Pearl before Swine Mat. 7.6 Apply not Evangelical Promises unto swinish Men who regard them no more than Swine do Pearls of whose use they can have no sense Hast thou faith Rom. 14.22 Have it to thy self before God If thou beest persuaded in thy self that a thing is indifferent use this liberty to thy self have Faith with thy self but boast not of it to the offence of another By Hope sometimes understand the thing hoped for Looking for the blessed Hope That is Tit. 2.13 for the blessing hoped for Here Hope is Metonymically put for the blessing hoped for By Hope sometimes understand Christ Jesus himself the Object of Hope Acts 28.20 For the Hope of Israel I am bound with this Chain Christ is called the Hope of Israel in respect of the Fathers who looked for his coming according to promise By Hope sometimes understand some mighty Prince Isa 20.5 or People They shall be afraid and ashamed of Aethropia their expectation and of Egypt their glory By Hope sometimes understand a certain persuasion 2 Cor. 2.7 Our hope of God is stedfast knowing that as you are partakers of the Sufferings ye shall be also of the Consolation By Hope sometimes understand the Grace Ps 131.3 or Act of Hope Hope thou Israel in Jehovah from now as yet unto Eternity So the Hebrew Text. Now 't is the Grace or Act of Hope that is the Subject to be discussed as I am more or less indulged the Gales and Gusts of the Spirit But what is this Grace Qu. or Act of Hope Gospel-hope Sol. is a Grace and Fruit of the Spirit consisting in an assured and abiding Expectation Descr having God and all promised Good future and possible for its Object grounded upon the Mercies of the Father and the Merits of the Son Now in this Description there are four things that call for Discussion being indispensably necessary in order to its Constitution The Nature of it the Quality of it the Object of it the Cause of it 1. The Nature of it Gospel-hope is a Grace and Fruit of the Spirit The Apostle speaks of some of the Spirit 's Fruits against which there is no Law Gal. 5.22 23. no Law of Condemnation The fruit of the Spirit is Love Joy Peace Longsuffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance Hope is not expressed but 't is implied the reason is obvious for Hope is a Grace now all Grace groweth upon this Tree and is the Fruit of this Tree the Spirit That Hope is a Grace is as evident for it is ranked with Faith and Love 1 Thess 1.3 Remembring without ceasing your work of Faith and labour of Love and patience of Hope in our Lord Jesus Christ Here is the work of Faith 't is not a dead but a living Faith 't is a work but 't is a Work of God a work of Grace and it worketh by Love Here is the labour of Love Love is laborious it labours much labours most though it thinks it labours least And here is the patience of Hope here is a bearing of the Cross in hope of the Crown a passing through the Wilderness in hope of the Land of Promise a Suffering for Christ in hope of Reigning with Christ The Quality of it This Grace Hope is an assured and abiding expectation 'T is an assured expectation This Hope is acted by the Spirit Gal. 5.5 We through the Spirit wait for the hope of Righteousness by Faith Here is a waiting or expectation and this is through the Spirit which must needs be certain and sure Yea that 't is an assured expectation the Apostle endeavours to insinuate Rom. 5.2 We rejoyce in hope of the Glory of God Where there is Joy there is Assurance There will come a time when Time shall go into Eternity and the Soul shall go into Glory and we rejoyce in hope of this Time There will come a time when we shall go Home when we shall go to our Father's House wherein are many Mansions and we rejoyce in hope of this Time There will come a time when we shall be arrived at our Haven our Heaven our Palace our Paradise and we rejoyce in hope of this Time 'T is an abiding expectation Hope is no remover but an abiding grace Hope is not a fading quality though it doth not always act at least in that degree act yet it always is where it ever was Though it be not always a lively hope yet 't is alwaies a living hope Dùm spiro spero dùm expiro spero While I live I hope saith the Heathen while I dye I hope saith the Christian 'T is written that the wicked is driven away in his wickedness Prov. 14.32 but the righteous hath hope in his death There is a hoping to death and a hoping in death Hope is to last so long as this life lasteth and to run parallel with the longest minute and moment of Time A Christian of Christ's making never loseth his hope until he hath found that which he hoped for That Hope which is the Concomitant 〈◊〉 of Faith is an assured and abiding ex pectation Heb. 6.11 may