God and put Satan to flight Neither let them after this bee still obiecting that they feele small strength of faith and hope for thereby the enemie may take encouragement to their disaduantage when feare setteth open the heart to his malitious temptations and binds the hands of the distressed that he cannot resist but let them stirre vp their courage and resolution to waite vpon the Lord not listening any more to their strong but deceitfull feare And what though they feele not that sweetnesse wh ch sometimes they felt will they therefore iudge their state to bee naught What sweetnesse can the soule taste when it is ouer-whelmed with feares perplexed with temptations troubled with doubts Physicke is vnpleasant and bitter to the taste Temptation should not be temptation if it did not affect If the soule bee now sicke and tasteth not the sweet meates of consolation which it was wont as the bodie which is in a course of Physicke will they iudge themselues to be starke dead or in a condition irrecouerable Wee haue experience how diuers times the disease preuaileth ouer the sicke person that actions faile and faculties seeme quite to bee spent neither hand nor foot is able to doe their dutie the eye is dimme the hearing dull the taste altered and the tongue distasteth all things euen of most pleasant rellish and the weake and feeble patient seemeth to attend the time of dissolution when yet notwithstanding there remayneth a secret power of nature and a forcible sparke of life that ouer-commeth all these infirmities and consumeth them like drosse and rendreth to the body a greater puritie and firmenesse of health then before the sicknesse it did enioy Euen so it is in this spirituall estate the soule is sicke and not dead faith is assailed but not ouercome and if in patience the finâ—shing of this secret worke which passeth all conceit and capacitie of man bee attended these bu ning feauers of temptations shall appeare to bee flaked and cooled by the mercie and grace of Christ and that sparke of faith which now lieth hid and ouer-whelmed with heapes of temptations to breake forth againe And as nature after a perfect crise dischargeth herselfe to the recouery of former health so shall all doubts and feares and terrours be remoued and strength of faith restored with such supply as it shall bee able to make euident proofe what secret vertue lay hid and yet not idle in all this vncomfortable plight Againe as in outward sences we see sometimes and feele and heare when wee doe not perceiue it so we may also haue faith and not alwayes haue the sensible perceiuing thereof Yea such as most hunger and thirst after righteousnesse and are poore in spirit and broken in heart as they doubt and feare in euery action lest God bee dishonoured by their conuersation so are they iealous of their precious faith lest it bee not in such measure as they desire or in truth be none at all wherein they may easily bee deceiued first in the discerning then in the measure and portion For when the inward feeling thereof doth not answere their desire and the actions proceeding there-from doe not satisfie their thirst of righteousnesse whereby reliefe may rise to the nourishment of faith and the satisfying of that holy appetite they are discouraged and intangled with spirituall cares from which a more aduiced consideration agreeable to Gods Word might easily deliuer them And touching the portion it is a fault to measure the excellencie of faith and power thereof partly by quantitie and vnseasonable fruits so to call them and not by vertue kind plantation soueraignetie and seasonable fruit which errour in temptation the distressed are apt to runne into and so to trouble themselues without cause Men looke not that Corne should spring in haruest or be ripe in spring that trees should bud or beare fruit in winter because it â—s not the season for such things Neither ought wee to expect such strength of memorie and liuely operatiue actions of grace in age sicknesse great sorrowes and temptations as at other times in young yeares free from such assaults The fruits of faith fit for the season may bee discerned by them that can rightly iudge when sweet refreshings forme ly enioyed bee lacking The effects of faith in great temptations and cloudie seasons are to looke vp for helpe sigh groane complaine to God prize his fauour draw nigh vnto him and cast himselfe vpon God though hee seeme to be angry at this time faith is incumbred with many strong feares wherewith it is burdened against which it laboureth ouer which it doth not easily nor speedily preuaile Ioy peace sweet refreshing and sensible tasting of Gods mercie be the fruits of well growne faith in the times of victorie and freedome Those Summer fruits are not to bee gathered in the depth of winter It is an errour to measure the truth of grace in age by the effects proper to youth or the soundnesse of faith in temptation by the effects peculiar to the dayes of triumph Neither are we to account the nature of any thing according to our sence or the shew it maketh For then should the most fruitfull tree in winter bee taken for barren and the lustie soyle for drie and vnfruitfull whilest it is shut vp with the hard frost But reason being guided by the Word of God must lead vs rightly to iudge of the presence and life of faith in our soules which being the shield in this our spirituall warfare endureth much battering and many brunts and receiueth the fore-front of the battaile and oftentimes fareth as if it were pierced through and worne vnfit for battaile yet is it indeed of nature inuincible and repelleth whatsoeuer engine the enemy inforceth against vs and standeth firme rooted whatsoeuer storme Satan raiseth for the displacing thereof How then are the distressed to behaue themselues in this temptation when both