thence to the understanding to be perswaded of our Soules welfare by him thence to the Conscience when as the partie by a reflected act knowes that he beleeves that is that he is perswaded truly and so is assured of his Salvation c. Object Rom. 10.10 With the heart man beleeveth Ans He saith not onely with the heart but the heart here is put for the whole Soule as it is frequently in * Ezek. 36.26 Psal 108.1 Job 38.36 1 Pet. 3.4 1 Joh. 3.20 Isai 6.10 Scripture elsewhere and that it is so meant here appeares by the contra distinction it beares to the mouth and outward man ver 9. CHAP. 11. The immediate Effects following upon sound Beleeving HEE that hath it wrought in him is presently brought as it were into a new world and like as it was with Peter when he was come to himselfe after his miraculous deliverance out of prison by an Angel loosed from his Chaines and passing through the iron gate the case was much altered and he in an Extasie These Effects or gratious dispositions immediately follow in the true beleever 1. True Love to God which could not be before for the apprehension of his love to us kindles love in us to him as a Sparke or burning Coale lights the Candle or sets the wood on flame Now we love God cordially more then one that should save our life it appeares thus 1. It makes us love him above our selves or any other in that we see he hath done more for us then we could or would doe for our selves or any other could doe for us 2. To study how to gratifie him and to think what shal I render to the Lord Psal 116.12 and willing to be at cost and paines for him and how to please him best 3. To love as he loves and hate as he hates 2. Hatred of sin not as before viz. because our bane only but because it 's cleane contrary to God and his holy and pure Nature for if we love one thing of necessitie we hate the contrarie to it thus loving sweet we hate sowre loving Light we abhorre darknesse loving pleasure we cannot abide paine 3. Godly or Evangelicall Sorrow which is sorrow for our sinnes out of love to God and because they are offence and wrong to him who is so infinitely good to us It differs farre from worldly sorrow which was in Nabal Ahab c. for that worketh death 2 Cor. 7.10 but this life and it differs from Legall sorrow for sin which was in Iudas for 1. That breakes the heart but this melts it as if the Icicles have the Sun shine on them they must needs melt and if Christ the Sun of Righteousnesse be rightly applyed to the Soule this melting Effect will undoubtedly follow in the heart making it plyable to receive any gracious Impression 2. That is chiefly in time of Humiliation for as Godly sorrow comes on so the other weares out 3. That arises out of horrour of Conscience but this out of love of God and his goodnesse 4. That is only for the punishment but this for the sinne 4. Sound and sweet peace inwardly which though it 's not perfect yet Consciences trouble is finely allayed and it is better satisfied and findes more ease then before as after the plucking out of a sting or thorne is more ease yet not perfect riddance of all paine Being justified by Faith we have peace with God Rom. 5.1 the sting of sinne is the damning power of it which upon our beleeving is plucked out and taken away Rom. 8.1 hereupon followes ease in Conscience Q. How may one know whether it bee sound peace Ans If it follow a sound cure of the wound first made and felt in Conscience for else it 's but a still and secure Conscience and like one that hath a thorne in his flesh and he asleep though he feele it not the raging of it is as much and the danger greater for so long he useth no means against it 5. Spirituall Joy The God of hope fill you with all Ioy and Peace in beleeving saith PAUL Rom. 15.13 and my heart trusted in him therefore my heart greatly rejoyceth saith DAVID Psal 28.7 This is not naturall Joy rejoycing in things pleasing to nature nor worldly Joy in the things of this world much lesse wicked Joy in doing evill but spirituall Joying in the Spirituall benefits and priviledges of Grace called Joy of the Holy Ghost very like that new Song which no man could learne but they which were redeemed from the earth Rev. 14.3 6. An holy Consecration or Resigning up our selves wholly to Christ Rom. 12.1 For if we beleeve truly that Christ gave himselfe to death for us it will make us according to reason give our selves wholly to him againe as in Marriage very Reason requires a mutuall giving of themselves each to other Q. How Ans By making a Covenant in