that live under the Gospel except those that have committed the unpardonable sin the promise is absolute to all Believers without any exception at all 3. There is no limitation of the promise to be understood there is no exception to be understood men need not fear that God has some reservation in his own breast for no exception that is not fairly to be understood can be of any force to avoid the performance of a promise nothing can be understood to contradict what is expressed besides God tells us that there is no exception Joh 6.37 He that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out PROPOSITION 5. That the promise of eternal life is made to one act of believing on Jesus Christ 't is not the habit but the act of Faith that the promise is made to the promise under the covenant of works was not made to habitual holiness and the promise under the covenant of grace is not made to habitual Faith as a Womans disposition to marry a man does not give her a right to him or his estate but the actual marrying of the man so it is here it is in a way of covenanting that we have an interest in the covenant of grace the Scripture sets forth that Faith that gives us right in the covenant of grace by words that signifie actions as coming to Christ opening to him believing on him and the like but it is one act of believing that makes a man an heir of life God offers eternal life on condition of one act of believing when God sayes He that believeth shall be saved the meaning is not that he that believeth as long as he lives shall be saved but he that performeth one act of Faith one act of Faith gives a man as real an interest in Christ as a thousand one act of covenanting makes up the match one act of closing with Christ makes a man an heir of life after acts of Faith may evidence his title to heaven but it is the first act of Faith that gives him his title God offers life to us in the Gospel on this condition that he will accept of it Joh. 5.24 and it is unreasonable to think that the meaning of it is if we accept of it an hundred or a thonsand times or as long as we live but the meaning is if we do once accept of it and therefore those that have accepted of it are said to have eternal life 1 Joh. 5.13 This further appears 1. Because they that have performed one act of Faith are already justified and adopted their sins are presently pardoned on their coming to Christ God don't suspend the act of Justification and wait to see whether they will continue to believe but out of hand he issues out a pardon for them If called then justified Rom. 8.30 and these are presently adopted Job 1.12 and there is no revoking of these acts 2. When once Men believe it is part of Gods covenant to make them continue to believe it cannot be properly the condition of the covenant for it is a part of the mercy promised unto us when we come unto Christ all the subsequent acts of Faith are part of that salvation that God promises and surely that that is due unto us by the covenant can't be properly the condition of the covenant continuance of Faith is part of that sanctification which God has engaged to us 1 Cor. 1.30 3. If God did not offer life upon condition of one act of believing we should not have sufficient encouragement to perform one act of believing on Christ if God should say to a sinner if you will accept of the offer of salvation both now and hereafter I will save you what ground could the sinner have to believe the sinner would readily say how doe I know that I shall believe hereafter he could see no safety in such an offer a presumptuous Sinner that doted on his own strength might venture on it but a man that knows himself could not find rest in such an offer but now when he offers life to us if we will now accept it the soul can find encouragement enough there Jer. 3.22 And since God has promised life unto all that believe in the righteousness of Christ it must needs be safe to appear before God in this righteousness we need no greater assurance of salvation than the promise of God this is a sufficient security to believers whatever unlikelihoods may appear to them at at any time of their salvation the faithfulness of God stands engaged and this is a foundation of everlasting comfort the witness of God gives greater assurance than the testimony of all the men in the world if we believe the witness of men the witness of God is greater John 5.9 this we may fecurely rejoice in the words of the Lord are pure words as silver tryed in a furnace of earth purified seven times Psal 12.6 there is no deceit or fraud in Gods promises this is armour of proof against all temptations his truth shall be thy shield and buckler Psal 91 4. if our souls were a thousand times dearer to us than they are we might quietly venture them on the promise of God. God has made a promise to us has sent his servants to publish it in his name has ordained the office of the ministry to witness it unto us from him and surely he has not appointed them to go with a lye in their mouths God has not only said it but given it us under his hand left it upon record to be a witness for us this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Son John 5.11 and we may quietly rely on this it is impossible that the promise of God should fail of its accomplishment God is faithful 1 Thes 5.23 he is very faithful Psal 119.138 his faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds Psal 36.5 it endureth for ever Psal 117.2 God can't forget his word sometimes the memories of men don't serve to keep their promises things slip out of their remembrance but God is not subject to any such infirmity he always minds his covenant Psal 111.5 his promises are all written on his heart no tract of time can wear them out of his remembrance he has remembred his covenant for ever the word which he commanded to a thousand generations Psal 105.8 God is unchangeable men are fickle and inconstant in one mind to day and another to morrow sometimes men change their minds out of meer fickleness somtimes from the change of their condition or divers appearances in providences but God is not subject to any mutation his purposes are more firm than mountains of brass he says repentance shall be hid from his eyes Hos 13.14 God is perfectly holy and therefore cannot fail of his word men having a principle of sin in them may be out-bid to neglect the fulsilling of their promises but there is not the least spark of
true that Jesus Christ entred upon his Kingly power and Office as well as his other Offices from the first publishing of the covenant of grace upon the fall of man and Jesus Christ did in all ages execute that Office in governing the world and bestowing salvation on the Elect but the Scriptures do plainly set forth that Christ has some particular administration put into his hands since his sufferings Eph. 1.20.1 2. since his resurrection God has put all things under his feet Phil. 2.9 speaking of the same time he says God has given him a name above every name Rev. 1.38 I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore Amen and have the keys of hell and death the meaning of these Scriptures is that since the Exaltation of Christ the Administrations of things is in the hands of the man Christ Jesus the management of things is carried on by Christ as man the God-head is not excluded but Christ as man has an hand in the government of the world Christ his humane nature will visibly mange the day of Judgement God will judge the world by the man whom he bath ordained Acts 17 31. and this administration is put into his hands that he may bestow eternal life and salvation upon sinners Acts 5.3 him hath God exalted with his right-hand to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins and if God presently upon the obedience and sufferings of Christ has put such power into his hands it is a clear evidence that he has fully paid for our salvation if Christ had fallen short of purchasing our salvation God would not have given him a commission to have bestowed it God would have stood for full satisfaction he would have objected that it would have bin against justice to have saved them but now Christ having fully paid the debt God exalts Christ to his own right-hand and invests him with full authority to bring them unto blessedness CHAP. V. The fifth Argument from the promise of salvation to all those that do believe in the righteousness of Christ the sixth Argument from the command of believing in Christs Righteousness Argument 5. THat righteousness which God by his promise in the Gospel dos encourage us to trust in for our salvation it is safe to appear before God in that righteousness that God proposes to us to place our confidence in adding a promise of eternal life we may safely appear before him in that right ousuess is unquestionably sufficient to purchase our salvation and we may safely have our dependance upon it as the price of eternal life but God does in the Gospel encourage us by his promise to trust in the righteousness of Christ for salvation he has promised oternal life to all them in the Gospel that do believe in the righteousness of Jesus Christ This I shall clear up unto you in these Propositions PROPOSITION 1. That the encouragement that God gives to those that believe in the righteousness of Jesus Christ is that they shall have eternal life sometimes in the Scripture we find that they that believe shall have their sins forgiven Acts 10.43 but we must not understand that they are only brought into a state of reconciliation at present from which they may fall away again that only their former sins are pardoned So that if they should sin again it is not at their peril of eternal damnation but the thing that the Gospel encourages believers with the hopes of is salvation sometimes it is expressed in more general terms that they shall not be confounded 1 Pet. 12.6 they shall not be cast out John 6.37 sometimes it is expressed that they shall not enter into condemnation John 5.24 sometimes positively That whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life John 3.16 PROPOSITION 2. That God engages himself by promise to give Believers eternal life he does not give them some uncertain encouragement of it but binds himself by his promise when God expresses himself in his Word that he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life Joh. 3.36 and that he that believes and is Baptized shall be saved Mark 16.16 he does not manifest meerly his purposes though all Gods purposes are irrevocable neither are such expressions meer declarations of what God is frequently wont to