174 1 ,The Spiritual!-a6lings of Faith I have done with the Fiat; and my claire is now at this time , to difpatch the Second. Dotir. When godU plealed than toput thefentence of deathupon a bleffing; or the meanes that do lead unto it : it is the duty of the children of Abraham then to &till in god; not to Eland poring upon , or confidering of the meanes , and the deadneffe thereof. Thus it was here with Abraham : God made Abraham a promife that his feed thould be like the land , and like the ftarres for multitude : But Abrahams body is dead, and his wives body is dead : Notwithttanding , Abraham conti- dered not the deadneffe of the meanes. And in all this he is held forth for our Example , as you heard the Taft day. As he did therefore;fo muff we do. The Do rive is fomewhat large. I (hall break it afunder into three parts, and endeavour to cleare up thefe three Propofitions unto you , for the proof of the whole. Firli , That a meere rationall confidering of the meanes , and the dcadnefl'e thereof: is a great, and a fpeciall enemy to the workof beleeving. Secondly, That when all means faile, 'cis the duty, and commendation of the children of Abraham, then to be- leeve. Thirdly, That fo to do, is exceeding pleatingto God, and molt acceptable. t. Firft, That a meere rationall confidering ofthe meanes: the firaitnefe , or fcantinefe ; narrownefe, or deadneffe of the meanes, is a great , and a 'pedal enemy to the work of be- leeving, e,,Ibraham being not weak in Faith, confidered not his own body being dead. If he had confidered, he might have been hindered inhis Faith. Ye reade of Zack/rim ( that good man , Father of 701m the Baptin that when the Angell brought him tiding of achild , inwayof his fpeciall Mercy ; he would not beleeve it. And in the T. of Lake, and the 20. verfe: ye reade how he was punned for it : Behold, thoufhalt bedumbe , and. ot able
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