what it is to be faithful Secondly I shall give good and sufficient reason why a Christian should be faithful In the first place I am to shew what it is to be faithful This Apostle does briefly and yet excellently set forth 1 Tim. 1. 18 19. This charge I commit unto thee son Timothy according to the prophesies which went before on thee that by them thou mightest war a good warfare holding Faith and a good Conscience And in holding these we hold all that is worth our care to secure The Epithite Precious is given to Faith 2 Pet. 1. 1. To them who have obtained the precious faith with us And if you would know how precious you have it 1 Pet. 1. 7. Faith is not only said to be as precious as gold but much more precious then gold nay much more precious then gold that perisheth therefore 't is to be held fast Now in holding of Faith these five things are implied We hold fast first the Doctrine Secondly the Object Thirdly the Confidence Fourthly the Life Fifthly the Profession of our faith without wavering 1. He that is faithful holds fast the doctrine of faith The truthes of Christ he looks upon as worth the buying at any rate but nothing shall make him sell them Buy the truth and sell it not said wise Solomon Truth is of God a bright and glorious beam that shines from the Sun of righteousness Truth is a Christians Pilot his Compass he will quickly split on some rock or sink in some sand if this be not heeded the Christian is in a dark place where stumbling blocks and snares are innumerable many and the truth of Christ the doctrine of faith is a light unto his feet and a lamp unto his paths The Church of Pergamus though they welt where Satans seat was yet sayes Christ Rev. 2. 13. Thou holdest fast my name and hast not decayed my Faith that is my doctrine which I delivered to be believed and obeyed Rather then the Gospel should be let go and buried in silence we must venture all for its propagation Even Peace it self we are to endeavour after no further then consistent with truth The Apostle matter'd not what troubles and stir the Gospel occasioned and though Satan and the ungodly did storm at the light they boldly did publish that message which they had a command to deliver 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As long as the Gospel lives and thrives no matter what disturbances are created by its enemies 2. He that is faithful holds fast the Object of Faith Now the Object of faith is said down Joh. 14. 1. Ye believe in God believe also in me sayes Christ to his Disciples 'T is our duty and our safety to cleave unto the onely true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent A believer keeps his hold of God who is his shield and exceeding great reward who can defend him from evil or turn those evils which he feels to his advantage who can crown him with loving kindness and such mercies as are tender sutable satisfactory and sure Neither will he let go his hold of Jesus Christ who brought him near and keeps him near unto this God who guides him by his spirit who by vertue of his blood and intercession is continually making up the breaches that the believers sinful infirmities do make and who out of his fulness is ready to impart whatever grace in any time of need is necessary 3. He that is faithful holds fast his assurance and confidence of faith Aâ—ter he hath given all diligence to attain assurance he is loth to lose what cost him such pains to get The Apostle prâ—sses this again and again Heb. 3. 6. But Christ as a son over his own house whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and rejoycing of hope firm unto the end And Heb. 10. 5. Cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompence of reward Assurance of faith is a mighty support in the evil day The eye of faith when faith is heightned into a full perswasion and confidence will look through the clouds and behold God smiling when men do frown faith will hear God speaking peace in a still voyce when the mouths of men are full of threatnings and furious rebukes Faith will perceive the better substance enduring when earthly goods are taken away But when troubles on earth surround us on every side and we are at uncertainties what will be our lot in the next world When there are fightings without and in reference to our spiritual estate doubts and fears within this will render our condition doleful Oh therefore labour and pray for assurance cherish not any distemper of heart give no place to the Devil for thus doing will feed your fears and strengthen your unbelief 4. He that is faithful holds fast the life of faith As this is the safest so 't is the sweetest life on earth They that walk by sight and not by faith will presently grow faint and weary in the hour of temptation If flesh and blood are consulted with if our murmuring and repining senses are heeded we shall refuse to rowe against the stream and be carryed away with the corruption of the times we live in If Moses had been led by sense his choice and practice would have been contrary to what it was Sense would have prized Honour and so he would have still been called the Son of Pharaohs Daughter Sense would have coveted wealth and delight and so he would have had his heart glewed to the pleasures of sin and the treasures of Egypt But Moses walked by faith and therefore chose to suffer afflictions with the people of God he esteemed it part of his riches to be reproached for Christ for faith continually shewed Him that is invisible and the Recompence of reward to him Heb. 11. 24 25 26 27. So the Apostle walked by faith and professeth Gal. 2. 20. I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me They that live by faith stay themselves upon the promises of sustentation and no weight can sink them they câ—st their burthens and themselves too upon the Lord who being faithful will not suffer them to be tempted above what they are able 5. He that is faithful holds fast the Profession of his faith He heeds that admonition of the Apostle Heb. 10. 25. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering for he is faithful that hath promised He is not asham'd of his Lord Master nay esteems it an honour for his Masters sake to be despised Though the Kings and Rulers of the earth take counsel and set themselves against the Lords Christ yet the faithfuâ— servant will stick to him He is not ashamed to be of that way that is every wherâ— spoken against
