Chapter 4. Of Acting Our Faith on the Almighty Power of God, as Engaged for Our Help

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THat it is the Saints duty, and should be their care, not only to believe God Almighty, but also strongly to believe that this Almighty Power of God is theirs, (that is, engaged for their defense and help) so as to make use of it in all straits and temptations.

SECT. I.

First, I shall prove that the Almighty Power of God is engaged for the Christians defense, with the grounds of it. Secondly, why the Christian should strongly act his faith on this.

First, the Almighty Power of God is engaged for the Saints defense; God brought Israel out of Egypt with an high hand, but did he set them down on the other side the Red-sea, to finde and force their way to Canaan, by their own policie or power? When he had opened the iron gate of their house of bondage, and brought them into the open fields, did he vanish as the Angel from Peter, when out of prison? No, as a man carries his son, so the Lord bare them in all the way they went, Deuteronomy 1:31. This does lively set forth the Saints march to heaven: God brings a soul out of spiritual Egypt by his converting grace, that is the day of his power, wherein he makes the soul willing to come out of Satans clutches. Now when the Saint is upon his march, all the countrey riseth upon him. How shall this poore creature passe the pikes, and get safely by all his enemies borders? God himself infolds him in the arme of his everlasting strength. We are kept by the Power of God through faith unto salvation, 1 Peter 1:5. The Power of God is that shoulder, on which Christ carries his sheep home, rejoycing all the way he goes, Luke 15:5. These everlasting armes of his strength are those Eagles wings, upon which the Saints are both tenderly and securely conveyed to glory, Exodus 19:4. There is a five fold tie or engagement that lies upon Gods power, to be the Saints lifeguard.

First, the near relation he has to his Saints, they are his own dear children, every one takes care of his own, the silly Hen, how does she bussle and bestir her self to gather her brood under her wing when the Kite appears? No care like that which Nature teaches. How much more will God, who is the Father of such dispositions in his creature, stir up his whole strength to defend his children? He said, They are my people, so be became their Saviour, Isaiah 33:8. As if God had said, Shall I sit still with my hand in my bosome, while my own people are thus misused before my face: I cannot beare it. The Mother as she sits in her house heares one shreek, and knowes the voice, cries out, O 'tis my child, away she throws all, and runs to him. Thus God takes the alarm of his childrens cry; I heard Ephraim bemoaning himself, says the Lord, his cry pierced his eare, and his eare affected his bowels, and his bowels call'd up his power to the rescue of him.

Secondly, the dear love he bears to his Saints engags his power. He that has Gods heart, cannot want his arme. Love in the creature commands all the other affections, sets all the powers of the whole man on work; thus in God, love sets all his other attributes on work, when God once pitch't his thoughts of doing good to lost man, then wisdom fell on projecting the way, Almighty power that undertook to raise the fabrick according to wisdomes modell. All are ready to effect what God says he likes. Now the believing soul is an object of Gods choicest love, even the same, with which he loves his Son, John 17:26.

First, God loves the believer as the birth of his everlasting counsel, when a soul believes, then Gods eternal purpose and counsel concerning him, (whom he chose in Christ before the foundation of the world, and with whom his thoughts went so long big) brings forth. And how must God needs love that creature, whom he carried so long in the wombe of his eternal purpose? This goodly Fabrick of heaven and earth had not been built, but as a stage whereon he would in time act what he decreed in heaven of old, concerning the saving of you, and a few more his Elect; and therefore according to the same rate of delight, with which God pleased and entertained himself in the thoughts of this before the world was, must he needs rejoyce over the soul now believing, with love and complacency unconceivable; and God having brought his counsel thus far towards its issue, surely will raise all the power he has, rather than be disappointed of his glory, within a few steps of home; I mean, his whole design in the believers salvation; The Lord who has chosen his Saints, (as Christ prayes for Joshua their representative will rebuke Satan and all their enemies.

Secondly, God loves his Saints as the purchase of his Sons blood; they cost him dear, and that which is so hardly got, shall not be easily lost. He that was willing to expend his Sons blood to gain them, will not deny his power to keep them.

Thirdly, God loves the Saints for their likenesse to himselfe, so that if he loves himself, he cannot but love himself appearing in them; and as he loves himself in them, so he defends himself in defending them. What is it in a Saint that enrags hell, but the image of God, without which the war would soon be at an end? It is the hatred the Panther has to man that makes him flie at his picture; For your sake we are slain all the day long: and if the quarrel be Gods, surely the Saint shall not go forth to war at his own cost.

