under the greatest obligations that are imaginable to beware of Relapses So they ought with as great care and constancy to realize the presence of God with them day by day For it is without all controversie true that the exercise and so by consequence the growth and increase of the principles of godliness wherein Soul-prosperity specially consists is founded upon and preserved by the due consideratio … 〈◊〉 God's presence with us and his all sâ—eing eye upon us This is that which is specially comprehended in that expression of walking with God and walking before God And this is as specially to be observed That those that did so whilst they did so their Souls prospered We have it exemplified in Enoch Gen. 5.22 And he had this testimony that he pleased God Heb. 11.5 So Noah Gen. 6.9 Noah was a just Man and perfect in his generations and Noah walked with God So David Psal 26.3 I have walked in thy truth Psal 119.168 I have kept they precepts and thy testimonies for all my ways are before thee This was the best testimony that Solomon his Son could give of him when he was dead 1 King 3.6 Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my Father great mercy according as he walked before thee in truth and righteousness and in uprightness of heart with thee This is that which God gives in charge to Abraham and that upon this account Gen. 17.1 walk before me and be thou perfect As thou desirest and I know thou desirest to hold fast thine integrity Let me live in thy thoughts and see to it that thou so live so think so speak and so do as remembring thou art always in my sight This is that which hath a very great influence to draw as it were the draught of the Image of God day by day in our Souls in more and more lively colours For in the state of glory the glorified Saints that are with the Lord and always behold his face are like him and see him as he is 1 Joh. 3.2 Even so it is in the state of grace so far as this duty is conscientiously observed and discharged 2 Cor. 3.18 We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the spirit of the Lord. It is true it is not said of Moses that his face did shine the first time that he had been with God in the Mount but when he had been with him the second time Exod. 34.29 This then is that we ought to have deeply engraven upon our hearts as ever we desire not to lose the things we have wrought to do as David did Psal 16.8 I have set the Lord always before my face Always that implies that we ought to make it our daily work what a Man does every day he is said to do Always And Always i. e. one day as well as another to our last day This is no more then is expresly required Prov. 23.17 Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long And 1 Pet. 1.17 pass the time of your sojourning here in fear It is the exercise of the fear of God which hath a very great influence upon Soul-prosperity 2 Cor. 7.1 perfecting holiness in the fear of God And it is this realizing the presence of God which hath the great influence into the exercise of the fear of God Hence it is that true child-like fear is said to be fearing before God that is out of an awful respect unto and due consideration of his All-seeing eye Eccl. 8.12 it shall be well with them that fear God that fear before him This is that then which above all other things ought not to be omitted for the very sinews of all heart-godliness are as it were cut in sunder so far as this is neglected For there is nothing left then which hath any power over the inward man the hidden man of the heart but it enjoys a lawless liberty as if there were none to observe it nor to judge it 3 Epist of John ver 11 Beloved follow not that which is evil but that which is good He that doeth good is of God but he that doeth evil hath not seen God Deut. 32.18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful and hast forgotten God that formed thee All their wickedness is charged upon that I shall say no more to this Second general Direction but only these Three things 1. That untill the Soul be spiritually alive to God and so in a capacity of prospering there is neither delight nor desire to entertain any thoughts of God Rom. 1.28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge They cast the notions of God out of their minds as of no use to them Psal 10.4 God is not in all his thoughts i.e. Not in his thoughts at all Job 21.14 They say to the Almighty Depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways Some say so in words at length and all of them say it in their hearts Thò God saith Wo unto you when I depart from you Hos 9.12 Yet they think it best when he departeth from them and the farther the better This frame of heart is the very blackness of Hellish darkness It speaks the very language of Satan Matth. 