beleeving alike he will be alike in dispensing his mercies Mal. 3.6 I am the Lord I change not therefore ye sonnes of Jacob are not consumed Therefore also collect as David 1 Sam. 17 36. and as Paul 2 Tim. 4.17 18. It is a great help to a Beleever to remember the yeers of the right hand of the most high Psal 77.10 and call to mind what he hath done for his Church and people formerly to the Church in Aegypt in the Wildernesse in Hamans time in other exigences Others have fared well while they waited on God therefore we also will wait and doubt not but to doe well enough Psal 22.4 5. Our Fathers trusted in thee they trusted and thou didst deliver them They cryed unto thee and were delivered they rusted in thee and were not confounded Thus fortifie your faith as much as ye can and it will be a strong fortifying of your spirits in all feares of evill A strong and healthy body getteth up a high hill farre better then a weakling can doe If our faith were stronger our hearts should be more fixed and setled then they are If it were the fall assurance of faith Heb. 10.22 we should not once doubt for all these terrours Mark 11.13 Remember the removing of mountaines and transplanting of trees into the midst of the sea all by the power of faith Onely beleeve and all shall be possible Other Consequences of the point are these I. Be thankfull for this precious grace of faith Be thankfull for the usefull grace of Faith which is so usefull in these dangerous dayes the staffe of thy life the strength of thy soule the fixâ—ng of thy poore trembling heart the only sight thou hast when round about is nothing but darknesse A great and wonderful gift thou receivedst when the Lord gave thee faith to beleeve in his Sonne and rest in promises It is worth the having though thou pastedst through the pikes in duties of humiliation It cost some adoe to get faith but when it is once had it is a most blessed commodity It stands thee in stead ever afterward whatever sad occasions thou hast The Jaylor though much cast downe for a while Act. 1â— 34 yet reioyced that he beleeved and all his houshold And those primitive Beleevers who were pricked at the heart in hearing of their great sinne reioyced and praised God for so great a mercy Acts 2.44 47. Goe thou and doe likewise We give thanks for lesser mercies then this Or what if the Lord give thee not riches health peace and the like Yet he gives that which is better and countervailes all other defects with infinite advantage on the eternall part Doe thy best to work faith in others II. If things goe thus then doe all ye can to get faith into your children and friends as ye desire they should have found and hearty comfort in the evill day Ye would not see them lye distracted malancholie drooping under their burden taking indirect courses to help themselves Now lay a good foundation not onely in morall vertues or religious duties but goe higher tell them of Christ of the Covenant the promises sinne and guiltinesse their need of a Saviour and the like It is a great matter Ps 112.1 to feare God and delight greatly in his Commandements This Text is a promise to such persons but note withall it goeth higher even to that sovereigne grace of faith His heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. verse 7. And it was by faith that the old Beleevers dâ—d suffered or received those great matters Heb. 11. Therefore in all thy instruction and discipline still insinuate something for faith Get that notion into their heads and hearts None but Christ Jo. Lambert Advance a faithfull Ministery whereby faith is bestowed None but Christ III. If it be so then advance a faithfull Ministery aâ— the meanes whereby faith is bred and thereby a ground laid for solid comfort in times of feare Plant such a Ministery where it is wanting cherish and maintaine it where it is Pitty them that want the Ordinance pray they may have the Word of faith preached among them Mat. 6.38 Pray the Lord of the Harvest to send forth Labourers into his Harvest If rich be at charges if in authority give countenance to a faith-breeding Ministery This is the onely way for poore soules to be soundly comforted when their tryall commeth Comfort stands not in a smartering knowledge or a few good words or saying over some good prayers or the like but if faith were bestowed into the heart which alone can quicken a soule otherwise dying No grace nor vertue can knit a knot betweene God and the soul but onely faith Faith truly so called is of a lasting nature whatever tryals there be and of a triumphing nature 1 Pet. 1.7 8. Beleeving ye reâ—oâ—ce with ioy unspeakable and full of glory And if so how worthy are those pains whereby faith is conveyed into the heart and afterward confirmed Take faiths part against a faithlesse generation 2 Pet. 1.1 IV. Ever commend and stand in the magnifying of faith which doth so good offiâ—es in the worst times Call it a precâ—ous faith much to be esteemed and prized Endure not any word of disparagement to be cast upon it There is a carnall generation of men and womâ—n who doe much slight and villifie faith as an ayrie Notion a trifle nothing in comparison of Charity and good