what a glorious sight would it be In Heaven the Saints shall behold the Sun of Righteousness in the highest firmament and the eye of their Soul shall be strengthned to behold his glory to eternity That 's the first Perfection of knowledge 2. Perfect love Faith assures That in Heaven there shall be a Perfection of Love both to God and one another Indeed this follows from the former Perfect knowledge of God begets Perfect Love The Saints then shall love God beyond all measure who is infinitely lovely Here it 's the grief of a gracious heart that it can love God no more there it shall be the joy of a glorious Soul that it shall love God above all yea above it self and both it self and all other things in God And in this respect the Apostle gives Love the preheminence 1 Cor. 13. above Faith and Hope that when Faith shall be turned into Vision and Hope into Comprehension yet Love abideth or endures to eternity Faith assures That in Heaven 3. Perfect obedience Obedience to the will of God shall be perfect and this follows likewise from the former Perfect Obedience springs from perfect Love If ye love me keep my Commandments Joh. 14.15 The Saints knowing God perfectly shall perfectly love him and perfectly loving God shall perfectly keep his Commandments Rev. 22.3 His servants shall serve him ver 4. And they shall see his face Here we see onely the back parts of God In Heaven we shall see him perfectly and serve him perfectly Faith assures 4. Perfect joy That in Heaven there shall be perfect Peace and Joy The Kingdom of Heaven is righteousness peace and joy Rom. 14.17 When our righteousness is perfect then is our Peace too Here indeed imputed Righteousness is perfect but imparted inherent Righteousness is not to be perfected till the life to come and then shall be perfect peace Peace with God with our fellow-Citizens with our own Consciences And perfect joy too At thy right hand is fulness of joy Psal 16. ult A full joy and so a full reward 2 Joh. v. 8. There is a double fulness Of the Object Of the Subject Faith assures the Saints of both First There shall be a fulness of the Subject Fourfold fulness of the subject in glory Every part of Soul and Body shall be filled 1. The Vnderstanding shall be full of light that every question shall then be put out of question 2. The Will so full of subjection to the Will of God that there shall be no reluctancy 3. The Affections so full of harmony there shall be no jarring 4. The Body so full of glory that it shall be made like to the glorious body of Christ Phil. 3. ult Fulness of the Object Secondly there shall be a fulness of the Object The Saints in glory shall have whatever may make them happy whatever they can desire Joh. 14.8 They shall see God and so see the Father as that it shall suffice them They shall have Rest 2 Thess 1.8 And that which hath rest hath obtained its perfection to the full In a word 1. We shall be freed from whatever may annoy us 2. We shall enjoy whatever we can desire Fivefold freedom in heaven We shall be freed c. 1. From all the labours of this life Here we are born to labour Job 5.7 as the sparks to fly upwards There is rest 2. From the Necessities of Nature There is no need of Meat 1 Cor. 15.28 Drink Physick Clothing Lodging God shall be all in all 3. From the filth and power of Sin Here the best cry out Oh wretched c. Rom. 7.24 There we shall never sin more 4. From the company of sinners Here is complaining Woe is me that I am constrained to dwell in Meshech Ps 120.5 There shall be a perfect separation without any mixture Wheat with Wheat and Tares with Tares like to like to all eternity 5. From all sorrows and pains Rev. 21.4 The life of the best here is an April-day it hath some gleams of comfort but many showers In Heaven shall be constant Sun-shine for evermore Secondly We shall be possess'd of whatever good can be desired There we shall enjoy the sweet society of God Christ Angels Saints and with all these an eternal Sabbath And thus Faith like Moses on the top of Mount Pisgah discovers the promised Land afar off or like the Spies gathers up some Clusters of Canaan and brings them to a Believer here in the Wilderness Thirdly 3. Faith assures That eternal life is the Believers Faith assures a believer of his peculiar interest in this Life Eternal And indeed this is the very life of this life to know our right to this Tree of Life in Jesus Christ For as 't is nothing so comfortable to a man that beholds another mans Temporal Inheritance adorned with Woods Orchards Gardens Rivers and goodly Buildings as to be able to say with good warrant All these are mine I have good Evidence to shew for them So is it nothing so comfortable to be able to discourse of the happiness of Heaven as by the certainty of Faith to say By the grace of God all this is mine I have good Evidence to shew for it Indeed otherwise it 's a punishment nay it 's a part of Hell it 's poena damni to know that there is such a Glory in Heaven while himself hath neither lot nor part in it This is like Balaam's sight of Heaven or Dives his beholding Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham while there was a great gulf between them This I say is part of the Torment of Hell But this is the Life of a Christians knowledge concerning Life Eternal when he can upon good grounds say This is mine The lines are fallen unto me in a pleasant place yea I have a goodly heritage therefore my heart is glad my glory rejoyceth my flesh also shall rest in hope Psal 16.6 9. I know that my Redeemer liveth c. For we know c. 2 Cor. 4.1 Now how is a Christian assured of this his interest in Eternal Life but by Faith For Eternal Life is the End or Ultimate Object of Faith Receiving the end of your faith even the salvation of your Souls 1 Pet. 1.9 There are indeed many witnesses of it Three in Heaven and three in Earth 1 Joh. 5.7 8 c. And this witness of Faith is one of the Three on Earth The Spirit and Water and Blood The Spirit witnesseth to our Spirits Rom 8.16 By Water is meant the Benefit of our Sanctification By Blood our Justification by Faith in Christ or Expiation by the Blood of Christ applied by Faith and it may here be observed That though Blood alone saves a Christian yet it doth not alone witness his salvation Sanctification goes not into the matter of Salvation as a cause yet it goes into the matter of witness But according to the former Exposition Faith laying
