what it is to be faithful Secondly I shall give good and sufficient reason why a Christian should be faithful In the first place I am to shew what it is to be faithful This Apostle does briefly and yet excellently set forth 1 Tim. 1. 18 19. This charge I commit unto thee son Timothy according to the prophesies which went before on thee that by them thou mightest war a good warfare holding Faith and a good Conscience And in holding these we hold all that is worth our care to secure The Epithite Precious is given to Faith 2 Pet. 1. 1. To them who have obtained the precious faith with us And if you would know how precious you have it 1 Pet. 1. 7. Faith is not only said to be as precious as gold but much more precious then gold nay much more precious then gold that perisheth therefore 't is to be held fast Now in holding of Faith these five things are implied We hold fast first the Doctrine Secondly the Object Thirdly the Confidence Fourthly the Life Fifthly the Profession of our faith without wavering 1. He that is faithful holds fast the doctrine of faith The truthes of Christ he looks upon as worth the buying at any rate but nothing shall make him sell them Buy the truth and sell it not said wise Solomon Truth is of God a bright and glorious beam that shines from the Sun of righteousness Truth is a Christians Pilot his Compass he will quickly split on some rock or sink in some sand if this be not heeded the Christian is in a dark place where stumbling blocks and snares are innumerable many and the truth of Christ the doctrine of faith is a light unto his feet and a lamp unto his paths The Church of Pergamus though they welt where Satans seat was yet sayes Christ Rev. 2. 13. Thou holdest fast my name and hast not decayed my Faith that is my doctrine which I delivered to be believed and obeyed Rather then the Gospel should be let go and buried in silence we must venture all for its propagation Even Peace it self we are to endeavour after no further then consistent with truth The Apostle matter'd not what troubles and stir the Gospel occasioned and though Satan and the ungodly did storm at the light they boldly did publish that message which they had a command to deliver 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As long as the Gospel lives and thrives no matter what disturbances are created by its enemies 2. He that is faithful holds fast the Object of Faith Now the Object of faith is said down Joh. 14. 1. Ye believe in God believe also in me sayes Christ to his Disciples 'T is our duty and our safety to cleave unto the onely true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent A believer keeps his hold of God who is his shield and exceeding great reward who can defend him from evil or turn those evils which he feels to his advantage who can crown him with loving kindness and such mercies as are tender sutable satisfactory and sure Neither will he let go his hold of Jesus Christ who brought him near and keeps him near unto this God who guides him by his spirit who by vertue of his blood and intercession is continually making up the breaches that the believers sinful infirmities do make and who out of his fulness is ready to impart whatever grace in any time of need is necessary 3. He that is faithful holds fast his assurance and confidence of faith Aâ—ter he hath given all diligence to attain assurance he is loth to lose what cost him such pains to get The Apostle prâ—sses this again and again Heb. 3. 6. But Christ as a son over his own house whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and rejoycing of hope firm unto the end And Heb. 10. 5. Cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompence of reward Assurance of faith is a mighty support in the evil day The eye of faith when faith is heightned into a full perswasion and confidence will look through the clouds and behold God smiling when men do frown faith will hear God speaking peace in a still voyce when the mouths of men are full of threatnings and furious rebukes Faith will perceive the better substance enduring when earthly goods are taken away But when troubles on earth surround us on every side and we are at uncertainties what will be our lot in the next world When there are fightings without and in reference to our spiritual estate doubts and fears within this will render our condition doleful Oh therefore labour and pray for assurance cherish not any distemper of heart give no place to the Devil for thus doing will feed your fears and strengthen your unbelief 4. He that is faithful holds fast the life of faith As this is the safest so 't is the sweetest life on earth They that walk by sight and not by faith will presently grow faint and weary in the hour of temptation If flesh and blood are consulted with if our murmuring and repining senses are heeded we shall refuse to rowe against the stream and be carryed away with the corruption of the times we live in If Moses had been led by sense his choice and practice would have been contrary to what it was Sense would have prized Honour and so he would have still been called the Son of Pharaohs Daughter Sense would have coveted wealth and delight and so he would have had his heart glewed to the pleasures of sin and the treasures of Egypt But Moses walked by faith and therefore chose to suffer afflictions with the people of God he esteemed it part of his riches to be reproached for Christ for faith continually shewed Him that is invisible and the Recompence of reward to him Heb. 11. 