Now, let us come to them, as they have relation one to another, and particularly of the force of the reason. ' God gives the will and deed, according to his own good pleasure :' therefore fear, and take heed how thou neglectest the means. Fear exaltation of spirit, and trust not on outward means. David, that holy man, he had a touch of this : Ps. xxx. 6, ' I said in my prosperity, I shall not be moved.' Fear how thou vowest anything in thine ovvu strength in time to come ; for in that St James gives a good instruction, ' You ought to say. If the Lord will,' iv. 15. Submit thyself to him, for he gives "the power ' to will and to do, according to his own good pleasure.'
Doct. It ought therefore [to] be an encouragement to a Christian to work, when he considers that Gof/ %vorks the u-'dl and the deed, accordinij to his jiood pleasure. That God is willing to give ' the will and the deed ' in obedience to his ordinance, will make a Christian confident in every good work ; and therefore, to that end, he must learn to know God's will, as favourites in court they learn to know what will please the prince, and accordingly they fashion their behaviour. And when we know his will, then come boldly to him for to desire strength in doing his will. For he hath made us gracious promises, ' to take away our stony hearts, and to give us hearts of flesh,' Ezek. xi. 19, and * to lay no more on us than we are able to bear,' 1 Cor. * That is, ' pause.'— G.
VOL. V. B
18 THE CnmSTIAN WORK.
X. 13. Let us rcpnir to him for the accomplishment of these promises and others. Take heed how we distrust his promises. It made the IsraeHtes ti'ave] forty years, till all the generation of them perished, and entered not into that good land. God hath promised us, not an earthly inheritance, but an heavenly, and victory over our sins. Let us then sot on this con- quest boldly and with courage, for God hath made himself our debtor by his promise, and he is faithful that hath promised : where, by the way, observe the difference between our estate in the ' first,' from this present estate of ours in the ' second Adam.' The first Adam had no such promise to continue in that estate of integrity. But we have. We are assured. We are united to Christ more surely than he was to his estate in paradise. Magnify, therefore, this condition of thine. And in the fourth place, labour to know aright the nature of the covenant of grace ; for it is a part of his covenant with us, that what he enjoins ns he will enable us to perform.
* If we believe, we shall be saved,' saith the covenant. Well, God, he gives us to believe, he bids us to repent, he gives ns power to repent. The commandments which are given us concerning faith and repentance, and the like graces here, ihej shew the order that God uses in saving man.
* To you,' saith Christ, ' it is given to know and believe,' Mat. xiii. 11. This ought, therefore, to comfort us, seeing this covenant of grace is, not only a covenant which requires duties of our parts, but also it is a testa- ment wherein these graces are given us in way of legacies. If we knew the privileges that in this covenant do belong unto us, it should surely make us bold. God promises the will and deed, that we may apply these things unto ourselves ; which if we do, we may go about our works with resolu- tion, that they shall be prosperous to us : our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. In reverence, therefore, use all means. Trust not on the means, but use them in reverence and in fear ; and hereby thou shalt avoid many corrections, which otherwise thy sins will draw on thee, For the difference in the performance of duties makes the difference of Christians. Some are more careless in their performances than others. Is it not just with God to punish such, by letting them fall into many gross sins ? See this in David and Peter. They trusted to themselves, and called not on God for his gracious direction in temptation. Mark their sins. Observe what comfort they lost. And surely those that are watchful Christians are ever careful of their rules ; and God to such gives what he requires of them. He sends us not to seek straw ourselves as Pharaoh, Exod. v. 7 ; but he provides it to us.
Ohj. But it will be objected that, by this doctrine of trusting and relying on God, men will grow idle. God will work his will in us though we sleep, say they.
Ans. But to answer them. First, such men as these will be ashamed to argue thus in outward and worldly businesses. For example, in hus- bandry, God hath promised every good thing to us ; therefore, let me sit still : the corn will grow, though I sow not nor till the ground. Would not such an one be thought mad, that should reason thus ? Because we know that as God hath appointed every end, so he hath ordained order and means, whereby such things shall be effected. Thus is it in grace. He gives ' the will and the deed,' but he prescribes prayer and other ordinances, as the means attaining to this will, for we have it not of ourselves. And therefore he bids us hear, read and meditate, watch, and such like, and depend on God for a blessing in the use of the means he appoints us. Do that which is required of yon. God will do that [thatj belongs to him. He