248 The Life of Faith, this isoftener exprcffed than the beliefof the event is extolled, it is becaufe the beliefof ChrJs Power is contained in it. [If tbatteanff believe, all things are prfble, Mark 9. 23. Not [all things (hall come to pats] Mat. 9. a8. The blind men came to him, arc(Jefuelaid, Believeye that I am able to do tbie ? They ¡aidunto him, yeaLord: Then touched be their eyes, Paying, ae- cordingtoyour faith be it untoyou. So the Centurions faith is defcribed as a beliefofCbriffs Power, Mat. 8. 7, 8,9fto. So is it in many otherinflames. So that this text is no exception from the general Rule; but the meaningof it is, Whatfoever promifed thing you ask, not doubting,ye Jhall receive it : Or doubt not of my enabling power, andyou thall receive whatever you ask, which I have promifed you; and miracles thtmfelves thail be done by you. ObjetQ'. But what if they hadonly doubted of Clores lß ill ? Antra. If they had doubted of his willin cafes where he ne- ver expreff his will, they could not indeed have been certain of theevent (for that is contrary to the doubt.) But they could not have charged Chrift with any breach of promife ; and thereforecould not themfelves have been charged with any unbelief. (For it is no unbeliefto doubt of that will which never was revealed.) But if they had doubted of his revealed k will concerning the event, they had then charged him with TfalJhood, and had finned againft him, as ill as thole who deny his power. And the large experience ofthis our age,confutcth this fore- faid errour ofa particular belief : For we have abundance of inflames of good people who were thus miftaken, and have ventured thereupon to conclude withconfidence, that filch a lick perfon (hallbe healed, and Each a thing (hall come to pals when over and over the event hath proved contrary, and brought fuch confidence into contempt, upon the failing of it. -Dire& i t. Think not that beeaufe fettleffrcng imagination hingetbforce prowl!, toyour minds, that therefore it belongeth untoyou,unlefs upon tryat, the true meaning of it do extend to ,you. Many and many an hone(ì, ignorant, melancholy woman, bath
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