If so be that your Faith be not grown up to such a pitch and proportion truly you are not come into the stature that you should attain unto You have a Faith that looks to promises and lives upon the expectation that begets a kind of hope in you that such and such things shall be done I but can you say that your Faith is the substance of them that your Faith is the evidence of them and the substance Why your Faith it is such a Faith and of such a growth and it is so improved unto such a strength that things that are but in expectation they are to your Faith as if so be that they were in actual execution Your Faith is such a Faith I am sure it should be so that it givâ—…s a being to things that are not in being it is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Apostle uses the word it is the substance or the subsistence of things that are hoped for Why this is to my Faith as if it were in actual being As God made a promise to Abraham that he should have a son Abraham believes the promise it was long before that promise was performed I but yet Abraham's Faith did give a hearing to this promise Abraham went on in that confidence he staggered not at the promise through unbelief but his Faith was in that strength that there was as if there had been a birth already his Faith gave a being to the promise God made a promise to the people that they should come to the Land of Canaan and that it should be their inheritance Now the Faith of Abraham Isaack and Jacob was the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it gave a being to the promise and they were as if they had had it while they liv'd the actual possession of the promised Land they and their seed It is the evidence of things that are not seen I see not and yet I injoy I see not and yet I see Faith where it comes to be well improved it comes to be the evidence of things that are not seen Things not seen and yet they are as if they were before mine eyes Things not seen Nay when the contrary is seen as now a man hath destruction before his eyes and yet his Faith makes him to see Salvation according to that eminent instance in Moses when they came to the Red-Sea and there was nothing but death Fear not saith he stand still and see the salvation of God See it why there was nothing to be seen but destruction before their eyes and yet by Faith Moses comes to see the Salvation of God It is the evidence of things that are not seen O Brethren it 's a poor Faith a poor beggerly Faith if I may so speak of any degree of Faith for Faith in the lowest degree is better than all the jewels and diamonds in the World they are not to be mentioned with it but compared with a due improved Faith truly it 's but a poor beggerly Faith that depends upon sense This I would see as Thomas what saith Thomas you report to me that Jesus my Lord and Master is risen from the dead but for my part unless I may see him and feel the print of the nails and put my hand into his side I will not believe O it was an ignoble Faith a poor beggerly Faith they will believe no further than they can see Truly such persons will hardly believe to the saving of their souls and our Saviour he deals with him about it O Thomas Thomas thou hast seen and believed but I tell thee Thomas they are the blessed persons that have not seen and yet believe Why it is a noble Faith for to give a man the evidence of that that he doth not see and this is the Faith that we should press after I see nothing that hath a tendency to such or such a mercy I see nothing but rather the contrary as in the case of Ioseph there 's a promise concerning his advancement he saies nothing that hath any tendency in it but rather the contrary he is cast into Prison and irons enter into his soul he is brought into a miserable condition and yet notwithstanding his Faith was the evidence of things not seen he could see a Golden-Chain that afterwards he came to wear he could see a Golden-chain in a chain of Iron the iron entred into his soul and yet the chain of Gold is about his Faith Faith puts it about the neck this is the Faith A Faith of such a growth that it may evidence to us the things that are not seen Now I say when we can give an account of such a testimony and come in with the justification of experience and say It 's thus testified of Faith and it 's a true testimony for my Faith is so to me my Faith is the substance of things hoped for my Faith is the evidence of things that are not seen God hath made a promise concerning a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness He hath made a promise of new Ierusalem that it should come down from heaven as a Bride made ready for her husband Now I see nothing to such a purpose I see nothing but confusion and yet for all that I can see Glory I can see Glory in all the confusion of the World Again consider Secondly This is the testimony that 's given of Faith I this is tâ—…e victory that overcomes the World even your Faith The Apostle gives this testimony of Faith 1 Epist. of Ioh. 5. he useth these words This is the victory saith he that overcometh the World even your Faith Why now consider what growth it is that we should press after in believing our duty is to grow in Grace in the Grace of Faith and to grow to such a point and proportion that our Faith may be our victory our Faith why you will say it is our conflict we have a conflicting Faith I buâ—… your Faith is your victory and your Faith should be so improved as that you may be able to give this account of it my Faith is my victory and I am more than a Conqueror as the Apostle saith in Rom. 8. saith he What shall separate tribulation distress persecution famine nakedness peril sword Why saith he In all these things he doth not say after all these things but in all these things in persecution in tribulation in distress in famine in nakedness what in sword yea in all these things we are more than Conquerors This is a marvellous thing but yet this is the testimony that 's given of Faith and this is that which the Faith of a Believer if it be duly improved will spring up to to make the believing soul more than a Conqueror and in all these things this is the victory The victory why before the battel be done before the fight be finished and ended yet notwithstanding that 's a victory that a believing soul may by the
in the mean time the heart little with God if any thing at all not raised up to God not set to injoyment of God and of holding communion with the Lord Jesus never come to settle upon this thought why this is Gods means that he hath provided for my improving in Faith and Godliness I do profess for my own part I do not know in all the World what to speak more to the purpose as touching this Agument which is an Argument that doth most neerly concern all that are partakers of the Grace of the Lord Jesus for to look after 10. Your duty is to grow in Grace Now that you may do so I would offer this to your consideration Do but rationally weigh these things that I now offer to you You that have Grace your duty is to grow in Grace That you may do so study Heaven and the Glory that is to be revealed I tell you I look upon it as that that is beyond all controversie that well raised apprehensions of Heaven the Glorious estate there will make us to put spurs to it and set on with diligence and care If we did but know the interpretation of Heaven what Heaven is we get a notion of Heaven but know not what it is what it is to be in Heaven what it is to injoy God in Glory what it is to be with Christ and Angels what it is to be in the possession of those blessed mansions above If we did but study Heaven more certainly it would make us put on with more diligence look about us and set us upon a vigorous performance of Grace and that we may increase in it Consider a little you that have Grace you are entituled to Heaven 't is your inheritance the portion which your Father hath set out for you I but what is this Inheritance It is an inheritance incorruptible undefiled that fadeth not away There is in Heaven the vision of God the most Glorious God There is a Communion an everlasting Communion with God and with the Lamb a following of the Lamb for evermore There is the injoyment of sweetest communion with Christ and with Angels and glorified Saints There is such Glory as eye hath not seen ear hath not heard it cannot enter into the heart of man to conceive It is an amazing thing what the state of Heaven is what the Glory that is there to be injoyed There is fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore If so be that a man would but think of this O! is Heaven such a place such a holy pure place is there so much of the Glory of God appearing there This will make a man to argue thus with himself Good Lord what manner of person should I be that I may be fit for to come there that I may be fit to set â—…y foot upon that holy Ground O what manner of person ought I to be how shall I endeavour to be purged and cleansed according to that which the Apostle speaks in the 1 Epist. Joh. 3. saith he He that hath this hope in him he purifies himself as God is pure Such and such a thing is Heaven there is such glory and beauty there such glorious objects to behold and such delights and pleasures to be injoyed what manner of person ought I to be that I may be meet to be partaker of the inheritance of the Saints in light Certainly the thoughts of Heaven being well digested will make us to set on and be a conducement to an advance in Grace and Holiness 11. Lastly your duty is to grow in Grace Suppose you have it in the beginnings of it O bless God for what you have but withal pray that you may have more Prayer doth net obtain the first Grace You do not â—…et the first Grace by prayer for a man cannot pray to speak of prayer according to the proper use of it there 's no man can pray till he have Grace There may be something done in the strength of a common conviction a person that 's convinc'd of his cursed estate and terrified upon the conviction and apprehension he may come to send out some kind of desires O I would it were better with me for all that I see my condition is very bad and sad and naught But a true desire after Grace cannot be till there be something of Grace in truth The first Grace it comes not upon our prayer but to be sure the after Grace is to be fetch'd in in the way and by the means of