in expelling the enemies of spiritual life And so the just lives by his faith Act 15.9 By faith purifying their hearts Unbelief and other corruptions are deadly enemies to spiritual life Faith expels them and purifies the heart from them As the living fountain if dirt be cast into it never leaves working and working until it hath wrought it self cleer again So a beleeving heart if earthly thoughts from Satan like dirt be cast into it never leaves working till it hath wrought it self pure and fit for God's service 2 Tim. 2.21 If a man purge himself from these c. It overcomes and abandons all within and all without resists Satan 1 Pet 5.8 overcomes the world 1 Joh. 5.4 3. Nutritive faculty of faith Thirdly God makes use of faith in the Nutritive facultie or attractive faculty in drawing such things to it self as whereby is life nourished and maintained And so the just lives by his faith Faith like the first-born of graces though indeed they are all twins delight to be in the arms of God's mercy where it first receives life and there it lyes at the brest of the word at the nipple of the promises drawing virtue and strength and nourishment from them tasting every day how sweet and gracious the Lord is 1 Pet. 2.3 Psal 34.8 O tast and see that the Lord is good blessed is the man that trusteth in him q.d. by trusting in God we live upon God and taste how good he is For else we tempt God It were a miracle to live without meat But the more strength the more food 4. Digestive faculty of faith Fourthly God maketh use of faith in the Retentive and Digestive faculty turning the word into wholsome blood And so the just lives by his faith Whereas an unbeliever hearing the word receiving the food of his soul is like a man of a weak bad stomack no sooner is the meat down but it mixeth with some base humor up it comes again it will hold nothing to do it good So it is with an unbeliever not mixing the word with faith but being mixed with some base humour of pride or passion up it comes again with violence though it be in the very face of the Physician Prov. 9.2 He that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot But where the word is mixed with faith it meets with a good stomack and there it turnes into good nourishment the party grows and thrives and comes on in grace and so lives by faith as a man lives by a good stomack See Psal 36.7 8. They that put their trust under the shadow of Gods wings are abundantly satisfied with the fatness of his house c. Good meat doth well a good stomack is better Gods blessing upon both is the best of all and so it is in the life of Grace Fifthly God makes use of Faith in the Motive faculty 5. Motive faculty of Faith And so the just lives by his Faith For as bodily exercise profits much for bodily health when the Apostle sayes It profiteth little his meaning is in ordine ad spiritualia 1 Tim. 4. for doubtless as to bodily health it profiteth much it is instar omnium in stead of all Physick and without this the best diet in the world will be defective It is so with the soul Be the diet the means of grace never so good yet without exercise of grace and godliness all comes to nothing Now it is Faith and onely true Faith which puts a man upon profitable exercise Faith will not suffer a man to be idle in his calling It will not onely move his tongue though it will move that too Acts 4.20 We cannot but speak 2 Cor. 4.13 I believed therefore spake For he is a very dead-hearted Christian that hath the dead palsey in his tongue that cannot speak a word for God But it will move his hands also and his whole man to be active for God Jam. 2. Shew me thy faith by thy works Christians full of faith are full of action and so full of life See Acts 6.3 6 8 10 Whereas unbelievers are like sluggards with hand in bosome or like Idols of the Heathen Psal 115. having eyes and yet see not ears and hear not feet and walk not neither speak they through their throat and so prove dead for want of this exercise 6. Breathing faculty of Faith Sixthly God makes use of Faith in the Breathing faculty And so the just lives by his faith Breath is the Chariot of life called therefore The breath of life This breathing is twofold 1. Inspiration 2. Expiration these maintain life And both these in a spiritual sense do spring from Faith 1. Inspiration First for the act of Inspiration For howsoever every first inspiration of the Spirit gives life yet Faith draws more and more of this heavenly air from day to day for the maintaining and increasing of this life A man can no more live a spiritual life without the continual breathing of Gods Spirit into his soul than he can live a natural life without the continual sucking in of fresh air into his body And therefore it is observable Our blessed Saviour chose to convey the Holy Ghost under that similitude Joh. 20.22 He breathed on them and said Receive the Holy Ghost q. d. Ye can no more live the life of grace without my Spirit than you can live the life of nature without the breath of your nosthrils We are all by nature like Ezekiels dried bones Now it is the voice of Faith that cryes out Ezek. 37.9 O Breath breathe upon these slain that they may live And again when a man hath life and begins to exercise himself in the way of Gods Commandments he knows he cannot exercise to purpose unless it be in this fresh air of the Spirit Therefore Davids Faith put him upon this practice I opened my mouth saith he and panted for I longed for thy Commandments Psa 119.131 He took in fresh gales of the Spirit from day to day to uphold the vitals of the New man Secondly 2. Expiration There is another act of the Spirit in spiritual life and that is Expiration an holy breathing out of holy speeches and holy prayers And usually in proportion to our inspiration will be our expiration As in Nature 't is unwholesome to breathe out more then we suck in when the expence of spirits is beyond our receipts so also in grace when our expiration of holy speeches doth exceed our inspiration of the holy Spirit But when these go hand in hand all springs from Faith 2 Cor. 4.13 We having the same Spirit of faith as it is written I believed therefore have I spoken we also believe and therefore speak Faith will put a Christian upon it Faith is as it were the very breath of his nostrils Seventhly God makes use of Faith in the Augmentative or growing faculty And so the just lives by his Faith
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
the Saints The glory of others many times proves their shame but that which may seem to be the shame of a Christian Faith turns it into glory Gal. 6.14 God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ whereby the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world 1 Pet. 4.14 If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ happy are ye for the Spirit of Glory and of God resteth upon you And if there be so much glory in the very sufferings and reproach of a believer what is the glory then which they shall receive after their sufferings and in a gracious recompence of their sufferings for If we suffer with him we shall also be glorified together with him Rom. 8.17 O the glory of a true believer Where ever there is Christ in a creature there is glory in a creature Christ in you the hope of glory Col. 1.27 and not onely the hope but by the vision of Faith there is a present Transformation from glory to glory as by the Spirit of our God 2 Cor. 3.18 Thus a believer is truly honourable Isa 43.4 Since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honourable 6. Faith honours God Sixthly Dost thou desire to honour God in thy Place and Calling for a gracious heart is not so careful of his own glory as of the glory of God O that I could but honour God in my Place saith a gracious heart I should then be the less careful in other things Why this is the onely way to put honour upon God upon the Truth upon the Power upon the All-sufficiency of God He that is strong in the faith gives much glory to God Rom. 4.18 And this is that which the Saints prefer before their own Salvation Joh. 12.28 Whatever become of us they say as Christ said Father glorifie thy Name 'T is true Faith is highly to be prized because it is an instrument of our Salvation Eph. 2.8 Ye are saved by faith but it is much more to be esteemed as being such a special instrument of the glory of God Joh. 11.40 Said I not unto thee that if thou wouldst believe thou shouldst see the glory of God They that believe as they bring more glory to God than other men do so they see more of Gods glory than others can see And that 's a sixth Consideration that should move us to labour for Faith it brings abundance of glory to God Many other Considerations might be added Seventhly Without this we are but dead men 7. Dead without Faith Faith and Life come into the Soul both at once All other Life will soon decay our very natural Life is but a continued drawing on to Death but our spiritual Life the longer it continues the stronger it grows Eighthly 8. Faith makes to prosper This is the onely way to prosper in all we possess and in all we take in hand 2 Chron. 20.20 Believe in the Lord your God so shall ye be established believe his Prophets so shall ye prosper 'T is true wicked men and unbelievers may prosper after a sort they may prosper as fatted Beasts in the stall prosper against the day of slaughter The prosperity of fools shall slay them Prov. 1.32 They are cursed in their very Blessings But a true believer doth prosper in Soul Joh. Ep. 3. as well as in his Body or Estate his Prosperity is sanctified and all that he possesseth is pure and clean to him but to the defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure but even their meat and drink yea even their minde and conscience is defiled Tit. 1.15 If a believer be cast into straits Faith is that which brings submission to the Will of God and a sweet contentation with the present condition Phil. 4.11 it was the speech of a believer I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content Faith lets the believer see the present condition is best for him and therefore he is the better content with it On the other side where there is want of Faith there are perpetual discontents every little thing troubleth such a creature A gall'd back is soon hurt Num. 14.11 How long will it be ere this people believe me saith God of the murmuring Israelites in the Wilderness An unbelieving heart is evermore an unquiet a discontented heart He that doth not enjoy God by Faith how is it possible he should be satisfied with Creature-enjoyments especially in the midst of Creature-discontents Faith is that which sweetens our very Natural Life how much more then that which is Spiritual and Supernatural Wouldst thou be assured that Christ is thine Faith in due time will give thee this assurance for Christ dwells in the heart by faith Eph. 3.17 Wouldst thou be assured thou art a Childe of God and maist come in for a Childs Portion Faith will give thee this assurance also Joh. 1.12 To as many as received him he gave power to be the Sons of God even to as many as believe on his Name Wouldst thou receive more abundance of the Spirit of Christ Jesus Faith is a Conduit-pipe in which this heavenly water delights to run Joh. 7.38 He that believeth on me saith Christ out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water This spake he of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive Certainly the Life of Faith is the most excellent Life that any Creature can live upon the face of the Earth Note In a word Remember what you have heard in many Sermons Do you desire to be presented Just and Righteous before the Throne of God you must labour to get Faith then for by Faith a Creature lives the Life of Justification Do you desire to be sanctified throughout in Body Soul and Spirit you must learn then to get Faith without doubt the more Faith the more Holiness for The Just lives by Faith the Life of Sanctification Do you desire to be more abundant in Good Works than ever you have been Learn then to get Faith for By Faith the Just lives the Life of Fructification Do you desire to have your Corruptions subdued and your sinful lusts that fight against the Soul mortified Learn then to get Faith for By Faith the Just lives the Life of Mortification Do you complain of the Dulness and Deadness of your hearts in holy Duties and do you desire above all things to be more quick and lively in the Service of God Learn then to live by Faith for By Faith the Just lives the Life of Vivification The more Faith the more Life in all holy Duties Do you bewail your Leanness and Vnprofitableness and Unthriving disposition under the plentiful means of Grace and is it the desire of your Souls to increase and grow up as the Calves of the stall Mal. 4.2 Learn then to get Faith for By Faith the Just lives the Life of Augmentation Gal. 3.3 Are you afraid lest you should
but I obtained mercy so c. Quest 3 Quest How shall we do to live this Life of Sanctification Ans The answer to the third Question will resolve this viz. By what means Sanctification is wrought How and by what means this Sanctification is wrought in the Soul Ans 1 The truth is the main Original Cause is God He is the Author as of the first so of the second Creation Eph. 2.10 For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works God the Father as the Efficient Cause Jude ver 1. To them that are sanctified by God the Father God the Son as the Meritorious Cause Heb. 2.11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all one God the Holy Ghost working this 1 Cor. 6.11 But ye are sanctified in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God It springs not from our selves nor from our parents no though they be holy it springs not from them Sow the purest Wheat you can get yet it springs up with chaff again when it brings forth another Crop So the best parents bring forth children with the chaff of natural corruption cleaving to them Grace comes not from Nature but from God Joh. 1.13 Which were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God God therefore is the Original and principal Cause Vse Go to God for Sanctification for our selves or others 1 Thess 5.23 And the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly c. Mat. 8.2 And behold a leper came and worshipped him saying Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean Psal 51.7 10. Create in me a clean heart c. Ans 2 But now Faith is the Intrumental Cause of the Life of Sanctification in the order of working and so the just lives by Faith the Life of Sanctification Acts 15.9 Faith purifies the heart and ch 26.18 it purifies the life of the whole man that they may receive inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith that is in me Quest And how doth Faith purifie or how doth the just live by Faith the Life of Sanctification Ans 1. Acts of faith in sanctifying 1. Applying Christ either 1. In general As laying hold on Christ the principal object of Faith especially on the blood of Christ the meritorious Cause of cleansing I say in general laying hold upon Christ the principal object of Faith not as if Faith had this life or this power to give life in it self no more can it give the life of Sanctification than of Justification but as by it we are united to Christ our Head and Fountain of Life Faith comes from Christ and returns to Christ again like the Flower call'd The Wonder of the World it grows out from the stem or stalk and turns round to it again So Faith comes from Christ and turns round to him again to draw still more vertue from him As our Communion with Christ in grace flows from our Vnion with him so also all spiritual Operations or living acts of spiritual life Look as in the natural body the life of all the Members is from the Head and that Life conveyed by certain nerves and sinews to every part so the Life of Sanctification in all the Members is derived from Christ the Head and that by the sinews and nerves of Faith conveyed to all the elect in due time by which they live and more and more encrease from day to day Vide Ephes 4.15 16. Coloss 2.19 Quest But how shall I know that my spiritual actions and operations suppose Prayer Preaching the Word practising of that we hear in any particular do spring from my Union with Christ Ans This is a profitable and necessary Question When spiritual actions spring from faith in Christ because a man may do many good things and yet these actions not flow from our Union with Jesus Christ A man may have excellent common graces nay and he may counterfeit saving graces too and yet these not spring from Union with Christ Nay a man may be strengthened by Christ to do work and service for Christ and yet that strength and those services not flow from Union Isa 45.1 c. Concerning Cyrus his doing friendly offices for the Church and this prophecied of him about 200 years before he was born Isa 1O 3 O Assyrian the rod of mine anger c. correcting and afflicting the Church and they had their strength from God a staff in his hand and yet they did not know this nor acknowledge it themselves v. 7. Howbeit he meaneth not so c. A man may have excellent common graces as Judas had and those Matth. 7.22 Lord have we not prophecied in thy Name and in thy Name i e. in thy power cast out devils c. A man may counterfeit saving graces even to the life that he may deceive others Rev. 3.1 Thou hast a name that thou livest and art dead Though God is not mocked Quest The Question then is How shall I know whether my holy actions motions and operations do spring from Union with Christ or no Ans 1. To follow the Metaphor of Head and Members If thy holy actions proceed from inward principles 1 Cor. 6.17 Being made one spirit and not outward principles onely As a living hand or foot is moved from invisible nerves and sinews within but a wooden hand or foot is moved onely by outward ligatures by which it is bound to the body So a man may pray and preach and be onely moved by outward ligatures of profit credit envy c. Philip. 1.15 Some preach Christ of envy and strife and some of good will So Mat. 6.1 2 3 4 5. They gave alms and prayed in the streets to be seen of men but he that doth it by vertue of Union is moved by an inward principle of the Spirit of Christ Obj. But may there not be a common gift of the Spirit to move a wicked man as 2 Chron. Ezra 1.1 The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus King of Persia c. Ans Yes but then it proceeds not from the inhabiting Spirit of God whereof the Elect are the Temple 1 Cor. 6.19 but onely from a present common and transient work of the Spirit as in Baalam so sometimes good and evil spirits have had power to enter into bodies and carry them up and down but yet not to inform them as the Soul informs the Body nor to dwell there c. So the Spirit of God c. Quest How shall I know my Spiritual actions proceed from the inhabiting Spirit Ans By savouring and minding the things of the Spirit Rom. 8 5. They that are of the flesh do minde the things of the flesh but they that are after the spirit the things of the spirit Though Gods Spirit spake in and by Baalam yet he had no through relish of what he spake for he still loved the wages of
Joh. 17.17 Sanctifie them through thy truth thy word is truth Not as if the Word had power to sanctifie without the Spirit but the Spirit doth it by the Word the Word is an instrument of cleansing in the hand of the Spirit 1 Pet. 1.22 Ye have purified your souls on obeying i. e. in believing the truth through the spirit As the Spirit makes use of the Word of Precept and Threatning Psal 17.4 By the word of thy lips have I kept me from the paths of the destroyer so of the word of Promise also 2 Cor. 7.1 Having therefore these Promises let us cleanse our selves What hath God promised to be a Father to me as it is in the words before and that I should be a son or a daughter to him this Lord God Almighty upon condition that I will separate my self and touch no unclean thing and shall not I be willing so to do Nay hath God promised to perform the condition for me namely to sprinkle clean water upon me that I might be clean Ezek. 36.25 and to subdue my iniquities and sanctifie me throughout in Soul Body and Spirit and shall not I make use of these his Promises Hath God shewed so much love to me in making the Promise and shall not I shew love to him in obeying his Precept And thus by laying hold upon the Word both of Promise and Precept the just lives by Faith the Life of Sanctification therefore Faith is called Most holy Faith Jude n. 20. namely from the effect because it works holiness in him that hath it Most holy Faith it is not said Most holy Love Joy or Peace but most holy Faith not Subjective sed Effectivê All lean on this building as the Foundation Christ is the foundation of Merit Faith of Order Christ is the Foundation which Faith findes and tries as the Workman c. Faith is like a strong purge that never leaves working so long as there 's any corruption in the body So Faith never leaves working so long as there is any corruption in the Soul and that is as long as we live Onely as Faith grows stronger corruption grows weaker from day to day but it is not wholly purged out till our daying day and therefore there is use of Faith as long as we live but because when we die our corruption shall die with us also there shall be no use of Faith any longer Means 5. Sacraments 5. He lives by Faith the Life of Sanctification in the application of the Sacramental Signs These are means of our Sanctification Eph. 5.26 Christ is said to give himself for his Church that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word And Tit. 3.5 He saved us by the washing of Regeneration But this washing is by Faith Philip said to the Eunuch Act. 8.37 If thou believest with all thine heart thou maaist be baptized Obj. Then Infants are not to be baptized because they cannot believe Ans God looks at Infants in their Parents faith Gen. 17. I will be thy God and the God of thy seed So far as want of faith might hinder circumcision so far it may hinder Baptism For 1. The Covenant is the same Rom 14.11 and the Seals are the same for substance 1 Cor. 10 1 2. 2. The Grace of God is the same yea more abundant Tit. 2. ver 12. The grace of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath shined forth Opposed to the shadows of the Old Testament And did God shine upon Infants in those times and shall we put them under a cloud now VVant of faith did not hinder them then and why now It hindred heathens then and so now No Proselytes were admitted but such as made profession of the Faith of Abraham So c. Means 6. Afflictions 6. He lives by Faith the Life of Sanctification in the right use and application of Afflictions Afflictions sanctified are a means of sanctifying us That may be one reason why they are called a Baptism Mat. 20.23 Christ said to the two Disciples Ye shall indeed be baptiz'd with the baptism that I am baptized with Meaning a portion of his Afflictions If Christ learn obedience by the things which he suffered much more may we Heb. 5.8 Afflictions sanctified work the quiet fruit of righteousness Heb. 12.11 Afflictions are like the Red-sea they drown some but they save and purge others And what is the reason of the difference Some have faith to pass through them but some have none They drown those that have no faith but they purge and preserve those that have Faith Heb. 11.29 By faith they passed through the Red-sea which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned And this was not onely a Baptism of Affliction but of Purgation and Sanctification 1 Cor. 10.2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea Thus the just lives by Faith in time of Adversity not onely as preserved therein which was handled before but as washed and sanctified thereby Revel 7.14 These are they which came out of great Tribulation and have washed their Robes c. Lastly The Prayer of Faith is a mean to sanctifie Means 7. Prayer and the just lives by Faith in the exercise of Prayer carrying the Soul to the Fountain of Life Joh. 4.10 Therefore if God be the Author and Effector of this Life of Sanctification go to God for it Dost thou feel the want of Sanctification of Spiritual Life Dost thou feel thou art dead in sins and trespasses It argues the beginnings of Life but go to God for more Life pray him to sprinkle and apply the Blood of Christ Psal 51.7 pray him to apply the Word to speak to thy heart in that voice behinde thee pray him that is Jehovah Isa 30.21 to give a being to his Promise pray him to make Sacraments effectual and to Baptize thee with the Holy Ghost and with fire Ma◠3. pray him to open thine ear to hear Discipline and seal thy Instruction that when thou art corrected Job 33.16 thou maist be sure to be instructed In a word pray him who is the Author of Sanctification to cause thee to live by Faith through all means the Life of Sanctification Go to God by Prayer by the prayer of faith For the just shall live by Faith in this respect Jam. 1.5 What S. James sayes of one saving grace Wisdom we may say of all If any man lack any grace or all grace let him ask of God c. But let him ask in faith Faith lives the Life of Sanctification in drawing holiness from the Fountain in the Conduit-pipe of Prayer Isa 12.3 With joy draw ye the waters out of the wells of Salvation Lye at the breast of the Promise if thou hast any life at all and draw out of the sincere milk of the word that thou maist grow thereby 1 Pet. 2.2 which must needs be meant of the Life of Sanctification
from an inward principle of life And how is that discerned Ans His actions spring 1. From Faith both in the Precept Psal 119.93 I will never forget thy precepts for by them thou hast quickned me and in the Promise whether of Assistance or Acceptance or Reward as we see in Moses Heb. 11.25 26. 2. From Love 2 Cor. 5.14 The love of Christ constraineth me A natural man or hypocrite is not moved by any such Principle Trial. 2 Secondly they differ in their End A true Christian aims at Gods glory Elias is zealous for the Lord of hosts 1 King 19. Whether he eats or drinks he does all to the glory of God 1 Cor. 10.31 And others Salvation ver 33 Even as I please all men in all things not seeking mine own profit sayes Paul but the profit of many that they may be saved An Hypocrite though zealous and he sayes 't is for God yet 't is for himself that he may be seen of men Matth. 6.6 So Jehu 2 Kings 10.16 Come see my zeal for the Lord This is his end and this is his Principle For Finis movet agentem That which is last in Execution is first in Intention Hence also his most lively actions spring from envy and sinful emulation they scorn any should go beyond them Some preach Christ of envy sayes Paul Philip. 1.15 But a gracious heart is glad when others are active and exceed Trial. 3 Thirdly in their Manner of working where there is true Vivification 1. It strives against Coldness and meets with opposition swims against the stream An hypocrite may be as active as he will he findes nothing to let him 2. He that is truly active desires to approve himself to God and had rather God should approve him than all the world commend him 1 Cor. 4.3 4. It is a very small thing I should be judg'd of mans judgment but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Nay 2 Cor. 10. last Not he that commendeth himself is approved but whom the Lord commendeth See Psal 139. Iohn 21.17 Trial. 4 Lastly in their Issue and success The true Life of Vivification increaseth strength and spirits Prov. 24.5 A man of knowledge increaseth strength The counterfeit life of Vivification decreaseth strength and spirit like the blazing Comet that wastes it self or as unnatural predatory heat devours the spirits and strength whereas natural heat increaseth both False zeal is like Nebuchadnezzars Image Dan. 2.32 the head of gold but downward worse and worse BRANCH V. IN THE LIFE of FAITH IN SANCTIFICATION VIZ. AUGMENTATION NOw next the Just lives by Faith the Life of Augmentation he draweth increasing Vertue from Christ Christ is to the Church what the Head is to the Natural Body not onely a principle of life and motion but of increase also Col 2.19 Not holding the head from which all the body by joynts and bands having nourishment ministred and knit together increaseth with the increase of God Now what are these joynts and bands but the Spirit and Faith uniting each Member to the Head So that by Faith the Soul draws both quickning and increasing Vertue from Christ the Head The just lives the Life of Augmentation in Spiritual Respects however he fares in Temporal to apply it to the occasion of the Text. Whereas it might be objected The Caldeans will so crush the people of God that they will make them even weary of their lives as Jethro said to Moses Exod. 18.18 Thou wilt surely wear away both thou and this people The Text answers Now the just shall live by his Faith though the outward man decays by affliction yet the inward man in all true Believers is renewed day by day 2 Cor. 4.16 i.e. Gods people are quickned strengthned and enlarged in their Spiritual Life one day after another And to this increase of Spiritual Life the Prophet alludes in the very Context of this Chapter ver 14. The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea Which words howsoever some do refer to the manifestation of Gods glory in the destruction of the Caldeans which is true also yet others extend them further even to the abundant pouring forth of the Spirit of grace as a fruit of their affliction So the very same words are used isa 11.9 where he shews how such men as have been Wolves and Leopards shall be made of a Lamb-like disposition And how so For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord c. So that these words do necessarily refer to the abundant increase of grace and so the just lives by Faith the Life of Augmentation in the Winter of Affliction As the unbeliever swells at first ebullat but vanishes to nothing afterwards So the believer is small at first but increaseth exceedingly What John Baptist said I must decrease but he must increase so may the unbeliever say See ver 5 6 7.8 We are then to insist upon two things 1. That the just lives the Life of Augmention 2. That he lives this Life by Faith Propos 1. Just live the life of Augmentation First the just lives the Life of Augmentation It is his duty property and practice to grow and to increase 2 Pet. 2. last But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thess 4.1 abound more and more ver 10. increase more and more Col. 1.10 increasing in the knowledge of God They that travel heaven ward they go from strength to strength Psal 84.7 Nicodemus was weak in grace at first and so was Joseph of Arimathea for they both came by stealth to Christ at the beginning of their Conversion for fear of the Jews But afterward they grew so strong in grace that though Christ was crucified they came boldly and begg'd his body of the Governor Joh. 19. and committed it to the grave with an honorable Burial Peter was so weak at the first that the breath of the Damsels voice makes him fall back but afterwards he grew so strong that he stands like an unmovable Rock at all the Thunder-claps and terrible threats and stripes of the High-Priests Acts 4. and Rulers of the people Thus it was with the rest of the Disciples and so it is with all Gods people And the Reason is drawn Reasons of spiritual growth 1. First From the nature of true Grace It is of a growing nature Thus it is with the Kingdom of God or Church in general it increaseth from very small beginnings to a great bigness like Gideons Barley-cake or like a Snow-ball it rowls up and down the world and grows bigger and bigger and subdues all before it Therefore 't is compared to a grain of Mustard-seed Mat. 13.31 which being the least of seeds when 't is sown yet the greatest of herbs when 't is grown Besides Mustard-seed you know sows it self after the first year and so 't is in the growth of Gods Kingdom Therefore
