faith dead things have no beauty in them it is faith that quickens and beautifies 2. Faith is an heart-purifying grace Having purified their hearts by faith Acts 15.9 Faith is a Virgin-grace of a pure and heavenly nature Faith is in the soule as lightning in the Air which purgeth as fire in the Metals which refines as Physick in the Body which works out the disease Faith works out pride self-love hypocrisie it consecrates the heart That which was before the Devils Thorow-fare is now made Gods Enclosure 1 Tim. 3.9 Holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience Faith is an heavenly plant which will not grow in an impure soile Faith doth not only justifie but sanctifie as it hath one work in heaven so it hath another work in the heart He that before was under the power of some hereditary corruption as soone as faith is wrought there is a sacred vertue coming from Christ for the enervating and weakening that sin the waters are abated The woman that did but touch the hemme of Christs Garment felt vertue coming out of him The touch of faith hath an healing power Faith casts the Devil out of the Castle of the heart though still he keeps the Out-works Satan hath a party in a Beleever but there 's a Duel fought every day and faith will never give over till as a Prince it prevails This is the faith of Gods Elect Thou that say'st thou believest hath thy faith removed the Mountain of sin and cast it into the Sea What a beleever and a drunkard a beleever and a swearer a beleever and an Apostate for shame either leave thy sins or leave thy profession Faith and the love of sin can no more stand together then two contraries in the same part of the Subject gradu intensivo as light and darknesse Faith is an heart-pacifying grace Peace is the daughter of faith Rom. 5.1 Being justified by faith we have peace with God Faith is the Dove that brings an Olive-branch of peace in its mouth Faith presents God reconciled and that gives peace What is it makes Heaven but the smile of God Faith puts the soul into Christ and there 's peace Iohn 16. ult That in me ye may have peace When the Conscience is in a Fever and burns as hell faith opens the Orifice in Christs sides and sucks in his blood which hath a cooling and pacifying vertue in it Faith gives us peace in Trouble nay out of Trouble 1. It gives Peace in Trouble Faith is an heart-pacifying because an heart-securing grace When Noah was in the Ark he did not fear the Deluge he could sing in the Ark. Faith shuts a beleever into the Ark Christ Lead me to the Rock which is higher than I was Davids prayer Faith plants the soul upon this Rock The West-Indians built their Palaces upon the tops of hills in the Flood the waters covered the hills but a beleever is built higher Isa. 33.16 His place of defence shall be the munition of Rocks but a man may starve upon a Rock therefore it follows Bread shall be given him c. Faith builds a Christian upon the power wisdome faithfulnesse of God This is the munition of Rocks and it feeds him with the hidden Manna of Gods love here is bread given him The way to be safe in evil times is to get faith this ushers in peace and it is such a peace as doth garrison the heart Phil. 4.7 The peace of God shall keep your heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It shall keep it as in a Tower or Garrison 2. Faith gathers peace out of trouble joy out of sorrow glory out of reproach This is the key to Samsons Riddle Out of the eater came meat this explaines that Paradox Can a man gather Grapes of Thorns or Figs of Thistles Yes of Trials and Persecutions faith gathers joy and peace here are Figs of Thistles How were the Martyrs ravished in the Flames The Apostles were whipt in prison but it was with Sweet Briar O how sweet is that peace which faith Breeds it is a Plant of the Heavenly Paradise it is a Christians Festival it is his Musick it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Chrysostome speaks the anticipation of Heaven 4. Faith is an heart-strengthening grace a beleever is heart of oke he is strong to resist tentations to bear afflictions to foil Corruptions he gives check to them though not full mate An unbeliever is like Reuben unstable as water he shall not excell A state of infidelity is a state of impotency A Beleever is as Ioseph who though the Archers shot at him his bowe abode in strength If a Christian be to do any thing he consults with faith this is the sinew which if it be cut all his strength goes from him When he is call'd out to suffering he harnesseth himself with Faith he puts on this coat of maile Faith layes in suffering strength furnisheth the soul with suffering Promises musters together suffering graces propounds suffering rewards But how comes Faith to be so strong Answ. 1. Because it is a piece of Gods Armour it is a shield he puts into our hand Eph. 6.16 Above all taking the shield of Faith a shield will serve for a brest-plate a sword if need be an helmet it defends the head it guards the vitals such a shield is Faith 2. Faith brings the strength of Christ into the soul Phil. 4.13 I can do all things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 through Christ that strengthens me The strength of faith lies out of it self it grafts upon another stock When it would have wisdome it consults with Christ whose Name is wonderful Counsellour when it would have strength it goes to Christ who is call'd the Lion of the Tribe of Iudah Christ is a Christians Armory Faith is the key that unlocks it Faith hangs upon the lock of Christ all its strength lyes here cut it off from this lock and it