Remembring without ceasing your work of Faith and labour of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ They who believe must study to maintain good works Though works morally and spiritually good be not essential unto Faith yet they are evidential unto Faith though they be not the essence of a lively Faith yet they are the evidence that Faith lives for Jam. 2.26 as the body without the soul is dead so Faith without works is dead But what are the Symbols of a great Qu. 2. and a strong Faith A great and a strong Faith Sol. 1. can trust God without a pawn Then Faith acts in a most Kingly way Job 13.15 when it hangs upon a killing God Though he slay me yet will I trust in him Though God makes a Thrust at me and that Thrust should be mortal yet he shall be the Object of my Trust An unbeliever yea a weak believer must have something to feed his Senses or he gives up the Ghost when an unbeliever is at his wealths end he is at his wits end but now a great and a strong Faith questions not but that God will make provision though he sees not in which way the provision should come Crede qued non vides videbis quod non credis Believe what thou seest not and thou shalt see what thou believest not It is Faith to believe what thou seest not whose reward is to see what thou believest Heaven and Hell have all in sight Faith will have no work in either Faith fears no Famine Nothing grows weak where Faith grows strong Lactant. Judg as one saith of Persons by Faith not of Faith by persons The Prophet strains lovelily and yet loftily wherein there is a supposed condition and a proposed conclusion A supposed Condition Though the Fig-tree Hab. 3.17 18. and the Vine fail though the Olive and the Fields fail though the Flock and Herd fail Suppose nothing but impending judgments suppose a death upon all and a failure of all things Here is the Condition supposed A proposed Conclusion Yet will I rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my Salvation Here is the Conclusion proposed Though desolation and devastation come though poverty and prison come though fire and famine come though sword and pestilence come yet will I rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my Salvation Here Faith hath nothing in hand and Christ shall be trusted without a pawn Christ is a Feast in Famine and All in the want of all unto a person that hath a great and a strong Faith Faith hath a chymical art Chymists they say will entract Gold out of Stones and Iron He that can extract evil out of the Apostolick and evangelick Faith must needs be an excellent Chymist and may safely undertake to draw water out of a Pumice A great and a strong Faith is a wonder-working Faith Faith is a prophetick grace and answers it self Psa 37.34 Though he falleth yet shall he not be utterly cast down for God upholdeth him with his hand Faith worketh thorough Eclipses and is this short of a wonder This is the true Logick of Faith to draw conclusions of Peace in War of Safety in Danger of Light in Darkness of Life in Death This is the victory that overcometh the world 1 Joh. 5.4 even our Faith Take not the Act without the Object Faith may be said to overcome two wayes As it discerneth a Vacuity in all terrene Objects Eccl. 1.2 Vanity of Vanities saith the preacher all is Vanity As it uniteth to Christ Faith makes the Subject in which it is a member of Christ and so a Conqueror thorough Christ John 16.33 I have overcome the world He that hath a great and a strong Faith is above the worlds frowning and the worlds fawning A great and a strong Faith is steady and stedfast A weak Faith is shaken in the Soul though not shaken out of the Soul but a strong Faith is like an Oake which spreadeth its root deep and is not easily blown down Hence that imposition 1 Cor. 15.58 wherefore my Brethren be ye stedfast and unmoveable A metaphor taken from a Foundation on which a thing stands firm or a Seat Luke 22.32 wherein a man sits firm I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not Satan's first Seige was laid against the Faith of Threatnings here 't is laid against the Faith of Promises but saith Christ I have prayed for thee and for all that are mine as well as thee that thy Faith fail not that it fall not short of what it hath been or of what it should be A great and a strong Faith can swim against Wind and Tide Corrupt reason speaks like Peter Master save thy self but a great Faith saith Luke 9.24 He that will save his life shall lose it but he that will lose his life for my sake the same shall save it Corrupt reason saith who would profess against the streams of the times But a great Faith saith 't is better to dye than to deny better to suffer than to sin Corrupt reason consulteth safety but a great Faith consulteth duty and will hazard safety to preserve Sanctity An Abraham thorough grace can sail to Heaven though the tide of reason and wind of temptation be against him Gen. 22. Take uow thy Son thine onely Son Isaac the onely Son left in his Family for Ishmael was gone or his onely legitimate Son in opposition to a Bastard whom thou lovest with an especial dearness as being the Son of thine old age and of thy Wives miraculous conception above the course and force of nature and get thee into the land of Moriah 2 Chron. 3.1 upon which the Temple was built and offer him there for a burnt offering Was not this command enough not onely to puzzle fleshly wisdom but even Faith it self One command seems to enterfeir with another that in obeying one he must disobey another One command saith Thou shalt not kill but here Go take thy Son and offer him up for a burnt offering That God who gives life may call for it when he pleaseth In this command all that was in Abraham was put to trial Take a taste As a Man It is inhumane to slay an innocent one though a Servant yea a Stranger but this was a Son Or As a Father It was unnatural to kill his own Child though he had many Children he had but One. Or As a Husband What will his Consort say that he should be killed against whom she could not endure a Scorn or a Flout Or As a Believer Will not Infidels blaspheme his God and Religion for such a Fact This is the tenth time as some reckon that Abraham was tried but was there any trial like unto this What Course doth he now steer He doth not call Relations and Reason Gen. 22.3 4 5 6. to the Council-board but
