against us or the like Faith acted will say as David Psal 3.6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about as Elisha to his servant 2 Kings 6.16 Feare not for they that be with us two men onely are 〈◊〉 then they that be with them As Asa 2 Chron. 14.11 Lord it is nothing with thee to help whether with many or with them that have no power As Jehosaphat chap. 20.12 we haâ—e no might against this great company that commeth against us neither know we what to doe but our eyes are upon thee Or as Moses at the red Sea Exod. 14.13 Feare ye not stand still and see the salvation of the Lord which he will shâ—w to you to day Againe faith actâ—d will say God is able to make their hearts melt in them 〈…〉 even the stoutest of the enâ—mies aâ— the Canaanites God can make them heare a noyse in tâ—◠〈◊〉 1 Kâ—ng 7. â— and be gone as the Syrians oâ— a rumour Isa 37.7 as the Assyrians God can set them to sheathing their swords in the bowels one of another as the Moabites 2 Chron. 20.23 Ammonites and Edomites He can send an evill spirit among them to fall off one from another as Abimelech and the men of Sechem Judg. 11.23 Or he can bide us in the midst of all the enemies as he did Jeremie and Baruch Jer. 36.26 It may be ye shall be hid in the day of wrath Zeph. 2.3 And if not yet faith acted will say We shall goe to Heaven so much the sooner and there it will be better for us then if we had lived here an hundred yeers longer in the greatest prosperity After darknesse I shall see light and while I sit in darknesse the Loâ—d shall be a light unto me Mic. 7.8 So in any other instances faith is the victory wherein we overcome the world 1 Joh. 5 4. And we see large and faire exemplifications of it Heb. 11.33 34 35. Through faith they subdued Kingdome wrought righteousnesse obtained promises â—â—â—ppâ—â— thâ— mouthes of Lyons qâ—â—â— had the violence of fire escaped th◠〈…〉 the sword c. This is the lustre and glory of faith in the vigorous acts of it Samson was not more glorious in those miraculous acts of killing a Lyon or laying the Philistims heap upon heap then a Beleeever shall be if faith be well brought into action III. Faith when it admitteth of feares most and is pestered shrewdly yet strives to the contrary and works them out by little and little What time I am afraid I will trust in thee Psal 56.3 and a Beleever chides away unbeliefe as Psal 42.11 Why art thou cast downe O my soule and why art thou disquieted within me hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God Unbeliefe is a great burden to a good soule and makes it say with teares Lord I beleeve Mar. 9.24 help thoâ—â—â—â—â—e â—â—â—elâ—â—fe Ah that I should bewray such weaknesse after so much acquâ—intance with God! after so much experience of his goodnesse after so much profession to bâ—leeve in God Aâ—mighty 〈…〉 O wretched man that I am Rom â— 24 who shall deliver me from this body of death And as faith groweth stronger so these feares weare away by little and little At lightsome times it is as bold as a Lyon Prov. 28.1 The wicked theâ— when no man pursueth but the righteous are bold as a Lyon and we are righteous by faith All graces conflict with their contraries and so doth saith The comfort is it is sure of victory in the end Which is something to stay and fix the heart during the â—â—me of the combat Time shall be that all these feares and first things shall passe away We shall not so much as feare any enemies of soule or body or molestation by them IV. There is a mixt consideration of the fears of a beleeving heart 〈…〉 in Swordâ— of 〈◊〉 godly that it is rather an holy and commendable feare then otherwise Some affliction or danger there is but yet an higher cause which breedeth the feare First sometimes the feare is for some sinne unrepented and unpardoned as the poore heart doubteth Job in his great calamities feared least the Lord reckoned with him for old offences chap. 13.26 thou writest bitter things against 〈◊〉 and makâ—st me to possesse the 〈◊〉 of my youth When trouble comes and the peace with God not setled it is just cause of feare Prov. 18.11 A wâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 who can beare Though sometime the Christian be comfortably perswaded of the peace yet my perfectly Or some old sinne comes newly to remembrance and brings terrour with it As to 〈◊〉 brethren when taken for spyes Gen 12. â—1 We are 〈◊〉 guilty concerning 〈…〉 that we 〈◊〉 the anguish of his sâ—â—le and would not heare therefore is 〈◊〉 dâ—stâ—â—â—sse come upon us Or howsoever some feare will doe well to assure the peace more throughly Phil. 2.12 Work out your