The Doarine ofMortifi'catio r: 93 my parents, orthis friend, or that man 3 no,it was firft decreed in heaven,orelfe it had neverbeen.This made David fay,P[il. 6.8 .The terrors o f li f t anddeathare inthy power, ordoe belong rento thee ; thatis, nothing hath any power todoe any good or hurt,but as Godwill it ; I fay,goodor hurt is ofGod : What evil! is inthe City,and theLordbath not doneit ? that is,whatevil iscommitted and is not firft permittedbyGod tobedone.Thebief- fìngofthecreature(as we call it)is ofGod : Doth the Lord leadaoy creature to hart thee: thecreature hath nopower to doeit, except the Lord command him : As forexample ; Youknow anaxe is a fharpe inl}ru- Simile; ment, which withhelpe will doe muchhurt, yetlet it aloneand it will doe no hurtat all ; but let ahand bee put to it,and prefently you may doe muchwith it : fo the Creature hath no power tohurt thee, except they jóynewith them Gods command ; and this weecall the evill of thecreature. Againe, doth the Lord fend anycreature tocomfort thee it is mot becaufe the Creature can comfort thee, the Creature hath not a- nyfuch powerin it felfe, but the Lord ufeth it as an Inftrument for thy good. Matth. 4.4. Man liveth not by bread onely, brae by every word that proceedetk out of the momth of God : that is , bread, although it bee a good Creature, yet it path no power to nourifh thee, except the Lord put powerunto it, and command it tonouriflithee.Now feeingall things are ofGod, and this heavenly mindednefie is a meanesto bringableffingupon all the reft;that is,toblelfe them for thygood; be heavenly minded : Thiswas theen- couragement theLordgave untoAbraham,Fearenot, for LAM thy exceedinggreatreward, rvalke reprishtlywith mee N3 fo,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=