8.29 What have we to do with thee thou Jesus the Son of God art thou come to torment us before the time Thus it was of old Isa 30.11 Cause the holy one of Israel to cease from us 2. Though the Soul be alive to God yet so far as the Image of the old Adam is unmortified and any particular lust indulged so far God and the heart will be strangers Not only the beam but even such a moat in the eye will make such Souls to shun what they can the presence of God and the presence of those who they think will speak the mind of God unto them as Ahab did the presence of Micaiah 1 King 22.8 Such Souls are far from prospering This is the very image of old Adam Gen. 3.8 He heard the voice of God and hid himself from the presence of the Lord. 3. Even those whose Souls do live and in some measure may be said to prosper though they dare not omit any external duty of Religion yet they do too often and too easily slip over this without timely observation till they take a review of their hearts and then they see they have cause to say as Psal 36.11 Unite my heart to thee that I may fear before thee all the day long Or unite my heart within it self that it may not be diverted or distracted not carried this way and that way but that I may be able to say It is fixed it is fixed Thus I say it is and that too often with Souls that prosper according to their measure Therefore we ought to charge our selves with this duty and renew the charge from
Soul prospers when growth in gratious principles is universal so much more when gratious principles are kept in exercise The Scripture speaks much of this more then perhaps is taken notice of For all those commands we have up and down in Scripture to love the Lord to fear him to believe in the Lord Jesus do not so much require the first principle as the acting and exercising of that principle As for instance 1 Joh. 3.23 Commands the exercise of Faith and Love We read of the work of Faith 2 Thes 1.11 The work and labour of love Heb. 6.10 The perfect work of patience Jam. 1.5 Of walking in the fear of the Lord Act. 9.31 Of walking in love Eph. 5.2 Of walking by faith 2 Cor. 5.7 Of living by faith Gal. 2.20 All these expressions note the actual exercises of these graces each of them being busied in and taken up with their proper work This is of absolute necessity unto Soul-prosperity Bodily exercise may be so used as that it may be a great means of preserving Bodily health but this is of far greater use for preserving the health of the Soul for something else sometimes at least as to some persons may supply the want of Bodily exercise so as a person may do well enough without it But nothing can supply for the good of the Soul the neglect of the exercise of grace Yea indeed it is all one as to Soul-prosperity for the time when it is not exercised as if there were no grace in the Soul at all We have many sad instances of this that it hath been so when the contrary principles of corruption have choakt as it were oppressed and bound up the gratious principle from stirring and moving to make any opposition to any purpose Isa 64.6 our iniquities like the wind have taken us away This we see in David without any wrong to the memory of Joseph I suppose it may be said that he had more grace then Joseph had yet David not exercising it fell as it is said of Saul 2 Sam. 1.21 among the uncircumcised the Shield of the Mighty wherewith he might have quenched the fiery Darts of Satan was vilely cast away as if he had never been anointed with the anointing of the Spirit of God whereas Joseph stood like a Conquerour in the hour of temptation when it came upon him with so much violence and advantage What was the reason of this but that Joseph at that time had his Loins girt his Lamp burning his grace in exercise as we find Gen. 39.9 But it was not so in that sad hour with David he was slothful and did not stir up himself to resist but gave place to Satan In a word Joseph was awake and David was asleep Nay at another time David was overcome when Saul resisted and overcame a temptation of the same kind Compare 1 Sam. 25.21 22. David resolved to revenge himself when he took himself to be affronted by Nabal with 1 Sam. 10.27 The Children of Belial said of Saul How shall this Man save us And they despised him and brought him no present but Saul held his peace We see by this that the having of much grace avails not to the prosperity of the Soul if it be not exercised It is for that present all one to speak of as if there were none It is very observable to this purpose what we have in three Evangelists concerning Christs reproving of his Disciples when they were so afraid of being drowned Matth. 8.26 Why are ye so fearful O ye of little Faith In Mark it is otherwise related chap. 4.37 How is it that ye have no faith Luke's expression chap. 8.25 is in a different way from both Where is your Faith Yet here is no such difference but what is easily reconciled They had a little faith as it is in Matthew No faith as it is in Mark Luke takes up the difference Where is your Faith Saith he Their little faith was to seek when they had need of it therefore their Souls were as much out of order and their fear as great as if their hearts had been full of unbelief all over It is then clearly thus The Soul prospers so much and so long only as grace is exercised according as the matter requires This we have exemplified in Gaius whose Soul prospered at so high a rate Truth was in him and he walked in the Truth ver 3. of this Epistle In godly sincerity as Paul did 2 Cor. 1.12 He walked with God as Noah did Gen. 6.9 He walked humbly with God as Mich. 6.8 And all that do so shall walk with God in White Rev. 3.4 as doubtless Gaius doth now an expression that holds forth that unconceivable glory wherewith that Soul shall one day be clothed yea and their Bodies too at last when made like unto the glorious Body of Christ When his Face did shine and his Raiment was white as the light Matth. 