Lord hath forsaken me saith another or else I should never be thus bowed down with continual sickness Surely the Lord hath forsaken me saith another or else I should never be so friendless Lovers and friends hast thou put far from me and mine acquaintance into darkness And this was Jobs argument he confesses God was sometimes gracious to him but now he looks at him as an enemy And why so because he was under his afflicting hand he had stript him of outward Mercies Job 13.24 And this was Naomi's argument Ruth 1.20 she said to her Neighbors Call me not Naomi but call me Mara for the Lord hath dealt very bitterly with me I went out full but the Lord hath brought me home again empty But what though she came home empty of temporal blessings so long as she came home full of spiritual grace she had little cause to complain of hard dealing on Gods part But I say Gods people are apt to complain in cause of Temptation if God do but withdraw himself in some particular and temporal respects they are ready to say out God hath wholly and utterly forsaken them in all respects Obj. But will God onely forsake his people in temporal good things and not in spirituals also May not the Ordinances be taken from them or they from the Ordinances as doubtless many of Gods faithful ones were when they were banished into Babylon Ans I answer therefore 3. Gods forsaking in spirituals viz. Means God sometimes forsakes his people in spiritual good things but then it is rather in outward spiritual good things than in those that are inward 'T is true God took his Ordinances from his people when he removed them into Babylon but he did not take away his Spiritual nor his gracious Presence from such as were faithful It is a Promise God makes to such as were banished from the Sanctuary Ezek. 11.16 Although I have cast them far off amongst the heathen and although I have scattered them amongst the countries yet will I be to them a little Sanctuary in the countries where they shall come As if God should have said Though they want the ordinary Sanctuary and the ordinary means of Teaching yet I will be a Sanctuary to them my self and teach them by my Spirit they shall not want inward Spiritual Mercies though they want the outward Means of Grace Obj. But doth God forsake his people in outward Spiritual Mercies 4. Forsaking in spiritual comforts not grace and doth he not forsake them in those that are inward also Why else do they so much complain of their Souls and Spirits Psal 77.3 I complained and my Spirit was overwhelmed Ans Therefore he may also forsake in regard of inward Spiritual Mercies but then it is more in their inward Spiritual Comforts than in Spiritual Graces Some Christians indeed have more Comforts but less Graces as in the day of their first espousals to Jesus Christ for that is a time of love and rejoycing Jer. 2.2 I remember saith God the love of thine espousals But some Christians have more Graces and less Comfort as strong grown Christians Heb. 2. whom the Captain of their Salvation puts upon hard services for the trial of their Christian fortitude Psal 44.17 All this is come upon us yet have we not forgotten thee neither have we dealt falsly in the Covenant our heart is not turned back neither have our steps turned from thy way though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons and covered us with the shadow of death Indeed the face of Dragons and the face of Death was very terrible but yet the hiding of Gods lovely face was much more terrible ver 24. But yet for all that though God did with-hold their Spiritual Comforts yet he did not with-hold their Spiritual Graces for they had never more strength of grace than when they were able to grapple with Dragons and with Death it self Obj. But doth God forsake his people in respect of Spiritual Comforts Is it not said That such as have the Comforter once he shall abide with them for ever Joh. 14.16 If that be so why then should any believer be dejected Therefore I fear I never had true comfort Simile Answ That 's true the Comforter abides for ever but not in the Act of Comforting John 16.7 8. I will send the Comforter to you saith Christ What then Must they expect nothing but comfort so soon as ever the Spirit is come No there is an act of Conviction from the Spirit in the first place Note When he is come he will convince the world of sin The office of the Spirit is to empty us of our selves to humble us and to convince us as well as comfort us All these are acts of the Comforting Spirit though not acts of Comfort They are all such acts as tend to comfort and are conducible to that end As searching the Wound by the Chirurgeon and stirring the humours by the Physician are conducible to the act of healing though they are troublesome and painful for the present Neither doth God always forsake his people at such times as he doth withdraw their Spiritual comforts Note Did God forsake Christ upon the Cross or doth he forsake Christians in their mourning condition No surely he is most in them oftentimes by the graces of his Spirit when he is least in them by the comforts of it Obj. But doth not God forsake his people in their Graces as well as in their Comforts and do not Gods people complain for want of grace as well as for want of comfort Doth not David pray Psal 51. Take not thy holy Spirit from me as well as Restore to me the joy of thy Salvation The resolving of this doubt is needful for the better clearing of the Life of Perseverance and for the better incouragement against all discouragements of this nature concerning Gods forsaking of us or our forsaking of him Ans I answer therefore 5. Forsaking in graces not absolutely necessary God may withdraw from his people such graces as are called accessory graces but not such graces as are absolutely necessary We call such graces necessary as tend to the very being of a Christian and without which he is no Christian at all as Faith in Jesus Christ and so Justification and the Spirit of Adoption In these God will never forsake his people 1 Joh 3.9 Now accessory graces we call such as are added to these for the well-being of a Christian without which he cannot so well act his part as otherwise he might do As for example Though a Christian have Faith and the Spirit of Adoption in some measure yet he cannot so well discharge his duty unless he be zealous in believing zealous in praying zealous in preaching But now in these sometimes God doth forsake his people when his people for sake him by falling from their first love and from their first degree of zeal Gal. 4.15 But God doth
