18 I The Spirituall-wings of Faith fwer to this ) prdfurno; to take a thing before 'tisgiven, or of,,zered : Mercy 'tis alwayes offred to a poore firmer : jefin Chrift came to lave (inners , and die for (inners; thou can't not take mercy before 'tiq offred. For a man to thinke that he (hail fly in the ayre with wings like a bird, thisis to prefiime-fora man to put God upon provifion for his luft,this is to prelume : for a man toput God upon extraordinary, where ordinary may be had, this is to prefiime, Fut for a man to retie upon God for neceffities in extra- ordinary cafes, when ordinary cannot be had ; this is no pre- funiption, but Faith. Mark, I fay, to put God upon extraor- dinary, when ordinary may be had ; this is prefumption : But to rely upon God for neceflities in anextraordinary cafe, when it cannot be had in an ordinary; this is no prefumption at all. Belove'), 'tis prefumption in the higheil degree for you and mee, ( poore creatures) to tye up the hands ofGod , to labour todo it is dangerous. As for example : one poore Subjet1 to go to his Prince, and tye up his hands and feet , or togo to his Pallace, and nayleup all his doores, and leave him but one little wicket to come out at ; this is prefiamption. And fo , for kman to tye God to meanes , to tye God to 'a time, to tye God to this or that nyeanes , to tye God co meanes in ge- neral! : this is prefumption. ( Macke) Some there are that tye God to a Time : Oh ! if mercy does not come by fuch a day, or filch a timer, I am undone for ever. Others theywont tye God to aTime , but they will tye God to this or that particularmeanes : Oh! ifmercy come not that way, or by that meanes , I am gone , I am loft for ever. Others, they won't tye God to, time, nor to particular meanes ; but they will tye God to meanes in general/ , they, won't beleeve God a whit beyond meanes, and fo tye God to meanes in general' : Ah, what is this but rankeprefumption ? for a poore creature , to tye up the hands of his Creator ! the fin that you lecke , and thinke to avoid , you fall into : This is prefumption. And beloved, do you know how prejudicial' this is toyour - _._ . .. felves1
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