2. God, that hath bidden us to believe his promises, hath forbidden us to tempt his providence, Mat. iv. 7. Now we tempt God when we desire him to give an extraordinary proof of his care over us, when ordinary means will serve the turn or be useful to us.
3. Though the means seem to have no connection with the end, yet, if God hath enjuiued them for that end, Ave must use them. As in the instance of Namaan, God was resolved to cure him ; but Namaan must take his prescribed way, though against his own fancy and conceit : 2 Kings v. 10, ' Wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again unto thee, and thou shalt be clean.' Com- })are ver. 13, ' If the prophet had bidden thee to do some great thing,' <i;c. So John xiii. 6, 7, Peter must submit to be Avashed, though he could not see the benefit of it. So John ix. 6, 7, the blind man must submit to haA^e his eyes anointed Avith clay, and wash in the pool of Siloam ; though the clay seemed to put out his eyes rather than cure them, and the pool could not Avasli away his blindness : but means appointed by God must be used, Avhatever improbabilities are appre- hended by us.
4. That Avhen God's will is expressly declared concerning the event, yet he Avill have the means used ; as, for instance, 2 Kings xx. 5-7, God Avas absolutely resolved to add fifteen years more to Heze- kiah's life, yet he must take a ' lump of figs and lay it on the boil ;' which plainly shoAveth that no promise on God s part, nor assurance on ours, hinclereth the use of means; God Avill Avork by them, not Avith- out them.
5. In spiritual things assurance of the cA'cnt is an encouriigement to industry, not a pretence to sloth : 1 John ii. 27, 28, ' Ye shall abide in him ; and now, little children, abide in Itim.' The promise of perseverance doth encourage us to use endeaA^ours, that Ave may per- severe, and quicken diligence, rather than nourish security, or open a gap to carnal liberty : 1 Cor. ix. 26, ' I run, not as one that is uncer-
490 THE SCRIPTUEE SUFFICIENT [2 ThES. II. 15.
tain ; ' we are the more earnest, because we are assured the means shall not be ineftectual.
Prop. 2. Our duty is to stand fast in the faith of Christ and profes- sion of godliness, whatever temptations we have to the contrary. Standfast being a military word, it alludeth to a soldier's keeping his ground, and is opposed to two things : — (1.) A cowardly flight ; (2.) A treacherous revolt.
1, A cowardly flight implieth our being overcome in the evil day by the many afflictions that befall us for the truth's sake : Eph. vi. 13, ' Wherefore take to you the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, that after you have done all things ye may stand.' Their temptation was the many troubles and persecutions that befell them, called there the evil day. Their defence lay in the whole armour of God, which is there made of six pieces — the girdle of truth or sincerity, which is a strength to us as a girdle to the loins ; the breastplate of righteousness, or a holy incli- nation and desire to perform our duty to God in all things ; and the shield of faith, or a steadfast adhering to the truths of the gospel, whether delivered in a way of command, promise, or threatening ; the helmet of hope, or a certain and desirous expectation of the promised glory ; the shoe of the preparation of the gospel of peace, which is a readiness to endure all encounters for Christ's sake, who hath made our peace with God ; and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Now, if we take this armour and use it in our conflicts, what doth it serve for ? To withstand and stand ; the first is the act of a soldier, the second is the posture of a conqueror ; here is withstanding til] the field be won, and then standing when the day of evil is over. Here we make our way to heaven by conflict and conquest, and here- after we triumph.
2. A treacherous revolt, or yielding to the enemy by complying with those things which are against the interests of Christ and his kingdom for advantage sake : 2 Tim. iv. 10, ' Demas hath forsaken us, and loved the present world.' Backsliders in heart are the worst sort of apostates, such as lose their affection to God, and delight in his ways, and esteem of his glorious recompenses, for a little pleasure, profit, or pomp of living ; ' sell the birthright for one morsel of meat,' Heb. xii. 15, 16. Some fail in their understandings, but most miscarry by the perverse inclination of their wills ; they are carnal, worldly hypocrites that never thoroughly mortified the fleshly mind ; prize things as they are commodious to the flesh, and will save them from sufierings. The bias of such men's hearts doth easily prevail against the light of their understandings.