be read by him that runneth We desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end Here is not only hope and assured hope but also the assurance of hope yea the full assurance of hope 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Metaphor taken from Ships that have all their Sails up yea and all these Sails filled with Wind. As Faith hath an eye to the truth of the promise so Hope hath an eye to the good of the promise but the assurance of this hope is that we shall receive that Good Though Hope in vulgar-Dialect and in the things of the World signifieth of things to come a probability yet in Scripture-Dialect and in the things of Salvation it signifieth an undoubted certainty The Object of it The Object of Hope is God and all promised Good future and possible The Object of Hope is God That God is the Object of Hope is evident for he is called the God of Hope Rom. 15.13 Now the God of hope fill you with all Joy and peace in believing Objectivè effectivè that ye may abound in hope thorough the power of the holy Spirit He is called the God of hope objectively because the proper and primary object of it and effectively because the worker of it by his Spirit Both these are legible in this proof The God of Hope there he is the Author and the Object of it That ye may abound in hope there he is the Actor and the Worker of it This Hope is in God formally as in the Subject of it and in God causally as in the Fountain of it He is the Author of it and the Donor of it the God of it and the Giver of it As God so Good all promised
Unity 1 Tim. 3.16 and an Unity in Trinity is the Mystery of Mysteries That he who was God should be Man that had Eternity for his Mansion his Measure should be an Infant of a day old Luke 2.11 is the wonder of wonders Thus a Trinity in Unity and an Unity in Trinity is the Mystery of Mysteries Many of Gods incommunicable properties and works have though most wickedly been attributed to false Gods as Eternity Omnipotency Creation of the world divine providence c. But did it ever come into the mind of any Idolater to imagine his God to be Three in One Deitas in Moise Dualitas in Prophetis Trinitas in Evangelis manifestatur A Deity in Moses a Duality in the Prophets a Trinity in the Evangelists is manifested The purpose of the Father the purchase of the Son the perfection of the Spirit The election of the Father the Redemption of the Son the manifestation of the Spirit here are three things and they are as it were all things Christian-Reader the name Christian hath been so odious that it was crime enough to be a Christian yea Christianus sum to say I am a Christian was the way to cruel yet glorious Martyrdom Fiunt non nascuntur Christiani It was said of old they are made not born Christians Non Generatio sed Regeneratio A Christian doth not beget a Christian because 't is not Generation but Regeneration that maketh a Christian Now as a Christian of Christs making I commend thee to God and the Word of his grace Acts 20.32 who is able to do above all superabundantly Eph. 3.20 that thou mayst meet with the Jewel in the Cabinet and with the Pearl in the Field but pray for me also that the bottom of my dayes may be the best of my dayes and my last works may be more than my first That I may go in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ That my Trumpet may not give an uncertain sound and that I may live Sermons as well as preach them That I may be a wooer and winner of Souls for Christ for he that winneth souls is wise Animarum Procus Victor Prov. 11.30 That I may have least of the Sin of which I have most and most of that Grace of which I have least That I may live and dye praying or preaching live and dye in the Closet or in the Pulpit this will be additional unto him who would without a flourish subscribe himself Reader Thy Friend and Servant for Jesus sake Richard Mayhew THE IDEA OF THE BOOK Section 1. Of Faith Chap. 1. Whether there be such a thing as a Gospel-Faith Page 1 2 3. Chap. 2. What this Gospel-Faith is Page 4 to the 24. Chap. 3. Of a great and a strong Faith That a Gospel-Faith is a great Faith is evident 1. Because it seeth things invisible Page 24 25. 2. Because it hopeth things incredible 3. Because it doth things impossible Qu. 1 But how shall I know that I am in the Faith Page 27. Sol. 1. Where there is Faith there is Love 1. To Christ 2. To those that are Christs 3. To those that are not Christs Page 28 29 30. 4. To the Ordinances of Christ Sol. 2. Where there is Faith there is also a Train of good VVorks Page 31. Qu. 2. But what are the Symbols of a great Faith Sol. 1. It trusteth Christ without a Pawn Page 32 to the 40. 2. 'T is a wonder-working Faith 3. 