and take away their straw but God though he puts his servants upon hard works he gives them a principle whereby to do them If a man should put another upon an hard work and give him an engine to carry him through then it is not hard so though God puts them on hard works he gives them an engine to carry them through saies Daniel 10.19 speak Lord thou hast strengthened thy servant So a Godly man may say true Lord I have no strength in my self to do this difficult work but being thou hast strengthened thy servant and given him this strong principle in some measure now Lord speak Command what thou wilt USE 2. A second Use is this Hence let all beleevers that have evidence to themselves that they are beleevers or any hope that God hath wrought faith in them let them expect to be put upon difficult things because God hath put in them a principle to carry them through difficult things and God delights to improve al his creatures according to the powers they have there is no power of nature but God wil cal it forth and improve it at some time or other and if God delights to improve the power of nature much more the power of Grace which is the speciall and choice power that he doth communicate to any creature in the world and for the kind the choicest thing that he will communicate to any creature to al eternity and therefore if you have not found hard things expect them and make account that your faith should be called out Faith is the most glorious Grace able to do the most Glorious things that ever creature is able to do and have you it for nothing have you faith only to keep you in that ordinary way that the principles of nature are able to keep you in if God have given you faith he hath given you it for to do great things and therefore expect difficult things And yet so expect them as First not to be discouraged Secondly Not to count it an affliction First Be not discouraged some think I can hardly do ordinary things and therefore how shall I do such hard things 1. If you have faith though you be called to difficult things you cannot be called to a more difficult work than you have done already and this is a great encouragement to faith the weakest beleever in the world hath done as difficult a work as ever any shall be called to besides that viz. the work of beleeving at first when we look upon our selves as enemies to God for God to justify the ungodly this is a more difficult work then ever God will call you to and therefore if God hath carried you through the difficulties in the point of justification never fear any difficulties that may follow hereafter If a man be called to any hard thing he comforts himself in this I am not called to a harder then I have done already suppose God hath called you to an hard duty this not an harder duty then that you have done already that is the work of faith in closing with Christ in the point of justification 2. Though you know God will call you to hard things God hath engaged himself that you shall never have any temptation befall you but you shall have strength accordingly 3. If you be called to any thing God doth not call you to any hard work nor never wil in expectation that you should do it in your own strength but in that strength which he will give you and yet count it upon your own score as if you did it in your own strength to reward you for it indeed when we consider what little strength we have we may be discouraged but when God doth call us to any work he doth not expect we should do it in our strength and yet he will reward it as our own as in that 60. Psalm 12. Through God we shal do valiantly for he it is that shall tread down our enemies is it God that treads down our enemies how do we do valiantly it is God that doth valiantly we do nothing yet says the text through God we shal do valiantly for he it is that shall treâ—…d down our enemies so that though the strength whereby God expects us to do any work by be not our own yet God accounts it as our own and Christians may reckon it their own to give God the glory of it 4. Further be not discouraged for fear of any difficult work you shall be called to because there is no work of a Christian that he is called to but as it spends strength it gives strength it gives more then it spends in the way of spending it gives A man will never be affraid of cold in work that brings more heat then cold the sluggard would not plow because it was cold in Prov. 20 4. But if he had plowed his labor would have brought in heat and so it is a sluggish reason to think shall I do such an hard work and I have such little strength the work will bring in strength as if a man should say I am cold in the house how cold should I be in the feild and how cold when I take hold on the plow which is cold and the earth which is cold indeed if there were nothing in the work to bring in heat we might say so but the work brings in more heat then there is coldness in the ayr And so people think I have scarce strength for that work which I have now but if it be more difficult what then If it be more difficult and it bring in more strength then it would be better then it is now Secondly Count it no affliction do not complaine as if your case were worse then the case of any that God put you upon such hard taskes and works that he doth not others thou knowest not what thou doest in complaining of the hardness of thy worke 1. Know a difficult work is a most honorable thing As if a Captain have some great difficult work to do that is of great consequence for the good of his countrie he will not call out every base fellow but his prime ones and they count it an honour to be called out And so if a master of Defence have some difficult work to be done he doth not call out the lowest in the Schoole but the chiefest and it is an honor to him and if he were called to do onely ordinarie things and another were called to do great things it would be a dishonor to him and so it might rather be an affliction for God to call you to do only ordinarie things 2. It is a mighty opportunitie for the exercise of Grace now as the scripture saith 1. Pet. 1.7 The tryall of Grace is more pretious than Gold For the exercise of Grace Grace it self is for exercise and so the exercise is better than the grace and if grace be pretious in the habit it is
vessels of dishonor and for the fire Object But may some say I am afraid I am a vessel for the fire for I cannot tell that ever I found my heart sit for any service that God called me to Answ First That heart that is sensible of unfitness and is humbled before God for it it hath not such an unfitness as to prepare it for the fire Secondly It may be it is thy unthankfulness that makes thee say thou art never fit for service because you are not fit for that degree you desire you do not take notice of the work of Gods grace for the present Thirdly May be now you are framing and fitting for service if you be but making fit it is a signe you are not for the fire if there be a vessel for the fire there is no mending of it but if the master of the house shall call for a vessel and require it to be cleansed and washed and there is some work about it it is a signe it is not for the fire so may be God is fitting and prepareing you for service Fourthly May be it is that you mistake your work you do not know what the work is that God calls you to you are alwaies unfit for such and such service but that is not the work that God calls you to for the present God calls you to a work of humiliation and dependance upon himself and seeking of his face and a work of patience do not say you are unfit for the Masters use because you are unfit for such and such a work may be the time is not yet for the espicial work that God intend to use you in USE 6. In the Last place if there be such a difference between the hearts of Gods people this may teach us to long for heaven when our hearts shal be alwaies up there shal be such a difference from that estate we are now in as it is more then we are able to imagine and there shal be no fear of the loss of it It is an observation of Mr. Brightman upon the 19. Revel 11. Comparing it with Reve. 4. and in Reve. 4.1 It is said there was a door opened in Heaven In Reve. 19.11 It is said Heaven was opened not only a little door was opened but the gates and walles of Heaven were opened There is a great deal of difference in the estate of Gods people here somtimes they have a little door opened to them in Heaven sometimes the Heavens themselves are opened to them but a time wil come when the Heavens shal not only be opened for them but it shal be replenished with them the cheife Glory of Heaven shal be the Saints there and we shall take no pains to keep our hearts up it were wel if our hearts were up alwaies though with never so much pains they shal as naturally worke after God as the Sun doth naturally shine and therefore let us comfort our selves in that time let us strive and strugle a while there is a time when our hearts shal be up and we shall never take any pains CHAP. 20. Shewing the power of Faith to carry through the most difficult work Question What is there in Faith which helps the Soul Answered in four Particulars 1. It setles the Heart on the surest ground which is Gods call and Promises 2. It fetcheth in the greatest strength 3. It assists with the highest encouragements 5. Faith of its own Nature is a mighty strong principle The most illustrious work of Faith Thirteen remarkable things concerning Faith and the difficulties which it breaks through NOw there is one point more out of these words we have seen the Faith of Moses in taking away of the impediment of Moses in his work the great impediment was the fear of the wrath of the King but by Faith that was taken a way Now he goes upon the work and went out of Egypt with a high hand from whence the Point is this Doct. That Faith will carry the Hearts of Gods People through difficult works and Services Though the work be difficult and they have many hinderances to let them Faith will carry them through it I remember in the beginning of this argument I handled that Point of Faith in carrying through sufferings now the argument is that faith will carry through difficult service as this work of forsaking Egyyt was a difficult work for Moses to undertake difficult in many regards First In forsaking his own country Egypt was Moses own country and he himself might have shifted well enough and have enjoyed abundance of prosperity the Egyptians would have made enough of him for him to forsake Egypt his own country was something Secondly For him to carry so many thousand poor people with him unarmed into a Wilderness without provision and knew not what should become of them Flesh and Blood would reason what shal I carry this people into the Wilderness what provision shal they have they have but a little dough at their backs and if that be spent what shal become of them Thirdly Then Moses might think Pharoah is such a man that there is no hold of him how if he follow us with his army and cut us off again if we go to the Wilderness al the Nations round about us may come and cut us off Not withstanding al these difficulties Moses went on Faith will carry a Christian through works that have much difficulty in them faith hath done mighty things in the world and stil it mightily prevails where it comes no difficulty is able to stand before it faith breaks through all it casts down all opposition it overcomes all resistances whatsoever it doth undertake it does conquer and al strength is but as weakness before it we need no further testimony of the great things that faith hath done in carrying through difficult services then this 11. Chapter of the Hebrews and therefore we will look no further to other scriptures Qustion But you will say what is there in faith that helps the soul and carries a Christian through the most difficult works and services Answ There are many things First Faith doth it by setling the heart upon the surest ground if a man be set fast upon a ground that is sure and unmovable it may do great things as one thought if he could but have a sure ground he might make such an Engine as to shake the Earth Now faith sets the heart upon a sure ground Gods Call Faith doth not only shew a Christian his duty and tell him what God doth call him to that may be done by bare knowledg but Faith settles the heart upon Gods Promises it doth bring unto the heart the Authority Majesty and Soveraignty of God in this his Call and that hath a great deal of strength upon the heart to make it go through difficulty Secondly Faith doth fetch in the greatest strength and doth bring it into the soul it doth not only make the strength of God
THE EXCELLENCY OF HOLY COURAGE IN EVIL TIMES In which besides many other seasonable truths there is shewed 1. That wicked Men in power are very fierce in their wrath 2. That Faith will keep a gracious heart from immoderate fear of Men of Authority and Power 3. Directions in our fear of Authority 4. Directions how to order our selves If Authority enjoyn unlawful things 5. How Faith helpeth against the fear of Man opened in fifteen Particulars 6. Arguments against the fear of Men And wicked men are less to be feared than others 7. Differences between natural boldness and Holy Courage from Faith 8. How far we may lawfully avoid danger by flying Several Cases of conscience concerning flying 9. Objections Answered concerning flying 10. How the heart may be taken off from the fear of Man 11. The Power of Faith to carry Gods people through the most difficult works and services 12. How to know whether Faith wil carry us through difficult works 13. Helps to put on Faith in our undertakings 14. How Faith carries the Soul through the difficult work of forsaking Egypt 15. The wickedness of Sodom and Egypt compared with the wickedness of Antichrist By Jeremiah Burroughs Preacher of the Gospel at Stepney and Criple-Gate London Published by Thomas Goodwin William Greenhil Sydrach Simpson Philip Nye William Bridge John Yates William Adderly London Printed by Peter Cole and Edward Cole Printers and Book-sellers at the Printing-press in Cornhil neer the Royal Exchange 1661. A Testimony to the Reader WHAT we have by way of Preface set before the several Books already Published of this Reverend Author Mr. Jeremiah Burroughs may sufficiently serve for all that are come forth So that we only need now give Letters Testimonial to the World that these viz. The Sermons on Hebrews the 11. Chapter 27. verse We avouch likewise to be the painful and profitable Labors of the same Author and Published by the best and most Authentick Copies Thomas Goodwin William Greenhil William Bridge Sydrach Sympson Philip Nye John Yates William Adderley Books Printed by Peter Cole and Edward Cole Printers and Book-sellers of London at the Exchange Mr. Burroughs WORKS viz. on Matth. 11. 1 Christs call to all those that are Weary and Heavy Laden to come to him for Rest 2 Christ the Great Teacher of Souls that come to him 3 Christ the Humble Teacher of those that come to him 4 The only Basic way to Heaven 5 The Excellency of holy Courage 6 Gospel Reconciliation 7 The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment 8 Gospel-Worship 9 Gospel-Conversation 10 A Treatise of Earthly Mindedness 11 Exposition of the Prophesie of Hosea 12 The Evil of Evils or the exceeding sinfulness of Sin 13 Precious Faith 14 Of Hope 15 Of Walking by Faith Twenty one several Books of Mr. William Bridge Collected into two Volumes Viz. 1 Scripture Light the most sure Light 2 Christ in Travel 3 A Lifting up for the cast down 4 Sin against the Holy Ghost 5 Sins of Infirmity 6 The fals Apostle tried and discovered 7 The good and means of Establishment 8 The great things Faith can do 9 The great things Faith can suffer 10 The Great Gospel Mystery of the Saints Comfort and Holyness opened and applied from Christs Priestly Office 11 Satans power to Tempt and Christs Love to and Care of his People under Temptation 12 Thankfulness required in every Condition 13 Grace for Grace 14 The Spiritual Actings of Faith through Naturall Impossibilities 15 Evangelical Repentance 16 The Spiritual Life and in being of Christ in al Beleevers 17 The Woman of Canaan 18 The Saints Hiding place c. 19 Christ Coming c. 20 A Vindication of Gospel Ordinances 21 Grace and Love beyond Gifts New Books of Mr. Sydrach Simpson VIZ. 1 Of Unbelief or the want of readiness to lay hold on the comfort given by Christ 2 Not goeing to Christ for Life and Salvation is an exceeding great Sin yet Pardonable 3 Of Faith Or That beleeving is receiving Christ And receiving Christ is beleeving 4 Of Coveteousness Mr. Hookers New Books in three Volumes One in Octavo and two in Quarto These Eleven New Books of Mr. Thomas Hoooker made in New Edgland Are arrested in an Epistle by Mr. Thomas Goodwin and Mr. Philip Nye To be written with the Authors own hand None being written by himself before One Volum being a Comment upon Christ's last Prayer on the seventeenth of John Wherein is shewed 1 That the end why the Saints receive all glorious Grace is That they may be one as the Father and Christ are one 2 That God the Father loveth the Faithful as he loveth Jesus Christ 3 That our Saviour desireth to have the Faithful in Heaven with himself 4 That the happiness of our being in Heaven is to see Christs Glory 5 That there is much wanting in the knowledg of Gods Love in the most able Saints 6 That the Lord Christ lends dayly direction according to the dayly need of his Servants 7 That it is the desire and endeavor of our Savior that the dearest of Gods Love which was bestowed on himself should be given to his faithful servants 8 That our Union and Communion with God in Christ is the top of our happiness in Heaven Ten Books of the Application of Redemption by the Effectual Work of the Word and Spirit of Christ for the bringing home of lost sinners to God By Thomas Hooker Dr. Hills WORKS The Kings Tryal at the High Court of Justice Wise Virgin Published by Mr. Thomas Weld of New-England Mr. Rogers on Naaman the Syrian his Disease and Cure Discovering the Leprosie of Sin and Self-love with the Cure viz. Self-denial and Faith A Godly and Fruitful Exposition on the first Epistle of Peter By Mr. John Rogers Minister of the word of God at Dedham in Essex Mr. Rogers his Treatise of Marriage The Wonders of the loadstone By Samuel Ward of Ipswitch An Exposition on the Gospel of the Evangelist St. Matthew By Mr. Ward The Discipline of the Church in New-England By the Churches and Synod there Mr. Brightmen on the Revelation Christians Engagement for the Gospel by John Goodwin Great Church Ordinance of Baptism Mr. Loves Case containing his Petitions Narrative and Speech A Congregational church is a Catholick Visible Church By Samuel Stone in New-England A Treatise of Politick Powers Dr. Sibbs on the Philippians Vox PacifiCa or a Perswasive to Peace Dr. Prestons Saints submission and Satans Overthrow Pious Mans Practice in Parliament time Barriffs Military Discipline The Immortality of mans Soul The Anatomist Anatomized The Bishop of Canterbury's Speech Woodwards Sacred Ballance Dr. Owen against Mr. Baxter Abrahams Offer Gods Offerings Being a Sernion by Mr. Herle before the Lord Major of London Mr. Spurstows Sermon being a Pattern of Repentance Englands Deliverance By Peter Sterry The Way of God with his People in these Nations By Peter Sterry Mr. Sympson's sermon at Westminster Mr. Feaks sermon before the Lord Major The best and
