The Christians Daily Walk in Holy Security and Peace, Treatise · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII. Of lawfull care, and of freedome from taking thought.
SECTION 1.
NOw when you have had a holy care to walke with GOD in uprightneſſe, according to the foregoing directions: It remaineth that you free your ſelfe of all other care, and that you reſt holily ſecure in God: enioying your most bleſſed peace with him, according to that golden ſaying of the Apoſtle, Be carefull in nothing, &c. Philip. 4. 6, 7.
For underſtanding hereof, know that the Greeke Noune, foreignand Verbe, which ſignifie care, or to take care, are taken indifferently in Scripture, either for lawfull, or unlawfull care. Now becauſe unlawfull care is more care than GOD requireth; Our laſt Tranſlators of the Bible, whenſoever there was neede to expreſſe a difference betweene it, and lawfull care, doe render it Carefulneſſe, to bee carefull, or to take thought; As in this place, and Matth 6. 25. Matth. 10. 19. Luk. 10. 41. 1 Cor. 7. 32. and elſewhere.
But when theſe words muſt be underſtood of a Lawfull care, they are tranſlated Care, not carefulneſſe, or to be carefull. As 1 Cor. 12. 25. 2 Cor. 11. 28. Phil. 2. 20. 1 Pet. 5. 7. and elſewhere.
The Care which is Commanded, and Carefulneſſe which is forbidden, differ thus;
Care is an act of wiſedome, taking up the understanding facultie chiefly, whereby, after that a man A deſcription of lawfull Care.hath rightly iudged what hee ought to doe, what not, what good hee is to purſue, and what evill is by him to be ſhunned, or removed; he, accordingly with more or leſſe intention and eagerneſſe of minde, as the things to be obtained or avoyded, are greater or leſſe, is provident to finde out, and diligent to uſe lawfull and fit meanes, for the good, and againſt the evill, and that with all warineſſe and circumſpection; that hee may omit nothing that may further him, nor commit any thing that may hinder him in his lawfull deſignes; Which, when hee hath done, he reſteth quiet, and careth no further, caſtall care of ſucceſſe vponupon God to whom it belongeth, expecting a good iſſue vponupon the vſe of good meanes, yet reſolving, howſoever, to ſubmit his will to Gods will, whatſoever the ſucceſſe ſhall be.
Carefulneſſe is an act of feare, and diſtruſt, taking up not onelyonly the head, but chiefly the heart, to the very dividing and diſturbance A deſcription of carefulnesthereof, cauſing a man inordinately, and over-eagerly to purſue his deſires, perplexing himſelfe likewiſe with doubtfull and fearefull thoughts about ſucceſſe.
Lawfull care may be called a provident care, and care of the head.
Carefulneſſe may bee called … distrustfull care, a carking …are, or a taking thought of the …eart.
This prevident care is not only …awfull, but neceſſary; For without it, a man cannot poſſibly be …ecure, nor can have hope of …ood ſucceſſe.
This provident care is commendedPr. 6. 6, 7. 8 to you, in the examples of the moſt induſtrious, and moſt …rovident brute creatures: and … the examples of the moſt pru…ent men.
As of aGen cap. 32 & 33Iacobs care of his ſafetie, how to eſcape the rage of his brother Eſau. Of b1 Chr. 22 2 Chr. cap. 2. & 3. & 4.David and Salomon, in preparing and building the Temple. Of c2 Cor. 11 28.Saint Pauls care of the Churches; of the d2 Cor. 7. 11.Corinthians care and ſtudy to reforme themſelves; of the good e2 King. 4. 10.Noble womans care to entertaine the good Prophet; of the fPro. 30 13, &c.Good wives, and good houſwives care of well ordering and maintaining her Family. The like you have in the examples of the care of godly g1 Cor. 7. 32. 34.unmarried men and women, whoſe care was how to pleaſe God, and that they might be holy both in Body and Soule▪ Luk. 10. 42and of Mary, who cared for that one thing needfull.