'T is steady and stedfast 4. It swims against VVind and Tide 5. It bears great Delays 6. It takes no Denyal Six things call for a great Faith 1. Great Services Page 41 c. 2. Great Sufferings 3. Great Promises 4. Great Providences 5. Great Temptations 6. Great Corruptions Chap. 4. Of a little and a weak Faith Qu. But how shall I know a true Faith Sol. 1. It goeth not alone Page 51 c. 2. It hath a true Object 3. 'T is not easily come by 4. It hath two Hands 5. It dreads not Trial. 6. It lives in a Storm Use 1. To the Soul out of Christ Page 56. 2. To the Soul in Christ The Compendium versified Page 58 59. Sect. 2. Of Hope Chap. 1. Whether there be a Gospel-Hope and what this Gospel-Hope is Page 60. The various Acceptions of Hope Page 61. The Description of a Gospel-Hope Page 62. A distinct Discussion of it in its 1. Nature Page 63. 2. Quality 3. Object 4. Cause Chap. 2. Inferences Motives as to Gospel-Hope 1. Inferences concerning a Gospel-Hope Inf. 1. 'T is the Duty and the Mercy of the Israel of God to make the God of Israel the Object of their Hope Page 74. Inf. 2. As a true so a vain Hope Page 75. Inf. 3. All that are hopeless are also Christless Page 77. Inf. 4. There must be living upon the Object of Hope Page 79. Inf. 5. Those who have Hope should have a life in Print Page 80. Inf. 6. Those actually Christs are to hope to the end Page 82. Inf. 7. The hoping man is the happy man Page 83. Ob. 1. Ah but this is an evil day and like to be worse Sol. Be not forbiddenly concerned for Christ is the Object of thy Hope Page 84. Ob. 2. Ah but mine eyes fail in waiting for God! Page 85. S. Enjoyment will compensate all thy Hope Ob. 3 Ah but I may say as the Church did S. Dest say as the Church did then do as the Church did 1. She seeketh God 2. She senseth her heart 1. With her own misery 2. With Gods Mercy 3. She sealeth this with her own experience Ob. 4. Ah but I question whether my hope be a true hope S. A true hope may be known from a false hope these wayes Page 87. 1. A false hope hath a false Object 2. A false hope goeth alone 3. A false hope is short-lifed 2. Motives concerning a Gospel-Hope Page 89 c. Mot. 1. Would ye have the God of Gods to take pleasure in you 2. Would ye not be Stumbling-blocks 3. Would ye be secured when the Winds are prodigious and the Waves are impetuous 4. Would ye be under a distinguishing and a dignifying Character 5. Would ye sweeten all your Bitters 6. Would ye have a formal Plea at the Throne of Grace 1. Against Enemies without 2. Against Enemies within Live then and dye in the Act and exercise of Hope The Epitome of the Prose in Verse Page 97 98. Sect. 3. Of Love Chap. 1. Whether there be a Gospel-Love and what this Gospel-love is Page 99. Love is referrible to God and Man 1. To God Thus it signifieth his 1 Divine Essence 2. Divine Purpose 2. To Man Thus reducible to three heads 1. Carnal Thus there is a love Page 100 c. 1. To Sin 2. To Self Now there is 1. A sinful 2. A natural 3. A religious 4. A moral 5. A relative 6. A lawful Self Page 105. Page 106.
Peripatetick Great Corruptions call for a great Faith As there are great Services great Sufferings great Promises great Providences great Temptations and all these call for a great Faith so more than all most of all worst of all there are great Corruptions which also call for a great Faith Corruption is the Sting this is the evil of evils the plague of plagues the poison of poisons There are Achans within to be stoned to death Sauls within to fall upon the point of the Sword of the Spirit There are Agag's within to be cut in pieces There are Goliahs within to be destroyed the Sons of Zerviah within that are to be subdued and these call for a great Faith Pro. 20.9 Was that Question ever answered Who can say I have made my heart clean I am pure from my Sin Ah Soul look within and see new worlds of Sin now do not these call for a great Faith May it not be said of Sin Malum complexum what is said of War to be a Complex and a complicated Evil As there is the nature of Sin so there is the sin of the Nature And doth not this call for a great Faith As there is no Sin in Grace so there is no Grace in Sin Sin is evil all evil Sin is so bad that we cannot call it worse than it is It s name is Evil. Rom. 7.21 When I would do good evil is present with me As there is the evil of Suffering so there is the evil of Sin and this is the worst Evil. But as the name of Sin is evil so the nature of Sin is evil Rom. 7.