any thing to the charge of Gods Elect for Christ hath dyed and also is risen Rom. 8. 33. again who will not suffer them to be tempted to be touched or attached but deliver them out of all 5. That soul that hath union with Christ hath not only such an Income as all the precious Promises all the richest Graces all the sweetest Comforts all the highest Priviledges but also all the noblest Hopes are yours if you be Christs What a noble hope is that which a gloriovs Christ gives unto every gracious heart Col. 1. 27. Which is Christ in us the hope of Glory This hope is a mysterie yea a glorious mysterie yea there is riches of glory in this mysterie By union with Christ this is our spiritual Income Christ is in that soul the hope of glory True it is that if in this life we had only hope we were of all men most miserable as the hope of wicked men is who make gold their hope Job 31. 24. as Job speaks But saith the soul I have not thirsted after such base and earthly hopes as this worlds good or this worlds gold but Heaven and God and Grace and Glory yea the noblest hopes Christ in my soul the hope of glory 6. And lastly not only the noblest hopes are thine by being one with Christ but all heavenly enjoyments are thine by vertue of thy union And this is so large an Income that Saints and Angels cannot express Eye hath not seen neither hath ear heard neither can it enter into the heart of man to conceive what God hath prepared for such that are in union with Christ Heaven and all Heavens enjoyments Christ and God and Glory a glorious God a glorious Christ a glorious Glory I can say no more All is promised and all shall be accomplisht Saints united to Christ have all theirs and they are Christs and Christ is Gods 1 Cor. 3. 23. And out of all that hath been said I shall adde but a word by way of use 1. Unbeliever come forth and behold the Income of the Saints and with a holy emulation enquire what is thy portion say as they in the Canticles What is your Can. 5. 9 beloved more then another beloved Say in a melting frame of pity over thy own soul What must you that are called to be Saints have such an Income as all these Promises all these Graces all these Comforts Hopes and Priviledges And what must I have Tell thy soul with sadness If thou art out of this spiritual union with Christ then all the fearful Threatnings all the heavy Judgments the Vials of Gods wrath with eternal judgments and everlasting torment is all yours if you be not in Christ and become a new creature Search therefore and seek For such Benefits and such spiritual Incomes have gracious souls by being in union with a gracious Christ 2. And last of all Believers Live at that rate as becomes the Espoused of the Lord Jesus They that have great revenues fear not wanting especially if it be certain and sufficient then we cast to keep house according and live and lay out sutably to our yearly maintenance Now none can keep a better house then Believers for they have such a spiritual Income that nothing can be more certain nothing can be more sufficient What will not Promises Graces Comforts Priviledges answer when they are all precious rich sweet and heavenly Every of these is by Christ an eternal maintenance constant durable that waxeth not old Thou mayst even feed thy very faintings and feast thy fears for there can be no lack where there is such spiritual and heavenly supply Terror for Professors OR Mans Fruitlesness without Saving Faith Jam. 2. 19. Thou believest that there is one God thou doest well the Devils also believe and tremble CHAP. I. Shewing the import of the Text with the Doctrine and Parts for further Demonstration THis Epistle was not particularly written to any Church but in generall to the scattered Tribes as may be seen cap. 1. 1. And yet you have the Apostle often calling of them by this appellation Brethren as in the following Chapters Notwithstanding this he reproveth them and that sharply of two eminent faulrs that were among them First in regard of their Partiality And secondly in regard of their Charity So ver 3 4. compared with 15 16. And I think these two things the world will never remedy But that the Saints should be thus uncharitable so lofty and so partial who would not wonder they having so righteous a God and so merciful a Father Yet this Iames found amongst them And therefore he comes more close to them in the 5. ver Hearken my beloved brethren Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith and heirs of a kingdom Mark how the Apostle comes in with this as if so be they were dull of hearing and therefore he speaks it as whispering in their ears as if he were ashamed the world should know that Professors should be Despisers and so uncharitable unto their poor Brethren who were as good as they were by the Fathers side and by faith though not so rich in outward ornaments and goodly apparel Grant saith the Apostle that you be rich and great and goodly in apparel yet you need not be ashamed or despise a poor believer for if he be poor yet if a believer he is as good as thou art All one in Christ rich in faith May be thou hast much more in thy hands but what of that the poorest in Christ is an heir of a kindom for God hath promised this to them that love him Verse 5. Take heed therefore none of you be thus partial as to despise a poor brother in the faith of Christ for they and you bear the impress of a worthy name And being thus partial as to despise you blaspheme your holy calling in the profession of Christ Verse 7. And know Professors if you have the faith of Christ in respect of persons it cannot stand with saving faith There is a faith that will not save as the 14 Verse hath it But have as large a profession as you will if you have not the nature of faith truly operative and working in charity and lowliness of minde all is nothing Profession without practice and performance is but a dead faith and profiteth nothing for thus he illustrates in the 15 16 17. Verses If a brother or a sister be naked and destitute of daily food and one of you say unto them Depart in peace be you warmed and filled notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body what doth it profit the meaning is have as many good words as you will yet if you have not practice in a measure suitable unto your expressions you are alone your faith is but a dead faith words though never so sweet without works are but as a sounding brass and a tinkling symbal From the scope this will be very clear That common profession without spiritual operation will deceive and therefore James seems to be zealous against such that have a great deal of name but not the nature of true serving of God Saith he Verse 18. Shew me thy faith by
