Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	work_n	world_n	year_n	99	3	4.5528	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B25425	Troposchēmalogia: Tropes and figures; or, A treatise of the metaphors, allegories, and express similitudes, &c. contained in the Bible of the Old and New Testament To which is prefixed, divers arguments to prove the divine authority of the Holy Scriptures wherein also 'tis largely evinced, that by the great whore, mystery Babylon is meant the Papal hierarchy, or present state and church of Rome. Philologia sacra, the second part. Wherein the schemes, or figures in Scripture, are reduced under their proper heads, with a brief explication of each. Together with a treatise of types, parables, &c. with an improvement of them parallel-wise. By B. K; Tropologia. Book 4.	Keach, Benjamin, 1640-1704.; De Laune, Thomas, d. 1685. Tropologia. aut	1682 (1682)	Wing K101A; ESTC R7039	690,855	608

Satan knows that if he cannot prevail then he never can 'T is the last Onset and therefore he resolves to try his Skill If he cannot break his Head so as to keep him out of Heaven yet he will if possible bruise his Heel and send him limping thither I mean fill a Saint full of Fears and Doubts about his eternal State Secondly He hath many other Stratagems to deceive by Temptations 1. He hangs out false Colours and comes to a Saint in the disguise of a Friend he transforms himself into an Angel of Light Master pity thy self 2. He strives to get Intelligence of a Saint's Affairs This saith my Author is one great Wheel in this Politician's Clock to have Spies in all Places by whom they are acquainted with the Counsels of their Enemies He labours to find out what Sin it is that most easily besets a Person or that he is most prone to Heb. 12.1 3. In his gradual Approaches to the Soul When he first comes to tempt he is modest and asks but little knowing he may get that at many times which he should be denied if he should ask it all at once A few Men are let into a City when an Army coming in a Body would be shut out Remember he draws to Sin by little and little First it may be the Thought of this or that Evil is darted into the Mind and after a while lodged quietly there and then a little after further Proceed is made in Sin c. 4. Satan like a cunning Warrier hath his Reserves like a wise Captain he hath some fresh Troops at hand if need be So that if one Temptation will not prevail he hath a second nay a third and fourth nay Multitudes What fresh and new Attempts did he use when he set upon our Saviour 5. Another Stratagem of his is this He will in a politick way retreat as sometimes you shall have an Enemy flie as overcome when it is on a design of overcoming We read not only of Satan's being cast out but of the unclean Spirit 's going out voluntarily yet be sure it was with a purpose to return more strong than before 6. He will strive to make use of fit Instruments to carry on his Temptations to the Ruine of the Soul I might proceed but by this all may see That it is needful for the Christian Souldier to be well instructed in the Stratagems of War XIV A Souldier ought to know the distinct Beats of the Drum and Sound of the Trumpet an Alarm a Call a March a Battel c. XIV So a Saint must understand the distinct and d●fferent Sounds of the Word of God daily ministred by his Servants for a Preacher is a spiritual Trumpeter Lift up thy Voice like a Trumpet Isa 58.1 And as it greatly behoves a Trumpeter to be well skill'd how to blow his Trumpet for if it give an uncertain Sound who shall prepare himself to the Battel so it doth a Minister rightly and distinctly to preach the Word of God that a Christian like a Souldier may have an Alarm sounded in his Ears when Danger is near or an Enemy coming upon him as also a Call to Duty to Prayer to Fasting Mourning and Sackloth when the Day requires it c. Isa 22. A good Souldier of Christ will observe the distinct Sound of the spiritual Trumpet sometimes it sounds out Reproof sometimes Counsel sometimes Comfort all is carefully observed by a sincere and wise Christian XV. A Souldier ought to be a Man of Courage bold and resolute not soon daunted nor dismayed by the Threats Malice or Strength of an Enemy He ought as God bid Joshua to be strong and very couragious XV. So a Saint ought to be of a couragious Spirit not timerous faint-hearted or soon dismayed but a Man of an undaunted Heart not fearing the worst that Men can do unto him Tho I walk saith David through the Valley of the Shadow of Death I will fear no Evil. Psal 23.4 The Wicked flee when none pursue Prov. 28.1 but the Righteous are as bold as a Lion There are three or four things which tend to embolden and encrease Courage in a spiritual Souldier in the midst of the greatest Danger when nothing but Death and Misery seems to stare him in the Face 1. The Goodness of his Cause Nothing administreth more Life and Zeal to a Saint than the Consideration of that holy Cause which in the Strength of Christ he stands up for and is s●t to defend 2. The Consideration of the Power and Strength of that God who hath engaged to stand by him help and aid him in all his Conflicts with the worst of his Enemies Fear not Worm Jacob and ye Men of Israel I will help thee saith the Lord. Isa 41.10 14. 