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That Sin by the Commandment might become exceeding sinful Or that Sin by the Commandment might appear hyperbolically sinful Or according to the Greek that Sin by the Commandment might appear a Sinner unto an Hyperbole Now doth not this call for a great Faith Sin is a darkning of the Glory of God a defacing of the Image of God a crucifying of the Son of God a grieving of the Spirit of God a wounding of the Soul of Man And doth not this call for a great Faith Is there a Day without Clouds A Moon without Spots A Garden without Weeds A House without Rubbish A Soul without Sin A Heart without Leaven Now doth not this call for a great Faith They look like perfect Strangers to their own Hearts who pretend unto a personal Perfection Paul was cried up for an earthly Angel Rom 7.17 yet not without Sin 'T is no more I that do it but Sin that dwelleth in me There is but one thing in all the World that is the object of God's abhorrence that makes Man truly miserable that caused the Maker of Man to repent of Man's making that necessitates Mercy that called for Christ's Sufferings and caused Tears to stand in his Eyes that God looks upon with a vindictive Eye that Christ came to destroy that made Angels Devils that makes a Hell within and that is Sin Now doth not this call for a great Faith CHAP. IV. Of a little and a weak Faith AS there is a great and a strong Faith so there is a little and a weak Faith Why are ye fearful Mat. 8.26 oh ye of little faith I would not discourage an Infant-Faith That God who bids us receive him that is weak in the Faith will not himself reject him but God bids us receive him that is weak in the Faith Rom. 14.1 Fides periculis secura securitate periclitatur Aug. Him that is weak in the Faith receive you but not to doubtful disputations By one that is weak in the Faith the Apostle may mean a young Convert a Babe in Christ or a Person not sufficiently instructed concerning the Use of things indifferent Though thy Faith be not grown to a Cedar if it be a Shrub or a bruised Reed 't is too good to be broken A weak Faith may lay hold upon a strong Christ A Palsical hand may tie the knot in Marriage 'T is con-natural unto Man to desire Salvation rather under the notion of Doing than of Believing Dream not of the same Favour with Saints unless thou hast the same Faith with Saints but 't is Faith of the same Stamp not of the same Stature the same as to Quality though not as to Quantity the same as to Truth though not as to Degree A spark of Fire is true Fire the Furnace is no more A Drop of Water is true Water the Ocean is no more Now as a little Fire may be true Fire and a little Water true Water so a little Faith may be true Faith But how shall I know that I have true Faith Qu. I fear my Silver is Tin my Gold is Dross my Faith is Fancy Ah! I fear that my Faith is not a true but a false Faith How shall I know a true Faith from a false Faith That 's the Question A true Faith goeth not alone Sol. 1. As it is said 't is not good that Man should be alone so it may be said that Faith is not good that is alone The Leper under the Law was to dwell alone but true Faith goeth not alone 'T is written Wo to him that is alone so Wo to that Person whose Faith is alone Unless a corn of Wheat falleth into the Ground and dieth it abideth alone thus Faith if it hath not Works is dead Jam. 2.17 being alone or by it self so the Greek A false Faith goeth alone an Hypocrite speaks of his Faith when his Works are speechless or speak nothing but Unbelief An Hypocrite is all Creed but no Commandment he saith he believeth but continueth in Sin 'T is a false not a true Faith that goeth alone A true Faith hath a train of good Works Jam. 2.18 Shew me thy Faith without thy Works and I will shew thee my Faith by my Works A true Faith hath a true Object A false Faith hath a false Object an Hypocrite believeth the lying Vision of his own Heart but a true Faith hath a true Object this hath the Person of Christ for Object a Christ in all his Offices as the Churches Prophet Priest Acts 16.31 and Prince Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved A true Faith is not easily come by A false Faith is easily had this Faith Mark 4 5. is like the Seed in the Parable which sprung up suddenly 't is without Convictions and Heart-woundings Though there may be many Convictions without out Conversion yet is there any Conversion without Convictions It may be said to a Person that hath a false Faith concerning his faith as Isaac did to his Son concerning his Venison Son how camest thou by thy Venison so soon So Soul how camest thou by thy Faith so soon Hast not been wading in the Waters of Marah and of Meribah and yet hast faith Hast not been sailing by the Gates of Hell and yet