good earnest with Christ to be all for him and not to be any more for the world or for dearest Friends or our owne selves any further then will agree with our being for him 7. Love to the Godly which before we could worst abide as Paul newly converted cleaves heartily to those whom before he persecuted Act. 9.19 26. and as new kindred that come by Marriage are much made on being before but as strangers and of ordinarie account Faith in Christ and love to all the Saints go together Eph. 1.15 Such now are called to us Ps 66.16 Come all ye that feare God others are shaken off and sent packing Psal 119.115 Depart from me ye evill doers though before our greatest Companions 8. Unfained Wishing and endeavouring of others beleeving Act. 26.29 Rom. 10.1 because now and not till now we have true love in us to God and others for true Charitie is a proper fruit of true Faith only making us aime at the greatest good of others that is of their Soule These are some immediate Effects or holy stirrings following instantly upon our quickning by Faith in Christ in every one more or lesse though not in all alike wherewithall note that Faith quickens as soone as it is conceived as in CHAP. 5. CHAP. 12. The Excellencie of saving Beliefe WHo is able to sound forth all its praise whose Price is above the Pearles yet to give a taste It is more worth then the whole world or any precious thing therein yea then Gold 1 Pet. 1.7 we may say Glorious things are spoken of thee thou Grace of God and as the queen of Sheba of Salomon thou exceedest the fame that we have heard no money or monies-worth can buy it if one have it not and if he have it once nothing can make him part with it 1. It is a defence against all evill as against the Devill it 's a shield wherewith we quench his fiery darts yea a shield of Gods own making Ephes 6.11 and 16. so against the world the victory that overcomes the world Joh. 5.4
thee this nay no more the one then the other as the one is false so is the other how shall thy Faith prove true for another world when it proves false in this But if thy beleeving thy Sanctificatiō brings thee this thē as certainly thy beleeving thy Salvation shall obtain that CHAP. 17. The Degrees of saving Beliefe THere is a weake beleeving and a strong Examples many in Scripture of both 1 Iob. 2.13 Children and strong men Weake 1. In regard of knowledge for the Faith that sees but dimly beleeves but weakly in comparison 2. In regard of Application apprehending weakly as a palsie hand that receives a gift but with much shaking There is also weak beleeving 1. In those that were never yet strong as a Child that after becomes a man 2. Sometimes in those that have been strong but now fallen weake as a strong man weakned by some sore sickness so David Psal 27. c. with Bsa 22.14 and so Peter Strong Faith some but in regard of that which is weake for elfe there is some want and weaknesse in the strongest Faith something lacking 1 Thes 3.10 with Chap. 1.7 8. Things common to both these are 1. Sight and Sense of our sins driving us out of our selves 2. High-pricing of Christ and hungring after him even whole Christ 3. Earnest prayer daily 4. Use of good meanes out of good affection thereto 5. Discerning and lamenting some unbeliefe in us with desire of strengthening It is neither weak nor strong nor any true beleeving at all that wants these things The difference between them is weak Faith is 1. More troubled with quaking fears and doubtings 2. Sooner damped and discouraged when it is checked 3. Relyes more on seeing and feeling as it was with * Joh. 20.25 Thomas 4. Hath lesse Experience as it was with Samuel at first 5. Is in more danger of sinning and so of sorrow and is put more to its shifts Strong Beliefe 1. Hath Knowne it selfe in former times very weake and much weaker then now as 1 Cor. 13.11 2. Is fuller of Courage for God as was Nehemiah Chap. 6.11 3. More constant in the holy course as * 2 Sam. 6.22 David being mocked by Michal 4. Hath a more undaunted apprehension of death as Paul Act. 21.13 5. It makes one of strength and abilitie to beget other Christians as a man growne If thy Faith be weake 1. Slight it not for Good-will from God is in it a small gift of a very friend must not be slighted yea a blessing is in it 2. Be thankfull and acknowledge it it 's the way to have more and as small as it is it is more then thou canst be thankfull enough for 3. Rest not in it but get more as one that hath weak diet defence against danger evidence for land resteth not satisfied