salvation wiâ—â— fear and trâ—mbling And thus 〈◊〉 is the man that feareth alwaâ— Prov. 28.14 Where feare standeth in opposition to hardnes of heart as appeareth by the opposition of the sentence Secondly sometimes the feare â—s not so much for himsâ—lfe whose estate is good and gives him leave to rejoyce in God all the day long as for his châ—ldren which are young tâ—ndeâ— not instructed not provided for He feares least they should câ—me into Popish or prophane hands and miscarry Alas what shall they doe if they be fatherlesse motherlesse friendlesse without government or without good instruction The body is like to be in bad case enough but the soule is worse Few friends of the soule even where is some love to the body Thirdly sometimes it is not so much for his owne particular as the welfare of the Church least Idolaters prevaile and Idolatry be established againe least the Gospell be hindered in the free course of it feast the Arkâ— be taken and the glory depart from Israel 1 Sam. 4.13 Eli sate upon a seat by the way-side watching for his heart trembled for the Arke of God Or he feares for the glory of God least it be eclipsed if the good side goe to the worse and wicked enemies have occasion to blaspheme Where is now 〈◊〉 God Pâ—â—â— 12.10 and Gospelling and Fasting and Praying and Reformation Thus Moses was afraid least if Israel were destroyed in the Wildernesse the enemy would say It is because God was not 〈…〉 them into the good â—and Num. 14.13 and Joshua chap. 7.9 What will thou doe unto thy great Name namely if Israel still fall before the men of Aâ— Which is an holy feare We read of some such thing in God himselfe Deut. 32.26 27. I said I would 〈◊〉 them into 〈◊〉 I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy 〈◊〉
is the fourth day Ah said Christ to Martha said I not unto thee that if thou wouldest beleeve thou shouldest see the glory of God Joh. 11.40 Mans reason is a short measure to esteem the power and wisdome of God These are some meanes to act faith in these times of need Now put your faith to it 2 Tim. 1.6 stirre up the gift of God that is in you Wherefore should a man have riches and not have the use of them Know it is a fault and matter of reproofe in Beleevers to give way to those feares Isa 8.12 13. Feare not their feare nor be afraid sanctifie the Lord of hosts himselfe and let him be your feare and your dread why did ye doubt Mat. 8.26 O ye of little faith He is a coward who hath a sword by his side and will not use it against a theefe And he is a Miser who hath store of riches and yet wanteth necessaries in his sicknesse Apply it to thy selfe and think Who would be so clogged and turmoyled with feares when he may be rid of them Onely if ye stand to your owne Principles and remember your grounds None so merry as a true Christian if he hold his owne indeed none but he Others glory in the face not in heart 2 Cor. 5.12 Section IV. Benefits of acting thy Faith in these evill times These benefits are many and great Seven benefits of Faith well acted First what a sweet life would it be to be past these torturing fears which now lye gnawing upon your hearts Vâ—tanâ—n vitalis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Origen and drinking up your spirâ—t that your life is scarce worthy to be called a life Oh these heavy and groâ—ning passions of unbelief How doe they keep a man in boâ—dage all the dayes of his life Heb. 2.15 A man shall through these feares want what he hath aswell as what he hath not Onely because he brings not his faith into exercise Secondly the acting of faith would be great glory to God whom we serve and in whom we professe to beleeve shewing actually that the Lord is sufficient matter of joy when all other comforts faile Hab. 3.17 18. Although the Figge-tree shall not blossome yet will I reioyce in the Lord I will be glad in the God of my salvation It is honour to any Master to see his Servant cheerfull at his businesse and stick to him in great hazards a signe he is a good Master So here God is honoured while his servants wait upon him cheerfully And joy of heartes one part of our Masters allowance My servants shall reioyce Isa 65.13 Thirdly it would be a good credit to our holy profession and draw others to it as being a fountaine of comfort in the saddâ—st streights and difficulties Psal 46.4 There is a River the streames whereof shall make glad the City of God And who would not enter upon so comfortable a course of life All seeme willing to live a fine and joyfull life which is never done compleatly till faith be both gotten and exercised Fourthly if our faith were well acted