not any think these are too low motives for Christians to be acted by God thought them not unmeet for Adam to make use of in innocency he had an intimidating threatning Gen. 2.17 Christ pressed such upon his Disciples Mat. 10.29 God hath set our affections one over against another as 't is said of prosperity and adversity Eccl. 7.14 and happy is he that finds no need of fear to restrain the violence of his other affections I shall conclude this Chapter with the answer of an objection some may say How can Faith be necessary for making the Word thus effectual when Faith it self comes by hearing and is ordinarily wrought by the Word Rom. 10.17 To this I answer First That as God at the Creation did not hold to the ordinary Method which he hath kept since but created the Light before the Sun though since the Sun hath been created it hath been the Fountain of Light So though ordinarily the VVord is made effectual by Faith it is not necessary God should observe the same Method in the first working of Grace which he doth in carrying it on But secondly Though Faith come by hearing yet there is a Faith concomitant with that hearing else the Word would not at all profit The Word brings that evidence along with it which begets the faith whereby it becomes effectuall it is obvious to every ones conception that if a man come to deal with me about any thing all he can say doth nothing at all move me unless I give credit to what he saith and yet he may use those Arguments or Evidences which may make me believe him and in eating certainly our food doth ordinarily encrease Spirits and so natural heat before the several concoctions be performed and it is by that natural heat that the several concoctions are performed whereby our food doth further nourish CHAP. VI. The several uses of the Lords Supper exciting Grace in us conveying Grace to us sealing the Covenant by Faith only we have a right thereto and make right use thereof in the Controversies about the Sacraments the Question is not so much about mens title thereto but our judgement of their title the Judgment of the Church of England herein whether those who doubt of their sincerity may come to the Lords Supper how we are to deal with such the ground of many mens desire to come thereto I Come now to speak of the Lords Supper and that you may see how this is a means for the strengthening and encrease of Grace that so we may have life and have it in abundance Joh. 10.10 I will shew you the use of this Ordinance And First It is a sign to represent spiritual things to us we do herein see Jesus Christ as it were evidently set forth and crucified among us Gal. 3.1 we therein shew forth the Lords death till he come 1 Cor. 11.26 and therefore are to do it in remembrance of him vers 25. that is to perpetuate or continue the memory of his Death and Sufferings in the Church to the end of the World and hereby it becomes a means for the exciting of Grace and an occasion for the exercise of it the eye affecting the heart Lam. 3.51 Here we have occasion for the exercise of Repentance while we see the body of Christ broken and his bloud powred forth He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities Isa 53.5 we are many times it is likely filled with indignation against the Jews when we read how they dealt with him but we are therein at Dr. Stoughton saies like the foolish Athenians who when they had killed an Oxe an innocent Creature in Sacrifice acquitted the Priest but condemned the Sword that gave the deadly stroke of murder for we did more to the crucifying of him than Pilate or the Jews or the chief Priests so that we should father be moved with indignation against our selvs 2 Cor. 7.11 When we look on him whom we have pierced Zach. 12.10 And be in bitterness There we may see more of the evill of sin by what God inflicted on his own Son than if we could look into hell and see the preparations which are made for the punishment of it Again we have here an encouragement to Faith while we see the love of God in giving his Son Joh. 3.16 The love of Christ in giving himself Gal. 2.20 The expiation which was made by his Bloud that cleanseth us from all sin 1 Joh. 1.7 Heb. 9.14 We have here also occasion for the exercise of our love both to God and man while we behold the love which God hath towards us 1 Joh. 4.11.19 Ephes 4.32 Mat. 18.32 Our patience while we see how Christ endured the Cross and despised the shame Heb. 12.2 Our joy and desire while we see the preparations that God hath made for us represented to us under the notion of a Supper friendship and communion being most shewn in eating and drinking and meat and drink is more necessary to us than the Objects of any other sence See Vines on the Lords Supper p. 97 c. But there is a further use of this Ordinance and that is to offer spirituall things and communicate them to us wherefore it is called The Communion of the Body and Bloud of Christ 1 Cor. 10.16 God doth therein really offer to us Jesus Christ and so all his benefits as in Marriage by taking the person we are entitled to the Estate and his flesh is meat indeed and his bloud drink indeed Joh. 6.55 whereby our spiritual life comes