which is a conâ—inuall feast a brazen wall great matter of joy in many and great afflictions 2 Cor. 1.12 This is our reioycing even the testimony of our conscience Thirdly it worketh hope which is an anchor of the soule both sure and stedfast entring into that withâ—n the vaile Heb. 6.19 and saith Though it be ill for the present it will be better hereafter In the world is no comfort but in Heaven there is enough and enough Men are enemies but God a friend and will appeare in time for us and against them all And if our selves should miscarry yet our posterity shall see the fruit of all these stirres our children shall enter into the good land A great stay to the heart when almost overwhelmed with caâ—es and feaâ—es Psal 27.13 I had fainted unlesse I had beleeved to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of the lâ—ving Fourthly faith works patience to endure any thing in the way and for the cause of God therefore we both labour and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God 1. Tim. 4.10 And by patience the Christian hath power over his owne spirit and can possesse his soule Luk. 21.19 which otherwise would be lost as it were by impatience and other distempers When patience hath its perfect worke Jam. 1.4 he shall be altogether invincible and shall hold out unto victory and to the enjoying of all mercies promised Heb. 6.12 old Beleevers through faith and patience inherited the promises Fiftly faith can pray the prayer of faith Jam. 5.15 16. Oratio fidei Omnipoten◠〈◊〉 which availeth much and after a sort is Omnipotent as Luther said And specially by prayer the Beleever can get hearâ—s-ease in every sâ—d qualitie the setling of unquiet affections heavy passions of unbelief frightfull apprehensions of evill to come Lord help my miâ—châ—fe Maâ— 9.24 Ps 109.4 for my love they are my adversaries bâ—t I 〈◊〉 my selfâ— unto prayer mark the force of that phrase And it is said of Jehosaphat in that great danger that he set himselfâ— to seek the Lord which both qualified his feare and obtained a victory 2 Chron. 20.3 V. In respect of the enemies both in the world and from hell Enemâ—es dâ—sabled in the â—aâ—ne Rom. 8.33 Faith seeth them disabled in the maâ—ne Who can aâ—â—â—â—st or condemâ—e or separate from the love of God Well they may kill the body but not hurt the soule or rifle the estate but not prejudice the goodnes of his estate toward God Therefore feare them not saith our Saviour Luk 12.4 5. Neither can they do that til the Lord give them leave 2 Sam. 16.11 as he bad Shimeâ— to curse David and satan could not touch Job nor enter into the Swine of the Gadaâ—â—â—ns till he had commission Enemies are a sharp rod but in the hand of God to lay on or take off as he pleaseth Isa 10.5 Nor yet can they vex us one moment longer then the Lord will As we see in Israels comming out of Egypt Exod 12.41 The selfe same day wherein the 430. yeers were expired The rod of the wicked shall not rest on the lot of the righteous Ps 125.3 In due time the rod must be cast into the fire VI. In respect of the proper â—nd of faith Faith ends of not but â—n salvation which is salvation 1 Pet. 1.9 Faith never leaves the soul but in endlesse unspeakable blessednes There indeed it self endeth having done its office but the effect benefit of it never endeth Now they say all is well that ends well and in present all is well because the end shall be good thence the heart is fixed and the Beleever fainteth not whatever he suffers in this life see 2 Cor. 4.16 17 18. The Ordinance of God VII In respect of Gods grant and ordinance to a Beleever walking humbly with him as here in the Text this stands aâ— a priviledge of the godly described 〈◊〉 1. to be onâ— that fâ—a â—t God and dâ—lâ—gâ—â—â—â—â—g earth 〈◊〉 Commâ—â—dâ—ments God â—ath past over to him such in humâ—nity He shâ—â— not b◠〈…〉 dâ—gâ—◠〈…〉 in the Lord. Having taken his part of sorrow and feare before-hand Hab. 3 16. he shall rest in the day of evill And having come to Gods termes of beleeving repenting obeying zeale and the like he shall now enjoy the sweetnesse of it One that hath served his time faithfully shall have the priviledges of a Townsman or Citizen These are the grounds whereon faith setleth the heart in evill 〈◊〉 All this while we say nothing â—f a Stoicall or Câ—n call resolution that a Christian should either be voyd of affections Heb. 12.5 oâ— despâ—se the crosse by a dogged stomacke or that he needs worldly wisdome and policy to help himselfe or that he must shift and shâ—rk for himsâ—lfe in an indirect way or goe over to the enemies of God and Religion or on the other side seeke his owne revenge upon them All this is but Sauâ—â— Armour not sit for Davâ—d to fight in Therefore we leave them to Maâ—â—â—â—vel and his disciples Men of this world Job 36.21 who choose sinne rather then affliction And we goe out against the enemies of God as David against Goliah 1 Sam. 17.45 in the name of the Lord. Grounds of faith suffice the heires of faith who are