24 25 26 27. So the Apostle walked by faith and professeth Gal. 2. 20. I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me They that live by faith stay themselves upon the promises of sustentation and no weight can sink them they câ—st their burthens and themselves too upon the Lord who being faithful will not suffer them to be tempted above what they are able 5. He that is faithful holds fast the Profession of his faith He heeds that admonition of the Apostle Heb. 10. 25. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering for he is faithful that hath promised He is not asham'd of his Lord Master nay esteems it an honour for his Masters sake to be despised Though the Kings and Rulers of the earth take counsel and set themselves against the Lords Christ yet the faithfuâ— servant will stick to him He is not ashamed to be of that way that is every wherâ— spoken against
will certainly bestow a Crown of life and immortality The First Doctrine He that will be a Saint shall be a sufferer The Spirit speaks hardly any thing more expressely then he doth this truth The Apostle tells what afflictions and persecutions he met with and peremptorilvaffirms that none shall escape Perse-secution they shall meet with if not in one kind in another Drops shall fall upon every Saint though some may be wet with greater showers 2 Tim. 3. 10 11 12. But thou hast fully known my Doctrine manner of life purpose faith long-suffering charity patience persecutions afflictions which came unto me at Antioch at Janium at Lystra what persecutions I endured there But out of them all the Lord delivered me yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution Consult also Act. 14. 22. Confirming the souls of the Disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith and we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God The journies end is glorious but the way is â—ough that leads to it it lies through many tribulations Self-denial and the Cross are doctrines which Christ preached to all his followers Luk. 9. 23. And he said unto them all if any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me Two things are here to be inquired in to One is whence the sufferings of the Saints arise The other What is the reason of this dispensation Or Why the Lord suffers those he loves to be thus exercised First Whence the sufferings of the Saints arise They are both from the god of thâ—â— world and from the world it self Earth and Hell do both combine to trouble the heirs of Heaven as they are going to their inheritance 1. The Saints sufferings arise from the god of this world So Satan in Scripture is called He commands the generality of the world who are at his service and are lead by him at his pleasure and those whom he cannot rule he is resolved what he can to molest and disquiet The Devil began betimes righteous Abel did feel the effects of his enmity and hatred and he continues this persecuting Trade unto this very hour And till the whole Body of Christ be taken up where the Head is Satan will be as a thorn to pierce and trouble them It will not be amiss to examine the matter further and to search into the cause why Satan thus endeavours to load the Saints with sufferings 1. The Devil bears an implacable hatred to the Saints Head the Lord Jesus He would fain have killed Christ from the birth and incited Hered to make such weeping and lamentation in Rama because of the children that were so inhumanly butchered Mat. 2. Our Lord was tempted by the Devil Mat. 4. who would gladly have foiled the Second as he had done the First Adam but he could not prevail The Devil is said to have put it into the heart of Judas to betray Christ All which plainly shews his hatred of the Son of God The works of Christ and of Satan are quite contrary Satans work is to murther and destroy therefore he hath his name Apollyon Rev. 9. 11. But Christs work is to save The Son of God was manifested to this very end that he might destroy the works of this Destroyer and the Son of God hath got the Victory He hath spoyled Principalities and Powers and made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in his Cross Col. 2. 