we should walk as so many tall Gyants farre above all reach of the evill world our faith being our victory whereby we overcome the world 1 Joh. 5.4 We should not onely beare but contemne the contempt of ungodly men Heb. 12.2 As our Lord who despised the shame Threaten these things to your Courtiers said the Martyrs we have faith and thereby are growne hardy Or promise these rewards honours great advantages to them that care for them we have other matters in our heart and eye and cannot be wonne from the truth Fiftly it our faith were duly set on worke we should undertake great things for the Cause and in the way of God saying in great sufferings as the Apostle did 2 Tim. 1.12 2 Cor. 4.13 I know whom I have beleeved Having the spirit of faith we would speake and make a good confession in time of need We would part with our estates yea and lives too disburse fight apologize any thing so that our Lord and his Cause may be glorified Sixtly still as faith is acted we shall be able to make mighty prayers prayers that shall availe mâ—ch for furthering the worke of God being prayers of â—aâ—th Jam. 5.15 16. And we shall not be weary of praying though we seem to strive against the streame No saith Faith it will be to purpose therefore pray alwayâ— and fâ—â—m not Luke 18.1 Lastly if we act our faith we shall be kept from temptations which great afflictions use generally to bring along with them as namely to despaire or use indirect meanes for helping our selves He that beleeveth shall not make hast Isa 28.16 Our faith will be a shield to us whereby we shall be able to quench all the fiery daâ—ts of the wicked Eph. 6.16 It will be a meanes to keep God with us and keep us in the way of God which alwayes hath a sure recompence of reward Section V. Motives to act Faith in these dangerous times Motives Beside those benefits of acting thy faith there be divers other considerations which may move thee thereunto First the setting of thy faith on work setteth God on work to doe great things for his people According to thy faith be it unto thee Mat. 8.13 said our Lord in the Gospell and to Martha he said John 11 4â— Said I not unto thee that if thou wouldest beleeve thou shouldest see the glory of God Mordecai beleeved deliverance would come one way or other and it came accordingly Est 4.14 The three Jewes beleeved God would save them in the fiery furnace and they were saved Dan. 3.17 The greatest Beleevers have been the greatest Receivers Heb. 11. The old Beleevers by faith obtained wonderfull mercies All things are possible to him that beleeveth God will doe for them that give glory to his Name which is by faith Rom 4.20 such give him the glory of his power of his wisdome mercy faithfulnesse all his Attributes and they cast themselves wholly upon him as Clyents on their Counsellour therefore shall not be disappointed yea Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is he shall be as a Tree planted by the watters c. Jer. 17.7 8. But ah this base infidelity which puts our faith so much in our eye cals it so often from our hearts too much flesh too little faith we beleeve no longer then we see signes and wonders scarce cheerfull but while we heare of a victory or discovery or other mercy mightily cast downe at a foyle or the prevailing of enemies Shake as the Trees of the Wood when Rezâ—n and Pekah are joyned together Isa 7.1 2. And it brings little home as is said of carking care God being dishonoured by unbeliefe withdraweth his hand doth not his work or not yet seeth no vessell set to receive his precious liquor and so the oyle ceaseth Israel could not
and evill shall not come but at his pleasure not till now not more not longer no farther as he saith to the proud waâ—es Thus farre shall ye go Job 38.11 but no farther And as Joseph said Ye thought evill against 〈◊〉 but God ment it unto good Gen. 50.20 And as Job The Lord giveâ—â— and the Lord taketh away blessed be the name of the Lord chap. 1.21 Pâ—â—â—â—ses Finally faith pitcheth on promâ—ses and these heard with 〈◊〉 Oath to give us 〈…〉 Heb. 6.18 And promises are farre better then all performances in this world whatever they be still there is more in a promise Isa 65.8 A blâ—ssing in the cluster destroy it not For the matter they are precious promises for the manner of makâ—ng fâ—â—e for the extent universall for the effect 2 Cor. 1.20 Isa 55.3 sure and certaâ—ne yea and amâ—n sure mercies everlasting mercies everlasting Covenant c. Faithfull is he that hath promised who will also doe it And the gifts and calling of God are without repentance Good foundations for faith to settle upon