do as it is with many passages in the Book of Proverbs but they are proper promises God himself calls them promises 2 Tim. 1.1 According to the promise of life by Jesus Christ so Rom. 4.16 Gal. 3.22 and this is a part of the covenant indeed the main part of it God is bound by covenant to give life unto Believers and because Christ has purchased this and other blessings that God is by covenant engaged to bestow he is called the Mediator of the new covenant Heb. 12.24 and hence it is a part of faithfulness to preserve Believers unto glory 1 Thess 5.23 24. the faithfulness of God stands bound unto Believers Heb. 10.2 3. PROPOSITION 3. This promise of eternal life is made to those that believe on the Righteousness of Christ those that have their dependance upon the blood and redemption of Jesus Christ all those that have their expectation from the Righteousness of Christ shall be saved Rom. 2.25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through Faith in his blood We must place our Faith in the sufferings of Jesus Christ this is that Faith triumphs in as the matter of Justification Rom. 8.34 Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died Quest Here we may enquire What act of Faith it is that is the condition of the covenant of Grace Ans 1. That act of Faith that is the condition of the covenant is a relying upon God through Jesus Christ for salvation as offered in the Gospel there are many acts of saving Faith besides this Faith respects the whole book of God all the Promises Threatnings Prophecies therein by saving Faith we believe the creation of the World the general Deluge the coming of Christ in the flesh but these actings of it are not the condition of the Govenant so likewise by Faith we do depend upon Christ for particular out ward blessings but though that be a thing that does accompany Salvation yet it is not the condition of the covenant but that act of Faith which is the condition of the covenant has those four properties First It is a relying upon God God is the ultimate object of Faith what Christ does in order to our Salvation he does as the Messenger and servant of his Father so that Faith is to rest upon God therefore we are said to come to God by Jesus Christ Heb. 7.25 God is the object of Faith both under the covenant of works and the covenant of grace Our Faith and Hope must be in God 1 Pet. 1.21 Secondly It is a relying on God for Salvation tho sometimes the thoughts are especially upon
our selves with an idle dream which would deceive us â—â—men are blamed in the Word of God for such confidences Isa 29.18 it is not lawful or warrantable for us to believe in that which we have not sufficient encouragement to believe in but we have not sufficient encouragement to believe in the righteousness of Christ if it be not safe to appear before God in it what can encourage us to depend upon and be satisfied in that which it is not safe to depend upon 2. If it be commanded that we believe on the righteousness of Christ then it is duty so to doe then we are bound in conscience to come unto Christ we cannot without sin stay away from Christ and therefore surely it is safe to trust in the righteousness of Christ the holy God would never make it our duty to trust in that which is not a sufficient ground of faith it were an hard lesson to be bound in conscience to do that which we could not satisfie our consciences in doing it were wildness for any man to imagine that God should command us to love that which is not lovely or to mourn for that which is not matter of sorrow or to rejoyce in that which is not matter of joy so it is to think that God should require us to trust in that which is not a ground of confidence that would be very hard for God to bind us to put our confidence in that which we could not put our confidence in except we were out of our wits if it were not safe to trust in Christs righteousness what could induce us to do it except we were under a delusion it is against nature for man to put confidence in any thing but under this notion that there is ground of confidence in it what perswasions can prevail to make men rest on that which they could not safely rest upon the Lord is a righteous God and gives no such unequal command all his commands are righteous he requires but what is equal Psal 119 138. 3. If God commands us to believe on the righteousness of Jesus Christ then we must do it upon pain of damnation if we fail thereof every sin does by Law deserve death and the continuance in the neglect of any known command does unavoidably bring death and ruine and so the neglect of this command John 3.18 He that believeth not is condemned already because be hath not believed in the Name of the only begotton Son of God certainly then it must be a safe thing to believe on Jesus Christ if there be no safety in believing there is no reason that we should be punished for not believing if there be no safety in believing in Christ then it is madness to believe in Christ and will God punish us for not acting the part of mad men it were an unreasonable thing for a man to believe in Christ if it were not safe so to do and therefore unreasonable that he should be punished for not doing of it will God damn man for not building their hopes for Heauen upon the sand will God cast a man into Hell because be will not embrace a delusion and put his confidence in a broken Reed the Lord is a righteous God and would never punish men for not believing if they had not abundant encouragement to believe the command of this holy God gives us great security in believing John 12.50 I know that his command is life everlasting OBJECTION Here it may be objected against this Argument That we are commanded by God to believe for many things and to believe in the righteousness of Christ for them which we have no certain security that we shall enjoy in a way of believing whatever we pray for we must do it believing and we must do it in the Name of Christ thus we are to believe for health for the conversion of all our Children for rain and other publick mercies so that it is no bard or unreasonable thing to be commanded to believe for that which is not sure in a way of believing neither do we want sufficient encouragement to believe though the thing we believe for be not sure to us in that way ANSWER That Act of Faith which is the condition of the Covenant of Grace is far differing from other acts of Faith that are required of us we do believe for a mercy when by a spirit of Faith we take hold of any of those encouragements which God gives us with respect to that mercy that when we are encouraged by the power of God the mercy of God the love of God to us indennite promises the redemption of Christ to rely upon God with quietness for a mercy with submission to his holy will. We do believe in God for that mercy and this we have sufficient encouragement to do though there be no certainty that we shall enjoy the mercy in that way and this God may fairly command us though he don't absolutely promise the mercy but that Faith which is the condition of the covenant of Grace does much differ from this that is an accepting of Christ and Salvation by him as offered to us and a relying on him for it according to the promise of the Gospel that this is the Faith that is required as the condition of the covenant of grace is evident because it is called a receiving of Christ justifying Faith is the receiving of the promise of the Gospel 't is a relying upon God in Christ according to the invitations of the Gospel and God would never require us to accept of an offer and rely upon him for it if it were not safe so to do how is it possible for any man to rely upon God for the making good of his offer if it were not safe so to do CHAP. VI. The seventh Argument from the Spirits assuring Men of the truth of the Gospel The eighth Argument from Gods bestowing the beginnings of Salvation on Believers here in this World. Argument 7. THat Righteousness which the Spirit of God convinces and assures men that they may safely appear before God in that they may safely appear in but the Spirit of God does convince and assure men that they may safely appear before God in the righteousness of Christ that must needs be true which the spiril convinces men to be true Satan labours to shake mens belief of this and raises doubts and questions in the heart about it and from thence we may argue probably that it is true but the spirit of God does perswade and convince men of the truth of it and establishes the heart in it and from thence may infallibly argue the truth of it In opening and declaring this Argument we may Consider 1. That many men are convinced and assured that it is fafe appearing before God in the righteousness of Christ there are some kind of perswasions about it in the hearts of many others that are bestowed partly upon the testimony of men partly
solemn Ordinances founded upon this Doctrine of Salvation through the blood of Christ this Doctrine is the foundation that these Ordinances are built upon the design of these holy Ordinances is to be witnesses to us of our Redemption and Salvation by the blood of Christ and indeed the Ordinance of the Ministry is founded upon the same bottom if this Doctrine were not true there had been no occasion for these Ordinances as it was with the Sacraments of the Old Testament they were seals of the righteousness of Faith so are the Sacraments of the New-Testament and certain it is that all the Ordinances of God are built upon realities who can imagine that God would appoint any Ordinance that should be like the stock that is the graven Image a Doctrine of Vanities Jer. 10.8 God delights in no Worship but what has a good foundation in the Sacraments God requires us to worship him in a religious attendance upon him while he is teaching us this Doctrine of salvation by the righteousness and blood of Christ in the Sacraments God requires us to worship him in a religious acknowledgment of the truth of this Doctrine and this would never be if the Doctrine were not infallibly true God needs no such Worship as is not built upon a real foundation it is not suitable to give him any Worship that is not built upon realities God would never accept any such honour as this from us much less require us to give it him if this Doctrine of Salvation by the blood of Christ were not true to deny the Doctrine of Salvation by the blood of Christ is to make the Sacrament a meer mockery in the Sacrament God does by sacred Ordinances witness to the salvation of Believers and he will never prophane his own Ordinances by failing in the