man who dreams he is eating but when he awaketh his soul is empty or as when a thirsty man dreameth and behold he drinketh but when he awaketh he is faint and his appetite is not satisfied So is the joy of all Carnal men it s a faint and unsatisfactory joy But the joy of Gods people is full and satisfying and therefore though it cannot be set out to the full by any outward resemblance yet 't is compared to those things in which men use most of all to rejoyce as to the joy of harvest Isa 9.3 To the joy of a marriage feast Rev. 19. To the joy of a new discovered treasure Mat. 13.44 So 't is a great joy Behold say the Angels we bring you tidings of great joy Luk. 2.10 It a stronger joy i.e. stronger in regard of its effects 5. A strong joy The joy of Carnal men is but weak because it 's not able to hold out in a storm The terrors of God can easily drown the greatest of worldly comforts as we see in Belshazzar Dan. 5. But the terrors of the world cannot drown the comforts of God as we see in the noble Army of Martyrs singing in the Prison triumphing at the Stake So that we may say of True Joy as Solomon says of True Love It 's strong as death the coals thereof are as coals of fire which hath a most vehement flame many waters cannot quench it neither can the floods drown it Cant. 8.6 7. This joy of Gods people is therefore called strong Coonsolation Heb. 6.17 And indeed the word ordinarily used intimates as much Consolatio quasi Consolidatio q. d. a making one strong and solid against all opposite evils which onely the comforts of God can do And therefore they should not seem small to us Job 15.11 For the comforts of God are his peoples strength Job 16.5 It 's a more Durable joy as it 's stronger 6. A durable joy so it lasts longer The joy of Carnal men is like Jonah's gourd it 's born and dies again within the compass of a day or two The joy of an hypocrite is but for a moment Job 20.5 it 's but for a flash like the crackling of thorns under a pot though it makes a great noise it 's soon gone But of all flashes it 's most like a flash of Lightning it continues but a while and it sends after it a Thunder-clap of Judgment and extreme Misery But the joy of Gods people springing from an Immortal seed abides for ever it continues with them all their life long nay it out-lives life and is a comfort in death They that have it shall never lose it Everlasting joy shall be upon their heads Isa 35.10 7. A pure joy It 's a Purer joy The joy of Carnal men is like a Pit of Puddle-water They dig unto themselves broken Cisterns Jer. 2.13 Their comforts are not lasting nor cleer but puddle-water full of many sinful admixtures of gross and unmortified corruptions which make them like a pot of honey full of stings But the joys of Gods people are pure they drink out of the fountain Psa 36.8 There is no mud in the bottom no after-stings of a defiled and accusing Conscience they are sweet serene and pure joys 8. A sure joy It 's a Surer joy A Carnal man hath his joy upon very uncertain Tenure He is not sure of it before-hand and when he hath it he is not sure he shall hold it it depends upon many If 's and And 's If I have my health if such a business succeeds well if such a friend be as good as his word I shall then rejoyce saith a Curnal man therefore his joy rises and falls as outward Providences do ebbe and flow whereas he that lives by Faith upon a word of God hath sure comfort so long as the word holds his joy holds If for the present he have it not he is sure of it afterwards as sure as that Harvest follows Seed-time They that sow in tears shall reap in joy Psal 126.6 And when he hath it he is sure to hold it though there may be some intermissions of the lively feeling of it Your heart shall rejoyce and your joy shall no man take from you saith our Saviour to his Discples John 16.22 It 's a Fresher joy 9. A fresh joy All other joys have but their Honey-Moons and though they do not presently sowre yet they grow flat and dull within a while if they die not altogether yet ever and anon they come to the fall of the leaf But the joys of Gods people are as fresh and flourishing at the last as at the first His leaf also shall not wither Psal 1. The Bed of Jesus Christ is always green Cant. 1.16 The Poets fancy of a Continual Spring in the Golden Age of the World is here a Reality The joys of Gods people are ever springing and budding forth new comforts It 's a more Wholesome and Safe joy 10. A safe joy The joy of Carnal men 't is a destructive joy Destructive to Spiritual good How hardly is that man reclaimed who makes sin the object of his joy And 't is destructive even to Natural good There 's danger in excesses of joy as well as sorrow And what the Apostle saith of worldly sorrow may be said of worldly joy It worketh death How many men have lost their Wits nay their Lives in excessive joys Such heights of joy have set the door of the heart so wide open that the Spirits have run out of a sudden and returned no more This is sometime a fruit of Carnal joy But Spiritual joy is safe and wholesome wholesome for the Soul It 's a good means to concoct our knowledge To love the Truth and rejoyce in what we know while otherwise the sweetest Truths will lie raw and indigested upon the stomach of the Soul And it 's wholesome for the Body A cheerful spirit expels superfluities helps concoction quickens the understanding cheers the countenance and in a word Prov. 17.22 A merry heart doth good like a Medicine And now who would not be perswaded to savour these Spiritual Comforts and to live in them which have such excellent properties that worldly joyes are not worthy to be named the same day with them they are not meeet to be put into the scales with these which are so Solid so Rational so Pure c. as ye have heard Qu. But you will say What Means may we use to possesse more of this Joy of which I have given you but a little tast And yet as little as it is methinks every soul that hath heard me should cry out with the woman of Samaria Joh. 4. Lord evermore give me of this water that I thirst not neither go to the worlds pits to draw any more comfort thence Means of joy Ans I answer Therefore learn the Composition of this best Cordial better then ever the World could make t is not
All other things Persons and Performances are vile in comparison Phil. 3.8 An Unbeliever cannot thus prize Christ but says We see no form or comeliness in him that we should desire him Isa 53.2 Effect 3. 3. A high prizing of the Image and likeness of Christ the inseparable Concomitant of Faith The Vision of Christ by Faith works a strong desire of Transformation into the likeness of Christ It is the height of such a Souls ambition to have the Image of the Lord Jesus stampt upon it both in inward impressions of Grace upon the heart to be humble and meek as he was and in outward expressions of Holiness and Righteousness in their conversation Psal 17. last When I awake saith David I shall be satisfied with thy likeness We are now indeed the Sons of God saith S. John but it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is 1 Joh. 3.2 As if they should say We esteem this our very Heaven and Happiness to be made like to Christ A formal Professor may desire to be saved by Christ but he doth not seriously desire to be made like to Christ So a real Believer loves Gods Image in others 1 Joh. 5.1 4. Other effects and fruits of Faith You have in the fruits of the Spirit set down Gal. 5.22 Gal. 5.22 The fruit of the Spirit is love with peace long-suffering c. And though Faith it self be a fruit of the Spirit yet those other Graces coupled with it are also fruits of Faith in order of working As for Example 1. When a Soul is once Reconciled to God by Faith it cannot chuse but love him Faith worketh by Love So far as we have any saving light from the Spirit we do also receive heat from the Spirit He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire Why so because the Holy Ghost is like fire comes with heat as well as with light Nay of the two the heat of our love to God is more sensible than the light of our Reconcilement Many a Soul that is much in the dark concerning Justification yet cannot but confess they love God yea should God hide his face from them yet they cannot chuse but love him for his Holiness Truth Goodness Justice and such other Perfections And indeed the soundest way to comfort a weak Believer is First to convince them of their love to God For upon the manifestation of love in due time follows Joy That 's the second fruit of the Spirit and of Faith 2. Joy for the proof of our love to God doth most infallibly prove his love to us 1 Joh. 4.9 We love him because he first loved us And so far as Gods love is cleared to us we must needs rejoyce Luk. 1.47 My Spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour So that our Joy in God is weaker or stronger not as Gods love to us is weaker or stronger but as the Manifestation of it is weaker or stronger And what we say of Joy we may also say of Peace which is the third fruit of the Spirit and of Faith 3. Peace for being justified by Faith we have peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 5.1 But this Joy and Peace doth not always immediately follow upon believing but as the Sun rising follows the dawning of the day some good distance after However so soon as ever we believe we have the ground-work and seed of Peace Psal 97.11 Light is sown for the righteous and joyful gladness for the upright in heart 4. A fourth fruit is long-suffering not onely in regard of Men but in respect of God himself when God carries himself as if he were an enemy to us yet we will be friends with him we will make the best constructions of Gods Corrections Isa 8.17 and we will wait for the manifestation of his love who hideth his face from the house of Jacob. As Jacob himself waited many a year and endured much hardship for the love which he did bear to Rachel So will a believing Soul be content to wait with long-suffering for the love he bears to Jesus Christ whereas an unbeliever flings away in a chafe and says What should I wait for the Lord any longer seeing this evil is of the Lord 2 King 6.33 More Evidences of true Faith Many other evidences there are to distinguish true faith from that which is counterfeit I will name but three The first is in regard of evil Actions The second in regard of good Actions The third in respect of both 1. In point of sins 1. For evil and sinful Actions Though it is possible a Believer may fall into such through the violence of Temptation yet this is the property of true Faith it never gives quiet possession to sin long together This is part of the good fight of Faith 1 Tim. 6.12 though it may be foiled by the flesh yet it is never so overcome but there is a rising again and a lusting of the Spirit against the flesh Gal 5.17 David and Peter and other of Gods Saints were miserably foiled for the present but yet they rose again by a renewed act of Repentance and Faith and soon after recovered their former strength Whereas an Unbeliever though he may sometimes have some strivings and struglings in his natural Conscience yet at last he gives quiet possession to Sin and Satan being resolved to put himself to no further trouble Luk. 11.21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace his goods are in peace An unbelievers peace is his rest in sin Prov. 4.16 But a believers peace is his rest in Christ Psal 116.11 and not in sin Psal 77.4 19 last Job 8.34 Rom. 6.20 He never gives quiet possession long together he will not do the least evil that good may come of it nor omit the least good for fear evil should come of it 2. In point of good actions 2. For good Actions A believer so far as he is himself he does all he doth in the strength of Christ Therefore the very first act of Faith is called a laying hold on Gods strength Isa 27.5 Let him take hold of my strength that he may make peace with me and he shall make peace with me An Unbeliever while he sins against God lifts up his strength against God and like a siâ—ly Briar and Thorn he fights against a consuming fire Or if he chance to perform some good Duties yet he doth all in his own strength as he doth all to his own ends All is done in the strength of his own parts and preparation for he perceives not that he is weak and poor and blinde and miserable and naked But a Believer as he lives upon God so he does all he does in the strength of God I say so far as he is himself he does so And if at any time or in any duty he be
of thee yea he will establish and confirm thy hold of him Phil. 1.6 Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform or finish it until the day of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.5 Ye are kept by the power of God through faith unto Salvation Job 17.9 The righteous shall hold on his way and he that hath clean hands shall grow stronger and stronger Jer. 32.40 I will put my fear into their hearts that they shall not depart from me This is the fourth respect wherein Faith is such a precious Gift viz. Faith lays hold on Christ and consequently on whatsoever is precious so as never to let go its hold which Consideration ought to excite our Thankfulness for so rich a Jewel as Faith which everlastingly entails all the Priviledges of the Covenant 5. and lastly We should be Thankful for Faith 5. Faith is rare because it is so rare and scarce to be found This Flower grows not in every Garden We should indeed be Thankful for good things though they are common but I know not how it comes to pass we take little notice of such Mercies Among outward things what more precious than the Sun the Air and the Water and yet because they are common how few are affected with Gods goodness in these things as they ought to be But what is scarce and hard to be found we are usually much taken with such a thing and can prize the Donor of it Now such a thing is true Faith it s very hard to be found When the Son of Man cometh Luke 18.8 shall he finde Faith upon the earth Doubtless many may be found that have the Profession of Faith in their mouths but few that have the Grace of Faith in their hearts or the Fruit of Faith in their lives As there are few that shall be saved so there are few that do truly believe for He that believeth shall be saved Mark 16.16 Now of those few there are very few wise and mighty and noble upon whom God bestows this precious Gift of Faith A poor despicable creature that hath obtain'd Faith at Gods hands may say Blessed be God though I have but little in the world yet God hath given me that which he hath denied to many wise and mighty and noble men in the world Therefore such a man hath great cause to be thankful to be thankful I say even to admiration Joh. 14.22 Lord how is it that thou dost manifest thy self unto us and not unto the world This is that for which Jesus Christ himself is so thankful to his heavenly Father Mat. 11.25 At that timt Jesus answered and said I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes even so Father because it seemed good in thy sight Here is something very remarkable in the speech of Christ which we shall take notice of in the Resolution of two questions Quest 1. Why it is said At that time Jesus answered when we reade not any body said any thing to him before Ans I answer S. Luke will resolve this question Luk. 10.21 In that hour Jesus rejoyced in the Spirit and said I thank thee c. Observe God spake joy to his Soul inwardly though nothing was spoken outwardly even such joy as makes men exult or leap for joy as the word signifies And in answer to this inward work of joy Jesus answered and said I thank thee c. Quest 2. But then secondly it may be questioned Why an inward answer of Thankfulness might not serve the turn to an inward voice of joy Ans For this we must know Christ doth return his answer in an audible voice for their sakes that stood by as he said in another case Joh. 11.42 viz. To stir up the Disciples and all Gods People to be the more thankful for such a choice and singular Mercy He sets before us a pattern of Thankfulness he tells us what we should be thankful for above all other things namely That God hath revealed to us the great Mystery of Salvation And how is this revealed but by Faith and why should we be so thankful for the revelation of this Mystery by Faith even because there are so few that do believe it is a Mystery that is hid from the wise and prudent and revealed to a few babes that have no more knowledge of heavenly things by nature than if they were babes It is kept secret from the wisest part of the world and from the greatest part of the world And therefore if Faith be so rare and scarce as well as precious we have the greater cause to be thankful Each true Believer may stand and wonder and say Lord who am I that whilst so many Millions go in the broad way that leads to destruction who am I that I should be one of those few that do believe to the saving of the soul Heb. 10.39 Vse V. Of Humiliation Vse 5 The fifth Use is for Humiliation in case upon Trial we finde we believe not Humiliation for Unbelief we have great cause to be humbled for our Unbelief for as the just lives by his Faith so the Unbeliever dies by his Unbelief as we have heard We should look at Unbelief as the most deadly and dangerous of all other sins and therefore be humbled for it When Christ saith His Spirit should convince the world of sin Joh. 16.9 he says no more but thus It shall convince the world because they believe not on me as if Unbelief were the greatest of all other sins O that we could conceive it so We startle at Murther Adultery Theft c. and good reason we should do so in the mean time it may be we are little troubled that we do not believe nay it may be we think we do well to doubt of the Promise as Jonah thought he did well to be angry The evil of Unbelief And yet this sin of Unbelief exceeds all other sins in some respect For 1. It dishonours God First it is a sin that doth exceedingly dishonour God Indeed it calls the Divinity it self in question for if God be not a God of Unchangeable Truth and of Infinite Power he is as good as no God But Unbelief questions the Truth of God God saith He that trusts in him shall not be confounded But saith the Soul Though I should cast my self upon his Promise I question whether it should be made good to me Thus 1 Joh. 5.10 He that believeth not God hath made him a liar So Unbelief another while questions the Power of God Can God prepare a Table in the Wilderness and the like Can God forgive or can God subdue such sins Now what a dishonout is this to God 2. It grieves the Spirit of God Secondly it 's a sin that doth exceedingly grieve the Spirit of God When King Ahaz
People are in a state of life by way of eminency They are partakers of the best life This is set out in seven Particulars viz. In the 1 Nature and Kinde of it 2 Fountain and Principle 3 Comforts of it 4 Measure of it 5 Safety and Security 6 Continuance 7 End of it Together with the Reasons of the Doctrine and five Uses viz. 1 of Conviction that there is such a Life 2 Perswasion to desire this Life 3 Examination whether we have this excellent Life Where are 10 Rules of Trial. 4 Information of the worst kinde of Murther 5 Thankfulness for this Life Second Doctrine mainly intended Whatever Life the Just man lives in a more excellent manner than other men He lives that Life by vertue of his Faith Eight general Questions for the better unfolding of the Doctrine Quest I. What Faith is It is a gracious habit infused into the heart by the Spirit of God whereby the Soul rests or rowls it self upon Christ in a way of Promise for all things pertaining to life and godliness for Gods glory and its own Salvation Where the several parts of the Definition are explained Quest II. What it is to live by Faith It implies five things 1 A Right in Christ 2 A clearing our way in point of Duty 3 A clearing our Right to the Promise 4 A searching the Scripture for Legacies bequeathed to us in the Promises 5 A remembring them and a seasonable applying them to particular cases and occasions The order or Series which is taken by the Lord to cause a Christian to live by Faith A fivefold step to this Life The Lord makes use of Faith all along from first to last in the order of working Spiritual Life and that in all parts and faculties of it which are seven 1 Quickning faculty of Faith 2 Expulsive faculty 3 Nutritive faculty 4 Digestive faculty 5 Motive faculty 6 Breathing faculty 7 Augmentative faculty In all these respects the Just lives by his Faith Quest III. Why a Christian is said to live by Faith rather than any other Grace Where four Reasons are assigned and two Uses Quest IU Who it is that lives by his Faith Answ The just or Righteous person Where is shewn that there is a double Righteousness viz. Twofold Righteousness Of Justification Of Sanctification The Text comprehends both in the term Just Yet he doth not say The Just shall live by his Justice because the Righteousness of Sanctification is imperfect and deserves death but By his Faith that is that perfect Righteousness of Christ which Faith lays hold on and applies This is that Righteousness whereby believers are reputed Just and accepted with God to Life Eternal Hence it follows That though an unbeliever may be predestinated to Justification and Faith yet he is not actually Just or justified till he believe For the just onely shall live hy Faith Quest V. By whose Faith shall the Just live Answ By his own not by another mans Two Reasons why it must necessarily be a mans own Faith by which only he can live For the right understanding of this observe four Particulars by way of Caution in the amplification of this Assertion 1 It is not so a mans own Faith but that still God is the Author 2 In Temporal respects one mans Faith may benefit another 3 In Spiritual respects the Parents faith acted by vertue of Gods Covenant including the posterity of the just may benefit the children of such parents 4 Such just ones who convert others instrumentally may and shall have much more comfort and glory by the faith of their Converts than otherwise they should have had Four Considerations by way of Restriction as unto this Truth That one mans Faith may procure some benefit unto another 1 It holds not alway in Temporal respects 2 When anothers faith procures Temporals yet such temporals are not sanctified to any without an act of their own faith exercised in the Word and Prayer 1 Tim. 4.4 Psal 78.30 3 Though natural parents by birth and spiritual parents by office supposing both to be Spiritually renewed themselves may procure much good to their children and people by their faith Yet not 1 To all the children and people always Gen. 17.18 Rom. 9.1 2 3. 2 To any so as to have comfort by such good procured till such children and people believe themselves in their own right 4 Those who have heen Instruments of others Conversion and Faith shall have more joy and glory supposing such to have faith themselves Hereunto is annexed a Quaere Whether an unbelieving Minister may beget faith in others Answ Very rarely when they do they cannot rejoyce in anothers faith sincerely having none themselves See this more largely handled in the Treatise it self Uses of the Just mans living by his own Faith not anothers 1 Reproof of the Papists whose faith is cobled up of Pride and Ignorance it being a blinde assent and implicite obedience to the Canons and Dotages of that Apostatical Church 2 Reproof of such carnal Professors who have no other faith but onely what is pinned on other mens sleeves who put carnal confidence in their Spiritual Relations 2Vse of Instruction If every one must have a faith of his own then every one must have a Minister of their own 3Vse of Exhortation To prove our own selves and so to prove our own faith Quest VI. When and how long the just lives by faith Answ No time is specified to include All time The just lives by his faith All his life and in every part of his life The Question is double When respects the season How long the continuance The season of living by Faith hath respect either 1 To the parts of Time Which are three Time Past Present and to Come In all which the just lives by faith 2 To the Adjuncts of Time These are especially two Prosperity and Adversity Good and evil days First For Prosperity the Just lives by Faith 1 In seeking or obtaining of it wherein Faith directs 1 In the right order and seeking of it 2 In the right measure 3 In the right means Which are two 1 Diligence in a lawful Calling 2 Not trusting to our own Diligence but Gods Promise to the diligent 2 In using Prosperity aright wherein Faith works 1 In causing a holy Diffidence in our selves and the Creature lest we should by Pride and Security deny God or forget him 2 It raises a holy humble confidence in God so that a Believer lives upon him when he most abounds in the Creature 3 It causes the Believer not to serve himself or his lusts but the Donor with his full estate 4 Faith lays out earthly treasure so Spiritual advantages Luk. 16.9 3 In being willing to part with a prosperous state 1Vse Reproves those who live not by Faith in prosperity in which estate we are most beset with Temptations 2Vse Examine whether you live by faith in prosperity Secondly In Adversary the just lives by Faith
freedom of breathing hearing seeing and exercising all the senses so great a difference there is betwixt the life of nature and grace as also betwixt the life of grace and glory We do no more know what is reserved for us in Heaven then a child in the womb what is reserved for it when it comes into this wide world Only as there is a natural instinct in the child to go forth of the prison of the womb into a better life so there is a spiritual and supernatural instinct in all Gods children to be made partakers of a better life For as the whole creation groans so we ourselves groan within ourselves c. saith the Apostle Rom 8 22. In the mean time before we come to enjoy the life of glory to the full glorious things in their degree are spoken of the life of grace in regard of the nature Psal principle comforts c. of it as abovesaid To all which we might adde it's excellency in regard of operations viz. the crucifying our corruptions overcoming the world and all opposite powers making us more then conquerours in Christ Therefore 't is an excellent life and thence most desirable Did a beast know the life of a man he would desire it did a natural man know the life of a Christian he would desire that too For it is as farre above the life of a man as his above the life of a beast Hence Christ to the woman Joh. 4. If thou hadst known the gift of God and who 't is asketh of thee c. So I say If thou hadst but known the excellency of this life thou wouldst greatly desire and ask it of Christ Vse 3 3. For Exam. Let us try whether we have this exclellent life or no. Examination There is not much need of giving motives 1. None come to live the life of glory but such as live the life of grace all are Saints on Earth before Saints in Heaven 2. Till we know whether we have this life or no we can neither seek it if we want it nor praise God for it if we have it 3. Besides we have command to make our calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 For Rules of Trial. 1. Did God ever give thee to see thine own deadness 10. Rules of Triall and to bewail it Though thou maist leave sin and perform duty if thou dost this by thy own strength thou art not alive 1. Sight of deadness When such a soul comes to it self neverthelesse it cryes O sick sick give me somthing to comfort me Cant. 2.5 Alas sick of unbelief and a hard heart c. 2. Knowledge of this life Secondly Dost thou understand the Nature of regeneration of this life and this new birth Nichodemus did not before Christ told him Joh. 3. 'T is said 2 Cor. 5.17 He that is in Christ is a new creature New in understanding will affections and conversation 3. Instrumental cause of begetting Thirdly If thou art alive what was the instrumental means of begetting this life under God was it the power of Word preach'd upon thy soul 1 Pet. 1.33 being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God c. Affections stirring without the Word or moral perswasion with the word or corrupt seed beside the Word these are not enough See 1 Thess 1.5 2 Cor. 3.6 4. Cause mainâ—aining Fourthly if alive what is the instrumental means of maintaining this life under God and every creature desires food even the insensible creature the youngest plants thrust their fibra's into the earth to suck nourishment thence And the young Lambs suck the duggs of their damme's upon their bended knees Every life desires food for self-preservation and the nature of the food must be suitable to the nature of the life spiritual life must have spiritual food That which will feed a swine fat Ex iisdem nutâ—rimur c. will starve a sheep What is begotten of the word will be nourished of the word 1 Pet. 2.2 And the more life the more desire after food The healthfull child cryes most eagerly after the breast Such was Davids hunger and thirst after the word Psal 42.1 c. Fifthly If thou art alive thou hast a faculty within to resist and expel whatsoever is an enemy to life 5. Enmity of the contrary 1 Pet. 5.8 Sin is a spiritual poyson and Satan a murderer Dost thou so resist them Or when there is deadness of spirit dost thou rub and chafe thy soul by prayer Quicken me O Lord by thy Word Psal 119. A good sign 6. If thou art alive thou shalt perceive it as by outward sense and motion so by inward quickning and vivification 6. Sense and motion 1. By outward sense and motion Every living creature exercises some sense Examine this by what Breathing faculty thou hast VVhere there is the inspiration of spiritual life there is the expiration of holy speeches Only 't is not wholsom when our expiration exceeds our inspiration 2. Exam. what sight thou hast Ephes 4.18 with 5.8 3. VVhat hearing He that is of God heareth us c. 1 Joh. 4.6 4. VVhat tasting 1 Pet. 2.3 If so be you have tasted how gracious the Lord is 5. VVhat smelling Cant. 1.3 Thy name is an oyntment powred forth 2. By inward quickning and vivification of the heart As the heart is first formed so informed and reformed Primum vivens Rev. 3. And without this there is but a name to live The heart is the first member of the new man Gal. 4.4 If sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts c. Deut. 30.6 The Lord thy God shall circumcise thy heart c. All performances without the heart are dead workes God begins at the heart therefore examine the heart 7. Spring of life Seventhly If thou saist thou art alive then what is the spring and principle of thy life and the actions thereof Is it thy own strength and opinion of thy own parts and applause of men Or dost thou in an humble distrust of thy self look up to Christ for strength Quest How is that known Ans If Christ's glory he made the end then the grace of Christ is the principle The stream is never higher then the fountain 2. Besides then this strength comes in a promise 'T is Christ in a promise What promise dost thou lay hold on 8. Growtâ— Eightly If alive where is thy growth where ever there is life there is growth till the creature comes to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 4.11 Till we all come to the measure of the the stature of Christ Object If this be so may some say then I have no life Answ spiritual growth is not discern'd by every dayes observation but some long time as the shadow on the diall 2. A soul careful to grow and mourning for want of growth I dare pronounce it doth grow though it
perceive it not Trees though they do not grow are fitted for growth in winter 9. Propagation Ninthly If thou art alive know it not only by growth and augmentation but also by a desire of a propagation and conveiance of that life to others The Father delivers the lamp of his life to his son as one candle lights another So 't is in this life of grace it begets the like to it self Examine therefore whether thou art one like Pharaoh that seekest to kill the children of gace in the birth this is to play the tyrant nay the Devill Rev. 12. Or whether thou art like God and godly men that say as the Apostle Gal. 4.19 They desire to see Christ formed in others 10. Delightâ— Tenthly If alive what company delights thee Psal 16.2 my delight is in the Saints and the excellent The living converse with the living and not among Tombes unlesse they be possest as the man in the Gospel Why seek ye the living amongst the dead said the Angel Such are dead company as dead men Vse 4 Fourthly This informs us If the spiritual life be the most excellent life what is the worst murder Information of the worst murder Surely that which takes away the best life And that is the murder of the soul God commands in the sixth commandement Thou shalt do no murder Every man startles at that but many are found guilty of soul-murder See Ezek. 33 8. If the watchman warn not the blood of them that perish in their sins God will require at his hands This made Paul so careful to purge himself Act. 20.26 I am free of the blood of every one of you See also Ezek 13.18 Vse 5 Fifthly Bless God for this life where it is and makes much of it How desirable a thing as Gaius Thankfulness to have our souls prosper 3. Epist Joh 2. And if we find any decay remember the counsel to the Angel of the Church of Sardis Rev. 3.2 Be watchfull and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die for I have not found thy works perfect before God But the Just shall live by his Faith DOCTRINE II. Whatsoever life the just man lives in a more excellent manner then other men he lives that life by vertue of his Faith Doct. 2 THE Apostle confesseth this was his life And what is the life of one faithful man as faithful is the life of all Gal. 2 20. The life that I live I live by the faith of the Son of God c. This is a lesson that is often taught and yet very hardly learned For as the life of a Christian is a hidden life so the means of conveyance of it is in a hidden way hidden and dark to a natural man This water of life runs as it were in a conduit-pipe under the ground A natural man perceives it not But the Just shall live by his Faith For the better unfolding of his mysterious and useful trade of living by faith we shall endeavour by God's assistance who is the Author and Finisher of our faith to shew these things Heb. 12.2 viz. First What Faith is Secondly What it is to live by Faith Thirdly Why living is by Faith rather then love c. Fourthly Who it is that lives by Faith Fifthly Whose Faith he lives by viz. his own Sixthly When and how long Seventhly What life it is he lives by Faith Eighthly The Reasons why Lastly What use we are to make of all QUEST I. What Faith is FOR the first You have the definition at least the description set down by the Holy Ghost Heb. 11.1 It is the subsistence of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen For example tell a natural man of God's favour and the comforts of his Spirit and the future recompence of reward which is more worth then all the comforts of the world he thinks it a mere notion that there is no reality in it but all feigned But a Christian by faith seeth there is truth reality and subsistence in these things and in whatever God promiseth who calleth those things that be not as though they were Rom. 4.17 To whom all things are possible Mark 9.23 And thereby becomes a kind of omnipotent faith By others it is defined thus In general A believing the Gospel In particular Definition of Faith A gracious habit infused into the heart by the Spirit of God whereby the soul rests or rolls it self upon Christ in a way of promise for all things appertaining to life and godliness for Gods glory and it 's own salvation It is not then 1. a bare disposition but an habit 2. An habit not acquired by frequent acts but infused by the spirit called therefore 1 Cor. 4.17 the spirit of faith 3. Infused not into the head only but the heart Rom. 10.10 with the heart man believeth And therefore it stands more in affection than notion Indeed in faith there is both an Assent of the mind to the truth of the message sent to sinners indefinitely 1 Tim. 1.15 and a consent of heart and will to the goodness of it whereby this or that particular sinner receives it to himself Gal. 2.20 Christ Who loved Me. Joh 21. My Lord and my God which differ as a garment in the cloth and on the back Christ is put on by faith Fourthly We say whereby the soul rests or rolls its self or leans For assurance and full perswasion is not of the being of faith but the well-being There 's faith of Evidence and faith of Reliance Or rather there is a double evidence 1. Of sense 2. Of reliance Faith in Scripture is set out in regard of the latter in such terms as we have given Psal 37.5 Isa 50.10 Mark 9.24 Fifthly Vpon Christ Who is the main object of faith and it is not sufficient to believe in God out of Christ Joh 14.1 Ye believe in the Father believe also in me and otherwhere None cometh to the Father but by me Sixthly In way of a promise No promise no Christ Abraham laid hold on a promise in those extraordinary things as an ordinary mean Rom. 4.20 he staggered not at the promise through unbelief See 2 Pet. 1.3 Eph. 2.12 Covenant of promise c. Seventhly For all things c. First for Christ and then all things with him Rom. 8.32 Wherefore the promises in Christ are called Rich and Precious promises Eighthly For God's glory Rom. 4.20 gave glory to God and our own salvation Heb. 10. last that believe to the saving of the soul QUESTION II. What it is to live by Faith To live by Faith Ans TO live by Faith is not only by laying hold on Christ by faith to receive life by Christ 1 Joh. 5.12 He that hath the Son hath Life Secondly But also in the use and exercise of faith to receive daily from Christ both the preservation and increase of this life Eph. 4.13 Thirdly Enabling a Christian by vertue
