what to do I refer to that passage in the 107 Psal. his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord he shall not be moved for any evil tidings when a man can say as the Prophet in the Psalm which is reckoned to Luther because of his making so much use of it God is our refuge and strength a present help in the time of trouble we will not fear though the mountains be troubled and though all things be in a confusion the Lord of Hosts is with us and the God of Jacob is our refuge this is the Faith we should endeavour to and Faith of such a growth we should press after Again such a Faith as in a day of affliction and tribulation we may live I and live cheerly and comfortably I and in a full condition The just shall live by Faith and the just shall live in fulness if so be that Faith be but of a due growth I am come that ye might have life and that you might have it more abundantly and the more we improve in Faith the more abundantly we shall live and at a higher rate Be full in emptiness be rich in poverty be strong in weakness be free under restraint and let the condition be what it will by having a well-grown Faith we shall but seem to be afflicted when others reckon upon it that we are most really afflicted O 't is a notable passage that of the Apostle in 2 Cor. 6. saith he we are as unknown and yet well known as dying and behold we live as chastened and not kill'd as sorrowful yet alwaies rejoycing as poor yet making many rich as having nothing and yet possessing all things I confess it is a most wonderful thing and yet this is that that a well-groâ—… Faith will inable to That when a child of 〈◊〉 in the lowest condition and according to the judgement of others the most really miserable man mark what I say that can be in the World Yet notwithstanding he can give this account I am but as it were thus and thus this is the noble act of Faith Sorrowful O you are a company of sorrowful poor creatures nay saith the Apostle we are but as sorrowful O you are miserably poor and beggerly nay saith he mistake not we are but as poor indeed we are rich you take us to be the most sorrowful and poor miserable creatures in the World we are indeed as such we seem to be so and you take us to be so you take us to be such as have nothing as having nothing and yet saith he we possess all things Why what a wonderful thing is this that the Faith of a Beleever should carry to this and yet this a well-improved Faith will inable to and by this we are to discover that it is a well-grown Faith Saith the Apostle I have learned in every estate therewith to be content I can be full and be hungry I can abound and suffer want Suffer want I saith he I can reckon of a fulness in my want I have all and abound what a blessed thing was this And O how much preciousness is there in the Grace of Faith and such a Faith should we endeavour to attain to and of such a growth that we may bear up with rejoycing hearts in tribulation in all tribulations and in the want of all things make our boast and say with the Prophet in Hab. 3. Though the Figg-tree shall not blossome and the labour of the Olive shall fail no Calves in the stall no Grass in the field nor Corn in the ground no Money in the purse no Bread in the cubbord every Brook is dry and every Prop and Pillar is pluck'd away yet saith he notwithstanding all this I will rejoyee in the Lord I will joy in the God of my Salvation SERM. V. SAints and Beleevers are called Trees of Righteousness The Planting of the Lord that he may be glorified I wish that this word may not only sound in our ears but sink into our hearts are they the planting of the Lord that he may be glorified How is it ever like that God should be glorified by such a plantation if so be that his planted ones stand at a stay and do not make some considerable growth answerable to time and means and opportunities to such a purpose We are therefore to know that it is as much our duty for to grow in Grace as it is to be made partakers of it I have been speaking to you concerning growth in Faith but what was delivered I shall less pass having some further addition to make something yet further this morning to offer out unto your consideration which if the Lord be pleased to accompany with his Grace and the working of his mighty spirit will be beneficial to us to the promoting of this cause that I now am ingaged in You that are Beleevers that have the Faith of Gods Elect your duty is to grow in Faith Now do bat weigh and consider and take heed that a deceived heart do not turn us aside It will appear that there is a growing in Faith when we come to have a large capacity for the entertaining of the Gospel-mysteries when the mysterie of the Gospel and of Godliness comes to stand in its proportion in our hearts and understandings when we have our hearts widened and inlarged to take in the mysterie of the Gospel so as that we have not only some weak low apprehensions of it which a smaller measure of Faith will inable to but when we come to have a comprehensiveness of heart so as that we can expasiate and inlarge our selves in our meditations of the glorious mysterie which by the Gospel is made known unto us When we come to walk as it were in the length and in the breadth of this mysterie we can come to view and surveigh all that glorious workmanship of God which he hath wrought in order to the salvation of poor souls we cannot only darkly apprehend but clearly behold the infinite wisdom and love and Grace that hath appeared to us in the contrivance of this great design concerning the salvation of sinners Truly this will be a clear proof and demonstration of a growth in Faith when our Faith takes in much of God much of Christ much of the mistery that we can discourse of it judiciously and affectionately and solace our selves in the contemplation of it we can with open face behold the glory of God as it shines in the face of Christ we can walk up and down in the length and breadth of the mysterie of the Gospel O this is a blossed proof and will be found to be so of a souls improvement and growth in Faith and in Grace Will you but consider of this when the Gospel and the mysterie of it the mysterie of Election Redemption Justification Reconciliation of a sinner to God the mysterie of Grace as it stands in opposition to the works of the Lâ—… the mysterie of the