discharge of that Calling 1 Kin. 3.7 9. Now O Lord my God thou hast made thy servant King and I am but a little childe I know not how to go out and in Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people c. So the Apostle directs to live by faith in this case as well as other Jam. 1.5 If any man lack wisdom let him ask of God 3. It stirs a man up in the use of those gifts to seek not his own things but the things of other men Non nobis solum nati sumus No man is born to serve himself but his generation Acts 13.36 David after he had served his generation according to the will of God fell asleep A Christian hath not a private but a publick spirit 4. It stirs him up in serving his generation and in serving men to serve God Eph 6 5. Even servants there in serving their Masters are to serve Christ So again Col. 3.22 Israel is reproved Hos 10 1. because as an empty vine he brings forth fruit unto himself As one end of naturâ—l life is the civil life so the end of both is a religious life to the glory of God 5. It teacheth him to depend upon God in all for good Successe So we are taught Prov. 3.5 6. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding in all thy wayes acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths Psal 1.3 Whatsoever the righteous doth the Lord shall make it to prosper 6. It teacheth him to make a voluntary humble and bold Resignation of his calling and so of his civil life and natural life also into Gods hands when he shall call for it As in the forementioned example of David Acts 13.36 who fell asleep according to the will of God as soon as he had served his generation So Aaron Numb 20.23 c. by faith put off his Office as willingly as a man puts off his clothes when he goes to bed Such a disposition there was in Paul 2 Tim 4.6 7. I have fought a good fight I have finished my course henceforth a crown of Glory c. As a believers success is from God so into Gods hands he resignes his place with his Spirit And then he may lay down his head he may lay down his life with comfort 5. Good Name for God sayes 1 Sam. 2.30 Them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed And Psal 17.6 There is a promise that if the righteous trust in the Lord though they were under a night and cloud of reproach yet their name shall break forth as the light 6. Posterity Psal 112.2 He that fears the Lord his Seed is promised to be mighty and his Generation blessed As on the contrary wicked men can entail nothing but a curse on their children Psal 109.9 10 12 13. Onely understand all these Promises to be made in Christ Note and not to Duties abstractly considered out of Christ 7. Single state and Marriage He lives by Faith 1. For the blessings of single life when God calls him thereto especially in troublesome times and troublesome places and in unsetled conditions 1 Cor. 7.8 I say to the unmarried and widows that they abide even as I. Thus then he lives by faith in this condition in the use of means for the upholding him whether 1. Ordinary as moderation of diet exercise civil and religious company Or 2. Extraordinary as fasting and prayer and covenanting with himself as Job 31.1 He charged those Sentinels they should not betray the stronger Fort of his heart into the hands of the weaker vessel So Mat. 19.12 Some have made themselves Eunuchs for the Kingdome of Heaven 2 For the blessing of a Married condition when God calls thereunto especially in times of peace and prosperity He looks at a meet Help as a portion promised from God for the better bearing the manifold incumbrances of this present life Eccles 9.9 Live joyfully with the wife of thy youth all the dayes of thy life c. for that is thy portion in this life and in thy labour which thou takest under the Sun The truth is a good Conscience within and a good Consort without are two of the most comfortable helps under heaven for the better bearing of the greatest burthens upon the face of the earth The poor beast with a great burthen on his back goes cheer'd partly with his Provender partly with the musick of his Bâ—lls A good Conscience is musick within the Biâ—d in the breast A good consort is musick without the Bird in the ear who shall do thee good and not evil all the dayes of her life Prov. 31.12 Lastly The just lives by faith this natural life in respect of the prizing or valuation of his life 7. In thâ— valuaâ—ion of life so as neither to be a Prodigal nor a Niggard of it Faith teaches a man neither to undervalue nor overvalue his life A Christian holds the rein of life by the hand of faith neither too fast nor too loose Reason will teach a man a notional valuation of his life but onely faith will teach a man a practical valuation of it 1. Not to undervalue it Natural Reason tells a man That of all temporal blessings natural life is the greatest but every sinner sets more by his lusts than his life 1. The envious person whiles he envies another mans life pines away himself and destroyes his own He is neither fit to live by others nor enjoy his own life Prov. 14.30 Envy is the rottenness of the bones 2. The lustful and luxurious person he sins against his own body He falls not onely into a consumption of his estate but his flesh also Prov. 5 10 11. And mourn when thy flesh and thy body are consumed 3. The covetous person he loves his goods better then his life If it would save his life he hath not power to eat thereof Eccles 6.2 He punisheth both back and belly and so wastes his life and dies If a man had faith it would rectifie Reason in these particulars or rather fortifie Reason by Scripture Mat. 6.25 Is not life better than raiment c yea the Devil could allege That Skin for skin and all that a man hath will he give for his life Job 2. 2. Not to overvalue life An unbeliever overvalues his life when he prizeth it above his soul which is the life of his life yea above the Gospel and Christ who is the life of his soul Mat. 19.20 21 22. The young man there would not exchange his possessions for treasure in heaven But faith teacheth better husbandry not onely to lose goods but life also for the Gospels sake Acts 20. Neither count I my life dear so I may finish my course with joy Paul counted his life cheap in comparison of the Gospel and the preaching of it Heb. 11.35 Others were tortured not accepting deliverance that they might