is weaker then any other grace Christ may be compared to that tower of David on which there hang a thousand bucklers all shields of mighty men The faith of all the Elect these shields hang upon Christ. Faith is an Heroicall grace the Crown of Martyrdom is set upon the head of faith By faith they quenched the violence of the fire the fire overcame their bodies but their faith overcamr the flame 5. Faith is a life-fructifying grace it is fruitfull Iulian upbraiding the Christians said that their Motto was Only beleeve and the Papists call us solifidians Indeed when faith is alone and views all the rare beauties in Christ then faith sets a low value and esteem upon works but when faith goes abroad in the world good works are the handmaids that wait on this Queen Though we place faith in the highest Orb in matter of Justification yet good works are in conjunction with it in matter of Sanctification 'T is no wrong to good works to give faith the
Imprimatur EDM. CALAMY The Christian's CHARTER Shewing the PRIVILEDGES OF A BELIEVER BY THOMAS WATSON Master of Arts of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge and now Pastor of Stephens Walbrook LOND He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall hee not with him freely give us all things Rom 8.32 Godliness is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come 1. Tim. 4.8 Quà m divites illi qui omnia possident Aretius The third impression Enlarged London Printed by T. R EM for Ralph Smith at the signe of the Bible in Cornhil neer The Royal Exchange 1654. TO THE Right Honourable and Religious The Lady MARY VERE Baronesse of Tilbury And My much Honoured LADY MADAM I Have presumed upon your Ladyship humbly to present you with these few Meditations As it is a rich mercy to have a spiritual Ioynture so it cannot but be a comfort to know what it is 'T is a joy to the young heir to have a view of his estate that is the work of this Treatise to set before you the Land of promise While we are here in the combate we had need look to the Crown to make us fight the more valiantly Moses had an eye at the recompence of reward and that did animate him against sufferings yea our blessed Saviour himself looked at the joy set before him Madam Could we live in the thoughts of these great things to come what sublime what sweet lives should we lead Surely if there be any sadâ—nesse gathers in our spirits if any despondency it comes in at this leak of unbelief Vnbelif is a bad neighbour it is alwayes raising either Jealousies of God as if he would not be as good as his Word Vnbelief with Sarah laughs at the promise Or scruples in the heart whether all these promises belong to us The Devil shot three fiery darts into the virgin-castle of Eves heart whereof the first was the most deadly Yea hath God said He would induce this beliefe in her that God had not spoken Truth and when he had once wrought her to distrust then she took of the tree c. All â—he train of tentation that Satan â—ayes is to blow up the fort of our Faith We had need maintain this grace it is Faith must maintaine us While the Pilot keeps his ship his ship keeps him Right Honourable Blessed be the riches of Gods grace who hath set this heavenly plant in your heart and hath kept you in the faith insomuch that all the shakings of the times have but settled you the more and I doubt not but he that hath begun a good work in you will performe it untill the day of Jesus Christ. What an unparalell'd mercy is it to be kept free in the time of infection God hath given your Ladyship a sound judgement and a tender conscience both which are jewels of great price I may say of you as it is said of Jehoshaphat his heart was lift up in the wayes of the Lord 2 Chron. 17.12 Yet I have observed the more you have been lifted up in God the more you have been cast down in your self It is excellent when the higher we grow in knowledge the lower we grow in humility I speak it to the praise of free-grace God hath crowned your silver haires with golden vertues every one of which doth shine as thosâ— precious stones the Sardius the Topaz and the Diamond Ezek. 28.13 Holiness is a beautiful thing it carries a majesty in the face of it even those that oppose it cannot but admire it Grace differs little from glory the one is the seed the other the flower Grace is glory militant and glory is grace triumphant Theodosius thought it a greater honour that he was a Christian then the head of an Empire Your piety is a greater glory to you then your Parentage it is more to be the daughter of faith then to descend from Nobles or to have the blood royal running in your veins Madam There is a time shortly coming when neither birth estate or any worldly embellishments will do us good you have laid in provision against that time and gotten the new birth when all other birth and Nobility must lie in the dust This is that which makes your name smell in Gods Church as the wine of Lebanon Go on Right Honourable in those paths which have an immediate tendency to life and blessednesse We are like to meet with many rubs in the way before we get to Heaven It is said of Israel their soul was much discouraged because of the way Had we more grace we should have need enough to use it expect we must fiery serpents but the righteous will hold on his way Job 17.9 Is not every Christian an Ensign-bearer to carry Christs Colours We must resolve to be good in good earnest The almost Christian shall be almost saved It is wise counsel our Saviour gives that we should count what religion will cost us Luk. 14.28 It will cost us reproach this is a part of