we attend upon and are admitted to the participation of O Brethren this is a thing altogether unbecoming the spirit of a Saint When men are at this point if they have but enough to keep life and soul together if they have but bread to eat and clothes to put on though the fare be mean and the clothing be course yet if they have but enough of that but so much I say as will keep life and soul together they can be content Indeed such a spirit in respect of the World is to be approved on When we can be contented with a lower portion here in the World this is commendable in respect of a worldly state here But as to a state of Grace and Holiness it is that which is no way to be approved of that persons that have something of the Grace of God in them should rest contented in their lower measures Truly this is that which we have cause to be deeply humbled for O! how many to their shame may it be spoken are indeed the shame of the Gospel and of the Ordinances that it should be said of them quite contrary to that which our Saviour speaks concerning the Woman of Canaan O Woman great is thy Faith Truly Brethren it may be said of many of us O man O woman Great is thy unbelief Great is thy faith nay Great is thy unbelief Great is thy holiness nay truly thy holiness is very little thy love it s very low This is that we have cause to be deeply humbled for that we are not more in our improvements and advances of Faith and Godliness sutable to the command that is here given that we grow in Grace And yet further this is that which I would say It were not altogether so much to be lamented if this were all though there is cause enough of being humbled and abased before God upon this account that we are not more upon our advancement But alass how much sadder is it when we shall find persons upon their declining and decaying instead of growing in Grace truly it may be feared concerning such that they are rather upon their decayings in Grace not the men and women that once they were for love to God for zeal for God delight in Ordinances breathings after Christ delighting in Communion of Saints close walking with God O these retrograde motions these backward motions that 's the meaning of the word these drawings back and declinings O these are to be deeply laid to heart When this shall be said concerning one that seem'd to be full of light and love and zeal and resolution for God that he shall come to be upon his abatements and not look like the person that he seemed once to be When the account rises up concerning a Soul according to that in the Parable of the unjust Steward He takes an account How much owest thou fourscore put down fifty When there comes to be such a falling in the account when we cannot make out such a state as once we could when there is Ephesus-like a falling off a decaying in our first Love a cooling in our zeal for God O Brethren this is not to answer the duty of the Text The Text requires growing in Grace O how shall we be able to stand before this charge when Conscience shall witness to us that we are rather upon our declining Truly these things would be seriously thought of especially in such a day wherein we had never more need to look to our condition and state God-ward not knowing what times we may fall into what tryals we may be put to O we had need to look to it and according to the charge that was given to Ephesus to Repent do our first works to recover our selves and labour not only to hold our own but to be upon our improvements And therefore that 's the main thing I would drive at and which I would conclude this Discourse withal I would deal with you in a way of perswasion and exhortation and press it with as much earnestness as I could that as many of you that are the sons and daughters of Grace that can give any good account of the truth of the Grace of God that is in you that there is the true Grace of God in you and that it is the true Grace of God wherein you stand that you would conscientiously apply to your duty and remember that this is the charge that God hath laid upon you that you grow in Grace and that you be still endeavouring this that you be better and better that 's the interpretation that I gave of the Text and of the duty That you be still upon your advancings if you have Faith and Love and Holiness and the fear of God and Meekness and if you have any thing of Godliness that you would labour to have more of it that you may not be alwaies weaklings in Grace Oh this is that that we should set our hearts upon And doth not the very thing it self invite you to it Why Brethren can you have too much of God can you have too much of Christ can you have too much of Faith and Holiness you may have too much of the World but you can never have too much of God and Grace till