1 Joh. 4.3 Fear not for I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee c. Ye are of God little Children and have overcome them because greater is he that is in us than he that is in the World 3. A good Call Every Christian in all his Enterprizes must see to his Call let him see that whatsoever he doth in Religion both in matter and manner it is what God hath enjoined him He that undertakes any Work or Cause that is not warranted by God's Word hath cause to tremble And also let him see he is the Man that God approves of and hath employed in and about that Work and Duty whatsoever it be and when he sees that his Call is undeniably good this will add Courage to him 4. A good Conscience This made Paul so bold in the presence of his incensed Adversaries Men and Brethren Acts 23.1 I have lived in all good Conscience before God until this day A Souldier who hath much Guilt upon him cannot if his Conscience be at all awakened engage an Enemy with that Courage as another Man may in the high Place of the Field when he knows not but the next moment he may be sent into another World 'T is Innocency and Uprightness that puts Life and Magnanimity into a Christian Having a good Conscience that whereas they speak Evil of you 1 Pet. 3.16 as Evil-doers they may be ashamed who falsely accuse your good Conversation in Christ 5. Lastly The Assurance he hath of Victory A Saint knoweth he shall have the Day and come off a Conqueror Before he enters upon the Conflict his Captain hath told him He shall overcome at last and have the Crown of Life Rev. 2.10 XVI A Souldier must expect to endure Hardness and therefore prepares himself for it It is a Life attended with many Hardships and Difficulties they often lie in the Field and fare hard when others know the want of nothing XVI So the Saints of God must expect to endure Hardness A Christian's Life is attended with many Difficulties and Afflictions which they must endure as good Souldiers of Jesus

that Star of the first Magnitude drive away That blessed Light which he afforded the World hath shone so gloriously that the Devil the Pope and all their Adherents notwithstanding all their Skill have not been able to put out to this Day IV. When the Light of the Candle is put out which is to give Light to the whole House how do Men stumble and grope in Darkness IV. So when the Saints shine not in Grace and Holiness or fall into Sin and wickedly comply with the Evils of the Times in which they live how do the ungodly World stumble and fall the which made our Saviour to say Mat. 18.7 Wo to the World because of Offences c. 'T is a great Judgment to the Wicked to have those who should be as Lights in the World darkened or give occasion of Stumbling Inferences THis shews what a great Blessing the World receives by means of the Godly They are set up as Lights in a dark Night to direct Men in the right Way that they may not stumble and fall upon the dark Mountains II. Let this teach Believers their Duties let them remember to have their Conversations honest among the Gentiles Let your Light shine forth to others not that you may be praised but that the Praise may be given to God c. In all your holy Walking propose this as your ultimate End not that you may be magnified and lifted up but that God by you and through your good Works may be magnified and his glorious Name advanced on high III. It may be an Use of Caution to them to take heed of Sin If they comply with Satan and yield to Temptations and thereby let their Light go out no wonder if the World stumble Sometimes Professors instead of being Lights prove dark Stumbling-Blocks As to instance in two or three things 1. When Professors fail in their Morals i. e. are not just in their Dealings between Man and Man they give just cause of Offence 2. When they are like the World and none can discern any great difference between them and others in respect of their Conversation how can they then be said to be the Light of the World 3. When they are overcome with scandalous Sins viz. are proud covetous Backbiters Tattlers Drunkards c. 4. When they want Love and Bowels of Compassion to their Brethren they cease to be the Lights of the World They are no more a Blessing to the World who thus degenerate from what they should