for him Ier. 32 17. Faith lookes not at the deadnesse of men or â—naptnesse of meanes but relies on God perswaded that what he had promised he is able to performe Rom. 4. 19. 20 1. Faith in God being so mighty know it 1 Beleevers be most valiant victors the chiefest conquerours godly men relying on the word bee stronger then all the world their spirits be heroâ—â— call their armes made strong by the mighty God of Iacob Kingdomes cannot stand before them Through faith they subdued Kingdomes Heb. 11 33. Waxed valiant in fight verse 34. David beleeving in the Lord prevailed against the great and formidable Philistine by faith Barak over-powred Sisera and vanquisht Iabin by faith Gedeon mastered the Midianites by faith Asa chased the Ethiopians by it the Iewes brought down Haman in his glory by it the Canaanitish Kings fell before Ioshua by it the Kingdome of Saints are a Peerlesse people It is the honour of all the Saints to triumph over all contrary Royalty and Nobility to bind Kings in chaines and Nobles with fetters of iron Psal. 149. 8 9. 2 2. 'T is a vanity in any difficulty to expect victory by what is not of faith which is so potent an instrument without faith there is no setling of any heart in hope or state in happinesse If ye will not beleeve surely ye shall not be established â—say 7. 9. 1. Formality in Religion Ceremonies in Gods worship be heartlesse empty powerlesse faith is the power of godlinesse 't is a deceit to rest in going to Church as men speak as once it was confidence in a lye to say The temple of the Lord the temple of the Lord the temple of the Lord are these Ierâ—â— 4. These are lying words they trusted to that could not profit vers. 8. Yet God ruined all where was no faith both the temple vers. 14. and Shiloh of old vers. 12. When Israel trusted to the Ark to save them from the enemy 1 Sam. 4. 3. â—etch the Arke let it save us Could it saveâ— did it save them nay many Israelites were â—mitten vers. 10. and an impure paire of Priests slaine verse 11. 2. Policy is too impotent to remove all impediments worldly wisdome weakens men carnall reasonings be faiths enemies and Satans strong holds Lean not to thine own understanding Pro. 3.5 carnall reason is called a bitter enemy of God Luthers oracle published what would be the pest and perdition of Christian Religion 1. Oblivion of Evangelicall blessings 2. Security generally raigning 3. Wordly wisdome which would reduce all in order and heale the land with ungodly counsells Iehu subtilly cut off Ahabs Baals and in wylinesse yea wickednesse kept Ieroboams calves 2 Kin. 10. 28 29. yet could not he continue the Kingdome for then began the Lord to cut Israel short verse 32. 3. Power of many men is too weak a prop to lean on Many provisions severall stratagems manifold machinations be without faith meanes of no value God promised Zerubbabel whom as speciall Magistrate it concerned to see the temple reedified nâ—t by might of many men or power of one man but by my spirit power providence and gracious favour when all helps which bee subordinate faile will I build the Temple Zechary 4. 6. 1. Prove ye your selves 2 whether you be fitted to conquer all commers to remove all impediments obstacles or obstructions in your way and work Have ye faith deale kindly and truly with your selves be not by sloth and presumption deceived 1. It is a faith will cast down walls 1. In mens hearts it casts down strong holds in us 2 Cor. 10. 4. it layeth low our lofty imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it selfe against the knowledge of God it silenceth our reasonings verse 5. it removes the perversenesse of heart it causeth frowardnesse of heart to depart Psal. 101. it cannot endure vaine-glory as in Hezekiah his heart was lifâ— up after a mercy 2 Chr. 32. 25. yet he humbled himselfe for the pride of his heart verse 26. Faith diâ—allowes worldlinesse â— in lusts after honour greatnesse reputation as Moses by faith he refused to be called the sonne of Pharaohs daughter verse 24. 2. In lusts after pleasure faith preferres the afflictions of Gods people before the pleasures of sinne verse 25. 3. Lusts after profit and pleasure the treasures of Egypt cannot lye in faiths way to bribe it verse 26. Faith wasts ruines and undermines all inward evill it regards no iniquity in heart it purifieth the heart it cleanseth the conscience abhorres hypocrisie security inward vanity Acts 15. 9. 2. In mens houâ—es it is upright in the family as David I will walk within my house with a perfect heaâ—t Psal. 101. 2. he reformes servants He that worketh deceit shall not dwell in my house he that telleth lyes shill not tarry in my sight ver. 7. The father of the faithfull Abraham commanded his children and houshold to keep the way of the Lord Gen. 18. 19. Iacob purged his house from all straâ—ge Gods and vanities 35. 