prayer and therefore we are to ply the Throne of Grace as the Apostle exhorts Let us â—…me boldly to the Throne of Grace Throne of Grace to the God of Grace that we may obtain mercy and find Grace that we may find more Grace Heb. 4. O Lord thou hast stil'd thy self a God of Grace and thou hast made a Covenant of Grace and thou hast ordered out thy Son as a Fountain full of Grace and thou hast made promises of Grace O Lord bestow more Grace O Lord hold not thy hand the Disciples they cry out O Lord increase our Faith the poor man in the Gospel breaks out with tears Lord I believe O Lord help my unbelief Lord I have a little love to thee O let my love increase Lord let my Faith increase Lord let my Holiness be more and more increased Lord let there be more and more You have a promise Open thy mouth wide I will fill it These things now I have suggested to you and have endeavoured to commend them in as pressing a way as I can that so you may perform your duty as touching growth in Grace I would now have spoken something by way of encouraging Arguments only thus at present I would have you to consider what a mercy it is that God will make this the matter of your duty you that are gracious persons upon whom he hath bestowed any Grace what a mercy of God it is that he should make this one of your duties and require this of you as a point of duty that you should grow in Grace as if a great man should say to a poor one that he hath set his love upon Friend I have freely given thee 100 l. as a stock to begin the World now go thy waies and imploy this 100 l. and see what improvement thou canst make of it and I require this of thee that thou do advance in thy estate and if thou needest 100 l. more or three or four hundred pound more come to me and I will supply thee still for I would have thee to grow rich you would think this were a high act of courtesie and kindness if a man should do so Friend I charge you see that you grow rich you have so much in stock and I will supply you still with more and more but only do you look to this that you grow rich Thus God doth in respect of Grace Indeed he doth not deal thus with us as to the
appointment you reckon upon it and come to it with such a perswasion O this is Gods appointing and in this way hath he ordered that I should wait upon him and I know his appointments are not in vain therefore I rest not in the Ordinance but look to the God of the Ordinance and I follow after the injoyment of God in his Ordinances 't is nothing to me to have the word preached other Ordinances dispenced they are nothing to me without the injoyment of God I look upon God in them and I expect a blessing from God by them truly this is an argument of a well-grown Faith Alass poor weaklings that we are we come in a formal manner too commonly so and with too much of a carnal frame of spirit too much in a complemental way look upon an Ordinance as if there were no more to be reckoned to it than what of strength and duty and benefit of man can put upon it look to the instrument have not an eye to God O without question Beloved our preaching would be to better purpose and our hearing and praying and our eating and drinking at the Lords Table would be to better purpose and with more fruit and benefit If we could look more to God in an Ordinance and come with such a thought as this O Lord this is the way that thou hast laid out for me to wait upon thee in these are the means that thou hast appointed to do my soul good by and upon this account because they are thy appointments I apply to them and expect benefit and profit by them Now I say when we manage our attendance in such a manner we are then in the fairest way to have the fruit and benefit of them and how will this be but by a well-improved Faith the truth on 't is the strength of Faith and the growth and increase of Faith will very much discover it self this way When we come to appear before God in Ordinances we have such a Faith as carries us to God Why I have been with God this day I have been in the presence of God I look upon these Ordinances as the blessed Symboles of his presence and uppon that account it is that I attend them and expect from them And then again I press you that you would grow in Grace and grow in the Grace of Faith why what growth would you require such a growth as this that your Faith may come to be of such a growth that you may not be staggered concerning the promises of God how cross soever that providences seem to run to them O this is a proof of a well-grown Faith You know that its an ordinary thing with God in the course of his dealings and dispensations when he hath made a promise and put his people upon the hopes and expectation of having it performed to order out so in the course of his providence as if he would quite null his promise the providences seem to speak flat contradiction to the promise It was Abrahams case a promise he had of a son but the providence of God ordered it out that he runs out till he be 100 years old and Sarah was old to so that there was an impossibility as to nature that ever there should be such a thing brought to pass and here was now the temptation Now if Abraham had been but of a weak Faith how apt had he been to be staggering and sorely shaken as touching the promise surely this will never be I bat being of a well-grown Faith as the Apostle testifies of him he considered not his own body nor the deadness of Sarahs womb he staggered not at the promise through unbelief but being strong in Faith he gave Glory to God So the Lord dealt with Joseph but the word of the Lord tries him and while it tries him he trusts upon it the irons enter into his soul and by that providence O what a seening contradiction was there to the promise he that was designed to wear a chain of Gold about his neck must go with chains of Irons about his legs and those irons must enter into his soul. What doth this speak but the vanity of the promise and that it was a thing not to be reckoned upon no account to be made of it and yet notwithstanding he being of a well-improved Faith under all these cross providences that spake contradiction to the promise yet he keeps in a humble dependance upon God And while the word of the Lord tried him he trusts the word he did not try the word but he trusted the word and so being of a well-grown Faith he bears up with a holy confidence towards God as touching the things that he had promised And so likewise promises concerning the Church of God and a more blessed injoyment that Saints shall have in the World God hath ingaged himself by promise very much to such a purpose and providence do seem to give the lye to the promise 〈◊〉 things are ordered out as if such things â—…uld never be brought to pass Now a poor â—…ak Beleever he will be apt to give all for naught and to conclude as David did I said in my haste all men are lyars these are but vain words we speak of this and that of a new Ierusalem coming down from Heaven as a Bride made ready for her husband and of the Churchâ—… Glory and beauty and of Babilons downfal and yet Babilon sits as a Queen and saith I shall never see sorrow nor widowhood Now a poor weak Beleever will be ready to give up the account and to say We must never look for these things I but a strong Beleever it bears up the soul in a holy confidence towards God well let God take what course he will I am sure that the womb of the promise shall never be sound to be a miscarrying womb that 's another thing Yet further I press you to growth in Grace particularly to a growth in Faith that you may not upon every occasion be cast into a discomposure of spirit upon every occasion of trouble that you meet withal when there are such providences ordered out as are startling and amazing and astonishing such a Faith you are to press to that when sinners in Zion are afraid and fearfulness surpriseth the hypocrites and likewise when poor weak Beleevers are apt to tremble and quake and at a loss and know not what to do that you may come to say my heart is fixed I trust in God these things move me not this is an argument of a well-grown Faith when we are not upon every occasion of any sudden fears in a discomposure of spirit yet well-grown Faith will bring a fixedness I it 's an argument of a Faith not well improved and not of so good a growth as it should be when we are upon every occasion surprised with fear and horror and astonishment and ready to scatter this way and that way and know not
the hearing of Faith by hearing the Doctrine of Faith the Doctrine of the Gospel the Doctrine concerning the Lord Jesus Christ made known unto you in that way the Spirit came and the Spirit with the Grace of it It is therefore the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ that is the blessed instrumental means whereby there comes to be the first plantation of Grace in the Soul I this that brings men to believe it 's the Gospel men will never believe to the saving of their souls till they come to know Jesus Christ. They will never repent with a Repentance to salvation till they come to know Jesus Christ All the knowledge in the World will never bring over a soul to Faith and Repentance to the Love of God but the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. When men come once to know the Mysterie of the Gospel to know the Grace of God in Christ to know the Mysteries concerning the Salvation and Redemption of the World by the Lord Jesus this will bring them to Faith if any thing will this will bring them to Repentance this is the instrumental means whereby they come to have their hearts warmed with the Love of God The preaching of the Law as a Covenant of Works moral Duties and pressing of them without the line of the Gospel and the Covenant of Grace without reference to that this will but rather provoke and stir up the corruption of a man The Law worketh wrath against a man works wrath in a man it raises up wrath it irritates those cursed corrupt Principles that are in him O this is a Mysterie that we should be well acquainted withal O it is the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospel This is that that breaks the heart and makes the heart to work out after God Never shall we begin to love God nor to love Christ till such time as we come to know the Doctrines of the Gospel concerning our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I