be but rather the contrary Therefore if you want Motives to stir you up to take heed how you walk and live among Men that you may not give occasion of Offence or Stumbling to them but contrary-wise be as Lights to them take these following 1. Your good Works and holy Conversation will greatly tend to glorify God but the contrary will greatly dishonour him 2. Your good Works and godly Life will greatly tend to the Profit of the World but the contrary will prove to their great Hurt 3. Your holy Life will make your Profession shine and also further the Promulgation of the Gospel but the contrary will bring a Stink or ill Savour upon your Profession and hinder the Promulgation of the Gospel 4. An evil Life hinders poor Souls from enquiring after the Truth and stumbles them in the way of their Obedience to it 5. It stumbles weak Christians that are in the Ways of God 6. It weakens the Hands and grieves the Hearts of strong and sincere Ones Phil 3.18 7. A holy Life will free thee from Blood-guiltiness I mean thou wilt not have the Blood of other Mens Souls to answer for but the contrary may make thee culpable Saints compared to Cedars Psal 92.12 He shall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon the Trees of the Lord are full of Sap. Psal 104.16 The Cedars of Lebanon which he hath planted c. Hos 14.5 And cast forth his Root as Lebanon GOd's People their Growth and Rooting are in these Scriptures compared to the Cedar-Tree the Cedar in Lebanon in Greek Libanos which was a Mountain in the North Part of the Land of Canaan possessed of old Time by the Hivites Judg. 3.3 afterwards by the Israelites on it grew many stately Cedars c. In what respect the Saints may be compared to the Cedars will appear by the following Parallels Simile Parallel THe Cedar is a very noble and stately Tree it grows very high 2 King 19.23 Ezek. 17.22 hence they are called tall Cedars also its Branches are called Branches of the high Cedar It mounts high towards Heaven Pliny tells of one Cedar that grew in Cyprus Plin. lib. 16. p. 490. which was one hundred and thirty Foot high and three Fathom thick THe Godly are a renowned People Tho they seem in the Eyes of the World but meer Shrubs yet they are as it was said of Saul higher by the Head and Shoulders than all others who dwell upon the Earth They grow high in Grace and spiritual Experiences They are said to dwell on high Isa 33.10 they dwell in God in Communion with Him they soar aloft and mount towards Heaven Isa 40. ult Col. 3.1 2. Their Affections are set upon Things above They may in this Sence be said to grow like the Cedar they overtop the Wicked in Renown and Dignity Prov. 12.26 The Righteous are more excellent than their Neighbours II. The Cedar is a Tree that takes deep Root its Roots spread this way and that way and go far into the Ground Naturalists say that as Trees grow high so proportionably they take Root downward because otherwise they would be top-heavy and overturn a Blast of Wind taking advantage of their Talness being weak at Root would soon blow them down therefore proportionable to their spreading above there must be a rooting in the Ground II. The Godly are said to take Root downward they are well-rooted they cast forth their Roots as the Cedars in Lebanon Saints are well rooted in Christ rooted in the Covenant 2 Sam. 23.5 which is firm ordered in all things and sure well rooted in Grace in Faith Love and Humility And indeed those Saints that grow high in Knowledg who in Gifts and Parts overtop their Brethren had need to grow downwards in Humility proportionable to their Growth upwards or else a strong Blast of Temptation may soon puff them up with Pride and Self-conceitedness and so thereby quite blow them down In Adam we had no sure Rooting but in Christ by partaking of his Fulness our standing is firm III. The Cedar is a very strong Tree Naturalists also tell us that it is not subject to Putrefaction as many other Trees are III. Eph. 6.10 11. The Saints are strong in the Lord. 'T is Sin that causeth Men to be spiritually weak unstable as Water as Jacob spake of his Son Reuben but the Godly are delivered from the Guilt and Dominion of it and thereby become strong in