3. A love to the World Page 107. 2 Moral Reduced to four heads Page 113. 1. Magisterial 2. Parental 3. Conjugal 4. Spiritual Page 116. Qu. But what is this Gospel-Love Page 118. Sol. A Description of it in its 1. Nature 2. Original 3. Soil Page 119 c. 4 Object Chap. 2. How this personal Excellency of Christ appears that is the proper Object of this Gospel-Love Page 126. Christ is excellent in Page 129 c. 1. Name 2. Nature 3. Love 4. Light 5. Wisdom 6. Wealth 7. Counsel 8. Comfort 9. Conduct 10. Power Page 134 c. Chap. 3. Inferences from a Gospel-Love Inf 1. The Lover of Christ hath much in Reversion Page 138. Qu. 1. But what is this Crown under promise for the Lovers of Christ Page 140. Sol This Crown is called 1. An Inheritance 2. The joy of the Lord. 3. The Kingdom 4. The Crown of Life 5. The Crown of Righteousness Page 143. Thus under a two fold notion 1. Ex parte Dei 3. Ex parte Rei 6. A Crown of Glory Qu. 2. But why shall those have a Crown with a Christ hereafter that have a Cross for a Christ here Page 144. In a four fold respect 1. The Father 2. The Son Because he hath 1. Prepared this 2. Prayed for this Page 145 c. 3. Promised this 3. In respect of the Saint Page 148. Ob. 1 Ah but my Temptations are many Sol. More loved by Christ than hated by Satan Page 149 c. Ob. 2. Ah but my Tribulations are many Sol. 1. All things shall work together for thy good 2. Suffer but a while thou hast but a while to suffer 3. The last Dish will be the best Ob. 3. Ah but my Corruptions are many Sol. Sorrow not as one without hope Ob. 4. Ah but I question whether Christ loves me Sol. Dost thou love Christ then Christ loveth Thee Page 151. Ob. 5. Ah but I question whether I love Christ The Symbols of a Love that is right and real 'T is Page 152 c. 1. Jealous 2. Cordial 3. Uncessant 4. Loyal 5. Expansive 6. Expensive 7. Expressive 8. Sociable 9. Submissive 10. Superlative Inf. 2. Thy Vote must be given for Christ and his Church Page 161. Inf. 3. Christ must be loved or the Soul must be damned Page 164. There are three things indispensably necessary in order to a living well doing well dying well Page 165 c. 1. Repentance 2. Faith 3. Love Page 172 173. The Marrow of the Prose in Poem The Author to the Reader AH little Tract what will become of thee From City thou mayst unto Countrey flee But if for Sea thou settest sail this craves That Heaven saves thee from the Winds Waves Alexius the man was such an Ass More than a Monster doth a Looking-Glass A Book did hate On Caesar therefore look Who lost a Robe that he might save a Book For Money solely Aristippus looks But solely Plato looked after Books Books Blessings are and blessed are the Books To blessed Man that for a Blessing looks The Bible is the Book of Books 't is true Consisting of old Testament and new This firstly read and mostly also look In order sometimes in this little Book Well may I say when under Heavens Gale What Parity between a Shrimp and Whale No Parity between a single Sand And all the rest that are upon the Land What is a Spark unto the Furnace yea What is a Drop to a tremendous Sea But obvi'us 't is unto a seeing Eye That there 's a far greater Disparity Between a sinless God and sinful Man Who is a Wink of Life his Dayes a Span Man finite is but infinite is God Who into Solace turns a smarting Rod VVHo Comforts Crosses make but also can Make Crosses Comforts unto saved Man Faith Hope and Love the Subjects are too high For him that hath a Film upon his eye Ah what 's a Muscle-shell can lapsed Man With this exhaust the bounded Ocean His Line 's too short this Bottom for to sound He lets it down but cannot find the ground Come Reader now and prospect take of mine Then take thine own for longer may be thine Faith Hope and Love grand Graces are all three But longest-lifed is the last I see Faith Hope and Love are lovely Graces which A Moment-Man so rarely do enrich A Beggar yea a Bankrupt is a Man Worth nothing worse than nothing if he can Be without Faith Hope Love grand Graces all Whose Objects have been ever since the Fall Christ Heaven Saints these of all Sizes and Of Sexes also all at Sea at Land Ah little Babe it may be thou wilt find Some Friends though many Foes that are unkind My prayer is Friends care of thee will take Both for thine own and for thy Fathers sake Now Reader come take taste and also eat Here is much Broath but here 's a little meat Go little Book and with thee also go The greatest God and Good to Friend and Foe Halelu-jah THE Grace of Faith Section I. Of Faith CHAP. I. Whether there be such a thing as a gospel-Gospel-Faith 'T IS said if a man hath lost his Religion he may seek it in Poland and be sure to find it or conclude that it is banished yea vanished out of the world The Father of Lights hath made England the Region of Religion the Land of Goshen the Valley of Vision yet if we go to many places and converse many persons we shall not find a Gospel-Faith as if it had taken the wing and sought another Climate Ens Entium Deus est colendus Some Philosophers could hit upon a Being of Beings somewhat like the first Commandment Upon a God to be worshipped somewhat like the second Commandment They accounted Vows and Oaths sacred somewhat like the third Commandment They had some superstitious Feasts in resemblance of the fourth Commandment And as for the second Table Honour Parents Steal not Whore not Kill not Lye not Covet not they could with open mouth declaim against these though the spiritual part of these was too sublime for them Now Faith is the grand Commandment of the Gospel 1 Joh. 3.23 This is his Commandment that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ But they were so far from finding out this that they contemptuously called the Christians Credentes Believing Ones as if their Faith had been their Absurdity whereas God calleth all such absurd that have not Faith That we may be delivered from unreasonable absurd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the Greek and wicked men for all men have not Faith I would now assert beyond all modest contradiction that there is such a thing as the Faith of the Gospel Mark 1.15 Repent and believe the Gospel Faith and Repentance they are Twins of Grace they lay in the same womb of Free-Grace And as they lay in the womb together so they come into the world together But as Esau got
mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the upper heavenlies Certainly they are under a prodigious Deception and Delusion who say they have believed ever since they could remember The Apostle expresseth this power put forth upon those that believe by a six-fold gradation 'T is his Power Faith cannot be wrought in the Soul nor wrought out for the Soul by any power short of this power which is the power of God and of the Spirit of God It is his power 'T is the magnitude of his power It is not onely great but also Greatness of power 'T is the supereminent or sublime magnitude of his power 'T is the working of his power 'T is the working of his mighty power 'T is the same power which gave a Resurrection and Ascension to Christ This is the Gradation and 't is an evident one 't is an eminent one 't is an excellent one When they called upon Spira to believe he replied it was as impossible as to drink up the Sea at one draught It is saith he as possible to keep the Moral Law as to believe for 't is natural to work for Life but supernatural to believe for Life It s Object The Object of this Faith is the Person of Christ The Person of Christ is the Object of this Gospel-Faith That he might be just Rom. 3.26 and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus But the Greek thus That he might be just and justifying him who is of the Faith of Jesus That is who is of the number of those that renounce all confidence by their own works and believe onely in the Person of Christ for Salvation 'T is not the Light within that is the Object of Faith as some say 'T is not the Church that is the Object of Faith as others assert with great confidence 'T is one thing to believe the Church and another thing to believe in the Church The Church may be believed but Christ must be believed in Neither is the Pope who looks like the Reuben of the God of this world the Object of Faith Clark's Martyr 147. though in the Maryan-days the Sheriff told one Carver at the Stake Except thou believest in the Pope thou art damned both Body and Soul Mrs. Lewis 191. A Bishop also told one in the same days If thou believest no more than is in the Scripture thou art in a damnable condition God is the proper Object of Repentance Christ is the proper Object of Faith Acts 20.21 Repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is the mediate Object of Faith God is the ultimate Object of Faith 1 Pet. 1.21 Who by him do believe in God that raised him from the dead and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God This also is the Doctrine of Christ Joh. â—4 1 Let not your hearts be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me Ye believe in God as a Father believe also in me as a Saviour as a Sacrifice as a Satisfier as a Surety It s Essence Hereby there is a Reception of Christ The very Essence of Gospel-Faith if I mistake not lies in receiving this Person of Christ in all his Offices A Gift is received by the Hand Faith is the Soul's Hand Joh. 1.12 To as many as received him to them gave he priviledge to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his name Christ is received by Faith and not onely received into the Head but also received into the Heart Eph. 3.17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith Thus Christ dwelleth by his Spiritual presence and by his gracious Influence Col. 2.6 As ye therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him Here is a Reception of Christ in all his Offices received Christ Jesus the Lord. These three Christ Jesus Lord are often put together We preach not our selves 2 Cor. 4 5. but Christ Jesus the Lord. Thus Paul in his Benedictions useth at least seventeen times these words 1 Cor. 1.3 ch 15.23 2 Cor. 1.1 ch ult ult Gal. 1.1 ch ult ult Ephes 1.1 Phil. 1.1 ch ult ult Col. 1.1 1 Thes 1.1 ch ult ult 2 Thes 1.2 ch ult ult 1 Tim. 1.2 2 Tim. 1.2 Tit. 1.4 This Reception makes the Union herein lies the very Essence of the Faith of the Gospel Christ is received in all his Offices Prophetical Sacerdotal and Regal as the Churches Prophet Priest and Prince Of these suffer a distinct discussion Christ is the Churches Prophet The Church hath had many Prophets but Christ by way of Emphasis Eminency and Excellency was the Prophet Moses in Old-Testament times was the Cheiftain of the Prophets leading the first Ranks John the Baptist in New-Testament times was also the Chieftain of the Prophets leading the last Ranks Moses leads the Van and John brings up the Rear of the Prophets but both these gave the wall to Christ as the Prince of Prophets Thus Moses did Moses truly said unto the Fathers A Prophet shall the Lord God raise up unto you of your Brethren like unto me him shall ye hear in all things Acts 3.22 23. whatsoever he shall say unto you And it shall come to pass that every soul every person whether upon the Throne or upon the Threshold in his Robes or in his Raggs that will not hear that self-same Prophet shall be destroyed from among the people 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But as Moses so John gave the wall to Christ Joh. 1.29 30. John seeing Jesus coming unto him saith Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world Every word hath its Emphasis and is Emphatical Behold the Lamb of God Christ was a Lamb in passion but a Lion in Resurrection a Lamb suffering death but a Lion in rising from death The Lion of the Tribe of Judah Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin the Root original and the Branch actual sin which taketh away the sin of the world But where doth John give the wall to Jesus that followeth This is he of whom I said after me cometh a man which is preferred before me for he was before me Though he appears now without worldly grandeur and glory yet he is incomparably more excellent than I am Job 36.22 Well did Elihu say Who teacheth like him The words are a divine Challenge Who teacheth like him Bring forth the Man yea bring forth the Angel if ye can but ye cannot that teacheth like unto God or Christ Christ is the Churches Priest He is a Priest over the House of God Heb. 10.21 Of his Priestly Office there are two parts his Oblation and Intercession His Oblation As he was the Lamb in Effigie Heb. 9.14 provided for a burnt-offering so He through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to