the sence of faith is dulled in them and the fruits minister discontentment They must rightly consider what bee the winter fruits of faith and not expect such things in themselues as agree not to that season and withall remember that the gifts and mercy of God is wâ—thout repentance and so take courage vnto themselues confidently to cast their soules vpon the mercie of the Lord in Iesus Christ For as hee knew them when they were strangers from him and loued them when they hated him and had nothing which might prouoke his mercy but sinne and misery so is his goodnesse continued still vpon them for his owne sake and not at all for their deseruing And though they feele their abilitie weake the enemy strong their strength tired and cleane worne their corruption vpon the point to pâ—euaile the fruits and branches of faith thâ—ough these stormy tempests nipped and shaken yet the sap of faith shall neuer be dried vp in the root neither can any winde of Satan so blast that the immortall seed bee at any time quite withered
is of no effect or moment thereunto When the Apostle makes comparison betwixt the body without the spirit and faith without workes Iames 2.26 Rhem. annot in Iames 2 26. Sect. 10. concluding that they are both dead he cannot be thought to make loâ—e the soule of faith For he speakes not of internall charitie which lodgeth in the heart but of externall workes which are outwardly visible and apparent vnto men and cannot be the life but are the fruites and effects of faith For that which is without and externall cannot bee the life or soule of that which is within and internall nay it selfe hath from within all the life that it hath and if it receiue not life from within it is altogether dead Workes therefore being outward and issuing from within if they be true can in no good construction be said to be the life of faith which is within but to be the issues and productions of faith from which they spring Besides the word vsed by the Apostle doth signifie the breath and and so the comparison runneth plaine As the body of a l uing creature if it breathe not is dead so faith if it bring forth no workes is dead For breathing is an effect of a liuing body and working is the proper effect of a liuing faith If we speake of faith as it is outwardly professed to men workes which may bee discerned by the eyes of men not charitie which is the inward affection of the heart are they that giue name and gaine credit to profession Charitie is an hand or instrument whereby faith worketh workes are fruites effects demonstrations of the inward life of faith and that which giues name and being to our externall proffession is a pure blamelesse vpright conuersation fruitefull in good workes If we speake of faith a dead faith may be compared to a dead body altogether void of spirituall quickening but a liuely faith cannot fitly be resembled to liuing body but rather to the life of the body because faith is not that which is quickened by charitie or the the workes of charitie but that which quickeneth Faith is the first wheele in the Clocke that moueth all the rest Faith stirreth vp and directeth all other graces of the soule in their operations whose strength increaseth according to the liuely-hood vigor and increase of faith Iames 2.22 Rhem. annot in Loc. How then saith the Apostle That faith is perfected by workes As we iudge of the cause by the effects and by the proportion of the effects the efficacie and force of the cause may seeme to be increased or diminished euery thing is acknowledged to bee perfect when it worketh and is esteemed so much the more perfect by how much the more it worketh as wee say the goodnesse of a tree is perfect when it hath brought forth some excellent good fruite Thus Phylosophers teach that the forme is not perfect when it is considered as the first act but when it is taken as the second act for by working it putteth forth it force and declareth it selfe And so faith is perfected by workes not that the nature of faith receiueth complement or perfection from workes but because it doth declare and manifest it selfe by loue and good workes and is esteemed by so much the more perfect as the workes produced are the more excellent Yea as the exercise of outward members increaseth internall vigor and strength and refresheth the spirits by which wee moue so doth the exercise of grace and vertue rightly imployed perfect faith not imparting the perfection of workes vnto it but stirring vp exercising and intending it owne vigor and perfection Sense and motion is the effect not the cause of life in the body but yet the body without them is dead and perfected by them Workes are the effects not the life of faith but faith without workes is dead and by workes it is perfected § 3. There is a fained and dead faith §. 3. Iames 2.20 Iames 2.19 Act. 8.21 Luk. 8.14 a faith whereby the Deuils are said to belieue and such whose hearts are not vpright a faith which resteth barely in the vnderstanding or which sleightly affecteth the heart but is not rooted beares not soueraignetie a faith subordinate to vaine-glory or couetous desires which the world destroyeth and this saith as it is ineffectuall to season the affections throughout and incite to the sincere vniforme acts of loue so is it vnauaileable to Iustification There is a faith vnfained welrooted soueraigne 1. Tim. 1.5 Acts 15.9 Gal. 2.20 1 Iohn 5.4 Iustifying faith cannot bee without loue whereby we belieue to righteousnes by which the heart is purified and Christ dwelleth in vs which is the victorie whereby we ouercome the world and this faith worketh by loue and cannot but worke Hee that belieueth in this sort loueth freely and connot but loue not through defect of libertie but through the nature of faith exciting the belieuer to will to loue not to loue if he