Moreover, you are Commanded this provident care, namely, To ſtudy to bee quiet, to be no buſie 1 Theſ. 4. 11. Eph. 4. 28.body, not idle: but to labour i… a lawfull calling, the thing that i… good. Alſo to h1 Theſ. 4. 12.Walke honeſtly towardes them that are without▪ To iEph. 4. 3.indevor ſo to walke toward… Gods people that you keepe the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. To k1 Tim. 5. 8provide for your owne. To l2 Pet 1. 5give diligence to make your calling and election ſure. To mTit. 3. 8ſtudy to maintaine good workes. But amongſt all, you are commanded nMat. 6. 83chiefly to ſeeke the kingdome of God and his righteouſneſſe, as the beſt meanes to rid you out of all unlawfull care.
The properties of prouidentProperties of provident Care, whereby it is differenced from carefulnes care are theſe.
Firſt, the ſubiect or ſeat wherein provident lawfull care reſideth, is the head; for that is the ſeat of underſtanding, wiſdome, diſcretion, fore-caſt; But carefulneſſe is chiefly ſeated in the heart.
Secondly, provident godly care is alwayes about good and lawfull things, it hath a good object, and good matter to worke upon, and to be converſant about, propounding alwayes ſome good thing to bee the end, which it would compaſſe. It is not a care about evill, as how to oRom 13. 14make proviſion for the fleſh to fulfill the luſts thereof, like the p2 Sam. 13 2Carefulneſſe of Amnon to defile his Siſter Tamar, nor like q1 King. 21Ahabs and Ieſabels carefulneſſe for Naboths Vineyard and life. Nor yet like r2 Sam. 15Abſoloms carefulneſſe, how to uſurpe his Fathers Kingdome; nor like sHeſt. 3. 9.Hamans, how to deſtroy the Iewes, nor like the carefulneſſe of tDan. 6. 5.Darius Princes, how to entrap Daniel; Neither is it like the carefulneſſe of thoſe of whom Salomon ſpeaketh, uPro. …. 16who cannot ſleepe unleſſe they doe miſchiefe.
Thirdly, This holy provident care maketh choyce onelyonly of lawfull meanes, to obtaine that lawfull thing which is cared for. David had care of his owne life; therefore he gat intelligence from x1 Sam. 20 1…onathan of Sauls evill purpoſes towards him; He did y1 Sam 24 …3, 4. 5, 6, 7 1 …m. …6. … ▪ 10, 11ſlie and hide himſelfe from Saul; but would by no meanes lay violent han… upon his annointed Lord and King; though he had faire opportunities, and ſtrong ſolicitations to kil him, he falling twice into his power, and was earneſtly called upon by his ſervants to diſpatch him.
Obſerve likewiſe Iacobs care. Gen. 32.to ſave himſelfe, and all that he had, from the fury of his brother Eſau; he uſed onelyonly apt and lawfullGen. 33. meanes. For though a mans intention be never ſo good, and the thing cared for be good, yet if the means to get it be unlawful, that care is naught. To care how to provide for yourſelfe, and for yours, is in it ſelfe good & needfull; but ſo to care, that you run to unjuſt and indirect meanes, it maketh it evill. To care how to be ſaved, is an excellent care, but when you ſhall ſeeke to attaine it by wayes of your owne, or of other mens inventions: as by Idolatrous worſhip, and voluntary Religion; or looking to be ſaved by your owne workes, by Purgatorie, Popes Pardons, and Indulgences, as the Papiſts doe,Col. 2. 18. &c. this is a moſt ſinfull carefulneſſe. To care how to bring glory to God Rom. 3. 7, 8is the beſt care, but if any man, for to procure it, uſe lying for GOD, or any other unlawfull meanes, it is an unholy care.