Thirdly, the Covenant engags Gods Almighty power, Genesis 17:1. I am the Almighty God, walk before me. There is a League offensive and defensive between God and his Saints, he gives it under his hand, that he will put forth the whole power of his Godhead for them, 1 Chronicles 17:24. The Lord of Hostes is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel. God does not parcel himself out by retaile; but gives his Saints leave to challenge whatever a God has as theirs, and let him whoever he is, sit in Gods throne, and take away his crown, that can fasten any untruth on the Holy One; as his Name is, so is his Nature, a God keeping Covenant for ever. The Promises stand as the mountains about Jerusalem, never to be removed; the weak as wel as the strong Christian is within this line of Communication. Were Saints to fight it out in open field by the strength of their own grace, then the strong were more likely to stand, and the weak to fall in battel, but both castled in the Covenant are alike safe.

Fourthly, the Saints dependance on God, and expectation from God in all their straits, oblige his power for their succour; where does a gracious soul flie in any want or danger from sin, Satan, or his instruments, but to his God? as naturally as the Coney to her burrough; Psalms 57:3. At what time I am afraid, says David, I will trust in you! He tells God he will make bold of his house to step into, when taken in any storme; and does not question his welcome. Thus when Saul hunted him, he left a city of gates and barres to trust God in open field. Indeed all the Saints are taught the same lesson, to renounce their own strength, and relie on the Power of God, their own policie, & cast themselves on the wisdom of God; their own righteousnesse; and expect all from the pure mercy of God in Christ which act of faith is so pleasing to God, that such a soul shall never be ashamed, Psalms 9:18. The expectation of the poor shall not perish. A Heathen could say, when a bird (scared by a Hawke) flew into his bosome, I will not betray you unto your enemy, seeing you comest for Sanctuary unto me. How much lesse will God yield up a soul unto its enemy, when it takes Sanctuary in his Name, saying, Lord, I am hunted with such a temptation, dogg'd with such a lust, either you must pardon it, or I am damned; mortifie it, or I shall be a slave to it; take me into the bosome of your love for Christs sake; castle me in the armes of your everlasting strength; it is in your power to save me from, or give me up into the hands of my enemie: I have no confidence in my self or any other: Into your hands I commit my cause, my life, and relie on you; This dependance of a soul undoubtedly will awaken the Almighty Power of God, for such a ones defense: he has sworn the greatest oath that can come out of his blessed lips, even by himself, that such as thus flie for refuge to hope in him shall have strong consolation, Hebrews 6:17. This indeed may give the Saint the greater boldness of faith to expect kindly entertainment, when he repairs to God for refuge, because he cannot come before he is look't for, God having set up his Name and Promises as a strong Tower, both calls his people into these Chambers, and expects they should betake themselves there.

Sixthly, Christs presence and employment in heaven layes a strong engagement on God to bring his whole force and power into the field upon all occasions for his Saints defense; one special end of his journey to heaven▪ and abode there is, that he might (as the Saints Solicitour) be ever interceding for such supplies and succours of his Father, as their exigencies call for; and the more to assure us of the same before he went, he did (as it were) tell us, what heads he meant to go upon in his intercession, when he should come there; one of which was this, that his Father should keep his children while they were to stay in the world, from the evil thereof, John 17:15. Neither does Christ take upon him this work of his own head, but has the same appointment of his Father, for what he now prayes in heaven, as he had for what he suffered on earth: He that ordained him a Priest to die for sinners, did not then strip him of his Priestly garments (as Aaron,) but appoints him to ascend in them to heaven, where he sits a Priest for ever by Gods Oath. And this office of intercession, was erected purely in mercy to believers, that they might have full content given them for the performance of all that God had promised; so that Jesus Christ lies Lieger at Court as our Embassadour, to see all carried fairly between God and us according to agreement: And if Christ follows his businesse close, and be faithful in his place to believers, all is well; and does it not behove him to be so, who intercedes for such dear relations? Suppose a Kings Son should get out of a besieged City, where he has left his wife and children; (whom he loves as his own soul,) and these all ready to die by sword or famine, if supply come not the sooner, could this Prince, when arrived at his fathers house please himself with the delights of the Court, and forget the distress of his family? or rather would he not come post to his father, (having their cries and groans alwayes in his eares) and before he eat or drink, do his errand to his father, and entreat him if ever he lov'd him, that he would send all the force of his Kingdom to raise the siege, rather than any of his dear relations should perish? Surely (Sirs) though Christ be in the top of his preferment, and out of the storme in regard of his own person, yet his children left behind in the midst of sins, Satans, and the worlds batteries are in his heart, and shall not be forgotten a moment by him. The care he takes in our businesse appeared in the speedy dispatch he made of his Spirit to his Apostles supply, when he ascended, which assoon almost as he was warme in his seat, at his Fathers right hand, he sent, to the incomparable comfort of his Apostles and us, that to this day, yea, to the end of the world do, or shall believe on him.

