delighteth Gal. 6. 10. this is the faith the Gospell praiseth Gal. 5. 6. 4. It walks and works by rule a divine Canon 6. 16. 1. In Religion and worship of God it minds and credits the word of God 't is fully for the Scripture all that is in the Scripture it is for as Paul confessed I worship God beleeving all things which are written in the law it dislikes unwritten traditions it disallowes no divine institutions it is well pleased to be ruled by Gods will it will not accept mans lust for a law nor except against any law of Christ Acts 24. 14. 2. In reformation it minds the word as a patterne most perfect as Moses had his patterne not a pin was left to his discretion in that great work of the tabernacle yet he was prudent he was pious but he is charged to attend to directions of God See that thou make all things according to the patterne shewed to thee Heb. 8. 5. the word is our pattern in the day of grace the man of God is to hold fast the forme of sound words as 2 Tim. 1. 13. measure all by this patterne in this our new building Ezek. 43. 10. Learne all the formes all the ordinances and all the lawes of this house and doe them verse 11. A faithfull man is to mind that too Ezra 7. 18. Doe after the will of your God command or commend nothing but by divine warrant whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven let it bee diligently done for the house of the God of heaven verse 23. Gods words is a perfect rule feare him doe nothing without beside or against the word of God Gods commands containe a mans whole duty Eccl. 12. 13. Faith is to beleeve no more then may bee preached but the preachers may and must preach not what men invent but whatsoever Christ commands Mat. â—8 20. Gods word will furnish a man with all that is profitable 2 Tim. 3. 16. and will perfect a man in all things doctrinall and in all things practicall more then is in that perfect word needs neither be knowne taught nor done in the Church of God verse 17. 2. Procure that which is the speedy way to remove all obstacles in your work your good work 2 even this wonder-working faith Mark 11. 22. Have faith in God this will remove mountaines great and seemingly setled impediments beleeve what God doth say and you may have what you shall say verse 23. Christ doth ascertaine us of it neither is it spoken of miraculous faith which removes these mountaines it is an usefull instruction unto beleevers now Mat. 21. 21. 22. 1. Governours yee most noble Senatours trust in the Lord this will make you incomparable succesfull free-men as Hezekiah a godly King trusted in the Lord so that none was like him 2 Kings 18. 5. and he prospered whither soever he went verse 7. it is a glory to be a beleever and a counsellour a beleever and a Parliament man Bee wise now and kisse the sonne of God with faith 't is your wisdome the beleever is the wise man it will bee your happinesse to trust in Christ the beleever is a blessed man Psal. 2. 11,12 2. The Governed people who desire to doe any good at this day when difficulties be many this work sticks ô 't is want of faith beleeve in the Lord beleeve down these walls these high walls when others put to their hands have yee faith in your hearts Beleeve in the Lord and prosper 2 Chron. 20. 20. Now yee Right Honourable who love our nation and whose hearts are to build us synagogues who meeet with many oppositions and discern many obstructions and such dangerous distractions in this crazy State and diseased Church 1. Promote preaching of the word of faith which is so powerfull to remove impediments men must heare if they would beleeve and how shall they heare without preachers Rom. 10. 14. 'T is preaching is a notable alarme against God-forsakers although as Church-Papists may doe they keep their Church and will not bee called Church-forsakers 2 Chron. 13. 12. Preachers be the strength of a Land the Charets of Israel and horsemen thereof 2. Kings 13. 14. It is more needfull to set up Preachers then garrisons in townes let them have maintenance countenance continuance Exalt ye Christs Kingdome it will downe with all contrary Kingdomes Satans and Antichrists power failes and is broken where Christ is known as King Dan. 2.44 Christ is that stone breaks some and grinds others to powder Mat. 21.44 Let Christ the object of faith be the head albeit the builders in place name not in 1 act 2 nature refused him Psal 118.22 What is to be expected in Counties where little or no word of faith is there the enemies swarme and triumph What good can you find in men either toward righteousness or religion where meÌ„ are as the mountains of Gilboa no rain nor dew of the doctrine of faith fals on them Let your hearts be lift up in the way of the Lord to doe according to that your pious resolution of establishing a Preaching Minister through out all the whole â—ingdome for faith comes by the word preached Rom. 10. 17. 2 Provoke unto prayer Prayer is a way to have an addition to faith Luke 17.5 Lord increase our faith restraine not prayer by any decree for any time as they wickedly did Dan. 6. 