TRIA SUNT OMNIA OR A necessary Narration and distinct Discussion OF FAITH HOPE and LOVE Legible in the Idea of the Book By R. Mayhew M. of the G. Author of that Tract which hath this Title The Death of Christ the Death of Death 1 Cor. 13.13 And now abideth Faith Hope Love these three but the greatest of these is Love Litera scripta manet non ita verba diu Litera sculpta manet non itā scripta diu LONDON Printed by Thomas Snowden for the Author An. 1680. TO THE SERIOUS and SPIRITUAL READER READER SOlomon the Sage of Israel hath transmitted this Sentiment of his unto posterity Eccl. 12.12 Of making many Books there is no end and much study is a weariness to the flesh But though there may be a weariness in well-doing yet there should not be a weariness of well-doing for as 't is inconsistent with the truth of grace to be weary of well-doing so 't is incumbent upon the truly gracious not to be weary in well-doing Gal. 6.9 Let us not be weary in well-doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not There is a possibility a probability yea a certainty of persevering Job 17.9 The righteous shall hold on his way and he that hath clean hands shall add strength to strength Those that have an imputed and imparted or implanted righteousness shall certainly persevere in their spirituals and morals in their inward and outward way in the way of their Heart and in the way of their Hand The wayes of the Lord are right Hos 14.9 and the just shall walk in them but the transgressors shall fall therein Reader may not the Lip and the Pen offend two wayes Negatively by not speaking or writing as well as positively by speaking or writing But this may be objected that I bring Straw into Egypt a Country abounding with Corn Ne plus ultra that I draw a picture after Apelles that I write an Iliad after Homer that I do that which hath long since been done by protestant Heroes Nil dictum quod non prius dictum and that there is nothing spoken which was not before spoken My reply with all humility follows 'T is true I may much more than others apologize for my self being the Benjamin of my Fathers house and say what am I so little to appear in an Essay so great What is a Muscle-shell to empty an Ocean Can my Line sound these Depths Here is Faith which hath the person of Christ for Object here is Hope which hath Heaven for Object here is Love which hath the personal excellency of Christ for Object But though my Line cannot sound this Bottom may I not let it down If I cannot appear as a Cedar in Lebanon may I not appear as a Shrub in the Valley May I not cast a Mite into the Lords Treasury if I have no more to cast May I not bring a little Goats hair that may contribute towards the erection of the Temple if I have nothing better to bring A Book may speak when the Author doth not when the Author dares not when the Author may not when the Author is not It was the saying of an Emperor say little to others Conrade Pauca cum aliis tecum multa but more to thy self It was also the saying of a Monarch Qui nescit tacere nescit loqui Hen. 6. He that knoweth not how to be silent knoweth not how to speak But silence when Truth is wounded is a loud Sin God sent the book of Nature before he sent the book of Scripture God hath two books the book of his Works and the book of his Word the book of the Creatures and the book of the Scriptures The former is a very large Volume or rather containeth many Volumes a whole Library The latter divideth it self into the old and new Testament This is Mans book but there is Gods book the sacred Scripture which is the Book of Books I would not be guilty of that vanity in out-bidding my self and if I be not then I do assert with the greatest confidence and innocence that I would not appear with wisdom of Words and yet I would not appear without words of wisdom that I had much rather with Luther my book should not be read than that Gods book should be left unread yea than that should not be first and last most and best read Reader I begin to be weary of reading those books wherein I find not the NAME OF CHRIST In this Book thou shalt find this name which is a name above every name Phi. 2.9 10. that at this name every knee may bow things in Heaven Angels and the spirits of just men made perfect things on earth Saints and Sinners things under the earth infernal Spirits The Proconsul in Asia in the time of Justin Martyr did forbid the Christians to read any books that spake of a Christ Is this a wonder Peter and John were commanded not to speak at all Act. 4 18. nor teach in the name of Jesus It is said of one that he had a rare felicity in reading of books Perkins he did as it were but turn them over yet would give an account of all that was considerable in them he perused books so speedily that one would have thought he had read nothing and yet so accurately that one would have thought he had read all Erasmus saith that he learned more from one short page of Luthers writing than from all the great Books of Thomas Aquinas Though more may be learned in reading one line of Gods book than in reading all the leaves of Mans book and if thou beest spiritual thou wilt find a vast difference in reading the one and the other yet if Christ be with thee thou mayst learn something in reading the book of man I like thorough grace books under a divine Design that are sent into the world for Truth rather than Triumph and for Verity rather than Victory A pretension to satisfie every Reader would be as ridiculous as his Essay who studied to make a Vestment for the Moon that might suit her under every interchange And as improbable for Success as his Enterprize who with a dish of one Radish would satisfie every pallate Reader if thou beest curious and critical unto an Excess I despair of pleasing thee because thou wilt be finding fault besides the faults that are to be found As therefore I have not been writing in haste so be not thou reading in haste Eternitati pingo Xeuxis but as one painted for an eternity so do thou read for an eternity It hath been said THREE THINGS Tria sunt omnia ARE ALL THINGS The Father purposing the Son purchasing the Spirit perfecting here are three things they are great things they are as it were all things As the hypostatical union or Vnion of natures in Christ is the Wonder of VVonders so a Trinity in
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.
