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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
ground_n	believe_v	infallible_a	scripture_n	2,072	5	7.3203	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A09950	The breast-plate of faith and love. A treatise, wherein the ground and exercise of faith and love, as they are set upon Christ their object, and as they are expressed in good workes, is explained. / Delivered in 18 sermons upon three severall texts, by the late faithfull and worthy minister of Iesus Christ, Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to his Maiesty, Master of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes Inne.	Preston, John, 1587-1628.; Sibbes, Richard, 1577-1635, ed.; Davenport, John, 1597-1670, ed.	1630 (1630)	STC 20208; ESTC S105956	328,230	606

in a faire course their consciences are not wounded with the sense of their sinnes they neuer had afflictions wherein they tasted the wrath of GOD alas such men may come to put their hand to the Plow but when they come to see what worke they haue in hand they goe backe they are not fit for the Kingdome of Heauen Till a man bee weary and heauie laden with the burthen of Satan till hee see Satans yoake to bee intolerable hee will neuer continue vnder the yoake of CHRIST therefore let vs consider whether wee be fitted or no this fitnesse is first required So againe we may take example from the Prodigall sonne he was in his Fathers house but he would not continue there when hee was there at the first and liued as the other sonne did because hee had not beene abroad in the World to finde the misery of being away from his Father hee was neuer pinched with affliction with want of meate till hee was from his Father hee neuer knew what it was to be at his Fathers finding till hee had his stocke in his owne hand hee was not fit and wee see hee continued not there So take a man that is brought vp in his Fathers House as it were that hath tasted nothing but the sweetnesse of the promises and all is well with him hee hath drunke in the truth of the Gospell with his education you shall finde that this will not vsually hold out because hee hath not found what misery it is to bee out of his Fathers House therefore hee prizeth it not such a one is not fit to continue hee is vnfit for the Kingdome of GOD. Therefore the first thing that is required to make faith effectuall wherein the effectualnesse of faith consists by way of preparation to make way for it is when a man is soundly humbled and prepared when it is such as will make them continue you haue a phrase vsed Reu. 2.25 Hold fast till I come that which thou hast already As if he should say Many haue hold of the Truth they haue hold of CHRIST they haue hold of the promises but they hold them not fast they hold them a while but they hold them not fast till I come To him that ouercometh c. and him that continueth to the end will I make ruler ouer the Nations c. So I say till a man be thus made fit he may take hold for a while but hee shall not hold fast till CHRIST come but he will let goe his hold because he is not prepared with humility This is that which is required in that place I formerly named Matth. 10.6 If there be any worthy saith he let your peace come vpon them That is if there bee any when you come to preach the Gospell that are so farre broken and humbled if there be any that are so farre conuinced of their sinnes that they prize mee indeede so that they hold mee and will not let mee goe for any thing but they are content to let all goe rather then mee such a man is worthie of me such a man prizeth and esteemeth mee and your peace shall come vpon him That is it shall come effectually vpon him it shall abide with him and saue his soule for euer So I say when there is so much humiliation wrought in the heart when the Spirit so farre convinceth a man of sinne that hee comes thus to prize CHRIST this is the first thing wherein effectuall faith consists for though it bee not the very thing wherein beleeuing consists yet it is that preparation without which faith can neuer be found sound and effectuall Secondly when this is done this is not all when there is such a preparation made that a man is willing to take CHRIST vpon any conditions yet now if hee shall not bee well built if hee see not iust ground to take him if his vnderstanding shall not see the truth of the promise so clearely that he can build on it that hee can rest on it that all the arguments in the World cannot draw him from it againe his faith will not be effectuall Therefore the second thing wherein the effectualnesse of faith consists is to haue it well built in the minde and vnderstanding of a man when he cleerely seeth the truth of the promise that he can build vpon it infallibly For your better vnderstanding of this you must know that then a man is said to bee well built to bee rooted and grounded in faith when he hath the first ground right that so hee proceeds from one to another that it is not a confused superficiall knowledge to assent to the truth and promises that are deliuered in the Word but when hee hath a sure ground the first ground and the next and so he proceeds along As for example the first thing that a man must doe is to beleeue the Scriptures to know that they are true and infallible that they are the sure Word of GOD when a man can say this I know and this I build vpon And besides that then wee looke vpon the promises which the Scriptures containe wherein CHRIST and forgiuenesse of sinnes is offered Now if the first ground faile you that is the bottome vpon which the promises stands therefore haue that sure when that is sure you must haue the promises sure that is you must consider the promises and examine them and see if this be the sense of the Scriptures If there be so much light in you as to say I finde it so I finde the Scriptures true I beleeue them I finde these promises in the Scriptures I finde CHRIST offered to euery creature vnder heauen I finde that I haue a warrant to take him when a man out of himselfe out of an inward principle out of his owne proper iudgement seeth this and is conuinced of the truth of this that the promises are so and that they belong vnto him that he may justly vpon good ground appropriate them to himselfe so that when hee lookes round about him and considers all the objections that may be made yet he can answer all arguments when he fals downe and is fully conuinced and perfectly perswaded in his own mind when a man thus apprehends the promises when his vnderstanding is rooted and grounded in the faith that is the second thing wherein the effectualnesse of faith consists And we see that described Ephes. 2. Saith the Apostle there You are no longer strangers and forraigners but Saints of the household of God and are built vpon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Iesus Christ being the chiefe corner stone Marke saith he you are built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets that is you that are Saints must consider what ground you haue to take that name to your selues Saith he you are built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets that is you are not built vpon