7. Augmentative faculty of Faith As Faith grows for Rom. 1.17 the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith so other graces grow with it See 2 Thess 1.3 having mentioned the growing of their faith then follows And the charity of every one of you aboundeth So 2 Pet. 1.5 Adde to your faith vertue and to vertue c. all follow Faith Again 2 Pet. 3. last Grow in grace how and in the knowledge or faith of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Shew me thy faith by thy works Jam. 2. Not onely the truth but the measure of our Faith is seen by our works And so much for the second general Question What it is to live by Faith Onely now it were good to examine our selves upon all this Whether we do thus live by Faith making our particular application of our souls to each of the particulars fore-mentioned But I pass to the third Question QUESTION III. Why a Christian is said to live by Faith rather than any other Grace Reas 1 WHy not by Love or Thankefulness or Patience c The reason is in a word for what is said already may give light hereunto First because Faith is not onely the grace which receives Christ Joh. 1. 12. who is our Life but it is also the grace that receives all other grace from Christ Therefore Faith is the first link of all that Chain of Graces 2 Pet. 1.5 c. at least in order to their working Otherwise indeed we know all graces are infused simul semel in respect of their being and existence See Joh. 7.38 He that believeth in me out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water The graces of the Spirit run into the Soul and out again in the issues of life and all through the conduit-pipe of Faith Indeed a Christian hath great use of other graces but Faith onely layes hold on Christ for all Sanctified knowledge saith There is an infinite fulness in Christ the fulness of a Fountain Faith saith This is all for me for he is my Husband then Prayer saiâ—h If all this be thine I will go and fetch it for thee and Thankefulness sayes I will return praise to God for it and that 's better than the receiving of mercies Psal 63.5 My soul shall be filled with marrow and fatness and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips It is plain therefore however spiritual life is much exercised in other graces as well as in Faith as in Prayer and Patience and Love and Thankfulness yet because Faith acts and exercises and puts life into all therefore a Christian is said rather to live by his Faith As may be seen Heb. 11. through the whole Chapter For Prayer is no prayer unless it be a prayer of Faith Jam 5. and Patience is no patience unless joyned with Faith Here is the faith and patience of the Saints Rev. 13. and so of all the rest Reas 2 Secondly Because Faith layes hold upon that Word by which man lives For man lives by the word of God Mat 4.4 Other graces are begotten by the Word but do not lay hold on the Word So as no word no means can profit us without Faith Reas 3 Thirdly Because when other graces and comforts to our sense lie dead and useless even then Faith lives and acts its part It is like the Cork that swims aloft when the Leads and all the Net is under water It is like the Card or Compass when Heaven and Earth fail no sight of Earth or Heaven or comfort from either when 't is a day of darkness and gloominess as that described Zeph. 1.15 or when 't is with us as it was in Pauls voyage Acts 27.13 to 26. neither sun nor star appearing for many dayes or a time as that Isa 50.10 wherein we sit in darkness and see no light yet then saith can trust in the Name of the Lord. It is as an Anchor in a storm so long as the Anchor holds there is hope but if that break there is no more governance of the Ship So Faith is compared Heb. 6.19 It is as the Widows Oyl when all other provision failed she lives upon that because she had a word from God So when all fail Faith shall not totally nor finally fail because there is a word from God which was spoken to Peter in person of all the faithful Luke 22.32 I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not Or like the heart in the body though other parts be dead yet so long as the heart lives the man is alive Psa 73.26 My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever Thus David lived by Faith when all failed and by it thus speaks himself Psal 42.5 Why art thou disquieted O my soul still trust in God for I shall yet praise him When graces fail performances fail so that we abhor our selves and duties yet Faith sayes We are a holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God 1 Pet. 2.5 by Jesus Christ When Paul cryed out Rom. 7. O wretched man that I am c. yet by Faith he can thank God through Jesus Christ When the Church is under water yet she can speak thus in Faith Mic. 7.8 Rejoyce not over me O mine enemy though I fall I shall rise again When Job considers his body turned to dust and worms Job 19.19 25. yet by Faith he sees my Redeemer lives c. Even when Patience failed in Job yet Faith failed not Though God kill all other graces and comforts and my soul too yet he shall not kill my Faith sayes he If he separate my soul from my body yet not Faith from my Soul If he kill me he shall not kill my Faith And therefore the just lives by Faith rather then other graces because when all is gone yet Faith remains and Faith remains because the Promise remains For ever O Lord thy word is setled in the heavens Psal 119.89 And this is the proper and principal meaning of this place Reas 4 Fourthly Because even then when neither graces nor comforts do fail yet then the just lives principally by his Faith 1. Because there is yet more to be believ'd then we already enjoy for we walk not yet by sight and therefore by faith 2 Cor. 5.7 2. Because Faith is surâ—r then any sense or feeling in the world When the Apostle had spoken of the glorious Vision and their being eye-witnesses 2 Pet. 1.19 yet sayes he We have a more sure word of prophecy c. Now 't is the property of Faith to live upon the word Vse 1 Therefore 1. Esteem of Faith as precious Faith precious above all other graces Vse 2 And learn That Faith serves not onely for manifestation that we are alive but to live by and maintain the life of all other graces QUESTION IV. Who it is that lives by his Faith Quest THe Text sayes The just Ob. But where
obtain a better resurrection He that either undervalues or overvalues his life he murthers himself the one directly by loving danger the other indirectly and by consequent exposing himself to the judgement of God for Mat. 10.39 He that findeth his life shall lose it and he that loseth his life for my sake shall finde it Thus the just lives by faith in regard of the good things of this natural or temporal life as well as of eternal life as he hath the promises for this life as well as for that which is to come Look as the same love and care in an earthly parent that moves him to give an inheritance to his Son at the last moves him to maintain him and provide for him in the mean time And the same spirit of filial dependance that moves the childe to depend upon his fathers love and care to provide him an inheritance moves him to depend upon him for maintenance in his minority So 't is in this case the same faith that moves us to depend upon God for eternal life moves us to depend upon him for the good things of this life and the one assures us of the other Luke 12.12 Fear not little flock viz. in regard of temporal provision for it is your heavenly fathers pleasure to give you the Kingdome And in truth he that will not trust God for a penny will not trust him for a pound He that will not trust him for temporal life how will he trust him for eternal But so much for the first The believers living by faith in respect of the life which we call natural Some Use of this Branch Vse 1 1. Reproof to those that as they say trust God for eternal life yet trust not in him for temporal that trust him for their souls but not for their bodies for an heavenly inheritance but not for worldly estates Though there is promise for life and estate For estate Mat. 19.29 Every one that hath forsaken houses or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my names sake shall receive an hundred fold and shall inherit eternal life For life Mat. 10.39 He that loseth his life for my sake shall finde it Yet many will trust God no further then they can see him That whereas they say they love God above all the world c. indeed they love the world above God and so make a god of the World and are enemies to God according to what is written Jam. 4.4 1 Joh. 2.15 He that loves the world the love of the Father is not in him 2. Exhortation to live by faith in respect of this life and the things of this life And indeed God doth train up his servants to exercise faith for better things by exercising their faith first in things of lesser moment The Church in her infancy was trained up this way God first exercised her faith for earthly Canaan and then for that which is heavenly So 't is with each Christian in his infancy God doth first exercise his faith in things more sensible and then in things more spiritual And if we exercise not faith and faithfulness in these how can we exercise the same in things of higher concernment Luke 16.10 11. If ye have been unfaithful in the unrightâ—ous Mammon who will commit to your trust the true riches 'T is true all both good and bad possess the same life health wealth c. but some hold these upon better Tenure than others do Look as amongst men there are diversities of Tenures in reference to men some Copy hold some Free-hold and these we prize far above the other So in reference to God some hold by common Providence but some by Promise from God 1 Tim 4.8 Godliness hath the promise of this life c. These are Free-holders indeed John 8. If the Son make you free then you are free indeed as free from other sins so from usurpation of the creatures I do not deny but wicked men have a civil right to the creatures and that by Gods own appointment also but a wholesome and a sanctified use they have not This is proper only to the faithful Others are but Copy-holders at the will of the Lord and therefore forfeited that too but these are Free-holders they hold in Capite from Christ their Head and King 1 Cor. 3.21 All things are yours and you are Christs and Christ is Gods This is the best Tenure under heaven this is the sweetest enjoyment of the creatures Simile As Waters are sweetest that are drank out of the Fountain or at least in such a stream as is united to the Fountain Whereas all carnal men drink of the creatures as of Puddle-waters there 's neither that sweetnesse nor that wholesomenesse in the enjoyment of them their very table is made a snare and that which should have been for thâ—ir welfare becomes a gin and a trap Psal 69 22. And so like a company of Flesh-flies or venomous Wasps they are drowned in the very Honey-pot of worldly pleasures Their wealth is their utter undoing the prosperity of fools shall slay them Prov. 1.32 and that because they live not by Faith but by Sense they have no other wisdome in the enjoyment of the creatures but what is either earthly or sensual or devillish Jam 3.15 The unclean Spirit doth possesse them and what they know naturally as brute beasts even in those things they corrupt themselves Jude ver 10. As an unbeliever extracts some evil out of the greatest good upon earth as good creatures good meat and drink the bane of the Soul and the good Word of God 2 Cor. 2. the savour of death to them so a believer extracts some good out of the greatest evil out of the eater comes sweet meat Faith sucks sweet Honey out of the Lions carcase out of wasting and devouring afflictions out of the Rock of Offence that which is made a Rock of Offence to others is made a Rock of Defence and Shelter to them Look as the heavenly Bodies the Sun Moon and Stars have a strong influence upon these inferiour Bodies and make a sweet extraction from the earth from whence we have our Honey-dews that fall down into the Mothers lap in which they were first begotten as Job 38.28 hath the rain a father or who hath begotten the drops of the dew So this heavenly grace of faith which is no other than the arising of the Day-star and the shining of the Sun of Righteousnesse in our hearts hath a sweet influence upon these inferiour things and makes a sweet extraction from common experiments of Gods goodnesse and faithfulnesse in things of a lower nature from whence the Soul gathers many sweet Honey-dews of Gods unchangeable love and favour in Christ By this I know thou favourest me because mine enemy doth not triumph over me Psal 41.11 II. Spiritual life liv'd by faith Secondly In respect of Spiritual life the just lives by Faith
up from his dead condition c. Verse the last 2. It puts his Soul into a mourning confessing frame v. 18. I will arise and go to my Father and say unto him Father I have sinned against heaven and before thee 3. It subdues his heart to lay down all Opposition and to take any course for his living v. 19. make me as one of thy hired servants Observe he uttered not so much as he intended his Father prevented him with his mercy as Psal 32.5 I said I will confess my transgressions to the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin 4. It fixeth his heart upon his Fathers mercy not upon his own merit Faith tells him Though thou hast forgotten the duty of a Son thy Father hath not forgot the bowels of a Father The word Father runs much in his minde I will go to my Father c. Here now a Spirit of Adoption begins to work whereby he cryes Abba Father O dear Father Father I have sinned against heaven c. But yet thou art my Father This is the last act of justifying Faith by which the Soul is put into a child-like condition and fit to receive a childes portion of God All is of his free grace Jer. 3.19 And I said How shall I put thee among the children Thou shalt call me My Father c. Thus the just lives by Faith in the work of Justification Vid. Cotton p. 14. D. Downame ☜ Faith in the Renewing of justification in the Conscience of the sinner 2. For the Continuance and Renewing of Justification ☞ The just lives by Faith daily as well as at the first day that he believed So Abraham Rom. 4.3 4. He believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness which is cited out of Gen. 15.6 and so it appears to be after such time as he was in Covenant with God and in the state of Grace Yet still his Justification is continued by a renewed act of Faith and so David sues out his Justification by a renewed act of Faith and Prayer Psal 51. though he were justified before And therefore Christians are much to blame who after they have once believed in God for Justification do not labour to renew this act from day to day and thence comes flatness in Spirit and deadness in Duties when we see not a daily need of going out of our selves into Christ And surely if Christ applies his own sacrifice daily to us by intercession with his Father Heb. 7.25 He ever liveth to make intercession for us Why should not we apply it daily by Faith and Prayer that God for Christs sake may forgive us our daily trespasses as we are taught to pray And this is to live by faith in a continued act of Justification Therefore it is put not in the Present Tense but in the Future it is not here doth but he shall live by his Faith that is as long as he lives Take heed the blood of Christ run not cold in the veins of Faith that you trust not more to grace received than to the fountain of grace and pardon in Christ The truth is our best duties stand in need of pardon and our best graces of quickning and nothing will quicken us more than the assurance of our Justification And therefore though a mans spirit be without guile and he knows nothing by himself he allows himself in no known evil yet even at such a time 1 Cor. 4. he is not thereby justified but then he must fly to Christ for Justification and say Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven c. Psal 32.1 2. Faith in the assurance of being justified 3. For the Assurance of the Act the just lives by Faith 1. In moving a man to desire more Faith 2. In using and embracing such Means by which we come to Assurance 3. In the Tryal of Assurance 4. In Anâ—wering all such Objections and Doubts which do cloud and darken this Assurance 5. In Expectation of Assurance First In moving a man to desire more Faith In Motives to Assurance The reason is 1. Because true Faith if but as a grain of Mustard-seed moves man to desire more Faith Luke 17.5 Lord encrease our faith Mark 9.24 Lord help my unbelief And never rests rising higher and higher till it comes to full Assurance Therefore lazy faith is false faith that saith I cast my self on God and there 's an end I never desire more so I can but rub out c. This is a sign it is not true The just lives by Faith for the encrease till assured and true Faith suggests Motives to perswade us to seeke after full Assurance Quest What are those Motives Ans 1. 1 Motive Gods Commandment which Faith looks at as to believe 1 John 3.23 And this is the Commandment We should believe on the Name of his Son Jesus Christ So to be assured 2 Pet. 1.10 Give all diligence to make your calling and election sure Both 1 John 5.13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye have eternal life and that ye may believe on the Name of the Son of God 2. Because it 's the End why the Scriptures were written yea the end of the Seals 1. Publike the Sacraments 2. Privy the Spirit witnessing Therefore saith Faith Receive not the grace of God in vain There are many deceived Micah 3.7 Then shall the Seers be ashamed and the Diviners confounded yea they shall all cover their lips for there is no answer of God Mat. 7. 1 Cor. 6.9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God 3. A difficili that which would discourage another doth encourage a faithâ—ul man the more because many objections and temptations therefore strive Tu ne cede malis The kingdom of heaven suffers violence c. 4. A possibili Both are objects of Christian fortitude Example Job 19.25 For I know that my Redeemer lives c. Paul Rom 8. For I am perswaded neither death nor life nor angels c. Steven saw heaven opened Acts 6. 5. A necessario not ad esse but bene esse as health and vigour to the well-being of natural life 3 Joh. 2. I wish thou mayest prosper and be in health as thy soul prospereth Health comprehends life aliquid amplius so Assurance Faith and the joy of Faith Faith may be without Assurance but no true Assurance without Faith 6. Ab utili strong Faith is able to do that which weak Faith cannot as a strong man can work under a burthen though both receive Christ Nothing shall be impossible to you Mat. 15.28 O woman great is thy faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt Luther said Domine fiat voluntas mea Lord let my will be done Neh. 8.10 The joy of the Lord is your strength 7. A decoro or ab honorifico for 1. This brings more
of question but that the vanity and petulancy of mens fancies and opinions begins to call all into question in these dayes and so this That which starts the Question is the wresting of certain Scriptures which they pervert as they do many others as 1 Corinth 1.30 He is made to us amongst other things Sanctification Therefore say they there 's no other Heb. 10.14 He hath by one offering for ever perfected those that are sanctified Therefore say they Christ is our Sanctification and it can be no other because it is perfect Before we Answer these Scriptures we shall shew the contrary by the full evidence of other Scriptures which will give us the clearer light in answering those former alleged places Solut. There is therefore a Life of Sanctification inherent in every true Christian besides that which is inherent in the person of Christ himself Which is proved by these Arguments 1. Because there is a Sanctification of the whole person in parts and faculties by the Spirit of Grace 1 Thess 5.23 And I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless c. Every believer is thus sanctified as Water is warmed or the Air enlightened all at once 2. There is a Sanctification of the Conversation 1 Thess 4.3 For this is the will of God your Sanctification 1 Pet 1.15 As he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation 3. This is part of the New Covenant Ezek. 36.25 26 27. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon them and they shall be clean c. 4. Argument is drawn from an absurdity If there were no Sanctification in a Christian besides that in Christ then there should be a confusion of these two great Benefits of Justification and Sanctification but the Apostle doth every where distinguish these as in the forementioned place 1 Cor 1.30 Righteousness Sanctification c. So 1 Cor. 6.11 But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justifiâ—d And indeed there is a great deal of difference for 1. Justification is imputed Sanctification is imparted John 16. Of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace 2. Justification is without a man Sanctification is within him 3. Justification absolves a man from all his sins Sanctification does not so Who can say I am clean from my iniquity 4. Justification is perfect and compleat Acts 13.39 Being justified from all things Sanctification is imperfect so saith the Apostle Phil. 3.12 Not as though I were already perfect Christ hath laid hold upon me that I may lay hold upon him to draw still further vertue from him therefore it is not perfect at the first But what then shall we say to that place of Scripture Heb. 10.14 He hath by one offering c. Ans 1. The words import no more but this as appears by the context That what is wanting in our own works and duties and so in our Sanctification Christ hath perfected by the benefit of our Justification or 2. By that offering of his he hath sanctified and set us apart to be his own peculiar people For sometimes to sanctifie signifies no more than to set apart from a common use to some special service So Times Things Persons are said to be sanctified Then whereas it is said 1 Cor. 1.30 He is made to us sanctification c. The meaning is no more but this That he is the Author and Finisher of our Holiness as well as of our Faith as we shall see in the resolution of the third Question In the mean time let us come to the second Question Quest 2. What Sanctification is Sol. 2. What this Sanctification is and wherein it doth consist And it may be thus described It is an inward and powerful change of a person justified whereby the image of God is renewed in him by the work of the spirit It is a change and a powerful change to distinguish it from that work that may be in a civil man whereby his corrupt nature is suppressed and restrained though his corruption be not mortified 2. An inward change to distinguish it from outward reformation such as was in Herod who heard John gladly and reformed many things and yet his heart was not changed but true grace doth ever begin at the fountain it purifies that in the first place and then the streams which flow from thence Mat. 23.25 Psal 51.10 3. It is the change of a justified person to shew that however Justification be not Sanctification nor Sanctification Justification yet Sanctification is a necessary fruit and an inseparable companion of Justification That person that is once justified is also sanctified as in the place before-named 1 Cor. 6.10 4. The form of Sanctification consists in the Renewing of Gods Image in which Image Man was created at the first having not onely a spiritual substance a Soul and spiritual faculties of that Soul Reason and Will but spiritual and divine Properties of those Faculties Light in his Reason to know the Truth a sweet flexibility in his Will to obey the Truth according to the Will of God Now after the Fall though man have the same Soul and the same Faculties yet he hath not the same divine Properties of those Faculties for as he fell by the Devils temptation so he fell into the Devils sin and condemnation The Devil fell by Pride he would needs be above God or as God so he tempted our first Parents to fall by the same kinde of Pride and ever since man in the state of corruption would be some-body in those two main Faculties of his Soul Reason and Will and therefore we are all naturally Papists and Arminians in this Point his Reason he would lift up above the Word of God as they do their Traditions and his VVill above the VVill of God whereby it come to pass that his Pride makes him very wilful in sinning against God Jer. 44.16 or else presuming upon a false supposed liberty of converting himself to God at his own pleasure whereas the Apostle saith flatly It is not in him that willeth c. Rom. 9. But this is the condition of Man in the state of corruption the Image of God is thus fearfully defaced Now when grace comes in the work of Sanctification there is presently a change wrought not in the very substance and faculties of the Soul but onely in the properties of them presently the lofty looks of man are humbled and the haughtiness of men is bowed down and the Lord alone exalted in that day Isa 2.11 There 's no more My Reason but Thy Word Lord shall be my guide then no more My Will but Thy Will be done Let it be done in earth as it is done in heaven then no more I will do this or that by my own strength I will repent when I am old I can convert my self to God when I list No but as poor Ephraim cries out Turn thou me and I
a very unskiful Souldier in this warfare Means of mortification Ans The first Means is to look up to God who teacheth thy hands to war and thy fingers to fight Go out in his Name as David did against Goliah Fall down before him as Joshua before the Captain of the Lord host Josh 5.14 Be much in Prayer and adde Fasting to Prayer Some sins cannot be cast out without this Means 2 Secondly Learn to loath and hate sin A man hates to death what he mortifieth and though he cannot kill it outright 1 Job 3. yet as he that hates his Brother is a manslayer so he that hates his sin as sin is a sin-slayer in Gods account For ye are dead sayes the Apostle Col. 3.3 then follows Mortifie therefore your Members c. ver 5. Means 3 Thirdly Get assurance of the Love of Christ and this will constrain to suffering and doing 2 Cor. 5.14 For the love of Christ constraineth us We love our sins naturally as our right eye and therefore are loath to part with them It must be the sense of a greater love that will make us willing to pluck out our right eye He that was next of kin to the person murthered was to be the Avenger of blood because it was to be supposed he loved him best If we consider what enemies our sins are to Christ our best beloved we shall do that part Love Christ much and you will hate sin much and the way to love Christ much is to be assured of Christs love to us 1 Cor. 15.31 I protest by our rejoycing we have in Christ Jesus I die daily Means 4 Fourthly Apply the Cross of Christ Rom. 6.6 knowing this that our old man is crucified with him The death of Christ is the death of sin First because it is the meriting Cause meriting the Spirit by which our sins are mortified Secondly the serious Consideration of Christs death doth give sin a deadly wound What did Christ die for my sins O let me crucifie them that crucified him Did Christ love me so well as to be willing to lose a precious life Let me love him so well as to part with a sinful life or the life of sin The death of Christ is the slaying of the Enmity not onely betwixt man and man Eph. 1.16 but between God and Man I am crucified with Christ sayes the Apostle Gal 2.20 Means 5 The fifth Means is set down Eph. 6.11 Put on therefore the whole armour of God c. VVhere you see two things 1. God hath provided for a Christian Complete Armour 2. Every Christian that would stand in the day of battel must put it on But what is the Armour God hath provided Ans See there in the verses after they are the Graces of Gods Spirit all Christian Vertues 1. Truth the Souldiers Belt that knits all other graces all other pieces of the Armour fast together Truth of Doctrine opposed to Errour Truth of Graces and Actions opposed to Hypocrisie Hypocrites are fearful true men are valorous One true man beats two or three thieves Prov. 28.1 2. The Breast-plate of Righteousness Righteousness imputed and Righteousness imparted and this is Murus aheneus Though infirmities may be in many yet this saves the Vitals 3. Shoes of Patience like brazen Greaves whereby the Christian Souldier treads upon Scorpions he treads down Satan under his feet in this Spiritual Combate 4. The Shield of Faith above all or over all For this covers all our Armour all our Graces and strengthens them in the Combate 5. The Helmet of Salvation which is Hope 1 Thess 5.8 Then lastly there is the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God of which in the next Means Means 6 Sixthly Hear and apply the Word In Hos 6.5 God hews them by his Prophets and slays them by the Words of his mouth This is a sharp and two-edged sword that pierces to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit Heb. 4.12 And here apply the threatnings as well as the Promises to the mortifying of sin VVhen the Minister reproves such sins as we are guilty of every one should turn the Point to his own breast Suppose it be Lying or Adultery or Idolatry c. out of that place Rev 22.15 If there be an hundred in the Congregation every one should say Surely God meant I should take this to my self Suppose Despising of the VVord out of Prov. 1.25 Suppose partaking of other mens sins out of Psal 50.18 When thou sawest a thief thou consentedst c. VVe should do as Job's friends advised him Job 5.27 Hear it and know it for thy self This was that which prick'd their hearts Acts 2.36 37. when Peter told them they had crucified that same Jesus Means 7 Seventhly Entertain the Spirit for the VVord is but the Sword of the Spirit Rom. 8.11 If ye by the spirit mortifie the deeds of the flesh ye shall live Gal. 5.16 Walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh This will conquer Corruption For 1. It is of a most contrary nature to it a holy Spirit 2. It is an Almighty Spirit able to cast corruption out 1 Joh. 4.4 Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world Therefore walk in the guidance and strength of the Spirit Look higher than our selves for new supply of strength as we have new Employments new Trials new Temptations Do not onely desire it and pray for it but use it kindely The Spirit is of a tender and delicate nature very free where it is entertained and acts with freedom If thy Soul welcom the Spirit he will soon thrust out those domineering lusts that have disturb'd his quiet and peaceable possession And hereunto look with an eye of faith unto those great Promises of the Spirit Isa 44.2.3 Ezek 36.25 c. Joel 2.28 The Spirit is promised to be poured out largely under the Gospel as Ezekiel's waters chap. 47. 't is observable the further they run the deeper they grew They took the Jews up to the ankles the Primitive Christians to the knees the Middle Times to the loyns c. Means 8 Eighthly Moderate the use of lawful things Satan gets great advantage in these things Corruption is strengthned by immoderate use of lawful things Luk. 17.27 They eat they drank they married and gave in marriage and the flood came and destroyed them all They were first drown'd in their security and unbelief and then the flood drown'd them Means 9 Ninthly Keep corrupt Nature in compass by Vows As they vow'd the death of Paul Acts 23. so do thou of thy sins Vows are against either things absolutely unlawful and these binde ad semper alwayes as the Vow in Baptism against the World Flesh and Devil or things indifferent but in danger to be abused and these it is best to be made onely ad tempus for a time lest afterwards they become a snare Means 10 Lastly Shun Occasions of