Christs livery which we must weare Think not that our innocency will priviledge us from the reproaches and slanders of the world Christ was the most innocent person upon earth never did any unholy thought come into his minde yet his innocency would not shield him from slander he was called a friend of sinners Let us not be discouraged shall we cease from being Saints because others will not cease from being Devils Is it a wonder when an army is in fight to see the bullets fly abroad and the fire-balls when the seed of the serpent is fighting with the seed of the woman is it strange to see the bullets of tentation flie the fire-balls of slander But if our innocency will not keep us from being shot at it will keep us from being hurt for as no flattery can heal a bad conscience so no slander can hurt a good Again Religion wil cost us persecution this is a part of Christs legacy which he hath left us In the world ye shall have tribulation Our ship would soon overturn if it were not ballasted with some afflictions A Christian is a compounded creature he hath some evil in him therefore God afflicts and he hath some good in him therefore the Devil afflicts Hence that of Cyprian When a man begins to be religious he must think of going into the wine-presse and perhaps the blood of the grapes may be pressed out but the meditation of things to come should sweeten the tryals present and make us that though we cannot live without them yet to live above them What if the times are worse if they make us better and if our burdens be heavy seeing the way we are to go is but short Madam I will not hold you longer I make bold to devote this Manual to your Honour I acknowledge how weak and unfeathered it is therefore unfit to flie
necessary inferences from adoption This blessed state of adoption doth strongly infer two things 1. Gods love 2. Gods care 1. Adoption sets forth Gods complacency or love to the Saints Adoption is enriched with love For a King to take a galley-slave and adopt him for his son what is this but love When we were galley-slaves to the devil then did God invest us with the priviledge of son-ship 1 Ioh. 3.1 Behold what manner of love hath the Father bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God It is mercy that feeds a sinner but it is rich mercy that adopts him If the Saints are children all Gods transactions toward them are love Let him do what he will with them yet he loves them they are adopted Object But God is angry with them Answ. Gods love and his anger towards his children are not opposita but diversa they may stand together he is angry in love As many as I love I rebuke and chasten A bitter pill may be as needfull for preserving health as a julip or cordial God afflicts with the same love he adopts Deus irascitur cùm non irascitur God is most angry when he is not angry Affliction is an argument of son-ship If you endure chastnings God dealeth with you as with sonnes God had one Sonne without sinne but no sonne without stripes Afflictions are refining Prov. 17.3 The fining pot is for silver and the furnace for Gold Fiery trials make golden Christians Afflictions are purifying Dan. 12.10 Many shall be tried and made white We think God is going to destroy us but he only layes us a whitening God will make us at last bless him for our sufferings Oculos quos peccatum claudit poena aperit The eyes that sin shuts affliction opens When Manasseh was in chaines then he knew the Lord was God Every Christian must go to heaven upon the crosse First the stones in Solomons Temple were hewn and polished and then set up into a building first the Saints who are called lively stones must be hewen and carved by sufferings as the corner-stone was and so made meet for the celestiall building Object 2. But sometimes those that are adopted are under the black clouds of desertion How doth this consist with love Answ. 1. Yet God leaves a seed of comfort He that believes hath the seed of God in him Gods children when they want the Sun yet they have a day-sâ—ar in their heart They have the work of sanctification when they want the wine of consolation Grace is better then comfort 2. I answer God may forsake his children in regard of vision but not in regard of union Thus it was with Jesus Christ when he cried out My God my God There was not a separation of the union between him and his Father only a suspension of the vision When the Moon doth intervene between us and the Sun there follows an eclipse Gods love through the interposition of our sins may be darkned and eclipsed but still he is a Father The Sun may be hid in a cloud but it is not out of the Firmament The promises in time of desertion may be as it were sequestred we have not that comfort from them as formerly but still the believers title holds good in law 3. Wheâ— God hides his face from his childe his heart may be towards him God may change his countenance but not his heart It is one thing for God to desert another thing to dis-inherit How shall I give thee up O Ephraim Hos. 8.11 This is a Metaphor taken from a father going to dis-inherit his son and while he is going to set his hand to the deed his bowels begin to melt and to yearn over him though he be a prodigal childe yet he is a childe I will not cut off the entail So saith God How shall I give thee up though Ephraim hath been a rebellious son yet he is a son I will not dis-inherit him Gods heart may be full of love when there is a vaile upon his face The Lord may change his dispensation towards his children but not his disposition The believer may say I am adopted and let God do what he will