not say As many as believed were ordained unto life eternal but contrariwise As many as were ordained to eternal life believed To intimate That Faith foreseen 1. From Election was not the cause of Election but Election was the cause of Faith and so the same Election is the cause of Perseverance in Faith or else their Life should not be eternal Therefore that strong conclusion of strong Consolation Rom. 8.35 is fetcht as far as from that everlasting VVell-head of Gods Fore knowledge and Predestination ver 29. For whom he did fore-know he did predestinate and whom he did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified Therefore the Apostle is bold to make that brave challenge Who shall charge us Who shall condemn us Who shall separate us As if he should have said Neither Sin nor Affliction nor Men nor Devils shall ever be able to break this Golden Chain of Gods Election till it ends in glory Therefore the just perseveres God hath elected him to no meaner a life than that which is Eternal and therefore he shall certainly have it Rom. 11. the Election must needs obtain it 2 Reas From Gods Love from which 2. Gods love this Election springs in order of working Gods love is an Everlasting love As God is from Everlasting to Everlasting so is his Love for whatsoever is in God is God Jer. 31.3 I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee which I conceive is not to be understood à parte post after we are drawn to believe and obey but even before also à parte antè Gods love here is made the cause of our being drawn to believe and obey and not our obedience a cause of his love Obj. But is it not said Joh. 14.21 He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved by my Father and I will love him and will manifect my self to him therefore our love of God goeth before Gods love to us Resp. There is a love of Benevolence whereby we bear good will to another and a love of Beneficence whereby we testifie our love in doing good to him Gods love of Benevolence is before our loving of him Joh. 4.19 We love him because he first loved us but Gods love of Beneficence at least in part doth follow our love to him and is the reward of it according to his free grace If Gods love therefore be everlasting this must needs be an everlasting fruit of it even the life of Grace and Glory to all eternity 3. The Covenant 3 Reas From the Covenant of God made with his People which is an everlasting Covenant well ordered and sure 2 Sam. 23.12 Jer. 32.40 I will make an everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me Whereas the poor Soul might say God indeed saith he will never depart from us so long as we do not depart from him but then he might justly depart from us Therefore Gods Covenant is That we shall not depart from him I will put my fear in their hearts and they shall not depart from me Therefore the just lives not from any stability in himself but from the stability of Gods Covenant 4. Gods Unchangeable nature 4 Reas From the Unchangeable Nature of God Mal. 3.6 I am the Lord I change not therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed You are not consumed not because there is no principle of change in you but because there is none in me As if God should have said When I first entred Covenant with you I saw you polluted in your blood and I foresaw full well how ignorant how impotent how unconstant how untoward you would be afterward but I am resolved as I did not choose you at the first for the good I saw to be in you so I will not reject you for the evil that I see in you but will forgive it and heal it for my gifts and calling are without repentance Rom. 11 29. 5. Reas From the Power of God 5. Power of God If Gods people do not persevere it is either because God will-not preserve them or because he cannot But 1. Not because he will not for it is his own good pleasure moved him to make an everlasting Covenant and his own unchangeable Nature moves him to fulfil it to this day 2. Not because he cannot for nothing limits Gods Power but his Will Psal 135.6 Whatever the Lord pleased that did he in heaven and earth c. Therefore if the Lord will preserve his Saints in a state of grace for ever he is able to do it Though we are not able to stand of our selves yet he is able to make us stand Rom. 14. or in case we fall he is able to raise us up again Psal 37.24 Though he fall he shall not be cast off for the Lord putteth under his hand 6 Reas From the Merit of Christ 6. Merit of Christ c. the Prayer of Christ the Spirit of Christ As Christ hath merited Eternal Righteousness and Eternal Salvation Heb. 5.6 So he applies his Merit eternally by his Intercession and the operation of his Spirit Wherefore Heb. 7.25 Intercession of Christ he is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them Wherefore we must either deny That God the Father hears the Prayers of his Son which is blasphemous to imagine and contrary to Christs confession 1 Joh. 11.42 I know that thou hearest me alwayes or else we must need acknowledge That all such as are once in a state of Grace shall persevere and be saved to the utmost Further they that are Christs And Spirit of Christ have the Spirit of Christ and so long as the Spirit doth not depart from them they shall never depart from God for the Spirit leads into all Truth But the Spirit of God doth never depart from them Isa 59.21 As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord My Spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth c. Therefore they shall never finally depart from God Thus we have the Reasons Why the just shall persevere 2. Why perseverance through Faith Now see the Reasons Why they live this life by Faith 1. Faith layes hold on the Promise 1. Because Faith lays hold on the Promise of Perseverance 1 Cor. 18. He shall confirm you to the end that you may be blameness in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ Phil. 1.6 He that hath begun the good work in you will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ Mat 16.18
