244 The Life of Faith, turai Reafon, but his Promifesalfo. It is agreeable to the Na- ture of Infinite Goodnely to do good r And yet we fee that he cloth not do to all alike. He maketh not every creature an Angel, nor aman r How then (hall we difcern what he in- tendeth to do by his creatures, but by their (-evers( natures Thenature of every thing is fitted to its ufe. Seeing thcr:fore God hathgiven man a nature capable of knowing, loving and enjoying him, we have reafon to think he gave it not in vain. And we have reafon to think that nature may be brought up co its own perfc6ion ; and that he never intended to imploy man all his daics on earth, in reeking an end which cannot be attained. And yet we fee that Come do unfit themfelves for this end, by turning from it, and following vanity : and that God requireth every man as a free Agent, to ufe his guidance and help aright, for his own preparation to felicity. Therefore reafon may tell us, that thole who arc fo prepared by the neare(i capacity, and have a love to God, and a heavenly mind, (hall enjoy the Glory which they arc fitted for. And it iwlpeth much our belief ofGods Promife, to find that Reafon thus difcerncth the equity ofit : Yea to find that a Cicero, a Seneca, a Socrates, a Plato, e;,c. expc6ted much the like feli- city to the ju(ì, which the Scripture promifeth. Direeâ. y. Be f,re to underfia.nd Gods Promifes aright, that . you expeéi not that which be never pronged, and take not pre- fumption to be Faith. Many do make promifes to themfelves by mifunder(ïand- ing, and look that God (hoald fulfil them: and if anyof them be not fulfilled, they are ready to fufpeó the truth of God. And thus men become falfe Prophets to themfelves and "others, and fpcak words in the Name of the Lord, which hehath ne- ver fpokcn, and incur Much of the guilt, which God oft chargeth on falfc Prophets, and fuch as add to the Word cf. God. lit is no (mall fault to father an untruth onGod, and to call that his Proenife which he never made. Dire(`. S. Thiniknot that Godpromifethyouall that you defre or tbink)ou want, in bodily things. It is not our own defires which he bath made the meafure of his outward gifts . no nor Ofour own Opinionof our Nece f ty nei :her t elfe mot men would havenothing but riches, and health, .1i71110
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