pessimi that a close Enemy is far worse than an open The Psalmist had his Enemies without and against them he prayeth upon the account of his hope Deliver me Psal 71.4 5. oh my God out of the hand of the wicked of the unrighteous and cruel man for thou art my hope oh Lord God thou art my trust from my youth Would ye have a formal Plea against enemies within at the Throne of Grace Live then and dye in the Act and exercise of Hope As those who have a Gospel-Hope have enemies without so within and these are the worst Ah Soul they are the Sauls within the Achans within the Goliah's within the Sons of Zerviah within that are the greatest and the worst enemies Against these also doth the Psalmist pray upon the account of making God the Object of his Hope And now Lord what wait I for my hope is in thee Deliver me from all my transgressions Psal 39.7 8. make me not the reproach of the foolish AS Gospel-Faith so Gospel-Hope appears In sacred Writ now greatly this endears That Holy-Place should Death arrest to morrow Where Tunes of Joy admit no Tones of Sorrow A Gospel-Faith goes first but follows then A Gospel-Hope which decketh lapsed Men. Though Gospel-Hope hath various Acceptations In Gospel-Lines all worthy Contemplations In silence pass I them This little Tract Of Gospel-Hope suggests the Grace or Act. A Gospel-Faith is Logick unto Man And Gospel-Hope his Rhetorick but can Man Hoping be and not believing then May Pictures in the Fire be drawn by Men. Faith 's cried up as Doctor in the Schools Yet cried down by many graceless Fools Hope 's cried up as Captain in the Wars In Consort yet are these detesting Jars This Gospel-Hope appears a lovely Grace The Spirits Fruit in running of our Race 'T is an assured Hope with Approbation 'T is also an abiding Expectation For Object this hath God all Promise-Good Both Possible and future understood 'T is on the Mercy of the Father founded And on the Merit of the Son 't is grounded DEscribed thus the Seeing may espy Its Nature Object Cause and Quality The Duty and the Mercy of a Soul Are herein found and that without Controul As there 's a true so there 's a Hope that 's vain All Hopeless ones are Christless ones Again We thorough Hope must on its Object live If to the Object we would Glory give Hope calleth for a Life in Print I 'le hasten That Envy now may not know where to fasten All hoping ones are happy ones and 't is From mount Gerizim Jesus speaks to His. False Hope false Objects hath but Hope that 's true Christ Jesus hath for Object truth doth shew False Hope doth go alone a blessed Train Of Graces hath true Hope and these remain False Hope short-lifed is and transient True Hope is living lasting permanent Would ye that God in you should take a pleasure Not stumbling others taking a right measure Would ye from others differ under Crosses And would ye sweeten all your bitter Losses Would ye have formal Pleas this is the Scope Live then and dye in Acts of Gospel-Hope But drawing to a Close I cannot grave it A Heaven 't is to hope it what to have it SECT III. CHAP. I. Whether there be a Gospel-Love and what this Gospel-Love is AS there is a Gospel-Faith and a Gospel-Hope so there is a Gospel-Love These three divine graces Faith Hope and Love are as it were a created Trinity and have as it were some glimering Parility of a Trinity uncreate Both Moralists and Divines say that Love is the Weight of the Soul it inclines us to this or that thing which way soeever the Affection goeth the Mind also goeth and the Action followeth This was the Definition of Plato concerning Love That it is an Ardor a Flame of a Soul dead in his own Body and living in another As there is a Love of Compassion with which an Enemy is to be loved Love your enemies So Mat. 5.44 there is a Love of Complacency by which a Friend is to be loved The Spouse loved to lean as well as leaned where she loved Who is this that commeth up from the wilderness leaning upon her beloved Cant. 8.5 Love is referrible to God and Man To God As 't is referred to God so it signifieth His divine Essence God infinitely delights himself in his Son who is his wisdom in his Spirit which is his power in his Creatures 1 Jo 4.16 and in his Children God is Love He is Love in the Abstract he is as it were a Compound of Love His divine purpose Jacob have I loved Rom. 9.13 This is the foreknowledg of God and the good pleasure of his will To Man As Love is referrible to God so to Man and thus 't is reducible to three heads carnal moral spiritual Carnal There is a carnal Love which falls under a three fold notion and is reducible to three heads Sin Self World Sin There is a love to Sin and that 's the worst Love Though Sin be an evil yet there is a love to Sin Though it may be said of Sin as it is said of War Malum Complexum to be a complex evil yet there is a love to Sin Though the Name and the Nature of