of God is grieved by the sins of his own people or else that Exhortation were needless Eph. 4.30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the day of Redemption And if we grieve the Spirit of God be sure it will grieve our spirits it will make us glad to cry Restore unto me the joy of thy Salvation Psal 51.12 And if we rejoyce the Spirit of Ged it will rejoyce ours Prov. 8.17 I love them that love me saith Wisdom so I rejoyce them that rejoyce me and what rejoyces Gods Spirit but purity of heart and life Prov. 11.20 The upright in the way are his delight So God dispenses peace to such Psal 85.8 It is God who will speak peace to his Saints to his sanctified ones 'T is true indeed a man cannot be sanctified before he be justified and so soon as he is justified he hath the ground-work of peace But the Word doth strongly infer That no man is justified but he is also sanctified at the same time And God is pleased to speak peace to none but such as he is pleased to sanctifie at the same instant when he first begins to speak peace unto them Well but what shall we say for after times May they then live as they list when God hath once spoken peace to their Souls No as ever they desire to keep it when they have it as they love their peace let them not again return to folly As much as to say If they be so foolish to turn again to their former sins God will turn again to his former displeasure of which he had spoken in the former verses Not that God will hate them or look at them as his enemies but they shall know for all that though God continues to be their Father yet a Father knows how to frown upon his children and how to come with a Rod in his hand if they once wax wanton under the expression of his love and favour Rev. 3.19 As many as I love I rebuke and chasten be zealous therefore and repent Well then as ever thou desirest to live the Life of Consolation be sure to live the Life of Sanctification Though God do not dispense comfort for thy Sanctification yet he will never dispense it without Sanctification The water of Consolation must run in a clear channel Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God to their comfort Therefore as Faith purifies the heart Act. 15.9 so it comforts the heart And so the just lives by Faith the Life of Consolation Quest Yea but how shall I know I am sanctified that I may have the comfort of it Ans I answered to this in that precedent Chapter viz. Life of Faith in Sanctification Vid. supra Reas 5 5 Reason why the just lives by Faith the Life of Consolation it is Why Consolation comes by Faith Because by Faith a man reflects upon his own Sanctity and Sincerity he proves it and brings it to the touchstone and when he knows it is right he hath the comfort of it For as Faith purifies the heart and conscience so the conscience thus purified doth the office of a faithful examined Witness and Judge who upon examination gives in this Judgement Thou art sincere saith Conscience to the believing Soul thou art in the Faith Christ is thine and therefore thou hast cause to rejoyce 2 Cor. 1.12 For our rejoycing is this the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world and more abundant to you-wards Mark the ground of Paul's rejoycing was the reflect act of Faith in the testimony of his renewed conscience And lest any man should say This was a singular case 't is possible Paul might have ground of rejoycing upon the thorow examination of his own condition but ordinarily Christians cannot have the like Therefore the Apostle makes it a general case to all believers either they do or they ought to do so Gal. 6.4 But let every man prove his own work and then shall he have rejoycing in himself and not in another Mark this is the duty of every man that desires comfort of every man that is in the Faith Wouldst thou have comfort Then make use of thy Faith to the proving of thy self and the proving of thy work It may be thou thinkst thy Joy and Consolation must evidence thy good estate but the Word saith The evidence of thy good estate upon Proof and Trial must bring sound comfort if ever thou hast it upon good grounds Thy comfort must not be thy evidence Note but thy evidence must be thy comfort Now this is the proper act and evidence of Faith And so by Faith the just lives the Life of Consolation As for example the Word saith Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness Even by this we know we are translated from death to life if we love the brethren 1 Joh. 3.4 But saith the conscience renewed by Faith I fear the Lord c. therefore I have cause to rejoyce Obj. Oh but these Marks and Evidences may fail you Ans Heaven and Earth shall pass but not one tittle of the Word shall fall Obj. But you may think you have these when you have them not Ans Therefore they are first to be tried by the Rule for their Principle and Existence Obj. If it be said You may think you have the witness and comfort of the Spirit when you have not Is there not a joy of the stony ground and of an hypocrite as well as the joy of a true Christian And is there not a peace from Satan in the heart as well as the peace of God Luk. 11.21 When the strong man armed keepeth the palace his goods are in peace Ans Oh but he that hath the true peace and joy in the holy Ghost cannot be deceived so he that hath the true fear of God and hunger c. cannot be deceived But of the two Note it is easier to be deceived in our Comforts than in our Graces Therefore the Scripture commands us to try our comforts by our graces but never to try our graces by our comforts as in the place before-alledged Gal. 4.6 And because ye are Sons God hath sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father It is true the first evidence of a Christians Justification in order of nature is a pure simple act of Faith laying hold on Gods free grace in a Promise indefinite made not to righteous persons but to sinners ungodlly persons and to enemies and to such as are simply so For God will strip a man of all conceits of his own Righteousness before he clothe him with the Righteousness of Christ But then the second evidence of Justification in order of nature though it be at the same instant in order of time
