\).5'·
T H 11 CovENANT," OR · Ti-It·sAINTS . ' ·. · -PO.RTION. . e.ATre-atifo . Vnfolding the A(l-(u/ficiencir of Go n, ~Mans vpright1l_es, and the Covenant ofgrace. Deli11ered In fourteen SermonsvponGen.I7.r.2 ~ . . 1fllme"Pnto ~t;·e .tdi2)nta Foure Sermons vp0~ Eccle.f. 9· I . 2. 1 I. I z. - . By the latefaithfull- and worthy Mini!l:er of lefi"Chl'ift, . , · . I ~ H N . p R E s T 0 N, 'nDivinitie, Chaplaine irt ordinary to his ll1.ti-eflie, Mafier ofEmm.tnuel Co!Iedge in Cam6rid.ge, and fometimes PreacherofLincolnt1 Inne , The Eighth Editi~n~corrc£ted. Ile hath.e:J~en .t portioJt to tlum that fw·ehim :he wi/J · t'Vtf bem]udfull of htsCoJJen.1nt, Pfal. I It. 5. · i. o-N.D ..o .N Pfint<"dbyr.O.for Nicol.u Bll!lrne,and are tobe (old at theSouth entrlnce of the~y~~a EJ~·ch.:nge x63 +·
.. ' .-:;.,_.. ______ ;..;;;;;......._,._ ....... - . ' - ' . ~~~~***~~**~*~~~~* ~~~~~*~~~~*~~*~~~~ ~ , . ~~·To .'the :Reader. ,-V cfh~·d b~en~ - tnucb to hau~ been~ ~1cfired(ij it hadfo pleafed !,he _ Father of Spiri~s :y , , ihat ·tbiJ' "'JJorthy m~n , ,, .. - --:- , . ·-:- hadJuni.1J_ed tbCf~b~ · 1ifo.ingofE~.efo~a!!~other ~fit J:eClu_r~s:for tpe1J-,n(} a(}Ubt,they JPOUfd hffttCcornejor:tb »fqJ:~'.rCJi.~'e4,~~d,igeJJ,ed -a~ Ifqr >.tfough · ,tp~re(_~a~ ~_e'? . ltttle o.r,n~·f!lifitT;k! zn ta.; ~kjng · th~rnftom pirmatf!:b, yetpreacbing·,, · an~ n>rfting:, haue their je1Jeral!grace.r.( .· 'T~~ng~- !i-vened by \the .expreflio~ of the · ., )e_a~r,fo!n.~~-~mJ~~t~kt ·~~~~"'P_hi~h;ttft~er.., .: "t'pon amaturer~~t~'IP?fiemre et!b~r.Juper~- us)orflat: r!A.wrlrPeo/i fee m-en, "Very l · A j' able · ~ :·, t , ,4}..-4$.4 I _ AN-. I RtA! t
· I' ToTHE ',. ·l - I able to rendert~eir co11Ct:tft.r in)~witing, \· ,yet not the happte~ Jjeaf?tri. .· · . . . .. Yet JPe, conjider~·ng. ( no~fo, much 'JPhat mighi'haue b.tene,tis)r:Pbat noYPmaybefo~ . thefer~ice ojtheChurch,t~oughtgood ra~ . the:to cor!im~ni~ate them thu~, t~en th~t_J_;;thf!Yfoould dte TPzth the eduthor~~ar a man ofanexact judgement, a~d quic~ . appreh~nfibn, 4n acut~ 'J?safoner,a'!iuein good, choyce , in-'bi~notiont, one"ilJbomade· it'hir chiefi ayme to promote the caufl of C!Jrift, and·thegoodojth~Church, "FPhich mo~edhim tofittgle out argufn,entr a'nfrPe- ! ' . rahle, on 'Whichbej}en~huheft thoughtJ', · He 'l'PaJ' honoured of God·tohe an inflru– mentofinuchgood, iPhereuni~he· kad ad.. ~antage hy thofe eminent placeJ' he 'WfZJ' called "p~to. eAr he had ' t~ ' foort race to r~n,[o .~e mad~/}eed,~·a~ddid much in a; lttt!~ttme. '!houghk~"J}Ja~ofanhigher e~ le1Jation, · f ' .. • ' \
/e--vatiorz,andflr~ine~ Of/}irit then.ordina– rie,ybt 'out:oj louf~ to 'doff'.good, h.e?:outd. -frame 'his conceit.J' fo,. tu ·mightJute' '~Pith ordinary ·~n_derftanding:r. r:Alittltkbefore .-'h.isdeatb( M1Pee ·~ereinformed b.YthC. ~· 'J(,ight Honourable the Lord V,ifcount - '· Say andj Sel~,j'?' JPhoje pietie,_ 1Pijedome, .~ndjidelitie,,beputgreat repoft) ·heJ)Ja.r dejiroui 'that 'Wejhouldpervfe'What ofbis "i'PtU fit forpublick!:vfe..;_:. , ~- . · ·. We are not lg·norant, that,it is athing ~ JubjeCl ·tocenfore,.to feemc 'bold. andrPit- . tie inanother man! 11ork!, anJth~refore . as little u. altered, tuinaybe~ednd l'Pe Je: fire the ~.eaaer; rather to"tak! ingood ,pa-rt, that ');)lpiv;h u intendedfor pubiique ,good~ than to cateh at imperfoElionJ'} con– jidering th~r'VIJere btit ia~n:, aJ_ tbe_y fell ~(rombi~fP.ea~Jt}g•.AndllJe~~~~eate- thoft, 1 , .·t:hatchaue~afty thingofhuin iheirhandJ',. 1 , that::
~'1 BriefeColle&ion ofthe Prin– cipal~ heads in the enfuiagTte~tife . I)OCTRINE I. DoubthtgD}Go n s All:fufficiencie,thecat.{e D( all unevennelfe in 011r wayes .fo.w.;rdes God. Page4 Provedhy injlttncc inthru(ortsofmen. REASONS. · z. From thedejireofhappine!fe. 9 2. f1cmthenatureofjinnc. . Io 3. nom thenAtnreoffimeritie. 1o 1 4· Fromthenatr;reoffaith, · 12 VSE. shewing the nt~tt~re, andcttuftof finne,mdivtrfe mjlances. . I 5 DOCT.2. Godis All- fuffi dente REASONS. I. God is the (irigina!lt~ndtmiver[aUc.wfeofall tbeex.ce/lmcie)that fsfotmdinthe CrcattJres. 27 2. Godis thetmtly ttuthor of~oodand e·viUth.zt is done to theCreattJres. . 29 D ijferencebetweenetheAll~fu ffidenck@f God, andthdtofthecreatur fin tiVO thi11gs. 36 · Gods All.fufficiencie inhimfelfe,provedbyfix things. . . 40 Gods All-filffidencie to r.~f. ibid I. /!fJ keepingrufromevl!l. '" · 42 2. InfillingeuwithllUgood. • 43 The info/Jicimcieoftbecreatttre tomake us hap- )( -pie,
T H E c 0 N T ll NT s. p,ie;provedhy_(r,x rcafons,. t~nd.cleared.hj Scriptures; ;ttndinflancei. 4'4 VSE S~ - - ' ' I;, Tu,ching, loow tfJ guide our comfort; 6r 2:• Xo hecontent with God alon~. 67 ;-~ To looke onely to God in our w._t~yes. 84· 4·. T~comfort tts in~ur imperfeEI sbedien~e. I o 3 )• To perfi~;arle tU to enter into C1venttnt with ~ GO<}, wherein is expreffid, Gods All-fufficien.. ~ XD7 I. To(orgitteotlr jirmes .- . 1o9;· J 2. To [anEiifieus. . . II7 3-· Toprovide' DNfW4rd goodthingsfor us; I~6.- Two deduetions from what had ·~ b.eene deliveredBefore a . r-. Dedua~ : Thereif aniNfo{fic.iencie in the creAture, ptoved· bJ 7•llrgumest.J more,whert-1{3.aretaken (rDm rea:.. fon,~tscl 3· other, ont ofEcddiafi:es, and the(ea. venth,f,.o-mSalomonsexperiesce.. ~ . 135· ofthevanitie ef wi(edume.. . 147 offollie. 148 .... ofeutwardthings,fixJfecijied: 149; Seaven inconvenienGes in outwardthings~ I 51 Twothings acknowltdgetlin theCreAtnre 6y Sa~ · lomon.. 154 2. Dedu&: There is All-fufficiencie ill God, p~ved7Jj his pr8vidence. . 158· . SeAventryJJofhelewi11g Gods All.;fuffiden– de. 163 n-ocT.3~ -
