A treatise of the divine promises in five bookes : in the first, a generall description of their nature, kinds, excellency, right use, properties, and the persons to whom they belong : in the foure last, a declaration of the covenant it selfe .../ by Edvvard Legh ...

3. Experience of GOD in his Promises, confirmeth Faith and nourisheth Hope.

* 1.1 The faithfull are confirmed in the truth of GODS promi∣ses, by the experience of his dealing with others of his ser∣vants, Psal. 22.4. Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them: Psal. 34.5. They shall looke unto him, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to him, and their faces shall not be ashamed: What made them so confident in GODS mercies? verse 6. This poore man cryed, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

Experience of GODS dea∣ling with others, doth also nourish and uphold hope. There∣fore Iames brings to the memo∣ries of the Christian Jewes,* 1.2 GODS dealing with Iob, to strengthen their hope.

* 1.3But especially the experience a man hath had in himselfe, of the performance of GODS pro∣mises,

will marvellously confirme him.

This incouraged David, when he was to encounter with Go∣li••h.* 1.4 The LORD (saith he) did deliver mee from a Lion and a Beare, therefore he will deliver mee from this Philistine, 1 Sam. 17 35, 37. Paul concluded Gods favour, for the time future, by his proceedings past. The LORD (s••ith he) hath delivered mee from a sentence of death, and doth deli∣ver, therefore I trust that he will deliver, 2 Cor. 1.9, 10. See 2 Tim. 4.17, 18.

This we may see also in Salo∣mon,* 1.5 1 King. 8.24. and in other places, Deut. 1.29, 31. Deut. 3.21. Esay 51.9, 11. But we have a notable example for this in Ia∣cob. Gen. 32.9. Thou saidst unto mee, remove into thy countrey, and to thy kindred, and I will doe thee good. There is GODS Word and promise: then followeth the experience, he had already of the performance of this promise,

verse 10. I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies which thou hast shewed unto thy servant: for with my staffe came I over this Iordan, and now I have gotten two bands. Then followes the confirmation, he received in his faith by this experience, verse 11. I pray thee deliver mee from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau.

Experience likewise bringeth forth Hope, Rom. 5.4.

Three things concurre to make up experience:

1. Knowledge: the better knowledge, the better affiance, Psal. 9.10. They that know thy Name, will put their trust in thee.* 1.6

2. Observation of the waies of GOD.

3. Memory, remembrance of such workes of GOD, as wee have knowne and observed.

We should observe how GOD hath made good and confirmed his promises, even in our owne

experience, by blessing us, while we have walked carefully and conscionably before him, how often he hath granted our re∣quests. To this purpose is that exhortation, Psal. 34.8. O tast and see that the LORD is good. Labour to be able to say with Da∣vid, Psal. 119.56. This I had be∣cause I kept thy precepts: thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy Word, 6••. verse, or as it is 140. verse, Thy Word is prooved most pure (by good experience) therefore thy ser∣vant loveth it, or as he saith else∣where, Marvellous are thy works,* 1.7 and that my soule knoweth right well.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Experi∣ments God hath given us in others.
• * 1.2

  Iam. 5.11
• * 1.3

  2 Experi∣ence ••f his mercy in our selves
• * 1.4

  See Pal. 4.1. ••sal. 2▪ & 7.5 77.5.11 1.3 5. Psa. 1••9.52.
• * 1.5

  That faith may be pre∣served, wee must often meditate up¦on the sweet∣nesse, Ps. 1••9 103. & 139.11. constan∣cie, Rev. 1.5. 2 Cor. 1.20. & perpetulty of the most precious and free promi∣ses which are th•• grounds of faith, Hos. 14.5 Ezek. 36.22. as a Revered Di∣vine•• ob∣serves in his Exposition of his Ca∣techisme.
• * 1.6

  The Philo∣sopher saith, that experi∣ence is mul∣tiplex memo∣ria, a multi∣plied me∣mory, be∣cause of the memory of the same thing often done ariseth experience.
• * 1.7

  Psal. 139.14.