works Oh here is much adoe about faith these are our Solifidians c. Whereto I say First neither charity nor works are any thing without faith Heb. 11.6 Without faith it is impossible to please Gâ—d It is in Christ only that we and our graces are acceptâ—d No merit in charity nor the works of it onely in Christ they get acceptance Yea in faith it selfe is nothing meritorious all the vertue and praise of it standeth in relation to Christ the Object Secondly it is faith that must uphold the heart in an evill time When dangers be abroad and feares come home to us this is our anchor to be staid withall We have seen how much is cast upon faith to doe in these sad plucks What we have done in an holy way may be a comfort but the stresse of the businesse lyeth on this how well we have beleeved and what interest we have in Christ Psal 27.13 I had fainted unles I had beleeved to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the Land of the living And the comfort of the good we have done comes in a secondary consideration Heb. 10.4 In that ye did it to these ye did it unto me By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice them Cain Thirdly faith ever will produce good works Fides sola iustificat sed fides quae iustificat non est sola as a good Tree good fruits It works by love Gal. 5.6 and love is a laborious thing 1 Cor. 13.4.7 No fire without light and warmth no faith without love and good works Every branch in Christ bringeth forth good fruit Fourthly it is a Popish spirit that makes such a jumbling of faith and charity which are ever to be distinguished though not separated Leave each his owne work and place and both are glorious and whereas other comparisons are odious these most Or it is an ignorant spirit which knows not what the maine tye is between God and a soule now fallen into sinne nor how we come to God by Christ alone and how we are justified freely by grace which faith appropriateth al our present adherence to God is by faith hereafter by sight and fruition Or lastly it is a prophane spirit of a man in love with his sinne or worldly vanities all for a present enjoyment he will not stay for his happinesse till hereafter as faith directeth And to get a lively faith asketh more paines then he is willing to take some adoe there is to try examine evidence maintaine and increase faith which the lazie Christian will never endure FINIS May 22. 1644. Imprimatur Joseph Caryl
and evill shall not come but at his pleasure not till now not more not longer no farther as he saith to the proud waâ—es Thus farre shall ye go Job 38.11 but no farther And as Joseph said Ye thought evill against 〈◊〉 but God ment it unto good Gen. 50.20 And as Job The Lord giveâ—â— and the Lord taketh away blessed be the name of the Lord chap. 1.21 Pâ—â—â—â—ses Finally faith pitcheth on promâ—ses and these heard with 〈◊〉 Oath to give us 〈…〉 Heb. 6.18 And promises are farre better then all performances in this world whatever they be still there is more in a promise Isa 65.8 A blâ—ssing in the cluster destroy it not For the matter they are precious promises for the manner of makâ—ng fâ—â—e for the extent universall for the effect 2 Cor. 1.20 Isa 55.3 sure and certaâ—ne yea and amâ—n sure mercies everlasting mercies everlasting Covenant c. Faithfull is he that hath promised who will also doe it And the gifts and calling of God are without repentance Good foundations for faith to settle upon Secondly God the Sonne The Sonne of God the Câ—â—â—latiâ—e of faith and speciall Obâ—ect on which it resteth There is a world of wealth in Christ that the heart may well be fixed by beleeving on him He is the strength of a beleeving heart yea everlaâ—â—â—ng strength Isa 26.4 and new strength to be still deriâ—ed from him according to occasion chap. 40.31 He is an Advocate with the Father 1. Joh. 2.1 to non-suit our clamourous sinnes and keepe our persons in favour He is our King now governing for us though in Heaven in all that glory He is the best friend we have neerer then a Brother He is an enemy to our enemies and will curse them that curse us Gen 12.3 In all respects there is great cause to trust in Christ and trusting in him to be fixed Blessed are all they that put their trust in him Psal 2.12 He had not been Christ but to stand us in stead and give us sure footing in every slippery time and occasion The Holy Ghost Thirdly God the Holy Ghost the Spirit of faith 2 Cor. 4.13 enabling us to speak or make confession of the truth in dangerouâ— times He is also the spirit of strength Isa 11.2 the Spirit of power of love and of a sound mind 2 Tim. 1.7 And thus he fixeth the poore heart by what he worketh in it and what he testifieth to it and what he comforteth Thence we read the seale of the spirit the earnest of the spirit Passion apâ—d Paâ—lum the liberty of the spirit the witnesse of the spirit and the first fâ—uits of the spirit all of them confirmations to an unsetled heart against its severall trials When the Holy Ghost was come upon the Apostles we see how fearlesse they stood before the Counsell and despised all threatnings O Austitâ— he is come he is come said Master Gâ—oâ—â— at the sight of the