T .H E G 0 N 1' E N T s•. DOCT.g. <-Men are more or le/Je perftfl)as they areperfwtdedefGods All-fufficiencie. 175 REASONS. 1. It is Gods .argt~mel'tt to perfwade ·to perfoC!- nejfe. · . - · ibid 2 frhis _perfwttfion heales inordinate (e!fe- . love. 176 VSE. Tol"bourt~beper(waded. ibid D OCT.4. LAchriflianslife liketewalke. I'8I t.AChrifiiiJ13S life agreeingwithte walkein fix thing!. 184 · ·vsE. x. To cenfider the tHdofourbeing inthe world. 193 2. Topendereveryflep. : 195 3.Not to judge ,enbyfemeparticul4raClions. z 1 o ~ D :OCT.5. 'Who(etver hathit~teref1 in Gods All-.futlici ?ncie,nmfl beaper(efl man. 21_4 REASONS. I. Elfe the ftrfl Adam Jhoutd be m6re power– -full tocfJmmt~ '•icate (inne ,theu the fecond tu injli!l grace. ibid 2 . El fc the worlusofredemptionfooNld~ot·beperfeCI. 2I } · : 3. Elft .Gods·commands jhoutdbeimpofible. 2 16 l 4 • Bl{e the Coventtntwere not mutuallbetweene . Godandus. . - . 217 5 Elfr allthat we dDe is te no p11rpeft. , 218 . · )( 2 . Si?Jceritic
THE G 0 N TENTs. Sinceritie, orperfee!nejfe, fot fort hhy firie expre(- (t.ens. 2·I 9 VS E. · · 7oexamine whethereweb'eper(ee!,erwo. 235" Sixprorzerties ofaperfect heart. 236 Sixejfetts ofJinceritie,orperfeEinejfe. 2 8 I DOCT.6. God · enters int1Covenant withallthofo tluet are faithfull. · 3 I 7 A three-folddifference beif;vcewetbe Covenant o wtJrkes,andofgrace. 318 Sixdifferences hetweene the oldandNew Tefltt- ,»tnt. A 326 V SE. I. Shewingthegoodneffiof God, in entringintoCovmantwithtls. · 330 2. To labour for af!iJr4nceofforgivene/[e. 3?3 '. ~. Shewing tbttt (}iritNAf[ things Are better then temporaU. . . · 4· To knowofwkat ground we lo;ke for folvtttio1J., 364 5'· Things intheCovenant. I~ The CfJvenant it(elfe. 36'8 2. The c~»dition ofit, namely,.FAith) 4·rettfows !V.byitis(u. 37I 3· TheconftrnMtionofit in4:things. 35 I 4· Thepartsoft~ecove.nant,whichare3• 357 5. TheohjeElion againftit. 382 Howtokn~'Tl?whethtr wee be in the Covenant~ threewayes. 388 I. By faith. . ibid 2 . IfwebcinChrift, llndhavehis!Jirit. 392 · 3· Wayes
THE CoN1ENTs. · 3 .Wayes toknowwhether we hauethe fpirit. 1. By thllt 11-vhichgoesbefere,nAmely,thef}irit of bondage. · ibid z.By the things whichaccopanie, wkicbare 3. 394 3.By thuon[equcntsofthe(}irit ,which are6. 417 The third wav te know whether we he in the Covenant,byour owffe kn·owledge. -'1-2 6 Two properties offaving knowledge"" ibid · VSE. ro labour ferfaving kf.Jow!edge. 444 When thecove1Mntis broken. 458 Two rules to know whetherweebtZve broken the Covenant. VS E. 46o Te comfortottrfelvesjn thepromifes oftheCovenant. · 467 I. Thepromi(esofjuflificatie». 4 68.' 2. offimtlijication. 473 · 3· Theprornifosofthethings of this liJe. 476 In/lancesofapplyingthepromifos. 478 ·Dijfcrcnce,betwixt the wicked andgodly in the fame tryall. · 483 DOCT.7~ It is ahardthing to he perfwllded of Gods All · fhfficiencie. · 4· 88 . REASONS. I. God is onely wifl, andtherefore onely a!Jle to . per[wade. 489 2. Godonely kniJ'Wes the(everaUtnrning~ ofthe ~e.zrt. . . 490 3• Godonelyc~tnamendtheht4rt. 49,1 VSE. ' Shewingwhy onemantmjleth God:.whentJnothir ilothn1t~ ~ 493 • It{ ?'Jt Aww4.=-~:;;:;......,._~,-·..,_;.-..;_..-.,..,._~WT - . . . ..
·I1 11 DOCT.8. t.AllthingiAreinGodshand: ·498 Inwh.at rpanner Allthings are[aid to helnChrifts· bands. ibid Reafonswhy all things arecomited intoChrifis hands. I . That wemight hoi'J()urtheSonne. · 5o I ' '·That GodmaydijpencehisAll -fufficiency it:J 4 wayhe(eemi»gbim(Clfe,and(atable to fJur ft Ailtie.ib. 3. 7hat our eftate might be fore. ibid 4· That no f,ejbfbonldrtj$yce initfilft. 502 - . VS E'S. r.Nottocometo GodwithoutChrift. z.Tocnmewith confidenceinhim. 3· To teach us thttnkefulne({e. DOCT.9• ...AUmendividu/into tworankes 3. Re~tfons ofit. - VSES. ,;oq ~bid z.. Shewing that there is noPurgatoryorLim-. bus. 'ibid 2. TotryinwhichrAnke we are. -508 3· Trya!s to know inwhich condition we are.51o DOCT. I o. - 'Ihingsfa!lnut altketogood& bad,inthis lift.) 29 REASONs·. I. Go'd will haveit fo to trymm. 534 a. Tof}t~remen,. . 535 3· Tohideevmtsfremmen. _ 5~6 4• Tobringforth his treafortsofwratha»dr»cr~._ cy. ibid 5'· BtcttN[ethisliftisthtthileofflriving. 539 . -GodwiUnot di(je11{e thingspromifcuDujly Alwaies · for foureRe4fons. · - 540 VSB.'
T H E/ c o, N T E N T s. VSE. ' 1 ~~ Not tolledifcouraged in the Cht~rch~s mifery. : ' 543 . 2, Not ·to 'cccuntprofptriti~ tt»d tt<lvcrfitietrue.: /ygeod,or C~~VifJ. . .· s-s I' . 3· Nott(} JUd(le of Gods love. o1"' hatretlby out- . "'lMrds things. o · ib~d . DOCT.II~ t..AlJ.tbiiJgs v.nJ.er the Sumze, are(nbjeCI' t~vanitie. s-·ss 1~ Nttttlrallthings• 556• 2 . Morall things,3.injla»cedin. ibid 3· GreAt places. . ibid ·. V·SE·s. . 1. , Tofee the cha.ngf that finnd hath madein the . '"fforid, S58 ' · 2. To {et-the vll.nitieof,An. 559 · · 3.. shewittg, w,hatan·eviilcho~fe it iJ to!o~hell- '!fei'J~to gaine the creatttt:e• . . S6o · · 4• NPt-ttJdefireoutwardthingn;ver-mnc-h. · 561 , S· Tolabonr tobeweantd{r1m them. )62 · 6. Toftt var;itie in e~~lt earth!J-t·hings.· 563 DOCT.12~ : · Me11 ofgreateftabilitiesoften di.fippoi»tedof .·· , , theirends. . 1-61 REASONS. I. Be&auft nom4Nis flrong inhis p~nejlrength. 561• ' 2.• Bee~tu(e menmif!e their tilnts.· 564 3· FrQmth~changesttppointedbj God. · 565 · i.t 4-~ From/NdilAi»faccidents. 'J67 I VSES.- I ·, 1. Nvt lobD·.tJI· S-~9 God
I I I ,, I THE CoNTENTS. 'God delights to crojfe mmin carn4/l confidence, forthreerea[ons. · , . 27 2 Not to ,he di(couraged in want ofoutwardprep4ratiom,for three Ret4(uns. 574 3· Nottojoyor forrorv ovcr~much for goodnrilt fucceffe. · 58 I 4· Nottomake fle!hour .•rme. 58 ~.l DOCT. 13. There is"' time 4/lottedto evtry aC1ion,3 .. forts of alfions mentioned. 59 I REASONS. I. Thingscttnnot he done in any othertime. 593 z. ThingsareheautifuUintheit time. ibid 3.ItisGodsprerog11tiue tottppointthe times.5'94 DOCT.If. It is httrdtofindeout the right times~· 59 c The times are kept (ecret. · ibid REASONS. I. T;o te4ch uswlltchfulne/fe~ ibid 1 J 2 •• To teach us to fiare,and depend vpon~od. ~. . 195 DOCT.r5. ... Becaufe men mi!Je the time, they fall into miferJe. ibid Injlances ofmijfing theright time. 596 VSE, To watch 01tr times in doing aCiions, 1 I. partim- ,larsmentiiJned. 6oo '. .j_. CatJ[esofmiji'ingthe righttimt:. 6os · ~ ·~~· Direlljons.tofinde6Nttherighttimt. 6o6 FIN l .S. . ·' ,· ·~.