heightned by Satan who endeavours what he can to impresse fear upon them He represents their approaching sufferings in the most amazing forms to their imaginations He tells them it will be sad to be the scorn of all that look on them to be counted the filth of the world and the off-scouring of all things Sâ—tan tells them it will be sad to have their goods spoyled their houses taken from them or leveld with the ground to see their Families undone and pined with extremity of wanâ— to feel in their own persons the hand of violence especially when sinful compliance may prevent it The Devil buzzes in their ears nothing but Dungeons shackles swords axes faggots stakes furious flames and thus endeavours to fright them out of the way of righteousness And 't is not unusual when such dreadful things are represented to their imaginations to assault their faith and to pester them with unbelieving and blasphemous injections against Christ and his word endeavouring to make them question the certainty and truth of that glorious life and immortality which is brought to light by the Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 10. And if these thoughts of infidelity are not watched and prayed against they will dead and overwhelm the heart and prove of a very sinking nature The Lord therefore is to be intreated to rebuke Satan who by such blasphemies strikes at his honour as well as at our safety and peace 4. Add also That Grace in believers is imperfect and therefore fear is the more incident There is much of corrupted as well as renewed Nature and corrupted nature sides with Satan to affrighten them that so they may cast faith and a good conscience over board to keep the Vessel from drowning and secure themselves In the second place I am to shew The unreasonablenesse of this fear in the Saint Now the unreasonableness of it will be abundantly evinced by these arguments 1. Let us compare the mightiest enemies of the Saints with him who is their helper Their adversaries may be mighty but their Helper is Almighty If the everlasting strength of the Lord Jehovab were but considered fear would be ashamed of it self in those that belong to him and are protected by him Believers enemies take the very proudest and strongest of them in comparison of God are but Nothing less than nothing and vanity Isa 40. And is it not unreasonable to be afraid of nothing and more unreasonable to be afraid of less than nothing O ye Saints remember what a power is for you whose hands uphold you even the very same that doth uphold all things Your enemies themselves are in Gods hands they cannot live or move or act without him they are but weapons in his hand which cannot strike one blow more than he sees needful to be given you all the wounds which they make shall be healing and by all their instruments of death they shall but push you forward and hasten you along in Heavens way And if your mighty God rebuke these persecutors presently they must stoop and bow and fall down before him He can tye their hands nay take away their breath when he listeth and when their breath goeth forth and they return to their dust all their thoughts and designs against you will perish their envy and revenge will be come to an end when once the vengeance of God which is the vengeance of hell fire hath taken hold of them The Grave and Hell will keep them far from ever molesting of you more 2. Let a comparison be made between the craâ—tinesse of believers enemies and their Gods wisdome The Lord knows the thoughts of man that they are vanity He sees their projects and knows how to frustrate their designs That 's a notable place Job 5. 12 13. He disappointeth the devices of the crafty so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise he taketh the wise in their own craftiness and the counsel of the froward is carryed headlong The Lord is wise enough not only to deliver us but also to take the Politicians in their own craftiness He looks and laughs at the plots of Rome and Hell to undermine his Kingdom and that which they intend as a support to the principality of darkness shall prove its downfall and Sion shall be built on Babylons ruines Solomon sayes there is no wisdome nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord Prov. 21. 30. And by very good consequence there is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against his people why then should his people fear If one wise man were able to defend a little City having few men in it against a great King that came against it and besieged it Eccl. 9. 14 15. Surely in the wisdome of the Lord who is only wise whose understanding is infinite there may be strong confidence 3. Again Compare the hatred of the Saints enemies with the love which the Lord bears them Great is the hatred of the world greater is the hatred of the Devil but oh by infinite degrees greater than either than both is the Love of God The Love of God to believers is very tender draws out his care towards them 't is a love that is unchangeable and so vast as passes all dimensions and understanding Therefore they may be emboldened and conclude that this love will be ten thousand times more beneficial than the hatred of any creature can possibly be injurious In the loving kindness of God there is very great security Psal 5. 12. For thou Lord wilt bless the righteous with favour wilt thou compasse him as with a Shield Our enemies indeed may be many and may hate us with cruel hatred but their hatred can no more equal the love of God than their strength can vie with his most glorious power 4. To shew the unreasonableness of the Saints fear let this be considered That this God whose power and wisdom and love are thus beyond compare is ever with them Fear thou not sayes God by the Prophet for I am with thee Isa 4. 10. He is not out of the way when his people want him he is a present help in the time of need The Saints need not go far to seek their God he fills the earth as well as heaven and is alwayes ready to shew himself strong in the â—ehalf of those that trust in him The Lord is alwayes within hearing his eye is upon the righteous and his ear is open to their cry Psal 34. 15. He besets his people behind and before and layes his hand upon them surely their faith may conclude since God is so near them and does beset and fence them that they are in safeguard 5. The Lord hath engaged by an everlasting Covenant to be their God What or why therefore should believers fear Be not dismayed for I am thy God in that forecited place Isa 41. 10. The Lord stands nearly related to the Saints now 't is certain that Relation though 't is minimae entitatis yet 't is efficaciae