you flee 3. Behave your selves as exiled people as men mortified to the things of the world 4. Get a contented frame of heart 5. When you are delivered keep your selves in the fervency of your spirits 6 Let those from whom you flee have your prayers Page 70 Chap. 13. How the Heart may be taken off from the fear of man First it is against the solemn charge of God Secondly It is an Idolizing of the Creature Thirdly It becomes not the State and Spirit and profession of a Christian Fourthly It dishonors God and the Cause of God Fifthly It mightily heartens the enemies of Gods people Sixthly It is threatened as a great judgment of God upon a people Seventhly The evil effects of the sinful fear of man 1. It distracts our thoughts 2. Weakens the heart 3. Eats out the true fear of God 4. It indisposeth us to any service 5. Insnares a Christian 6. It. causeth other desperate fears 7. Procures the judgment of God in our destruction Page 78 Chap. 14. Another Doctrine Much difference between Gods peoples spirits at several times Illustrated by examples Reasons 1. From the different dispositions their hearts are in to receive truths Which proceeds from Three Causes First the abatement of the strength that is opposite to that truth Secondly The stirrings or activity of those habits which are sutable to truth Thirdly The prevalences of self interest Reas 2. From the different representations of Truth Reas 3. Because the Graces of men do not burn so cleerly and purely at al times Reas 4. From the weakness of Grace the parts and members of it are not consolidated Reas 5. Because our hearts are sometimes filled with more heavenly consolations then at other times Reas 6. From the different breathings of the spirit of God Reas 7. Because men have somtimes a more clear and distinct sight of their call to suffer then at other times 3. Particular directions in this Case Reas 8. The different tempers of mans Body Reas 9. From the difference in the encouraging occurrency of Gods providence Page 97 Chap. 15. Containing the First Use Which teacheh us to entreat God not to take the advantage of us when our hearts are low Page 110. Chap. 16. Another Vse to teach us not to be discouraged at this different temper of our Spirits but to be humbled for it Five Helps against discouraging thoughts Two objections Page 113 Chap. 17. Containing the Third Vse of Direction branched into four particulars 1. If couragious and fit for service give God the praise Four reasons for it 2. Learn to rebuke unbelief 3. Labor to keep your hearts up The manner how that may be done in eight particulars 4. Improve this gracious working of God Page 119 Chap. 18. A fourth Vse To be restless till we get our selves into a good frame Page 128 Chap. 19. A Fifth Vse To see the misery of being alwaies unfit for service A Sixt Vse To teach us to long for Heaven Page 130 Chap. 20. Shewing the power of Faith to carry through the most difficult work Question What is there in Faith which helps the Soul Answered in four Particulars 1. It settles the Heart on the surest ground which is Gods call and Promises 2. It fetches in the greatest strength 3. It assists with the highest encouragements 5. Faith of its own Nature is a mighty strong principle The most illustrious work of Faith Thirteen remarkable things concerning Faith and the difficulties which it breaks through Page 133. Chap. 21. Vses of the Doctrine Use First Let none think God an hard Master when he puts them upon service because he affords them a principle to carry them through Use Secondly To Beleevers that they should expect to be put upon difficult things 1. Four considerations against discouragements It is not to be accounted an affliction to be put upon difficult things for 4. Reasons Use Thirdly Shewing it can be no concluding argument against a work because there are hindrances Use Fourthly When you have been carried through difficult services consider what it was which supported you Page 145 Chap. 22. Quest How to know whether Faith wil carry us through difficult works Answered in several particulars 1. Faith Goes upon spiritual grounds motives and ends 2. Makes men sollicitous and careful for the enjoyment of Gods presence with them 3. Causes men to carry themselves in a Gracious manner 4. To have an high esteem of the name of God 5 Makes them careful that they may not be frustrated of their end 6. It makes men satisfied with God Alone 7. Faith is a continued work That Faith which brought you out will carry you through Page 156 Chap. 23. Containing other uses of the point Use 5. Shews the reason why we faile in any thing we do it is for want of Faith Use 6. Labor to rise in indignation against your unbelief Use 7. Consider what it is to faile in that work which concernes thy eternal estate Page 162 Chap. 24. Helps to put on Faith in any undertaking 1. Set before you the example of our great Captain Jesus Christ 2. Make preparation for the work of Faith by Humiliation 3. Renew your Faith in the Covenant of Grace 4. In difficult times set Faith on work to purifie the heart 5. Take heed of shifting waies and dependances 6. Set loose from your own ends 7. Cast your selves upon the word of God 8. Plead the word with God in Prayer 9. Refuse no meanes that God puts into your hands 10. Do nothing with a slavish spirit 11. Be not discouraged by miscarriages that are past 12. Take heed of the disturbance of passion in your work 13. Observe the dependances one work hath upon another 14. Lisson not to Temptations 15. Take heed of perverse reasonings 16. Take heed of disorderly working in four cases 17. Vse resolution and courage 18. Look on your selves as Gods Instruments 19. Be constant though you find nothing come of it 20. Encrease not the difficulty by your carriage 21. Look most at your Encouragements 22. Vse not the difficulty in the way to reason against the work 23. Labor to harden your selves by Faith against al difficulties Page 165 Chap. 25. Containing a second consideration of the Text to wit and Allegoricall interpretation of Moses forsaking Egypt by Faith Warrant for Allegoricall interpretations Forsaking this world renouncing our naturall estate a difficult work Fourteen reasons of it Page 184 Chap. 26. How Faith carries the Soul through the Difficult work of forsaking Egypt Their Works of Faith 1. The discovering work in two particulars 2. The relying Work 3. The Surrendring work Question Resolved concerning the force of Natural Conscience in three Particulars shewing the great difference between the actings of Faith and Natural Conscience Application 1. Hence see the Ground of Miscarriages 2. A Rule of Direction Incouragements to Faith and Beleeving 3. Let delivered Persons see what delivered them Faith which acts by a power without us Twelve
Considerable and useful Directions in this matter Page 187 Chap. 26. Containing the second Allegoricall sence of the words viz. Concerning Antichrist The wickedness of Sodom and Egypt compared with the wickedness of Antichrist 1. Idolatry 2. Cruelty The bondage of Christians under Antichrist 1. Outward in Estates and lives 2. Inward a Soul bondage The baseness of this shewed in several particulars concerning Ceremonies worse then Egyptian bondage Faith must deliver us Deliverance difficult in several particulars The work of Faith in delivering people from this bondage in 6. or 7. Considerations Quest Whether men may not reject the yoke of Antichrist upon other grounds besides Faith Ans In 10. Particulars Page 199 THE EXCELLENCY OF HOLY COURAGE IN EVIL TIMES Hebrews 11.27 By faith he forsook Egypt not fearing the wrath of the King for he endured as seeing him who is invisible CHAP. I. The words Opened Six Doctrines raised HAVING finished Moses his Choyce namely what he did choose the excellency of his spirit in making such a choice and the principle of faith that enabled him thereunto from this Chapter vers 25.26 I now proceed to speak of another excellent fruit of the faith of this Worthy of the Lord as it is set forth in vers 27. and here we are to observe two things 1. The act of his Faith 2. The Argument by which it was strengthened to act First In the act we are to observe two things 1. That notable work of his going from Egypt notwithstanding the wrath of the King 2. His constancy he endured in all that he did Secondly The argument by which his faith was strengthened was that sight he had of the Invisible God The opening of the words with the several Doctrines in the Text. By faith he forsook Egypt By this forsaking of Egypt the faith of Moses was much set out for him to undertake such a work as that was to carry so many thousands out of Egypt into a wilderness not knowing what might become of them they being unable to resist their enemies and not knowing what provision they should have this was very much Not fearing the wrath of the King He could not but think he was in danger of Pharaoh and his company to bee pursued by them for howsoever Pharaoh seemed willing at last to give them leave to be gone yet such was the disposition of Pharaoh which Moses was not ignorant of that he might quickly change his mind and follow them with all his power to cut them off as it appeares he did Yet Moses feared no such matter but he went on his way for he endured as seeing him who is invisible Object But it seems Moses did forsake Egypt for fear of the wrath of the King Answ It is true Time was that in forsaking Egypt he did fear the wrath of the King in Exod. 2.14 it is said Moses seeing two Hebrews smiting one another he said to him that did the wrong Why smitest thou thy fellow And he said Who made thee a Prince and a Judge over us Intendest thou to kil me as thou didst the Egyptian And then Moses feared and upon that he fled And if we understand the Text of this his first forsaking Egypt we may thus reconcile the Apostle with that place First he fled not fearing so much the King as that he should offend God if he offered himself to the danger and did not make an escape he should have tempted God by presuming Thus Osiander Or thus He fled not for fear in respect of himself but least his calling should be hindred if he staied So Simler But these words are rather to be understood of his second forsaking of Egypt The first time he forsook Egypt out of fear but the second time he forsook Egypt out of Faith and he did not fear after he had slain the Egyptian he was afaid but when he came to take al the People of Israel with him then he forsook Egypt and did not fear the wrath of the King From whence we have these Observations Doct. 1. First That wicked men especially when they have power are very fierce and outragious in their wrath when any thing crosseth them Certainly Moses apprehended this wrath of Pharaoh great in that the Holy Ghost makes it a notable fruit of his Faith not to fear the wrath of the King It appeared his wrath was great in regard of the power he raised against them had it not been for Moses Faith he would have feared Doct. 2. Secondly Faith wil keep a gracious heart from immoderate fear of all the men in the world let them be never so great and have never so much power Doct. 3. Thirdly There is a great deal of difference between the spirits of Gods People at somtimes and other times There was a time when Moses was afraid now he goes on and is not afraid Doct. 4. Fourthly Faith wil carry a man through very hard services and difficult works that God cals him unto Doct 5. Fifthly That it is the honor of the People of God to endure in the waies of God notwithstanding all the hardships they meet withall Doct. 6. Sixthly The sight of an invisible God is a strong means to carry one on in the waies of God notwithstanding al oppositions and difficulties they meet withall These are the Doctrinal Conclusions we have in verse 27. CHAP. II. Handling the first Doctrine Doct. 1. That the wrath of wicked men especially when they have power usually is very fierce and outragious FOr the proof of this Point It must be acknowledged that somtimes God indeed restrains it but usually it is so There is in every one a great deal of distempered wrath that doth break forth and vent it self when occasion serves and when temptation comes in most vile and fearful effects and fruits A furious man saith the Holy Ghost in Prov. 29.22 aboundeth in transgression Those that have hearts distempered with Passion Anger and Wrath they are such as abound in transgressithere breaks most horrible things from them when they are in the heat of their passion and anger not caring almost what they say or do all the Commands of God are broken then We read of Moses when he came down from the Mount Exod. 32.19 and saw the people in their sin his anger was stirred and he broke both the Tables but there his anger was good for though both the Tables were broke yet not one Commandment was broke But usually our wrath and anger is not good and in our passion all the Commandments in both Tables are broke The Hebrew word that signifieth to transgress doth signifie Anger because it is seldom that any in their passion do not transgress It is the speech of one that if there were two principles of things as the Heathens are conceited there is one principle from whence comes all good and another principle from whence comes all evil then Anger should be the principle of all Evil and God the principle of all Good
so such a one comes no longer to live the life of care he doth not tremble any more And suitable to his expression so was his life speaking of Eudoxia the Empres saies he what wil she do wil shee bannish me the earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof Wil she cut me asunder so was Isaiah Wil she drown me John was cast into the Sea Will she stone me So was Steven Will she behead me so was Paul Will she take away my substance my heart is taken a way from that already It is reported of Illaria meeting with theeves say they are you not affraid no saith he I have nothing to loose but We will Kill thee saith he I am prepared to die And to a Heart seeing it hath nothing to loose and it is prepared to die it doth not fear it values no evil in the creature nor any good in it and therefore it is not affraid Now it is faith that glorious and mighty grace takes the heart off from all creature Evil and creature good and by this you may know the work of Faith in your Souls When you feel a principle within you taking you from the creature and lifting you aboue creature comforts and creature evils that is the glorious work of Faith And that is the Seventh thing Eightly Faith doth interest God in the cause of a Beleever Whatsoever cause a beleever doth undertake wherein he doth exercise faith his Faith doth interest God in it so that it hath not only the countenance command and faithfulness of God to help it but the Name of God and God himself As in England if a man hath a debt and knows not how to get it he will turne it over to the King and if he can interest the King in the debt He thinks that will be a way to help himself So here when a beleever is in a straight and he knows not what to do he looks this way and that way and sees nothing but fears and Terrours and knows not how to help himself yet if he can but turne over the cause to God and interest him in the cause he is quiet Ninthly Faith hath a notable work to help against fear in that it fils the heart with spirituall good and the true boldness that is in any heart comes from the fulness of spirituall good that is in their Souls As the Naturalists observe the reason why the Lyon hath that courage and boldness Is because he hath a heart compacted and filled with strong spirits Many things when they are empty are weake but when they are filled ful of that which is sutable to them it makes them strong So when a Soul hath a fulness of spiritual good in it it is very strong Look what is the reason of the boldness and courage and impudence of wicked men in their sin the contrary is the reason of the boldness and courage of Gods people in the way of God The speciall reason of the courage and boldness of the wicked in a way of evill is the fullness of wickedness that is in their souls And therefore in that fact of Ananias and Saphira Acts. 5.3 saith the Apostle Why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie unto the holy Ghost If Satan had not filled your hearts you could not have been thus bold to have lied to the holy Ghost And so it is a notable passage we have in Esther 7.5 speaking concerning Haman saith the King Who is he and where is he that durst presume in his heart to do so In the Hebrew it is who hath filled his heart to do this who hath a heart so ful as to venture upon such an evill as this As the filling of the heart with evill makes it bold and couragious in that which is evill so the filling of the heart with spirituall good makes it forward in that which is good As it is observed concerning Steven after Steven was filled with the Holy Ghost how bold was he he could look upon the face of his persecuters with boldness in Acts 6.15 and the Councell looked upon him and saw his face as it had been the face of an Angel because his heart was filled with the Holy Ghost And so the Apostles were very feareful before the Holy Ghost came down upon them but when they were filled with the Holy Ghost they had no more feare And so Elisha how full of courage was he when the three Kings came to him saith he Had it not been for Jehosaphat I had not seen thy face What was the reason he had the Spirit of Elijah double upon him and therefore he was bold As there is a Plerophorie of evil that causeth boldness so there is a Plerophorie of good that filleth the heart with boldness and nothing doth so fil the heart as faith that fetcheth of the fulness of Christ and of his fulness we are full In the Tenth place Faith hath a great deale of power to cause boldness and take off the heart from the feare of Man because Faith doth acquaint a beleever with the waies of God towards his people and therefore he doth not fear A beleever comes to have skill in the passages of Gods Providence and his dealings towards his people and thereby he comes to know that it is Gods ordinary way to suffer the enemies of his people to rage against them and prevail against them and to have much power over them and yet they are his people And it is no argument that God hath forsaken them because of their affliction And therefore you know the Scripture speaks oftentimes of Gods leading his people through the Fire and the Water and that God will be with them there Isa 43.2 It is the way of God to choose his people and set his heart upon them in the Fiery Furnace when he intends the greatest good to his people He brings them through Fire and Water and setteth them in wealthy places Psal 66.12 And if one be acquainted with Gods way he doth not fear If a souldier be not acquainted with the way of his General when he seeth him undertake great things and brings them into danger he is affraid but one that is acquainted with the way of his General how he will lay his stratagems and knows that it is his way to go through such dangers he is not affraid And so it is true carnal Hearts assoon as they see any danger they are affraid because they have not the skil to understand the mind and will of God in his way towards his people when as the people of God know that it is the ordinary way of God to work good out of Evil. As Luther saies He doth kill that he may quicken and cast down that he may raise up And the like and so he goes on in three or four lines together but saith he For to know this this is the art of arts and the Knowledg of Knowledges very few do know and understand this way
stay to suffer and the bottome is because they are loath to suffer so much presently as the departing from their country and shops and estates is Peter Martyr in a treatise of his about fleeing from persecution gives a notable answer to those people and hath a pretty expression to set out the temper and humour of those people It is like to many that are diseased and the disease is such as there must be the cutting off of a Limbe or the induring some great extremity to cure it one that is delicate and loath to endure hardship if he can but get any one to plead his cause that this is not the way to cure this disease to put the patient to such pain it may be cured by more gentle means and it were better for to venture with more gentle meanes then to cut off a Limb now some through their loathness to indure some present certain paine wil venture to have it cured with more gentle meanes though at length it cost them their lives So some because they are loath to indure so much certain present trouble as to part from their Countries and Estates they rather venture with more gentle meanes when as many times they grow to deny the truth and to defile their consciences with superstitious things and shamefully to subject them unto others But why do not they stay to suffer may be their time is not come as Christ saies in another case if they had seen their time come they should have been as willing to stay as others Againe if they should stay they should shew themselves unthankfull for the providence of God in opening to them a doore to injoy the ordinances otherwhere Againe they dare not stay because they should tempt God and trust in their own strength if they should stay and have not Gods call they could not expect Gods strength and they know their own weakness Objection 3. But is not God Alsufficient and able to help in the greatest dangers Answ 1. Certainly if it were compared who trusts in Gods power most I beleeve it may be found that those that do fly to avoid danger have more exercise of their faith in trusting in Gods power then many that stay and plead in that manner as if so be we had not much need of the power of God for to support us and releeve us and the trusting in Gods power for that is as much as an ordinary Yea a strong faith is able to do 2. Again we must take heed of stretching Gods power to work according to our minds God hath power enough for the releife of his people and he will put it forth for the defence of his people but if we wil think to bring Gods power to work for our wills it is not beleeving but presumption if God will put forth his power in the upholding that way that he is in Who art thou man or Woman to think God should put forth his power in the upholding thy way Besides God will put forth his power in the use of meanes Object 4. But then we leave to give Testimony to the truth and is not the giving Testimony to the truth of God more worth than our estates Answ 1. Fleeing is giving witness and those that plead against it are loath to give so much witness for a man to leave his estate and Country for a truth is not that witness 2. Besides being absent they may by their writing or by their practice give witness they may be reserved to give witness further Object 5. But many of Gods deare servants as the Martyrs had power to flie and they would not Answ 1. To that I answer first may be there were many engagements upon them God did not loose al the tyes they had 2. Besides secondly much doth depend on circumstances which a Christian that is faithful by compareing one thing with another may see in which most of Gods glory is 3. It may be they felt some extraordinary work of Gods spirit in them in away of assistance and comfort and emboldning of them so as their example cannot be drawn into a general rule Object 6. But what shal become of those that are left behind if others that have abilities forsake them Answ 1. To that I answer first by the example of those that fly what to do if God open a door But if it be said they cannot Flee To those I answer 2. Secondly though they cannot Fly they may be confirmed in a truth by others that do depart and are willing to suffer so much for the truth in their departures and that more perhaps than they would have been by many exhortations 3. And Lastly I answer if God shut the door against them that they cannot flie and open the doors to others though their parts and graces be weak if they be faithful they may comfortably expect that God wil provide for them and come in with more blessings and more assistance than those that have strong parts and strong graces could have expected if they had not taken the way that God opened for them Object 7. But if men would stay a while the clouds may blow over but they are fearful and cannot stay Answ To that I answer we should be glad of that that those that abide may enjoy so much as we do and bless God for it and shall not enjoy them at all but though this should be yet it is not enjoyed for the present And if it be the enjoyment of the ordinances one year we should account it more than should countervail the loss of our estates all our lives And thus we have finished the eight particular in answering this case of conscience but that we may further direct christians in this there are divers notes for the ordering of our selves when we do Fly When we are put into fear by man and caused to Flie we must shew it as a work of faith and therefore let us learne so to order our selves in our Fleeing and when we are Fled from danger as it may appeare it was a work of Faith as 2. When any are put to Flee danger let them be careful they leave as little guilt behind them in that place they Flee from as possibly they can let them labor to purge out the guilt they brought on that place as much as they can for there are none that have not only brought guilt upon their own consciences but upon the place where they lived and consider whether that were your care to remove the guilt from the place and if it were not our care now we are gone let us mourn for our sins so as they may not bring judgment upon the place Again in the place into which we are Fled let us labor so to carry our selves as the name of God may not suffer among us that they should have occasion to say these are the men that Flee for religion do they live as such but let us labor so to