point to your comfort that if there be but so much faith as will produce this worke of taking CHRIST though there bee some doubtings mingled with it yet it is properly effectuall faith because it doth the thing though not perfectly That is the first acception of the word effectuall a thing is said to bee effectuall when it doth the proper function of it though it doe it not perfectly and throughly yet if it doe it it is said to bee effectuall so faith if it pitch vpon CHRIST though not so perfectly as afterwards it may it is effectuall Secondly a thing is said to bee effectuall as it is opposed to that which is vaine and empty to that which is but a name a shaddow of it but is not such a thing indeed So faith is said to be effectuall when it is true reall and substantiall you know there bee emptie clowds we see the heauens many times full of clouds but there is no rayne folloues they are driuen away with the windes they are emptie clouds they are not clouds indeed so there is a great shew of faith sometimes that makes a man shew like these clouds and yet it is vaine and empty no raine followes A counterfeit Piece although it shew to be good money yet when we find it counterfeit when we finde it clipt we cast it away so true faith is said to bee effectuall when it is opposed to vaine faith in Iam. 2 the later end of the Chapter the Apostle speakes to that purpose to shew the difference betweene true faith and dead faith which is but the name of faith but is not faith indeede Thirdly a thing is said to bee effectuall when it lyeth not idle and still but is doing something As a Pylot in a Ship hee sitteth not still there if he doe sit still and doe nothing we may say he is an vneffectuall Pylot he were as good not be there so when faith lyes still in the heart and is not stirred and moued nor shewes it selfe in the fruites of it this we say is ineffectuall faith whereas faith should be in the soule as the soule is in the body which is neuer there in vaine but still it is stirring and shewing it selfe by motion by action by doing somewhat or other And in this sence faith is said to be effectuall when it is a stirring faith when it is a liuely and fruitfull faith that is doing somewhat in the soule of a man Last of all a thing is said to bee effectuall when it goes thorow with the worke that it hath in hand this differeth from that which I named first therefore the Greeke word that is rendred effectualnesse signifieth perfectnesse to bring a thing to an end so that faith is said to be effectuall that goes thorow with the worke it vndertakes that is when it sanctifieth the heart throughout in respect of parts and throughout in regard of time when it brings a man to the end of his saluation when it carries a man through all impediments when it leaps ouer all difficulties so that a growing preuailing ouercomming faith that is said to be an effectuall faith such a faith as leaues not the worke halfe done such a faith as leaues not the building in the beginning in the rudiments but sets it vp and puts the roofe vpon it such a faith which though it may sinke as a Corke for a time yet it riseth againe such a faith as ouercomes and perfects the worke of our saluation in this sense faith must be effectuall and this differs from the other three so that in these foure sences faith is said to be effectuall And this is the first thing The second thing which wee vndertooke was to shew you wherein the effectualnesse of faith consists It consists in these foure things That which we said before to you when wee shewed you the causes of the ineffectualnesse of faith will make good way to this The first thing wherein the effectualnesse of it is seene is in being well built that is when the preparation is sound and full that makes way for it The second is when the vnderstanding is cleare and a man beleeueth the promise of GOD vpon sure and infallible grounds when hee seeth them perspicuously and distinctly The third is when the will takes Christ and takes him out of loue not out of feare not out of loue to the aduantage onely by him not out of mistake The fourth is when it turnes not onely the will but all the affections when it turnes the whole man when it shoots it selfe into life and practice First I say faith is effectuall when there is a good way made for it when the rubbish and false earth is taken away where it should be built that is when the humiliation is sound and good when the preparation is perfect when it is such as makes a man fit for the Kingdome of GOD For I finde that phrase vsed He that puts his hand to the Plow and lookes backe is vnfit for the Kingdome of GOD As if hee had said there are certaine men which come to the profession of Christianity as many come to husbandrie which is a hard employment some there are which doe this and goe backe againe Why because they are not fit for the Kingdome of God that is they are not throughly prepared for it that is to say when a man is not throughly humbled to know what sin is and what the wrath of God is he is not fit for the Kingdome of God but if he do come to Christ if he doe begin to beleeue he will goe backe againe So a man is properly said not to bee fit for the Kingdome of GOD till hee bee throughly humbled till hee haue tasted the bitternesse of sin till hee haue felt what the Deuils yoake is As it was with the Israelites put the case they had beene carried out of Egypt before the time that they were indeede they had not been fit for the Land of Canaan because they would haue beene ready to haue turned backe in their hearts into Egypt and though the LORD laid load on them though their yoake were hard though he caused them to wander vp and downe long yet all was little enough still they were lingering after Egypt and if they had been taken out of Egypt before the tale of Brick was required of them without giuing them straw before the taske-masters had dealt hardly with them what would they haue done Might it not truely bee said of them they would not haue beene fit for Canaan So in this case if a man will take CHRIST it is a laborious worke as laborious as husbandrie as laborious as putting the hand to the Plow as taking the yoake Now before a man haue felt how hard the yoake is that he hath already for there bee many that weare the yoake of Satan and see no hardnesse in it but goe

the foundation vpon the word of a man you are not built vpon this Doctrine that I teach meerely because I teach it but you are built vpon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles that is you see the Prophets and Apostles deliuer this Doctrine I but one may seeke a further ground then that What foundation haue the Prophets and Apostles Saith he Christ is the chiefe corner stone on which they are built So that when you haue this tract of consequence I see the promise is sure Why Because it is built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets they haue affirmed it But how shall I know that they are sure Because Christ himselfe hath spoken by them hee is the chiefe corner stone when faith is thus grounded then we are truely said to bee built and rooted and grounded in faith Therefore as the Samaritanes said Ioh. 4 44. We beleeue not because thou told●st vs not for thy words but wee haue heard him our selues and wee know that hee is the Messias and Sauiour of the World Now if those Samaritanes had onely beleeued because the Woman brought that relation their faith might haue fayled them but when they heard CHRIST themselues vvhen they saw him vvith their owne eyes when they could say in good earnest out of their owne knowledge wee know that this is CHRIST the Sauiour of the World that is such a faith as will hold out So when a man doth onely take a perswasion out of the generall preaching of the Word without a certaine ground it prooues ineffectuall faith but when men beleeue because themselues haue seene and out of that knowledge can say they know CHRIST to bee the Messias when they know CHRIST to bee theirs when they know CHRIST to bee the Sauiour of the World and so by consequence of them which are a part of the World then they may be truely said to bee built to bee rooted and grounded in faith This is that that Saint Iohn saith 1 Ioh. 1.19 Wee know that wee are of GOD and that all the World lyeth in wickednesse Wee know that wee are of GOD that is it is not a thing that we are vncertainely perswaded of but it is a thing that wee know as certainely as any man knowes a thing that is before his eyes as a man knowes a thing of which hee doubts not wee know that although all the World be against vs though all the World runne another way though all the World condemne vs for vaine men idle men for trusting in CHRIST crucified yet we know that we are of GOD and that all the World lyeth in wickednesse I say when a man holds out thus when hee is put to the tryall when a man knowes in his owne knowledge that it is so as Peter saith to CHRIST Ioh. 6.68 many had taken CHRIST that went away againe Saith CHRIST to his Disciples Will you also goe away Marke the answer that Peter giues No saith he Whither should wee goe thou hast the words of eternall life I know and beleeue that thou art Christ the Sonne of the liuing GOD. As if he should say It is impossible that I should goe away for I know and beleeue that is I know vpon good ground I haue another manner of ground then they had If I had no more ground then the rest I should goe away as well as they but I know and beleeue that thou art CHRIST the Sonne of the liuing GOD therefore it is impossible that I should euer forsake thee although all should forsake thee This is to bee rooted and grounded in faith in this second sense when we see an infallible ground a sure Rocke vpon which our faith is built and we are willing to aduenture our selues vpon it to aduenture our goods our name our life our liberty that if a man bee brought to Martyrdome hee can aduenture himselfe and put all that hee hath vpon it This ground will hold out I say when the vnderstanding of a man is thus built vpon the Word when a man is examined euery way when hee is able to answere all arguments and all objections that may be brought against it This is the second thing wherein the effectualnesse of faith consists I should adde more but I must deferre them till the afternoone FINIS OF EFFECTVALL FAITH The Second Sermon 1. THESS 1.3 Remembring your effectuall Faith c. THe third thing wherein the efficacy of faith is seen is when we take CHRIST this is the action of the will when wee take him in a right manner when we take him so as to hold him when we take him in such a manner as that we are knit and vnited to him That this is required First I will shew it in the generall it is a point that wee haue often mentioned heretofore but to all that I haue said I will adde that in Heb. 10.22 Let vs draw neere with a true heart and assurance of faith Marke it first there must be an assurance of faith that is in the vnderstanding and minde of a man and to that must be added drawing neere and that is an act of the will for when we are assured of the truth of the promises and haue appropriated them to our selues then followes the act of the will therefore in vers 38. of that Chap. it is said The iust shall liue by faith but if any man draw backe my soule shall haue no pleasure in him That Antithesis that opposition that is made in that withdrawing of a mans selfe from God is opposed to faith to drawing neere to him when a man not only beleeueth the promises but accepts and receiues them Now to doe this in a right manner is that wherein the efficacy of faith doth principally consist Now what is that It is to take Christ to draw neere to him in a right manner and then it is done when you so take him that you bring Christ into your hearts to dwell there as it is expressed Eph. 3.17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith That is when there is an vnion made betweene Christ and vs when he comes into the heart when he dwels in vs and we in him when Christ is so brought into our hearts that hee liues there and when wee are so vnited to him that we liue in him when he growes in vs as the Vine in the branches and we grow in him as the branches in the Vine when faith hath done this then it is an effectuall faith when it knits and vnites vs to CHRIST as he saith I will come in and sup with him That is I will continue with him I will liue in him and rule ouer him Now when Christ is in the heart he is not there to no purpose but as Paul saith I liue in Christ and he in me I say when our taking of CHRIST shall proceede so far as to make this vnion betwixt vs