ever happiest and most at ease when they hold them to their grounds Section III. Improve Faith for setling thy heart in these evill times Make use of Faith at these times of need Every one wisheth the times were setled and if the times were setled he would doe thus and thus to make gaine and live a merry life But Christians the setling of the times is not in your power the setling of your hearts is and ye see how Other may passe away as fruitlesse wishes and lost endeavours but this is feisable and will be to good purpose The Just is an everlasting foâ—ndation saith Solomon Prov. 10. that is being fixed by faith otherwise he is weak as another man this is the Samsons look which holds all our strength together this keeps life in the heart and steddinesse whereas without it the soule staggers like a drunken man Now live by faith Hab. 2.4 While the naturall man lives the life of nature do you live the life of grace and of faith Make use of this privilege as Townsmen doe of theirs to enrich themselves and keep out forreigners No man hath a commodity lying by him but he will make use of it when it shall be most for his advantage And so should a Christian of his faith in these times of need Never in all our dayes had we such times and occasions as these and therefore now more then ever we should put our faith to the proofe Godly men have no exemption from troubles dangers or evill tidings but onely an Antidote to fence their poore hearts against the venome of them And they
The Lord is a Jealous God and feares least his glory goe to another and his people a zealous people T it 2.14 fearing the same thing which is a feare holy and commendable V. Some feare is both natuâ—all and very usefull Feare is a naturall affâ—â—ction Feaâ—â— a naturall 〈◊〉 carried to some evill at hand for the avoyding of it Nature seekâ— the preservation of it selfe and declines the contraries and the preservation of the outward estate wherewith God hath blessed him to save as much as it can from rapine and violence why not an honest providence is not onely lawfull but necessary 〈…〉 And it is usefull to act according to Gods providence who will blesse and help his people but not idling carelesse fearlesse neglecting the meaâ—â—es Sometimes feare acteth for the avoyding of the evill feared as Acts 27.38 in feare of shipwrack and to obtaine the promise of saving their lives they lâ—ghtned the shâ—p and cast out the wheat into the sea Sometimes by preparing for the evill if it be not to be avoyded as Amos 4.12 Therefore thus will I doe unto thee O Israel and because I will doe this unto thee prepare to meet thy God O Israel And by this latter the soule is drawne neerer unto God reasoning Is there so much danger abroad It is time then to get the closer to God and keep with him When Hawks be abroad the Bird is safest upon the nest Psal 91.4 He shall cover thee with his feâ—thers and under his wings shalt them 〈◊〉 And thus it is a sinne not to feare when a judgement is comming as in wicked men who care for nothing Feaâ—e ye not me saith the Lord Jer. 5.22 We are commanded to feare him who Luk. 12. â— after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell And one discription of God children is they feare the Lord Mal. 3.16 VI. The promise here made to the godly is for the expelling of immoderate feares either not to enter into a beleeving heart at all or else to be soone thrust out againe Therefore the feares here are opposed to establishing of the heart ver 8. he shall not be afraid his heart is established His heart is of a preserving and fencing nature to uphold the heart against every assault and annoyance of enemies Phil. 4.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The peace of God shall keep your hearts and minds as souldiers in a garrison through Christ Jesus But when are feares immoderate Feareâ— when immoderate 4. Notes 1. When they are killing as to worldly and carnall men sometimes they are worldly sorrow causeth death See an instance in Jer. 49.23 24.2 When they hinder duty so afraid that ye cannot pray read heare with profit or the like 3. When they banish all joy in God which should not be feare before God but with some mixture of joy rejoyce with trembling Psal 2.11 and reioyce in the Lord alway and againe I say Phil. 4.4 reioyce 4. When they put men into unlawfull wayes to help themselves as Saul in his feare of the Philistines would needs ofter sacrifice which was not his office to doe or goe to the Witch at Endoâ— against his owne Law and conscience This they do not to godly men whâ—n most afraid they have some help to stay them up untill better times Even in desertions when the Lord withdrawes his comforts and they make moane yet they will not adventure upon sinne which might give some contentment they will lift up a prayer euen when they say they have little hope to speed they magnifie the estate of Gods children who enjoy comfort and love them will not speak ill of them nor doe ought against them A signe