you come to such a pitch of godliness that you need not make any further advances It was otherwise with Paul and he gives another account of himself though alas how far short are we of him and of that Faith and Grace that was attained by him Yet he professes though he was not behind the chiefest Apostles yet he saith this concerning himself that he did not account himself to have attained but he forgets what is behind and he reaches to that which is before and presses towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus I said before I say again you can never be too good for God you can never be too good for Christ you can never be too ripe for Heaven when you come to the issue and close of all you will find that you have no more than needs must the wise Virgins they found that they had nothing of their oyle to spare when the foolish Virgins came to them O let us buy of you and be supplied by you no say they lest we be at a loss for our selves When you have gotten as much Faith and Grace and spiritual strength and holiness by the means and ordinances that you do attend you will find all little enough And therefore O this is that should make us set on with diligence and care that we may answer the duty of the Text and be upon our Increasings and Growth in Grace SERM. III. THere must not only be life but growth in Christianity and this is the burden which the Text laies upon us That we grow in Grace Now letting pass the things that were insisted upon shall we buckle to this as our business at present My
Saviour Jesus Christ O it will spirit the soul and make it lively to the uttermost in publishing the praises of the most high God I instance only in Eph. 3. what the Apostle is praying on their behalf That they might be able to comprehend with all Saints the height and depth and breadth and length and know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge so that you may be filled with all the fulness of God And then mark what follows Now saith he unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us unto him be glory in the Church by Christ Iesus thâ—…ughout all ages world without end Amen Paul 〈◊〉 not hold his spirit was so full he was like a vessel that must either have a vent or burst it self O he being upon the meditation of this glorious Mysterie concerning Christ and the Doctrine of Christ why saith he Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly O how his heart was filled with praises and admirings of God upon the account of Christ. And there is one thing more now comes to mind wherein you may see the spirit of a Saint in the proper frame of it when there comes to be a due improvement of the Knowledge of Christ when the Apostle Paul in 1 Tim. 1. had been making mention of the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and comes to express his knowledge and sense of that Grace according to what you have exprest and held forth in that Chapter saith he The Grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with Faith and Love which is in Christ Iesus and so he goes on This is a Faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Iesus Christ came into the World to save sinners of whom I am chief howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy that in me first Iesus Christ might shew forth all long suffering for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to everlasting life Paul had been thus upon the serious meditation of this knowledge concerning our Lord Jesus Christ. Mark you now what his spirit rises up unto in the close of the Chapter Now saith he unto the King eternal having but made mention of Christ and spoken something concerning Christ and given some account of his knowledge of the mystery concerning Christ Mark how he breaks out into this acknowledgment Now unto the King Eternal Immortal Invisible the only wise God be Honour and Glory for ever and ever Amen and this comes in only occasionally in the way of a digression For he intermits the prosecution of the Argument he had in hand and falls upon this by way of a digression as if he should say O I cannot fall upon the mention of our Lord Jesus and of the mystery concerning him I cannot be upon the meditation of that knowledge which is to be had of Christ Jesus our Lord but saith he my heart must be breathing out in a way of praise and blessing of God admiring the riches of his Grace And thus would it be Brethren if we were but set to it to advance in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ O it would inlarge our hearts as unto prayer so unto thanksgiving and blessing of God I add yet further O this knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ it is a knowledge that Christians should endeavour to grow and advance in for it is by great growth in this they will come to be the more happily accomplished for the performing of the service of Preaching and Hearing I joyn these two together Preaching and Hearing of the Word of God And you may consider how a well-improved knowledge of our Lord Jesus would conduce most strongly to the provoking both of ministerial Preaching and likewise of Christian Hearing and attending upon the Doctrine which is to be made known unto us according to the Commandment of the Everlasting God For Preaching work O consider now that the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that knowledge that is to be had of him well advanc'd and improved will contribute exceedingly to the most lively management of this service Alas it 's accounted in the World but a low service and many times with