not all his benefits who remembred thee in thy low estate when no man cared for thy Soul 2. Go not back from him turn not aside from following him in thy duty though it be through difficulty This God commends in Israel of old Jer. 2.2 I remember the kindness of thy youth the love of their Espousals hoâ— thou wentest after me in the Wilderness O Repent not of your engagements for God Say not as some of these murmurers did Let us go back again to Egypt to our Onions and Garlick to our sins and lusts to our Superstitions and Idolatries again But rather let us say as Jepthah Judges 11.35 I have opened my mouth unto the Lord and I cannot go back When we fall into days of great backsliding we should think we hear Christ speaking to us as he did to his Apostles Joh. 6.66 67 68. When many of the Disciples of Christ went back from him and walked no more with him he said to the Apostles Will ye also go away Peter answered Lord To whom should we go O let a Caleb like spirit be in us that we may follow the Lord fully O that we could by this approve our selves to be the Sheep of Christ indeed by hearing his voice and following him and not following strangers nor knowing the voice of strangers John 10.4 5. Strange Doctrines strange Worship that is such Doctrines and Worship as are strange to the holy Scriptures let us not receive them nor those that bring them Never is there more need Sheep should listen to the voice of their Shepherd and follow him than when they are in a waste howling Wilderness apt of themselves to go astray and so ready to be devoured by the Beasts of prey We should therefore pray with the Spouse Cant. 1.7 Tell me O thou whom my Soul loveth where thou feedest where thou makest thy Flock to rest at noon for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the Flocks of thy Companions 3. To conclude all Trust in the Lord for ever This is Wilderness-work In the greatest straits and most amazing distresses when we are stript of all humane helps and ordinary means fail yet believe that God will provide for our Bodies for our Souls for our Families for his Church and People Casting all our care on him for he careth for us 1 Pet. 5.7 In all our exigencies let us roll our selves on God and go up from this Wilderness leaning on our Beloved Cant. 8.5 This is God's Command Psal 37.3 Trust in the Lord and do good so shalt thou dwell in the Land and verily thou shalt be â—ed Hereby we give God his greatest honour Rom. 4.20 Abraham was strong in faith giving glory to God This â—s the way to be delivered out of straits Exod. 14.13 Stand still namely in way of faith and dependance and ye shall see the salvation of the Lord. Faith will 〈◊〉 our best Anchor staying our Souls upâ—â— God and his Promise Isa 26.3 Thâ— wilt keep him in perfect peace whose minâ— stayed on thee because he trusteth in thâ— We know not how great the wants 〈◊〉 straits are we may be reduced unto Remember this Example in the Text noâ— before us Ordinary means failed 〈◊〉 God provided extraordinarily He haâ— wonderful ways to provide for his Châ—â—dren He can make a little go a greâ—â— way as when he multiplied the Loaâ—â— by a Miracle He can cause the courseâ— food to be as good nourishment as the best dainties witness Daniel's pulse Hâ— can by unexpected ways bring relieâ— When Musculus that famous Divine wanted bread for his Family and maâ—â— those Verses in his straits which are 〈◊〉 follows Est Deus in coelis qui providus omnia curâ—â— Nunquan credentes deseruisse potest In English thus There is a God in Hâ—â—ven who hath a provident care for all 〈◊〉 creatures and cannot forsake those that â—â—lieve in him As he was thus exercising himself in a way of Faith one sent him a Loaf of Bread which relieved him and his Family And in the Massacre at Paris was one Merlin nourished fourteen days together by an Egg a day laid by an Hen that came constantly to that Hawmow where he lay hid from danger Only let us labour to be Israelites indeed for such shall want no good thing Let us come into the Wilderness as Israel did by following God's Word and Spirit and not by neglecting God's Rule not by prodigal expensive courses or idleness and neglect of our Callings Let us use all good and lawful means to provide for our selves Israel took pains to gather the Manna daily and to bake it in Pans and fit it for their eating We must also pray for provision as Christ teacheth us in the Pattern he gave his Disciples to say Give us this day our daily bread and then let us trust in the Lord and by Faith leave the event with him he will take care for us As Mr. Hern a worthy Minister of the Gospel said to his Wife when he was nigh death and she with divers Children like to be left in a low condition weeping by him he sought to quiet her with these words Peace Sweet-heart That God that feed the Ravens