yet our sinne was imputed to him and hee was by GOD reckoned as a sinner and then he kils him putting our curse vpon him so to vs that are free from righteousnesse CHRIST is made righteousnesse so that GOD lookes on vs as if wee had performed perfect righteousnesse and when that is done he saues vs. And so much for the first Question But now when we heare that this righteousnesse saues the Question is How shall wee come by it In that it saues it is good and comfortable but it may saue some men and yet I haue no share nor part in saluation I answer It is freely giuen to vs euen as Fathers giue Lands and Inheritances to their children and as Kings giue Pardons and Titles and Honours and Riches out of their clemencie because they will to shew their magnificence and goodnesse to their Subjects So doth GOD giue this righteousnesse As you shall finde it expressed Esay 9.6 To vs a Childe is borne to vs a Sonne is giuen a place worth your marking and obseruation And Iohn 3.16 GOD so loued the World that he gaue his onely begotten Sonne c. And Rom. 5.17 it is called the Gift of Righteousnesse That is a thing which GOD freely simply voluntarily and onely because hee will bestowes on men not looking on any worthinesse in them of the same as we say nothing is so free as gift The passage is this For if through the offence of one Death raigned in all much more they which receiue abundance of grace and the gift of righteousnes shal raign in life by one Iesus Christ. So that GOD giues it freely out of his meere loue without any other motiue or end but to shew his magnificence and to make manifest in the Ages to come the vnsearchable riches of CHRIST the great and exceeding glorious riches that he hath prouided for them that loue him But what is the reason that God will haue it communicated to the sonnes of men no other way but by gift You shall see it Rom. 4.5 that it is for these causes First That no man might boast in himselfe but that he that reioyceth may reioyce in the Lord. If any other bargaine or manner of conueyance had beene made wee should haue had something to boast of but comming meerely from God as a gift we haue cause to glory in God and nothing else Againe it is a gift that men may learne to depend vpon GOD for it GOD will haue no man challenge it as due for it is a meere Grace Lastly it is a gift that it may be sure to all the seede If there had been any thing required at our hands This doe fulfill this Law and you shall haue this righteousnesse it had not beene sure nay none had beene saued for by the Law is transgression and wrath but being by gift it is firme and sure to all the seed for when a thing is freely giuen and nothing expected but taking it and thanksgiuing for it what is more sure But when you heare this righteousnesse is giuen the next Question will be To whom is it giuen If it be onely giuen to some what comfort is this to me But which is the ground of all comfort it is giuen to euery man there is not a man excepted for which we haue the sure Word of GOD which will not faile When you haue the Charter of a King well confirmed you reckon it of great moment What is it then when you haue the Charter of GOD himselfe which you shall euidently see in these two places Mark vlt. 15. Goe and preach the Gospell to euery creature vnder Heauen What is that Go and tell euery man without exception that there is good newes for him Christ is dead for him and if he will take him and accept of his righteousnesse he shall haue it restraine it not but go and tel euery man vnder haeuen The other Text is Reu. vlt. Whosoeuer will let him come and take of the waters of life freely There is a guicunque vult whosoeuer will come none excepted may haue life and it shall cost him nothing Many other places of Scripture there be to proue the generality of the offer and hauing a sure Word for it consider it But if it be objected It is giuen only to the Elect and therefore not to euery man I answer when we haue a sure word that it is giuen to euery man vnder Heauen without any restraint at all why should any except himselfe Indeed when Christ was offered freely to euery man and one receiued him another reiected him then the Mystery of Election and reprobation was reuealed the reason why some receiued him being because GOD gaue them a heart which to the rest hee gaue not but in point of offering of Christ we must be general without hauing respect to Election For otherwise the Elect of CHRIST should haue no ground for their faith none knowing he is elected vntill he hath beleeued and repented But Christs righteousnesse being offered to men in state of vnregeneration How shall I know it belongs to me There is no other ground but this Syllogisme This righteousnes belongs to euery man that beleeues but I beleeue therefore it belongs to me Therefore though it be applyed onely to the beleeuers yet it must be offered to euery man Againe we are bound to beleeue that the thing is true before we can beleeue our share in it we doe not therefore make it true because we beleeue but our beleeuing presupposeth the object of our Faith which is this that CHRIST is giuen now the very beleeuing doth not cause Christ to be giuen but he is giuen and therefore we beleeue In all actions the object is in order of nature before the action it selfe my beliefe makes not a thing true but it is true in it selfe and therefore I beleeue it It being true that CHRIST is offered to all men therefore I beleeue that I am reconciled and adopted and that my sinnes are forgiuen Againe if he should not be offered to euery man we could not say to euery man if thou dost beleeue thou shalt be saued but this we may say to all euen to Iudas if thou beleeuest Iudas thou shalt be saued Againe if it were not offered to all then wicked men should bee excluded as much as the Deuils but Christ tooke their nature on him therfore it is possible for them if they beleeue to be saued But how differs this from the doctrine of the Aduersaries for they also say that Christ is offered equally to all I answer In 2 respects not to run through all The first is this We say Though CHRIST be offered and freely giuen to all yet GOD intends him onely to the Elect. They say His intention is the same to all to Iudas as to Peter The other is They affirme that as CHRIST is offered to all men