Temptations Some do tempt the Devil to tempt them by thrusting themselves upon apparent danger of sinning as into evil company and lewd houses whereas the Holy Ghost sayes Remove thy way far from her and come not nigh the door of her house Prov. 5.8 Vse 5 The last Use A word of Comfort to a Christian Comfort against the vigor and rigor of sin against the vigour and rigour of sin which is like the Egyptian Taskmasters every day imposing new burthens by fleshly lusts ever warring against the soul A great discomfort this is which makes a gracious Soul complain with David Psal 120.5 Woe is me that I sojourn in Mesech that I dwell in the tents of Kedar or Paul Rom. 7.24 O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death Yet here is comfort he lives by faith the Life of Mortification Faith tells him 1. Christ is on his side as Jehu cried Who is on my side who 2. The victory is sure 1 Cor. 15. pen. Let this therefore comfort a Christian that is troubled more for sin Job 36.21 than affliction And it is our duty to strengthen the hearts and hands of such in their spiritual warfare Heb. 12.12 Lift up the hands that hang down Isa 40.1 2. Comfort ye comfort ye my people saith your God speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished c. As the house of Saul grew weaker every day so shall sin Though there be cause to be humbled yet also Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted And as the Apostle exhorts Christians not to sorrow as men without hope for the dead 1 Thess 4.13 because they shall live again at the last So say I let not Christians sorrow as men without hope by reason of their living enemies their powerful corruptions for they shall die at the last It may be said to a Christian at his last gasp These Egyptians whom ye have seen to day ye shall see them again no more for ever The Red-sea of death shall drown them all BRANCH IV. IN THE LIFE of FAITH IN SANCTIFICATION VIZ. VIVIFICATION THE just lives by Faith the Life of Vivification When his heart is ready to sink Faith lifts it up again and puts a new Life as it were into it And the very Text seems to drive at this also if we make out the Antithesis or opposition to the full betwixt Unbelief and Faith The Unbeliever lifts up his heart in Creature-strength but the Believer lives by Faith in Gods strength Jehosaphats heart was lift up in the wayes of the Lord 2 Chron. 17.6 In the midst of all damps he liv'd by Faith this Life of Vivification which is as it were under God the life of our lives or at least the liveliness of our life as we say Such an one is a lively Christian or a man full of life For I do not here mean by Vivification the first quickning work of the Spirit for that we spoke of before in the Life of Renovation but I mean the quickning and reviving work of the Spirit after some deadness hath seized upon the Soul Two Propositions Therefore two things are to be demonstrated 1. That Gods own Children are subject to be overtaken with spiritual drowziness or deadness of Spirit at some times as the foot may be asleep through obstructions 2. That at such times as these they live by Faith and by Faith recover the quickness and activity of their spiritual life again 1. Gods children subject to deadness The first we premise That the best of Gods Children are subject to deadness Even the five wise Virgins as well as the foolish all slumbred and slept Matth. 25.5 The Spouse complains of her drowziness Cant. 5.2 I sleep but my heart waketh Christ chargeth the Church of Sardis with this Rev. 3.1 2. Thou hast a name that thou livest and art dead What! quite dead No but ready to die as it follows ver 2. And so Mr. Perkins expounds it Experience shews this daily How many Christians full of complaints of their deadness as David Psal 119.25 My soul cleaveth unto the dust quicken thou me c. Quest How comes this to pass or what is the reason and cause of it Ans It is good indeed to know the cause The cause of a disease being found out it is half cured For answer then hereunto we must distinguish of Deadness Causes of this deadness A Christians deadness is either Accidental Sinful Penal or Probational 1. Accidental 1. The cause of Accidental deadness springs sometimes from age sometimes from sickness sometimes from melancholly In which cases a man may have a very good will to do service with life and activity but bodily weakness pulling him down and the natural spirits being low he is just like a Bird that hath her wings clipt who would fain fly but cannot And this unfits to any duties as well natural and civil as religious 2. There is a Sinful deadness 2. Sinful when a man hath little heart or affection to the service of God And if we enquire into the reason of this it springs from sinful causes Which are either Privative as the want of good Food the Word which is animae pabulum Or good Exercise 1 Tim. 4.7 Exercise thy self rather unto godliness Or good Company which is quickning one stick of this fire kindles another he that 's all alone soon falls asleep Or good Air I mean a good Ministery Heb. 10.24 25 As the presence of these things in nature makes men active and vigorous and the want of them makes heavy and dead so in Grace Or else they are Positive causes And such are 1. Excessive cares or pleasures which do overcharge the heart Luke 21.34 2. Bad Company Peters heart was deaded in the High-Priests Hall 'T is said of Nero he tied the bodies of living men to those that were dead which was cold comfort and half a death to them Nothing dulls more than the society of dull and dead-hearted men 3. Custom in Sin which makes insensible in sinning Prov. 23.34 35. They have stricken me and I was not sick they have beaten me and I felt it not c. 4. Satan oft rocks the cradle It was more than a natural drowziness that the disciples were so heavy and sleepy when Christ was upon his Passion You may know the disease by the remedy watch and pray says our Savior that ye enter not into temptation Mat. 26.40 41. 3. There is a Penal deadness and God inflicts this as a punishment of former sins Is 6.9 10. Go and tell this people 3. Penal Hear ye indeed but understand not and see ye indeed but perceive not make the heart of this people fat and make their ears heavy lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears c. The word sometimes makes men worse rather than better as the beams of
the Sun harden the Clay and soften the Wax withers the grass upon the house-top and makes the grass in the meadows flourish comforts sound eyes and offends sore eyes 4. Probational 4. There is a Probational deadness which God dispenseth or permitteth for the trial of his Servants graces This was in Peter for a time to let us see what we are when God leaves us to our selves Summer were not so comfortable if we had not a Winter Look as it is in natural life Psal 104.29 30. Thou hidest thy face they are troubled thou takest away their breath they die and return to the dust Thou sendest forth thy Spirit they are created c. So in spiritual life whence there is so much difference betwixt one man and another yea in the same man at one time and at another Propos 2. Saints recover by faith out of deadness But it is better to know how to come out of this estate than how we come into it though both be needful Therefore I come to the second Proposition That at such times as these the just lives by faith and by Faith recovers the quickness and activity of his spiritual life again In the 2 of Tim. 1.6 the Apostle perswades Timothy to stir up the gift of God that was in him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to thrive or rekindle it to blow it up as a spark into a flame Now Faith is as the bellows to blow it up The breath of the Lord indeed is the wind that breathes upon dead bones so upon dead Souls But Faith is as the bellows that draws this wind and blows it forth again And therefore if you observe it the Apostles Exhortation to stir up or blow up the gift is grounded upon the former verse viz. I call to minde the unfeigned faith that is in thee which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois c. As if he should have said Thou that hast faith art too blame if thou dost not stir up the gift that is in thee Ministerial gifts especially by the exercise of thy faith This is the Aqua-vitae of a Christian in fainting fits and dead fits when Qualms of sorrow and spiritual sickness come over the heart Psal 42.5 Why art thou cast down O my soul why art thou disquieted within me still trust in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God There was the cure his Faith did revive him and were it not for this we should quite sink away Psal 27.14 I had fainted but that I hoped to see the Lord the Lord in the land of the living So then the just lives by Faith the Life of Vivification And the Reasons of it are Reas 1 1. Because Faith doth assure us in present deadness that a time of quickning shall come I shall yet praise him as before Psal 138.7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble thou wilt revive me and thy right hand shall save me The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me c. Reas 2 2. Because Faith is a Mean of quickning an active grace that works and sets all a work like the Spring in the Watch. If Faith lies dead in a Christian all is dead If you winde up the Spring of Faith if you act your Faith it moves every Wheel it quickens all your Humility your Patience Love Zeal and the stronger Faith the quicker the motion Should we speak for God As strong wine must have a vent so strong Faith This made the Apostles speak so freely Acts 2. when others thought they were fill'd with new wine Thus Elihu Job 32.18 I am full of matter the spirit within me constraineth me Or do much for God Act 6.8 Steven full of faith and power did great wonders and miracles among the people This suffers us not to be slothful Heb. 6.12 Reas 3 3. Because it puts the Soul upon quickning Means As 1. It layes hold on a quickning Word Psal 119 50. Thy word hath quickned me Heb. 4.12 The word of God is quick and powerful c. and Faith layes hold on that Word Especially the quickning Promises Heb. 9.14 12.11 12. Hos 14.5 6 7. Isa 40.3 last verses Jer. 29 10 11 12. Prov. 12.25 Heaviness saith Solomon in the heart of a man maketh it stoop but a good word maketh it glad that is a word of Promise 2. On a quickning Saviour 1 Tim. 6.13 God who quickneth all things How in and by Christ 1 Cor. 15. Iohn 6. The second Adam is a quickning Spirit that hath life in himself and gives it to all others As the root quickneth the branches so Christ Joh. 15.5 The life of the branch in winter is hid in the root so is our life hid with Christ Col. 3.3 And 3. Faith receives a quickning Spirit Joh. 6.63 It is the Spirit that quickneth Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty 2 Cor. 3.17 and where there is liberty there is activity Psal 119.32 I will run the way of thy Commandments when thou shalt enlarge my heart The Spirit is compared to water Joh. 7.38 not to standing water but to running or living water because it is alwayes in motion Psal 45. Cor meum ebullit c. my heart bubleth up as a spring Hence also it is compared to fire Mat. 3. Fire is an active element it 's alwayes mounting upwards and it warms those that come near it Dead and frozen members are made useful and active by the heat of the fire so are dead and benummed Souls by the warmth of the Spirit Reas 4 4. Because Faith puts the Soul upon quickning Meditations or Arguments Whilest I was musing says David the fire kindled Psal 39.3 Whether we meditate on good or evil Meditation will blow up the fire The faithful man is described to be a man full of Meditation Psal 1.2 he meditates day and night and Psal 119.147 148. I prevented the dawning of the morning Mine eyes prevent the night-watches that I might meditate on thy Word Quest But what Meditations or Arguments does Faith put the Soul upon to quicken it Answer Such as are drawn 1. From former Experience Arguments of faith to quicken the soul under deadness that God who once quickned the Soul will quicken it again Psal 77.3 5 6. I remembred God I have considered the dayes of old I call to remembrance my song in the night Will the Lord cast off for ever c Arg. 2 2. From Gods Attributes of Mercy and Faithfulness Psal 77.8 Is his mercy clean gone for ever doth his faithfulness fail for evermore Of his Perfection His works are perfect Deut. 32.4 A perfect God will perfect his works Arg. 3 3. From Gods Glory An active Christian brings him in more glory in one day than another in a thousand Psal 80.18 Quicken us and we will call upon thy Name Psal 119.175 Let my soul live and it shall praise thee c. Arg. 4 4
Psal 72.16 't is compared to a handful of Corn upon the top of the Mountains a barren place which yet by shaking and so growing afresh fills the whole earth with plenty So did the Law which went out from Mount Zion This is that Stone cut out of the Mountain without hands which grew so fast that at last it filled the whole earth Dan. 2.34 And as it is thus with the Kingdom of God in general with the Kingdom of God without us so it is with the Kingdom of God within us with the Kingdom of grace in every particular Christians heart it grows from small beginnings to a great height from a spark to a flame from break of day to high noon Hence grace in Gods people is compared to the morning light Prov. 4.18 to Ezekiel's waters Chap. 47.3 to Elijah's Cloud 1 Kings 18.44 And the reason hereof is because grace is not perfect at the first and theaefore there must be a growing till we come to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And because this is not till the end of our life therefore we must be growing all our life long We are never at our full height till we be ready to be cut down by death never at the end of our race till at the end of our life The Apostle himself who had outstript all the rest of the Apostles yet he was growing still and running still and he gives the reason Because he was not yet perfect Phil. 3.12 13. Not as though I were already perfect or had obtained c. Every thing you know in nature grows till it comes to its perfection as a childe till he comes to be a man As a man is not born a perfect man in nature for degrees though he be perfect for parts so it is in grace also and a Christian must grow till he comes to perfection We reade 1 Joh 2.12 of little children young men i.e. strong men and old men in Christ onely with this difference In the old age of grace there is no decay of strength of spirits or fruitfulnesss Psal 92.14 They shall bring forth fruit in old age c. We are bound you know to love God with all our hearts even to love him perfectly for degree as well as kinde But so long as we live here as we know but in part 1 Cor. 13. So we love but in part and are gracious but in part and therefore we must ever be upon the growing hand till we come to perfection perfect man in Christ Eph. 4.13 Reas 2 Grace is of a sweet and desirable nature insomuch that he that hath once tasted of the sweetness of it cannot but desire more He that saith he hath enough plainly discovers he never had any at all 1 Pet. 2.2 3. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby If so he ye have tasted c. He that hath once tasted cannot but thirst for more Though the painful thirst of total indigence be quenched and so he shall never thirst Joh. 4.14 yet the thirst of delight and the thirst of desire for further enjoyment is not removed but increased And blessed are they that thus hunger and thirst after more righteousness for they shall be filled Mat. 56. Hence also the Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a Treasure Mat. 13.44 in digging up whereof a man doth every day more and more enrich himself Reas 3 This was the End of Christs Commission which he received from his Father at his Mission and the very end of his coming in execution of that Commission not onely to bestow spiritual life upon his people but to increase it also day by day That was the extent of his Commission Joh. 10.10 I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly As a living spring bubbles and boils forth and empties it self that the channel might be fill'd with water and it as it runs along here it meets with one Spring and there with another it may be it meets with an hundred fresh Springs that it may be fill'd more abundantly till it runs out at last into the Ocean it self So Jesus Christ the Fountain of Living Waters empties himself by the work of his Spirit into the believing Soul He that believeth in me saith Christ out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters Joh. 7.38 And as the believer runs along in his Christian course here he meets with one fresh spring of grace and there with another Psal 84. as they that go through the valley of Baca they dig up fountains still it may be they meet with an hundred fresh springs of grace till at the last those sweet streams of grace are swallowed up in the Ocean of glory and then is fulfilled the saying that is written I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly And this is the third Reason why the just lives the Life of Augmentation The End of Christs coming Reas 4 The fourth is taken from Gods Faithfulness Seeing God daily puts Christians upon higher duties as Fasting and Prayer Mat. 9.15 then shall they â—ast and stronger Temptations not having yet resisted to blood Heb 12.4 and new wine not being fit for old bottles Therefore God is so faithful as to give them more grace And Philosophers define the end of natural Augmentation to be Ad edendas actiones proprias convenientes Magir. Phys p. 465. For exercising the proper Functions God will not be wanting here 2 Cor. 12 9. When Paul had a new temptation sayes God My grace is sufficient for thee and so 1 Cor. 10.13 God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able c. If God command to make more brick he will give more straw yea he will give more strength And so much for the first thing Now follows the second The just lives this Life of Augmentation by his Faith Propos 2. Augmentation is by faith His faith doth increase in it from faith to faith Rom 1.17 As faith increaseth or decreaseth so doth his Lie of grace As Philosophers say of the ebbing and the floving of the Sea The position and disposition of the Moon is the cause of it which is apparent in your Spring iâ—es at the Chance and Full of the Moon as the Moon increaseth the Waters and all moist Bodies do increase and as it decreaseth they decrease again So is iâ— betwixt Faith and other Graces as Faith increaseth Faith under the Sun of Righteousness so they increase Mal. 4. and as Faith decreaseth so they decrease again 2 Thes 1.3 We are bound to give thanks to God for you brethren because that your faith groweth exceedingly and the charity of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth Mark as their Faith abounded so their Charity abounded and so other Graces abounded also 2 Pet. 1.2 Grace and peace be multiplied
unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. See here the Apostle prayes for the multiplication of grace but how should it be multipled he tells you through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord What is meant by the knowledge of Jesus our Lord but Faith in Jesus our Lord as Joh. 17 3. This is eternal life to know thee i.e. to believe in thee and him whom thou hast sent Jesus Christ So that then all grace is multiplied in the increase and multiplication of Faith Reas 1 The Reason is Because Faith is a Radical grace it 's like the Root of a Tree in relation to the Branches They which had no depth of root in the Parable of the Seed Luk. 8.13 are such as had no depth of faith Col. 2.7 we are said to be rooted and stablished in Christ by faith Now then you know as the root grows so the branches grow as the root decayes so the branches decay if the root once rot within the ground though you see not that yet you shall soon see the branches rot above ground So however you cannot easily see how a mans faith decayes because that is as the root yet you shall soon perceive a decay in the exercise of other graces because they are as he branches And on the other side as the root of faith prospers so other graces thrive and bring forth fruit in the branches 2 Pet. 1.5 Adde therefore unto your faith vertue and to vertue knowledge c. See here how Faith is made the root of all Vertue and Knowledge and Temperance and Patience c. all grow upon Faith as upon â—heir root As the increase of the root increaseth the branches so the increase of faith increaseth other graces Caution Yet we aâ—â— to understand this warily We must not so take it as if faith were a Root exclusivè excluding Christ himself for Christ is the Master-root and Faith but a spurn or a sucker from him Therefore in the place fore named Col. 2.7 we are said to be rooted in him when we are established in the faith And this mindes us of a second Reason why the just lives by faith the Life of Augmentation Reas 2 Because Faith is an uniting Grace It unites the Soul to Christ as the Cien is united to the Stock as the Members in the body are united to the Head not originally or as the principal Efficient for that is the work of the Spirit 1 Cor. 12.13 but instrumentally as Sinews and Nerves unite the Members to the Head and so are the instrumental cause of the growth of them not that they can give any nourishment of themselves but onely as they convey it from the Head as Organical means So Faith doth nourish other graces not of it self but as it sucks and draws and so conveys nourishment from Christ who is the Head of the Church to every Member as appears from Ephes 4.15 16. compared with vers 13. Reas 3 The third Reason why a Christian lives by Faith the Life of Augmentation is Because he liveth by Faith the Life of Fructification and Vivification For that which doth act grace and put it to the use doth necessarily increase grace also Not onely in a rational way in a way of sound Reason in that frequent acts do strengthen each habit with Gods ordinary concurrence as a Scholar that is diligent in his way by often hearing and reading and writing and speaking and disputation and meditation and studying becomes rich in learning that his very lips feed many hungry Souls But also in a way of grace or in a way of Covenant-mercy by vertue of Gods Promise which he hath made to the diligent hand The diligent hand saith God maketh rich Prov. 10.4 As rich to the world so rich Heaven-ward Use grace and have grace saith God Mat. 25.24 For unto every one that hath shall be given and he shall have more abundantly but from every one that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath To every one that hath What 's that that hath made good use of Talents formerly receiv'd as appears by the context that man shall increase he shall have more abundantly This is that honest and honorable Vsury by which we may lawfully put out not Money but the Grace of God to Use till we grow rich towards God in all utterance and in all knowledge as it was said of the Corinthians so that we come behinde in no gift waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ Being like those fruitful Trees planted in the Courts of the Lord they are not onely fruitful Psal 92. but they increase in fruitfulness Whereas on the other side men of excellent parts for want of Faith to exercise their grace they are blasted and wither away and come to nothing they are as trees without fruit twice dead and plucked up by the roots Jude v. 12. Reas 4 The fourth and last Reason Because faith removes or at least helps us against the hindrances of Spiritual growth it is Causa removens as well as promovens As 1. The Commonness of the ground when 't is like the High-way without hedge or wall a very road for the Devil to pass up and down in and spoil all But now Faith sets a fence about the heart and guards it against such temptations as might render it unfruitful 1 Pet. 5.8 whom resist stedfast in the faith 2. The Stonyness of the ground that hindred the growth of the Seed in the Parable for which Faith layes hold on that Promise Ezek. 36.26 I will take away the heart of Stone and I will give you an heart of Flesh 2. The Thornyness of the ground which also hinders growth And these thorns are expounded by the Maker of the Parable to be the Cares of the world and deceitfulness of riches But faith removes this hindrance 1. Joh. 5.4 This is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith Faith will tell us All things are but loss and dross in comparison of Christ 4. The Worm of sinful corruption this at the root hinders growth But the just lives by Faith the Life of Mortification and therefore of Augmentation 5. Evil Winds that blast the fruit hinder growth These winds are Errors and false Doctrines but Faith removes this hindrance They that are well stored with Faith will not be like children tossed to and fro with every wind of Doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive Eph. 4.13 14. Hence then we may receive Information in divers Particulars Vse 1 First see the Difference between this life and all other lives Other lives as they have their increase Information about spiritual growth so they have their decrease also Like the Sun when it once comes to the high Noon it declines again and at last goes down and leaves the world in darkness There must come a time when the Sun of our life
And thus by Faith laying hold on the Promise the just live the life of Augmentation their life as the VVidows Oil increasing by the Word of the Lord. 8. Labour to take Delight in the ways of God 8 Mean Delight in Gods ways to finde what is promised Job 22.26 Thou shalt have delight in the Almighty VVhat children delight in they prove excellent in that way they grow up to perfection in it If we could delight our selves in the law of the Lord then we should be as Trees planted by the rivers of water that bring forth their fruit in season Psa 1.2 3. 9. Be careful to remove Impediments of growth First root up the Weeds of sinful Corruption 9 Mean Remove all Impediments which choak the good corn Cast out those noisom Humours out of the stomach of the Soul which sowre the good Milk of the VVord and make it unprofitable 1 Pet. 2.1 2. Wherefore laying aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envies and evil speaking as new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby Secondly Take heed of a conceit of perfection 2 Imp. that we are grown enough already VVhat made the Church of Laodicea so lazy and lukewarm Rev. 3.17 but because she said she was rich and full VVhat made Paul so active for God but because he was very sensible of his imperfection Phil. 3.12 He look'd upon himself as not come up to his full attainments not yet perfect therefore he was still pressing forward Imp. 3 Thirdly Take heed of Envy and Contention 1 Cor. 3.1 2. The Corinthians were but babes in Christ why so they were full of contentions The Body of Christ edifies it self in love Eph. 4.16 Therefore it consumes it self by fretfulness and envy Imp. 4 Fourthly Take heed of Hypocrisie and Vnfruitfulness I put them both together because they are never asunder Those that have nothing but leaves without fruit like the barren Fig-tree are neâ—r unto cursing and blasting Such are so far from growing that they wither away and are good for nothing but the fire becoming trees twice dead and plucked up by the roots Jude 12. Imp. 5 Fifthly Take heed of Despising Ordinances they are given to advance growth Eph. 4 11. He gave some Apostles some Prophets and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministery for the edifying of the Body of Christ c. Therefore where these are despised there must needs be a decay therefore 1 Thess 5.19 20. Quench not the Spirit and Despise not Prophecying are put together to shew That despising Prophecy is the way to quench the Spirit Imp. 6 Sixthly Take heed of unnecessary Conversation with wicked men This is a hindrance of growth this cools your zeal and gives a check to your speed in your Christian Race therefore David Psal 119.115 Depart from me ye evil doers for I will keep the Commandments of my God As if he could not possibly go on and grow in grace so long as the wicked stood in his way Imp. 7 Spiritual pride and self-confidence Seventhly We must know That Gods withdrawing the influence of his grace from the Soul may cause a stop or a decay for a time which God usually does either to prevent or else to cure Spiritual Pride and Self-confidence When Peter was confident of his own strength Christ tells him Before the Cock crew he should deny him and it was Christs looking back upon Peter that quickned him again therefore I suppose it was not so much the strength of the tentation as Peters weakness in resisting and that weakness proceeding from Gods withdrawing himself that was the cause of Peters fall For his tentation was as strong afterwards when he was threatned by the same Authority yet answered so couragiously Acts 4.19 But now God assisted before he did withdraw Therefore take heed of Spiritual Pride and trusting to the Mountains of Grace received Psal 30.6 for then God turns away his face and we are troubled he withdraws the influence of his grace and then we decay it is fall of the leaf with us as with the Trees in Autumn and we cannot grow again till the Sun of Righteousness make a new spring Vse 7 The seventh Use is for Comfort to those that are apt to be discouraged at the small beginnings of grace Comfort at small beginnings of grace as the old men wept when they saw the Foundation of the second House how far it came short of the Glory of the first Ezr. 3.12 So many when they consider the first fabrick how God made Man after his own Image in perfect Righteousness and Holiness and then look on the second in the work of Regeneration how far it comes short they lament Alas alas are these Bodies and these Souls the Temples of the Holy Ghost To such I would say as Zech. 4.10 Who hath despised the day of small things Though the second Temple at the beginning be far short yet in conclusion it shall exceed the former Hag 2.9 This Temple is made of living stones 1 Pet. 2.5 nay of growing stones Eph 2.21 We wrong a mans work if we judge it before it be finisht so we wrong Gods work and our selves if we judge it before it be finisht The just should live by Faith the Life of Augmentation to encourage him against all discouragements 2 Cor. 4.16 Therefore we faint not while we look not at the things that are seen but at the things that are not seen It was such an encouragement to Elijah when he discerned but a cloud about the bigness of a hand that he could from thence foretel abundance of Rain 1 King 18. So it may be an encouragement to us if we can but discern the least beginnings of grace for then it will certainly increase till it be perfected to the day of Christ Phil. 1.6 Vse 8. Direction of behaviour towards the weak The eighth Use is for Direction how to carry our selves towards the weak not in a way of morosity to despise them or discourage them but in a way of lenity and equanimity to be tender over them and encourage them As Christ is far from breaking a bruised reed or quenching the smoking flax that he strengthens the one and blows up the other so should we do and by this means it may come to pass that many that are last may be first they may out-grow many that went before them VVe do not expect that from new-born babes that we expect from grown men but because they are so little and tender we are very indulgent towards them we nourish and cherish them and so they grow on to maturity Thus they that are grown Christians should carry themselves towards them that yet are but babes in Christ Thus we have seen that the just lives by Faith in reference to the Augmentation or increase of his life with the uses of it BRANCH VI.
