should so dishonour God after he had bestowed a Temporal Kingdom upon him 2 Sam. 12.7 Thus saith the Lord God of Israel I anointed thee King over Israel and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul and I gave thee thy Masters house and thy Masters wives into thy bosom and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah and if that had been too little I would moreover have given thee such and such things Wherefore hast thou despised the Commandment of the Lord to do evil in his sight As if the Lord should say O David dost thou use me thus Did I ever deserve this at thy hand Is this thy kindness to thy friend And if the Lord took it so unkindly from Davids hands because he had bestowed a Temporal Kingdome upon him how much more unkindely may God take it from your hands whom by the grace of Faith he hath assured of an Eternal Kingdom Deut. 32.6 Do ye thus requite the Lord ah foolish people and unwise Is not he thy Father that hath bought thee c And is it not he that hath bought Heaven it self for thee and wilt thou thus dishonour him by thy sins By Sin a man dishonours the Donor of this great Gift And secondly He wrongs his own Soul for Sin wrongs the Soul he blots the Evidence or Conveyance which God hath given him to assure him of this heavenly Kingdom What sayes Christ Luk. 10.20 Rejoyce that your Names are written in Heaven or in the Book of Life First that you know this that you have this Evidence God hath a threefold Book 1. Of Providence God hath a threefold Book which is Gods Fore-knowledge and Disposing all things in the world Of this David speaks Psal 139.16 Thine eyes did see my substance yet being imperfect and in thy book first in the Book of Providence were all my members written 2 A Book of Mens Works and Ways Rev. 20.12 And I saw the dead small and great stand before the Lord and the Books were opened and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books according to their Works The third is the Book of Mens Ends and Rewards which is called The Book of Life Dan. 12.1 At that time thy people shall be saved every one that shall be found written in the Book Now this Book is either in the Original which is Gods Calendar of such as are appointed to Life and Salvation in his own Fore-knowledge and Decree for The Lord knoweth who are his 2 Tim. 2.19 Or else the Counterpane of it in the Hearts and Consciences of such as do believe 1 Joh 5.10 He that believeth hath the witness in himself Now howsoever it is true He that is once written in Gods Book of Life if we take it for Gods Fore-knowledge and Decree can never be blotted out again The foundation of God stands sure yet if we take it for that Witness that is written in the Heart and Conscience it may be much blotted and blurred and obscured by our wilful sinning against God It is true God will speak peace and pardon to his people but let them not turn again to folly For if they do though they lose not their pardon yet they may lose their peace so far that they shall not be able to reade their Pardon or their Assurance for Heaven Therefore such a man as he dishonours the Giver so he sins against his own Soul Therefore let him declare his Thankfulness by the hating and forsaking all sin And Thankfulness to be shewn by performance of all duties Secondly By the Practice of all holy Duties and good Works If God be so abundant in Reward to assure us by Faith of Eternal Life it calls upon us very strongly to be so much the more abundant in our work It is the Apostles Argument 1 Cor. 15. last having discours'd at large of the glorious condition of Gods People after the Resurrection Therefore my beloved Brethren be ye stedfast unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. O that we would oft consider there is an Eternity for Reward but a short time for work and when the time of this Life is once past there is not a second opportunity there is no returning back again there is no doing of any thing in the Grave Therefore let us work Joh. 9.4 while we have the light of Life the night of death comes wherein no man can work no man can then believe or repent or bring forth the fruits of repentance There is no repentance in Hell to any purpose and if we repent of any thing in heaven it shall be of this that we did God no more and no better service upon earth And therefore so oft as we cast an eye upon the Eternity of Reward and the short time of our work let us bestir our selves in our places Take the counsel of the Wise man Eccles 9.10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do either for God or for the Church of God or for thy own Soul do it with all thy might for there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor Wisdom in the grave whither thou art going He that thinks seriously of his Eternal condition after death cannot be an unprofitable Servant in his life And so much for the seventh Particular what Manner of Life the Just lives by Faith All that is worth the Name of Life Natural Spiritual and Eternal Life Faith is the Key that opens to us the Kingdom of Heaven So says Calvin in his third Sermon on Gen. 15 6. THE EIGHTH GENERAL HEAD QUEST VIII What are the Reasons for living by Faith WE come now to the Eighth Particular the Reasons why God will have the Just to live by Faith We have given particular Reasons to the particular Branches before as Why the Just lives by Faith the Life of Justification Sanctification Renovation Fructification Mortification and Vivification c. We shall now give the general Reasons which reach to all in general Why God will have the Just to live by Faith It is true God is not bound to give us a Reason or give us an account of any of his Matters Job 33.13 It is the folly of vain man to call Gods Wisdom to the Bar of his shallow Reason But Rom. 9.20 Who art c. Gods Will may well stand for a Reason And yet God is pleased in this particular to give us a Reason of his Will Wicked men in the Scripture are said to be unreasonable men 2 Thess 3.2 they do a thing because they will do it though they have no good Reason for it But God though he is most Absolute and Independent is pleased in this matter of Faith to give us a Reason of his Will That man might not dispute and wrangle with God and say What Reason have I to live by Faith seeing I have little or nothing in hand