[ 0 F' ' G ·0 D S AL .L-SVFF I 'C IENCY. G E .N E s l s 17· I. l .qm (j 0 'D eAllfujficient. r::==-7:::::=-::::;~~;::;:;;;;.;;;::;;:;, ·Ecaufe in the perfor– mance of all the Dutie5 .1 ;I ---1 of SanCtification, Since- · Sinceritieis ritieis all inall,therefore required in all . Jh l Duties. auechofen t 1is Text, that you may not be deceived. Itis true;many c;.-=:=~~~==..::::::::::::.J.I things areveryexcellent iftheyberig'l1t. There is no quefl:ion but the Diamond is v~ryprecious, if it be a true Dia– mond, but if it be falfe it ,is nothing worth: Ifyou take aprecious Balme, you make no que– ll:ion ofthething,and ofthe excellencie ofit in generall, all thequefiion is, whetheritbe right or no,and fo in the graces ofGods Spirit" efpeciI ~ ______B_______---:-a_ll,!_y;:...., - --·I
:~ l \ OF Gons _..\ ______ ally,feeing they c0ncerne ourfalvation;It much ?fl : concernes vs,to know whether they be right or 6unterfeit;and therefore you fee the condition that Godrequires here ofA6raham; is,that he be , 'Vpright andpcrflB,withouthypocrijie; . ( fo the word fignifieth) llVa!ke 6efore me without hypucri- · l . : Th~·ground l of fincer.itie• . · fie. Nowwe hJue rather chofen this·Text then anyorher,becaufe it fetsforrhtheground of aH Jinceritie,andperfic7walkingwith God~which is, , even thisap:pt:ehenfion well fetled in the heart, that Godis A ll-fwfficient:for this is the Lords pre– cept, Walke before me>andbethottperfect, or vp.:. . right,orJi;gcoe,Ietit not bein hypocrijie.: and this . ' is the moriuethar he vfeth to perfwade him toit, I am All.fufficient; As ifhe fhouid fay, if there were anydefect in me,ifrhoudidft need of. coul . . \ deft defircanything that were not to he had in 1 me, and thoumightefl: haue it clfc-where, per– haps thy heart might be impnfed in walking towards me,th )Umightefrrhenll:ep out from me to take in advantages el!ewhere; but feeing I am . All-fu_lficie'nt, fince I haue enough in me to fu l'– fill allthydefires, _fince Iam every wayanad~quate ob)ect;thatifth.ou 1ookeftabout,and con– fiderell: akbatthyfoule can wifh for,thou mayfl: haue it inme,why then !houldefl: not thou confe– crate thy felfe to me alone? Why rhen fl1ould~ll: thou be vnevenin thy wayes,. ferving meCome– times by firs, and fometitnes the Creature~ For there is nothing in the Creature, but thoumaiefr fi-nd it inme, I am Alllufflcient, I am Allfuffi- ' cient, therefore walke before me, and6e perfiCl · I Yet ) ; ~------~-----------------------------------T~------------- .>. '
J\ L L·S V F F l C I E N C Y, 3 Yet thefe words co.ntaine fomewh;zt more which you may fee by that which follows,! will ·makemy Covenant6etwecnme &thee;&Iwilmul~ tiply thuexceedingly. The ground ofallourJin– certtie is theCovenant, that is between Gud& vs. Nowthefewordsdo the mofl: brieRy that I find' ofany in the Scriptures, expreffe the Covenant betweenGod& vson both fides,for they are but the fumme oftheCoteenant,which inotherplaces ofScripture is explicated, and fet forth moreat large;fo that the openingofthecovenant on both fides,is the ground ofall the_finceritie, ofall that obedience that we yeeld t0Gfld.: And therfore,l fay, you ihall not onely haue occafion from this Text to examine the graces ofGod.f fpirit in you, and the actions that flow from them, whether they"bejincereandperfecf, but likewife 'we will fhewyou thegroundofthisjinceritie, whence it ariferh, and how it is 1vronght in every mans heart. And thus thefe words containetheCove• nant,fayth theLordtoAbraham,I wiUGethy God; on the other fide, thou jhalt 6r: mine. No'whe fhewes whara kind ofGodhewillbetohim,Iwit ·-am.r;.1: . /;e All-fujficientto thee, which confifts in two .4li~Julfit~t1tett h . 'L 1' · . h·· . · 11 ofGOD, t mgs,'hyou cornpare t uswu ·aen.J. ) . r ..1 wiu. wherein it hethy Buckler topreforue theefrcm all 'evi!t: And confifi~ againe,Iwill6ethy exceedinggreat reward: ·that is,Iwil not only beashield, bur I will be a sunne to thee;I will both preferuethee from al!evill,& .I will fiJl thee wi th all good things, I will co~- pajfethee about withmerty and loving kindn~([e: l fo that thou fhalt finde,that 1will !Jeanexceedif!g B 2 great
'! .. great reward~S-oGodexprelfeth himfelfe toAbra- , ham~ And this is the Covenimt on Gods part. Now.that,which·is-required on Avrahams part, is.that he betheLsrd.s,as theLordishis,forfoyou feein the words following. Thequefl:iononely is,}nwhat manner Abrabam£hall -be the Lords ; how that fhall bedeclared 1·Sayrh -he,It .lsnoran emptyrelat~on,butthoumull: fhew that thou art minebynMlking6eforeme.Andyetitmufrnot be I any.kindofw~lking b'efo~e.the Lord,but it mull:be !aperfec7w-alkzng.6ifore htm;Wdlke 6efore me,& 6e j perfi8~and therefore-it is ~dded; 1 willmake my I Covenant;rhat is:, this i~· the Covenant , of which j Circmncijionwas b~t a figne, for it was infHmred 1 prefenrly,as we fee m th(t words foHowing: ·' There are three efpeciaii poyms that we will gath~rourofthe words. D~a.t;· Doubtingof.·l GodJ ..40·fuffi• 'e~tde,th~ ' The firfl:is from the. connexi:on, andwe will Beginwith that,beca'ufei.tis ·apreparation to the · othenwo: In that theLordvfeth this-as anargu- ' menttoL/.1/Jrllham, 1amA!lfoffidmt, therefore Wa!keheforeme,and/;ethbuperftc1.; w:emay obferuethis ;that · Thecaufo of'illl departure from -God;Ofa!l :vn– . evenn1fo in our wttyes toward~ 'God, is from hence, that we do not thinkeGod to·be All·fuf fi.:cient .._ - aufeofde.. arture from • Goc:f,and of A' b. h" fid . .h' r f -11 . t;. . . vnevenwal-: · SOllt · eot er 1 e,t ecau1e.O a- our 1 tncert- . !ngwith !. ' j tieandpe~tfeC!neffi,arifethhence,that wed6eap- ,m. - prehend·him.tohe A11-fo.fjicient. Thi-s youfee e- " · videndy
