562, ..Jl/faFlerGreenham.r rkeadings the vvard or- amindarkeneffe. Betides, as thisdoth- fhewthegreatneccfîtieofGodsword;foaltoitmule erl/dry. humble vs, becaufe Of our ignorance:asalloityecldethrhis comfort,that aswe. thinkewenand! rgneranie fate) in repealof our bodies, aswee haue the light of theSonne ; o alto wee arc in the caufetohaw- No vs. fare way tofaluation, as longas weare guided by the word. And when as tome do obiad., that Safe vvhen the theScriptures contain great difficulties , and are hard to be vnderflood; wee faid , that though vvorddire- the fmalleff things weredeepemylferies , yet they be p'aineco the leafi of Gods shtldren. for ¿leth or. Prouerb:8.9. Wdedotnefaith, that all her words' areplaine tohim that will vnderfland, and rait to them that would ¡fade knowledge. Andthe man ofGod faith, Portion 17.7..7he entrancein- curioftis. tuthywordJheweth light, . andgiuetbvnderaandingto theftmple. And though all men are not Godlycare curiouflyto (catch Intoquefhons, yet 'all menate carefully to feeke the way of fahtation. No utdJladie. man then canhereto romplaice of daskcuefl'e,butas it isin his ovatemínde; neither acede chat fo tebe, if he will efe themeanes toauoid it , and ina repenting heartcrane the lightby prayer. The caufe therefore why the word is a parable , and a danke riddle unto fo many, is either the prideof their oo tie wit , whenthey thmke theirwit tobe fo good, as they can conceive euerie thing; andtheir judgement andlearning to be fisch, as that they canenderffand any thing , and profit by theirow'ne indu(hie ; when, as God is theauthor, fohe isalto the reaealerofhistrued or elfe theydo notefleeme fó reverently of thetruth, nor arefo much grimed with their blind- neffe and ignoranceas they should be. Vcrfe 166. I have firorne andwillperfourme it, that l will keepe thy righteous iudgments. The fecundar 'MO"' as hisfaithwas the firfl argumenthe vfed:fo the fecondwas his confcience,hisloue,and gamest. IN his affeEfion to the word which hefheweth byhis oath: and that w emay know it tobeno wandring motion of his minde,carying himaway, but a thingwell confidendof andconffant, or he protcífeth that hewill keepe hisoath. Wherein hedeclareth,that many Mienhaste lomatiutes Suddenmuti- motions togood,but they either dieprefently,or elk theybe fo cold,that theyquickly fal away. cantohood. But as wemay fee,hewas nofuch light headedman. We hauehere to learne,that thisis a indg. ment ofGod, why manydonor profit in theword, becaufe theycannot , ( teeingvoid bothof grle& for their naturali blindneffe,as al foof loneof the cleric fight and faith in Godsword) fay in rroeth,71yword is a lantern to myfeete, &c. Now if thefe thingsbe in vs,wemuff pray that wemay be movedwith a purpofepp continue in them,andpurpofingwe muff beware we break ii not, but beconffani. I baue frame, andwill perfourtne it, thatln'ill keepe thy righteous lodgements.. Concerning this boding of himfelfe with an oath,which the manofGodherevfeth, stdeclarethhis careto keepe a good confcience, inlaying the iudgements of Godwhich were pail, and she judgments of God to cone, vp in his heart. Wm fee then, that as when men fweare voluntarily, it is a token of their good confèience ; fo itappeareth:molt in good men, who felting fo AsOak much by the glorious name of God, can fuffaine any private direredit , and fwallow many tmw Wes tomaintaine thecredit ofit. Wherefore Gods children, though theyare carefully toauoid all finned, yet make agreater confcienceof this finne, thenof anyother; and whentheytake an oath , though before they m adea confcienceof that thing, yetnow they make agreater confci- ence.. If hehadfound no weakeneflè,no mifiruff, ordoubefulnefle in himfelfe, thenneededhe notfo lireightly tohave bound himfelfe. For if hehad been alwayescareful', what needed he to The Prophet hauevfedanoath? But thecare whichhe had tomeet with this weakneflè,was the cattleofthis had our rants fol'emneeouenanr, which teacheth vs, thatfilch infirmities as ateinvs, was in him,who becaufe usI weaknepe. of the vanitie and lluggiltneffe , which hee feltIn his corrupt nature, did prouokeand ffirrevp himfelfetoa greatercare byanoath. Then if me-fee, that eucn themanof Godthought this tobea neceffarymeaneto flirre vp his infirmities, why fhould wenotthinke itas neceffarieforvs? when the moil diligence(' amonglt ,s sus, inty thsnkehimfeifetobebehind him ita many degrees. But the caufe whywe make nofach a, oaih,is,becaufe weeare fearefull, and out delaying of this prasftfe from time to time fhewcth, n thatthere is not in vs thatfeeling ofour wants,thatreuerenceofhis word,nor experience of his goodneffe, which hefelt. This muff snakevs afraid, and alhamed ofour fclues,that webasting the like infirmities ,haue nos
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