shall prove the gall of Asps in their belly Job 20.12 13 14. Though wickedness be sweet in the mouth though he hide it under his tongue yet his meat in his bowels is turned into the gall of Asps within him Obj. Oh but some may say Faithful persons experience tells us they are sometimes very uncomfortable what should be the reason of this or how comes this to pass that it is so with them Ans It springs from themselves Satan or from God Rise of the Sâ—s heaviness From themselves 1. Either from the Commission of some speciall Sin 2. The inordinate Aggravation of sin committed in some special case from Natural Constitution or Spiritual Câ—â—dition 3. Ignorance of the right way to attain assurance of forgiveness of sin 4. Not Acting their Faith though they have the habit of it 5. Their Forgetfulness of taking Christ on his own terms or that they have taken Christ upon such terms From themselves First from the committing of some special and notable sin 1. Sorrow from the commissioÌ„ of some sin God will not frown upon his Children for every weakness but if they commit some scandalous wickedness he will not onely frown but strike with the Rod also and make them cry Peccavi as it was with Peter and David and many of Gods chosen Such as will not be guided by the Light of the Sun of Righteousness shall not be warmed with the heat of it for the present but God will put his Face under a Cloud till they know how to injoy their Fathers smiles Isa 17.18 For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wrath and smote him I hid me and was wroth and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart Cause 2. Inordinate aggravation of sin Secondly it falls out from the inordinate aggravation of sin committed It is the policy of Satan before the Commission of sin to lessen sin and magnifie mercy but after the Commission to magnifie sin and lessen mercy As Cain said My sin is greater than can be forgiven Yea sometimes believers themselves are over-taken with this Temptation Fain I would believe saith a poor Soul but I am so sinful so unworthy I cannot lay hold on the Promise and so the comfort is suspended But it were good for such to remember the grace of God is free Christ came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance yea the greatest of sinners such as Paul Manasses Mary Magdalen c. No matter what the disease be if thou wilt come humbly to Christ the Physician of Souls And tell me when did he ever turn away any diseased person without cure He hath one Medicine of sufficient vertue to cure all diseases 1 Joh. 1.27 The Blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin Nothing but the Blood of Christ can cleanse from the least sin and the Blood of Christ can cleanse from the greatest But this is the second stop-Cock to the waters of Comfort immoderate aggravation of sin and too much poring upon our own unworthiness The third is Cause 3. Ignorance of forgiveness Ignorance of the right way to attain assurance of forgiveness of sin and of Gods favour conceiving the promises are onely made to such as do actually believe and thereupon they conclude against themselves No Promise can belong to them because they do not believe and upon that ground they should be kept from believing as long as they live Note For God doth not make a Promise to a man because he believes but a man believes because God makes a Promise Because we may believe Promises are laid as Foundations of Faith and not Faith laid as Foundations of Promises Now the Ignorance of this strips the Soul of comfort for a long time So the mistake of the Spirits witness whilst men take it to be some vocal Testimony and so wanting that they fall into no small perplexity not knowing that the fruits of the Spirit are sufficient evidences that we are led by the Spirit and are not under the Law Psal 5 18.22 But the mistake of this evidence doth much eclipse our Comfort The fourth Impediment of Comfort is Cause 4. Want oâ— acting Faith their not acting of Faith though they have the habit They forget the application of Gods faithful Word or of his faithful Works according to his Word to their present condition and then they must needs want comfort 1. In application of Gods faithful Word 1. The Application of his Faithful Word Heb. 12. The believing Jews were apt to faint in their minds and to be weary in the time of trial why so ver 5. They had forgotten the word of Exhortation which speaks to them as unto children Despise not thou the chastening of the Lord nor faint when thou art rebuked of him They had forgot the word of Exhortation and the word of Promise whereby God had ingaged himself to be as a Father to them in their greatest affliction and therefore they wanted comfort 2. In application of Gods faithful Works They forgot the Application of his Faithful Works according to his Word Mat. 16.17 The Disciples were very solicitous and careful about bread it troubled them much they had no more provision and what was the reason of it They had forgotten the application of his Faithful Works according to his word v. 9. Do ye not understand neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets ye took up Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand c. So that the wanting of acting of our Faith in the Word and Works of God is the occasion of the the want of Comfort Cause 5. Overlooking the terms on which Christ is had Fifthly Their forgetfulness to take Christ on his own terms with the Cross and therefore when the Cross comes unlooked for they are troubled they are troubled out of measure and it may be they want inward comfort too and why so because Christ will not speak peace to a Soul till he makes it willing to take him upon Gospel-terms and that is with the Cross Luk. 14.26 If any man come to me and hate not Father and Mother and Wife and Children and Brother and Sister yea and his own Life too he cannot be my Disciple and whosoever doth not bear his Cross and come after me he cannot be my Disciple These are the Articles of Agreement betwixt Christ and the Soul these must be signed and observed before we can have comfort and we must remember them as we desire to retain our comfort for in case we forget them a little thing will offend us and throw our comforts off the hooks And thus sometimes the want of comfort in Gods People springs from themselves At other times it springs from Satan 2. From Satan who because he is miserable himself would fain make all others like himself But because he cannot hinder the happiness of Gods people therefore he will do