would with all my heart that every one of you were but well studied in this Mysterie that now I am speaking to That it is the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ held forth in the Gospel that is the means and instrument to plant Grace to make the first Plantation of it in the Soul As 2ly Know That as it is the means of its first Plantation so it is the means and instrument of its Augmentation I am speaking according to the Doctrine of the Text concerning a growth in Grace and in the Knowledge of Christ. This growth in Grace is brought about by a growth in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus the more we know the more we shall believe the more we shall repent the more we shall love the more holy shall we be as I shall shew you God assisting I think this Point will take up a little more time than other Particulars will but it will be time well spent Now yet further to clear up this That it is the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and the increase in that which doth promote an increase in Grace You shall find in Scripture and truly it is worthy your consideration to my apprehension that the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ it is put for all Grace 'T is a considerable thing that when God will make a promise of all grace he doth epitomise that promise thus I will give them an heart to know me When God comes to make a promise to his People concerning Grace he puts it into this Form I give them an heart to know me O how much is there complicated in that expression I will give them an heart to know me He doth not say an Head to know me Indeed that 's a Gift but Knowledge in the heart is a Grace It is the beginning of Grace and that which contributes to all the Graces an heart to know me To know me with what a kind of Knowledge with a fidelial Knowledge a Knowledge of Trust and an affectionate Knowledge a Knowledge of Love and with a Knowledge of Desire and a Knowledge of Submission I will give them an heart to know me And you shall find likewise to this purpose our Saviour speaks Joh. 17. 3. This is life eternal Why This is life eternal To know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Mark it This is eternal life in the Causes of it this is eternal life in the way and means of it To know thee and to know him whom thou hast sent To know God in Christ this is eternal life Then surely it imports Faith and it imports Love and it imports Holiness for eternal Life doth not come over to a soul but in the way of Believing and in the way of Holiness and in the way of Love and in the way of all the Graces So that I say The Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ it is such a Knowledge as under which is comprehended the Graces of the Spirit And truly this is a consideration of weight in order to this purpose that we may come to be more in our indearings of it and more in our endeavourings after it But now I shall endeavour to make this yet more fully to appear by an induction of Particulars so as that you may stand convinc'd of this that the way to grow in Grace is to grow in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Consider first of all That by growth in this Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ we are most happily advantaged for a growth in Faith and Believing it is very considerable and I will commend it to you to be seriously weighed That as Knowledge is put for Faith for justifying Faith according to that remarkableScripture that you have in Isa. 53. where the Lord speaks to this purpose by the Prophet By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justifie many Now do but weigh that passage and observe this expression This is spoken concerning Christ our Lord and Saviour And saith the Prophet By the knowledge of him shall my righteous servant justifie many Why doth the Knowledge of Christ justifie Why the Devils know him and yet they are not justified Carnal Professors they have a Knowledge of him and yet they are not justified I but that is such a kind of Knowledge as that they that have it shall be justified And Christ by the Knowledge of him shall justifie many Now what Knowledge is this Iâ—… must needs be understood of a fiducial Knowledg a Knowledge of Faith such a Knowledge as is a Knowledge of Dependance a Knowledge of Recumbency and Relyance upon the Lord Jesus Christ. There 's no other Knowledge whereby Christ can justifie souls but by such a Knowledge as this And so I say The Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ it is put for Faith and is used to be set forth unto us The faith whereby souls are justified and so
this thing This belongs to a well improved Knowledge to understand that Christ had no reluctancy of spirit when this matter was propounded to him and when the matter was in debate Christ came in with no Negatives made no Objections but answered thus O my Father 't is thy Will 't is my joy it pleaseth thee to design me to such a purpose O my Father thy will be done my heart delights in it Thou hast prepared me a body O I come into the World with that body and I delight to do thy Will Though I fore-apprehend all the sorrow all the smart all the shame all the sufferings all the burden all those pressures that I must undergo in the managing of this great and glorious work and service yet I stick at nothing O Father it 's meat and drink to me I go about this work and service with as much content and complacency of soul as ever a hungry man went to eat his meat And then 10. It belongs to a well improved Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ That we know and understand that according to this Design of God and sutably to his accomplishments and sutably to his willing ingaging of himself he hath laid out himself to the utmost in a way of doing in a way of suffering in a way of doing fulfilling all righteousness in an active way in the course of his life and conversing here in the world In a way of suffering by the offering up of himself a Sacrifice unto God he hath made an Attonement he hath satisfied infinite Justice he hath pacified infinite Wrath he hath paid the Debt to the utmost farthing That now the Justice of God doth make Declaration that it is fully satisfied in what hath been performed by the Lord Jesus Christ. This is belonging to a well improved Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour That now which Christ said upon the Cross It is finished God from Heaven declares in the Gospel O I have full satisfaction I have nothing to object against those poor Souls that my Son hath ingaged for I have a full payment to the very utmost farthing 11. It belongs to a well improved Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that we understand this That having performed all that Justice could require in a way of doing or in a way of suffering That he rose from the dead ascended into Heaven and that God hath given him preferment that God hath given him the highest preferment upon his obedience and satisfaction to his Justice and upon the performance of this great Work and Service that he was designed unto God hath advanced him to the highest top of Honour he hath given him a name above every name he hath set him at his own right Hand above all Principalities and Powers 12. It belongs to the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ That we know how Jesus Christ thus advanc'd on High and thus raised up to a top of preferment how he doth improve that preferment He is now in Heaven he is at God's right Hand he is in fullest Glory How doth he improve this Glory and Honour that is conferred upon him Improve it He sets his heart upon this that there may be an Improvement of all the interest that he hath in God all that Glory and Power and Majesty and Dominion that he is now invested withal he sets his heart upon this that he may improve this for the benefit and behoof of his People here upon Earth He makes it his continual work and business to be negotiating with God for poor Souls for whom he hath shed his blood and on whose behalf he hath made satisfaction to infinite Justice he doth continually appear in Heaven before God to make intercession for them Now do but lay all this together and here 's the well improved Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ which I have endeavoured thus to knit up together in this compass and to set out before you And here 's the great Mysterie of the Gospel lying in these things which I have held out this morning Now the next thing to do is this To let you see how all this Knowledge of ouâ—… Lord Jesus Christ in every part and parcel of it doth draw out the heart and soul of a Beleever and doth most happily influence it so that all this Knowledge is as a fatning water that doth nourish a Plant Faith being planted in the soul and this water of Gospel-Knowledge concerning our Lord Jesus being thus poured upon it why as a fatning water it makes the plant of Faith to grow and shoot up amain There is never an experienced Christian that knows what believing means and is upon the exercise of Faith and hath set his heart upon this that he may make an Improvement of his Faith there is never an experienced Beleever but is able to set to his Seal Oh in this Knowledge thus wrought out and thus spread forth before me in this Knowledge my Faith lives and thrives and prospers and swims up and down with all delight as the Fish in the water You may easily apprehend now how a Believers Faith will grow and increase and receive strength and nourishment and shoot up amain upon the due consideration of these things that I have suggested 1. As now When a poor Beleever shall think thus with himself Why do I hesitate Why have I a fluctuating heart why is not my heart setled and fixt and come to be full of confidence in God Why I consider thus That that Jesus which is the object of my Faith he is God over all blessed for ever would I have a more able Saviour than a God It is not an Angel that I am commanded to place my trust in no it is God blessed for ever he that was God with God from all Eternity as great as God as good as God Why should I flag in my spirit why should I faint why should I have any miss-givings Have not I a God to trust upon 2. And then He is God I He is God-man where can I promise my self pitty bowels compassion if not from a man a man that is in union with God and in union with God to this purpose that he might be accomplish'd that he might be every way most compassionate and suitable to such an undertaking 3. And then again This Jesus is the Son the Son of the Father where can I place my trust and confidence so freely as upon the King of Heaven's Son He is the Son of the Father nay he is his dearly Beloved Son the Father loves him delights in him he delights to hear his Prayer he pleased him in all things 4. Nay why should not I be strong in my Faith in Christ forasmuch as this Jesus this Son this beloved Son this delightful Son is the person that the Great God hath chosen and design'd to such a purpose and it is the will of God that every