but labours to be better provided Object Weak Beleeving will save me if it be true Ans True but with more difficultie and discomfort as a crazie or leaking vessell that with much adoe makes shift to get to shore and that is all but what feare and disheartment in the meane time If thy Faith be strong 1. Be not high-minded but more humble for thou art the more indebted to God and the strongest may take a fall and become weak as a Child as a lustie man with a bruise by a Fall may goe halting to his grave 2. Despise not weake Beleevers but beare with them yea beare them in your armes Rom. 15.1 use them tenderly as men do with their weaker lambs bring them home and lap them up and as a strong man doth not scorne a little child or kick it up and downe because its a weak thing but dandles it in his lap CHAP. 18. What we must doe with saving Beliefe when we have it WE must be very carefull to use it well when we have gotten it and that thus 1. Setting great store by it not to blow it away at every word nor pawne it for every Trifle as it is too usuall a Custome 2. Be very charie of it not to wrong it in any kind as Parents are tender and doile of their only Darling 3. Allow it good keeping as an husband that hath all his meanes by his wife will be carefull of her and keepe her well We must keep it as our life Quest How must Faith be well kept Ans Thus 1. It must be fed with holy meanes Word and Sacraments for as the body if it want food awhile growes weake and faint so surely will Faith if it want its spirituall Feeding yea it must be fed with the Word of God every day specially that provision we made at Gods Market in his publike Ordinance the last time which we must by daily meditation and practise feed on till new Supply come hereby our Soule shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatnesse Psal 63.5 More principally our Faith must be fed with the Promises and that every day for which purpose we must get a good stock and store of Promises both concerning temporall things and this present life as also spirituall and eternall life as the Book of God like a rich Treasure is full of both sorts These I counsell every good Christian to cull out and get by heart as he meets with them to stand him in stead upon every Occasion that he may be able to bring forth a speciall Promise to comfort his heart and cheere his Faith at all times whatsoever Occasion happen Oh that more would be perswaded hereto thus to doe they that have done so have found by Experience how good it is and that a Promise sometimes hath been better to them then all their Friends Make a beginning then get some principall Promises by heart though your stocke be small to begin with yet increase it by gathering and adding still more to it and so make use of any Promise as each Occasion shall require you shall finde it a very great maintainer of Faith and to keepe it in excellent thriving case Trie and you will say so 2. Joyne good works to your Faith they that beleeve in God must be carefull to maintain good works Tit. 3.8 These strengthen Faith as Children begotten and brought up by their parents at length are able to defend and maintaine them and become a stay unto them 3. Experience is a great helpe to Faiths good keeping as Davids Lion and Beare stood his Faith in great stead when he had to doe with Goliah Make use of your former Experience you have had of Gods dealing with you Psal 77.5 6. 4. Examples of others that have beleeved and how well they have sped must be much thought on Our fathers trusted in thee saith David and thou deliveredst them Psal 22.4 5. Yea the weak Beleeving of some and how they have overcome it may hearten us much this way One saith THOMAS his doubting hath done me more good then MARIES ready beleeving Plus mihi prosuit dubitatio
Thomae quà m credulitas Mariae Gre. Mag. 5. Keepe a good Conscience which is a great nourisher of Faith and Nurse unto it 1 Tim. 1.19 CHAP. 19. What we must doe when it is wanting and more of it desired with Exhortation to all 1. LET every one for himselfe apply himselfe unto the meanes and manner of working thereof shewed in the beginning of this Treatise with a yeeldable heart especially attend upon Gods Ordinance the Ministery of the Word 1. Acknowledge Gods * 1 Cor. 3.4 Ministers his Instruments for it yea being well perswaded they are the parties God hath appointed especially your owne faithfull Pastour purposely to work Faith or more of it in you 2. Acquaint them how it is with you for beleeving as Act. 8.37 3. ◠Cor. 16.16 