my eternall love and free grace that my people shall have their being in me and with me for ever you are graven upon the palmes of my hands for evermore you are my people in Covenant the elect and chosen of my grace to be my inheritance and dwelling place for ever I cannot forget you you are ever before me you lye in the wounds of my Sonne Jesus Christ and you are righteous in my owne righteousnesse so that to forget you were to forget my selfe and Jesus Christ I am a full treasury of mercy and grace and you are the onely vessels whom I have chosen to fill with my mercy and grace to all eternity think you that I can forget you as you are my inheritance so I have made my selfe your inheritance Rom. 8.17 and you are fellow heyres with Christ is it possible I can forget you to whom I have given my selfe for an inheritance no I have you in remembrance as my beloved ones for ever my owne grace hath begotten you my heart of love is to you and my outstretched arme of power and Majesty is for you you shall knowe I have not forgotten you I and so shall your enemies too they shall know that you are my interest and my care is over you as my chosen Inheritance whom I will preserve in the utter ruine and destruction of your enemyes Bloody hard-hearted Pharoah and all his Host overthrowne in the Red Sea doth proclaymâ— this to the World so those that cast the three emminent Children of God into the fiery Furnace they were consumed with the blast of the Furnace when the Saints of God walked harmelesse in the fire in the 33 Isa beginning Isa 33. beg there is a wâ—â— pronounced against those that made waste and spoils of Gods people and dealt treacherously with them the righteous God will be sure to spoyle all treacherous wretches which deale treacherously with his people I sayes God doe you thinke that I have forgotten my people and that you shall prosper in your treachery Surely to I have set my King upon my holy hill of Zion Psal 2. and hee shall breake the enemies of my Inheritance my Church and people with an Iron Rod he shall dash them in pieces like a porters vessell Observe the Scripture it is the power of Christ that is the defence of his Church and the ruining of their enemies and he doth it with an Iron Rod Christ reignes over them in his indignation he dasheth them in pieces very easily as a Potter doth a brickle piece of clay and when they are thus broken they are quite destroyed never to be made whole againe no more thâ—n a broken Pot the enemies of Christ and his people they rage take counsell together and set themselves against the Lord Christ and his annoynted people but the Lord he fitteth in Heaven and laugheth them to scorne what sayes God you thinke to bring your ends about and your designes to passe you thinke your counsels very deepe they cannot be found out and your power so great that it cannot be shaken and nothing will satisfie your lusts but to destroy my interest from off the face of the Earth I tell you sayes God you imagine a vaine thing and you are all this while inventing your owne ruines you ingage your selves to certaine destruction when you set your selves against my people be you what you will Kings or Counsels you shall surely be crushed to pieces in the undermining my interest it is your folly to looke upon them in themselves so they seeme a poore despisable people which doth harden your hearts but did you see them as they are in me my interest you would then see your folly what are you or all the Nations of the Earth to me no more then the drop of a bucket or the small dust of the ballance I will speake to you in my wrath and vexe you in my sore displeasure if once you touch my people the apple of myne eye therefore sayes he be wise O yee Kings and be instructed you Judges of the Earth you that make Lawes and you that rule and reigne take heed be wise meddle not with my Inheritance I am onely King and Law-maker there iâ— will be your wisedome to kisse the Sonne and to serve him with feare and trembling but if you intrench upon his Kingdome and offend one of his little ones I assure you he will be angry he is zealous over them and his owne glory he will have no sharere in his Kingdome nor will he suffer any to rend his Flock but he will be angry and then O Kings and Counsellors you shall all perish from the way you shall never bring your designes to effect God will bring his designe to perfection which is your ruine and your end when Christ is intrenched upon in his glory and his jewells then is his wrath kindled very hot and then he shewes himselfe what he is in his victory over his enemies in the 63. of Isa Then he commeth from Edom with dyed garments stained all over in the blood of his enemies this is the day of his vengeance now he treads downe his enemies in his anger makes them drunke in his fury and brings downe their strength to the earth thus doth Christ destroy the enemies of his people For he hath an interest in them as God hath in this 2 Psalme 6. Christ is King of his Church Psal 2. Isa 9.6 Cant. 4.8 1. Reve. 19.7 Eph. 1.22 23. Mat. 12.49 50 the government is upon his shoulder Isaiah 9.6 The Church is Christe Spouse Cant. 4.8 his Love 1. Shee is the Lambes Wife Rev. 19.7 The body of which Christ is the head Ephes 1.22 23. And Christ owneth his Saints and people to be his Brethren and Sisters Mat. 12.49 50. Now what doe all these relations speake but union with Christ Cant. 2.16 My beloved is mine and I am his Cant. 2 16. and Christs interest in his people which he will preserve as his glory and delight he will not spoyle his Kingdome nor suffer others to doe it he rules in the middest of his Kingdome in the hearts of his people with a golden Septre even his owne spirit he binds them to his commands by his words of love and he protecte them from ruining by their enemies with his Rod of Iron he will be sure to preserve his Kingdome at his glory this his glory he will not give to another and his Spouse he will keep as his delight she is the Wife of his bosome his love his faire one one whom he hath made faire by his love and lovely in his lovelinesse compleate in him he hath washed her cleane in his owne blood and hath made it life blood to her so that she liveth to the glory of his grace that streames in his blood Christ hath made his Church so cleane in his blood that it becomes his owne body and he the head of it Christ having
The Rest of Faith THAT IS Souls fixed and established in God by believing on him through the Lord JESUS CHRIST With the grounds of this Faith from sanctified Reason the benefits of Faith and the evils of unbeliefe Proved by Gods Word and presented to open view By Coll. ROBERT TICHBORNE Psalm 125.1 They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion which cannot be removed but abideth for ever John 6.47 Verily verily I say unto you he that believeth on mee hath everlasting life Isa 50.10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeyeth the voyce of his servant that walketh in darknesse and hath no light let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God LONDON Printed by M. Simmons at the gilded Lyon in Aldersgate-streete 1649. TO THE HONOURABLE Lieftenant Generall CROMWELL Honourable Sir GOD having first pitched my meditations upon the study after an establishment in this perishing World and shaking times in which we live and in this study more emminently then before made knowne himselfe in the Lord Jesus Christ to be that Rocke of Ages which never failes such as trust in him he did then draw forth my heart upon a principle of common good 〈◊〉 hold that forth to the World which he had made known to me that so if God would blesse it to the end I intended it every soule might be as happy in a fixed state as my selfe this is truly my end in publishing that to others which God did in secret imprint upon my heart Now in the publishing of this I take boldnes to Dedicate it to your self but if any aske why I doe so I shall render them these two Reasons First it is proper for me to tender respects to one from whom I have received so many I shall be short in this and say no more but that I remaine your Debtor My second reason is this Though the subject be of generall tendency to the wants of all Gods people yet such as God puts most worke upon have most need of this support such as fight and contend with the enemies of God either within them or without them will finde faith in God to be their best weapon that God hath emminently called and used you in such a weighty work I need produce no proofes to the World God himselfe hath done it what God hath further for you to doe I know not but this I know that faith in him will be your greatest strength in doing and a certaine rest what ever your worke maybe for this reason also I present this to your hands the scope and substance of which I believe hath strengthened your heart and hand in all that concernes you here and for ever Your enemies say you have done much but I beleeve the voyce of your owne heart is that God hath done all himselfe wherein he hath used you as an instrument What is yet behind for you to doe or suffer God only knows This I dare boldly affirme faith in God will be your best companion and your surest rest in all conditions therefore Sir in sincere love I present my service and this Treatise of the rest of Faith to your hands the Lord goe with it to your heart and make himselfe your rest here and forever which is the reall desire of him that truely loves you and in love will be ready to serve you in the worke of the Lord whilst I remaine ROBERT TICHBORNE To the READER READER I Observe in nature that the strongest liquors are of most use when the spirits are weakest as strong waters to a fainting man and when the seas are most boisterous then doth the Marriner cast forth his Anchor The dispensations of God in these latter dayes of the world in which we live hath made both Sea â—and full of troubles by reason whereof much fainting of spirit and trembling of heart hath overspread the Nation These out goings of God hath drawn forth my heart to follow that tracke of his Word in the light and strength of his spirit which leads to himselfe that so I might find in him reviving to my fainting spirit and a rest for my weary soule God having been so gracious in manifesting himselfe to be my all here and for ever and given me a heart to rest upon him by which I am in full and lasting rest It was set upon