will Faith and loue considered as habits of the renewed soule and branches of inherent holines haue their originall from the Spirit of regeneration and be distinct graces infused together The deeds of charitie are the proper acts or exercises of the grace of charitie Par. de Iust lib. 1. cap. 14. from which they issue as branches from the flocke and fruite from the tree nor can we properly say that such workes flow from faith as the fruite doth from the roote seeing charitie is no branch of faith but a distinct grace of the renewing Spirit which beareth it proper and distinct fruit But such acts are said to be of faith because the doctrine of faith inioyneth them the vertue of faith inclines the soule vnto them moueth charitie vnto the exercise of them and directeth and quickeneth the acts themselues without which they would be liuelesse and out of square Faith doth beget loue not that one habite doth beget another but that faith doth excite men to the workes of charitie Thus the habits of faith and loue be coupled in infusion the exercise of faith and loue be inseperably conioyned and the acts of loue bee the effects of faith 1. Iohn 5.1 Iohn 1.12 13. 2. Cor. 5.17 2. Pet. 1.4 Euery one that belieueth is borne of God hee that is engrafted into Christ by faith is a new Creature and made pertaker of the diuine nature But he that is borne of God is endued with the grace of loue The liuely members of Christ Iesus which receiue from him the sap of grace cannot be vtterly destitute of true charitie But all true Belieuers are liuing members of Christ Iesus Gal. 2.20 Rom. 11.17 Iohn 15 1 2. 1. Iohn 4.15 Rom. 1.17 Iohn 3.36 6.40 Hee that belieueth abideth in God and God in him But in whom God abideth in him is loue Euery true Belieuer doth liue spiritually and where true faith is there is true life But hee that liues spiritually and is
8.13 but they must not for some imperfections cast downe themselues halfe desperately as though God regarded them not or they should wither and vtterly decay For as the drie and thirstie ground or spunge sucketh vp much water so the humble spirit drinkes vp much grace and shall be replenished abundantly with the waters of comfort And if their portion of grace be the smallest of all others they must striue to grow forward but without discouragement For of small beginnings come great proceedings of one little sparke a mightie flame of a small Acorne a mightie Oake of a graine of Mustard-seed a great tree and a little leauen seasoneth the whole lumpe All feares and doubts which arise in their hearts must driue them to send vp earnest prayers to God daily and oft for this grace of faith to bee more firmely rooted in them which they must doe willingly anâ— gladly that they may feele their doubting and feare to vanish as fast as they perceiue their hold in the promises of God to waxe stronger § 14. Satan beares many in hand that their manifold crosses and troubles in the world §. 14. 15. They are many wayes crossed and afflicted and their want of outward blessings is an argument of Gods displeasure towards them This was the fierie dart which he by the mouthes of Eliphas Bildad and Tzâ—phar yea of his owne wife did shoote at Iob against all which if hee had not held out the shield of faith he had beene pierced through and through And we see by daily experience that when a godly Man is crossed in his wife children goods reputation these outward afflictons are often great occasions of deadly sorrowes and grieuous temptations touching the assurance of his owne saluation The remedy is To thinke seriously and to acquaint our selues familiarlie with the properties of God the truth Remedie vnchangeablenesse and nature of his promises Outward crosses are no arguing of Gods displeasure Iob. 5.17 Pro. â— 12 Iam. 1.12 Heb. 12.7.8.9.10 11.12 and the manner of his dealing with others of his seruants in his wonderfull prouidence For thereby we shall learne that God doth loue tenderly when he doth correct seuerely and remaineth vnchangeable when our outward condition doth varie and alter yea that all his Chastisements are but purgatiue medicines to preuent or cure some spirituall disease which hee seeth wee are inclined vnto Should God neuer minister physicke till we see it needfull desire to take it or bee willing of it alas wee should perish in our corruptions and die for want of helpe in due time It is good to humble our selues when god correcteth but to doubt of his loue when he dealeth louingly with vs is a great weaknesse Also we should call to minde that God allowes yea requires that men in affliction should liue by faith both for a sanctified vse in them and a good issue out of them in due season And so afflictions or earthly encumbrances would bee no meanes to weaken our faith but to increase it rather § 15. Some godly persons by the subtle and cruell malice of the Deuill are brought to this bondage §. 15. 16. They are strongly possessed with feare that God hath vtterly cast them off that they are perswaded that they are vtter reprobates and haue no remedy against their desperation And this temptation enough of it selfe to shake and terrifie the afflicted is made farre more grieuous when Melancholie possesseth the partie for that raiseth excesse of distrust and feare and causeth the partie to perswade himselfe of miserie where there is no cause In this weakenes Satan assailes such poore seruants of God by spirituall suggestion tempting them to such sinnes as be very strange and such as they abhorre the very least conceit of them and when by such temptations they are brought low in the anguish and bitternes of their soules the Deuill laboureth especially to dimme their knowledge and iudgement that they may haue no sure hold of any point of doctrine which may soundly comfort them that so he may as a roaring