than it expected. But here is One that is "past
finding out." The more I search and find, I find him the more above what I
can search and find. The creatures are but painted and fair in men's
apprehension, and at a distance; but the near enjoyment of them
discovereth the delusion, and sendeth a man away ashamed, because he
trusted. But the Lord God is, and there is no other. He is not as waters
that fail, no liar,--he is an everlasting fountain,--the more you dig and
draw, it runs the faster; he will never send any away ashamed that trust
in him, because they shall find more than they expected.

Therefore the soul that is stayed on meditation of God, and knoweth him
certainly, will be fixed in expectation from him. Our expectation from the
creatures changeth, because it is often frustrated. Disappointment meets
it. It is above what is in the creature, and so it must meet with
disappointment; but as he is above our meditation, so is he far above our
expectation; and if a man's experience answer his hope, he hath no reason
to change his hope. The Lord hath often done things we looked not for, but
we never looked for any thing, according to the grounds of the word, but
it was done, or a better than it. He doth not always answer our
limitations; but if he give gold, when we sought silver, are we not
answered? Are we disappointed? There are three things that use most to
disquiet and toss men's spirits,--sin and wrath, future events, and present
calamities. Faith establisheth the soul on God in all these, and suffereth
it not to be driven to and fro with these winds; it finds a harbour and
refuge in God from all these. If he be pursued by the avenger of blood,
God's wrath and justice, here is an open city of refuge that he may run to
and be safe. If iniquities compass me about, yet I will not fear, but
oppose unto that great company the many sufferings and obedience of Jesus
Christ. My conscience challengeth and writeth bitter things against me,
yet I have an answer in that blood that speaketh better things than
Abel's. If sins prevail, he will purge them away. His mercy is above all
my sin, and his virtue and power is above my sin. He hath promised, and
will he not do it? Oft times men's souls are perplexed and tossed about
future events, careful for to morrow. This is a great torment of spirit,
it cutteth and divideth it,--putteth a man to his own providence, as if
there were no God, but he that trusteth in God is establish