17.2 3. The Soul prospers when in all these things it prospers daily One day after another and one day as well as another when more and more is daily done and more and more daily received in the forementioned particulars This Paul could say 2 Cor. 4.16 though our outward Man perish yet the inward Man is renewed day by day The Body of Man though it be of as healthy a constitution as any in the World yet it grows but to such an age then it comes to a consistency standing at a stay and after it hath done so a while it begins to decay But as it may be so yet it should be otherwise with a prosperous Soul Phil. 3.12 13 14 Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect but I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus c. It was now 25 years since Paul's Conversion for this Epistle to the Philippians was written the same year with that to the Ephesians and both of them in that time mentioned Act. 28.30 31 When Paul dwelt two years at Rome in his own hired house and received all that came unto him He had been so long a Man in Christ done and suffered so much for Christ and received so much from Christ yet he is exceeding hungry and thirsty to receive more spiritually he was very poor in his own opinion that so he might do more where he was called Though perfection as he well knew was not attainable in this life yet he aimed at it hoping he might come nearer to it then yet he was I follow after that I may apprehend What Even that perfection which was then wanting This was a prosperous Soul I say no more to this then as our Saviour said in another case to the Lawyer Luke 10.37 Go and do likewise 4. Then the Soul prospereth when in conjunction with all these it is more and more Rooted in Christ So as notwithstanding all our growth in grace and all our exercise of grace
in this World Not that all these sad effects are seen in every one but some in one and some in another 2. The effects will be found to be as sad in the World to come It is a sad sight to see Men undo themselves with their own mercies as Bees that are drowned in their own Honey but so it is Prov. 1.32 The prosperity of Fools shall destroy them i.e. with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord. It is evident from Scritpure that but few shall be saved Matth. 22.14 Many are called but few are chosen And it is as evident that but few of those few will be found among the rich and prosperous 1 Cor. 1.26 For ye see your calling Brethren that not many wise Men after the flesh not many Mighty not many Noble are called Yea it is yet more evident that the Spirit of God speaks in the Scritpure as if Salvation had been almost impropriated to the meaner sort of people and that those who prosper in the World had been almost excluded Jam. 2.5 hath not God chosen the poor of this World rich in faith and Heirs of the Kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him The Church is called the Congregation of the poor Psal 74.19 Such as were of the lower rank destitute of Worldly advantages But for the rich and prosperous see Luk. 6.24 25 Wo unto you that are rich for ye have received your consolation Wo unto you that are full for ye shall hunger Wo unto you that laugh now for ye shall mourn and weep Jam. 5.1 Go to now ye rich Men weep and howl for the miseries that shall come upon you The Apostle speaks not by way of advice and counsel to prevent their judgment by godly sorrow The exercise of that grace it not expressed by howling but he speaks by way of threat'ning and denouncing wrath and vengeance They had their good things in this life their pleasure upon Earth vers 5. Rev. 18.7 By how much she glorified her self and lived deliciously so much torment and sorrow give her Yet this is not to be understood as if God would condemn the rich because they were rich no more then he will save the poor for their poverty But he will condemn the rich for their sin and save the poor for their faith and piety through Jesus Christ Much more might be said to shew that Worldly prosperity separated from Soul-prosperity is by no means a prosperity to be desired It is but Eternal misery at a little distance Much less is it to be compared with Soul-prosperity This ye may judge by those effects of it which are seen to be so in this World and will be found to be so in the World to come 2. But now if we consider the Effects and Consequents of Soul-prosperity we shall find they are every way most desirable whether we consider the effects thereof for the present in this life or for the future in the life to come 1. In this life When the Soul prospereth and the divine well-fare thereof is kept in its heavenly temper by divine influences from above then there is such a glory and beauty in it as is much set by in the sight of God Psal 45.11 So shall the King greatly desire thy beauty It is a lovely sight to see any thing grow so as to thrive and prosper Corn on the ground Cattel in the field Fruit on the tree Children in the house growing up as Olive Plants about the Table But the growth and prosperity of the Soul is much more lovely Indeed there is much spiritual beauty