Surely by the hearing of the Word mixed with Faith Faith receives the Spirit of God which is called The Comforter because it is the special office of the Spirit to comfort the hearts of Gods people and to witness to their Spirits that God is now their reconciled Father in Jesus Christ and so it is called a Seal and this comes after Faith Eph. 1.13 In whom after ye believed ye were sealed by that Holy Spirit of Promise And this must needs be matter of unspeakable joy for the love of God is better than the love of all Creatures nay it brings along with it the love of all good Creatures and by this love the hatred of evil Creatures shall do us no hurt The love of God Job 5.23 is the life of the Soul as the Soul is the life of the Body nay 't is better than life Psal 63.3 Thy loving kindness is better than life Note Now Faith lays hold on the God of Love and on the love of this God and therefore must needs afford matter of strong Consolation Consolation what properly For what is Consolation to speak properly but a certain Reasoning of the Soul whereby we oppose some certain good to some oppressing evil whereby we mitigate our sorrow and bear the evil with more ease Now the greater and sorer the evil is the greater and surer good is required to weigh against it Now then forasmuch as a Christian seeks comfort against the greatest of all evils which is sin and eternal damnation for sin therefore it is not every good nor indeed any good but onely the Summum Bonum the chiefest good which is God that can be a sufficient remedy and cordial against this the greatest of all evils So then 1. How Faith comforts Faith lays hold upon this God reconciled to us in Jesus Christ forgiving all our sins because of his sufferings and Forgiving them Freely Frankly Fully Affectionately Most Advantagiously and In respect of us For it viz. Faith instrumentally redeems from Sin as a Debt then from the Prison of Hell then from the Jaylor Satan and re-instates in all the good forfeited by sin Believers shall have all things work for their good in this life and of Heaven at last And this is a Plaister broad enough to cover all our sores If God speak peace who can make trouble Job 34.29 Here is an object of unspeakable comfort God reconciled in Christ and this Reconciliation witnessed by the Spirit of Truth Again 2. Second way wherein Faith comforts Faith lays hold on the Ordinances which are as Conduit-pipes from the Brest of Jesus Christ as Christ is a Conduit-pipe from the Father And Faith as the mouth of the Soul lies sucking at this Brest and so draws in abundance of Spiritual strength and comfort Christ hath intrusted his Spouse the Church with these Brests for the nourishing up of all his children Oh how sweet it is to â—ie in the Lap of such a Nurse Isa 60.10 11. Rejoyce with Jerusalem and be glad with her all ye that love her rejoyce for joy with her all ye that mourn for her that ye may suck and be satisfied with the brests of her consolation that ye may milk out and be delighted with the abundance of her glory For thus saith the Lord I will extend peace to her like a river and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream Then shall ye suck and be born upon her sides and be dandled upon her knees As one whom his mother comforteth so will I comfort you and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem Lo here are the sweet brests of the Church Now the Word is one of these Brests the Seal of the Word is the other First the Word 1 Pet. 2.2 1. The Word is one of Christs Brests As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby if ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious There is much sweetness in this Brest Psal 19.10 The statutes of the Lord are right rejoycing the heart more to be desired are they than gold sweeter are they than the honey and the honey-comb Oh this is a sweet Brest especially the Word of Promise for that is as it were the very Head and Nipple of this Brest Put this into the mouth of the most distressed Soul and it will still it when it cries out by reason of affliction Psa 119.49 50. Remember thy Word unto thy servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope And that must needs be the Word of Promise For what follows This is my comfort in my affliction for thy Word hath quickned me But how doth this Brest quicken and comfort the children of God Surely not unless they draw and suck out this Milk of Consolation by the mouth of Faith Heb. 4.2 The Word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it The most comfortable Promise in all the Word if it be not applied by Faith it hath no manner of sweetness in it But if thou canst receive it and apply it to thy self in believing Jer. 15.16 it will be the very joy and rejoycing of thy heart Second Brest of Consolation The second Brest of Consolation is the Seal of the Word the Sacrament Oh there is much sweetness in this there is much sweetness indeed in the Word of Promise as you have heard Yea but is this true says the Soul that begins to believe but is weak in Faith Or does all this belong to me Will God give Christ to me and the Spirit to me and Heaven to me Will God indeed love such a vile wretch as I am I am half afraid it is too good to be true O that I had some further assurance of it O that God would set to his Seal that this is true that I might set to my Seal that God is true O that he would set me as a Seal upon his heart that I might set him as a Seal upon my heart I can and will says God to the believing and yet weakly believing Soul Art thou so desirous of assurance I 'll give thee a Seal in the Sacrament Lo that 's a Seal of my love and all the fruits of it As sure as thou receivest the outward elements so sure shalt thou receive what is signified and sealed thereby my Christ my Spirit my Comforter And therefore this must needs be a sweet Brest where God does so sensibly put comfort into the mouth of the Soul Note A great neglect of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper And if so surely we have the greatest cause to lay it to heart and to cry to our heavenly Father That one of our Mothers Brests is in a manner dried up or that some of his children do frowardly wean themselves from this Brest and therefore God may justly take away the other also And doubtless we finde the less comfort in the Word
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
of my making but of Gods prescribing T is Laetificans-Christi Faith 1. Then Labour for Faith and the increase of it It 's the very Doctrine now in hand The just man lives by Faith the life of Consolation Let us keep our Faith then and it will keep our Joy Let us increase our Faith and it will increase our Joy For Faith as it is the Mother so it s the Nurse also of Joy as it breeds it and brings it forth so it feeds and maintains it till it comes to a perfect age in Christ so that as the Just goes on from Faith to Faith so he goes from Joy to Joy till he comes into heaven it self As his Faith grows stronger so his Joy is sweeter All fruits the nearer to maturity the sweeter they are and so is the fruit of Faith in Spiritual Joy it s sweeter in the ear then in the blade Exercise Faith therefore every Day as thou desirest abiding and increasing Comforts Wouldst thou have the warmth of Spiritual joy abiding in thy heart and that holy fire never to go out Actings of faith for the increasing spiritual joy Be sure then to blow up the Gift of Faith by daily Exercise Qu. But how shall I make use of my Faith to the best Increase of my Joy 1. On the right object Ans 1. Remeber what was said in the Reasons Be sure to lay hold on the right Object of Consolation God himself and the Ordinances of God with joy draw water out of the wells of salvation Isa 12.3 Live the Life of Justification and Sanctification and thou shalt not fail to live the Life of Consolation whereas otherwise there can be comfort no more than fruit upon a Tree without a Root 2. Act thy Faith in Prayer Pray 2. In Prayer that your joy may be full Joh. 16 24. If joy be not worth asking 't is worth nothing No wonder some have so little comfort they pray so little Ye have not because ye ask not Jam. 4.2 Thou hast it may be praid for Grace not for Comfort Learn now of David Psal 51.8 Make me to hear joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce as if David had said Lord I have had thy Messenger the Prophet Nathan speaking peace to me for that 's the Title of the Psalm and saying The Lord hath put away thy sin thou shalt not die But Oh let me hear thy Spirit say so too or else my heart cannot rejoyce As I have heard therefore a comfortable message from thy Minister let me hear the same also from thy Spirit Make thou me to hear joy and gladness If all the Ministers in the world should preach peace to a penitent Soul as they have cause though it be in a safe yet it cannot be in a comfortable condition till God by his Spirit speak peace also Q. To what purpose then should we attend upon the Ministery of the Word A. Because though the Ministery cannot do it without the Spirit yet the Spirit delights to work in the Ministery of the Word or soon after When the Spouse in the Canticles wanting comfort inquired of the Watchmen it was but a little while ere she found him whom her soul loved Cant. 3.3 4. Q. But why doth not the Soul finde comfort in every Ordinance at all times A. There may be many causes Among the rest this may be one Lest we should ascribe so much to the Ordinance or to the Instrument dispensing it as to neglect looking up by Prayer to the God of the Ordinance whereas when we experience the best Ordinance sometimes empty and the best Instrument without the Spirit a miserable comforter This will quicken us to look above both to God himself saying We will use both but we will lift up our soul to God alone Rejoyce the soul of thy servant for unto thee O Lord do I lift up my soul Psal 86.4 and elsewhere Psal 35.3 Say unto my soul I am thy salvation That 's the second Means to act faith for Comfort in Prayer Pray that your joy may be full Joh. 16.24 3. In crucifying worldly joy 3. Act Faith in the Crucifying of worldly and Carnal joys if you would profess Spiritual and Heavenly For the first of these do exceedingly quench the latter as water doth fire so that as in the strife of fire and water if heavenly joys get not the Mastery Worldly will 'T is true God makes a feast of joy a feast of fat things to his people Isa 25.6 But remember what the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 10.21 Ye cannot be partakers of the Lords table and the Table of Devils Now the delights of sin are the several dishes with which the Devils table is furnished and he that is filled with these hath no stomach to the consolations of God nay he abhors them Prov. 27.7 The full stomach loaths the honey-comb He loaths the honey-comb of the Word and Ways of God And what 's the reason He was never yet weaned from the Worlds Brest David indeed could say of Gods Word Oh! it's sweeter than the honey and the honey-comb Psal 19.10 And why so Surely because the same David could say of all worldly delights Surely I have behaved my self as a childe that is weaned of his mother my soul is even as a weaned childe Psal 131.2 Wean thy Soul therefore from worldly delights and thou shalt be the bettter prepared to delight in the Lord who is both willing and able to give thee thy hearts desire And that 's the third Means 4. 4. 1 Sam. 7.2 In spiritual mourning Act your Faith in case you are in a mournful frame to mourn after the Lord For certainly as worldly joy ever ends in sorrow so godly sorrow ever ends in joy Mat. 5.4 Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted God can no more withhold his sweetest comforts from those that mourn after his presence as their chiefest good than the tender Mother can withhold the Brest from the crying childe Oh! every cry goes to her heart and she cannot be quiet her self till she quiet the childe Isa 49.14 15. When Sion sits in the dust like a poor childe lamenting the parents absence saying My God hath forsaken me my God hath forgotten me What is Gods answer Can a woman forget her sucking childe that she should not have compassion on the fruit of her womb yet will not I forget thee Behold I have graven thee on the Palms of my hands As if God should say So long as thou mournest after me I may as soon forget my self as thee for I have graven thee on the palms of my hands If thou desirest comfort then mourn after the Lord not after corn and wine and oil not after the harvest of the Lord but the Lord of the harvest and then doubtless such as thus sow in tears shall reap in joy 5. 5. In raising spiritual affections Act Faith in digesting and
Lazarus of the Theef upon the Cross and the Souls under the Altar do declare That Opinion to be no better than a Dream For Num. 24.3 23.10 The man that had his eyes open could say Let me die the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his Balaam was perswaded of that truth Rev. 14.13 Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord even so saith the Spirit that they rest from their labours and their works follow them Their Souls are in a blessed condition as soon as they are separated from the body Indeed there shall be an addition to their glory in the last Day when Body and Soul shall be glorified both together But they are in a blessed condition in the mean time I shall say no more in Confutation of such persons as deny Eternal Life but onely refer to what was said in proof of the Point in the second Particular Where it was proved That there is such an Eternal Life 1. By plain Testimonies of Scripture out of the Old and New Testament 2. By necessary Consequence and Deduction As 1. Five proofs of Eternal Life From the Fruit and End of Mans Creation and Redemption 2. From the Kingdom and Headship of Christ 3. From the Prayer of Christ 4. From the Nature of the Soul and the Devils desire to gain Souls in Reversion 5. From the Absurdity that would follow if there were no Eternal Life then were Gods people of all other most miserable which were most absurd to imagine All which Arguments are strong enough to convince gain-sayers and to stop the mouth of Cavillers unless they be such as the Apostle speaks of 2 Thess 3.1 2. that will hear no Argument because they are absurd and unreasonable men and then Prayer is the best weapon to deal with such If you cannot subdue them by Reason yet you may subdue them by Prayer Finally brethren pray for us that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men for all men have not faith And so much for the first Use Vse 2. Reproof of divers sorts Vse 2 1. Of such as complain of Religion as if it were a fruitless Profession Reproof But certainly the Profession is not fruitless unless the Professors be fruitless Hos 10.1 Without controversie Religion no fruitless Profession as Great is the mystery of godliness so Great is the gain of godliness He that casts any seed upon the waters for Christs sake shall finde it shall receive an hundred-fold in this life but greater is the gain in the world to come even Life everlasting Joys that cannot be numbred that cannot be measured that are above our Comprehension above our Apprehension And therefore if men do highly prize an Earthly Inheritance though it be but in Reversion when there is but one Life between them and the Inheritance How should we prize the Reversion of this Heavenly Inheritance of this Heavenly Kingdom where there is but one poor short frail life betwixt us and it Doubtless the Reversion of an Heavenly Kingdom is better than the present Possession of all the Kingdoms of the World and the glory of them 2. Reproof of Despair 2. It Reproves such as in stead of exercising their Faith for Life Eternal give way to Distrust and Despair of Mercy as if nothing but Hell were their Portion It 's true Naturally we are children of wrath and can claim nothing but Hell as our inheritance But in Christ through the free grace of God Eternal life is held forth as the gift of God to every one that believeth Therefore exercise thy Faith for Life Eternal Obj. But alas I cannot believe that God should give Eternal Life to such a vile wretch as I am that have deserved nothing but Eternal Death Ans 1. And such were all they to whom God gives Eternal Life There is not one Saint now in Heaven but deserved to have been in Hell 2. If thou canst not believe pray that thou maist believe Cry out with tears Lord help my Vnbelief Obj. But to what purpose is it for me to pray when I finde the very flashes of Hell upon my Conscience already Will God or can God hear such a one Ans Yes God may hear such a one Psal 116.3 4 5 6 7. The sorrows of death compassed me The pains of hell gat hold upon me c. Then called I upon the Name of the Lord O Lord I beseech thee deliver my soul But what follows Gracious is the Lord c. Return unto thy rest O my soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee Therefore they are much to blame that give way to despair and do not exercise their Faith in Prayer for Eternal Life 3. 3. Against vain curiosity It Reproves such as exercise their Fancy more than their Faith about Eternal Life such as busie their heads about curious Questions concerning Heaven in stead of busying their hearts in making of it sure to themselves by Faith Enquiring 1. Whether the Glory of the Saints shall be Equal in Heaven 2. Whether there shall be any difference between Learned and Vnlearned men when they come in Heaven 3. Whether the Saints shall know one another in Heaven or not Though for my part I think this a Question out of question For how can it be supposed that we should have less knowledge of one another when we are made perfect than we have here in a state of imperfection 4. Whether there shall be any use of speech there or if there be What that language shall be 5. Concerning the place where this Life Eternal shall be 6. Whether Paradise Abrahams Bosom and Heaven be all one 7. What are the Diversity of Mansions in Heaven 8. Whether the Saints shall have liberty to come down on Earth or Whether Earth it self shall not be turned into Heaven or made as glorious as Heaven because God saith I create New Heavens and a New Earth Isa 65. 66. And thus men busie their heads with these and the like Questions concerning the Place and yet all this while hardly ask their own hearts this serious question But art thou in the way thither O my Soul Art thou in the way to Heaven Hast thou any thing to shew for it that Heaven is thine Dost thou live by Faith in regard of Eternal Life There may be some profit in this question but little in the other In all labour there is profit but the talk of the lips tendeth onely to penury Prov. 14.23 'T is not Talking of Heaven but Walking in the way taking hold upon Christ that must bring a man thither Simile Look as it is not a curious Paper of Verses or an Eloquent Oration made in the praise and Encomium of such a Mannor or Lordship that will give a man a good Title to it but a sound and plain Evidence in Law from him that had power to make a good Conveyance of it So it 's not a curious
loves not where it lives Is our Meditation therefore and Contemplation in Heaven It s sweet indeed to contemplate the visible part of the Heavens Psal 19.1 For The Heavens declare the glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy worke But it is far more sweet to a gracious soul to contemplate the Inside For the starry Vault is but the pavement of Gods house and the Clouds are the dust of his Feet And if there be so much glory without what is there within Oh! how sweet is it to a gracious Soul to look into the Holy of Holies to take a turn with Christ every-day in his Banqueting-house For so is heaven call'd Cant. 2.4 And this is the property of a Soul espoused to Christ by Faith Rev. ult The Spirit and the Bride say Come And if Christ come not to her so soon as she desires she will be sure to go to him at least in her serious thoughts and heavenly Meditations She lays out much of her Soul in Meditation the Meditation of Christ and heaven is very sweet Psal 104 34. She says of heaven as David of Gods Law O how do I love it it is my meditation all the day Psal 119. And this is a good sign we live by Faith in regard of eternal Life But if on the other side we are meer strangers to all heavenly Meditations we can think of the world as if we were possest by the Spirit of the world but seldome or never have a serious thought of heaven It may be we have a thousand thoughts of the world for one serious thought of heaven Doth not this proclaim to Men and Angels whatever we say or profess about Heaven and the Resurrection we believe no such matter 3. We may know it by our Speeches I mean 3. Our Speeches by our outward speeches For Meditation is the speech of the heart by it self by our speeches to others Where there is much of heaven in the heart there will be something of heaven in the tongue Several Countrymen have a several dialect or language and you may know what Country a man belongs to by his speech As the damosel said to Peter Even thy speech bewrayeth thee So a mans speech will bewray him and shew whether he belongs to heaven or earth He that is of the earth speaketh of the earth and he that is of heaven speaketh of heaven Joh. 3.31 When God would shew the sound conversion of the Egyptians to the Faith he saith Five cities in the land of Egypt shall speak the language of Canaan Isa 19.18 that is They shall have heavenly hearts for they shall have heavenly tongues 'T is true a man may learn and counterfeit the language of another country where he hath never dwelt and hath nothing to do in the priviledges of it and there are too many such Beggarly Canting Christians And therefore we are to examine not onely what we speak but from what Fountain and principle we speak Psa 45.1 My heart is inditing a good matter and then My tongue is the pen of a ready writer Pro. 16.23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth So then if we do but observe our selves when we speak out of the abundance of our hearts our speech will certainly bewray what country we belong to Never say therefore that thou livest by Faith in respect of heaven so long as thy speeches are earthly sensual or devillish He that believes he hath a great inheritance in another country he loves to be talking of it and so does a Citizen of Heaven 2 Cor. 4.15 We having the same Spirit of faith according as it is written I believed and therefore have I spoken we also believe and therefore do we speak And however some may indevour to counterfeit the language of Canaan yet there will be one Shibboleth or other that will discover them At the best they are but like mongrel Jews born of outlandish women who had Jews for their Fathers and Ashdodites for their Mothers and therefore they speak a mongrel Language half in the language of Canaan and half in the language of Ashdod Neh. 13.23 24. And so do these one while their mouth is full of Blessing and holy speeches another while they are full of Cursing and Blasphemy and Ribaldry according as their company suits their humour Obj. If you shall say How is this possible Can the same fountain as S. James speaks send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter or salt and fresh Ans I answer No it cannot And therefore onely one of these kinde of speeches springs from the Fountain of the Heart namely Cursing c. Holy speeches are but counterfeit And therefore God abhors such gross and affected mixture in mens speeches and resolves to turn himself to a people of a pure language Zeph. 3.9 And this is that which discovers a Citizen of Heaven when such a speech doth naturally flow from the heart I mean from a principle of renewed nature and so it 's true which Christ speaks By thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned Mat. 12.37 4. Our Actions 4. We may know it by our Actions and Conversation Our Meditations our Words may speak much but our Actions speak more He that hath something to shew for Heaven within himself hath something also to shew without himself 'T is not a dark Lanthorn that conveys a man to heaven Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine c. that men may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in heaven So that every one that sees such a man may say God is his Father Heaven is his Country Gods people look at themselves as strangers upon earth and therefore they fashion not themselves according to the world but conform themselves according to the manners of their own Country Examine therefore what hope thou hast of a better life for all true hope Joh. 3. is a purifying hope Dost thou as a stranger abstain from fleshly lusts Is thy conversation in Heaven from whence thou expectest the Lord Jesus Christ Phil. 3.20 That 's a good evidence thou art in the way to heaven But if thou canst live in known and gross sins under the Power and Dominion of them I know the best have their failings which they groan under as their burthen but if thou canst wittingly willingly and constantly live under the Power of any reigning lust and yet for all that thou sayest Thou livest by Faith in respect of eternal Life I say Thy Faith is but a Fancy it 's a strong Presumption and therefore a strong Delusion Thou art grosly deceived if thou thinkest to get Heaven or to inherit the Kingdom of God in such a way I deny not but a Fornicator an Adulterer a Drunkard being humbled and so laying hold upon Christ and in the self-same act repenting and forsaking his sin may finde mercy of God and admittance into heaven of his
Troubles of the world Faith lifts a man above the troubles of the world If you could suppose a dwelling above the Clouds above the Thundrings and Lightnings and terrible Storms would it not be a peaceable a comfortable habitation Such is the condition of a Christian who lives by Faith in regard of Eternal Life He lives above the clouds of worldly Troubles What if such a Trouble should come as may take away his life Faith will smile in the face of that Trouble Alas poor Trouble says Faith thou thinkest to do me a great deal of mischief when indeed thou dost but set my Soul at liberty to go out of an earthly Prison into a heavenly Palace Job 5.22 A man that lives by Faith for Heaven is above the clouds of the lower Region Heb. 12. Act. 4. he can endure the Cross he can despise the shame he can rejoyce that he is accounted worthy to suffer persecution for the Name of the Lord Jesus He can refuse to accept of life upon base terms that so he may obtain a better Resurrection Heb. 11. He can set an higher esteem upon the very reproach of Christ than upon all the Treasures of Egypt so long as he hath Faith enough to see him who is invisible and thereby to have respect to the Recompence of Reward He lives above the Troubles of the world 2. He lives above the Pleasures Profits and Honours of the world Let the Devil shew him all the Kingdoms of the world Mat. 4. and the glory of them as he did to Christ himself Faith in Christ will teach him to slight the proffer Alas says the believing Soul what is all this to the glory of Heaven Through Gods Mercy I am above all these I look at these as flitting fading empty Nothings gilded Pictures upon a rotten Post I know God hath put all these in subjection under my feet and therefore I will not put them as a Crown upon my Head or place them as a Treasure in my Heart but keep them there where God hath set them and that 's under my feet 'T is wonderful indeed but 't is not so strange as true Rev. 12.1 2. Thus the Church and every true believer is cloathed with the Sun of Righteousness whose powerful beams in the grace of Faith and Love draw up his Soul so far above the world that he tramples the Moon and all sublunary things under his feet He looks at all worldly excellencies of Pleasures Profits and Honours as changeable as the Moon On the other side he looks at the Word of God and Gods love in Christ and the fruits of that love in the glory of Heaven as the onely unchangeable good things and therefore these he wears as a Crown upon his Head but the other he puts as a Footstool under his feet We use to distinguish worldly things into Moveables and not moveables but we must go to heaven to make good one part of the distinction Heb. 12.27 28. Qu. But what means should I use Means to assure Eternal Life that I may live by Faith in regard of Eternal Life my sin hangs on so fast that I may as soon raise up by Body above the clouds as raise up my Soul heaven-ward Mean 1 Ans 1. Lay hold on Christ that is the way thither and the meritorious cause and the Loadstone there to draw thy Soul after him Christ is the great Engineer who hath a Pulley to draw thee to Heaven Joh. 12.32 When I am lift up I will draw all men unto me I have seen an artificial Instrument a device quo trahens trabitur So the more we lay hold on Christ by Faith the more strongly are we drawn to Christ so is fulfill'd the Promise Jam. 4.8 Draw near to God and he will draw near to you Mean 2 2. Act thy Faith upon the Promises of God for thy Spiritual cleansing from the burthen and filth of sin Rev. 21. ult No unclean thing shall enter Therefore 2 Cor. 7.1 Let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and Spirit And some Promises God hath made in special for that very work of cleansing the Soul See Ezek. 36.25 c. Like as Jeremy lying in the Dungeon when he took hold on the Cord that was let down he was drawn up by the men that stood aloft So we lying in the Dungeon of Sin and Misery whilst by the hand of Faith we take hold of the Cord of Promise which is let down from Jesus Christ now sitting at the Right hand of God in heaven we are drawn in Soul and Spirit heaven-ward Mean 3 3. Be sure thy Faith be fruitful in good Works if thou wouldst be sure of heaven 2 Pet. 1.5 Adde to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledge c. for so ver 11. An entrance shall be administred unto you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom Not that good Works merit any thing but because God will encourage his people in well-doing by shewing to such the salvation of God Ps 50. last Mean 4 4. As a means of both under Christ Be careful to sanctifie Gods Sabbath which is a sign and a pledge of heaven and the resting of that day a powerful means under Christ to prepare Gods people for eternal rest However we are not tied to the observation of the Jewish Sabbath yet there remains a rest to the people of God Heb. 4 9. As the full rest and Sabbatism does remain and will remain not to be fully possest by them till the general Resurrection so that percursory Rest and Sabbath which is ordained to be a sign and a pledge of the other must needs remain till we come to enjoy that whereof this is a pledge If this Sabbath be a sign and pledge of heaven and of Gods perfect sanctifying of his people in Souls and Bodies Exod. 31.13 then it must be kept till we come there for if we lose the pledge of a Benefit we lose the evidence of that Benefit whereof it is a Pledge Consider further the Sabbath was not onely ordained to be a pledge of Eternal Rest to assure us of it but to be a Means also to fit us for it The Sabbath was made for man for mans benefit and that not onely for his bodily rest but especially for the rest of his Soul that he might cease from the works of sin and learn to do the work of God And experience shews the right sanctifying of the Sabbath is a powerful means under Christ to sanctifie us to increase Faith Love Zeal and all saving graces It takes a man off from the world for such a man thinks not his own thoughts speaks not his own words does not his own works I say it takes a man off from the world and puts him as it were into heaven for the time As Paul was caught up into heaven so such a man as is in the Spirit on the Lords day Rev. 1. as it were in heaven