with me let him take the rod or the staffe 't is all one he loves me 2. Adoption sets forth Gods tender care Will not a father take care for his child This care of God shines forth in two things 1. Prevention 2. Provision 1. In Prevention God ever lies sentinell to keep off evill from us 1. Temporal evill There are many casualties and contingencies to which we are incident God shields them off he keeps watch and ward for his people Psal. 121.4 He that keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep The eye of providence is ever awake and God gives his Angels charge over us Psal. 91.11 A believer hath a guard of Angels for his life-guard There is an elegant expression to set this out He bare you as upon Eagles wings an emblem of Gods providendentiall care to his adopted The Eagle fears no bird from above to hurt her young only the arrow from beneath therefore she carries them upon her wings that the Arrow must first hit her before it can come at her young ones Thus God carries his children upon the wings of providence and they are such that there is no clipping these wings not can any Arrow hurt them 2. Spirituall evils Psalm 91.10 There shall no evill befall thee God doth not say No afflictions shall befall us but no evil Question But sometimes evil in this sense befals the godly viz. sin they spot their garments Answer 1. But that evill shall not be mortall As quick-silver is in it selfe dangerous but by oyntments it is so tempered that it is killed so sinne is in it self deadly but being tempered with repentance and mixed with the sacred ointment of Christs blood the venemous damning nature of it is taken away 2. Though sinne in it selfe be evil yet to believers God will bring good out of that evil he will humble them and every trip shall make them the more watchful Poison is in it selfe evil but the wise Physician can turne it to a sovereign medicine 2. In Provision Hath God adopted us for children and will he not provide for us Behold the fowls of the aire c Doth a man feed his bird and will he not feed his childe Consider the lilies of the field Doth God cloath the lilies and will he not cloath his lambs The Lord careth for us 1 Peter 5.7 As long as his heart is full of love so long his head will be full of care §. 5. Shewing The signes of adoption Quest. But how shall I know that I am adopted Answ. If thou hast in thee a child-like heart which is 1. A tender heart 2 Chr. 34.27 Because thy heart was tender The heart that was before
yet there can be no faith without knowledge They that know thy Name will put their trust in thee Psal. 9.10 Philo calls it fides oculata quick-sighted faith Knowledge must carry the Torch before faith 2 Tim. 1.12 For I know whom I have believed As faith without works is dead so faith without knowledge is blind Devout ignorance damnes which condemns the Church of Rome that think it a piece of their religion to be kept in ignorance these set up an Altar to an unknown God they say Ignorance is the mother of devotion but sure where the Sun is set in the understanding there must needs be night in the affections So necessary is knowledge to the being of faith that the Scripture doth sometimes baptize faith with the Name of knowledge Isa. 53.11 By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justifie many knowledge is put there for faith Now this knowledge of Christ which goes before faith or rather is the embrio and first matter of which faith is formed consists in four things The soul through this optick glasse of knowledge sees 1. A preciousnesse in Christ he is the chief of ten thousand the pearl of price Christ was never poor but when he had on our rags there is nothing in Christ but what is precious he is precious in his Name in his Nature in his Influences he is called a precious stone he must needs be a precious stone who hath made us living stones 2. A fulnesse in Christ the fulness of the Godhead Col. 2.9 all fulnesse Col. 1.19 a fulnesse of merit his blood able to satisfie his Fathers wrath a fullnesse of Spirit his grace able to supply our wants by the one he doth absolve us by the other he doth adorn us 3. A suitablenesse in Christ that which is good if it be not adaequatum suitable it is not satisfactory If a man be hungry bring him fine flowers this is not suitable he desires food if he be sick bring him musick this is not suitable he desires Physick in this sense there is a suitablenesse in Christ to the soule he is quicquid appetibile as Origen speaks whatever we can desire If we hunger and thirst he is pabulum animae the food of the soul therefore he is called the bread of life If we are sick unto death his blood is a sacred balm he may be compared to the trees of the Sanctuary which were both for meat and for medicine 4. A Propensenesse and readinesse in Christ to give out his fulnesse Isa. 55.1 Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no mony buy and not c. Behold here at what a low price doth God set his heavenly blessings it is but thirsting bring but desires Behold the Propensenesse in Christ to â—â—spense and give out his fulnesse buy without money a strange kind of buying there 's bounty in Christ as well as beauty As he is all fulnesse so he is all sweetnesse of a noble and generous disposition he doth not only invite us but charge us upon pain of death to come in and believe he threatens us if we will not lay hold of mercy he waits to be gracious This is the lenocinium and enticer of the affections this draws the eyes and heart of a sinner after him what are the blessed Promises but Christs golden Scepter held forth