Secondly God the Sonne The Sonne of God the Câ—â—â—latiâ—e of faith and speciall Obâ—ect on which it resteth There is a world of wealth in Christ that the heart may well be fixed by beleeving on him He is the strength of a beleeving heart yea everlaâ—â—â—ng strength Isa 26.4 and new strength to be still deriâ—ed from him according to occasion chap. 40.31 He is an Advocate with the Father 1. Joh. 2.1 to non-suit our clamourous sinnes and keepe our persons in favour He is our King now governing for us though in Heaven in all that glory He is the best friend we have neerer then a Brother He is an enemy to our enemies and will curse them that curse us Gen 12.3 In all respects there is great cause to trust in Christ and trusting in him to be fixed Blessed are all they that put their trust in him Psal 2.12 He had not been Christ but to stand us in stead and give us sure footing in every slippery time and occasion The Holy Ghost Thirdly God the Holy Ghost the Spirit of faith 2 Cor. 4.13 enabling us to speak or make confession of the truth in dangerouâ— times He is also the spirit of strength Isa 11.2 the Spirit of power of love and of a sound mind 2 Tim. 1.7 And thus he fixeth the poore heart by what he worketh in it and what he testifieth to it and what he comforteth Thence we read the seale of the spirit the earnest of the spirit Passion apâ—d Paâ—lum the liberty of the spirit the witnesse of the spirit and the first fâ—uits of the spirit all of them confirmations to an unsetled heart against its severall trials When the Holy Ghost was come upon the Apostles we see how fearlesse they stood before the Counsell and despised all threatnings O Austitâ— he is come he is come said Master Gâ—oâ—â— at the sight of the stake speaking of the comfortable presence of the Holy Ghost who had withdrawne for a while And for us he is promised to abide with us for ever Joh. 14.11 Which we professe to beleeve saying I beleeve in the Holy Ghost and so the heart is fixed This is the first and self-sufficient ground for faith to settle the heart of Gods child The rest are secondary and powerfull onely in their owne place and in order to that first II. In respect of the Word II. The Word of Faith upon which faith relyeth A neer relation there is between Faâ—â—â— and the Word thence it is called the Word of Faith Rom. 10.8 And it is a quickning Word as to David Psal 119.50 Thy 〈◊〉 hath quickned me it is a comforting Word as ver 24. Thy Testimonies are my delight It is a strengthning Word as Heb. 5. ult strong meat 2 Pet. 1.19 Mat. 5.18 It is a sure Word all to be performed in due time Heaven and earth shall passe away but my Word shall not passe away It is a store-house of promises which as they were made in mercy so they shall be made good in truth The Christian being brought into straights may read and quickly meet with a stay for his poore unstayed troubled heart and without the Word he should soon miscarry Psal 119.92 â—alâ—sse thy law had been my delights I should have perishâ—d in mâ—nâ— affliction But by help of the Word he is soon setled confident full of prayses for his good estate in Christ and triumphant over all his enemies see Ps 56.3 4 10 11. III. In respect of what faith receiveth It receiveth such mercies at the hand of God Bâ—â— fits receâ—â—â—â—d by Faith and so much that it resteth conâ—ent with and condition the heavenly Father shall a lot unto it It seeth sinne abolished forgiven nothing to be laid to his charge which is â—e blessednesse of a man Rom. 4.6 It seeth Satan disarmed the Law satisfied the curse taken away hell shut and Heaven opened to him It seeth Gods wrath pacified his justice satisfied his favour procured which is matter of great joy yea glorying in the midst of many tribulations Rom. 5.1 2 3. And this is the Kingdome of God within us 14.17 Not â—â—at and dâ—â—nke but righteousnesse and peace and 〈◊〉 the Holy Ghost Finally saith seeth all afflictions sanctified sweetned mittigated exchanged for good in wrath the Lord remembreth mercy we shall not drinke the dâ—egs of the Cup Ps 75.8 as the wicked doe and as Christ did for us but in him sing and triumph O death 1 Cor. 15.55 where is thy stâ—ng O grace where is thy victory What Agag said foolishly the Beleever saith on good grounds Tâ—e bitternesse of death is past 1 Sam. 15.32 Phil. 1.21 and Welcome lâ—fe and To dye is gain an entrance into glory IV. In respect of what faith worketh Works fâ— faith fixing the 〈◊〉 Faith is no idle grace but still sets it selfe on work about such imployments and in such manner as the Lord will mercifully according to promise succour the