and loveliness in the very first principles of spiritual life wherein as I have shewed you the first Foundation of Soul-prosperity as to our discerning it is laid These are much of the same nature and bear the same name with that perfect state of happiness which is enjoy'd in Heaven As that is called Glory so are these 2 Cor. 3.18 But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the spirit of the Lord. And if so then where all these lovely principles thrive and prosper the spirit of glory rests upon such a Soul as 1 Pet. 4.14 This is so but that which I shall specially instance in as most comprehensive of the blessed effects of Soul-prosperity in this life is that sweet peace within and heavenly serenity of spirit which a prosperous Soul so long as it doth prosper may and if it know its own happiness usually doth enjoy 1. Much sweet peace because of that sweet agreement which there is between a Man's Conscience and Himself Conscience we know if enlightened presseth to duty which if neglected in its season will wound and sting A prosperous Soul is more afraid of this then to be threat'ned with a fiery Furnace Dan. 3.13 That did not affright them at all but a Man may say as Job 27.6 My righteousness I hold fast and will not let it go My heart shall not reproach me so long as I live He was not afraid of those rebukings and upbraidings Now when grace is kept in exercise as it is in a prosperous Soul this keeps peace and that when troubles and tryals come upon us as an armed Man 2 Cor. 1.12 Our rejoicing is in this the testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the World This evidenced the prosperity of his Soul and that was his rejoicing That prayer of the Apostle for others Gal. 6.16 was heard for himself As many as walk according to this rule peace be on them and mercy 2. Much sweet peace because there is a sweet agreement between a Man's affection and his condition A prosperous Soul living and desiring to live in the enjoyment of God is where it would be and is willing to be what God will have him to be in the darkest hours that befall him Rejoicing in hope of the glory of God Rom. 5.2 This subdues his affection to his condition when his condition otherwise would not be according to his affection Being clear in the point of his interest in God he can say how barren soever his condition be of outward comforts The Lord is my portion I have a goodly heritage Psal 16.5 6. Making God his Heaven and his Earth too Psal 73.25 3. A sweet peace because a sweet agreement between a Man's Hope and his Reason When the foundation of Soul-prosperity is first laid being quick'ned with principles of spiritual life it is born again to a lively hope of the heavenly inheritance 1 Pet. 1.3 4. And when the Soul prospers according to the knowledge it hath of its own state it is able to give a reason of its hope as the expression is 1 Pet. 3.15 A reason grounded upon the free promise of God Rom. 2.7 If
Holy Ghost If they shall fall away c. Yet here was nothing really wrought for the prosperity of the Soul They had none of those good things which do accompany salvation vers 9. But beloved we are perswaded better things of you and things that do accompany Salvation Thus it is with many they know much but their Souls are not fully brought under the power and authority of what they know still upon the account of some lust or other they are under the power of darkness spoken of Col. 1.13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness 2. In the Will there may be some light touches of the Spirit inclining it to cleave to the outward and visible part of Religion together with some workings in the motions and outgoings thereof in several affections Matth. 13.20 the same is he that heareth the Word and anon with joy receiveth it 1 King 21.27 Ahab rent his Clothes and put Sack-cloth upon his flesh and fasted and lay in Sack-cloth and went softly vers 29. Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me And these stirrings of heart may work some resolutions and something may be done in pursuance of those resolutions Psal 78.34 36 37 When he slew them then they sought him and they returned and enquired early after God c. 3. The Conscience likewise may be so awakened and so much may an unregenerate Man stand in awe of it that he dare not go against the light thereof Thus was it with Paul he was so exceeding zealous and made such Conscience of obeying the Tradition of the Fathers that he durst not but do as he did Act. 26.9 I verily thought with my self that I ought to do many things contrary to the Name of Jesus And he had great peace in so doing Rom. 7.9 For I was alive without the Law once So had Abimelech in that he did nothing but what in conscience he thought to be Lawful Gen. 20.6 For this reason so many among the sober sort of the Heathen commended a good Conscience All these things seem very fair but lay them all together and let one and the same Man be thus qualified in all these respects yet they are not in the least any true evidence that true and real Soul-prosperity is begun in them For all the light in his understanding his portion at last will be utter darkness And for the workings in the Will and the Conscience though they may seem to be not far from the Kingdom of God as Mark. 