Fourthly, This provident holy care is a full, and impartiall care, even, of all things belonging to a mans care. It is not ſuch a care of the body and ſtate, as cauſeth neglect of the ſoule. Neither is it ſuch a care of the ſoule, as it with neglect of the a1 Tim 5. 23.body, life, ſtate, or name. It is not ſuch a care of the privat, as to neglect the publike good, or of the publike, ſo as to neglect the private. It extendeth it ſelfe to whatſoever God hath committed to our care, both for ourſelves and others. Thoſe who care only for thēſelves, & for the things of this life, ſinne in their care. Likewiſe thoſe who ſeem to care onelyonly how to pleaſe God, and to ſave their ſoules, yet wittingly or careleſly neglecting their bodies and affaires of their families belonging to their place, or the comon good of others in Church or Common-wealth, all theſe are partiall, and doe ſinne in their care. All worldlings and ſelfe-loving men offend in the firſt kinde. All ſuperſtitious, & indi…creetly devout men offend in the ſecond kinde: As not onelyonly Papiſts in their Popiſh cloyſtering up men and women, and in their whipping and cruell macerating their bodies, and in their penitentiary Pilgrimages, and in other acts doe, bCol. …. 23not sparing the body; but alſo all ſuch, who for devotion ſake neglect the neceſſary duties of their particular calling.
Fifthly, Care of providence, is a diſcreet and well-ordered care; It putteth difference betweene things more or leſſe good, and between things neceſſary or not neceſſary, between things more neceſſary, and leſſe neceſſary, In all things it would keepe firſt due order, then due meaſure. Firſt, caring moſt for GODS glory, as cExod. 32. 12. 32Moſes, and dRom. 9. 3.Paul did, who cared more for the glory of GOD than for their own lives and honours, yea, if they had beene put to it, than for their owne ſalvation. Next, it careth for that one thing needfull, how the ſoule mayLuk, 10. 42 be ſaved in the day of the LORD. As any thing is beſt, or more needfull for the preſent, that is cared *Mat. 6. 33firſt, and chiefly for. If all cannot bee cared for, the leſſe worthy things, the leſſe neceſſary for the preſent, & thoſe things to which a man is leaſt bound, ſhall be omitted.
Secondly, As provident care doth through diſcretion keepe due order, for it is an ordinate care, ſo it keepeth due meaſure, ſeeking Spirituall and Heavenly things with o2 Pet. 1. 5more diligence and zeale than thoſe that …e temporall and earthly; caring for the things of this life with great moderation, without eagerneſſe, and greedineſſe of deſire, alwaies proportioning the care to the goodnes and worth of that which is to be cared for. Now becauſe the1 Cor. 7. 31, 32▪ world is to be loved and uſed as if we loved and uſed it not, it being of little worth in compariſon: therefore the cares about it in compariſon of the beſt and moſt neceſſary things muſt bee, as if you cared not.
Then cares of the things of this Wh… cares of this li… are in ordinate.life are inordinate and immoderate, when they will not give men leave to take the eEccl. 5▪ 12▪comforts and naturall refreſhings of this life, as ſleepe, meate and drinke, and other needfull and lawfull recreations: but eſpecially when they hinder them from fMat. 22. …exerciſe, gMat. 1…. 2…, 22▪ Ezek. 33. 31, 32▪ Mat. 6. 2… ▪profitable uſe, or due performance of religious duties.
2. Secondly, when they are firſt and chiefe in amans thoughts, the minde alwayes running upon them.
3. When they cauſe a man (out of his over-much haſte to be rich and to enjoy the world) to uſe unlawfull and indirect meanes, Pro. 28. 20 22.or to enter upon dealing and trading beyond his skill, ſtocke, and meanes well to manage the ſame.
4. When they cauſe a man ſo to minde his worldly buſineſſe, that he thinketh nothing wel done, or ſafe, if his eye or hand be not in it, and if it be not in his owne cuſtody; albeit there is cauſe why others ſhould be uſed, and intruſted with it.