thrâ—â—out of the matter is in them Job 19.28 as Job said of himselfe amidst all those distempers They have the sâ—â—stance though they faile in circumstance Isa 6.13 1 Joh. 3.9 They holy seed is the substance thereof The seed of God abideth in them Though the â—â—â—â—es fall off yet the â—ap lyes at the root faith keeps the heart alive still That they are willing to resist a temptation though sometimes foiled and grieve when the Tempter hath been too hard for them and amidst all their foiles their faith upholds them unto victory Still they are comprehended of Christ even when they are not able to comprehend Christ Phil. 3.12 And in due time they shall be delivered from all their feares enemies dangers combats molestation Section II. Grounds of fixing and setling the heart by Faith The chiefe point in this discourse Faith is a strong and effectuall meanes to settle the heart in times of danger in times when evill tidings fly about in times when unbeleeving hearts reele to and fro Hab. 2.4 Behold his setâ—le which is lifted up is not upright in him â—â—t the iust shall live by his faith Isa 7.9 If ye will not beleeve 〈◊〉 ye shall not be established Chap. 50.10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeyeth the voyce of his servant that walketh in darknesse and hath no light let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God Joh. 14.1 Let not your heart be troubled ye beleeve in God believe also in me Groundâ— The Grounds hereof are these 1. In resrect of God on whom faith trusteth The whole blessed Trinity The heart may well be fixed because it trusteth on the Lord who is the Rock of salvation In a great storme it is good to fasten the anchor to a strong rock Psal 95.1 And such is God to the Church in great persecutions so as all the gates of hell shall not prevaile against it Mat. 16.18 First God the Father Father Relations the fountaine of the Trinity and of our comfort He is our Father as Christs by nature so ours by adoption and a child resteth securely in the bosome of his loving father Attributes And every Attribute is mighty to fix the heart of Beleever The power wisdome holinesse truth mercy justice of God and the rest Deâ—â—e Also his Counsell taken for the maine that is the saving of his soule God is far beyond all imperfections of an earthly friend who loves well but may prove forgetfull unable weary of doing good c. Beside faith seeth in God a sweet and blessed Providence Providence in which it may rest quietly and contentedly Saying as Abraham in that exigent Gen. 22.14 God will provide in the mount it shall be seene Without the will of my Father in Hâ—aven not a haire of mine head nor a little sporrow can fall to the ground Things come not to passe either by fate or fortune which are the contentments of fools and Atheâ—sts but by the good hand of God at least permitting and ordering And there be divers acts of Providence Acts of it Over-ruling mittigating limiting disposing all to good even the worst events God is the great Governour of the world
home they shall not intend to trouble us Thirdly that the Lord makes fâ—ll the baâ—â—es of our gates and is a wall of fire round about us Zech. 2.5 the Rereward the Shield all in all to us Though we have but a watry-wall about our Island yet in God it may prove too high and strong to be sealed Our woodden houses may swimme about and keepe out the enemies Fourthly there may be forreigne friends as well as foreigne enemies and stronger then they wiser then they more succesfull then they as the Lord can make them The hearts of all are in the hand of God who still followes his owne work and useth what Instruments he pleaseth And we see he hath brought in one friendly Nation already 4. About the defect of friends Obiect 4. I feare our Worthies in Parliament will be weary discouraged too few and so the work may cease Answ The Word saith that the Lord hath yet the residue of Spirit Mal. 2.15 It is but pouring out of more Spirit and they shall renew their strength and courage Or if one faile another shall stand up in his place Certainly he that hath so raised and upheld them hitherto will continue them to us and his owne work by them Jud. 13.23 If he meant to destroy them he would not have shewed them such things as these And who ever heard of a people in Covenant with God and studying Reformation wholly forsaken 2 Chron. 15.2 The Lord is with you while ye are with him And he sheweth since the Covenant last entred into by many great and notable victories that he intends them good and us by them Beleeve therefore they shall be worthy instruments of more glory to God and of more good to his people Zech. 4.9 The â—ands of Zerubbabel have layd the foundation of this house his hands also shall finish it Obiect 5. 