Lyon deuoure them speedily And when hee hath couered their hearts with darkenes and brought them into a dreadfull feare of Gods wrath hee holdeth them at this vantage that euery thing which is before them is made matter to encrease their distressed estate For the stay and comfort of such distressed soules How Christians in this distresse and anguish are to be comforted they are to be perswaded that they bee not vnder the wrath of God neither is his anger kindled against them for all the feare that oppresseth them when their estate is in their owne feeling at the worst because they haue not sinned against the holy Ghost nor malitiously set themselues against the truth and Gospell of God nor persecuted it wilfully against knowledge and conscience which one sinne onely is able to shut them out from all hope of saluation And here they must beware they make no more sinnes of that kinde then God himselfe hath pronounced to be of that sort for in these matters that concerne Gods Religion euen the perfection of our wisdome is but folly much more our sicke braines and melancholicke vnderstanding is to be remoued farre from handling such holy things And seeing their consciences doe beare them witnesse how much these temptations are repugnant to their desires and liking how gladly they would be freed and deliuered from them how grieuous and burdensome they are vnto them and chiefly raised by Satan who abuseth their simplicitie therefore there is no cause why they should bee so discouraged or out of heart no more then one that hath had a fearefull dreame when he awaketh Moreouer they are with all earnestnesse to be put in minde yet with the spirit of meeknesse and compassion and to consider how much it doth displease God that they are remoued from their faith and haue giuen place to conceits and spirits of errour contrarie to the most cleare and comfortable promises made them that thirst repent feare and loue the Lord tremble at his word are broken-hearted c. Rom. 8.28 Iames 1.12 Esay 66.2 And therefore they should gather more godly boldnesse and confidence in God on the one side and more courage and strength against Satan on the other side For if God call and incourage vs to trust and relie vpon him and we standing in need thereof would most gladly embrace his promises made in Christ Iesus who is hee that should hinder vs The Scripture speaking of the malice of Satan in tempting and assailing Christians biddeth them Bee strong and of good courage Ephes 6.10 12. 1. Pet. 5.8 9. resist strong in the faith Sathan tempteth them to ouerthrow their faith and by giuing place to feares and doubts they aduantage the enemie against their soules but let them take occasion by the temptation to draw nigh vnto God and rowse vp themselues more confidently to rest and waite vpon the Lord so shall they please
is euer hungry Cant. 5.6 7 8. sensible of want and emptinesse and therefore attends vpon the Lord in the vse of all such meanes whereby he is pleased to conueigh Christ vnto vs for our spirituall filling The labourious Bee is early abroad to gather when there is an hony fall and faith is early awake to waite vpon the Lord in his ordinances when hee showres his blessings vpon his people But it knoweth to distinguish betwixt the ordinances in and by which grace is obtained and the Author and Giuer of it And thiâ— vrgeâ—h the Belieuer earnestly to beg the blessing of God vpon his owne ordinances without which they cannot auaile vs. Thirdly It inciteth to an holy improuement of what graces he hath reâ—eiued alreadie as the readie way to haue them encreased God bestoweth his gifts of grace in most plentifull measure vpon them that are most carefull to put them forth to aduantage Luke 19.26 Math. 13.12 To him that hath that is that vseth well what he hath receiued shall be giuen and hee shall haue in abundance Grace is giuen freely not deserued by workes but by the appointment of God he that would increase therein must religiously imploy what he possesseth Men increase their substance by labour and paines their learning by diligence and hee that best improueth graces receiued shall most abound therein Fourthly It fighteth couragiously against sin crieth instantly to the Lord for helpe Faith wil not yeeld to corruption be the combate neuer so hote and fierie because it apprehends victorie neither will it giue the Lord rest because it is sensible of want and wearie of sinne Create in mee a cleane heart Psal 51.10 O God and renew a right spirit within me Fiftly It submitteth willingly to what course the Lord is pleased to take for the crucifying of sinne and healing of our nature Looke as the patient yeeldeth himselfe vnto the Physician to be dieted purged or lanced for the curing of his maladies and recouery of health so doth the soule resigne it selfe by faith into the hands of God the spirituall Physician of the soule who only is able to heale all diseases to be dieted purged exercised as seemeth best vnto his heauenly wisdome only it desires that spirituall maladies may be remoued and health recouered Sixtly Faith is the band or sinew whereby we are tied vnto Christ the fountaine of grace and the pipe whereby grace is conueyed from him into the soule Acts 15.9 Looke what 〈◊〉 full treasure of all sorts of graces Christ hath stored vp in him faith draweth and driueth them out of his fulnes to the vse of each seuerall Christian euen grace for grace Iohn 1.16 Iohn 15.1 5 6. It fetcheth sap from the root Christ which maketh euery tree bring forth fruit in it kind euery Christian in his owne calling As water brought by pipes from the fountaine to the cocke doth come faster or slower as the pipes be wider or narrower open or stopped so grace doth flow from Christ into our hearts more or lesse as our faith is weaker or stronger in degree and measure Faith