bearing it for a Crest Though God had one Son without Sin yet he never had a Son without Suffering 2 Tim. 3.12 All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution Luther saith that he learned more by Christs Cross Qui non est Crucianus non est Christianus than by all the letters in the book He saith also that he is not a Christian that hath not a Cross They who are without chastisement are Bastards and not Sons Now no Bastard can inherit by the Law of God by the Law of Nature by the Law of Nations This hath ever been the poesy of the Church of the first born TO DO GOOD ANDTO SUFFER EVIL Suffering work is noble work the noblest work that Dust and Ashes can be concerned in Saints are inferiour to Angels as to doing but Saints are Superiour to Angels as to Suffering for they are Spirits and so impassible Whom God affects most he many times afflicts most and there is many times the choicest Affection under the chiefest Affliction Great Promises call for a great Faith The Promises of God they are the Churches Stock and a Believers Patrimony The Promises of God are great things so great things that what would not a convinced or a deserted Soul give for a Promise The Promises of God they are greater than the Fears or the Faith of the People of God The Promises of God they are greater than the wants or the weaknesses of the People of God The Promises of God they are greater than the Sorrows or the Sins of the People of God The Promises of God they are greater than the Threatnings of God and as great as the Commands of God When the World was shaken by Adam's sin Gen. 3.15 God secured it by the Promise of his Son All the after Promises were but as so many Commentaries upon this first Promise the SEED OF THE WOMAN God hath many times repealed Punishments but God hath not at any time repealed Promises The Promise is a Ground for Faith as the Precept is a Rule for Obedience The congregating and calling of the Jews together with the drying up of the great river Euphrates in order thereunto are not these great things to believe and do not these call for a great Faith The blasting of Babylon and the blessing of Sion the breaking of Babylon and the Building of Sion the Ruine of Babylon and the Resurrection of Sion are not these great things to believe and do not these great things call for a great Faith A numerical resurrection of the Body Act. 1.10.11 the binding of Satan the personal return of Christ from Heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the reign of His with Him according to the Greek the thousand years Rev. 20.4 are not these great things to believe and do not these great things call for a great Faith Great Providences call for a great Faith The works of God are distinguished into two sorts of Creation and Providence 'T is bad to out-run Providence and 't is not good to loyter and lag behind it 'T is not good to go before God and 't is as bad to stay long behind him Creatures have a teaching voice they read us Divinity-Lectures of divine Providence There is the general Providence of God Acts. 17.28 which extends it self to the whole world From him we live and move and have our being There 's also the special Providence of God which he sheweth towards his Church Isa 43.2 When thou passest thorough the Waters I will be with thee and prevent thy drowning when thou walkest thorough the fire I will be with thee and prevent thy burning Is not every year a year of Wonder Annus Mirabilis what detections disappointments and defeats have there lately been upon a beastly and bloody brutish and barbarous merciless and murderous generation by a timely interposition of divine providence The Poison and the Antidote come into the Nation together such is the divine Providence of the divine Majesty God now speaks not onely from the Earth but also from Heaven by the great and wonderful works of his Providence Eusebius which one calleth the Sermons of God Now do not these Providences call for a great Faith Great Temptations call for a great Faith Where is the Christian of Christs making that is without Temptation Our whole life saith one is but a Temptation Aug. There was a Tempter in the terrestial Paradise but there shall be no Tempter in the Celestial Paradise That indeed a man is that he is under Temptation To be without Temptation saith one is the greatest Temptation Tillinghast When God puts any of his Servants into Satans hand 's then he keeps Satan in his own hands There is no place in the world that can secure from Temptation or be a Sanctuary from Satanical Assaults It is the folly of Popish Votaries that think to immure themselves within Walls from the Temptations of Satan Cloysters are as open as the open field to Satan but he is confined as to his Temptation to the aereal part and therefore called the Prince of the power of the air Ephes 2.2 When once therefore we are beyond the Earth we are beyond the reach of all Temptations I am saith Luther set upon without by all the world and within by the Devil and his Angels Satan in Tempting hideth the Hook and sheweth onely the Bait. Christ was made like unto Man that he might be Tempted and Man is Tempted that he may be made like unto Christ When Satan doth his worst in Tempting a Christian should do his best in praying Beza One when Tempted made this answer Whatsoever I was Satan I am now in Christ a new creature and 't is that which troubles thee Luther gives one compendious way to withstand all temptation whatsoever If moved any way by Sin Satan or the World answer all with this onely I am a Christian Christianus Sum. I may not yield to any sin for I am a Christian Suspend thy judgment as to those under temptation Christ himself was Tempted in the highest measure that could be That which is written of Spira that he was a Reprobate and a Cast-away because he concluded this of himself was penned very inconsiderately for what did befal him which may not befal a Child of God Christs intercession must be the Souls Anchor in time of temptation He that can say under temptation Ego non sum Ego as that young Convert did I am not what I was nor where I was is happy indeed Oh saith Satan there is at hand a blasting time a breaking time a binding time a bleeding time a burning time curse God and die curse thy King and thy God and look upward Do not great temptations call for great Faith Satan rageth most at last He is always going as a subtle Serpent to delude or as a roaring Lion to devour Satan is the greatest