not we prophesied in thy name and in thy name cast out devils and in thy name done many wonderful works So in that day will many plead at least in these days they think such pleadings will serve the turn Was not I born of Christian Parents Baptized into such a faith lived all my life time under such a Ministry professed the Gospel of Christ as the rest of my friends and neighbors did believed the word of God and do verily believe it is a truth from the first of Genesis to the last of the Revelation And who can considering this once doubt of my eternal welfare But know that notwithstanding all this thou wilt surely miss of it for if thou hast no better plea Satan will come in against thee saying Thus If this man and this woman may have salvation on such terms as these why may not I I was no common drunkard or an adulterer I have known the Scriptures from first to last yea have addrest and profest the common Historical faith in all ages yea I have been as an Angel of light in all forms and through all times And yet notwithstanding my belief and my profession I must have no favor for I look for none and why should this person or that person have any more favor then I who had but like faith as I Common professors in the fear of him whom you do profess if ever you look for favor in that day do not flatter and deceive your own souls by thinking Lord Lord for a man may be a Gospel-professor yea a believer of God his Word his Truth and yet so unsound in the faith that this sentence may be his Depart from me I know you not ye workers of iniquity Matth. 7. 23. CHAP. IV. That most mens faith is no better then the faith of Devils 3. AS the Devils have an Historical faith they do believe so most mens faith is no better then the faith of devils For the proof of this I need carry your thoughts no further then the Text for mark Thou believest that there is one God that is at large and in common as most of the world do Have a name to live but are dead A prophane life and a vain conversation makes all thy profession vain and fruitless as the verse following the Text clearly tells you Faith without works is fruitless and for all thy glorious profession thou art but a vain man so saith the text But thou wilt know O vain man that faith without works is dead for though the devil believes to a base end and thou sayest thou hast faith to a pretended good end yet if thou attainest it not but instead thereof hast eternal torment what art thou the better nay rather how much art thou the worse They that run in a race run all but one receiveth the prize So many are runners by common profession but it is the saving faith onely that obtains it is not a profession of Christ but the enjoying of Christ and living and loving of Christ that puts into a true account beyond the devil But doth not the Text put a commendation Obj. on such a faith when he saith I do well Thou believest that there is one God thou doest well This is that which unlocks the Text and tells you the meaning of the Apostle Answ therefore this doing well is not by way of commendation but of aggravation As if he should say Thou thinkest it well but as well as thou thinkest of it I will give you an instance of as good if not a better but it is the basest that I can finde it is not from heaven but from hell from the devils The devils do believe and tremble Thou hast a large profession so hath the devil he hath seemings as well as men have and therefore he is said To transform himself to be an Angel of light and when he doth thus he is most a devil So when a man professes for God but inwardly acts for Satan what is he better if seemings be good in Satan it is good in wicked men but if base because without any fruits to God much more in thee whose fruits are for Satan notwithstanding thy profession But it may be said This is harsh to couple Obj. mans common profession to the faith of devils Is there not several sorts of Faith as Historical Temporary and faith of miracles a belief of the letter and with the times and a wonder working faith as the Apostles had and of which sort the Apostle Paul tells the Corinthians 1 Cor. 13. 2. That if he had all faith so that he could remove mountains yet if not charity all is nothing and this the Text imports in those words Faith without works is dead The Question answers it self for had we Answ all these sorts of faith yet saving faith in Christ is the one thing necessary and prize thy education and thy common profession and all thy outward priviledges yet if thou hast not saving faith the devils may be said to believe as well as thou for They believe and tremble Some do make a threefold difference in believing A believing of God a believing De Deo Deo in Deum to God and a believing in God But assure thy soul nothing but saving faith Christ being in thee and Christ being for thee will ever administer any true and solid comfort And if nothing else what will it profit me if I have the faith of the times and faith of wonders yea and all knowledge of which latter the devil hath abundance surely no more then he that gains the world but yet loses his soul a miserable and wretched bargain That wicked men may gather this truth more clearly and tremble to know That most mens faith is no better then the devils I will in a word or two give you the parity and the disparity wherein the faith of Devils and the Common faith of men do agree and wherein they disagree CHAP. V. Sheweth wherein the belief of common professors and the belief of devils agree and disagree I Shall begin with the disparity unlikeness or disagreement betwixt the common faith of men and the faith of Devils The first difference lieth in this that the devils are without hope but common professors are not the devil knows himself to be reprobated never to be approved before God but man thinks he shall And I will not say otherwise so long as there is life there is hope but take heed this hope make thee not ashamed through a false faith Lay hold therefore of present opportunity study to be approved The devils saith Jude Verse 6. Are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgement of the great day Many there be that live without God in the world but pretend to have faith the devil hath faith too the Text tells you He doth believe but he doth not say he hopes and our usual saying is If it were not for hope the heart would