will not starve the Herns So would I say here That God who fed Israel with Manna in the Wilderness will not fail to feed those that trust in him with food convenient for them in their greatest straits and necessities Comfort your selves and one another with these things SERMON IV. Nahum 1.7 The Lord is good a strong hold in the day of trouble and he knoweth theâ—â— that trust in him SOme say this Prophet was born at Elkosh a small Town in Galilee and there named Nahum which signifies a Comforter And so he was to Gods people He speaks indeed terrible thingâ— against Gods enemies in the 2 3 4 5 and 6 verses He shews how dreadfuâ— the wrath of God would be against the Ninevites and the Assyrians for their great wickedness Yet so as he also declares how comfortably God would manifest himself to his people in all their troubles in the words of the text The Lord is good c. Wherein he gives us 1. A description of Gods nature in general The Lord is good 2. An account wherein he his ready to express this goodness to Israel in particular Which is set down in two things 1. He is a strong hold 2. He knows them that trust in him in a day of trouble The notes observable are these 1. That the Lord is good 2. That the Church and people of God have or may expect to meet with a day of trouble 3. That God is a strong hold for them in that troublous time 4. That God knows them that trust in him in the day of trouble Of these in order Doct. 1. That the Lord is Good This is expresly in the Text. To open this briefly in two things 1. He is good in himself and so there is a threefold goodness in
that except themselves should not perish but have eternal life Yea the Gospel shews the way whereby men may be justified from those things from which they cannot be Justified by the Law of Moses namely by the righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed by God to those that apprehend and apply the same by true faith Phil. 3.9 Paul desires to he found not in his own righteousness but in that righteousness which is through Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith So likewise Rom. 3.22 He speaks of the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe Yea life and immortality is brought to light by the Gospel 2 Tim. 1.10 Obscurely under the Law more clearly under the Gospel are these things revealed Qu. 2. Ye will say What is that walking in the light the Text enjoyns upon us Ans 1. It is a walking or coming forth unto the light as if Christ had said Come forth that ye may see the light Isa 49.9 Christ is there promised to be given for a covenant of the people that he may say to the Prisoners Go forth and to them that are in darkness Shew your selves God the Father speaks to Christ in the verse before Thus saith the Lord I will give thee for a Covenant to the people that he may say to the Gentiles go forth That he might with power and efficacy say thus to them as he did at the first beginning of all things say Let there be light and there was light To the Prisoners that is to the Gentiles who are held fast by the cords and in the fetters of sin in Satans Prison Come forth to the light Receive Divine illumination Come forth that ye may see your selves your lost dangerous undone condition by nature before it be too late to get help and recovery It 's said John 3.20 Every one that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds be reproved Ahab hateth Michaiah and Elijah and took them for his enemies because they discoverd his sins Men love darkness rather than light not only because they are unwilling others should see their sins but because they are not willing to see them themselves But if we will listen to Christ we must come forth to the light and he that doth and would ever do truth cometh to the light that it may be made manifest that his works are wrought in God as it is verse 21. 2. It is a walking into the light This is that Christ speaks of in the verse after the Text Believe in the light that ye may be children of light And so the sense is Believe in me who am the light And in v. 46. Christ adds further to clear this I am come a light into the World that whosoever believeth in me should not abide in darkness So then when the Spirit of Christ works faith in our Souls we are united to Christ ingrafted into him by these blessed bonds of union His Spirit dwelleth in us and he himself dwelleth in our hearts by faith when we thus receive Christ Jesus the Lord by believing in his name we walk into the light indeed John 1.12 Col. 2.6 When we accept him upon the terms of the Gospel in all his Offices Natures Ordinances and Commands and continue in them we obey that which is required in the Text. 3. Walk up to the Light Obey the light I am the light of the World saith Christ John 8.12 He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life