Sin be Evil yet there is a love to Sin Though Sin be a burdening and a breaking of God yet there is a love to Sin Jer. 5.31 The Prophets prophesie falsly and the people bear rule by their means and my people love to have it so but what will ye do in the end thereof Though Sin be a darkning of the Glory of God and a defacing of the Image of God yet there is a love to Sin Though Sin be a crucifying of the Son of God a grieving of the Spirit of God and the greatest injury to the Soul of Man yet there is a love to Sin Though Sin maketh Angels Devils Din vixi diu peccavi Aug. Beza and irritates a God to cast them out of Heaven into Hell yet there is a love to Sin Though Sin the plague of plagues did provoke that God who is infinite in Attribute as well as in Essence to turn Adam the Emperor of the Universe and his captivating Consort the Emperess of the Universe out of Eden into the wide World yet there is a love to Sin Though Sin be a cursed Inmate and a cursed Make-bate between God and Man between Man and Man between Man and Himself yet there is a love to Sin Though Sin hath been the unhappy Womb of all the penal and prodigious Judgments that have been in the World yet there is a Love to Sin Though Sin hath been daring of an angry Deity to rain as it were Hell out of Heaven upon Sodom and Gomorrah ' yet there is a love to Sin Though Sin hath made that work in Countries in Cities in Churches in Families in Souls yet there is
The second is taken from running I have finished my course The third is taken from standing or keeping in the Field I have kept the faith But what follows Henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of righteousness Though this Crown be a Crown of Mercy and a gift of Grace yet it may be also called a Crown of Righteousness and that in a twofold respect Upon the account of God The Crown is promised to the overcomer Ex parte Dei Rev. 2.11 He that overcometh shall not not so the Greek be hurt of the second death This Man shall not be blasted but blessed shall not be damned but saved shall not go to Hell but to Heaven Upon the account of it self It is a righteous thing with God to render the Crown for the Cross Ex parte Rei It is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to those that trouble you 2. Thes 1.7 8. And you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jefus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels As it is a righteous thing with God to send the Sinner to Hell so it is a righteous thing with God to send the Saint to Heaven As it is a righteous thing with God to avenge himself upon the persecuting in this world so it is a righteous thing with God to right the persecuted in another world that can meet with no right in this world 'T is called a Crown of Glory A Crown is the most excellent Badge of royal Majesty But we see Jesus Heb. 2.9 who was made a little lower than the Angels for the suffering of death That is that he might be fitted to suffer death which he had not been if he had not been made a little lower than the Angels by taking upon him our humane nature for Christ was made lower than the Angels that he might suffer death as well as in suffering of death But what follows Crowned with glory and honour All Crowns are glorious and Glory is a Crown A Crown and Glory are of such neer alliance that they differ more in Sound than in Substance and are often put together as one thing Exalt her and she shall promote thee Prov. 4.8 9. a Crown of glory shall she deliver thee He hath stripped me of my glory and taken the Crown from my head Job 19.9 But why shall those have a Crown with a Christ hereafter Qu. 2. that have a Cross for a Christ here In a four fold respect Sol. the Father the Son the Spirit the Saint In respect of the Father Thus the Crown is in a way of Mercy There is no reason to be given of Mercy but Mercy I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy As mercy is the element of the Father so the motive of the Father and the Father hath no motive but his mercy Luke 12.32 Let there be no fear little little flock there 's a negative precept For it pleaseth your Father to give you the kingdom there 's a positive promise The Crown is the Fathers gift and for the Father to please to give is for the Father freely to give to give with all imaginable freeness yea with a freeness uninimaginable The Crown is given upon the account of God's Mercy not upon the account of Man's Merit In respect of the Son Thus the Crown is in a way of merit Though the Mercy of the Father be the moving cause yet the merit of the Son is the meritorious cause of this Crown This will appear by an induction and reflection of three reasons Because Christ hath prepared