openeth as it were the passages of grace that it may distill more plentifully vpon vs. And thus by fetching supernaturall efficacie from the death and life of Christ it changeth the heart creates and infuseth new principles of action begetteth a plyable willingnesse vnto euery thing that is good and conueigheth both will and ability thereunto as the medicine curing the vitious stomacke and restoring it to health makes it long for wholsome meate as before for coales and ashes By the precious promises which wee haue from God when they are ours by faith 2. Pet. 1.4 we are made partakers of the diuine nature or the graces of the Holy Ghost The pâ—eposterous care and trauell of many wel-affected is to bee pittied who studie the practice of this or that vertue The true cause why men labour in vaine to practice some particular vertue neglecting this cardinall and radicall vertue as if men should water all the branches of a Tree and not the root Faine would they abound and shine in patience meeknesse zeale yet establish and root not themselues in fâ—ith that should maintaine all the rest If water come not to the cocke wee vse to open or amend the pipes or leades that conueigh it from the spring Christ is the wel-spring of grace if wee would haue our wants supplied we must labour stedfastly to belieue All defects in sanctification must admonish vs to looke to our faith Thirst driues men to the Spâ—ings of water colâ— forceth them to the fire weaknesse or want of grace should moue vs to come vnto Christ by a liuely faith Esay 55.1 Oh euery one that thirsteth come yee to the waters To giue way to doubting because the graces of Gods Spirit bee weake and feeble in vs is as if a man should refuse to eate because he is faint for want of sustenance Seuenthly True faith stirreth vp to thankfulnesse for the beginning of sanctification Rom. 7.25 I thank God through Iesus Christ our Lord. So then with the minde I my selfe serue the Law of God The least measure of sanctifying grace is in it selfe an vnspeakable benefit considering the poyson of our corrupt nature and also a pledge of future fauours to be receiued till the worke be perfected God in great wisdome powreth the graces of his Spirit vpon vs by degrees and doth not perfectly sanctifie vs at once least we should forget what great things hee doth for vs in forgiuing our daily trespasses and curing the grieuous and loathsome diseases of our polluted soules 1. Cor. 1.9 1. Thes 5.24 Rom. 11.29 Phil. 1 6. but the beginning of sanctification is an earnest of further grace to be vouchsafed till the worke bee finished to the praise of his grace which doth appeare the more in that the gifts of grace are communicated by degrees The meanes to stirre vp to belieue that God will sanctifie when we see nothing but discomfort The way or meanes whereby a Christian may stirre vp his faith to belieue that God will sanctifie him when hee seeth nothing but thraldome and sinne preuailing and feeleth nothing but deadnesse of heart is this First he must bewaile his spirituall nakednesse thraldome and vassalage vnder sinne acknowledging his inabilitie to free and deliuer him selfe Into what miserie and bondage haue I brought my selfe Thou Lord madest me holy pure and vpright But by sinne I sold my selfe vnto the seruice of sinne from which to this day I cannot get deliuerance Euery facultie of soule is deeply infected with that contagious leprosie the Mind is blinde vaine foolish the will peruerse and rebellious all the affections out of order there is nothing whole or sound within me Night and day I am pestered with sinfull motions The desires of my sinfull heart bee so strong and preuailing that I am carried head-long to that which is euill The
will the Lord waite that he may be gracious vnto you and therefore will he be exâ—lted that he may haue mercy vpon you The Lord hath commanded vs to waite vpon him in the dayes of calamitie and sorrow Hab. 2.4 The Iust shalâ— liue by faith It is the ve y scope of this text to teach this one po nt of doctrâ—ne to the Iewes when they would be oppressed by the Babilonions viz that in greatest dâ—ngers the onely way is to stay our selues and establish our hearts by faith on Gods promises Confidence in God doth the more bind and oblige him Psal 37.40 as it were to doe vs good The Lord shall helpe the righteous and deliuer them hee shall deliuer them from the wicked and saue them because they trust in him Esay 26.3 Thou wilt keepe him in perfect peace whose minde is stayed on thee because hee hath trusted in thee I will surâ—ly deliuer thee Ier. 39.18 and thou shalt not fall by the word but thy life shall bee for a prey vnto thee because thou hast put thy trust in me saith the Lord. If a friend â— lie and builde vp our faithfull promise we take our sâ—ues boâ—nâ— not to frâ—strate his exp ctation in a â—ead lift Psal 141.8 the Lord will neuer leaâ—e the soule destitute which trusts in him The faithfull haue promised themselues helpe and confidently begged aide because they trusted in the Lord Be mercifull vnto me O God Psal 57.1 be mercâ—full vnto me for my soule trusteth in thee yea in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge vntill these calamities bee ouer past Cause me to heare thy louing kindnesse in the Morning for in thee doe I trust Psal 143.8.9 cause me to know the way wherein I should walke for I lift vp my soule vnto thee Deliuer mee O Lord from mine enemies for I flie vnto thee to hide me And to hope in God and to haâ—e God for our helpe are linked together in Scripture so that his helpe is reâ—die for all them who rest vpon him in truth Happy is he that hath Psal 146.5 the God of Iacob for his helpe whose hope is in the Lord his God Acts of faith in respect of these promises The acts of faith in respect of these promises be these First It