5. Of the want of Treasure Psal 24.1 I feare our moneys will faile the sinews of War Answ 1. The Word saith The earth is the Lords and the fulnesse thereof And he can make our Newters Malignants and Misers to bring forth their treasures Or spring a new mine for supply some other way 2. It saith 1 Cor. 1.27 that he makes the weak to confound the mâ—ghty And in like reason the poore to overthrow the rich When men see their estates gone they wax desperate Necessity hath been called a terrible weapon And it is evident that riches cannot get victories The battel is not to the strong Eccles 9.11 The event of a battell belongs wholly to God Prov. 21.31 The Horse is prepared against the day of battell but safety is of the Lord. Obiect 6. 6. About our sinnes lâ—st they hinder I could trust otherwise but feare our sinnes will hinder good things Answ 1. The Word saith that God doth his great works for Church freely Onely because mercy pleaseth him I wâ—oâ—ghâ— for my Names sake often in Ezek. 20. and 36.32 Not for your sakes doe I this c. 2. If our sinnes could hinder we should not have seen any of these great deliverances and victories We have sinnes enough to have laid us desolate long agoe Not a remnant had been left before this time Onely the Lord seems to have past by the sinnes of the remnant of his people and so we are saved by a great deliverance 7. About triall to some particular Obiect 7. I feare we may suffer for a while as our Brethren have done and for my part I doubt I should shew much weaknesse when I come to the tryall Luk. 12.4 2 Cor. 12.9 Answ 1. Christ saith Feare not them that kill the body Secondly his grace is sufficient for thee as well as for others Joh. 10.28 None shall pluck his Sheep out of his â—â—â—â—s None shall seperate from his love Thirdly in the tryall God stands by his people more then at other times to shew himselfe stâ—ong in a weak Creature 2 Cor. 12.9 In theâ—r weakâ—â—â—â— his power is the more glorified and manifested He will be with them in six troubles and in seven in fire and in water So that ye may say boldly The Lord is with us we will not feare what man can doe unto us Heb. 13.6 8. About Martyrdome Object 8. What if I should be put to suffer Martyrdome I shrink to think of it Answ The Word saith Rom 8.37 we are more thâ—n 〈…〉 through him that loved us And we may say accordingly First the Martyrs were flesh and blood as we are Oâ— themselves weak and no more able to endure those extremities then other men They suffered nothing in their owne strength but by faith and you have faith as well as they Secondly God is the same God now as then and will put forth the same strength in you as in them Isa 59.1 His hand is not shortned neither will his promise faile He is God al-sufficient Gen. 17.1 and still the same to his Church as in the dayes of old Isa 46.3 4. 9. About the enduring of hardship Obiect 9. I shall not be able to endure cold hunger prison reproach c. Answ The Word saith these are vanquished enemies and disabled in the maine Rom. 8.35 And all the gates of hell shall not prevaile against the Church And defiance may be made against them as there who shall seperate who shall accuse or condemnâ— And assurance had that we shall not flinch for any of them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am perswaded that neither death nor life shall be able to seperate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 10. About Children left to the world Obiect 10. What shall become of my poore Children Answ The Word saith the Covenant reacheth the Children as well as the Parents Gen. 17.7 I am thy God and the God of thy sâ—ed They shall therefore find a Father in Heaven when none is on earth And promises to be performed which will prove large portions and friends on earth which you little think of Even an hundred fold Fathers and Mothers c. Mark 10.29 30. And it hath been observed that the Children of Martyrs have received speciall blessings from God especially in their souls Obiect 11. About the losse of Friends 11. How shall we live if my husband be slaine or some other friend by whom I live Answ The Word saith that Man lives not by bread onely Mat. 4.4 but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God And is not the Lord better to thee then ten husbands or ten friends And who multiplied the meale in the barrell and oyle in the cruse Who gave a blessing to Daniels course fare that he looked better then any of the Kings Children Who fed so many thousand with two barly loaves and a few in all fishes True miracles are ceased but not Providence and that sometimes in a strange wayâ— God can and will doe