12.34 Yet all is but as the Grass-hoppers which as ye may observe make many a leap as if they would mount up to the skies and then presently fall down to the Earth again Still one thing is wanting They are not effectually called Nor by all this can any prove that they are called into a state of Union with Christ Therefore they have no Spiritual life This Understanding is still dead the Conscience dead the Will dead the whole Soul spiritually dead For he that hath not the Son hath not life 1 Joh. 5.12 So that they are not yet in the right way of Soul thriving As whilst a dead Tree is a dead Tree it cannot prosper nor bring forth fruit This we may see in those that had most to shew for themselves So much that the Scripture calls it seeking and enquiring after God Remembring that the most High was their Rock c. Psal 78.34 35 36. Yet there was no Soul-prosperity begun vers 37. all this while their hearts were not right they were Spiritually dead Therefore as ye desire to find any Evidence within you of the Foundation of Soul-prosperity Give diligence to make your calling sure 2 Pet. 1.10 This makes it sure that ye are within the compass of Electing love and that God hath wrought in you according to his purpose SERMON III. I Proceed now to the second particular To shew wherein the prosperity of the Soul especially consisteth and when it may be said to thrive and prosper This is the principal thing the Text and Doctrine engage to speak unto And indeed to speak unto it is exceeding necessary You may well remember what was laid down in a Doctrine not long since handled That a living Christian though alive to God yet in respect of his Christianity and Religion may be in a withering languishing condition as far from prospering as those Trees are whose leaves fall off the boughs wither and the root decays It is so with many As it is much talked on that these times have brought forth many broken Merchants So they have many broken or almost broken Professors Good beginnings it is too often found are not always seconded with suitable proceedings Too many are too like the New Moon in its first quarter then it gives much light but it is down again and it 's dark again all over before the Morning light It was a sad question which the Apostle put to the Galatians chap. 5. v. 7 Ye did run well who did hinder you It was a question with a very sharp rebuke in it and it withal imports that no satisfying reason could be given why they should make such a halt Now in speaking to this necessary point I shall first mention some things in general wherein the prosperity of the Soul consists And then something which may more particularly demonstrate the truth and reality of it 1. In general I shall premise That as the first Rise and Foundation of Soul-prosperity as to any possibility of Evidence that such a thing is begun is laid in those principles of Spiritual life which are received by virtue of Union with Christ So the growth and progress thereof consists in their increase As they increase so the prosperity of the Soul increaseth and no otherwise It is possible a Man may grow in gifts and be very forward in exercising them and yet the Soul not thrive It is said of the Corinthians they came behind in no gift 1 Cor. 1.7 but their grace did not thrive answerably to their gifts No they were still but Babes and very carnal 1 Cor. 3.1 2 3. 2. I farther premise this That there is a natural tendency in the principles of this life to grow as there is in the best Seed that is cast into the ground to grow and to bring forth fruit according to its kind For they are the Seed of the living God there is life in them and every living thing grows according to the measure which the God of its life hath appointed The Picture of a Child doth not grow it hath the same dimensions now which it had twenty years ago But the living Child to which these principles are compared that by receiving kindly nourishment grows 1 Pet. 2.2 As new born Babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby And certain it is that no work of the Spirit is designed for glory but that which is growing 2 Cor. 3.18 But we all with open face beholding
as in a Glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the spirit of the Lord. Gifts may wither but grace will grow into glory These two things premised I come now to speak and that first of those things in general which are undenyable evidences of Soul-prosperity 1. When this thriving and growth is universal The Body prospers when there is a healthy constitution all over When the Head is well the Stomach is well and all the vital parts are sound within But in Children that have the Rickets the Head is only growing the inferiour parts of the Body being weak and feeble When it is so we say the Child prospers not It is oftentimes so with the Soul It may seemingly prosper in some things when it doth not really prosper in other things or indeed in any thing It was so with many in the Church of Ephesus Their zeal was warm in externals in a high and mighty opposition against false Teachers Errours and Heresies these they could not endure Rev. 2.6 But it was not so in other things in the best things there was a great decay in the inward Man in the vitals of Godliness in those graces that accompany Salvation