is discern'd whether there be faith or unbelief by the pulse Unbelief hath a pulse of pride this beats strong fast and very high Faith hath a pulse of humility that beateth equal and very slow As in the example of the Pharisee and Publican Luk. 18.10 Observation Observe Secondly How his soul that is lifted up is not right 1. Not right in point of Duty It is an unbeleeving soul that withdraws from Gods precepts promises and threatnings From his precepts Jer. 43.2 Thou speakest falsly say they the Lord hath not sent thee Jer. 44.15.16 As for the word thou hast spoken to us in the name of the Lord we will not hearken unto thee c. From his promise and threatnings Jer. 42.7 8. God promises there safety if they tarry in Judea if they go into Egypt he threathens destruction but the proud persons regard neither Thus the proud soul is not right in point of Duty 2. Not right in point of Safety Unbelief makes the heart not right 1. Their hearts are unquiet within Isa 7.2 c. The heart of Ahaz and of his people were moved as the trees of the wood And the Prophet tells them If ye will not believe surely ye shall not be established And Isa 57.20 The wicked are like the troubled Sea when it cannot rest Reas 1. Because all creature-helps with God are lying vanities Jonah 28. Therefore as the soul is lifted up in trusting to them so it must needs be cast down as much when the creature fails them Nahael is merry and dead Haman proud and dejected Ahitophel crafty and simple 2 Because their counsels vary as the creatures in which they trust vary The fool changes as the moon He grounds his opinion his practice upon correspondence with the creature or upon contingent events therefore is unstable in all his wayes Jam. 1. But the heart of the just is fixed trusting in the Lord Psal 112. 3. Because the conscience smites The Lord saith Jer. 17.5 Cursed be the man that maketh flesh his arm c. I have trusted thinks he in this and that and therefore God is angry His heart as the tossed Sea casts up such mire and dirt Isa 57. 4. Because he wants his anchor to keep him steady which hope we have as an anchor sure and stedfast Heb 6.19 Be carefull for nothing but in every thing by prayer c. and the peace of God shall keep your hearts Phil. 4.6.7 Here is the true anchor-hold but the unbeleever cannot lay hold on it go 2. Unbelief makes their condition not right 2 As their hearts are unquiet so their condition is very unstable and tottering His heart is not right and his estate is not right As a bowing wall and tottering hedge Psal 62.3 His life and lively-hood is very uncertain Therefore a proud man and in particular Nebuchadnezar is compared to a drunkard that reels to and fro He is a drunkard drunk with pride Hab. 2. and God makes him drunk with judgments The builders of Babel had their souls lifted up so high as if they meant to overtop Gods Judgments but they and their Tower together fall into confusion The soul of Pharaoh was lifted up who is the Lord saith he c. but it was not right in him For this cause have I raised thee up c. Exod. 9 16. The soul of Goliah was lifted up he defied the armies of Israel but David coming in the name of the Lord the Captain of Israel slew him with a sling and a stone 1 Sam. 17. The soul of Amaziah was lifted up but to his own destruction 2 Chron. 15.19 The soul of Haman was lifted up Hest 3.6 but he was lifted up as high on the gallowes as before he was in his own conceit cap. 7.10 So the souls of the Israelites Isa 9.9 and 11. of Nebuchadnezar Dan. 4.30 of Belshazar Dan 5.1 of the rich fool Luk. 12. But they were not right you read what befell them Reas 1. Because of God's threatnings Reasons Pride shall have a fall Prov. 18.12 Isa 2.11 Ezech. 31.10 Exod. 18.11 2. Because God hath said in his own strength no man shall be strong 1 Sam. 2.8 Nothing weaker then Pride nothing stronger then Humility Prov. 3.5 6. As the thunder delights to melt the sword and spare the scabbard to rend the heart of Oaks and spare the rinde so God to rent the caul of the heart of proud persons Hos 13.8 Psal 147.3 and to bind up the broken heart Vse 1 This let 's us see how to judge of the firm standing or suddain ruine of persons families and nations Many times we judge by wit wealth friends and allyes but this is a mistake for when any grow proud and contemn God they soon go down Prov. 16.18 2 Chron. 26.15 Prov. 26.12 Vse 2 2 Let it be a warning to beware of 2 things Pride Sinful confidence 1. As we love our selves souls safety beware of Pride whether 1. inward pride of heart Prov. 5.6 The proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord. or 2. outward pride of men whose glory is their shame As pride of the eyes Isa 10.15 proud looks The first of seven abominations is a proud look Prov. 6.17 Pride of the tongue Psal 12.3 The Lord shall cut out the tongue that speaketh proud things Psal 17.10 Their tongue speaketh proudly ver 13. Up Lord disappoint him Pride of head and feet and all parts from top to toe Threatned Isa 3.16.17 Pride of gesture and apparel ibid. ver 25. 2. Beware of sinful Confidence the daughter of Pride Whether Confidence 1. in our selves in parts and gifts Ezek. 28.3 Prov. 21.30 No wisdom nor counsel against the Lord or in strength Jer. 9.23 Let no man glory c. or in works and duties Gal. 3 11. Deut. 9.4 Or 2. Confidence in the creature as Riches Psal 40.6 Prov. 11.4 Favour of great men Psal 118 8. Armour and amunition Isa 22.8 c. Prov. 21.31 Psal 33.16 Devil and his instruments 1 Sam. 28.4 Isa 28.19 But the Just shall live by his Faith AS God speaks words of death in the threatnings which go to the hearts of wicked men so he speaketh words of life Hos 6.5 in the promises which go to the hearts of Gods people to revive them But the just c. From the opposition of this proposition to the former might be hinted a twofold observation 1. As every Believer is a just person so every Unbeliever is an unjust person 2. As every Believer is in a state of life so every Unbeliever is in a dead condition But we shall content our selves with two conclusions from the words unto which other things will be reducible in the handling of them D. 1. God's people are in a state of life yea they are in a state of life by way of eminency they are partakers of the best life D. 2. What ever life the just lives in a more excellent manner then other
