CHAP.l. upontheEpi.ftleof J A 111 E s. ~ their thoughts into any hope; *whether they run, or fit fiill, they -l< T' ,Jl are in the {ame conditJOn; if t hey run, they run uncertainly; if 0 t;'N(/, ,10 1~- . I l'k 11 h d h l. k fi~Vl0\11) €1 they pray, they pray uncertrun0'; 1 ea uave t at at liS cas , ,, J' c ~ 1 . and lmoweth not whether he lball pleafe : So, when they have ~ ?p.-v, ·' .done all, they are frill left to the puzzle and uncertainty of their :)l,(f,9»1~t own thoughts; And indeed ·ris a punilbment that well enough ~J'c..,,. 01 ~~~ , fi1iteth with their difpofitions, they pray, and do not look after the oA.~<~> • J'dy,o– fucce[s ofprayer; they perform duties, and do not obferve the bleff- 7'&- ~~et u– ing of..duties, like children that Qloot their arrows at rovers, with 11 '·. rttc. an uncertain aim,and never look after them again: Thofe that live Eptgram. befi among carnal men, live by guefs, andfome loofo 'devout aim!. 2. Jf they receive any thing, they cannot look upon it as coming by promife, or as areturn of prayer.r. When the children are fed, the dogs may have crumbs: All their comforts are buttheJPiflings and overflowings of God! bounty. And truly this is a .great mifery, when we cannot fee Love in our enjoyments, and bleffings are given us by chance rather then Covenant; they cannot difcern mercy and truth in any of their comforts, as Jacob did, Gene[. 32. I o. Well then, Let the mifery of rhis condition make us to come out of it; gee afure intereft in Chri!l:, that you may be under a Jure hope and expeCtation; unbelief will always leave yoa to uncertainty : Doubting is a new provocation, and when aman maketh afnpplication aprovocation, what can he look for? Aman may be ajhamed to ask God, that is fo back..ward to honour him. 2. From the other Reafon of the words, [Let him not think..] Obfervat. 2-~ Men ufually deceive themfelves with vain hopes and thoughts : . · They are out in theit thinkj.ng; Mat. 3• 9. Think._ not to{ay withinyour feh'n, We have Abraham to our fat her. Carnal confidence is rooted in fame vain principle aAd thought : So men think God u not juft, Hell u not fo hot, the <Devil i.s not fo blPlc/z, noi: the Scripturesfo ftriEl, as they are made to be. The Apofiles every where meet with thefe carnal thoughts, as I Cor. 6. 9· Be not deceived, neither Fornicators, nor Adulterers, nor Idolaters, &c. They were apt to d~ceive themfelves with fame fuch hope: So Gal. 6. 7· Be not deceived, God i& not mock.,ed: Men are per[waded, that if .~hey can devife any ibift to excufe themfelves from duty, all will be weirenough; God is not mocked with any pretences, this is but avain thought : Well then, Look to your privy though~~; e,dlt corrupt aa~ons are founded in fome vain thought, - H 2 and
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