A L L.- s V l' F I c I E N c y~ videtly arifeth from the words; for thence is the force ofthe·Argument,htm A!l-fttfficient, there– forew·al/ee !Je(ore·me,&!x perfd1,. MyBeloved; it is evident, . th~t the caufe ofevery.mans -ke~ping offfromGod, the caufe of his unevenneffe. after ' he is·come into him, is from hence~ that men . thinke not G()dto be All~fufficient ·; for ifa man had enough inthe Lord, he would never·go out from him; but becaufe he wams fometh~ng, he defires fomething that 'is ·not in him,or he.feares' 'fomething,-thathethinkes·he cannot keepe off from him:hence it comes to paffethat he fl:eppes out fi·omGod, hegoeth out of the wayes of his Commandements. And therefore I fay ,thecaufe ofevery.mans ·departurefrom God,thecaufe of Asinthree pis keeping offfromGod, ,orof his vnevenneffe forts of men. in thewayes-ofGod,is from hence;tHat he thinks not GodtobeAll-fojficient;and this you fuaJlfee in three forts ofmen·.- Firfl:,there isageneration ofmen, that liue as ' w.itbout Godin the world, and thht looke not to.; I wards Godat.al,that make c6fcience ofnothing, Such asp~r; and what is the reaRm C?fthat ~ ·but becctufe'they . forme nodu· thinke, they haue fufficient of their owne, and . tics-to God• . therfore they 1v.alkein their ownewayes, and fbnd upon their owne bettome, and they --Ioue them– felues;&-feruethemfelites·altogether:r and apply . notthernfeiues to the Lordat all '; and therefore whenfoever anyman is brought unto GoJ, the worke is,totake him offftom his owne bottom,, to.fhew him his owne infujfiiiencie in·himfelfe~ .and the emptineffe ofbimfelfe, & ofevery erea-. ~., B 3 ture, , ' ·• '
I ' I 11 , I I' I Luke IS'· Afrs x6. A&sz. Ad:s 9• ~ Su£hasdoc femewhat, but nottho. rovvly. M.tth IJ: true, and the t.AILfttjficiency that is in God, and vpon this ground, he comes in to God. As you know, the Prodtgal!Sonne, whenhefawrhat he could notfubfii1:1onger, bnt.he mufi periib,ifhe frayed where hewas; and faw.againc, ifhe went home to his Fathershoufe, there rMs meat enMtgh; , thiswas that that moued him to go home :this coyrfetheLurdtakes with all whom he brings home tohim;as we fee in the Iaylor: and in tbofe cAE!.2. They were pricked in their hearts; and in Paul, when thelightjhinedabout him,and hewas firicken from his horfe, AE!.g.Itwas all but to fhewthem their vanitie, to take them off from their owne bottoms, to iliew them their owne infufficiencic, and then he difcovercd that All– fujficimcinhat was in himfelfe >for no man will change but for the better, he will not deny him– felfe,and leauewhathe hath, tillfomething that is better be propounded vnto him: So,I fay ithe caufewhymen come notin,is,becaufe theyha:ue an opinion of[ulficiency in themfelues,and in the creature,and they apprehend not ant.All-fi1fici– encie inGod:that is,anAllfujficiency to be in him alone. , Afecondfortofmenarefuchasdo comein, - and performe many things, andbringforth fomt fr'uit,and become profeifors ofthefeareofGod, · arid yet they do it notthroughly, but by,halues; the caufe ofthis is likewife from hence,that they do nor apprehend Godto beAll~fulficient; for if tl1ey did,theywould beperfect withhim; as we fee theScconcland Third Grottnd(for that Parable doth.
A L L • s VF Fl c I E N c Y. cloth but !11ew you.the kindes ofPtofelfors)they were all fuch as profelfed thefoareoftheLord,that are there fpoken of;for we fee,theyhrMtghtforth – fruit,They receivedt~tWordwithjoy. What was the reafon thefeconagroundwas not perfe!twith theLord1 Becaufe they thcmght him nor tobe~ Buckler firong enough tobeare off all evilJs, . to beare offall perfecution. Vvhat wa~r the reafon ~ the thirdgrou11ddid it notrBecaufethey thought "there was fomething inriches;in pleafores,in di– vers lufls, that they could nor haueinthe L()ra, [o they departed from him: · Onely thefourth greund kept clofe, bec-aufethey did apprehend · I all tObe in theLordthat they defired, they did apprehend him to ··be (hong ·enough to deliver . 1 them from all things theyfeared . .. The third fort ofmen are fuch as,are regcne-· rate,which yet arefubjechomany flip~ and fals to many-turningsa fide: And the cai1fe ofall this is,thatthey apprehend hot ·Giidtobe A/1-_(ujfici~ ent. As for example, .what was the reafon that Ahrahamwhen he went downeintoElypt(being driven thither by reafon ofFamine) faved him~ felfe with a lye, faying that Sllrah ·was hi.s Sifler, and hot his wife':' but becaufe he thoughtGodwas notabletokeepe hi.m and defend him. Ifhe had thought bin~ to haue beene A Ufujficient, he would not haue done it. What was the reafon · thatMtljes when God[ent him on ameifageinto · .Egypt, wasfo backward to performeit1Brtt be- - caufe he thoughtthatthe "Lordwas not All-fojfi:, cient;Forhe hath two reafons why hewould not B 4 ' ooe·· ~ \ ' b . ' 7 Note. 3 Sttch as are regeNerate ; i Infhmcu. l
I I' G 0 D s go; One was, he wan~ed fpec~h,hewanred abili– tie and gifts;·Hcwas ofaJlammering tongue 5 And the otherwas,thofe were aliue, that(he thought) 1 fought hislift:Ifhe had rhought thatGodwasable { to hauebin with his tor.Jgue, to haue firengthned him,and to haueimproved his gifts, and to haue inabledhim to the fervice: if he had dwught likewif~that he bad been able to h~iue defended him from rhofethatfought his lift, he would ne– ver haue difobeyed the Cemmandemenrs of. aod,andbin backward tq-performe-it as he was. And folikewife Rebecca, 'h7 hatwasthe reafon fl1e vfed that wyle& ihifr, that inordinatemeans. to bringagood thingtopaffe, to obtain the6lef- - Jing,whenlacob& ihe joynedin 1yingro Ifaack, but becauletheythought Godwasnot Sufficient to-performe that prornife?FortheMefsingbelon– ged tolacob, &no doubt b}Itheflmnld hauc hacl itinduetime. Andfoitisjnallthefaults ofthe saints;which are hence,becaufe they~pprehend nor Godtobe A tl-fujficient; even asit was in the firll: linne ofAdamand the Angels; what was the reafon that Adam felfromGod:ltthe firll:~Itwas hecaufeh;e defired fomething that he thought he could not find in the Lord, he defiredto know goodandevi!t, whichhe thought he fhould not haue in theLord,he thought the Lord had kepr it.from him,andtherefore hefl:epped _outfrom theLordtoeat that Apple, vling that as ameanes toobtainehis delire.And this, indeede, was the caufeofhis-falling away.So likewife,thecaufeof the falling of~he Ange!s,r Tim.,;.6.theApoftle fayth