too much lowness of spirit performed by those that profess to be called to the performance of it O but whence is it but from the want of a well-grown knowledge of our Lord and Saviour For consider Brethren this is that that we are to know concerning our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that the Word and Gospel which is the subject matter of our Preaching and your Hearing I joyn these two together Preaching-work and Hearing-work Now the word which is the subject matter of a Ministers Preaching and of a Beeleevers Hearing This word it comes out of the very heart of God out of the blessed bosome of the Eternal God And as a precious token of that love and respect that he bears to his Son he hath given out this word out of his own breast and bosome he hath given it and committed it as a trust unto his Son Will you consider this That this everlasting Gospel this word of Salvation which is the subject matter of our Preaching and your Hearing it is given as a testimony of the Fathers Love it is given to Christ observe that expression in Joh. 17. in the Prayer that our Saviour makes unto his Father saith he ver 8. I have given unto them the words which thou gavest unto me thou gavest the words to me first and then saith Christ I have given these words unto them our Lord professeth before all the World he makes this open profession saith he my Doctrine is not mine 'T is not mine considered as Mediator but it is the Doctrine of my Father which my Father hath given me and which he hath intrusted me with to make known unto the World and to communicate to my Disciples that by them the World may have the Knowledge of him Consider this that God the Father the Great Jehovah He gives this Word this Doctrine unto his Son Jesus Christ. Well this is that that is to be known concerning our Lord Jesus Christ that the Words and Doctrine is that which is given as a gift by the Father unto him and so likewise you have it in Rev. 1. the Revelation of Jesus Christ how came it to be his Consider that it 's resolved thus which God gave unto him to shew unto his Servants which must shortly come to pass and then he sent and signifyed by his Angel unto his servant John I but Christ hath a Revelation who gave it him God gives it him God hath given Christ all the whole plat-form and frame of Doctrine that concerns the Church of God his elect ones and called ones from the beginning unto the end of the World God the Father hath given this to the Son 2. This is that that is
that God hath kindled a spark that God hath made a plantation that he hath made some impress upon your spirits are you so perswaded Will you then consider with your selves that this duty lies upon your hand it is incumbent upon you you are charged with it that you grow that you do not rest in this that you have a spark but that you improve it to a flame that it be not only a plantation but that it be an augmentation this is the will of God this is that that is required of you The Father that hath begotten you by Grace and begotten you to Grace hath begotten you not that you should alwaies be babes in Grace no he hath not he would have you to be upon your growth and increase and that you may increase with all the increase of God this is your duty and you cannot deny it you must acknowledge it the text doth charge it upon you besides many other Scriptures that you grow in Grace I but is it so can you give a good account of it Nay consider whether your consciences have not this to blame you for and to use very sharp discipline upon you in regard in that of a truth you do not much intend this matter you do not much mind growth in Grace Truly I am very apt to think that there are many professors of the Gospel who it may be and we may comfortably hope they are sound in the main have the root of the matter in them and yet entertain very little thoughts of the matter concerning their growth The great business that they ingage themselves unto is this that they may labour to make as sure work as they can that there be the truth of Grace in their hearts that there be the root of the matter that there be a spark from Heaven struck into them and that is all Consider now whether that be not justly chargeable upon us if we can but make it out that there is a change wrought that there is something of the Grace of God in us that there is a quickening power that hath been put forth upon us that we are passed from death to life that we are not wholly under the power of darkness but that we have got an escape from under that black regiment under which we were held before and which we belong'd unto if we can but make this out we are apt to think that all is well enough if so be that we can but find that we have a Faith though it be but as a grain of mustard-seed if we have but a Faith of adherence that we can but hang upon Christ for life and salvation we are apt to please our selves in that condition and not driving on for increasing and improvements in the Grace that we have Truly Brethren this is a matter that would be seriously weighed and I speak now of a growth in Grace many may be found that are studious of a growth in gifts very much set to this to make advances in their knowledge in their parts and abilities that they may be accomplished for such and such services and for discourses and maintain controversies and disputes according as immergent occasions may ingage them But as for this growth in Grace O consider whether this be not chargeable upon us that we do not so much mind that nor do not commune with our own hearts