performance of that promise these Sacraments being Ordinances appointed of God to teach us this Doctrine of salvation by Christs blood we are thereby warranted to pray for a blessing upon them for the furtherance of our spiritual and eternal good but this we might not do if the Doctrine held forth by them were not true the Sacraments being appointed by God to testifie this Doctrine to us we have a warrant in the celebration of them and at other times to praise and bless the Lord for sending Christ Jesus to work out salvation for us but certainly if this Doctrine were not true there would be no reason for us so to do neither would the Lord accept of such praises if there were not certain salvation to be had by Christ no man alive can give a reason of the institution of the Sacraments nor salve the honour of God who has appointed them to teach us this Doctrine of salvation by the righteousness of Christ There be two things principally that may be objected against this Doctrine Objection 1. That Faith is said to be imputed for righteousness Rom. 4.3 21 22. Gen. 15.5 6. to which it may be added that Faith under the Gospel comes in the room of works that were required under the Law hence Faith and Works are so often opposed by the Apostle in the matter of Justification Rom. 3.28 Gal. 2.16 Answer 1. That Faith that is imputed to us for righteousness is believing in Jesus Christ it is not any act of Faith nor any other act of justifying Faith that is imputed for righteousness but only believing in Christ this is evident because that is the description of justifying Faith in other places of the Scripture he that believeth in him shall have everlasting life John 3 6. this Faith is described ver 22. But for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead here this Faith is described 1. It is Faith on God a relying or depending upon him 2. The consideration under which this is acted on God that is as having raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead that is as having wrought out salvation for us by Jesus Christ it may be objected against this interpretation that this Faith that was imputed for righteousness to Abraham is called a blessing God Rom. 4.3 and the promise that he believed was a promise of a numerous posterity Gen. 15.1 5 6. Ans This Faith of his did include in it a believing of the promised seed and a believing on him God had before promised that in him all the families of the earth should be blessed Gen. 12.3 and now he promises him a posterity like the stars in number and Abraham entertains this promise as it included in it the promised seed and as Christ says rejoyced to see his day and saw it and was glad Job 8.56 this was reckoned unto him for Righteousness this is plain from Gal. 3.6 7 8. 2. Faith in Jesus Christ does inforest us in the righteousness of Jesus Christ whoever has this faith has the righteousness of Christ God might have made over this righteousness of Christ to us without any condition if he pleased or upon any other but faith was suitable and God has appointed this to be the way of our partaking in the righteousness of Christ and hereby men come to have an interest in that men come to have an interest in Christs righteousness called gold and white raiment by buying that of him that is by believing on him Rev. 3.18 The righteousness of God is through-Faith in Christ Phil. 3.9 so that all that have this faith have the righteousness of Christ 3. It is very probable that the Apostle intends no more when he sayes Faith is imputed for righteousness then this that Believers are reckoned righteous through the righteousness of Christ the phrase seems to import somewhat else then if he had said that their Faith was their righteousness to be reckoned for righteousness seems to note to be accepted in stead of personal righteousness and so Faith is accepted through the righteousness of Christ this is further confirmed from that phrase Heb. 11.7 He became heir of the righteousness which is by Faith that is of the righteousness of Christ which is applied unto us by Faith and there is no necessity of understanding any thing more by that phrase the righteousness of Faith Rom. 4.11 13. but the righteousness which we have an interest in by Faith. 4. Yet it may be granted without danger that Faith is our evangelical righteousness but not our legal righteousness God has made two covenants with men the one is the covenant of works the other the covenant of grace in the covenant of works perfect holiness is the condition that is the righteousness that must be fulfilled in order unto life in the covenant of Grace believing is the condition and this may be called Gospel righteousness because according to the terms of the Gospel all Believers are declared righteous in the sight of God and the promise of salvation is made unto believing but believing is not our legal righteousness it does
does inwardly teach it has a prevailing power therefore it is called a rod of strength Psal 110.2 it comes with power upon the heart 1 Thes 1.5 when God convinces men of the truth of it it alwayes works effectually upon them 1 Thes 2.13 let but the truth of it sink into a mans soul and Christ will be precious unto him 1 Pet. 2.7 the light of the gospel turns about the wills of men Psal 110.3 3. If the sinner could stay away from Christ the corruption of his heart would make him stay away from Christ if men were able to stay away they would not be able to come there is a great deal of opposition in the heart of a sinner to believing in Christ men are as great enemies to the gospel as they are to the law sinners are dreadful averse to come to Christ how many objections and cavils have men to keep them from Christ how many by-paths will they turn into before they come to Christ how much sorrow will they endure before they come to Christ Phil. 3.18 Rom. 10.3 and this opposition of heart would not suffer them to come except they were made to come if they were nor under a necessity of coming they would stay away 4. It is against nature when men have this inward light let into them to stay away from Christ there is a principle put into every man in his first creation to seek his own happiness and however the nature of man be corrupted yet that principle is not lost but remains strong in men however they mistake the way yet the desire of all men is happiness the Devil blinds men and tells one that this is the way and another that that is the way but still they are driving an end that design Psal 4.6 who will shew us any good and therefore when the Spirit of God shews a man that Christ is the way to happiness that there is salvation in Christ he cannot but come to him Joh. 6.6.8 to whom shall we go thou hast the words of eternal Life 5. When the sinner comes at first to Christ this inward teaching of the Father works such affections that he cannot but come when his eyes are opened his affections are so wrought upon that he cannot but come when he comes out of darkness into light his heart is affected with the sight of Christ and he cannot stay away there are three affections that are wrought upon one is hope he sees a hope of blessedness if he comes to Christ he sees in that way hopes of pardon and glory Heb 6.18 who are fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope that is set before us another is Love when the soul comes to see Jesus Christ offering himself he cannot but love him and look on this way of salvation as a glorious way he despised Christ before but now he charges his mind he prizes him 1 Pet. 2.7 to them that believe in Christ is precious and then it works on fear he dare not lose the opportunity he does not know whether he shall have another call so that he dares do no other than take God at his word Objection This seems to overthrow the liberty of mans will if he can't come to Christ where is his Freedome Answer Liberty does consist in an indifferency unto contrary Acts or Objects sometimes indeed men have such a liberty but that is peculiar to some cases liberty is not opposed to necessity but to force the will cannot be force by any external violence but it may be necessitated by reason and conviction natural men sin voluntarily yet necessarily they reject the Gospel voluntarily Joh. 5.40 yet necessarily Joh. 6.44 Saints in heaven love and serve God necessarily yet freely so t is here Psal 110.3 thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power From this Particular we may conclude the faith of such men to be false as have made a faith of their own convinced sinners hearing they shall certainly be ruined that do not believe in Christ and that they that do believe shall be saved set themselves in their own strengths to work their hearts to this duty and after a while imagine that they have got the victory and have prevailed over their unbelief and wrought their hearts unto a closure with Christ this Faith is not right it s very true that after a man has been brought in he may in this way by Gods assistance come to perform renewed acts of Faith but it is never thus in the first closure with Christ at first God layes a necessity upon men they cannot but come to Christ Eph. 1 19 20. what is the exceeding greatness if his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead when the sinner comes indeed to Christ he is compelled to come Luk 14.23 Before I leave this Particular I shall answer two Doubts in the hearts of some Saints from hence Doubt 1. I fear my closing with Christ is not right because after God let light into me I objected awhile before I yielded the light did not at first overcome me Answer Many times when God comes with that inward call of the Gospel he does not at one instant let in such light as does overcome all objections but after God begins to bring the call home to the soul there are some struglings of unbelief before he yields sometimes the light is such that it strikes all objections dead at a blow sometimes it answers them gradually the light breaks in fuller and fuller till at last it quite overcomes him as in Moses's call Doubt 2. I fear my closing was not right because when I came first to Christ I had a fear and trembling on my heart I bad not such full satisfaction as some have but crouded through difficulties Answer Some have more clear light than others but every one has so much that he cannot but venture though there be remaining darkness yet they have so much light as overbears them that their hearts are carried out to rely on Christ and that is sufficient Rom. 4.18 who against hope be teved in hope 3. The third way of Trial is by living a life of Faith on Jesus Christ they that have received Christ by Faith do not satisfie themselves that they have believed but do from time to time live a life of dependance on Christ this life Paul lived Gal. 2.20 I live by Faith in the Son of God that is the duty of them that have believed 1 Joh. 5.13 I have written to you that have believed on the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may believe on the Son of God. And this is the spirit of those that have believed they live a life of dependance upon Christ for every thing even for outward things for life health peace liberty provision protection for private and publick blessings