to be preserved and maintained and as our food is turned into our substance So there is the nearest communion betwixt Christ and us in this Ordinance and under this is comprehended the sealing use of it God doth hereby absolutely confirm the Covenant of Grace in general and likewise in particular to every one so far as their faith doth act upon the things signified as their sence doth upon the outward signs See this plainly handled in Mr. Marshal's defence of Infant-Baptism 117 201. but accurately in Mr. Baxter against Blake Sect. 64. Now Faith is absolutely necessary to the right receiving of the Lords Supper and observe this That though there are many disputes about the qualifications of such as are to be admitted thereto the question is not concerning the ground of their title but our judgement Not what it is that gives them a right to it or fits them for it but what is a sufficient ground for us to judge them to be such as have a right to it and are fit for it Some supposing a meer verbal profession to be enough others requiring a credible profession or such a profession as we may in prudence and charity judge to be real and sincere which seems very reasonable profession not being required for it self but as a sign of the thing professed See Mr. Baxters Disputations of right to the Sacraments p. 6. c. and of Confirmation p.
THE LIFE OF FAITH Wherein Is shewed the general use of Faith in all the passages of a Christians life Together With a Discourse of right Judgment on Joh. 7.24 By H. Lukin Now the Just shall live by Faith Heb. 10. Do ye judge uprightly O ye Sons of men Psal 58.1 LONDON Printed by J. H. for John Allen as the Rising-Sun in St. Pauls Church-yard 1660. To all that have obtained precious Faith Grace and Peace IT was the wish of a good man That he could be the same to God that his right hand was to himself my goodness extends not unto God but to the Saints that are upon earth and to the excellent in whom is my delight For these would I gladly spend and be spent if I might in any thing be a helper of their Faith and Joy I thank God I am not yet in Zacharies case that I should be fain to write my mind but when either the hand of violence or the clods of the Valley shall stop my mouth I shall be as unable to write as speak It is but little that I can do by speaking my words will reach but to few and where they do reach I may complain with Melancthon that Old Adam is too hard for me And I am willing to try this way also if by any means I may help forward any in the way to Heaven and I hope I shall the more willingly dye if I may leave any thing behind me which may be of the least use to the Church of God when I shall sleep in the dust I confess I have not in the publishing of this smal Treatise done as the Romans were wont in preferring Laws consulted first with the Learned to know whether what I have written be not already contained in somwhat that hath been written before or whether it be not contrary to the Doctrine formerly received or whether it may be useful to the Church but I remember the Counsel of Petrarcha Quia simul omnia vel legere vel audire meminisse non potes utilissimis quidem quando brevitas est amica memoriae brevissimis quoque te fulcias We cannot read or hear every thing therefore I have chosen to treat of those things that are most useful and have handled them very briefly For the manner of handling these things I lie open to the judgment of others he that is afraid of leaves must not go to the wood we say and he that is afraid of mens censures must not write Books else we had enjoyed more of many learned mens labours If in any thing I may not be well understood by ordinary Readers I may answer as the Protestants do to the Papists about the perspicuity of the Scriptures it is not the manner of delivery but the thing delivered that makes it obscure and there are other things plain enough for them to make things obscure which are in themselves plain by great swelling words of vanity besides the sinfulness of it is such an unmanly piece of Padantry as I have alwaies abhorred from yet if at any time I have happened to speak of such things as have been above the reach of ordinary hearers I have not accounted it altogether lost labor to such if they have thereby been delivered from the opinion of their own omnisciency and understood thus much by it that they did not understand all things I fear God who knows with what aim and intention I write and speak every word and I dare not accept of the service of Fancy Pride Vain-glory or any corrupt Passion which are ready enough to mingle themselves with whatever we do in that which I must go to God with in Prayer to commend to his blessing and now at my parting with you I will give you a few words of advice and I beseech you let my counsel be acceptable to you First Learn to understand the nature of the Covenant of Grace that you may know upon what terms God and you are agreed there is no exception therein either against infirmities on your part or against afflictions on Gods part you may break the Commands of God not of right but it may de facto so fall out and God may visit you with a Rod for it and