instruments should be of another fashion But in Joel 3.10 it is otherwise They shal beat their plow-shares into swords and their pruning hooks into spears So apply it to grace somtime grace is to bring life and nourishment to the soul at other times it is to bring in grace As Faith somtime it is to close with Christ and bring nourishment from him at other times Faith is to be a Shield Many Christians look upon the work of grace to bring life and strength to themselves but have not skil to make use of grace as a shield So Hope somtimes it is to prop the soul at other times it is to be a Helmet So we should labor to understand the use of graces according to the several imployments that God calls for somtime one way somtime another And this is the Third Use CHAP. 18. A fourth Vse To be restless till we get our selves into a good frame USE 4. A Fourth Use is this If it be so that Gods people are in such a different frame of spirit somtime they are afraid and their hearts are down at other times they have a spirit of courage and fitness for any service that God wil have them to do This should teach us when our hearts are down and not in that fitness we desire to be restless till we get our selves in a good frame Somtime the Godly have their hearts in a good frame and therefore it is possible to be had and we should never be in rest til we had got it Quest But how shall we get up our hearts when they are not in a frame fit for service Answ First Be sensible of the evil of an unserviceable heart so as to be humbled before God for the want of it and be more sensible of the evil of that than sensible of the evil of want of peace and comfort Many when they find their hearts down and not in that degree fit for service that they desire they are troubled for it but the reason is because their hearts being down there arise doubts of their condition and their peace is hindred and they cannot have comfort in it but they are not so much troubled because they are unserviceable and want hearts fitted for duty and that is the reason why their hearts are kept down Now this should be our care to be more sensible of the unserviceableness of our hearts than of the unpeaceableness of our hearts Secondly Observe which way the strength of your spirit is let out and labor to recal your hearts from that as thus If the strength of a mans spirit be not for God it is let out to somwhat else it is alwaies working some way or other if it be not let out to some one particular object it is scattered and divided into divers objects Now if your strength be not let out for God call your hearts to an account where is the strength of my heart which way runs it If it can be discerned which way the strength of your heart is let out whether to any creature or any lust that should be your care to get it off Thirdly When you come to present your selves before God in his Ordinances come with hearts panting after strength as when you come to the Word Prayer or Sacraments bethink your selves beforehand I come before the Lord that I may get this dull heart of mine quickned in such and such a particular I find my heart unserviceable in such a particular Now my heart presents it self before God and pants after God to be fitted for service in such a particular it is much may be done when we come to the presence of God panting for help from God in such particulars Fourthly Observe the beginnings of Gods coming into your hearts and acknowledg them and improve them and follow them many times God is coming into the heart and because God comes not in fully as much as they would at first they take no notice of the beginnings of the work of God to imbrace them and improve them There are a great many sparks have fallen upon your hearts if they had been gathered together they might have been a flame by this time but because God did not come in with a flame all together they did not regard that you said what can a spark do upon my heart if you had improved that little you might have had more by this time Fiftly Labor to recall all those soul quickning Truths that ever you have felt working upon your hearts there was a time my heart was more lively I can remember since God did come in with his truth and work mightily upon my heart labor to recal those truths and set them fresh before your hearts with as much power as possibly you can and keep your hearts in view of them continually and by meditation chafe them into your hearts though the flesh be benummed yet if it be rubbed and exercised there will come strength and so those soul quickning Truths that you have found before have quickned your hearts if you present them afresh before the heart and chafe them by meditation they wil get some strength and life into the heart Lastly Look into the present condition you are in and exercise the duties sutable to your present condition CHAP. 19 A Fifth Vse To see the misery of being alwaies unfit for service A Sixt Vse To teach us to long for Heaven USE 5. BUt now in the next place If Gods people find such a difference between themselves that at somtimes it is far otherwise with them than at other times Hence then what a miserable thing is it to be alwaies down and alwaies unfit for service This is a thing that does not usually befal the people of God though somtimes their hearts are down in comparison of other times yet to be alwaies down and unserviceable this do not use to be the condition of the Servants of God this is a sad miserable condition to be so as if you never felt the power of God upon your hearts never felt the Spirit of God breathing upon you never felt the grace of God stirring upon you you come and hear the Word and those Truths that are soul-quickning warming Truths that stir others and their hearts lie lumpish as a Log that lies in a flash of water seven yeers together and is never stirred by them Like unto a vessel in a House that is cast aside and lies moulding and rotting that is never imployed nor fitted for any service are these Vessels of Honor In 2 Tim. 2.21 the Scripture speaks of Vessels that are in a great house that are Vessels of honor and he describes them that they are purged and fitted for the masters use and prepared for every good work Now if a vessel lie alwaies moulding and rotting and never used this is for the fire and not for use So those hearts that are alwaies moulding and rotting and never fit for service they may fear they are
to be his but the glorious strength of God the chief of Gods strength to speak after the manner of men if there be any thing more glorious in the strength of God than other Faith doth fetch in that for the strengthening of the soul in the service of God For that we have two or three notable Scriptures Ephes 1.19 which doth not only speak of the power of God in working of Faith but of the power of God in the sould after Faith is wrought First It is the Power of God Secondly It is the mighty Power of God Thirdly The working of his mighty Power Fourthly The greatness of the working of his mighty Power Fifthly The exceeding greatness of the working of his mighty Power Sixthly The same Power that raised Christ from the dead This is in be getting Faith in the soul Now it is that Power which a Beleever being once a Beleever hath the use of afterwards Another Text which is remarkable for this purpose is Eph. 3.16 That he would grant unto you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man that which the Apostle praies for is that which a Beleever by Faith may fetch in and make his own First There is strength in the inner man and that is more than in the outward Secondly It is strength by the Spirit now Spirit is a word that is used to express strength and that by Gods Spirit Thirdly It is strength by the Spirit with might one would think it were enough if he had said Strengthened by the Spirit of God that doth bring in might but it is with might by the Spirit in the inner man Fourthly This is according to his Glory it is such a strength such a might of Gods Spirit as God is glorious in it it is the glory of the might of the Spirit of God in the inner man And yet there is one higher expression Fifthly It is according to the Riches of his Glory Whose Glory The Riches of the Glory of the Might of the Spirit of God Of what God That God that is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom the whol Family of Heaven and Earth is named Surely this strength must enable to do mighty things and this strength is a Beleevers own to work for him and assist him in any service What a shameful thing is it for any Christian to complain of the want of strength in the performance of Duty when such a strength as this is made over to him and he by Faith may fetch it in imploy it and make use of it as his own Another place to shew what strength it is that Faith doth bring in it is that in Col. 1.11 Strengthened with all might according to his glorious Power unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness Now if in your lives you would shew that which is proper to a Christian you must do that which must manifest a glorious power of God Now what is it that you do or have done in all your lives that doth manifest a glorious power of God This shews the glory of a Christian that al that see him may say the power of Nature could not do this the power of Grace could not do this and the power of all Creatures in Heaven and Earth could not do this yea it is more than an ordinary power of God it is a glorious power of God that must enable him to do this But though the power of God be glorious it is not alwaies put forth in enabling men to do duties but it is somtimes put forth in enabling of them with patience to undergo that which is laid upon them as wel as to do great things may be you do not find the glorious power of God for to enable you to do great works God would somtimes have his glorious power work to make you patient therefore you must not only be patient as an ordinary man or woman but be so patient as to shew you have a glorious power of God to make you patient Somtimes you have been crost and have had afflictions upon you that have been sore afflictions and have been long upon you and may be you have been patient but you must be so patient as to manifest the glorious power of God in your patience and therefore though I have been somwhat patient yet have I been so patient as to manifest the glorious power of God in it and have I been so long suffering towards those that have crost me as to manifest the glorious power of God in it Faith doth fetch in strength to enable to do that And that is the second thing that Faith doth to carry through difficult services it doth fetch in the greatest strength Thirdly That which Faith doth in enabling the soul to any difficult work is the assisting of the soul with the highest encouragements that possibly can be the encouraging Promises of God and the encouraging Expressions that are in the Word that might put life into the deadest spirit in the world the encouragements that are in the Scripture lay as it were dead to the heart no but that there is life in them but because of the deadness of the heart now Faith comes and puts life into them In this 11. chapter of the Hebrews Faith iâ— commended by raising dead to life here is as great a commendation of Faith when Faith shal raise a dead Promise and dead encouragement and put life into it We read a Promise or an encouragement may be twenty times before but it was as dead but now Faith doth come and put life into it and the soul can come and lay face upon its face and mouth upon its mouth and eyes upon its eyes and it comes to be a mighty quickning thing to enable it to any service Fourthly Faith carries the soul through works that God cals to because faith in it self besides that it brings in is a mighty strong principle it is the most glorious work that ever creature was enabled to do in this world the Angels in Heaven were never able to put forth a more glorious work for the kind of it than a beleeving soul doth put forth in the proper essential work of Faith and if Faith in the proper essential act of it be the most glorious difficult work that ever creature in Heaven or Earth did then surely it must have a mighty deal of power to enable the soul to do the most difficult and glorious Services Quest You wil say What is that proper essential work of faith that is the most glorious difficult work that ever was performed Answ For a Creature that doth apprehend it self by Nature an enemy to God a poor wretched defiled creature by sin standing guilty in the presence of God having the wrath of God incensed against it the Justice of God crying for satisfaction and the Law of God pronouncing an eternal Curse upon it for a soul to
see this and be sensible of it and yet in this condition to raise up its self to lay hold upon the perfect righteousness of a Mediator God and Man and to venture its eternal estate upon that righteousness and to tender up to God by Faith that righteousness as a ful satisfaction to his Justice and as sufficient to bear off the the wrath of God from it and notwithstanding al the pollution of its nature yet to unite it self to the Deity in the neerest union that ever creature was united to the Deity except the personal Union of Christ to the Divine Nature this is a glorious work and no marvel though such glorious power of God be in Faith and a Faith that can do this may do any thing as Christ said If you can beleeve all things are possible so say I to every one that hath low thoughts of Faith and think it a mean work If you can beleeve al things are possible it is a greater thing to beleeve truly than for to work miracles a man may work miracles and yet be damned but justifying Faith doth so unite the soul to God that it is impossible the soul should be damned and therefore it is a greater miracle than ever any was enabled to do though God enables Angels to do great things yet he never enables them to do such a glorious work as this Besides though people think Faith is an easie matter yet it is the most difficult work in the world First Difficult in regard of the impediments no work hath such great impediments as this The soul seeing an enmity between God and it and seeing it self a polluted Creature and seeing the Law of God in its strictness and the Justice of God must be satisfied and sees the wrath of God burning against it and having nothing in its self to satisfie God yet Faith doth break through al these and if it can break through these then certainly it wil break through any thing for there can be no greater impediment to any service that God calls to than there was to this one work of beleeving Let us not therefore be feared by any difficulty and mountain that lies in our way to any work because there can never be any mountain laid in our way to hinder us in any work as did lie in our way to hinder us from beleeving and if Faith did burst through those impediments it shal be able to break through al other impediments Secondly It is difficult not only because of the impediments but because it is the highest duty of all to reach high is painful to the Body so the high actions of the soul are difficult to the soul now Faith is high the object is high the act is high and the end is high the object is the highest object it is the perfect righteousness of a Mediator God-man and the act is of the highest nature it is an act of uniting the soul with the Deity as by sin the soul departed from God so by faith the soul comes to be made one and for the end that is high it is for the satisfaction of infinite Justice and for appeasing of infinite wrath and for acceptation from infinite holiness let God be never so holy infinitely more than we can conceive of him yet faith does procure acceptance for such a polluted filthy creature as man is from the infinite holiness of God Thirdly It is difficult because it hath the least furtherance from any principle of Nature some other Graces as Patience and Justice and Sobriety they have some help from the principles in Reason and Nature but Faith hath no help from any principles in Reason or Nature and therefore surely it is difficult and if it be the most glorious and difficult thing surely it wil enable the soul to do most glorious and difficult works Fifthly Faith appears to be a most strong thing to carry the Soul through any service because it enables a soul to go on in any way of service that God calls to in a gracious manner and this doth facillitate a work a main thing that makes our services difficult is our blundering about them and going about them in a confused untoward manner we do not carry things graciously and sweetly In an outward work to carry it on in a right manner doth mightily further the work so in any work that Godsets us about if we went on in the right way that God set us about it would help us against difficulty we may thank our selves because we go about our work unto wardly As an apprentice that handles his tool untowardly he works with as much strength as another but not going in the right manner to work he does but hack spoil his work wheras a Mason or Carpenter that workes by rule and goes to it in the right manner he goes through his work with ease and if there be a knotty peice in the timber he knows how to order it because he hath skil when as others would throw away the work and could not tell what to do So many not having the grace of faith to guide them by the right rule when they set upon any work in religion they cry out of the difficultness and how it tires them no marvel if you be tired when you do not know the right rule but the principle of Faith being begotten by the word and being fed and nourished by the word it will keep the heart close to the word and give skill to the soul to apply it selfe to the rule and therefore though the work be hard yet to such a one in comparison it is Easy and so carries through abundance of difficulties which otherwise would hinder him Sixthly Faith carries through difficult works things that are hard to be done because by faith it is that the soul of a beleever hath much to do with God with the supream Cause with the highest cause of all and by reason of Faith the great things that he undertakes are transacted between God and him the cheif difficulty of business lies most in second causes in under causes now if so be the thing be cleare between the supreame cause and the agent that undertakes the work it may go on and that with ease As many times in the business and affaires of a country if a man have to do with many under Officers he may have a great deal of difficulty in his work in passing through them but if the business be transacted between him and the King and all be cleare there he may carry his business with ease so all the business of a beleever is transacted between God and him and faith keeps the soul to the supreame cause and works it that way and this must needs procure much ease to a service because the supream cause depends on no inferior but all inferior depends upon it and the supream cause is enough to work without any inferior causes and no inferior can any way