purpose and yet not know to such a degree as they ought to do and so are culpable as not answering the duty of the Text which requires a growth in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. You may be able to make a Judgment by the things that have been so largely handled in the Doctrinal part of this Text Much hath been spoken according to what my line would reach to concerning the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. And here now is this to consider of whether we be not deserving blame upon this account that though we know something and it may be something to good purpose in the saving knowledge of Christ yet we have not set our hearts to make the advance in this knowledge and that progress and to come to such a measure and degree in knowledge as we ought and might have done according to time and means and truly I think that there is none of us but we may find this cause to complain Ah sweet Saviour how little do I know of thee I remember how that holy Agur doth bemoan himself even upon such a like account Prov. 30. Surely I am more bruitish than any man I have not the understanding of a man I neither learned wisdom nor have the knowledge of the holy Thus he bemoans himself O surely surely we may most complain and say O sweet Saviour how little a matter do I know of thee Some little smatterings there are but alas it 's nothing to what might be known and apprehended concerning thee And what 's the fruit of this That Believers holy Persons such as have the grace of God in truth have not more advance in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Mysteries of his Kingdom what are the consequences and truly the consequences are the evidences that there is not that advance and that growth in this holy Knowledge How sad are the consequences that Christians know no more of God are not more insighted in the Mysteries concerning Christ. 1. Whence it comes to pass That we advance no more in faith for undoubtedly if we grow more in Knowledge we should grow more in Faith Did we but more clearly apprehend and understand the Mysteries of the Gospel concerning our Lord Jesus what a curious cast there is in the business of salvation by Jesus Christ did we but more clearly understand and apprehend and know the continuance of that Mysterie it would most largely contribute to the promoting of a Beleevers faith and the unbelief would fall flat down on its face before this Knowledge if so be it were but duly improved 2. Again This is the consequence We love the Lord Jesus with a poor inconsiderable degree of love Why Because we know but little little of his excellencies little of that pretiousness that is inhim and as our knowledge is so will our love be much knowledge much love little knowledge little love Surely if we had but more through acquaintance with Christ we should come to have our hearts more fired with the love of Christ our hearts would burn within us if so be that we had but more intimate acquaintance with him and had but a more clear understanding of the Mysteries of the Gospel 3. And so for Desire O if so be there were but that advance in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus our desires would sparkle and flame out most strongly after this desirable Christ. When the Spouse had informed the Daughters of Ierusalem what a choice one what an incomparable one he was then they cry out O thou fairest among Women tell us whither thy Beloved is gone that we may seek him with thee 4. Whence is it that there is so much straightheartedness to the pretious priviledges of the Gospel that we do not prize them more that we do not set our hearts more upon them That great priviledge of Justification of Adoption of access to God of acceptance with God and that God should not be ashamed to be called our God to which I spake the last day Whence is it that we be not taken more with holy admirings of these great and glorious priviledges but because we are not more insighted in the Mysterie of the Gospel concerning Christ. Whence is it that we do not make more account of Justification forgiveness of sins which is a most pretious mercy We do not know Christ as we should and what it cost him to bring over to us the forgiveness of our sins 5. Whence is it that we are so apt to be tampering with that accursed thing with sin that we are so apt to be upon complyance with it and upon gratifications of it and of the lusts of it We know not Christ did we know Christ what he suffered that he might satisfie the Justice of God for the sins of his People what soul-conflicts he had and how he was pressed under the burden of the wrath of God that he might deliver his People from the everlasting Curse and Condemnation it would make us fear and tremble and take heed how ever we deal with that accursed thing and throw away that bloody knife that cut the very throat and stabb'd the very heart of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 6. Whence is it that we are so apt to be meddling with the World and apt to have our hearts set upon these beggerly vanities here below Whence is it but because we know not our Lord Jesus Christ as we ought to know Did we but know what a pretious Christ he was we would set light by the World and account nothing of it in comparison of the Lord Jesus 7. Whence is it that poor souls are so apt to be tossed with every wind of Temptation and to be unsetled upon every occasion as touching their peace and inward comfort but because they are very short in the knowledge of the Mysterie concerning our Lord Jesus Christ and the riches of Grace that discovers it self in him As let the guile be what it can be that may be represented to the Conscience the Conscience may yet upon the true knowledge and apprehension of the Grace of God in our Lord Jesus bear up with boldness and make a challenge unto men and devils and say Who shall lay any thing unto our charge when we know that concerning Christ concerning his Death concerning the merit of his Sacrifice concerning his Acceptance with the Father concerning his pleading in the behalf of his People at his Father's right hand We have that knowledge of the Lord Jesus that we bear up with glorious confidence and with blessed boldness and we are not afraid to look men and devils in the face we know who it is that is once for all entred into the holy place that is not made with hands and appears before God in heaven representing the merit of his Sacrifice and for our parts we now can triumph with a holy boldness and say Who shall lay any thing to our
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
that the Christian is as his Faith is If his Faith be in good plight his other Graces will be so too If there be a flourishing Faith there will be a flaming Love and there will be an abounding and an increase in other Graces Faith it hath an influence upon all other the Graces of the Spirit Grow in that and grow in all Now if you ask But how would you have us to grow or to what pitch and proportion would you have us to arrive You perswade us to a growth in Faith what growth is it that you press us to Will you now but a little weigh these things that I have to communicate I tell you thus your growth in Faith if so be that you will answer your duty it must first be a growth practically answering to the degrees of Faith that you come up to the degrees of Faith and to as high a degree of Faith as you can 2. That in a practical way you may answer the testimonies that are given of Faith 3. That in a practical way you may answer the eminent and signal examples and patterns of Faith 4. That in a practical way you may perform the acts and express the fruits and effects of Faith all this in a practical way And then shall you answer the duty and approve your selves to be such as are persons of a well grown Faith First of all when I perswade you to grow in Grace in the Grace of Faith interpret thus That every believing soul is to look unto and to press after such a growth as that there may be an attainment of Faith and of Faith in the degrees of it Thus we distinguish of a weak Faith and of a strong Faith We distinguish of a Faith of Adherence and of a Faith of Evidence and Assurance We speak of Believers some that are poor in Faith others that are rich in Faith according to the Apostles expression in James The poor of this world rich in Faith We distinguish of a living Faith and of a lively Faith We distinguish of a combating Faith and of a conquering Faith Of a conflicting Faith and of a triumphing Faith such distinctions there are Now our duty is to press after such a growth that we may be in the advancing and come up to the highest degree that we can attain unto Our Saviour complained of the Disciples O ye of little Faith Importing thus much that their duty was for to be much in Faith and to have a great Faith a well grown Faith such a Faith as the Woman of Canaan of whom I shall speak O woman great is thy Faith There are that are poor in Faith they have but a poor degree and measure of Faith but even as much of it as will keep life and soul together as I may so speak all that they can do is but to keep in life I but now our duty is to look after an inrichment in Faith that we may live like rich men live at a high rate that we may spend and spend very largely This is our duty That we have a lively Faith a Faith so improved as that its quick and active and nimble and can put on vigorously in the wayes of Grace and holiness this is our duty To grow from one degree to another to be stronger and stronger to proceed from Faith of Adherence unto Faith of Assurance Not only to have the Faith of Recumbency that we can hang upon Christ and roul our selves upon him for Salvation but that we may come to have a Faith of Confidence that we may not only be perswaded of the truth of Promises but that we may be perswaded of our personal interest and propriety in Promises And that we are not only perswaded of the truth of them but of our title to them that we may not only be able to say that This is a faithful saying that Jesus Christ came into the World to save sinners but that we may be able by Faith to say I and this Jesus came to save me as much as any other sinners in the World That we may not be only able to say He loved his People and gave himself for his people but we may be able by a well-improved Faith to say yea he loved me and he gave himself for me Thus could Paul say such was Pauls Faith A Faith of Assurance when we cannot only reflect with fears and difficulties but we can trample upon them and triumph over them and say with the Apostle I am perswaded that neither heighth nor depth nor length nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come shall be able to separate me from the love of God that is in Christ. Such a growth we should have that we may come to bear up with a holy confidence towards God that we may be able to say I know whom I have believed and I know that my Redeemer liveth We know that if this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God a house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens This is the Faith that we should press after a Faith of such a size as this of such a proportion as this and not rest contented with this That we can hang upon Christ though its a great Mercy to have the least degree of Faith yet this we should be pressing to that we may come to a holy confidence towards God This is our duty and that that we should endeavour to that we may come to be of such a grown Faith that 's the first thing 2. Our duty is to grow in Faith and to be of such a growth in Faith as that we may answer the high and honourable and glorious testimonies that are given of Faith that we may be able to give in our Justification of such testimonies and say thus and thus is Faith testified of 't is a true testimony I am able to prove it I am able to speak it out of my own person and from my own experience It s our blessed Sayiours speech Wisdome is justified of her children If we will approve our selves to be the children of Wisdome we should look after this in a special manner that we may be able to justifie the sayings of Wisdome Now what are the sayings of Wisdome concerning Faith the testimonies that are given of it Mark the Apostle in the 11th chapter of his Epistle to the Hebrews he tells us That Faith is the substance of things hoped for it is the evidence of things that are not seen Is this a true testimony It may be you will say you believe this that this is a truth concerning Faith I but what of that Is it a truth in you Is your Faith such a Faith Are you able to subscribe to this and to say yea blessed be God I can speak this from my own experience and say Faith is to me the substance of things that are hoped for Faith is in me the evidence of things that are not seen
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
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
everlasting Covenant which is ordered in all things and sure when it is not penn'd up but hath scope in our understandings when we can take in this mysterie of the new Covenant in the proportions of it this is the business of Faith but it is that which will not be performed to any good purpose unless there be some considarable improvement and growth in Faith and therefore it is that the Apostle doth so earnestly pray on the behalf of the Church of Ephesus in Eph. 1. saith he I cease not to give thanks for you making mention of you in my prayers that the God of 〈◊〉 Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory may give 〈◊〉 yâ—… the spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of blâ—… the eyes of your understandings being inlightned that yâ—… may know what is the hope of his Calling and what the 〈◊〉 of the Glory of his inheritance in the Saints and what is the exeeceding greatness of his power to us ward who beliâ—…e according to the working of his mighty power O how earnest was the Apostle in the behalf or the Ephesians to this purpose and Chap. 3. ver 14. sâ—…th he I bâ—…v my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that he could grant unto you according to the riches of his Glory to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inward man that Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith and saith he that you may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that you might be filled with all the fulness of â—…d Two passages they are of Scripture which are most proper for beleeving souls to be well studied in that part which I read to you out of the first Chapt. and this in the third I say they are of some proper cognisance â—…r men and woman that being brought over to the Faith of the Gospel are studious of approving themselves unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that they may answer their duty concerning these things that are here made mention of that there might be not only as I said before a weak and dim and dark apprehension of the mysterie of the Gospel the mysterie of Christ the mysterie of the hope of Glory but that there might be a comprehension that the mysterie may stand full and as much as may be compleat in us in all the proportions of it that the Gospel might not be streightned in our understandings Truly friends this is a great matter if you would but set your hearts upon it and seriously weigh and ponder what I drive now Alas how little is there of the mysterie of the Gospel that our hearts have already received how little of it And by this means God is scanted and shortened in the love praise and honour that is due to him and which our hearts would be inlarged to yield up if we were but more careful to answer our duty this way I do profess this morning to you that are partakers of the Faith of Gods Elect that are able to give any account of any saving work upon your hearts and that you have any thing of the Faith of the Gospel in you I do profess here and testifie to you in the Name of the Lord that this doth more neerly concern you for to look unto that these two Scriptures may be better answered by you that you do not please your selves in that streightness of spirit that is in you and discovers it self but that you be so heightned that there be such an inlargement of heart in believing that you may take in the mysterie in the Glories of it or else you will not so duly answer that which is required of you as touching your growth in Faith and Grace Think what you will of it this I am sure is a duty that lyes upon Beleevers to perform that they be of comprehensive spirits and that they labour to work out to a more inlargedness of heart that they may be so inabled to comprehend with all the Saints the height and depth and breadth and length or else you will never be able to give that glory to God and honour to Christ never be so much in admirings of the glorious mysterie of the Gospel as otherwise you would I would you would a little think of this point and for my part I do profess I know nothing that is more proper for a Minister of the Gospel a Dispencer of the Mysteries of God to be more earnest in pressing and urging upon Beleevers than this very thing is But alas how low spirited are most Beleevers Beleevers that it may be have got as much Faith as wil secure them from Hell and bring them to Heaven But as for the mysteries in the glories of it in the dimentions of it in the latitude of it O how uncapable of a due apprehension of it Will you therefore but consider of this this is one thing I it is it is that which doth mainly concern those that have any thing of the Faith of the Gospel in them for to be very solicitous about and studious to be answerable to I leave it with you but know that the great God of Heaven and our Lord Jesus hath laid this burden upon you and me this morning As many of us as are able to give an account of the Faith of the Gospel the Lord Jesus laies this burden upon you this morning that you look to it that there be a comprehensiveness of spirit concerning the mysterie of the Gospel which is Christ in you the hope of Glory And so I let it pass I leave it with you to be studied and pondered upon and as you will answer it to Christ another day Take heed that this particular among the rest be not slightly passed over Again your duty is to grow in Grace and Faith and so will you make it appear that you do grow When you come to have such a Faith as is not only a living Faith but a lively Faith an active stirring Faith within you when you come to have such a Faith as that you do not only live by it but that you live richly by it there 's many a man that lives and gets a livelyhood he hath bread for the day he hath to supply his necessities but he lives at a low poor rate he is not able to rise up to those expences that others are able to bâ—…ar So there are I say many Beleevers they live they gâ—…t bread for the day they get a subsistence by their Faith but they live poorly at a low rate they do not keep a good house they do not spend like rich men There are that are rich in Faith as the Apostle uses the expression in the second Epist. of James that are rich in Faith that 's it that we should press to to such a growth in Faith that we may live like