Put your selfe into their hands to be ordered by them having more skill then your selfe concerning your Beleeving and how to doe therein as a sick patient puts himselfe into his Physicians hands for his body And thus lye waiting at the poole of Bethesda for the stirring of the water by divine power 2. Let every one endevour the bringing of others also to beleeve Ioh. 4.29 and Joy therein Act. 15.3 We account it a good and blessed worke to helpe one into this though a miserable sinfull world and therefore every one thinkes himselfe beholding to the Midwife how much better work is it to help one into that other most happie and blessed world by beleeving To conclude let my Counsell be acceptable to three sorts of people 1. To those that were never humbled Consider if your breath were but gone you were in Hell Be content therefore to suffer the paine of a broken heart and to be cut to the heart as Act. 2.37 now rather then torment in hell for ever as we see some are perswaded to be cut for the Stone or searched of a wound which else will cost them their life and will not you be perswaded to endure this for your Soule 2. To those that are or have been rightly humbled I say to beleeve is to betake our selves to a safe place as the usuall * Chasab Hebrew word signifies and as David did Psal 57.1 Therefore fly with all speed to Christ as the Citie of Refuge to get into him For if death the Avenger of bloud overtake you first you are undone for ever And know that when the distressed Soule seeing its selfe pursued with sinne and spirituall dangers feares and flies out of its selfe to Christ desiring to be sheltered under him it is sure and safe Object But will not he refuse it Ans No. Ioh. 6.37 Psal 9.9 10. figured by the Citie of Refuge to which the man-slayer flying for safetie could not be kept out 2 Object May not an Hypocrite do so much Ans No he onely dreames of comming to Christ but doth not so indeed or else makes some flourish of comming but comes not home to Christ 3. To those that beleeve in truth I say Cast not away your confidence which hath great recompence of reward Heb. 10.35 Holy Confidence is like a Garment which the Soule wraps it selfe in the flesh and world goe about subtilly to steale it from us but the devill with his terrible blasts of Temptation to make us let goe or loosen our hold at least but God bids us hold fast for else the poore Soule will be naked and destitute Hold fast therefore what you have Rev. 3.11 Goe on in this your Strength you Saints of God and the Lord be with you and send you good speed to Heaven FINIS
Faith may be more readily and easily knowne by the * A Posteriori Fruits and Effects following then by * A Priori the Causes and things foregoing though this be the surer but both together do best as life by motion fire by heat the Sun by its Reflection on the wall or in the water a Seale by the print on wax may be as verily known as if you looke upon the things themselves Now then besides those immediate effects of true Beleeving mentioned CHAP. 11. it may be discerned by divers other in time and afterward as thus 1. It is a Living Faith both because it hath Life and Operation in it Gal. 5.6 It will * Si malè non benè operatur mortua est Aug. Enchir. cap. 67. worke for God and against sin as also because it makes us alive to God Rom. 6.13 2. It loves and desires the Word Gods Ordinances and holy meanes Psal 84.2 because first it 's begotten thereby as a Childe or young thing beares love to the breeders secondly they are nourishment to it as we being hungry love our food 3. It makes a new Creature purifying the heart Act. 15.9 and playning the life Rom. 6.4 It makes them vertuous knowing Gods will temperate patient godly which before were contrarie 2 Pet. 1.5 they therefore that joyne not to their Faith vertue but vice not knowledge but ignorance not Temperance but intemperance not Patience but impatience not Godlinesse but ungodlinesse their Faith is vaine and they not being new Creatures are not true Beleevers For Christ will draw all those his way in conformitie after him that partake of him as the Loadstone will draw the iron after it that comes within the reach of its vertue 4. It works repentance and abandoning of sin for a true hold of Christ will make us let goe our hold of sinne Obj. There is sin in the best Ans Sinne in the faithfull is like an harlot beaten out of doores which yet lies lingring in corners and out-roomes of the house though detested and not endured in sight but sin in unbeleevers is