2. and had no enemy to hurt him for the terror of God was upon the cities round about him verse 5. Cornelius a Centurion a pious souldier a devout man one that feared God with all his house Acts 10. 3. Gedeon a noted man for goodnesse and famous for faith began his reformation at his fathers houshold and cut downe his grove and threw downe the Altar of Baal Iud. 6. 25. 27. Have yee faith to cast down evils Idols and to remove scandals in Gods houses to reforme our Churches Ministers and members and is it not most serious and sincere to begin with your owne hearts and houses how unseemly yea and unsound is it to talk of reformation Ecclesiasticall and to neglect the heart as disordered and the family as deformed and unreformed 2. This faith in God is effectuall 2 where it is in man 1. It relyeth on the Lord his presence his assistance his arme his name as Iudah did in 2 Chron. 13. 18. Faith will set God his word his promise against all Faith hath a God to trust to the Lord is its hope not men or meanes Ier. 17. 7. 2. It gloryeth in the word of God with praise to God when it seeth nothing but present trouble in dayes of feare it feares not man his cruelty policy power When King Saul misled by evill counsellours pursued David a loyall subject a faithfull servant to swallow him up Psal. 56. in the title and verse 1. his faith cures his feare verse 3. his soule made its boast of the promise of God verse 4. 3. It worketh by love 1. to the Lord Jesus Many waters cannot quench love neither can the floods drowne it if a man would give all the substance of his house for love it would utterly be contemned it cleaves to Christ in contrary temptations Cant. 8. 7. 2. To the Church it loves the houshold of faith the Saints others it pitieth in them it
faith this day ye fast this day yee pray this day yee beleeve and speed Asa cryed to God relyed on God 2 Chron. 14. 11. and the Ethiopians fled verse 12. 3. The souldiers by this triumph and the enemies fall faith is good in the field faith is the warriours Target the souldiers shield Trust in God will raise us and ruine his enemies Psal. 20. 7.8 4. God will doe much good for those who trust in him 1. God will effect what they commit to him trust to this Commissioner and he will bring all to passe works shall succeed and be prosperous when men rest on the Lord without faith things will be at a stâ—nd and not bee effected you would have all ended comfortably that is happily begun rest on the Lord and he will doe it to your hand Faith puts the businesse in and will not take it out of Gods hand as Psal. 37. 5. 2. God will carry beleevers thorow mids of manifold troubles and difficulties with great ease comfort and safety the red Sea was for beleevers made dry land Yee whose unparalleld paines have met with unheard of difficulties in your proceedings cast the eye of your faith upon the Lord to make your way plaine and passable that the Lords flock may goe albeit through the wildernesse Canaan-ward Heb. 11. 29. 3. God will shew beleevers his glory his glory of power to help of mercy to pity of truth to keep promise of wisdom to counsell them men without faith misse and meet not with God but bow the eare to that of Christ our Saviour Said I not unto thee that if thou wouldst beleeve thou shouldst see the glory of God Iohn 11.40 4. God can doe a world of good for men in a week he made a world in sixe dayes that may cause us to rest on him What great things can God doe in a day in your great councell for this sinfull Kingdome and corrupted Church mind what a day may bring forth or a week bring about and rest on the Lord who can work all our works for us were a matter as hard as to make a world yet God can by his owne hand he needs no inâ—truments who are all unactive without him plant the heavens and lay the foundation of the earth Isay 51.16 2. The manner of this fact they are diligent every day early compassing this city Iericho seven dayes having no rest till the work bee done the wals be down as the Lord had told them Faith in God is active for God till it have done the will of God the worke of God as Ioshua and Israel did as God bad them without ceasing so Caleb a man of a generous spirit having a regenerate heart when others would turne back he would on to Canaan in the act of faith he fully followed the Lord who promised them the land Numb. 14. 24. Faiths activenesse is 1. In removing stumbling-blocks as walls out of the way that Gods people may hold on in Gods way and not decline it is a command Prepare the way take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people Isay 57. 14. 2. In restoring the worship of God that all divine institutions may be enjoyed in a right manner and due order thus David was solicitous and reckoned himselfe afflicted till the Ark of God was set in its proper place Psal. 132. 