beleeving alike he will be alike in dispensing his mercies Mal. 3.6 I am the Lord I change not therefore ye sonnes of Jacob are not consumed Therefore also collect as David 1 Sam. 17 36. and as Paul 2 Tim. 4.17 18. It is a great help to a Beleever to remember the yeers of the right hand of the most high Psal 77.10 and call to mind what he hath done for his Church and people formerly to the Church in Aegypt in the Wildernesse in Hamans time in other exigences Others have fared well while they waited on God therefore we also will wait and doubt not but to doe well enough Psal 22.4 5. Our Fathers trusted in thee they trusted and thou didst deliver them They cryed unto thee and were delivered they rusted in thee and were not confounded Thus fortifie your faith as much as ye can and it will be a strong fortifying of your spirits in all feares of evill A strong and healthy body getteth up a high hill farre better then a weakling can doe If our faith were stronger our hearts should be more fixed and setled then they are If it were the fall assurance of faith Heb. 10.22 we should not once doubt for all these terrours Mark 11.13 Remember the removing of mountaines and transplanting of trees into the midst of the sea all by the power of faith Onely beleeve and all shall be possible Other Consequences of the point are these I. Be thankfull for this precious grace of faith Be thankfull for the usefull grace of Faith which is so usefull in these dangerous dayes the staffe of thy life the strength of thy soule the fixâ—ng of thy poore trembling heart the only sight thou hast when round about is nothing but darknesse A great and wonderful gift thou receivedst when the Lord gave thee faith to beleeve in his Sonne and rest in promises It is worth the having though thou pastedst through the pikes in duties of humiliation It cost some adoe to get faith but when it is once had it is a most blessed commodity It stands thee in stead ever afterward whatever sad occasions thou hast The Jaylor though much cast downe for a while Act. 1â— 34 yet reioyced that he beleeved and all his houshold And those primitive Beleevers who were pricked at the heart in hearing of their great sinne reioyced and praised God for so great a mercy Acts 2.44 47. Goe thou and doe likewise We give thanks for lesser mercies then this Or what if the Lord give thee not riches health peace and the like Yet he gives that which is better and countervailes all other defects with infinite advantage on the eternall part Doe thy best to work faith in others II. If things goe thus then doe all ye can to get faith into your children and friends as ye desire they should have found and hearty comfort in the evill day Ye would not see them lye distracted malancholie drooping under their burden taking indirect courses to help themselves Now lay a good foundation not onely in morall vertues or religious duties but goe higher tell them of Christ of the Covenant the promises sinne and guiltinesse their need of a Saviour and the like It is a great matter Ps 112.1 to feare God and delight greatly in his Commandements This Text is a promise to such persons but note withall it goeth higher even to that sovereigne grace of faith His heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. verse 7. And it was by faith that the old Beleevers dâ—d suffered or received those great matters Heb. 11. Therefore in all thy instruction and discipline still insinuate something for faith Get that notion into their heads and hearts None but Christ Jo. Lambert Advance a faithfull Ministery whereby faith is bestowed None but Christ III. If it be so then advance a faithfull Ministery aâ— the meanes whereby faith is bred and thereby a ground laid for solid comfort in times of feare Plant such a Ministery where it is wanting cherish and maintaine it where it is Pitty them that want the Ordinance pray they may have the Word of faith preached among them Mat. 6.38 Pray the Lord of the Harvest to send forth Labourers into his Harvest If rich be at charges if in authority give countenance to a faith-breeding Ministery This is the onely way for poore soules to be soundly comforted when their tryall commeth Comfort stands not in a smartering knowledge or a few good words or saying over some good prayers or the like but if faith were bestowed into the heart which alone can quicken a soule otherwise dying No grace nor vertue can knit a knot betweene God and the soul but onely faith Faith truly so called is of a lasting nature whatever tryals there be and of a triumphing nature 1 Pet. 1.7 8. Beleeving ye reâ—oâ—ce with ioy unspeakable and full of glory And if so how worthy are those pains whereby faith is conveyed into the heart and afterward confirmed Take faiths part against a faithlesse generation 2 Pet. 1.1 IV. Ever commend and stand in the magnifying of faith which doth so good offiâ—es in the worst times Call it a precâ—ous faith much to be esteemed and prized Endure not any word of disparagement to be cast upon it There is a carnall generation of men and womâ—n who doe much slight and villifie faith as an ayrie Notion a trifle nothing in comparison of Charity and good works Oh here is much adoe about faith these are our Solifidians c. Whereto I say First neither charity nor works are any thing without faith Heb. 11.6 Without faith it is impossible to please Gâ—d It is in Christ only that we and our graces are acceptâ—d No merit in charity nor the works of it onely in Christ they get acceptance Yea in faith it selfe is nothing meritorious all the vertue and praise of it