ALL. s V F F I c I lt N c Y. 9 fayth there, that a Minifrer wa.snot t? beayong Scholler,le;tll: he·hep~./f(d!'l!1~n,c/ fall tntQ the·con– demn~ttion oftheDevili:Trhatis,.Ieafi: he bepuf– fed up, & fall into the fame finne, for which the D~vilt. was condemned, that is, tobepuffed up, that is, to haue the deftresinlarged beyond the boun.ds which Gft{ hath~tthem,todefire more than they fuo·uJd h~ue, to beexaltedabo~te meafo~e,tha~ meq(Ure,that Godhad appointed them, that is,rheydeftre more, they lookedaftermore · t4ey th<;>ught th~rewas ~H~tanAl/-fofficienciein Goj.fer-thern: Tpis'was.the finn<: <:>(the .An,gels ;:Kat fell. And as it was thecaufe.oftheir firfr fal , :fo it is the caufe of all the (tnnes that haue beene · committed fince. And the re,~fons-6fit in·briefe arethefe. · · ~.. ~ · -~ , . ~ l " F!rfr,itarifeth,from the defire ofhappines that isi~plantcd i~· ~very ~ans nature. Happineffe, you.knqrvj is a compound which confifis ofall gopd things,fo th.apgone mufibe tyanting;there is no good thing 1 bUt it mull: bean ingredientin-· to it. Now the natureof man is made.byGodto delire happinelfe, every man naturally defires happines, & may- defir~ it,ifrqerebe any fcantnes in this,ifrhcre.:beanyevill ·that lies tl p6 him that is not -removed,or ifthere beany good that .he ,defires andwams,~hathe doth not enjoy; (I £1y)hjs heaq d inot refr,for he defires happines; :thereforeifhe find no~an A11-fofficielJcyin God, x.Tim. 3· 6. TheDevils Gnne,what~ l · From mans de6reol bap• pine!fe. / fo that nothingbeewanting, -that hisheart can -defire or looke after, itis impoffible he 1l1ould odeauedofe unto him, but beewill be ~eadie to :Hepoutfi·omhim. C , · Sel ~--------------------~----------~ \ !. I l
:I ,d ,' il' ' I, ,I. ··- 10 a. Fromthena– tutc()ffiRJle.~ 3· From thena. tare offince.:. ritie•. s Secondly,_this will appeare from the nature of ftnne: the definition that the Scho~l- me"!giue of finne, (which' we may receiue) is this,thar.it is t.he converfion ofaman fronr God to the Crea– ture, from ihe immutah!e· God'to,the mutabH~ Creature: In exery ftnne the:t:e is fuch a turning ofthe foule fromGt~dto~ the Creatm:e. Now, it is certaine, ifa.mandid find an"All-foffcitncY' fn Gad, he would never turne from him, nor feeke , to the c ·reature; ev·en as the Bee, ifit did finde< ·mony enough'in one flower, w~:mldnot halrento ._ another, but becaufeitdoth not, it -goes from . flower to fiower.And fo is the natureofman( as .: Sa/omONexprcffethit, faying,that) He ha(lened tO:MJwardiliing.r,,that:is whenbe fell upon one he found not enough in ir,he m~de haft toano.· ther and to another' [o the nature of man, ifit . did finde[wectnes,and comft,rt,&contentment .. enough inGod, it would not turne from hirn to the creature; but becaufe,in·his tfnce, rheoo– jed is too nattrow; tliereisfomewhathe wo~ld haue more,he looks overthe Pale,as it were, he . feeth fomething that lie drfii·eth;.and that caut: eth him to fiep our, whereas ifhe had enoughat home, ifhe had enougn .in,the Lord, hee would · not goeout from him, to-turne inordinately to . the Creatur-e upon any occafion. Thirdly;thiswill'appe~relikewife from t he na· . tu reofjihctritie,andperfeEIwalkingwithGodfor · to walkeperfeB!ywith God, is nothing ·but this, when a man choofethGod, fo that he cleaues to him.alone,whereas-doubleneffe ofminde ftands . · · in~ i ~----------~------------------------~------~
ll J ' , , • in this, when aman is ditlralfted betweene G~l ' 1 and fome other objett; 1-fay,betweeneGodarid · · _\, .riches, betweeneGodand·credit, betweeneGod \ · ·and pleafure, and is fometime applying himf~lfe · ;.·1 · to one, and fometime.to another, and fo hegoes • adouble way. So that when a man hath two f prindpall objeds, and two-principaU.ends, ap· onwhich his eye is fet,whe he hatn two inward prindptes within,that are the caufe ot,his moti· . on, this-way and that way, fueh aman i$ ad"~- A double .b/emindedman ; hee is a fingie hearted man th'at =~r::ed man, · · choofeth Godalone, and though he'walke im-: 1 : .perfediy with him, yet he choofeth him. · I .,. . NowifamanapprehendG1d.r AU-fofficie~&J, ./ he will choofe himalone, ·ifhe doe fl~t, it is im"': i poffible he iliouldchufehim alone, but heewill joyne fomewhatelfe withhim ;forifhe thinke there is but apartia~lfofficiency in :G~d, and that there is fomeftiffciency in any Creature beftdes, . it Jnuft needs be that hee ~uft haue an eye upon both, & then his wayes will be uneven,.then his rvtty i5 unftahle;and, therefore, I fay;the c~mfeof that inftabilitie to whic:hmen are fubjecr,is, be– ·caufethey doenot apprehend -Godto be All-fof– ftcient,fory~umuftknow this by the way, that there isadouble infrabilitie(rhat word isufcd in lam I. -8 .Adoublemindedmttninm(lahleinallhis Jnthbdirie w-aies.One is an inll:abilityberween twoobjeas doubtr.• 1 whichmakesupall tl!J.efufflcieney that he deftres, I~m . (.a. fothat ,the.re'is apartofrhatfofficiency in one,& part ofit in another. The fecond is an infiabilirie in following one objechhat hee bath chofen.- C 2 . Indee~?~ ~~ I I '
~~ 1 I :! : i' •, 0 D S . · In~:eed{"_, the fecond infiabilitie allthesaintsare fubjeCl:.~1 nto,~I regenerate men are unfiable thus_ in~lltheir wt~J~!, they cannot ll:icke fafr tO. God; andwafketerftEHywith him. But herein is their jfncerity,they choofe him)they pitch upon.him. Nowth~grotl;t1dofitis,theyapprehend him to , beAl.fujficient ,though thisapprehenfion beno~ -alwayes kept firong, it isnotalway liudy, and actiuein their minds, their perfwafionis notalwayfull a9dpre(ent,and therefore t~eyarerea~ · dyto:fie-pnut. So the .latter1nfiabilitieoefal~- the · St~ints; theformer befals hypocri'res, ·an(lboth theon~and the other inftabilitie frill proceede fi-o!Jl .. hence~ th$we appieheqd.not .God 1!(1} . b~ .A~'-fu.ffkient~ Holy roenhauethar·appreHerl'fion in themain~,-bu~not ina conllant tenour at all ~imes; Hypocrites. haudt not fo:rimch as in t_he maine.. · ·' · ·' ;. · · 4-.. Fourthly. Thistruth.willlike·wif~a:ppearfrom -From tbe nah ffi · '- h h'' h t . · · ·1tureoffaith.. t e nature o attf'J,t ~tw JC maK~s· amanngnteom, that which fandipes aman throughput is faith: that which is.thecaufe ~fall:unrighteouf– nelfe inus.is unbeliefe, ,,for it caufetli a man to Heb. 3_, 11· departfrom theLord:·as·lfe6:3: I 2 .T.ttke:heed leaft therbe in any ofyouan-euillheartofur;!Jdiefoode-. partfrom the living God.In this fence faith is faid . . to heaccountedfor righteoufoejfo.Aiirttham belee- - Gep~ .~ s-. 'lJ.td God. Gen. 15. God indeede made th~ fame propo~tionthathe cloth nere, tor fubftance, he tels him what he would doe for him, and/ayth. the1!ext:,A6rahambeleevedGod~&itwifh· accoun ... ' t:edto hif!J for rig,hteoufnes. Now,itw.u,.Ac(()tmted·,- · . ~J