looketh vnto God and acknowledgeth his hand in all afflictions whosoeâ—er bee the instruments Shall there be euill in a Citie Esay 45.7 Amos 3.6 Iob. 1 21. and they Lord hath not done it The Lord gaue and the Lord hath taken away I know O Lord that thy iudgments are right and that thou in faithfulnesse hast afflicted mee Psal 119.75 If yee endure chastening God dealeth with you as with sonnes Heb. 12.7 for what sonn is he whom the Father chasteneth not And this is one speciall ground of humilation patience and comfort Come and let vs returne vnto the Lord Hos 6.1 for he â—ath torne and he will heale vs. My sonne despise not thou the chastening of the Lâ—rd neither be wearie of his â—rrection For whom the Lord loueth he correcteth Pro 3.11.12 euen 〈◊〉 a father the sonne in whom he delighteth Let him curse for the Lord hath bidden him It may be that the Lord will looke on mine affliction and that the Lord will requite good for his cursing this day But of these more particularly hereafter Secondly It teacheth that wee are in such distresses out of which none cane helpe vs but the strong helper of Israel Faith speaketh on this manner We haue no might against this great companie 2 Chro. 20.21 that commeth against vs neither know we what to doe but our eyes are vpon thee And great is the benefit of this instruction for it drawes the heart from carnall repose in meanes or friends it expells vexations and distracting cares and estranges from the vse of vnlawfull meanes of deliuerance whatsoeuer Pro. 21.31 Psal 33.16.17 The horse is prepared against the day of battell but safety is of the Lord. An horse is but a vaine thing to saue a man neither is any man deliuered by his great strength And the same may be said of wisedome swiftnesse wealth or the force of any meanes whatsoeuer Eccl. 9.2 Psal 127.1 Esay 30.7 and 31.3 though neuer so lawfull or likely But as for vnlawfull meanes no good successe can be hoped from them The Egyptians shall helpe in vaine and to no purpose therfore haue I cryed concerning this their strength is to sit still Thirdly It wisely directeth vs to consider that the cause of all miserie and sorrow is sinne and thereupon driues to examine our wayes humble our selues before God for mercy renew our hope in his grace and set vpon reformation of what is out of order Faith is a good Physition Hos 5.15 that seeketh to cure the disease by taking away the cause thereof when God takes tryall of vs that wee might know our selues faith maketh search into the heart 1. Cor. 11.31 Lam. 3.40 when hee iudgeth by his chastisements faith maketh vs to iudge our selues and when God striketh for sinne faith striketh at the head of sinne Let vs search and try our wayes and turne againe to the Lord. I thought on my wayes Psal 119.59 and turned my feete vnto thy testimonies When Manasses was in affliction 2. Chro. 33.12 Iob 34.31.32 hee besought the Lord his God and humbled himselfe greatly before the God of his Fathers Surely it is meete to be said vnto God I haue borne chastisement I will not offend any more That which I see not teach me if I haue done iniquitie I will doe no more Fourthly Faith meekeneth the heart willingly to submit it selfe to the good pleasure of God Psal 37.7 Psal 62.1.5 Lam. 3.16 Esay 30.15 and patiently to beare his correctioÌ„ Rest in the Lord waite patiently for him fret not thy selfe because of him who prospereth in his way Yet vnto God my soule keepe thou silence for from him is my expectation By faith the seruants of God haue beene enabled to say The word of the Lord is good Esay 39.8 Mic. 7.9 I will beare the indignation of the Lord because I haue sinned against him vntill he plead my cause 2. Sam. 15.26 and execute iudgement for mee If he say thus I haue no delight in thee behold here am I Psal 131.2 let him doe to me as seemeth good vnto him Surely I haue behaued and quieted my selfe as a child that is weaned of his Mother my soule is euen as a weaned child I was as a man that heareth not Psal 38.14.15 and in whose mouth are no reproofes For in thee O Lord doe I hope Guiltinesse of Conscience which is euer fearefull and vntamed passions make vnquietnes when the rod of God is vpon our backes both which are corrected by faith The conscience is comforted by faith resting vpon the gracious promises
For if good things be wanting to the body specially we are apt to aske and seeke after them But should the Lord let vs alone till wee find out the diseases of the soule and be desirous of or willing to receiue his medicinable potions our sores would grow incurable Iob 2.10 we should perish in our sinnes Therefore as the belieuer doth receiue good things from God with ioy so doth he euill with meeknesse The childe will take from the mothers hand as well sowre as sweet because he is perswaded of her tender loue and affection so doth faith entertaine afflictions from God knowing them to be fruits of his grace and fatherly compassion Fourthly After serious humiliation and vnfained abasing of the soule Deut. 4.29 31 32. 