the same form with the Devil he is the first in wrath because he is thy father but thou art as yet no better then a child of wrath because thou art not begotten again by a lively faith a faith that is active and full of love and longings after Jesus Christ who is alone within the soul the hope of glory It may be thou hast lived thirty forty or fifty years but what Faith hast thou It may be thou hast lived under the teachings of Christ and under the offers of grace and peace and reconciliation this is more then ever the Devil had and yet he hath as much faith and knowledge as thou hast if thou hast not saving sanctifying faith for the Devil hath a faith of Time and Ages and if thou hast not learned beyond him thou must not sit above him take heed thou art not thrown down to him or below him What the Papists say of their Church that men must believe as the Church believes so may it be said of the generality of professors only not by such a necessity but such is most mens practise That they believe but as the Devil believes and in a sense many must give place to the Devil even in believing at leastwise in obeying But know as you are Companions here to believe alike so take notice that without saving faith thou must live alike in torment It is very like but that Servant was within the pale of profession Luk. 12. 45 46. he had a tongue to say I am a Believer and make no question of heaven and happiness but in his heart he said My Lord delays his coming Here is a profession of one God as these in the text had yet the Lord of that servant may come in an hour and cut him asunder and give him his portion with unbelievers 3. If the common belief of men be no better then the belief of Devils only in the aforementioned differences as that the Devil is without hope without repentance and both these are annexed yet to the life of man from the Bowels of mercy while it is called to day beg earnestly at the gate of the bountiful God for mercy and true faith beg Heaven to cleanse thy leprous soul of lust and sin and to give thee saving faith that thou mayst outstrip the Devil before thou dyest For if thou hast all knowledge and all faith so that thou couldst remove mountains yet all this is nothing without Christ be in your hearts by faith Say therefore as he doth in the Gospel Mar. 9. 24. Lord I believe help my unbelief I have a common profession but what will this profit me The Devils do believe and yet are the first of unbelievers I believe Gods soveraignty that Christ dyed for sinners yet Lord I believe help mine unbelief And that this may be from thy heart consider these few particulars 1. Consider what will profession profit thee if thou attainest not the end of it They that run if they do not attain it is no prize but rather a trouble Men by professing and not attaining will come home by weeping-cross for as there will be nothing due so there will be a heavy loss the loss of Heaven the loss of God his glory thy own salvation Consider therefore so to run that you may obtain the end of saving faith which is the salvation of your souls 2. Thou hast sins of Commission that are enough to condemn thee the least of them being charg'd upon thee and without faith in Christ all must be charged But yet consider if thou couldst diminish sins of Io. 3. 19. Commission what wilt thou do for sins of Omission This will be the condemnation that light is come into the world but men love darkness more then light And because thou didst not believe thou didst not love thou didst not savour of the grace of God Consider thy want as well as thy wickedness If thou wantest a heart-love to Christ in the best of all thy professions and performances thou art but as a sounding brass and as a tinkling cymbal 3. Consider what abundance do profess how few there be that shall be saved There is but a little flock that need not to fear the enjoyment of God and his kingdom Luk. 12. 32. but there is a multitude that do profess that think they shall attain but the Devil will as soon because they have not filial fear in their profession nor saving faith the fruit of the Spirit of grace within their hearts Compare but that of Isa 10. 22. to the practise of the world and certainly it may make thee look about For though the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea yet a remnant of them shall be saved This Paul quotes in Rom. 9. 27. and makes it applicable to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews This also let Professors now consider for though I dare not forbid any to hope yet I am afraid that through common and National profession most will miscarry 4. Consider the character of the last times There will be but a little Faith but abundance of Profession Every one takes it for granted that we are in the last times and in those times it 's remarkable to have but little faith and love but without question never more profession but it is most false and as cold as mens charity which is very significant to be now for in these dayes of ours never was there more profession of the Christ of mercy and the Christ of love but never more coldness and deadness to shew works of mercy and love to one another And this is no wonder for when men are wanting to their own souls in a lively and sound faith no marvel they are not wanting unto men in a cold and frozen charity Men love the world more then Christ and his members though they seem by profession to have a love to both Joh. 3. 19. yet they rather are in darkness then in the light because their hearts are evil 5. And lastly consider the deceitfulness that is in our own hearts For what is most mens security but even the name of Christianity and the heart loves to have it so All is well thinks the common Professor if he hath been baptized into such a faith or rather into such a formality brought up under such Parents lived under such a Ministry and accounted of the Parish-Church a member then they think as well as the best This is most mens security and this is Satans subtilty to deceive the hearts of men The Devil hath wrought a notable and cunning design in the world to make people believe that if they be accounted Christians and in common in such a Parish that all is well and that they are Christians indeed and members of the Church as well as the best But let us not deceive our selves nor our souls in being such outside Jacks in Religion and Gods service and worship for all are not Israel that are