this The Crown is prepared by Christ In my Fathers house in heaven for as God hath his lower house which is the Heart so he hath his upper house which is Heaven as he inhabits Eternity Joh. 14.1.2 so he dwells with him that is of a poor and of a contrite spirit But what of this house There are in it many mansions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word mansion signifieth a Remaining denoting the perpetuity and eternity of the State but my Line is too short to sound this Bottom heaven is best known by the inhabitants therein and thereof If it were not so I would have told you would not my Father hide from Abraham the thing that he would do and shall I hide from you the thing that I go about I go to prepare a place for you I go to make Heaven ready for you and I will also make you ready for Heaven Though I be your Husband yet I am also your Harbinger and I go before to take up Lodgings for you Christ is the Churches Harbinger the Churches forerunner he is ascended to Heaven that he may prepare mansions for his Heb. 6.20 Whether the forerunner is for us entred even Jesus Christ as Head is gone before to take possession of Heaven for the Church his Body Because Christ hath prayed for this Christ hath prayed for the Crown As Christ hath prepared this so he hath prayed for this Father I will 't is a Dialect becoming a Deity and doth evince the Deity of Christ Father I will But what doth Christ will That those which thou hast given me John 17.24 be with me where I am That is when I am with thee invested with that Glory whereof I am now divested Here is Christ's prayer that His might be with him with him in Heaven and was not Christ heard in all that he prayed for Because Christ hath promised this May not the word of Christ be taken As Christ hath prepared this Crown and prayed for this Crown so he hath promised this Crown And I John 12.32 if I be lifted up will draw all men unto me There is a twofold lifting up of Christ ignominious and glorious a lifting up on the Cross and a lifting up in the Gospel And I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto me As Christ draws out of a state of Sin into a state of Grace so he draws out of a state of Grace into a state of Glory In respect of the Spirit As those who have a Cross for a Christ here shall have a Crown with a Christ hereafter in respect of the Father and of the Son so in respect of the Spirit In whom after ye believed Eph. 1.13 14. after ye believed ye were sealed with that holy spirit of promise The words are very emphatical ye were sealed Now that nature of a Seal is to make all things sure But what follows Which is the earnest of our Inheritance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This word is not Greek but Syriac originally which signifieth more than earnest for it signifieth as some say a Pawn or Hostage as well as an earnest But take it as an earnest this is only used in contracts of buying and selling 't is a part of the whole and engageth the whole In respect of the Saint
the start of Jacob and came first into the world so Faith as it appears to me seemeth to get the start of Repentance and is first in the Soul Faith is first in Act but Repentance is first in Sight God hath joined Faith and Repentance together woe to those who put them asunder They who either believe without repenting or repent without believing do neither believe nor repent That there is the Faith of the Gospel is evident May Peter speak he was the great Doctor of the Circumcision and a good Orator That the Gentiles by my mouth might hear the word of the Gospel and believe 'T is true if we look with both eyes upon most men and their Manners we may easily conclude that they are strangers to this Faith yet there is such a thing as the Faith of the Gospel Phil. 1.27 May Paul also speak He was the great Doctor of the Uncircumcision who spake with Tongues more than they all and had a great command of Rhetorick Striving together for the Faith of the Gospel The words are metaphorical taken from Wrestlers who strive for the Mastery or for the Crown they did put themselves in hazard for the defence of the Gospel CHAP. II. What this Gospel-Faith is 'T IS connatural unto man Qui benè distinguit benè docet to out-bid himself I would know nothing by my self but my sin yet he that distinguisheth well teacheth well I would not take the wall of those pious and prudent laborious and learned Divines Cedars of Lebanon that have gone before me upon this Subject Prov. 31.31 whose works praise them in the Gates that died in the Lord have rested from their labours Rev. 14.13 and whose works have followed them in a way of mercy though not in a way of merit Nor would I be