standeth in relation to Christ the Object Secondly it is faith that must uphold the heart in an evill time When dangers be abroad and feares come home to us this is our anchor to be staid withall We have seen how much is cast upon faith to doe in these sad plucks What we have done in an holy way may be a comfort but the stresse of the businesse lyeth on this how well we have beleeved and what interest we have in Christ Psal 27.13 I had fainted unles I had beleeved to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the Land of the living And the comfort of the good we have done comes in a secondary consideration Heb. 10.4 In that ye did it to these ye did it unto me By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice them Cain Thirdly faith ever will produce good works Fides sola iustificat sed fides quae iustificat non est sola as a good Tree good fruits It works by love Gal. 5.6 and love is a laborious thing 1 Cor. 13.4.7 No fire without light and warmth no faith without love and good works Every branch in Christ bringeth forth good fruit Fourthly it is a Popish spirit that makes such a jumbling of faith and charity which are ever to be distinguished though not separated Leave each his owne work and place and both are glorious and whereas other comparisons are odious these most Or it is an ignorant spirit which knows not what the maine tye is between God and a soule now fallen into sinne nor how we come to God by Christ alone and how we are justified freely by grace which faith appropriateth al our present adherence to God is by faith hereafter by sight and fruition Or lastly it is a prophane spirit of a man in love with his sinne or worldly vanities all for a present enjoyment he will not stay for his happinesse till hereafter as faith directeth And to get a lively faith asketh more paines then he is willing to take some adoe there is to try examine evidence maintaine and increase faith which the lazie Christian will never endure FINIS May 22. 1644. Imprimatur Joseph Caryl
have their feares as others have and their feares are both naturall and usefull Onely this may curbe them and keep them from being immoderate Faith acted sets the heart as a rock and the face as a flint Isa 50.7 The Lord God will helpe me therefore shall I not be confounded therefore have I set my face like a flint and I know thaâ— I shall not be ashamed Obiect Oh! but it is very hard to keep the heart in a good frame of depending and waiting on God I find my heart soon unsetled though sometime fixed Ans 1 True Gods owne children find sad vicissitudes of faith and frailty flesh and spirit are ever combating as in other things so in this like those that goe upon the sea sometime carried up to Heaven Psal 107.26 sometime downe againe into the deâ—ps Let no Christian discourage himselfe because of these alterations Be glad that sometimes ye find an high tide of affections and assurances 77. 10. David remembred the yeerâ— of old and was comforted Secondly it is indeed difficult and that shewes the excellency of the life of faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All excellent things are attended wâ—th their difficulties A great estate needs much adoe in the managing None layeth siege to a Cottage neither will Satan trouble those that live the life of nature but where faith is he will quickly shew himselfe an enemy Thirdly Religion in generall and faith in particular hath a power in it Lactant. â—â—nditu 4.28 both to maintaine it selfe and oppose the enemy Religion in latin hath its name of bindâ—ng And in this case it bindeth the beleeving soule to its Mast so to avoyd enchanting Syrens of the World and keep it upright against all stormes of temptation and persecution and faith at weakest cryes out for help Lord increase our faith Lord belp my unbeliefe The life of nature strives to preserve it selfe as long as it can and by the best meanes it can and so doth the life of faith The weakest Beleever can make moane and say all is not well with him and long for some reliefe which struglings shall be relieved Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousnesse Mat. 5.6 for they shall be filled Fourthly therefore strive still to act thy faith chide unbeliefe away as Psal 42.11 Why art thou cast downe O my soule why art thou disquieted within me What reason for this infidelity Fight the good fight of faith 1 Tim. 6.12 Contend for the Faith Jude 3. As for the doctrine of faith and habit of faith so for the act and exercise of it In vain is that habit of power which is not reduced into act No need to bid a Sea-man cast forth his anchor in a storme so me thinks there should be no need to call upon a Christian to set his faith on worke in these dangerous dayes Quest What should we doe to exercise our faith in soule weather Meanes to bring faith into act and make our use of it when need requireth Answ 1. Seeke the Lord by prayer Jam. 1.17 from whom commeth every good and perfect gâ—ft and to live the life of