one Motion of the Soul to come out of itfelf, and in to Jefus: It is one Thing really to diftruft ourselves, and to trust in him; and by this Means, when the true Nature of Faith itself is holden out, Men might examine themselves rather by it, whether they have it, nor by the Preparations of it.

But to come to our Purpose, when the Soul is preffed under Burdens of Sin and Mifery, of Duty and Infufficiency, and Inability to do it, then the Gospel dif covereth unto the wearied Soul, a Place of Repofing and Reft. The Lord hath eftablished Chrift Jefus, an Enfign to the People, these who feek unto him fhall find bis Reft glorious, Ifa. xi. 10. When there is difcovered in us, all Emptiness and Inability, yea Impoffibility to fave ourselves, or perform any Duty, then are we led to Jefus Chrift, as one who is come with Grace and Truth, in whom it bath pleafed the Father all Fulness fbould dwell; and the turning of the Soul over upon him, is trufting in him. You would not mistake this, trufting in the Lord in its firft and moft native acting, is not always Perfwafion of his Good-will and Love in particular; no, the Soul meets first with a general Promife, holding out his Good-will in general, and the Soul clofeth with this, a Thing both good and true, as faithful in itself, and worthy of all Acceptati on. This is it that we must first meet with, an all-fufficient Saviour, able to fave to the utmoft all that come to him; and the Soul's accepting of that bleffed Saviour on the Terms he is offered, this is believing in him, and trusting to him, as a complete Saviour.

Now when the Soul hath disburdened itself upon God, and fet to its Seal to the Truth of the Promifes in the Gospel

for Salvation; if the Light of the Spirit fhine to difcover this unto it, that it hath laid hold on his Strength, who is able to fave to the utmoft, then it becometh perfwaded of his Love in particular; and this is rather the fealing after believing, than believing itself.

When once Men have hazarded their Souls upon his Word, and trusted in him, then they may truft in him for all Particulars: He that bath given his Son for us, will be not with him give all Things? This therefore is the continual Recourfe of a Believer, from discovered Emptinefs and Infufficiency in himself, to travel unto the Fulness and Strength of Jefus Chrift, that his Strength may be perfected in Weaknefs: Yea, when all Things feem contrary, and his Difpen fation writes bitter Things against us, yet ought we to trust in him, Job xiii. 15. There is a Peace of Wilfulness and Violence in Faith, that will look always towards his Word, whatever be threatned to the contrary.

Now, from this Faith in God, floweth a conftant Dependence and Stayed nefs on him, They are stayed on him, because they trufted in him; for Faith difcovereth in God, fuch Grounds, that it may lean its Weight upon him without wavering and changing. It confidereth his Power, his Good-will and his Faithfulnefs; he is able to perform, he is willing to do it, and he is faithful, because he hath promised. His Greatness and Power is a high Rock, higher than we, that Faith leadeth us unto: His Love and Good-will in Jefus Chrift, maketh. an open Entry, and ready Access to that Rock; and Faithfulness engageth both to give a Shelter and Refuge to the poor Sinner. Would a Soul be any more tof fed, would there be any Place for wa

vering and doubting, if Souls confidered his excellent loving Kindness, and great Goodness laid up and treasured with him, for these that trust in him? Pfal. xxxvi. 7. Who would not put their Truft under the Shadow of his Wings, and think themselves fafe? Again, if his eternal Power were pondered, how he is able to effectuate whatever he pleaseth, what everlasting Arms he hath, that by a Word fupports the Frame of the World, what he can do, if he stretch out his Arm; and then, if these two immutable Things, Heb. vi. 18. his Promife and his Oath were looked upon, how he hath ingaged himself in his Truth, and fworn in his Holiness; Would not a Soul ly fafely between these three? What ftrong Confolation would fuch a threefold Confideration yield? Would any Wind or Tempeft blow within thefe Walls mounted up to Heaven?

templation and Affection. The most Part of Men have but few Thoughts of God at all, even those who truft in him, do not confider fufficiently what a One he is in whom they believe. If Faith were vigorous and lively, it would put Men to often thinking on him, seeking to know him in his glorious Names, the Mind would be stayed upon this glorious Object, as the most myfterious and wonderful One. How throng are Mens Minds with their Vanities? When they awake, they are not ftill with God; the Meditation of him is a Burden to them, any other Thing getteth more Time and Thoughts. Thoughts. But Meditation addeth Af fection to Contemplation; Men may think long upon the Heavens and their Course, but their Affections are not ravished with them: But this is the Soul. stayed on God, when the Soul's Defires are towards the Remembrance of his Name, then Affection ftayeth the Mind upon what it pitcheth on; and certainly the Mind giveth but paffing Looks, conftrained Thoughts where the Heart is not: Here is David's Meditation, Pfal.