Some speak much of following the light within them and it is indeed the duty of all to walk up to the light they have received They that have only the light of Reason that Candle of the Lord should walk up to to that light And to what of God they that are Heathens have or may know by the works of Creation And so they that have the light of the Scriptures ought to obey the same and follow the Rules thereof And so where the light of grace is there is expected an answerable living up to the same If we thus walkin the light as God is in the light we have fellowship with him and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin 1 John 1.6 This goeth under various notions in the word Walk in wisdom Col. 4.5 That is with care and caution in regard of the manifold dangers and extremities we are liable to Walk uprightly Peter did not thus walk in that particular mentioned Gal. 2.14 He did not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 foot it aright as he ought to have done but went against his light for which the Apostle Paul reproved him Walk circumspectly Eph. 5.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Walk exactly or precisely and accurately Walk in the Spirit Gal. 5.16 In and after the Counsels and motions of Gods holy Spirit To obey his voice when we hear him saying This is the way walk ye in it Thus we â—hould walk in all holy duties and even in our ordinary Callings A man may walk in the flesh even in the â—orst of Religions and a man may and â—â—ght to walk in the Spirit when he is about the works of his ordinary and â—â—rticular Calling This is also termed a walking according to Rule Gal. 6.16 As many as walk according 〈◊〉 this Rule peace be on them and mercy Religion lies not in dead and unactive â—abits and principles but there must be activtiy and operation there must be walking not in this or that single or particular duty but in a holy tract â—ourse and conversation so walking â—mports And yet we may not walk 〈◊〉 random but regularly and according â—o rule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To walk in â—â—der in a comely and decent manner â—o the word signifies A Christian is â—ot left to Rove up and down at large where he list but to keep within â—ounds and to observe his measures 〈◊〉 walking Yea it must be according to this Rule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is the Rule of the new creature spoken of in the very verse before The Gospel in the word of it and and the Gospel in the work of it each of them is a Rule to a Christian The latter is here intended To act and walk according to the principles and Inclinations of grace and a sanctified heart and nature This is also set forth under the notion of walking in love Eph. 5.2 in love to God and Christ in love to his House and Ordinances and Servants in love to our Friends yea even to our Enemies So it is styled a walking in the Truth verse 4. of the second Epistle of St. John In the truth of Doctrine in truth of heart in truth of words and expressions to all men It is called a walking in newness of life which is to act according to the height of those principles which are in them Also a walking as Christ walked 1 John
The backslider is no true Believer The nature of this faith which is saving is best understood by considering four things which relate to it viz. The Author the Object the Act and the Ground of it 1. The Author of it is God whence it is stiled the faith of the operation of God Col. 2.12 There is a humane faith framed by the strength of reason but this is a blessed fruit of the Spirit of God Gal. 5.22 it is there reckoned among them It is the effect of that almighty power which was put forth â—n the Resurrection of Christ Eph. 1.19 20. 2. The Object of it as saving â—s Christ So every where in the Scripture John 3.16 Whosoever believeth in him shall not perish c. When the Jaylor Acts 16.30 31. asked what he should do to be saved he was directed to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and had the aâ—surance of being saved if he did so Hâ— himself directs us to do thus John 14. â— To believe in God believe also in me And 〈◊〉 told the Jews John 8.24 If ye believe not that I am he ye shall die in your sin Faith indeed embraceth the promises be not for themselves but for Christ as 〈◊〉 is wrapt up in them 3. The Acts 〈◊〉 it which are the assent of the mind anâ— the consent of the heart The assent 〈◊〉 the mind to those glorious Truths thâ—â— concern Christ and the salvation of mâ—â— through him As That he came fort from God the Father with commission to negotiate in this great work Him haâ—â— God the Father sealed John 6.27 Thaâ— he was incarnate The Word was madâ— flesh John 1.14 That he is the verâ— Son of God as Peter saith Mat. 16.16 Thou art Christ the Son of the living God That