what are the motions of the Spirit but Jesus Christ coming a wooing and such a knowledge and sight of Christ is necessary to usher in faith now the soul begins to move towards him he sees all this variety of excellency in Christ and withall sees a possibility nay a probability of mercy there is nothing that hinders him God doth not exclude him unlesse he exclude himself Then he thinks thus What is it keeps me off from Christ is it my unworthinesse behold there is merit in Christ is it my wants there is enough in the fountain and Jesus Christ doth not expect that I should carry any thing to him but rather that I should bring something from him he doth not expect that I should carry water to the well only an empty vessel why then should not this fulnesse in Christ be for me as well as others While he is thus parlying with himself the Spirit works a kind of perswasion that Christ is willing that he in particular should taste of this mercy then follows the second act which faith puts forth and that is consent Well I will have Christ whatever it cost me §. II. That Consent is requisite to faith Though Knowledge be a necessary antecedent to Faith yet it is not enough there must be secondly Consent Faith is seated as well in the heart and will as in the understanding as well in the affection as in the apprehension With the heart man believes Scepticks in religion may have a faith in the head but not in the heart they are more Notion then Motion the soul consents to have Christ and to have him upon his own terms 1. As an Head the head hath a double office it is the fountaine of spirits and the seat of government the head is as it were the Pilot of the body it rules and steers it in its motion The believer consents to have Christ not only as an Head to send forth spirits that is comfort but as an head to rule A sinner would take Christs Promises but not his Laws he would be under Christs benediction but not under his jurisdiction A believer consents to have whole Christ non eligit objectum he doth not pick and choose but as he expects to sit down with Christ upon the throne so he makes his heart Christs Throne 2. The believer consents to have Christ for better for worse a naked Christ a persecuted Christ faith sees a beauty and glory in the reproaches of Christ and will have Christ not only in purple but when with Iohn Baptist he is cloathed in Camels haire Faith can embrace the fire if Christ be in it Faith looks upon the Crosse as Iacobs ladder to carry him up to Heaven Faith saith Blessed be that affliction welcome that Crosse which carries Christ upon it 3. The Believer consents to have Christ purely for love if the wife should give her consent only for her husbands riches she should marry his estate rather then his person non est amicitia sed mercatura it were not properly to make a marriage with him but rather to make a merchandise of him the believer consents for love amat Christum propter Christum he loves Christ for Christ Heaven without Christ is not a sufficient dowry for a believer there 's nothing adulterate in his consent it is not sinister there 's nothing forced it is not for feare that were rather constraint then consent a consent forced will not hold in Law it is voluntary The beauty of Christs person and the sweetness of his disposition draws the will
which as the Primum mobile or master-wheel carries the whole soul with it 4. The believer consents to have Christ pro termino interminabili never to part more he desires an uninterrupted communion with him he will part with life but not with Christ indeed death when it slips the knot between the soul and the body it ties it faster between the soul and Christ. 5. The Believer doth so consent to have Christ as he makes a deed of gift resigning up all the interest in himself to Christ he is willing to lose his own Name and sirname himselfe by the Name of Christ to lose his own will and be wholly at Christs dispose Ye are not your own he resigns up his love to Christ. In this sense the Spouse is said to be a spring shut up She hath love for Relations but the best of her love is kept for Christ The world hath the Milke of her love but Christ hath the Cream of it the choisest and purest of her love is a Spring shut up it is broached onely for Christ to drink This is the second Act of faith §. III. Opening the nature of Recumbency The third thing is Recumbency The soul having given its consent that the match should be made up and done it out of choice now it casts it selfe upon Christ as a man that casts himselfe upon the stream to swim it makes an holy adventure it clasps about Christ and saith My Lord my Jesus which is as it were the joyning of hands This Act of Recumbency is sometimes in Scripture call'd a coming to Christ sometimes a leaning upon Christ This is that faith which justifies Now concerning this faith I shall lay down two Rules 1. That faith justifies not as a formal cause but purely as an instrument viz. as it lays hold on Christ the blessed object and fetcheth in his fulnesse and in this sense it is call'd a precious faith the worth lies not in faith but in Christ on which it doth centre and terminate Faith in it selfe considered is not more excellent than other graces Take a piece of Wax and a piece of Gold of the same Magnitude the Wax is not valuable with the Gold but as this Wax hangs at the lavell of some Will by vertue of which a great Estate is confirmed and conveighed so it may be worth many hundred pounds So faith considered purely in it self doth challenge nothing more than other graces nay in some sense it is inferiour it