30.3 4. Leu. 26.41 42. Esay 54.6 7 8. faith brings tydings that God will looke downe from Heauen in mercie and send helpe in fittest season If their vncircumcised hearts be humbled and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity Then will I remember my couenant with Iacob and also my couenant with Isaake and also my couenant with Abraham will I remember And this doth maruellously quiet and still the heart Should a man bee very sicke whilest the Physicke doth worke he would not be dismayed so long as he knew the fit should last but a season and then ease should returne with health Esay 39.8 And so it fareth with the faithfull in their afflictions Hezekiah said to Isaiah Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken he said moreouer for there shall be peace and truth in my dayes Reioyce not saith the Church against mee O mine enemy When I fall I shall arise Mich. 7 8 9. when I sit in darknesse the Lord shall be a light vnto me I will beare the indignation of the Lord because I haue sinned against him vntill he plead my cause and execute iudgement for me he will bring me forth to light and I shall behold his righteousnesse Fiftly Moreouer Heb. 12.2 3. faith doth re-minde vs of our conformitie with Christ in afflictions and of his partnership with vs therein If hee that was the first-borne the only begotten and intirely beloued Sonne of God if he that was without sinne yet was not without stripes should we hope to goe free or looke to be cockered continually All the Sonnes of God by Adoption are predestinated to be made like their elder-brother as in holinesse and glory so in afflictions Should we thinke much to sip or taste of that cup which hee hath drunke off for our sake The first lesson we take out in the schoole of Christ is Math. 16.24 Deny thy selfe take vp the crosse and follow the Lord Iesus And the sorrowes which we beare Esay 63.9 are not so much ours as Christs In all our troubles hee is troubled with vs what burthen soeuer lies vpon vs hee â—eeles the weight of it Acts 9.5 Col. 1.24 1. Pet. 4.13 Apoc. 11.8 When Stephen is stoned he is persecuted the wrong done to the Saints is offered to him And he can no more bee vnmindfull of his people then forgetfull of himselfe Lastly Faith setteth before vs the infinite recompence of reward not only renowne in this world which yet by faith the patience of Iob and all holy Martyrs hath obtained but that farre most excellent weight of glory which Paul eying counted his afflictions which to vs would haue beene intollerable light and momentanie 2. Cor. 4.17 not worthy to be named in comparison which made him not onely not weepe and howle but sing in the Dungeon and reckon it a speciall fauour and honour to be counted not only a belieuer but a sufferer for Christ And euen as waters fall downe into vallies not able to abide in grounds that lie high so the sense of these afflictions goeth away from mindes that are lifted vp in such contemplation By these and such like perswasions faith allures the heart willingly freely constantly to resigne it selfe to the good pleasure of God in all things The fift Act of faith Psal 94 12. Verse 13. The fift act of faith It teacheth wisdome to iudge aright of all afflictions Blessed is the man whom thou instructest and teachest him out of thy law scil wisely to consider of afflictions of their nature end vse and issue to them that feare God Hee shall rest or be quiet in the dayes of aduersity Did wee not through false glasses see things otherwise then they are they would not cast vs downe so much as they doe Want of heauenly wisdome what voices doth it draw from vs Euen such as these Were it any thing but this I could hope to receiue good from it Whereas through the spectacles of faith we come to discerne that the things we suffer are most fit to doe vs good For fa th seeth not according to sense or outward appearance but as the truth is in Iesus Christ alwayes magnifying the wisdome and courses of God as best and most for our profit Esay 11.2 The Spirit of wisdome and vnderstanding of iudgement and counsell was powred vpon Christ of which Spirit we partake by faith and so are made wise to perceiue the things of God and to iudge aright of his dealings towards vs. And from this proceeds willingnesse to giue our neckes to the yoke when God is pleased to put it on Feare of hurt is that which makes vs shunne the crosse or goe heartlesse vnder it when once by faith the scales falling from our eyes wee come to see it vsefull beneficiall healthfull we straine courtesie no longer but take it downe Sixtly True and vnfained confidence will not keepe silence in the cares of the Lord nor cease to importune his aide to intreate his fauour Aâ—ise cry out in the night Lam. 2.19 in the beginning of the watches poure out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord lift vp thy hands towards him Be mercifull vnto me O God be merciful vnto me Psal 57.1 2. 2. Chron. 14.11 for my soule trusteth in thee yea in the shadow of thy wings wil I make my refuge vntill these calamities be ouer-past I wil cry vnto God most high vnto God that performeth all things for me Trust in him at all times Psal 62.8 Esay 26.16 Psal 142.1 2. Iob 5.8 11.13 ye people powre out your hearts before him Lord in trouble haue they visited thee they powred out a prayer when thy chastening was vpon them The counsell which Elephaz and Zophar gaue to Iob faith doth apply and put in practice which was to seeke vnto God and commit the cause vnto him to prepare the heart and stretch out the hands towards him Hauing no wisdome of our selues to make vse of chastisements nor power to deliuer our soules faith vrgeth to seeke vnto God that hee would leade vs by his grace in the way that wee should goe Esay 48.17 teach vs to