Difference twixt heavenly earthly heirs may be cheated of their Inheritance may have it violently wrested from them as Naboth Ahab was sick for his Vineyard before he had it and as sick of it when he had it Or if none of these happen yet a Father may conceive displeasure against a Son and disinherit him Or there may be so many Sons that all cannot inherit as in Abrahams Family But none of these can befal a Childe of God in respect of his heavenly Inheritance 1. Through Gods free grace he cannot spend it He is kept by the power of God unto salvation 1 Pet. 1. 2. The Devil shall never cheat him of it as he did our first Parents of the first Paradise The gates of Hell shall not prevail 3. It can never be taken from them by force As they are reserved for that so that is reserved for them in the heavens 4. Their Father will never take up such a displeasure as to disinherit them Gods Covenant is as the Waters of Noah for As I have sworn saith the Lord that the waters of Noah should be no more on the earth so I have sworn that I will be wroth with thee no more nor rebuke thee Isa 54.9 5. And God hath blessings enough for all his children Gen. 27.38 He hath more than One. Thus the more we look into the Scriptures still the Argument appears stronger and stronger If Sons then Heirs Quest But how shall we know that we are Sons Rom. 8.14 15 16 c. Explained Ans First the Apostle resolves it ver 14. of Rom. 8. If ye be led by the Spirit then are ye sons The Spirits Manuduction or leading is an Argument of our Manumission or freedom from under the power of our first Master Sin and Satan It 's a Metaphor taken from blinde or weak persons who are glad when one leads them and supports them in their way Thus Gal. 5.18 If ye be led by the Spirit ye are not under the Law and Rom. 6.16 Secondly in the 8 of the Rom. ver 15. Rom. 8.15 But ye have received the Spirit of Adoption c. Spirit of Adoption implies two things Which implies two things 1. The Sons of God have the Nature of children in them As children naturally run to their Parents not to Strangers so do Gods children If you have a Lamb in your arms and seeing a company of Ewes about you would know which is its Dam set it down and you will soon know Nature will teach it to run to its Dam. Dost thou desire to know whether thou art Gods childe or no Observe the Bent of thy Spirit To whom dost thou run on all occasions especially in thy wants Wicked men run to the World consult with Flesh and Blood it may be go to the Devil A childe of God runs to his Father 2. The Sons of God have the Spirit of Prayer Behold he prays Act. 9.11 which is further intimated Rom 8. ver 26 27. Others may have the Gift of Prayer but the Sons of God have the Spirit of Prayer He that hath onely the Gift of Prayer it may be says much but prays nothing such as have the Spirit of Prayer possibly say nothing but pray much as Hannah 1 Sam. 1. Thirdly in the 16 ver The Spirit it self c. Rom. 8.16 The Spirit witnesseth our Sonship by a more immediate work upon our Spirit The Apostle had spoken of the Fruit of the Spirit before in the 15 ver Now he speaks of the Testimony of the Spirit it self which is an inward Testimony of the Spirit it self what secret and unspeakable Work of the Spirit perswading a Believer of Gods special love to him in Christ Even of his love shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost Rom. 5.5 Obj. But I feel not this Witness though I feel the fruits of the Spirit Ans The Lord will give it at one time or other Wait for it knowing Note that God reserves the choicest comforts for the fittest time When Daniel was in the Lions Den the Three Children in the furnace Paul and Silas in the stocks then had they most of this Witness and Comfort And so doubtless when thou art plunged into distress when persecuted by enemies or forsaken by friends when sickness doth arrest and Death draw near and so hast most need of these comforts then thou shalt have them God who hath an appointed time wherein to come will come and will not tarry Now if by these or any of these we are assured that we are Sons then we may conclude our selves Heirs too Thus Faith assures by arguing from our Sonship 5. From the Chain of salvation 5. Faith argues from the Order and Inseperate Method of that Golden Chain Rom. 8.29 30. Whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate c. and whom he did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified But saith a Believer I am effectually called and justified therefore I shall be glorified All the men in the world or Devils in hell cannot break or pull asunder the Chain which God hath thus coupled together 6. From Christs being in Heaven 6. Faith argues from the present Possession of Heaven by our Elder Brother Joh. 14.1 2. The elder Brother sometimes takes Possession of the whole Estate in the right of all the Family 1. As our elder Brother though the rest do not come to possess their part a long while after And this Act is an Assurance to them all as if they had their Estate present Thus is a Believer ascertained by Christs possessing heaven So that as we are said to be Risen again with Christ Col. 3.1 So may we be said to be in a manner Ascended with Christ He hath raised us up and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Eph. 2.6 The Apostle speaks as if Believers were in heaven already because Christ hath taken Possession of heaven in their behalf and thereby offers strong assurance That they also shall possess it in due time Hence also is Christ called our Fore-runner Heb. 6. last 2. As our Fore-runner In the 19 ver All true Christians are compared to Sea-faring men and Christ comes first to Haven to take possession for all the rest So that the World is as a Sea An elegant Allegory The Church as a Ship out of which there 's no safety Christ is the Pilot All true Believers are Passengers that have a common Adventure The Land it 's bound for is the Kingdome of Heaven the Card or Compass is the Word of God the Wind that drives it along is the Spirit of God For the Materials The Bottom and Ballast of this Ship is made of Humility the Top of open Simplicity the Sides of Patience the Sails and Banner of Love the Cords of Charity the Rudder of Faith and the Anchor of