rich men keep a good hoase and maintain a full table that we may feed highly from day to day there is mention of the rich man in the Gospel that was clothed in Purple and fared deliciously every day thus it might have been and yet the man not culpable if he had fared thus with a heavenly mind and had not set his heart upon these things as if they were the only portion for souls to sit down satisfied withal No doubt God doth allow persons that have a larger portion of the World than others have to go better clad and to feed at a higher rate than others do that have not such estate This man it 's said he was clothed in Purple and fared deliciously every day why truly Brethren there are such Beleevers to be found though I think the number of them is very small there are such of whom it may be thus testified and it is an honourable testimony of them that they are clothed in Purple in Scarlet and they fare deliciously every day they go clothed in Princely Robes they are clothed in the Scarlet Robe of Jesus Christ in the Robe of Righteousness which hath been died in his own blood and they walk like Princes Sons and Daughters and they fare deliciously every day they keep a continual feast feed upon the marrow and fatness of the Gospel they rejoyce in hope of the glory of God these are the persons of a well-grown Faith and it is their honour so to be thus they live Thus to bear up in pomp and state to live like Kings children and for to spend largely knowing that their estate will bear them out They have such a Faith in Christ and in the Covenant as will bring in sufficient to defray their expences from day to day that they shall never be at a loss they have that which will make a supply to them this is the Faith and these are the persons that are rich in Faith Now such a growth in Faith is our duty to press after as that we may be able not only to live but that we may live at a high rate feed fully and largely and be feasted upon Christ feasted upon the Promises the blessings of the Covenant feeding upon the hope of the Glory that shall be revealed feeding to the full without any fear of a surfeâ—… This is the well-grown Faith and such a Faith Brethren and Friends we are to press after Such a Faith is not only a conflicting but it is a conquering and a triumphing Faith this is the well grown Faith that they may not only be able to give this account of themselves that they have a Faith which inables them to sight with corruptions and lusts and to grapple with Principalities and Powers but such a Faith as inables them to bear up in a triumphing way and to say In all these things in tribulation in distress in persecution in famine in nakedness as I said in a former Exercise In all these things we are more than Conquerors through him that hath loved us When we can say with the Apostle rejoycingly O blessed be God as in 2 Câ—… 〈◊〉 that maketh us alwaies to triumph in Christ such a Faith we should press after that may inable us to bear up to live at a high rate and to bear up with holy Rejoycings and Triumphings in God Such a Faith as the Apostle speaks of in 1. Pet. 1. having not seen you love him and beleeving you rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of Glory Will you consider of this now as a further addition to all the rest Grow in Faith so grow as that the mysterie of the Gospel may stand in its full proportion that you may be able to comprehend with all the Saints the height and depth and length and breadth that the Gospel-mysterie may not be streightned in your spirits So grow in Faith as that you may live high and may maintain your self in an honourable and creditable manner that you may live like the child of the great King of Heaven and Earth that you may feed upon delicacies every day that you may come to be filled by beleeving with all joy and peace and comfort that you may suck and be satisfied with the breasts of Consolation This is the Faith that we should endeavour a growing in I add yet further you that are partakers of the Faith of the Gospel your duty is to grow in Grace and Faith and so shall it appear that you do when you can bear up with fixed and established and well-setled spirits under the most amazing and stupendious providences that are ordered out and whatsoever difficulties you meet withal whatsoever discouragements there are before you you may be inabled to hold on in your way and not be over-powred by them this is an argument of a well-grown Faith when nothing beats us off Let him kill me saith Iob I 'll trust in him still The woman of Canaan whatsoever discouragements there were seeingly she resolved upon it not to let her hold go not to susfer her suit to fall this is the Faith and of such a proportion that we should press after so to grow in Faith that nothing may drive us from our hold nor make us to fall under discouragements Again your duty is to grow in Faith such a growth in Faith as that you may come to be less selfish and more for God more pure in your aims at the Glory of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ Truly this will evidence a growth in Faith and this is the Faith so evidenced that you should endeavour to grow in It is usual with poor Beleevers in their fâ—…rst setting out upon the way of Faith and beleeving 't is usual with them and truly it is a gracious indulgence of God towards them he bears with them in it It is usual I say with poor weak Beleevers at their first beginning to be mainly solicitous about their own Salvation they stand under convictions of their obnoxiousness unto the wrath of God to the curse of the Law and have some apprehensions of the dreadful condition of the damned in Hell and what it is to be eternally separated from God everlastingly excommunicated from fellowship with him and his people and when they think of these things O! what shall become of me to all eternity what a miserable wretch shall I be if I should live and dye out of the favour of God and not be reconcil'd unto him by his Christ if so be that guilt should lye upon my conscience if so be that the wrath of God should still abide upon me O! what a cursed wretch shall I be to all eternity O! what shall I do that I may escape this curse and condemnation and come to be made partakers of Christ and of the Salvation that is by him This is usually at the first the work of a poor soul beginning now to look out after Christ and pursuing after an interest in
to Heaven without company and I tell you that this is an argument of a well-improved Faith When our Faith it goes abroad our solicitousness it is not only for our selves but others when our Charity goes out of doors and we are now projecting and casting about how we may promote others eternal welfare when Paul could say I am perswaded that neither Height nor Depth nor Angels nor Principalities nor Life nor Death nor things present nor things to come shall be able to separate from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus when Paul comes to this Plerophoria when he comes to be thus improved in his Faith saith he in Rom. 9. Brethen I would have you to know that I say the truth in Christ I lye not my Conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost that I have great heavyness and continual sorrow in my heart Why what man Did'st thou not write but just now that thou wast perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers c. should be able to separate from the Love of Christ Jesus our Lord Why Paul will you speak to such a purpose as this then that you have great heaviness and continual sorrow in your heart Why you should be full of joy who should rejoyce in all the World if they do not nor should not that have a confident perswasion that they shall go to Heaven and be eternally blessed with God and live in everlasting communion with him Do you say you have great heaviness and continual sorrow in your heart Why the business of Faith is to fill the soul with joy and peace in beleeving and do you talk of sorrow and heaviness in your heart why what should be the matter O Brethren he had now a well-grown Faith his Faith was improved exceedingly that he was now sure that all was well between God and him he was sure to go to Heaven himself and that nothing should be able to separate And now his heart begins to turn upon his poor Brethren I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart I profess saith he I could set down so far as it might be without sinning against God yea I could be contented to be cut off from the comfortable and rejoycing part of Salvation I could be contented even to be cut off from the comfortable communion not that he would be in a state of guilt and sin and wrath and under the hatred of God But I could be contented saith he to be even cut off from that sweet injoyment that Saints have in their glorified estate for my Brethrens sake according to the flesh Now saith he it 's the sorrow of my heart while I am full of joy and comfort in respect of my own condition I am full of heaviness and continual sorrow there is upon me that my Brethren that are the seed of Abraham that they should be strangers to this Grace and like to be shut out from the Salvation which I am now sure of and then is the Faith of a Beleever a well-grown Faith when it comes to be solicitous of others wellfare And for those that are brought over to Faith but are weaklings in Faith when there is a bearing with their weaknesses and infirmities a studying to please them in all things for their profit and a friendly deportment when there is not a grâ—…ng upon them nor a galling of them by any unbecoming carriage Saith the Apostle in Rom. 15. We that are strong that are strong in Faith ought to bear with the infirmities of the weak and not to please our selves for let let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification for even Christ pleased not himself but as it is written The reproaches of them that reproached thee fall on me We that are strong we that come to have a well-grown Faith we should look with a tender and comâ—… eye and heart upon tender Brethren 〈◊〉 not so much insist upon what will be to the â—…ing of our selves but what will be to the pleaâ—… of our weak Brethren so far as is consistent 〈◊〉 their profit and the edification of our souls 〈◊〉 thus with Christ and it should be thus with 〈◊〉 this will be a proof of our growth in Faith Further our duty is to grow in Grace and to grow in Faith and such a growth should we press after that we may be able for to use and enjoy the World and the good things of it with heavenly minds so as that we come to value our selves not so much by what we are in the World as by what we are in in the Covenant and by what estate we have in the Covenant not to make so much matter of it that we are able to give an account of such and such an estate in Land and Houses and worldly Possessions but to valew our selves upon this accout that we are able for to make out an estate in the Covenant and that all our outward enjoyments are held by a Covenant and that 's it that gives us the comfort of our enjoyments Such an estate I have I but blessed be God I have it by a spiritual title Christ is mine and I am Christs and so all things become mine I have a spiritual title and I hold all by virtue of a Covenant in Christ. I would not valew the World I would not value my outward condition my riches if they be thousands and ten thousands in the World I should look upon them but as a beggerly portion if I had them not upon a spiritual account and upon the account of an interest in Christ O God that hath given me Christ he hath given me with him all these things When a man can look upon his estate be it never so large and copious to look upon it as that which his heart would be dead to if it were not that he could look upon these things that he doth injoy as upon a Covenant Conveyance And when a soul comes to this to use the World with a heavenly mind manage the affairs of the World I but with dependance upon God When a man in the way of his Calling and management of his affairs here below goes on with diligence and care I but with a humble dependance upon God and while he doth his duty he can trust God with the success Let the times be hard and trading dead and little in-comes no matter I 'll open my shop and I 'll attend the providence of God and whether little or much come in I am not solicitous about that I am resolved upon this I will do my duty and wait upon God and I know it must be his blessing must be the portion for me to live upon And it is not the in-come of the World that I set my heart so much upon but I 'll do my duty and leave the success to God There are two or three things more but for the present only
