After all advice, extract what is fittest, and what our spirits do most bend unto ; for in things that concern ourselves God aftbrds a light to discern, out of what is spoken, what best suiteth us. And every man is to follow most what his own conscience, after infoi-mation, dictates unto him ; because conscience is God's deputy in us, and under God most to be regarded, and whosoever sins against it, in his own construction sins against God. God vouchsafe th every Christian in some degree the grace of spiritual prudence, whereby they are enabled to discern what is fittest to be done in things that fall within their compass.
It is good to observe the particular becks - of providence, how things join and meet together. Fit occasions and suiting of things are intimations of God's will. Providence hath a language which is well understood by those that have a familiar acquaintance with God's dealing ; they see a train of pro-\adence leading one way more than to another.
Take especial heed of not grie\^ng the Spirit when he offers to be our guide, by studying evasions, and wishing the case were otherwise. This is to be lawgivers to ourselves, thinldng that we are wiser than God. The use of discretion is not to direct us about the end, whether we should do well or ill (for a single heart always aims at good), but when we resolve upon doing well, and yet doubt of the manner how to perform it. Discre- tion looks not so mucii to what is lavrful, for that is taken for granted, but what is most expedient. A discreet man looks not to what is best, so much as what is fittest in such and such respects, by eyeing circumstances, which, if they sort not, do vary the nature of the thing itself.
And because it is not in man to know his own ways, we should look up unto Chi-ist, the great Counsellor of his church, to vouchsafe the spu-it of counsel and direction to us; that 'make om- way plain before us,' by suggesting unto us, ' this is the way, walk in it,' Isa. xxx. 21. We owe God this respect, to depend upon him for direction in the particular pas- sages of our lives, in regard that he is our Sovereign, and his wiU is the rule, and we are to be accountable to him as om- judge. It is God only that can see through businesses, and all helps and lets that stand about.
After we have rolled oui-selves upon God, we should immediately take that course he inclines om- hearts unto, mthout fui-ther distracting fear. Otherwise it is a sign we ' commit not our way to him,' 1 Pet. iv. 19, when we do not quietly trust him, but remain still as thoughtful as if we did not trust him. After prayer and trust follows ' the peace of God,' Phil. ii. 4, and a heart void of fm-ther dividing care. We should therefore presently question our hearts, for questioning his care, and not regard what fear will be ready to suggest, for that is apt to raise conclusions against ourselves, out of self-conceited grounds, whereby we usm-p upon God and wrong ourselves.
It was a good resolution of the three young men in Daniel, ' We are not careful to answer thee, 0 king,' Dan. iii. 16. We know om* duty, let God do with us as he pleaseth. If Abraham had hearkened to the voice of nature, * That is, signals, indications. — G.
212 THE soul's conflict.
he would never have resolved to sacrifice Isaac, but because he cast him- self upon God's providing, God in the mount provided a ram instead of his sou.
Chapteb XVIII. — Other grounds of trusting in God, namely, the Promises, and twelve directions about the same.
§ I. But for the better settling of our trust in God, a further discovery is necessary than of the nature and providence of God ; for though the nature of God be written in the book of the creatures in so great letters, as he that runs may read, and though the providence of God appears in the order and use of things, yet there is another book whereby to know the will of God towards us, and our duty towards him. We must therefore have a knowledge of the promises of God, as well as of his providence, for though God hath discovered himself most graciously in Christ unto us, yet had we not a word of promise, we could not have the boldness to build upon Christ himself. Therefore, from the same grounds, that there is a God, there must be a revealing of the will of God, for else we can never have any firm trust in him further than he offers himself to be trusted. Therefore hath God opened his heart to us in his word, and reached out so many sweet promises for us to lay hold on, and stooped so low, by gracious condescending mixed with authority, as to enter into a covenant with us to perform all things for our good ; for promises are, as it were, the stay of the soul in an imperfect condition, and so is faith in them until all pro- mises shall end in performance, and faith in sight, and hope in possession.