a----_-- 3 56 what it is to live by Faith touching the t Firff,it preferveth from theufeofall unlawfull meanes, knowing that nothingcanprofper, which God approves Efay.3o.7. not. TheEgyptianA lihelpe in vaine, and to no fourpofe; therefore have I cryed concerning this, Their ffrength is to fit Hill, when Ephraim fart, his fc¿nelle, and Judah Hofea,5.13.11. fain his wound : then went Ephraim to the Alÿrian, andfens to King Jareb ; yet could hee not Neale you, nor cure you ofyour wound. Ifa man befoundly perfwaded, that the bletling ofGod is all in all, he will ply that fare first and not undertake any thing, till he feeGod wìt- neffing untohim byhis Spirit, that he will be with htm toblef e him ; which hecannot hope for, if themeanes tiled to compaffe and fecure any bleffingor good thing, be indirectand fïnfull. Nay, to hope forbleffed and good fucceffe in an eviil courfe is palpable and groffe Idolatry: what is it but really to acknowledgethe Divell ( whole direction thou followell for advantage) to bethe Cover- flour of' the world, and the difpofer ofearthly things ? then which nothing is more oppofite to lively faith. Faith Pro.16.8, fpeaketh on this wife, 'Better is a little with rióhteouf- nefe, then great revenues without right ; more comfor- table inrefpect ofinwardpeace,the prefent ufe ofthis life, and continuance which tnaketh the Believer confult what is ju&,not w;hat is gainfull, or profitable ; what may be compaffed by honeft courfes, not what may be gained by fraud, deceit, coozenage, or othercarnali dealing. A- gaine, faith taketh direction ofGod in his word in all bu- fìneffes, being Aired that his counfeil onely is firme and Gable, and that course profperous, which isconfonant to his revealedwill. There aremanydevices ina mans heart, Pro.2q.zr. nevertheleIle the counfell ofthe Lord, that(hall¡band. The Pfa1.33.ao, ; Lordbringeth the counfell of the Heathen to naught:he ma- keth the devices of thepeople ofnone efeEb. The counfellof the Lordflandeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Carnall policies are difappointed, and . counfels broken, but the direUion of the Lord it ¡hall profper. Secondly,
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