being an empty hand But as this hand receives the precious Almes of Christs Merits and is an instrument or channell thorow which the blessed streams of life flow to us from him so it doth challenge a superiority above other graces Indeed some affirme that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the very Act of believing without reference to the Merits of Christ justifies To which I shall say but this 1. Faith cannot justifie as it is an Act for it must have an object we cannot if we make good sense separate between the Act and the Object What is faith if it do not fix upon Christ but fancy It was not the people of Israels looking up that cured them but the fixing their eye upon the Brazen Serpent 2. Faith doth not justifie as it is a Grace This were to substitute faith in Christs roome it were to make a Christ of Faith Faith is a good Grace but a bad Christ. 3. Not as a Work which must needs be if as some affirme it be in lieu of obedience to the Moral Law Then we should be justified by Works contrary to that Ephes. 2.9 where the Apostle speaks expresly Not of works So that it is clear faith's excellency lies in the apprehending and applying the object Christ therefore in Scripture we are said to be justified 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 through faith as an Instrument deputed not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for faith as a formall cause The second Rule is that Faith doth not justifie as it doth exercise grace It cannot be denied but faith hath an influence upon the graces it is like a silver thred that runnes thorow a Chain of Pearl it puts strength and vivacity into all the vertues but it doth not justifie under this Notion Faith begets obedience By faith Abraham obeyed But Abraham was not justified as he obeyed but as he beleeved Faith works by love but it doth not justifie as it works by love For as the Sun shines by its brightnesse not by its heat though both are inseparably joyned so faith and love are tyed together by an indissoluble knot yet faith doth not justifie as it works by love but as it layes hold on Christ. Though faith be accompanied with all the graces yet in point of justification it is alone and hath nothing to do with any of the graces Hence that speech of Luther in the justification of a sinner Christ and faith are alone Tanquam sponsus spomsa in thalamo As the Bridegroom and Bride in the Bed-chamber Faith is never separated from the graces yet sometimes it is alone And thus I have shewn you the Essentials of faith §. IV. Shewing what are the fruits and products of faith I proceede to the Consequentials of faith There are many rare and supernatural fruits of faith 1. Faith is an heart-quickning grace it is the vitall Artery of the soul The just shall live by his faith Hab. 2.4 When we begin to believe we begin to live Faith grafts the soule into Christ as the cion into the stock and fetcheth all its sap and juyce from that blessed Vine Faith is the great quickner it quickens our graces and our duties 1. Faith quickens our graces the Spirit of God infuseth all the seeds and habits but faith is the fountain of all the acts of grace it is as the Spring in the Watch that moves the Wheels not a grace stirs till faith set it a work How doth love work By faith When I apprehend Christs love this doth pullize and draw up my love to him again How doth humility work By faith Faith humbles the soul it hath a double aspect it looks upon sin and a sight of sin humbles it looks upon Free-grace and a sight of mercy humbles How doth patience work By faith If I believe God is a wise God who knowes what is best for me and can deliver not onely from affliction but by affliction This spins out patience Thus faith is not only viva but vivifica it puts forth a divine Energy and operation into all the graces 2. Faith animates and quickens our duties What was the blood of Bulls and Goats to take away sin It was their faith in the Messiah that made their dead Sacrifices become living Services What are Ordinances but a dumb shew without the breathings of faith in them therefore in Scripture it is called the prayer of faith the hearing of faith and the obedience of
upper hand which goes hand in hand with Christ. Good works are not separated from faith only faith challengeth its seniority Faith believes as if it did not work and it works as if it did not believe Faith hath Rachels eye and Leahs womb Rom. 7.4 That ye should be married to another even to him who is raised from the dead that ye should bring forth fruit unto God Faith is that Spouse-like grace which marries Christ and good works are the children which faith bears Thus having briefly shewn you the Nature of Faith I now come to the reflexive Act Have you faith or no And here let me turne my self first to Unbelievers such as cannot find that they have this uniting this espousing grace what shall I say to you Go home and mourn think with your selves what if you should die this night what if God should send you a Letter of summons to surrender what would become of you you want that grace which should intitle you to Christ and Heaven oh I say mourn yet mourn not as them without hope for in the use of means you may recover a Title I know it is otherwise in our Law-Courts if a Title to an Estate be once lost it can never be recovered but it is otherwise here though thou hast no Title to Christ to day yet thou may'st recover a Title thou hast not sin'd away the hope of a Title unless thou hast sinn'd away the sense of sinning To such as are resolv'd to go on in sinne I haue not a word to say they