ver 4 5 I have something against thee because thou hast left thy first Love Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do thy first works This is as far from true Soul-prosperity as a Tradesman from thriving who gains by some one pedling commodity and loseth thrice as much in greater matters The Soul prospers when it grows up in all things Eph. 4.15 But speaking the truth in love may grow up in all things in him who is the Head even Christ It were endless almost to reckon up the thriving and prospering in every grace I shall therefore instance in 2 things by the thriving whereof we may take an estimate of the rest 1. When the Soul thrives in those two graces which by experience are found to have as great an influence on the health of the Soul as Natural heat and Radical moisture so Physicians say and Reason saith so too have upon the health of the Body The just temperament of these is that which preserves life and health and strength So when these two graces that of Faith which is as the Natural heat and that of Repentance which is as the Radical moisture are thriving and growing toward their full height then the Soul is in a very prosperous way 1. When Faith grows which is the Natural heat as it did 2 Thes 1.3 because that your Faith groweth exceedingly and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth Now this growth is best discerned 1. When it grows in depth So as the Soul is more and more setled grounded rooted and built up in Christ Col. 1.23 If ye continue in the Faith grounded and settled And ch 2.7 Rooted and built up in him and stablished in the Faith So that the heart is fixed and is at peace within when all without is shaken and the foundation of all Creature-comforts turned upside down As a Tree whose Root doth remain firm when the top doth shake Psal 56.3 What time I am afraid I will trust in thee He could keep his faith above his fears Psal 112.7 He shall not be afraid of evil Tydings his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. Job 13.15 Though he slay me yet will I trust in him As if he had said Though I read a sentence of Death upon what concerns this Life yet I have somewhat to trust him for beyond this Life No danger nor death shall beat me off from the holdfast of my faith in God through Christ Jesus When it is thus that promise will be made good Isa 26.3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee 2. When it grows in breadth so as it gives a firm absolute unlimited assent to the whole truth of God and receives the testimony of God as in one thing so in every thing which it apprehends to be of God and that purely because God saith so whatever Sense and Reason can object to the contrary So Act. 24.14 But I confess unto thee that after the way which they call Heresie so worship I the God of my Fathers believing all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets Joh. 3.33 He that believeth his testimony hath set to his Seal that God is true in every thing I speak this of justifying faith not only considered in its most eminent act which is to receive Jesus Christ and rest upon him alone for whatsoever may give a title to or a fitness for eternal Salvation but in its most full compleat and perfect act assenting to whatsoever is historically delivered in the word believing every Command every Threat'ning every Promise both of this life and the life to come So as whatever is recorded in the word is so believed not without some gratious effect upon the Soul Observe it in four particulars 1. A growing thriving faith so believes what is Historically delivered concerning the Creation of the World as nothing is too hard for it Although the things believed do not yet appear yet that hinders not a full assurance of their future existence seeing the same power of God which created the World of nothing can give a Being to whatever he hath said shall be when it seems good unto him Psal 121.2 My help cometh from the Lord which made Heaven and Earth As if he had said I will never distrust his power for whatever I stand in need of who could erect such a stately Fabrick from nothing 2. A growing thriving faith believes every Command of God Psal 119.66 I have believed thy Commandments He believes them to be holy just and good and brings down every thought more and more in subjection unto them all Thus Abraham's faith growing and thriving hath many eminent acts of obedience ascribed to it Heb. 11.8 By Faith Abraham when he was called of God to go into a place which he should afterward receive for an inheritance obeyed and he went out not knowing whither he went A hard tryal For as it is in the Proverb The smoak of a Man 's own Chimney is as good as the fire of another's So that Command which was yet more hard of offering up his only begotten Son that is of his wife Sarah the Son of the Promise in whose Seed all the Nations of the Earth should be blessed yet he submitted to it Heb. 11.17 though he had but short warning Gen. 22.2 3. He received the Command over-night and went about it next Morning 3. A growing thriving Faith believes the threat'nings of the Word and this belief makes the Soul to stand in awe of them Psal 119.161 my heart standeth in awe of thy word So Heb. 11.7 Noah's Faith takes warning at the threat'ning He was moved with