Have no dependance upon signs it is a great fault of the people of God that when they are called to believe they are waiting for signs sometimes God gives his people signs and sometimes he denies signs unto them when God gives signs it is a duty to take notice of them when he gives them we must improve them for the strengthening of Faith it was a sin in Ahaz to refuse a sign Isai 7.12 God many times considers the weakness of his people and gives them signs which are a strengthening unto hope Rom. 5.4 and it is lawful to desire signs out of a sensibleness of the unbelief of our own hearts under the sence of that that we are easily outbid with temptation that our unbelieving hearts are ready to take advantage from the want of such evidences we may desire signs but it is not lawful to desire them from unbelief unbelief is never good nor any natural effect of it we have no reason to lie waiting for signs when we have the Word of God to incourage us to believe Mat. 16.4 God has sometimes sharply shewed his anger when his people have neglected the promise waiting for signs he has brought sharp affliction upon them Luk. 1.11 20. indeed sometimes God has granted the desires of his people when they have been unbelieving and have desired signs but he does not therein shew his approbation of those desires he condescends because of the infirmities of his people so he did to Gideon but Gideons heart smote him for what he did Judg. 6.39 so Christ condescended to Thomas but withal reproved him Job 20.29 therefore never wait for signs have no dependance upon them Consider 1. When God denies signs there is a sufficient foundation for Faith God never leaves his people without a sufficient ground for Faith it is no sign that a man is not in favour with God that God takes away signs and there is a firm bottom for Faith when signs are withdrawn such as have no light may trust in the Name of the Lord Isai 50.10 Gods call is a sufficient warrant to believe 2. God many times withdraws signes to draw forth the more glorious acts of Faith when men have got signs they are very ready to live upon them and lay more weight upon them than on the stability of the Word of God and God takes away those crutches that men may learn to go without them men are brought into such a condition that they may have nothing else to rely upon but the Word of God 2 Cor. 1.9 3. God takes great delight in the acts of Faith at such a time when signs fail acts of Faith at such a time put a great deal of honour upon God and God does greatly approve of such a Faith God don't reckon men bold and presumptuous for believing at such a time God loves to see men with the shield of Faith defending themselves from all temptations this is a Faith very commendable in the sight of God and God will eminently reward his people for believing on him at such a time a man cannot please God better than by exercising Faith under such circumstances under this consideration Abraham's Faith is commended that against hope he believed in hope Rom. 4.18 and Jesus Christ commends the Faith of the Woman of Canaan when under great temptation yet she would rely upon him Matth. 15.28 O Woman great is thy Faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt Direction 4. Beware of frowardness and discontent frowardness is one great cause of discouragement and unbelief men get into a discontented frame and then they don't know how to believe their spirits are disordered by the dispensations of God unto them because God brings great and long afflictions upon them don't hear their prayers don't give them those inward comforts that he does unto others and when their spirits are distempered with discontent they are greatly disadvantaged to receive the encouragement that God offers unto them discontent is an enemy unto faith therefore beware of a discontented spirit when you are under any rebukes of Providence look to your spirits and labour against the first stirrings of a froward spirit the workings of frowardness does prove a temptation to unbelief and so do the workings of any other corruption as the sinfulness thereof does fright a man from believing but this is not all a froward spirit leads a man into unbelief it is a principle and cause of unbelief And that these two ways 1. Frowardness blinds the minds of men frowardness bereaves men of their understandings passion draws a vail before the eyes God presents before men several encouragements to believe but those things don t sink into mens hearts when discontented a man in a discontented frame is out of frame to consider the weight of those things that God sets before him discontentedness makes him rashly and inconsiderately to reject encouragements when God is encouraging him he don't hearken and regard it Ex. 6.9 they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit and for cruel bondage frowardness does prejudice men against believing when a man is in such a frame he construes all Gods difpensations to be from want of love he thinks if God had any love for him he would never have dealt so with him if God had had a kindness for him he would have done this for him and prevented this or that evil but he takes it as a sign that God don't regard him when froward he puts the worst sense upon every thing and represents Gods dispensations to himself as flowing from want of love he is ready to say as she how canst thou say I love thee Judg. 15.15 yea frowardness makes a man justifie his unbelief it so blinds him as it did Jonah that he thinks he does well vindicates himself as if he had cause for what he did 2. Frowardness makes men love to cavil against the encouragements that God sets before them a man in a froward frame studies objections and indulges himself in a way of cavelling there is a great deal of wilfulness in their unbelief a froward heart humours himself in his raising of objections men take a pride in cavelling and turning of the calls of God when the heart is discontented there is a great deal of a sturdy spirit working in their unbelief if I had called and he had answered yet would I not believe that he did hearken unto my voice for he breaketh me with a tempest Job 9.16 17. Direction 5. Set hefore your selves the examples of other Saints there is a cloud of witnesses gone before you men that under all sorts of difficulties and temptations have been exercising Faith remember how Abraham believed the Lord and it was counted unto him for righteousness how Job carried himself when he says tho' he slay me yet I will trust in him how David says why art thou cast down O my Soul hope in God how Jonah recovers himself yet will I look again
if they be not sanctified but there be many in whose lives there is no evidence that they are destitute of holiness no man can justly charge them with living in any known sin with any unmortifyed corruption or acting from a corrupt principle in religion but this cannot be said concerning others that do not make this profession moral men among the Heathens Turks or Jews there are few or none of them but would make it evident to a man of a discerning spirit that was familiarly acquainted with them that they were under the rule and power of some lust 2. Among those that profess to believe in Christ there are many men in whom there are very speaking evidences that they lead an holy life they do not only walk inoffensively in their conversation but there is a great deal of the breathings of a spirit of holiness in them their carriage savours of the fear of God love to God submission to the will of God care of the advancement of the glory of God there carriage has a great relish of piety and holiness there is as much appearance of holiness as can ordinarily be expected from men that have still a principle of corruption remaining in them 3. Many of those who has formerly lived a corrupt life when once they are in appearance brought home to Christ do give great evidences of an holy life many that live among the people of God do live very corruptly but when once such men come to embrace the Gospel in appearance many of them do become very exemplary in holiness cast off all their former ways of sin and live an humble spiritual obedient life as far as man can judge But there are two wayes whereby the truth of this is evident above exception One is by the testimony of Gods Word the Scripture does commonly give the title of Saints unto believers hence that title of Saints in Christ Jesus is given to the Church at Philippi 1 Phil. 1. so they are called holy brethren that are partakers of the heavenly calling Heb. 3.1 and Saints and faithful in Christ Jesus are used as terms equivalent Eph. 1.1 all those that are implanted into Christ do crucifie their corruptions Gal 5.24 hence good works are a demonstration of the truth of Faith James 2.18 Another way whereby it is made evident is by the experience of many saints hereby it is made evident to them though not unto the world every believer has experience of a great change in himself though they have many fears whether it be indeed a life of holiness that they live it is exercising unto them whether they go beyond hypocrites and are acted by any higher principles than self-love and confcience yet there be several that at times do evidently see a spirit of holiness working in themselves so that their consciences do bear witness that they are the children of God besides what they do perceive of a daily bent of heart to keep Gods commands there are at times more visible and sensible actings of grace there are times when the strings are wound up to the height when grace breaks forth as the light and the heart is satisfied in that that he has a spirit of holiness John 21.17 Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee Psal 18.23 I was also upright before him And this fanctification which the people of God have they have in a way of believing some take sanctification so largely as to comprehend the work of regeneration and count regeneration also an effect of closing with Christ but I will not now discuss that controversy though there is no doubt but regeneration is the fruit of Christs purchase but I take sanctification for that work of Gods spirit whereby he does more and more purge away the remainders of sin and carry on the work of holiness in the hearts of his people and this is the fruit of faith in Christ Acts 26.18 they are sanctified by faith that is in me Gal. 2.20 I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me and this sanctification comes from Christs purchase he has by his death redemed us from the power of sin Tit. 2 4. who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purisie to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works so John 17.1 Pet. 1.18 19. Heb. 9 14. 