SECT. 2.

The second Branch of the point followes: that Saints should eye this Power of God as engaged for them, and presse it home upon their souls till they silence all doubts and feares about the matter; which is the importance of this exhortation: Be strong in the Lord, and in the Power of his might; Fortifie and entrench your souls within the breast-work of this attribute of Gods mighty Power made over to you by God himselfe.

First, it is the end as of all Promises to be security to our faith, so of those in particular where his Almighty Power is expresly engaged, that we may count this attribute our portion, and reap the comfort it yields as freely, as one may the crop of his own field: Walk before me, says God to Abraham, I am God Almighty; set on this as your portion, and live upon it; The Apostle, Hebrews 13:6. teaches us what use to make of promises, verse 5. I will never leave you nor forsake you, there is the promise, and the inference, which he teaches us to draw by faith from this, follows, ver. 6. So we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper. We, that is, every believer may boldly say, that is, we may conclude God will help: not sneakingly, timorously, perhaps he will; but we may boldly assert it in the face of men and devils, because he that is Almighty has said it. Now for a Christian not to strengthen his faith on this incomparably sweet attribute, but to sit down with a few weak unsetled hopes, when he may, yea, ought to be strong in the faith of such promises, what is it but to undervalue the blessing of such promises? as if one should promise another house and land, and bid him make them as sure to himself as the Law can binde, and he should take no care to effect this, would it not be interpreted as a sleighting of his friends kindness? Is it a small matter that God passs over his Almighty power by promise to us, and bids us make it as sure to our selves as we can by faith, and we neglect this, leaving the Writings of the promises unsealed on our hearts.

Secondly, our obedience and comfort are strong or weak as our faith is on this principle.

First, our obedience, that being a child of faith partakes of its Parents strength or weakness; Abraham being strong in faith, what an heroick act of obedience did he perform in offering up his Son? his faith being well set on the Power of God, he carries that without staggering, which would have laid a weak faith on the ground. No act of faith more strengthens for duty, then that which eyes Gods Almighty power engaged for its assistance, Go in this your might, said God to Gideon, have not I call'd you? as if he had said, Can I not, will I not carry you through your work? Away goes Gideon in the faith of this and does wonders. This brought the righteous man from the East to Gods foot, though he knew not where he went, yet he knew with whom he went, God Almighty. But take a soul not perswaded of this how uneven and unstable is he in his obediential course? every threat. from man if mighty dismayes him, because his faith not fixt on the Almighty, and therefore sometimes he will shift off a duty to comply with man, and betray his trust into the hands of a sorry creature, because he has fleshly eyes to behold the power of man, but wants a spiritual eye to see God at his back, to protect him with his Almighty power; which were his eyes open to see, he would not be so routed in his thoughts at the approach of a weak creature: Should such a man as I flee? said good Nehemiah, Nehem. 6.11. He was newly come from the throne of grace, where he had called in the help of the Almighty, verse 9. O God, strengthen my hands. And truly now he will rather die upon the place, then disparage his God with a dishonourable retreat.