stake speaking of the comfortable presence of the Holy Ghost who had withdrawne for a while And for us he is promised to abide with us for ever Joh. 14.11 Which we professe to beleeve saying I beleeve in the Holy Ghost and so the heart is fixed This is the first and self-sufficient ground for faith to settle the heart of Gods child The rest are secondary and powerfull onely in their owne place and in order to that first II. In respect of the Word II. The Word of Faith upon which faith relyeth A neer relation there is between Faâ—â—â— and the Word thence it is called the Word of Faith Rom. 10.8 And it is a quickning Word as to David Psal 119.50 Thy 〈◊〉 hath quickned me it is a comforting Word as ver 24. Thy Testimonies are my delight It is a strengthning Word as Heb. 5. ult strong meat 2 Pet. 1.19 Mat. 5.18 It is a sure Word all to be performed in due time Heaven and earth shall passe away but my Word shall not passe away It is a store-house of promises which as they were made in mercy so they shall be made good in truth The Christian being brought into straights may read and quickly meet with a stay for his poore unstayed troubled heart and without the Word he should soon miscarry Psal 119.92 â—alâ—sse thy law had been my delights I should have perishâ—d in mâ—nâ— affliction But by help of the Word he is soon setled confident full of prayses for his good estate in Christ and triumphant over all his enemies see Ps 56.3 4 10 11. III. In respect of what faith receiveth It receiveth such mercies at the hand of God Bâ—â— fits receâ—â—â—â—d by Faith and so much that it resteth conâ—ent with and condition the heavenly Father shall a lot unto it It seeth sinne abolished forgiven nothing to be laid to his charge which is â—e blessednesse of a man Rom. 4.6 It seeth Satan disarmed the Law satisfied the curse taken away hell shut and Heaven opened to him It seeth Gods wrath pacified his justice satisfied his favour procured which is matter of great joy yea glorying in the midst of many tribulations Rom. 5.1 2 3. And this is the Kingdome of God within us 14.17 Not â—â—at and dâ—â—nke but righteousnesse and peace and 〈◊〉 the Holy Ghost Finally saith seeth all afflictions sanctified sweetned mittigated exchanged for good in wrath the Lord remembreth mercy we shall not drinke the dâ—egs of the Cup Ps 75.8 as the wicked doe and as Christ did for us but in him sing and triumph O death 1 Cor. 15.55 where is thy stâ—ng O grace where is thy victory What Agag said foolishly the Beleever saith on good grounds Tâ—e bitternesse of death is past 1 Sam. 15.32 Phil. 1.21 and Welcome lâ—fe and To dye is gain an entrance into glory IV. In respect of what faith worketh Works fâ— faith fixing the 〈◊〉 Faith is no idle grace but still sets it selfe on work about such imployments and in such manner as the Lord will mercifully according to promise succour the labouring heart in all his difficulties First it works out corruption which would hinder comfort Acts 15.9 Purifying their hearts by faith Both the guiltines of sin it is never quiet till it be clensed cleared in the blood of Christ Witnesse David a Beleever who after those great sinnes heaped up many petitions for pardon Psal 51. whereas another fals into the mire and lyes wallowing in it as in his proper clement And the filâ—hinesse of sin none is suffered to command out with it keep thy self from in as from defilement Psal 18.23 As the flesh lusteth against the spirit Gal. 5 1â— so the spirit in a Beleever lusteth against the flesh And O this body of death who shall deliver Ps 51 10. Create in me a clean heart O God renew a right spirit within me Secondly faith is an undivided companion of a good conscience 1 Tim. 1.19.3.9
above what we ask or think Eph. 3.20 12. About sin forced upon a good soule Obiect 12. I feare my Chastity may be violated or some other sinne forced upon me which would be a terrour to my soule and break the band between God and me Suidas Answ 1. It was Origens sinne for avoyding the filthy Black more to burne incense to the Idoll No evill may be done that good may come of it Rom. 3.8 Secondly He that doth worng saith the Word shall suffer according to the wrong he doth Col. 3.25 not he that suffereth wrong No sinne hurts to which consent is not given It is the others sinne thy sorrow Tarquin â—ucret Aug. Two in the adultery yet but one adulterer Thirdly the Lord who is most mercifull will not presently breake with his Child when hurried to sinne by temptation or violence of persecution No Isa 30 18. Psal 103.14 he is a God of Jâ—dgment knoweth 〈◊〉 sâ—ame and that we are but dust and will remember his Covenant an everlasting Covenant Section VII Make much of Faith which is so usefull and other Corolaries of the point Faith being so strong and effectuall a meanes to settle the heart in evill times Faith to be â—â—â—â—â—shâ—d and â—ncâ—eaâ—ed Mâ—â—â—eâ— it will be good wisdome for Christians to make much of their faith to cherish it strengthen it fix it and be adding to it daily Souldiers will keep their Forts well that their â—oâ—ts may keep them And alike must Beleevers doe for their faith which is so much for their turne every way