and Duty he owes him to judge this Tract through Gods blessing upon a serious reading and digesting it much conducing to make an able Christian and Divine Indeed it holds forth to us the way that we should walk Jer. 42.3 and the thing that we should do to attain Heaven and Salvation Many Ministers and others did desire the publishing of this Treatise by the Author in his Life but his modesty and other constant labours hindred Now it is come forth we wish it may not finde the like entertainment that the Frier wittily and sharply said his Auditors gave to his Sermons they dealing with them as with his Holy-Water sprinkled on them they called for it eagerly but when he cast it on them they presently wiped it off again Make this Book now published more publick by holding forth the Life and Practise of Faith in thy Life and Station Do not onely once reade it Verba vivenda and cast it aside but carry it in thy heart as the Carpenter his Rule in his hand to square all thy actions by it We shall onely adde some Motives to excite thy Practise and then commit all to the Blessing of God 1. Consider this Life of Faith is a high Mystery Christ believed on in the world is a like Mystery with God manifested in the flesh and received up into glory Faith in the habit or root is not a Plant of Natures Garden The very nourishing of it and causing it to bring forth in our hearts is much more difficult than that of Plants in a strange Country Grace in exercise is difficult Indeed it s in us as fire under dead ashes or in a Flint Exciting quickning cooperating Grace with us must be added to that within us Grace in us lies like some Physick of dead Drugs which works not untill stronger Physick be given Without me ye can do nothing Joh. 15.5 saith Christ of his Disciples But especially the living daily in all conditions and actions by the exercise of Faith is much more hard To believe is above Nature but to act Faith in each act of Life is above our very Grace Consider farther the difficulty of this Life and so make use the rather of this Help Other ways of life viz. Trades Multi vident cruces qui non vident unctiones Bernard are called Mysteries but this above all is a Mystery of Mysteries We wonder how some men live who have a secret way of Trading but this is not onely a supernatural Secret but directly opposite to flesh and blood The Carnal and Profane scoff at it as a Fancy Paradox and golden Dream of Melancholy Spirits They count all persons who admire discourse of and practise this Life of Faith but silly Abrahams in the world as Want-wits for managing or getting an Estate Yet who doth or can without this so much despised Faith Esay 53.1 believe our report of these things It grieves our Souls to observe how many professing Christians look upon the Use of Faith as the staff of their Old Age onely or as a strong Cordial onely in fainting Fits or at best to be worn as our Holiday-clothes when we attend on the Word Prayer Sacraments then put it on But this is not to live as becomes Saints in all things and at all times by our Faith as that devout Scotch Divine whom M. Trap relates to have eat drank and slept Eternal Life Dost thou finde it hard to live by thy Labour by thy Lands Learning Friends Wits yet all these ways are far beneath this high Mystery of believing and living by it Bless God then as for Other so for This Master of the Assemblies who designs in this Work to teach thee this Mystery and Trade how to pick a living livelihood out of this Now dead Commodity viZ. Faith 2. Consider what may farther stir thee up to the exercise of this Grace as also to the Reading and Meditating on this heavenly Directory to the Life of Faith We shall not forestall those things which thou maist finde in the Author nor dispute how far some Branches of this Tree of Life viz. Faith may spring out even in Heaven it self Yet take this as Solomons Argument that Wisdom excells because it gives life to him that hath it Eccles 7.12 Vita optimus modus Entis Life is the best and highest manner of Being A living Worm excels the Sun in glory Rational Life exceeds the life of Plants and Beasts So doth Faith Reason as the highest Life man is capable of on earth Seneca and others may write of a blessed Life but Faith onely finds it This Life must come from Heaven which is so far above the Earth and so rare to be found in it He who hath all his Provisions about him of his own must needs keep the best house and have all as we say at the best hand So is it by Faith we have all within our selves from God in Christ The good man is satisfied from himself Antisthenes gained this by Study and Learning that he could walk with himself as not needing to go abroad and be beholding to others for Exercise or Delight O thesauris omnibus opulentior fides O virtutibus corporis omnibus fides fortior O medicis omnibus salutarior Ambros This is much more true of Faith Faith walks with Christ and God on the Mount of glorious Discoveries every day and takes all as out of his hands What Grace more admired by Christ Paul spends a whole Chapter Hebr. 11. as a Chronicle of Faiths Victories and Trophies Its Worthies are there mentioned as Davids elswhere This very Text on which this Tract is built is cited no less than four times Rom. 1. Gal. 3. Heb. 10. Thrice in the New Testament which may convince us of the excellency of it being worthy of a double treble Meditaâ—â—on as the summary of our Christian Faith both Doctrinal and Practical Tarnovius inter opuscula as a learned man hints on the place 3. Consider the seasonableness of this Counsel about living by Faith in these days 1. As they are sickly dying evil Times in respect of Sufferings 2. As the latter Times and so evil in respect of Sinning Quis inter haec trepidus maestus nisi cui spes et fides deest jus est enim mortem timere qui ad Christum nolit ire Ejus est ad Christum nolle ire qui se non credit cum Christo incipere regnaâ—e Scripâ—um est enim justum fide vivere Cyprian de Mort. Cyprian wrote his Book of Mortality in a time of Mortality And this Cordial of Life is now given out in season to teach us how to live and fit us to die A Minister as hath been related being sick and meeting by Providence with Mr. Ball his excellent Book of Faith which then came newly out he took it as a Guide by the hand to lead him through that dark Valley and fit him