Sixthly, this holy provident care knoweth, as about what, and how, ſo how farre to care. It knoweth its limits how farre to goe, and where to ſtay. Namely, when it hath choſen a lawful object to bee converſant about, and hath found out and uſed lawfull2 Tim. …. 12 meanes, and applyeth it ſelfe to one thing as well as another, in due order and meaſure, it ſtayeth there, caring no further; but waiteth patiently GODS pleaſure Pſal. 37▪ 7.for good ſucceſſe, caſting all care of event and ſucceſſe upon God by prayer and ſupplication with thankſ giving.
SECTION 2. Of Carefulneſſe and taking thought.
BY all that hath been written in the former Section, you may ſee that although you may and muſt care for many things, according to the directions there giv…; yet you muſt as the Apoſtle ſaith, Be carefull in nothing.
This is now the point to be inſiſted on; God would have none of his ſervants and children to care inordinately about any thing, no… yet, (when in obedience to his Commandement, and due obſervanceGodschildren ſhold not take thought, or be carefull. of his providence, they have diligētly uſed lawful means for things lawfull and have able) that they ſhould care at all about the iſſue or ſucceſſe. Hee would not that they ſhould ſuffer their minds to hang in doubtfull ſuſpence and feare there-about; but would that they ſhould roule Pſal. 37. 5.themſelves and their affaires upon him; whether it be in the matter of their ſoules, or bodies, of the things of this life, or of that which is to come. God freeth them from all carefulneſſe, and would that they ſhould free themſelves there-from.
God would have you uſe all good meanes for this life, butMat. 6. 25 28. 31, 34 without taking thought for to morrow about what you ſhall ca…e, what you ſhall drinke, what you ſhall put on; or what ſhall become of you and yours another day. He would not have you to be ſo diſtruſtfull of him, as to take the care of afterward, the care of ſucceſſe from him upon your ſelfe, eating out your heart with doubt and feare till you find it. But hisPſal. 55. 22 wil is, that when you have done what you can, with a chearefull and ready mind, that you ſhould leave the whole matter of good, or ill ſucceſſe to his care.
In like manner, GOD would 1 Pet. 5. 7have you to uſe meanes to ſave your ſoule: but when you have ſo done, and continue ſo to doe; he would have you care no further. He would not have you to doubt and feare that all ſhal be in vaine, and to no purpoſe, or thatPſal. 73. 13 you ſhall not be ſaved not withſtanding. He would not that you ſhould diſcourage and enfeeble your heart*Mat. 10, 19. Mat. 24. 6. by taking thought about the iſſue of any trialls and temptations that may befall you before they doe come, for, that is vaine, nor yet when they doe come, for, that is needleſſe.
In ſuch caſes you need onelyonly to ſerve GODS providence in the uſe of the preſent meanes of Salvation, gaining as much grace and ſtrength as you can againſt ſuch times, improving that grace and ſtrength which you have in ſuch times of tryal: but touching ſucceſſe, either how much grace and comfort you ſhall have, or when you ſhall have it, and whether you ſhall hold out in tryall in the evil day, or be ſaved in the end; you muſt not trouble your ſelfe through doubtfull and diſtruſtfull feares: You muſt truſt God with theſe things alſo.
For our …aviour prohibiteth his Diſciples all trouble, that mightIoh. 14. 1. 27. ariſe through feare of ill ſucceſſe in the profeſſion of Chriſtianity. And S. Paul eaſeth himſelfe of this trouble and feare, committing his ſoule, and the iſſue of all his tryals unto GOD, (ſaying, a2 Tim. 1. 12.I know whom I have trusted, and I am aſſured that he is able to keepe that which I have committed to 2 Tim. 4. 6, 8. 18.him againſt that day.) He is confident in God for good ſucceſſe in his whole Chriſtian warfare: ſo ſhould you.
Now to diſſwade you fromDiſſwaſiv… from Care fulneſſe. all carefulneſſe, and to perſwade you to reſt ſecure in God touching the particular events of all actions, and touching the finall and happy event and good ſucceſſe of your Chriſtian profeſſion: Conſider theſe reaſons, (1) ſhewing, why you ſhould not care eagerly and inordinately for earthly things: (2) Why you ſhould not take thought about any thing, whether earthly, or heavenly.Why no man ſhold be carefull about earthly things.