resist the working of the supream yea it is a great particular of the glory of the supream cause to work above and beyond all inferior causes and faith having to deal with that it is not so much scared with difficulties as others are Seventhly Yet further Faith helps through great difficulties because it doth remove and cure the difficulties that are within the spirits of men and women and if these be taken away external difficulties have little in them we complain of many difficulties in a work without whenas indeed the greatest difficulties are within in our hearts and faith hath a speciall efficacy for removing and curing of them As now unruly passions are great hinderances to any worke that we undertake faith hath a mighty power in curing of them And likewise distracting fears but of that before And the reasoning of flesh and blood have a mighty deal of power to make a work difficult and great care is to be had in curing of them And the lumpish deadness of our spirits And the base sluggishness of our hearts And the base ends that a man hath faith cures them and cleanses the heart of them And so foolish presumptions that people have and their false confidences and resting upon rotten props these and divers others may be named which are inward difficulties that faith helps against and by removing of them doth easily overcome any difficulty that is without therefore when you have any work which is hard look not so much for the removing the difficulties that are without as the difficulties that are within Eighthly The Eighth particular wherein the power of Faith is That Faith makes the work that God sets a Christian about to be suitable to his spirit let the work be what it wil be if it be a work of God any way of Godliness Faith hath a power to work the heart to be suitable to that work that there shal be an agreement between the frame and temper of heart and the work that God sets it to and then a work wil go on If you set one to a work that does but bungle the work does not go off hand because it is a work that is not suitable to his principles but if a man hath a work that is suitable to him he can go to it with singing and it goes off readily as in Nehem. 4.6 The work went on because the people had a mind to work though indeed it was a hard work Ninthly Again Another power of Faith is this Faith hath power to make use of difficulties for the furtherance of the work and therefore much more power for to carry through difficulties Faith can bring water out of the Rock it can make the mountains that lie in the way to be advantages to raise the heart upon We have a notable place for this in Hebr. 11.3 4. where it is said Out of weakness they were made strong not that they were made strong being weak that they were brought out of their weakness and had strength conveyed to them that is not al but it is made a fruit of their Faith that they were made strong out of weakness Faith did make use of their very weakness to strengthen them by so that Faith is not only able to strengthen those that are weak but to take advantage by weakness for to strengthen to turn al hindrances into furtherances for so God having promised all shal turn to good Faith can take hold of that Promise and so turn all hindrances that can be into furtherances Faith hath a Chymical Art those that have that Art wil get Gold cut of Stones or Iron So Faith wil draw Gold out of Iron and stones out of things that seem to be never so cross and contrary it wil draw help Tenthly Faith helps against difficulty because it works by love and that hath a great deal of power to carry through difficulties Much water cannot quench Love it is a speech of Bernard Cant. 8.7 The force of Love is violent Saies the Apostle in 1 Thess 1.3 Remembring without ceasing your work of Faith and labor of Love Love is very laborious it will force through difficulty therefore that which makes so much use of Love and inflames that that hath much power against difficulty 11 ly Another thing wherein the power of Faith consists is Before we enter on the work it assures of a certain good success Now when we know the success shal be good and certain before we begin this wil help against any difficulty though the work be never so hard it is want of the hope of the success that deadens the heart But this must not be mistaken Faith doth not alwaies assure of a particular success if we wil assure our selves of a particular success which is more than the Promise wil bear this wil hinder Faith but faith wil assure of success in the general 12 ly Again Faith assures of the reward 2 Chron. 75.7 Be ye strong therefore and let not your hands be weak for your work shall be rewarded Faith assuring of this wil make one strong though God cal to never such hard things Marriners in hope of a good reward they wil venture themselves in storms tempests and in dangers on the Sea And so a Soldier if his Captain wil give him a months or two months pay over and above he wil venture his life 13 ly Lastly Faith quickens and stirs up al Graces cals in the help of every Grace Now many hands will do great works and so where al Graces do work together much wil be done And thus much for the explication of the work of faith in carrying through services that have so much difficulty For Use CHAP. 21. Vses of the Doctrine Use First Let none think God an hard Master when he puts them upon service because he affords them a principle to carry them through Use Secondly To Beleevers that they should expect to be put upon difficult things 1. Four considerations against discouragements It is not to be accounted an affliction to be put upon difficult things for 4. Reasons Use Thirdly Shewing it can be no concluding argument against a work because there are hinderances Use Fourthly When you have been carried through difficult services consider what it was which supported you USE 1. First Now then let none think God to be an hard Master in putting his servants upon such difficulties as are hard to do though he do put them upon difficulties yet he gives them a principle to carry them through and then it is al one as if it were easyer Carnal hearts are ready to complaine of the tediousness and hardness of Gods waies and they are ready to complain of God as an hard Master how are they hard and tedious They are hard and tedious to you because you want a principle to do them by but they are not hard to the Christian indeed it was cruelty and hardness to to Pharoah to put the Israelites upon work
more precious in the exercise you should prize one exercise of Grace more excellent then the whol world People prize grace in the habits Oh that God would bestow Grace upon them but they do not set a price upon every gratious act but come to this to set a high price upon every act of Grace as wel as the habit and you will not complain of difficult works 3. The more difficult services you are called to the more opportunitie you have to honor God you have don but a litle all this while and the most part of your time hath been to little purpose if God will give you an opportunitie to doe a great deale in a little time will you murmure at it and count it your affliction 4. Difficult works are for the improvement of your graces If a man have a stock and he have had some improvement for it but not full he hath some mony ly dead by him or is not improved for that advantage it might if he shal find a way to improve every penny of his stock to the utmost advantage will he count this an affliction he counts it an advantage who grow rich but those that have the full improvement of their stock Men count it a misery to have their stockly by them and not improved why do not you count it a misery to have gracely by you and not exercised Would you count it a happiness that God should shew you a way to improve your outward stock to the full and would you not count it a happiness that God should shew you a way to improve your grace to the full USE 3. The third use is this If Faith enables to carry through difficult works then it can be no concluding argument against a work because there fall out many hinderances in the worke for faith carries through nothing but that which is the work of God and if it be to carry through hinderances then hinderances and blocks in the way can be no concluding argument that this is not the work of God this is our weakness we set upon many works and before we begin we consider whether it be the work of God and we have considered and consulted with God and his people and we find it is Gods work and we begin to set upon it and we would go on and alwaies think it Gods work if things went on wel but as soone as we find any let that stops us we begin to cal in question whether it were Gods work or no. It is true when we find any hinderances in our work it should make us reflect our thoughts upon our cal to it and see that be right and further it should make us humble our selves before God to take away whatsoever hinderance God should lay in our way out of any displeasure for though God somtimes do lay hinderances as an honor to improve our graces yet somtimes hinderances may be as chastizements to us and therefore it is useful for to humble our soules before God that we may have more assurance nothing is between God and us and that our hinderances do not come as a fruit of his displeasure and the hinderances we meet withall should make us keep more close to the rule because Faith will beare us out in nothing but according as we goe to the rule and so we should improve hinderances to stir up our Faith But to make hinderances and hard things that fall out to be an argument to think it is not the work of God that is a great evil And for that I only speak this one thing that is the way of God towards Jacob in that work of his when God called him to goe from Laban into his own country You may read the story at your leisure God from Heaven calls Jacob to goe to that Journey It was the work of God Jacob might think it being Gods work I shall meet with no hardship but if you read the story you shall find it was one of the most hard Journeys that ever he undertook in his life as it appeares by these six things First After he went Laban followed him with an intent to mischeife him but that God stopt him and there was some danger that Jacob was in God freed him from that Secondly His wise's nurse dyed that was a great help to his wife God took away even a right hand to his wife Thirdly His wife dyed in that Journey this was a mighty cross he might think God comes mightily to crosse me Fourthly After this His Daughter Dinah goes out and shee is defloured Fiftly After this His two Sons Symeon and Levi goe and commit that wofull outrage and murdered so many innocent people Sixtly His Brother Esaw came with rage and fury against him intending to destroy him and he was mightily affraid of his Brother Esaw Now this may quiet many that are to goe any Journy first let them see the call of God and then go on in it whatsoever fals out take it rather as a tryall of your Faith then any stop of God in your way And so you that are weake that have friends that undertake hard works and hard voyages you think they may doe it before danger come but if danger come you are ready to think that it is not the right way if you have no other argument but that know it comes from weakness and you are to lay downe that weakness and not to disturbe your selves and your friends by your weakness to think it is not the way of God because of those hinderances and that is the third use USE 4. Fourthly if Faith be the principle that carries through such difficult works Hence who ever have been carried through difficult works look back to what God hath carried you through reflect upon it and see what it was that did it such and such works God called you to may be as he did Moses to forsake your owne country which you have done not out of any outward necessity but in bare obedience to God now may be you may meet with many hinderances and inconveniences you might have stayed and lived comfortable and full handed enough if you could have dispensed with those things that others did some hardship you had in leaving of those things and then the example of others might come and make the work difficult But through Gods mercy the work was undertaken and gone through now what is it that carried you through was it your own naturall resolutions the strength of your own purposes was it any assistance you hade from any friends or any help that we can imagine from any creature upon the reviewing of it cannot you say as in the presence of God I know not what in the world carried me through but Gods giving me an heart to depend upon him in it After what manner did God work upon thy heart did he first prepare thy heart by a work of humiliation to seek him and make up thy peace with him
when he had done that did God secondly take off thy heart from all creature props creature confidences and dependances After that did God cast in a word and promise into thee and by his spirit mightily draw thy heart to close with it and fasten upon it did God draw out a work of Faith to close with this wisdom Faithfulness and power for the carrying of thee through when thou sawest no strength in thy self nor didst not know what should become of thee wert willing wholly to venture upon God to give up thy self unto him to be at his dispose were thy ends good and right in this work didst not thou find that there was a principle in thee carrying thee beyond thine own thoughts beyond any strength that thou couldest possibly conceive to be in thy self and that hath brought the work to an issue beyond they expectation surely there was faith in this and if there were faith in this consider what I have to say to thee First Know that this work is wonderfully acceptable to God God looks upon such works of nature as lovely as the young man that came to Christ Christ loved him in Mark 10.21 But if it be a work of faith God looks upon it and accepts it indeed says the scripture These obtained a good report by faith Heb. 11.39 They obtained a good report indeed not only before men but before God Secondly being a work of Faith thou mayest have abundance of peace and joy in it we never have gone through difficulty but it is pleasant to us if we have gone some voyage and have passed through difficulties through many storms and tempests we prize it the water that David longed for when it was got with so much difficulty he thought it too good to drink but powred it before the Lord. In 2 Sam. 23.16.17 As Jacob saies of the portion he gave to Joseph Gen. 48.22 This I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow So any thing that we get hardly it is the more prized so that when we get through difficulties by our faith that we should prize much and rejoyce in Thirdly If so be that Faith hath carried thee through difficulty Let this encourage thee for ever for time to come certainly there is no difficulty wil stand before thee if difficulties have begun to fal they wil fal and wil not be able to stand before thee You may reason as Hamans friends If thou beginnest to fall before Mordecai thou wilt fall Est 6.13 and therefore thou maist cal this work by the name that David called that place where his enemies began to fal before him Baal-perizem because God had made a breach upon his enemies 2 Sam. 5.20 he took that but as a pledg that God would make al his enemies fal before him And so hath God made some difficulties fal before thee then al difficulties wil fal Fourthly Let God have al the glory neither thy self nor the means those things that we do by Faith God is in them little of our selves or nothing at al Boasting is excluded saies the Apostle Rom. 3.27 By the Law of Faith or by the Law of Works By the Law of Faith and therefore that which is done by faith excludes al boasting from our selves and gives God the glory 1. Because Faith of al Graces hath least rooting in our selves as for Justice and Temperance and Patience and Love they have some assistance in Nature but faith hath nothing at al and therefore God must have the glory of that chiefly 2. Faith of al Graces hath the least influence into that which it doth though it be under the rank of efficient causes it is but an instrumental cause and though an instrument be an efficient it is the least efficiency of al and therefore the glory belongs to God 3. Of al Graces Faith is the most emptying Grace it carries a Creature out of it self unto another and therefore whatsoever we do by Faith we must give God the glory 4. Attribute nothing to means for though thou usest means ye whatsoever was done by Faith was done above means beyond means and might have been done without means 5. Hath God carryed you through any difficult work and was this a principle Labor to prize the word of God upon which thy faith was built to nourish and increase this Joy 6. If you have found your faith hath carried you through great things take heed thy Faith do not fayl thee in less things that will be a shame As a marriner that hath been in great stormes and tempests and hath wrought through them if afterward he should come and perish in the haven or in some ordinary tempest for want of Skill that would grieve him more so for a Souldier that hath been in desperate battels afterwards to be overcome with a little strength he looseth his honor this is possible that a Christian by his faith may be carried through wonderful great things and yet his faith may fail him afterwards in lesser things as many a man may escape great dangers and recover great success and yet afterwards die of a cold and those that God hath carried through great things may faile in lesser but it is an infinite shame take heed to your selves in that As David speaks concerning Saul 2. Sam. 1.21 The shield of the mighty is vilely cast away as though he had not been anointed with Oyl God hath given thee fayth as a shield and it was the shield of the mighty and now it is vilely cast away an ordinary temptation comes and thou failest as if thou hadst not been anointed with oyl when God carried thee through difficult works thou wert anointed with oyl and now you fal as if you had not been anointed with oyl you have been carried through many difficulties in that work of leaving of your country now when you come here your faith will not serve you to order your ordinary business and affaires but it fails fowly in every ordinary dealing with man and in your private dealings in your family what a shameful thing is it that such a one as hath had such power as to look upon the face of his enemies and to testify for the truth before them when he hath to deal with a servant or child or Wife he fails shamefully and when he comes to deal with brethren he knows not how to behave himself as if he were not anointed with oyl as if he never had faith nothing but nature as ful of frowardness and pettishness of spirit and all outward distempers as those that never were acquainted with Faith And so faith hath carried you through great difficulties enabled you to deny your self to get to the ordinances and when you are under them it fails you in assistance to make use of them and to give God the Glory of them but you rather defile them and spoile them what a shameful thing is this Be ashamed and confounded in
