tz Llèítions and Anfweres r. Colxlsn4nd. God himfclfe bath taught his children to vfc it , knowing the profit of it to thiscnd. Gc13,i7 Asin} his ¡peach withAbraham,whyyiathhc thtfevcot des tohün ? I: GOD al- f ,fficieMt, but toinfinuatetoAhrah.,m, that if anydifirufi or vcakeiieffc in any thing fhould affault him, by and by he fhould helpe himfelfe, and firengthen his faith with meditation of his infinite power whome he fenced and followed. . So againe mote plaine in another place, Feare not Abraham, I am thy _Ate/4 As if he íhould haue faid,if any doubt arife. Abraham, fe are not,but prefently haue recourfe to the confideration of this, that 1 am thy fltield. For may it bee, that I which haue taken vpon mec thy defence cannot doe it ; is my power fcant, or want I abilitie to doe any thing that I will doe? IfI doe not,then let the confideration of my powcrbee thy firength. Againe, fee it in praEtifc,and notethe fruite of it. Doe wecnot know how eafily Abra ammighthauedoubtedofGodspromife, that bee fhould haue a Child, if hee had confidered either the age othimfelfe, or thc dcadneffe of his wiues body in courfe now pail by much to beate a childe F Yet faith the Apoflle,Abrah.vn firongiefairh,donbtednot. And why io ? Trudy bee vfedthis meancs that now I tell youof, and with meditation ofGods power frengthened his faith. For fo it follow- loa24 e t h in the text. Hewasfuly Spired that bee which hadpromifed , oat alfo able to doe it. Able I fay, and marke the wordes. And the very fame wee read ofPaul , who therefore faieth hee fainted not vnder afilielion,neither was afhamed of the crolfe of Chrìff,becaufe bee wasperfwaded and foundly felled touching the Lordes abilitie to keepe that which he committed vnto 2 .pia 2 t a him. So then fee how the confideration of Gods power firengthened them, and why should it not confirme vs as well m all our fearés ? And marke in any cafe how in all theft places with Gods power is euer vnderftood his willinpneffe alío :for they did not feuere theft two, as fubtill Satan would perfwade vs to doe. Haueyouyet any more oftbiscounfai le? ei4nfw. Yea, this alto is another excellent helpe for vs weake wretches to con- firme our hearts by, namely, to wey well what troubleth vs and then to fearch, ask and feeke if in the Scripture there be any example ofany that euer was in the like cafe: and to fee what his end or iffue was, comforting our feines with affuring hope of the like, fince God isnorefpe6ferofperfons. ThiswifedomeislearnedofVaurd ,who faieth, ifGod beemercitull to him, and helpe him, it will bee a forcible meànes to make others trull in his mercy. For they fball reafon in their hearts,faith Deus d and pfalm.34,6. fay : 7htspoore man cryed veto the Lord, and he heard him : Therefore he will doe the like tots, wee are afftned ofit. What is then that troubleth you r confcience ? Haue you been an adulterer,ora mnrtherer ? fo was Dauid and yet found mercy. Haue you perfecuted theChurch andchildren ofGod any wayes? fo did Paulgrieuoufly, and yet found mercy. Flaue youbecne an Idolater ? Manaffes was a cruell Idola- ter, and yet found mercy. Haue you denied Chrifl and his truthvpon any occafion, and thrinked from your God ? fo did all the Apofiles, and yet found mercy. Nay, haueyou withoath forfworne him ? fo did Peter, and yet found mercy. Then take Dauidscounfaile, Marke how all there in their feuerallfinnes cryedvoto the Lord, and found his ready pardon, and gatherfirength by ir, for he is the fame GOD that euer he was, as loath a firmer fhould dye as euer he was, and that body and foule of yours coil hint as much as euer did theirs ? therefore feare not , for he loues youas truely as euer he did them. And his hand is out with helpe in it, onelybeleeue, and take hold ofit, it is your owne. Quefi. !pray yore flill geeonin this matter as long asyouwill. e4nfw. Onely this one more will I aduertife you of, and it is as profitable as any of thereti, namely, to note and very diligentlie to weigh what experience of the Lords goodnefle you your felfe haue had heretofore, and by tryall had made tirong your hart for that which is to come.Thus did Jacob whë he was to meet with his bro. cn.32: thee Efate. Fill} he looked vpon Gods Commaundement to him to returne,& therby he allured himfclfe God would not lc aue him helples when he took in hand nothing but by his will, and fecondly he wellmarketh what a God he had euer found him till that
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