honour to God Such are more fruitful Heb. 6.11 12. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end that ye be not slothful but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises 2 Cor. 5.14 For the love of Christ constraineth us c. 2. Receives more honour from God Rev. 2.17 To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden Manna And mark the Promise is made not to the Combatant but the Conqueror To eat of the hidden Manna Obj. But Christ is that Manna Joh. 6. I am the Bread came down from heaven therefore the weakest believer eats of him Ans Yet such a one tastes not at the first so much sweetness Exod. 16.31 The taste of it was like wafers made with honey A pleasant taste but not at first Manna was set within the Holy of Holies Exod. 16.32 before the Testimony they did not taste it so soon as they entred into the Temple 8. A jucundo Luk. 10.20 Rejoyce because your names are written in heaven like Paul are caught up into the third heaven By the least degree of faith a man is in the first heaven by a strong faith in the middle region of a Christian by full assurance in the third heaven This is to be with Christ in the Garden in the Wine-cellar in his Bosom as John Cant. 1. to be kissed with the kisses of his mouth to wear his favour which he gives to his especial favourites Joh. 15.15 All things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you to be è secretioribus consiliis a joy that the world knows not of Prov. 14.10 A stranger doth not intermeddle with their joy 9. A periculoso or ab incommodo for 1. Life is uncertain as a vapour and death uncomfortable if it come before we be assured Therefore David Psal 39. ult O spare a little that I may recover strength c. Simeon Lord now not before Say to thy Soul I may be dead before night and in hell before morning therefore it is good to be sure For temporal estate it s a great trouble to think estate is not made sure to Wife and Children it s a great mercy to set our house in order Isa 38.1 but a greater to set our souls in order they are dearer then the dearest and then we shall not fear though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death Psal 23.4 2. If it were certain yet there 's danger in deferring this 1. When God commands to make sure and we do not endeavour after it this is rebellion as the sin of witchcraft 1 Sam. 15. 2. It 's more difficult to obtain in ordinary course of working Mark 9.21 If Satan long possess he is hardly outed 3. The best condition of life is bitter without this Dan. 5.5 6. Belshazzar troubled in his feasting c. è contra this will sweeten the most bitter affliction cause to sing in prison Matthew 9.2 Christ said to the man sick of the Palsey Sonne Be of good cheer 10. A minori ad majus si isti callidi rerum aestimatores c. If men take pains to make sure the World yea Hell let their folly teach us wisdome If any thing be given by Will man rests not till he see his own Name written c. 11. Such have great boldness at the Throne of Grace in Prayer if they know Christ their High-priest Heb. 10.21 22. 2. Means of Assurance 2. In using of the Means by which we may come to Assurance True the Spirit is all in all Rom. 8.16 The Spirit beareth witness with our spirits c. yet this witness comes by means used As General Promises First Applying general Promises to our particular condition Whether they be 1. Such Promises as are made to sinners in general as 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying c. And therefore saith the Soul Though I am a sinner though I am the chief of sinners as he said there yet there are no rails made about the promise to keep me off onely I must know thus much I can no sooner lay hold of the promise but the very first touch will draw vertue from Christ to make me a new man in the frame of my heart Acts 15.9 Purifying their hearts by faith Or 2. Whether such promises were made to sinners so and so qualified not as if these qualifications did spring from themselves for God himself worketh all in all as he pleaseth As for Example Matth. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that are weary c. Now then when I see my self not onely in this condition that I am weary of my sin but willing to obey the Command surely then I have as great cause to apply the Promise as to apply the Commandment I may as well claim the Promise for my Comfort as the Commandment for my Duty If I be willing and obedient in yielding to the Commandment and my heart tells me its holy and just and good why then God tells me from his Word That if my sins were as scarlet they shall be as wooll Isa 1.17 3. Or in laying hold of the Promises tending directly to Assurance it self Isa 60 16. Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles and shalt suck the breasts of Kings and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer c. Isa 57.19 I create the fruit of the lips peace peace to him that is afar off and to him that is near saith the Lord and I will heal him 2. In receiving the spirit in the sealing work of it Sealing of the Spirit For there is one work of the Spirit whereby we cast our selves upon a Promise before we get assurance yet this is faith Isa 50.10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord c. that walketh in darkness and hath no light let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God And another work of the Spirit after this Faith is begotten that assures us we do indeed believe Eph. 1.13 14. In whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with the holy Spirit of Promise which is the earnest of our inheritance c. And this especially in Scripture is called a Seal wherein Christ is offered particularly as meat and drink 1 Cor. 11.24 Take eat this is my Body c. Exercise of Prayer 3. By stirring us up to exercise the spirit of grace and supplication more abundantly than formerly Psal 35.3 Say unto my soul I am thy salvation Zech. 12.10 They shall look upon him whom they have pierced and mourn Then they shall have a clear sight of Christ crucified and they shall mourn Obj. But where is Assurance in this mourning condition Ans Godly sorrow doth nothing hinder godly joy nay they are ever twins of the same womb for as godly sorrow so joy springs from