your own thoughts and stir up your Faith CHAP. 22. Quest How to know whether Faith wil carry us through difficult works Answered in several particulars 1. Faith Goes upon spiritual grounds motives and ends 2. Makes men sollicitous and careful for the enjoyment of Gods presence with them 3. Causes men to carry themselves in a Gracious manner 4. To have an high esteem of the name of God 5. Makes them careful that they may not be frustrated of their end 6. It makes men satisfied with God Alone 7. Faith is a continued work That Faith Which brought you out will carry you through QVEST It is true faith doth carry through difficult works and amongst other difficult works the forsaking of ones own country it is much that we forsake in forsaking our country and we had need of Faith to carry one through this indeed a Christian should look upon all the world as his country he treads upon no ground but that which is his Fathers ground Socrates used to call himself a Citizen of the world when he was banished he counted it no banishment for the world was his country and he being a man was a Citizen of it certainly God hath given the Saints the World The promise was to Abraham and to his seed that he should be heire of the World Rom. 4.13 And as it was said of the children of Israel Deut. 11.24 So it may be said of the Saints Whatever ground you tread upon it is your own for use And further though the world be theirs yet they live above the world and therefore they care not in what part of the world they are Thus Tertullian writing to Martyrs to encourage them being driven from their own country it is no matter saies he in what part of the world you are who are separated from the world Yet there is much difficulty in leâ—â—ing of a mans country and he had need of faith to carry him through who doth leave it But how shall we know that faith carries us through there may be many other principles Answ First Faith goes upon spiritual grounds motives and ends Faith is a spiritual grace and it works exceeding spiritually and the reasonings of Faith are above the reasonings of Flesh and Blood what were your motives and grounds and ends by that you might know whether out of faith you forsook your country it may be it was from vexation or discontent that you left your country or from the example of others or from engagement unto others or out of novelty or out of carnal fears or out of vaine hopes or for further providing for your selves a great many things there may be that may put people on such a way especially those three novelty example and discontent but if it be by faith the ground and the end wil be spiritual for God and out of obedience unto God It is observable of Moses for I will go no further for notes of tryal then from the worke of Moses Moses when he pleads with Pharoah to go out of his country he did not plead the peoples bondage you do so abuse the people here and we are in such grievous bondage that we cannot bear it but saies he In Exod. 4.23 The Lord hath commanded we must go into the wilderness to worship him that was his plea and ground and end rather then the bondage that the people did suffer so when men forsake their country outward things may come in in subordination to higher things and there may be faith in ordering the heart about them but faith must go above them now can your consciences witness as in the presence of God it was your longing desire for to enjoy God in his ordinances and to keep your souls from defilement this was the argument of Moses they could not set up the worship of God there but they must go where God called them 2. If Faith be the thing that brings any from their country above all things they will be very sollicitous and careful for the enjoyment of Gods presence with them though they are in a subordinate way to provide for their families and to look how to live yet the great care of their souls is that they may enjoy the presence of God this was Moses argument Exod. 33.15 Except thy presence go with us Lord carrie us not hence now if so be it was thy care in departing to carry God and his gracious presence with thee let me stay here and suffer any thing lie in prison and rot rather then go without the presence of God this is an argument it was of Faith 3. Moses in forsaking his own country and going from Egypt he carries it in a very gratious manner when he came to Pharoah though the people were vext and troubled because their bondage did increase he did not fall exclaiming against him but rather yeilding to him in a way of submission as far as he could he did not go on rashly headily foolishly and self-confidently as many do which manifest a great deal of pride and stoutness of spirit rather then any thing else but he carries on the business with a great deal of sobriety and gravity with much humility and meekness of spirit in a way of wisdom and so it is in every action of faith so far as faith is in it now what was the maner of your forsaking your country was it in a way of seeking of God knowing the mind of God with quietness of spirit and humility and wisdom that you were brought away that is another note that it is of faith 4. Moses when he came from his country above al things the name of God was dear to him after he was come away and especially upon this because their very departing from Egypt held out the name of God much and therefore he was very careful that that name of God that was held out in their departing from Egypt might not be polluted when he was in any danger presently he flees to this Lord what will become of thy great name he does not so much plead in the behalf of the people as in the name of God so if faith hath brought you from your country the name of God is much in it you take a profession that you come from your country for the ordinances of God and the further purity of his worship now for one to leave friends and estate and country and all upon this ground if it were out of faith how dear would the name of God be to such a one least the name of God that is held out in his profession should be polluted when you come here and there should be divisions and nothing but tearing and rending of one another consider what shall become of the great name of God thus Moses reasoned what will the heathen say that thou hast brought the people hither to destroy them so will others say they are come out of their own country to tear and rend and fight with
one another Let that name that is held out â—n your profession be dear to you and make that an argument to curb passion and to order you in your dealings one with another 5. Moses was mightily careful that he might not be frustrat of his end he went out of Egypt that he might come to Canaan and when there was any danger that he was like to be frustrated in this how it troubled him it went to his heart and he cried to God that God would let him see that good land so if it be out of faith that you come from your country great care will be had that you be not frustrate of your end wherefore came you came you not to enjoy God to have further communion with God to walk with God in a more close way then you could do before are you careful to attaine your end doth it trouble your souls when at any time you see any danger to be frustrate of your end doth it come near to you that you find for the present you have attained so little of your end those that come out of other ends let this go but if you come out of Faith you will be mightily careful to attaine the end for which you came that work that is done out of faith will work mightily to the end and never leave working till it come at its end 6. If so be you came out of your country by Faith your souls will be satisfied with God alone and the cal and promise of God is that which your souls will have recourse unto continually for the satisfaction of your souls so Moses when he was in straight he presently had recourse to the call and promise of God to bring his people out of Egypt and that satisfied him 7. As it will quiet and satisfie the soul so that Faith that brought you out will carry you through all difficulties now you meet with many difficulties and some you thought not of if it were out of faith that you came and that faith were a continued work it will carry you through the difficulties you meet withall do you find that upon the difficulties you meet withall your hearts sink you may fear it was not Faith that first brought you out I would not have any gather any sinister conclusion from this which hath been said to think that we make comparisons between our country and Egypt no but we bless God for the good we received in our own country and do desire the good of it as far as we can but only to shew the work of Moses in forsaking Egypt But in those that came from Egypt there was a mixt company and those mixt company were a continual trouble and disturbance to those that were the Israel of God Numb 11.4 And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting and the children of Israel also wept again and sayd who shal give us flesh to eate the mixt multitude they began the sin and the children of Israel fell with them And so into these countries there are come many of the people of God that were gracious out of faith but there are a great many that are the mixt multitude that were of broken estates they knew not how to live and coming upon those ends the people of God are troubled with such and they are the gratest contemners of the waies of Godliness they have kindness from the people of the country but they meet with trouble from this mixt company especially when any of those do creep into the Church and come to be members of it but for those that come from their country by faith we hope we shal enjoy comfortable communion with all such and thus much for this fourth use CHAP 23. Containing other vses of the point Use 5. Shews the reason why we faile in any thing we do it is for want of Faith Use 6. Labor to rise in indignation against your unbelief Use 7. Consider what it is to faile in that work which concerns thy eternal estate USE 5. FIftly If so be that it be Faith that carries through difficulties heâ—ce we see the reason why we faile in any thing that we doe it is want of Faith It is not such a let nor such a hinderance no know it is the unbeleiving heart it may be thou wentest in the resolution of thy own heart and thought to carry it through in the strength of thy own spirit and that would not do As the Apostle saith Heb. 11.29 By Faith they passed through the red sea as by dry land which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned So by Faith such and such passed through such and such works to the glory of God But others at other times would assay to do them by their own resolutions and they failed and were drowned it is true resolution may do great matters but to carry a soule in a gracious manner through any difficultie it wil faile Know therefore where lay the cause of thy failing and lay thy hand on the right place and accuse thy self of an unbeleiving heart USE 6. And upon that labour to rise in indignation against thy unbeleiving heart as suppose a man hath been in some great work and some have letted him and so let him as to spoyle his work his heart riseth against him I was in a good forwardness and such a one came and spoyled my work and so look upon thy unbelieving heart I was in such a work that God set me about but my unbelieving heart came and hindered me and Gods name lost the glory and my own soul was wounded USE 7. Againe doth thy heart faile thee if my unbelieving heart make me faile in this work what if I should faile through unbelief in that great work that concernes my eternal estate what should become of me then I seldom undertake a work but my unbelieving heart makes me faile in it now there is a work of infinite consequence and nothing can carrie me through that but Faith and if my unbelieving heart come and spoyl me in that it were better I had never been borne it hath done me hurt enough in such and such things I had need have a care it doe not spoile me in that As if a man should say there are such and such businesses I have miscarried in and I have lost much by them but there are such and such works if I miscarrie in I am undon it is as much as my life is worth and therefore I had need take heed of those things that have been hindrances to me in my other works So if unbelief have done you hurt in these works take heed it do not hinder you in the maine work And for a word to those that are weake who are ready to be discouraged and think they shall miscarry Know God hath a speciall care of all his people though never so weak to keep off hinderances in that maine work though God do suffer them to faile in
other works and his name suffer some dishonour by it yet he will have a care they shall not faile in the maine work and were we not sure of this that God will have a care that our unbeleeving hearts shall not spoile us in that maine work we have to do about our Eternal estate we could never have comfort know the covenant wil not bear this the covenant will beare that God should let our faith faile in some works but it will not beare this that God should suffer the least degree of faith to faile in that work which concerns the eternal good of the soul Christ is called the mighty counseller and the maine work of Christ is to counsel the soul in those things that concern its eternal estate and notwithstanding all its unworthiness he will counsel it so far as it shall not miscarry in that great business yet Christ doth not alwaies afford his counsel in every particular action As God deales in the way of his counsel so of his power though he may withdraw his strength so as not to assist our faith in some particular actions yet in the maine and great business that concerns our eternal estate we shall not want necessary strength As a Father that is going along with his child may be he goes in such waies as the child is in danger of many a fall to get many a knock and sore bruise the father will say to him have a care take heed but if he come to a way that if the child fall he lose his life the father wil not content himself with saying take heed but he takes hold on him till he be past that place so God in all our ordinary business saies look to your Faith exercise your faith but for all that we get many a fall and many a knock but then may be there comes another work that concerns our eternal estate which if we faile in we are undone for ever god takes hold of the soul there and will not let them miscarry in that which is the infinite mercy of God to us and were we not sure of Gods mercy in that respect being conscious to our selves of our unbeleeving hearts we might fear yea conclude we should faile CHAP. 24. Helps to put on Faith in any undertaking 1. Set before you the example of your great Captain Jesus Christ 2. Make preparation for the work of Faith by Humiliation 3. Renew your Faith in the Covenant of Grace 4. In difficult times set Faith on work to purifie the heart 5. Take heed of shifting waies and dependances 6. Set loose from your own ends 7. Cast your selves upon the word of God 8. Plead the word with God in prayer 9. Refuse no meanes that God puts into your hands 10. Do nothing with a slavish spirit 11. Be not discouraged by miscarriages that are past 12. Take heed of the disturbance of passion in your work 13. Observe the dependances one work hath upon another 14. Lisson not to Temptations 15. Take heed of perverse reasonings 16. Take heed of disorderly working in four cases 17. Vse resolution and Courage 18. Look on your selves as Gods Instruments 19. Be constant though you find nothing come of it 20. Encrease not the difficulty by your Carriage 21. Look most at your Encouragements 22. Vse not the difficulty in the way to reason against the work 23. Labor to harden your selves by faith against all difficulties NOw doth God call you to any service or work that hath any difficulty in it you see what it is that will help David by Faith in Psal 18.29 Says he could break through a troop and leap over a wall and break a bow of Steel and Paul could do all things through Christ that strengthened him As Christ said of Miraculous faith so it may be said of Justifying Faith If you had faith but as a graine of mustard seed you should say unto this mountaine be removed hence to yonder place and unto this Sycamine tree be thou plucked up by the roots and be thou planted in the Sea and they shall obey you in Math. 17.20 And in Luke 17.6 And so Faith if it come to a sin that is rooted it will be able to pluck it up by the roots and to remove mountains There is nothing more weake and unuseful then on ordinary conceited faith that is but a bare opinion and groundless hope but nothing more strong and usefull then true Faith it hath the quintessence of all graces as the root of the herb hath the vertue and quintessence of all the fruite and branches in it so faith hath the quintessence of all grace and therfore it will do great things As it was said of Luther that had much faith he could do whatsoever he would So it may be said of Faith and the Scripture saith so of it Faith can do what it will it was the speech of Christ to the woman O Woman great is thy Faith be it unto thee as thou wilt In Math. 15.28 Those whose faith is great it shall be to them as they will but know it must be exercised it is not enough to have it in the habit but the activity and exercise of it wherefore for the putting on of your Faith 1. Let us set before us the example of our great Captaine the Lord Jesus Christ you know what difficult works Christ undertooke for the salvation of man such difficult works as all the Angells in heaven and creatures in the world would have sunke under But Christ went through them and there was a work of Faith in Christ that carried him through though it was not such a work of faith as ours Justifying Faith yet he had a Faith his trust in his father that did help to carry him through great and difficult works In 2 Heb. 12.13 Christ is propounded as an example unto us Saying I will declare thy name unto my brethren in the midst of the Church will I sing praise unto thee Christ in his own person did praise God and he sung praises in the hearts of his people so that by the way take this as a comfortable note to encourage us to publique duties while we are praysing of God Christ is praysing of God while we are singing of psalms to God in a gracious manner Christ is praysing of God the father And again I will put my trust in him it is a speech of Christ unto the Father Christ put his trust in the Father and the example of the work of Faith in Christ to carry him through all the works he had to do is brought as an incouragement unto Christians to cast their relyance on God the Father to carry them through all the hard works they have to do And as Christ did not only praise God in his own person but in the Church so Christ did not only in his own person trust in the Father and so was carried through the difficult works he had to do but he trusted