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
Repentance must be speedy without procrastination it must be cordial without dissimulation it must be general without exception it must be continual without interruption Repentance is so necessary yea of such necessity that a preaching it was imposed among all nations Luke 24.47 beginning at Jerusalem Though Sin for a Believer be perfectly covered yet Sin in a Believer is not perfectly cured there are the Remainders of Sin Reliquiae peccati and these must be mourned over While there is an Issue of Sin kept open there must be an Issue of Sorrow kept open while the Ship springs a Leak the Pump must be kept at work There are Turns as well as Tears in a Gospel-Repentance It was the saying of one Tertullian if thou beest backward in thoughts of Repentance be forward in thoughts of Hell 'T is best not to sin but having sinned the next best is to repent As God hath a Bag for sins so he hath a Book for Prayers and a Bottle for Tears Tears are the truest Rhetorick of a troubled Soul they are a prevailing Suada beyond the loudest and quaintest Oratory both with God and Man Dr. Donne I repent saith one all my life but that time I spent in Communion with God and in doing good There is a repentance unto salvation never to be repented of and this is the gift of God now without this repentance there will be no living well nor doing well nor dying well Luke 13.3.5 Except ye repent and this except is without exception ye shall all likewise perish That saith one which Christ here threatens to the impenitent was fulfilled after 40 years for then Titus the Emperor of the Romans on the feast of the Passeover besieged the City and having taken it slew many impenitent Jews as they were sacrificing Faith There must be Faith in the Person of Christ If persons live and dye without Faith in the Person of Christ they cannot live well nor do well nor dye well If any live and dye without Faith they cannot live well for Hab. 2.4 the just shall live by his Faith If any live and dye without Faith they cannot do well Rom. 14.23 for Whatsoever is not of Faith is sin If any live and dye without Faith they cannot dye well for if ye believe not that I am he John 8.24 ye shall dye in your sins Now if there be dying in Sin there will be damning for Sin Love As there must be Faith in the Person of Christ so there must be Love to the personal Excellency of Christ If persons be without love to the personal excellency of Christ they cannot live well nor do well nor dye well If any man loveth not the Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 16.22 let him be Anathema Maran-atha Some Texts are short thus these are Pray without ceasing Rejoyce evermore Some Texts are sweet thus these are In me ye shall have peace Go in peace Some Texts are long and short thus these Depart from me all ye that work iniquity I know you not Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devils and his Angels T is thus here here is a long and a sharp Text If any man loveth not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maran-atha Is it not enough to amaze and amuse if the Spirit goeth with the Word the greatest Atheist and Papist the greatest Egyptian and Ethiopian the greatest Saracen and Socinian the greatest Man and Woman In this text there is something supposed and something proposed Here is A Supposition If any man loveth not the Lord Jesus Christ Herein there is the Act the Subject the Object The Act. Loveth not That is hateth for is there a medium between loving Luke 11.23 and hating He that is not with me is against me and he that gathereth not with me scattereth The Subject Man If any man If any one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the Greek If any Soul if any person without exception or exemption as to Nation whither Jew or Gentile Is he the God of the Jews only Rom. 3.29 is he not the God of the Gentiles also As to Sex whether Man or Woman As to Relation Whether an Isaac or a Rebecca a Jacob or a Benjamin As to Age whether a Methuselah or a Josiah As to Estate whether a Croesus or a Codrus As to Place whether a man in his Robes or a man in his Rags If any one loveth not The Object The Lord Jesus Christ Here is a Christ emphatically presented in his triple Office as the Prophet and Priest 2 Cor. 4.4 and Prince of the Church We preach not our selves but Christ Jesus the Lord. David was a King and a Prophet Jeremiah was a Priest and a Prophet Melchizedech was a King and a Priest but these three Offices together Prophetical sacerdotal regal never met in any one but this only one Christ Jesus the Lord the Phaenix of the world If any one loveth not the Lord Jesus Christ A Proposition Let him be Anathema Maran-atha Herein there is the Subject and the Sentence The Subject Him That is Him or Her the Man or the Woman the Husband or the Wife the Father or the Child the Master or the Servant of what Nation soever of what Age soever of what Estate soever of what Place soever The Sentence Anathema Maran-atha Herein there is the Judgment and the Duration of that Judgment The Judgment Anathema 'T is a greek word which signifieth an Execration or a Curse Now this is a sad one if not