fall off from God and having begun in the Spirit should at the last end in the flesh and do you earnestly desire to be setled stablish'd and confirm'd that the gates of Hell may not prevail against you Labour then to live by Faith for By Faith the Just lives the Life of Conservation Again Doth sorrow possess and oppress your spirits O you are burthened with such and such afflictions or temptations and you would fain live a comfortable life Learn then to get Faith for By Faith the Just lives the Life of Consolation Again are you troubled when you begin to think of Death O how shall I do to walk through the valley of the shadow of Death Psal 23.4 would you fain be armed against the Terror of it O learn then to get Faith for By Faith the Just finds Life in the midst of Death He that lives in Faith shall undoubtedly die in Faith Heb. 11.13 All these died in the faith Again Doth the shortness and uncertainty of this life afflict the Spirit and thou wouldst fain be assured of a better life before thou partest with this present life thou wouldst fain know if thou shalt go to heaven when thou diest O learn then to live by Faith for By Faith the just lives in regard of Eternal Life O let the excellency of the Life of Faith move us to seek the grace of Faith with all diligence The life of a faithful man is as far above the Life of a Rational man as the life of a Rational man is above the life of a Sensual Epicure Some men indeed are meerly led by Sense and ever like Swine rooting in the dunghil of Earthly Profits and Pleasures others mount higher into the Middle Region of Reason and Humane Learning but a Believer soars above them all in the Highest Region of Faith Phil. 3.20 and hath his conversation in heaven from whence he expects the Lord Jesus Certainly all the enemies of our Salvation cannot make that man miserable that hath once obtained this precious grace of Faith Psal 2.12 Blessed are all they that put their trust in him And therefore what Solomon saith of Wisdom Prov. 3.13 14 15. we may say of Faith Happy is the man that findeth Faith for the merchandize thereof is better than the merchandize of silver and the gain thereof is better than gold she is more precious than pearls and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her Obj. But it may be some will be ready to say I am sufficiently perswaded of the excellency of Faith and I would fain get it How to get Faith if I knew how or where to finde it but may we not also say of Faith as Job saith of Wisdom Job 28.12 Where shall it be found and where is the place of it The Depth saith It is not in me and the Sea saith It is not with me neither is it to be found in the Land of the living No creature in Heaven or Earth can bestow Faith upon its fellow-creature O where then is it to be found Ans I answer as Job doth in the the 23 Verse of that Chapter God understandeth the way thereof and he knoweth the place thereof And therefore if we be careful to make use of such means as he doth direct we shall undoubtedly finde out this precious Pearl of Faith Means You will say What are those Means that we may use them Negat 1. First of all as Builders use to do God would have us to remove the Rubbish of all the Hindrances of Faith and then to make use of all those Spiritual Helps and Furtherances that God hath appointed for the begetting of Faith that we may lay a sure Foundation The Lets and Hindrances of Faith are many Le ts and hindrances of Faith which we must take notice of and labour to remove out of the way What 's the reason so much is daily spoken of Faith and we are it may be convinced of the necessity and excellency of it and yet very few in comparison attain to it or improve it to any purpose What 's the reason of this O there are many Hindrances of Faith which were never yet removed O beloved we are naturally dead in sins and trespasses and there is many a heavy stone lieth upon the mouth of the Grave and we may say with those good women Mark 16.3 Who shall rowl us away the stone from the door of the Sepulchre All those several Impediments of Faith are as so many great stones upon the mouth of the Grave which must be removed by the mighty power of the Angel of the Covenant Mal. 3.1 before we can believe Have you not heard many a poor Creature complain nay do you not hear those complaints in your own bosom Alas alas I have heard of Faith by the hearing of the ear many a time and often how many days and how many years hath the Word of Faith and the Doctrine of Faith sounded and resounded in mine ears and yet alas to this very day I am not able to believe or at least to act and exercise my Faith as I ought to do O that I could meet with some good Messenger from God one of a thousand that could tell me where the stop lies and how I should remove it that would do for me as Jacob did for Rachel Gen. 29.10 Help me to rowl away the stone from the mouth of the Well that my thirsty Soul might drink of the water of life freely Rev. 22.17 Come we therefore to the Particular Impediments or Hindrances of Faith and the way to remove them 1 Let. Self The first and the greatest Impediment is thy Self Self is the greatest enemy to Self in point of believing the heaviest stone that lieth upon the mouth of the grave is thy stony heart for a stony heart is an unbelieving heart and an unbelieving heart must needs be the greatest enemy to Faith Darkness is not more opposite to light than an unbelieving heart is opposite to Faith and such hearts are in all the Sons and Daughters of Adam by Nature Adam indeed in the state of Innocency had power to believe whatsoever God spake and to live upon the Word of his Promise but after the Fall both he and his Posterity lost this ability Our very birth in this respect is no better than a death we are born in the very grave of unbelief we are all shut up under the power of it Rom. 11.32 O beloved a hard stout proud heart will not endure to lay down Self Self-wisdom Self-righteousness Self-greatness but Faith is nothing else but a laying down of Self-righteousness with an humble submission to accept of the Righteousness of God in Christ Rom. 10.3 O this goeth against the hair to a natural man He cannot endure to strip himself of Himself and to become a poor empty nothing that he may be fill'd with the fulness of God in Christ
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.
