Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	faith_n	grace_n	instrumental_a	1,802	5	11.6254	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91898	Panoplia. Universa arma. Hieron. Or, The Christian compleatly armed: being a treatise of the Christians armour, clearly opening every part thereof, both pressing to the putting of it on, and instructing us so to use it, as we may not be soyled in time of temptation. / Delivered by that late reverend, and faithfull minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Ralph Robinson, pastor of Mary Woolnoth, London, to his congregation there, in several lectures: and now published for the further benefit of the Church of God.	Robinson, Ralph, 1614-1655.	1656 (1656)	Wing R1710; Thomason E1586_2; ESTC R208953	180,905	372

the contrary vertues 13 Look very narrowly to the heart the inward man It 's impossible to preserve Holiness of life if Corruptions be not dayly purged out of the heart Let the blood of Jesus be sprinkled upon the heart every day purge the Conscience and then the Conversation will be kept clean also Out of the abundance of the heart c. Matth. 15. 18. EPHES. 6. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lect. 14. Janu. 9. 1649. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 IN these words we have the third piece of the spiritual Armour The preparation of the Gospel of peace In which we shall consider of these three things 1. The Epithite given to the Gospel Evangelium pacis 2. The Armour it self The preparation of the Gospel 3. The Subject of this Armour the part of the body upon which it is to be put the Feet I shall at this time onely go over the first of these viz. The Commendation given to the Gospel And it teacheth us this lesson viz. That the Gospel is a Gospel of peace Doctrine In the opening of which Doctrine I shall 1. shew you what the Gospel is 2. What peace this is 3. How the Gospel is a Gospel of peace 4. Answer an Objection against it 1. The Gospel according to the notation of the word signifieth good news glad tydings so the greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so the hebrew word Desporah signifieth it is here used to set forth the joyful tidings of salvation by Jesus Christ first preached to Adam in Paradise by God himself Gen. 3. 15. afterwards by the Prophets by Jesus Christ himself and his Apostles The Doctrine of free grace and obtaining righteousness by faith in Christ without the works of the Law It s called in the Scripture sometimes The word of Gods grace Acts 14. 3. because it doth reveal the riches of Gods grace to the children of men for their salvation Sometimes it s called the word of faith Rom. 10. 8. because it holds out faith in Christ as the instrumental cause of our salvation Sometimes it s called the grace of God Titus 2. 11. Sometimes it s called the mystery of Christ Ephes 3. 4. because it doth reveal Jesus Christ to the sons of men in his person natures offices benefits conveyed by him to such as beleive Sometimes the hidden wisdom of God 1 Cor. 2. 7. It s wisdom because it contains the wise design and plot of God for the saving of sinners And its hidden because it was from eternity hidden in the secret counsels of God till he was pleased to make it known to Adam and because Rom. 16. 25. it is still hidden from many who have not the knowledge of it and because many who know it in the letter do not savingly embrace and entertain it Sometimes it s called the word of life Phil. 2. 16. because by the right beleiving of it men are translated from the state of death to the state of life Sometimes the unsearchable riches of Christ Ephes 3. 8. because in this shop it is that all those riches are laid abroad to the view of men Sometimes it s called the good word of God Hebr 6 5. Every word of God is good the Law is a good word all the threatnings are good they come from him who is good the matter of them is good the end of them is good but the Gospel is by way of eminency called the good word because the greatest goodness and mercy that God ever manifested to his creatures is contained in the Gospel God was very good to man in creation the goodness of God was expressed in the Covenant of works but the highest expression of goodness and love lies in the Gospel And in the Text it s called the Gospel of peace the reason of which we shall see when we have done with the next particle viz. 2. What peace is here meant There is a threefold peace 1. Peace with the Creature of this Eliphaz in Job speaks Chap. 5. 23. Thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field and the beasts of the field shall be in peace with thee He is said to be at peace with the Creatures who is in such a condition that no Creature can be an instrument of his hurt but all creatures are instruments of his good and serviceable to him for his advantage All things are yours things present and things to come 1 Cor. 3. 21 22. 