in his Father in the hearts of his people that they might be carried through the difficult works they have to do 2. When any difficult work is to be done labor to make preparation for the work of Faith by humiliation before you undertake the work and according to the nature of any difficult services there must be a proportionable measure of humiliation before you undertake that work therefore when God hath called to extraordinary works usually Gods people have made preparation for their faith by extraordinary humiliation as Nehemiah Ezra and Esther that were to undertake great works which they were to be carried through by faith they made preparation by extraordinary humiliation before hand It is in the putting forth of a new act of faith as it was in the first act of Faith as especially humiliation was a preparation for faith at first so especially humiliation is a preparation for the putting forth of a new act of Faith after we have it 3. When any difficult service comes to be performed let there be oft renewing of Faith in the great covenant of Grace and do not only think to exercise faith in this particular work but let your care be about renewing Faith in the great covenant let the great Charter be renewed and inferiour grants wil come in Thus God dealt with Abraham when any thing befell Abraham that he was in a great straight then God renewed his Covenant with him I am God Alsufficient God thought this a special meanes to carry him through If you have renewed the covenant in which all the promises are included this is a great help to Faith Shall not God who hath given us his Son with him also give us al things else the soul may reason strongly thus 4. Faith must be set on work when any difficult service is to be done for the purifying of the heart though you beleeve God will be with you and strengthen you in the work yet unless you make use of Faith to purifie the heart as well as beleeve you may miscarry in the work if there be any lust that lies next the heart you wil never be able for to do great things for sin as it is of a defiling nature so it is of a weakning nature If you would have a spirit of power you must have a sound mind In Nehemiah 13.3 When they were about a great work they separated the mixt company when you are about any great work Exercise Faith to purge your hearts from corruption Saies David Psal 18.32 It is God that girdeth me with strength and makes my way perfect The girding of him with strength and making his way perfect went together therefore labor that the way with God in your own hearts may be perfect and clean and then God will gird you with strength 5. In difficulties labor to exercise faith to get you off from all shifting waies and creature dependances It is observable of those that have to deal with mettals when they are working of Gold that they might have it work the easier they will mixe other mettals with it and upon the mixing of Lead and tinne with Gold it works the easier but it is a great deal worse it were better they would take more pains in the working of it it would be purer Just so do many Christians that are ill workemen in the waies of God when they are working of good actions and they find them difficult and go somwhat hard off they will be mixing their own carnall pollicy and shifting courses and to that end the work may go off easier but though it be easier to be done yet it is a worse peece of work after it be done then it would have been if it had been done with more paines Labor to exercise Faith to get you off from al creature dependances if the heart by Faith be given up to God alone it will do mighty things but if so be we would have two strings to our bow that if such a means do faile we may have some other to rest upon we shall never do any great thing And therefore when God would use any of his people to do great things he first took them off from al creature helps they had before as I have met with an observation that one hath from Moses about this In Acts 17 22. It is said Moses was an Eloquent man a man of mighty words Yet if you read the Story in Exod. 4.10 you shall hear Moses complaine that he was slow of speech and not eloquent This is answered Moses was a man of mighty words but when God was about this work and a little before God took away his excellency in words that he might have further dependance upon God then before he had whether there be any reality in this or no I know not yet certainly it is the way of God when men have any creature helps God doth take them off from them that they might have a sheere work of Faith for when the creature is used it doth usually rob God of a great part of his honor Therfore when Gideon had so many thousand God said it was too great a multitude for him to deliver his people by 6. Faith must take us off from our own ends too and ingage God in the business as much as we can let God be seen in the work though we be not seen let God have the glory though it be not known who did that difficult work great things will be done when God is ingaged in the business And it is a special work of Faith to take us off our own ends when you come to a great work you think to exercise faith and not being taken off from your own ends Faith looseth its vertue and power 7. When we come to any work that is difficult let us labor to exercise Faith to cast our selves upon the word to find out some promise and to roule upon it to venture our selves and the might of our work upon that word as namely thus Suppose it be a work for the subduing of any sin that word in Rom. 6.14 Sin shal not have dominion over you look at the word and make more account of it then of all your endeavors against sin whatsoever if it be laboring to get from under that difficulty the guilt of Conscience and delivering your selves from the terror of it That word in Rom. 8.1 There is no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus If it be for the doing of any work that we are called to that word that hath vertually a promise in it he worketh all our works in us and for us Isa 26.12 If it be to stand against any opposition that word which God gave to Joshua Joshua 1.5 I will be with thee and will not leave thee Exercise Faith to get a word and to rest your souls upon it 8. Take this word and plead it with God in prayer when you enter on any difficulty do as it
were shew unto God his bond though God binds him self yet he wil not come in and help till the creature come and shew his bond and upon the sight and pleading of the bond with God God is pleased to come in with help God is much taken and delighted with this when any of his servants in difficulty shall come and plead his promises The turning of promises into praier and as it were the distilling of faith into prayer is a thing mighty prevailing with God As there are some Physicall things that have great operations but unless they be distilled or taken in such and such things they will not work but then they will work So Faith when it is distilled and turned in praier and mingled with praier and taken down in that then it works If a Physitian should come and say how did you take such a thing and you say I swallowed it down he wil say you should have taken it in such and such a thing and then it would have wrought so you beleeve God will help you but have you distilled your Faith into praier and taken it therein pleading with God to fulfill his word that is a great means to do great things 9. Faith must refuse no means if there be any means that God doth lay in your way take them thankefully use them faithfully diligently carefully as if there were nothing but means and when you have used them depend upon God above means as if there were no other means Idleness and presumption are quite contrary to faith and therefore be faithful in the use of means As it is observed God saies he brought the people into Canaan by his mighty power and outstretched Arme yet there was a great many valiant Souldiers and a mighty power of the people so that notwithstanding all means Faith knows how to give God the glory of his outstretched arme knowing that all second causes work by the power of the First 10. Let us take heed that what we undertake to do we do it not with a slavish spirit meerly haled unto it but look upon every duty as a work of the Gospel that that people do meerly in a compulsive way out of a slavish spirit they will never go through it but by Faith we are to look upon all duties as works of the Gospel not as works of the Covenant of works but as works of the Covenant of grace therefore that is observable concerning Zerubbabel In Zach 4. Where God saies mountains shall be made plaine before Zerubbabel difficulties shall be taken away how at vers 7. At the laying of the corner stones they shall crie Grace Grace magnifying the Grace of God looking higher at the Garace of God then at all the strength that Zerubbabel had and so being carried on in a spiritual way crying Grace Grace that was a means to carry them through difficulties and to make them as plains for when you go about any great work when you lay the first stone in that work crie Grace Grace this is a work that I must expect the free Grace of God in for assistance for acceptance and for blessing and for the carrying me through all the more you magnify the grace of God in any work the more you will be enabled to go through that work Eleventhly You must not be discouraged by miscarriages that have been before You have set upon a work and you have carried your selfe so in it as you have miscarried and you think I have so miscarried and sinned against God as I must never expect Gods help If I had never miscarried in that work I might have had hope but now having so miscarried in that work there is little hope do not reason by former miscarriages If we now set our hearts right to the work and come and ask wisdom to be carried through it though we have miscarried twenty times before God will not upbraid us nor say what doe you come to ask wisdom to do that work when as you have set upon that work before and have spoiled it through the pride and sluggishness of your hearts therefore now away be humbled for miscarriages before but be not discouraged by any miscarriages in that work or in any other yea though we have begun the work and miscarried at first yet be not discouraged many works have miscarried at first and yet have come to a glorious issue at last especially if miscarriages be through weakness as Jacob though he was strook lame and the sinew of his thigh shrunk in wrastling with the Angel yet he prevailed so though there may be failings that our sinews may be shrunk up and we be lame in our work yet there may be a prevailing at last and therefore do not hinder your Faith by being discouraged with former miscarriages 12. Againe take heed of the disturbance of passion in the performance of your work that which is done in a way of passion and frowardness and anger is seldom well done if you have a servant that will allwaies be busie and doing of somewhat but do it in an anger you had better he should do nothing they are the quiet and meek spirits that can carry a work sweetly and prosperously on So in any work that God sets us about let us go about it with quiet spirits your strength shall be to sit stil Isa 50.7 Saies the Lord so the great strength of our hearts in the performance of any work is to stand still and be quiet Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord Exod. 14.13 Not the stillness that is opposed to endeavor but that stilness that is opposed to disquietness and tumultuousness of our unruly affections you would faine have the salvation of the Lord and help in such and such a work why did you not stand stil you are not in case to have the salvation of the Lord so long as you are in such a disturbance many miscarry in a work this way as many foolishly ignorant people that are in a boat when the boat tosses they run up and down in the boat and will not be quiet and so are drowned whereas if there be any skilful in the boat they say do but sit still and you are safe enough but they think they cannot be too hasty to help themselves and so run up and down and turne the boat over them so are unruly passions of men in their hearts when they are in any work and apprehend any danger their passions are up and they think there is a necessity for them to be stirring and it is in an unruly way and so they overturne themselves I beseech you observe it in Moses Moses he was to do the great work in carrying the people from Egypt and he was of a very quiet spirit a great way but he was to go on in the work and though he was the weakest man upon the earth yet the very thing that did over throw Moses in the work at last that made him
to miscarry for his own part was the disturbance of his passion when he came to strike the rock to get water for the people for not sanctifying the name of God but did it in a passion that was the thing that made him miscarry as in Psalm 106.32.33 They angred him also at the waters of strife so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes So you may be have done some works so as you have found God strengthning of you at length you come to a work where may be there is more difficulty then before and there being more difficulty your hearts are disquieted take heed you miscarry not now it is a special thing to carry on a hard work well to go on with quietness disquiet and passion do much hinder as it was the case of the people of Israel in the beginning of Exodus When Moses came they could not harken to him because of the anguish of heart and the greatness of their bondage So to apply it spiritually you are sensible of some griâ—vous bondage under some corruptions and you have much anguish of spirit that you cannot overcome such and such corruptions but take heed you be not so disturbed in your hearts as your being in anguish under that bondage hinder you from hearkning to the Lord in his word and conceiving the mind and will of God a right and knowing how to order your selves in a right way it was so with them and truly this is just the case of many people because they are sensible of the bondage they are in under their corruptions they are so troubled and their hearts are in such a toile and tumult that they cannot hearken to any thing that should guide themselves in this work 13. Another rule for the ordering of your Faith to help you through difficult works is to observe the dependances that one work hath upon another many see a work God would have them to do and they presently set upon that and do not observe what dependance this hath upon somwhat else and so miscarry Suppose a Mariner or some other should have a work to go and pull such a cable such a rope he goes to the place that is in view to pull that rope but may be there is some other line that holdes it in some other place and they may pull their hearts out and never pull the thing they would So many are striving and laboring and tugging in many duties but there is some secret holdfast that they observe not that those duties have dependance upon and they can never bring their work to pass As one complaines of the difficulty of getting a heart to go to God in prayer God knows I have been in prayer have striven with my soul with al my might as in the presence of God for to get up my heart you strive and tug at this and may be you think of some promise and exercise faith too but there is some corruption that seems to be a great way off from this that this hath dependance upon which makes this difficult and you should set your faith on work to deliver your selves from that and then it will come off better as now may be you have been striving to get your hearts up to God in prayer and if you look well to it it may be the frowardness and petrishness and passion of your hearts in your families with servants or wife or husband is that which keeps down your heart when you come into Gods presence you should first have set your faith on work to have cured that and if you had cured that you might have got up your hearts many slip over many corruptions and look at duties a great way off and they strive and take pains but if they had true Christian wisdome they should look what difficulty and hinderance lay between them and that dutie and they should labor to take away that And so for faith we cannot beleeve in God and in the promises may be there lay a sluggish heart in your particular calling it may be so far off though you think there be but little dependance of Faith in that And so in affliction you would faine have your hearts be patient may be there laie a dead lumpishness of heart and drowsiness of spirit and therefore look narrowly to corruption though never so far off and set thy heart in general against all one as well as another 14 Againe take need of listening to temptation when as you are about any hard work there will come abundance of temptation what you go through this work those that have been stronger then you have miscarried it is a mighty hard work and you are a poor creature If it be the work of the Lord go to it with a naked upright heart If I miscarry so it is and do not mind temptations A very observable place it is of Nehemiah in Nehemi 6.3 When he was about the great work of God the adversaries sent as if they would parly with them and it was for nothing but to hinder his work but mark what he saies I am doing a great work so that I cannot come why should the work cease whilst I leave it and come down to you so do you say to temptation temptation would faine have you come reason the case but say I am about the worke of the Lord why should the work cease and I spend my time and strength about reasoning with you 15. Another rule for the putting on of your faith may be this when you are doing any great work God calls you to do Take heed of perverse reasonings as thus When God calls me to do any service I should reason if I were able to do thus and thus I could beleeve but who can beleeve when they have such a heart so unable to do any thing and so unable to overcome any corruption What a perverse reasoning is this If I could do this I could beleeve you should reason I must beleeve that I may do this as If one should say if I could do any work I hope I should have strength you must have strength to do your work or if I were at my journies end I could go you must go to be at your journies end If I were over Sea I could venture into a Ship you must venture into a Ship that you may come over Sea And so if I could do such a thing I could beleeve how should strength come in but by beleeving Wilt stay beleeving till thou canst get strength it is as much as if one should say I wil stay going into a Ship til I get over Sea his going into the Ship is a means to get over Sea and so beleeving is the way to get strength and therefore do not reason from thy want of strength to hinder faith but rather reason from thy want of strength to further faith 16. Again when you go about any work that is difficult take heed of any disorderly
working of your heart about that work The disorderly work of the heart may be discovered in two or three partâ—culars First To look at the success it looks at the duty principally for one to look at the success more then at duty this is a miscarriage and a hinderance to the work of faith Secondly If you do look at the success yet do not look at the particular success though Faith do assure of the general success it doth not alwaies assure of the particular success Thirdly take heed you do not judg of the final success by some hinderances in the work at first as many because they have not success at the beginning they judg of the final issue by that Fourthly Above all take heed of determining before hand that you shall have no success I may go about the work but it will never go on it will never thrive As a servant that is froward will say well I may go about the work but there will never come no good of it so many will go about the work God sets them to do but they determine before hand nothing will come of it This is a sinful boldness who art thou man or woman shal you be so bold with God may you determine what Gods way shall be you may say I deserve that nothing should come of that I do but when it comes to determination it is boldness and sinfulness against God what should not I determine I that am thus and thus vild will God succeed any work in my hand you may say I that am thus and thus vild deserve that God should blast all that I do but do not determine that I shall never overcome this hard heart of mine and I shal never get a patient spirit This is that which the prophet speaks against Hosea 7.13 Though I have redeemed them yet they speak lies against me So though God have redeemed men and hath given them mercy yet they speak lies against God that they shall never have such and such a mercy that they labor for or when God is in a way of redeeming of you and stirring your hearts for you to say there shal never be no success nor help this is to speak lies against God be humbled for that you have been guilty of before and take heed of determining of the success for time to come for assuredly whatsoever unworthinss you see in your selves yet know it is a temptation of the Devil and a provoking sin 17. Againe it must be our care together with our faith to put on that we do with resolution and courage As the Psalmist saith in Psal 310.24 Be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart So when you go to any difficult work put on your faith with all the resolution you can natural resolution helps much against difficulty It is a notable speech of Seneca the mind of man gets whatsoever it commands it self if it will lay a command and charge upon it self it may obtaine it That he saies concerning naural resolution natural resolution is a mighty help to overcome difficulty a man shall be able to do more then he thought he could have done but if this be added with faith that we can make use of our Faith and then lay a necessity on the work it must be done whatsoever I hear it is the command of God this is a mighty thing to help forward the work 18. Another rule is in all services that God calls you to look upon your selves as Gods instruments in Gods hand and look upon the work as Gods work enjoined by him and done for him and not your own I am nothing what is an instrument an axe to the building of an house the work is hard and difficult it is not mine but Gods I am not the principal efficient but the instrument and not in mine own hand but in Gods and such a weak instrument in the hand of a skillful workman in his own work may do great things 19. Again whatsoever work God calls you to do go aâ—out iâ— continuing in it though you find nothing come of it expect God to come in while you are working and do not say if God did come in I could have incouragment to work work expecting God to come in while you are working and though you have been working these many years and found nothing yet if God do come in it will be while you are working As David said to Solomon his Son up and be doing and the Lord be with you 1. Chron. 22.16 So say I to you do not say what shall I be doing without the Lord be doing and the Lord wil come in But I have been doing and the Lord hath not come in Yet whensoever the time comes that God wil come in comfortably it wil be while you are working therefore be doing and the Lord will be with you 20. Again let us take heed we do not increase the difficulty by our disorderly carriage this we are many times guilty of that when God sets us about any work and there be some hardness in it we make it abundantly more hard by our untoward carriages As a man that is fettered by pulling and haling he pulls the skin off his legs and by that means makes it harder to beare his fetters then before the people of Israel that went out of Egypt and went to Canaan through the wilderness it was a hard iourney but they made it abundantly harder by their carriage From Egypt unto the borders of Palestine was but seventy miles and to Jerusalem but a hundred miles and yet by their ill carriage they made it a businese of fourty yeares so though indeed we are to go through a wilderness a difficult work yet through our ill carriage we make it more difficult Let us take heed we do not make it more difficult really by our complaints of it we complaine things are difficult when indeed they are not so in themselves but because of the sluggishness of mens spirits in making complaints of the difficulty of the work 21. Againe be not all poring upon the difficulty and looking at those things that are hard and may discourage you in the work that God set you about but look at those things that may encourage you also if there be any hardness in a work men are alwaies looking upon that and they never look upon any sweet that may incourage them it is never like that they shall goe on Children if they have a sore upon the body the finger usually will be touching of that though it makes the sore to be worse and causeth it to be more and more angry and keeps it from healing So many if they have any thing that is hard in their work their thoughts will be upon that Difficulties in any work are like to bitter pills that God gives us to take down But what a childish thing were it for any that have pills to take down that are bitter for