are upon the spur to go to hell but to you that have been prodigall sonnes but are now taking up serious resolutions to give a bill of divorce to your sins let me encourage you to come to Christ and to throw your selves upon his blood for yet a Title to Heaven is recoverable Object 1. But saith the sinner Is there hope of mercy for me sure this is too good news to be true I would believe and repent but I am a great sinner Ans. And who else doth Christ come to save whom doth God justifie but the ungodly did Christ take our flesh on him and not our sins 2. But my sins are of no ordinary die Answ. And is not Christs blood of a deeper purple then thy sins is there not more vertue in the one then there can be venom in the other what if the devil doth magnifie thy sins canst not thou magnifie thy Physician cannot God drown one sea in another thy sinnes in the Ocean of his mercy 3. But my sins are of a long standing Answ. As if Christs blood were only for new and fresh wounds We read that Christ raised not only the daughter of Iairus which was newly* dead and the widows sonne which was carried forth to burying but Lazarus that had layn four dayes in the grave and began to putrefie and hath Christ lesse vertue now in Heaven then he had upon earth if thine be an old wound yet the medicine of Christs blood applied by faith is able to heale it therefote sink not in these quick-sands of despair Iudas his despair was worse in some sense then his Treason I would not encourage any to go on in sinne God forbid 't is sad to have old age and old sins It is hard to pull up an old tree that is rooted it is easier to cut it downe for the fire but let not such despair God can give an old sinner a new heart he can make springs in the desart Have not others been set forth as paterns of mercy who have come in at the twelfth houre Therefore break off the league with sinne throw thy self into Christs arms say Lord Jesus thou hast said Those which come to thee thou wilt in no case cast out 2. Let me turne my self to the people of God such as upon a serious scrutiny with their own hearts have ground to beleeve that they have faith and being in the faith are ingrafted into Christ read over your Charter All things are yours things present and to come You are the heirs on which God hath setled all these glorious priviledges Give wine saith Solomon to them that are of heavy hearts But while I am going to pour in this wine of consolation me thinks I hear the Christian sadly disputing against himself that he hath no right to this Charter CHAP. XXI The Beleevers Objections answered THere are three great Objections which he makes Object 1. Alas saith he I cannot tell whether I have faith or no Answ. Hast thou no faith how didst thou come to see it a blind man cannot see thou canst not see the want of grace but by the light of grace Quest. But sure if I had faith I should discern it Ans. 1. Thou mayest have faith and not know it a man may seek for that sometimes which he hath in his hand Mary was with Christ she saw him she spake with him yet her eyes were held that she did not know it was Christ the child lives in the womb yet doth not know that it lives 2. Faith oft lies hid in the heart and we see it not for want of search the fire lies hid in the embers but blow aside the ashes and it is discernable Faith may be hid under fears temptations but blow away the ashes Thou prizest faith hadst thou a thousand Jewels lying by thou would'st part with all for this Jewel no man can prize grace but he that hath it Thou desirest faith the true desire of faith is faith Thou mournest for want of faith dispute not but beleeve what are these tears but the seeds of faith Object 2. But my faith is weak the hand of it so trembles that I fear it will hardly lay hold upon Christ Answ. There are seven things which I shall say in reply to this 1. A little faith is faith as a sparkle of fire is fire though the pearl of faith be little if it be a true pearl it shines in Gods eyes This little grace is the seed of God and it shall never die but live as a sparkle in the main sea 2 A weak faith will entitle us to Christ as well as a stronger To them that have obtained like precious faith 2 Pet. 1.1 not but that there are degrees of faith as faith purifies so all faith is not alike one is more then another but as faith justifies saith is alike precious the weakest faith justifies as well as the faith of the most eminent Saint a weak hand will receive the almes for a man to doubt of his grace because it is weak is rather to rely upon grace then upon Christ. 3. The Promise is not made to strong faith but to true The Promise doth not say Who ever hath a faith that can remove mountains that can stop the mouth of Lions shall be saved but whoever believes be his faith never so small the Promise is