we reade their Brightness and Glory was very great V. Christ's true Ministers are lively and very beautiful when the Spirit of the Lord is eminently upon them they shine gloriously in Grace and Holiness Act. 6.15 Stephen who was a glorious Preacher was said to shine like the Face of an Angel VI. Angels are very obedient to God they do his Commands and wait for his Word VI. The faithful Preachers of the Gospel are very ready to obey God's Commands tho they are thereby exposed to great Danger if God bid them go Rom. 1.15 they go VII Angels are swift in executing their Business hence said to have Wings VII The Ministers of the Gospel are swift in their Spiritual Motion they are said to fly in the midst of Heaven having the everlasting Gospel to preach c. Rev. 14.6 VIII Angels have made known much of the Mind of God to the Sons of Men. VIII Christ's true Ministers daily make known the Mind and Will of God 't is one great part of their Work and Business IX Angels admire reverence and adore the glorious Majesty of God and therefore vail their Faces before him and give Glory to him Yea as Mr. Venning observes 't is their very Business to sing Hallelujahs to God Angels Worship is singing and praising of God they seek not themselves in serving God IX The Ministers of Christ and all true Christians admire and adore God and his glorious Maj●sty and with self abhorrency vail their Faces as it were ascribing all Glory and Honour unto God Not unto us O Lord not unto us Psal 115.1 but to thy Name do we give Glory the Servants of God desire only to rejoice in God they know no other Name to Glory in but in the Name of the Lord and hence they sing his praise tho in Prison Act. 16. in all which they seek not themselves in any Service they do for God but the Honour and Glory of his Name only X. Angels do their Service to the Lord with joyfulness the Morning Stars 't is said sang together and all the Sons of God shouted for Joy X. So Christ's true and faithful Ministers and People take much delight in their Service their Minds run exceedingly upon their Work to do for God to spend and be spent for God and his People is the desire and delight of their Souls XI Angels are without wearisomness in their Work and Service they are as strong and as lively at the end as they are at the beginning XI So Christ's faithful Ministers and People by the help of God's Spirit labour and faint not 2 Cor. 4.16 For which cause we faint not c. They shall run and not be weary Josh 14.7 8 9 10 11. Caleb was as strong and as able to do Service for God at fourscore as he was at forty Years old XII Angels serve the Saints and watch over them and daily administer to them and tho glorious Creatures do not think it below them so to do XII So the true and faithful Preachers of God's Word serve the Churches Members and Saints of God and daily watch over them and minister unto them and tho possibly some of them may far excell in Parts and Wisdom yet they think not his Service below them XIII Angels are often sent to comfort the Saints when cast down as they ministred to Christ in his Bloody Agony XIII So are Gospel-Preachers sent and commanded to comfort the Feeble-minded and support the Weak they know how to comfort others with the same Comfort whereby they themselves are comforted of God 2 Cor. 1.4 Inferences THis may inform us what Glory and Dignity God hath conferred upon his Servants who labour in the Ministry they have a glorious Name and are greatly honoured by the Lord and therefore should be received with all due respect and esteemed very highly for their Works sake II. It shews us who are true Ministers of the Gospel III. It shews Christ's faithful Ministers how they should do their Work and behave themselves before the Lord. Ministers compared to Stars Rev. 1.20 The Mystery of the seven Stars which thou sawest in my Right-hand and the seven Golden Candlesticks The seven Stars are the seven Angels of the seven Churches and the seven Candlesticks are the seven Churches BY Stars in this place it appears the Ministers of God's Word are meant Metaphor Parallel NAturalists say the Sun communicates his Light to the Stars SO Christ imparts of his Spirit and saving Light and Knowledg to his faithful Ministers II. The Stars are placed by the Lord in the Heavens II. So the Ministers of the Gospel are placed by the Lord in the Church III. The Stars are a great Ornament and shine gloriously in the Heavens III. So faithful Ministers are a great Ornament to the Church in which they shine forth gloriously in Doctrine and Conversation IV. Stars differ one from another in Glory IV. So there are Diversities of Gifts of the Spirit in the Ministers of the Gospel some shine more than others in Parts and Piety V. Stars sometimes are obscured by Clouds and shine not V. So Ministers sometimes through Temptations are beclouded and shine not as at other times VI. Stars are a Guide unto Mariners VI. So the Ministers of the Gospel are Guides to spiritual Mariners VII A Star led the wise Men to Christ VII A true Minister's design in Preaching is to lead Men to Christ VIII Stars give light to Men only in the Night VIII So Christ's Ministers shine forth and give light to Sinners and others whilst the Night of this World doth last IX The Stars send down sweet Influences on the Earth Job 38.31 Canst thou bind the sweet Influences