12. Let them that can pray pray men are to be excited to cover earnestly the best gifts and not to rest in a dull devotion but to pray in the holy Ghost a perfect help to prayer a blessed mean of more faith Iud. v. 20. 3 Provide that the seales of the Covenant of God may be purely administred as helps of faith this excellent grace Rom. 4.11 Let your wisedome search the book of God and study the will of God that according to the counsell of the Lord Ministers and members in all our assemblies may be sanctified sufficiently for this 2 Chron. 30. 2. Till men be sufficiently sanctified they cannot come to the Lords supper no more then keep the passeover vâ— 3. Remove in this all obstacles all superstitions profanations v. 14. O that all mighâ— be according to the Word of the Lord in Pastors and peopâ—e 35.6 God is the God of order in his owne ordinances Worship him we must after the due order lest in stead of a blessing we meet with a blow as David discovered and reformed 1 Chron. 15. 2.13 Motives to this faith in God 1. Preaching by it profits men How good is a word a sermon a promise beleeved it works effectually in them that beleeve 1 Thes. 2.13 whereas the Gospell full of glad tydings profits not being not mixt with faith in them that heare it Heb. 4. 2. 2. Prayer then prevailes when it is the prayer of faith What is fasting without prayer prayer being a speciall duty more to bee mending on a fast day or prayer without
enemies fall 1. By a weaâ— hand 2. By their own hand 3. Without hand Observ. 2. Faith is potent to remove impedimentâ— Ground of the Power of faith 1. It builds on Gods word 1. His precept 2. His promise minding in it 1. His mercy 2. His grace 3. His truth 2 Faith rests on Gods providence sustained 1. By his goodnesâ— 2. By his wisdome 3. By his power 1 In form 1. The valour of beleevers 2 The vanity to expect victory by what is not of faith as 1. Formality 2. Policy 3. Power Melch. Adam vita Lutheri pa. 157. 2 Exhort A tryall of faith 1. It casts down walls 1. In mens hearts 2. In mens houses 2 Faith is effectuall 2. It relyeth on the Lord 2. It gloryeth in the word 3. It worketh by love to Christ To his Church 4. It walketh by rule 1. In religion 2. In reformation Non ex arbitrio sed ex imperio Deo serviendum 2 Procure faith 1. Governors 2. Governed Non docet â—ic Christus montes transfeâ—re sed certitudinem fidei â—radit quanta sit fidei virtuâ— B. A way to have faith among us by 1. Promoting preaching 2. Provoking unto prayer 3. Providing for the pure administratioÌ„ of the seals Motives to faith then 1. Preaching profits 2. Prayer prevayles 3. The Souldier triumphs 4. Good done by God 1. He will effect all 2â— Hee will bring thorow difficulties 3. Hee will shew his glory 4â— He can doe a world of good in a week Ratio quidem non assâ—quitur quomodo ex nihilo sint omnia inâ—ò ratio contradicit ex niâ—ilo nihil fieri quod verò ratio non capit fides intelligit Par. in Heb. 11. 3. In coelo plantatâ— terra renovata Ecclesia intelligitur Sanct. in loâ— Observ. 3. Aâ—â—â— bete coâ—omoda removete quaecunque sunt incommoda ad promovendam ecclesiam Iâ—n The good Kings of Iudah 1. abolished idolatry and superstition 2. planted true religion D. Will. on Dan. 1 Inform {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 2 Exhort Spiritus dicuntur quia professione erant spirituales Patres tres multi suâ—ficientes negotio suo peragendo impuri ortu ingenio ac moribus â—imiles ranis sordibus impudentia loquacitate clamositate aures regum obtundunt ranarum quadrata capita geometricis Pileis referunt Par. iâ— loâ— A nâ—w decree made â— by Nebuchadnâ—zzar to punish blasphemers Dan. 3. 29. 2 By Darius for true Religion 6. 26. A great change in Kings and Lawes Vnius faciâ—us pestiâ— multorum Salvian de guber Deo l. 7. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Levit. 14. 40. Quis Domino mente credit facultate noncredit quis Deo animam suam maâ—cipat pecuniaâ— negat Salvian ad Eccl. Cath. lib. 2. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Revâ— 16.10.11 Docâ—tur poâ—â— lâ—ngam ignâ—rantiam faciendaâ— esse hominibus copiam cognoscendae veritatis Locupletissimum veritatis incrementum doctrinâ— pluribus capitibus illustratâ enuclâ—atius cognitâ distinctius traditâ Briâ— in loc. Ecclesia Dâ—i est qâ—asi oculus nâ—m uâ— in oculum etiamsi parva sordes inâ—idit tâ—tum lâ—men obâ—aecaâ— sic in Ecclesiastico corpore etiamsi paâ—ci sordida faciant propè â—otum Ecclesiastici splendoris lumen obscurant Salâ—ian de Gubern Dei lib. 7. â— {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} mercedem fidei Bez. Praemium Tr. inter Exibitis victores alacres quia Deus â—rit dux vester vosque proteget diriget Cornel. à Lap. in loc. Ruina Babylonis praebitura sanctis laetandi celebraâ—di Dei jucundissimum argumentum Par. Christianus nisi bona opera fecerit fidem suam penitus approbare non possit Salv. de Gubern lib. 4.