2. Peace with a mans self Peace of conscience of this the Apostle speaks Rom. 15. 13. The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing This peace is a fruit and consequence of faith of this our Saviour speaks Math. 11. 28. Come unto me c. and ye shall find rest to your soules When the soul apprehending the pardon of sin and assurance of Gods love is freed from those fears and horrors which attend unjustified sinners 3. Peace with God Which is nothing else but Reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ of which the Apostle speaks Rom. 5. 1. Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ For the understanding of this we are to consider man in his threefold state 1. In the state of Innocency In this state man had peace and communion with God God and man were united in a Covenant of friendship There was nothing but Amicableness between God and man man was able to know God as the chief good To will God as the last end of all To give God the glory of his works actively To converse with God There was nothing in him opposite to God or in God till man by sin on his part had made a breach 2. In the state of corruption or the fallen estate of man This is a state of enmity and wrath God and man in this state are at deadly fewd one with another They are said to be afarre off from God they are said to be without hope and without God in the world Ephes 2. 12. Sin hath made such a wide distance that there is no hopes for God and man to come together as friends untill some meanes be used for the removal of this distance This is the state in which all unregenerate persons are The wrath of God abideth on them John 3. 36. In this state man is opposite to God His nature is opposite to God His wayes are contrary to God His heart is full of hatred to him And in this state God hath put man under Rom. 1. 30. the curse and is resolved to have his envy out of him 3. In the state of Graee or regeneration This is a state of reconciliation It consists in these four things 1. The wrath and displeasure on Gods part is quite done away so that he loves the persons and carrieth no indignation in his breast against them Some think that there is no reall wrath in God towards the vessels of election while they are in their natural

there is a fourfold kind of faith Historical Temporary The faith of Miracles Justifying ●reden Deo faith 1. Historical faith is the knowledge and beleef of the truth of divine Revelations upon the testimony of God himself Of this the Apostle speaketh Jam. 2. 19. This faith was in Simon Magus Acts 8. 13. 2. The faith of Miracles is a special gift of bringing to pass some extraordinary work or foretelling some certain event by devine revelation 1 Cor. 13. 2. Mat. 17. 20. 3. Temporary faith is an assent unto the Doctrine of the Scriptures accompanied with the external profession thereof and some kind of joy in the knowledge thereof for a time vide Mat. 13. 20 21. Of this faith the Apostle speaks when he saith that Hymeneus and Philetus have overthrown the faith of some 2 Tim. 2. 18. 4. Justifying and saving faith of which the text speaks the great effect of it doth clearly evince it to be a faith of the best kind for no other faith besides justifying can quench the fiery darts of Satan Now in opening the nature of this grace I shall do two things 1. I shall give you a discription of it 2. I shall shew the several steps or degrees of it 1. For the Discription of it I shall give it thus Saving faith is a supernatural special gift of grace wrought in the heart of an elect person by the spirit of God through the preaching of the word of the Gospel whereby he is enabled to beleeve that Jesus Christ is not onely the Saviour of the World but his Saviour and thereupon cast himself upon him for life and salvation according to the promise I shall open this Discription 1. T is a a gift of grace Eph. 2. 8. Phil. 1. 29. Acts 18. 27. He helped them much who had beleeved through grace 1. The first preparing of the heart to it 2. The first plantation of it the infusing of the habit 3. The means whereby it is wrought 4. The preservation and continuance of it all these are of grace Faith is a part of the new Creature the great and chief part of it and the new Creature is meerly of garce T is called indeed a mans own faith subjective but effective originaliter t is meerly of grace Col. 2. 12. The faith of the operation of God 2. T is a special supernatural gift This doth distinguish it from all other kinds of faith and all other common gifts which are bestowed promiscuously upon men by the Lord Heb. 6. 4. T is an evtraordinary gift afforded unto none but special favourites 3. T is wrought in the heart of an elect person T is bestowed onely upon the elect Here the Apostle calls it the faith of Gods Elect Tit. 1. 1. Ye beleeve not because ye are not of my Sheep John 10. 26. And then t is wrought in the heart the Scripture makes the herrt or will to be the seat of faith Rom. 10. 