there is no other name given undeâ— Heaven by which we can be saved Actâ— 14.12 These and the like Principles thâ— mind assents to This is not sufficient 〈◊〉 make it saving faith unless the heart consents also If thou believest with all thy heart says Philip to the Eunuch Acts 8.2 With the heart man believeth unto righteousness Rom. 10.10 It makes the heart esteem Christ most precious 1 Pet. 2.7 To you that believe he is precious It is that which helps us to receive Christ into our very hearts He dwells in the heart by faith Eph. 3.17 and causeth the Soul to accept him in all his Offices and Natures and to rely on him alone for Justification and Salvation desiring to be found in him having the Righteousness which is by Christ and of God by faith as Paul speaks Phil. 3.9 And for our preservation in the mean time living as the Apostle saith Gal. 2.20 by the faith of the Son of God 4. The ground of it is the promise of God For a man to believe for salvation without a promise to build his faith upon is presumption and self-delusion We find Abraham had this for the foundation of his faith Heb. 6.13 Rom. 4.20 21. He rested on the promises of God by faith and staggered not at them through unbelief For a man to believe that God will save him though he be out of Christ and though there be no principles of grace and holiness in him is to build without a foundation for â—o such only is salvation promised This â—or the nature of saving faith If any enquire what the concurrence of faith to salvation is I answer briefly Faith coâ—curreth to salvation as it unites to Chrisâ— All things requisite to salvation meetiâ—â— Christ but none have this salvation 〈◊〉 him but such as are united to him Eteâ—nal life is in the Son and he that hath tâ—â— Son hath life he that hath not the Son haâ—â— not life 1 John 5.11 12. Communion 〈◊〉 grounded upon union and this is the proper effect of faith it doth interest thâ— Soul in the merit of Christ and gives it 〈◊〉 share in his Righteousness which is unâ—â—â— all and upon all them that believe Roâ— 3.22 and this by virtue of union Hencâ— proceeds peace Being justified by faith 〈◊〉 have peace with God Rom. 5 1. Faith dotâ— interest the Soul in the Spirit of Christ 〈◊〉 We know he abideth in us by his Spirit thaâ— he hath given us Now it is evident thaâ— from the presence of the Spirit flows alâ— things necessary to salvation Mortification of sin If we through the spirit mortifiâ—â— the deeds of the body we shall live Theâ—â— life of grace He that believeth on the Son out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water This spake Christ of the Spirit which Believers should receive John 7.38 39. Thus faith is the Nurse of all graces drawing sap from Christ the root and deriving influence from the Spirit to keep them in life and activity In a word it gives victory over temptations outward from the world alluring or affrighting 1 John 5.4 This is the victory whereby we overcome the world even our faith And inward from Satan By this shield of faith we may be able to quench all the fiery darts of that wicked one Eph. 6.16 Perseverance in the ways of God for by faith ye stand 2 Cor. 1.24 viz. by leaning upon the power of God which is the Spirit of God a Spirit of power And thus are Believers kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 If any further enquire How the way of faith is consistent with grace I answer Very well as appears by what is said Rom. 4.16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace For there is no grace so modest and humble that arrogates nothing to it self but gives all to grace as faith is and doth Faith saves in a way of grace a precarious way It is empty and poor hath nothing of it self but receives all from grace and gives all again unto grace so that no way could have been found out more advantageous to the glory and honour of grace than this of faith Had it been through love repentance or good works there would have been some ascribing to the creature bâ— faith sets the whole Crown upon the head of grace and therefore we have reason to admire this blessed contrivancâ— of God who hath ordered salvation tâ— be through faith that it might more eminently appear to be of grace Besideâ— Faith it self is a fruit of grace it is 〈◊〉 grace that faith is given Phil. 1.29 〈◊〉 you it is given freely given to believe 〈◊〉 Christ It is of grace that faith is accepted not for its own worth or excellency So it appears to be consistent with graâ—â— that it be of faith for faith doth not ecclipse but illustrate the glory of grace Branch 2. That the work of faith tâ— salvation is not of humane operation 〈◊〉 is not of our selves saith the Text. For theâ—â— is no power in man that hath any tendency to produce such an effect as this Foâ— there was not a principle of faith formally in Adam at