way or no he hath begun the journey and he is doubting whether he be in the right way yea or no this will put him to a puzzel and make him to be fluctuating and hesitating had I best go on I doubt whether I be in the right way yea or no this will cause slackness of his motion but if he be sure that he is in the way this will be much to the incouraging of him to make a further progress So if I find and am sure that this be the right way that I have Grace in the truth of it this will cause us to labour after the growth in Grace Eighthly You are to be upon the Faithful and diligent exercise of what you have The reason why we have no more Faith is because we are not more upon the exercise of that Faith which we have We speak of trusting in God Alas how few are there of us that do any thing to purpose in the exercise of our trust and beleeving exercising Faith upon Christ and upon the Covenant of God in Christ concerning pardon of sin sanctification why for want of exercising what Grace we have already received wâ—… improve no more the promise is a faithful promise and God will be true to it He that hath to him shall be given He that hath what 's that he that hath and useth for we must needs understand it in that sense He speaks of the man that had the Talent and had imployed it had gain'd five talents he had imployed his talent saith Christ give him the other talent for to him that hath that is that hath and doth use and imploy what he hath to him shall be given If we would now but set our selves seriously and consideringly upon this business and exercise and imploy what Grace God hath given we may be confident of it that God will come in with the inlargeings of his spirit Ninthly Our duty is in order to growth in Grace to be constant in our attendance upon such means which God hath appointed for such a purpose Word and Ministry and other Gospel-ordinances as we lye fair for the injoyment of them Truly these means are provided for this very purpose that Christians may grow God hath set up a ministry in the World not only to bring persons that were strangers to Grace to the participation of it but that being brought to partake of Grace they may come to be increased in Grace Christ ascended up on high and gave gifts unto men for the perfecting of the Saints as well as for the planting of the Saints and this is our duty when we have sound the power of the Gospel upon our hearts to bring us from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God When we have found the efficacy of the ordinances to begin Grace our duty is to attend them still that that Grace being begun may by the same means be increased unto the day of perfection This is the will of God and we may be confident of this that when Christians come to Gods means propounding Gods ends mark what I say and accordingly wisely judiciously and conscientiously applying to the means to such ends and purposes they may be confident of it that God will come in with a blessing for God doth delight to crown his own means to prosper his own prescriptions he loves to see his meat that he gives his children to prove their nourishment their physick to promote their health God loves to see his means that he provides for the good of souls to see them succesful Consider can you think so dishonourably of God of the most blessed God that he should provide a Ministry continue it in the World continue his people in their attendance upon it what meerly that they might keep on in a formalizing course and be never the better Or can we think so dishonourably of God as that he would go and tye us to hear and attend the Ministry of his Gospel and Grace and withhold his blessing while we do conscienciously and judiciously apply our selves to such means Can we think so dishonourably of God as that he will suspend his working Ah Brethren the Lord delights to meet them with his blessing that remember him in his waies Do but think of that passage in Isa. 64. and look that Text full in the face and hear what it speaks to you Thou meetest him that rejoyceth and worketh righteousness those that remember thee in thy waies mark it Thou meetest them to what purpose why to prosper them to command thy blessing upon them I undoubtedly if we did but propound this to our selves when we come to attend the Ordinances think thus with our selves why God hath set up this Ministry in the World that his peoples souls might prosper that they might thrive that they might grow rich that they might improve in Knowledge and Faith and Holyness and Love and the like God hath given this that there might be the perfecting of the Saints the perfecting of my Soul I go to this means I attend this Ministry and I will attend in expectation of a blessing of God upon it I will wait upon God and I will expect his blessing and reckon upon it that I shall be the better for these means 't is God's means and he loves to be found in his own way and to bless and prosper his own appointments Oh this is that would conduce exceeding much to proficiency in Faith and Godlyness if we would but go this way to work But I tell you Friends our formality spoyls us it 's a most lamentable thing to consider what formalizing spirits many of us have Will you but mind this that I say I would I might not have that occasion that sometimes we have in the way of our preaching to speak to such a purpose people come together and profess to pray as that 's one part of our publick ministry yet how many are there of you that scarce ever close with one petition in a whole prayer your eyes are wandering and thoughts are roving Do not your consciences tell you that of a truth you make nothing of this duty but you can gaze and wander and look this way and that way and discover to others an unfixed heart and that you mind not the business that you are transacting What 's this but formalizing as if we came to set out a prayer and not to bear a part in prayer And so for hearing with what a formalizing spirit are we many times we can hear as if we were not at all concerned in any thing that 's spoken never considering of the ordinances in reference to God as that that hath the stamp of his Authority upon it O this if the Lord be not the more merciful it will be the ruine of our souls This Plague Formality We have got a course of going to Church as you use to say and keep on a course and go in account for prosessors but
the Gospel credit the Ordinances encourage the Ministry and strengthen the hands of those that are faithful in their work whose ambition should be to see those that wait upon God in the way of Ministry to be improving and thriving and growing Heaven-ward O how much is it to the honour of the Gospel and to the credit of the Ministry and encouragement of the servants of Christ when they can see those that wait upon God in their way to be upon an improvement It 's the comfort of a Nurse to see the child thrive and prosper it 's the comfort of a Minister to see the people that wait upon his Ministry to be increased with the increase of God better'd by every Sermon better'd by every Ordinance that is dispenc'd unto them Surely if Paul were on earth and had to deal with such kind of persons that were good proficients he would glory in them and make his boast of them so he doth of the Thessalonians in the 2 Epist. 1 Chap. where having spoken of them of their Faith and Charity we glory in you saith he in the Churches of Christ. 