yet not break his Covenant Psal 89.30 c. There is not perfect obedience required on your part that is as absolutely necessary to salvation though perfect obedience is our duty else our moral infirmities were no sins where there is no Law there is no Transgression neither hath God promised worldly happiness Though my house be not so with God saith David yet he hath made with me an everlasting Covenant in all things ordered and sure c. 2 Sam. 23.5 Though my house be not so with God that is either as ver 3. he had not ruled in the fear of God but had miscarried in the business of Uriah and it is most likely in other things by Absaloms insinuations and the effect of them upon the people 2 Sam. 15.3 c. or it had not been as a morning without clouds c. as ver 4. but its happiness had been eclipsed by the business of Amnon and worse by that of Absolom Yet the Covenant of God was so ordered in all things as it remained sure as to spiritual things which are therefore called the sure mercies of David Isa 55.3 If these things were well understood and considered we should not be discouraged by our infirmities though we might be humbled for them as an eminent Saint said on his death bed he had much peace and quietness not so much from a greater measure of Grace than other Christians had or from any immediate witness of the Spirit but because he had a more clear understanding of the Covenant of Grace than many others having studied it and preached it so many years Again we shall neither charge God foolishly in afflictions as if he did us any wrong in not standing to his Covenant nor take him for our enemy as Job 13.24 interpreting them as evidences of his wrath or effects of revenging justice And lastly We shall not flatter our selves with hopes of outward prosperity nor be troubled with disappointment when we faile of it which is an addition to mens misery when as one saies expectation takes more upon trust than enjoyment is able to discharge If we have food and raiment let us be therewith contented 1 Tim. 6.8 We indented with God for no more than Jacob did Gen. 28.20 as to this life Mat. 6.33 compared with 31. 2. Mind your present duty and the work of every day in the day Every day brings trouble enough with it as we say in our Proverb There is much talk of the Turk and the Spaniard and our next neighbour doth us more hurt than both of them we look with dreadful apprehensions upon the evils that are at a distance and mind not our present dangers which we are continually in or the temptations which
strengthens his confidence Psa 121.2 My help stands in the name of the Lord that hath made heaven and earth as if he had said I will never distrust his power for deliverance or protection who could erect such a stately Fabrick from nothing And there are other historical passages of Scripture also which may be of like use unto us both for encouragement Deut. 8.17 and caution 1 Cor. 10.11 yea and for confirming our Faith in the Messiah John 20.31 that History of the acts and Sermons of Christ being written by John in his old age for the confirming of the Deity of Christ against those which then begun to deny it at the request of the Bishops of Asia which is the reason why he disputes more clearly of the Deity of Christ than any of the other Evangelists and records divers of his miracles which serve for the confirmation thereof that the rest do omit And for those points of Doctrine which Faith assents to and are not otherwise demonstrable by reason they are generally reckoned amongst those Fundamentalls the belief of which is necessary to Salvation But herein the use of Faith in this particular doth further appear when men do not believe such things as these it brings them to flat Atheisme at last for they first question and by degrees deny the Authority of the Scriptures when they see the improbability or rather impossibility as seems to their reason of many things both in the Doctrine and History of it as in Philosophy because some cannot conceive how such a vast body as it is demonstrable that the Sun is should move so many thousand miles in an hour as it is necessary it must if we suppose that it move at all venture rather to deny the received opinion of its motion and entertain that paradox of the motion of the earth Secondly Faith submits to the commands of the Word Heb. 11. we shall finde many eminent acts of Obedience ascribed to Faith as ver 8. By faith Abraham when he was called to go out into a place which he should afterwards receive for an inheritance obeyed and he went out not knowing whither he went It was an hard tryall for as the Proverb is patriae fumus igne alien◠luculentior the smoak of our own Country is as good as the fire of another and he was to go he knew not whither for God only bade him go into a country that he would shew him Gen. 11.33 So that command which was yet more hard of offering up his son he submitted to by faith ver 17. he was to offer up his son which was against nature yea his only begotten son that is of his wife and the son of the promise in whom his seed was to be called So ver 29. By faith they passed through the red sea when it was very unlikely the