S ,lilafferGreenhams Readings fromthe dartsof ourenemie. So that,ifwe ham- the Lordfor ourtower againt; Saban, if we be in pouertìc,wc (hallfee the Lordour fhieldand wealth ; ifwee be in ficknes,he!hall be our cattle andhealth. The Ifraelites had.proofe hereof, who,fa long as theymade the Lord their fhieldand refuge,were not once touchedoftheir enemies. Ifthisfaith be invs, then !hall weebe perfwaded, that thebearingof the word, and timewhich wee fpend in prayer to theLord,will not hinder our calling, nor hart our profit : but fo long as wee waike inour wales, ioyning with our calling the hearingof Godsword, and prayer, hee will beour defenceand tower,and either lane vs from domage, or turne all our evils to ourgood. We mutt fee allthis out ofthe word ofGod.For our Saviour Chrill (as welayd before) did not refs in the omnipocencieof God,orput away Sathan being aneuill fpirit, and therefore havingnothing to doewith him, but witliftoodhim with this,It ií written,' 1íi1( alleagingthe word of God : fhewing,that while!}he bad bread, he fhould vfeit asan ordinariemeane,and when hehad none,be fhould notmake breadof llones,but flayvp- on the WettingofGod,wbich is aboue allineanes. Thuswe fee how thepromifes of God in hisword did flay him. . Howthefáuh Andhere feebow thefaith ofGods children differeth from the loofe imaginations of ofGodr chil- the wicked,who,though theygluegreat titles to theLord of hismercie, iuftice,loue, and drew differedi rovidénee,neuer looke for this inhis word. But ifwewill obey the Lord,andwasteupon fromthe vaine P. :magime;o ¿vr hispromifes,we muff doe it bythe word,which isasa pipe, through which doe flowGods ofvnbeleeuers. graces towards vs, and asachariot tobring hiswill 'intovs. Wearenotthen to looke in- siosite. to theayre, or elfewhere for Godswill, than inIns word 5 but trotting frill onGod,wee muff looke for helpein hispromifes. That themanofGod might doe this thebetter, hee fevered himfelfefromthe wicked, giuing vs to vnderftand,that he couldnotgoc forward, in that he faw fo fewexamples of good,and fomany examples ofeuill, whereby fomany by-paths areminiflredvnto him to ftep out the rightway,in feeingthe corruptions ofthat generation. Whenwee fee then outoftheword howwe fhould,beleeue,whatwe fhould doe,what wefhould echue, and looke into the world,wee lhall finde fomany wickedones, that whichway foebera man would turne himfelfe, although hee would fearch theworld with a candle, 1= Ihall finde many cull!to corrupt him, but few good to guide him. And feeingour times are worfe, than the times wherein rase Prophet hued, and wee are eaterand readier totake homebyeuill examplcs,than hewas;we muttknow, thatwhofoeuer will be truly taught to hatevaineinuentions,and loue thewordofGod,hemutt learne that which is writtenin the firft Pfalme,that is,tbat wewalke not in the cownfell of thewicked,norfdand in thewayof n- ,ners.. Away then with them that lay,thePreacher indeedefpeaketh well,and teacheth the truthmight, but whodoth it ? and rather let vs bid theeuili away from vs, let vs followe them that doewell,fo farceas they followChrift andhis word, let vs be heedful( to looke toour waies,andbe the snore carefull,becaufe informer agesthe Lord baths fetbefore vs fo manyexamples of falling. Weemay communicate with themin one calling, see may be knit tothem by confanguinitie, wee may be ioyned with them inaf$nitie, and asneigh- bours dwell together,we cannot in thefe things bewell freefrom them : yetwemuff not deale with them as they bewicked,wemutt not draw in theyoke withthem, wemutt not }fie giuento the like ftudies,to the likeendeuours,and enterprtfeswith them. Concerning their callingin the world, weemayvfe them, but notaccording to their corrupt dealing with the world. We fee theProphet his meaning is, Awayfrom me ye wicked,ye weaken my faith inGods promifes by your inuentions, you inkindle miflruftinme,I Will not yeeld toyou,I will notconfent to you,nor take part in anyof your inuentions : for Itruft to myGod,he is my (hield,and ivyrefuge. i(f Here weemayalfolearne, how todifcernebetweene theirperfons,wherein they beare the 9 l- ns eeneyrute er- be mageofGodandtheircallings,whicharribeordinanceofGod ,&betweenetheirliues,which fen,.aadcal- are full of corruptions. Ifweelooke but into the fir(tcommandement, wee !hall feehow harda begs,& lines. thing it is, to keepeGods law, vnleffeweefequefîerour (clues from shefocietie of finne. How ihall webehecue among vnbeheeuers,or prayto tiseLord among prophaneperfons, ormilt in theLord among fuch (hitters? Foras mill men continuing in the companieofgodhiemeatball fodainclic
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