ambitious were they living to go by their side yet suffer me to cast in my mite for great hath been the Controversie between Protestants and Papists yea between Protestants themselves wherein the Essence of a Gospel-Faith lies As there is an hypocritical or temporal Faith so there is a dogmatical or historical Faith Luk. 8.13 Acts 24.14 as Divines call it There is Faith and there is the Assurance of Faith there is the Faith of Affiance and there is the Faith of Assurance there is the direct and there is the reflect Act of Faith I shall therefore engage as I am more or less indulged the Gales and Gusts of the Spirit the direct Act of Faith the Faith of Affiance the Seed of Grace which is incorruptible and durable may for a time lie under clods and clots There may be Grace where there is no Peace and Faith where there is no Assurance Yea the Tenure of Grace and Peace is not alwaies the same but as to Peace God can and that in a moment if we sin against him turn our Heaven upon Earth into a Hell upon Earth But Quest what then is this direct Act of Faith what then is this Faith of Affiance what then is this Gospel-Faith Gospel-Faith is the Gift of God Sol. and Fruit of the Spirit of God whereby there is upon Gospel-terms a Reception of Christ Jesus the Lord and a Recumbency upon him solely for salvation This Definition of the Faith of Affiance Def. suggesteth a reflection of six things as considerable Remarks and Ingredients indispensably necessary in order to its Constitution its Pedegree its Object its Essence its Act its Rule and its End It s Pedegree Gospel-Faith is the Gift of God and Fruit of the Spirit of God Gospel-Faith is the Gift of God Faith is not a Native but a Donative By grace ye are saved through Faith Eph. 2.8 and that not of your selves it is the gift of God Here is the mercy and that is Salvation here is the motive and that is Grace here is the medium and that is Faith By grace ye are saved through Faith but this Faith is not of your selves it is the gift of God Though Faith be in us yet it is not of us it is the gift of God Lapsed Man hath lost his Freedom of Will to Good This Man hath no Freedom of Will to that which is truly good but what is wrought by Free-Grace The two Poles will as soon meet as Free-Grace and Free-Will in the Justification of a Sinner before God I could readily Seal the saying of One who laying his hand upon his breast Dr. Hill Firmin's Real Christian p. 26. Non Gratia est ullo modo nisi sit gratuita omni modo said Every true Convert hath something here that will draw an Argument against an Arminian As the Habit of Faith so the Act of Faith is the gift of God Faith is an Out-landish Plant and of a divine Extract Faith is not a slip growing in our own Garden but a heaven-born Grace What is freer than gift Now the Act as well as the Habit of Faith is given It is given yea according to the Greek freely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or graciously given unto you in the behalf of Christ not onely to believe Phil. 1.29 but also to suffer for his sake That is 't is given with all freeness imaginable yea with an uninimaginable freeness for 't is Grace no way unless it be free every way 2. Gospel-Faith is the Fruit of the Spirit of God Faith that 's the Fruit Gal. 5.22 the Spirit that 's the Tree The fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith Here is variety this that and the other Grace Here is also rarity Here is Faith and Love the top-fruit of the Tree Vices end in themselves but Virtues abound with fruit 'T is called the Fruit of the Spirit because originally from the Spirit as the Fruit is from the Tree As all Light meets in the Sun as all the Creatures met in the Ark as the Members meet in the Body as all the Branches meet in the Tree and as all the Lines meet in the Center so all Power meets in the Spirit and concenters there 'T is therefore called the work of faith with power 2 Thes 1.11 Power is as inseparable an Adjunct of the Spirit as the Light of the Sun and the Heat of the Fire it can no more be severed from it than the Soul from the Body whilst a living Organ 'T is a Faith of the operation of God Col. 2.12 'T is the operation of God because wrought by the Spirit of God Yea there is a power exerted in the working of this Faith aequivalent unto and aequipollent with that power which gave a Resurrection unto Christ Jesus To this the Apostle speaks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ephes 1.19 20. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as one acquainted with the work of Faith in his own Soul And what is the supereminent or sublime magnitude so the Greek of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his