He is not ashamed of that Gospel which is a stumbling block to the Jewes to the Greeks foolishness he is not ashamed of that word which a sinful and adulterous Generation reproach and have no delight in it Jer. 6. 10. His principal care and study indeed is to be a sincere lover and real practiser of Religion and yet he is not afraid to be an open professour though thereby it comes to pass that he is evil entreated by religious enemies That 's the first thing implyed in being faithful namely Holding Faith 2. To be faithful is also to hold a good conscience When Paul stood before the Council earnestly beholding them he protested I have lived in all good conscience before God unto this day Acts 23. 1. So Acts 24. 16. Herein do I exercise my self to have a conscience void of offence towards God and towards men The unstedfast professour regards not his conscience makes nothing of wounding and defiling it But the faithful soul speaks much what the same language with holy Job chap. 27. 5 6. Till I dye I will not remove my integrity from me my righteousness I hold fast and will not let it go my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live There are these three things that argue a good conscience 1. Where the conscience is good no sinful designs are carryed on Siâ—ister aimes are not allowed by one that is faithful If his treacherous heart begin to have a squinâ— eye at his own praise or profit he checks it presently What he doth he designs that God may have the glory of and surely the glory is the Lords due since his strengthening grace doth all in us and for us And by suffering the faithful man aimes not at the advancing his own repute but that Christ may be magnified by his tryals his patience and joy in them And if the world be convinced the weak confirmed if the Gospel get ground and the Lord Jesus be by a greater multitude prized and admired he hath his end 2. Where the conscience is good ungodly desires are not harbour'd He that is faithful looks well to his desires that they be preserved pure The World is undesirable sin is abominable but his soul thirsteth for God for the living God Psal 42. 2. and sufferings are willingly undergone so this thirst may be satisfied 3. Where conscience is good 't is purged from dead works Heb. 9. 14. How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit â—ffered himself without spot to God purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God A good conscience will not wink at unwarrantable practises will not connive at not doing the work of the Lord or doing that work negligently He that is faithful makes conscience to walk before God in truth though never so many in their works deny the Lord he is grieved and vexed at others filthy conversation and orders his own aright and so though for a while he is used hardly he comes at length to see the salvation of God Psal 50. ult In the second place I am to lay down the Reasons why a Christian should be faithful 1. A Chrisâ—ian is under a command to be faithful And this command to be stedfast is very expressive 't is very much prâ—ssed in Scripture 1 Cor. 15. 58. Be stedfast unmovable alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord. Phil. 4. 1. So stand fast in the Lord my dearly beloved 1 Cor. 16. 13. Watch ye stand fast in the faith quit ye like men Joh. 8. 31. Jesus said unto them that believed on him if ye continue in my word then are ye my Disciples indeed Moses likewise of old did harp upon this string commanding the children of Israel not only to turn but to cleave unto the Lord Deut. 30. 20. That thou mayest love the Lord thy God and obey his voice and cleave unto him for he is thy life And they are forbid to turn either to the right hand or the left from following the Lord their God Now all these commands make the Christians obligation to faithfulness the stronger and truly to be unfaithful is not a single sin for he that leaves the Lord how fearfully must he be drawn into transgression 2. A Christian is under covenant to he faithful Deut. 26. 17. He has avouched the Lord to be his God He was given up to God betimes and how often has he made of himself a fresh resignation upon dayes of humiliation and when he has eat and drunk at the Lords table his covenant to be the Lords has been renewed How often has the Christian professed that his heart and members were not his own but Gods to dwell in and to make use of this is another reason and a strong one why he should be faithful The Lord is the Christians and the Christian is the Lords portion The Lords portion is his people and Jacob is the lot of his inheritance Now Gods inheritance should be for his use and should in no wise be alienated 3. The God of believers is faithful therefore they shall resemble him The Scripture speaks in a glorious strain concerning the faithfulness of God He is said to keep truth for ever The hills and mountains stand not so firm as his covenant shall Lev. 54. 10. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee nor the covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Nay the Scripture goes much higher then the Mountains in setting forth this faithfulness I have said mercy shall be built up for ever Thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very Heavens And being thus established nothing on earth can shake their faithfulness 't will be as apparent and illustrious as the Heavens are The Ordinances of Heaven as the Sun by day and of the Moon and Stars by night are not more unalterable than the Lords Covenant Jer. 31. 33 34 35 36. 4. The Lord is glorified by a Christians proving faithful It reflects dishonour upon him when his Servants leave him Oh then how faithful should they be The worlds prejudices against the Lords service are heightned and they are hardned in their stubborn and evil way when they behold professours apostatize and become again their companions in the paths of folly and wickedness But the faithful man causes the way of truth to be well spoken of by his faithfulness he proclaims his Masters goodness and his power and both wayes is his Master glorified 1. He proclaims his Masters goodness and that he hath made the best choyce since he will suffer any thing rather than part with his Lord. The Israelitish servant that refused to go out free at the year of release and had his ear boared through with an Awl 't was a plain demonstration of his Masters kindness since liberty was not so â—uch esteemed as his service And so when we are unmovable in our