and enter into a serious search with our selves O my soul how is it with thee Thou pretendest to be brought over to Christ and to have a plantation into Christ and thou reckon'st upon so long standing in Christianity thou hast been so long in Faith and brought over to Holiness O but my soul what progress hast thou made what advances are there what increases are there what account canst thou give this way O do we thus commune with our own hearts What am I better this year than I was the last I have lived so long under such and such precious powerful and plentiful means God gives me the showers and dews from Heaven from Sabbath to Sabbath distilling and dropping down upon me I have precept upon precept and line upon line but where 's my growth what am I the better how do I credit the means and ordinances that I do attend upon by my prosiciency Truly Brethren consider well of it it is a serious matter and that that we should be very solicitous about and so as persons that may be able to give a good account of our selves I tell you that it is an argument of a low spirit a spirit not so well becoming a Saint in Christ one of the called of God according to his purpose for to be contented as I have had occasion sometimes to speak with Ruben's blessing I allude to that passage of Moses concerning Reuben in the 33 Deut. Let Reuben live and not dye as if he should say It was a judgement indeed upon him that he should not excell because he had gone up to his Fathers couch he should have been the excellency of dignity and the excellency of power but he miscarried and prejudiced himself with respect to his advancement but yet that blessing he hath That he shall live and not die And so many it may be They can be content to set down with Reuben's blessing so they can but live and may not dye and damn If they can but make it out that they have so much Grace as will secure them from eternal perishing that they shall not go down to hell that they are passed from death to life and shall never come into condemnation If they can but make it out that there is something of the Grace of God in them though it be never so small so as that they shall not be put upon the left hand in the great day this is all they look after A low spirit unbecoming a Saint of God unbecoming the Gospel of Grace which we are called unto the fellowship of which doth so strictly and solemnly charge upon us that we be upon our improvement O Brethren as if so be that this were a spirit becoming a Saint of God! To look no further than this that there be a securing from hell and from eternal perishing whereas we should set our hearts upon this that we may not only have so much Grace as may distinguish us from the World and by which we may make it appear that we are not of the World but we should labour according to the spirit of the Gospel to be so advanced in Grace that we may be the honour of God and that we may carry on the cause of Godliness in an honourable and in a crediting way We should labour after so much Faith and so much Love and so much Holiness and so much of the Fear of God that we may go on strenuously and that we may be found to praise and honour and credit the cause of the Gospel and may not shame the ordinances that
yet the very same Law in the hand of Faith as it is a rule of Righteousness it is a rod in the hand and of precious use and this is that wherein the growth of Faith will discover it self when we can thus jadiciously manage the apprehensions of the Law so as to appeal from it and yet to apply to it To rejoyce in a freedom from it and from its severity and yet rejoyce in holding a complyance and correspondency with it as it is a gracious holy rule that God hath given us to conform unto And this is another thing which I offer to you to be judiciously considered of that you may shew forth the growth of your Faith in this way Yet further grow in Grace grow in Faith and how shall it appear Thus grow in Faith so as that while you remember former guilts deep and dreadful guilts that have been contracted upon you while upon review of former cursed carriages and practices upon review and upon reflection you can remember deep contracted guilt upon your consciences under which it may be you labour as under an unsupportable burden yet at that very time when the remembrance of former dreadful guilt contracted is reviv'd yet you can at the very same time bear up with a holy confidence towards God upon the account of that rich and glorious Grace which hath appeared by our Lord Jesus Christ while with freedom and as becomes a Gospel-spirit of ingenuity you can draw up a charge against your selves and say I was a Persecuter as Paul speaks I was a Blasphemer I was Injurious I was a notorious Drunkard I was a prophane cursed Swearer I was hellishly vitious thus and thus I was and thus and thus I do acknowledge I remember well how the case stood with me what a cursed course I took and how I run on in the rode to hell destruction without any fear controul how fast I was ripening sor hell and destruction I remember this and yet I can remember it without despondency I can't remember it without a breaking and bleeding soul to think that ever I should carry it so towards the Lord and yet withal I can bear up in a rejoycing spirit upon the account of super-abounding Grace While you can charge your selves so as it may be none in the World can make the like charge upon you Yet notwithstanding you can make a bold challenge and say with the Apostle in Rom. 8. who shall lay any thing to my charge This is an