A 1 L L - s V F F I c I E N c y. to himfor righteoufneffi, chie~y in this ~ence,as it ) is interpreted Rom..4. that hts very taktngofthe . R.om. •· promifeaBd his :accepting oftheeovenant,in that he did recciue that whichGodgaue,rbat put him within theCovenant, and therfore theLordreckoned himarighte_ot%man,even forrharvery ac- l– cepra,tion and b~leevihg.Butthat is not all: but \ likewife he a<;e66.tedfaith tohimfor righteou(nu becaufe faj th dothfandifie,& make a manrighteoiU: aqd thereforeBeloved(by the way) won- .der no~ 'atthis, thatweputfo much upon faith: _for ~e.r e man·heleeui, rhar. Go~~All{ttJf!IJient> whtcni~ theCovena-nt;for p1fifymgfatthtsbuta heleeving ~ofthat part ofth~ Cev.enAnt;, an4 ina- 1 bling am:an tokeepe.theotherpartwhich.is t€– quired; and, Ifay,i~ makes a rrumrighteom:for .when a mari beleeues that God is All-folficient,it :· wi1l c~ufeamanto giue up himfelfeto the Lord · ,(rg~i~~,wh~~ ~~ b~l~eues.i:he_'~ordt~be all ~nail . :thmg$ ro·h1m, tt. tnableth htm to bee'all m all ,things to the Lort/againe,'that is,tobeholJ to the i Iror.di~i .all.rnitnner of conver(atio.n. It knits his heartu.nto theLord.ItfandHiethaman through:.: 1 : 6Ut~irmakesl1imp.eculiantotlie.Ewd;ir.makeshirtt , ~holty ·t;9,him. Tbi~ is. th~n'atlilreo(fa#h. N~w;.; (marke it) faith could·riot thtls fandifie,i:f it did not beleeue GodsAtl-fojfidency. Againe, unbe-– ,Hefc aouldnot caufe our fal!ingordepa-rtillgfrum~' God, ifitwerc·nor hence, that we failein belee-· ving fome promife ofhis;,or fmne.threatnir1gs, ·we thinke there is not an .1.1 ll-foffiCien&ie in God, youknow his promifescontainall goodthings; . · ' c 3_ ; " " if
I' I Vainehopcs and feares draw us from God. ifwe cleaue unto him, & his threatnlngs all evill ·things,ifwedepartfrom him.lfthis were fully beleeued,-ourhearts would keepen eare tohim: as far re as it is not beleeved,fo farre we ll:ep out. ·Now,l fay,hence foith purijieth lj;e1Jurt:It fanctifieth, it is the caufeof.all rjghteoufnes that is wrought by us : and uhheUerc is the caufe ofall - unrighteoufnes that is wrought by us .Hence we gatherthen,thattheperfwafionofGodsAll-fof . ciencie keepes amans heart perfeE1with Goa: and as farre as you come fhort ofthis perfwafi– on,fo farre you are ready to depart from him. · And the ground ofiris, becaufe that which .drawes us from theLord, is either vaine feares, or vain hopes,Thofe·are the two earesasit were bywhich Si!than takes every man, whereby he drawes himaway out of thewayes ofthe Lords Commandemems. Now ifaman did beleeue t·hat Gidwere All~fofficient he would be fubje~· to() none of thefe falfefeares, ifhe did,apprehend him to·beeaBuck/tr,that could-keepe him from al -ill.Againe,on the other lide,ifhe did beleeue · G~dto be an excttding great ·reward, that is, fo great artwardthatthere can be nothing wanting in him,that -there is ttltngth;& breadth,&depth, 411d heighi,in that rtwArd,that his heart hath la– titude enough to walke in,he can defire nothing outofit: this would free aman from all vainc hopes, fo that theapprehention ofit would keep (his heartperfet1. Contradwife, as farre as you 1 fayle in either; fo farre you are fubjed to thofe two,either f~lfe feares,or vaine& finfull hopes: , and'
ALL- s V F F I c I EN c Y. and that is tne caufeof<?ur uneven and unequall ·walking with God, that 'Wee are not upright and perftif. . - · Hence you may fee both the nature offin,and P'le 1 •. thecaufeofall finne;foritis profitable forus.BeSllewin~rhc · tovtd, (nothingmo.re profitable: than) to _fi:rid(r· c2 ufc oHinne. ·out the caufe offinne.It is a Rnle thatP_hy(ztia_ns haue,thatadifeafe,whenitis throughly known, ( thatis,when thecaufeofitisfully known)itis .halfe cured; fo.it is in the difeafeofthe foule,.to, ·know the very roote& rife,from whenceitpro– t:eeds,or com'meth, to·know the prindple fr:0m– whence it ariferh, itis agreat helpe to·us to pre– -vent it, tohealeit. But I fay·, .this.will both iliew :the nature offinne, and the caufe offinne in us. Firft, it Qlewes the nature offinne, how e.v.iUa 1 • .thing it is,yea worfe,than, forthe moll: part, we Theaaturt~ ,apprehend it to be; for ifthere be no,finne committed, butit comes ftom hence,.that you apprehend not Godto.be .Alt-fuflicitni, then there is1dolatry(inamanner)committed in every fin, that is,you take fromGodandaddeanotherGod . . ·to him,ifyou thinke himn~t tobe1/t:fo(fi&:ient;·. ~~;&~~ w.hatfoeveryoufeekto; &Joynewtth htm,you'- .make ir-a riodas well as.he)lfit b€ c-redit; ifit be -l!onor,ifit be pleafutes·~ifit be:riches,yea what- - _foeverit is,I fay,thereisabitter root of Jdillt~try ,in thecommiffionofevery fm, that makesitoHt ofmettfurefinfull.~ · This-w.e mayr confi.deri~Y the· way, buuhislpurpofe notto.:ftand on;thething· ·that I would·chiefly prelfe, is-to find . out the– :caufeoffin;.thccaufe.ofrhat hollownes, &that C4; im... ,
I, I' I I . ' ' I •. 1 2· Thec~ufeof finnC'.' Simile. ... ... ' D S im.perfedneife, and infinceritie that is in rh~ hearts ofmen towl{ds Gt~~4,which,I fay, arifeth from hence, that they apprehend not Godto be t.Ail-fujficient,for this (for the mofi part)is the .cafe ofmen,iftheydid not apprehend fome fuf– ficiency in him,they would not feeke him atall; againe,ifthey did apprehend him tobeAil-fuffi· cient, they would feruehimperfe8ly : but this. middleappr~henfion in men, that they thinke there is a filfficiency in theLord, but not anAlt– fofficiencie., this is the caufe why the hearts of ,men are hollow towards theLord.Even as when -aman lookes towards agreatman, that isaman of(omepowerableto doe him hurt, andrhat hath fome abilitie to doe himgood: this makes him to fearc,itmakes him carefulltopleafehim, and to abll:aine from what may offendhim: yet, bec~ufe he thinkes he is nor perfe_Cl: with him, that hi$ heart is but hollow towards hirn, hee dorh it riotfully.,So it · i~in~'tirwalkirtg before God, becauteweapprehend him not to ~heAU.· fufficimt, therefore-it is ·that QUr.hearts are not perftl1~ithhim; .- . ·weihall bell: fhew you this·in intl:ances; for example; •What is the r-eafon, that a man is dif– couragedin feekingtoGod, in praying toGod, in d~pending upot1Gtidin anygreat cafe ofdifficul– ty'w~~r~t,here .is more then ordinary difficulty' t~hereis moreto be'futfere<{, there is more to be · done,'whatis t!hereafon ofit~becaufe weappre. ~endhim noHo be:All-fofficimt. You knowthe l .turningofmen away fromGod, c6monlyit ari• . ' feth ----~----~----~~---- · '