15. He is now ascended on high and is at his Fathers right hand And the old Dragon being full of wrath to see him so exalted spiâ—s his venom at the Members which are in his reach for the Heads sake And surely our Lord will look upon himself as the more obliged to stand by his suffering servants since 't is for his sake partly that this adversary is so liberal of his arrowes and shoots so many at them 2. The Devil is full of envy at Believers themselves Aâ—â—oon as ever he had sinned presently the chains of darkness were clapt upon him he was immediately cast down to hell no patience being shewn no pity extended no means of recovery offer'd 2 Pet. 2. God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to Hell and delivered them into chains and darkness to be reserved unto judgment But believers though by nature the children of wrath and disobedience are pitied pardoned adopted saved A Remedy is provided and that Remedy made effectual through the application of it to their recovery and the recovery of their lost blessedness Now this fills Satan with envy which is both his sin and torture and envy stirs him up to do what mischief he is able 3. The Devil dislikes holiness where-ever he finds it He hates indeed all the children of men but those that are sanctified and renewed in a special manner As he is utterly destitute of so he utterly derests and abhors the image of God which shews the fearful depravation of his nature 'T is no wonder he runs to the utmost length of his chain to harm the Saints who have put off the old and put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Eph. 4. 24. Sin is arrived at its full growth 't is come to its perfection in the Devil Holiness he strikes at and endeavours to discourage and hinder where-ever he finds it Those who resemble Satan in this the measure of their iniquity is fuller than they are aware of 4. The Devil designs by the persecuting of the Saints to promote his interest and Kingdom This Prince of darkness is a very proud spirit he would by his good will have the whole world his slaves and vassals How does he rage when any of them whom he lead captive are rescued from him He is sedulous to establish his Throne and Principality Oh that Saints were as zealous and diligent to advance the honour and interest of the King of Saints The Devil hopes to promote his Kingdom not only by flattering sinners into his subjection but also by affrighting them from the service of another Lord. There are these five wayes whereby Satan is like to be advantaged in times of suffering 1. He is likely to get advantage by discouraging the weak in faith He hopes that they who have but weak hands and feeble knees will not easily get over those slumbling blocks which in times of trouble are cast in their way And if their hearts do faint and fail not only they themselves but Religion looses ground and what ground is lost the Devil gaine He set upon Peter when he was weak and how far did he prevail Peter falls most shamefully and his fall cost him dear and how was the prejudice against Christ in the High-Priests Hall encreased when one of his followers thus with cursing and swearing did so utterly deny him Satan desires to have weak Saints especially that he may sift them as
of you into prison that ye may be tried The word in the original is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that ye may be tempted Now trial or temâ—tation is sometimes taken in a bad sometimes in a good sense and the text may be understood either way 1. Tryal or temptation may be taken in a bad sense as referred to the Devil Certainly he by imprisoning believers designes to make them weary of their Lords yoak he would fain have them murmure and be impatient under restraint and draw them to some sinful compliance to the wounding of their consciences for the regaining of their liberty He endeavours to make them grow discontented quarrel at the Lords dispensations that their enemies which are vile and the basest of men should yet prosper and themselves in the mean time be exposed to so many hardships and inconveniencies notwithstanding the integrity of their hearts and the unblamableness of their conversations 2. Trial or temptation may be taken in a good sense as referred to Gods permitting the Saints to be thus exercised He hath certainly a wise and gracious and holy end in it 'T is true God cannot be tempted with evil neither tempteth he any man Jam. 1. 13. And yet 't is expresly affirmed that God did tempt Abraham Gen. 20. 1. How shall these two places be reconciled I answer That temptation spoken of by the Apostle James is to be understood concerning drawing away and enticing to wickedness v. 14. of ch 1. And thus God tempteth not he neither infuseth nor excites any sinful inclinations in the heart of man but strictly forbids sin and will severely punish it Thus men are tempted by Satan and especially by their own lusts But that temptation spoken of by Moses is as much as trying or making proof of Abrahams sincerity and thus to tempt is not at all unbecoming or inconsistent with the Lords holinesse and goodness and when he suffers believers to be imprisoned 't is for their tryal that he does it Now here I shall first shew What of the Saints is tryed by imprisonment and sufferings of the like nature Secondly to what end they are thus tryed In the first place What of the Saints is tryed by imprisonment and sufferings of the like nature First their Faith Secondly their Love Thirdly their subjection and obedience 1. Their Faith is tryed They that can loose what they have for Christ it argues a full perswasion that Christ is better than their earthly enjoyments and that they believe there is such a fulness in him as can make up all their losses Such esteem the promises of eternal blessings exceeding great and precious who are resolved to embrace them whatever they fling away besides When in a good Cause we lightly esteem liberty and outward accommodations it shewes we have that faith which is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11. 