excellent thing and an argument of a well-improved and well-grown Faith when it comes to this and indeed it is no other than a Faith of good growth that will inable to this Poor weaklings in Faith and Grace when they come to remember their former cursed carriage O how apt to fall under deepest despondencies and to be possest with horror and astonishment and to be disputing against themselves and concerning their estate and ready to conclude alas how is it possible that ever such a miserable misereant as I should find Grace to releeve 〈◊〉 favour with God forgiveness of sins Surely this burden will sink my soul this guilt will press me down to hell such deep and dreadful guilt O such stains upon my conscience what can fetch them out what plaister broad enough to cover such sores what price great enough to say such debts A poor weakling in Faith is apt to argue thus to the sinking and over-whelming of his spirit But it is the Faith that is well-grown that will inable the soul at this same time eying guilt and eying Grace seeing the Plague and seeing the plaister and taking knowlodge of the super abundance of the Grace of Christ above his contracted guilt for to bear up with a holy confidence and as I said before to charge and challenge to charge it self and yet challenge the accuser and say who shall be able to lay any thing unto my charge I know whom I have beleeved I know whither I have sled for refuge I know where I have anchored I know upon what foundation I have built my hope and confidence upon here 's the well-grown Faith a Faith which will give the greatest Glory to God When a man can look upon all the evils that ever were committed by him with a melting dissolving soul yet notwithstanding bear up with boldness and say I but I know that not any thing of this shall ever be laid to my charge and I know whom I have believed Will you but weigh these things and consider of them and know that this is the Faith which we are to press after And so which follows upon the former such a growth in Faith should we press after as that while we see the corruptions that are in us and sadly complain of the pressures under which we lye and how miserably we are yoked while we do so and see cause to cry out with the Apostle O wretched man that I am by reason of what by reason of a law in my members rebelling against the law of my mind O miserable wretch what darkness is in my understanding what perversness in my will what inordinacy in my affections what a crabbed perverse nature have I O what a rebelling soul is there in me when I would do good evil is present and so the poor soul labours and makes sad complaints and moans in the ears of God yet notwithstanding at the same time can say with the Apostle but though it be thus yet blessed be God I thank God through Jesus Christ though I serve with my flesh the law of sin yet with my spirit I serve the Lord Jesus Christ though there be a rebelling law yet I find another law a law in my mind that makes opposition to that rebelling law and I find principles of Grace and Holiness acting most vigorously in opposition to those principles And though they tugg and wrestle and struggle with me yet I am utterly set against complyance with them and am resolv'd upon this that I will never make any league with them but I 'll do the utmost I can for to ruine them to be the death of them I thank God through Jesus Christ. This is now the Faith that we should press after that we may thus bear up with courage and resolution and while we see our own blemishes yet we can rejoyce to think what a beauty is upon us through Jesus Christ. We can see blemishes and yet we can see perfection of beauty that we are made comely through the comelyness which by Grace is put upon us Then again such a growth in Faith our duty is to press after and to endeavour to as that we may be able to say I am never more fearful to sin against God than when I am least fearful for to be condemned by God O it 's a blessed proof of a well-grown Faith and such a Faith should we endeavour to and a Faith of such a growth that we
strength of his Faith duly improved he may cry Victoria even while they are in the fight yet Victory Victory In all these things more than Conquerors This is the Victory so is a well improved Faith and such should the Faith of a Believer be and of such a growth that it should be his Victory I am hampred with lusts corruptions temptations and heavily prest with them and miserably yoked and the poor soul cryes out with the Apostle O wretched man that I am what a tedious wearysome life have I of it I cannot be quiet not a day to an end and yet triumph and say I thank God through Jesus Christ and so sing Victoria this is the Faith These things may seem to be somewhat hard things for Faith and alas poor creatures we are apt to startle at such kind of measures and statures when they are propounded to us thus to press after But this is the account that there is such an improvement to be made of it and such an improvement we should endeavour after and such a growth as we may come to this to have Faith to be our Victory my Faith is my Victory and I see my Victory in every stroke I strike and this is the growth that we should propound to our selves Shall I tell you yet further I am signifying to you that our Faith should be of such a growth as that it may be the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen that it may be the Victory that overcomes the World while the World seems to trample us down under feet with the scorns and reproaches and hard usages of