Stayednefs on God is nothing elfe, but the Fixedness of Believing and Trufting, Pfal. cxii. 7, 8. His Heart is fixed, trufting in God, bis Heart is eftablifbed. It is even the mature and ripe Age of Faith: Faith while it is yet ini. My Delight is in the Law of the Infancy, in its tender Years, it neither can endure Storms, nor can it confirm us in them; but when it hath fprung up and grown in that Root of Jeffe, when it is rooted and established in Jefus Chrift, then it establisheth the Soul: Faith abiding in him and taking Root groweth confirmed, as a Tree that cannot easily be moved; and if you establish Faith, you fhall be established.

There are two Particulars which I conceive the trufting Soul is ftayed on. First, In the Meditation of God. Secondly, In Expectation from him of all good Things. When I fay the Meditation of God, I take in both Con

Lord. The Soul of a Believer fhould be conftant and fixed in the Confideration of God, till he be wholly engaged to Admiration and Wondering. O Lord bow excellent is thy Name, Pfal. viii. 1. And who is like unto thee? You all fay that you believe in God, and know his Power, you know he is good, he is merciful, juft, longfuffering, faithful, &c. But what is all this Knowledge but Ignorance, and your Light Darkness, when it doth not prefs you to put your Trust in his Name? You know; nay, but you confider not what you know: This is trufting, when the Mind is ftayed on what it knoweth, when all the fcattered

Thoughts

The Lord hath often done Things we looked not for, but we never looked for

any Thing, according to the Grounds of the Word, but it was done, or a better than it. He doth not always anfwer our Limitations; but if he give Gold, when we fought Silver, are we not answered? Are we difappointed? There are three Things that ufe moft to difquiet and tofs Mens Spirits, Sin and Wrath, future Events, and prefent Calamities: Faith eftablisheth the Soul on God in all thefe, and fuffereth it not to be driven too and fro with thefe Winds; it finds a Harbour and Refuge in God from all these. If he be pursued by the Avenger of Blood, God's Wrath and Juftice, here is an open City of Refuge, that he may run to and be fafe. If Iniquities compafs me about, yet I will not fear, but oppofe unto that great Company, the many Sufferings and Obedience of Jefus Chrift. My Conscience challengeth and writeth bitter Things against me, yet I have an Anfwer in that Blood that speaketh better Things nor Abel's. If Sins prevail, he will purge them away: His Mercy is above all my Sin, and his Vertue and Power is above my Sin, He bath promifed, and will be not do it? Oft-times Mens Souls are perplexed and toffed about future Events, careful for Tomorrow; this is a great Torment of Spirit, it cutteth and divideth it, putteth a Man to his own Providence, as if there were no God: But he that trufteth in God, is established in this, His Heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord; he hath committed his Soul to him, and why may he not his Body? He hath nothing but his Promife for eternal Salvation, and may not that fame fuffice for temporal? He careth for me (faith Faith) why then fhould we both care about one Thing?

He bath given bis Son for me, the most precious Gift, which the World cannot match, and will be not with bim give all thefe lefler Things? And thus the Believer inclofeth himself within the Fa ther's Love and Providence, and is fixed, not fearing evil Tidings; for what Tidings can be Evil, feeing our Father hath the fovereign difpofing of all Affairs, and knoweth what is beft for us? Prefent Difpenfations often thake Men, and driv eth them too and fro: Their Feet flip, and are not established, Thou bid thy Face, and I was troubled. But if you trufted in God, and confidered what is in him to oppofe to all Difficulties and Calamities, you would fay, I fball not be moved, tho' the Floods lift up their Voice. If you believed his Love, would not this fweeten all his Dealing? He maketh all work together for Good. Sovereignity, Righteousness and Mercy, are fure and firm Ground to ftand upon in all Storms. You may caft Anchor at any of thofe, and ly fecure. It is the Lord, let him do what be peafetb. This was enough to quiet the Saints in old Times. Should be give Account of his Matters to us? Shall the Clay fay to the Potter, why is it thus? His abfolute Right by Creation, maketh him beyond all Exception, do what he pleases: But befide this, he is pleafed and condefcendeth to reafon with us, and give Account of his Matters, to teftify to our Confcience, that he is righteous in all his Ways. It was the Ground of Jeremiah's fettling, Lam. iii. It is of the Lord's Mercy that we are not confumed: 1 fhould have allayed and stayed Job, know this, thou art punished lefs than thy Iniquities deferve; who will fet a Time to plead with him? Shall any be found righteous before him? And this might

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