labouring heart in all his difficulties First it works out corruption which would hinder comfort Acts 15.9 Purifying their hearts by faith Both the guiltines of sin it is never quiet till it be clensed cleared in the blood of Christ Witnesse David a Beleever who after those great sinnes heaped up many petitions for pardon Psal 51. whereas another fals into the mire and lyes wallowing in it as in his proper clement And the filâ—hinesse of sin none is suffered to command out with it keep thy self from in as from defilement Psal 18.23 As the flesh lusteth against the spirit Gal. 5 1â— so the spirit in a Beleever lusteth against the flesh And O this body of death who shall deliver Ps 51 10. Create in me a clean heart O God renew a right spirit within me Secondly faith is an undivided companion of a good conscience 1 Tim. 1.19.3.9
have their feares as others have and their feares are both naturall and usefull Onely this may curbe them and keep them from being immoderate Faith acted sets the heart as a rock and the face as a flint Isa 50.7 The Lord God will helpe me therefore shall I not be confounded therefore have I set my face like a flint and I know thaâ— I shall not be ashamed Obiect Oh! but it is very hard to keep the heart in a good frame of depending and waiting on God I find my heart soon unsetled though sometime fixed Ans 1 True Gods owne children find sad vicissitudes of faith and frailty flesh and spirit are ever combating as in other things so in this like those that goe upon the sea sometime carried up to Heaven Psal 107.26 sometime downe againe into the deâ—ps Let no Christian discourage himselfe because of these alterations Be glad that sometimes ye find an high tide of affections and assurances 77. 10. David remembred the yeerâ— of old and was comforted Secondly it is indeed difficult and that shewes the excellency of the life of faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All excellent things are attended wâ—th their difficulties A great estate needs much adoe in the managing None layeth siege to a Cottage neither will Satan trouble those that live the life of nature but where faith is he will quickly shew himselfe an enemy Thirdly Religion in generall and faith in particular hath a power in it Lactant. â—â—nditu 4.28 both to maintaine it selfe and oppose the enemy Religion in latin hath its name of bindâ—ng And in this case it bindeth the beleeving soule to its Mast so to avoyd enchanting Syrens of the World and keep it upright against all stormes of temptation and persecution and faith at weakest cryes out for help Lord increase our faith Lord belp my unbeliefe The life of nature strives to preserve it selfe as long as it can and by the best meanes it can and so doth the life of faith The weakest Beleever can make moane and say all is not well with him and long for some reliefe which struglings shall be relieved Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousnesse Mat. 5.6 for they shall be filled Fourthly therefore strive still to act thy faith chide unbeliefe away as Psal 42.11 Why art thou cast downe O my soule why art thou disquieted within me What reason for this infidelity Fight the good fight of faith 1 Tim. 6.12 Contend for the Faith Jude 3. As for the doctrine of faith and habit of faith so for the act and exercise of it In vain is that habit of power which is not reduced into act No need to bid a Sea-man cast forth his anchor in a storme so me thinks there should be no need to call upon a Christian to set his faith on worke in these dangerous dayes Quest What should we doe to exercise our faith in soule weather Meanes to bring faith into act and make our use of it when need requireth Answ 1. Seeke the Lord by prayer Jam. 1.17 from whom commeth every good and perfect gâ—ft and to live the life of faith is one of those gifts As he is the Author so the Fâ—nâ—sher of faith Heb. 12.2 As he gives the habit so the act and operation of it The Lord gives his Church both the former and laâ—ter raine Faith is a Creature and the strength whereby we stand is uncreated even God himselfe Thou art the strength of my heart said David and my portion for ever Ps 37.26 Faith that must support us must it selfe be supported of the Lord as Christ prayed for Peter Luke 22.32 I have prayed that thy faith faile not Doth any of you therefore want wisdome or strength Jam. 1.5 6. Let him ask of God who giveth liberally He is the onely stay for a poore Beleever in streights and difficulties Fall to casting anchor in Heaven or else ye are gone 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth neither justifie nor