7. Consider thus for incouragement for an endeavouring after a growth in Grace such persons are not so likely to be startled and affrighted and unsetled upon occasion of amazing terrifying and astonishing providences and when there are frowns in the face of providences which others are not well able to behold improved souls such as are well underlaid with Grace and are of a considerable growth they are of all others the most likely to bear up with courage and confidence and holy resolution and to out-face all difficulties and dangers and to say as the three Children O King we are not careful to answer thee in this matter When poor weaklings are apt to flye before an enemy and to shrink at the sight of a trouble and to have their hearts desponding and fall down within them well improved souls that are advanc'd in Grace they are likely to bear up with courage and confidence and to behave themselves as Caleb did when others of the searchers were sent to see the Land their hearts begin to fail them at the sons of Anack Come saith Ioshua let not us fear them they are bread for us we shall feed upon them they shall do us no hurt their strength is departed from them and the Lord is with us to work out salvation for us Such a man is one that God would glory in that will not startel at troubles when they fasten on him but bears up with resolution of spirit and such are like to do so that are well improved in Grace as Caleb was 8. Consider this that if you do grow and increase you are likely when you come to dye to dye with the greatest comfort and joy and boldness towards God Truly we may well think that those that have the greatest Faith and the greatest Love and the greatest measure of Holyness they are like to dye with the greatest comfort and triumph I do not say that it is alwaies so God may and doth it 's like sometimes for ends and purposes best known to himself suffer some of his most eminent Saints for to dye and pass away not altogether with that splendor and with those clear apprehensions of his Love sometimes he is pleased so to order out for holy purposes But we may well think that in all probability they that have gotten the most Grace are like to have the greatest comfort in the day of death and according to their sowing so shall their reaping be they having sown plentifully when the Harvest comes truly they shall be sure to reap plentifully 9. Consider this That whereas it 's said that Christ in the day of Judgement will come to be admired in all them that do believe Surely he will be most of all admired in them that have been most in their beleeving of him he will be most admired in them that have done most in their advances and improvements in Faith and Godlyness And truly these things being duly considered they may be well reckoned upon as so many incentives and provocations to this duty which we are charged withal in the Text that we do endeavour to grow in Grace And if there be any that are able to give any good account of their improvement and increasing through the blessing of God upon them if any of you can find that you have been made to increase and that there is a growth in Grace you may know it and your duty is to make a thankful acknowledgement of it As David doth in Psal. 138. In the day when I cried thou answered'st me and strengthened'st me with strength in my soul. Truly we should be willing and free to acknowledge the incomes of God and the increases of God in us and how the Lord is pleased for to bring us on from a lower measure to a higher and to give us an advance in Faith and Godlyness Truly we should take knowledge of it and be free to make acknowledgement of it to the glory and praise of Him that is the giver of all And for such of you as are above that are of a higher stature than others of your Brethren that are better grown Christians more improved in Knowledge in Faith in Holyness in Love in Godlyness and Grace to such of you I have only this to say First of all consider that all you have is of free donation your first Grace and your second Grace the first degrees and the after-degrees they are all of Grace and therefore your duty is to attribute nothing to your selves but to give the Glory of all to God By the Grace of God I am that I am saith Paul If so be that I have more Faith than my Brother more Grace more Knowledge more Holyness I have no reason to boast of it I have much reason to bless God for it but not to boast for what have I that I have not received I have received the first Grace and my endeavours have been used put forth to such a purpose yet it is not so much to be reckoned to my endeavour as to the blessing of God upon my endeavours and so God in all is to be glorified in all and for all for the first Grace and for the after Grace for the beginnings of Grace and for the increases of Grace O the God of Grace is to be magnified and we are to carry it very humbly to take heed of any proud swellings of heart because you may come to be above your Brethren taller than they by head and shoulders do not over-look weaker Brethren but carry it humbly and tenderly towards them as the Apostle saith We that are strong ought to bear with the infirmities of the weak this is a becoming thing for a well-grown Saint to carry it with all meekness and tenderness and in all lowlyness of mind towards those that are his inferiors and short of him
poor soul should fly to him and have its recumbency upon him 5. And then again when I consider that this Christ is commissioned by the Father he is sent into this World upon this account that he might save and make reconciliation 6. And then he is every way accomplish'd if he were a deficient Christ there were something to make my spirit to flag but he is most fully accomplish'd all power is given to him he is able to save to the utmost all that come unto God by him 7. And then when I come to consider and ponder that it is meat and drink to Christ to do the will of his Father and he with the greatest content of heart performed this work and made satisfaction to the Justice of God soâ—… poor sinners 8. And then when I come to consider that this Jesus is now in Heaven at Gods Right-hand God the Father hath given him Glory and Honour O what incouragement have I to come to him 9. And then when I consider that all the trust that is committed to him all the treasure that is laid up in him is for the benefit and behoof of poor souls why should not I then be incouraged to let out my heart upon him and to have the strongest confidence that I shall be the better for him I tell you Brethren that all this knowledge doth strongly influence the Faith of a Beleever therefore well may the Apostle require the knowledge of the Lord Jesus in order to a growth in Grace and in particular to a growth in Faith I would only give in that instance in 1 Pet. 1. It 's a Text that doth fully suit our present purpose saith he You by him believe in God that raised him up from the dead and gave him Glory that your Faith and Hope might be in God Pray do but weigh this you believe in God saith he who raised Iesus from the dead and when he had so done he gave him Glory He preferr'd him to the greatest Honour and Dignity set him at his own Right-hand and wherefore this That your Faith in knowing this that he that was your great undertaker here on earth travell'd in the greatness of his strength that he might accomplish the work of Redemption and Salvation This Jesus after he had done his work and suffered what he was to undergo here in the World God did raise him again from the dead and when he had raised him he takes him to Heaven and gives him Glory there sets him at his own Right-hand advances him to the highest top of Honour And wherefore thus That your Faith and Hope might be in God that you might come to him with the fullest confidence and rely upon him Now all this that I have accounted to you concerning a well-improved knowledge in our Lord Jesus Christ it doth exceeding liberally contribute to the promoting of a Beleevers Faith and Grace And because I can proceed no further now if there be any souls that are strangers to Christ and to the Faith of the Gospel will you but drink of these waters O set your hearts that you may drink of this blessed Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and see whether these waters will not warm your hearts and make you to sparkle out in love to Christ in longings after Christ And for you that are called out to the participation of Grace and have the Faith of God begun in you O as ever you desire to grow up in the Faith of the Gospel labour to be well improved in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ O dwell upon the meditation of these Mysteries that I have given you this morning a hint of If ever you desire to be well improved in your Faith it must be by your being well improved in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. SERM. XIII I Shall now proceed to what remains What hath been spoken concerning Faith and how the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ duly improved is to the growth of that The same may be spoken concerning Gospel hope The hope of the Righteous which is called a Tree of Life compared to an Anchor Sure and steadfast entring within the vail whither the forerunner hath entered Now by improving in the knowledge of Jesus Christ Hope will grow up to a goodly stature Hope will come to be as an Anchor fixing very fast so as to keep the ship of the soul safe and secure whatever the storms and tempests are that may arise upon it The more we know of Christ the more shall our Hope be strengthened in us and one special reason why we hope no more with an unshaken hope is because we are not more in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The Apostle in 1 Pet. 1. speaks concerning this blessed Hope that Believers are begotten to and they are begotten to it he tells us by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead The more we are judiciously apprehensive of Christ of the Resurrection of Christ and of the Glory which he is advanc'd unto the more will the hope of a Beleever be strengthened in him And that Scripture which I clos'd with the last day it serves us to this very purpose 1 Pet. 1. It 's said that God the Father hath given Honour and Glory to his Son that our Faith and our Hope might be in God And therefore must needs be inferr'd that the more we know and understand concerning Christ and the Glory that he is now advanc'd unto the more will there be of growth in the hope of a Beleever 3. By growth in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ there will be a growth in godly Repentance Repentance there is such a thing though it 's little known and less practised according to the true Gospel-nature and state of it But such a thing there is as Repentance towards God a precious Grace which God works in the hearts of his people those that he hath a purpose to save It is of necessary participation and it is a Grace of necessary exercise for our Saviour tells us that except we repent we shall all perish there is a necessity of it and yet alas how many are meer strangers to it know nothing of the Grace know nothing of the Practice of it And how many of those that have any sense or share in it yet that are very little in their Repentance have but a very low measure and degree know little of heart-meltings and soul-breakings before God much what strangers unto that sweet frame of spirit by which Ephraim is set forth unto us as a blessed pattern and example in Jer. 31. 18. where we have this account of him Thou hast established â—…e and I was chastised as a Bullock unaccustomed â—…o the yoke Turn thou me and I shall be turned after that I was converted I repented and I smâ—… upon my thigh This was Ephraim's frame and this is upon Record for our