Beleever he is to be valued according to that which is in reversion Things to come are his If you were to take an estimate of a man's Estate would you value it by that which hee hath in his House or by his Land Perhaps he hath little in his house little money or plate but he is a landed man There lies his Estate While we are in this House of Clay we have but little Many a Christian can hardly keepe life and soule together but hee is a landed man things to come are his then be content with the lesse of things present If wee have but a small fore-crop we shall have a great after-crop it is sufficient if we have but enough to beare our charges till we come to Heaven An Heire that hath a great Estate beyond Sea though hee hath but a little money for his voyage thither he will bee content If a Christian hath but enough to pay for his passage till he comes at Heaven it is sufficient as Seneca said to his friend Polibius Never complaine of thy hard fortune as long as Caesar is thy friend So I say to a Beleever Never complaine as long as Christ is thy friend hee is preparing the Heavenly Mansions for thee If thou complainest of any thing let it be of thy complaining Should not Hagar have been content though the water were spent in her Bottle when there was a Well so neare God hath made a Deed of gift he hath given Christ to a Believer and in him all things things present and to come Grace and Glory is not here enough to make him content But saith the Christian I want present comforts Consider the Angels in Heaven are rich yet they have no money thou hast things to come Angels riches such as cannot stand with reprobation bee content then with the lesse of things present The Philosophers who never understood one syllable of this Charter did contemne riches and preferr'd a contemplative life what poore contemplations were those certainly a man that lives by faith may have more sweet content in his soule by the meditation of things to come then a worldly man by the enjoying things present 4. Labour for such an high degree of faith as to make these things to come present Faith and Hope are two Sisters and are very like they differ thus Hope looks at the excellency of the Promise faith at the certainty of it now faith looking at the infallible truth of him that promiseth thus it makes things to come present Faith doth antedate glory it doth substantiate things not seen Faith alters the Tenses it puts the Future into the Present Tense Psalm 60.6 Gilead is mine Manasseh is mine Ephraim is the strength of my head c. Those places were not yet subdued but God had spoken in his holinesse he had made David a promise and he beleeved it therefore hee looked upon them as already subdued Gilead is mine c. So saith faith God hath spoken in his holinesse hee hath made me a promise of things to come therefore Heaven is mine already When one hath the reversion of an house saith hee This house is mine Oh that wee had this Art of Faith thus to anticipate Heaven and make things to come present Thou who art a Beleever Heaven is thine now thy head is already glorified nay heaven is begun in thee thou hast some of those joyes which are the primitiae the first-fruits of it A Christian by the eye of faith through the Perspective-glass of the promise may see into Heaven Faith sees the Promise fulfilled before it be fulfilled Faith sets to its hand Item Received so much before it be paid Had we a vigorous faith we might be in Heaven before our time That which a weake beleever hopes for a strong beleever doth in some kinde possesse Oh that wee could often take a prospect of the Heavenly Paradise Walke about Sihon and go round about her tell the towers thereof mark ye well her bulwarks consider her Palaces So Walke into the Heavenly Mount see what a glorious situation it is go tell her Towers see what an inheritance you have see your beauty and Nobility behold your Scutchion Oh that wee could thus breath our faith up this Mount of Heaven every day Do not say All this shall be mine but It is mine already my Head is there my faith is there my heart is there could we thus living up to the height of our faith reallize and antedate things to come how would all present thing vanish if a man could live in the Sunne the earth would not appear when Saint Paul had been wrapped up into the third Heaven the earth did hardly appeare ever after see how he scornes it I am crucified to the world it was a dead thing to him hee had begun Heaven already thus it is with a man that is Heavenlized You Saints that are earthly the eye of your faith is blood-shot it is the character of a sinner he cannot see afarre off 2 Pet. 1.9 like a man who hath bad eyes that can see but just before him Faith carries the heart up to Heaven and brings Heaven downe into the heart 5. If all things to come are yours then walke chearfully with God put on your white robes hath a Beleever a title to Heaven what and sad Wee rejoyce in hope of the glory of God Rom. 5.2 It is but a while 't is but putting off the earthly clothes of our body and wee shall bee clothed with the bright robes of glory and can a Beleever bee sad See how Christ doth secretly check his Disciples for this Luke 24.17 What manner of communications are these while you walke and are sad What sad and Christ risen So I say to beleevers Things to come are yours why walke ye and are sad let them bee out of heart who are out of hope Oh rejoyce in God when the lead of the flesh begins to sink let the cork of faith swim above How doth the heir rejoyce in hope of the Inheritance How doth the Apprentice rejoyce to think of coming out of his time Here we are kept under by sinne and a childe of God is forced sometimes to do the devils work but shortly death will make us free there is an eternall Jubile coming therefore rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God Can wicked men rejoyce that have their portion in this life and cannot hee rejoyce that hath a reversion of Heaven Are the waters of Abanah and Pharpar like to the waters of Iordan O ye Saints think into what a blessed condition you are now brought is it not a sweet thing to have God appeas'd is it not a matter of joy to be an heire of the promise Adam in Paradise had choice of all the trees one only excepted The Promises are the trees of life thou may'st walk in the garden of the Bible and pluck from all these trees Who should