C H A P.I. Epifileto the ?heffaloniases, V E R. 5 2. Teliefe of promifes, how is it fhakenby them? Sun- dry precious promifes God bath giuen vs of comfort, ioy, and peace in beleeuing. f JCodlineffe bath promife of this life and of that to come. Yet oft, our portion of temporal_ ties is of the fcantefl : peace we rather detre,then tafle of God himfelfe writes bitter things againft vs. I maruell not to fee Dauids faith falter : wonder rather, conlidering his tentation, that faith at lafi recouers it felfe, and holds fat{ the Conclufion ; yet God isgood to Ifrael, Pfal. y 3 . T. Perfmafion of Gods lone, how hardly retained ? when we feele him, as `David : T. vexing vs with all his formes : 2. giuing little or no gfenfible comfort to fispport. 3. nor till h after, fruit of our crofles. I can eafely beleeue, our Sauiour had the Spirit of Faith not by meafure, who being in his fen fe forfak'en of God, yet by faith held the conclu. Eon, God was i his cod, gracious and loving veto him. Confidence inhih mercie, who almofl retaines in multi - plicitie of continued pref ores ? mirror of faith, more then of patience lob feemes to me, when, it his deepen miiè- rie, he proteus to hold fall his confidence : Though he kill rue, yet I will trufl in him : that not without caufe Paul glories in this people fo patient, fo faithfull in all their tri- bulations, and perfecutions. I with theymay be our famples in our affli6 ions. Mar - uellous is the delicacie of our flea:, through long conti- nuance of eafe : ready almofl to blaf'pheme God to his face, if he lay, I fay not, his hand, but his little finger vpon vs. And in our praEtife, k contrarie to that of the Apottle, we walke by fight, not by faith; fcarce euer trufling the Lord without his pawne ; beleeuing no more of his promife or loue, then our flefhly fenfe apprehends. It fhall be our wifedome to fortifie there Graces in vs, that we may be able to fland fafl in the euiil day : we can- not be ignorant of the ' common lot ofGods children, nor of the m condition of our glorie. And though there may be difparitie in the meafures, as God is pleafed to refpetl our infrrmitie ; yet is that of the ApoiHe vniuerfally true. ° All that will line godly in Christ Iefiu fhall ftiffer perfecutions. C I ft Tim.4.to. s PCal.77.2. e Heb.i2.1 r. ' Mat.27,46. Oft I. & 2 Cot. 5.7. 2. Aéìs 14.22; ° Rom.8.17. ° aTim3,t2. e
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