faith is one of those gifts As he is the Author so the Fâ—nâ—sher of faith Heb. 12.2 As he gives the habit so the act and operation of it The Lord gives his Church both the former and laâ—ter raine Faith is a Creature and the strength whereby we stand is uncreated even God himselfe Thou art the strength of my heart said David and my portion for ever Ps 37.26 Faith that must support us must it selfe be supported of the Lord as Christ prayed for Peter Luke 22.32 I have prayed that thy faith faile not Doth any of you therefore want wisdome or strength Jam. 1.5 6. Let him ask of God who giveth liberally He is the onely stay for a poore Beleever in streights and difficulties Fall to casting anchor in Heaven or else ye are gone 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth neither justifie nor uphold us in great trials God must help us to beleeve or we shall soone come to nothing Faith with its Correlative is all in all to us 2. Keep still in eye those many grounds on which faith standeth and establisheth the heart that is the Relations of God to us his Attributes Promises Providence mercies received mercies reserved c. A tall man in the bottome of a celler will see but little and a strong Beleever if his grounds be out of fight will be weak as another man To the Law and to the Testimony Isa 8.20 in matters to be done to the Gospell and to the Promises in matters to be beleeved and receive comfort A Trades-man to furnish his Shop will repaire to the Ware-house And a Christian to be furnished with comfort must repaire to the Promises and the like supplies It may be observed that the same Christian as he hath used his grounds or not used them hath been strangely altered as if he were not the same man One while a Gyant another while a Dwarfe Oh saith David I shall one day fall by the hand of Saul Another time he will not feare Psal 3 6. though ten thousand had compassed him round about One while Job curseth his birth-day and is very impatient another while he will trust in God Job 13.15 though he kill him It is aliquid Dei some divine thing that must uphold the best heart that is If his means be neglected or laid aside there quickly comes a fearfull alteration When the Moone receives not light from the Sunne it is presently eclipsed 3 Shut the eye of flesh at such times and beware of carnall reason Carnall reason is a great enemy to faith therefore these are opposed one to another To walk by faith and walk by sight 2 Cor. 5.7 We walk by faith and not by sight He that will goe by likelihoods and unlikelihoods shall never be setled in beleeving The servant of Elisha feared because he looked onely at them that came against him and saw not who were with him The Noble-man dyed for it If God should make windowes in Heaven 2 Kin. 7.2 could there be such plenty Zacharias was stricken dumb for asking whereby shall I know this Luk. 1.20 being old and his Wife well stricken in yeers Abraham on the other side Rom. 4.19 considered not the deadnesse of his owne body or of Sarahs wombe but looked at him who had promised that he was able and faithfull to performe The naked Word of God is sufficient for performing all his promises Never ask when or how or any such matters Hath not the Lord spoken it And if it be mervailous in your eyes should it be mervailous in mine eyes saâ—th the Lord of â—osts Zech. 8.6 Oh say we our enemies are many and strong our friends few and weak treasure exhausted no likelihood of carrying our cause Joh. 11.39 Lord by this time it stinketh for tâ—â—s
is the fourth day Ah said Christ to Martha said I not unto thee that if thou wouldest beleeve thou shouldest see the glory of God Joh. 11.40 Mans reason is a short measure to esteem the power and wisdome of God These are some meanes to act faith in these times of need Now put your faith to it 2 Tim. 1.6 stirre up the gift of God that is in you Wherefore should a man have riches and not have the use of them Know it is a fault and matter of reproofe in Beleevers to give way to those feares Isa 8.12 13. Feare not their feare nor be afraid sanctifie the Lord of hosts himselfe and let him be your feare and your dread why did ye doubt Mat. 8.26 O ye of little faith He is a coward who hath a sword by his side and will not use it against a theefe And he is a Miser who hath store of riches and yet wanteth necessaries in his sicknesse Apply it to thy selfe and think Who would be so clogged and turmoyled with feares when he may be rid of them Onely if ye stand to your owne Principles and remember your grounds None so merry as a true Christian if he hold his owne indeed none but he Others glory in the face not in heart 2 Cor. 5.12 Section IV. Benefits of acting thy Faith in these evill times These benefits are many and great Seven benefits of Faith well acted First what a sweet life would it be to be past these torturing fears which now lye gnawing upon your hearts Vâ—tanâ—n vitalis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Origen and drinking up