necessary to our very being in the state of Grace If it were a Gift of less consequence we ought to be thankful for it because a Gift In all things give thanks saith the Apostle But this is such a Gift as is all in all It is absolutely necessary to the very being of a Christian others are necessary to their well-being but this to their very being Therefore we have the more cause to be thankful What saith the Scripture Heb. 11.6 Without faith it is impossible to please God and so Without faith it is impossible to be saved Eph. 2.8 Ye are saved by faith Mark 16.16 He that believes shall be saved he that believes not shall be damned So that Faith in grown persons is absolutely necessary to Salvation you cannot be saved without it you may be Rich and you may be Beautiful and you may be Strong and you may be Nobly descended and you may be Learned without Faith but without Faith you can never be saved Obj. You will say So without Hope and Love and Zeal for Gods Glory we cannot be saved Ans That is true yet there is something more in Faith than in all the rest in tendency to Salvation For Faith in order of working is the very Root of all other Graces Our Hope and Love and Zeal and all the rest do spring from our Faith Rom. 12.3 So far as we believe we hope so far as we believe we love so far as we believe we are zealous for God and so of the rest Therefore Faith is in a special manner necessary to Salvation being the onely instrument of laying hold upon Christ And therefore in a special manner are we bound to be thankful for it Thirdly It is such a Gift 3. Such a gift as none else can give as is impossible for any other to give but God alone Therefore it is called The faith of the operation of God Col 2.12 as if God alone could work it If an Angel from Heaven should perswade you to believe this or that yet if God do not perswade you by his Spirit you cannot believe You reade Luk. 1.20 the Angel tells Zacharias he should be struck dumb because he believed not the words of the Angel If all the Angels in Heaven should preach to us if God himself doth not preach to us by his Spirit we cannot believe And if all the Angels upon Earth I mean all the Ministers for they are called the Angels of the Churches if all these one after another should preach to one particular Soul yet that Soul would not believe unless God open the heart of it as he did the heart of Lydia to believe Obj. You will say But Experience shews such and such have been Converted by such and such Ministers Ans It is granted but it was not the man without God but God in the man that did it else why is one man converted rather than another Why the same man at one time rather than at another and by means more improbable but to shew it is God in the man That as the Apostle saith the faith of Gods people might not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God 1 Cor. 2.5 that so he might have all the praise and glory Therefore the Apostle in this respect makes nothing of the Minâ—ster that God may be all in all in all his Ministers 1 Cor. 3.5 6 7. Who then is Paul and who is Apollo but Ministers by whom ye believe And as none can help as to Faith but God alone So we cannot help our selves we cannot work up our own hearts to believe we are not onely like sick men naturally but as dead men in the grave shut up under the grave-stone of Unbelief Rom. 11.32 He hath shut up all in unbelief that he may have mercy upon all That is that Gods mercy might be the more magnified in bestowing Faith upon them that were as unable to believe of themselves as a dead man is unable by his own power to arise out of his grave The wonders of Faith All the steps of Faith are wondrous difficult to a poor Creature yet know all things are possible with God As for Example 1. To see and believe what God requires of us in the first Covenant For till we know this we think our selves in a good condition and alive without the Law Rom. 7.9 And we cannot see and believe this till God himself open our eyes 1 Cor. 2.14 2. To see and believe how far we come short of the Law naturally how sinful we are and cursed by sin For we are like the young man that said All these have I kept from my youth upward But till wee see our selves sinners and feel the weight of sin we shall never look out after a Saviour The whole need not a Physician but the sick Mat. 9.12 3. To see and believe that not onely our gross sins but our best Righteousnesses do leave us in a miserable condition without a Saviour This is wondrous difficult for no sooner do we attain to some parts and the performance of some Duties but we are ready to say with the Church of Laodicea I am rich and increased with goods and stand in need of nothing and perceive not that we are wretched and miserable and poor and blinde and naked and it is nothing but Eye salve from Jesus Christ that can make us perceive this Rev. 3.17 18. that can make us believe and confess that All our Righteousnesses are as filthy polluted rags Isa 64.6 This is wondrous hard Naturally we are full of Self-love and Self-admiration but a Soul that comes to Christ is full of Self-loathing and Self-detestation Job 42.6 I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes 4. To see and believe the perfect Righteousness and surpassing Excellency of Jesus Christ For a Natural eye seeth no beauty in him Isa 53.2 and yet before we can desire him we must see the beauty that is in him 5. To see and believe the Necessity and the Duty of the poor Souls coming to Christ Psal 2 12. Leaning upon him for Righteousness and Salvation and that so doing it shall never be cast out For naturally we are ready to think and to say There is no need of coming to Christ or not need of us and our coming Though God will be merciful to others I am afraid he will not be merciful to me Though he do not cast out others who came to him I am afraid he will cast out me Therefore it is the wonderful Work of the Spirit of Christ to perswade the sin-repenting Soul to come to Christ Joh. 6.44 and when it is come to perswade it that Christ will not cast it out again And so the Spirit fastens the Promise upon the Soul Joh. 6.36 It is the wonderful Work of the Spirit to perswade enemies to become friends to perswade strangers to draw nigh and be acquainted with Christ This is such a difficult Work
Means to remove it The third is from the World 3. Impediment The World The World and Faith are opposites and either Faith must overcome the World or the World will overcome Faith The World hath profits pleasures preferments honours on the one side to allure thee and reproaches racks faggots fire on the other side to terrifie thee The World trieth both fair means and soul means to draw thee or to drive thee from the Faith Besides if either the Multitude or the Pomp and Magnificence of such as reject the Faith may prevail with thee the World will be sure to propound both as a scotch in the Wheel and a clog to thy Faith Joh. 7.48 Have any of the Rulers or the Pharisees believed on him As if they should say Are you so mad to believe on him and to go in a singular way Look about you in the world and you shall see there are not many men at least not many great and learned men that are so forward Me-thinks you should be willing to do as the most do and then you shall be sure the fewest will blame you Why should you be so foolish to expose your self to the shame and hatred of the multitude And this is the third Discouragement and Hindrance of Faith the World Well but how should we remove this Impediment how should we do to rowl away this stone 3 Relief I answer The best way to remove this stone and Rock of Offence is To remember that the Church of God is but a little Flock Mat. 6. and that the greatest number of men run headlong in the broad way that leadeth to destruction The multitude of offenders doth no whit lessen but rather aggravate the offence Remember the solemn charge of God Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil Exod. 23.2 He that sins with the multitude â—ust look to suffer with the multitude He that sins after the example of great men shall be greatly tormented It s a sad thing to go to Hell for company It s a doleful Welcom when Hell from beneath is moved for thee for thee I say that didst sin after the example of the most of men or the greatest of men Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming saith the Prophet Isa 14.9 It stirreth up the dead for thee even all the chief ones or great men of the earth All they shall speak and say unto thee Are you also become weak as we are you become like unto us or as one of us Mark ye if there be any triumph among damned Spirits it is this Even to insult over those that at last prove as miserable as themselves You shall sometimes see such a hellish disposition in wicked men whilst they live upon earth if they can but do their Neighbors a mischief they care not to do twice as much to themselves O how they triumph if they can but drink and swagger others into the like shame with themselves and rail and revile others into the same passion and play and game others into the same poverty O what is this wicked practice but even Hell above-ground For this is the language of Hell Art thou become like one of us c especially when they can draw a Professor into sin and by sin into judgement Oh! how they triumph at such a prize What art thou become as one of us Thou that didst walk like a Saint upon earth thou that didst shine like Lucifer the bright Morning-Star thou that wert eminent in the Profession and it may be in the preaching of the Faith how art thou fallen from thy heavenly condition How art thou fallen from thy professed Faith into Unbelief and by Unbelief into the Bottom of Hell Lo this is the triumph of the damned Spirits Look as there is Joy in Heaven among the blessed Angels over one sinner that râ—penteth more than over ninety and nine just persons Luke 15. which need no amendment of life So there is triumph in Hell amongst Apostate Angels over one eminent Professor that falleth from the Faith into the condemnation of Unbelievers more than over ninety and nine wicked persons that never made any such hopeful Profession O remember how Hell it self will laugh thee to scorn if thou shalt follow a multitude to do evil This is the shameful welcome those Infernal Spirits shall give to their new guests when a poor deluded Soul following the steps of the multitude goes down into the Chambers of Eternal Death This is that scornful language Art thou also become like one of us Didst thou follow us in Sin and Unbelief and now dost thou follow us into Torments If thou wouldst not be the shame of Devils and damned Spirits let not the example of the World perswade thee to continue in Unbelief And this is the third Impediment of Faith and the Means to remove it 4. Impediment of Faith Gods hardning The fourth is from God That 's a most observable passage which you reade Joh. 12.39 40. Therefore they could not believe because Isaiah had said again He hath blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts that they should not see with their eyes nor understand with their hearts and be converted and I should heal them These things said Isaiah when he saw his glory and spake of him As if he should say These are such things as did not onely concern the Prophets own time and the men of his generation but they are such things as are to be fulfilled under the Gospel in the Kingdom of Christ for the Prophet foretold them when he saw the glory of Christ and did Prophecy his Kingdom Now both the Vision and the particular Prophecy you have in the 6. of Isaiah Obj. But you 'll say This is wonderful How can these things be How is it possible that the same God which commands all men every where to repent and believe Acts 17. where the Gospel comes should nevertheless blinde the eyes and harden the hearts of some lest they should repent and believe Alas you 'll say What can the poor creature do if God shut their eyes who can open them if God harden the heart who can soften it Ans I answer Therefore you are carefully to look to the meaning of the Prophecy which is nothing else but a denunciation of Spiritual Judgement against the people for their former contempt of his Word and Means of grace As if God should say Are you so obstinate will nothing work upon you notwithstanding so many gracious proffers of Mercy will nothing move you to believe Then you shall not believe Will nothing move you to repent Then you shall not repent Will nothing move you to cleanse your selves from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit Then you shall not be cleansed He that is filthy let him be filthy still Rev. 22. And that this is the very meaning of the words you may see by the same Prophecy cited by S.
is broken upon the Feather-bed of Gods Mercy One looke from Christ or one look towards Christ by the eye of Faith melts the heart more then a thousand strokes of the hammer Zech. 12.10 I will pour upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of Grace and Supplication and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his only son Observe nothing melts the heart so kindly as looking upon Christ crucified by the eye of Faith O saith the believing Soul that Christ should deal so kindly with me that have dealt so unkindly with him O that he should overcome my evil with his exceeding goodness O that he should die for me who once did hate him to the very death O these are melting arguments that come from faith Remember thou canst never be throughly humbled till thou beginnest to believe Other Arguments may Batter the heart but Arguments drawn from Faith do only Break it and melt it And therefore let not this consideration keep thee from believing to say I have not yet been humbled enough for by that reason we should never believe as long as the world stands For where is the man that can say He is humbled enough especially before such time as he begins to believe But so much for the fifth particular Impediment and the way to remove it The 6. Is this They want the sense of Gods love nay 6. Want of Feeling they feel the sense of his wrath and displeasure and therefore why should they believe Now to remove this Impediment Cure and to roll this Stone out of the way we must know it is impossible to have the sense and feeling of Gods love till we begin to believe For being justified by Faith we have Peace with God Rom. 5.1 and not before God sometimes carrieth strange to his own children as Joseph to his brethren and Christ to the woman of Canaan Yea whom the Lord loves he corrects and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth Heb. 12.6 The father knoweth how to frown and how to strike with the Rod too and yet he is a father still His chastisements are Castigatory Probatory and Purgatory they purge out the remainders of sinful Corruption And if we have but grace to carry towards him as Children under the Rod we may be sure by that that God offers himself to us as a Father Therefore be not discouraged though God seem to frown but say as Job If God should kill me yet will I trust in him I am sure to die if I fly from him Whither shall I fly from thy presence Psal 139. and I can but die if I fly to him nay I am sure I shall not die if I can do so for he hath said it and he will perform it Joh. 6.37 He that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out And therefore do not reason against thy self and say Oh God is a terrible and a furious God he will never be at peace with such an one as I am True indeed if thou standest out in opposition against him he is a furious God but if thou layest down thy weapons of War and yieldest up thy strong-holds of Carnal Reason and Self-will into his hands in this case mark what God saith Isa 27.4 Fury is not in me As if he should say Thou thinkst I am a furious God there 's no dealing with me but if thou wilt submit thou shalt finde fury is not in me Indeed if thou settest thy self still in battel against me I will be as a consuming fire unto thee but if thou hast a real desire to submit and to make peace take my Word for it Thou canst not be so forward to make peace with me but I am as forward to make peace with thee And therefore be not afraid for so runs the Promise Fury is not in me who would set the briars and thorns against me in battel I would go through them I would burn them together Or let him take hold of my strength that he may make peace with me and he shall make peace with me O what a gracious Promise is this How should it overcome all the hard thoughts and jealousies we are apt to entertain of God! O but in the seventh place 7. Doubt of Election I am afraid the Promise belongs not unto me for I fear I am not Elected and therefore why should I believe This is another great Impediment and an heavy stone upon the mouth of the Sepulchre and how should this be removed Thus Who tels thee so not God if any body Cure the Divel Deut. 29.29 Secret things belong unto the Lord our God but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever Election of this or that particular person is a secret thing and cannot be known by any thing à priori that goeth before but à posteriori from the latter it may be known by our Faith and effectual calling we may know we are Elected and not before 2 Thes 1.3 4. But here 's the Divels policy to puzzel mens heads and hearts in Election when they should busie their heads and hearts about Believing in thirsting after Jesus Christ in being willing to make peace with him and wholly to receive him And if God hath given thee such a Will I am sure the Promise belongs to thee Rev. 22.17 Let him that is a thirst come and whosoever will let him take the water of Life freely And so much for the seventh particular Impediment and the way to remove it The Sixth Hindrance Sixth General Impediment of Faith viz. Neglect of Means Is a wicked and sinful neglect of the Means which God useth for the begetting of Faith Of which by Gods assistance we are to speak in due time If Christ and Heaven and Faith will drop into their mouth at unawares so it is but under pretence that God doth call in the working of Faith they are resolved to use no means under God but cast off all Ordinances as if they were to no purpose Now so long as a man neglects the means he is never like to attain the end Now of this neglect of the Means there are divers subordinate causes especially these five Prejudice Pride Sloth Five Causes of Neglect of Means Presumption and Despondency of Spirit We shall speak of them particularly and the way to remember them 1. Prejudice Quarrels the Means of Faith The 1. Is a strong and strange Prejudice against the Means of begetting Faith or against the Instruments dispensing the Means Tush saith one this Preaching this foolish preaching t is but a light kind of food as they said of the Manna and how should this do me any good I 'le never believe this foolish Preaching can be a means to save my soul And for these preachers saith the poor deluded soul what are they but a company of infirmous
slumber a little folding of the hands to sleep lest thy spiritual poverty come as a traveller and thy want as an armed man Pro. 24.33 34. Besides Christ can make difficult things easie Mat. 11.30 My yoke is easie Isa 26.12 Thou hast wrought all our works in us Phil. 2.13 It is God that worketh to will and to do And this is the third Subordinate cause of the neglect of the Means and the way to remove it The 4. Is Presumption 4. Presumption Post dates the use of Means Cure Presuming we may use the Means soon enough many daies or years after They think they may repent and believe when they list But to remove this Impediment and to roll away this Stone It is good to remember that not so much as our natural life is in our own power Eccl. 8 8. Much less that which is Spiritual and Supernaturul it 's possible we may have but a little space of time to live and it may be lesse space of time to repent Rev. 2 21. I gave her a space to repent of her fornicateon and she repented not saith God of Jezabel God giveth a space of time to particular Persons Cities and Nations which is called the Accepted Time and the Day of Salvation 2 Cor. 6.2 and if we come not in the space of this Time the Door may be Shut and we may Knock too late Mat. 25 10. Whilst the foolish Virgins went to buy oil the Bridegroom came and they that were ready went in with him to the Marriage and the door was shut And this is the fourth Subordinate cause of neglect of the Means and the way to remove it 5. Despondency quits the use of Means The 5. Is Despondency of Spirit Through an extreme fear that the time of Grace is past It may be we have us'd the Means of Grace long and we conceive we are never the better and therefore we fear it is to no purpose to attend upon the Means for the time to come Cure Now to remove this Impediment to roll this Stone out of the way Let us remember It is not for us to know the Times and the Seasons which the Father hath placed in his own power Acts 1.7 Let us continue to do our duty in seeking and we may be sure God will be found at the last though he hide himself very long to our apprehension Isa 38.18 Blessed are all they that wait for him Hast thou waited twenty or thirty years for Grace or Comfort resolve to wait still Joh. 5.5 There was an impotent man who had waited thirty eight years for healing and yet by a word of Free Grace from Christ himself he was healed at the last There 's no time past but God may heal thee for all this though thou hast waited many a year And therefore resolve to stand it out to the last man He that continueth to the end shall be saved Mat. 24.13 And thus have we spoken of the sixth grand Impediment which is a sinful neglect of the Means of Grace and also of the way to remove it 7. Supposition of having Faith already The Seventh Impediment Is a vain Supposition that we have Faith when we have it not or else a supposition that we have it not when we have it the one hinders the obtaining of Faith and the other hinders the actings of it and we are apt to swear on both sides Pro. 37.7 There is that maketh himself rich and yet he is poor and there is that maketh himself poor yet hath great riches First There is that maketh himself Rich when he is poor there is a supposition that a man hath Faith when he hath it not Now hear's the mischief of this Conceit He that presumes he hath a thing when he hath it not it takes off all endeavours for the obtaining of it So he that presumes he hath Faith when he hath it not it takes him off from the use of Means for the obtaining of it Now for the removing of this Impediment Cure and for the rolling away of this Stone There 's no better way then to bring our Faith to the Test or Touch-stone that we do not bless our selves in giving entertainment to a bold-fac'd presumption in stead of a true Faith Quest How shall I be able to distinguish between Presumption and true Faith For as the Harlot laid her dead child in the room of the true mothers living child 1 Kin. 3.20 So the Divel pops men off with a dead Faith which is no better then presumption in stead of a true and Living Faith How therefore shall we know the one from the other the dead child from the other I Answer Differences of Presumption and Faith Besides what hath been said already in the use of tryal You may know Presumption from true Faith by its Conception Birth Growth and Issue or fruits 1. By its Conception 1 In the Conception Presumption is nothing but our own Conceit the Brat of our own brain a strong imagination without any real Foundation upon the Word of God whereas true Faith is ever grounded upon the Promise it is Begotten by the incorruptible seed of the Word 1 Pet. 1 23. Only let me add this by way of Caution Caution There may be a false application of a promise as well as a true and saving a promise may be presented to the Soul by Satan as well as by the Holy Spirit of God Quest How shall we know the difference Answ That when ever Satan presents a promise to the Soul he presents it in a Wrested sense or he presents it for a Wrong end as Mat. 4.6 It 's written He shall keep thee c. This promise is presented in a Wrested Sense so as the meaning of it could not stand with that other Scripture Thou shalt not tempt c. God doth promise to protect in such dangers as his providence casts us into in the way of our calling but not in such dangers as our own folly and presumption casts us into when we forsake our way And therefore the Divel cunningly and wickedly leaves out that part of the Word In all thy wayes Psa 91.11 12. 2. It is presented for a Wrong End To separate Justification from Sanctification and so to make us bold to sin against God as here see Jude 4. Turning the grace of God i. e. Gracious promises of Mercy into wantonness But now when the Promise of God is presented and applyed by the Spirit of God it is presented in a true sense such as may well stand with all other parts of holy Scripture for the Spirit doth never contradict it self And it is presented for a Right and Good End Even for the furtherance of our Sanctification as well as of our Justification and so the promise is made a Transforming Promise 2 Cor. 3.18 And a Cleansing Promise so as to make the Soul willing to be purged from every sin Consider seriously of
persons who in a distemper of melancholly do think they can live without meat and indeed as well may the body live its natural life without meat as the Soul live its Spiritual and Supernatural life without the Word Job 23.12 I have desired the words of his mouth moâ—e than my appointed food the Word of God is the food of the Soul Faith is both begotten and encreased by the Word by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God doth man live Mat. 4.4 The Word of God is like blood in the natural Body Vehiculum Spiritûs The Word The Word the ordinary mean of Faith is the power of God to Salvation to every one that believeth Rom. 1.16 This is the main end of that great Ordinance of the Ministery which was given for the begetting and for the encreasing faith till we all come in the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4.13 And therefore I say attend upon this Ordinance as ever thou desirest Faith make use of these despicable Rams-horns as ever thou desirest the mighty walls of Jericho should fall down for the weapons of the Ministery are mighty through God to the pulling down of all the strong holds of sin and Satan all the Opposites and Impediments of Faith Wait at the Pool of Bethesda Joh. 5.2 5. as ever thou desirest to be cured of thy Spiritual Maladies A Miracle yea a Million of Miracles will not beget faith in thee if that Word do not beget it which was at the first confirmed by Miracles If ordinary and living Preachers do thee no good neither wouldst thou believe if an extraordinary and miraculous Messengers should arise from the dead and preach to thee Luke 16.31 Therefore such as look for faith by Revelation without and beyond the Word certainly this perswasion cometh not of him that calleth Gal. 5.8 Such a perswasion and such a revelation is of Satan and not from God For God saith To the Word and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no light in them Isa 8.20 Therefore as ever thou desirest true Light and true Faith attend upon the ministry of the Word Object But you will say What part of the Word should we attend upon that we may attain this Promise of Grace Every Word an Object of Faith Answ I Answer in general Every part of the Word of God both Precept and Promise where ever God hath a tongue to speak we should be sure to have an ear to hear Especially the Promise Gal. 3.24 Especially we are bound to attend upon the Promise of the Gospel As for the Ceremonial Law it is abolished it was our School-master unto Christ but no longer As for the Moral Law though it be abolished as a Covenant Do this and thou shalt live Rom. 10.5 if thou do it not thou shalt die so it is abolisht Yet the Apostle tels us in Romans 7. there is still even under the Gospel this use of the Law To convince us of sin and so to shew us our need of Christ Object If it be Objected The Spirit of Christ doth this John 16.8 and therefore what need of the Law How the Spirit Convinceth of sin Ans I Answer The Spirit doth it indeed but by opening and applying the Rule of the Law for so saith the Apostle who himself was guided by the Spirit when he uttered those words Rom. 7.7 I had not known sin but by the Law for I had not known lust except the Law had said Thou shalt not Covet Thus the Spirit convinceth by the Law and that so powerfully and effectually when God is pleased to set it home upon any particular soul that he apprehends the Minister speaks so as if he knew his very heart or so as if the Minister spoke to none but him in all the Congregation Now the word thus apprehended doth usually work some measure of humiliation with fear and terrour in some more in some lesse for we prescribe not a certain measure to any Now this though it be but a common work in it self yet where God is pleased to sanctifie it and to set it home it is a means to drive the Soul nearer to Jesus Christ and that by reasoning in this manner O that I should be such a vile wretch to transgress a law so Holy so Just so Good I confesse if God should look upon me in the first Covenant he might justly set open all the Flood-gates of his wrath he might even rain down Hell out of Heaven upon such a vile wretch as I am But What Is there no remedy sayes the perplexed Soul Is there no Balm in Gilead Jer. 8.22 Is there no Physician there that is able to cure a sick and a sinful Soul O yes sayes Christ I am that Physician of greatest value The whole need not the Physitian but the sick Mat. 19.2 for I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance The Spirit of God is upon me Luk. 4.18 because he hath anointed me on purpose to preach good tidings unto the meek he hath sent me to binde up the broken hearted c. and therefore fear not poor soul I am sent to thee in a special manner my errand is to thee and therefore do not thou run from me but come to me Mat. 11.28 O come to me thou that art weary and heavy laden and I will give rest unto thee What to me sayes the poor dejected soul Is it possible God should intend any mercy to such a dead dog as I am Yes even to thee sayes Christ do but come to me and thou shalt be welcome I have paid all thy debt pacified Gods wrath for all that are willing to receive me and believer in me whateve their sins have been O this now melts the heart of a sinner and now he can mourn for sin as it is sin that ever he should offend such a gracious God Hereupon he comes to be meekly content to use any means that God shall prescribe for his Souls good To wait in hope To hunger and thirst after Christ To sell all that he hath though his all is worth nothing at all yet highly prized by him but this he is well content to part withall even with all his lusts and darlings yea all his best works and self-righteousness Phil. 3.7 8 so he may win Christ and be found in him he is willing to part with all and to count it as dross and dung Now when God of his Free Grace hath brought the Soul to this passe then after that he is pleased to reveal himself in a gracious manner Gen. 45.3 as Joseph revealed himself to his brethren I am Joseph your brother So sayes God Jer. 31.3 I am thy God and Father Lo I have loved thee with