freedom of breathing hearing seeing and exercising all the senses so great a difference there is betwixt the life of nature and grace as also betwixt the life of grace and glory We do no more know what is reserved for us in Heaven then a child in the womb what is reserved for it when it comes into this wide world Only as there is a natural instinct in the child to go forth of the prison of the womb into a better life so there is a spiritual and supernatural instinct in all Gods children to be made partakers of a better life For as the whole creation groans so we ourselves groan within ourselves c. saith the Apostle Rom 8 22. In the mean time before we come to enjoy the life of glory to the full glorious things in their degree are spoken of the life of grace in regard of the nature Psal principle comforts c. of it as abovesaid To all which we might adde it's excellency in regard of operations viz. the crucifying our corruptions overcoming the world and all opposite powers making us more then conquerours in Christ Therefore 't is an excellent life and thence most desirable Did a beast know the life of a man he would desire it did a natural man know the life of a Christian he would desire that too For it is as farre above the life of a man as his above the life of a beast Hence Christ to the woman Joh. 4. If thou hadst known the gift of God and who 't is asketh of thee c. So I say If thou hadst but known the excellency of this life thou wouldst greatly desire and ask it of Christ Vse 3 3. For Exam. Let us try whether we have this exclellent life or no. Examination There is not much need of giving motives 1. None come to live the life of glory but such as live the life of grace all are Saints on Earth before Saints in Heaven 2. Till we know whether we have this life or no we can neither seek it if we want it nor praise God for it if we have it 3. Besides we have command to make our calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 For Rules of Trial. 1. Did God ever give thee to see thine own deadness 10. Rules of Triall and to bewail it Though thou maist leave sin and perform duty if thou dost this by thy own strength thou art not alive 1. Sight of deadness When such a soul comes to it self neverthelesse it cryes O sick sick give me somthing to comfort me Cant. 2.5 Alas sick of unbelief and a hard heart c. 2. Knowledge of this life Secondly Dost thou understand the Nature of regeneration of this life and this new birth Nichodemus did not before Christ told him Joh. 3. 'T is said 2 Cor. 5.17 He that is in Christ is a new creature New in understanding will affections and conversation 3. Instrumental cause of begetting Thirdly If thou art alive what was the instrumental means of begetting this life under God was it the power of Word preach'd upon thy soul 1 Pet. 1.33 being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God c. Affections stirring without the Word or moral perswasion with the word or corrupt seed beside the Word these are not enough See 1 Thess 1.5 2 Cor. 3.6 4. Cause mainâ—aining Fourthly if alive what is the instrumental means of maintaining this life under God and every creature desires food even the insensible creature the youngest plants thrust their fibra's into the earth to suck nourishment thence And the young Lambs suck the duggs of their damme's upon their bended knees Every life desires food for self-preservation and the nature of the food must be suitable to the nature of the life spiritual life must have spiritual food That which will feed a swine fat Ex iisdem nutâ—rimur c. will starve a sheep What is begotten of the word will be nourished of the word 1 Pet. 2.2 And the more life the more desire after food The healthfull child cryes most eagerly after the breast Such was Davids hunger and thirst after the word Psal 42.1 c. Fifthly If thou art alive thou hast a faculty within to resist and expel whatsoever is an enemy to life 5. Enmity of the contrary 1 Pet. 5.8 Sin is a spiritual poyson and Satan a murderer Dost thou so resist them Or when there is deadness of spirit dost thou rub and chafe thy soul by prayer Quicken me O Lord by thy Word Psal 119. A good sign 6. If thou art alive thou shalt perceive it as by outward sense and motion so by inward quickning and vivification 6. Sense and motion 1. By outward sense and motion Every living creature exercises some sense Examine this by what Breathing faculty thou hast VVhere there is the inspiration of spiritual life there is the expiration of holy speeches Only 't is not wholsom when our expiration exceeds our inspiration 2. Exam. what sight thou hast Ephes 4.18 with 5.8 3. VVhat hearing He that is of God heareth us c. 1 Joh. 4.6 4. VVhat tasting 1 Pet. 2.3 If so be you