excellency and the riches of Christ. Eph. 1.18.19 opened Obiect Ans. No man can so see the riches of Christ as to be affected with them withâ—ut the helpe of the Spirit 1 Cor. 2.12 opened Ioh. 14.21 opened Ier. 31 33. opened 3 By assuring vs that these things are ours This also must be wrought by the Spirit The testimony of the Spirit wrought two waies 1 By clearing the promises 2 By an immediate voice Ioh. 16.29 Isa. 57.19 opened All arguments without the Spirit preuaile not Eph. 1.19 opened Act. 2.39 Luk. 14.23 opened That men are compelled to come in what it implies What is implyed by drawing Ioh. 6.44 opened How the Holy Ghost draweth Cant. 1.4 Eph. 1.18 4 Why God will accept no faith but that which is effectuall 1 Because else it is not faith because it is dead Similes 2 Because such faith hath no loue Rom. 8.28 3 Because the Deuils haue such a faith 4 Because it workes no mortification 5 Because else Christ should lose the end of his comming into the world 6 Good workes are the way to saluation Eph. 2.10 Rom. 2.6 Mat. 26.35 39. Vse 1. To try our faith whether it be sound Simile Iam. 2.14 Simile Exod. 34.6.7 Obiect Ans. Fiue arguments of Saint Iames against worklesse faith Note Vse 2. To judge our conditions by the efficacy of our faith Not to beleeue all that say they haue faith nor all that say they haue none Act of faith double Simile A man may haue faith though he want feeling Of those that say they haue faith but haue not Simile Psal. 119.7 Vse 3. To iustifie the Doctrine of good workes against the Papists slanders Difference betweene vs and Papists in the Doctrine of iustification Obiect Ans. Iustification double Rom. 4. Note Simile Answ. Faith made perfect by works what Simile 3 Obiect Ans. What meant by these words Faith without workes is dead 4 Obiect Ans. Why good works are required seeing they iustifie not Rom. 6.1 2. 1 They euidence our right in Christ. 2 God rewards according to our works 1 Pet. 1.15 3 Good workes necessary though not to iustification Different rise of good works in Papists and vs. An hypocrite cannot doe things out of loue to God 2 Cor. 13.2 Vse 3. To labour to grow in faith and assurance What course to take in weaknesse of grace Simile Labouring to strengthen faith of much vse 1 In getting assurance of pardon after sin is committed 2 In conflict with strong lusts 3 In want of graces How Ministers should build Simile Simile Vse 4. To looke to faith in our search Two wayes to increase assurance Simile Vse 5. To learne to iudge aright of our workes Iames 2.22 God accepts our workes no further then he findes faith in them Mat. 15.26 27. Heb. 11. God accepts the gift for the giuer To doe a thing by faith what Godlinesse what Heb. 11.6 Rom. 13. We must reckon common actions in our callings to be good workes Vse 6. To try if we haue faith 1 Triall A secret perswasion of the Spirit Reu. 2 17. Hidden Mannah White stone what it signifieth Gods manner of working faith Alike trouble of Spirit in conuersion not necessary to all and why Simile Soft voice what 1 Part of the soft voice a clearing of the promise Though the promises are neere vnlesse God cleere them we see them not Luk. 24. 2 Part of the soft voice the immediate testimony of Gods Spirit Rom. 8. Obiect Ans. How to know the testimony of the Spirit from a delusion How faith is wrought Whence longing after Christ comes Ioh. 19. How to know whether faith be wrought in vs. A beast cannot reflect vpon his actions as a man can How to know that the promise is cleared to vs. Rom. 8. The match betweene Christ and the soule reciprocall Fiue signes of effectuall faith 1. Signe True faith purifieth the heart Acts 15.9 Acts 26.18 Faith and repentance put together in the Scripture why True faith hath repentance Faith what it is Obedience Heb. 8.8 A Couenant what Generall reformation Christ dwels in the heart as the soule in the body Gal. 2.20 Isay 57.13.18 opened Simile How to know if Christ dwell in the heart Acts 8.37 opened Baptisme what Taking Christ deceitfully To take Christ with the whole heart what Act. 2â— 17 18. To turne to God what Faith and the desire of satisfying lusts cannot stand together Ier. 3. Men deceiued in the definition of faith Try faith as we doe other things Similes Digression for application to the Sacrament Rules of examination before and after the Sacrament Where Christ dwels indeed he giues power against sinne Phil. 4.12 To be guilty of the body blood of Christ what Quest. Answ. 2 Signe A Spirit of Prayer Spirit of adoption what Gal. 4.6 The Spirit of adoption maketh vs 1 Earnest in Prayer 2 Bold and confident Obiect Ans. True Prayer what Rom. 8. Prayer double The voice of Gods Spirit in vs what Quest. Ans. How to know the voyce of Gods Spirit in our prayers Wicked men come to God as a stranger the Saints as to a friend Hosea 7.14 opened Eph 3.7 3. Signe of faith Peace Rom. 5.1 Obiect Ans. Exod. 14. Psal. 3. 2 A twofold peace The third marke of faith it brings peace Phil. 4.6 opened Mat. 6. Ioh. 3.12 Gen. 24.7 4. Signe of effectual faith To hold out in cleauing to Christ. To hold out implyeth 3. things 1 To cleaue constantly to Christ. which noâ—e can doe that take Christ 1 Out of mis-information 2 Out of feare 3 Out of loue to his and not to him 4 Out of slender and slight grounds 2 To take no denyall 3 To be content to waite Hab. 2. Iam. 1. 5. Signe of effectuall faith the concomitants of it which are 4. 1 Loue. 2 Pet. 1.8 Gal. 5. 1 Cor. 13. Obiect Ans. Quest. Ans. Tryals of loue 2 Hope 3 Ioy. Rom. 15.13 1 Pet. 1.8 Obiect Heb. 6. Ans. Tryals of ioy Rom. 5.3 1 Pet. 1.8 Simile Heb. 6. opened 4 Humility Isay. 6. Vse To act and exercise Faith or to set it on Worke. Obiect Ans. Simile Simile Rom. 2. Heb. 11. Quest. Ans. How to vse Faith 1 In comforting our selues Gal. 3. opened Ioh. 16. Simile Considerations to helpe Faith in comforting the Soule Micha 7.8 Psal. 41.7 Quest. Ans. Eph. 4. 2 Tim. 2.19 2 Pet. 1.13 2 Vse of faith to guide and order our liues Simile Instances of faith guiding a man in difficult cases 1 Instance Ioh. 12.12 2 Instance 3 Instance 4 Instance Ier. 42. Ier. 42. 43. Obiect Ans. Ier. 26. 5 Instance Acts 6. 6 Instance Quest. Ans. 7 Instance 8 Instance Quest. Ans. 1 Tim. 4.10 Quest. Ans. To trust in GOD what Quest. 2 Cor. 1.10 opened Answ. Zeph. 3.12 Quest. Answ. 1 Tim. 1.5 2 Chro. 14.11 Quest. Ans. Obiect Answ. 2 Kings 5. Hester 6. Obiect Answ. 1. Isay 7. Isay 9. Answ. 2. Consisting of 3. parts Obiect Ans.