unrighteousness 2. We may know it by the End of spiritual actions if it be the glory and honour of Christ and a care to preserve the things of Christ as the Members of the Body have a principal care of adorning and preserving the Head The Arm receives a blow to defend the Head so a living Member of Christ truly united to him as he goes to Christ for strength Phil. 4.13 so he refers all to the honour of Christ in conclusion another adventures himself far for the truth and cause of Christ as Paul Acts 20. Neither is my life dear unto me so I may fulfil the Ministery of Christ c. So in general Faith lives on Christ 2. In particular Or 2. In particular he lives by Faith in the Application Means 1. His Death 1. Of the Death of Christ for though we have benefit by the Birth of Christ Luke 2.10 11. as we shewed this day fortnight yet not so much as by his death and joy in birth onely in relation to his death He is born a Saviour i.e. one that shall die for your sins Rom. 5.10 Heb. 2.14 Through death he destroyed him that had power of death that is the devil Yet there is joy in his Birth as in the approach of a friend that comes to loose as out of Prison if we be in for Debt or Murther We then rejoyce when he comes to the door but onely in reference to paying of the Debt for if he should then turn back it would sad us the more So in this case Must Aarons ear and hand and foot be sanctified it must be done by the application of the Blood of the Covenant Exod 29.20 Thus our hearing thus our words thus our works thus our walking is sanctified in the application of the Blood of Christ Heb. 9 14. the Blood of Christ purge your consciences 'T is all the price of Blood 2 Cor. 5. ult He hath made him to be sin for us c. Faith sanctifies as by laying hold of the Blood and Death of Christ so of the Resurrection and Life of Christ Means 2. His Resurrection As the Resurrection of Christ is a Birth so he is called The first-born from the dead so the assurance of his Resurrection proved by the powerful government of the Church and of the whole World for the Churches sake in his Session at the Right-hand of his Father this begets a lively hope and so a spiritual new birth in us 1 Pet. 1.3 We are begotten again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead Faith or Hope makes use of Christs Resurrection and this New birth of faith begets a New life of Sanctification Coloss 3.1 If ye then be risen with Christ c. The love of Christ dying for us and rising for us and reigning for us acting all our affairs at the Right-hand of God his Father yea the love of Christ begetting of us to this lively hope by his Death and Resurrection all these constrain us to a holy life 2 Cor. 5. Ver. 14. For the love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judge that if one dyed for all then were all dead and that 15. He dyed for all that they which live should not live henceforth unto themselves but unto him which dyed for them and rose again Therefore 16. We live no more after the flesh i.e. with carnal and sinful affections And 17. If any man be in Christ he is a new creature a new man a regenerate person and hath a renewed conversation Therefore Wherefore because he seeing the love of Christ by the eye of Faith in dying for him and rising again this raiseth up his heart to newness of life As if he heard Christ perswading of him like as a tender-hearted mother perswades her childe per viscera by her own bowels If thou art my childe if thou dost own me for thy Mother then obey my commandments and follow my advice so saith the Apostle Col. 3. If ye be risen again with Christ if ye be partakers of a New Birth through the pangs of his Death and the power of his Resurrection if ye be his children if ye acknowledge God for your Father set your affections ow things which are above Phil. 3.20 and let your conversation be in heaven And so the just lives by Faith the Life of Sanctification in the application of the Death and Resurrection of Christ 3. He lives by Faith the Life of Sanctification Means 3. His Appearing and Judgment in the application of the Appearing of Christ and the Judgement of Christ 2 Tim. 4.1 I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom Preach the word be instant c. Look as the warning of an Assize or Sessions makes one careful to provide themselves that their cause may be found good that they may be able to stand in Judgement so in this case The same argument see Tit 2.13 Live soberly righteously c. looking for the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ And 1 Cor. 15. last Theâ—efoâ—e my beloved brethren be ye stedfast c. Wherefore for as much as ye know c. i. e knowing by faith or believing your labour one day shall not be in vain in the Lord. A cause of all sins is made not believing the Judgement 2 Pet. 3.3 4. Where is the Promise of his coming c and a cause of holy walking the believing of it ver 11 12. What manner of persons ought ye to be in all hâ—ly conversation and godliness looking for and hasting to the coming c. Therefore it is observable in Scripture where-ever almost there is mention of the last Judgement it speaks of Christs judging men by the fruits of Faith rather then by Faith it self that the believing of the last Judgement may stir us up to a holy life Mat. 25.35 c. 2 Cor. 5.10 Rev. 20.12 there the Books are opened the Book of Gods Decree and yet men judged according to their works Think of this you that have to do in Judgement this day * other Books must one day be opened It may make a Felix tremble it may move all to be holy and righteous in all their actions Means 4. His Word 4. He lives by Faith the Life of Sanctification in the application of the Word of Christ Without Faith the Word profits not neither this nor any other way but being mixed with Faith Heb. 4.2 it is quick and powerful and mighty in operation 2 Cor. 10 4. to the pulling down of strong holds i.e. proud thoughts earthly thoughts unclean thoughts Joh. 15.3 Now are you clean through the word that I have spoken to you Psal 19. The word of the Lord is clean and endures for ever And as it is clean in it self so it is a cleansing word in the effect