have tasted how gracious the Lord is 5. VVhat smelling Cant. 1.3 Thy name is an oyntment powred forth 2. By inward quickning and vivification of the heart As the heart is first formed so informed and reformed Primum vivens Rev. 3. And without this there is but a name to live The heart is the first member of the new man Gal. 4.4 If sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts c. Deut. 30.6 The Lord thy God shall circumcise thy heart c. All performances without the heart are dead workes God begins at the heart therefore examine the heart 7. Spring of life Seventhly If thou saist thou art alive then what is the spring and principle of thy life and the actions thereof Is it thy own strength and opinion of thy own parts and applause of men Or dost thou in an humble distrust of thy self look up to Christ for strength Quest How is that known Ans If Christ's glory he made the end then the grace of Christ is the principle The stream is never higher then the fountain 2. Besides then this strength comes in a promise 'T is Christ in a promise What promise dost thou lay hold on 8. Growtâ— Eightly If alive where is thy growth where ever there is life there is growth till the creature comes to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 4.11 Till we all come to the measure of the the stature of Christ Object If this be so may some say then I have no life Answ spiritual growth is not discern'd by every dayes observation but some long time as the shadow on the diall 2. A soul careful to grow and mourning for want of growth I dare pronounce it doth grow though it
thou judgest Therefore though God forsake his people in some sense yet in the main he never forsakes them and if he never forsake us we shall never forsake him and this is great incouragement against the greatest discouragements we can meet with in our Christian course Thus have you heard how the just lives by Faith the Life of Conservation BRANCH VII IN THE LIFE of FAITH IN SANCTIFICATION VIZ. CONSOLATION VVE come now to the last which is the Life of Consolation which God makes the sweet closure of all the rest and indeed Christ reserves the best wine till last Ioh. 2. The Devil feeds his followers with sweet Comfits at first but he gives them a deadly Pill at last But Christ gives the bitter at first and the sweet at last At the last the just lives by Faith the Life of Consolation You have heard how the just lives by Faith the Life of Justification in laying hold on the righteousness of Christ and making it his own You have heard also how he lives by Faith the Life of Sanctification whereby the believing Soul draws vertue from Christ and that either Renewing Fructifying Mortifying Quickning Increasing Confirming Comforting Vertue So he lives the Life of Renovation Fructification Mortification Vivification Augmentation Conservation or Perseverance Consolation So that we are come to the last to the highest Stair on this side Heaven The just goes on so far from strength to strength and from faith to faith and from life to life till at the last with great delight he sits down under the shadow of Jesus Christ and his fruit is sweet unto his taste Cant. 2.2 He lives by Faith the Life of Consolation he is a true Disciple of his heavenly Master he hath taken all his Degrees in the School of Christ his Grace hath past from the Life of Justification to the Life of Sanctification and herein from the Life of Renovation to the Life of Fructification from the Life of Fructification to the Life of Mortification from the Life of Mortification to the Life of Vivification from the Life of Vivification to the Life of Augmentation from the Life of Augmentation to the Life of Conservation from the Life of Conservation to the Life of Consolation and now he is as high as he can go till he enter into Heaven it self Yea the Life of Consolation is a piece of Heaven like the the sheet in Peters Vision let down to the earth and so the just in believing is transformed from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3. as by the Spirit of our God He lives by Faith the Life of Consolation And indeed this is the proper use and effect of Faith to rejoyce the heart though not always an immediate effect especially to our sense and feeling yet we may safely say The seed of Peace and the seed of Joy is sown in the heart so soon as ever a man believeth Psal 97.11 Light is sown for the righteous and joyful gladness for the upright in heart though it may be he reaps the full Harvest many a year after There is first the sprouting and then the blade and then the ear and after that the full Corn in the ear Mar. 4.28 And look as it is in the rising of the Sun though there be light at the first in some measure yet there is but a little light and less heat in comparison of that which follows So in the first manifestations of the Sun of Righteousness to the Soul there is some light of knowledge and some heat of comfort at the very first but little in comparison of that which shall be And therefore the just lives by Faith in expectation of a glorious Noon-tide of Peace and joy to follow after and in the mean time the more he increaseth his Faith the more he increaseth his Joy You may easily see it in your selves and others It is possible a person may be both justified and sanctified he may live both these lives and yet for the present he may be much to seek in his comfort in his own sense and apprehension he may be in sad and as it were in a dead condition for want of comfort and therefore in due time by the exercise