receiue this rghteousnesse taking Christ for our Husband our King and Lord. But you will say Faith is more for Fides est actus intellectus It is an act of the vnderstanding assenting to Truths for the Authority of the Speaker therefore the mind and will must concurre to make vp this Faith For the better vnderstanding of it marke this word the righteousnesse of God is reuealed wherein is likewise implyed though it bee not expressed that it is offered for to what purpose or what comfort is it to see that there is such a righteousnesse if it be nothing to vs but it is so reuealed that it is also offered Now being both reuealed and offered you must finde something in men answerable to both these to the reuelation of it the vnderstanding assenting to it as a Truth that CHRIST is come in the flesh and offered to all men Againe to answer to the matter of the offer there is also an act of the will whereby it comes in and takes or embraceth this righteousnesse Both these 1 Tim. 1.15 are put together This is a faithfull saying and worthy to be receiued that Iesus Christ came into the world to saue sinners It is true saith the vnderstanding and therefore that beleeues it but it is worthy to be receiued saith the will therfore that comes in takes and accepts it As in matter of marriage If one come and tell a Woman there is such a man in the world that is willing to bestow himselfe on you if you will take him and accept him for your husband Now marke what it is that makes vp the marriage on her part first she must beleeue that there is such a man and that that man is willing to haue her that this message is true that it is brought from the man himselfe and that it is nothing else but a true declaration of the mans minde This is an act of her minde or vnderstanding But will you take him and accept of him for your Husband now comes the will and the concurrence of these two makes vp the match So wee come and tell you There is such a one the Messiah that is willing to bestow himselfe on you If you beleeue that we deliuer the message from Christ and doe consequently embrace and take him now are you iustified this is the very translation of you from death to life at this very instant you are deliuered from Satan possessed of a Kingdome and saluation is come to your house Now because this taking of CHRIST is the maine point which makes CHRIST ours and the want whereof is the cause that euery man is condemned it comming neerest to life and death that you may know what it is we must tell you that this is required therein First there must not be Error personae errour of the person Secondly you must vnderstand aright what this taking is Thirdly there must be a compleat deliberate will which must concurre to this action of taking These three being declared we shall not easily be deceiued in it First when you heare of this righteousnes of CHRIST and of its being made ours you you must know that first CHRIST himselfe is made ours and then his righteousnesse as first you must haue the Husband and then the benefits that come by him I say take heede that there be not an errour of the person that you mistake him not And this excludes all ignorant men that take not Christ indeed but onely in their owne fancie Therefore when you come to make this marriage you must know that CHRIST is most holy that he is also such a one as will bring persecution with him as sayes of himselfe that he knowes not where to lay his head such a one as for whose sake you must part with euery thing such a one as is hated in the World and for whose sake you must be hated some would haue the man but they know not the man and so many thousands are deceiued that are willing to take CHRIST but they know not what they take they vnderstand not Christ aright there is an errour of the person and so a misse of the match and consequently of Justification for so as to make him their Lord so as to be subiect to him they take him not they do not consider that he requires such and such things at their hands Secondly If there be no mistake of the person yet what is this taking In marriage there is a certaine forme to be obserued and if that forme be mist of there is a misse of the match This taking therefore is nothing but this So to take him as to be diuorced from all other Louers so to serue him as you serue no other Master so to bee subject to him that you be subject to nothing in the World besides This is properly to take CHRIST and this excludes the greatest part of men they being ready to take Christ but then they will loue the World too but GOD tels them that if they loue the World the loue of the Father nor the Sonne is not in them You must haue your affections weaned from euery kinde of vanity Goe thorow the whole Vniuerse looke on all the things that are Riches and Pleasures and Honours Wife and Children if your heart be not weaned from euery of them you take him not as a Husband Againe others will serue CHRIST and their riches too their credit too their owne praise with men too but CHRIST tels them no man can serue both you must serue him alone and be obedient to none but him if you doe so you take him for your Lord indeede So many will be subject to him as a King but they will bee subject to their lusts too if their lusts command them they cannot deny them some they will reserue and you know how many this excludes Therefore you shall find that no man can take Christ and his wealth you know the young man was shut out because he would not let goe his possessions which he must part with or else haue none of him So Ioh. 5.44 If you receiue the praise of men how can you beleeue That is if you be not weaned and diuorced from all you cannot beleeue Though you be the off-scowring of men though you bee mocked and scorned it matters not but if you seeke the praise of men you cannot beleeue Where by the way you may marke something and adde it to that I said before What is the reason that the seeking praise of men should hinder from beleeuing Certainely if Faith were onely an Act of the vnderstanding assenting to the truth for the Authority of its Speaker it would bee no hindrance or impediment to the act of the mind in beleeuing that such a thing is true so that it must needs haue reference to the will Therefore saith CHRIST While you seeke the praise of men how can you beleeue That is take me for your GOD and LORD
whom you will serue altogether So that to take CHRIST with a iustifying faith is nothing else but to receiue him as it is expressed in many other places of Scripture Ioh. 1.11 Hee came vnto his owne and his owne receiued him not but to as many as receiued him he gaue power to become the sonnes of God euen to them that beleeue on his Name And so it is not as the Papists say a meere act of the vnderstanding but a taking of him for your GOD your Sauiour to whom alone you will bee subject and giue your selfe Last of all When these two are done and effected so that there is no errour either in the person or in the forme there is yet one thing more remaines behinde and that is to take and accept him with a compleate a deliberate and true will For euen as in other matches put the case the person bee knowne and the forme duely obserued yet if there does not concurre a compleat will it is not properly a match and therefore those matches are vnlawfull which are made before yeeres of discretion when a man hath not the vse of his will or when a man is in a phrenzie because there is then no compleat or deliberate will so in this spirituall Match you shall see how many the want of such a will excludes First I say it must be compleat which excludes all wishers and woulders that prize CHRIST a little that could bee content to haue CHRIST but it is rather an inclination then a compleat will that are in an Aequilibrio that would haue CHRIST but not yet that would liue a little longer at ease and haue a little more wealth but are not come to a resolute peremptory will that haue onely a weake inclination which is not enough for in a match the will must be compleate and it 's needfull it should be so it being a thing that must continue all a mans life Againe it must be a deliberate will and this excludes all those that will take CHRIST in a good moode on some sudden flash when they are affected at a good Sermon and haue some good motions cast into their mindes that will at such a time be content to take CHRIST to serue him and obey him to forsake their sinnes and giue ouer their former lusts but the will is not deliberate Last of all as it must be compleat and deliberate so it must be a true will that is it must be free and that excludes all them that meerely for seruile feare at time of death in the day of sicknesse and trouble when Hell and Heauen are presented to them will take CHRIST Indeede you can scarce come to any but in such a case hee will professe that he is now content to take CHRIST for his Lord and Sauionr but this is done by constraint and so the will is not free So I say when all these concurre the match is now made and you are iustified But after the match is made something is required Therefore there is one Question more and that is What is this that is required after the making of the match I answer It is required that you loue your Husband Iesus Christ that you forsake Father and Mother and become one Spirit with him as you are one flesh with your Wife for you are now bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh 2. Againe it is now required that you should repent And that is the meaning of that place Repent for the Kingdome of heauen is at hand I tell you of a Kingdome and a great Kingdome but no man can come into that Kingdome except hee repent You must walke no longer after the flesh but after the Spirit You must haue your flesh crucified with all the affections and lusts of it Thirdly You must part with euery thing for his sake whether you haue riches or honours or credit or whatsoeuer it is no matter you must be ready to let them all goe 4. Againe You must be ready to vndergoe any thing for his sake you must haue him for worse as well as for better you must be content to bee hated of all men for his sake you must take vp your crosse and follow him 5. Againe You must doe much aswell as as suffer much for him he dyed to this end that he might purchase to him a peculiar people zealous of good workes you must respect him as a Wife doth her Husband not as a seruant doth a hard Master you must not looke on his Commandements as a hard taske whereof you could willingly be excused but as one that hath his heart inflamed to walke in them as a louing Wife that needes not to be bidden to doe this or that but iâ— the doing of it may aduantage her Husband it will be a greater griefe to her to let them lye vndone then labour to doe them But now men say This is a hard condition I little thought of it It is true the condition is hard and that is the reason that so few