an everlasting love and therefore with loving kindnesse have I drawn thee And thus God seals him by his Spirit and lets him see his right to the promise of his Free Grace and so the soul layes hold upon Christ in the Promise and rests upon him for Righteousnesse and Salvation Quest If you shall say Why doth God usually thus humble men more or lesse and stir up in them strong desires after Christ before they come so fully and so clearly to lay hold of the Promise This question is needful to clear up the manner of the working of the Word or at least of the laying hold of it Reasons why Humiliation must go before Faith Answ I answer First Because there must be a renouncing of our own righteousness wrought in us by the Spirit of God before there can be a submitting to the righteousness of God Rom. 10.3 For they being ignorant of Gods righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God Now it is impossible to suppose a man to be brought to that pass to renounce his own righteousnesse but he must be humbled 2 Chr. 12.6 Whereupon the Princes of Israel and the King humbled themselves and they said The Lord is righteous Luk. 18.10 c. to 15. See the example Reas 2 Secondly Because God hath joyned Repentance and Faith together in the Gospel Mark 1.15 Repent ye and believe the Gospel Now it is impossible to suppose true repentance without some measure of humility and godly sorrow for sin as the Apostle describes it 2 Cor. 7.8 9 10 11. v. 9. Now I rejoyce not that ye were made sorry but that ye sorrowed to repentance for ye were made sorry after a godly manner v. 11. For behold the self-same thing that ye sorrowed after a godly sort what carefulness it wrought in you yea what clearing of your selves yea what indignation yea what fear yea what vehement desire yea what zeal ye what revenge In all things ye have approved your selves to be clear in this matter Reas 3 Thirdly God doth humble them that they may hear and receive the message of the Gospel with the more meeknesse and readinesse Jer. 13.15 Hear ye and give ear be not proud for the Lord hath spoken And in this Text tell a proud unhumbled sinner of Mercy of Faith and of a Saviour What need of a Saviour or Mercy sayes he unlesse I were in misery But when God hath taken him down a peg lower Psa 141.6 and he is overthrown as it were in stony places O then he will hear the words of reconciliation for they are sweet O then if a Messenger or an Interpreter Job 33.23 one of a thousand shall shew to this man his righteousness that it is in Christ and not in himself he is very willing to hear on that ear it is the sweetest message that ever came to his ears And that is the third reason why God humbles men more or lesse before they come so fully to apprehend his love in Christ Reas 4 A Fourth reason is That they may be more thankful afterwards Prov. 27.7 The full soul loatheth the honey-comb but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet This is Gods usual method he is wont to hunger-bite the Soul and then to fill it Luke 1.53 He filleth the hungry soul with good things Why so Because a hungry beggar will be thankful for every crust and crum and so will a hungry Soul Psal 66.16 O come saith such a one I will tell you what the Lord hath done for my Soul I will tell you something but I cannot tell you all what is wanting in expression shall be made up in admiration of the goodness of God to all eternity Reas 5 Fifthly because a true sight of God and of a mans self doth humble the creature Job 42.5 6. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear but now mine eye seeth thee wherefore I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes and that not onely a sight of Gods Power and Justice but even the least glimpse of his Mercy in Christ Believing in Christ is said to be looking upon Christ by faith Joh. 3.14 15. And as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness even so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life Now this look doth break the heart and humble the heart above all other means whatsoever Zech. 12.10 And I will pour upon the house of David and upon the Inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of Grace and Supplication and they shall look on me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his onely Son and shall be in bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness for his first-born See this in that great Convert Luk. 7.47 Wherefore I say unto thee Her sins which are many are forgiven for she loved much but to whom little is forgiven the same little because she loved much she mourned much Reas 6 Sixthly because God hath said he will give grace to the humble 1 Pet. 5.5 Likewise ye yonger submit your selves unto the elder yea all of you be subject one to another and be clothed with humility for God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble Grace in the 1. Inchoation 2. Augmentation 3. Conservation 4. Perfection 1. Grace in the Inchoation Humility in all the periods of grace not as if a man could be truly humble before he hath grace but to intimate he hath no grace till he be humble for he that hath one grace hath all graces and therefore he that hath faith hath also humility The new man hath all his parts and members so soon as ever there is a new birth in the Soul He hath therefore humility as well as other graces Yea poverty of Spirit is made the beginning of all grace Mat 5.3 Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven Thus in the inchoation or beginning of grace 2. In the Augmentation or increase of grace Jam. 4.6 But he giveth more grace wherefore he saith God resisteth the proud but giveth grace unto the humble He giveth more grace to the humble As a Tree the deeper it roots the more it spreadeth in its branches and increaseth in its fruits so the deeper the creature is rooted in humility the more abundant it is in the fruits of Piety the high Mountains are barren when the lowly Valleys are very fruitful 3. In the Conservation or establishing of Grace received he gâ—ves to such the grace of Perseverance Spiritual Pride will certainly have a fall but he that stands low in his own apprehension he stands sure When we are weak that is sensible of our own weakness then are we strong 2 Cor. 12.10 Such are like to stand when others are offended and fall away 4. God gives grace
findes the sweetness of it should desire to communicate this life to others and to endevour that they also may live by it as well as himself If the Life of Faith be such an excellent Life who would not labour to convert others to the Faith Me-thinks I hear God by his Spirit speaking to the Soul of each faithful man Behold thou art converted thy self Hast thou here any besides as the Angel said to Lot Gen. 19 12. Son in law and thy sons and thy daughters that are still in Sodom still in the state of Nature O bring them out of this condition that they may learn to live by Faith also as well as thy self This is indeed the great Work of the Ministers and ought to be the endevour of every private Christian in their private Admonitions and Exhortations to convert others to the Faith Dost thou desire thy Children thy Friends thy Neighbours may live comfortably as well as thy self O labour to convert them to the Faith and labour that they may live by Faith when they are converted There 's no Life under heaven to be compared with this Life But to press home farther and more effectually what I intend in this Point I shall refer most of that I have to say to that notable place in Daniel which I shall adde as an Appendex to this Subject of Faith AN APPENDIX Concerning The Converting of others TO THE FAITH They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever WHere the Prophet Daniel foretelling the greatest troubles that ever befel Gods People from the beginning of the World which some understand of the great Persecution under Antiochus Epïphanes and others of the last and great Persecution under Antichrist and others understand it of both and indeed the first was a Type of the latter I say the Prophet foretelling the greatest troubles that ever befel Gods People he foretels also as was needful for their support at such a time the greatest comforts and encouragements that could be First in the very time of their troubles And secondly in the issue and fruit of their troubles First in the time of their troubles and that is in the glorious appearance and assistance of the great General of the Field the Lord Jesus Christ the Angel of the Covenant pleading the Cause and fighting the Battels of his Servants Here 's the comfort though there be no troubles like their troubles yet there is no Saviour like their Saviour ver 1. And at that time shall Michael stand up the great Prince which standeth for the children of thy people and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation Secondly in the issue and fruit of their troubles As no troubles like their troubles so no deliverance like their deliverance Which is set forth 1. In the glorious Resurrection of all the faithful to life Eternal in these words viz. And at that time thy people shall be delivered every one that shall be found written in the Book and many of them that sleep in the dust shall awake some to everlasting life 2. In the special glory that is promised to those that lay forth themselves in a special work viz. in the Conversion of others to the Faith v. 3. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever Explication They that be wise Some reade it that make others wise or cause them to understand So They that turn many unto righteousness i. e. they that turn men to the righteousness of faith as Interpreters do expound it they that are instruments of others Conversion they shall shine as the stars for ever and ever As if the Prophet had said 'T is possible the rage of Antichrist in the night of Persecution may burn hottest of all against the Teachers of the Word and such as draw others to the knowledge of Christ because they stand as it were in the fore-front of the Battel yet let them be no whit discouraged for as the stars shine brightest in the darkest night so shall they shine that are called Stars Rev. 1.20 and all such as labour in Conversion of others they shall shine as the stars for ever and ever You may behold in the words 1. The Description and Commendation of the most excellent Work 2. The Intimation or Proposal of the most excellent Reward and the latter set down as an encouragement to the former 1. The Description of the most excellent Work They that turn many unto righteousness 2. The Intimation or Proposal of the most excellent Reward They shall shine As the Firmament As the Stars for ever and ever Take the result of both in this one Proposition The turning of men unto Righteousness Doctr. or the Conversion of Souls to the Faith as it is the most excellent Work so it shall certainly be crowned with the most excellent Reward They that be wise c. I. Branch 'T is an excellent Work 1. The turning of men unto Righteousness the Conversion of Souls to God is the most excellent Work It is an excellent Work indeed by Prayer and other means to heal a sick body Jam. 5.15 The prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up Yea but it is a far more excellent Work to heal a sick and sinful Soul ver 19. Brethren if any of you do erre from the truth and one convert him let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the errour of his way shall save a soul from death and shall cover a multitude of sins This is an excellent Work indeed and it is that excellent Work that was so much in Davids eye he was marvellous earnest with God to help him in the work of his own Conversion or in the renewal of his Repentance and why so that he might be the better fitted to convert others to God Psal 51.13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways and sinners shall be converted unto thee This was the great and noble design of David the Conversion of Souls He desired though he could not make God amends yet to take a holy Revenge upon Satan by drawing Subjects from him to God And indeed it appears to be a most excellent Work in many respects For Reas 1 First it is a difficult Work and all excellent things are difficult It is a difficult work It s an easie matter to damn a Soul Facilis descensus averni We go down the hill and so down to Hell fast enough but it 's the hardest matter in the world to save a Soul Psal 22.29 'T is too hard for a man to convert himself No man can keep alive or quicken his own Soul 'T is too hard for a man by his own power to convert another 't is too hard for the Parent
Souls of poor sinners may well be accounted and called Blessed 2. There 's a blessing also from Man If the children of natural Parents how much more shall the children of Spiritual Parents rise up and call them blessed Prov. 31.28 O blessed be God says a poor Soul that ever I heard such a man preach and dispense the Word of Life I was before in the very gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity but blessed be God for such an Instrument that under Jesus Christ was a means to work upon my heart and to draw me out of that wretched condition And thus the blessing of him that was ready to perish comes upon the Spiritual Parent as Job speaks and therefore it is great ground of joy Job 29.13 Secondly 2. The Church of God This is that which doth exceedingly rejoyce the Church of God in general for whoever be the particular Father under God of any mans Conversion that 's most certain the Church of God is the true Mother Zion is daily travailing in pain for the bringing forth of Gods elected ones And never had any Mother in the world more joy in the birth of a childe than the Church of God Jerusalem which is above and is free and is the Mother of us all Gal. 4.26 hath joy in the happy birth of new converted Souls Oh! how she hugs them in her arms and dandles them upon her knees suckles them at her brests as the Lord speaks Isa 66.11 12. Then shall ye suck and be satisfied with the brests of her Consolation ye shall suck ye shall be born upon her sides and be dandled upon her knees As one whom his mother comforteth so will I comfort you and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem 'T is a comfort to the children 't is a comfort to the Mother no doubt 't is a great joy to both 3. The particuâ—ar Society 3. 'T is joy to the particular Society and place where they live if they understand themselves the Family the Town the City the Kingdom where they live fares the better for such 'T is most true impenitent sinners are very evil Instruments in any Society whereever they come They are the Jonas's the Achan's the Ahab's the troublers of Israel whereever they live they bring plagues and judgements upon others as well as upon themselves One sinner destroys much good Eccl. 9.18 But it is as true on the other side an humble gracious converted Soul brings a blessing with him whereever he comes Laban is blest for Jacobs sake Potiphar is blest for Josephs sake and Zoar is spared for Lots sake and Sodom had been spared too for ten righteous persons if they had been found there The poor godly wise man delivers the City Eccl. 9.15 The innocent deliver the island and it is delivered by the pureness of his hands Job 22.30 and therefore 't is joy to the particular society and place where they live 4. The Angels 4. 'T is joy to the blessed Angels of Heaven As 't is joy to the Terrestrial Angels the Ministers of the Churches so 't is joy to the Coelestial Angels those blessed ministring Spirits who are sent forth to minister for them that shall be heirs of Salvation Heb. 1. last Those glorious creatures as they delight to pry into the Mystery of Christ and to preach the Gospel for the first Sermon that was ever preached after the birth of Christ was preach'd by an Angel Luk. 20.10 So they do no less delight in the conversion of Souls by that Ordinance Luk. 15.7 So likewise I say unto you there is joy in heaven in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth Wouldst thou rejoyce Heaven and Earth at once Oh be converted thy self and travail in the Conversion of others Look as those damned Spirits the Angels of Darkness rejoyce in the destruction of Souls Your adversary the Devil as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour 1 Pet 5.8 O how Hell it self is moved and enlargeth her self at the approach of such new-comers as these Isa 5.14 14.9 So those blessed Angels of Light do no less rejoyce in the Conversion of Souls 5. Nay Fifthly 5. Inferiour Creatures 't is that which after a sort doth rejoyce the very inferiour Creatures they do far more readily and cheerfully serve the godly than the wicked For however they do indeed serve the lusts of wicked men yet it is but a kinde of ravishment and forced service They are made subject to vanity in it Rom. 8.20 because impropriated from their first institution in the state of Integrity For they were appointed at first to serve the Sons of God by Creation Note and therefore in this kinde they do rejoyce to serve the Sons of God by Regeneration yea they do even groan to be made partakers of that liberty that being delivered out of the former bondage of serving the lusts of sinful men they might serve no other but the Sons of God Rom. 8.19 And thus we see it is a most excellent Work because it aims at the most excellent End Reas 5 Fifthly 'T is the most excellent Work because it is a Work that is most pleasing to Jesus Christ and surely It is most pleasing to Jesus Christ that is the most excellent Work that is most excellent in the account of Jesus Christ And I pray why was Christ content to be born in a Stable among the Beasts and to live as a servant and a slave and to die amongst the most notorious Malefactors Nay why did he rise again from the Grave and ascend on High but that he might give gifts unto men for the work of the Ministery for the Conversion of Souls for the perfecting of the Saints Ephes 4.12 And when Christ once sees this Work going forward it does him good at the very heart O now says Christ I have enough now that I see of my Spiritual seed now that I see of the travail of my Soul I am satisfied Isa 53.11 O now I judge all my pains and cost well bestowed I do not repent me of one drop of my Blood that was shed for the Redemption of my dearest People For why did Christ neglect his own Body and Soul but to save the Bodies and Souls of others Simile Writers report of the Pellican that she sprinkles of her own blood upon her young ones when they are dead whereby they revive and recover their former life Whether this be true or no I know not But this I am sure of He that compares himself to the Pellican Psal 102.6 he doth so he revives his people by his own blood by the blood of sprinkling and when they are thus revived O this life of theirs is as it were the life of Christ himself Now I live saith Christ if ye live if ye stand fast in the Life of Faith Reas 6 Sixthly 'T is the most excellent Work because it is the most
a respect and honour due to all those that labour in the Conversion of Souls as private Christians by their private Admonitions Exhortations Counsels Prayers c. wherein they may be singularly helpful to the Ministers of God But principally this is due to those whose peculiar work and calling it is to convert Souls to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God He therefore that despiseth despiseth not man but God who hath given unto us his holy Spirit 1 Thess 4 8. Vse 2 Vse 2. of Reproof Reproof of Secondly this Reproves many If the Conversion of Souls be such an excellent Work then it Reproves 1 Them that slight this work First Such as slight this Work and make no account of it as if it were not worth the while to Convert Souls 1 Sort. 1. Such as Cloister up themselves in a solitary Monastical life as a state of greater perfection Though they profess the Faith yet they bring forth little fruits of it they are all for Contemplation little for Action all for themselves little for others in the propagation of the Faith Let others sink or swim all 's one to them So they may save their own Souls they care little what becomes of others Gen. 4. But this is not the voice of Faith to say Am I my Brothers keeper 2 Sort. 2. Such are to blame who though they have many opportunities in regard of their frequent converse with men yet they take not those advantages to win Souls They can compass Sea and Land and take all possible advantages to win Proselytes and to win disciples to themselves to win men to their Opinions but not to win them to the Faith to win wealth and to win friends and to win credit and honour but not to win Souls How many of these whilst they seem to lay siege against a sinner make use onely of such carnal weapons of humane Eloquence and fleshly Wisdom whereby they take onely the out-works of mens fancies to win them to themselves but never use such weapons as strike to the heart and conscience and are mighty through God 2 Cor. 10.2 to the pulling down of strong holds and to the taking of the Castle of their Hearts to win them to Jesus Christ All that labour is but vain that tends not to the Conversion of Souls Secondly 2. Them that strive not to win Souls by such means as God hath appointed it Reproves such as strive not to win others to the Faith by fair means or by such means as God hath appointed Gen. 9.27 but force them to the Faith by fear and terror Indeed they rather force them from the Faith than to the Faith Fides non cogitur Faith cannot be forced when we have done all we can Fire and Faggot are Arguments from Rome and Argumets from Hell rather than from Heaven To devote Hereticks as They call them to destruction because they believe not is an argument of a strange spirit You read Luk. 9.54 because the Samaritans would not receive Jesus Christ presently the Disciples James and John were fire and towe against them nothing will serve their turn but that fire must immediately come down from heaven to consume them But in stead of incouragement they meet with a check from Christ ver 55. But he turned and rebuked them and said Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of for the Son of Man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them Certainly they are of strange spirits that would send men quick to Hell because they will not be perswaded to go in their way to heaven But this is the way to destroy Souls and not to save them 3. Them that neglect this duty Thirdly It Reproves such as do utterly neglect this great duty of winning Souls unto God And surely if they are wise that labour to win Souls they must needs be fools that do wittingly and willingly neglect it And yet many such there are in the world such as never speak a word from one end of the year to another to their Neighbors or to their Friends nay hardly to their Children Servants or Yoke-fellows to draw their Souls to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ O cruel Husbands and cruel Fathers may such Wives and such Children say as Zipporah said to Moses A bloody husband hast thou been to me And surely if he that hath power to save a man from temporal death and doth not is no better than a murtherer Then he that for ought be knows might save a man from Spiritual and Eternal death and doth not use the means in the compass of his Calling he is no better than a Soul-murtherer in the sight of God His blood says God will I require at thy hands thy life shall go for his life and thy soul for his soul Ezek. 33.7 8. 4. Them that pervert from the Faith Fourthly and lastly Much more then are they to be Reproved who are so far from converting others to the Faith that they do what they can to pervert them In stead of drawing others to God they drive them from God and if they draw them any ways they draw them farther into sin Such men as they do the very office of the Devil himself Look as those that win Souls to God are fellow-workers with God so those that destroy Souls are no better than fellow-workers with the Devil they are Tempters under him and act the Devils part Prov. 1.11 Come say they let us lay wait for blood let us lurk privily for the innocent without a cause c. Cast in thy lot among us and let us all have one purse Such men as these think it not enough to be Thieves and Drunkards and Adulterers and Blasphemers and Contemners of Gods Ordinances themselves but do what they can to draw others to the same sins and to make them sevenfold more the children of Satan than themselves What are your own sins too light that you do thus cry for more weight not to ease your pain but to increase it for such as are partakers of other mens sins shall certainly be partakers of other mens judgements Rev. 18.4 Oh! that there should be such an itch in this Spiritual Plague-sore to infect others to make them as sinful and as miserable as themselves O hear and fear and tremble thou that makest it thy work to tempt others so sin against God For if they shall not escape that have not furthered the Salvation of others where shalt thou appear that hast furthered the damnation of others and sent them post to Hell I say where shalt thou appear unless thou repent and be deeply humbled for this thy superlative wickedness And surely if ever thou dost repent thou wilt be ready to admonish thy fellow-Drunkard or Adulterer or Blasphemer that they may become partners with thee in thy Repentance that have been partners with thee in thy sin The