of Faith God addes to both the former the Life of Consolation which is more properly called Life Indeed it is the very Life of our lives for what is life without comfort but a living death When Adam had tasted of the forbidden fruit he did not die presently if we take it in a strict sense but he was made subject to all diseases and all kinde of miseries which is all one as if he had been dead it is a dying daily 1 Cor. 15.31 Whereas on the other side comfort and joy is called Life in Scripture phrase they are used promiscuously sometimes Life is put for Joy and Joy is put for Life as if they were all one Psal 30.5 In thy favour is life heaviness may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning All one as if he had said Life comes in the morning according to the former expression In thy favour is life The Philosophers have a Position Nec voluptas sine vitâ nec vita sine voluptate Pleasure cannot be without life nor life without some kinde of pleasure And it is true in Divinity he onely deserves the name of a living man who injoys some comfort in his life And indeed Eternal Life is nothing else but Eternal Joy For otherwise the wicked shall live eternally if we take the word in the largest sense but their Eternal Life is called Eternal Death because they live not in Joy but Misery So that it 's clear to live most properly is to live comfortably 1 Thess 1.3 Now we live if ye stand fast in the Lord. We live how is that Did not the Apostle live both the life of Nature and the life of Grace whether the Thessalonians should stand or fall Without all question he did but his meaning is Now we live comfortably if ye stand fast in the Lord which life is onely worth the name of a life So that when it is said The just shall live by Faith the meaning is he shall live a sweet and comfortable life whatever his outward troubles may be he shall not want sweet supports and comforts within he shall even then live by his Faith And that this is the sense of the Text in the latitude of it seems to be clear by the opposite member as the Life of Gods People is opposed to the Life of the Caldeans their enemies and so the Joy of the one to the Joy of the other Their enemies have a kinde of superficial flashing joy arising from the immoderate use or abuse of the Creature and this joy tickles them or puffs them up for the present In which respect the Caldean is compared to a drunken man who you know thinks himself the onely merry man in the world he is merry as Cup and
Troubles of the world Faith lifts a man above the troubles of the world If you could suppose a dwelling above the Clouds above the Thundrings and Lightnings and terrible Storms would it not be a peaceable a comfortable habitation Such is the condition of a Christian who lives by Faith in regard of Eternal Life He lives above the clouds of worldly Troubles What if such a Trouble should come as may take away his life Faith will smile in the face of that Trouble Alas poor Trouble says Faith thou thinkest to do me a great deal of mischief when indeed thou dost but set my Soul at liberty to go out of an earthly Prison into a heavenly Palace Job 5.22 A man that lives by Faith for Heaven is above the clouds of the lower Region Heb. 12. Act. 4. he can endure the Cross he can despise the shame he can rejoyce that he is accounted worthy to suffer persecution for the Name of the Lord Jesus He can refuse to accept of life upon base terms that so he may obtain a better Resurrection Heb. 11. He can set an higher esteem upon the very reproach of Christ than upon all the Treasures of Egypt so long as he hath Faith enough to see him who is invisible and thereby to have respect to the Recompence of Reward He lives above the Troubles of the world 2. He lives above the Pleasures Profits and Honours of the world Let the Devil shew him all the Kingdoms of the world Mat. 4. and the glory of them as he did to Christ himself Faith in Christ will teach him to slight the proffer Alas says the believing Soul what is all this to the glory of Heaven Through Gods Mercy I am above all these I look at these as flitting fading empty Nothings gilded Pictures upon a rotten Post I know God hath put all these in subjection under my feet and therefore I will not put them as a Crown upon my Head or place them as a Treasure in my Heart but keep them there where God hath set them and that 's under my feet 'T is wonderful indeed but 't is not so strange as true Rev. 12.1 2. Thus the Church and every true believer is cloathed with the Sun of Righteousness whose powerful beams in the grace of Faith and Love draw up his Soul so far above the world that he tramples the Moon and all sublunary things under his feet He looks at all worldly excellencies of Pleasures Profits and Honours as changeable as the Moon On the other side he looks at the Word of God and Gods love in Christ and the fruits of that love in the glory of Heaven as the onely unchangeable good things and therefore these he wears as a Crown upon his Head but the other he puts as a Footstool under his feet We use to distinguish worldly things into Moveables and not moveables but we must go to heaven to make good one part of the distinction Heb. 12.27 28. Qu. But what means should I use Means to assure Eternal Life that I may live by Faith in regard of Eternal Life my sin hangs on so fast that I may as soon raise up by Body above the clouds as raise up my Soul heaven-ward Mean 1 Ans 1. Lay hold on Christ that is the way thither and the meritorious cause and the Loadstone there