are willing to come in when they vnderstand these after-clap conditions that they must part with all that they must be persecuted that their wil must be perfectly subject to the will of Christ that they must be holy as he is holy that the same mind must be in them that is in Christ Iesus that they must be of those peculiar people of GOD. And therefore haue wee told you that none will come in to take CHRIST for their Husband till they haue beene bitten with the sense of their sinnes till they be heauy laden and haue felt the weight of Satans yoake till then they will not come vnder the yoake of CHRIST but those that be humble that haue their hearts broken that know what the wrath of GOD is that haue their consciences awaked to see sinne will come in and be glad they haue CHRIST though on these conditions but the other will not If you will haue CHRIST on these condition you may But we preach in vaine all the world refuseth CHRIST because they will not leaue their couetousnesse and idlenesse and swearing and their seuerall sports and pleasures their liuing at liberty and Company-keeping they will not doe the things that CHRIST requires at their hands and all because they are not humbled they know not what sinnne meanes whereas should GOD shew it to them in its right colours should they be but in Iudas his case had they tasted of the Terrours of the Almightie were their consciences enlightned and did it set them on they would take him with all their heart But an other Objection comes in I would come in but how should I doe it I want power and ability I cannot mortifie the deedes of the body could I doe that I would not stand on the businesse To this I giue a speedy answer If thou canst come with this resolution to take him take no care for doing
to haue performed the workes of sanctification by any power or strength of our own we should yet haue beene ready to boast thereof Christ is made sanctification too so that we are not able to thinke a good thought we are not able to doe the least good thing without him It is I saith the Lord that doth sanctifie you It is I that doth act euery Grace it is I that doe put your hearts into a good frame Christ is made sanctification to vs so that take a holy man after he is iustified it is CHRIST that sanctifieth him and that carries him thorow his life in a holy and righteous conuersation and all this is done that no flesh should reioyce in it selfe And yet one thing more is added by the Apostle for if a man could rid himselfe out of misery if a man could helpe himselfe when he is vnder any crosse or trouble hee would then be ready to boast in himselfe therefore saith he Christ is made to vs redemption also so that take any euill though it be but a small euill a small disease a little trouble no man is able to helpe himselfe in this case it is Christ that redeemes vs from the least euils as well as from hell it selfe For you must know that all the miseries that befall vs in the World they are but so many degrees so many descents and steps towards hell now all the redemption that we haue it is from CHRIST so that let vs looke into our liues and see what euils we haue escaped and see what troubles we haue gone thorow see what afflictions we haue beene deliuered from it is all through CHRIST who is made redemption for vs. It is true indeede there are some generall workes of GODS prouidence that all men taste of but there is no euill that the Saints are freed from but it is purchased by the Blood of CHRIST and all this GOD hath done that no flesh might reioyce in it selfe and for this cause saluation is propounded to be receiued onely by faith there is no more required at our hands but the taking of Christ by faith and when we haue taken him then hee is all this to vs. So that now you see the point cleared and the reasons why it is by faith onely that the righteousnesse of CHRIST is made ours to saluation Now in the next place If to this that wee haue said wee adde but one thing more to cleere the point we shall then haue done enough to satisfie you in this point and that is this to shew you what this faith is for when wee speake so much of faith as wee doe euery man will be inquisitiue to know what this faith is therefore wee will endeuour to doe that at this time First Faith if we should take it in the generall it is nothing else but this An act of the vnderstanding assenting to something But now this assent is of three sorts First there is such an assent to a truth as that a man is in a great feare lest the contrary should be true and this we call opinion when we so assent to any proposition as that that which is contrary may be true for ought we know There is a second kind of assent which is sure but it is grounded vpon reasons and arguments and that we call Science or knowledge that is when we are sure of the thing we assent to wee make no doubt of it but wee are led vnto it by the force of reason Againe there is a third kinde of assent which is a sure assent too but we are led to it by the authority of him that affirmeth it and this is that which is properly called Faith So that a generall definition of Faith is this It is nothing else but a firme assent giuen to the things contained in the holy Scriptures for the authority of God that spake them This is properly Faith or beleeuing if wee take the word in the generall But if we speake of iustifying Faith we shall finde that that is not commonly expressed in the word beleeuing only but beleeuing in Christ which is another thing and therefore you shall finde that it differeth in two things from this common and generall faith First in regard of the object and indeede that is the maine difference for whereas the other faith lookes vpon the whole Booke of GOD and beleeues all that GOD hath reuealed because GOD hath reuealed it This iustifying Faith pitcheth vpon CHRIST and takes him with his benefits and priuiledges so that the difference lyeth not in the habit of Faith but in the object for with the same faith that we beleeue other things we beleeue this as with the same hand that a man takes other Writings with he takes a Pardon with the same eyes that the Israelites see other things they looked vpon the brazen Serpent the difference was not in the faculty but in the object vpon which they looked by which they were healed so it is in this betweene this â—aith and the other they differ not in the habit but in the object There is a second difference which is a maine difference too the other faith doth no more but beleeue the truth that is reuealed it beleeueth that all is true that is contained in the Scriptures and the Deuils may haue this faith and wicked men may haue it but iustifying faith goeth further it takes CHRIST and receiues him so that there is an act of the Will added to that faith as it is expressed Heb. 11.13 They saw the promises afarre off and embraced them thankfully Others it may be see the promises and beleeue them but they take them not they doe not embrace them So that if I should define iustifying Faith vnto you it may bee thus described It is a Grace or a habit infused into the soule by the Holy Ghost whereby we are enabled to beleeue not onely that the Messias is offered to vs but also to take and receiue him as a Lord and Sauiour That is both to be saued by him and to obey him Marke it I put them together to take him as a Lord and as a Sauiour for you shall find that in the ordinary phrase of Scripture these two are put together Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Therefore we must take heede of disjoyning those that GOD hath joyned together we must take CHRIST aswell for a Lord as a Sauiour let a man doe this and he may be assured that his faith is a iustifying faith Therefore marke it diligently if a man will take CHRIST as a Sauiour onely that will not serue the turne CHRIST giueth not himselfe to any vpon that condition only to saue him but we must take him as a Lord too to be subject to him to obey him and to square our actions according to his will in euery thing For he is not onely a Sauiour but also a Lord and he will
the giuing vp of a mans selfe to CHRIST and making a publike testimony of it although there bee somthing more meant generally by baptizing but heere it is meant a iustification to all the world that we haue taken CHRIST Now euery one that will beleeue and be baptized that is euery one that will doe this shall bee saued so that a man must first take CHRIST himselfe and then he may doe as the Wife after she hath her Husband she may thinke of all the benefits she hath by him and may take them and vse them as her owne This is the first thing The second thing that I promised was to shew you the subiect of faith and that is the whole heart of man that is to say to name it distinctly both the minde and the will Now to shew you that both these are the subject of faith you must know that these two things are required First on the part of the vnderstanding it is required that it beleeue that is that it conceiue and apprehend what GOD hath reuealed in the Scriptures and here an act of GOD must come in putting a light into the vnderstanding for my beloued Faith is but an addition of a new light to reason that whereas reason is purblinde faith comes and giues a new light and makes vs see the things reuealed by GOD which reason cannot doe by faith we apprehend these great and glorious Mysteries which otherwise wee could not apprehend as we see it expressed in 2 Cor. 4. The god of this World hath blinded their eyes that the light should not shine into their hearts by which they should beleeue this glorious Gospell So then there must be a light put into the minde that a man may be able by that to eleuate and raise his reason to beleeue this that is to conceiue and to apprehend the things that are offered and tendered in the Gospell But this is not all there is an act also of the will required which is to take and receiue Christ for this taking is an act of the will therefore there must be a consent as well as an assent Now it is the act of the vnderstanding to assent to the truth which is contained in the promises wherein Christ is offered but that is not all there is also an act of will requisite to consent vnto them that is to embrace them to take them and to lay hold vpon them and to apply them to a mans selfe This I will the rather cleere because it is a thing controuerted I say there is a double act an act of the mind and an act of the will to this purpose consider that in Rom. 5 17. For if by the offence of one death raigned by one much more they which receiue abundance of grace and the gift of righteousnesse shall reigne in life by one Iesus Christ. Marke it you may see what faith is in those words Those that receiue the gift of righteousnesse righteousnesse is giuen and offered by God and those that receiue that gift of righteousnesse shall reigne in life so that taking and