1. Davids afflictions his religious care to bring the Ark home before that breach upon Vzzah â—un he vowed and layd a solemne tye upon his soule an oath a forcible obligation verse 2. he would not give sleep to his eyes or slumber to his eye-lids ver. 4. in his new house which he had builded in the city of David verse 3. till he found out a place for the Lord represented by the Ark verse 5. In that faith is so active it may informe us 1 1. 'T is no wonder that many unwilling to bee good or wise to doe evill so hinder and oppose faith in the meanes of it the enemies have reason as they would be true to a cursed cause to resist it which will not rest till it have razed their walls ruined their building crossed their cause overthrowne their helps and dashed their hopes 1. The devill hinders faith that it be not preached to men Paul would have come to the Thessalonians for the furtherance of faith but Satan an adversary hindered 1 Thes. 2. 18. the devill in his instruments turns away men desirous to heare the word of God from the faith as Elymas the child of the devill dealt with the Deputy Sergius Paulus a prudent man Acts 13. 7,8,10 2. The world allowes and likes no beleevers they are all under the observation of an envious eye as â—ahab was in Iericho Ios. 22. the men of this world not men of God forbid preaching the word of faith and salvation 1 Thes. 2. 16. they are stiffe opposers as Apostaticall Alexander greatly withstood who had once stood for Pauls preaching 2 Tim. 4. 14 15. They put away shoulder and thrust out the word of God Acts 13.46 2. Many persons be wickeâ— men men of no faith as is evident by their non-activity for God for whom faith is active and of this sort are they 1. Who be pleaders for Baal and his wall that it should not down when it was down that men if they doe not stigmatize yet they particularize reformers eminent men as Gedeon a man well known in those corrupt times by his work of faith appointed to dye Baals Altar was cast down Iud. 6.28 they said Gedeon had done it verse 29. they willed his father Ioash to bring him forth that he may dye verse 30. a fitter censure for those who will plead for Baal he that will plead for him let him be put to death verse 31. 2. Who be neuters as luâ—e-warme most loathed persons who will not medle nor have a hand in any good as cursed Meroz a people who came not to the help of the Lord Iud. 5. 23. men bitterly cursed of God as the Reubenites meer worldlings minding their folds and flocks verse 16. lazy Gilead tarried at home verse 17. Dan tarried minded his trade his ships and traffick ibid. Asher on the Sea coast abode in his breaches to fortify himselfe as weak verse 17. and secure Iabesh Gilead yeelded sent in none to punish delinquents men of great folly and villany in Israel Iud. 21. 9. albeit it was by an ordinance of their Parliament in a generall Assembly 20. verse 2. 9 10. that the children of Belial might receive condigne punishment verse 13. 3. Who be active against the Church for the enemy with the enemies of Church and State as Edom Moah Ammon joyne with Philistines Tyrians Assyrians degenerate professors fit companions in service against the Church albeit they pretend the Church-service of lewdest persons Papists Atheists and men of flagitious lives Psalm 83. 5 6 7. This did Amelek feared not God but smote the Church
viall is on them and yet they repent not Goe on and prosper in your work and the Lord hasten Babylons full and finall fall Rev. 18. 2. 2. In regard of the work 1. It is high an Angelicall work who but Angells powre out the vialls May not men work Rev. 15. 1 6. 2. It is holy a divine work you work as Gods you have a divine title in office Gods Psal. 82. 6. You work for the King and the Kingdome for your countries and our consciences your and our Eternity You work for Christ and his Kingdome you work for the Lord 2 Chron. 19. 6. 3. It is a happy it is a blessed work happy you in rewarding Babylon as shee hath served us you may by just censure doe to her what she in her agents hath done to us in unjust sentence Psal. 137. 8. You work here but you and yours have many a prayer every day prayer oft in the day prayer Christs servants in the Ministery pray for you Christs people his beloved ones pray for you all that can pray pray for youâ— the blessing of the poore the prisoner the exiled the persecuted the oppressed the just is upon you that you may be as the Sun when it goeth in his strength over all mountaines and sublunary impediments Much honoured you may well work you are under many a prayer with many a teare powred out to God the hearer of prayers that you and your work may prosper it will wither any most flourishing bay tree to have the Church pray against it it will put vigour and spirit into any gracious heaâ—t to have Gods children pray for it Iud. 5. 31. 