to draw thy Soul after him Christ is the great Engineer who hath a Pulley to draw thee to Heaven Joh. 12.32 When I am lift up I will draw all men unto me I have seen an artificial Instrument a device quo trahens trabitur So the more we lay hold on Christ by Faith the more strongly are we drawn to Christ so is fulfill'd the Promise Jam. 4.8 Draw near to God and he will draw near to you Mean 2 2. Act thy Faith upon the Promises of God for thy Spiritual cleansing from the burthen and filth of sin Rev. 21. ult No unclean thing shall enter Therefore 2 Cor. 7.1 Let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and Spirit And some Promises God hath made in special for that very work of cleansing the Soul See Ezek. 36.25 c. Like as Jeremy lying in the Dungeon when he took hold on the Cord that was let down he was drawn up by the men that stood aloft So we lying in the Dungeon of Sin and Misery whilst by the hand of Faith we take hold of the Cord of Promise which is let down from Jesus Christ now sitting at the Right hand of God in heaven we are drawn in Soul and Spirit heaven-ward Mean 3 3. Be sure thy Faith be fruitful in good Works if thou wouldst be sure of heaven 2 Pet. 1.5 Adde to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledge c. for so ver 11. An entrance shall be administred unto you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom Not that good Works merit any thing but because God will encourage his people in well-doing by shewing to such the salvation of God Ps 50. last Mean 4 4. As a means of both under Christ Be careful to sanctifie Gods Sabbath which is a sign and a pledge of heaven and the resting of that day a powerful means under Christ to prepare Gods people for eternal rest However we are not tied to the observation of the Jewish Sabbath yet there remains a rest to the people of God Heb. 4 9. As the full rest and Sabbatism does remain and will remain not to be fully possest by them till the general Resurrection so that percursory Rest and Sabbath which is ordained to be a sign and a pledge of the other must needs remain till we come to enjoy that whereof this is a pledge If this Sabbath be a sign and pledge of heaven and of Gods perfect sanctifying of his people in Souls and Bodies Exod. 31.13 then it must be kept till we come there for if we lose the pledge of a Benefit we lose the evidence of that Benefit whereof it is a Pledge Consider further the Sabbath was not onely ordained to be a pledge of Eternal Rest to assure us of it but to be a Means also to fit us for it The Sabbath was made for man for mans benefit and that not onely for his bodily rest but especially for the rest of his Soul that he might cease from the works of sin and learn to do the work of God And experience shews the right sanctifying of the Sabbath is a powerful means under Christ to sanctifie us to increase Faith Love Zeal and all saving graces It takes a man off from the world for such a man thinks not his own thoughts speaks not his own words does not his own works I say it takes a man off from the world and puts him as it were into heaven for the time As Paul was caught up into heaven so such a man as is in the Spirit on the Lords day Rev. 1. as it were in heaven
to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul that thou maist live And thus might we instance in other cases and other promises but these may suffice to give light to the rest Let us thus carefully make use of the talent of our faith in trading with God upon all occasions that our one or two talents may gain more Simile God is the first fountain of all grace and comfort the promises are as several spring-heads our acting faith upon the promises is like the conveiance of waters in pipes to the several rooms in a house for the best service of the inhabitants Let us therefore act our faith that we may live comfortably upon the promises those heavenly wells of salvation And if God answer not presently we must act our faith in tarrying the lords leasure if the vision be for an appointed time the just shall live by his faith And that is the last branch of the exhortation respecting our selves if faith be so excellent a grace even the very life of the soul Then First as we should labour to get it and Secondly to keep it when we have it Thirdly to live by it and act it as well as keep it Branch IV. Of Exhortation So fourthly we should labour to increase the stock of our faith Increase of Faith Faith is such an excellent grace we can never have too much of it He that increaseth his faith increaseth his livelyhood For the just shall live by his faith It was the high commendation of those poor Christians Jam. 2.5 That however they were poor in other things yet they were rich in faith The Thessalonians are commended for this that their faith was on the growing hand their faith grew exceedingly 2 Thes 1.3 Paul gives the like commendable testimony of the Corinthians that they abounded in faith 2 Cor. 8.7 What should I say more this is recorded to the everlasting praise of him that is stiled the father of the faithful that he was strong in the faith Rom. 4.20 Let us all labour therefore that profess the same faith to attain as neer as we can to the same growth that we may be strong in the faith giving glory to God as he did And the rather should we be perswaded to grow because Motives to increase in Faith First there are degrees of faith 1. Faith hath degrees and no man attains to the highest degree at the first faith is like a grain of mustard seed before it comes to be a goodly