Secondly, the Christians comfort increass or waines, as the aspect of his faith is to the power of God. Let the soul question that or his interest in it, and his joy gushs out, even as blood out of a broken vein: It is true, a soul may scramble to heaven with much ado, by a faith of recumbency, relying on God as able to save, without this perswasion of its interest in God; but such a soul goes with a scant side-winde, or like a ship whose masts are laid by the board, exposed to winde and weather, if others better appointed did not tow it along with them. Many feares like waves ever and anon cover such a soul, that it is more under water then above; whereas one that sees it selfe folded in the armes of Almighty power, O how such a soul goes mounting afore the winde, with her sailes fill'd with joy and peace! Let affliction come, stormes arise, this blessed soul knows where it shall land and be welcome. The Name of God is his harbour, where he puts in as boldly, as a man steps into his own house, when taken in a shower. He heares God calling him into this and other his attributes, as Chambers taken up for him, Isa. 26. Come my people, enter into your Chambers. God calls them his, and it were foolish modesty not to own what God gives, Isaiah 45:24. Surely shall a man say, in the Lord have I righteousnesse and strength, that is, I have righteousnesse in Gods righteousnesse, strength in his strength, so that in this respect Christ can no more say that his strength is his owne, and not the believers, then the husband can say my body is my own, and not my wives. A soul perswaded of this may sing merrily with the sharpest thorne at its breast; so David, Psalms 57:7. My heart is fixed, my heart is fixed, I will sing and give praise. What makes him so merry in so sad a place as the Cave where now he was? he will tell you, verse 1. where you have him nestling himselfe under the shadow of Gods wings, and now well may he sing care and fear away. A soul thus provided, may lie at ease on a hard bed. Do you not think they sleep as soundly who dwell on London-bridge as they who live at White-hall or Cheap-side, knowing the waves that roare under them cannot hurt them? Even so may the Saints rest quietly over the floods of death it selfe, and feare no ill.

SECT. 3.

Use 1 Is the Almighty power of God engaged for the Saints defense? surely then they will have a hard pull, (the Saints enemies I mean) who meddle with them that are so far above their match. The devil was so cunning, he would have Job out of his trench, his hedge down, before he would fall on; but so desperate are men, they will try the field with the Saints, though incircled with the Almighty power of God. What folly were it to attempt or sit down before such a City, which cannot be block't up so as no relief can get in: the way to heaven cannot. In the Churches straitest siege, there is a river which shall make glad this City of God, with seasonable succours from heaven. The Saints fresh-springs are all from God, and it is as feasible for sorry man to stop the water-courses of the clouds, as to dam up those streams, which invisibly glide like veins of water in the earth, from the fountain-head of his mercy into the bosome of his people: the Egyptians thought they had Israel in a trap, when they saw them march into such a nook by the sea-side; They are entangled, they are entangled; and truly so they had been irrecoverably, had not that Almighty power which led them on, engaged to bring them off with honor and safety; well, when they are out of this danger; behold, they are in a wilderness, where nothing is to be had for back and belly, and yet here they shall live fourty years, without trade or tillage, without begging or robbing of any of the Neighbor-nations, they shall not be beholden to them for a penny in their way; what cannot Almighty power do to provide for his people? what can it not do to protect them against the power and wrath of their enemies? Almighty power stood between the Israelites and the Egyptians, so that (poor creatures) they could not so much as come to see their enemie: God sets up a dark cloud as a blinde before their eyes, and all the while, his eye through the cloud is looking them into disorder and confusion; And is the Almighty grown weaker now a days, or his enemies stronger, that they promise themselves better success? No, neither; but men are blinder then the Saints enemies of old, who sometimes have fled at the appearances of God among his people, crying out, Let us flee, for the Lord fights for them. Whereas there be many now a days will rather give the honor of their discomfitures to Satan himself, then acknowledge God in the businesse; more ready to say the devil fought against them, then God? O you that have not yet worne off the impressions which the Almighty power of God has at any time made upon your spirits, beware of having any thing to do with that generation of men, whoever they are. Come not near their Tabernacle, cast not your lot in amongst them, who are enemies to the Saints of the most High, for they are men devoted to destruction. God so loves his Saints, that he makes nothing to give whole Nations for their ransome. He rip't open the very wombe of Egypt, to save the life of Israel his child, Isaiah 43:3.