It were folly to complaine of a troubled spirit about these troublous times and not be earnest in preserving and increasing faith which should fasten and quiet the heart It were a sinfull neglect of the meanes which God in great wisdome and love hath set apart for the remedy We have seen grounds enough for our confirmation which if they be well improved would both preserve and increase our faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist It is a rule that all things are nourished of the same matter whereof they are bred Therefore First be diligent and conscionable in the use of the Word publique and private whereby faith commeth at first and afterward is encreased The Word is sincere milk Rom. 10.17 whereby new-borne Babes may grow 1 Pet. 2.2 A child thrives best by the Mothers milk In the Word are promises to be ever met withall in all particulars And as good Evidences for house or land well perused doe much cleer a mans title to the thing So the Scriptures well searched and applyed doe strongly cleere the righteous mans Evidence for Heaven The failing of Christians is when they wax negligent in the Word or if they turne aside to visions or other fancies no food so nourishing as Gods Word duly regarded They that are planted in thâ— house of God are fat and flourishing and bring forth fruit in old age Psal 92.14 Secondly be frequent and serious in going to the Lords Table where is a fatning Banket to the prepared and worthy Receiver No feast yeeldeth better nourishment to the body then this to the soule This is the true Sacrament of Confirmation This is a Medicine that expelleth all evils 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignat. ad Ephes both unbeliefe and all the heavy passions that issue from it Onely get a good appetite prepare examine come fitted to receive a blessing The Master of the Feast would not be wanting to his owne Ordinance if his Guests were not wanting to themselves Spirituall sloath foolish curiosity turning to vaine janglings are maine hinderances of the benefit which that blessed Ordinance is reany otherwise to afford Thirdly frequent lovingly and improve wisely the Communion of Saints which ye professe to beleeve these are able to satisfie your doubts mind you of promises produce experiences comfort you beare you up and doe much for fixing you on your Rock United forces doe back one another As iron sharpneth iron so the face of one Christian strengtheneth heereth another But woe be to hâ—m that is alone Eccl. 4.10 It he fall who shall raise him up And the devill desireth no betteâ— advantage then to find Christians solitary and private-minded When Thomas was absent from the rest of his fellowes Joh. 22.25 he grew to a sturdy kind of unbeliefe Unlesse I may feele I will not beleeve Fourthly pray much and earnestly for the increasing and acting of thy faith Mar. 9.24 Luk. 17.5 Lord help my unbeliefe Lord increase our faith Pray to be able to live the life of faith to trust perfectly in the grace revealed to have the use of thy faith when need is to have thy heart fixed by beleeving What is not the Lord able and willing to doe for them that cry unto him Hath he not promised to returne a gracious answer Even a naturall Father will regard and pitty the mone which his poore child maketh Fifthly recount and search out the promises which are the same to the feeding of faith as oyle is to the feeding of a lamp soone extinguished if fuell be with-held Abraham was strong in faith because he had both eyes upon the promises Promises will make us Partakers of the divine nature 2 Pet 1.4 Heires of promise should live on promises as their owne proper element and nourishment A Beleever forgetting the promises is as a fish on dry land Gods people of old were busie in searching out promises when the search was difficult obscure and nothing so comfortable as now in the light of the Gospell 1 Pet. 1.11 12. Sixtly meditate on the Attributes of God which have great power to make us beleeve any thing which the Lord hath promised He is able who promised he is faithfull who promised Rom. 4.21 1 Thes 5.24 c. All of them are engaged for our good as himself who is our God by a firme Covenant And faith will subsume I beleeve in God Almighty What cannot he doe who is Almighty I beleeve in the onely-wise God who is Omniscient and what cannot such a one invent I beleeve in him who is the searcher of reynes and knoweth the hidden things of darknesse what wicked plot cannot he discover I beleeve in him who is true and faithfull what word of his shall fall to the ground So in the other A Dwarfe with a Gyant on his side waxeth resolute and valiant When the eye is taken oft from one-selfe and all enemies or other incumbrances and kept close upon God how strong will faith he and the heart unmovable Seventhly strengthen thy faith by the experiments thou hast had of God formerly and others have had His works partly done partly in doing invite confidence for time to come The reason is because the Lord is ever the same inexhaust unweariable his hand not shortned nor his eare heavy but he can and will help his people to the uttermost To like persons in the like way and