my heart that I should not be unthankfull to him and unchristian to others If I should have onely sed upon this bread of life in spirit and not tel forth to the glory of his grace and the good of others how sure a resting place his bosome of love is and how firmly all such shal be established that believe on him one drop of his love wll raise the lowest spirit that soule which stays it selfe upon God by faith will be at rest though the storms of the world be never so great If this be true which I am confident many thousand souls besides my own can bear the witness of to God then I am apt to believe the following Treatise will have acceptance with such as God hath made sensible that he is now shaking not onely the earth but the heavens also Most complaine of the earth-quakes which the Land and world is ful of but some complain of heart-quakes to these complaints give me leave to speak in the Prophets language Believe in the Lord your God so shall you be established Believe in God as your God so will your hearts be fixed when as God shal write vanity upon al the world God is now staining all glories besides his own but such as live and glory in God through believing wil have a living glory in a dying world a bed of rest what ever troubles the world beâ— ful of Therefore Reader if you would faine rest you must live on God by faith and if in this worke God shall use the following Treatise for your good I shal blesse him for your soule as for my owne truly this is the highest end of your servant in the Lord Robert Tichborne Beleeving in God doth advantage a Saint with an established heart 2 CHRO 20. later part 20. Verse Beleeve in the Lord your God so shall you be established THE Lord telleth us in his Word Heb. 12.26 of a time when as he will not onely shalâ—e the Earth but the Heavens also Shake all that may be shaken so as that which cannot be shaken may remaine and appeare this is his faithfull Word and truly his great and glorious workinge in these our dayes doth seem to point out that time to be neere at hand when God himselfe doth shake the whole Earth and heavens though they be vast bodies yet they must fall before the breath of the Almighty power which made them by a word this shaking truth and times hath with more solicitousnesse drawne forth my heart to seeke after establishment I found incouragement to this worke in that very text which
holdeth forth the shaking both of Earth and Heavens also for it seemeth to hold out thus much that the end of Gods so shaking is to manifest that which cannot be shaken by its remaining in which God taught me this truth that the establishment of his people lay in that which should remaine stedfast to eternity even when himselfe should shake not onely the earth but the heavens also by Earth here I understand the whole Earth in its frame and fashion beauty and glory power and government the time is comming when God will shake all this into its first nothing so that the establishment of an eternall being lyeth not in this By Heavens I understand not onely the materiall Heavens as Sonne Moone Starres and Firmament but also the Law of Heaven and earth namely the Ordinances and worship of God here the Churches and government of Christ on earth truly these are very glorious as they are in God and God in them so that they may well bee called the heavens but even these as they come from God have their time and their end these are the top and exceeding glory of all one wildernesse mercies but all these are to be shaken their end will cease and so must they too these are as the pillars of cloude by day and of fire by night to the body of Christ whilst it or any member of it remaines in the Wildernesse but Christ our head is ascended whom will draw his whole body after him and then the end of this will cease and their shaking time will be accomplished to the full so that though this be the glory of the World yet they cannot make up establishment to eternall soules because they are to be shaken Now by this I am further taught where to begin in seeking establishment namely not in the whole Earth no not in any part or appearance of Heaven that may be shaken not in the ordinances or worship of God but in God himselfe not in the Churches or government of Christ but in Christ himselfe So that good King Jehoshaphats counsell to his people in their day of straights and shakings will leade mee and all the people of God to a sure center of establishment Beleeve in the Lord your God so shall you be established These are the words of Jehoshaphat the King to Judah and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem at that time when they were under much feare and doubts concerning their condition by reason of a numerous and potent enemy which was come up against them to an eye of fleshly reason they were a lost people and nation but this good man had a better and more seeing eye to behold withall namely the eye of faith for in the 14 15 16 17 verses of this Chapter we shall finde that Jahaziel the Prophet having the spirit of the Lord come upon him in the middest of the Congregation when all the people were gathered together to seeke the Lord did Prophecy and told the King and all Judah and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem that they should not bee afraid nor dismayed by reason of the great a multitude which come against them for the battell saith he is not yours but Gods He gives further direction when to goe downe against them and what to doe he tels them they shall not needs to fight onely to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord he bids them againe not to feare for the Lord would be with them Now upon this was Jehoshaphats eye of faith he did beleeve in the Lord and his word declared by his Prophet and in this twentieth verse telleth the people where his establishment was namely in God and if they also should beleeve in God as their God and in his Word declared by his Prophet that they should thereby be established Beleeve in the Lord your God so shall you be established My intentions are to take this Scripture in the largest sense and to make use of it in the carrying on a Treatise of Faith as faith and beliefe in God doth settle and establish beleevers The plaine and visible truth which lyes in this Scripture and upon which I shall carry on what followeth is this That Saints are established by beleeving in God as their God This is the sense and almost the very words of the Scripture and for its proofe it hath the concurrance of the scope if not the letter of the whole Word of God the Prophet Isaiah in his seaventh Chapter and ninth verse prooves this by its contrary when in the former verses he had told them what God would doe for them he telleth them in this verse If you will not beleeve surely yee shall not bee established As if hee had sayd it is not my bare narrative or the history of God in his power greatnesse and goodnesse that will establish you if you doe not beleeve it is faith trust and beliefe in God as your God which is onely able to establish you if you beleeve not your foundation will alwayes bee tottering so that surely you will not bee established where beliefe is not establishment cannot be the reason is obvious and plaine for it is God alone that can and doth establish the hearts of his people now faith and beleeving in God is the onely discovery of union with God in which soules come to be established the soule by faith receiveth in God to it selfe and involveth it selfe into God and God in the soule makes it an established soule 2 Ephes 17. Christ dwels in the heart of beleevers by faith This was Abrahams condition who is called the Father of the faithfull the Text saies Rom. 3.19 20. when God made him the promise of an heire out of his owne loyner that he was not weake in faith nor did he stagger at the promise through unbeliefe notwithstanding his owne great age and the deadnesse of Sarahs wombe yet he beleeved the word and promise of the Lord and was established by beleeving this Father of the faithfull gave himselfe up to God he lost his owne fleshly reasoning in beleeving the faithfull word of God God had said that he should have a Childe of Sarahs wombe he giveth himselfe over to God by beleeving so that there is no staggering saith takes in the promise and the soule is established but where there is not faith to take in the promise of God or rather God in the promise there the soule is not nor cannot be established staggering is as properly the fruit of unbeliefe as stability is of faith and they demonstrate each other as white doth black and black white that Scripture which sayeth If you beleeve not you shall not be established doth give proofe to that Text which sayes Beleeve in the Lord your God so shall you bee established So likewise on the contrary our Saviour gives in ample proofe to this truth that Saints are established by beleeving in God as their God in that John 6.47 Verily verily I say unto you hee that