receiuing being an act of the will it must needs be that the will must come in to this worke as well as the vnderstanding Like vnto this is that 1 Ioh. 12. To as many as receiued him c. That is to as many as beleeued in his Name for so the words afterwards expresse that is when wee are willing to take Christ which is nothing else but the consent of the will when the will is resolued to take him being so apprehended as he hath beene described as a Lord and as a Sauiour this is faith this I say is an act of the will because it is an act of receiuing Ioâ— 5.44 it is euident How can yâ— beleeue which receiue honour one of another c If beleeuing in Christ were only an act of the mind as the Papists affirme and some others besides it beleeuing were nothing else but an assenting to the truth of GOD which is an act of the vnderstanding how could the praise of men be opposite to beleeuing But the meaning is How can you beleeue take me for your Husband and yet seeke praise of men too for that will come in competition with me and then you will forsake me I say this makes it euident that iustiâ—ying faith is not onely an act of the mind but an act of the will also because otherwise the seeking praise with men could be no impediment to the act of beleeuing Now this also aswell as the former must be wrought by God and God puts a new light into the vnderstanding he raiseth it vp to see and beleeue these truths so there is another act which GOD also workes on the will and vnlesse he worke it it is not done for come to any man that is in the state of nature and aske him Will you be content to take Christ that is to say to receiue him in that manner as he hath beene described His answer would bee No. Beloued the liues of men expresse it though they speake it not in so many words Therefore till GOD come and drawe a man and change his will the worke is not done If you take a Bough and offer it to a Swine or a Wolfe they will refuse it and trample it vnder their feete but offer it to a Sheepe and the Sheepe receiues it and followes it so when Christ is offered to men vpon these conditions that we haue named men refuse him they reject him and slight him but when GOD takes away these woluish and swinish hearts of ours and turne our wils another way which is the drawing the Scripture speakes of then we are willing to take Christ. If you take other metall then Iron the Loadstone will not stirre it but turne the metall into Iron and it will follow the Load-stone So let the hearts of men continue in that condition wherein they are by nature and they will neuer take CHRIST they will neuer accept him but when GOD puts into them such a strong and impetuous instigation and disposition as that of the Spouze in the Canticles that had no rest till she had found her Beloued then they will take CHRIST vpon his owne conditions So the we see this Faith is an action both of the minde and the will wrought by GOD enlightning the mind and changing the will which is that which our Sauiour Christ cals drawing none comes to me vnlesse the Father draw him that is except his will be set on worke vnlesse GOD change him and put such a disposition and instigation into him that he can finde no rest till hee come to Christ. Thirdly the thing wee are to speake of is How this Faith iustifieth Now for this know that this faith is considered two wayes eyther As it workes or As it receiues Either as a quality or as an instrument As a quality it workes and in this
transgression and sinne yet it is added he will not hold the wicked innocent So when we haue said so much of faith and that faith saueth yet know that it must be a working faith that saueth vs It must be such a faith as purifieth the heart it must be such a faith that may shew it selfe in fruits worthy amendment of life And therefore Saint Iames taketh so much paines in this case as you shall finde in his first Chapter and the beginning of the second hee layeth downe rules and tels them that if they keepe the whole Law and yet faile in one point they are guilty of the whole Now hauing dealt so strictly some might be ready to object GOD is mercifull and I shall be saued through faith It is true saith hee if you haue a right faith you shall be saued by it but yet know this that vnlesse your faith be such a faith as enableth you to doe what I say it is a faith that will doe you no good it will not saue you for though faith saueth you yet it must be such a faith as worketh And that he proueth by many arguments it is a place worth the considering and fit for this purpose I say hee vseth some arguments to proue that that faith which is not effectuall will not saue vs. As first Saith he if a man should say to one Be warmed or Be filled as this is but vaine liberality when as yet a man doth nothing so for a man to professe that he beleeueth in CHRIST and yet doth nothing for him it is a vaine faith Secondly Some man might say Thou hast faith and I haue workes shew me thy faith by thy workes That is if a man haue faith hee will shew it by his workes As if hee should haue said If the Sunne be the greatest light let it giue the greatest splendor If the Loadstone be of such a vertue let it shew it by attracting the Iron to it So if thy faith be effectuall shew it by thy workes that is if thy faith be a true faith it must bee a working faith or else it is nothing GOD will not accept it Thirdly vnlesse it be a working faith an effectuall faith the Diuels haue the same thou beleeuest that there is one God the Diuels doe the same and tremble Fourthly If any man could be justified by faith without workes Abraham might haue beene so justified but Abraham was justified by his workes that is by such a faith as had workes joyned with it And not Abraham onely but Rahab that is another example for it might be objected Abraham indeed beleeued and was justified by workes but Rahab had no workes shee was a wicked woman and therefore was justified by faith To this therfore he answereth that she had workes or else she could not haue beene saued vnlesse she had such a worke as that in sending away the Messengers her faith could not haue justified her Indeede that was a great worke for she aduentured her life in it And lastly saith he as the body without the soule is a dead body a stinking carrion there is no preciousnesse nor no excellency in it so faith without workes is dead Therefore looke to your faith doe not thinke that a faith that meerely taketh Christ and beleeueth in him that it is a faith that shall justifie you Let all these arguments perswade you that if it bee not a working faith it shall doe you no good Therefore let this be the first Vse to consider your faith whether it be effectuall or no by the working of it The second Vse that we may make of it is this Hence we should learne to iudge of our estates and conditions by the efficacie of our faith for if no faith be receiued but that which is effectuall then it behooues vs to looke to the working of our faith Againe if GOD accept no faith but that which is effectuall hence we may learne also not to beleeue all that say they haue faith nor to beleeue all those that say they haue none As for those that say they haue no faith yet if we see the fruites of faith in them that they haue those things that faith brings forth If you see a man that complaineth he beleeueth not yet if he loue the Saints if he endeuour to keepe GODS Commandements if he continue not in any knowne sinne if hee doe not dare to omit holy duties nor to sleight them certainely this man hath faith for we finde the effects of it there although he haue lost one act of his faith which is the comfortable assurance of a good estate yet if the first act by which he resteth vpon Christ and by which he taketh Christ to himselfe be there we may conclude there is faith When we see smoke and feele heate we say there is fire though we see no flame so when we see these fruits in a man we may boldly say he hath faith though he hath not such a reflect act as to know in himselfe that he hath it and so to haue a comfortable assurance of his condition On the other side if a man saith he knoweth and is perswaded that his sinnes are forgiuen his conscience is at rest and yet for all this we finde no workes I say this man hath not faith for there wants the efficacie of it So that as the two sonnes in the Gospell one said he would goe into the Vineyard and did not the other said he would not goe yet afterwards he repented and went so it is with these two the one saith he hath not faith and yet for all that we see he doth the things that faith requireth we see the efficacy of faith in him Againe the other saith hee hath faith and yet doth not bring forth the fruites of faith he doth not shew the efficacy of faith in his life the one shall be justified the other shall be condemned As when we take two Drugges or two Pearles c. the one hath lost his colour seemeth withered and dead so that to the outward view it hath lost all yet it hath its efficacie still that such a thing should haue the other looks very faire and hath a right colour and smell but it hath no efficacie in it wee say one is a liuely Drug and a good one and the other a counterfeit so when one man complaines that he hath no grace that he is an hypocrite and yet hee brings forth fruite worthy amendment of life and wee see the working of his faith I say this is true faith On the other side hee that makes a shew of faith and yet wants the efficacie of it he hath no faith Wee should learne thus to iudge when men professe they haue faith and wee finde it not by their workes It should teach both ciuill men and hypocrites to know their estates for it discouereth both For when the ciuill man commeth and