10. With the heart man believeth unto righteousness The will rather than the understanding is the subject of faith because faith is an act of Election whereby the soul chuseth Christ Now election is more than an act of the understanding 4. T is wrought by the spirit of God through the preaching of the Gospel This sets out both the efficient cause and the instrumental cause The efficient cause is the Holy Ghost not excluding the Father and the Son for Opera Tunilatis ad extra sunt indivisa but the Holy Ghost is the immediate worker of it the Father and Son work this and all other graces by the Spirit and therefore he is called The spirit of faith 2 Cor. 4. 13. And the Spirit works it powerfully not only inciting and stirring up the soul to believe by a moral perswasion only but by an Almighty strength creating such an habit in the heart The Apostle therfore mentions the same power for the working of faith which raised up Jesus Christ from the dead Eph. 1. 19. And then the ministry of the Gospel that 's the instrumental cause Rom 10. 17. called therefore the word of faith Rom. 10. 8. Faith is therefore called the fruit of the lips Isa 57. 19. And we shall do well to take notice of this that the Apostle makes it to be the word preached by a lawful instituted Ministry Rom. 10. 15. It s not the preaching of men that run upon their own account but of such as are lawfully sent to preach the Gospel 5. Whereby he is perswaded that Jusus Christ is not onely the Saviour of the World but his Saviour also Faith must have not only have a general beleef but a particular application also The just shall live by his faith Who loved me and gave himself for me 6. And thereupon casts himself upon Christ for life and salvation according to the promise This shews the very nature of faith T is Recumbency upon Christ T is cleaving to God with full purpose of heart Acts 11. 23. T is the casting of our burden upon Christ T is coming to Christ as to a living Stone Faith is nothing else but the souls venturing it self upon Christ according to the promise This I ad according to the promise to distinguish true faith from false presumption 2. The several steps or degrees of this grace I shall give you that in six particulars 1. Knowledge T is impossible that there should be faith in Christ or in any thing propounded by God till there be the Knowledge of it T is true knowledge is not faith they are two several distinct habits yet it necessarily preceeds faith Faith is the sight of the mind now sight presupposeth a visible object The Apostle makes it impossible to beleeve where knowledge is not Ro. 10. 14. How shall they beleeve in him of whom they have not heard there is a knowledge indeed which followes faith 1 John 4. 16. We have known and beleeved the love that God hath to us Faith is called knowledge Isa 53. 11. Faith is an Cognovenius credendo Calvin advised grace it will not rush headlong into unknown paths when Christ asks the man when he had restored to his sight whether he did beleeve on the Son of God he answered that question with another Who is he Lord that I might beleeve on him John 9. 35 36 37 38. and when he knew the person then he both beleeved and worshiped him 2. Assent After the knowledge of the thing propounded is wrought in the understanding then followeth the Act of the Will giving an assent unto that which is known John 3. 33. This setting to of the seal is nothing else but the firm assent of the soul unto the truth revealed that Gods Testimony is true in every thing to which it gives witness This is that which is recorded of Abraham Gen. 15. 6. He beleeved in the Lord i. e. he did freely yeild his assent to the truth firmness stability of all that which God had delivered to him

work and his desire is that he may make an even furrow that he may draw a strait line and keep himself in Gods way let come on him what will Not as if a Child of God might not warp from Gods way they have their deviations Peter and Barnabas two great Apostles they did not alwayes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vid. Gal. 2. 12. 13 14. but then they do not continue in their wandrings they do not justifie their turnings aside they do not compel others to turn aside after them or do say that they have done well in so doing They are not angry with such as reprove them for their deviations Neither Peter nor Barnabas so much as murmured much lesse reviled Paul because he told them of their present deviations but presently reformed 3. It s expounded by Sincerity and godly simplicity So ye have it 1 Cor. 5. 8. Therefore let us keep the feast c. with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth Truth and sincerity are all one and sincerity and simplicity are one and the same thing also 2 Cor. 1. 