there of better hopes well instructed in the principles of religion diligent frequenters of Gods Ordinances and carefull to beautifie their profession with an holy conuersation who did neuer distinctly and in good earnest consider of this matter when yet they must needs acknowledge that it cannot be well done as it ought if it be not done in faith The acts of faith in this particular be these The acts of faith in this particular and such like First It calleth to remembrance the free and gratious couenant which God hath made with the belieuing parents and their posteritie I am thy God Gen. 17.7.9 Act. 2.39 and the God of thy seed For the promise is made vnto you and to your children and to al that are a farre off euen as many as the Lord our God shal call which couenant as it is made with the parents and their seed so doth the faith of the parent apprehend the promise of the couenâ—nt for himselfe and for his seed And this is the ground of that tender which a Christian mâ—kes of his Child vnto holy Baptisme For by naturall generation the Children of belieuing parents are defiled with sinne and so vnder wrath but the are holy by couenant and free acceptation the belieuing parent embracing the mercifull promise of God for himselâ—e and for his posteritie Infants are not borne Christians by naturall birth but made Christians by vertue of the couenant God promising to accept them vpon offer made vnto him by the parents Secondly By faith the belieuing parents must giue themselues vnto God chusing him to bee their portion and resigning themselues in all things to be guided by his word in all estates and conditions Hee that would giue his childe vnto God must giue himselfe first Is it probable that Father can truly desire and long after the preferment of his childe in the Kingdome of grace here and of glory heâ—eafter who will not enter himselfe nor submit his will to the commandement of grace The promise is made to the faithfull and that faith only which drawes a man to yeeld vp soule and body as a liuing sacrifice vnto God pleasing and acceptable vnto his Maiestie doth quicken a parent truly sincerely freely and as he ought to make tender of his childe vnto God Thirdly It prouoketh parents to offer their children vnto God by heartie and vnfained prayer assoone as euer they haue receiued them from him Gods promise to accept our children calleth for prayer and supplication on our part that he would be pleased to make good his mercifull and free promise Thus Dauid reasoneth Thou O Lord 2. Sam. 7.27 of hosts God of Israel hast reuealed to thy seruant saying I will build thee an house therefore hath thy seruant found in his heart to pray this prayer vnto thee And so should euery Father O Lord thou hast couenanted to bee my God and the God of my posteritie therefore am I bold to intreat thy fatherly acceptance of my poore Infant Fourthly It considereth what a singular prerogatiue it is to be actually admitted into couenant with God receiued into his family and to haue his name put vpon vs to be partaker of the seale of regeneration remission of sinnes adoption and euerlasting inheritance solemnely to be made free of the societie of Saints and weare the Lords badge and liuerie And what an high and incomprehensible mercie it is that God hath promised and doth vouchsafe these great and inestimable blessings not only to himselfe a miserable and wretched sinner but also to his posteritie who by naturall generation are enemies to his Highnesse dead in trespasses and in bondage vnto the curse of the law With these or the like meditations of faith belieuing parents must present their children vnto Baptisme that they might receiue the seale of regeration remission of sinnes and spirituall libertie that the Name of God might bee set vpon them and their names registred amongst the free Denisons of the heauenly Ierusalem And feruent effectuall prayer doth accompany this admission that God would bee pleased to accept the partie baptized for his childe by grace and adoption release him of his sins and make him partaker of his euerlasting kingdome Faith belieueth what God promiseth as hee promiseth it and beggeth feruently what hee giueth freely Fiftly It stirreth vp heartie reioycing in the Lord that hee hath vouchsafed in tender compassion to looke vpon them and their posteritie and thus to honour and aduance them for the truest Nobilitie is to bee made a Christian and to liue in fauour with God A worldly Father would much reioyce if his childe should bee preferred to some chiefe Office in the Princes Court assoone as it was borne A Christian Father hath much greater cause of ioy that he is admitted not as a seruant but as a sonne and heire into the Court of the great King of Heauen and Earth If parents can compasse but a Lease of some Farme for â—hemselues and theirs they are glad and shall they not reioyce that God hath by couenant and seale passed the grant of the Kingdome of Heauen to them and theirs Sixtly It stirreth vp parents to be diligent and carefull to bring vp their children in information and feare of the Lord being instant with God to blesse their endeauours for the good of their children and the glorie of his name For thus faith perswadeth Thy childe is not thine but the Lords thou hast dedicated him vnto the seruice of his Maiestâ—e and he fâ—om whom thou receiuedst him at first hath committed him to thy charge to bee trained vp in his feare It is a great honour to bee trusted with such a châ—rge and it is a fearefull sinne to neglect so great a trust Wilt thou consecrate thy childe to God this day and leaue him to the Deuill for euer after Wilt thou teach him a trade that hee might liue as a Man and not teach him the way of godlinesse that he might liue as a Christian Didst thou not vndertake for his education in the true Religion and wilt thou neglect the peâ—formance of that solemne oath Mar. 10.25 16. Christ commanded the children of Christian parents to be brought vnto him and wilt thou present them vntaught and ignorant of the Christian faith The same conscience which moued parents to offer their children to Baptisme will quicken them to endeauour their education in the true faith and seruice of God By faith wee should make right vse of our Baptisme Baptisme is a seale of the couenant betwixt God vs of Gods promise to vs that he will be our God and of our promise to him that we will be his people repent of our sins belieue in Christ walk before him in sincere obedience For signification force vse fruit it continueth not for a moment of time but for the whole course of a mans life It doth respect not only the time past and present but that which is to