tree and the faithful are first babes in Christ then young men then strong men 1 Joh. 2.12 13 14. The Disciples are oft reproved for their little faith and the good woman is commended for her great faith Mat. 15.28 Jesus answered and said unto her O woman great is thy faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt it seems therefore there is little faith and there is great faith there is weak faith and there is strong faith and yet he that is stronger may grow still Paul was a strong and valiant champion in the faith no whit inferiour to the very chief of the Apostles and yet he speaks of himself as if he had little or nothing in comparison of that which he desired and endeavoured after Psal 3.9 in the third to the Philippians he tells us that he counts all things loss and dung that he may know Christ and the power of his Resurrection Why Did he not know him already and believe in him already doubtless he did but in comparison of what was to come and what he aimed at he accounted that which he had already but very little And therefore says he in the very next words Not as though I had already attained or were already perfect but I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus And therefore still he desireth to know more and to believe more he never thought he had faith enough And therefore beloved if such a strong man in the faith as Paul was desires still to be upon the growing hand how much more should such as are new beginners and but weak in the faith desire to grow from strength to strength according to that gracious promise Job 17.9 The righteous shall hold on his way and that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger In other things men desire to grow In things natural no child but desires to grow till it be a man In things artificial no scholar apprentice but desires to grow till he become a perfect artist In the things of the world no man of mean estate but desires to grow till he be rich onely in grace men are content to be poor still Where we should be covetous there we are well contented with a little 1 Cor. 12.31 Covet earnestly the best gifts And where we should be content there we are covetous as in outward things Mot. 2. Growth of faith an evidence of its truth And this puts me in mind of a second Motive to quicken our growth in faith None have truth of faith but onely such as desire to grow in faith and therefore when a professor shall presently grow secure and say So now I believe all is well I have as much faith as will carry me to heaven and what need I care for any more it is a shrewd signe such a man hath no true faith at all a painted child grows not but a living child grows taller and taller from year to year For in case a man had had truly tasted how gratious the Lord is by the mouth of faith he must needs say as they did of that bread and water of life Lord evermore give us of this bread evermore give us of this water A man thinks he can never have enough of it True faith is never content to stand at a stay And the reason is because it springs up of immortal seed if the seed of faith could rot and die then it might cease to grow 1 Pet. 1. but because the seed of it is immortal and incorruptible therefore it must needs be up on the grownig hand It may be nipt a little for a time like winter corn but even then it grows in the root and will grow the faster for it afterwards in the blade also What shall we say then of those that are alwayes standing at a stay that are children in the faith for the space of fourty or fifty years together these are monsters in the life of faith It is confessed every thing must have a beginning both in nature and grace but it is a shame to be alwayes beginning and never carrying on a work to be a beginner from first to last is very strange and inconsistent with the grace of faith Thirdly consider the faster our faith grows Mot. 3. Faith makes all graces grow the faster all other graces do grow and the fruits of those graces also in all manner
to convert the Childe 't is too hard for a gracious man to infuse grace into another There 's no party within to joyn in the carrying on of that work Rom. 8.7 The carnal minde is enmity against God And there is Satan without opposing and withstanding Act. 13.8 Suppose any Soul to be born again certainly it is born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God Joh. 1.13 There is God in the work if ever it be done All the Ministers under heaven cannot convert a Soul without the help of God and therefore it is a difficult work and therefore it is an excellent work also Reas 2 Secondly which follows upon the former it is a Work of great skill and wisdom It is a Work of great skill 1 Cor. 2.4 Col. 4.4 and therefore an excellent Work The most skilful works are accounted the most excellent works But this is a work of the greatest skill and wisdom in the world and therefore it is said They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament And others reade it They that make others wise and it may well be read both ways for they that make others wise are truly wise themselves especially such as are best fitted for the work and therefore Solomon tels you He that winneth souls is wise Prov. 11.30 Or he that catcheth Souls out of the snares of the Devil and its own deceitful heart and fetcheth them within the compass of Gods Net he is a wise fisher of men he is a wise man indeed Every fool can cast away a Soul but he is a wise man that wins a Soul As it was said of Daniel so it may be said of such Excellent