1. Our faith gives a subsistence to and mightily reallizeth those things which as yet we have only the hopes of enjoying and makes the great things of another world evident though not to be seen or possessed till hereafter Faith is a noble grace it glorifies God exceedingly when a man upon the Lords word will consent to quit all that 's near and dear to him in expectation of a Kingdom and Glory which no man alive ever saw 2. By imprisonment and other sufferings Believers Love is tryed They who can undervalue Liberty and livelyhood and life for the sake of the Son of God may boldly say as Peter did in another case Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that we love thee 'T is manifest they love the Lord Jesus in sincerity But if when the world and Christ stand in competition we hold to the world and despise the Lord certainly our love is but a painted not a real fire Love is a Grace of an uniting nature The History tells us That the soul of Jonathan was knit to David and he loved him as his own soul and we find that the displeasure which Saul had conceived against David and the danger that Jonathan was in for his affection sake could not cool much less quench his love If we love our Lord our souls will be knit to him and troubles will be so far from dissolving the union that they will cause us to cling the closer and câ—aâ—p the faster about him 2. By imprisonment and sufferings of the like nature there is a tryal made of believers subjection and obedience When they will do for God though presently suffering for God follow this argues they have learned to deny their own wills and taken the Word and will of God as their guide and Rule When they regard the commands of God above the commands of men are awed by the threatnings of God more than the threats of men and dread Gods displeasure more than mans anger this is a demonstration that they have submitted unto Christs Scepter and that the Promise of the Covenant is fulfilled Heb. 8. 10. I will put my Lawes into their minds and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people In the second place I am to tell you for what end God will have his Saints thus tryed 1. That the truth of their Grace may be evident and great peace must be the concomitant of that evidence When their gold is tryed in the fire and glisters the more shines the brighter they may be pronounced rich indeed The man that is rich in the World hath no reason to glory in his riches for he is but a beggar in comparison 2. They are tryed that Satan may be silenced He can no longer say that the Saints are mercenary or selfish when self is thus denyed when peace of conscience is preferred before the greatest outward peace and prosperity and so the inheritance above may be secured they put it to the venture what the world can do to them or take from them The Lord may say to Satan and this accuser of the brethren have nothing to reply Hast thou considired my suffering Servants how perfect and upright they be They fear God and eschew evil though by departing from evil they make themselves a prey 3. Believers are tryed that God who upholds them may be honoured The Lord is with them in the furnace he keeps them like the Bush in the midst of the flaming fire unconsumed He shewes his wisdome and grace in so tempering the furnace as that it is both tolerable and also effectual unto their refining The Saints have abundant cause readily to acknowledge that their support in trouble their benefit by trouble and their deliverance out of trouble is wholly to be ascribed unto God and he is glorified by this which is so just an acknowledgment USE I. Of Admonition to unsound Professours Be restless till you are searched and changed so as to have truth in your inward parts else you will never
abide the tryal in the time of temptation your sandy foundations will deceive you your building will fall and great will be the fall of it Mat. 7. 27. You will fall away further from God more fâ—ully into sin more deep into hell and all these falls will be great and dreadful 1. You that are unsound in times of tryal wil fall away further from God Some of you though never brought quite home yet have been almost perswaded have been not far from the Kingdome of Heaven But all this common work if you rest in it will dye away when Christ puts you upon suffering you will forsake him Suffer is an hard word who can bear it And when you leave the Lord you bid farewel to the Father of mercies the God of love and of all grace the Fountain of living waters the Prince of peace the only Saviour Well may I cry out Oh how much folly is there in back-sliding 2. You will fall more foully into sin God may quickly throw the Reins out of his hands upon the neck of corrupted Nature and whither may you be carryed Apostatizing professors often turn most profane they out-run as to riot excess the wretchest hat never pretended to Religion The Conscience that was once awakened if it fall asleep again sleeps more soundly The heart that was once restrain'd from sin that restraint being gone is more eager to commit iniquity than before Nay 't is somtimes observed that backsliding professors 〈◊〉 become cruel persecutors of those wayes which once were forwardly owned by them If this be not the unpardonable sin I am sure it comes to the very brink of it 3. You will fall more deep into Hell at last Christ tells us that the last end of such is worse than their beginning Mat. 12. 