2 The people of God have inward spiritual comfort in a way of believing in the righteousness of Christ it is very true that many men that do not profess the true religion and many others that tho they do profess the true religion yet do not in sincerity embrace it have much inward comfort under an expectation of blessedness hereafter but the people of God that do believe in Jesus Christ have inward comfort in that way peculiar to themselves Which we may consider under these two heads of peace of conscience and communion with God. 1. The people of God in a way of believing have peace of conscience and this is not a particular priviledge of some believers but a blessing that all do in some degree partake of those men that before their coming to Christ were under the terrors of an evil conscience conscience was terrifying of them and binding them over to eternal judgement do upon their closing with Christ enjoy a tranquility of mind and inward peace Indeed this peace may be interrupted and disturbed because of darkness and temptations and because conscience is but in part satisfyed but they are never brought back to take up such conclusions against themselves as before their closing with Christ but commonly they do enjoy some comfortable serenity of heart have the answer of a good conscience by the resurrection of Christ 1 Pet. 3.21 this comes to pass by these two things 1. When a soul comes to Christ the soul is satisfied that there is peace with God to be obtained in a way of coming to Christ that there is safety in coming to Christ the inward call of the Gospel satisfies the soul that there is salvation in Christ for all that come to him conscience is thereby well satisfied in the sufficiency of Christ the freeness and the fulness of the grace of God 1 Pet. 2.7 to him that believes Christ is precious the objections of the heart are removed by the convincing work of the Spirit 2. The first act of closing with Christ is not so sensibly done but that he does take some notice of it some after acts of faith may be more plain and in continuance of time the soul may lose the exact knowledge of the time of his first closing with Christ and the circumstances of it but this first closing with Christ is not so secret a thing but that it falls under the observation of conscience Jer. 3.22 This is clear For 1. The act it self is very observable when the soul comes at first to close with Christ there is a weighty change
but in special for Sainctification Acceptance and eternal Salvation For the opening of this we may consider 1. What are the actings of Faith that Believers are exercised in 2. Vnder what considerations are these actings of Faith drawn forth 3. The conditions in which a Believer is exercising Faith. Question 1. What are the actings of Faith that a Believer is exercised in Answer 1. Assenting to this Doctrine of salvation by Christ the gloriousness of Christs person and offices the vertue of his Sacrifice the readiness of the Lord to save sinners by him the readiness of God to accept of him through Jesus Christ the Believer receives these things as the Word of God 1 Thess 2.13 while other men are dissenting looking upon those things as cunningly devised Fables or withholding their consent as being uncertain reports that they have not sufficient assurance of the Believer acknowledges these things to be so indeed the report of the Gospel is entertained by him he don't look upon the things doubtful but the things are real things to him he don't look upon them as things that may be or are likely to be true but things that must be the declarations of Gods Word concerning these things come with Authority upon his heart he is satisfied that things are so he is not afraid that there is deceit in the bottom and that he is abused in these reports he dont demur and hesitate about them but they are firm conclusions in his breast they are as real to him as the shining of the Sun and the burning of the fire so Luke sayes of the passages of Christs life and death they are things which are most surely believed among us Luk. 1.1 they look on them as certain they are perswaded of the truth of them others are afraid whither they be so or not but a Saint is perswaded of them Heb. 11.13 they are to them as if they saw them with their eyes Joh. 8.56 Abraham rejoyced to see my day and saw it and was glad he saw the day of Christs incarnation and passion it was above two thousand years off but he saw it as if it were present Faith makes things evident while others are at a loss about things and cannot tell how to be satisfied they are in the dark and perplexed with surmises Faith makes the things plain and evident to Believers Hebr. 11.1 2. Accepting of Salvation by Christ 't is offered to him and he receives it the Believer takes the tender with all his heart while other men stand disputing whether they may he boldly runs the venture of it while others are waiting for more encouragement and are frighting of themselves with the reasonings of their own hearts he is thankfully accepting of the offer he sees a door open and he ventures to go in carnal reason tells him it is dangerous that he had need be advised what he does but let carnal reason say what it can he will venture the case he deserts all other profers and puts himself into this Castle and ventures his life in it he puts to Sea in this Bottom embarques himself here let what storms will come he parts with all for this Jewel and has his whole dependance upon this he forsakes all other Lovers and accepts the tenders of Christ carnal reason tells him he will bring himself to misery but he is willing to venture it he relinquishes all other hopes and puts himself into the hands of Jesus Christ he sayes as Paul It is a saying worthy of all acceptation that Christ came into the world to save sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 he flees for refuge to Christ when conscience is pursuing of him thither he betakes himself Heb. 6.18 he gets under the shadow of Christ and ventures himself upon that protection which Christ will give him when he hears what is to be said on all sides he makes choice of the offer of Christ and ventures himself with him he refuses other offers and takes this Jer. 2.22 Return ye back-sliding children and I will heal your back-sliding behold we come unto thee thou art the Lord our God. 3. Viewing and beholding the excellency of Christ as one that trusts in a Castle he loves to be viewing and taking notice of the strength of it the thickness and breadth of the walls so he that trusts in his own righteousness loves to ly poring upon the multitude of his services the fervor of his affections the pains he has taken and other things that set forth the excellency of it thus he that believes in Christ loves to be considering the excellency of Christ and of his righteousness feasting his eyes in beholding of him thus we are commanded to consider him Heb. 3.1 and this is the spirit of a Believer he is solacing and satisfying of his soul in the contemplation of Christs righteousness his heart dwells in the consideration thereof an unbeliever stands poring upon his unworthiness thinking how many sins he has been guilty of what occasion of anger God has against him discouraging his soul by minding how unworthy he is and he is still harping upon the greatness of his provocations but a Believer is of another spirit he is refreshing of his heart by taking notice of the glorious excellency of Christs righteousness and what wonderful security arises from thence sometimes he thinks how God chose this way of Salvation before the foundation of the World sometimes how God has poured out his anger upon Christ how their sins have been imputed unto Christ how God reckons the sufferings of Christ theirs how this way of salvation was shadowed forth to the antient Church how the People of God of old have placed their Faith in the righteousness of Christ there are a multitude of such considerations that the heart is dwelling upon Cant 5.10 seq My beloved is white and ruddy the chiefest of ten thousand 4. Prizing of Jesus Christ the Believer makes great reckoning of Christ 1 Pet. 2.7 he believes all those glorious characters that God gives of Christ and so he prizes him makes great account of the blood and righteousness of Chrst and of all the Offices of Christ he looks upon his own righteousness as nothing in comparison of the righteousness of Christ he reckons himself poor notwithstanding any thing of his own he counts himself undone without Christ but he prizes Christ looks on him as the Author of eternal salvation as the procurer and bestower of all good he has all his expectations from him all his hopes are built on him he has a great esteem of Christ he looks for no good but only from him his hopes of outward mercies of light and strength and deliverance from temptation of pardon and communion with God and eternal life are all derived from him he looks upon Christ as the stay and staff of his life he prizes him as having his whole dependance upon him he looks upon himself miserable and undone without him he counts an interest in