goest and nothing but death shall part betweene me and thee When Naomi saw that she was stedfastly minded she tooke her along with her So if GOD should receiue men at the first many men would come in and take hold vpon Christ and make a profession of his Name but they would not hold out to the end with him But when CHRIST shall tell them I haue not so much as a place to lay my head in if thou wilt haue me thou must deny thy selfe and take vp thy Crosse and thou shalt finde a great deale of trouble and suffer persecution If a man now notwithstanding this will not be beaten off from Christ but though Christ turne the deafe eare to him for the present and present to him all manner of difficulties yet if he will notwithstanding all this be constant still in importuning God to haue CHRIST when GOD shall see that his mind is thus set he will take him along with him hee will be thine and thou shalt be his his people shall be thy people this is it that knits the knot betweene you My Beloued is mine and I am his his Word is passed for it he hath promised his consent now if we will giue ours the match is made If it were doubtfull whether wee should haue his consent it were another case but we haue a sure Word for it wee should learne therefore to importune him Now when we haue done this when wee are come with this boldnesse and haue laid hold vpon CHRIST then let vs looke to the priuiledges then let vs take the pardon of our sinnes adoption and reconciliation and all things else only remember that condition of after-obedience that though wee may come freely and come with this boldnesse and though nothing be required but that we take this Sonne of GOD that is offered yet I say there is a condition of after-obedience wee must resolue to serue him and to loue him with all our heart we must resolue to doe that that Ruth promiseth to Naomi to liue with him and to be with him and that his people shall be our people c. But you will say I am willing to doe this to part from my lusts and to be to CHRIST alone but I am not able my lusts are strong and preualent To this I answer If thou bee but willing Christ desires no more I would but aske thee this Suppose that thou wert able to ouercome those lusts take a man that is strongly giuen to good-fellowship as they call it to company-keeping that is giuen to fornication to swearing or whatsoeuer the sinne bee take any preualent lust that is in any man that now heareth me I would aske him this Question Put the case thou wert able to get the victory ouer thy lust wouldst thou be content to part with it and to take CHRIST If thou sayest No I had rather enioy the sweetnesse of my lusts still Art thou not now worthy to be condemned But if thou answer I would vpon condition I were able to ouercome my lusts I assure thee GOD will make thee able GOD requires no more but a willingnesse to come and take CHRIST the other is Gods worke I but I haue tryed and haue not found it so I answer it cannot be thou hast not yet solued to part with thy lusts thou hast not yet set downe this peremptory conclusion in thy selfe that thou wilt forsake euery thing that you may haue CHRIST If any man say he is willing to take CHRIST and to part with the sweetnesse and the pleasantnesse and the profitablenesse that his lust brings to him if he could get the victory if hee were freed from the sollicitations of them Let me tell thee thou must first resolue to take Christ vpon his owne conditions and for the other GOD hath promised to doe that himselfe 1. Cor. 8.9 God will confirme you and keepe you blamelesse for he is faithfull that hath called you to the fellowship of his Sonne As if hee should haue said Doe you thinke that GOD will call men to CHRIST that he will beseech men to take his Sonne will he call you to the fellowship of his Sonne and will hee not keepe you blameles he hath promised it and sworn it if he should not doe it hee should be vnfaithfull when GOD calleth you to come vnto Christ he promiseth that the vertue of Christs death shall kill sinne in you and that the vertue of Christs Resurrection shall raise you vp to newnesse of life GOD hath promised that he will giue the Holy Ghost for he neuer giues his Sonne to any but he giues them the Spirit of his Sonne too Now Hee that hath called you is faithfull and he will doe it So that I say if thou wilt come in that is if thou wilt accept of CHRIST vpon his conditions it is certaine GOD will receiue thee and if thou find thy selfe troubled with the violence of any lust or of any temptation presse vpon GOD vrge him with his Word and promise that he would assist thee by his own strength that he would enable thee to ouercome that he would giue thee the Spirit of his Sonne and resolue as Iob Though he kill me yet will I trust in him for I haue a sure promise Heauen and Earth shall passe but not one tittle of his sure Word shall passe till it be fulfilled Now because this is a point of much moment this laying hold vpon the promises and because it is a thing that is not easily done therefore I will shew you these two things The first is this that the vnderstanding must be rightly informed what ground a man hath to doe it when a man comes to beleeue the forgiuenesse of his sinnes let him not thinke I haue a perswasion that my sinnes are forgiuen therefore they are forgiuen but a man must labour to see the ground of it for a thing is not true because wee are perswaded it is so but the thing is first true and then we beleeue it GOD hath first offered forgiuenesse of sinnes to you and then you looke vpon his Word and so beleeue it But I say when a man is perswaded in a confused manner without any iust ground without a cleere knowledge of the progresse of faith how it goeth along this is not right this keepeth many from assurance because they are not cleerely instructed in it For to the end that faith may take hold of the promise that it may be sure to vs we must conceiue of the right method and that stands in these foure things First we must see our owne condition we must be sicke before we can seeke to the Physician we must see our selues to be condemned men that there is nothing in vs to helpe our selues wee must be broken in heart in some measure wee must see our selues to bee children of wrath and then we will come and seeke for a remedy and that