unruly surges of it should keep their place while they went so many miles ver 30. By faith they compassed the walls of Jericho seven dayes together with ramms hornes a very ridiculous thing in the eyes of men Now Faith doth thus submit to the commands of God because we are thereby brought into covenant with God and consequently subject our selves to his authority as a wife by taking another to be her husband doth oblige her self to those duties which do immediately result from such a relation and to that subjection which is due from a wife to an husband So by taking God to be our God and Christ to be our husband we are ipso jure obliged to submit to all his commands Deut. 26.17 Jer. 31.32 We are indeed obliged to this subjection before we believe but by faith we own our obligation and do actually and professedly make a recognition thereof So that we may say as Salvian de guberunt Dei lib. 3. Fides est fidelis Deo esse hoc est fideliter Dei mandata servare Faith is to be faithful to God that is faithfully to keep his commands yet I am far from thinking with Socinus Defens 108. that fides in Christum ista opera sunt re ipsa idem and that a faith of such a latitude is the matter of our Justification and holds the same place in the Covenant of Grace which perfect obedience should have done in the Covenant of Works these are not Faith formally but only effectivè true Faith necessarily producing these Vide Stresonis meditat de fide sect 34 c. Secondly Faith receives the Word as the Word of God 1 Thes 2.13 in which place we may observe three things 1. The power of the Word it wrought effectually 2. The persons in whom it had this efficacy they were such as did believe 3. The reason of it they received it not as the word of Man but as the Word of God which implies two things First Their receiving it Qua Verbum Dei or under that notion considered as the Word of God or believing it to be so whether it be strictly and properly the object of Faith that the Scriptures are the Word of God I will not stand here to dispute or determine and how the preaching of men may be received as the Word of God you may see in the fore-mentioned Treatise of Mr. Hieron We are to prove all things that we may hold fast that which is good 1 Thes 5.21 and that we may do so we are to search the Scriptures to see how that which we hear doth accord therewith Act. 17.11 and what is rightly deduced or inferred from the Word is of the same authority with the Scriptures as Daille and Vedelius have sufficiently proved against the new Methodists in France as they are called who by denying this did undertake quite to overthrow the Doctrine of the Protestants whatever the success of such an undertaking would have been their boasts may serve for a caution to those who decry consequences but I hope men are not so zealous now against them as they sometime were else I should before this time have taught that small Treatise of Daille to speak English wherein he useth his wonted candor and clearness Secondly To receive the Word as the Word of God is to receive it as becomes the Word of God that is as the Word of such a God who is so wise so just and faithful so good so holy that all his commands must needs be holy and just and good Rom. 7.12 and so not to be disputed but obeyed for by Faith we believe the nature of God as well as his beeing Now Faith is in this respect of singular use in the whole course of our lives how oft do men stand and dispute the commands of God till they reason themselves out of their duty in things that are against carnal reason and carnal interest things which are of meer positive institution not of any natural moral right but Faith considers not any thing against a Command as it is said Abraham did not against the Promise Rom. 4.19 If Christ bid
the thing it self therefore he could not be sure of it And a child may comfort himself in hopes of his Fathers estate though he know not but his Father may disinherit him And if any reply that Adam might be taken up with the happiness of his present condition and so not need to look forward for comfort as Believers are fain to do and that Adam had not so much cause to suspect his condition as a believer hath I add a Merchant rejoyceth much in expectation of his Ship coming home richly laden yet he knowes it is subject to great hazards at sea and I desire this may be diligently heeded Faith of recumbency as it is commonly called is the most proper and most noble act of faith though I am farr from thinking that the conclusion is not de fide where both the premises are not so so that assurance is not faith v. Daille la foi fondee c. partie 1. c. 12. For as Christ said to Thomas Joh. 20.29 Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed blessed are they who though they are not assured either by any mediate or immediate testimony of the Spirit yet dare rely strongly strongly strongly as an eminent dying Saint once said upon the Promise of Jesus Christ that he will in no wise cast out those that come to him for as those are commanded to rejoyce that seek the Lord Psa 105.3 though they have not yet found him because he hath not said to any in vain seek ye my face so may those rejoyce that thus cast themselves upon Jesus Christ though he have not yet said to them I am thy Salvation Psal 35.3 and he takes pleasure in those who so hope in his mercy Psal 147.11 Sixthly By Faith we receive strength from Jesus Christ for bearing of affliction I have shewed before how we have Union and Communion with Jesus Christ and through him we are able to do all things Phil. 4.13 he speaks not there of active obedience only as a learned man hath observed Hales Romains 125. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there is as much as vales or possum which is as well to suffer as to do and it is clear from the context that he speaks there chiefly of suffering Colos 1.11 There is a gradation strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience with long-suffering and joyfulness The power of God doth not only strengthen us to patience but to all patience we may have patience in some afflictions not in others those may bear losses perhaps that cannot bear affronts or disgrace and not only to patience but long-suffering this respects the length of our sufferings as the other did the weight of theâ— Some can endure a sharp brunt but tire under a long affliction But he goeth further to joyfulness those may endure an heavy affliction and endure it long too which yet go drooping and heavily under it but by Faith in the power of Christ we may bear long and heavy afflictions with joy Thus we are more than conquerors through him that loved us Rom. 8.37 we conquer afflictions when they do not conquer us but we are more than conquerors when we can rejoyce in them Lastly Faith looks to the recompence of reward as I before shewed the efficacy of it in this respect to overcome temptations so we shall now see how effectual it is to enable us to bear afflictions Though our outward man perish our inward man is renewed day by day saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 4.16 Afflictions did abound yet they gained spirituall strength to go on more cheerfully instead of fainting or drawing back and the reason hereof was they looked not on the things which were seen but on the things which were not seen vers 18. which is the work of faith Heb. 11.1 As Columbus when he first went to discover America ventured a tedious and long voyage over the main Ocean upon this confidence that he should there discover another part of the world which had formerly been unknown to us when the Spaniards that went with him were ready to mutiny because they had not so much judgment as to be perswaded of any such fruit of their travel Or as Moses had much adoe to get an unbelieving multitude along with him through the wildernesse but they were oft murmuring rebelling turning back in their hearts unto Egypt So have I seen those who have been unequally yoaked and have had some heavy burden of affliction lying on them the one hath born it cheerfully and comfortably the other hath been an hindrance and no help continually murmuring and complaining In such cases the vertue of faith doth most evidently appear and though there are not many amongst us where the Gospel is preached such infidels as to deny the Recompense of reward yet it is only the exercise of a true and lively Faith which can lift up the soul under affliction that being the very substance of the thing hoped for and the evidence of things not seen For a Conclusion of the whole matter let me borrow the words of a learned man Dr. Arrowsmith Tact. Sacr. l. 2. c. 7. s 13. O quanâ—â—â—â— memorem fides virtutum nobilissima c. How shall I make mention of thee O Faith the most noble of all Vertues What shall I say of thee Thou art the Hinge on which the Gate of heaven turns the Bucket by which we draw the water of life the Wedding Ring whereby the Soul is married to Jesus Christ the Receptacle of the Bloud of Christ the only Condition of the New Covenant and the chief part of the New Creature they that by thee attain to a recumbency are safe they that attain to assurance are joyful Thou art the Eye the Hand the Mouth yea the All of our Souls Yea I may add Faith is in Grace as the Philosophers Stone in Nature as a Catholicon or vniversal soveraign remedy for all diseases It is in the Soul as the Lungs in the Body the Instrument of breathing whereby Vitalis spiritus as Fernelius saith tanquam patulo alitur fovetur we are continually thereby taking in and giving out Either receiving from Jesus Christ or laying out for him Wherefore with all our getting as the Wiseman saith of Wisdome Prov. 4.7 let us get Faith and pray that God will fulfil the work of Faith with power in us 2 Thes 1.11 When Christ teaches his Disciples the exercise of Love they pray for the encrease of Faith Luk. 17.5 Whatever we are called to in this World let us pray Lord encrease our Faith hereby we shall be able to perform our Duties to exercise our Graces to overcome our Temptations to bear our Afflictions to hold up in Desertions yea all things are possible to him that believeth Mark 9.23 Search and examine your selves whether you be in the Faith or no 2 Cor. 13.5 No Faith no Life and be diligent in the use of all means for the strengthening