Firſt, informe your ſelf throughly, that all earthly things are of little worth, bIoh. 2. 17very fading, and tranſitory, likened, when they are at beſt, to the cIſa 40 6. I am 1. 10, 11.flower of graſſe. Wherefore they cannot be worthy of your carefull toyle, or carking about them. It is extreame folly for man being indued with reaſon to ſet his minde upon that which is little or nothing worth in compariſon, nay whieh (as Salomon calleth riches) dPro. 23. 5.is not, which is but of ſhort cōtinuance, and onelyonly for bodily uſe, while he hath it: which alſo is caſt, byPſ. 17. 13, 14. God, unto the wicked, even to his enemies, rather than upon the godly.
Secondly, Inordinate and immoderate care of earthly things is exceeding hurtfull: For beſides that it breedeth many e1 Tim 6. 9fooliſh and hurtfull luſts, which drowne men in perdition: it doth hinder the care of things ſpirituall and heavenly. It cauſeth, that either a man ſhall hMat. 22. 5 Luke 14. 18, &c.not come at all to the means of Salvation, or if he come to the Word, Prayer, Sacraments, good company, and good conference,iMat. 13. 22 it cauſeth him to Eze. 33. 31depart without ſpirituall profit. It will cauſe a man to k1 Tim. 6. 10.erre from the ſaith, and to be altogether unfit for death, and unprepared for his latter end. For when any one part draweth more nouriſhment to it ſelfe then it ought, ſome other parts muſt needs be hindred in their growth: And when the ſtrength of the ground is ſpent in nouriſhing weeds, tares, or corn of little worth, the good wheate is pulled down, choaked, or ſtarved. He whoſe cares are too much Phil. 3. 19.about the earth, his care will be too little for heaven.
Next, Conſider the reaſons:Why man muſt not care at all about ſucces in any thing. Why you muſt not care at all about ſucceſſe of your lawfull indevours, any more then by Prayer to commend them to God.
Firſt, becauſe it is to uſurpe upon Gods peculiar right, & to trench farre into Gods prerogative divine; taking his ſole and proper work out of his hands: For l1 Pet. 5. 7care of ſucceſſe, and of what ſhall be hereafter, is proper to God.
Secondly, mPſ 127. 2It is a vaine and bootleſſe thing (when you have diligently uſed lawfull meanes for any thing) to take thought for ſucceſſe. For nLuk. 12. 25, 26. Mat. 5. 36.who can by taking thought, adde any thing to his ſtature, or make one haire white or blacke. Vnderſtand the like of all other things.
Thirdly, oMat. 6. 34every day bringeth its full imployment with it, together with its croſſes and griefes; ſo that you ſhall have full work enough for your care to endevour to doe the preſent dayes worke holily; and to beare each preſent dayes affliction fruitfully, and patiently; you have little reaſon therefore to eat out your heart with taking thought of future events, and of what ſhall be tomorrow.
Fourthly, It is altogether needleſſe to take thought about the ſucceſſe of your actions, for pMat. 6. 26 30, 32.ſucceſſe is cared for already by God; One whoſe care is of more uſe, and better conſequent than yours can be. You are cared for by one, who loveth you better than you can love your ſelfe, who is wiſdome, and knoweth what is better for you, and what you moſt need, better than your ſelfe; who is alwaies preſent with you who is both able and ready qEph. 3. 20to doe exceeding abundantly for you, above all that you can aske or thinke: even God, who careth for meaner creatures than you are, who alſo is your GOD, your heavenly Father, of whoſe care you have had happy experience, who in times paſt cared for you when you could not carefor your ſelfe, who hath kept you in, andPſa. 22. 10. from your mothers belly, who, before you were, ordained you to Salvation. Rom. 8. 32.Who in due time gave his onelyonly begotten Sonne for you, and to you, as appeareth in that now he hath given you faith & hope in him, & love to him. It is your God and Father who hath r1 Pet 5. 7.commanded, that for the preſent, and forrPſa. 55. 22 for hereafter, you ſhould caſt your care and burthen on him; having withal made many gracious promiſes,Rev. 3. 8. 10 that he will care for you, that he will ſuſtaine you, and that hee wil bring your waies to paſſe. aPſal. 37 5What wiſe man will clogge himſelfe with needleſſe cares?