of Pleiades or the seven Stars IX So the faithful Ministers of the Gospel in a blessed manner influence by their heavenly Doctrine and Life the Souls of Men to whom they preach and daily converse with Inferences O What a Blessing are faithful Teachers to a People or Nation where they live Is it not a lovely thing to see the Gospel-Stars Pray that the Heavens may be clear and that these Stars may not disappear nor withdraw their shining Ministers compared to Labourers Luke 10.7 The Labourer is worthy of his Meat THe Lord Christ compares his faithful Servants that preach his Word to Labourers to such as externally work and labour with their hands Labourers Parallel Labourers usually are hired and then set to work We read of one that went to hire Labourers Mat. 20. c. SO Christ spiritually is said to hire Labourers and send them into his Vineyard he assures them of a glorious Reward when they have done their Work II. Some Men labour in the Field they are Harvest-Men II. Such Labourers are the Preachers of the Gospel The Harvest is great Mat. 9.37 and the Labourers are few c. They labour to make ready and gather in Christ's Wheat III. Some labour so hard

longer than they appear to walk strictly and holily according to the Principles upon which they first received them and as for their Officers they are soon summed up being no more than Bishops or Elders and Deacons But the Roman Church may be called Babylon or the City of Confusion very reasonably because she so fitly answers literal Babylon of old that was her Type and from whence she derives her Name 1. In setting up another way for Men to go to Heaven by than what God hath ordained and appointed viz. a Tower of their own making 2. In having so many Languages amongst them which is like the Confusion of Babel 3. In bearing the Glory and Sway over the Kingdoms and Countries of the chiefest part of the World therefore called the Lady of Kingdoms which is no way applicable to the poor Dissenters 4. In plucking up or razing out the true Worship of God which was setled at Jerusalem and setting up Idolatry in the room of it 5. In Captivating God's People who were carried away into literal Babylon 6. In their Doctrines Principles and Modes of Worship which is such a jumble mixture and heap of Things that may go for Confusion it self 7. In their Orders Diversity and long Muster-Roll of Officers that are so numerous as well as unscriptural that if Mixture and Confusion may be thought to be any where 't is to be found in this Church where you have Popes Cardinals Arch-Bishops Abbots Provincials Heads of Fraternities Priests Monks Fryers Followers of Dominick St. Francis Jansenius Augustine Caphucins c. and what not All which is many times more like to be Babylon Mixture or Confusion than the Dissenters from the Romish Church Thirdly For Mystery which is in the Description it no where agrees to them whom they call Hereticks but agrees very well to the Church of Rome in four Things 1. In calling themselves the Church of God and yet are the Synagogue of Satan that 's a Mystery 2. In calling themselves the pure Spouse of Christ and yet an abominable Whore that 's a Mystery 3. In pretending to be the Mother of Peace Purity and Charity and yet the Breeder Bringer forth and Cherisher of Division Falshood most bloody Butcheries and barbarous Cruelties this is a Mystery 4. In being Queen Regent riding upon the Beast in State and yet being that good Woman that fled into the Wilderness and abides there in a suffering Condition all the time of the Beast's Reign this is a Mystery See our fourth Argument One Proof of their Church is visibility yet it is evident the true Church for the space of 260 Years was to be in the Wilderness or in an obscure Condition c. Fourthly Mother of Harlots and Abominations better agrees to the Church of Rome than to Protestants 'T is against the Principles of Protestants to allow Fornication or Adultery in Persons of any Rank whatsoever maintaining constantly that Marriage is honourable but Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judg whereas Rome gives publick toleration to notorious Whoredoms and the most shameless and unnatural Beastialities as the whole World knows Fifthly For Mother of Harlots in a Spiritual Sense she is owned by all her Children to be the Mother-Church And 1. Therefore Protestants are exhorted to return into the Bosom of their Mother 2. All polluted and National Churches in the European Kingdoms sprang from her as the Churches of France Spain Portugal c. 3. All Corruption in Doctrine and Discipline may call her Mother that is to say the false Titles and Errours following viz. Universal Supream Infallible Head Holy Father the Pope His Holiness in the Abstract Our Lord God the Pope unerring Church