the saddest one for 't is a Gospel one and Gospel curses are the saddest curses Gal. 1.8 Thâ—ugh we or an Angel from Heaven preach unto you any other Gospel then that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed let him be a Curse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the greek It is thus here and 't is not said let this person be anathematized but an Anathema accursed but a Curse The Duration of the Judgment Maran-atha This consists of two Syriac words Maran our Lord atha cometh Let this person be a Curse until Christ cometh to judge both the quick and the dead John 5.22.27 for all judgment is committed to the Son because he is the Son of man Let this person be Anathema Maran-atha Reduplication in the sacred Scripture signifieth two things Vehemency of spirit in him that speaks The Certainty of the thing spoken Thus Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear Rom. 8.15 but ye have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father 'T is a repetition in several languages Syriac and Greek whereby we cry Abba Father The Spirit of God is a Spirit of Supplication in Jew and Gentile And as there is a crying in two languages Abba Father so here is a cursing in two languages Anathema maran-atha to shew that both Jews and Gentiles whether men or women whether old or young whether high or low whether rich or poor if they live and dye without love to the personal Excellency of Christ are not only anathematized but also an Anathema are not only accursed but also a Curse to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to Judgment and from that Judgment for an eternity Of those three degrees of curses saith one which the Jews used in their threefold excommunication Perkins this of Anathema Maranatha was the highest including as much as this Let the Lord come and strike this person with eternal perdition If any person loveth not the Lord Jesus Christ let that person be Anathema Maran-atha As Gospel-Faith and Gospel-Hope appear So Gospel-Love which bringeth up the Rear As there 's a carnal and a moral Love There also is a Gospel-one above Now Gospel-Love appears a Gospel-Grace The Spirits fruit within a Gospel-Race It also is the noble souls expansion To Jesus Christ within the highest mansion And for its proper Object also makes His Excellency where are no mistakes Of Gospel-Love take from a Dwarf in Stature Its Object Soil Original and Nature Christ JESUS is most excellent in Name In Nature too for sinless is the same Excelling is a Christ in Love in Light In Council Comfort Conduct also Might Most excellent in Wisdom and in Wealth Christ Jesus is who is the Churches health Man Mortal is and posting to the Grave But Lovers of a Christ a Crown shall have Inheritance it is and Heavens Joy A Kingdom 't is that cannot be a Troy A Crown of Life so 't is in sacred Story Of Right'ousness yea 't is a Crown of Glory Some Reasons also may be given why The Lovers of a Christ when they shall dye With Jesus Christ a lasting Crown shall have Who had a Cross on this side of the Grave THe moving Cause the Fathers mercy is The merit of the Son doth follow this The Earnest of the Spirit cometh next Which Ushers in according to the text The loving Saint that he may have his Sweet Who Bitter had before a winding sheet Art tempted yet a Jesus loveth more Than Satan hates though he doth greatly roar Art troubled suffer but a while and know To suffer but a while thou hast below Art sinful Ah! this calls for Lamentation Yet advocates a Christ for Consolation Christ loving is and easie 't is to try him Dost love a Christ then thou art loved by him Take Symbols also of a Gospel-Love It jealous is unto a Christ above 'T is cordial uncessant 't is and loyal In persons who appear divinely royal Expansive 't is expensive also 't is Expressive too both unto Him and His This Gospel-Love 't is love that 's sociable Submissive 'tis superlative and stable Thy suffrage give unto a gâ—â— less Dove That Christ is Object of the Churches love Christ loved must be by a Man I see Or damned must the Man for ever be Thus to divert I did attempt to scatter In Poem here the marrow of the matter FINIS
not as 't is for a Painter to draw a Picture in the Fire Did any one in that day believe at the rate that Mordecai did If thou at this time in holding thy peace Esth 4.14 holdest thy peace then shall respiration and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place Because it doth things impossible What is impossible to other things is possible to Faith Mark 9.23 All things are possible to him that believeth Now to see things invisible to hope things incredible to do things impossible these were Luthers wonders and are mine and may be thine But lest any should make a God of Faith I shall Subjoin this I do not take the Act without the Object not the Act of believing Heb. 12.2 without Christ the Object of Faith for as he is the Author of it so he is the Actor of it and as he is the Communicator of it so he is the Consummator of it Now if this be true that there is such a thing as a Gospel-Faith and this Faith be a great Faith then wonder not at that divine imposition of that divine duty of self examination