first being and all beings to all things saith the Lord. The Apostle Paul doth acknowledge this truth in Rom. 11.36 For of him and through him Rom. 11.36 and to him are all things All things are of God as God is the first cause of all all things are through God as they proceed of his will power and Majestie all things are to him to the glory of God that is in himselfe without cause Isa 41.4 and the cause of all as hee is God Isa 41.4 Who hath wrought and done it calling the generations from the beginning I the Lord the first and with the last I am he It is frequent in Scripture with God when he mentions any workes or beings and the beginning of any thing to declare himselfe to be the first that hee might be knowne to be in himselfe without all cause and the cause of all things else Isa 43.10 I the Lord am he that is the first So in Isa 43.10 Before me there was no God formed neither shall there be after me I am so the first in my selfe that I am the first of all and nothing shall be after mee God in himselfe is without cause and end Isa 44.6 Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel and his Redeemer the Lord of Hosts Isa 44.6 I am the first and I am the last and besides me there is no God I am the first and besides me there is no God that is there is no God besides mee for I am the onely one that is first without all cause of being For were there a first cause of my being then I could not be God but I am God and therefore there can be no first cause of my being So the Lord Christ according to his God-head is said to be the beginning of the Creation of God Rev. 3.14 Rev. 3.14 The faithfull and true witnesses the beginning of the Creation of God The God-head is the first of all beings and the beginning of the whole Creation Many more Scriptures joyne in this truth as Isa 48.12 Rev. 1.17 Rev. 22.13 But I leave them to the Reader A third Attribute of God is his immutability Attribute 3 this is an attribute of God that he is an immutable unchangeable God for this can be said of none but God God hath made the whole Creation mutable and changeable which doth demonstrate that himselfe is only God Num. 23.19 who is unchangeable Numb 23.19 God is not a man that he should lye neither the sonne of man that he should repent Hath he said and shall he not doe it or hath he spoken and shall he not make it good What God saith that he will doe and what he hath spoken he will make good for he is an unchangeable God hee is not like man to lye or repent as the sonnes of men but he is God immutable and unchangeable in all hee is not one tittle shall faile of all that the Lord hath spoken For I am the Lord I change not Mal. 3.6 God makes this an argument to prove himselfe God that he changeth not As if hee had said there is change and alteration in all but my selfe and I am the unchangeable God I am the Lord I change not As if hee should say if I were changeable I were not God but being God I am unchangeable If mutability dwelt in me I could not be the foundation and fulnesse of all things both in Heaven and Earth James 1.17 but so I am therefore I am the unchangeable immutable God This is fully proved in James 1.17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and commeth downe from the Father of lights with whom is no variablenesse neither shadow of turning This is a full description of and testimony to an immutable God in him sayes the Text there is no variablenesse nor shadow of turning Not the least shadow of change in God the perfect God is an immutable God and his immutability is perfect for he is God in both there can be no change in God because there is no imperfection in him where there is change and mutability there must be the annihilating of something Now it is impossible this should be in God for hee is an entire Essence which can admit of no annihilating therefore not any shadow of change God is purely and simply what hee is without all compounds he is one most pure and intire Essence nothing in him but God God is a Spirit John 4.24 A fourth Attribute of God is this Attribute 4 God is infinitely great in Majesty and works or the infinite greatnesse of our God doth appeare in the greatnesse of his Majestie and workes God is so infinitely God Isa 465. that nothing can be like him Isa 46.5 To whom will yee liken me and make me equall and compare me that we may bee like As if God had said doe you creatures thinke you have any thing amongst you that is infinite that you goe about to make the likenesse of me I am an infinite God finite creatures cannot be compared to me or if you doe there will be no more likenesse and similitude then between finite infinite So Isa 40.15 16 17. Behold the Nations are as a drop of a bucket Isa 40.15 16 17. and are counted as the small dust of the ballance Lebanon and the beasts thereof are not sufficient for a burnt-offering All Nations before God are nothing compared to him lesse then nothing and vanity This proveth the infinitenesse of God that all besides him cannot be compared to him because God is infinite and so is none but God and it is the infinitenesse of God that makes all things before him and compared to him to be so empty a vanity This infinitenesse of God doth further appeare in the greatnesse and Majestie of his workes The Prophet David had great experience of God in his great and glorious workings and we shall see what ample testimony he gives to it in Psalm 86.8 Psalm 86.8 Among the Gods there is none like unto thee O Lord neither are there any workes like unto thy workes As if the Prophet had said there is no infinite God besides thy selfe and it appeares in thy workings for there is no workes full of Majesty and power like thine Psalm 135.5 So in Psalm 135.5 For I know that the Lord is great and that our Lord is above all Gods The Prophet makes this an argument to stir them up to praise God the declaring of his greatnesse hee is great above all Gods He is infinite in power and Majestie and this makes him in his workes great above all Gods The Prophet is in the same frame of spirit in Psalm 145.3 Great is the Lord Psalm 145.3 and greatly to be praised his greatnesse is unsearchable Mark the Scripture his greatnesse is unsearchable As if hee had said God is infinitely great and none is infinite but God so that his greatnesse
is unsearchable for finite creatures can never search or finde out the infinitenesse of an it finite God So in Psalm 147.5 Psalm 147.5 Great is our Lord and of great power and his understanding is infinite God is infinitely great he is so in power in understanding in working in all he is that is God is infinitely what he is he is finite in nothing nor can he be confined by any thing because Lee is the infinite God of whom all things are his infinite power gives bounds to all things but can be bounded by nothing Jer. 23.24 Jer. 23.24 Can any hide himselfe in secret places that I shall not see him saith the Lord Doe not I fill heaven and earth saith the Lord God is infinitely great in knowledge as well as power what can be hid from the al-seeing eye of an infinite God Our God is infinitely full he filleth heaven and earth he filleth all with his infinite power and greatnesse The vastnesse of Heaven and Earth can make no dimention to the infinite fulnesse and greatnesse of God Heaven is his Throne and the Earth his Foote-stoole and all filled with the infinite fulnesse of his power and greatnesse Fifthly Attribute 5 God is an eternall God Eternity is properly and truly the Attribute of God and of none but God God is from everlasting before every thing and on whom all things depends he is to all eternity without beginning or end and therefore must needs be an eternall God Isa 41.4 Isa 41.4 Who hath wrought and done it calling the generations from the beginning I the Lord the first and with the last I am he The Lord himselfe telleth us that he called the generations that he was first before all beginning of beings and that he abides for ever and is with the last that is Isa 43.10 as if God had said I am the eternal God So in Isa 43.10 God calleth the people to be his witnesses that before him there was no God formed nor shall there be any after him Yee are my witnesses saith the Lord and my servants whom I have chosen that ye may know and believe me and understand that I am he before me there was no God formed neither shall there be after me God confirmes the former Scripture by this that he is first and last that is he is eternall hee is before all beings and all other beings depends on him so that nothing can be after him If he should cease to be there could be no beings because all have their beings from him therefore God must needs be eternall that is the first and preserver of all beings Isa 44.6 So likewise in Isa 44.6 Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel and his Redeemer the Lord of Hosts I am the first and I am the last and besides me there is no God As if the Lord had said there is none that is first and last but me and therefore no God but I it is onely the attribute of God to be eternall and that am I. I am first and last I am eternall that is I am God there is no God besides me therefore none eternall none is first and last besides mee I am onely the eternall God and I am truly so for I am the first and last God only is that high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity Isa 57.15 There is no everlasting but God and he is the everlasting God Moses doth acknowledge God to be so Psal 90. beg in Psalm 90. beg Before the mountaines were brought forth or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God That is thou art the everlasting God that wert before the World was thou didst bring forth the mountaines thou hast formed the earth and the whole World Thou wert everlasting before the World was and it was thy everlasting power that made the World and thou art the same God still and remainest what thou art From everlasting to everlasting thou art God So the Prophet in the 102 Psalm 12 27. But thou O Lord Psa 102.12 27 shalt endure for ever and they remembrance unto all generations but thou art the same and thy yeares shall have no end thou art the everlasting Lord the same for ever thou art what thou art without end there is no end of thy being God for thou art the everlasting God Of old hath God layd the foundation of the earth Psal 102.25 26. and the heavens are the worke of his hand and though they perish and wax old as a garment yet the Lord he endureth for ever he is from everlasting for he must needs be before that which is made by him and he is to everlasting for he indureth when the heavens the earth wax old as God had nothing to make him God so there can be nothing to ungod him he is the same yesterday to day and for ever he is the eternall God he made all things of nothing but not any thing can make him nothing or lesse then he is for he is the eternall God and so the Apostle Paul sets him forth in the 1 Tim. 1.17 Now unto the King eternall immortall invisible the onely wise God be honour and glory for ever and ever Amongst other Attributes the Apostle gives God this the King or God eternall to whom is glory due for ever and ever as he is the everlasting and eternall God for this is an Attribute and a glory onely due to God Sixtly God is an omnipotent Almighty alsufficient God Attribute 6 he doth what he will his word is a Law he maketh all things with a word God said Let there bee light and there was light Gen. 1.3 the whole creation hath its forme light and being from the will and word of this Almighty Omnipotent and alsufficient God there needs no more then a word from God to make day and night heaven and firmament morning and evening to gather the waters together and to make dry land to cause the earth to bring forth after its kinde to make Sunne Moone and Starres to rule in the Heavens and to give light in their courses to cause the waters to bring forth abundantly of moving creatures after their kinde and the earth to bring forth living creatures after his kinde Cattell and creeping things and beasts of the earth I the powerfull word of this omnipotent God made man after his owne Image and gave him dominion over the fish of the Sea the fowles of the ayre over the Cattell over the earth and over every thing that creepeth upon the earth all this power flowes from the Word of an omnipotent God God said let it be so and it was so to all this 1 Gen. In this faith Isaac blesseth Jacob in the 28 Gen. 3. And God Almighty blesse thee and make thee fruitfull As if he should say if the Almighty God say but the word thou art blessed for he is the Almighty