A L L • s·v FP xc ·I tt N c v~ f~th fi·~1,; th-is, they meete with fome rub, fome crolfes,fome barre,fome Lyonin therWt~}, which theyarcnot able tQgrapplewith,itisroo ftron_g -·for them :and then they tyrne out oLth·ew.1y; the reafon, I fay, of.all finae and dep.:uturcJfrom theLord is,becaufe weedbe not apprehendhim tobe AU-fufficient:for ifwe did, wfiy i110uld not aman in an cafiecafe, turne from him ras -Well as in themoft difficult? · ' - As, for example; Dtt-vid(following the Lord long,yet whenS·aul grew,exceeding ft:t~f!_g, and heveryweake, then-he lletppedafid~,ctnd fayd:i!) his heart, I fM!lper(fh oned4y;ana:rohego~s out ofG~ds wayes,artd f130eth toAchisitotlle .Phili. ftins : Tbis,_w.as frQm hence, thadh'editf.not -ap- . , prebend the /.J()rd.to~b.e71-!Lfofficielit ltn1i~Hi~{~h · tiefor-thewor.dfigoinethbt<>th.\ , '.___. ·· ··. -Andfo IikewiCeM-ifo.;,Num6Lir what...was the r~fon that he~lbart.ed -a.fide., thathedid-not-be– ~*ueasat othertimes ':"1 Wh~nGod&¥a, ~o 1:Hrq~ thatb'ewouldgiuethemflef11fudumoneth t'oge:. ther; wb~tfairhMofts againe{Shttl!frxe hundred thoufond men be fedwith flefb, Jha!lt~!ltheB_eeues tfpdSheepe6e jlainr,orfoal/ 'll!l r.hefiJh in thesea6e gathere-dtogether?Hecouldnorbeleem~theLord, here was a difficultie, that Mofes was not ableJ.o reach,thattherefhouid befo many fed-with ae·$ and thatin thewilderne(fo,and tpatfor anwtiet.H together'!heethought i't' impoffible t(ifbee done; that all the fifh in the Sea lhouldbe-gathered to:– gether, & aillittle·enough to ferue fuc-h·Jl tnrne: Nowmarke theLords al1[ were there~,-if the LordS. Thecaufc whymen ttt·rne frorn God. In!hncC'SOf doHbtirog in difficult c.a!es. Numb.xr, -1 D han'd ·-----~-----------~---....._ ______ .. __ _
'I 0 . D S h.tndjbortt:net/!Y-Qumay know by-the medicine ; what the difeale was;Mofos(faith he)thou.rhink. eft I amnot able to do it, thou thinkell my hand is f110rtened that I-cannot doe it. ·And thelike ,was whenhecame to draw water Qut oftherock: you fhallfeeM~stherdl:ucke:fo~ thecafewas . acafeofdiflicu1ty.Ifit hadbinout ofthe earth, where there ~ad- beene probabilirie, it had not . beene fo much:butMofesmakes two arguments., againfl:it,( you knowho\v great the finne was •. for the whkh he loft going into the Land ofea·-. . n.tan,Ifay,he m-akes thefetwoar.:5umentsagainff it. ) Firll:,faith:he, thepeopl~are rebels-, andwil·l the Lord giue them ·water, that haue carried themfelues infuch a manner~that was one thing., that caq(eq his infidelityat that time. Another · was, What? /hall Igiueyotiwater o11t ofth~ rock.~ · Asifhe fhould fay, Thatis-adifficuli: thing. So thatpmthefe two together, out ofthe rocke and unto re6els, there his faith fayled.~ for it Was dif- . ·ficult: ·and whence came this '! Becaufe -h'ee · thought d1e iordwas not Af!:-fufflcient. Andfo,likewife, Marth~anaMary;whcnthey cameto·Ch.r.ifl:· for L"azarus-; when he was dead, . they .were outofhope:the reafon washecaufe . there was -adiffirulty,now more then before ;fo– that I fay, thecornon caufe ofourturning aftde from theLordis, becaufewee meete with fome difficulties.which ourfaithis notable to grapple , ·with & it arifeth from hence, that we forgerrhis thattheLordfaith toA6raham, Jam GodAtmigh tie>or .A{l ..flffficient.. I.am abk to do ,. whatfoee,_verJ.will•._ Befides ,
ALL ·SVFFICIE NCY. 1'9 !. - Befi~es th1is:whhatisthhe. cau[~ tb~a~men fe~ke 2 •. j after vame- g ory,t at t ey are tU JC'-'" to envte·~ Seekingpraife \ (t·hejir.it that /i.in us isfobj e!f toenvi~)for every w;ch men the , manenvieth another;becaufe he ddireth vainecaufeof it: glory .too much to himfelfe ·~this arifeth from hence, that he reckoneth not God to be Allfofli· cient. Thatis,Ifwe did reckonitenough tohaue praife withGodifwe thought that hi5 knowledg ofouruprightnes were fufficier,though n(:) man . in the world knew it befides,we would be con~ tentwith that honorthat we haue,which he hath .allotted to us within our own co111paffe, bur, be· <aufe wethinke him not to be AUfoffcient, wee would hauefomething,likewife,fi·om the Crea ture,wewould h:me honor,loue,&refpea from tnen;which finnearifeth hence, that wee appre– hend not him to be AU~(ttfjcient ;fo doth that, likewife, which .iscontrary toit(forthey arefins . ofthe fame naturc&thcy arife both fi·orhe fame ground )when menarefo fenfibleofi1ume, and 1 h dd·r. ,../d 'fi .,., d h' W1ywe:~re reproac ,an agrace,~ 1 paragemet, ot lt lotenfible of notarife hence,~hatwerec~omansday too much ret'roach. and G~dsday too little~ Wee apprehend not God enoughin hisgrearnes;01sthe ApoUlefairh,Ireckon not to bee judgedby mansday. As ifhe ihould fay. It is but aday,it is but a time that man harh to judge:there is another day,theLords day.,that greatday.Ifamandidapprehcnd thatwhichis . inGod,ifhedid fee his cA!l-fo!Jiciency,hewould not regard to be judged by mans day,aslongas he were not judged by the Lord hee would not care what his fellow- prifoners thoght ofhim,as 1 . .Dz ~~ . .... ' I I '
: I 20 ~. !ndiretlcour– fcanakcnto bring enterpriCes top~.f!e. · In{bnces of ·ufinggood meanes. Inlhnceso! .ufing cvilL m_eancs •. o ·s: · long as the Iudge and the La:w cleared him. . And folikewife, whatisthereafon ofthcun. even \vayes ofmen, which they take to bring .their ent.:rprifes tO paife 1 Is it not hence, that ·they apprehendnqtGodtobeAll-foffioient.?Dti– vid,whenhe was ina.firait,whenthe Kingdome .you know,was promifed him,and many oppor– tunities he had to haue gotten it, ifhee wouJd h~mc nfed evill means,when fometimes the L()rd putsttu!into his hand,yer would not touchhim, but committed ittothe Lordfor hethqught him tobeeAlmighty, able tobringitto paffe,asaJ[o he did bringit-topaife. · And fo likewife, Daniel; there . might haue beenemeane~ufeq f9r him to haue efcaped;you know,whenhe wa£in danger, when.hee refufed to c'at of the Kings-I.iJeat,hewasindanger again, whcntheyobtainedoftheKingthatij'anyman did makeany requejl te any Godor man,6utthe King for thirty dayfs he fhould be put to death: yet he truftedinGod,hethought him tobeA!lflsfjicient; able to keepe hirp ,.and tht~refore he :fiepped not outofhis way. AndfoP!Zulwhenheefawthat Feftus thought to haue had mony given him, yet doubtldle,in thqfe citcumftances;qethoughr it not lawfull to do it,& therfore he trujledinGod;: though no.doubt, he might hauemade friends, to haue gathered the money: Iris likdy Fefltts . thonghtthere was a probability for it, becaufe he hoped forit,butPttul would not doit,becaufe · he thought theLordwasablet'o deliver him. Butonrhe othet .fide,Ieroboam· 1 when hehad· a hufi- .