wisdom was found in him Dan. 2.12 The world indeed judgeth them fools Note and their preaching foolishness 1 Cor. 4.10 We are fools for Christs sake but the God of wisdom pronounceth them wise and of the two it is far better to be Gods wise man and the worlds fool than to be the worlds wise man and Gods fool For not he whom man but whom the Lord commendeth shall be approved 2 Cor. 10.18 He is wise that winneth Souls and they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament Reas 3 Thirdly it is a Work of the greatest Love and Compassion and therefore an excellent Work 'T is true It is a Work of greatest love the Gift of Miracles and the Gift of Tongues are excellent Gifts but what are these to the Gift of Charity 1 Cor. 13.1 Though I speak with the tongues of Men and Angels and have not Charity I am become as sounding brass and as a tinkling cymbal And of all other Charity that is most excellent that is exercised towards the Souls of poor Creatures 'T is true 't is a good thing to be charitable towards the bodies of the needy to deal out bread to the hungry and to clothe the naked Isa 38.7 But when all is done that 's the most excellent Charity that is bestowed upon the most excellent part the Soul Otherwise a man may give all his goods away to the poor and yet have no Charity for all that 1 Cor. 13.3 And therefore look as God commends his love to us in this that his principal care was for the good of our immortal Souls so should we also in this particular commend our love one to another That 's most certain Soul-friends are the best and truest friends in the world and Soul-compassion is the best compassion that can be shewed Jude ver 22. And of some have compassion making a difference and others save with fear pulling them out of the fire It is an act of the greatest compassion that can be imagined to pull a Soul out of Hell-fire whether it be by fair means or by foul Is not such a Soul as a brand snatch'd out of the fire Zech. 3.2 O blessed for ever blessed be that hand that snatches any such brand out of the flames of eternal fire It is a work of the greatest love and compassion and therefore the most excellent Work Reas 4 Fourthly it is the most excellent Work because it aims at the most excellent End and we know it is the End that crowns the Action It aims at the most excellent End But the winning of Souls to God aims at the most excellent End For 't is such a work as brings most glory to God and most good to the Creature and therefore must needs be a most excellent Work 1. It brings most glory to God 1. It brings most glory to God and this is the great end of all ends Prov. 16.4 The Lord hath made all things for himself or for his own glory Now this blessed End is the main issue of this blessed Work 'T is true God will have glory even in the perdition of ungodly men and therefore it 's added in the same place Yea even the wicked for the day of evil The Lord hath made all things for himself yea even the wicked for the day of evil But the Argument is very strong If God have glory even in the destruction of some men how much more hath be glory in the Salvation of others Rom. 9.23 He makes known the riches of his glory in the vessels of mercy O the admirable riches of Free-grace shining forth in this work of God in the Conversion of Souls It glorifies all Gods Attributes and magnifies every part of his Name It glorifies his Love it discovers the bredth and length It glorifies his Love and depth and height of the love of Christ which passeth knowledge Eph. 3.18 19. 2. It glorifies his Power The Psalmist says His Power Who knows the power of thy wrath Psal 90.11 But we may say Who knows the power of thy Grace God puts forth as great power in the Conversion of a Soul as in the Raising of a dead body as raising the body of Jesus Christ Eph. 1.19 20. as great a power as in the making the World and therefore the Work of Regeneration is called a Work of Creation Eph. 10. For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works 3. It glorifies his Wisdom His Wisdom the manifold Wisdom of God Though we preach Christ to some a stumbling-block and to others foolishness yet unto all such as are called and converted as Christ becomes the Power of God so also the Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 23.24 4. It glorifies the Word of his Grace The Word of his Grace Though the Word of the Lord be reproached whilst people slight both the threatnings and the Promises of it as if God would do neither good nor evil yet it is marvellously glorified in the Conversion of Souls whilst the weapons of our warfare are mighty through God in pulling down strong holds of Satan in the unsanctified wit and will of man In this respect we are to pray that the Word