the earth be removed and though the Mountaines be carryed into the midst of the Sea and so goes on in her confidence in God what is it makes the Church so confident Why this that shee was Gods interest in the World and therefore though he should confound the whole frame and power and glory of the earth carry all the mountaines into the middest of the Sea as Pharoah and his Host yet that he will preserve his Church and people as his owne interest There is a River of Free grace in God Psal 46.4 that streames for ever to make glad the City of God his people are the Children of his infinite wombe of love and the preservation of these is the proper act of his Almighty power this City of God is Gods interest and inheritance his dwelling place Psal 46.6 God is in the middest of her shee shall not be moved he uttered his voice the earth melted but this City remaines for it is his interest and God is her refuge Therefore sayes God to the Church live upon me as your Refuge and your present helpe in time of need doe not doubt or feare but be still and quiet in your spirits Be still Psal 46 8 9 10. and know that I am God I will be exalted among the Heathens I will be exalted in the Earth I will cease Warres I will breake Bow and Speare and burne the Chariots with fire I will doe all this for you that are my interest I will make good all my promises to you of the peacefull and righteous reigne of my Son Christ over you I will be exalted in the Earth The Church beleeves God in this and shee is at rest shee is still and quiet knowing that God is God and that shee is his interest The Church answers thâ—â— in verse 11. The Lord of Host is with us Psal 46.11 the God of Jacob is our God Therefore will we not feare but rejoyce in God as our God our strength and our refuge and we his interest O clap your hands all yee people and rejoyce in God with tryumph for God is King of all the Earth Psal 47.1 7. God reignes over the Heathens God sitteth upon the throne of his bolinesse then sets forth his judgements on his peoples enemies and the feare that comes upon the Kings of the Earth According to thy Name O God so is thy praise unto the ends of the Earth thy right hand is full of righteousnesse Psal 48.10 Marke the Scripture According to thy Name thou art righteous and that is thy praise thou art called a God of righteousnesse and we so trust in thee and thou art according to thy Name this is thy praise thou artâ— righteous God Psal 48.11 observe the conclusion that is made of these promises Let Mount Sion rejoyce let the Daughters of Judah 〈◊〉 glad because of thy judgements That is let them that have an interest in thee and who is thy interest in the World rejoyce and be glad that thou art according to thy Name a God of judgement and righteousnes for this makes it certain that thou wilt preserve thine owne interest them that thou causest to trust in thy name as a righteous God come sayes the Church see what God hath done for us and then you will say as well as we that God is according to his Name a righteous God Walke about Sion Psal 48.12 13. and goe round about her tell the Towers thereof Marke yee well her Bulwarkes consider her Palaces that you may tell is to the Generations following Marke well and consider how the righteous God defends his interest in the World those that trust in his Name his mercy his providence his Almighty power greatnesse and majesty these be the Towers and Bulwarks of Sion his bâ—some of love and his Temple of holinesse that is her Palace of delight shee hath her delight in God and her defence in God Marke and consider it well that you may tell is the Generations following that they may fall downe at the feet of this righteous God which will ever be according to his Name and not dare to grieve a member of Sion or to wound the interest of God For sayes the Church this God is our God for ever and ever Psal 4â— 14 he will is our guide even unto death He in our God and he is ever so we are his interest and he will preserve us so for ever he will guide us to death carry us safe through all the Wildernesse till we come into Heaven Thus is the Church of God established by beleeving in God as her God and a God that will ever be according to his Name a faithfull righteous gracious and glorious God to all that trust in him Thus also doe the Saints of God tryumph in God as their God and as they are his interest in the World So the Prophet David Psal 92.4 Psal 92.4 Thou Lord hast made me glad I will tryumph in thee Thou art my joy and thou shalt be my glory this is my joy that thou art mine Psal 95.3 4. and I will glory as I am thy interest So in Psalm 95.3 4. He glories in the greatnesse power and majesty of God because he did beleeve that God was his God and that he was part of Gods interest in the World and in Psal 96.10 Psal 96.10 Psal 97.1 I sayd among the Heathens that the Lord reigneth And Psal 97.1 The Lord reigneth let the earth rejoyce Psal 98.8 9. Let there be joy sayes he Psal 98.8 9. for the Lord commeth to judge the Earth with righteousnesse shall bee judge the World and his people with equity So Psal 99.1 2. Psal 99 1 2. The Lord reigneth let the people tremble The Lord is great in Zion hee is bigh above all people What doth the Prophet meane by all this Why he telleth us in the 121. Psalme I will fix my eye upon God sayes he my helpe commeth from the Lord the Lord is my keeper and shield And so goes on to declare his faith in God that God which he had before so extolled why sayes he this is the God I will live upon it is faith in God that makes my heart glad I beleeve he reigneth over all the Earth in his power and greatnesse he is my God I am his interest and he reignes over me in righteousnesse by all this it doth appeare that the Church and people of God have beene and are established by beleeving in God as their God taking his Word of truth for truth and beleeving God in it resting upon God according to his Name beleeving in him as the God of free grace taking the counsell of good King Jehoshaphat Beleeve in the Lord your God so shall you bee established But me thinkes I heare some ready to Object Objection Is it no more but beleeve doe you make so easie a thing of beleeving why doe you tell us of
him he makes this declaration of his faith in the first verse I shall not want this is strong faith What is the reasen of this 〈…〉 in the 〈◊〉 why hee telleth us it is his interestion 〈…〉 that he had of him my reason say 〈…〉 is this 〈…〉 my Shepheard therefore I shall not want But why are 〈…〉 fident may not you want though the Lord be 〈…〉 why sayes the Prophet I am confident up 〈…〉 maketh me to lye downe in greene pastures hee leadeth me bâ—side the stil waters he restoreth my soule he leadeth me in the paths of rightâ—â—â—snesse for his Names sake These are the experiences that I have had of God and doe you aske mee now why I am so confideâ—t Why sayes he I have not only received all this mercy and grâ—ce from God but God hee is the fountaine of all the mercies I receive and it is his owne bowels that moves him he doth a this to me for his owne Name sake not because of any worthinesse in me I could not then be confident but he leadeth me into and cloatheth me with his owne righeousnesse and all for his name sake to the glory of his grace This is the experience that I have of the Lord who is my Shepheard and upon this I am so established iâ— God that though I walk through the valley of the shadâ—â— of death I will feare no evill for thou art with me And I have had such often and ample experiences of thy mercy power faithfulnesse and goodnesse that though the way I walke in be as dark as death that my flesh can see no way out of it yet I will trust in thy power and mercy to deliver me upon the former experiences I have had of thee This I know it is thy free grace that hath chosen me to be an heire of glory from all eternity and all the experiences I have had of thee hath proved thee to be a God of free grace and that this love and grace shall as it is thy selfe abide for ever so that this is a ground of assurance to me my experience of thee that I shall be for ever with thee for so he sayes that hee shall dwell with the Lord for ever This Prophet had a great stocke of experience in God and in this place he makes the right use of them that for which I shall here gather them up together the Prophet David he acts for his owne soule and doth counsell other souls upon the experiences he had of God in Psalm 31.5 He commits his spirit into Gods hand That is casts himselfe wholly upon God and in vers 7. giveth the reason of it because hee had experimented God in his adversities that God had not shut him up in the hands of his enemies but set his feete in a large roome This experience of God makeâ— him commit his spirit to God thus hee acts for his owne soule upon experiences of God and in the 2. last verses of that Psalm he counsels Saints to love God and to trust in him upon this consideration the experiences that hee had of him as a faithfull God who preserveth his faithfull ones and plentifully rewardeth the proud doâ—r Therefore sayes he be of good courage fear not trust in God he shall strengthen your hearts all ye that hope in him as if he should say I have had such experience of God that I dare assure you if you trust in him he will not faile you So in Psalm 32.10 Many sorrowes shall be to the wicked Psal 32.10 but be that trusteth in the Lord mercyshall compasse him about I speake this sayes the Prophet upon experience that I have of God and when you know God experimentally as I doe you will say as I say Therefore in the 34. Psal 8. he cals upon Saints to taste and then they should experimentally know that