Use 2 Secondly, this shows the dismal, deplorable condition of all you, who are yet in a Christ lesse state, you have seen a rich mine open'd, but not a penny of this treasure comes to your share, a truth laden with incomparable comfort, but it is bound for another coast, it belongs to the Saints into whose bosome this truth unlades all her comfort: see God shutting the door upon you, when he sets his children to feast themselves with such dainties, Esay 65.13. My servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry; my servants shall drink; but ye shall be thirsty. God has his set number, which he provides for; He knows how many he has in his family: these and no more shall sit down. One chief dish at the Saints board is the Almighty power of God; This was set before Abraham, and stands before all his Saints, that they may eate to fulnesse of comfort on it; But you shalt be hungry; He is Almighty to pardon, but he will not use it for you an impenitent sinner; you have not a friend on the bench, not an attribute in all Gods Name will speak for you: Mercy it self will sit and vote with the rest of its fellow-attributes for your damnation. God is able to save and help in a time of need, but upon what acquaintance is it that you are so bold with God, as to expect his saving arme to be stretcht forth for you? Though a man will rise at midnight to let in a child, that cryes and knocks at his doore, yet he will not take so much paines for a dog, that lies howling there. This presents your condition, sinner, sad enough, yet this is to tell your story fairest; for that Almighty power of God which is engaged for the beleevers salvation, is as deeply obliged to bring you to your execution, and damnation. What greater tie then an oath? God himself is under an oath to be the destruction of every impenitent soul. That oath which God swore in his wrath against the unbeleeving Israelites, that they should not enter into his rest, concernes every unbeleever to the end of the world. In the Name of God consider, were it but the oath of a man, or a company of men, that like those in the Acts, should sweare to be the death of such a one, and you wert the man, would it not fill you with feare and trembling night and day, and take away the quiet of your life, till they were made friends? What then are their pillows stuft with, who can sleep so soundly without any horrour or amazement, though they be told, that the Almighty God is under an oath of damning them body and soul, without timely repentance? O bethink your selves, sinners, is it wisdom, or valour to refuse termes of mercy from Gods hands, whose Almighty power if rejected, will soone bring you into the hands of justice? and how fearful a thing that is, to fall into the hands of Almighty God, no tongue can express, no not they who feel the weight of it.

Use. 3 Thirdly, this speaks to you, that are Saints indeed, Be strong in the faith of this truth, make it an Article of your Creed: with the same faith that you believe there is a God, believe also this Gods Almighty power is your sure friend▪ and then improve it to your best advantage. As,

First, in agonies of conscience that arise from the greatness of your sins, flie for refuge into the Almighty power of God. Truly Sirs, when a mans sins are displayed in all their bloody colours, and spread forth in their klling aggravations, and the eye of conscience awakened to behold them through the multiplying, or magnifying glasse of a temptation, they must needs surprize the creature with horror and amazement; till the soul can say with the Prophet: for all this huge hoast, There is yet more with me then against me. One Almighty is more than many Mighties. All these mighty sins and devils, make not one Almighty sin, or an Almighty devil. Oppose to all the hideous charges brought against you by them this onely attribute. As the French Ambassadour once silenced the Spaniards pride in repeating his Masters many titles, with one that drowned them all. God himself, Hosea 11:9. when he had aggravated his peoples sins to the height, then to show what a God can do, breaks out into a sweet promise: I will not execute the fiercenesse of mine anger, and why not? I am God, and not man. I will show the Almightinesse of my mercy. Something like our usual phrase; when a child or a woman strikes us, I am a man, and not a child, or woman, therefore I will not strike again. The very considering God to be God, supposs him Almighty to pardon as well as to avenge, and this is some relief; But then to consider it is Almighty power in bond and Covenant to pardon, this is more; As none can binde God but himself, so none can break the bond himself makes: and are they not his own words, that he will abundantly pardon? Isa. 55. he will multiply to pardon, as if he had said, I'le drop mercy with your sin, and spend all I have, rather than let it be said my good is overcome of your evil. It fares with the gracious soul in this case as with a Captaine, that yields his Castle upon gracious termes of having his life spared, and he safely convey'd to his house, there to be setled peaceably in his estate and possessions, for all which he has the Generals hand and Seal, on which he marches forth; but the rude souldiers assault him, and put him in feare of his life, he appeals to the General, (whose honor now is engaged for him) and is presently releeved, and his enemies punisht: You may poore soul, when accused by Satan, mollested by his terrours, say, It is God that justifies; I have his hand to it, that I should have my life given me assoon as I laid down my armes and submitted to him, which I desire to do; behold, the gates of my heart are open to let the Prince of peace in, and is not the Almighty able to performe his promise? I commit my selfe to him as unto a faithful Creatour.