conversion of souls 1 Cor. 3.5 6. Who is Paul and who is Apollo but the ministers bâ—y whom ye believe Paul may plant and Apollo may water but it is God along that giveth the increase If God therefore be the strength of his servants in the conversion of souls there is good reason he should be their Praise we have cause to bless God if any rise up and call us blessed we might have been so far left to partake in other mens sins that others might have risen up and called us cursed Vse 7 Therefore let God have all the glory if any of us have been made instruments of the conversion of any Thus Paul 1 Tim. 1.12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who hath inabled me for that he hath counted me faithful putting me into the ministry Of comforts to them that are Instruments of others Conversion Vse 7. Of Comfort Comfort to those that are instruments of others conversion in the midst of all discomforts they meet withall from the world for to that end as we told you in the beginning is this argument brought Be it so that those that perform this Spiritual piece of service for God and the Church in the conversion of Souls do meet with more than ordinary opposition and contempt from the world yet let this be their comfort their reward and encouragement from God is more than ordinary What if stones fly about Stevens ears upon earth so long as heaven is opened to him and he can see the glory of God Acts 7.56 and Jesus standing at the right hand of God this makes amends for all And truly this Text is as the opening of Heaven to those that labour in the conversion of Souls It may be the lot of such to be made with the Apostles the very filth of the world and the off-scouring of all things 1 Cor. 4.13 But what of that the more they suffer the more they shall be glorified The adversaries Reproaches shall be turned into Crowns of Glory and therefore they may say with Job 31.31 If mine adversary should write a book against me yet would I take it and binde it as a Crown upon my head This therefore I say may be matter of comfort against all that discomfort which the Ministers of God meet withall I plead not for all that are called by that Name who wear a garment or a name to deceive who prophecy of wine and strong drink who seek themselves and seek the fleece more than the good of the flock Let such bear their own burthen But I speak of such as are faithful and seek the things of Jesus Christ Let wicked men spit out their gall and spleen against Gods faithful Messengers Let them rail and revile and cast dirt upon their faces c. God himself shall undertake to wipe away all reproaches and all their tears when shame everlasting shame shall cover their adversaries Then they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever THE EPILOGUE OR A Pathetical Conclusion of the whole Work THus you see how such as live by Faith themselves should labour to convert others to the Faith And thus have we done through Gods grace assisting with this whole Subject of Faith I have now but two Requests to make unto you by way of Conclusion the one is that I may obtain the help of your Prayers that I may be enabled from God to hold forth by Pattern what I have so long held forth by Precept in the Life of Faith whatever Trials should come And the other is That you would be perswaded to follow after in walking according to the Rule that hath been set before you That what hath been spoken may be prest and imprinted upon your hearts by the Spirit of the living God You have heard much of Faith in my Reverend Predecessors time as appeareth by what is left upon Record and God hath directed me to strike upon the same Nail I may say as many years together as I intended days at the first But he that multiplied the barley loaves and the broken meat was pleased in the dividing and distributing of this Subject of Faith to multiply my Meditations far beyond my first intentions I heartily desire this 〈◊〉 be the fruit of my poor labours That when I have done preaching of this Subject you may so begin and continue to practise what hath been taught that your life may be a living by Faith and a perpetual Commentary upon the Text. And Oh that I could perswade you to live this Life of Faith before you lay down this Life of Nature or else you die and die for ever And do not say thus within your selves I 'll do it the next Year Moneth Day How many Scores yea hundreds have been cut off by Death since we began to speak of this Life of Faith And it may be many of them thought themselves as likely to live as any of us and it may be they were so indeed in the course of Nature But remember our Times are in Gods hands and not in our own And therefore let us put our hearts into his hands also that he may fit us for our times how long or how short soever our lives may prove Some have said I have been too long upon this matter of Faith but I confess they were some such as heard me not and therefore I do the less respect what they say because they speak evil of the things they heard not and therefore of the things they know not It hath been some encouragement and an Argument of Blessing that such as were usual hearers have not been tired out as hath appeared by these days assemblies compared with the other Lecture-day But I beseech you be you Believers and doers of this word and not hearers onely deceiving your own selves Jam. 1. Else I shall have cause to complain I have not stood long enough upon this Subject For that is never sufficiently taught that is not sufficiently learnt and put in practise My hearts desire and Prayer to God for Ipswich is That as they have heard much of Faith so they might live by it as much that whilst our Neighbors look upon us and mark our steps they may not see in this Town here a company living by Sense and there another living by Wits Shifts and Projects and a third living upon their Lusts and a fourth upon their unrighteous Mammon and a fifth upon their Self-righteousness and so the rest But we might so generally live by Faith through the grace of God that I might have cause to glory of you as the Apostle doth of the Romans Chap. 1.8 I thank my God through Jesus Christ that your Faith is spoken of in all places However in the mean time I bless God that I have found some fruits of my weak endevours in helping any to set their faces Sion-ward who have