Peripatetick Great Corruptions call for a great Faith As there are great Services great Sufferings great Promises great Providences great Temptations and all these call for a great Faith so more than all most of all worst of all there are great Corruptions which also call for a great Faith Corruption is the Sting this is the evil of evils the plague of plagues the poison of poisons There are Achans within to be stoned to death Sauls within to fall upon the point of the Sword of the Spirit There are Agag's within to be cut in pieces There are Goliahs within to be destroyed the Sons of Zerviah within that are to be subdued and these call for a great Faith Pro. 20.9 Was that Question ever answered Who can say I have made my heart clean I am pure from my Sin Ah Soul look within and see new worlds of Sin now do not these call for a great Faith May it not be said of Sin Malum complexum what is said of War to be a Complex and a complicated Evil As there is the nature of Sin so there is the sin of the Nature And doth not this call for a great Faith As there is no Sin in Grace so there is no Grace in Sin Sin is evil all evil Sin is so bad that we cannot call it worse than it is It s name is Evil. Rom. 7.21 When I would do good evil is present with me As there is the evil of Suffering so there is the evil of Sin and this is the worst Evil. But as the name of Sin is evil so the nature of Sin is evil Rom. 7.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That Sin by the Commandment might become exceeding sinful Or that Sin by the Commandment might appear hyperbolically sinful Or according to the Greek that Sin by the Commandment might appear a Sinner unto an Hyperbole Now doth not this call for a great Faith Sin is a darkning of the Glory of God a defacing of the Image of God a crucifying of the Son of God a grieving of the Spirit of God a wounding of the Soul of Man And doth not this call for a great Faith Is there a Day without Clouds A Moon without Spots A Garden without Weeds A House without Rubbish A Soul without Sin A Heart without Leaven Now doth not this call for a great Faith They look like perfect Strangers to their own Hearts who pretend unto a personal Perfection Paul was cried up for an earthly Angel Rom 7.17 yet not without Sin 'T is no more I that do it but Sin that dwelleth in me There is but one thing in all the World that is the object of God's abhorrence that makes Man truly miserable that caused the Maker of Man to repent of Man's making that necessitates Mercy that called for Christ's Sufferings and caused Tears to stand in his Eyes that God looks upon with a vindictive Eye that Christ came to destroy that made Angels Devils that makes a Hell within and that is Sin Now doth not this call for a great Faith CHAP. IV. Of a little and a weak Faith AS there is a great and a strong Faith so there is a little and a weak Faith Why are ye fearful Mat. 8.26 oh ye of little faith I would not discourage an Infant-Faith That God who bids us receive him that is weak in the Faith will not himself reject him but God bids us receive him that is weak in the Faith Rom. 14.1 Fides periculis secura securitate periclitatur Aug. Him that is weak in the Faith receive you but not to doubtful disputations By one that is weak in the Faith the Apostle may mean a young Convert a Babe in Christ or a Person not sufficiently instructed concerning the Use of things indifferent Though thy Faith be not grown to a Cedar if it be a Shrub or a bruised Reed 't is too good to be broken A weak Faith may lay hold upon a strong Christ A Palsical hand may tie the knot in Marriage 'T is con-natural unto Man to desire Salvation rather under the notion of Doing than of Believing Dream not of the same Favour with Saints unless thou hast the same Faith with Saints but 't is Faith of the same Stamp not of the same Stature the same as to Quality though not as to Quantity the same as to Truth though not as to Degree A spark of Fire is true Fire the Furnace is no more A Drop of Water is true Water the Ocean is no more Now as a little Fire may be true Fire and a little Water true Water so a little Faith may be true Faith But how shall I know that I have true Faith Qu. I fear my Silver is Tin my Gold is Dross my Faith is Fancy Ah! I fear that my Faith is not a true but a false Faith How shall I know a true Faith from a false Faith That 's the Question A true Faith goeth not alone Sol. 1. As it is said 't is not good that Man should be alone so it may be said that Faith is not good that is alone The Leper under the Law was to dwell alone but true Faith goeth not alone 'T is written Wo to him that is alone so Wo to that Person whose Faith is alone Unless a corn of Wheat falleth into the Ground and dieth it abideth alone thus Faith if it hath not Works is dead Jam. 2.17 being alone or by it self so the Greek A false Faith goeth alone an Hypocrite speaks of his Faith when his Works are speechless or speak nothing but Unbelief An Hypocrite is all Creed but no Commandment he saith he believeth but continueth in Sin 'T is a false not a true Faith that goeth alone A true Faith hath a train of good Works Jam. 2.18 Shew me thy Faith without thy Works and I will shew thee my Faith by my Works A true Faith hath a true Object A false Faith hath a false Object an Hypocrite believeth the lying Vision of his own Heart but a true Faith hath a true Object this hath the Person of Christ for Object a Christ in all his Offices as the Churches Prophet Priest Acts 16.31 and Prince Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved A true Faith is not easily come by A false Faith is easily had this Faith Mark 4 5. is like the Seed in the Parable which sprung up suddenly 't is without Convictions and Heart-woundings Though there may be many Convictions without out Conversion yet is there any Conversion without Convictions It may be said to a Person that hath a false Faith concerning his faith as Isaac did to his Son concerning his Venison Son how camest thou by thy Venison so soon So Soul how camest thou by thy Faith so soon Hast not been wading in the Waters of Marah and of Meribah and yet hast faith Hast not been sailing by the Gates of Hell and yet