uphold us in great trials God must help us to beleeve or we shall soone come to nothing Faith with its Correlative is all in all to us 2. Keep still in eye those many grounds on which faith standeth and establisheth the heart that is the Relations of God to us his Attributes Promises Providence mercies received mercies reserved c. A tall man in the bottome of a celler will see but little and a strong Beleever if his grounds be out of fight will be weak as another man To the Law and to the Testimony Isa 8.20 in matters to be done to the Gospell and to the Promises in matters to be beleeved and receive comfort A Trades-man to furnish his Shop will repaire to the Ware-house And a Christian to be furnished with comfort must repaire to the Promises and the like supplies It may be observed that the same Christian as he hath used his grounds or not used them hath been strangely altered as if he were not the same man One while a Gyant another while a Dwarfe Oh saith David I shall one day fall by the hand of Saul Another time he will not feare Psal 3 6. though ten thousand had compassed him round about One while Job curseth his birth-day and is very impatient another while he will trust in God Job 13.15 though he kill him It is aliquid Dei some divine thing that must uphold the best heart that is If his means be neglected or laid aside there quickly comes a fearfull alteration When the Moone receives not light from the Sunne it is presently eclipsed 3 Shut the eye of flesh at such times and beware of carnall reason Carnall reason is a great enemy to faith therefore these are opposed one to another To walk by faith and walk by sight 2 Cor. 5.7 We walk by faith and not by sight He that will goe by likelihoods and unlikelihoods shall never be setled in beleeving The servant of Elisha feared because he looked onely at them that came against him and saw not who were with him The Noble-man dyed for it If God should make windowes in Heaven 2 Kin. 7.2 could there be such plenty Zacharias was stricken dumb for asking whereby shall I know this Luk. 1.20 being old and his Wife well stricken in yeers Abraham on the other side Rom. 4.19 considered not the deadnesse of his owne body or of Sarahs wombe but looked at him who had promised that he was able and faithfull to performe The naked Word of God is sufficient for performing all his promises Never ask when or how or any such matters Hath not the Lord spoken it And if it be mervailous in your eyes should it be mervailous in mine eyes saâ—th the Lord of â—osts Zech. 8.6 Oh say we our enemies are many and strong our friends few and weak treasure exhausted no likelihood of carrying our cause Joh. 11.39 Lord by this time it stinketh for tâ—â—s
enter because of unbeliefe Heb. 3.19 Good is comming but we are short-winded and wait not thence these delayes All the fault is not in wicked enemies or the sinners in Sion but some fault resideth in Gods owne children who beleeve not as they should doe Infidelity is an hatefull sinne too and reprovable it detracteth from God as if he were not wise able vigilant to fulfill his promises so he stayes his hand as one that will be better waited on Take notice of this as one cause why the work of Reformation and of our happinesse doth stick so long in the birth it is much desired but not attained and yet the Lord willing it should be done and that throughly There is cause enough for it in the unreformednesse of people who after all the terrours and humiliations yet tuâ—n not from their evil ways as the men of Ninive Jon. 3.10 But here is something in Gods owne people whose faith is so little and their feare so great If we beleeved more we should see his great works done the sooner Therefore resolve upon that in Mark 11.22 23 24. Have Faith in God And What things soever ye desire when ye pray beleeve that ye receive them and ye shall have them Secondly think thus with your selves why should not faith make couragious as well as vain-glory envy propriety of goods safety of the Country memory and emulation of Ancestors or the like carnall considerations which have mightily elevated the spirits of people heretofore as namely the old Romans who became Lords of the World Cicero pro aris focis was a great word with them entring into a fight Ovid. Horat. And Ingens gloria calcar habet and Dulce decâ—rum est pro patria mori and Imperti causâ c. But faith hath higher and stronger considerations the Cause of God the maintaining of the Gospell contending for the faith delivered once to the Saints the upholding and enlarging of the Kingdome of Christ the keeping of a good conscience