45. and that both as to sin and as to punishment How large will be the Vial of wrath to be emptied upon Apostates heads how hot their place in the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone Those that as the Apostle speaks are twice dead pluckt up by the roots Jude 12. The second death will be more terrible to them they will be eternal fewel to a more furious flame The sufferings of the Saints whether imprisonment or death are not worthy to be named the same day with everlasting confinement to outer darkness and suffering in the highest degree and fullest measure eternal damnation Consider this ye hypocrites that are rotten at heart that have God in your mouthes but he is far from your Reins On how long will it be ere you attain to uprightness USE II. Of Encouragement to the Saints when they are exercised with Tryals 1. The Lord hath promised to keep you when you are tryed He may fan and winnow but not a grain of corn shall fall to the ground so as to be lost That Scripture is very observable Rev. 3. 10. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth He will keep from the hour of temptation that is from the prevalency of and corruption by temptation in that hour But then you must be sure to keep his Word which is called the Word of his patience because it proposes Christ as an example of patience and layes an injunction upon you to be like him And if you look upon this word as your food as your physick as your treasure as your armour as your heritage I hope you will look upon it as well deserving to be kept by you 2. Your tryals will make you to grow in grace Grace is of that nature that it increases and gathers strength by exercise As the Widdowes Oyl by being drawn out did multiply so Grace is augmented not diminished by being used Hark to the Apostle Rom. 5. 3 4 5. Knowing that tribulation worketh patience not only tryeth patience but worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed The righteous by tryals and difficulties are not stopt as discouraged persons but hold on their way nay not only hold on but grow and go stronger and they that have clean hands shall wax stronger and stronger Job 17. 9. 3. After you have endured tryal you shall be own'd and crown'd Jam. 1. 12. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tryed he shall receive the Crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him And that Crown when received will make all pains and disgrace and sufferings to be forgotten The Sixth Doctrine The tribulation of Believers will not last alwayes after ten dayes that is a short time a period will be put to it Ye shall have tribulation ten dayes The Holy Ghost reckons by dayes not years and according to the usual manner in Scripture a certain number is put for an uncertain ten dayes for a few dayes The Apostle 2 Cor. 4. 17. calls the troubles of Believers not only light afflictions but affirms they are but for a moment and because they are but for a moment surely much the lighter The Arguments to confirm this Doctrine are these 1. One shall be drawn from the desire in Christ the Head to have his members with him Therefore they shall not long be absent from him and when they are with him no troubles at all shall be their companions Christ in the dayes of his flesh prayed thus Joh. 17. 24. Father I will that those also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world Christ is now gone to his father and he hath prepared Mansions for the Saints and those Mansions â—hall not be long empty Believers groan to â—e cloathed upon with their house which 〈◊〉 from Heaven to be absent from the boâ—y and to be present with the Lord. The Lord Jesus desires and hath prayed for their company Surely it will not be long before those who are so mutually desirous of each other do come together 2. A second Argument shall be drawn from the shortness of the triumph of the Saints adversaries God will quickly cut asunder the cords of the wicked that plow upon Sions back and make long their furrows I have seen saith David the wicked in great power and spreading himself like a green Bay tree yet he passed away and loe he was not yea I sought him but he could not be found His great power which he abuses to oppress and trouble and himself too shall quickly pass away All the glory of the ungodly is as a dream and is chased away as a night vision And when they are laid in the dust and death is feeding on them they can devour the upright no longer And truly the more violent they are the shorter oftentimes is their triumph cruelty doth ripen them a pace for vengeance 3. A