12. Our rejoycing is this the testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity c. That which is sincere is simple and unmixed like white wooll never died Mel sincerum is honey unmingled without wax Farina sincera is flower never leavened A heart of truth is a heart uncompounded a heart not double a man of truth hath not a heart and a heart one for God and another for Mammon one for sin and another for righteousness he hath but one tongue and one heart he is single tongued and single minded his tongue and heart go together as Companions And then sincerity notes soundness a sincere heart is a sound heart a heart not putrified with rottenness and hypocrisie Though all men have hypocrisie in them yet all men are not Hypocrites Now take up all these together and they will declare fully what is meant by the grace of truth with which the Apostle would have us to be girded Not false hearted not in pretence and appearance not in word and tongue but a perfect an upright a sincere uncompounded Christian 2. For Caution I shall lay down two Rules 1. Though truth be of such use c. yet may a sincere and true hearted Christian be foiled for a time by some prevailing temptation We are not to judge either our selves or others to be presently hypocrites because we are surprized and overcome by a Temptation Hezekiah was a man of a perfect heart 2 Reg. 20. 3. and yet he was vanquished in battel in the day of temptation 2 Chron. 32. 31. In the buisness of the Embassadors of the Princes of Babylon c. God left him to try him David was a man of an uncorrupt heart God gives him that testimony and yet in the matter of Vriah Satan overcame him As a hypocrite and wicked man may stand out in some temptation so may a single hearted Christian be overtaken and insnared It s true they will recover themselves again out of these snares as Hezekiah and David did but they may be for a time taken prisoners Noah was a perfect man and that in a perverse and crooked Generation Gen. 6. 9. yet Satan surprized him and drew him into the sin of drunkenness Gen. 9. 21. Lot was an upright man in the sink of Sodom and yet he was overcome by temptation and drawn into the foul sins of drunkenness and incest Gen. 19. 32 33 34 35. We may soon take away sincerity from the earth if we make such conclusions 2. Though truth be of such use c. yet no Christian stands in the day of temptation for the merit of his sincerity Though no man have a promise of standing without this grace of truth yet is not any mans truth of heart the meritorious cause of his standing We stand by our sincerity but not for our sincerity As the Apostle concludes concerning faith 1 Pet. 1. 5. so we may conclude concerning uprightness We are kept by the power of God through sincerity Sincerity is the instrumentall cause but the power of God is the efficient This Paul confesseth in his temptation 2 Cor. 12. 9. I will glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me III. The Reasons of the Doctrine how it is that truth of heart is so useful for this warfare 1. Because this is the strength of all other graces and of all Ordinances Some Divines look upon sincerity not as a distinct grace but as that which is the perfection of every grace Truth of love is the perfection of love Truth of faith is the perfection of faith Truth of obedience is the perfection of obedience c. All which is within a man without the grace of truth is but like rotten wood which will soon break and never do any service in the day of Battel All which a man doth without sincerity is to no purpose He can suck out no vertue from any of the Ordinances of God neither prayer word Sacraments c. 2. Sincerity is that which engageth God to take our part in all temptations Where-ever integrity is there God is by his speciall grace to assist and enable the soul He stands far off from the rotten hearted Christian but his countenance doth behold the upright Psal 11. 7. That is an excellent place to this purpose which we have in Gen. 20. 5. 6. In the integrity of my heart c. Yea I know thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart c. therefore suffered I thee not to touch her We cannot say of Abimelech that he was a sincere believer for he was a profane King his integrity or truth of heart was but a meer morrall integrity he would not have taken Sarah had he known her to be the Wife of another man and therefore he professeth what he had done was done in the simplicity of his spirit God bears him witness that he spake the truth and therefore saith God I have kept thee that thou hast not touched her God did so approve of that simplicity of his that he preserved him from falling into that great sin and delivered him from the Devills snare if naturall and morall honesty doth engage God to take part with a man how much more will the grace of sincerity engage him James 4. 7 8. Resist the Devill and he shall fly Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you c. Purifie your hearts ye double minded The Apostle in that place would have Christians to engage God on their part in the day of temptation There will be no prevailing if God be not on our part But how shall we obtain this assistance from God he tells us Purifie your hearts ye double-minded A single-hearted Christian shall not want either the presence or power of God in the day of Battel This is clear also Gen. 15. 1. with 17. 1. Information 1. Do not wonder to