4. It is Honourable a work full of credit Ioshuah is by this made famous in the world upon this fall his fame was noised throughout all the countrey Josh. 6. 27. Great is and greater will be the glory of this Englands Parliament albeit you meet with ill requitall by an unworthy and unthankfull people yet your work will redound to ages to posterity that will know your name you continue Israels name yea Christs name among us you shall bee called the friends of nations the healers of the Kingdome deliverers raised up Saviours come up on mount Sion the repairers of the breach the restorers of the path to dwell in Isay 58. 12. Work the Lords work study his name and glory hee will mind your memory and honour your name shall be blessed Prov. 10. 7. 3. In regard of good to many 1. The King shall raign in honour and happines all impediments removed a loving King over a liâ—gâ— peopleâ—his throne will be established iâ— righâ—â—ousnesse Prov. 25. 5. the evill the King sitting on the throne of judgement will bee scattered away with his eyes 20. 8. His Crowne will be in safety and His Person in dignity verse 21. His Subjects many to His Honour 14. 28. His Countenance as life to them 16. 15. and His Favour as the cloud of the latter raine yea as dew upon the grasse 19. 22. to the joy of his people by justice 29. 2. 2 The way to Canaan heaven opened and by the preaching of the Gospell made plaine which by impediments was shut up the Temple of God was open Revel. 11. 19. After much ignorance truth shall be knowne more clearly the little book will be open the vaile will be taken away Revel. 10. 2. which was marvellously over-spread Isay 25. 7. downe with these walls and then many may goe on more comfortably hopefully speedily to the promised land 3 Liberty for Gods chosen to come out of the fellowship of Canaanites to hold communion with true Israelites as Rahab was freed from Iericho when the walls fell and it was taken She was saved alive and dwelt in Israel many now greatly afflicted with the company of the evill doers when the work of reformation comes to an end shall be able to live in communion of Saints Ioshua 6. 25. 4 An addition to the Church of God of many distressed who by humane vanities and inhumane persons could not dwell in the land who will come home and fall in to us abundantly by a reformation many went away but went not from us but were scattered they love the assembly of Saints without separation from them when offences bee taken away they being driven away will be gathered we shall lose none but gaine many whereas mens former wayes have scattered Saints and increased Papists and superstitions have over-spread the face of Religion in many places our study to continue the Church in peace by vaine ceremonies hath increased distractions in it and the will and wit of man to content and convert Papists with May-poles and Morris-dances is both vitious and ridiculous King Asa his serious reformation in putting downe Idols and in setting up Gods worship brought in men 2 Chron. 15 8. And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasses and out of Simeon for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance when they saw that the Lord his God was with him verse 9. 4 In regard of God 1 His word 1 Calling you his choice ones to doe his work as to Solomon God hath chosen thee to build him a Sanctuary take heed Gods providence was in your choice people set their hearts on you gave voice and hand for you to doe this work you see your call mind your duty authority opportunity and doe as God hath called you 1 Chron. 28. 10. 2 Commanding you to doe his work bee strong and of good courage doe it v. 20. 2. His reward to you your work shall be rewarded so did Obed assure Asa 2 Chron. 15. 7. you shall not lose your labour in Gods service Ierem. 31. 16. God will not be a man as Nebuchadnezzar lack his wages for his Army Ezek. 29. 19. but the Lord said I have given him the land of Egypt for his labour wherewith he served against it Tyre because they wrought for me saith the Lord verse 20. Then he will give his voluntary servants a plenary reward 2 John 8. 1 Internall peace joy hope the fruit of well-doing in your pure consciences inward friends very fast and faithfull to you without falshood or flattery 2 Cor. 1. 12. 2 Externall in your houses God will blesse you and build your families take care of Gods house his worship Religion children let God alone with your housholds you are from them for to wait on God God will be with them to wait to doe you good mind Gods house now at this dayâ— this time God will care for yours for time to come as to David the Lord will build thee an house 1 Chr. 17. 10. David said in thankfulnesse to his God thou hast spoken of thy servants house for a great while to come verse 17. 3 Eternall the reward of faith the salvation of the soule 1 Peter 1. 9. God will never give lesse then a Kingdome ô be faithfull in