over ehe gre tofl `Trials. 371 prevent our fall, and doth.hofd great grace in great conflicts, that thefoul might have little leifureto admire itsovvn fulnefs'. - Secondly, great trials forgreat -Chriftians; becaufe vvho is more able to fuftain great trials than greatChriftians ? God is vvife in all his a&ions and as Paul (peaks in another cafe,there vvas milk for babes,and meatfonftrong men; fo vvhen he im- poles any affli&ion, he confiders theperfon,- and foproportions the atiii&ion: he impofes the greatcft burden,upon the greateft Chriftian, Attieblaft isenoughfor a tender oak,but a vvell grounded one may endure the ftrongeft vvinds : a poorvveák Chriftian,alittle trialvvill caft him dovvn,but a well.ekperiencedChriftian that hath inriched himfelf vviththe promifesof God,thathathhardnéd himfelfvvith the reccit offrngular comforts, one that knovveth the life offaith, that path gotten fingular patience, he can endure a hard ftorm,he can go through great trials vvithgreatcom- fort; He can fay with lob, though thoudaft killme, yet will Itrufbin thee he will be able to go throughmany fadnights, and great trials,his faith will make himconquer all. I come to the fecond point, and that is this; that, P,rithwill make aman acquit himfelfin great Trials. Though Abrahamisput uponit, ins great trial,in offeringup his fon, yetkifitith Abrahamacquits himfelf, andoffers up his belovedfon. ' Themeaning of the propofitiön is this, that faith will finable aman to giveback Ilia deareft comfort again to God, though Ifaaclie in e. 4brahams bofome, though Ifaac lie at Abrahamsheart,yet AbrábAms faith uponGodscall will takc him thence, andprefenthim to that Godwho gave him. . ; Faith makes a man refign up willinglyuntoGodhis deareft comfort; as fobdid ; The Lord bath given, and the Lord bath taken-away, bleffed be the name oftheLórd Beloved, remember this, faithcan takea mercy" andbe thankful, andfaith can part with a mercy and be content. Peselhéhad learned bow to abound, andhow tobe in wins ; and this leffon was the leffonof faith : faith snakes% Chriftian take from Chrift,what it enjoys,likeone ofthe bleffedMartyrs,hiscondition was,ifGo.d gave him any mercy, he was chearful ; ifthe Lord takeaway any mercy, he fits down withcontentment, quieting his foul in patience, ifGodgive him anymercy, he was not fwoln withpride ; ifGod take away anymercy,he was not caftdown with for. row. Dolt thou remember me, O Lord; faith.faith: Lord I amunworthy the leàft of allthy tnéfeies.and goodnefs. Lord doff thou call.for this bleffing back again ? why here it is Lórd; do what thou pleafeft; like an lionéft debtor, faithhe, ifyou can fpareme a little, I will thank you, but ifyou will haveit,here it is; as the bleffing is a gift ofGodskindlier's, foneither doth faithaccount ofany mercyibut a borrowed,a lent goodwhich Godmay require when.hepleafes. There is a double acquitting ofour felves,one is a neceffary acquitting,and theo- ther is a pious; änd Chriftian acquitting: there is this difference between a godly man, and another; whin God calls forany one of thy co'mfofts,it mull be reftored, Codit the Lòrd oflife,andwhetherwe are willing or not,whenhe calls,the comfort andwemuft part,and in this refpe& a manwhowants a lively faith, may.acquit him_ felf ina trial, whenhe fees that floods of tearswill not helphim, fpecially when he fees it is paftrecovery,herefigns up a comfort,whenhecart keep itno longer,he will part withableffing whenhe cannot avoid it. But then there is apiousacgnittingof our felves, %vhon Godcalls for a,comfort back,thehandofFaithprefents:the comfort to God again ; when Godcalls for yfaac;4bràbamprefently réfignsup his betoVed Son again, upon this ground; God is, the Lordwho gavehim, and non/ the Lórd calls for himback again ;, I, and the Lewdlhall have him; thus Faith acquits thefoul in great trials, and joyn's with God against all our,owncon'tentments, to let down with much patience in great forks, to fubmit toGodscall,andGodsappointment; - Now the reafons why,Faith canacquit.a man in great trials may be there:., Firlt Faith can exalt Gods will above aif,áitd fubmif owwills toGodswill,remetuberthis; od is theAuthor ofmercy,when he will he givesus,and whenhepleafeth,he takeá, 4 át AK> a. Doti, Faith minks man in great trials.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=