Priestly Absolution Selling of Pardons Indulgences Dispensations adoring the Crucifix worshipping of Images foolish Crossings Anointings and Sprinkling with Holy Water the adoration of the Mass and many such things which from the beginning was not so 4. For Personal Vices from whence come horrid Oaths and Blasphemies most astonishing Perjury and subtile Equivocations and Hypocrisies all manner of Uncleannesses Lying and Adulteries Covenant-breaking and Bloody-mindedness is this allowed and practised by the Protestants No No they are the Brats and Off-spring of this lewd and filthy Mother who indulgeth those abominable pernicious Practices for which she is rightly called Mystery Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth Which we conclude with this Argument Arg. If this Name Mystery Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth doth not so fully and fitly agree to the Protestants nor any other People as it doth to Rome Papal or Church of Rome Then Rome Papal or Church of Rome and not the Protestants c. is Mystery Babylon the Mother of Harlots But this Name Mystery Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth doth not so fully and fitly agree to the Protestants c. as it doth to Rome Papal or Church of Rome Ergo Rome Papal and not the Protestants is Mystery Babylon the Mother of Harlots XIII This Mystery Babylon Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth is very drunken Company for she not only makes others drunk with the Wine of her Fornication and commits Adultery her self but she is a Beastly drunken Whore that makes her self drunk after the worst manner of Drunkenness which is to be drunk with Blood the best Blood the Blood of the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus Christ Rev. 17.6 And I saw a Woman drunk with the Blood of the Saints and the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus and I wondred with great Admiration XIII Rome Papal or Church of Rome if she be guilty here it is enough to make not only good Men but even Angels wonder to see a Woman pretending to be nobly descended the Daughter to the great King of Heaven the Spouse of the Lamb the Mother of all Peace Purity Holiness Innocency Charity and Chastity I say to see a Woman by Profession such a drunken beastly Strumpet in Works and Actions and if Rome Papal or Church of Rome be guilty in this point she is the unhappiest Church in the World for she then gives cause to every good Man in the World to abhor her and indeed she hath very good luck if she scape this Charge for if she be Mystery Babylon the Mother of false Churches and Abominations of the Earth there is no avoiding but she must be this drunken Strumpet But because it is never safe judging a Cause before Trial and Examination of Witnesses we will 1. Consider what it is to be drunk 2. What things do necessarily contribute to it 3. The true and proper Signs of it 4. Whether such things can be fixed upon Rome Papal or Church of Rome And then conclude this Head 1. To be Drunk is an excessive taking in of such Things as disorder Nature in its Course and Operations This we take to be a general Definition of it including the

a Saviour but also as a Sovereign not only as a Priest to die and appease the Wrath of God for us but also as a Prince to rule and reign in us 14. What Obedience therefore flows from thy Faith Dost thou boldly and visibly profess Jesus Christ following him whithersoever he goeth not closing in with one of his Precepts only but obeying all of them from thy Heart which thou art convinced of and knowest to be thy Duty Then shall I not be ashamed Psal 119.6 Rom. 5.1 when I have respect to all thy Commandments 15. What Peace hath Faith brought to thy Soul Being justified by Faith we have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Secondly From what hath been noted we may infer There is an absolute Necessity of Faith 1. In respect of Gospel-Revelation Without Faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 2. There is no Salvation without it Rom. 3.26 Thou must be beholden to another for a Righteousness because thou hast broken the Law that pronounceth the Curse against thee thou hast none of thy own that will be accepted in the sight of God He that believeth not shall be damned Vnless ye believe that I am He Joh. 8.22 ye shall die in your Sins 3. There is a Necessity of Faith because all Boasting is excluded Rom. 3.27 God's design in our Salvation is wholly to exalt his own Free-Grace It is of Christ's procurement and thou must go unto him for it or go without it Thirdly If Faith be much more precious than Gold then labour for it above Gold be not contented with a little of it but wisely provide your selves with good Store Grow in Faith get a strong Faith Quest Will