ALL - ·S V F F I 0 I EN 0 Y. 2·1 a buftneffe to doe, you know what ·courfe·hec - tooke,he-joynes them together, he addes to Re– ligion, he c?rrupts it, that hee.might keepe his Kingd0mc. And.i6Sartl. (Hut I need nor ·giue· you infiances)Ifay, thecaufe ofal indirect waies wetake.tobrin~our.enterprifes topaffe,it comes . · from hence, that we trufr not inGed, wethinke himnot tobeA/1-fofficient,not abl~ todoe-i~,except we helpe liim...wjrh wyles,an.d tricks,& de:– vifcs ofour own. What is the reafon ofthat ly. ingand diffembling,that is ufed likewife, forthe famepurpofe.ds itnor-from hent:e, that m~map– prehendnot.God..tobeA 11-fliflicient~Peter when he denied Chrifts·was it not from feare ~ A~d from whence was thatfeare,but becaufe he rec– koned not G;ar:to ·be:a Buclderfirong enough, andfureenoug,h?AndfoSarah, whenilieed.eni- · .ed,that fhee laughed, fayth theTexr,forjhe was· afr~Zid,and therfore fhee fayd ;no,Jdidnot laug'h when the did, and:was charged for doing ofit. , rmigbt giue you many othe:.r jnfiance~, but·I ! fhall t1ot need. Goe throughall varieties of fins , I 1 and youihall fee they at~ife hence:) that wee rec- ! J kon not Godtobew!Lfufjichmt.. ) I The fatisfy ing offtnfull-lufls,doth it not arife · s . f4~ f fi h I ._ . . .,]"' fi atl s ymgo rom ~ncc~He_ t lat 1~ giVen.toanr p:"a ~re, to ' fi nfullb.fi~, I any deltght, ofwhatkmde foever,tfhee'aidbe. , whenceu ts. _}eeue ·t~.ofe t~o. things, that the Lor~i~ ab.le to .1 \ _fulfiJl ntmWlth Joy,& comfort fuffic1et ,that the · "!' • LfJr.disab]etomurtifethofe/u.fls&tohejlethem j in him,hewould ke.epe clofe to him·, and would . 1 :wt gocoudromhtmgo;:;he need not, the L"'fs J 1
, I , I ..- . O .FGons is A!l-(ufficient.That is,he is able to fatisfiehim, he is able to fill him withjoy & petttetflro~tgh be– leeving, which ihould be enough to fatisfie his heart with contentment; he is able, likewife to I mortifie that lull, fo that, as heis forbidden the fatisfying ofit, fo, likewife he 1hou1d haue no fuch prevailing ddire to it. And therefore the way to -keep ou~hearts perfed with God(for that is the thing for which I prdfe all this, for which I bring all thefe In!l:ances) it is to come to this, to fet downe this conclufton with our felucs, that he is LA!l-fufficient: No man is ·ever fit to ferue him without this :except a man bee content to haue Godalone for his_portion;ifhee will joyneany thing with him, ifhe will joyne Godand credit together, God,and riches tQge– ther, Got/, and pleafures together, he will never keepe clofe to him: for one time or other, there wiU..falJout afeparation betweenedod, & thefe things,. and whofoever cloth not refolue thus , with himfelfe, I will be contentwithGodalone, theogh he firip meofall things in theworld, I fay, hewillnever keepe clofe to theLord, but his wayeswill be uneven towards him. Apofi;~e the The yongman in the GofPel would never haue .groundofit. gone away fad, ifhe had thought G~dhad beene All-fofjicicnt: but he ·thought, when his riches weretakenaway,thatlomewhat was taken from him that belonged tohishappines,that he could nothaue beene1o well withoutir.Againe, Ahittham, on the other·fide, would never haue beene willing to haue offred Ifack,ifhehad notthoght that
' ' l\. L L- S V F F I C I E N C Y~ that GodwasAU-fuf(icitnt:aswe fee Heb. I I.I9· .lt is faid there;that,thoughJfack were the fonnc ,of the promife, yet he willinglyoffered him i whyr:for he thcmghtGodwt~s ttble toraift himfrom t·he deadagaine,fromwhencehe alfoafter afort receivedhim: As he received him from Sarahsdead womhe,fohe thought he might be mifedagaine from the dead ·afhes. w ·hat was the reafon that P.aul ferved the Lordwith a perfeCt heart ~You T 1 . im..q..to. fee in r Tim-4. ro. That hetruftedin_God,& thrrfiore(fayth he)welabour,&fu~11'er rehuke;thofeare 'JJ' Theparts of the two parrs._ofnew ob~dience,(to doe,and to obedience. fuffer)and therfore,faith he,we doe it,6ecaufewe trufl in tht fittingGod:thatis. We trufi in him for , ,all things:! belceue him to beAlmightyandAU- ·foflicient,every way,both to defend me fromaU evill,and alfo to provideallgood things for me, and thereforeI ferue him, and labour inhh; fer– vice,andfufferrebuke. What was the reafon,on theother lide,thatDemttJ. turned from theLord~ was it no~,.becaufe he thought there was note– nough·in him~·And therefore faith.theText, he imbracedthis preftnt world:the way therefore to keepe our hearts perftil withGod, is to confider well the -great_power ofGod, & the greatgood– neffe ofGotl, for in thefetwo his AU-fofficiencie towards us confifts;Confider his mightiepow- How to k~cpe .er, and fay thus with thy felfc, heisabletodoe ~~charts . all things for mee,tonfiderwithall, thegreatnes of his goodneffe, and mercy, and fay, he is my Father, bee is willing to doe all things for mee~ Indeede, that conclufion :weefuould fetdowne with . .
I 1 :,1 I I I '.1. 1 I it Ourpre(ent ell ate belt for us. '. ., D S wit-h ourfelues, (ifany.rhing be not done, ifwe want any thing, i(any croffe lie upon us at any time, rt;o be ready to fay., this is not becaufe the I,ordcannot doeit; for he is Almightie. Ag<dpe, it is not beca.ufe theLordwi11not doe it;for he is as infiniteinloue to me>as he is in power: What is the reafonof itthen':'becaufe it is not belt for me.Sofhould every ma fay,if there be any want .ifthere be any cro!Ie,it is befi:for ine.It is better for thee,itmay be,to be in alow.efhtte,theto be in ahigh :itis,b€tterfortheetobepinched with povertie, then wliuein abundance, it is better .for th€e t_o.ly~ underremptation,(thoughit be a rgteat vexation to thee for the.prefent)then to be fre.ed·frqm it :it isb.etter £or thee)( it may be)to · lh.'tueme.anegiflis;then to haue highgifts:itis bGt-' .t erfouhee, to be in a Iowpbae, than to bein e. minentplace :·it is better fortheeto becrom~din' rf;ayname,in ~hyreftare,it is better for thee:ro be ~fidka.irrbodie, it iSlhetredor thcetobe troubled (fometime).in minde, than to bee fre\d from it. He/~veil,this;wefmu£1: come to;~and yet we muft ~tbinke theLordto lzee .AU-(ttfficient. For if.it bee · fo,~hououghtefi:tofay"thns with thy feife,it is beft for me to befd. Youwillfuy, how fhallwe do to be perfwaded ofit':'There are many cafes, · wherein weareinfuchacondition, which wee thinke worf~ ofourfelues, which manv times is the baft,nay,alwayesitis befi:foreverymamhat is in covenant with G()d. For this rule mufi: bee 1 kept, heis All-fofficienttohis children,and they 4inde him fo, he hath performed i-t, and made ir · good
' A L L - s V F 1! I c I E N c Y·. ' '\ 1-S' ·good to their experience,and therefor.:>,whenfo . ever they findeany want,it is bell: for them to be fo; It is not either defect-in the power ·ofGod, or in the loue of God: For example, wb.raham lnflancu. ., .thought it ahard thing,a great croffe,that he was put to expe11Ijhmael his fonne, whom heloved~ Was it not better for A6rahttm~had he not an<:>- Nothing loll ther fonne that was fitterfor him borne of his i by o!Je)•ing ' 1 God ownewife~ And fo UJ1ofes thought it a hard I • thing,to be barred from comming into the land o[CatJt~an,but what loll: he by it~ was he not led into a betterCanaan, into Paradife, into amore gloriouscondition~ So likewife, when he went downe intoEgypt,ifhehad had atongue of elo. quenee givenhim,tohis will, that would haue fatisfied him: but was it not better for UJ1cfo.tto haue a{}ammering tongue, and yet to haue the workedoneaswell, Aaronandhe beingjoyned t~gether~ For by thatrneanes Mofts was kept hymble, and his loue like\vife was increafed. F~r rhatmutuaH indigence knits men together, when they haue need one ofanother. In like maner,Davi~hadan exceedinggreatdeliretobuild theT(mple,whe itwas not theLords will,thlt he fhould doeit;washealooferbyit. Davidwas at ; thattimenotfittohauedoneir, he was notable to hauedoneit, ascircumfrarrceswere: but was healooferby it)had not he a houfe builthim,as well as ifhe had built thehoufeofGodf had not he asgreat areward., as ifhee had performed it~ So likewife in the Ioffeofhis child, it was excee- \ 1 . · ding grievous to him, yer~. was it nGt better that ' - - E that
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