sign of an hypocrite to trust in his own duties and they set themselves to trust in Christ and think they do somewhat at it but their way of living is upon themselves and they are very great strangers to Christ this is not the guise of the people of God gal 2.20 the life thut I live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God. 3. Such persons as cannot venture upon Christ when they are in the dark about their estate when they think that they see signs that they are converted then they can believe they are very forward but when in the dark no Gospel encouragements will prevail upon them a saint may find it very difficult at such a time but a false heart stayes till he can discern some more hopes of his good condition before he can believe such a man does not live a life of Faith. Before I pass this way of trial I shall answer some Doubts about it that sometimes trouble the People of God. Doubt 1. I fear I do not live a life of Faith because I find abundance of unbelief I am exceeding distrustful see little as I ought to see of the excellency of Christ of the stability of the Covenant or of the freeness of Gods grace Answer It may be so and yet your Faith may be right there is a backwardness in Saints to believe Luk. 24.25 26. O fools and stow of heart to believe Saints have but a little Faith they that have most have but a little Rev 3.8 this is the general complaint of the people of God and generally it is from Faith that they are burdened with unbelief a spirit of Faith makes men qualified to discern their unbelief and makes men see an hainous evil in it Doubt 2. I fear I dont live a life of Faith because I am very ready to give way to a spirit of carnal confidence I am sure tâ—eâ—e is a great deal of false Faith in me if there be any stirrings of affection I am ready to idolize them and stay upon them Answer You may possibly think there is more carnal confidence working in you than there is hope of your good condition should be strengthened by the sanctifying fruits of the Spirit they are good signs but I grant you are not to be carnally confident though your Faith be of the right kind and you live a life of Faith yet you will be troubled with a spirit of carnal confidence as long as you live Mat. 13.27 Prov. 30.6 where the Apostle sayes we have no confidence in the flesh Phil. 3.3 his meaning is not that carnal confidence is wholly mortified but their Doctrine was that no confidence was to be in the flesh and they allowed none Doubt 3. I fear I dont live a life of Faith because my Faith brings me in so little supplies of Grace and Comfort God dont seem to own it Answer You gain confiderably by your Faith if you gain this to be kept following of God 1 Pet. 1.5 you must not be discouraged because God does not give you such signs as you desire Joh. 20 29. Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed the measures of comfort that God gives to his People are very various and sometimes God puts his people upon it against hope to believe in hope and that is a sign of a good Faith when a man sees but little coming and yet will believe still Rom. 4.18 Abraham against hope believed in hope Doubt 4. I am afraid because I am so bold to trust in God from time to time though I have so much sin I am afraid it is a life of Presumption not Faith Answer There is indeed a boldness to trust in God from conceits of mens worth that is not right but there is a two fold boldness that God will never blame men for one is the bearing up of their heart with the hopes of Gods favour upon good experience of it notwithstanding sin only you must beware you do not make light of sin because God has given you such hopes the other is a depending on Jesus Christ for the pardon of sin and accepting Gods offer notwithstand your sins yea though you have not such brokenness of heart as does become you Heb. 4.16 Let us come boldly to the Throne of Grace 4. Try the truth of your Faith by that holiness that does accompany and flow from Faith in Jesus Christ they that are true believers do lead an holy life Holiness does accompany Faith and therefore believers are commonly in Scripture stiled Saints 2 Cor. 1.1 there is a concatenation of Graces where there is one grace there is all as it is in a natural man all the natural faculties of the soul do accompany each other they live and dye together so it is with the several graces that are in Saints the same principle of Grace does inable the Soul to all sorts of holy actions Grace in the heart is but one principle though in respect of its various actings and objects it does receive various denominations and wherever Faith is it is accompanied with universal holiness and therefore holiness is given as a Sign and Character of Believers Gal. 5.24 they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts the actings of Faith go hand in hand with the excercise of other graces Faith is alwayes attended with universal holiness hence there are so many promises of Salvation made unto those that are holy though it be Faith only that gives men a title to heaven yet there are promises made unto holiness because that is a property of believers and hence also there are so many threatnings unto those that live unholily Heb. 12.14 without holiness no man shall see the Lord. And indeed holiness does not only accompany Faith but the exercise of it does flow from Faith Faith has a great influence into an holy life the actings of Faith upon the whole Word of God does greatly quicken a spirit of obedience it is a spirit of Faith that makes all the Arguments which the Scripture is full of to become powerful upon the heart whatever God proposes to us in his Word to make us obedient it will not have that effect upon our heart if it be not entertained by Faith men believe commands incouragements threatnings and so they become efficacious upon the heart the whole Word of God works on men as it is entertained by Faith all graces are quickened and drawn into exercise in this way men believe and hope they believe and love they believe and repent the Will and Affections never act in a gracious way but when the understanding does discover ground so to do by Faith we understand spiritual things and so our hearts are carried after them what ever grace is acted Faith is acted together with it and therefore in the 11th to the Hebrews whatever the Patriarcks did and suffered for God is ascribed to Faith. But as other
actings of Faith have an influence into Holiness so in a special manner the actings of Faith upon Jesus Christ we are satisfied by Faith in him Act. 26.18 the peculiar actings of Faith on Christ have a special influence into an holy life and that two wayes 1. The believing of the Gospel does in its own nature stir up men to holiness when men by Faith do entertain the calls of God in the Gospel it has a strong impression on their hearts to move them to holiness when men see the readiness of God to pardon them the wonderful grace of God in the Gospel it prevails with them to lead an holy life Psal 26.23 Thy loving kindness is before mine eyes and I have walked in thy truth the sence of the grace of God apprehended by Faith makes men admire the glorious excellency of God love God fear to offend him troubled that they have grieved him and wronged him the discoveries of Gospel grace leave an everlasting impression upon the heart to love and honour God. 2. The believing on Christ is the way wherein God has promised to carry on the work of Sanctification in this way God gives forth the assistances of his Spirit for the carrying on of this work God in the invitations of the Gospel calls us to glory and vertue 2 Pet. 1.3 Faith in Christ is the condition of the covenant of grace and therefore thereby God becomes engaged to keep men in the wayes of holiness as all other covenant mercies are made over to the soul in this way so likewise sanctifying grace and besides that God has directed us to exercise Faith upon Christ for Sanctification he tells us that without him we can do nothing John 15.5 that he is made to us for Sanctification 1 Cor. 1.30 that whatever we do in word or deed we must do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ Col. 3.17 this is a principal means prescribed unto us in order to the carrying on of the work of Sanctification we must attend other appointments and ordinances of God prayer reading hearing sacraments watching meditating sim but we may not trust to any of our own strivings but especially attend this ordinance of the covenant of grace to roll our selves upon Christ as being the purchaser and the dispenser of this blessing waiting for the influences of his Spirit and in this way he assists and strengthens his to lead an holy life For the opening of this way of Trial we may consider what an holy life is It is a course of walking in all Gods Commandments from a gracious respect unto God here you may distinguish between a principle of holiness an holy frame an holy action and an holy life a principle of holiness is a quality inabling and inclining a man to keep all Gods commands out of a gracious respect unto God an holy frame is a raised prevailing disposition unto holiness by the habit it is disposed to holiness by an holy frame to a more ready and chearful practice of holiness when the heart is in an holy frame it is like an instrument in tune like a good knife that has a good edge an holy action is an action commanded of God done out of a gracious respect unto God an holy life is a course of walking in all Gods commands from a gracious respect unto God In this discription three things are to be minded 1. That where there is an holy life there is a walking in all Gods commands there may be a reformation of some particular sins where there is not an holy life any one way of sin makes a mans life unholy if men allow any way of disobedience the life is not holy in an holy life there is an abstaining from every known sin and the practice of every known duty Luk. 1 6. They were both righteous before God walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless he that leads an holy life does observe all those commands that direct his outward behaviour of himself and he attends all those commands that direct the carriage and behaviour of the heart those commands that require internal duty love fear and those that do require the right manner of doing his duty doing of it for Gods glory doing of it in the Name of Christ doing of it with diligence with delight the casting off of any duty makes the life unholy The principle of grace that is in a Saint does both inable and incline the heart to keep all Gods Commands there is no command given by God but there is a suitable inclination in the heart of a Saint unto it there be in the heart of a Saint some general inclinations to all Gods commands some inclinations that respect every one of Gods precepts that are principles of universal obedience and they are three love to God fear of God and saith in God these three influence a man to all that obedience that God requires these incline the heart to do every thing that God requires hence sometimes we read that love makes us keep Gods commands 1 John 5.3 so all Religion is called the fear of God because that influences all Isai 50.10 so Faith is a general principle of obedience