the glory of Heaven in our eye and who would be a slave to Antichrist Bodily slavery is bad enough c. Consider Their Rock is not 〈◊〉 unto our Rock 〈◊〉 our enemâ— theâ—◠〈◊〉 being Judges Deut 12.31 And Thâ—s they doe for a coâ—â—â—ptible Crowne we for an 〈◊〉 â—apitole 1 Cor. 9.25 The higher the spring the higher the water will ascend at the Conduit A Beleever therefore going bâ— the highest Principles and notions should gâ—t highest in his resolutâ—ons and behaviours Thirdly we have still and a long time have had great meanes to be strong in faith a Ministery oâ— many yeeâ—s continuance which is growing food 1 Pet. 2.2 〈…〉 of the Wood that it 〈…〉 A tree planted in a goâ—â— place and there continuing mâ—nâ—eeâ—s is well rooted and so should the trees of righteousnesse be after so long standing The Martyrâ— had but few yeerâ— in King 〈◊〉 time yet they gathered strength enough to carry them through the flames A shame it will be to us not to be proficients according to our time when for the time we might be Teachers Heb. 5.11 Weaknesses of faith and other graces should have been outgrowne long agoe Adde the going so often to the Lords Supper which to a prepared soule is a batling Ordinance No feast yeeldeth so good juyâ— and nourishment to the body buâ— this yeeldeth as good to such â— soule Bread strengthneth man heart especially this bread thaâ— came downe from Heaven Psa 104.15 O the sweet communioâ— that hath been between Christ anâ— thy Soule upon due frequenting the Ordinance and O the frequent repast of thy soule upon prayer and the experience thou hast had of Gods love anâ— providence and doest thou yeâ— feare Hilarion Hieron in eius vita Septuaginta annos serviviâ—â— Christo mori times Finally the many good Books and Treatises which of late yeerâ— have been published M. Culveâ—well M. Rogers as it were of purpose to fence and furnisâ— Christians for these sad times wherein are choicest collection for fixing a poore beleeving heart in all occasions M. Ball M. Wilson God that foresaw what he was about to doe directed his Ministers so to make provision for his people as when he sent a sore famine upon Canaan he sent Joseph beforehand to provide for his Father and Brethren Fourthly in those present troubles and dangers the Lord hath all along opened a doore of hope Hos 2.13 for upholding our faith unto victory Seeing how weak weare in beleeving bare promises he hath given us somthing in hand for encouragement He hath still sent us some pawnes of more which he will doe for us in time an earnest of the whole bargaine And experience is a great help unto faith as in the Apostles 2 Cor 1.10 He hath deliveâ—ed us from great death and doth deliver and we trust also he will deliver When we began to quaile at any time presently a victory was given a discovery made a defeat of their Counsels or Forces the spirits of people raised up above all expectation in a Countâ— which was given for a lost Count a signe the Lord means to doe the work at last If he meant to dâ—stroy us he would not shew us such things as these Thus by what the Lord hath done already he doth even invite us to beleeve and not feare Fiftly it is but a while and yâ— shall see what now ye beleeve Yâ—â— a little while Heb. 10.37 and he that shall comâ— will come and his reward is with him In Heaven there will be nâ— acting of faith no use of it as now all there is in Fruition Union and Vision Joh. 20.29 In this life Blessed are they that beleeve though they see not In that life blessed are those that see what hitherto they beleeved If we strive a little we shall find our waiting was to purpose Yet two or three Closes and we shall be at our Fathers house And there we shall have neither unbeliefe to combat withall nor any other enemy no feare no molestation no imperfection whatsoever Sixtly if faith be not acted ye will lose the benefit of those comforts which are your owne Ye forsake your owne meâ—â—â—s Jonah 2.8 Ye live heavily when your estate gives you leave to live most cheerfully Hagâ—â— saw 〈◊〉 the Well and was out of heart as if no water were to be bad Mâ—â— saw not Christ 〈◊〉 eyeâ— being heldâ— and was still in perplexity A miserly niggard wants what he hâ—th as well as what he hath not And to look upon Paulum sepultae distat inertiae Celata viâ—tus what difference between an unbeleever and a Beleever not improving his faith when need requires One sighs as much as the other c. Now this is a disparagement to faith and the high calling of a Christian who alone in truth hath cause to be meâ—ry A discouragement to others to come on in such an uncomfortable profession An