what sincerity hath appeared in our life and if we finde that weake we commonly conclude that our faith is weake also and so the weaknesse of our sanctification weakneth our assurance but wee should goe another way to worke When we finde a weaknesse we should go to the promises and strengthen our assurance for there be two wayes to increase assurance One is by the promises the sure Word on which faith is built The second is by the fruites of sanctification in our selues Now when we finde these languishing we should goe to the first and the other will be increased by it Faith worketh in you sanctification and maketh you to beleeue the promise as exercise begets health and we are made fit by health for exercise or as acts beget habits and habits are meanes to exercise those acts So assurance grounded vpon the promise it enableth and enlargeth and increaseth sanctification and sanctification increaseth assurance but first see faith and then the other as fruites of it If you finde a weaknesse in sanctification labour to strengthen your faith and that will increase it for that is the ground of all FINIS OF EFFECTVALL FAITH The third Sermon 1. THESS 1.3 Remembring your effectuall Faith c. IN the fifth place If nothing please GOD if he accepts of nothing but what comes from effectuall faith then we should learne hence to iudge aright of our workes for what workes soeuer wee doe they please GOD no further then hee seeth and findeth some faith in them The Vse before shewed vs how to iudge aright of our faith this teacheth you how to iudge aright of all the workes you doe that you doe not mistake in them For men are very apt to iudge amisse of what they doe in this case There be many workes that haue a specious and faire shew in the view of men and perhaps in your owne opinion But if there be not faith in those workes GOD regards them not as Iames 2.22 when Abraham did that great worke in offering his sonne which was the greatest worke that euer hee did and the greatest worke that is recorded in all the Booke of GOD yet saith the Apostle there Do ye not obserue how faith wrought with his workes That is to say If faith had not set him on worke to doe this if faith had not beene the Spring to set this wheele on going GOD had not accepted this So doe whatsoeuer you will further then faith works with you in all that you doe GOD regards it not Therefore you shall obserue in Christs answer to the Woman of Canaan in her earnest prayer in her comming to Christ her fighting and striuing against the Diuell her tendernesse to her Daughter her holding out so long as she did all this Christ lookes ouer But when he comes to giue his censure of her worke of her carriage Oh Woman great is thy faith saith he That was it that set a great price vpon her worke Matth. 15.26 27. So take the most excellent the greatest worke that can be performed GOD sets them at no higher a price then hee findes faith in them he weighes them by that so much faith as is in them so farre he accepts them so farre he regards them Looke in Heb. 11. you shall finde many glorious workes set downe All the great workes that Sampson did all the workes that Dauid did the works that Gedeon did the workes that Baruc did the workes that Moses did and so along you shall see there that there was nothing in all these workes that was regarded but their faith all is imputed to faith And therefore when you goe about any thing labour to see faith set you aworke and know that as much faith as there is in any worke so much GOD regards it and no further Iacob had done many good things that pleased GOD yet GOD when he would put a marke of his fauour vpon him when he would call him Israel when he would change his name it was for that great worke of faith when he prayed all night when hee would not giue ouer when he would not let him goe when hee preuailed with God by faith now saith God thy name shall be called Israel As if he should say Now I will put a name of honour vpon thee Why so Not because there was more in that worke simply considered as it was a worke but because there was more faith in it And it must needes be so for GOD doth not as men doe who accept the giuer for the gift If a man come to you with a great gift you will accept his person for it But GOD accepts the gift for the giuers sake though the gift be neuer so small if the giuer be such as beleeues in him if his affections be right if he doe it out of a right ground that is if he doe it out of a ground of faith he is accepted whatsoeuer it be Indeed otherwise whatsoeuer we doe we may call it by our owne name we may say he is a patient man or he is a temperate man or these are workes of Justice or workes of temperance But we can neuer call it godlinesse except it rise from faith except it come from this ground because indeed it is not done to God Marke it I say further then a man doth a thing out of faith hee doth it not to GOD. For to doe a thing out of faith is nothing else but when out of perswasion of GODS loue to me I doe this thing meerely for his sake whom I haue chosen to whom I giue my selfe one that I know loues mee and therefore though there were no reward for it I would serue him This is a worke of faith Now I say this is properly godlines And therfore in 2 Pet. 1. when the Apostle had named Patience and Temperance lest wee should mistake as if hee should say There be many Vertues of this nature amongst men that belong not to GOD. Therefore saith he Adde Godlinesse that is Let it be such as becomes a godly man to doe Godlinesse is that which is done to GOD such things and such qualities as haue an eye and respect to him such things please him What if a man should doe neuer so much if it please not GOD it is lost labour It is said Heb. 11.6 that Henoch pleased God Marke how the Apostle reasons saith hee without faith it is impossible to please God therefore in that he is said to please GOD it must needes be through faith You know it is said Rom. 13. whatsoeuer a man doth if it be not of faith and loue GOD lookes not to it you know there can be no loue without faith Consider but how it is with your selues If a man should doe any thing for you you know hee may haue many other ends hee may doe you many a great good turne yet if you be perswaded this comes not out of
as they are taken in an euill Net Satan takes them there to destroy them eternally Againe the afflictions of the godly are not so heauy to them as the afflictions of the wicked are GOD afflicts them in the branches not in the roote they drinke of the Cup but not of the dregs but as for the wicked hee smites them so as that hee smites them not the second time that they roare for his wrath Psal. 31.24 The godly though hee fall yet shall he rise againe he shall not be cast off the Lord puts vnder his hand That is though the godly fall into affliction yet he is not broken in the fall GOD puts vnder his hand hee fals soft he fals not so as to breake his necke to be vndone so there is that difference So that though GOD doe the same act to both yet he doth it to the one for loue to the other he doth the same act for destruction Like to a man that loppes Trees there is a certaine season in the yeere when if he loppe his Trees they will be the better for it if they be lopped in due season they are the better loppe them at another time and they will wither So God comes to the wicked man in the vnfittest time to him a time when they looke not for him a time that the wicked men feare least then hee comes iust as a Thiefe doth in the worst and most dangerous time of all for the owner of the house then comes the Thiefe he pickes out that time So GOD comes vpon the wicked and afflicts them when they are in peace and prosperity take heede that he loppe thee not at that time when thou shalt wither to destruction when thou art not prepared So the Scripture saith sudden destruction comes vpwicked men So that suddennesse is when men are not prepared And so when God saith will free the godly from sudden death his meaning is he will prepare him and fit him for death Put all these together That the wicked bring their enterprizes to passe that the godly are crossed and afflicted that GOD hath a speciall end in this that death affliction and sicknesse come suddenly vpon none but wicked men and it will giue satisfaction to any man I should come now to presse the point but the time is past I cannot doe it So much shall serue for the second Vse for the answering of the Objections The third thing to set faith on worke in is to sanctifie you to mortifie your lusts to reuiue and strengthen you in the inward man and to make it quicke in euery good worke This point I intended to handle at this time Faith is exceeding effectuall to doe this I will touch it but in one word I will not hold you long Set faith aworke to sanctifie thy heart You will aske me How shall I doe it Faith doth it diuers wayes I cannot goe thorow them Set faith a worke to beleeue the forgiuenesse of thy sinnes to beleeue the loue of GOD towards thee to beleeue the promises and thou shalt finde that these will sanctifie thy heart this act of faith wil purifie thy-heart But how can that be Because this shall turne thy heart from thy sinnes to GOD for there is no way to mortifie lusts and to quicken thy heart but by causing thee to delight in GOD. No man can haue his heart weaned from sinne diuorsed from sinne which he hath beene wedded to all his life except he find another Husband in whom hee may delight more Now the more thou beleeuest that God is thine the more thou beleeuest that thy sins are forgiuen the more thou canst set faith on worke to doe this the more victory thou shalt get ouer thy sinnes that is the nature of mans disposition that still it desires that object that is amiable and pleasant Now if thou looke on GOD as a Iudge that will turne thee away from him that makes thee continue stil in sin but when thou lookest vpon him as vpon one that loues thee as one that fauoureth thee as one that is thy frend that accepts thee this will winne thine heart this will cause a mans heart to turne from sinne to turne from darknes to light it will make him to leaue the wayes wherein he delighted before it will diuorse a mans heart from the sinne wherein it hath taken pleasure a long time so that it shall neuer get the victory ouer it Therefore the best way in such a case is to set faith aworke to beleeue the forgiuenesse of sinnes remember the promises of GOD those promises you haue heard often that God will forgiue thy sinnes that he will pardon thee take these promises and apply them see GOD ready to forgiue this will turne thy heart from sinne thou shalt finde sinne dye and wither in thee and thy heart to growe and bee quickned in grace you know that to get a louing heart is to beleeue that GOD loues vs to beleeue that our sinnes are forgiuen Now I say there is nothing that weakneth sinne indeede but to loue GOD whatsoeuer sinne is weakned by other meanes then by loue to GOD by turning the heart to him by repentance and mortification that sinne lyeth hid though it seeme no way to increase this increaseth loue when we beleeue the promise of GOD that he is ready to forgiue that is effectuall for this purpose When CHRIST came to Peter and said vnto him Louest thou me then saith he feede my Sheepe So after this manner when thou once beleeuest that GOD loues thee and canst bring thy heart to loue him againe if now CHRIST should come to thee and say Louest thou me who loued thee and gaue my selfe for thee If thou doest loue me disdaine such a thing which I hate doe not such things as will grieue me keepe my Commandements keepe my Sabbaths if thou louest me let not thy conuersation be in wantonnesse in strife and enuying it thou loue me labour to bring some glory to my Name and to doe some good to mankinde if thou loue me be diligent in thy Calling if thou loue mee honour mee doe good to others doe good to thy selfe with it Let a man goe thorow all the particulars of sinne and he would abstaine from it if hee would set faith on worke this way to sanctifie his heart Againe faith doth it by ouercomming the World that when a man is drawne one of these two things drawes him Either some offer of some great benefit or some great euill which he is put in feare of now when hee lookes and seeth that GOD is able to keepe him when men doe their worst and that hee can giue him a heauenly Kingdome when he lookes to the promise he is aboue the World Againe he not onely ouercomes riches but he makes aduantage of them hee not onely loues them as a slaue but he gets the victory ouer them and hee gets seruice from