your spirâ—t that your life is scarce worthy to be called a life Oh these heavy and groâ—ning passions of unbelief How doe they keep a man in boâ—dage all the dayes of his life Heb. 2.15 A man shall through these feares want what he hath aswell as what he hath not Onely because he brings not his faith into exercise Secondly the acting of faith would be great glory to God whom we serve and in whom we professe to beleeve shewing actually that the Lord is sufficient matter of joy when all other comforts faile Hab. 3.17 18. Although the Figge-tree shall not blossome yet will I reioyce in the Lord I will be glad in the God of my salvation It is honour to any Master to see his Servant cheerfull at his businesse and stick to him in great hazards a signe he is a good Master So here God is honoured while his servants wait upon him cheerfully And joy of heartes one part of our Masters allowance My servants shall reioyce Isa 65.13 Thirdly it would be a good credit to our holy profession and draw others to it as being a fountaine of comfort in the saddâ—st streights and difficulties Psal 46.4 There is a River the streames whereof shall make glad the City of God And who would not enter upon so comfortable a course of life All seeme willing to live a fine and joyfull life which is never done compleatly till faith be both gotten and exercised Fourthly if our faith were well acted we should walk as so many tall Gyants farre above all reach of the evill world our faith being our victory whereby we overcome the world 1 Joh. 5.4 We should not onely beare but contemne the contempt of ungodly men Heb. 12.2 As our Lord who despised the shame Threaten these things to your Courtiers said the Martyrs we have faith and thereby are growne hardy Or promise these rewards honours great advantages to them that care for them we have other matters in our heart and eye and cannot be wonne from the truth Fiftly it our faith were duly set on worke we should undertake great things for the Cause and in the way of God saying in great sufferings as the Apostle did 2 Tim. 1.12 2 Cor. 4.13 I know whom I have beleeved Having the spirit of faith we would speake and make a good confession in time of need We would part with our estates yea and lives too disburse fight apologize any thing so that our Lord and his Cause may be glorified Sixtly still as faith is acted we shall be able to make mighty prayers prayers that shall availe mâ—ch for furthering the worke of God being prayers of â—aâ—th Jam. 5.15 16. And we shall not be weary of praying though we seem to strive against the streame No saith Faith it will be to purpose therefore pray alwayâ— and fâ—â—m not Luke 18.1 Lastly if we act our faith we shall be kept from temptations which great afflictions use generally to bring along with them as namely to despaire or use indirect meanes for helping our selves He that beleeveth shall not make hast Isa 28.16 Our faith will be a shield to us whereby we shall be able to quench all the fiery daâ—ts of the wicked Eph. 6.16 It will be a meanes to keep God with us and keep us in the way of God which alwayes hath a sure recompence of reward Section V. Motives to act Faith in these dangerous times Motives Beside those benefits of acting thy faith there be divers other considerations which may move thee thereunto First the setting of thy faith on work setteth God on work to doe great things for his people According to thy faith be it unto thee Mat. 8.13 said our Lord in the Gospell and to Martha he said John 11 4â— Said I not unto thee that if thou wouldest beleeve thou shouldest see the glory of God Mordecai beleeved deliverance would come one way or other and it came accordingly Est 4.14 The three Jewes beleeved God would save them in the fiery furnace and they were saved Dan. 3.17 The greatest Beleevers have been the greatest Receivers Heb. 11. The old Beleevers by faith obtained wonderfull mercies All things are possible to him that beleeveth God will doe for them that give glory to his Name which is by faith Rom 4.20 such give him the glory of his power of his wisdome mercy faithfulnesse all his Attributes and they cast themselves wholly upon him as Clyents on their Counsellour therefore shall not be disappointed yea Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is he shall be as a Tree planted by the watters c. Jer. 17.7 8. But ah this base infidelity which puts our faith so much in our eye cals it so often from our hearts too much flesh too little faith we beleeve no longer then we see signes and wonders scarce cheerfull but while we heare of a victory or discovery or other mercy mightily cast downe at a foyle or the prevailing of enemies Shake as the Trees of the Wood when Rezâ—n and Pekah are joyned together Isa 7.1 2. And it brings little home as is said of carking care God being dishonoured by unbeliefe withdraweth his hand doth not his work or not yet seeth no vessell set to receive his precious liquor and so the oyle ceaseth Israel could not