God is good so good so kinde so gracious so faithfull and so omnipotent that the man is certainely blessed that trusteth in him he cannot but be a blessed man for he trusteth in God whom can never faile him God iâ— an experimented God for truth and faithfulnesse by all his people as in the 19. verse Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of all and so goes on shewing the goodnesse and faithfulnesse of God to his people I sayes he upon the experiences that I have had of God I can boldly affirme that they are blessed that trust in him Therefore he giveth this counsell in Psalme 55.22 Psal 55.22 Cast thy burthen upon the Lord and be shall sustaine thee be shall never suffer the righteous to be moved The Prophet giveth this counsell to his owne soule and to other soules why sayes he we have had expecience of God how faithfull he is in preserving his righteous one those that put their trust in him they shall never bee moved Therefore why should we distrust and through unbeliefe take the burthen upon our selves as we have experimented God so let us trust him and he doth so indeed for in Psalm 61.3 he flyeth to God upon his former experience that he had of him For thou hast beene a shelter for me and a strang towre from the enemy I have had this experience of thee therefore in all streights and in all conditions I will trust in the covert of thy wings and in the next Psalm 7 8. verses he professeth that all the resuge he had was in God and saith he I have experimented God he is a sure resuge to his people He is my salvation my glory and the reck of my strength the Prophet tells us what God is from the experience that he had of him Psalm 145.17 18. The Lord is righteout in all his wayes and holy in all his workes The Lord is nigh to all them that call upon him in truth This is God upon experience and abundantly more then this dâ—th that Man of much experience in God set him forth to be Againe consider the most glorious experiences of God thâ—â— those three emminent servants of his Shadrach Meshach and Abednego had which is recorded in the third of Daniel wee may read in that Scripture upon what consideration the Funâ—acâ— was heat seaven times hotter then before for these three faithfull ones to be cast into it and in the 17. verse how they cast themselves upon God for their deliverance Our God say they is able to deliver us from thy burning firy Furnace and hee will deliver us out of thy hands O King Well marke the issue they deny Nehuchadnezâ—ar and trust in God this inrages the Kings fury and into the sire they are cast bound hand and foot Now God giveth them to know by experience what it is to trust in him for deliverance Hee maketh them to walke in the fire loosed from their bonds without the least harme and a fourth to bee with them whose forme wat like the Sonne of God This presence and
appearance of God did astonish the King so that he called them to come forth and when they came out of the firy Furnace they were so farre from any harme That a haire of their heads was not singed mither had the smell of fire passed on them What a most glorious experience of the power faithfulnesse and goodnesse of God is here the Kings fury was so hot that the Furnace must be heat seaven times hotter then before and it was made furious in heat indeed for the flames which came forth from it slue them which cast in Shadrach Meshach and Abednego to the firy Furnace but notwithstanding all his fury God preserveth those that trust in him he is with them according to his promise when as they passe through the fire and as the Winds and Seas so the flames of fire obey him for they finge not so much as the cloathes of these faithfull ones nor leave so much as the smell of fire upon their Garments O the infinite power and faithfulnesse of God fire shall lose its nature and cease to burne rather then such as trust in him shall be consumed by it God hath power enough to preserve his owne interest those that trust in him even in the eaging flames of consuming fire no flames nor fury can destroy that which the power and mercy of God will preserve and now here is a full experience of God he will preserve that which his people commits to him and trusts to him for the preservation of it these precious soules God had brought to this glorious pitch that they sleighted the Kings power and fury by beleeâ—ing in the power and faithfulnesse of himself And now sayes God it shall he knowne what I am and what it is to trust in me God could either have turned the heart of Nebuchadnezzar or have crushed his power that he should never have been able to have cast them into the firy Fumace but in this also God workes as the wheele within the wheeles he lete the furious man go on that he might have the fitter opportunity to manifest the glory of his grace power and faithfulnesse in their deliverance and that his people might have greater experience of their safety in trusting him God lets them goe into the fire that they might have experience of his love in going with them and of his power in preserving them and bringing them forth againe to the astonishment of all beholders and that it might remaine on Record to after Ages that Generations to come might say this is God and this will God be for ever to his people Should I inlarge according to the matter and worth of these experiences I should swell into a great bulke which I seâ—ke to avoide and therefore shall upon the matter onely make resitallâ— and leave inlargements to the Spirit of God upon the hearts of the Readers We shall finde in this Booke another glorious experience of God which the Prophet Daniel himselfe had in the sixth of Daniel we shall finde a decree to cast the Prophet into the Den of Lyons was deceitfully gotten and the cause was his making of petitions to God the Prophet knew of the decree which waâ— as of the Meades and Perâ—â—ans not to be altered and yet he alters not his course of calling upon God by Prayer he opens his mouth to God and trusts God to stop the Lyons mouthes he lifts up his hands and heart to God and trustâ— God to keâ—pe downe the Lyons pawes well God will not deceive his trust but yet he will let him be cast into the Lyons Den Daniel 6.16 Though the King was sorry yet he commanded Daniel to be cast into the Lyons Den and there Daniel is as safe as amongst Lambes the Angell of God had shut the Lyons mouthes that though they remained Lyons still yet to Daniel they had no more harme in them then so many quiet Lambet and when the King comen early in the morning with dread in his spirit lest the Lyons should have feasted themselves upon that precious piece Hecryes out O Daniel servant of the living God is thy God whom thou servest continually able to deliver thee from the Lyons Vers 20. vers 20. In the 22. vers Daniel answers him My God hath sent his Angell and shut the Lyons mouthes that they have not burt mee In the 23. vers Then was the King exceeding glad and commanded to take Daniel out of the Den so he was and not any manner of 〈◊〉 found upon him But in the 24. vers when his accusers were cast into the Lyons They brake their bones before ever they came to the bottome of the Den. The Lyons were raging Lyons in themselves though their mouthes were stopped by God in the preserving of Daniel that put his trust in him O the power of God fire cannot burne nor Lyons bite where God forbids he that made all for his own glory can change the nature of what he hath made when in so doing he may magnifie the glory of his grace and faithfulnesse to his people doth not these experiences say that God is onely to be trusted and feared he shuts where no man opens and opens where no man shuts Daniel had experience of Gods love and power in this that those very Lyons that lay like Lambes by him should devoure his enemies before his face none can bound the holy one of Israel but he can lock up the Lions mouths and open them at his pleasure sure it is good to trust in so good a gracious and powerfull God one that giveth such full experience to his people that trust in him of what he is a God infinite in power mercy and goodnesse there is a spirituallity in all these experiences of God which if God give in in the reading it will make them exceeding sweet and apt to that end I quote them for namely to beget faith in God and a holy dependency on him Amongst these holy witnesses let the Prophet Jonah be admitted to bring in his experiences of God and we shall finde them to be very glorious the Prophet doth at large declare how he came to be cast into the Sea in a great tempest here is nothing appeares to fleshly reason but destruction and doubtlesse those that cast him out of the Ship expected nothing else but that the Sea should be a grave to his dead body therefore they prayed that God would not lay his blood to their charge in the 14. verse But in the 17. verse Now the Lord prepared a great Fish to swallow up Jonah Jonah 1.17 and Jonah was in the belly of the Fish three dayes and three nights Well and is this a likely way of preservation is there not as much death in the belly of the Fish as in the belly of the Sea Lay aside fleshly reasonings for a little and observe the end of Gods worke In the 2. Chap. vers 10. And the Lord spake unto the Fish and it