what sincerity hath appeared in our life and if we finde that weake we commonly conclude that our faith is weake also and so the weaknesse of our sanctification weakneth our assurance but wee should goe another way to worke When we finde a weaknesse we should go to the promises and strengthen our assurance for there be two wayes to increase assurance One is by the promises the sure Word on which faith is built The second is by the fruites of sanctification in our selues Now when we finde these languishing we should goe to the first and the other will be increased by it Faith worketh in you sanctification and maketh you to beleeue the promise as exercise begets health and we are made fit by health for exercise or as acts beget habits and habits are meanes to exercise those acts So assurance grounded vpon the promise it enableth and enlargeth and increaseth sanctification and sanctification increaseth assurance but first see faith and then the other as fruites of it If you finde a weaknesse in sanctification labour to strengthen your faith and that will increase it for that is the ground of all FINIS OF EFFECTVALL FAITH The third Sermon 1. THESS 1.3 Remembring your effectuall Faith c. IN the fifth place If nothing please GOD if he accepts of nothing but what comes from effectuall faith then we should learne hence to iudge aright of our workes for what workes soeuer wee doe they please GOD no further then hee seeth and findeth some faith in them The Vse before shewed vs how to iudge aright of our faith this teacheth you how to iudge aright of all the workes you doe that you doe not mistake in them For men are very apt to iudge amisse of what they doe in this case There be many workes that haue a specious and faire shew in the view of men and perhaps in your owne opinion But if there be not faith in those workes GOD regards them not as Iames 2.22 when Abraham did that great worke in offering his sonne which was the greatest worke that euer hee did and the greatest worke that is recorded in all the Booke of GOD yet saith the Apostle there Do ye not obserue how faith wrought with his workes That is to say If faith had not set him on worke to doe this if faith had not beene the Spring to set this wheele on going GOD had not accepted this So doe whatsoeuer you will further then faith works with you in all that you doe GOD regards it not Therefore you shall obserue in Christs answer to the Woman of Canaan in her earnest prayer in her comming to Christ her fighting and striuing against the Diuell her tendernesse to her Daughter her holding out so long as she did all this Christ lookes ouer But when he comes to giue his censure of her worke of her carriage Oh Woman great is thy faith saith he That was it that set a great price vpon her worke Matth. 15.26 27. So take the most excellent the greatest worke that can be performed GOD sets them at no higher a price then hee findes faith in them he weighes them by that so much faith as is in them so farre he accepts them so farre he regards them Looke in Heb. 11. you shall finde many glorious workes set downe All the great workes that Sampson did all the workes that Dauid did the works that Gedeon did the workes that Baruc did the workes that Moses did and so along you shall see there that there was nothing in all these workes that was regarded but their faith all is imputed to faith And therefore when you goe about any thing labour to see faith set you aworke and know that as much faith as there is in any worke so much GOD regards it and no further Iacob had done many good things that pleased GOD yet GOD when he would put a marke of his fauour vpon him when he would call him Israel when he would change his name it was for that great worke of faith when he prayed all night when hee would not giue ouer when he would not let him goe when hee preuailed with God by faith now saith God thy name shall be called Israel As if he should say Now I will put a name of honour vpon thee Why so Not because there was more in that worke simply considered as it was a worke but because there was more faith in it And it must needes be so for GOD doth not as men doe who accept the giuer for the gift If a man come to you with a great gift you will accept his person for it But GOD accepts the gift for the giuers sake though the gift be neuer so small if the giuer be such as beleeues in him if his affections be right if he doe it out of a right ground that is if he doe it out of a ground of faith he is accepted whatsoeuer it be Indeed otherwise whatsoeuer we doe we may call it by our owne name we may say he is a patient man or he is a temperate man or these are workes of Justice or workes of temperance But we can neuer call it godlinesse except it rise from faith except it come from this ground because indeed it is not done to God Marke it I say further then a man doth a thing out of faith hee doth it not to GOD. For to doe a thing out of faith is nothing else but when out of perswasion of GODS loue to me I doe this thing meerely for his sake whom I haue chosen to whom I giue my selfe one that I know loues mee and therefore though there were no reward for it I would serue him This is a worke of faith Now I say this is properly godlines And therfore in 2 Pet. 1. when the Apostle had named Patience and Temperance lest wee should mistake as if hee should say There be many Vertues of this nature amongst men that belong not to GOD. Therefore saith he Adde Godlinesse that is Let it be such as becomes a godly man to doe Godlinesse is that which is done to GOD such things and such qualities as haue an eye and respect to him such things please him What if a man should doe neuer so much if it please not GOD it is lost labour It is said Heb. 11.6 that Henoch pleased God Marke how the Apostle reasons saith hee without faith it is impossible to please God therefore in that he is said to please GOD it must needes be through faith You know it is said Rom. 13. whatsoeuer a man doth if it be not of faith and loue GOD lookes not to it you know there can be no loue without faith Consider but how it is with your selues If a man should doe any thing for you you know hee may haue many other ends hee may doe you many a great good turne yet if you be perswaded this comes not out of

