Fidei vita vera vita; The true life, is the life of faith; a word which that worthy servant of God did both write and live; nei∣ther indeed is any other life tru∣ly vitall, but this; for hereby
we enjoy God in all whatsoever occurrences: Are we abridged of means? we feed upon the cordiall Promises of our God: Doe we sigh and groan under varieties of grievous persecuti∣ons? out of the worst of them we can pick out comforts; whiles we can hear our Saviour say, Blessed are they which are per∣secuted * 1.3 for righteousnesse sake; for theirs is the kingdome of Heaven: Are we deserted, and abandoned of friends? we see him by us, who hath said, I will * 1.4 never leave thee, nor forsake thee: Doe we droop under spirituall desertions? we hear the God of truth say; For a * 1.5 small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercy will I gather thee; In a little wrath I hid my face from thee, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer: Are we driven from home? If
wee take the wings of the * 1.6 morning, and remain in the uttermost parts of the Sea; even there also shall thine hand lead us, and thy right hand shall hold us: Are we dungeon'd up from the sight of the Sun? Peradven∣ture the darknesse shall cover * 1.7 us; but then shall our night be turned into day; yea, the darknesse is no darknesse with thee: Are we cast down up∣on the bed of sicknesse? He that is our God, is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from * 1.8 death.
It cannot bee spoken hovv injurious those men are to themselves, that will be mana∣ging their owne cares, and plotting the prevention of their fears; and projecting their own, both indemnity, and advantages; for, as they lay an unnecessary load upon their
own shoulders, so they draw upon themselves the miseries of an unremediable disappoint∣ment; Alas, how can their weaknesse make good those e∣vents which they vainly pro∣mise to themselves, or avert those judgements they would escape, or uphold them in those evils they must under∣goe? Whereas if wee put all this upon a gracious God, hee contrives it with ease; looking for nothing from us, but our trust, and thankfulnesse.
Phil. 4. 6.
Heb. 11. 1.
Mat. 5. 10.
Heb. 13. 5.
Esa. 54. 7, 8
Psal. 139. 8, 9.
Verse 10, 11.
Psal. 68. 20