there is nothing too little for God to make enough that is plain in this experience this little oyle God makes it enough to pay all her debts and answer all her wants God is all himselfe therefore it is no streight to him to make the lesse to be enough his own experience doth the worke because he is all in himselfe what God appoints to give out satisfaction to his people by shall never cease to give forth till his people confesse they have enough This fountaine of life giveth living streames which alwayes flow and refresh the City of God this is God upon experience Our Saviour Christ in Matth. 8.26 shewes his power as hee was God in rebuking the windes and the Sea when there was a great tempest so that his Disciples in the ship with him were greatly affraid Christ there checkes their unbeliefe and giveth them an experience of his power by stilling the winds and Sea at his rebuke so that the Text sayes there was a great calme The calme was an act of Christs power as the feare was of the Disciples flesh so that in this they had double experience of their owne fleshly feare and Christs almighty power The Apostle Paul both when he was Saul and Paul had great experiences of God as first in his conversion when hee was Saul and breathed out threatnings and slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord Acts 9. beg How wonderfull was his conversion what glorious experiences of Gods free grace and his power is there in that worke they were so great that the Apostle doth acknowledge them all his life following when hee is brought before Judges Councels for preaching of Christ crucified and salvation by free grace through Christ hee telleth them of Gods wonderfull worke in his conversion what experience he had of his grace and power and mayes his experiences of God as a grouâ—d of resting oâ— him for strength to carry on the worke of his Apostleship which God so in raculously had called him too We may finde all the wâ—iâ—ings of this holy man spread with his experiences of God as in his voyage where the ship was cast away and yet nâ—t the life of one man lost in that venomous beast upon his hand which did him no hurt in his often bonds and stripes and his comfortable going tâ—rough all conditions with joy and establishment in God 1 Cor. 6. as having nothing and yet possessing all things Here was very great experience of God what ever he had God was the all of that and what ever he wanted of the creature yet God was all to him to that he wanted nothing but in God possessed full satisfaction God was strength to him in all his sufferings through Christ that strengthned him he could doe all things God was safety to him from all perils and upon this experience hee was true to the service of God not fearing any danger that should befall him So in Acts 5. There we may read of the same experiences that Peter and the rest of the Apostles had of God when as they were brought before the Councell and imprisoned for preaching in the name of Christ how they were delivered out of prison and yet the prison doores all fast shut they had a man set over them to keepe them and an Angel sent to deliver them they had full experience of the power of God that no power on earth or watchfulnes of men could imprison them that God would set free There is another experience of this nature of the power and glory of God Acts 16. lat end in Acts 16. latt end where by an earth-quake God opened all the doores of the prison with the bonds that were upon Paul and the rest of the prisoners yea and the hard heart of the Jaylor too for he comes trembling now to enquire after salvation This Earth-quake God useth to shake the Jaylor and his Family out of their earthly condition into a heavenly he and his Family were hereby taught to believe in God then followeth the kinde usage of the Apostles and their deliverance out of prison this affords great experience of the powerfull and glorious workings of God God doth not onely shake the earth and the heavens also but by shaking the earth he shakes into heaven he shakes the earth of unbeliefe out of this family and filleth them with heaven through believing doubtlesse it is glorious power that shakes earth out of soules and those soules into heaven this is the work of God upon experience I shall now in some few particulars mention the experiences of Gods power and justice in his righteous judgements I shall mind you of Gods judgements upon Pharoah and all his host in the red Sea but no more then mention it because I have used that Scripture already But in the next place consider Gods dealing with Herod Acts 2.22 23 24. in Act. 12.22 23 24. The proud wretch tooke Gods glory to himselfe Now see how God doth vindicate his owne glory he is immediately smitten by the Angel of God eaten up with wormâ— God is zealous of his glory he will not give that to any other nor suffer him to live long that takes it to himselfe the people made a god of this proud man and he was content to be accounted so but God will let him and them know that he is but sinfull man for he dyeth immediately like man and under a fearfull judgement as the just recompence of that pride which would have been taken for God Here is a glorious experience of Gods power and his zeale for his owne glory which should make all flesh tremble and be carefull that they cloath not their pride with that glory which is only due to God We have another experience of God in his righteous judgement upon the Sodomites being strucke with blindnesse in their bodies when in the blindnesse and wickednesse of their souls Gen. 19.11 they would have abused the Angel of God that came to Lots house according to the lust of their owne hearts the Scripture sayes Verse 4. there came all the men of the City olde and young and all the people from every quarter A tumult of wretches full fraught with the sinne of Sodome and yet behold the experimented power of God that preserves his few faithfull ones from this multitude of Sodomites and judgeth their first kindnesse with a second so that they were weary in their pursuite after wickednesse I should be glad if this example might teach all blind wretches to be carefull how they meddle with the servants of the most high God for hee is upon experience a God that revengeth the wrongs done or intended to his people Lastly Gods fearfull judgement upon Korah and all his company you may read the story in Numbers 16. and in vers 31. how the ground opened and swallowed them up alive they lived in death and were buried alive they murmured against Moses and believed not God
faith these profess Christ for the gaine of an outward reputation but do not live in Christ by faith and in times of suffering the beauty of Christ is lost to such an eye and for want of an eye of faith by which the fulnesse glory and excellency of Christ is discerned these unbeleeving professors deny their profession and their Master too if it comes to suffering with Christ if on him they will sweare with Peter they never knew him and though they sweare yet they doe not lye for such as leave their profession of Christ and holinesse through unbeliefe and become unholy they may truely say they never knew him for whom ever truly knows Christ in the spirit will never leave him an eye of faith sees so much beauty faithfulnesse power grace and goodnesse in God and Christ that though sufferings comes as waves of the Sea yet will not leave God and Christ but cleave closer to him beleeving in his grace and goodnesse for support and deliverance but that soule which beleeves not in God and doth not by an eye of faith see fulnesse in him of power grace and goodnesse to support and deliver will never trust in him but with Deâ—â—â— imbrace the present World such as follow Christ onely for the Loaves will leave him at the appearance of his Crosse That forward Professor in the 18. of Luke 18. so on which justified himselfe in keeping all the Commandements from his youth yet could not part with his worldly riches and make Christ his portion much lesse take up sufferings because of unbeliefe he would leave his good Master as he called Christ rather then his goods which were indeed his Master through the unbeliefe of his heart all his faire profession and offers after Christ comes to nothing because of unbeliefe this Christ knew therefore makes discovery of the man by trying his faith or by manifesting his unbeliefe it is the beleeving soule that followes the Lamb wheresoever he goes it is onely faith by which the soule is able to take up the Crosse of Christ and follow him but unbeliefe leaveth Christ and his Crosse together though it have professed not to leave Christ though it should dye with him yet in the appearance of such a tryall the unbeleever denies his profession to save his outside from suffering this is the constant associate of unbeliefe and therefore God is pleased in his wisedome to let sufferings be the attendance to the profession of his name in truth that thereby he might discover even to the World the precious from the vile who live in him by faith and whom onely by profession thus doth God discover the evill of unbeliefe of which argument this present age hath not been wanting A third evill of unbeliefe Third evill of â—beliefe is this unbeliefe it questions with distrust the very power of God it doubts whether God be God or his power Almighty and Omnipotent can God give bread in the Wildernesse and can God bring water out of the Rock is there fulnesse enough in God to make a barren Wildrnesse fruitfull and to give food where there is no appearance of food nay can God make a hard dry and stony Rock to bring forth water can God worke both without meanes and against meanes is this power in God thus doth unbeliefe question and distrust the power of God So that proude unbeleeving wrâ—tch King Nebuchadnezzar in the 3. Dan. 15. Who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands As if he had said is there any God hath power greater then I is there any God or any power in God that can deliver out of my hands when I have heat the Furance seven times hotter then before what power can preserve you from the fire of my fury and my Furnace We may finde unbeliefe in Sarah putting this very question in Gen. 18.12 Therefore Sarah laughed within her selfe saying After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure my Lord being old also If we observe the Scripture it amounts to this What now I and my Lord am old now all hopes in nature is gone can God now make good his word to me in giving me a Childe now we are both old this is the true question that unbelief makes can God doe this great thing Shee laughed in way of sleighting the tydings through unbeliefe concerning the power which should effect it So when Elisha the Prophet did Prophesie of that suddaine and great plenty in Samaria when they were at that time strongly besieged and in great wants 2 Kings 7.1 2. the Text sayes That a Lord on whose hands the King leaned answered the man of God and sayd Behold if the Lord would make windowes in Heaven might this thing be This is the proper language of unbeliefe thou talkest of too great things for God to doe are not we straitly besieged and all our provisions gone and doest thou speake of so great a plenty in so short a time which way should God doe this what shall he make windowes in Heaven and raine downe this plenty it can come no other way thus we see the great evill of unbeliefe how it questions the power of God and as it were ungods him for to make his deficient is to make him no God A fourth evill is this Unbeliefe is the seale