judgement will soon weaken our faith 2 Pet. 3.17 Ye therefore beloved seeing ye know these things before beware lest ye also being led away with the errour of the wicked fall from your own stedfastness An unconstant man that halts between two Opinions will soon prove an unstedfast man Jam. 1.8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways 1 Tim 4.1 Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and Doctrines of Devils 4. A good conscience Fourthly he that would keep his Faith must keep a good Conscience in all things and he keeps a good Conscience that walks up to his light Faith loves to dwell in a sweet lodging 1 Tim. 3.9 Holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience The Mystery of Faith is kept in a pure conscience if once the chamber of Conscience be sluttish and nasty farewel Faith To be sure Faith and a good Conscience come and go both together He that makes shipwrack of the one cannot long preserve the other from sinking 1 Tim. 1.19 Holding faith and a good conscience which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwrack A good conscience as we told you is available to the holding both the Doctrine of Faith and the Grace of Faith And though these words are primarily meant of the Doctrine of Faith as we shewed you when we spake of living by Faith the Life of Preservation or Conservation in answer to the Arguments of the Papists from this place yet the Argument is good by necessary consequence à fortiori from this Scripture If a good conscience be so available for the keeping of the Doctrine of Faith then much more for keeping the Grace of Faith forasmuch as an evil conscience is more inconsistent with the Grace of Faith than with the Doctrine of Faith For howsoever an evil conscience is a very ready way to bribe and corrupt a mans judgement yet many for a time have taught sound Doctrine who have been very unsound in their practice Mat. 23.3 All therefore that they bid you observe that observe and do but do not ye after their works for they say and do not But an habitual corruption of conscience and conversation cannot stand with the soundness of the grace of Faith Joh. 1.6 If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lie and do not the truth And 2.4 He that saith I know him and keepeth not his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him Therefore 1 Tim. 1.5 he couples the grace of Faith and a good Conscience together Now the end of the Commandment is charity out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith unfeigned Be sure therefore to keep a good conscience as thou wouldst keep thy faith Fifthly if thou wouldst keep thy Faith 5. Right bottom build it not upon false Promises that is when thou makest a Promise to thy self over and above that Promise which God hath made in his Word Many a man when he first begins to make Profession of the Faith he promiseth to himself a great deal of ease and riches and credit in the world whereas he should expect the contrary a great deal of trouble and Persecution and Poverty and Disgrace c. Now when such a mans End fails him his Faith also will fail him and he is ashamed of the very Profession of it Such low and carnal ends are just like the weights that hang upon a Clock so long as the weights move the Clock moves but when the weights are once at ground the Clock stands still So 't is with such men so long as their carnal ends move them in Religious ways they are moved but when once their ends fail they stand stark still and will move no further Therefore beware of false ends in the Profession of the Faith Promise to thy self no more than God hath promised lest failing of thy expectation thy faith fail thee also He is a wise and sure builder that sits down and counts the cost at the first but he is a fool and his building like to come to nothing that after he hath laid the foundation repents him of his work and saith I never thought it would have cost me half so much Luk. 14.28 Sixthly if thou wouldst keep thy Faith 6. Commit it to God commit it to Gods keeping whatsoever we commit to his trust is put into a safe hand 2 Tim. 1.12 For the which cause I also suffer these things nevertheless I am not ashamed for I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day Therefore be sure not onely to commit other things to God by faith but even thy faith it self commit that to his keeping pray him to keep it for thee You know what Christ said to Peter I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not Luke 22.32 Now Christs Prayer is as good as a Promise Joh. 11. for we know that his Father heard him always Therefore ground thy Prayer upon his Prayer and say Lord hear me in that Prayer which I have taken out of my Saviours own mouth O let not my Faith fail That which thou hast committed to my trust Lord I desire to re-commit to thy trust for I dare not trust my self Therefore as David saith of his mouth Psal 141.3 Set a watch O Lord before my mouth and keep thou the door of my lips So should every true Believer pray in relation to his heart Set a watch O Lord before my heart and keep thou the door of my Faith That as the Lord is the keeper of thy person Psal 121.5 The Lord is thy keeper So he may be the Lord-Keeper of thy faith also And that is the sixth Means Look unto him by Prayer who is the Author and Finisher of thy faith Heb. 12.2 7. The free Spirit Seventhly if thou wouldst be establish'd in faith pray God to give thee his Free Spirit for that is an establishing Spirit Psal 51.12 Establish me with thy free Spirit With thy free Spirit what is that 1. The Spirit of God is not onely a free Spirit in it self for we may say of the Spirit of God as the Apostle speaks of the Word of God 2 Tim. 2.4 It is not bound 2. Yea and it is free in the Donation of it it is most freely bestowed where God giveth it Joh. 3.8 The wind bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof but canst not tell whence it cometh nor whether it goeth So is every one that is born of the Spirit God is as free in the work of the Spirit as in the work of the Minde All the men in the world cannot command the Wind no nor the Devil himself though he be called Eph. 2. The Prince of the Air he cannot command the Wind without