faith faile all fails and if faith hold all holds 4. How the grace of faith quencheth the fiery temptations of Satan I shall shew it in two particulars 1. Faith quencheth Temptations by removing out of the soul that which keepes Temptations burning Sin and corruption in the soul is that fewel which fires Satans temptations the lusts of our own hearts keep these temptations flaming in the soul Now faith is a purifier it takes away all the rotrenness which keeps temptatiuns alive Act. 15. 9. There are three things which concur to the purifying of the soul 1. The efficient cause this is the spirit of God who is therefore called the spirit of sanctification and holiness 2 Thess 2. 13. 2. The meritorius cause this is the laver of Christs blood 3. The instrumental cause this is faith Faith is the branch of Hysop which was to be dipped in the blood of purification for the sanctification of him that was unclean Lev. 14. 6. There are many wayes whereby faith cleanseth the heart 1. Faith cleanseth as it takes hold upon the promise of sanctification The promise Ezech 36. 25. Now faith is that grace which works this promise so as to bring cleansing out of it Faith sucks cleansing out of this promise 2. Faith purifieth as it brings the word of God home effectually and powerfully to the soul The word of God hath a cleansing vertue John 15. 3. Now ye are clean through the word I have spoken to you Faith applies this cleansing word to the soul and so purifieth 3. Faith purifieth in that it makes all other ordinances effectual for our cleansing as Sacraments Prayer neither the blood of Christ in baptisme nor the Supper become purgative without faith Heb. 10. 22. Let us draw near in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience c. 4. Faith cleanseth as it sets other graces a work in the soul Love fear humility repentance c. are made operatively the grace of faith Faith is as the primum mobile which by its moving sets all other graces a moving vide Heb. 11. We read there how by faith all other graces were made operative Faith sets Noahs fear Abrahams obedience Moses his self-denial c. a working Faith puts the soul upon praying repenting examining c. all which have a tendency to purification 5. Faith cleanseth as it strengthens the souls union with Jesus Christ The soul is purified by union with Christ now it s the work of faith to incorporate the soul further into this root Faith shewes the soul more and more of the glory of Christ and so transforms us into the same Image from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3. 18. 2. Faith quencheth the fiery darts of Satan by bringing to the soul that which helps the soul to put them out Faith interposeth five Screens to keep off Satans darts viz. 1. Faith brings the merit of Christs death and helps the soul to fence it self with that against temptation Faith goes out to the Crosse of Jesus Christ and lets the soul see his triumph over principalities and powers Coll. 2. 15. Faith fetcheth to the soul the water of the well of Bethelem which is by the gate and pours that upon the fiery darts the blood of Christs Crosse will quench all the wild fire of temptation and this faith brings 2. Faith brings to the soul the merit of Christs Intercession which he makes continually for his people at Gods right hand I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not Luke 22. 32. Faith interposeth this botween the soul and the fiery darts and so puts them out 3. Faith brings to the soul the promises of Victors which God hath made to his people over their temptations As that Rom. 1. 20. The Saviour of peace shall bruise c. Faith interposeth this promise between the soul and the fiery darts and so quencheth them 4 Faith brings to the soul all the Attributes of God his power his wisedome his all-sufficiency and sets these between the soul and the fiery darts and so quencheth them Thou comest against me with a sword and spear but I come against thee in the name of the Lord God of Israel 2 Sam. 17. 45. 5 Faith brings to the soul all the excellencies of Gods former assistance both to himself and to other the servants of God in the day of their temptations it lets the soul see how Job and David and Peter overcame c. The Lord who delivered me out of the paw c. 1. Sam. 17. 37. USE I. INformation We may from hence draw these four Conclusions 1. This shewes us both the Lect. 19. Feb. 13. 1649. Necessity and the Excellency of the grace of justifying Faith The Apostle cals it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Pet. 1. 1. It s a very precious grace Many things may be said to set out the necessity and the worth of this grace Faith is that by which alone we please God Heb. 11. 