of damnation he that beleeveth not is condemned in himselfe we have a full Scripture to this purpose in John 3.18 But hee that beleeveth not is condemned already because hee hath not believed in the Name of the onely begotten Sonne of God Unbeliefe it seales up to condemnation because it casts off the salvation of Gods free grace now that which denies the one seales up the other not to beleeve in Christ is to put from us all possibility of salvation and to seale the soule up to a certainty of damnation reade the last verse of that third of John He that beleeveth on the Bon hath everlasting life and hee that beleeveth not the Sonne shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth in him Whom ever beleeveth not in Christ the salvation of God shall never see life shall never live in the beholding of God reconciled to him but hath the wrath of God the seale of damnation abiding on him Heb. 11.6 Without faith it is impossible to please God As unbeliefe keeps the soule from God so it makes the soule unpleasing to God that there is no intercourse betweene God and an unbeleeving soule now what can be a more visible seale of damnation then this Separation of the soule from God which unbeliefe makes unbeliefe biddeth defiance to God and his salvation and so seales up the soule unto condemnation unbeliefe is so truly the seale of damnation that no sinne nor sinnes can damne any soule without for where faith in Christ liveth there Christ is the death of all sinne satisfaction for all sinne and the life of soules though all sinne be damnable yet no sinne nor sinnes can
be no want and thou art our Father therefore wee pray thee answer all our wants according to thy wisdome and thy glory these are the breathings and motions of true and lively faith in the soule it carryes Saints thus to God as to a Father in all their wants and makes them much with God in the opening their wants to him because God is their Father Now what ever keeps the soul much with God must needs be a great benefit to the soule and this is faith that which carries the soule in all its wants to God and keepes the eye of the soule steady on God as a Father therefore a great benefit to the soule A fifth benefit of faith in the soule is this By faith Saints doe chearfully undergoe sufferings for Christ and choose them though grievous to the flesh rather then finne This is so truly the benefit of faith in the soule that none but such soules as believe in God can doe thus Saints doe this by a strength out of themselves even in God which they have in God by believing By faith in God Shadrach Meshach and Abednego Dan. 3. chose Nebuchadnezar's firy furnace rather then to worship his golden Image which hee had set up Faith made it easier to them to suffer for God then to sinne against him though the Furnace was heat seven times hotter then before Nebuchadnezzar gave them their choise saith taught them what to choose These believing soules counts the flames of sin to be more dreadfull and fuller of smart then any flames which the Tyrant could cast them into they had faith to trust in God and that carryed them above the commands of sinne or the feare of punishment in the disobeying of man The same effect of faith we find in Daniel in the sixth Chapter of his Booke vers 10. Dan. 6.10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed he went into his Chamber and prayed three times a day Hee knew what snare was laid to catch him in yet he omitted not his duty he chose rather to be cast into the Lyons mouths then to keepe his mouth shut from making Petitions to God Thus faith in God kept him close to his duty though it led him into the snares of death Faith leept up the Apostle Paul's soule to this pitch in Acts 21.13 Acts 21.13 when â—s fleshly relations would by teares have perswaded him to omit duty that hee might wave bonds hee answers their solicitations thus What meane yee to weepe and to breake my heart for I am ready not to be bound only but also to dye at Hierusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ As if he had said your weeping is my greatest burthen you break my heart with that as for bonds and death for the Name of Christ faith in God will carry me through all that and I had father choose to dye at Hierusalem then to omit my duty and not to goe for feare of bonds Thus we see the choise of soules believing in God when sinne and sufferings are before them one to be chosen and the other left now none but a believing soule can doe thus for it is faith in God which keeps the soule close to God the pleasure of sinne though but for a season will leave such soules as have not their pleasure in God Now none can live in God with delight that doth not believe in God so that it is only the believing soule that chooses God for its delight and will rather choose sufferings then leave Godâ— Christ hath many which professe to follow him and to be in him but when hee tryes them by sufferings for his Name and his Truths they leave him and with Demas embrace the present world by which hee discovers them that they were onely of him by bare profession not truly in him by faith for then they would abide with him and accounted of Christ to be as worthy and as lovely with his Crosse as with his Crowne and would have chosen in all conditions to abide with Christ I as Moses to choose afflictions with the children of God rather then the pleasures and honours of Pharoah's Court to a believing eye Christ puts a beauty upon sufferings and a blackenesse upon sin so that the soule for beauty-sake chooseth sufferings rather then sinnes this is a precious advantage in the soule but the truth of it speaks this that there is very little true faith in the world this faith is accompanied with much love to God and Christ and that makes it the more rare and scarce to be sound but where iâ— is it makes a glorious soule and conversation Wee may finde many that doe choose sinne in love to sinne though sufferings be visible to the eye and shame at the heels of such courses but it is only the believing soule that to shun sin will choose sufferings and that out of love to God and faith in him This is a rare advantage for it makes the soule a rare soule such a one as is no where to be found but amongst Gods Jewels his little flock and peculiar ones this faith is always leading the soul of sin to take in Christ though sufferings comes with him nay chooseth to embarque in a storm with Christ rather then to goe with sinne in the most pleasantest calme that the world affords It feares not to be with Christ in troubled Seas because it believes he can rebuke them at his pleasure so that both wind and Seas shal obey him Faith knows nothing can bound God but God can bound the creature when he pleaseth Faith knowes if God say the word though the ship be split in the midst of raging Seas yet not the life of one man shall perish whom God hath promised to bring safe to shore and hereby faith perswades the soule to choose sufferings in communion with God thereby to avoid sinne which leades the soule from God the believing soule can see no happinesse out of God therefore refuseth to embrace any seeming pleasure which leads from God and this soule sees such full happinesse in God that it believes what ever sufferings it meets withall in communion with God that God in such communion will swallow up the soule in himselfe above all sufferings and in this saith doth the soule cheerfully undergoe sufferings for God and choose them rather then sin which is a greater advantage to a child of God in this world then if all the world were at his disposing A sixth benefit and advantage of true Faith in the soule is this Faith makes the soule steady in its worship and service of God when as a soule believes that it doth worship God according to his owne mind and will then it in not easily removed or shaken in its worship and service of God therefore sayes the Apostle let every one be fully perswaded in his owne minde that is what ever men doe in the service and worship of God let him fully believe
them hee speakes to the people in Chap. 3. vers 12. And when Peter saw it hee answered unto the people yee men of Israel why marvell you at this or why looke you so cornestly on us as though by our owne power and holinesse we had made this man to walke This Scripture clearly proves thus much that the Apostles were carefull that not so much as a thought should remaine in the peoples hearts that the lame man was made to walk by any power and holinesse that was singly or originally in them and therefore to put all that out of dispute they declare themselves nothing but Christ all in the worke in Acts 4.10 Be it known unto you all and to all the people of Israel that by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom yee crucified whom God raised from the dead even by him doth this man stand before you whole Observe the care of preserving the glory of God and Christ intire that was in these faithfull soules for they make a full Declaration of the power which did the work at which they were so amazed Know all you and doe you make it knowne to all the people of Israel that by the Name and power of the Lord Jesus Christ this worke is done They had here a faire opportunity to gaine great honour to themselves from the people but faith in the soule makes it its businesse to lift up the Name and glory of God and to live upon that in all it doth By faith these Apostles were instrumentall in this worke and this faith keepes them true to the originall glory which they acted by namely God and Christ they wrought this great worke in the Name of Christ and by the power of God and their second worke is to keepe the glory of it upon its owne foundation namely God and Christ Now that they might more plainly shew God and Christ to the people in this great worke they throw downe all that stands in the way and first begins with themselves Looke not upon us as if wee by one owne power and holinesse had made this man whole God hath used us as instruments but in this God is originally all therefore looke upon God not us Thus faith in GOD throwes downe selfe and flesh that GOD in his glory may appeare that the soule might glory in what God is and not what selfe is this is a precious grace in the soule for it makes a precious soule a soule willing to worke for Gods glory and accounts this a full recompence to all its labour and worke that God is thereby