Fiftly, Carefulneſſe and taking thought of ſucceſſe proceedeth from baſe and curſed cauſes, namely, from ignorance of God, & from unbeliefe and diſtruſt of God in whomſoever this ſinne raigneth: hence it was that the bMat 6. 32Heathen abounded in this ſinne. And by how much this Carefulneſſe is in any (though it raigne not) by ſo much he may be ſaid to be of little ſound knowledge, and of cMat. 6. 30little faith.
Sixtly, Carefulneſſe, and hanging in doubtfull ſuſpence about ſucceſſe in any your lawfull indevours, (be it whether you or yours ſhall proſper, or whether, you ſhall profit by the meanes of grace, or whether you ſhal be ſaved in the end) doth produce many dangerous and miſchievous effects.
Firſt, It will cauſe you to neglect The evill effects of caring about ſucces in any thing. 2 Kin. 6. 33provident care to uſe the meanes of this life, or of that which is to come, according as you doubt of ſucceſſe in either, or if you neglect them not utterly, yet you ſhall have no heart to go about them. For thoſe that goe about others workes, uſually neglect their owne, ſo you will be apt to leave your owne worke undone, when you take Gods worke out of his hands: And who is hee that can take paines about that which he feareth wil be to no purpoſe, and will be labour loſt?
Secondly, you will be ready to uſe lGen. 12. 11, 12, 13. Gen. 16. 2 Gen. 27. 5. 19.unlawful means for anything when you doubt of ſucces from lawful.
Thirdly, Taking thought doth divide, diſtract, over-loade, weare and waste the heart and ſpirits, nothing more.
Fourthly, You can never be thank full to GOD for anything whereof you feare that you ſhall have no good ſucceſſe.
Fiftly, This taking thought and plodding about ſucceſſe with doubtfull feare, will deprive you of the comfort of all thoſe good things you have had, and which now you doe enioy.
Sixtly, nothing will bring ill ſucceſſe unto you ſooner than to be taking thought, and be troubled about what may be. For when any man ſhall (not withſtanding the experience hee hath had, or might have had of Gods power, love, care, and truth of his promiſes) yet distruſtfully care ſo far, as not to content himſelf with his own worke, ſo far as provident care leadeth him; but alſo will take Gods worke, and the burthen of his worke upon himſelfe, caring about ſucceſſe, which onelyonly belongeth to God, and which God onelyonly can doe and beare; this folly and preſumption doth ſo much provoke God, that it cauſeth him out of his wiſe Iuſtice to ceaſe caring for ſuch a one, leaving him to his owne care, and to his wit, friends, or any other earthly helpes, to make him by wofull experience ſee, & feele, how little any, or all theſe, without GOD can availe him. Nay, it cauſeth God not onelyonly to withdraw his owne helpe, but the helpe of all things wheron ſuch a man doth relye; and which is more, cauſeth them in ſtead of being for him, to be utterly againſt him. Is it not juſt with God, that whoſoever will not be beholding to God to beare their burthen, but will take it up and beare it themſelves, ſhould be made to beare it alone, to the breaking of their back, or at leſt to be much bowed and cruſht under it?
Wherefore all theſe things waighed, I returne to the exhortation, or concluſion before propounded, viz. Roule your ſelfe and your affaires upon God. Caſt all your care on God, be carefull in Pſal. 55. 2nothing.