beleeue with all thy heart thou mayest be baptized So I say to men there is a kinde of taking Christ when a man takes him with some part of his heart when he resolueth I confesse it is good I haue a present disposition to it it will serue me for such a turne I am afraid of Hell it will deliuer me from that in such an exigent in such a crosse in such a trouble that will come vpon me it will free mee from that but this is not enough but if thou beleeue with all thy heart that is when thou hast summed and reckoned all together all reasons and all objections to and fro thou resoluest altogether to take him in all respects Againe when all thy heart shall come in that is when the vnderstanding of a man is fully perswaded of these promises that they are true and that it is best for him to take CHRIST if the perswasion be good and the will follow for that you may take for a sure rule there is no man that is fully perswaded and convinced euery way that such a thing is best but the will will follow If the mind be right the will will follow and if the will follow be sure the affections will follow For if a man wils a thing in good earnest and resolue I would haue it indeed then his desires will come and be earnest and if hee be in doubt feare will come and if any thing hinder anger will come and thrust away the impediments and if he get the thing there will be reioycing and so all the affections will follow and then certainely action and endeuour will follow There is no man that desires a thing earnestly but where the affections are strong and busie action and endeuour will be answerable Now if thou take CHRIST with all thy heart that there is no reseruation that it is not done by halues then thou mayest haue him and the fruites and all the priuiledges by him so as thou shalt be saued by him Consider whether this be done or no. When we preach faith you may see what it is in Acts 26.17 18. Marke what the message was that CHRIST sends to Paul nothing but to preach faith but what was that Saith hee to turne men from the power of Satan to God to turne men from darknesse to light That is to cause them to forsake their former wayes of darknesse that they haue beene ledde into by the Deuill and to turne them to GOD to seeke him So that then a man is said truely to beleeue when his heart is turned to GOD that is when a man before was giuen to this pleasure or to that pleasure and commodity his heart was wedded to it hee would haue an estate in this world and hee would haue credit in the world and he would haue place with men and he would be some-body in the flesh his heart was set on these things he would follow them Now faith is nothing but this wee come and tell you that Christ is offered if you will be content to let all these things goe and to turne your hearts to him that the whole bent of a mans minde is turned the contrary way and set vpon Christ this is faith indeede when there is this generall turning of a mans minde from these things Therefore know that faith in CHRIST and couetousnesse cannot stand together When thy mind goeth a whoring after thy wealth what hast thou to doe with CHRIST That is not to take CHRIST For to take CHRIST is to turne the minde from these things to seeke him Againe if thou wilt haue praise with men thou canst not beleeue and haue that too it is impossible And so for any pleasure for any lust dost thou thinke to follow thy pleasure to seeke that to satisfie thy flesh and to haue CHRIST No it is another kinde of taking and this is not done with that sleightnesse as they did Ieremy 3. You turned to me saith the LORD feignedly and not with all your hearts but it is to turne in good earnest to turne to GOD vpon sound ground therefore now let vs come to the examination of this Now if we were not mistaken in it there would be no question of this we thinke that faith is nothing but a perswasion that our sinnes are forgiuen a perswasion that the promises are true a perswasion that the Scripture is true a perswasion that CHRIST dyed for my sinnes And thence it is that men are apt to be deceiued in it If they tooke faith as it is in it selfe a marrying of our selues to CHRIST with all our heart and affections when hee hath giuen himselfe to vs as in marriage and we are giuen to him in doing this wee should neuer bee deceiued If thou wouldest know now if thy faith bee right examine it as thou wouldest examine another thing If you take Wine if you would know whether it be good Wine if you finde it flat and dead if you drinke it and it heates you not it warmes you not at the heart it quickens you not it reviues not your spirits you will say it is naught if it were good Wine it would doe this If you come to looke on Plants if you find there no fruite nor no leaues you say this Plant is dead So take a Iewell and when it comes to the Touch-stone or any way that you try it you say it is faire but it is a counterfeit Iewell it is a false Diamond or whatsoeuer it be If you come to take a dramme of Physicke if you take a Drugge if it doe not worke Take Leauen and put it into your Dough if it sower not the lumpe you say it is dead Leauen it is a counterfeit thing So I say If thou finde not in faith this effect this operation vpon thy heart that it workes not this generall change in thee that it fires not thy soule with loue to CHRIST if thou finde not life in it and that it bring forth such fruites if thou finde it not grow that it put another taste vpon the whole soule that it leauens it throughout know that thou art deceiued rest not in it cast it away get a right faith such as will not deceiue thee But I cannot stand vpon this This is the first signe of effectuall faith Before I come to the second thing know this by the way you that receiue the Sacrament That if you be vnworthy receiuers you cannot doe your selues a worse turne then to offer to come to the Sacrament without faith to prouoke GOD more to eate and drinke your owne damnation Now examine your selues by such rules as this If you haue changed your life If you haue receiued it heretofore and continue still in your sinnes If you say it is true I haue done it I haue returned againe to my gaming I haue returned againe to my swearing to my loosenesse to my company-keeping but