it yet a Believer can say I thank God I have the World more under feet a thousand times than I am under it it seems to trample upon me but I trample upon it The Apostle speaks to that purpose I Glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by which saith he I am crucified to the World I and the World is as much crucified unto me as I am to it for its heart and I can set as light by it as it sets by me I can scorn the scorns and despise the despisings of the World and this our Faith will come to and if we be not a-wanting to our selves I would say this to the weakest Beleever in the Congregation his Faith will and shall come to this To be the evidence of things not seen To be the Victory that overcometh the World Yet further I add this This is the report and testimony that 's given to the Faith of a Beleever By Faith there hath been the subduing of Kingdoms working righteousness obtaining promises quenching violence of fire growing strong out of weakness turning to flight the Armyes of aliens opening of heaven binding up of heaven what not O the mighty things that are testified to be within the power of Faith to be obtained This is the testimony that 's given of Faith Now our Faith should be of such a growth and so improved that we may be able to justifie these testimonies in our own experience By Faith they subdued Kingdoms so the Apostle speaks in Heb. 11. What Kingdoms did Moses and Joshua subdue by Faith A Beleevers Faith should be of such a growth as that it may subdue Kingdoms Truly he that can subdue a kingdom of the Devil within him may be able to subdue all the Kingdoms of the World in a spiritual way Subdue Kingdoms and vanquish Armies saith David Though 10000 should encamp against me in this will I be confident Such a Faith as that it will do wonders work miracles such a Faith as hath a kind of omnipotency in it and can do all things through God in Christ my Faith in Christ is that whereby I am able to do all things Now such a Faith we should labour to grow to as may have such a mighty arm and power as it is able to carry all before it That 's the second thing 3. The Faith of a Beleever it should be of such a growth as that there may be an answering in a practical way unto those eminent examples of persons that have been of a well-grown Faith Consider what patterns there are Abraham he was a man of Faith and what was his Faith what was his pitch and stature and proportion I gave you something of account before but shall further express it Abraham he was a man of such a Faith as that God testified concerning him O Abraham he beleeved God and it was accounted to him for Righteousness When he had all the difficulties and discouragements that could be from resting upon the promise that God had made yet saith the Text He beleeved God God promiseth to him that he should have a son though his body was dead and Sarahs body was dead and according to nature there was no possibility that things should be brought to pass yet Abraham he considers neither one thing nor another but he doth eye the promise hath God said it It shall be done I shall have a son because God hath promised me a son and though I am 100 years old and Sarah 90 years old yet God hath said it there 's death in the body but there 's life in the promise and I rest upon it It 's the promise of a faithful God I will trust his word Abraham beleeved God and staggered not at the promise through unbelief but was strong in Faith giving Glory to God and he becomes the friend of God he would believe any thing that God speaks and he would perform any thing that God did require and so discovered himself in the way of his Faith to be the friend of God Now I say such a Faith was Abrahams and what should hinder but that we should be of such a Faith Surely Brethren this is our duty to be as good as Abraham was what should hinder why have not we as good Gospel as good Ordinances as precious means as ever Abraham had And what should hinder but that we should be of as good a Faith as Abraham was Such a Beleever was he as you heard of startled at nothing that God had promised but he would beleeve him and take him at his word Such a Beleever was Moses that as I told you he could stand up for God and bear up with a holy confidence concerning his Salvation when there was nothing but destruction before his eyes Fear not saith he fear not why there 's nothing but matter of fear before us Stand still why if we stand still our enemies will be upon the back of us and confound us The Egyptians are come out and are pursuing us with all the spight and rage that may be And see the Salvation of God why we can see nothing but destruction before us I but saith Moses Salvation is before your eyes and you may by Faith see and behold it Here was a well-improved Faith and to this pitch should we grow O What a Faith