of the Church onely tied to the Body as wooden Legs never living Members 1 Joh. 2.19 They went out from us because they were not of us if they had been of us they would have remained with us Therefore examine whether thou art a true child of God or no a true child of God abides in the house for ever Joh. 8. A true Christian is no changeling no Time-server in matter of Religion his Yea is Yea indeed and his Nay is Nay as 2 Cor. 1.17 18. He knows Christian Religion is not a thing that a man may play fast and loose with say and unsay do and undo as times and company and occasions alter No 't is Religi à Religando of binding a man fast to God and his Principles A man is then a Christian when his confidence in Christ is held stedfast to the end Heb. 3.14 Examine therefore if thou hast such graces as do accompany Salvation such as are not common to hypocrites An hypocrite may go far 1. He may esteem the People of God a blessed People How far an hypocrite may go as Balaam did 2. He may joyn himself to them as Simon Magus did 3 He may reform his outward conversation in many things as Herod did 4. He may in outward appearance be like a wise Virgin have his Lamp and make a shew with it though he want oil 5. He may have much knowledge and excellent gifts of Preaching and Praying Mat. 7.22 6 He may have some sweet taste and joy in the word of Truth such as Philosophers do finde in their studies for the contemplation of every Truth bringeth with it naturally a delight and the more eminent the Truth the greater is the delight Q. But what is wanting then whence is it that such an one comes short of Salvation Where an hypocrite comes short Resp. 1. An hypocrite never come up to delight in the whole Truth in every part of the Truth When it is a piercing and searching word a cutting word to say then Good is the word which the Lord hath spoken Herod did not so Therefore examine thy self how impartial thou art in receiving the whole Truth of God and that in the love of it 2. He does not desire grace as grace but onely out of a natural desire of happiness as Balaam therefore consider how sutable a good is grace to thy Soul Art thou as Isa 55.1 thirsty and is grace as Milk and Wine to the refreshing of thy Soul There is not in hypocrites a Spiritual appetite to feed upon Jesus Christ to eat his flesh and drink his blood 3. If thou wouldst go beyond an hypocrite there must be an unfeigned study not onely to keep from external acts of sin but to mortifie all that is flesh in us with all the affections and lusts of it Gal. 5.24 and to serve God in the Spirit This care is wanting in hypocrites 4. Thou must attend to do what thou dost in obedience to the Word that proved Josiah a good man indeed 2 Chron. 35.26 viz. His goodness according to that which is written in the law of God 5. Thy great study and aim must be in all thou dost to approve thy self to God to please God and not men to serve God and not thy self Gal. 1.10 If I yet please men I should not be the servant of Christ Col 3.22 23. even servants in their meanest imployments in serving their Masters must not do what they do as men-pleasers but in singleness of heart fearing God and whatever they do do it heartily as to the Lord and not unto men 6. All thy Obedience to God must spring from Faith working by love Gal 5.6 If sins be forgiven all duties will spring from Love the Soul loving much having much forgiven Luke 7.47 In all these Particulars hypocrites come short and therefore it is no wonder if they fall short at last but he that in these things is sincere shall never be moved Obj. But what shall we say of David and Peter what difference between these and Saul and Judas Did not these fall away from the grace they had received Resp There may be great intermissions in the actings of grace in a truly regenerate man in time of Tentation or Spiritual Desertion yet he shall not continue in that condition but shall recover his fall by the restoring grace of God Psal 37.24 Though he fall he shall not utterly be cast down for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand Jer. 32.40 I will put my fear into their hearts that they shall not depart from me Vse 6 6 Use In that the just lives by Faith and perseveres by Faith in this life Of Thankfulness this should excite and stir us up to Thankfulness If Adam had cause to be thankful to God for making him in his own Image placing him in Paradise and giving him dominion over all creatures how much more have the Faithful cause to be thankful who are instated in a better condition of happiness than either Adam in Paradise or the Angels in Heaven before their Fall For however it is true their condition was very happy and glorious yet it was mutable they might fall and fall they did and we finde by woful experience to this day the mortal wounds and bruises that cleave to the Sons and Daughters of Adam through his Fall But God I say hath instated the faithful in a better condition that though in themselves they are weak creatures yet through his provision for their security they shall never totally fall from the grace of Regeneration And therefore if we ought to be thankful for outward mercies of health wealth liberty peace and the like which at best are very fading like the flower of the field How soon may a mans health be turned into sickness wealth into poverty liberty into bondage and slavery and peace into war How much more should our hearts be raised up in thankfulness for such mercies as are not onely Spiritual and therefore more excellent in their very nature but are also the sure mercies of David unchangeable But the sure mercies of David are unchangeable and therefore more excellent in their continuance A man would be thankful to a friend that would give him a livelyhood for seven years much more to such a one that would freely settle the perpetuity upon him and his Heirs for ever How thankful then should we be to that God who freely bestows upon us not a livelyhood onely but even life it self And what life not of Nature onely but of Grace also not Temporal but Eternal Psa 21 24. He asked life and thou gavest it him even length of days for ever and ever We prize lives according to their duration some creatures they say are born and die again the same day and are therefore of little account But we prize those most that continue longest The long life is a blessing of that Commandment Eph. 6. which is the first Commandment with