acknowledged the moving of the Spirit upon the waters that God hath drawn out the desire of their souls to the remembrance of his name I have great cause to be confident That where God hath begun this good work of Faith amongst you he will perfect it unto the day of Jesus Christ And therefore grounding upon this good Word of Promise I shall conclude my Preaching of this Subject in that Prayer of the Apostle Peter 1 Pet. 5.10 11. Now the God of all grace who hath called us into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus after that ye have suffered awhile make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you To him be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever Amen FINIS AN ALPHABETICAL TABLE Of the Principal CONTENTS A Abstinence ABstinence from sin is far from Mortification Page 158 Accusation Satan accuses God of envy and severity to hinder reconciliation 'twixt God and Man p 536 537 Acting Activity Activity of faith is the excellency of it 556 The acting of faith most honours God 557 It brings most comfort and hearts-ease to us ibid. Acting of faith brings advantage and advance 558 559 The not acting of faith foils and shames Christians 559 Gods outward actings for us carry proportion to his inward actings upon us 558 Could we but act faith nothing could make us miserable 559 Helps for the acting of faith 560 See living by faith Adoption See Heirship It proves our right to a heavenly Inheritance 344 Adoption in the Civil Law how taken 344 Adoption used in a threefold case ibid. Double act of free-grace in Adoption 345 Difference 'twixt Divine and Humane Adoption ibid. The Spirit of Adoption implies two things 347 The Spirits testimony of our Adoption what it is ibid Adversity The just live by faith in Adversity 49 In relation to inward and outward troubles 50 51 See Troubles Motives to live by faith in Adversity 65 66 Reproof to such who do not so 66 It argues a threefold evil 67 Affliction Faith makes a right use of Afflictions for growth in Sanctification 131 Antipodes The discovery of Antipodes in the new world from 429 to 434 Apostacy See Backsliding Confutation of the Doctrine of the Saints Apostacy 241 242 243 See Perseverance Examples of Gods Judgements on Apostates 250 251 Apostacy is the fruit of Vnbelief Hypocrisie Heresie 464 Apostates triumph'd over be damned spirits 491 Arraignment The process of faith in the Arraignment of sin 152 153 154 The Arraignment of Vnbelief 467 Ascension Christs Ascension a pledge of believers glorification 348 Assurance of Justification Faith uses 12 means to attain it from 92 to 97 Four Reasons for the trial of the truth of assurance 97 Three Marks of true assurance 97 98 Faith answers all objections which may cloud assurance 99 100 101 The just live by faith in expectation of assurance 101 102 Five Vses of living by faith in order to assurance 103 104 One in a state of grace may be assured of Salvation 247 How faith assures of heaven from 342 to 351 Motives to get assurance of Eternal life 374 to 379 Want of assurance and joy may consist with strong faith 514 Divine Attributes rightly apprehended and applied breed assurance 96 Atheism Atheist Instances of two grand Atheists 356 363 Living upon Self is a high degree of Atheism 432 Atheism is the fruit of Vnbelief 464 Attributes of God They are special means to beget faith 538 539 Rightly apprehended and applied they breed assurance 96 Augmentation See Growth The just by faith draw increasing vertue from Christ 190 191 Reasons of spiritual Augmentation 192 to 195 Augmentation in grace is by faith 195 to 199 See Growth in grace B Backsliding Difference 'twixt a believer and a hypocrite in this 215 It is a great dishonor to backslide 250 See Apostacy Beauty or Compleatness Believers are the most beautiful persons 479 Believers Their description and condition 1 They lead a super-excellent life in seven particulars 8 9 10 11 They only can have comfort against a sixfold condemnation 417 418 419 Christ is the Principle and End of their duties 447 The believing creature is a praying creature 448 The complicated excellencies of a believer from 471 to 481 Benefit How far one mans faith may benefit another 38 Blessings Seven belong to the natural life for which the Saints live by faith 70 71 72 73 Blindness of minde Gods judicial inflicting of it justified 496 497 Book God hath a threefold Book 395 396 C Carefulness In worldly things a sign of weak faith 572 Carriage See Conversation Care of our carriage in this life is a sign of right to heaven 362 Censure The wicked censure Religion to breed Melancholy 319 320 Certainty True grace is certain and durable above all things 247 248 Charter The believers Charter for Eternal Life 341 342 Chastisement Gods is castigatory probatory Purgatory 504 Christ His Merit Intercession and Spirit is a cause of Perseverance 239 Christ was an Example of Perseverance 256 See Perseverance Overlooking the terms on which Christ is to be had viz. the Cross is a cause of unexpected sadness 314 Difference 'twixt the life of Christ and a believers 425 What it is to receive Christ on Gospel-terms 560 To clear up our interest in Christ is a means to act faith ibid. Church Church of Christ compared to a Ship 349 Circumspection It ought to be seen in our affections meditations speeches actions 362 363 364 Civility See Morality It is dangerous to rest in it and trust to it 119 Difference 'twixt Civility and Sanctification ibid. Combat Differences 'twixt a true and false combat with sin 160 Comfort See Consolation Sound comfort flows from proving our own faith 43 The Comforter abides for ever though not the act of Comfort 272 Communion Christian Communion is a means to increase faith 579 Compassion The Just live by faith in point of Compassion and how 54 Condemnation Believers are set free from a sixfold condemnation 111 112 The intailment of Condemnation on Vnbelievers 417 418 419 421 Confession Resolute confession of Christ is a means of assurance 95 Confidence See Pride Self-confidence hinders growth in grace 231 Sinful confidence how manifold and dangerous 6 Carnal confidence in spiritual friends 41 Conscience Renewed by faith it acquits and quiets 299 The testimony of a renewed Conscience is nothing else but a reflex act of faith 301 Conscience purified makes the believer cheerful 308 A good Conscience is a means to keep faith 550 Consolation Vide Comfort Vide Joy The just live by faith the life of Consolation 278 Consolation is the Saints complete Commencement 279 The suburbs of heaven in the consolations of faith 280 281 Christs best reserve in the Wine of Joy 282 Proofs from Scripture that the just live the life of Consolation 282 The just live the life of Consolation by faith 283 Faiths activity the magazine of Comfort 284 Gods design in promoting the Saints Comfort 284 285 286 287 288 The
influence of faith into Consolation 288 to 292 Consolation what properly 292 Consolation from the touch of faith 292 293 The Word and Sacraments are the Brests of Consolation 393 394 395 Reasons why Consolation comes by faith 298 299 305 306 We must try our Comforts by our Graces and not our Graces by our Comforts See why 300 to 304 It is easier to be deceived in our Comforts than Graces 301 See Joy Papists rob of Comfort while of faith 321 Comfort from sense and sensual delights ends in sorrow 321 To refuse to be comforted by the Promises dishonors God 322 Comfort in false Doctrine and Prophets dangerous 322 Motives to live by faith the life of Comfort 323 Consolation brings activity of Obedience 323 There may be strong faith where little comfort 514 Constancy See Perseverance Gods constancy in his love a motive to perseverance 249 Conversation See Carriage Vnnecessarily imbraced with wicked ones hinders growth in grace 230 Conversion Vnbelievers rarely Convert others if they do they take no joy in it 39 The method of converting grace how it gradually proceeds from conviction of sin to a closing with Christ 521 522 Its not the Word without the Spirit which can convert 529 Conversion of Souls is a most excellent work for seven Reasons from 585 to 600 Such reproved who slight the converting of others 602 603 604 Exhortation to convert souls 606 Eight Motives to convert others from 607 to 610 Means for the conversion of others from 610 to 612 Exhortation to People to be willing to be converted and to attend on such means as are proper for it 612 613 614 615 616 The misery of such who are not converted 613 The happiness of converted ones 614 Objections of Discouragement answered 614 615 Thankfulness for our own and others Conversion 616 Conviction It is an act of the comforting Spirit though not an act of Comfort 272 The Spirit convinces of sin by opening and applying the Law 520 521 Covenant of Grace This is a cause of the Saints perseverance 238 Creature-inconstancy Faith triumphs over it 261 262 Curiosity Vain curiosity concerning heaven condemned 359 D Deadness of Spirit Gods Children subject to it 172 Causes of spiritual deadness which is fourfold 173 Sinful deadness springs from four privative causes and from four positive causes 173 Penal and probational deadness 174 Saints recover by faith out of deadness 174 175 Reasons why faith recovers out of deadness 175 176 Four Arguments or Meditations whereby faith quickens 177 Motives to quicken under deadness 179 180 181 182 183 Means to quicken under deadness 184 185 186 187 Vide Vivification Death Die Faith in death 58 469 Six Reasons why believers die in faith 59 60 No need of faith after death 61 62 Christs death applied by faith a means of Sanctification 126 Greater happiness in the death than life of Believers 318 319 Degrees of Christs Conquest over Death from 368 to 373 Believers conquer Death in rectified opinion of it 370 Reasons why true Believers are loth to die 372 Desertion The just live by faith under desertion 50 Faith triumphs over fear of Divine desertion from 267 to 275 Desertion in appearance only 267 268 269 Desertion in respect of temporals onely 270 Desertion in respect of Spiritual means 271 Desertion in respect of Spiritual comforts 271 272 God deserts his people onely in accessory graces 273 274 Vide Forsaking Despair It is Reproved 358 359 It quits the Vse of the Ordinances 510 Desires Strong desires after Christ are the seeds of faith 533 Diligence It leads to assurance in the use of holy means 95 What it implies and how it breeds faith 541 Discipline Holy discipline and strictness the sphere of Comfort 297 to 300 Discouragement Faiths triumph over five main discouragements 261 Doctrines These are to be judged true or false as they slander or advance the life of faith 448 449 Doubting Frequency of it a sign of weak faith 571 Duration Faith must be acted as long as we live yet love excels it in duration 60 61 Duties Backwardness to holy duties and remissness in them is a sign of a weak faith 572 E Election It is a cause of perseverance 237 Doubting of Election hinders believing 505 Envy It is an Impediment of growth in grace 230 Establishment in Faith Reasons why we should labor to be establisht both in the Doctrine and Grace of faith 544 The benefit of Establishment in the faith ibid. Enemies which oppose the establishment of faith 545 Though faith cannot be lost yet God establishes in the use of means 545 Seven Means of establishing faith 548 to 556 See Keeping of Faith Eternal See Life Examination See Trial. Evidence of grace upon examination brings comfort 300 Examine two things in order to the Sacrament 577 Excellency Faiths excellency in two respects 62 63 The complicated excellencies of a believer 477 Example Examples of crowned Saints a means of perseverance 255 Experiences These called to minde breed assurance 96 They are a firm ground for future faith 409 Reasons for the deduction of faith from experiences 410 They are a means to increase faith 581 F Faith It s definition in eight branches 19 20 What it is to live by faith in five particulars 21 22 Faith Life and Christ come all together yet in order 23 Faith described in seven faculties of spiritual life 23 to 28 Why Saints live by faith rather then any other grace 28 29 30 Why no man can live but by his own faith 33 34 Caution in four particulars amplifying that truth 35 36 37 Restriction of it in four Considerations 38 39 Make much of faith as your life in troubles 64 65 True faith is known by its renewing and fructifying vertue 141 Faith is the root of holiness and fruitfulness 144 Faith resembles the expulsive faculty in the body 150 Faiths triumph over personal weaknesses 263 Its triumph over sinful distempers 264 Faiths triumph over uncertain events 264 265 Its triumph over fear of sinning or suffering 266 267 Its triumph over fear of divine desertion 267 268 See Desertion Faith reflects on Sanctity and Sincerity to comfort 299 Faith produceth comfort as it makes future good things to be as it were present 305 306 Want of acting faith in Gods Word and Works though there be the habit is a great cause of sadness 313 314 Faith is the mother and nurse of spiritual joy 328 Faith to be acted seven wayes for the increase of joy 328 to 334 Faith assures that eternal life is the Believers 341 How faith assures a Believer of heaven 342 to 351 Examination of true faith as it respects eternal life 362 Faith lifts up a man above the troubles of the world 377 382 383 Faiths manly choice or charm against prosperity 385 What are the Reasons why the Just must live by faith 398 to 417 Living by faith a very reasonable duty 399 Faith puts life into the Promises 400 Faith is a Saints security for
all his hopes 400 401 The exercise of faith keeps the soul humble 401 Faith makes up the match 'twixt Christ and the soul 411 Faith is the Conduit-pipe to convey spiritual life 412 Faith brings in a revenue of honor to God 413 In both Covenants God required faith but with a large difference what that is see 414 415 Faith establishes salvation on freer and surer grounds then the first Covenant did or could 415 Faith discovers life in the midst of death 417 The triumph of faith over a sixfold condemnation 418 Faith a Cordial against fainting fears 420 Faith not an Evidence but an instrument of spiritual life 427 Faith not improved exposes to reproach 436 Faith seems extinct where it is not exercised 437 The conduct of faith in every action condition and choice 436 437 438 The Touch-stone of true justifying faith 442 443 The Fruits and Effects of saving faith 444 445 Faith never gives quiet possession to sin 446 Living by faith the touchstone to try all Doctrines and Religions whether they be true 448 449 The life of gratitude for the life of faith 449 Faith such a gift as is all in all Faith in order of working is the root of other graces 451 Faith cannot be implanted by any creature 452 The wonders of faith in its several steps 453 Faiths rarity or scarcity 458 Exhortation to get faith 469 The notable exploits of faith 472 True faith is omnipotent faith 473 Faiths safety is grounded on the promise 475 Faith consults with God in the Word 476 Faith is the Christians Al-sufficiency 478 Faith honors God 480 Faith and Life come into the soul both at once 481 Faith makes to prosper 481 Faith a sweet companion from first to last 483 Means how to get Faith Impediments and Hindrances of faith together with Directions to remove them 486 to 515 Faith no easie matter though it makes all things easie 515 Positive means of faith to beget it 517 to 543 Exhortation to keep faith 543 Faith a Treasure to be secured ibid. The general usefulness of faith 544 Reasons why we should look to the preserving of our faith 544 to 548 Comparisons to excite chariness over faith 546 Faith is a spiritual charm or antidote 547 Means of preserving faith 548 to 556 Exhortation to act faith and to live by it 556 Far better to put faith then mony to use ibid. Motives to act faith 556 to 560 Means to act faith 566 to 564 Six Motives to increase in faith 565 to 571 Signs of a weak faith 571 Means for the increase of faith 574 Fear Filial fear of God assures of his love 95 Difference 'twixt true and false fear of God 304 Forgiveness We must imitate God in forgiving others yet this overthrowes not Civil Courts of Judicature 108 109 Ignorance of Gods forgiveness causes great sadness 313 Forsaking See Desertion God only forsakes his people gradually and for a time 274 Reasons of Gods forsaking his people 275 to 278 It confirmes a fivefold good 276 277 Free Spirit of God How many wayes said to be free 552 553 What the free Spirit of God sets believers free from 553 Gods free Spirit establisheth in freedom 554 See Christian Liberty Friends What to desire for our best friend 317 3â—8 Fructification Or New Obedience How faith hath influence into spiritual fructification 135 Faith makes sinners become good trees 136 Faith discovers what is good fruit 137 Faith excites the soul to be fruitful two wayes ibid. Faith suits our fruit to the seasons of grace 137 138 Faith ripens the fruits of new obedience 139 Faith procures acceptation of our fruitfulness 139 140 Motives to be fruitful in season 147 148 Fulness There is a fulness of the subject and object in heaven 339 340 Sight of Christs fulness is a means to beget faith 539 540 G Gift Faith is Gods gift 449 Faith is a gift necessary to the very being of a Christian Faith is such a gift which none but God can give 451 Faith is a most precious gift 455 456 457 Faith is a rare gift 457 Glory The more we aim at Gods glory the more we grow in grace 212 There is much glory in the sufferings and reproaches of Believers 480 Gospel Gospel revelation requires solemn gratulation 459 Grace See Growth in Grace An elegant description of its nature in a Metaphor 302 How to distinguish common grace from saving 303 304 An hypocrite cannot desire grace as grace 304 Growth in Grace See Augmentation Just live the life of spiritual growth 191 192 Reasons of spiritual growth 192 193 194 195 The influence of faith into spiritual growth 195 196 Four Reasons why the growth of grace depends on faith 196 197 198 199 Life of grace is always on the growing hand 199 200 There are degrees in grace ergo aspire to increase 201 Reproof for want of due growth 202 Reproof of such as think themselves perfect 202 263 Reproof of such who decline in grace 203 Reproof of such who hinder growth in others but grow in sin themselves 204 205 The touchstone of true spiritual growth 205 to 217 Vide Strength Vide increase What to judge in the sense of want of growth 214 215 Humiliation for want of growth 217 218 Thankfulness for growth against opposition 218 219 Motives to grow in grace 220 to 226 Means of spiritual growth 226 to 231 Seven Impediments of spiritual growth 229 230 Comfort to young beginners in grace 231 232 How strong grown Saints should carry themselves toward the weak 232 H Hagiography Or spiritual boundaries to the loose professing world 434 435 Hardness of Heart Gods judicial hardning of the heart is an Impediment of faith 492 Divine justice justified in adding judicial hardness to wilful affected 493 496 Partial hardness mourned over is probational 495 Health How the just live by faith for it 70 Heaven See Life Eternal A fourfold fulness of the subject in heaven 439 340 A fivefold freedom in heaven 340 Christs being in heaven assures believing of glory 348 Heaven a reserved inheritance why 350 351 352 Curious Questions concerning Heaven condemned 359 The meditation of heaven is to be improved 360 361 The excellency of heaven in five respects 388 389 Citizens of heaven known by their Language 365 Degrees of Glory in heaven 221 Heaviness Rise of the Saints heaviness from 312 to 317 See Sadness Heirships Difference twixt heavenly earthly heirs 345 346 See Adoption Heresie It is the daughter of unbelief and hypocrisie 463 464 Holy Holy life is a sign of Right to Heaven 366 367 Honour It is a Christians honour to persevere 249 250 Believers are the only right honorable ones 480 Hope The touchstone of sound celestial hope 362 to 373 Hope of heaven is a buckler against fear of adversity 382 Hope of heaven is a charme against prosperity 385 Humility Humiliation It is a means to attain assurance 95 Feigned humility is the root of licentiousness 143 Laying too much
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
and also for the opening of the heart by working upon the affections Vse 5 Vse 5. Exhortation to the People To People twofold 1. To be willing to be wrought upon and to be converted 2. To be willing to attend upon such means as is most proper for the effecting of that great Work 1. To be willing to be wrought upon First To be willing to be wrought upon and to be converted For if it be such an excellent thing to be an Instrument of others Conversion then it must needs be excellent to be converted O remember the vast difference betwixt a man in the state of Nature and in the state of Grace betwixt a man converted and unconverted O remember whilst you are unconverted you are in a state of Darkness Enmity Death But when once converted in a state of Light Peace Life Motives 1. When ye are unconverted ye are in a state of Darkness Eph. 5.8 Once darkness c. 1. Darkness of Ignorance Ephes 4.18 Alas they know nothing 1. Of themselves and their miserable condition by nature Rev 3.17 I counsel thee to buy of me eye-salve c. 2. Of Christ in a Soul-saving way Ephes 2.12 Without Christ c. 2. Darkness of Sorrow at least when unconverted persons lie down in the Grave Isa 50. last They shall lie down in sorrow 2. In a state of Enmity Ephes 2.3 Children of wrath as well as others Joh. 3.36 God is an enemy to unbelievers and to be sure they are enemies to God Rom. 8.6 7. The carnal minde is enmity against God c. O what a dangerous condition this is It were better to have all the world enemies to us than God Remember what God saith Ezek. 22.14 Can thy heart endure or thy hands be strong in the day that I shall deal with thee 3. In a state of Death Ephes 2.1 Dead in sin and liable to death for sin to a first death and a second death and this of all terribles is the most terrible But secondly when once converted thou art in a state of Light Peace Life Mal. 4.2 1. In a state of Light Ephes 5 8. Ye were once darkness but now are ye light in the Lord. The Sun of righteousness doth arise with healing in his wings Healing the darkness of Ignorance Sorrow True Light and Heat come both together 2. In a state of Peace Rom. 5.1 Being justified by faith we have peace with God It is better to have God to be our friend than to have all the world beside 3. In a state of Life Luke 15. last This thy brother was dead and is alive And thus the just lives by his Faith the most excellent life that can be desired Therefore come in and be willing to be wrought upon c. Obj. If you shall say as they in Jeremy There is no hope I am so great a sinner God will never shew mercy to me It were presumption for me to offer to lay hold on the Promise Answ Look to the Pattern of great sinners converted on purpose to incourage others to come in to Christ Did Manasses or Mary Magdalen or Paul presume when they did believe 1 Tim. 1.13 I was a blasphemer a persecutor injurious c. and v. 16. How be it for this cause I obtained mercy that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering for a pattern to them that should hereafter believe Onely be humbled for thy sins and accept of Christs Righteousness go not about to establish thine own Rom. 10.3 Remember As no man is accepted for his own Righteousness but Christs So no man is rejected for his own unrighteousness but for his final impenitency and unbelief Therefore be perswaded to come in Accept of mercy while God offers mercy Do not draw back when God is drawing of you I hope you have some good thoughts Act. 26. some good desires in your hearts You are almost perswaded O be not onely almost but altogether Perhaps some of you are even upon the very pangs of the New-birth O let not Spiritual difficulties cause you to draw back as Ephraim did Hos 13.13 O strive O pray The Kingdom of heaven suffers violence O be earnest with God and bemoan your backwardness Jer. 31.18 I have surely heard Ephaim bemoaning himself thus Thou hast chastised me and I was chastised as a Bullock unaccustomed to the yoke Turn thou me and I shall be turned c. Pray God to open the everlasting doors c. Psal 24 ult O yield to God when he perswadeth when he beseecheth When Christ and Satan are Suitors and Competitors do not put off Christ and yield to Satan Be not cruel to your own flesh and enemies to your own Souls Remember how you rejoyce Angels The Churches Christ himself Your own Hearts Therefore be perswaded c. Secondly 2. To be willing to attend upon such means as are proper Be willing to attend upon such means as are most proper for the effecting of that great Work To attend upon a Soul-saving Ministery God complains by the Prophet Jeremy that as the false Prophets did Prophecy smooth things and false things so his People did love to have it so Jer. 5 last That same Athenian itch in the people to hear some new strange thing Act. 17. doth too often draw forth an Athenian scratch from the speaker to tell what they so much desire to hear Act. 17.21 But 't is wisdom in both to be conversant in the pattern of wholesom words To give and receive that Spiritual food which may not so much please the palate as nourish the person to Life Eternal Doubtless he preaches best and he hears best that preaches and hears to the Salvation of the Soul Many thousand Souls in heaven shall bless God for ever for the plain and powerful preaching of the Word And many thousand Souls in hell shall complain to all Eternity that their hurt was soon healed and skinned over with silken language and soft words as the Prophet Jeremy speaks Vse 6 Vse 6. Of Thankfulness Of Thankfulness Of Thankfulness in case 1. We our selves are converted 2. If any by us or by our means be converted 1. If we be converted our selves First if the conversion of Souls be such an excellent Work Be thankful if we our selves be converted 1 Tim. 1.13 17. Now unto the King eternal immortal invisible the onely wise God be honour and glory for ever This shout of Praise follows upon the acknowledgement of Pauls Conversion and it were easie to shew how those Attributes have an influence on Conversion Eternity is little enough to praise God for such a Mercy Luk. 10.20 Rejoyce not in this that the spirits are subject unto you but rather rejoyce that your Names are written in heaven Psal 33.34 Sing unto him a new song play skilfully with a loud noise for the word of the Lord is right and all his works are done in truth This for
Converting of thy Soul The life of heaven is nothing else but a life of Thankfulness for this unspeakable mercy God might have rejected us as fire-brands of Hell for ever Quest But how shall I know that I am converted and effectually called that I may be thankful Answ If thou art turned to righteousness thou art turned from sin Act. 26.18 Perfecta contrarietas nullum medium admittit Ob. There is sin in the best Answ True there is sin in the best but not with allowance Observe Sin is cast out of its Throne though not out of the Man in a regenerate person Rom. 6.18 Being made free from sin ye became the servants of righteousness There 's no sin with peaceable possession The strong man armed is cast out Secondly There is a love of and endevour after Righteousness and Holiness 1 Joh. 3.3 Every one that hath this hope purifieth himself even as he is pure We were redeemed Luke 1.75 that we should serve him in holiness and righteousness all our days It is in fieri though not fully perfected Thirdly By resolved reliance upon God Job 13.15 Though he kill me yet will I trust in him at least earnestly desire so to do Fourthly By renouncing all other Confidences He that lays hold on God le ts go all his other holds God hath knock'd off his hands and his heart from other things Psal 44.5 6. Through thee will we push down our enemies through thy Name will we tread them under that rise up against us for I will not trust in my bowe neither shall my sword save me Hos 14.3 Ashur shall not save us we will not ride upon horses neither will we say any more to the work of our hands Ye are our God for in thee the fatherless finde mercy He that turns to God renounceth all other confidence yea even his own Righteousness Rom 10.3 They that establish their own righteousness have not embraced the righteousness of God So they that are turned to Gods Righteousness are turned from their own i.e. from trusting to it in point of Justification Fifthly By the Testimony of Gods Spirit and our own regenerate Spirit Rom. 8.16 For the Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the Sons of God at least testifying to us in point of Holiness if not in point of Comfort Sixthly By the Spirit of Prayer and Supplication and Adoption Rom. 8.15 Ye have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father None of Gods children are born tongue-ty'd Seventhly By our Love or working of our love to a threefold object for Gods People partake of Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 and this Divine Nature is discovered in nothing more than in a way of love 1 Joh. 4.16 1. To God and Jesus Christ as our chief portion Psal 119.57 Thou art my portion O Lord I have said that I would keep thy words 1 Pet. 2.7 Vnto you which believe he is precious 2. To the Word of God which was an instrument to beget us to God 1 Pet. 1.23 Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible seed by the Word of God 1 Pet. 2.2 As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby 3. to our fellow brethren that are begotten with us as children of the same womb and loyns that have Father and mother the same 1 Joh. 5.1 Every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him 1 Joh. 3.14 We knew that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren If we see these marks of our conversion and spiritual cleansing we are commanded as the leper upon the like discovery of their cleansing to present our offering of praise as a testimony of our unfeigned thankfulness If he hath cause to be thankful that receives a change from sickness to health Mat. 8.4 from poverty to riches how much more is he bound to be thankful that is changed from sin to righteousness and from death to life Secondly not only so 2. Thankf If we have bin instruments of others conversion but we should be very thankful also if God hath made us instruments of others conversion for they that turn men unto Righteousness c. Is the work such an excellent work that the angels admire it And is the reward such an excellent reward that the very lustre of the heavens is little enough to resemble it How should we then be thankful if God hath made us instruments of others conversion If God hath blest our Admonitions Exhortations Examples Prayers as private men Especially Ministers Or if God hath blest any of our indeavours in the publick ministry to that happy end 1. We should be thankful that God hath let us in such a calling We deserved not to be so much as door-keepers in his house 2. Thankful that Christ hath in any measure gifted us for the discharge of our calling for t' was he that did ascend to give gifts unto men Eph. 4.12 3. Thinkful especially that God doth bless our endeavours in the exercise of those gifts to the conversion of souls for how many men of great gifts and parts do fish all night and all day too yea many dayes and years and catch nothing though they cast out the net of the word many thousand times Therefore be thankful that God should vouchsafe to imploy any of us in so honorable work and service who deserved not to wash the feet of his servants That God should crown our poor weak indeavours with the conversion of souls If God hath so honoured us Give God in Christ the honour of conversion let us put the honour back upon him yet not we but Jesus Christ may be admired among the people As they said of their bodily cure Act. 3.12 So should we of the conversion of a soul Why look ye so earnestly on us as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk No The God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob hath glorified his son Jesus Christ and his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong whom ye see and know Yea the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all Ministers are but Trumpets Alas we are but trumpets Isai 58.1 Lift up thy voice like a trumpet and therefore if God breath not in us we are as dead as others are neither can we raise others from the dead T is true indeed the dead shall be raised in the last day by the sound of the trumpet but not by the power of the trumpet it self but by the power of him that ordained it So those that are dead in sin shall be raised in the mean time by the trumpet of the gospel but not by the power of the gospel it self or of the publisher of it but by the power of that God who appointed the foolishness of preaching for the