Pearl before Swine Mat. 7.6 Apply not Evangelical Promises unto swinish Men who regard them no more than Swine do Pearls of whose use they can have no sense Hast thou faith Rom. 14.22 Have it to thy self before God If thou beest persuaded in thy self that a thing is indifferent use this liberty to thy self have Faith with thy self but boast not of it to the offence of another By Hope sometimes understand the thing hoped for Looking for the blessed Hope That is Tit. 2.13 for the blessing hoped for Here Hope is Metonymically put for the blessing hoped for By Hope sometimes understand Christ Jesus himself the Object of Hope Acts 28.20 For the Hope of Israel I am bound with this Chain Christ is called the Hope of Israel in respect of the Fathers who looked for his coming according to promise By Hope sometimes understand some mighty Prince Isa 20.5 or People They shall be afraid and ashamed of Aethropia their expectation and of Egypt their glory By Hope sometimes understand a certain persuasion 2 Cor. 2.7 Our hope of God is stedfast knowing that as you are partakers of the Sufferings ye shall be also of the Consolation By Hope sometimes understand the Grace Ps 131.3 or Act of Hope Hope thou Israel in Jehovah from now as yet unto Eternity So the Hebrew Text. Now 't is the Grace or Act of Hope that is the Subject to be discussed as I am more or less indulged the Gales and Gusts of the Spirit But what is this Grace Qu. or Act of Hope Gospel-hope Sol. is a Grace and Fruit of the Spirit consisting in an assured and abiding Expectation Descr having God and all promised Good future and possible for its Object grounded upon the Mercies of the Father and the Merits of the Son Now in this Description there are four things that call for Discussion being indispensably necessary in order to its Constitution The Nature of it the Quality of it the Object of it the Cause of it 1. The Nature of it Gospel-hope is a Grace and Fruit of the Spirit The Apostle speaks of some of the Spirit 's Fruits against which there is no Law Gal. 5.22 23. no Law of Condemnation The fruit of the Spirit is Love Joy Peace Longsuffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance Hope is not expressed but 't is implied the reason is obvious for Hope is a Grace now all Grace groweth upon this Tree and is the Fruit of this Tree the Spirit That Hope is a Grace is as evident for it is ranked with Faith and Love 1 Thess 1.3 Remembring without ceasing your work of Faith and labour of Love and patience of Hope in our Lord Jesus Christ Here is the work of Faith 't is not a dead but a living Faith 't is a work but 't is a Work of God a work of Grace and it worketh by Love Here is the labour of Love Love is laborious it labours much labours most though it thinks it labours least And here is the patience of Hope here is a bearing of the Cross in hope of the Crown a passing through the Wilderness in hope of the Land of Promise a Suffering for Christ in hope of Reigning with Christ The Quality of it This Grace Hope is an assured and abiding expectation 'T is an assured expectation This Hope is acted by the Spirit Gal. 5.5 We through the Spirit wait for the hope of Righteousness by Faith Here is a waiting or expectation and this is through the Spirit which must needs be certain and sure Yea that 't is an assured expectation the Apostle endeavours to insinuate Rom. 5.2 We rejoyce in hope of the Glory of God Where there is Joy there is Assurance There will come a time when Time shall go into Eternity and the Soul shall go into Glory and we rejoyce in hope of this Time There will come a time when we shall go Home when we shall go to our Father's House wherein are many Mansions and we rejoyce in hope of this Time There will come a time when we shall be arrived at our Haven our Heaven our Palace our Paradise and we rejoyce in hope of this Time 'T is an abiding expectation Hope is no remover but an abiding grace Hope is not a fading quality though it doth not always act at least in that degree act yet it always is where it ever was Though it be not always a lively hope yet 't is alwaies a living hope Dùm spiro spero dùm expiro spero While I live I hope saith the Heathen while I dye I hope saith the Christian 'T is written that the wicked is driven away in his wickedness Prov. 14.32 but the righteous hath hope in his death There is a hoping to death and a hoping in death Hope is to last so long as this life lasteth and to run parallel with the longest minute and moment of Time A Christian of Christ's making never loseth his hope until he hath found that which he hoped for That Hope which is the Concomitant 〈◊〉 of Faith is an assured and abiding ex pectation Heb. 6.11 may be read by him that runneth We desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end Here is not only hope and assured hope but also the assurance of hope yea the full assurance of hope 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Metaphor taken from Ships that have all their Sails up yea and all these Sails filled with Wind. As Faith hath an eye to the truth of the promise so Hope hath an eye to the good of the promise but the assurance of this hope is that we shall receive that Good Though Hope in vulgar-Dialect and in the things of the World signifieth of things to come a probability yet in Scripture-Dialect and in the things of Salvation it signifieth an undoubted certainty The Object of it The Object of Hope is God and all promised Good future and possible The Object of Hope is God That God is the Object of Hope is evident for he is called the God of Hope Rom. 15.13 Now the God of hope fill you with all Joy and peace in believing Objectivè effectivè that ye may abound in hope thorough the power of the holy Spirit He is called the God of hope objectively because the proper and primary object of it and effectively because the worker of it by his Spirit Both these are legible in this proof The God of Hope there he is the Author and the Object of it That ye may abound in hope there he is the Actor and the Worker of it This Hope is in God formally as in the Subject of it and in God causally as in the Fountain of it He is the Author of it and the Donor of it the God of it and the Giver of it As God so Good all promised