it is the stronger and therefore let us go on in the way of God whatsoever difficulties come of it CHAP. 25. Containing a Second consideration of the Text to wit an Allegoricall interpretation of Moses forsaking Egypt by Faith Warrant for Allegoricall interpretations Forsaking this world renouncing our natural estate a difficult work Fourteen reasons of it NOw having finished the point in the Literal sense the going through that hard work which Moses was set upon by God Let us speak a little concerning the Allegorical Sense Though that be not the thing which is especially intended yet we know many times the Holy Ghost makes use of Scripture in an Allegorical way And before I enter upon it I will name two or three scriptures to shew a warrant for what I do in handling this scripture in a way of Allegory The Holy Ghost doth make use of Scripture not only according to the primary sense but according to the Metaphorical and Allegorical sense as in Psal 19.34 There is no Speech nor Language where their voice is not heard their line is gone through all the Earth and their word is to the end of the world This is apparently spoken of the Sun and the going forth of the Sun in the Heavens The Heavens and the motions in the Heavens and the great testification of Gods power therein are compared to a Language and a voice And the instruments that are to be drawn from them are gone through the whol Earth But marke how the Apostle makes use of this in a far different sense Rom. 10.18 But I say have they not heard yes verily their sound went into all the Earth and their words into the end of the world Having reference to this place he doth not go according to the direct primary sense but he applies it to the preaching of the Gospel And the going forth of the Apostles And again in Math. 2.15 When Christ was carried into Egypt that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet saying Out of Egypt have I called my Son It hath reference to that Prophesie in Hos 11.1 Which is meant of the calling his people out of Egypt And there it is applyed to Christ and in that the Holy Ghost doth not only apply Scripture according to the primary sense but Allegorically and Tipically we have liberty also to do so And now we shal speak of this Text in an Allegorical sense two waies And that 1. In regard of the bondage we are in by nature under sin and Sathan as the Israelites were in Egypt under Pharoah And as Moses by faith forsook Egypt so we must be delivered out of this spiritual Egypt from this spiritual bondage that we are in by nature under sin and Satan by Faith 2. The Scripture compares the power of Antichrist the bondage that men are in under Antichrist to Egypt Rom. 11.8 There it is called spiritual Sodom and spiritual Egypt And as the Israelites by Faith were delivered from the Bondage they were in in Egypt So faith does deliver people from the bondage of Antichrist I. Then for the forsaking of Egypt we are al by nature bondslaves to Sin and Satan as the Israelites were to the Egyptians And Canaan was a Tipe of Heaven and the promise of God unto them to bring them unto Canaan was to set out the condition of Gods people how they should be brought to heaven All Gods waies towards the Israelites in this work were Tipical to set out further things that were to be afterward Therefore by faith this Egypt is forsaken and the souls of Gods people are carried on to Canaan through the Wilderness of this world to heaven by faith as they were through that Wilderness to Canaan It must be Faith that must carry through this difficult work This is the difficult work of all works the Bondage is the greatest bondage And therefore the work is the most difficult work that may be If we consider 1. The carnal reasonings that are in mens hearts against the work of God in bringing them out of their natural estate 2. If we consider the self confidences that are in men being confident of their estate and no way sensible of their Bondage 3. If we consider the vaine hopes that are in the hearts of people concerning Gods mercy 4. If we consider the dangerous mistakes that are in people mistaking the way of God and the way of life thinking they are in the way of life when they are in the way of Death 5. If we consider the cursed prejudice that men have against the way of God naturally 6. If we consider the strong ingagements that men have to keep them from returning 7. If we consider the many lusts that are in the heart that can never be overpowered but by an Almighty power 8. If we consider the strong accusations and Terrors that are in the consciences of men and Women when they come to be awakned 9. If we consider the woful Temptations of Satan following and daunting the Soul when it would go from this Egypt as Pharoah followed the Israelites 10. If we consider the wonderful discouragements that people have in their own thoughts when they look into themselves and see their Disability to do any thing that is good any Unability to resist any thing that 's Evil. 11. If we consider the perswasions of the world from without when they begin to forsake this spiritual Egypt 12. If we consider how often times God himself seems to walk contrary to them when they are forsaking Egypt 13. If we consider the difficulty of the waies of Religion at this first entrance and the long time that the Soul must have to go in through this wilderness before they come to Canaan 14. If we consider the great venture that the Soul must make to venture its eternal estate and all its good upon the way of God that is revealed to it These things and Many others might be named and inlarged that make this a difficult Work CHAP. 26. How Faith carries the Soul through the difficult Work of forsaking Egypt Their Works of Faith 1. The discovering work in two Particulars 2. The relying Work 3. The Surrendring Work Question Resolved concerning the force of Natural Conscience in three Particulars shewing the great difference between the actings of Faith and Natural Conscience Application 1. Hence see the ground of Miscarriages 2. A Rule of Direction Incouragements to Faith and Beleeving 3. Let delivered Persons see what delivered them Faith which acts by a power without us Twelve Considerable and useful Directions in this matter BUt though it be a difficult work yet Faith carries the Soul through and brings it from this spiritual Egypt and it is only Faith that doth this the Law may do somwhat to shew men their bondages and the spirit of bondage may make them sensible of their bondage but this doth not deliver them as the Children of Israel when they were in bondage they Cryed
out but that did not deliver them it was Faith by which they were to go from Egypt So whatsoever there may be in a way of preparation Its Faith only that delivers from it Quest How doth Faith do this Answ First I wil shew how Faith doth it Secondly I wil shew whether a man may not be delivered in shew by some other things There are three works of Faith whereby we come to forsake this spiritual Egypt 1. The discovering Work 2. The relying Work 3. The surrendring Work First The discovering work Its Faith that discovers clearly and with power the great Misteries of the Gospel the great Work of God wherein the Glory of the great God appeares in providing such a way for the Reconciliation of lost man unto himself such a glorious means of Mediation for the satisfying of his Justice and for the making up of the breach that is between man and him It s Faith and only Faith that can hold out the excellency and Beauty of God appearing in the Gospel And to shew fully al that good that God intends to communicate to the Children of men in this way of Mediation Secondly The discovering work of Faith is in setting before the Soul not only the Glory and excellency and certainty of the work of Mediation in Christ but it discovers unto the Soul the Riches of the freeness of the grace of God in Christ it is Faith that must perswade the Soul that the way of deliverance comes only from free grace that God doth Justifie the ungodly that it is nothing in the creature for which God comes to justifie Secondly There is a relying Work of Faith the Soul having these things discovered in the Glory and power and reality of them Faith comes to close with these things and to cast it self upon this Glorious Rich free Grace of God and venture its self and all its good upon it Thirdly The Soul having thus ventured upon the free Grace of God it makes a surrender of its self up unto Christ To unite it self to him I do not only desire to draw Christ to me to be made mine But I give up my self to Jesus Christ to be his In uniting of two things I do not only lay one thing upon another but joyne the other to that and so in uniting the Soul to Christ there is not only a bringing of Christ to the Soul but a surrendring of the Soul to Christ to him in him to him and for him and to be satisfied with him And when Faith comes to discover with power the Glory and reality of the great Misteries of the Gospel enabling it to cast and rowle it self for all its good upon this way and surrender its self up to Christ to be wholly his here is the work of Faith that delivers from this spiritual Egypt Quest But may not natural Conscience help men through much difficulty in the way of deliverance from this spiritual Egypt Many come to see their bondage by sin and seeme to be delivered and may be it is only the strength of Natural Conscience and not Faith Answ It is acknowledged that natural Conscience may in a great degree deliver men from some hind of bondage under sin and may deliver from a great deal of the power of their sin but you shall observe the difference to be thus First Natural conscience may help men to abstaine from sin and set upon many duties that it may seem they are delivered from this bondage but whatsoever they abstaine from and whatsoever duties they do It is rather because conscience urgeth the necessity of it upon them then any inward principle to approve and like of the duties they performe or to dislike and disapprove of the sin they abstaine from they are forced out of Egypt But Faith it doth not make men only abstain from sin but is gives them a principle to make against sin and it doth not only perform duty but the heartt is for that duty and there is an agreeableness and sutableness in the heart unto that duty Secondly Where it is only naturall conscience that carries through many streights it doth enable to do outward things and abstaine from outward things but there is but little inward change of the heart it may keep them from some actions they dare not commit such and such sins no not in secret though none in the world know it but there is not an inward change in the heart Thirdly Where it is a natural conscience Grace is desired for peace sake where it is of grace the soul desires peace for the furtherance of Grace USE 1. To apply this a little Is it Faith that delivers from this spiritual Egypt Hence let us see the ground of the Miscarriages of most people in their deliverances from spiritual Egypt Many people by the word by the Ministry of the Law they come to see their bondage and woful wretched estate their consciences are much troubled but they miscarry and it appears in the end that they were never delivered from the bondage of Egypt but they lived and died in Egypt and perished Eternally They were come neer to Canaan and yet they perished and never come to Canaan because it is not Faith that delivered them they were not acquainted with the mistery of the Gospel and the covenant of Grace they must abstain from Sin be no more drunkards and Swearers and Adulterers and Sabbath breakers They abstaine from them and their Religion is a meer natural work and there they quiet themselves and think they are delivered But the glorious work of God in Faith is not mighty and powerful upon their hearts carrying their hearts to God in Christ in the way of the Gospel and discovering the misteries of the Gospel and therefore they are not delivered 2. Hence is a rule of direction to such as are about being delivered from this spiritual Egypt Are there any such that God hath made sensible of their woful bondage and wouldest thou deliver thy soul from that spiritual bondage is it thy worke that thou art now about If any thing do it it must be the work of Faith Thou maiest get some quiet and ease by some other means but for deliverance you can never get it but by Faith Therefore do not content thy self with any reformation that its better with thee then it hath been never rest till thou hast got the work of Faith and for the incouragement of such a soul to beleeve that it may be delivered by Faith from that bondage it is sensible of and which it is now about Know First If thou beest sensible of thy spiritual bondage know it is the great work that God hath set his heart upon above al the works of the world to deliver souls from this spirituall bondage Many that are sensible of their spiritual bondage say I am in such a condition and will God ever regard me in this estate will he regard thee yes know that the greatest
thing that Gods heart is upon as the highest thing that he wil do is upon those that are sensible of their spiritual bondage of this spiritual Egypt to deliver them And though thou art not sure he wil do it for thee yet this is a great incouragement Object But though he may do it for others yet I am so vile that though I have seen my sin I have stil gone on therefore he wil not do it for me Answ 2. Wherefore know in the second place that the great designe that God hath in this work is not only to manifest his power but to set out before men and Angels to all eternity the Riches and Glory of his free Grace And therefore those objections of thy unworthinss may be taken away for thou maiest see God doth not intend to goe on with thee in a way of retribution or distributive Justice if thou dost so and so and so he wil do so and so for thee but he goes this way to work that his great designe is to magnify his free Grace And whosoever he does deliver it is for this end to shew to men and Angels what the power of his infinite free Grace is able to do and this is a great Incouragement 3. Further Jesus Christ hath already removed all differences that are between God the Father and thy soul the difficulties which make such a mighty vast dismal distance between God and thy soul is the wrath of God and the justice of God and the curse of the Law Now it hath been the work of Christ to take away all these difficulties So that when thou lookest up and seest thy sin against an infinite God that is infinitely holy and infinitely just and seest the curse of the Law against thee thou thinkest these are great difficulties how is it possible for me to get over these know it is the work of Christ that great Savior of the world to remove those difficulties and if he had not undertook it it had been impossible for any soul to come to God But he hath done it and therefore thou hast liberty to come to God if thou hast but an heart to venture upon his free Grace if thou saiest how can I know that Christ hath removed these difficulties for me It s the work of Faith that gives thee an interest And therefore do not stay for any thing else If thou doest but venture upon Faith thou needest not take care as those Women did who shall roule away the stone Who shall remove the difficulties of the curse of the Law who shall pacifie the wrath of God that is burning against me for my sin If thou doest beleeve Christ hath done it Fourthly Christ hath not only removed the difficulties between God the Father and thy soul but there are many gracious promises in the Gospel for the removing of all difficulties in thy soul that thou hast as much right to lay claime to as any one in the world that ever was delivered by Christ Whatsoever ground any had to claime these promises before the applying of them thou hast the same ground the great hinderance that is in thee is an hard heart a stout stubborne spirit marke what is said that there shall be a way prepared for the Lord Make his way strait every high Mountain shal be brought low every valley shal be filled up every crooked way shall be made strait every rough way shall be made plaine Luke 3.4.5.6 Now who hath right to laie hold on these promises this applying of them doth give interest doest thou find thy heart proud and canst not pul it down saies the Lord every high mountaine shal be cast down dost thou say I have an unbeleeving heart I know not how to beleeve Gods word but my heart sinks down in unbeliefe that is as a valley dejected Every vally shal be filled up I have a perverse crooked heart every croked way shall be made strait I have a rough knotty heart every rough heart Every rough way shall be made plaine So that Christ hath not only made things cleer between God and thee but in thy own Soul Object But he doth not make it clear for all Answ Thou hast as much ground to beleeve as any had before they did beleeve I will take away thy strong Heart saith God This is revealed to all and therefore thou art to make use of them And whosoever did get good by them they could not see any interest they had to them more then thou canst see USE 3. A Third use is this If Faith be that which does deliver from this spiritual Egypt Then those that are delivered let them see what hath brought them out and magnifie the work of God let them stand and admire the Grace of God in delivering them from al difficulties and in carrying them through that were so poor and weak as they were know it was not thy endeavor but the work of Faith and the work of God in thee Faith workes by a power out of us and not by our own power And God delivers the Soul from this spiritual Egypt by Faith Because he would have the Glory of it Therefore now if it have been a work of Faith let this Exhortation prevail with you Labor to exercise your Faith in going through the Wilderness to Canaan There was a time you were in bondage under sin and Satan and the Law And now thou art delivered from the Law and brought to Grace Is it Faith hath done it Let this Faith be imployed to carry thee on through the wilderness unto Canaan And all the Rules that I will give unto you shall be from the People of Israels going through the wilderness unto Canaan when they were delivered from Egypt Direction 1. First They were not to stir but upon Gods Direction when the cloud and the pillar of fire went before them So in thy way keep close to the Direction of God Let thy Faith stick close to the word and not to the Direction of thine own Heart Direction 2. Secondly When they were delivered this was a great Evil their Murmuring because of the hardships they met withal take heed thou beest not guilty of this Let not thy heart run out too far to murmur against the waies of God when you meet with any hardships being God with his outstretched Arm and his mighty hand hath delivered thee God forbid thou shouldest be murmuring upon every difficulty Direction 3. Thirdly Take heed you do not limit the Holy One of Israel God was Angry with them because they limited the Holy One of Israel Psalm 78.19 Can God prepare a table in the Wilderness say they So many when they are in the way to Heaven and they find any difficulty can God help such a one as I say they Take heed of limiting God do not propound Limits to to what God can do No nor to what God wil do Direction 4. Fourthly Take heed of slighting any thing that God