what Ibid. Alone Faith worketh best alone 1.68 How God is to us alone 3.158 Amisse God heares not when wee aske amisse 2.194 Anger Tryall of our love by anger 3.87 Anger what 3.88 Many men are but angry with sinne 3.97 See hate Application see Offer Approbation There may be approbation of that which is good in an evillman 3.192 Argument see Spirit Ashamed Love is not ashamed 3.76 Assaults We meet with new assaults daily 1.135 True peace hath assaults 2.110 Assent Assent of three sorts 1.47 Assurance Wee should labour to grow in assurance 1.129.2.72 Two wayes to increase assurance 2.76 Assurance of Gods love begetteth love 3.110 143. Meaneâ— to get assurance 3.144 B. Baptise Baptising what meant by it in Marke 16. 1.54 Baptisme what 2.97 Beleeve It is not in mans power to beleeve 2.48 If â—e beleeve God is ready to helpe and why 2.173 See Spirit Benefit Benefit in taking Christ. 1.33 Benefits by Christ may be looked to 1.54 91 97.2.14 Benefits by Christ draw the will 1.106 Benefits by Christ must not onely be looked to 2.119 Benefit to crosse our selves in it a signe of love 3.64 Benefit to us that we love Christ. 3.175 Best Best thing in man is love 3.47 Blessing Blessing of God 2.180 Blood Blood of Christ not shed in vaine 1.111 Blood of Christ to be guilty of it 2.103 Boast Salvation is of gift that none might boast 1.8 45 Boldnesse We should apply the promises with boldnesse 1.86 Gods free promise should give us boldnes 1.88 Boldnesse in prayer from the spirit of adoption 2.104 Boldnesse the parent of love 3.105 Bondage The spirit of bondage requiâ—ite 2.49 Bounty Love is bountifull 2.127 3 60 Tryalls of the bounty of love 3.64 Busie Being over busie in worldly things a sign of too much love to them 3.124 Build Built When a man is said to be well built 2.34 How Ministers should build 2.74 C. Calling see Diligent Care Care required and forbidden what 2.115 Carnall Ioy of an hypocrite carnall 2.134 Certainty Certainty of obtaining Christ if we seeke him 1.33 109 See Promise Change Change the necessity of it 1.58 Chearfull Chearfull service an argument of loue 3.66 Chearfullnesse why God requires it Ibid. Christ. Christ the reiecting of him 1 28 Christ what we have with him 1 31 Christ 3 considerations to move men to take him 1 33 Christ his willingnesse to receive sinners 1 110 Christ his riches and excellency 2 50 Christ the end of his comming into the world 2 57 Christ good workes evidence our right in him 2 70 Christ hee that loves not is not in him 3 5 Christ two things to make us love him 3 15 Cleare The righteousnesse of Christ manifested more cleerely in the Gospell than formerly 1 4 Coldnesse Coldnesse in Christian profession a cause of the plague 3 93 Command Love an affection that commands the rest 3.8 87 Hee that neglects Gods commands loues him not 3 115 Keeping Gods commands a signe our loue is diligent 3 173 Comfort We should set faith on worke to comfort us 2 142 Considerations to helpe faith in comforting 2 149 Company To company with the Saints a signe of loue to Christ. 3 102 Complacency Loue of complacency 3 9 Loue of complacency onely to Saints 3 102 Compell To compell men to come in what 1 114 2 56 Communion Prayer bringeth to communion with God 3 50 Competition Tryall of loue in case of competition 3 123 Comming The end of Christs comming 2 59 Desire of Christs second comming a tryall of loue 3.71 Comming of Christ how to know wee desire it 3 72 Preparation for Christs comming 3 172 Complaint Complaint double 1 74 Compleate Compleate will in taking Christ. 1 22 Concupiscence Loue of concupiscence 3 9 Condition Conditionall Conditionall covenant 1 38 Condition required by God easie 3 44 Confesse Confessing of Christ. 2 158 Constant. Constant cleaving to Christ. 2 118 Constant good carriage a signe of love 3 130 Constant love to God must be love above all other things 3 165 Content The nature of holy men apt to take content in outward things 2 161 Love content with nothing but love 3 66 Constraine How love constraiâ—eth 3 29 Cost God observes what cost wee are at in his service 3 63 Covenant Covenant 〈◊〉 1 38 Covenant not broken by infirmities 1 131 2 152. 3 147 Covenant ought to be renewed 3 215 Crosse. Crosse may meete a man in Gods worke 2 201 Cruell Hatred more cruell than anger 3 98 Curse Curse upon him that loves not Christ. 3 18 To be cursed what 3 176 Curse of God in foure things 3 177 D. Damnation Damnation to be preached to men out of Christ. 3 33 Danger Danger in not taking Christ. 1 33 Danger how faith guides in it 2 161 Danger in not loving the Lord. 3 176 Deare We must part with that which is deare for Christ. 1.115 117 Deceive Men apt to deceive themselves 2 4 See Taking Deferre We must not deferre to take Christ. 1 31 Degree Faith admits degrees in â—oure respects 1 117 We must grow in the degrees of â—aith â— 127 Our love to God not alwayes in the same degree 3 170 Delight Delight in worldly things a signe of love to them 3 122 Deliverance Delivered Deliverance Gods children put to waite for it 2 123 Deliverance instances of Gods deferring it 2 172 Faith once delivered 3 210 Deliberate Deliberate will in taking Christ. 1 22 Denie Deniall By denying our selves wee enioy our selves 1 116 Faith will take no deniall 2 120 Dependance Love of dependance 3 9 Desire Desire after Christ. 1 30 Desire the strength of it how tryed Ibid. Desire tryall of love by it 3 27 Desire when it is right God takes the will for the deed 3 202 Death Dead Die Death of Christ the end of it 1 36 As great a worke to moue the heart to Christ as to raise the dead 2 55 Faith ineffectuall is dead 2 58 Faith without workes dead 2 64 69 Backwardnesse in the Saints to die 3 72 Difficulties Faith admits degrees in regard of difficulties 1 123 Difficulties wee must labour to beleeue notwithstanding them 1 128 Difficulties how faith guides in them 2 158 Difficulties God can helpe in them 2 174 Diligence Diligence a tryall of love 3 26 Diligence in our calling an argument of love 3 77 Diligence of love 3 172 Diligence of love wherein it is Ibid. Direct Direct and reflect act of faith the difference betweene them 1 63 Discourage Those that have weake faith should not be discouraged 1.130 The Divell labours to discourage 1 133 See God Disease A mans carnall selfe is his disease 1 116 Discretion Discretion 3 209 Divell What faith the divell hath 2. 59 63 Doe Done What is to bee done by those that have Christs righteousnesse 1 15 Readinesse to doe for Christ. 1 24 That the Lord hath done for us a motive to loue him 3 47 Love ready to doe for them
desire God were not wee hate him 3 131 O. Oathes Wherein lesser oathes exceed greater 3 114 Obedience 2 94 Object Iustifying faith differeth from generall faith in the obiect 1 48 Obiect of faith 1 52 Faith and opinion differ in the obiect 1 120 Offer Errours touching the generall offer of Christ. 1 11 Who sleight Gods offer 3 21 God offers his love to us 3 144 Office Things are effectuall when they doe their proper office 2 21 Onely Christ must be taken only 1 19 Opinion Opinion 1 47 Opinion variable 1 98 Opinion wherein it differeth from faith 1 120 Errours in opinion the worst errours 3 210 Opportunities Opportunities neglected shew want of love 3 62 Opportunities not to be slipped 3 211 Outward Outward things whence it is that wee overvalue them 2 161 In outward things God dealeth promiscuously 2 204 Not to iudge by Gods outward dealing 2 205 Gods curse in outward estate 3 180 P. Pacifie To pacify the heart an act of faith 1 62 Pardon Wee should labour for assurance of pardon 2 73 Pardon propounded generally 2 150 Passeover The Lords Supper beyond the Passeover in two respects 2 58 Paines Measure of grace not gotten without paines 3 203 Peace Peace a signe of faith 2 108 Peace wicked men may live and die in it and why 2 209 Peace twofold 2 112 Peace unsound a great iudgement 2 114 Person We must take heede of errour concerning Christs Person 1 18 True love lookes to the Person 1 53 Many take Christ but love not his Person 2.12 Love must be pitched on Christs Person 3 171 Perfect Faith made perfect by workes what 2 69 Perswasion Perswasion of forgivenesse on what ground to build it 1 99 Perswasion degrees in it 1 118 Perswasion to grow in it 1 127 Perswasion false what 2 17 Perswasion secret of the Spirit 2 84 Perswasion may be in men that beleeve not 3 16 Perswasion may be weake in a true beleever 3 17 Persecute They that persecute Christians persecute Christ. 3 121 Pitty A love of pitty 3 8 Plague Plague causes of it 3 91 Plague how to remove it 3 94 Pleasures Pleasures how faith guides in them 2 164 Pleasures of sinne forsâ—ken of good men why 2 165 Pleasures to love them more than God is to hate him 3.133 Pleasures not to love them more than God what 3 107 Plenty Plenty a man may be cursed in it 3.181 Poore We cannot love Christ till we be spiritually poore 3 52 Posterity How faith guides a mans care for posterity 2 165 Power Power to receive Christ is of God 1 11 Power given by God when wee resolve to take Christ. 1 26 Power against sinne where Christ dwelleth 2 102 Powers of the world to come what meant by tasting them 2 134 Love powerfull as fire 3 87 Prayse Praysing God the ground of it 1 80 Prayse with men 2 159 Practise Practise of Christ when hee was on earth 1 111 Prayer Prayer how to prevaile in it 1 13â— Spirit of prayer a signe of faith 2 103 Prayer what maketh earnest and bolde in it 2 104 Prayer what 2 105 Prayer double Ibid Prayer a meanes to love God 3 â—9 Prayer workes love 4 wayes Ibid. What kinde of prayer comes from love 3 81 Prayer needfull in times of iudgement 3 212 Preaching Preaching of Christ and his Apostles the summe of it 1 84 Presence Presence of Christ desired according to the measure of faith 3 74 Presence of God separation from it a curse 3 179 Preparation Good preparation makes faith effectuall 2 29 Pride Pride a cause of the pestilence 3 92 Priviledges Priviledges spirituall why they affect us not 1 108 Prize That we may prize blessings GOD defers the giving them 2 199 Love sets a price on all we doe 3 151 Private Private duties performed without love 3 8â— Profit How faith guides in case of profit 2 160 Promise Promises the certainty of them 1 34 Promises two things in laying holde of them 1 94 Promises made in sicknessâ— seldome performed 2 11 Promises the beleeving of them in particular 2 34 Promises made promiscuously 2 4â— Promises the application of them wrought by the Spirit 2 53 Promises cleared 2 88 Promises not seen without the Spirit 2 89 Promises how to know they are cleared 2 91 Promises how to try our faith in them 2 114 Prosperitie Prosperity of wicked men 2 200 Prosperity hurts wicked men 2 205 Prosperity in sinne a miserable condition 2 206 Providence Providence of God crossed by our prayers 2 200 Purposes Purposes of good why they come to nothing in many 2 74 Purposes good whence they arise 3 192 Purifie To purify the heart an act of faith 1 165 True faith purifieth the heart 2 93 Q. Qualification Vpon what qualification Christs righteousnesse is given 1 12 See Exclude Qualitie see Faith Quicke Love of a quick nature 2 125 Love quick like fire 3 85 R. Reason Faith a new addition to the light of reason â— 55 Received Receiving Righteouâ—nesse of Christ must be received as well as offered 1 15 In receiving of Christ 3 things must concurre 1 28 Wee must not onely beleeâ—e in but receive Christ. 