glorified but withall is exceeding tender that nothing of selfe should share with GOD in the glory onely due to his Name Faith at this pitch is very rarely found in these latter dayes wherein mâ—n are lovers of themselves themselves more then lovers of God but where ever it is it is an exceeding benefit and advantage to the soule such soules doe the worke of Heaven on Earth lift up the name and glory of God in all they doe and are not contented in doing any thing but in which they may doe this throw downe the vaile of their owne flesh that the glory of God might appeare in them and by them all those fleshly selfeish carnall principles and practices that are in the hearta and lives of men they are the fruite and effects of unbeliefe in the soule the evill of which doth give demonstration to the excellency and benefit of faith saith that workes and rules in the soule and conversation to the throwing downe of selfe and to the lifting up of Christ in the World this is so great a benefit that none can prize it but they that have it it is more in the injoying then it can be in the desiring Another benefit of faith in the soule is this Faith in God keepes the soule in a steady expectation of Gods fulfilling and making good his promises though the acts of his providence may seeme to worke crosly Faith centers the soule upon God in his promiset and brings it to this pitch that though it cannot see Gods way of working yet having believed God in his word doth rest in this that all his workes shall and doe make good his word so that the soule when it is at a losse concerning Gods way of working yet it is at rest in the end of God made knowne by his Word and can argue thus with it selfe though in the actings of God he seemes to crossâ— his owne ends yet I know they shall all runne into his faithfull Word and what he there speakes he is now a doing though I am a stranger to the way of his working yet he will never be failing to his owne holy ends declared in his word and upon this account the soule is kept to waite quietly and to bee steady in its expectations of Gods sulfilling and making good his promises though the workings of his providence may seeme to act crosly Therefore sayes the Prophet I will trust in thee though thou killest mee Whatever thou deest I know thou wilt fulfill thy promises this was Moses faith at the Rad Sea and his counsell to the Israelites Exod. 14.13 Exod. 14.13 Not to feare but to stand still and see the salvation of God As if he had said I and you have received promises from God that he will be with us and deliver us out of the hands of Phareah and his Task-masters why let us beleeve these promises though his workings at this present may seeme as though hee meant to let Pharoah destroy us yet having his word to the contrary feare not his workes but stand still and see the salvation of the Lord all his workes shall accomplish the fulfilling of his Word therefore in faith be quiet and waite for it there is not any thing that is more truely the nature of faith then this to keepe the soule quiet in waiting on God for the fulfilling of his promises God exhorts to this in Psalm 46.10 Psal 46.10 Be still and know that I am God I will bee exalted amongst the Heathen I will be exalted in the Earth That is you that have beleeved my word if it have spoken good to you be still and quiet in your spirits concerning the fulfilling of it for I am God I am faithfull and true though my workes seem contrary to your eyes yet they are but to exalt my name among the Heathen and in the whole earth that men may not trace me in my way but yet know I am God I will be faithfull to my ends and promises fixe you your eyes there and quiet your heart in them judge not my end by my wayes but my wayes by my end waite on the fulfilling of my word be still and know that I am God Faith in God makes the soule still and quiet in all Gods dispensations to it because it knowes that he is God therefore cannot be unfaithfull to his promiser but is in
Redeemer but I wel knew that the price of my precious blood was a full satisfaction to my Fathers justice for all the finnes of all those that should believe in him through me John 6.47 Verily verily I say unto you bee that beleeveth an mee hath everlasting life What soule soever believeth in the salvation of Gods free grace wrought by mee shall certainely nay hath eternall lifeâ— and if eternall life then doubtlesse sure establishment Sayes Christ I came from heaven and tooke flesh for your sakes that shall believe on God through me and I staid on earth till I finished the work of redemption purely for your sakes so now I am ascended and at my Father and your Fathers right hand in glory I am here for you as your head to draw all my members after me as your Mediator I live for ever to make intercession for you to prepare your Mansions and to preserâ—e your glory where you shall be fellow-heirs with me and when I come againe to judge the World it will be to pronounce you the blessed of my Father to change your mortality into in mortality and then to give my Kingdome up to my Father where you shall be for ever with the Lord and in all this my Father and I am one therefore believe in God through me so shall you be established In the next place believe the word and promises of God or God in them and you shall find them full of establishment And now once more let me defire you to turne backe and consider those glorious and gracious promises which God hath made to his Saints his Church and people on earth how hee hath â—â—gaged himselfe to take care of them and to preserve them as his peculiar interest so deare to him as the apple of his eye for whom he hath given Christ and to whom with Christ he hath given all things Remember that generall promise of God and believe it that he will never leave nor forsake his people So in Isa 4â— bâ—g There God makes promises to particular cases When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not over flow thee When thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee Now how exceedingly will the heart be established if God be believed in this the promise contains great things but remember it is the promise of an infinite and Almighty God it is I that make this great promise sayâ—â— God I that cannot lye I that can doe what I will and will be sure to make good every tittle of my promise to all that trust and believe in me Now to believe God in this how will it spirit a soule and carry it above all feare above deepe waters and slanting fires above all dangers and difficulties what an heroicke spirit will this make this man will be acted above himselfe because he lives believing in God so above the feares and doubtings of his owne flesh This faith will make soules speake in the language of the Church in Psalm 46. God is our resuge and strength a very prosent help in time of trouble in fire and water in all difficulties and streights therefore will we not feare though the earth be removed and the mountaines carryed into the middest of the Sea This is a soule that takes Gods word and believes that he will deliver it from all sâ—â—eights and therefore is not affraid what â—ver it â—â—ken or removed so aâ— God remaines having trusted in him for refuge and helpâ— in all times of trouble So in Isa 51.3 Isa 51.3 There God by the Prophet promiseth to comfort Zion yea to coâ—fort her in all her wast places to make her Wildernesse like â—den and her Desart like the garden of the Lord. This 〈◊〉 wraped up in the armes of faith will much establish the hearâ— for it doth beget great thoughts of heart how shal it fare wiâ—â— the Church of God and how shal it be with me that am a member of that Church Now believing on God in this promise answers those doubtful questions and so establisheth the hearâ— iâ— believing Isa 27.3 So in Isa 27.3 We may read Gods care of his vinâ—yard I the Lord doe keepe it I will water it every moment lift my hurt it I will keepe it day and night That is safe which God keepes and doubtlesse such soules as believe God in this promise will believe themselves to be safe in the care and keeping of God and so will be established soules God doth both promise and professe his care of his Church and people Isa 49.15 16. in Isa 49. He tels us there though a Mother may forget the soune of her womb yet that he would never forget his Church and people Nay sayes God I cannot forget you for you are graven upon the palmes of my hands Now believe God in this and try if it will not make an established soule againe in any or the greatest opposition remember that promise of God That no weapon formed against his Church and chosen ones shall prosper He will blast tongue and hands head and heart and all that 〈◊〉 themselves against him in his people though in their setting forth they may promise themselves victory yet they shall finde God will make good his word to his people such instruments and weapons shall not prosper Oh then take Gods Word and our hearts will be quiet though the Heathens doe rage yet they imagine but a vaine thing God hath said it and hee will make it good heaven and earth shall passe away but not one tittle of his word shall faile Read with an eye of faith that great and glorious promise of God to his people in Isa 41.10 and so forward Though Jacob be a worme yet hee should not feare when the Almighty is his God It is too large to recite but not too great for the armes of faith to containe and if believed I am sure it will make great establishment And now give me leave to begge saith in God for the fulfilling of al those promises which God hath made concerning the glorious and peacefull Reigne of Christ amongst his Saints in the latter dayes I dare say such soules as beleeves God in them wil finde much establishment in that faith those lattâ—r dayes must needs be hard by Now the World is so near aâ—end and to believe that glorious Reigne of Christ at hand wil make much joy and settlement in the heart though the present workings of God be to turne and overturne things yet all this serves to accomplish these glorious promises of his in bringing forth this Righteous and peacefull Kingdome of Christ God is now a shaking and overturning all unrighteous powers and governments now such soules as doe not believe these promises of God are ignorant of Gods end and so full of unsettlement in their spirits concerning the issue of his present dispâ—nsations and hereupon