6. Neither praying hearing meditating suffering c. is accepted of God without faith Heb. 11. 4. Faith is that by which we receive all the intelligence we have from heaven while we are in our earthly pilgramage 2 Cor. 5. 6. Faith is that vessel by which only we draw water out of the wells of salvation Isa 12. 3. Faith is that which unites us to Christ and Christ to us Faith is the souls eye by which it sees things invisible Heb. 11. 7. Faith is the souls hand by which it receives all the good which is in the promise Take eat this is my body Faith is the souls foot by which it stands in storms and by which it is carried through its pilgramage Come unto me all ye that labour c. Faith is the foot on which we come Thou standest by faith be not high minded but fear Faith is that by which we spiritually live The life that I live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God c. It would take up a whole volum to set out to the life the Necessity and Excellency of this grace of faith I shall onely keep to the Doctrine it s the souls shield whereby it is defended in time of Temptation whereby all the venimous Arrows of Satan are extinguished and put out He that wants faith is weak blind lame dead c. 2. This lets us see why it is that Satan prevailes so much in the world All men saith the Apostle have not faith 2 Thess 3. 2. Most men fight without a shield and so lye open to Satans darts Hypocrites they are overcome for want of the girdle vicious persons are vanquished for want of the breastplate weak hearted persons are put to the worse for want of the shooes and unbeleevers fall in battel for want of the shield There are so few conquerours because there are so few beleevers When the Son of man commeth shall he find faith in the erath Luke 18. 8. Our Saviour

dye either presuming or dispairing And you will be encouraged to this if you consider how many thousands have been brought out of themselves unto faith in Christ by the power of Gods Spirit working in and by this meanes Hereby Lydia was brought out of unbeleef Hereby the Jewes who crucified Christ were brought to beleeve in Jesus Christ for the saving of their souls Acts 2. 37. Now when they heard this they were pricked in their heart c. There is still the same Institution and the same effectual Power of the holy Spirit in this Ordinance for the working of the same disposition in thy heart Thus much for the fourth piece of this spirituall Armour the shield of Faith The next is the Helmet of Salvation of which in the next verse EPHES. 6. 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And take the Helmet of Salvation IN these words we have the fifth Lect. 27. Feb. 21. 1649. piece of the spiritual Armour which is recommended to a Christian for his safe standing in the day of spiritual encounters viz. The Helmet of Salvation It is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Because it doth totum caput circumqua que munire The Helmet is that defensive Armour wherewith the Souldier doth protect his head and face from danger in the day of battel That which is meant by this Helmet is the grace of the hope of salvation so it is interpreted by this Apostle in 1 Thess 5. 8. Let us who are of the day be sober putting on the breast plate of faith and love and for an helmet the hope of salvation The hope of salvation is called Salvation by a metonymy because it doth expect salvation and because where it is true it doth produce and bring forth salvation As salvation is the end of faith so it is also the end of hope Col. 1. 5. And therefore the Holy Ghost gives to it the name of salvation We read in Scripture of a twofold salvation A Temporal and an Eternal Salvation Of the temporal Salvation we read Exod. 14. 13. 1. The outward deliverance of the Lord Psal 37. 39. c. Of eternal Salvation we read Luke 19. 9. Though hope be exercised about temporal Salvation c. Yet here eternal Salvation is meant In the words we may for method sake observe tow things 1. The thing enjoined The hope of Salvation 2. The manner of the injunction Take The lesson from the whole is this Viz. He that would withstand and overcome Satan in the day of Temptation must be very careful to Doctrine take and keep the well grounded Hope of eternal Salvation as an Helmet upon his head In the handling of which Doctrine I shall open these three things 1. I shall open the nature of this grace of Hope shew how it agrees with and how it differs from the former grace of Faith 2. I shall shew you wherein the grace of Hope is like a Helmet 3 Wherein its useful to resist and overcome Temptations 1. Hope is a saving grace of Gods holy spirit wrought in a regenerate person whereby he doth firmly and patiently expect the certain accomplishment of all future good which God hath promised and faith beleeves In the opening of this Description we shall see both wherein it agreeth and wherein it differs from faith There is such an Affinity between faith an hope that they can hardly be differenced they cannot be separated one from another they have respect one to another as the two Cherubins on the mercy seat Exod. 25. 