like an harlot harboured and maintained in the best roomes and delighted in Faith makes us grudge sinne any roome in this house of Christ whose honse are we Heb. 3.6 and this is Repentance 5. It will make one not content with thinking he hath it but to be very desirous and take paines to be sure and certaine he hath it 2 Cor. 13.5 6. It will worke selfe-deniall in us because we have given our selves away to Christ now as the wife to her husband Rom. 7.4 1 Pet. 4.2 3. Selfe-deniall First in regard of God for having doing suffering as he will and not as we would our selves so Christ Not as I will but as thou wilt Matt. 26.39 Secondly in regard of our neighbour in and for God Rom. 15.2 in * Col. 3.13 forgiving for bearing not doing them the least wrong to doe our selves the greatest benefit seeking and heartily desiring their good as if it were our own 1 Cor. 13.5 well requiting though they ill-deserving 7. A true Touch of Christ by Faith will draw vertue from him as Luk. 8.46 Matt. 14.36 as to the health of their Bodies so will it for the Soul much more and for the working of a Cure thereon it drawes from Christ the vertue of Holinesse and the closer we stick to him the more shall we draw from him as a plaister the closer it sticks the more it drawes 8. It makes us complaine of much want in our Faith and weaknesse in our Beleeving out of a sense of unbeliefe in us as a burden to us as Mark 9.24 Lord help my unbeliefe 9. It desires more and more earnestly the Favour of God and still better Assurance of it and therefore will make us 1. Not to favour our selves so much in sinne which stands not with Gods Favour 2. Not to be contented in any prosperitie without it 10. To long more after the Sweetnesse of Christ as Lovers that are agreed and contracted long for the Marriage day and the perfecting of their loves and as a Child that hath once tasted the sweetnesse of the bigg hunts more earnestly after it Faith longs therfore for Christs comming 2 Cor. 5.28 Cant. 8.14 Rev. 22.20 11. It expels worldlinesse from ruling in us 1 Ioh. 5.4 with 2.16 Heb. 11.26 So as a true Beleever cannot be a worldling that is to love worldly things more then Grace and Godlinesse no more then he can be a Iudas because Faith findes All-sufficiencie in Christ as Iacob for his Ioseph Gen. 45.28 so the true Beleever for his Iesus he can be content to want all so he have him 12. It exchades boasting of our gifts good parts good deeds Rom. 3.27 For first the more we perceive Gods mercie and love to us the more his Excellency and bountifulnesse appeares which will make us adore and reverence him in the more humilitie as a great personage the better he is knowne the more he is honoured Secondly the more we comprehend his mercie and Favour the more we apprehend our miserie standing in need thereof which will make us the more humble 13. It workes in us inward Spirituall Life now Christ liveth in us Gal. 2.20 and we in him which may be knowne as the naturall life 1. By the * Palpitatio cordis working of the heart panting after God Psal 42.1 and by beating of the pulses in our regular motions of constant endeavours and Holy Obedience Psal 50.23 2. By the Operation of the Senses Discerning good and evill effectually Heb. 5.14 3. By breathing a spirituall and a sweet breath of Grace Eccl. 10.12 Col. 4.6 4. By the motion of hand and foot which move to God and for God in all holy Actions contrary to the wicked mans speaking with his feet and instructing with his fingers Prov. 6.13 14. It cannot abide but driveth out Hypocrisie which serves not God for love but for by-ends for hypocrisie is all in feigning but Faith is unfained 2 Tim. 1.5 as contrarie as light and darknesse 15. It will not let us make haste to use ill or forbidden meanes to help our selves Isai 28.16 Psa 40.1 as it kept David from killing of Saul to hasten into the Throne for beleeving in God will not make us goe away from God as to hasten by evill meanes is to run away from him and we must be faine to come backe againe by Repentance 16. True beleeving obtaines what it beleeves viz. things for present in present Mat. 8.13 Things to come in their due time Matth. 21.22 so the benefits of Christ as deliverance from the raigning power of sinne Rom. 6.14 Sanctification and Grace as well as Salvation dependance on God sufficiencie in him patience contentedness c. which if it obtaine it 's true else false for how shalt thou thinke thy beleeving thy Salvation shall bring thee that when as thy beleeving thy Sanctification doth not bring