Heb. 11.7 8. besides these there are in a godly man more particular inclinations to the commands severally which are not of such latitude these are the off-spring of the other thus patience inclines a man to keep some commands temperance others bounty others pity others 2 Pet. 1.5 6. But this walking in all Gods commands does admit of divers degrees all the people of God in this life fall short of perfection and some fall far short of that perfection that others do attain every one that is travelling in a path don't travel with equal diligence and speed so here some are more dull heedless and negligent than others are and many Saints do fall short in respect of some outward commands of some that are but natural men but every one must have such a measure of obedience to Gods commands as speaks faithfulness such as speaks a spirit of fear faith and love there must not be an heart allowance of any sin the conscience of a natural man may allow none but the heart and will of a Saint does allow none there are many sins which a christian does commit often in a day as the actings of unbelief by-ends worldly affections and pride but yet he does not allow them and his disallowance is seen in acts of hatred towards these sins repenting of them watching against them out of hatred and by his performing contrary actions namely of humility faith c. 2. Where there is an holy life this walking in Gods commands is in a course that is their way and manner and trade whatever exactness a man may have for a fit that will not denominate his life holy he that leads an holy life is in his ordinary course attending the rules of holiness and that not
on t when tumbling into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone what can comfort you in that condition men take great delight here in their worldly enjoyments and pleasures but what comfort will it be to have good things when they are tormented in this flame men comfort themselves here that they have laid a foundation of worldly greatness for their children but what comfort will it be to them to think that their children are eating and drinking and sporting when they are drinking the dregs of the wrath of God and whatever honour their Sons come to their flesh upon them shall have pain and their soul within them shall mourn you have much to do now to bear any little affliction and how do you think to go thorow these calamities where nothing will be moderate where all evils shall fall upon you and that in the extremity of them you will wring your hands and tear your hair and gnash your teeth and curse your day and fill hell with outcries and lamentations this will be your portion if you continue to reject Jesus Christ Luk. 12.46 He shall appoint him his portion with unbelievers it is not a matter of probability a thing only to be much suspected but beyond all question that you even you are a damned man if you do not entertain the calls of the Gospel you are spending away your time in delays but you had need resolve the case if you refuse Christ you chuse misery you chuse death you chuse eternal damnation stand out from Christ a little longer you are a gone man men hope God will not be so hard to them as to damn them especially considering the services they have done and the pains that they have taken in religion but there is one law for all men under the Gospel he that believeth not shall be damned Mat. 16.16 the unbeliever lies open to damnation on a double account upon the account of his other sins and upon the account of his unbelief Jeb 2.3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation let mens other qualifications be what they will yet if they believe not the wrath of God abideth upon them Joh. 3.36 God threatens them in his word with ruine and those threatnings are absolute such as bind him in faithfulness to damn every unbeliever there are many indefinite threatnings in the Scripture and many conditional but these are absolute ones against every one that continues in unbelief there is no possibility for them to escape This appears 1. Because it is contrary to the decree and appointment of God to save such as do not believe the decrees of God are inviolable it is a vain thing for any man to look for salvation contrary to Gods decree but it is against Gods decree to save unbelievers not that there is such a formal act in the decree that unbelievers shall be damned but this is a truth arising from the decree for God has determined to give faith unto all those that he has chosen unto salvation he has determined to lead them in a way of faith unto life 2 Thes 2.13 God has chosen you from the beginning unto salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth all that God has chosen unto life shall believe John 6.37 all that the Father has given me shall come unto me so that it is cross to the decree of God to save any man that has not faith the decree of God is a bar in the way of his salvation 2. Because faith is the condition of the covenant of grace there is one law for all men there is but one condition of this covenant John 5.24 he that heareth my words and believeth in him that sent me hath everlasting life c. we are directed to take this way for salvation there is no other way proposed in case of a failure in this so that the want of this must needs exclude men from the good of the covenant the want of this condition renders men uncapable of life 3. Because it must be so in Justice and Gods heart is as much upon the glorifying of his Justice as his grace one attribute is as due to him as another the glorifying of his Justice is not a by-business but a thing that his heart is deeply concerned in and Justice requires the ruine of unbelievers for they deserve it Rom. 6.23 the wages of sin is death and there is no way for Justice to be satisfied for their sins but by their ruine 4 Because it is foretold and prophesied of that Christ will destroy unbelievers when he comes to Judgment the Scripture gives us an account before hand of the transactions of the day of Judgment what will be the issue of things and befal these and those in that day and God tells us that unbelievers shall be ruined then he does not only threaten them with ruine but tells the Saints that such persons shall be ruined 2 Thess 1.7 8. he will take vengeance on them that obey not the Gospel of Jesus Christ Rev. 21.8 the fearful and unbelieving shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone 5. Because the Sentence of God in the Gospel is that which men shall be judged by God declares in the Gospel that he that believeth not shall be damned and if unbelievers be tried by this rule they will certainly perish if God should try them by some other rule that they might fancy or imagine they might make a shift to escape but by this rule they are gone men and this is the rule they must be tried by God will have no respect in that day unto mens riches or learning or esteem among men or their civil or moral conversation but their case must be determined by the Gospel Rom. 2.16 God will judg the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel 6. Those that do not believe in Christ have not those other qualifications that do accompany salvation there be many other qualifications besides Faith that God has promised Salvation un to and some men that are under a conviction that they have not Faith are pretenders to some of those qualifications but they do but flatter themselves when they come to be examined by God they will be found destitute of all those holy qualifications they make a shew of humility patience love to God regard to his glory but those shews are but delusions all the religion of those men that have not Faith is hipocrisie there may be Morality without Faith and strong religious affections but there is no sanctification where there is no Faith there may be the shadow of it but not the thing it self Act. 26.18 Sanctified by Faith that is in me It is impossible for you to escape ruin if you do not believe and that is not all for your rejecting of Christ does not only expose you unto condemnation but to a greater degree of misery than multitudes will
a cloud of Witnesses that have gone before you in other ages and many at this day that betake themselves unto Christ for refuge others that have been trying all conclusions and turning every stone have at last seen a necessity to come unto Christ others have been satisfied with the encouragements that God has given and have taken sanctuary in Christ men of judgment and prudence not subject to be led by fancies and delusions more than other men have let go all carnal confidences and fled to this hope set before them and this they have done nor once or twice in any hurry of temptation but they live in this way I live by faith in the Son of God Gal. 2.20 their coming unto Christ is no rash inconsiderate act but after they have had the consideration of it many years have weighed it and pondred it looked on all sides and considered all that can be said they don't see cause to repent but continue to believe it is no unadvised act they understand what they do 2 Tim. 1.12 and the longer they live the more established in a way of believing Gods dispensations towards them since their coming unto Christ are not such as do discourage them but they are more encouraged still to commit themselves unto Christ why don't you come also unto Christ methinks you should be ashamed to be listning unto carnal reasonings and giving way to the pride of your hearts when others have overcome them methinks it should stir up a spirit of fear to see others getting into the way of salvation and you left behind to be a prey to Devils think what your sins have been what inward workings have been in your bea rt and you must say you have as much need of Christ as other men think what the call of God is how free and full the invitation is and you must say you have as much encouragement to come to Christ as other men and others that love their souls as well as you do yours have ventured them in the hands of Jesus Christ and do you not think that it will be hard to you to see others stand at the right-hand of Christ another day and your selves rejected 2. You must never expect inward peace and quietness unless you come unto Christ you complain now in the bitterness of your souls what a sorrowful life you lead you find little comfort in any thing you are so terrified with a guilty conscience that it eats out the comfort of your life a dreadful sound is in his ears Job 15.21 you are under such apprehensions of the anger of God that you know not how to bear it when you hear