devour each other 141 142 Papists faith is cobled up of pride and ignorance 40 Pardon A pardoned state is a peaceable state 296 Passion How faith moderates and subdues the Passions of Cares fear and sorrows 52 53 477 Patience Faith in adversity teaches and exercises patience 64 Peace Saints live by faith for it in two respects 71 The golden chain and order of righteousness peace and Joy 296 Perfection Conceit of perfection is an impediment of spiritual growth 229 Knowledg Love Obedience and Joy are perfect in Glory 338 339 Perseverance Faith triumphs in the life of Perseverance 233 234 Proofes from scripture that the just doth persevere 235 Perseverance is by vertue of faith 236 Reasons why the just shall persevere 237 to 240 Reasons why perseverance is through faith 240 241 Confutation of the doctrines of falling from grace 241 Five concessions wherein there may be a falling away 242 Exception to 7 particulars which can never be lost 243 244 Objections against perseverance answered 245 246 Motives to perseverance from 249 to 253 Means of perseveranee from 253 to 257 Truth of grace demonstrated by perseverance 257 Thankfulness for perseverance 259 260 Faiths incouragement to persevere amidst all discouragements 261 Vide establishment in faith Posterity Saints live by faith for blessings on posterity 73 Power of God It is a cause of the Saints perseverance 239 Praise It is due from Saints for their spiritual life 11 12 Prayer The exercise of it is a meanes of assurance 94 As also observation how God hears our prayers 94 The prayer of faith is a means of sanctification 131 132 133 Prayer is a means of spiritual growth 226 227 Prayer is a means to increase spiritual Joy 3â—9 Prayer may subdue hereticks when reason cannot 357 Prayer preaching must not justle out each other 529 Prayer a means to beget faith 527 529 Natural men ought to pray though they cannot pray acceptably without faith 530 531 Pray that thou maist believe believe that thou maist pray with acceptation 533 Prayers of others helpful to conversion 533 Whether a natural man ought to pray The question stated affirmatively and all objections answered 530 531 532 Prayer is a good means to preserve faith 551 552 Prayer is a means to increase faith 578 Preaching See Ministry The right Art of successful preaching 427 428 Precious Three things very precious 455 The precious touch of faith in four respects 456 457 Prejudice It quarrels the means of faith its cure 506 507 Presumption It postdates the use of means which should beget faith 509 510 Presumption of having faith already hinders believing together with its cure 510 511 Differences 'twixt presumption and true faith in the conception birth growth issue or fruits 511 512 Presumption is a Monster of pride and security 513 Pride Pride in the reason and will subdued in Sanctification 117 118 It is an hindrance of spiritual growth 231 Pride and unbelief are associates 2 3 Proud persons are neither obedient nor safe 3 Pride how manifold and how dangerous 5 6 Rank pride is the root of Popish Sanctity 143 Pride contemns the meanes of faith 507 508 Profession Multitudes make a profession of faith who live not by it 434 435 Promises Three-sorts of them all tending to assurance 92 93 Apply the promises of growth for growth in grace 228 229 Promises applyed are a believers livelyhood 414 415 Our own unworthyness pleaded against the promises is a main hindrance of believing its Cure 502 Direction in applying of the promises 526 Faith built on false promises of our own will fail 551 Promises to increase faith are a means to increase it 575 Prosperity How the just live by faith in Prosperity 46 47 48 The temptations of prosperity 385 Protestants Their Apology against papists in point of work 144 Purchase The wisest purchase is faith in Christ 468 469 Q Questions Curious vain questions concerning the state of glory busy mens fancies when as their faith should be acted to make sure their interest in that shate 359 R Rainbow How grace is like it as a sign of sparing mercy 301 302 Rarity Faith is the greatest Rarity in the world 458 Receive What it is to receive Christ on Gospel terms 560 Regeneration See Unregeration Love to God his word Saints holiness an effect of it 98 Difficulty of the new birth it is not without doubting 98 We are not born again of bloods nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man how this is to be understood See 528 See Sanctification Rejoyce See Joy It is the heigth of wickedness to rejoyce in it 321 To rejoyce in the creature as it draws from God is sinful 321 Relations See Friends Religious Religious life is the only comfortable life 310 311 Religious persons must neither be jovial nor austere 320 Religion no fruitless Profession 358 Renunciation Of self a reliance onely on free grace brings assurance 96 Resurrection Christs Resurrection is a means of Sanctification 126 127 Resurrection of the Body proved 354 355 Riches A Believers Riches are inexhaustible 477 478 Righteousness That of Sanctification is not to be confounded with that of Justification yet they are inseparable 32 33 S Sabbath Rightly sanctified it is a short and little heaven 381 Sacrament Faith applies Christ in the Sacraments for Sanctification 130 A complaint for neglect of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper 294 Sacraments are a means to increase faith 576 Sacrament not to be given to dead-hearted unbelievers 577 Complaint for interruption of the Sacrament and the corruption of it as the cause 578 Sadness See Heaviness Vnbelief is the spring of sadness 307 308 309 Why the Lord suffers his Saints to fall into sadness 315 316 See Consolation Sanctification Vide Regeneration The submitting to the Spirit in this Work is a means of assurance 94 The life of faith in Sanctification 113 There is a life of Sanctification in Believers besides that which is inherent in Christ himself proved by four Arguments 114 115 How Sanctification and Justification differ in four respects 116 What Sanctification is and wherein it consists 116 117 It works an holy change on the whole man 118 Difference 'twixt Sanctification and Morality in nine respects 119 120 121 Means whereby Sanctificacation is wrought 122 Faith applies Christ for union as the root of Sanctification 123 Faith applies Christs death for Sanctification and his Resurrection 126 127 Faith applies Christs second appearing and the last Judgement for Sanctification 127 128 Faith applies the Word of Christ for Sanctification 128 129 Faith makes use of the Sacraments for increase of Sanctification 130 Faith rightly uses and applies affliction for Sanctification 131 The Prayer of Faith is a means to sanctifie 131 132 133 Reasons of the necessity of Sanctification five 134 135 Five Motives to the life of Sanctification 145 146 There are degrees in Sanctification 201 202 Vide Growth Sanctification not the meritorious ground of