1 51 None have benefit by Christ but thâ—se that receive him Ibid. Reconcile To reconcile us to God an act of faith 1 62 Reciprocall Reciprocall match betweene Christ and us 2 92 Reflect Reflect act of faith admits degrees 1 126 A beast cannot reflect on his actions 2 91 Rejoyce Reioyce we should in GOD. 1 76 Reioyce in our selves wee are prone to it 1 77 Religion Religion hated under other notions 3 104 Religion what 3 199 Remedie The curse of the Gospell without remedy 3 23 Repentance Repentance required when wee have taken Christ. 1 23 Repentance ioyned with faith 2 94 Repentance not to be deferred 2 106 Repentance removes a plague 3 94 Revealed Why Christs righteousnesse is said to be revealed 1 4 Wee should labour to have more truthes revealed 1 129 Respect GODS respect to Christians in affliction 2 209 Reward Reward according to our workes 2 71 182 Reward we may use motives from it 3 80 Reward love bargaines not for it 3 96 Riches see Happie Righteousnesse Righteousnesse why revealed in the Gospell 1 2 Righteousnesse in the Gospell commended 1 3 Righteousnesse 6 questions about it 1 5 Righteousnesse of Christ how wee come by it 1 7 Righteousnesse to whom it is given 1 9 Righteousnesse what required of us when we have it 1 23 Christ our righteousnesse 2 150 Rob. If we love not GOD we rob him 3 46 Rooted How to be rooted in love 3 171 S. Sacrament Sacraments preach faith 1 87 Sacrament rules of examination touching it 2 202 Sacrament not to be omitted why 3 58 Sacrament unworthily received a cause of the plague 3 92 Saints Saints love to them a signe we love God 3 100 120 Saints foure tryalls of our love to them 3 101 Sanctification Sanctification God puts
2. 2 Cor. 5.21 2. Quest. How we shall come by it Ans. Esay 9.6 Ioh. 3.16 Rom. 5.17 Reasons why it is by gift Rom. 4.5 3. Quest. To whom it is giuen Ans. Mark 16.15 Reu. 22.17 Obiect Ans. 1. Answ. 2. Ans. 3. Ans. 4. Obiect Ans. 4. Quest. Vpon what qualifications it is giuen Ans. 1 Cor. 6.9 1. Obiect Ans. 1. Ans. 2. Simile 5. Quest. Ans. Simile Simile Esay 55.1 What this taking is Ans. Faith what Obiect Answ. 1 Tim. 1.15 Simile Three things must concurre in receiuing Christ. Ioh. 5.44 Ioh. 1.11.12 Three things required in the will in taking Christ. 6. Quest. What is required of vs when we haue it Ans. Mat. 3.2 Tit. 2.14 Obiect Ans. Obiect Ans. Ioh. 1.12 13. Vse 1. Mar. 16.16 Ioh. 6.44 Cant. 3. Vse 2. Mat. 11.28 29. Three considerations to moue men to take Christ. Doct. 2. Two Couenants 1. Absolute Ier. 31. Ezek. 36. 2. Conditionall Mar. 16. Rom. 4.5 Quest. Ans. Though holinesse be required it is Gods worke Simile Eph. 2.10 Habits Why God will saue men by faith 1. Reason 2. Reason 3. Reason 4. Reason 1 Cor. 1.30 Eph 4. Freedome from euill to the Saints whence it is Faith what in generall Assent of three sorts Iustifying faith How it differs from generall faith 1 In the obiect 2 In the act of the will Heb. 11 1â— Definition of iustifying faith How faith taketh Christ. We must not only beleeue but receiue Christ. Ioh. 3. Foure things touching faith 1 The obiect of it 2 Cor. 1. Ioh. 3. True loue lookes first to Christs person Mar. 16. Baptizing what meant by it in Mat. 16. 2 The subiect of faith What required in the vnderstanding 2 Cor. 4. What required of the will Rom. 5.17 Ioh. 1.12 This act of the will wrought by God 3 How faith iustifieth Faith altereth not the nature of sinne Note 4 The acts of faith 1 To reconcile vs. 2 To pacifie the heart Direct and reflect act of faith Difference betweene them 3 To purifie thâ— heart Vse 1. Not to be discouraged to come to God A double quality in faith Quest. Ans. Faith emptieth a man of two things 1 Cor. 1.30 Double complaint in sense of want Vse 2. To reioyce in God Eph. 1.6 Eph. 2. 2 Cor. 1.30 Rom. 6.4 Phil 3. Reu. 7.11 Vse 3. To labour for faith aboue all Gal. 5.5.6 Without faith God regards not morall vertues Difference betweene faith and morall vertues Difference betweene faith and shewes of holinesse Vse 4. To apply the promises with boldnesse Gods free promise should incourage vs to come with boldnesse 1 Ioh 1.9 Luk. 11.6.8 Obiect Answ. Christ requireth but a willingnesse to mortifie our lusts Obiect Answ. 2 Cor. 8.9 Two things in laying hold on the promises 4. Things in the vnderstanding Quest. Ioh. 16. Ioh. 6.44 Cant. 2.3 The will drawne by 3. meanes 1. Meanes 1 Cor. 10. 2. Meanes 3. Meanes Arguments to perswade vs of Christs willingnesse to recâ—iue sinners 1 By expressions in Scripture 2 By Christs practice when he was on Earth 3 Else Christs blood were shed in vaine 4 By the example of others pardoned 5 Else no flesh should be saued 6 By the infinitenesse of Gods mercy Obiect Ans. 2. Obiect Ans. By denying our selues we enioy our selues better Obiect Ans. Doct. 1. Doct. 2. Doct. 3. Faith admits degrees Two parts in the Doctrine Faith admits of degrees in 4. respects 1 In perswasion Obiect Ans. Obiect Ans. Wherein faith and opinion differ 2 In respect of difficulties Numb 11. 3 In regard of extent The reflect act of faith admits degrees Vse 1. To comfort Vse 2. For exhortation 2 Pet. 1. 13. Motiues to grow in faith Doct. The faith that saues vs must be effectuall Men are apt to deceiue themselues That many men haue a false faith proued by instances both in the Old and New Testament Ioh. 2.23.24 Ioh. 5.35 Mat. 22.8 9 10 11. opened Mat. 13. Ier. 3.10 opened Deut. 5.25 Verse 29. Simile Three things opened 1 The Causes why the faith of many is vneffectuall which are fiue Cause 1. Taking Christ vpon mis-information Instances 1 The yong man that came to Christ. Luk. 18. 2 The Scribe Mat. 8.20 opened Note Cause 2. Taking Christ out of feare Isa. 58. opened Note Simile Cause 3. Taking Christ for loue of the good things by him and not for loue to his person Note Simile Ioh. 6.26 opened Some men seeke mercy and not grace Cant. 5.12 opened We may looke to our own aduantages by Christ. Cause 4. Want of humiliation Deut. 30.6 opened The Spirit of Elias what Without sound humiliation sinne is not accounted the greatest euill nor Christ the greatest good Cause 5. Because faith is not grounded aright Eph. 4.10 opened Col. 1.23 opened Hope that is not wel grounded holds not out Deut. 13.1 2 3. opened 2 Pet. 3.17 2 Wherein the efficacy of faith consisteth Three things opened 1 In what sence faith is called effectuall Things are said to be effectuall in 4. respects 1 When they doe their proper office The proper function of faith what Faith may bee effectuall though it bee mingled with doubting Iam. 1.7 8. opened A double-minded man who Papists tenent of doubting What doubting it is that faith excludeth How to try truth of doubting Simile Some men cleaue to Christ for wans of temptations True faith not without doubtings and feares sometimes Simile Doubting a signe of a good heart 2 A thing is effectuall in opposition to that which is vaine and empty Simile Simile Iam. 2.17.20 26. 3 A thing is said to be effectuall when it is operatiue Simile 4 When it goes thorow with the worke in hand 2 wherein the efectualnesse of faith consists in 4. things I When the preparation is good Luk. 9.62 opened Sound humiliation fits men for Christ. Instances 1 In the Israelites 2 In the Prodigall Men hold not without sound humiliation Reu. 2.25 opened Mat. 10. â— opened II When the vnderstanding is cleare When a man is said to be well built 1 When he beleeues the Scriptures in generall 2 The promises in particular Application of the offer of Christ. Eph. 2.19 20. opened Note Ioh. 4.44 Particular knowledge 1 Ioh. 1.19 opened Ioh. 6.68 opened The third thing wherein the efficacie of faith consists to take Christ. Heb. 10.22 opened Vers. 38. Eph. 3.17 Reu. 3 2â— What taking of Christ is effectuall Eph. 5.23 opened Gen. 2.24 We must draw neere out of loue to Christ. 1 Tim. 1.5 4 Thing wherin the efficacy of faith consists The turning of the whole soule Gal. 5. Working in doing and suffering Why the promises are made promiscuously God tryeth mens graces Ioh. 12.42 3 How effectuall faith is wrought It is not in mans power to beleeue Quest. Answ. How the Holy Ghost worketh faith by three things 1 Putting an efficacy in the Law A man cannot see his sins to purpose without the spirit of bondage Act. 16. 2 By shewing the
sense it hath nothing to doe with Justification It iustifieth vs as it is an instrument and that not by altering the nature of sinne that is by making sinne to be no sinne but by taking away the efficacy of sinne As for example when a man hath committed sinnes Faith doth not make his sinnes to be no sinnes indeede it scattereth them as a Cloud You may consider it after this manner First it cannot be that that sinne that is once committed should be made to be no sinne for what is once done it cannot be vndone GOD himselfe cannot doe that because it is a thing that cannot be for when the sinnes are committed they doe remaine so and therefore I say it cannot be that that which is sinne should be made to be no sinne we cannot make Adultery to be no adultery for the nature and essence of the thing must remaine Well now what doth faith It doth this though the sin be the same that it was yet it takes away the sting and the guilt of sinne by which it puts vs into the state of condemnation and by which it bindes vs ouer to punishment As the Lions to which Daniel was cast they were the same as they were before they had the same propensenesse and disposition to deuoure as they had before they had the ordinary nature of Lions but at that time GOD tooke away from them that fiercenesse that was in them so that they did not deuoure him though they were there still so it is with sinne the nature of sinne is to condemne vs but now when GOD shall take away this efficacie from it it doth not condemne and this is that that faith doth Euen as the Viper that was vpon Pauls hand though the nature of it was to kill presently yet when GOD had charmed it you see