cannot hope This they want and can never have This is the life of Christians and the want hereof maketh Devils There must be living thorough hope upon the Object of Hope Infer 4. The life of Faith is a noble life and so is the life of Hope these two live together and will dye together Lam. 3.24 Jehovah is my portion saith my soul therefore will I hope in him 'T is a mercy to have a portion in the World but 't is a misery to have the World for a Portion Though thou hast no Bags and Barns not an Affluence and Confluence of these lesser and lower things though thou hast not a Palace but a Cottage and livest not at Court but upon a Common though thou farest not deliciously but hast short Commons and hast not Bread for to morrow until to morrow though thou hast not Variety and Rarity but a morsel nor the finest or fat of the Wheat but pulse though thou hast not Superfluity but a handful of Meal in the Barrel and a little Oyl in the Cruse yet if actually Christs thou hast Jehovah for thy Portion therefore hope Those who have the Grace of Hope should have a Life in Print Infer 5. What manner of persons ought they to be in Cogitation and Communication and Conversation who have God or Christ or Heaven for the Object of their Hope Hast a Gospel-hope look then to thy Steps and make strait steps to thy Feet A well led life is the best Monument 'T is highly commendable when the life of a Christian is a Commentary upon the life of a Christ A Congregational-life should be a Christian-life an Evangelical-life should be an Angelical life A Life in Print is a silencing evidence Good works are more evidential unto interest in Christ than good words The Life rather than the Lip is evidential for what Country thou art bound what thy Desires and Delights and Designs are The End of the Conversation is notoriously evidential for or against a Man The Life will speak when the Lip is silent 'T is not the witty Head but the holy heart that shall go to Heaven 1. Jo. 3.3 Every one that hath this Hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure Every one actually in Christ as to Nation whether Jew or Gentile as to Sex whether Man or Woman as to Age whether a Methuselah or a Josiah as to State whether a Crassus or a Codrus as to Degree whether a person in his Robes or a person in his Rags desireth and endeavoureth thorough Christ to be pure as Christ is pure This as is an as of quality not of equality A Christian should be like the floor of the Temple and the Ark of Noah over-laid with pure Gold within and without Jewel 'T is said of one Diu vixits licet non diu fuit that he lived long in the short scantling of his life 'T is said of Daniel that nothing was found against him unless it was concerning the Law of his God Though perfection be not in the power of a Christian yet it should be in the endeavour of a Christian Those who shall wear Kings Robes in Heaven must wear Saints Robes on Earth Godliness saith one always enricheth the possessor 'T is pity but the life of a Christian should be such as envy it self might not know where to fasten As the Image in the Glass doth resemble the Face or Figure the Feature and Favvur so doth a Christian after his proportion that hath a Gospel-Hope resemble Christ Those actually Christs are to hope to the end Infer 6. As there must be a believing to the end 1 Pet. 1.9 if at the end of our days we would receive the end of our Faith the Salvation of our Souls so there must be a hoping to the end if at the end of our days we would receive the end of our hope and be graciously arrived at that City which is the Object of it the builder and maker whereof is God Heb. 11.10 Hope is a sweet and firm companion of man it is the last thing that leaveth him The Apostle presseth a hoping to the end Gird up the loins of your mind 1 Pet. 1.13 be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ Gird up the loins of your mind The Jews and eastern people tuck up their long garments that they may be more expedite and free to a journey or business thus Christians having a Gospel-Hope must take short their minds from terrene objects and delights in their progress thorough the wilderness unto the Holy Land Be sober in principle in practise And hope to the end and hope perfectly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the greek But for what For the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ for more grace here and for glory hereafter That a hoping person Infer 7. is a happy person Hast a Gospel-Hope drink then of the brook by the way and lift up thy head for the hoping soul is the happy soul Thou mayst say as Luther did let him be miserable that can be miserable for my part I cannot be miserable for I have a Gospel-Hope Psal 146.5 Happy is the man that hath the God of Jacob for his help whose hope is in the Lord his God Canst thou be miserable so long as God is merciful Canst thou be unhappy when the God of Gods is the Object of thy Hope Hast a Gospel-Hope Then that God who hath eternity for his mansion and eternity for his measure speaketh unto thee from the mercy-seat from Gerizim the mount of blessings not from Ebal the mount of curses for the hoping person Deu. 11.29 is the happy person The Heathens had this Divinity among them that only good men should be happy hereafter When Craesus asked Solon that Athenian-Lawgiver who was more happy than Craesus Solon answered Tellius who though he was a poor man yet he was a good man If there be a person unhappy on this side Hell 't is a person without a Gospel-Hope and if there be a person happy on this side Heaven O terque quaterque beati 't is a person that hath a Gospel-Hope This may be said of Christ and of those who are Christs having him for the Object of their Hope that they are three times Toties quoties four times many times very many times blessed Ah but this is an evil day Objec 1 and like to be worse The People of God have not only the sense of death but also the sentence of death in themselves now There is a Storm impending a Showr impending it may rain and that blood before night before I be gathered unto my Fathers before I go to the grave of silence and have a pillow of dust for my head Be not over concerned Sol. for Christ is the Object