not a small or weak Faith save us as well as a strong Answ Yea if it be of the right kind tho never so small the Person that hath it is as fully justified as he that hath the greatest degree nd measure of it Yet it concerns thee to get a strong Faith for these Reasons following 1. Because thou mayest meet with strong Assaults and Temptations from Satan and thou hast no way to resist him but by the Shield of Faith and it may be a little Faith will not be sufficient to withstand those Exercises and Assaults thou mayest meet with 2. Because God expects much Faith of those he hath afforded much Means unto I looked it should bring forth Grapes Isa 5.4 God looks for Fruit answerable to the Cost and Charge he hath been at with a People or a particular Person 3. Because God may bring you into such a condition that you may have nothing else to live upon Hab. 3.17 The Fig-Tree shall not blossom neither Fruit be in the Vines c. That is a Time for the Saints to live by Faith and if their Faith be small what will they do then 4. Because as thy Faith is more or less so will thy inward Peace and Joy be in Christ Jesus He that hath but a small degree of Faith is often at the foot of the Hill and under doubtings and becloudings in his own Spirit 5. Because such as have but little Faith will find the Way to Heaven harder and more difficult than they who have much of it or are strong in Faith Weak Folks are hard put to it to get up a high Hill 6. Because it is a strong Faith that glorifies God most as it appears in respect of Abraham Rom. 4.19 20. He being not weak in Faith considered not his own Body being dead He staggered not through Vnbelief but was strong in Faith giving Glory to God Quest But what is the Cause that some Christians are so weak in Faith Answ 1. Some are but just brought forth lately converted they are like new-born Babes Can you expect a Child in the Cradle should be as strong as such as are twenty or thirty Years old 2. Perhaps some have but little Faith because they want the Means of it which others have It may be they have more Law preached to them than Gospel more Terror from Sinai than Joy from Mount Zion 3. Again some may be weak in Faith because they pore more upon their own inward Corruptions than they meditate on Christ's Righteousness more on their own Emptiness than on Christ's Fulness They see their Debts but have not their Eyes upon their Surety who hath discharged and blotted all out 4. Others may have little Faith because they do not improve that which they have they are not industrious Traders they do not labour after and cry to God for more Faith The way to grow rich is to be diligent Lord encrease our Faith 5. Some have no more Faith because they give way to Temptations and let their inward Corruptions too much prevail Weeds will hinder the Growth of precious Flowers Self-Love worldly Pleasure Pride and Passion choak and obstruct its Growth Faith is a tender Herb. 6. Perhaps Christians have no more because they mind not those precious Grounds and Encouragements which God in Mercy hath offered for the encrease strengthning and growing of Faith Quest How may I know a weak Faith from a strong Answ 1. A weak Christian one weak in Faith looks more within than without grounds more on the good Desires and Heavenlinesses of his Affection than the Covenant and Promise of God Joh. 14.19 Now a strong Christian looks to Christ Because I live ye shall live also 'T is not because my Affections live my Obedience lives or I have Life in Obedience or performance of external Duties but because Christ lives By whom I live Gal. 2.20 2. A weak Christian consults more the Power of the Enemy than he doth the Strength of God Christ and the holy Spirit and is much acted by Sence in respect of Means how this or that should be done Psal 78.19 Can God furnish a Table in the Wilderness But a strong Saint believes in Hope against Hope a strong Faith takes up in the Power Grace and Sufficiency of God The Lord is on my side Psal 56.4 I will not fear what Man can do unto me 3. A weak Faith grows weaker and weaker and ready to let go its hold at every discouragement If a Corruption or Temptation prevails all his Hope of Heaven is almost gone presently Thus it was with Peter Help Lord I perish But strong Faith is rather strengthned thereby as appears in the Woman of Canaan You may judg of a strong Faith by its Power over the Enemy I have written unto you 1 Joh. 2.14 young Men because you are strong and the Word of God abideth in you and you have overcome the Wicked One 4. A weak Faith is much for doing that so he may have Peace and Comfort within What must I do c. And as his Obedience to God is kept up Acts 16.30 so is his Comfort not but that great Peace is to them that keep the Law and that are found