do them What superlative degree of wickedness is this to make that the object of our joy that should be the object of our greatest sorrow Psal 119.136 Rivers of tears run down mine eyes because men keep not thy law 2. They rejoyce in the comforts of the Creatures not that it is unlawful to rejoyce in the Creature but it is then unlawful when it draws the Creature further from God When men so rejoyce in Corn Psal 4. and Wine and Oil c. that the light of Gods countenance and the consolations of God seems small and of no account to them In this case God will either return and take away these comforts from them or else will give them no other portion in this life which is worst of all Repr 4. To such as refuse comfort upon the Promises It Reproves such as refuse to be comforted by a Promise unless they may have present performance These live not by Faith the Life of Consolation though they have Gods Hand and Seal and Oath for it too All is little to their esteem Is it not a shame that a covetous wretch can take so much comfort in his Bonds and Bills though he have little or no Money in his Coffers because he knows those Bonds and Bills will fetch in the Money it self in due time and yet a Believer that hath so strong a Bond from the God of Truth sealed with the Blood and Spirit of the Lord Jesus should be so dejected and onely because he wants the present possession of that which God hath reserved for a better time and for which he hath given all sufficient Security in the mean time The strong Obligations of God should bring in the Souls of Believers strong Consolation Repr 5. To such as go for comfort to false Prophets Such are to be Reproved who in stead of living by Faith which is ever grounded on the word comfort themselves in false Doctrine and false Prophets Ezek. 13.10 17 18. They have seduced my people saying Peace and there was no peace as affirming That God sees no sin and that there needs no sorrow for sin like them 1 Cor. 15.32 Let us eat and drink for to morrow we shall die Such smooth words smother mens Souls in a feather-bed of security Vse 3 For Exhortation Exhortation First to live the Life of Spiritual Consolation c. Secondly To make much of Faith because by the exercise of this grace we live this Life 1. 1. To live this life of Comfort For Exhortation to live this life of Spiritual Consolation One would think one should need no perswasions to this But the truth is Some make as much of their sorrow as some do of their joy They think they do well to be sorrowful as Jonah thought he did well to be angry But let such know it is their duty to labour to live the Life of Consolation Shall I give you some Motives to perswade to this Mot. 1 1. It is Gods Command Son be of good comfort thy sins be forgiven thee Mat. 9. â— If a creature lives the Life of Justification he is commanded to live the Life of Consolation Q. Why do we exercise the affection of love or hope or fear c A. Because God commands us By the same reason we should exercise the affection of spiritual joy because of Gods command Rejoyce in the Lord evermore and again I say rejoyce Phil. 4.4 Mot. 2 2 Motive is from the End and Vse of it Spiritual joy is very useful it is like oyl to the wheels in all duties it makes a Christian strong and active in the work of the Lord Nehem. 8.10 The joy of the Lord is our strength Therefore the Apostle puts Rejoyce continually 1 Thess 5.16 17. before Pray continually Mot. 3 The third Motive is drawn from the excellent Properties of this heavenly joy above all natural worldly The joy of a believer excels all natural worldly sinful joy in 10 properties or sinful joy It is more Solid and Substantial more Rational it is more Spiritual it is Greater it is Stronger it lasts Longer it is Pure and it is sure it is Fresher and Wholesomer and therefore more desireable in every respect It is more Solid and Substantial A wicked mans joy is very overly vain and vanishing he sets a good face on it outwardly when he hath a full sorrowful heart Prov. 14.13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful But a godly man sets the worst side outward when his outside is full of afflictions and persecutions and infirmities his inside his heart is full of joy Carnal men are Quasi gaudentes they carry themselves so as if they were the merriest men in the world and yet are truly sorrowful But godly men are Quasi dolentes As sorrowful yet alway rejoycing 2 Cor. 6.10 2. A rational joy A godly mans joy is more Rational A carnal man as he is unreasonable in his rage and persecution 2 Thess 3.2 so he is unreasonable in his joy The mirth of such men as Solomon speaks in his Book of Ecclesiastes is no better than madness Is not he a mad-man that rejoyceth to see his own house on fire and after that to throw fire-brands up and down the Town So it is with every sinner Prov. 26.18 19. As a man-man who casteth fire-brands and arrows and death so is the man that sins against his neighbor and saith Am not I in sport It 's a most irrational and absurd joy But a godly man's joy is a most rational joy his Affection is ruled by his Reason and his Reason is sanctified and therefore regulated by Grace God commands him to rejoyce bids him wâ—lcome to all comforts Temporal Spiritual and Eternal and therefore he hath good reason to rejoyce His joy is Rational 3. A spiritual joy It is most Spiritual The joy of Carnal men must needs be carnal and sensual like themselves they can a little rejoyce in corn Psal 6 7. and wine and oyl in Creature-comforts that affect the senses But a godly man rejoyceth in the light of Gods countenance in the want of all other things which must needs be a more excellent joy as the object is most excellent Spiritual joy is the joy of Angels there 's joy among the Angels in heaven over one sinner that repenteth Luke 15.10 But sensual joy is common with us to the very Beasts they delight in meat drink and sensual pleasures 4. A great joy It 's a Greater joy A Carnal man if he hath any joy at all it is very small it 's like the joy of a man that dreams he is Rich and Honourable and Victorious when indeed he is poor and base and servile which joy as it is a false so 't is a slender joy in comparison of his who is truly rich honourable and victorious God threatens the enemies of his Church Isa 29.8 that it shall be with them as with an hungry