universally incumbent upon true believers Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith 2 Cor. 13.5 Here is a Duty and a Direction A Duty Examine your selves Here ye have the Act and the Object The Act. Examine 'T is very significant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the word which is the first root signifieth to pierce thorough Now the word here to examine coming of it signifieth to make or to take Trial because by piercing thorough a thing it is tryed what it is within whether sound or no. Examine me oh Lord Psal 26.2 and prove me try my reins and my heart The Object Your selves That is your Souls Only take heed to thy self Deut. 4.9 and keep thy Soul diligently Here Self and Soul are the same in sense though not in Sound The Direction Whether ye be in the Faith or whether the Faith be in you Whether your Gold be not Dross Isa 5.24 whether your Silver be not Tin whether your Root be not Rottenness Come now to the Test to the Trial to the Touchstone examine thy Soul whether thou beest in the Faith But how shall I know whether I be in the Faith Qu. 1. how shall I know that I have Faith how shall I know that my Faith will go into vision when my time goeth into eternity Where there is Faith there is Love Sol. 1. Faith and Love do grow upon the same Tree which is the Spirit Faith and Love like Rebecca's Twins goe hand in hand Gal. 5.6 But Faith which worketh by Love Bellarmine Faith is not wrought by Charity as one perverteth this Text for then it will follow that Love by which Faith is wrought must needs be before Faith but Faith worketh by Love Though Faith be not Loves parent yet Love is Faiths partner The Soul that hath a Faith of the right Stamp hath also a Love of the same Stamp now this is a love to Christ a love to those that are Christs a love to those that are not Christs and a love to the Ordinances of Christ Those in the Faith have a Love to Christ Where there is Faith in the Person of Christ John 21.17 there is Love to the personal excellency of Christ Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee Christ having asked Peter lovest thou me more than these v. 15. Lovest thou me more than thy nets more than thy Fishes more than thy Friends that are about thee Lovest thou me more than these more than thou lovest these or more than these love me Peter being asked of the measure of his Love answered only as to the Truth of it and being asked of the Quantity of it answered only as to the Quality of it that it was of the right Stamp and had his own Superscription upon it Peter will not be his own Judge but refers it to his Lord and Master to sit in Judgment upon it Lord thou knowest all things Can. 3.3 thou knowest that I love thee This is a Soul-Love Saw ye him whom my Soul loveth Those in the Faith have a Love to those that are Christs He that loveth the Father loveth also the Child 1 Jo. 5.1 for the Fathers sake He that loveth Jonathan loveth also Mephibosheth for Jonathans sake He that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him And not only this Child or that Child but also every Child Col. 1.4 must be loved for the Fathers sake Since we heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and of the love which ye have to all the Saints Those in the Faith have a Love to those that are not Christs The cry of these under their retirements is Lord that not only this Husband or this Wife or this Child or this Servant but also this Neighbour who is an Enemy to Christ and the Call of Christ an Enemy to Christ and the Cause of Christ an Enemy to Christ and the Crown of Christ Mat. 5.44.46 were in Christ had Faith in the person of Christ Love your enemies If ye love them which love you what reward have ye Those in the Faith have a Love to the Ordinances of Christ There 's a Love to the Church for Christs sake a Love to the Pool for the Angels sake a Love to the Cabinet for the Jewels sake a Love to the Stream for the Fountains sake a Love to the Gallery for the Kings sake a Love to the Field for the Pearls sake Those that have met with God and Christ under Ordinances can as well tell how to be without Bread Job 23.12 as to be without Ordinances I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food That man is defective in his prudentials that thinks to keep up the Fire by withdrawing the Fewel He is under a great Temptation at least not without great Corruption that thinks to grow in Grace under the neglect of means Is Abstinence from meat the way to get Strength A man would think that none but Bedlamites should assert this 'T is the tree planted by the rivers of water Psa 1.3 that bringeth forth fruit in his season 'T is the Soul that wades in Sanctuary-waters that is a Cedar in Lebanon and a green Olive in the house of God Psa 42.1 2. May the sweet singer of Israel speak As the Heart panteth after the water brooks so panteth my soul after thee Oh God! My Soul thirsteth for God for the living God when shall I come and appear before God He that to day turneth his back upon the Ordinances of God may to morrow turn his back upon the God of Ordinances Where there is Faith there is also a train of good works A Believer is not to be a Loyterer but a Labourer