heate so every good action proceedeth from grace and good actions intend grace and therefore be still acting and judge of your selves by that for what is grace what is that you call Christianity else but to doe that which another man cannot doe Therefore if there be such a difference betweene you and others as you professe there is shew it by doing that which another man cannot doe by exposing your selves to that danger to those losses for any good cause which another would not doe by spending more time in prayer by taking more paines with your hearts from day to day than others doe by keeping the sabbath better than others doe by being more exact in looking to your wayes that you may be holy in all manner of conversation that other men will not doe I say shew your grace shew your regeneration by being new creatures by doing more than others this is that which wil make the world beleeve that you are Christians in good earnest and not in shew onely that your profession is in deed and in truth and truely there is no other way this doing is that which makes a man excellent You heare men complaine of the barrennesse of their grounds many times wee may likewise justly take up the complaint against the barrennesse of the lives of men How goodly a sight is it when a man looks into the husbandry to see the vine full of clusters to see the furrowes full of corne to see the trees laden with fruite when we looke upon men it is the goodliest sight we can behold in Gods husbandry to see men full of actions and good workes I beseech you consider of it seriously and now set upon the doing of it while there is sand in the houre-glasse your life will not last long the day doth not continue alwayes the night will come when no man can worke When a candle is put out you may kindle it againe when the Sunne is set it riseth againe but when our life is past when the glasse is runne it ariseth no more it is turned no more It is appointed to all men once to die if ye might die twice or thrice it were another case but now it is your wisedome therefore while it is time while this short day lasts to doe that you have to doe concerning your salvation with all your might because the time is short There is nothing that is a truer property of wisedome than for a man to take holde of opportunities not to lose the day nay not an houre in the day for time is most precious it is like golde of which every shred is worth somewhat it is your wisedome therefore to be oft sowing seede to the spirit there is none of those good workes not the least of them but will doe you good in the latter end for alas what are your lives but your actions so much as you doe so much you live your lives are short of themselves why doe you make them shorter by doing nothing for as wee have said heretofore one man may live more in a day than another in twenty because hee doth more you live more as you act more Besides what is it a man serves for in all his labour under the Sunne what is it that hee desires but pleasure comfort and contentment Now my brethren this consists in doing in working for all pleasure followeth upon operation and further than there is working there is no delight Therefore it was a wise saying in that Philosopher that the happinesse and comfort that a man hath in this life consists not in abundance of wealth in swimming in delights but it consists in doing the actions of a living man which is the greatest comfort you can finde here in this life Doe the exercises and actions of holinesse and the more yee doe the more comfort yee shall have for even as light followeth the flame so pleasure and contentment followeth action And besides my brethren what doe you live for is it not to glorifie God You professe so much and how is it done Not by your desires or good meanings but by your actions those are the things that men see and feele and glorifie your heavenly Father for when your actions shine before men Herein is my Father glorified saith Christ that ye bring forth much fruite the doing of much is that which brings glory to God the more you doe this the more glory you bring to him Againe another end of your life is to doe good to mankinde shall they be able to fare the better for your purposes for your good resolutions no they fare the better onely for that you doe for them and to them it is your actions that benefit men Lastly for your selves what is it that helpeth you and doth you good onely your good deeds and your actions it is that which furthers your reckoning and account That place is much to this purpose Phil. 4.17 I care not for a gift but I desire fruite because it will further your account marke the phrase the meaning is this every good worke that a holy man doth from the time of his regeneration for till then no actions are spiritually good it is put upon his score it stands upon his reckoning there is not a penny nor a halfe penny lost that is the least good worke is not done to no purpose but the Lord will repay him againe euery pennie and farthing this saith hee will further your account And when will the Lord pay Not onely in the day of judgement then indeede you shall be paid to the uttermost but you shall be paid even in this life marke that too You shall have an hundredfold here saith Christ They that forsake father or mother or wife or children shall have an hundredfold in this life Therefore brethren if there bee any wisedome in the world this is the onely wisedome to be still doing to be much in actions Why doe you trifle out your time therefore to no purpose Why sit ye idle here why doe you not rise up and bestirre your selves why doe you not fill your lives with many actions You have good purposes in you why doe you not stirre them up It is true indeede we are becalmed many times because the Spirit doth not blow upon us but yet notwithstanding if we would pray for the Spirit the Lord would quicken us But you will say alas what shall wee doe it may be our callings give us no opportunity to doe that which other mens callings doe if we might be Preachers and have such and such businesse wherein wee might onely minde the things that belong to salvation then it were easie My brethren you must know that you shall finde continuall occasions of doing good actions every day whatsoever your callings are It is an errour among the Papists to thinke that to give almes to crucifie the flesh and to use that hardly to fast and