Fall for as he was created in a possibility of standing so he was created in a possibility of falling also and fall he did as is manifest to all the world by woful experience Much less then would there be any certainty of this Salvation after the Fall should it depend upon the perfection of his own Righteousness Isa 64.6 for all our Righteousness is as filthy Rags But when nothing else is required of us in point of Justification but the renouncing our own Righteousness and the accepting of that which was performed by Jesus Christ who hath fulfilled all Righteousness to the utmost demand of the Law When once God gives us grace to do this as this is done by the grace of Faith we may be sure the gates of Hell shall never prevail against us Therefore God would have the Just live by Faith that his Salvation might be upon surer grounds General VSES Vse I. Of Information Vse 1 FOr Information If the just lives by Faith First see the happy Condition of Believers Joh. 6.29 Information in 7 things It is comfort against all discomforts What is thy Discomfort What troubles thee The happy condition of believers They have comfort 1. Against self-condemnation Is this thy discomfort when thou lookst into thy Self thou seest nothing but the Sentence of Death and condemnation in regard of thy sinfulness of Nature and Life yet thou maist say though I see nothing but Death it self By Faith I live 1. Doth the Law condemn thee Gal. 3.10 Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them 2. Doth thine own Conscience condemn thee taking part with the Law which is written there Conscience is a Practical Syllogism The Law affords the Major Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them Conscience affords the Minor But I have not continued in all things written in the book of the Law to do them Therefore I am cursed 3. Doth the Devil condemn thee who sails with wind and tide making use of the Law and Conscience As the Devil is called The Accuser of the Brethren 4. Do other Men condemn thee with whom thou hast sinned by counsel consent or incouragement Thou hast been partaker of other mens sins and these come to rise up in Judgement against thee 5. Doth the Gospel it self condemn thee At least for the time that is past Thou hast outstood many thousand sweet proffers of Grace and Mercy therefore thou art afraid that Sentence belongs to thee Prov. 1.24 Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded c. 6. Dost thou fear sometimes condemnation from the Mouth of the Judge who shall judge men according to the things that are written in the Books Rev. 20.12 yet here is thy comfort if thou believest thou art in an estate of Life The Just shall live by Faith Faith unites him to an everlasting Principle of Life And There is no condemnation to them that by faith are implanted into Christ Rom. 8.1 They are freed from condemnation Joh 5.24 1. Of the Law Rom. 7.6 We are delivered from the Law in regard of Exaction Curse and Malediction Rom. 8.2 3. We are not under the Law as a Covenant but onely as a Rule Rom. 10.14 Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one who believes 2. Of Conscience Heb. 9 14. How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God This blood is sprinkled by Faith which purifies the heart Act. 15.9 and as it purifies so it pacifies Rom. 5.1 Being justified by Faith we have peace with God 3. Of Satan Rev. 12.10 For the accuser of our brethren is cast down which accused them before God day and night His accusations are cast out of the Court like the Accusations of some troublesome Informer or busie Promoter And how are we freed from his Accusations but by Faith 1 Pet. 5.9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith Repel his Accusation of God as if he did not love you because he afflicts you For of such an Accusation he there speaks as appears by the Means which there is fitted to that kinde of resistance Whom resist stedfast in the faith knowing that the same afflictions are accomplish'd in your brethren 4. Of Men Rom. 8.33 34. The Apostle challengeth Men and Devils If the Superior Judge will absolve and justifie what hath the Inferior Judge or Witness to say against the party 5. Of the Gospel Indeed if they who believe had stood out to the end the Sentence had belonged to them But because they did by Faith receive the Gospel at the last all their former rejecting of it shall not so much as be mentioned Rev. 3.20 Christ stands at the door and knocks and makes a gracious Promise If any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me But alas who hears at the first knock Christ stands there many a day it may be many years before the poor creature opens and believes yet if he opens at last Christ comes in and makes good his Promise 6. Of the Judge for God shall judge the secrets of men according to the Gospel Rom. 2.16 Believers shall hear a Sentence of Absolution Come ye blessed So There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom 8.1 Secondly is this thy Discomfort 2. Comfort against absence from the Lord. Thou art absent from the Lord O when shall I come and appear before God Faith draws God near to the Soul in the Promise and in the Seal of the Promise Thou seest the face of God in a lively picture in a clear glass in the glass of the Word and Sacrament and that 's a great comfort As it is some comfort to have the lively Picture of an absent friend but no picture can draw one friend so near to another as these lively pictures do draw God to the Soul Therefore when we act our Faith we are said to draw near to God Heb. 10.22 3. Against distance of things promised Thirdly is this our Discomfort The distance of the thing promised yet this is our Comfort Faith gives us such Security as if the thing had a present subsistence Heb. 11.1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen 4. Against Temporal and Spiritual wants Fourthly is this thy Discomfort That thy Wants are many in Temporals and Spirituals and thou knowest not how to get them supplied yet this is thy Comfort Christ is a Fountain and the Word a Treasure and as long as there is any thing left in the Word or in Christ in whom all fulness dwells thou canst never want
