Kaina kai palaia Things new and old, or, A store-house of similies, sentences, allegories, apophthegms, adagies, apologues, divine, morall, politicall, &c. : with their severall applications / collected and observed from the writings and sayings of the learned in all ages to this present by John Spencer ...

Men to be thankfull for the little strength of Grace that God affordeth. [ 1329]

AS soon as ever Moses with his Army was through the Sea,* 1.1 they strike up before they stir from the bank•• side, and acknowledge the wonderfull ap∣pearance of Gods power and m••rcy for them, though this was but one step in their way; a howling Wildernesse presented it self unto them, and they not able to subsist a few dayes with all their provision, for all their great Victo∣ry, yet Moses, he will praise God for this handsell of Mercy; Now this holy Man knew, how to keep credit with God, so as to have more, was to keep touch, and pay down his praise for what was received: Thus it is with thee, O thou poor, weak, trembling Christian; If thou wouldest have fuller communications of di∣vine strength, own God in what he hath already done for thee; Art thou weak? blesse God thou hast life; Dost thou through feeblenesse often fail in duty, and ••all into temptation? Mourn in the sense of these: yet blesse God that thou dost not lye in a totall neglect of duty,* 1.2 out of a prophane contempt thereof, and that instead of falling through weaknesse, thou dost not lye in the mi••e of Sin, through the wickednesse of thy heart; Art thou not of that strength of Grace, to

run with the foremost, and hold pace with the tallest of thy brethren, yet art thou thankful that thou hast any strength at all? although it be but to cry after them, whom thou seest to out-strip thee in Grace, this is worth thy thanks, though it be but a little strength of Graoe, that God is pleased to afford thee.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Exod. 14.
• * 1.2

  W. Gurnall Christian in compleat Armour.