Secondly, improve this Almighty power of God, and your interest therein, in temptations to sin, when you are over-powered, and fliest before the face of your strong corruption, or fearest you shalt one day fall by it, make bold to take hold of this attribute, and re-inforce your self from it again to resist, and in resisting, to believe a timely victory over it. The Almighty God stands in sight of you while you are in the valley fighting, and stayes but for a call from you when distressed in battel, and then he will come to your rescue: Jehoshaphat cried, when in the throng of his enemies, and the Lord helped him, much more may you promise your self his succour in your soul-combates: Betake your self to the throne of grace with that promise; Sin shall not have dominion over you: and before you urgest it (the more to help your faith,) comfort your self with this, that though this word Almighty is not exprest, yet it is implied in this and every promise, and you may without adding a title to the Word of God read it in your soul; sin shall not have dominion over you, says the Almighty God, for this and all his attributes are the constant seale to all his promises. Now soul put the bond in suit, fear not the recovery, 'tis debt, and so due: He is able whom you suest, and so there is no feare of losing the charge of the suit, and he that was so gracious to binde himself when he was free, will be so faithful (being able) to perform now he is bound: only while you expectest the performance of the promise, and the assistance of this Almighty power against your corruptions, take heed that you keep under the shadow of this attribute, and condition of this promise. The shadow will not cool except in it; what good to have the shadow, though of a mighty rock, when we sit in the open Sun? To have Almighty power engaged for us, and we to throw our selves out of the protection thereof by bold salleys into the mouth of temptation? The Saints falls have been, when they run out of their trench and hold; for like the conies, they are a weak people in themselves, and their strength lies in the rock of Gods Almightinesse, which is their habitation.

Thirdly, Christian, improve this, when opprest with the weight of any duty and service, which in your place and calling lies upon you. Perhaps you findest the duty of your calling too heavy for your weak shoulders, make bold by faith to lay the heaviest end of your burden on Gods shoulder, which is yours (if a believer) as sure as God can make it by promise. When at any time you are sick of your work, and ready to think with Jonas to run from it; encourage your selfe with that of God to Gideon, whom he call'd from the flaile to thresh the mountains, Go in this your might, has not God call'd you? fall to the work God sets you about, and you engagest his strength for you. The way of the Lord is strength. Run from your work, and you engagest Gods strength against you, he'll send some storme or other after you to bring home his runaway servant. How oft has the Coward been kill'd in a ditch, or under some hedge, when the valiant souldier that stood his ground and kept his place got off with safety and honor? Art you call'd to suffer? flinch not because you are afraid, you shalt never be able to bear the crosse; God can lay it so even, you shalt not feel it; though you shouldest finde no succour till you comest to the prison-door, yea, till you have one foot on the ladder, or your neck on the block, despair not. In the Mount will the Lord be seen. And in that hour he can give you such a look of his sweet face, as shall make the blood come in the gastly face of a cruel death, and appear lovely in your eye for his sake. He can give you so much comfort in hand, as you shalt acknowledge God is aforehand with you, for all your shame & pain you can endure for him; And if it should not amount to this, yet so much as will bear all your charges you can be put to in the way, lies ready told in that promise, 1 Corinthians 10:13. You shalt have it at sight, and this may satisfie a Christian, especially if he considers, though he does not carry so much of heavens joy about him to heaven as others, yet he shall meet it as soon as he comes to his Fathers house, where it is reserved for him. In a word, Christian, relie upon your God, and make your daily applications to the throne of grace, for continual supplies of strength: you little think how kindly he takes it, that you will make use of him, the oftner the better, and the more you come for, the more welcome; else why would Christ have told his disciples, Hitherto ye have ask't nothing; but to express his large heart in giving, loath to put his hand to his purse for a little, and therefore by a familiar kind of Rhetorick puts them to rise higher in asking, as Naaman when Gehazi asks one talent, entreats him to take two; such a bountiful heart your God has, while you are asking a little peace and joy, he bids you open your mouth wide, and he'l fill it, Go and ransack your heart, Christian, from one end to the other, finde out your wants, acquaint your selfe with all your weaknesses, and set them before the Almighty, as the Widow her empty vessels before the Prophet, had you more than you can bring, you may have them all fill'd. God has strength enough to give, but he has no strength to deny, here the Almighty himselfe (with reverence be it spoken) is weak; even a child, the weakest in grace of his family, that can but say Father, is able to overcome him; and therefore let not the weakness of your faith encourage you. No greater motive to the bowels of mercy to stir up Almighty power to relieve you, then your weakness, when pleaded in the sense of it. The pale face and thin cheeks (I hope) move more with us, then the canting language of a stout sturdy beggar. Thus that soul that comes laden in the sense of his weak faith, love, patience, the very weakness of them carries an argument along with them for succour.

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