away from the hope of the Gospel c. Setled and grounded is a Metaphor taken from Buildings set upon a sure foundation And in the second chapter the seventh verse he perswads them to be well rooted and established in the faith A Metaphor taken from trees that are planted with good and sufficient roots A tree especially at the first planting had better want branches then roots branches will never beget roots but good roots wil soon beget branches And therefore the Apostle perswadeth them to be well rooted and established in the faith Both in the Doctrine of faith and in the Grace of faith And what he holds forth to the people by way of precept that he holds forth also in his own practice 2 Tim. 4 7 8. I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the Faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day Marke he doth not say I am sure of a Crown of righteousnesse because I have received the faith but because I have kept the faith For no man is crowned except he strives lawfully and no man strives lawfully but he who keeps his faith to the end Be sure therefore to keep it when thou hast it Will not an artificer keep his tools and instruments Will not a Scholar keep his books A Traveller his bils of direction A Marriner keep his compass A wise man keep his friend A good houswife keep her keyes Will not a purchaser keep his evidences for house and land The general usefulness of Faith Now all this and much more also is Faith to a gracious soul It is the Instrument he works by the Book he learns by the Letter he is directed by the Compass he sails by the Friend he lives upon the Key that opens all the good treasures of God and the main Evidence he hath to shew both for this life and for that which is to come And therefore keep thy faith as thou wouldst keep thy life For the Just shall live by his Faith Reasons why we should look to the keeping of our Faith Keep thy Faith and thy Faith will keep thee As Solomon speaks Pro. 4.6 Forsake her not and she shall preserve thee love her and she shall keep thee Keep faith alive and Faith will keep thy life 1. The Benefit of keeping Faith as it is in ver 13. Keep her for she is thy life You know a Souldier so long as he keeps his shield his shield keeps him Ephes 6.16 but if once he lose his shield he may soon lose his life So it is with the shield of Faith keep that and thou keepest thy Life lose that and thou losest all Isa 26.3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is staid on thee because he trusteth in thee Observe so long as we have Grace and Faith to keep our God Our God by the grace of Faith will keep us Object But you will say Cannot God keep us without Faith I Answer I will not dispute about the absolute power of God it is our duty to look to his revealed will Now the Scripture tels us 1 Pet. 1.5 We are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation We are kept indeed by the power of God but the power of God puts forth it self in giving power to our Faith Therefore keep thy Faith as thou wouldst keep thy life 2 Reas Enemies that oppose Faith Remember Secondly Thou hast many enemies that do oppose thy Faith and pull hard to twitch it from thee and therefore thou hadst need be the more careful to keep it and to hold it fast First 1. Corruption if we look into the Corruption of our own Natures there is a world of Unbelief fighting against our Faith we are like men that row against the stream and therefore if we intermit a few strokes if we ply not our Oars we are presently carried down the stream more than we can regain of a long time Secondly 2. Temptation if we look upon the Tentations of Satan this is like a strong wind that goes along with the Tide of our own corruption and all to overturn this poor Vessel 1 Tim. 1.19 that we might make shipwrack of our faith When Satan desires that Peter may fail it is his great desire that his faith may fail Luk 22.31 32. And the Lord said Simon Simon behold Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not Thirdly 3. Troubles if we look upon the Troubles and Persecutions of the World here is still stronger opposition against Faith Therefore in the midst of Troubles and Persecutions the Apostle was jealous over the Thessalonians lest Satan should take an advantage to shake their faith at such a time as this 1 Thess 3.5 For this cause when I could no longer forbear I sent to know your faith lest by some means the Tempter have tempted you and our labour be in vain Therefore as a violent storm does but make a man girt his garment faster about him so should it be in this case The more violently the World and the Devil rageth against our Faith the faster should we girt our Spiritual Armour and labour to keep our faith when we have it Obj. But you will say If once we have justifying faith Faith cannot be lost we shall never lose it and therefore what need you perswade us to keep it Answ 1. I answer First because God works by means and so he is pleased to keep his people sound in the faith by setting before their eyes the danger of Apostacy Heb. 3.12 Take heed brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God Answ 2. Secondly because however Gods people can never lose Faith totally and finally yet they may lose the comfort of it and the actins of it without a great deal of circumspection and therefore it will be our wisdom not onely to keep faith when we have it but to keep it in its power and vigour that it may not be like those things that are not the better but the worse for keeping Therefore keep thy Faith as thou art charged to keep thy heart Prov. 4.23 with all diligence Or as men keep their Orchards and Gardens with good Fences about them Or so as thou wouldst keep thy dwelling-house wind-tight and water-tight Or so as thou wouldst thy lodging-room or the bed wherein thou sleepest nay the bed wherein Christ and the Church sleepeth Cant. 3.7 Behold the bed which is Solomons guarded with threescore valiant men of Israel Or so as thou wouldst keep thy Treasure under Lock and Key for Faith is a precious Treasure Or so as thou wouldst keep thy bodily health 3 Joh. 2. Beloved I wish above all things that thou maist prosper