Therefore, where there is cherishing of disturbance in the soul, and cherishing of doubts, there is no faith, or very little faith ; because it is the property of faith to silence the soul and to make quiet where it comes. This is one evidence and sign of true faith. And this is discerned especially in times of great trouble ; for then the soul ■ of the righteous is not dis- quieted, as you have it in Ps. cxii. 7, 8, ' His heart is fixed, therefore he is not afraid of ill tidings.'
4. And therefore this evidence to the rest, that faith as it hath a quieting power, so it hath a poicer to free the soul from all base fears, from the tyranny of base fear. There will some fear arise. We carry flesh about us, and flesh will alway be full of objections and trouble our peace ; but, notwith- Btanding, it will free the soul — this trusting in God — from the tyranny and dominion of base fears. If any news or tidings be of any great hard matter, I beseech you, who hath his soul best composed at that time ? A sound Christian, that hath made his peace with God, that hath his tnist in God, that knows what it is to make use of God, to repair to him. But for
256 THE Kicn POVERTY ; OR,
another man, in the time of extremity and trouble, ho runs hither and thither, he hath not a tower to go unto, he hath no phice of refuge to repair to. Therefore he is worse than the poor silly creatures. There is not a creature but hath a retiring place. The poor conies have the rocks to go unto, and the birds have their nests, and every creature, when night or danger approacheth, they have their hiding places. Only a wicked, careless man that hath not acquainted himself with God, when troubles come, he hath no hiding, nor no abiding place, but lies open to the storm of God's displeasure. Therefore he is surprised with fears and cares, and pulled in pieces with distractions. He is as a meteor that hangs in the clouds ; he cannot tell which way to fall. But a Christian is not such a meteor, he falls square which way soever he falls, cast him which way you will. For his soul is fixed, he hath laid his soul upon his God. We see the differ- ence in this between Saul and David. When David was in trouble, ' he trusted in the Lord his God,' when he was ready to be stoned. What doth Saul when he was in trouble ? He goes lO the witch ; and from thence to the sword's point.*
5. Again, Where there is this excellent grace of trusting in God, and the Boul is calmed by the Spirit of God, to rely upon God in covenant as a Father in Christ, it mil rely upon God uithoiit means and uhen. all things seem contrary. So the Spirit of God will difference a Christian from a natural man, that will go so far as his brain can reach. If he can see how things can be compassed, he will trust God, as if God had not a larger com- prehension than he. Where he sees no way or means to contrive a deli- verance, nor no means to satisfy his desire, there the soul of a natural man sinks and fiiUs down : a politician will go as far as reason can carry him. But a Christian, when he sees no means, he knows God can make means. Now, when all things are opposite, if he hath a word of God, he will trust God, even against the present state and face of things, as Job saith, ' Though he kill me, yet will I trust in him,' Job xiii. 15. Therefore in the sense of sin, because there is a promise to sinners that, if they confess their sins, God will pardon them ; he will believe the forgiveness of sins, though he feel the guilt of sin. And in misery he will believe an evasion,! and escape, and that God will support him in it, because God hath so promised. And in ' darkness, when he sees no light,' as it is Isa. 1. 10 ; in such a state ' he will trust in God.' As a cliild in the dark clasps about his father, so a child of God in darkness when he sees no light, he will clasp about his God, and break thorough the clouds that are between God and his soul; as indeed faith hath a piercing eye. It pulls off the vizor of God's face. Though he seem angry, j-et he will believe he is in covenant and he is a Fathe'r. Therefore though God shew himself in his dealing as offended, yet he argues God may be oflended with me, but he cannot hate me ; there is hope. Faith, where it is in any strength, it will believe in contraries. In death, when a man is turned to rottenness and dust, faith apprehends life and resurrection, and glory to come. It will trust in God's means, or no means, if it hath a promise.
6. Again, He that trusts in God truly ivill trust him for all things, and at all times. For all things ; for faith never chooseth and singleth out its object, to believe this and not that, for all comes from the same God. Therefore he that trusts God for one thing, will trust him for all things. If I will trust a man for many pounds, surely I will trust him for a shilling.