Oh! How happy are we Chriſtians if we did but know, or knowing, would enioy our Happineſſe. We are cared for in every thing that wee need, and that can bee good for us; We may live without taking thought, or care in any thing. Our worke is onelyonly to ſtudy and indevor to pleaſe God, walking before him in ſincerity, and with a perfect heart; then we may cleave to him, and reſt on him both for our bodies and ſoules without 1 Cor. 7. 35feare or diſtraction. GOD is Al-ſufficient, and all in all to ſuch, he is known by his name Iehovah Exod. 6. 3.to ſuch; even to bee the being, and the accompliſher of his promiſes to them. If we ſhall wiſely and diligently care to doe our work, we, ſerving ſo good and ſo able a maſter, need not care for our wages. If we would make it our care to obey and pleaſe ſo good, and ſo rich, and bountifull a Father; We need not be carefull for our maintenance here, in our minority and non-age, nor yet for our eternall inheritance, when we ſhall come to full age. We in this holy ſecurity and freedome from Carefulneſſe (if wee were not wanting to our ſelves) might live in an heaven upon earth; and that not onelyonly when wee have meanes (for even then our ſecuritie is in God, not in the meanes) but when to the eye of fleſh we have no meanes: For God is above, and more than all meanes.
That you may leave carking, and be brought to caſt all your care on God.
(1) Deny your ſelfe and your Meanes to be free frō carefulnesowne mPro. 23. 4wiſedome, bee not wiſe in your owne conceit, nor preſumptuous of your wit, skill, or meanes.
(2) Get ſoùnd knowledge, faith, hope, nRo. 8. 32.and confidence in God; live by faith, oHeb. 10. 38, 39.beleeving, to the preſervation both of body and ſoule. Get not onelyonly faith in his promiſe; but in his providence alſo. When you ſhall ſee no way or meanes of having the good you deſire or of keeping you from the evill which you feare, or of delivering you from the evill you feele, then call to minde not onelyonly the promiſes of God, viz. pIoſu. 1. 5.I am with you, qHeb 13. 5I will not leave nor forſake you, and rRom. 8. 28All things worke together for good, and many ſuch like, but beleeve alſo that God will provide meanes to bring to paſſe what he hath promiſed, though yet you ſee not how. When you can ſay with faithfull Abraham, sGen. 22. 8God will provide you ſhall be out of feare and doubt. But if (with tGen. 12. 11. Gen. 16. 2Abraham, in the caſe of the promiſe of iſſue of his body, in whom the Nations of the earth ſhould be bleſſed) you beleeve GODS promiſes in the maine, but not Gods providence in the meanes, then you will be ſo fearefull, doubtfull, and carefull, that of your ſelfe, or by others ſolicitations, you wil readily find out, and uſe unlawfull meanes to obtaine the thing promiſed, as he did when he went in to Hagar; or to faint in waiting, as many others have done. For we ſee the like in u1 Sam. 26 10, 11.David, when he had faith in Gods providence, he could ſay of Saul; The Lord ſhall ſmite him, or his day ſhall come to dye, or he ſhall deſcend into the battell and periſh. The LORD forbid that I ſhould ſtretch forth mine hand againſt the Lords annointed. But when he doubted of Gods providence, then he ſaith, x1 Sam. 27 1.I ſhall now periſh one day by the hand of Saul.
(3) Give all diligence to make your Calling and Election ſure; For when you know aſſuredly, that GOD is your heavenly Father, and Chriſt Ieſus your Redeemer, and that you are of his family, having your name written in heaven, you then ſhall eaſily free your yIohn 14. 1, 2heart from being troubled with feare and carking care, being ſure that your heavenly Father and Savior doth care, and will provide for you.
(4) Laſtly, you muſt oft-times actually caſ… your care on GOD, by making your requeſts known to GOD by prayer, and ſupplication for what you would have, being heartily thankful for what you have had, now have, and hope to have hereafter. Then the peace of God which paſſeth all Phil. 4. 6, 7underſtanding, ſhall keepe your heart and minde from vexing thoughts, and heart-eating fears, and that, in and through Chriſt Ieſus, of which peace I intend next to ſpeake, and with it ſhall end theſe directions.