Houston-Packer Collection BV4253 .B85 1649 .B85 1649

throughNatural! impoffibilities. 181 Faith was clogged with many weakneires , yet their Faith is commended , and molt of them beleeving beyond means,and when all meanes failed : plainly fpeaking out this truth to us : The great acceptation that fuch aFaith bath withGod. Be- loved ! this faith , beleeving when all meanes faile , and lye dead before us , God about ; ( as we may fpeakwith reverence ) and makes God, of an enemy, akerning enemy ; tobecome our friend. Ifyou truit unto your friend, for a kindneffe ; he will do it becaufe you reft on him : if you reft upon an enemy,he failes you : but ifyou ref( on God , he will therefore do it becaufe you reft on him , andhe will become your friend by your rating on him. Oh ! I have been a great and a wretched (inner : Yet notwithftanding, I know there is infinite riches of grace in Chrift, and therefore fayes the fotile,I will refit on him : yea Lord, though thou kill me,yet will I refl upon thee. I,(faies theLord)wilt thou now reft upon mee,now I frown,now I chide, now I have a rod in my hand, now .I have a fword in my hand to kill thee ( as it were) wilt thou now reft upon mee ? Well, be of good comfort, thou art mine for ever : Man, or woman, go in peace, good is thy faith. This refting thus uponGod, when all meanes faik, it meltsGods anger into love. And befides, it is that faith that is molt fuccefefull, the molt fpeeding in prayer. You may look into the fecond of Chronicles the thirteenthChapter , and you (hall find there, that eArbtjah going to warre with jeroboam , had not more then halfe fetmany as yeroboarnhad. Abijahfet the battaile in arraywith an erfrrny ofvaliant men ofwarre,even fourehun- dred thoufand chofen men : A great Army. But yeroboam had as many again. efnd Jeroboam alfo let the battaile in array againfl himwith eight hundred thotsfand chofenmen, being migh- ty men of valour. I pray now let us confider, how went the day ? Reade the feventeenth verfe. Abijah andhis people fleW themwith agreat 'laughter do there fell down ofIfrael five hundred thoufandchofen men : Five hundred thoufand chofen men flaine. How came this about,? Reade the eighteenth verfe. Thud the children ofIfrael Were brought under at that *a. time

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