it hurt him not so it is with sinne though it be in vs and though it hang vpon vs yet the venome of it is taken away it hurts vs not it condemnes vs not thus faith by taking away the efficacie and power of sinne it iustifies vs as an instrument as a hand that takes the Pardon The King when he pardoneth a Traytor he doth not make his Treason to be no Treason for the act of the Treason remaines still but the taking of the Pardon makes the Traytor not to be vnder condemnation So my beloâ—ed faith is that act that takes the Pardon from GOD so that though the sinne remaine the same and of its owne nature is of power to binde vs ouer to death yet by this faith taking the Pardon from GOD it comes to passe that it hurts vs not wee are not condemned for it You know debts in a mans booke the writing remaines still the lines are not blotted out yet when they are once crossed the creditour cannot come and aske his debt any more because it is crossed So it is in this our sinnes are the same after we are iustified as they were before but faith is that that crosseth the booke faith I say by apprehending the Pardon and taking the acquittance at Gods hands that he offers Iâ— a man haue anacquittance although the debt remaine the same in the Booke yet there can no more be required at the hands of him that hath taken the acquittance Thus I say faith iustifies vs as an instrument by accepting receiuing and taking the acquittance that GOD hath giuen to vs through Christ. Let mee adde one word more of the next thing which is What are the acts of this faith They are these three First To reconcile or to iustifie Secondly To pacifie the heart Thirdly To purifie or sanctifie The first thing that Faith doth is to reconcile That is as I said before by faith wee are pitched vpon CHRIST wee take him first and then wee take the priuiledges they all follow vpon it forgiuenesse and adoption this is the first act of Faith to reconcile vs to CHRIST himselfe and vpon this wee haue boldnesse to goe to CHRIST for forgiuenesse to goe to CHRIST to make vs heyres of all things For after this manner faith doth it All things are yours whether Paul or Apollo c. And why Because you are CHRIST'S Marke it you must first bee CHRIST'S that is euen as the Wife is the Husband 's so you must be knit and vnited to CHRIST and then all things are yours so that Faith first makes vs Christ's it reconciles vs to him and makes vs one with him and in him one with GOD the Father and then all things are giuen vnto vs and made ours The second act of faith is to quiet and pacifie the heart to comfort vs in assuring vs that our sinnes and transgressions are forgiuen and this is different from the former There are two acts of faith The one is the direct act by which we apprehend and take CHRIST and the righteousnesse that is offered through him by which we take forgiuenesse And the second is the reflect act by which we know that wee haue taken CHRIST and haue taken out our pardon and this act is very different from the former we may haue the former without this Wee commonly thinke that wee are not iustified by CHRIST vnlesse we haue assurance of it and when we looke for that and finde it not presently all our hopes are gone but it should not be so It is one act of Faith to take CHRIST and another act of faith to comfort and pacifie the heart and that these are two distinct things consider but this in a word The first act is constant when a man hath once taken and accepted of CHRIST hee is alwaies his after wee once haue CHRIST there is no diuorse But the other act of assurance whereby we know that wee haue taken him that is a thing that may faile and deceiue a man Againe the first act admits of no degrees for when a man is once in CHRIST hee is alwaies CHRIST'S when he is once married to him Marriage you know admits of no degrees so Justification is equall to euery man it admits of no degrees it is alwaies the same we are not now lesse iustified and then more but we are alway alike iustified being once iustified but the other act of faith whereby I am assured that I haue taken CHRIST that admits of degrees a man may haue sometimes more comfort sometimes lesse and therefore righteousnes is said heere to be reuealed from faith to faith Lastly the first act of faith whereby we take CHRIST and those priuiledges by him as the Wife takes the Husband that is founded vpon the sure Word of GOD GOD hath tendered it to vs vpon his Word and promise and he must performe it it cannot be altered nor changed he that builds vpon it builds vpon the corner-stone that will not faile him But now the second act whereby I come to know that I haue done this that is grounded vpon experience Indeede we are
10. We receiued the sentence of death that wee might learne not to trust in our selues but in God that raiseth the dead GOD meant to deliuer him when he saith he receiued the the sentence of death that is there was no helpe in the World that he could see in himselfe or in any other creature Now he was brought to trust in him and then God answered him in his trust so you shall finde Zeph. 3.12 I will leaue among you men that are humble and poore people and they shall trust in the Name of the Lord. Why did not these trust in the Lord while they were rich Our nature is so backward and so exceeding deceitfull that wee cannot till other helpes are gone I will leaue among you a sort of poore people and they shall trust in my Name As if he should say When men are brought to that that all other things are taken away and till then they will not trust in him Indeede till then it is not trusting And therefore in 1 Tim. 1.5 She that is a Widdow is left alone and trusts in GOD. Till she be left alone till the other props be taken away a man cannot trust in GOD. Hence it is that commonly when men are brought to the lowest they are nerest to GOD they haue best accesse vnto him because when they are brought to such an exigent then a man will pray best and when he prayes best then hee speedes best then faith is set on worke and it workes best when it is alone when it is stripped of all other helpes And therefore you shall finde in the Booke of GOD when men were lowest they had neerest accesse to GOD. â—sa when he was come against with many thousands he trusted vpon GOD though he went against them with halfe the number and God deliuered him because he prayed and sought to GOD and saw that he was not able to doe any thing he trusted in GOD. Another time when Asa had forgotten GOD when he was strong when he thought himselfe more able when hee was to deale with one that had a weaker Armie a great deale the King of Israel hee was ouerthrowne and shut vp that he could not stirre because hee sent to the King of Aram for helpe It is GODS manner to defer sending of helpe till a man be brought to the Mount as hee did with Abraham hee might haue done it before but you know how he did with Abraham he brought him to the last cast And Dauid he was brought to the very point of perishing by the hands of Saul before he deliuered him And so he did with Iacob Esau comes against him with foure hundred men with a full resolution to destroy him before hee would deliuer him It is GODS manner to doe thus And so hee did with Iob and other seruants of his his fashion is to doe so to bring men vnto the very brow of the hill till their feet be ready to slip when they are euen going and then hee delights to appeare and deliuer them Therefore in such cases trust GOD put all vpon GOD that is when GOD in any turning of thy life brings thee to such an exigent that thou seest all at the point to be lost that thou art at the point to be vtterly vndone learne to trust in GOD in good earnest and that shall guide thee and turne thee the right way when thy flesh is ready to goe another way What was the reason that CHRIST when he was on earth would doe nothing except they beleeued in him When thou hast any thing to doe if thou beleeue in God that will make him ready to helpe thee because then it is an acknowledging and an attributing to his power If hee should doe it in another case he should lose his labour hee should lose his glory men would not be built vp in him by that which he did Therefore make vse of faith set faith on worke as I said I should come to this now to moue you to trust in GOD in all cases If I could perswade this men would turne the courses of their liues and would trust in him for know if thou trust in GOD he neuer failes any that trust in him as Dauid saith in Psal. 37. I neuer saw the righteous for saken c. As if he should say Aske all his seruants aske all men that euer haue knowne him all the men that haue liued with him that haue finished their course with him aske a seruant of GOD when he comes to dye how GOD hath dealt with him whether hee hath fayled him all his life I am perswaded that there is not a seruant of GOD but will say that he neuer failed him and if he were to leaue an exhortation behinde him he would exhort others from experience of his trust It cannot be that GOD should faile thee if thou rest vpon him Thinkest thou that GOD can faile thee when he saith himselfe so often he will neuer faile thee nor those that trust in him Will a man faile one that trusts in him Wee vse to say Oh I will not faile him for hee trusts in mee and doest thou thinke that GOD will faile thee in such a case If GOD should faile men in such cases there is no man that would seeke him But that men should bee encouraged to serue him hee hath promised not onely not to faile thee but hee is abundant in truth hee will bee better then his word hee doth what hee sayeth and more too If thou wouldest trust vpon him in such a case thou shouldst finde that he will answer thee But thou wilt say I see not how he will doe it the case is such a hard and difficult case Thou must know that there are strange passages in GODS prouidence he is able to bring things to passe though thou know not how it should be See his prouidence 2 Kings 5. The Woman there the Shunamite shee beleeued the word that the Prophet had said that there should bee seauen yeeres Famine shee left her Land and Countrey this was an act of Faith that made her doe this See how this Woman beleeued now she followed the direction of the Prophet she did that which GOD appointed her to doe see how GOD brought it to passe that the seruant of Elisha Gehezi should be there with the King and that hee should be telling the King of Israel of the great act of Elisha That there should be such a concurrence of all things that shee should come iust at that time and no other when the man of GOD was there yea when hee was telling of that very story that then she should come in and so she got her Land or else it is likely that the Woman hauing liued away so many yeeres it is likely shee had had a hard suite of it but Gods prouidence brought these things together So againe looke on Mordecai It is a strange