Eternity unto Eternity thou art God Now the things of the world perish from their using yea perish from their use and yet there is a love to the world Moral As there is a carnal so there is a moral love which I shall reduce unto three heads Magisterial Parental and Conjugal Magisterial This is a love from the Master to the Servant A good Master hath a great love especially for a good Servant The Centurion's love was great to his Servant it is expresly said Luke 7.2 3. that he had a servant which was dear unto him but he was sick and ready to dye now hearing of Jesus he sent unto him the Elders of the Jews beseeching him that he would come and heal his Servant A Servant dear unto him The word imports a Servant of great price or a precious and honourable Servant Good and faithful Servants are rare and therefore precious May not that be said of Servants which is said of all other Relations among men for a few good there are many bad and like Jeremiah's Figs the good usually very good but the bad usually very bad There was not one Servant that went into the Ark with Noah nor out of Sodom with Lot which undeniably demonstrate that few Servants were good Parental As there is a Magisterial so there is a Parental love Davids love to Absalom was great if not too great That I had dyed for thee 2 Sam. 18.33 oh Absalom my Son my Son Was Absalom dead Spiritually Is Absalom dead naturally or rather violently yea is Absalom dead everlastingly Is he damned as well as dead It may be this was the reflection that was like a Dart to the Heart of David Oh that I had dyed that he might have lived Oh that I had gone to the grave of silence that he might not have gone to Hell The love of Jacob to Benjamin was great so great that the life of the Father seemeth to be bound up in the life of the Son Gen. 44.30 Kill the Son and you kill the Father one grave will serve for both But as there is a love from the Father to the Child so there is a love from the Mother to the Child The love of the Mother is a great love if not the greatest love Isa 49.15 Can a woman forget her sucking Child from having compassion on the Child of her womb Is there such a Woman among Women Can a Woman lay aside her nature Is not that Woman very unworthy to be ranked among Women that can desert the Babe of her Breast and expese it to have its Brains dashed out or its Bowels troden out Is there such a Woman 'T is pity there should be such a Woman Conjugal As there is a Magisterial and a Parental so there is a conjugal love This is a love from the Husband to the Wife and from the Wife to the Husband Husbands love your Wives Col. 3.19 and be not bitter against them A Metaphor taken from such things as are bitter in the Taste Gall mingled with sweet things makes them distastful So if the Husband be bitter the Wife will not digest it Among the Heathen the Gall of the Sacrifice that was slain and offered at Nuptials was cast out of doors to signifie that persons in a conjugal-state should be as Doves without a Gall. A man loves his Child as something of himself but he loves his Wife as Himself The Athenian-Lawgiver Tanquam aliquid sui tanquam Se. Solon commanded that Men and Women should marry together for Issue Pleasure and Love but not for Money Did they so then 't is to be feared that few do so now 'T is said of Wallaeus Clark's 1. Part. Eccl. Hist p. 982. and his Consort that their mutual care was so to please each other as by Deeds to prevent each others Desires Conjugal-Love is at least ought to be great love The love of Abraham to Sarah was great of Isaac to Rebecca was great Livia nostri conjugii memor esto vive vale of Jacob to Rachel was great of Elkanah to Hanna was great of Augustus to Livia was great who dyed in the embracement of her with these words Remember that we were one live and farewel As there was love in life so there was love in death Eph. 5.25 Husbands love your Wives as Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it This as is an as of quality not of equality for Christ so loved the Church as to give himself to death for it even the death of the cross but thus Man doth not for his Wife if he did it would be insignificant for he could not save her nor sanctifie her nor satisfie her Spiritual As there is a carnal and a moral so there is a Spiritual love Thus there is a love in God to Man Rom. 5.8 But God commendeth his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us There is also a love in Man to God I love the Lord Psal 116.1 because he hath heard my voice and my supplications There is a love in Christians to Christians to all Christians and as Christians Since we heard of your Faith in Christ Jesus Col. 1.4 and of the love which ye have to all the Saints And John 13.1 as there is a love in Christ to Christians Having loved his own which were in the world he loved them unto the end so Can. 1.4 there is a love in Christians to Christ The upright love thee By a Christian I understand not a Babe of Nature but of Grace not a Christian of Mans but of Christs making It is a person that hath a life from Christ and a life for Christ 'T is a person that hath a Life from Christ I am crucified with Christ Gal. 2.20 nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me He had a life whereby he did live saith one but he had not this life from himself nor in himself Aug. to give to others as Christ did I live yet not I. I live saith another a Spiritual life Perkins but not I as a natural man 'T is a person that hath a Life for Christ Where there is a life from him there is a life for him and where there is a life for him there must be a life from him Phi. 1.21 To me to live is Christ and to dye is gain Or Christ is to me life and death is gain so the Greek The meaning is this Christ is my life here by Grace and hereafter by Glory he is both the Author and the end of my life I live for him I live to him I live in him I live by him and if I be put to death it will not endammage me but advantage me for I shall exchange Earth for Heaven a Cottage for a Palace a Prison for a Paradise This is a Christian indeed and the love of this Christian to a