comfort yet a necessary qualification evidencing our right to comfort 297 298 Satan Satans rage should be a motive to perseverance 252 Satan is a great enemy to the comfort of the Saints 315 Reasons why Satan is such an enemy to faith 424 488 489 Satan presents and applies the Promises in a wrested sense and for licentious ends 511 512 Scriptures They are a staff to believing Pilgrims 403 Arguments to prove their Divine Authority 404 405 Accomplishment of Scripture-Prophecies is a whâ—tstone to sharpen our assent to their Divine Authority 406 407 There is all the reason in the world why we should believe the Scriptures 408 409 Sealing of the Spirit It is a consequent priviledge of believing 93 Security It is the off-spring of the Devil and Vnbelief 462 Security twofold Spiritual and Carnal 246 247 The Saints Security for a sevenfold treasure 243. 244 The best security for the best purchase 380 Seducers Their sleights to beguile unstable Souls 254 Seducers are the Devils Factors 604 Self Shifting self is shiftless folly 433 Self a great Impediment of faith 486 Its Cure 487 Self-love The blessing of it is a sign of growth in grace 205 206 There is a fivefold self contrary to the life of faith 431 432 433 Sense Living by Sense is a great impediment of faith 503 514 Sin It dishonours God and wrongs the Soul forsake it as the highest demonstration of ingratitude 393 395 Sins great defilement in five respects 155 Believers have sin remaining to be mortified 157 Life of sin lies in the will ergo subdue desires 158 Sin may revive where it is mortified 159 Comfort against the vigour and rigour of sin 169 170 Scandalous sins cause great sadness 312 Inordinate aggravation of sin sinks into sadness 312 313 Sincerity The excellency of sincere grace in that 't is durable 247 248 Sloth It recoils from the means of faith It s Cure 508 509 Society Good society is a means of begetting faith 533 534 535 Soul Eternal life of the Soul proved 356 357 See Life Eternal Speech Our speeches either condemn or justifie us 365 Spirit of God What its testimony and witness is 347 The Spirits testimony may be separated from its fruits 347 348 Difference 'twixt the Spirits in dwelling in Believers and common assistance in hypocrites 426 427 The Spirits perswasion out-weighs and quickens all means motives in drawing to Christ 454 455 We must pray for Gods free establishing Spirit 552 What Gods free Spirit is from what he sets believers free and how he establishes 552 553 554 555 See Free Spirit See Establishment Strength A believers strength 471 472 473 Strength to do duties and resist temptations a sign of growth 209 210 Strength to bear afflictions and injuries a sign of growth 210 211 Strength to bear others infirmities as also to shake off Ceremonies a signe of growth 211 Its part of our strength to be sensible of weakness 212 Success This in the improvement of natural life is fetcht in by faith and that in six respects 71 72 Sufficiency All sufficiency Self sufficiency Sole sufficiency in Christ 540 T Temptation The just live by faith in temptation 50 Satan tempts sinners to conceit God to be either all Mercy or all Justice 536 Yielding to temptations is a sign of weak faith 573 Such who tempt others to sin are Satans factors and shall have deep condemnation 604 605 Thankfulness Be thankful for the life of Justification 109 110 The Saints thankfulness for the blossomings of Eternal life 391 392 393 How that thankfulness is exprest 393 to 397 Thankfulness for faith with the grounds of it 449 Time The Just live by faith in respect of all the parts of Time 44 45. Tradition Traditional faith is unsound 40 41 Trial. True faith is tried by undergoing adversity 63 We must try our comforts by our graces and not our graces by our comforts 300 to 304 Triumph The triumph of damned Spirits over unbelievers 491 Troubles These are various yet the Saints live by faith in them 51 Manner of living by faith in troubles nine ways 55 56 Means of living by faith in troubles five ways 57 58 Trust Such reproved who say they trust God with their souls and yet cannot trust him for temporals 75 76 False trust on Creatures or Grace received hinders faith together with its Cure 498 499 V Valuation See Precious A Believer neither over nor under-values his natural life 74 Vision Vision of God fourfold 337 Perfect Vision causes perfect transformation ibid Vivification The liveliness of faith in the cure of spiritual deadness 171 What meant by Vivification 172 Reasons why the Just live by faith the life of Vivification 175 176 Four Arguments or Meditations whereby faith quickens 177 Reproof of such who act not faith for Vivification 178 179 Motives to Vivification 179 180 Means to live the life of Vivification 184 185 186 187 Trial of true faith by its vivifying power 187 188 189 Vide Deadness Unbelief Unbelievers Unbelief is a piece of pride 3 It makes the heart and condition not right 4 5 Unbelievers lead a sordid life 8 Unbelief is the spring of sadness 307 308 309 Unbelief was the root of mans first Apostacy 415 Their dead condition 423 Humiliation for Unbelief 459 Unbelief is the Goliah-sin 460 Unbelief grieves the Spirit but pleases the Devil 461 The monstrous brood of Unbelief 462 The Unbeliever is the greatest Time-server 464 Unbelief is a Stepmother to grace 465 Unbelief is the Nurse that maintains life in every sin and which binds it on the Soul 465 466 Unbelief is a merciless Sequestrator 466 The Arraignment of Unbelief 467 Unbelief is the greatest Self-murther 470 The contrariety of presumption and despair unite in the Unbelievers ruine 510 Naturally we have hard unbelieving thoughts of God 536 Unbelief is a going out from God into our selves 539 Unchangeable Gods unchangeable nature is the cause of the Saints perseverance 239 Union Signs of spiritual actions flowing from Union with Christ 124 125 Union with God is unchangeable 50 Unregenerate Their Soul is no fit soil for comfort 309 310 See Regeneration Unsetledness In Gods truth its a sign of weak faith 571 W Watching Watching over one another is a means of perseverance 255 Wealth How the Just shall live by faith for it 70 Wisdom The believer is the onely wise builder 474 The believer is never at a stand because Christ is his Wisdom 475 476 477 Word See Ordinances Faith applies the Word of Christ for Sanctification 128 129 The Word mixt with faith is a means of growth 227 228 The Word is one of Christs Brests 293 How the Word works faith 443 Cavilling and mocking at the Word is the Seal of Vnbelief 494 The Word is the life of faith 517 The Word and Spirit go hand in hand 518 The Word both the object and instrument of faith 518 Living above the Word is living by a deluded fancy and not by faith such are neerer Hell 518 The Word is appointed to work faith not miracles 519 Every divine Word is an object of faith especially the Promise 520 Attendance on the Word a means to increase faith 574 Worldly World Worldly-mindedness reproved 361 362 Worldly-mindedness springs from unbelief 464 The VVorld tries fair means and foul to hinder faith 489 Wordly examples of the multitude not to be follow'd 490 FINIS