Divine considerations treating of those things which are most profitable, most necessary and most perfect in our Christian profession by John Valdesso.

CONSID. XIV.

Amongst the things which Christian Piety obligeth us to believe, what that is which is believed with greatest difficulty.

HAving set my self sometimes to consider, with how great difficulty mans mind is brought to believe as it ought the things of Christian piety, when it sets it self to view and review them; I am come to examine amongst all these, what that is in which there is greatest difficulty found. And I am resolved, that it is the Par∣don Generall by the justice of God executed on Christ.

I am come to this resolution by considering that all men being friends to their own inte∣resses, do easily believe those things, in which they loose nothing by believing them, and with difficultie they do believe those things, which being believed might redound any way to their damage.

In as much therefore as it being true, that amongst all those things which are believed in Christian piety, onely this Generall pardon, as it is said, might redound unto the damage of him that believeth it, in case it should not be true, it seemeth to me that my resolution is good, That amongst the things which are be∣lieved, this is that which is believed with grea∣test difficultie. I might fortifie this my resoluti∣on with many reasons; but this seems to be so clear, that I will content my self therewith; proving it with that which is seen by experi∣ence, that even he who gives credence to the Proclamation which is published through the world concerning the Pardon generall, and shews that he doth believe it, by renouncing all outward justification, and by entring into the kingdome of God (in which God equally pro∣vides for his, both of things that appertain to the body and the soul;) neverthelesse even he finds much repugnancie in his mind, when he will reduce it to those terms, that he should to∣tally hope from God the sustentation of the bo∣dy,

and of the soul, in as much as he alwayes goes thinking, and saying in himself, How if it should not be true, that God would pro∣vide things necessary for my sustentation with∣out mine own solicitousnesse, what shall become of me? And again, How if it be not true, that God hath executed upon Christ the rigour of his justice, and that by his order the Proclama∣tion of Pardon generall be published through the world? if these things be not true, I shall remain miserably abused. And it is certain, that so much more any person makes these discourses, by how much it seems to him that he might of himself provide both for the one, and the other.

Passing on further, and willing to examine whether with greater difficultie a man brings himself to hope from God, either the sustentati∣on of his body, or that of his mind, I suppose it is the sustentation of the body. This I suppose to be so, in regard that a man brings himself with lesse difficulty to expect from God that which he cer∣tainly knows he cannot be able to obtain of himself: It being therefore true, that a man doth more distrust himself touching his justification, then his sustentation, it is concluded, that there is greater difficulty to bring a mans self to hope for his corporall, then his spirituall susten∣tation.

Having gone thus farre with my considera∣on, I well understand what the cause is, that the

rich man enters with difficulty into the king∣dome of God. And willing to perswade my mind, that it should bring it self to depend on God, as well in corporall, as in spirituall things, I call to remembrance, how Christ doth pro∣mise them for vantage to those, who seek the kingdome of God. And I suppose, that find∣ing all that which Christ promiseth in things pertaining to the soul, to be true, I have no cause to doubt, but I should find him true like∣wise in those things, which appertain to the body.

When this doth not suffice me, I think in this manner; Since that I am justified in ha∣ving accepted and believed the Proclamation of the Pardon generall, and since that I am entred into the kingdome of God, from which the first man was driven by rebellion, and that I go on recovering the priviledges which the first man lost by his rebellion; ought I to doubt, that God without my solicitousnesse will pro∣vide for me in outward things? since it is true that the first man, as long as he remained in the kingdome of God, was provided of them with∣out his own solicitousnesse: And that this is true I know from hence, that among other pu∣nishments, with which God punished his rebel∣lion, this was one, In the sweat of thy browes shalt thou eat thy bread.

From all these Considerations I gather, that

it becomes me to attend with my mind to de∣pend on God, as well in the sustentation of the body, as in that of the mind. And so much more in the sustentation of the body, now I have accepted and believed the proclamation of the Pardon generall, and am entred into the kingdome of God: for I know it is true, that with greater difficultie a man brings himself to trust in this matter, then in that other.

Together with this I gather, that I shall then be entirely a citizen of the kingdome of God, when I shall depend altogether on God, being a lively and true member of the sonne of God Jesus Christ our Lord.