or read the threatnings of Judgment you are terrified that that will be your portion when you see instances of judgment you are afraid that God will do so with you leave you to such and such sins bring such and such calamities upon you your heart is meditating terror affrighted with the thoughts of damnation Sermons terrifie you providences terrifie you your heart is always loaded the way to have inward peace and quietness is to come to Jesus Christ Rom. 5.1 being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ but until you come to Christ you must never expect to be better you may have a pleasing dream it may be for a while and your wound may be skinned over but you must not expect to have any true peace so long as you stand at a distance from Christ what peace can men expect while their sins are not pardoned what peace can men enjoy as long as God is angry you must expect no other but to spend your days in vanity and your years in trouble if you give not entertainment unto Christ through fear of death they were all their life-time subject unto bondage Heb. 2.15 the venom of sin will be burning in your bowels until you look unto the brazen serpent and what madness is it for men needlesly to live a tormented life are you not weary of this condition have you a mind to live in sorrow longer don't you care to be delivered from your fears thou wilt never have peace without coming unto Christ you have tried a great while in vain and it will be in vain still but if you will give entertainment unto him his blood will heal the conscience scatter fears and refresh your hearts The sting of death is sin and strength of sin is the law but thanks be to God that giveth victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. 3. If you do no not come to Christ you will lose all the pains that you have taken in religion you had need be careful that you lose not the things that you have wrought the labour that you have taken in religion is all lost with respect unto some expectations of yours therefrom as to the mortifying of sin thereby the getting of the good-will of God the purchasing of pardon c. and if you do come to Christ you must see it to be lost in this respect Phil. 3.7 those things which were gain to me those have I counted loss for Christ but yet in some respect the pains you have taken may be of advantage unto you in as much as you are nearer to salvation than before you began to seek after God you have been travelling in the way towards heaven some men are nearer the Kingdom of God a great deal than others Mark 12.34 Thou art not far from the Kingdom of God you have been taking a great deal of pains have withstood temptations have got much knowledge have broken off your sinful practices come to understand somewhat of the plague of your own hearts you are got over many bars that lay in the way of your salvation you have escaped many rocks upon which some souls have split in pieces are in a fairer way to get to heaven than you were sometime since and it would be sad to perish upon the borders of Cannan after sore travel in the wilderness to sink at the mouth of the harbour after you have rid out many Storms to lose all your care and labour and sorrows after all to go down to hell among those that never took any pains for salvation and this you will certainly do if you do not come to Christ though you are past the streight of reformation yet if you don't enter and go through the gate of humiliation and faith if you do not cast away your carnal confidences you will not enter into life when the Galatians were carried away with opinions of their own righteousness Paul says to them have you suffered so many things in vain if it be yet in vain gal 3.4 all your labour will be in vain and your souls will be lost if you come not to Christ 4. You will exceedingly bewail it hereafter if you do not accept of Christ you will rue it in another world you stand upon frivolous objections neglect to come unto
Lords Supper so when you meet with any temptations to beat you off from this way of believing when you have been contracting any special guilt when you go before God in solemn prayer and besides what is to be done on such occasions as these it is a duty to have the heart working and carried out in this way at other times and it will be so where the heart is in a believing frame men then will love to be thinking upon the precious righteoousness of Christ and putting forth acts of dependance thereupon God requires you to be much in the exercise of Faith 1 Joh. 5.13 those things have I written to you that believe on the Name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may believe on the Name of the Son of God. This ought to be upon a double account 1. This is an honour due to God and Jesus Christ it becomes us to be putting honour upon them by reniewing those acts of Faith when a man is drawing his encouragement from the righteousness of Christ and the free grace of God prizing Christs Righteousness satisfied with that rejoycing in it rolling himself upon it he is putting honour thereupon and it is no more than it does deserve it becomes us to be giving this glory unto God and Jesus Christ when the acts of Faith are much intermitted and when there are any actings of unbelief we do deny them their due honour but the exercise of Faith is a practical acknowledgment of their glory and this is one part of that way of holiness wherein the people of God are walking unto salvation the first act of Faith in Christ is the fulfilling of the Covenant other acts of Faith are a part of our attending that way of holiness which is the way of life 2. This is the way of our comfort we need to be from time to time renewing the acts of Faith that we may live a comfortable life this is a way to have a stable and well grounded comfort for in this way of salvation God has given us everlasting consolation and good hope 2 Thess 2.16 the actings of unbelief fill the soul with trouble that saint must needs live a sorrowful life that is much carried away with an unbelieving heart such a life is attended with many terrors and fears unbelief is the sinking of the heart the prevailings of a spirit of discouragement bring a man into a most perplexed condition and he that lives in a way of carnal confidence will live a life of trouble though at times his joy may be great yet there will often be such discoveries of his heart and convictions of his danger as will fill his soul with fear and trembling the only way to live a sweet and comfortable life is to live by Faith upon Christ the actings of Faith give rest unto the heart there will be some measure of comfort wherever Faith is in exercise though a man be in the dark about his condition yet the very actings of Faith will support his heart Faith discovers a resting place for the soul in the exercise of Faith the soul is receiving of encouragement therefore Faith is often expressed in Scripture by joy Phil. 3.3 Hab. 3.18 indeed there is a sweetness and pleasingness in the exercises of every grace because they are suitable to that new nature that God has put into his Saints but there is a special sweetness in the exercise of Faith because the nature of it is to entertain a well grounded comfort and encouragement the very actings of Faith have a great deal of comfort in them and the reflection of the soul upon those acts of Faith has a great deal of comfort in them Faith it self is comfortable and the sight of Faith is comfortable Faith comforts as it entertains the glad tidings of the Gospel as it discovers a door of hope the light of Faith comforts as it discovers a sure evidence of Salvation In prosecuting of this VSE we shall consider three things 1. That Saints are apt to be discouraged from believing on the righteousness of Christ for acceptance 2. What their discouragements are together with proposals for the removing of them 3. What course saints should take that they may live by Faith on Christs righteousness and not be discouraged 1. Consider Saints are apt to be discouraged from believing on the righteousness of Christ for acceptance there are two sorts of discouragements that Christians have with respect unto their acceptance one sort is when they are discouraged as if they were not accepted as if they were not saints and in a state of salvation their present state is dark unto them and this arises either from Gods dispensations towards them or their carriages towards God God layes afflictions upon them exercises them with inward temptations don't give assurance of his love don't answer their prayers don't quicken their hearts in his Ordinances and they are carried away with corruption don't feel the working of love in their hearts have not such spiritual hearts as others of the people of God and so they are ready to sink as if their present state were not a state of peace with God the other sort of discouragement is when they are afraid to come unto Christ for acceptance they are called upon to believe but are discouraged from that duty it don't enter into them that God is free to accept of them through Christ they dare not believe and these two sorts of discouragements are generally Companions and go together though not alwayes usually when Christians are discouraged as to their present state they are also more backward to believe than at other times and their hearts are frighted because of the greatness and number of their sins and when they are in an unbelieving frame they are many times discouraged as if they were not Saints and can't discern those signs that they can see plain enough at another time this latter sort of discouragement whereby Saints are discouraged from believing in Christ is that we are now discoursing of and this discouraged frame is one of those frames that are contrary to a believing frame there are two other frames in Christians that are contrary to believing in Christ one is a slighty careless and regardless frame of spirit respecting acceptance with God and eternal salvation mens hearts are sometimes so deeply engaged in the world that they are little concerned about the state of their souls they have not the weight of it on their hearts to make sure a part in Christ sometimes Christians are under the prevailings of a sensless Spirit they have not sense nor solemnity enough upon their hearts to put forth an act of Faith the other is a self-righteous frame whereby Christians are apt to be drawing of their encouragements for their acceptance with God from their own righteousness but besides these there is a discouraged frame of spirit whereby Saints are afraid to believe