did the woman of Canaan discover when notwithstanding all the discouragements that she had from the Lord Jesus one and another concerning the cause she was then in management of yet notwithstanding she sticks to him O when Christ told her he was not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and it was not meet to take the childrens bread and cast it to dogs and she might reckon upon her self as a dog why I am come for the benefit of the lost sheep of the house of Israel and thou art a Canaanite and what hast thou to do to make application to me Yet notwithstanding she sticks to him and holds her own and is resolved she will not give over till she hath a blessing Now mark the testimony that Christ gives of her O woman great is thy Faith Now here 's a pattern for us that nothing of discouragement should beat us off but that we might bear up with a holy confidence and wherefore are these things written but that we might write after these Copies But we stick in principles and rest in lower measures and it 's a shame we are not more in advances that we do not answer Scripture-testimonies nor answer Scripture-patterns and examples I might instance to you in the Thessalonian-Church a Scripture that formerly I spent much time about O saith he we are bound to thank God for you Brethren for your Faith it grows exceedingly it is an over-grown Faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thus now should it be with us But then there is a fourth thing which will take up more time than all the rest We should endeavour such a growth in Faith and that in a practical way as that we may not only answer the degrees of Faith nor the testimonies of Faith and the examples and presidents of Faith but fourthly that we may have such a Faith of such a growth as that we might produce the acts and the effects of it And here sundry particulars there are Such a Faith we should have and of such a growth our Faith should be that we may come to have clear sights and apprehensions of God to say he is an Invisible God and who can behold him and an Infinite Majesty and at an infinite distance and who can injoy him Who why a man of a well-improved Faith may live as if he were in heaven The Saints of God that have had their Faith well improved have given proof of it and have been able to give a justification of it I tell you this that Faith is capable of such an improvement as that he may live in heaven while he is upon earth and be in daily converses with God see him behold him and talk with him as a man would talk with his friend Faith may come to this as 't is said of Moses he saw him that was invisible Enoch by his Faith could walk with God every day as a man with his friend And so a Believer may walk with God and converse with God even in the management of his worldly affairs he may run up to heaven and speak with God and Jesus Christ and have a holy familiarity with God and have sweet thoughts of God O comfortable thoughts the meditation of God! O sweet unto him as the Prophet speaks in the 104 Psal. my meditations of him shall be sweet He is a terrible God I but I can meditate terror The Faith of a Beleever duly improved and being of a light growth it will make him able to meditate terror and to think of the terrible things of God the terrible acts of God the terribleness of Gods Majesty Indeed there is a terribleness in Gods Majesty I but the Faith of a Beleever being duly improved and of a due growth it will be able to meditate terror as the Prophet hath the expression in Isa. 39. and so to injoy sweet communion with God in every daies course it is as if there were no distance but heaven and earth were in a very contiguity and they were just neer close together there is as it were but a wall between heaven and earth O he can be as a man would be with his next neighbour that knock at the wall and your neighbour hears you and you can talk together day and night And so the Faith of a Beleever is capable of such a growth as he may come to enjoy God and sweet communion with God And so of Christ when we make him not only the object of our desires but the object of our claim he is my Jesus and as much mine as any mans in the World We should not only breath out after Christ but that we may bear up with a holy confidence and make a bold claim of interest in him and say I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine I bear upon it I challenge an interest in him and I will dispute the case with any that shall come in in a way of opposition to me He loved sinners He loved the World He loveth me He gave himself for sinners He hath given himself for me He is as much my Christ as any mans in the World This is the well-grown Faith SERM. IV. LOok to your growth in Faith that you be not weak in it and let it appear this way See to it that you have such a Faith so improved of such a growth that you may be able at once to appeal from the Law as a ridged exacter and yet to apply to the Law as a gracious wise and holy director When Faith comes to be planted in the soul it is not therefore planted that the heart should upon the coming in of Faith turn head against the Law No not against the Law Indeed it was never in the heart of God that Beleevers that are brought off from the Law as a covenant of works and are dead to it by the body of Christ should have their hearts set against it that they should rise up in opposition to it and be possest with prejudices against it No God forbid it should be so I speak of the Law considered as a covenant of works True it is the Faith of a Beleever carries him from the Law so as not to rest upon it so as not to seek righteousness by it but yet withal while it doth make an appeal from the Law as a ridged exactor and was made before Grace appeared to tremble and quake at the consideration of it as a fiery Law while he looks upon it as a most severe and ridged exctor and quits it appeals from it yet the Faith of a Beleever duly improved will own the same Law as it is a wise righteous and holy director And that Law and Covenant which out of the hand of Faith was and would have been a stinging Serpent as the â—…od of â—…ses when it was out of his hand a stinging â—…pent and such as would make a man to flye from the presence of in regard of its stinging power