20. And yet they are really distinguished in the Scripture they are several things Now abideth Faith Hope and Charity 1 Cor. 13. 13. The Scripture makes them three several things The agreement and difference of them will be manifested by the unfolding of the former Description 1. Hope is a saving grace of Gods Spirit I say a saving grace to difference it from that natural Hope which is not saving we read of a hope that is as a spiders web Job 8. 14. Of a hope that shall be cut off Job 8. 14. Of a hope that shall be as the giving up of the ghost Job 11. 20. And then I say of Gods Spirit to shew the pedigree and the original of it The Scripture makes it to be a fruit and work of Gods Spirit Now herein faith and hope agree they are both in regard of their nature saving graces and they are both from the spirit of God as the fountain and efficient cause 2. Wrought in a regenerate person This is the subject of it Neither the profane person nor the hypocrite hath this glorious flower of hope growing in them that natural hope is found both in wicked persons and hypocrites but this saving hope hath abiding only in the hearts of such as are truly converted Now here also it agrees with faith As both of them proceed from the same root so both of them have the same general subject they differ in the particular subject Luther ut supra faith is in the understanding hope in the Will 3. Whereby he doth expect This word notes the nature of this grace Expectation or waiting is the proper work of hope Thus the Scripture doth express it Psal 62. 5. My soul wait thou onely upon God for my expectation is from him Psal 130. 5. I wait for the Lord my soul doth wait and in his word do I hope Psal 123. 2. As the eyes of servants c. so our eyes waite upon the Lord untill that he have mercy upon us Nor is it a slight careless expectation but a very vehement intention both of body in expecting and waiting when a man doth stretch out his spirit and mind to look for a thing so the word Karah signifies Isa 8. 17. I will wait upon the Magná intentione corporis erectione expectare Lord that hideth his face c. and I will look for him The Apostle sets it out by a greek word of the same signification 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8. 19. The earnest expectation of the Creature c. It signifies to look with a stretched out neck as a condemned prisoner for a hope for pardon Now herein it differs from faith faith is not in expectation but in making things evident hope is in expectation and waiting for things evidenced by faith 4. It expects firmly and patiently These two properties of hope we have in Scripture 1. It expects firmly or certainly The Apostle mentions the full Assurance of hope Heb. 6. 11. Hope is never without assu●ance saith Mr. Pemble though not of the thing yet of perswasion for the firmness and stedfastness of it is compared to an Anchor Heb. 6. 19. Which hope we have as an Anchor of the soul both sure and stedfast 2. It expects with patience 2 Thess 3. 5. The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and the patient waiting for Christ Faith is our Logick saith Luther to conceive what we must beleeve Hope

to have a clear and exact knowledge in the Mysteries of Truth It is not in vain that the Scripture doth so earnestly call upon men to learn and to get and to keep the truth of Doctrine delivered in the Scriptures Buy the truth and sell it not Prov. 23. 23. Stand fast and hold the traditions which ye have been taught whether by word or our Epistle 2 Thes 2. 15. not unwritten traditions the Doctrines and Commandments of men but such as have been taught by the Apostles either by word or by their writings Watch ye stand fast in the faith quit you like men be strong 1 Cor. 16. 13. The word of God is full of such warnings and admonitions as these are And not without cause whether we consider the worth of truth in it selfe or the usefulness of it unto us It s necessary to the soul in many respects it s the light by which we see our way by which we know what to do what not to do it s a great part of our spirituall Armour by which we fight against temptations It s as great a strengthening to the Christian in fighting against Satan and his Instruments as the Souldiers belt or girdle is to him in the day of battel Take two Christians of equall grace and let them be assaulted with the same Temptation and let the one be sound in the Doctrine of Truth and the other corrupt and you will easily see the difference between the one and the other by the issue of the temptation the Doctrine of truth is as necessary for fighting against Satan as the grace of truth I note this to let all of us see what little reason any have to be displeased either with the Ministers of God or other of the Servants of God for their earnestnesse pertinacy if I may so speak in preserving the truth of Doctrine both among themselves and others They know the many advantages of it and therefore they are so zealous for the maintaining of it Paul though he was of as flexible and condescending a spirit as any other whether Apostle or ordinary Saint in all other things for he became all things to all men that he might by all means save some 1 Cor. 9. 