CHA.P.I. up~n the Epi.ftle of J A. M E s. - .veth -vidlence, ha·foul hareth. Well then, the fum 'of aH is,THat affiitl:ions ferve to ex«mine and prove our faith, and by the bleffing of God to bring forth the fruit of patience; as the quJet ftuit of righteoufnefs is afcribe.d to.t~e rod, H~br. 1 2·. 1 r. whi~h is indeed the proper work of the Sptrtt: He fatth, The chaftemng yeeldetb the peaceable fruit of righteouftufl to them that are exercifel thereby, as our Apofile faith, the trial Work~thpatience. . The notes are chef~. . 19 y, From that [Knowing] Ignorance is the caufe of forrow; Ob(ervtet. r. , when we do not rightly difcern ofevils, we grieve for them : our fl:rength, as men, lycth in reafon; as Chrijlians,in fpiriruall dlf– courfe: PaulwasinftruEfed, Phil. 4· ro. and that made himwalk with fuch an equal minde in unequal conditions. Solomon _fai-th , Prov. 24 5. A V. 7 ife m.:tn u ftrong, yea ·~ aman. of ·lznowledge increafcth ftrength: and he faith afterwards, if tbou faint eft irt afjli- verfe to. tlion, thy ftrength u but fmaJl; that is, thou hafrbut little pm- ' de.nce or knowledge: there lyeth the weaknefs of our fpirits, Children are feared with every triffie: d.id we know wh1t.God is, and wherero his dealings tend, we tbould not faint: well then, labour for a right difcerning: To help you) confider, I. Generall know– ledge will not ferve the turn ; the heathens, hadTd yv(;~ott excellent notions concerning·God in'the generall, Ram. I. I 9. But they were vain in their imaginations, verfe 2 I. C1! 'TOtf Jllc~.MJII(J'p.og in their practicall infereiDces : when they were to bring down their knewledge , to particular cafes and experiences: they had a great deal of knowledge in generall truths , but no prudence to apply them to particular exigencies and czafes : many can difcourfe well in the generall, as Senec£-, when he had the* rich se;zec.e pr-~tdi· Gardens, could perfwade to patience, but fainted when himfdf vitu htJrtor. _ came to fuffeu ·: fo Eliphaz. cbargeth it upon Job , chat he was abfe Juvenal. to in.firuct and nrengthen others, But now it u come upon thee, t~na thou f4inteft, it toucheth thee and thou art trouble-d, tob chap+ verf. 4, 5• Therefore it mufl not only be ak_nowledg, ,, j ..-<h . ur .a prudence to make application .of generalr crut~s, .t_haWPr.,.,- ·._ . parttcular cafes wee may not be dtflurbed and dtfco~~-vt~ Secor~dly, Our koowledge- mufl be drawn out in actuall th.oughrs ~nd fpiritoall difcourfe, thisbringeth in feafonable fuccour and reltef to thefoul, and the11ein Iyeth our flrength : obferve it, and you lhall alwayes finde , That the Spirit worketh by- feafonable , D ~ · ~~oughtS.i
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