Chap. 3. AlExpoftion upon the Book offiJos. Verf, i5 nareít way to found confolation, is to trait in God. 1 tend Obferve, That traft in God is the bell eafe to thefoul, and a remedy ofevils before the remedy comes. Gadoften defers the remedy as toour fenfe, when he gives it to our faith. He that believesnot is condemned already,he bath his judgement before the judgement : and he that believes is faved and eated already he bath his deliverance beforedeli- verance. Wniiít our wounds have no cure, truft in God cures them: , Faith is a remedy before a remedy in all kind of evils. (lfa.5o.ult.) Who is ansongyoutha4fearetbthe Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his fervants, that w.alketh in darknefs and bath no light? Let him trufl in the Name of the lord, and flay upon his God. Trull in God, though you are indarknefs, though you fee no light, this is light ,before light, pardon before pardon. Trutt God in temptations, 'and you are above temptations,while you groan under the burden of them. Truít God in weaknefs and you are ftrong :, Paul in fuch a cafe befaught the Lord thrice, and was anfwered with this, 2 Cor. 12. 9, My grace ( not thy grace) isfufftcientfor thee, for my flrength is made perfeEt in weaknefs; ( he Both not fay, thy weaknefs is perfected into strength.) This fatisfied Paul to the full, as he concludes in the next words, Mot?gladly therefore will I rather glory inmy infir- mities, that thepower of Chrifl may refs upon me. Whenwe reft with ourweakneffes upon Chrif}, the power ofChrilt reíts upon us. And then, as itwas with Paul (verf. to .) when weare weak then are we flrong, when we are forrowful then have we joy, when we are in bondage then are we free. Thus by trulting we haveeither aremedy from,or a remedy in all our troubles and afflie`tions. Further, Though he flay me, yet will I truIl- in him ; hisfaith waspitcht uponGod, 'grid he paffeth by friends and creatures, as if he had faid, Truly thoughyou endeavour to comfort me, and would give me your utmoil- help, yet Icannot trust upon you; but . if Godfhould flay.me,I would tru.ft him: though all the worldfhould engage and promife to do their belt for me, I could not trult them; but ifGod fhould do the worit again.ft me, yet I would treoft in him. Hence Obferve, That we can never traft God too much, nor creatures too tittle. L 11 We 441
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