19. 20 21 22. yet he was so positive and peremptory for the Doctrine of truth that he would not give place by subjection to false Brethren for an houre that the truth of the Gospel might continue with the people of God Gal. 2. 4. 2 'T is no wonder to see Satan use such endeavour to deprive the Sons of men of the Doctrine of truth In all ages of the Church he hath raised up his Instruments to draw men aside from the truth of Doctrine There shall be false Teachers saith the Apostle amongst you as there were false Prophets amongst the people 2 Pet. 2. 2. The Church of God as it was never destitute of true Prophets so never was it without false Prophets In the Church of Israel there were a numerous Company of seducing Prophets As there was an Elijah a holy and zealous Prophet of God so there were 456. Prophets of Baal 1 King 18. 22. The state was corrupted and they made to themselves a corrupt Ministry of their own an apostatizing State must have an apostatizing Clergy that will humour them and subscribe to them in every thing they do when Satan had perswaded Jeroboam to set up golden Calves he helped him to a Ministry that would worship them and teach others to do the like State Ministers will cry up Calves for gods rather then want promotion or lose preferment And thus it was in the Gospel Church All Pauls Epistles shew it This ariseth 1. partly from the sinfulness of men They must have their lusts and a lust cannot thrive if it have not a false Prophet to nurse it and give it suck And 2 partly from God he in his wisdom and justice permits it to be so that they that would not obey the words of a true Prophet should follow the pernicious Doctrines of fal● Prophets 1. Reg. 22. 23. And then 3 it comes to passe from the policy and malice of Satan that he may by this means rob men of the truth and so make them fit preys for his temptations And we need not much wonder at this policy Satan knowes he is in danger of being foiled if he suffer this girdle to be upon the soul and that he shall certainly overcome if he can but pluck this off the loyns therefore he is so diligent in attempting it laying snares to intrap the true Ministers of God and opening a wide door for false Prophets and seducers to enter in and corrupt the truth 3 We have no cause to wonder to see the Devill so prevalent amongst hereticall and erroneous persons Woful experience shews us what desolations are made by Satan in our corrupt Generation what mischievous wayes of iniquity many are led into Many are drawn aside into great profanenesse of life others are sunk deep into rebellion others are gone aside into the way of perjury and Covenant-breaking others into wayes of cruelty persecution and oppression others almost into grosse Atheisme we may take up the Complaint of the Prophet Isay 59. 3. 4 5 6 7 8. Your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity your lips have spoken lies your tongue hath muttered perverseness none calleth for justice nor any pleadeth for truth they trust in vanity and speak lies they conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity they hatch Cockatrice Eggs and weave the Spiders Webs he that eateth of the Eggs dyeth and that which is crushed breaketh out into a Viper their works are works of iniquity and the act of violence is in their hands Their feet run to evill and they make haste to shed Innocent blood their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity wasting and destruction are in their paths The way of peace they know not and there is no judgement in their goings they have made them crooked paths whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace A man would wonder to see and hear the horrible wickednesses that many are fallen into some openly profane the Sabbaths others defile their Neighbours wife and think they do not sin in so doing The cause of all these may be given in the words of the same Prophet Isay 59. 14. 15. Truth is fallen in the streets yea truth faileth The Devil hath taken away from them this Girdle of Truth and now they stop at no kind of abominations The Girdle of truth is quite loosed and this doth so enervate and weaken them that they are forced to do what ever the Devil requires of them And can ye wonder at it The losse of truth will certainly introduce all kinde of iniquity And that both ex Natura Rei and ex justo Dei judicio 1. Ex Natura Rei The understanding is the first wheel in man it turns about the whole man as the Helme doth the Ship if