518 eil'aftter greenhorns R`eaclings Contrarily whenthe word feareth vs, becaufewe frelefinne abound in vs; and becaufe we finde notthattafte in the word which weought; as that the threatnings feare not, the promifescomfort not, &c. IfI fày, wecan then feare, thoughwe haveplentieof all out- ward risings, and there beno outward occafion tofeare, this is an argument thatwe Isaac faith : but iffaith becaned with tlsetiuse,ihcnst is isofaith, butis chdkedwith prolperstie oradueelitic. Verf.St. Thepond bane hadme exceedingly in derif:on:yethash ¡not declineddfromthy Lowe. THe Prophetwas in great dillreffe, becaufeof the repocles of thewicked, as PIA::z. yetfor all this hewas flayed by Godslaw,though their mockes were exceeding great, thatis,often,and ingreeuousmanner.Ii is no newthing then, that Gods children are had inderifion r and itis one oftheir foreftoutward troubles, aswe fee inour SauiourChrift, which heard this,befaxedother. ,&c. after which liecryed,myGod,&c. and this waschi last . temptation,therefore thegreateft. For ifthis come oncc into theminde that wefufl'erfoe guiltdoing, then will there be no comfort. The heathen would doe any thing fortheir countrie ; yet would not lofe their prayfe. And this is the caufe why we fee many fallto heretics, becaufethey cannot be ineltimation asthey would. Thegreatnesoftbistempta- tiondid notdriue him from thelaw, Rahn.;7. Euery one willbe forward when others willfpeake well ofhim: but few doelearne here with Daaid to doe well thoughthey be illvfed.Asid thisdid the (linen e(piein the nature ofmen therefore he faithof/a, haftthan not hedged himabout, &c. Then let vs try our felueswhetherfilch reprocheswilldriuevs from ourduties: for if they doe, all is not well: butif thou fee they doe not, then take comfort,and knowthat thou mull approuethy felfeto God andnot tomen;whicb todoe, is anargument offarh,as inSamuel, r.Sam.rz. Dauid,though his finne wasnot knowne, yet Ise cryeth, Againft theehaue Ifinned. Then ifthen cant. beforrowfullfor thy fecret finnes,though men fpeake neuer fowell ofthee,and neitherwill,nor canaccule thee,thou haft faith. Thus then briefely reproch and difcredit among men, mull not driuevs from well doing: neither mull prayfe and creditamong men make vsfauourourfetus inoue finnes,ortake greaterlibertie to ourfelues. Hepartiednotfrom .GodsLaw:but wefee,that ifwebemocked,we will mockeagaine;if we be reuiled, we will reuile againe. But Dàuid wouldnot fo doe : aswefee byhis doings whenShemei curled him,^_.Sam. i 6. Thefe are truenotes of repentance, when men can charge themfeluesmore fore, then others will : and that they labour toapprove themleluestoGod which trieth theharts. Theproud. Faithmaketh hunibie,butinfidelitiemaketh proud. Habac.z.forby faith we know that we haveno goodnes,arefull ofcorruption, difpofed to euill,andvnficto good- nes; and thishumbled,. But theythat knownot thefe, areproud, whatfoeuertheykenx tobe. Suchare thofethat contemn thethreatnings, and willcontinue in their finnes. For faith inthe commaundement hurnbleth andthroweth vsdowne: and faith in the pro miles dollsmake vs with feare towaitevponGod,andtobehumbled. They arehumbled to their brethren, which are humbled to God in their heart : and they that are proud and contemne theirbrethren, are nothumbledin their healt. For ifthey did fee thatthe Lord had forgiueninfinitehones to them, then would theyforgiue a fewtotheir brethren. Se- condly,ifthey confidered,thatwhatfoeuer theyhue, they bane it for theirbrethrens pro- fit, then would they behumble to them. Thirdly, ifthey knew that there is nodifference butby grace, then,&c. canwenotforgiue tlsesa arewe proud. Can weenot deuotsrsniss ricas then areweproude. For ourownefinnes beingnot forgiuennorcared for, therefotc we cannotforgiue others, norregardethem. Humilitieis atrue markeof Gods children, andprideis anoteof thewicked. . Verf.
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