gives you as they did when they were delivered and had Manna say they What is this Manna Exod. 16.15 Numh. 11.6 They slight it take heed you be not guilty of this spirituality when God feeds you with Manna you say they are but huskes And when God gives you his Grace you say they are but such things as Hypocrites may have and slight all Direction 5. Fifthly Take heed of having hard thoughts of God as when they came into the wilderness the Scripture saies Deut. 1.27 They said God brought them thither because he hated them and meant to destroy them So many out of the frowardness of their hearts and that I tremble to speak of When God is in a gracious way in doing good to them and in bringing them to himself upon every difficulty they find they are ready to say God does all this but to aggravate my sin and because he hates me and that my condemnation might be the more grievous if I had never known so much and never had such convincings of conscience and had never prayed so much my condemnation had not been so great this is an horrible abusing of the Grace of God Just like those that were delivered out of Egypt this is because God hates us say they and means to destroy us it is true God hath wrought upon mee more then others but it is to aggravate my condemnation let not us have such hard thoughts of God Direction 6. Sixthly Observe their way in the wilderness and take heed of being discouraged by any hardship thou meerest withall in thy way they said Numb 13.27.28 The Land was a good Land but there were the Anakins and Giants and they should never overcome them So many reason Heaven is a blessed place But there are such oppositions the children of Anak such strong lusts and corruptions they shall never overcome such Giant like Anakish corruptions But as David said Psalm 1.27.1 One day I shall perish by the hand of Saul So one day I shall perish by the hand of my lusts Direction 7. In the seventh place Take heed of a passionate throwing off all as they did when they heard of the Anaks and of opposition Numb 14 4. Let us make a Captaine to returne againe into Egipt So when men are in their way from Egypt going to Canaan they meet with strong oppositions within and without and they say we had as good cast off all and go back againe take heed of flinging off all Direction 8. Eightly Take heed of giving the least way to any lusting of thy heart after former corruptions Exod. 16.3.4 They would be lusting after their Onions and Flesh pots in Egypt and so were ready to commit sin So many when God is in the way of working his grace they are ready to think what they had formerly and they were not so strictly bound before they have some hankerings of heart after former lusts And though thou darest not conclude I wil go and commit such and such sins I say though thou doest not conclude yet thy heart and thoughts have some hankerings after them take heed of that Direction 9. Ninthly Take head of forgetting Gods dealings with thee as they did when they were going to Canaan notwithstanding God did such great things for them Psal 106.13 They presently forget them So God did much for thee and thou forgeitest the gracious dealings of God God takes that very ill Direction 10. Tenthly Take heed of resting in means as they did When Moses was absent Exod. 32.1 We wote not what is becom of this Moses And they knew not what to do they made them other Gods So many depend on meanes and if such and such means faile us we shall never be able to go on Direction 11. Eleventhly Be not too hasty in applying any comfort any further then God gives leave but be waiting upon God in his way and labor to cast thy self upon the promises you cannot be too hasty to believe and rest your selves upon the promises but to have eager desire of comfort there may be too much hast Num. 14.40 to the end When God had them not go into Canaan they would and they fell by their enemies So wait upon God and see what he would have thee to doe stay for to have comfort handed in by God and wait for his time Direction 12. And lastly Take heed thou be not discouraged beause the meanes is but weake thou hast to help thee When they came to Canaan the great City Jericho what have they to overcom it Jos 6.4.5 The Preists must goe with Rams-hornes and blow seven times about the City and the walls should fall down A poore weake meanes they might say have we been fourty yeares in the wilderness and come to the strong City and have no other meanes to help us but Rams-hornes yet this is Gods way If we reason with flesh and blood when we meet with difficulties and look upon means We shal turne back again look not at means but rest on Faith and that Faith which hath brought thee out of Egypt will carry thee on and thus we have finished the First Allegory CHAP 26. Containing the second Allegorical sense of the words viz. concerning Antichrist The wickedness of Sodom and Egypt compared with the wickedness of Antichrist 1. Idolatry 2. Cruelty The bondage of Christians under Antichrist 1. Outward in Estates and Lives 2. Inward a soul bondage The baseness of this shewed in several particulars concerning Ceremonies worse then Egyptian bondage Faith must deliver us Deliverance difficult in several particulars The work of Faith in delivering people from this bondage in 6. or 7. Considerations Quest Whether men may not reject the yoke of Antichrist upon other grounds besides Faith Answ In 10. Particulars THe second Allegory is the bondage under Antichrist and Faith doth carry also from that bondage from that Egypt The seat of Antichrist and the bondage that we are in under Antichrist is called in Scripture Egypt 11. Rev. 8. and their dead bodies shal lie in the Streets of the great City which spiritually is caled Sodom and Egypt But because it is said where also our Lord was crucified Therefore some of the Papists would have it meant of Jerusalem but he doth neither speak of the thing nor the place litterally but it is spiritually Sodom and spiritually Egypt And so where Christ is spiritually crucified so that in a Metaphorical sense the cheif seat of Antichrist is Sodom and Egypt and spiritually Christ is crucified there There is no place in which Christ is more crucified then in Rome in regard of his members Besides if you wil speak of Christs being crucified literally it may be said likewise of Rmoe because he was crucified by the Roman power Roman Authority But by comparing this place with other places in Revelation it must be meant that in that place Rome is Sodom and Egypt I might spend much time in making Comparisons between the most abominable
under the bondage of Antichrist look how much difference there is between misery and sin so much difference there is betwixt their bondage and the bondage of Antichrist 4. They were Liable to the bondage of Egypt but they were not liable to the plagues of Egypt They were free from them but those that are under the bondage of Antichrist are liable to the plagues that shall come upon Antichrist But it must be faith that must deliver from this bondage It is a difficult work as it was a difficult thing to be delivered from Egypt so it is a difficult thing that cannot be done without faith to be delivered from this 1. Wee know most part of the Christian world is educated and the principles that are dropt into them from them are Antichristian principles 2. Though it be a bondage there is a great deale of outward pomp and Glory in their Idolatrous worship that does much take sensual people that doe live by sence they will not worship God in such a meane way as others do but there is a great deale of pompe and outward shew 3. Though it be a bondage to the soul yet they give abundance of liberty to the flesh and though somtimes they suffer pennance and put the flesh to some hardship somtimes yet those that are rich may give way to their lusts and live as they list for they may quickly be freed with a little mony 4. Besides there are so many examples of great men and learned men and some that are Godly that doe yeild to a great part of the yoaks and their examples are mighty ingagements 5. Besides If so be they begin to flinch presently there are such violent afflictions and persecutions thundring out of excomunications and loss of estates and so many dangers that men are in 6. Besides It is hard Because in the other of Christs government there are but a few meane men and to come and yeild to them this is hard to flesh and blood and there must be a great deal of self deniall to yeild to the government of Christ they count that the greatest bondage especially considering there may be miscarriages many Scandals amongst those that are Godly do profess the waies and ordinances and liberties of Christ that except the heart be gracious there is a great deal of difficulty in submitting to it and people know not what to do but rather buckle under their bondage 7. Besides It is a fruit of the curse not that all that are under that bondage are under the Eternal Curse But as all outward judgments are part of the curse so it is a part of the curse to be under the bondage of Antichrist and not to labor to get from it I do not say that al that are sick and weak are cursed but it is a part of the curse So men that are under that bondage are under part of the curse that God wil give them over to beleeve Lyes and though a man hath never so much Learning and understanding yet if there be a curse of God upon it never talk of his learning and understanding if his parts were a hundred times more they could not help him It is the work of Faith to deliver from it Quest What is the work of Faith in delivering people from this bondage Answer There are these six or seven things that delivers from this bondage under Antichrist 1. Faith discovers unto the soul the spiritualness of the government of Christ and without that there cannot be a true deliverance from the bondage of Egypt 2. Faith shews unto the Soul the fullness of the Administration of all Christs offices of his Preistly Prophetical call and Kingly offices Now until the soul understands this it is never brought off from the government of Antichrist to the government of Christ 3. Faith shews the fulness and Glory that is in the world which is the rule for ordering and guiding of us in al our waies 4. Faith shews the necessity of a divine rule for a spiritual efficacy and that no humane invention can cause a spiritual efficacy now the settling of this principle is never done but by Faith 5. Another work of faith is to discover the beauty and glory that is in the Ordinances of Christ barely administred no man but by the eye of Faith can see the true lustre and beauty and glory of a divine Ordinance except there be some outward earthly excellency mingled with it As I told you in the exposition of that place in Hosea They made them Altars God would have an Altar of Earth and if they would have it of Stone they must not lift up an instrument to hew it and grave it but it must be plaine Now a carnal eye cannot see the beauty of Gods Ordinances unless it have some outward excellency It must be the eye of Faith to discover the beauty of Christs Ordinances in the naked beauty of them And till that they are not willing to come from under the power of Antichrist 6. Faith discovers to the Soul the reality and certainty of all the admirable and glorious promises that are in the Gospel made unto the true Church of God Promises of the glorious presence of God with his people and promises of abundance of spiritual good as it might ask half an hour to shew some excellent promises that are made to the Church which a carnal Eie doth not see But Faith discovers there is abundance of certainty and reality in them and when by Faith they see them this takes off and enables them to go through any difficulties to be partakers of them 7. Again Faith does discover the fearful threats against those that follow Antichrist and those Revel 14.9 10. that do receive the mark of the Beast but in their hand secretly they shall have their portion in the Lake that burns for ever and shall be cast out from the presence of the Lord. They that read these threats make nothing of them but when they read them by Faith then the soul trembles and feares till it comes from under that bondage it hears a voice continually crying to it Revel 18.4 Come out from among them Oh my people come out least being partaker of their sin you also be partakers of their Plagues Now Faith by discovering these things brings the heart from under that Antichristian bondage Quest But may not men reject the yoake of Antichrist upon other Grounds besides Faith Answ Many times a spirit of contradiction may bring them from under the yoke of Antichrist though one good cannot be opposite to another good yet one evil may be opposite to another evil and many men may oppose the government of Antichrist by that which is evil in them but if it be not by the principle of Faith it is not right and it may be upon other principles Quest But how shall we know that we do forsake this bondage from Antichrist by Faith Answ I will give you
some notes to shew you who those are that are delivered from this Egypt by Faith And who those are that seem to be delivered upon other grounds 1. Those that are delivered by Faith are those that are wel grounded in the Doctrinal and maine points of Religion Faith can never work off the soul from the Government and Ceremonies of Antichrist unless it be well grounded in the doctrine and principles of Religion if I see men crie out of Antichrist and of the Government of Antichrist and it appears that they have not a competent measure of knowledg in the grounds of Religion and Principles of Faith they are to be suspected As many come and examine them about Church Government and they wil tell you a great deale not but that Christians should labor to have knowledg in that but come to examine them the Principles of Religion and there they are silly and ignorant if they be not grounded in them it appears it is not a work of Faith 2. If it be a work of Faith it is a work of much Humiliation and Prayer was there a time you were under the power and bondage of Antichrist how came you from under it did God shew you the evil of it and you sought God in much Humiliation and prayer for the taking off your hearts from it and shewing you his good way and did you find your hearts comming off was by that meanes that is a good argument it was of Faith but many their Consciences tell them it was not a work of Humiliation and Prayer that brought off their hearts they are to be feared 3. If it be a work of Faith it alwaies le ts in light as in the point of the government of Christ many cry out against Antichristian government and come and examine them about it and they have no more light no other arguments nor further understanding then before but only a bitterness of spirit against it If a man grow bitter against those things which before he yeilded too he had need have more light but if they grow exceeding bitter against them and have no further light and understanding then before it is an argument it is a distemper of heart rather then any thing else And therefore casting off all at once is very suspitious where it is of Faith God lets in light by degrees It s said of Luther in his reformation First he saw the evil of one thing and then the evil of another and so by degrees saw the evil of all And so those that forsake the bondage of Antichrist By Faith first God makes them suspect their way surely this is not the right way there is some better way and then they fall a praying and humbling of themselves and they fall examining and so they come to see the evil of one thing and then they examine another and so light comes in by degrees and then their hearts rise against them and if according to the measure of Light that you have your hearts do come off that is a good signe 4. If you break from Antichrist by Faith it will make you a Separate from the world aswel as Separate from them Many are Separates from any thing that hath but the least dependancy upon Antichristian government but they conform themselves to the world that there appears no difference between them and the world in their loose courses that man that is a conformist to the world is not a Non-Conformist to Antichrist by Faith 5. If Faith take you off from the bondage under Antichrist it wil take you off from the bondage under any lust That man that hath not the power of Faith to take him off from any Lust That man is not by Faith taken off from the bondage of Antichrist If Faith delivere from the bondage under Antichrist it will deliver from the bondage under Sin and Sathan and therefore though men do crie out of the bondage of Antichrist never so much and yet they go on under the bondage of any Lust it is not of Faith 6. That Soul that is taken from under the power of Antichrist by Faith is subject to the power and goverment of Christ and the Word If Faith takes from the one it puts under the other nothing but the Word can be the ground of Faith and if Faith takes a Soul from under the bondage of Antichrist Such a Soul finds the Word comes with divine power and majesty upon the heart and it laies a trembling heart under the power and majesty of the Word and it dares not goe from it no not in no other thing You plead for the Word in such and such things but there are other things you do not yield to the power of the Word in this is very suspitious Those that by Faith are brought from the power of Antichrist their hearts are put mightily under the power of the Word and they ly with trembling spirits before the majesty and Authority of the word 7. If it be Faith that takes off the Heart such a one is not content that he is taken from under the Antichristian government unless he meetes with Christ in the Ordinances he does not content it self with the bare huskes and to make all his Religion to consist meerly in Church discipline and Church constitution and to think therefore he hath Religion enough because he hath the Ordinances and yet never finds any panting of Heart after union and communion with Christ Jesus in this way of Church Government but goes on from year to year mearly in the outward performances of Religion I do not speak against the thing it self but to shew it is not of Faith if men do not pant after union with Christ if they be not sensible of the want of it and do not labor for the enjoyment of it 8. If it be Faith that brings thee from this way certainly thou wilt grow more Spirituall As thy heart will pant after Christ so there wil be a Spiritualness of thy Soul in the waies of Christ because thou comest neerer to the rule And this is the difference between Actions of Religion and civil Actions civil Actions that are done by civil rule have not alwaies success but a Spirituall Action that is done by the rule that hath a Spirituall success though not an outward success it does make the heart ever more Spirituall But for people though they be come from the yoake of Antichrist yet to be as dead as ever no more Spiritualness in their way then before no more savour of Godliness in their society and company then before those that knew them before can say I knew them a great deale more spirituall and savoury in that which is good then they are now This is a dangerous thing 9. Againe If it be out of Faith such a one will give all the glory unto God for his deliverance and he wil walk humbly in his own eyes and think I was disobedient and wretched and should have gone on in that way but God by his grace and power hath come and hath taken off my heart and it does magnifie the grace of God It doth not perke up it self and contemne others to think I have got more wisdom and understanding then others and so attribute it to his wit and understanding but it gives the glory to God and instead of censuring others he prays for them and saies it is not all the arguments under Heaven can convince them for I had arguments enough but they were all as nothing til it pleased God by his Grace to set them upon my heart and so though they may see arguments as wel as I they will not do Therefore he pitties others and prays for them and he hath a reverent respect to the Grace of others though they be not in the same way that he is in he doth not presently cast them off saying surely there is no Grace and Godliness in them this is a signe of a proud spirit there are none that are gracious but know there was a time when they went on in that way and yet they did not goe against their light but were willing to understand Gods mind and yet til God came in their hearts were not taken off and therefore they learn to have good thoughts of those that are godly though in other waies But especially if it were out of Faith that you were brought from this Antichristian Bondage it will not leave in thee the Spirit of Antichrist many are far from being under Antichristian bondage and yet have an Antichristian Spirit a Spirit of pride a domineering Spirit a Crooked Perverse Spirit and this is a great evil that in the way of Christ there should be manifested an Antichristian Spirit this should be lamented with tears of blood Now so much as an Antichristian spirit does rule in any though they be from under his Goverment so much it is to be suspected it was not the work of Faith but somwhat else that took them off We should have the spirit of Christ the spirit of Love and Humillity and gentleness and peace and as we would make it appear we are taken off from the yoak of Antichrist by Faith let us shew the Spirit of Christ as Faith hath taken us off from Antichristian power so we should exercise Faith to go on in the waies of Christ as beseems those that are delivered from Antichristian power FINIS Eorum certitudo A. Mont. Interliâ—