A Treatise of Faith, Part 2 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
What it is liue by faith touching the promiſes of of perſeuerance, and how to ſtirre vp our ſelues therevnto.
GOd of his infinite mercy hath made further promiſes, (the neceſſitie of his ſeruants ſo requiring,God hath made many promiſes of perſeuerance.) that his merciemercy ſhall neuer depart from them, that hee will confirme and ſtrengthen them to the end, notwithſtanding their owne weakneſſe, and the malice of their ſpirituall enemies, and that nothing ſhall ſeperate them from the louelove of God which is in Chriſt Ieſus.Gen. 3.15. This is implied in the firſt promiſe which God made, It ſhall bruiſe thy head and thou ſhalt bruiſe his heele: where Satan is ſtinted to the heele of the true Chriſtian ſeed. In many paſſages of Scripture the ſame is moſt clearely and manifeſtly expreſſed.Pſal. 1.3. Pſal. 92.13, 14. He ſhall be like a tree planted by the riuers of water, that bringeth forth his fruite in his ſeaſon, his leafe alſo ſhall not wither, and whatſoeuer he doth ſhall proſper. The ſteps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, Pſal. 37.23.24hee ſhall not be vtterly caſt downe: for the Lord vpholdeth him with his hand. For this God is our God for euer and euer, Pſal. 48.14. Pſal. 73.24. Verſe. 26.he will be our guide euen vntounto death. Thou ſhalt guide me with thy councell, and afterward receiue me to glory. My fleſh and heart faileth: but God is the ſtrength of my heart, and my portion for euer. The merciemercy of the Lord is from euerlaſting to euerlaſting vponupon them that feare him. Pſal. 103.17.A good man ſheweth fauour and lendeth: Pſal. 112.5.6.hee will guide his affaires with diſcretion: Surely he ſhall not be moued for euer: Pſal. 125.1.2.the righteous ſhall be in eu…rlaſting remembrance. They that truſt in the Lord, ſhall bee as mount Zion,Eſay 42.3. which cannot be remoued, but abideth for euer. A bruiſed reede ſhall he not breake, and the ſmoaking ſtaxe ſhall hee not quench. Eſay 46.4.And euen to your old age I am he; and euen to the hoare haires will I carrie you; Eſay 54.10.I hauehave made, and I will beare, euen I will carrie, and will deliuer you. For the mountaines ſhall depart, and the hils be remoued, but my kindneſſe ſhall not depart from thee, neither ſhall the couenant of my peace be remoued, Eſay 59.21.ſaith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. As for mee, this is my couenant with them, ſaith the Lord, My Spirit that is vponupon thee, and my words which I hauehave put in thy mouth, Rom. 9.8. Gal. 4.28.ſhall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy ſeede, that is, ſuch as be effectually called according to the purpoſe of God. Hereunto may be added thoſe paſſages which teſtifie, that the louelove which God beareth to his people is an euerlaſting louelove, and the couenant which he hath made with them effectually and ſhall be kept aſſuredly, is an euerlaſting couenant.Ier. 31.3 The Lord hath appeared of old vntounto me, ſaying, yea, I hauehave loued thee with an euerlaſting louelove: therefore with louing kindneſſe hauehave I drawne thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment: but with euerlaſting kindneſſe will I hauehave mercy on thee, Eſay 54.8.9.ſaith the Lord thy Redeemer. For this is as the waters of Noah vntounto mee for as I hauehave ſworne, that the waters of Noah ſhould no more goe ouer the earth; ſo hauehave I ſworne, that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. Behold, the dayes come ſaith the Lord, that I will make a new Couenant with the houſe of Iſrael and with the houſe of Iudah:Ier. 31.31.32.33. Heb. 8.8.9. and 10 16.17. Not according to the Couenant that I made with their Fathers in the day that I tooke them by the hand, to bring them out of the land of Aegypt, which my couenant they brake, although I was an husband vntounto them. But this ſhall bee the couenant that I will make with the houſe of Iſrael; After thoſe dayes, ſaith the Lord, I will put my Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts. And they ſhall be my people, and I will be their God. And I will giuegive them one heart, Ier. 32.38.39.40and one way, that they may feare me for euer, Heb. 13.20.for the good of them, and of their children after them. And I will make an euerlaſting couenant with them, that I will not turne away from them to doe them good: but I will put my feare in their hearts, that they ſhall not depart from mee. Heb. 8.10.In which couenant or Teſtament God freely promiſeth to giuegive what hee requireth of his people, and to effect in them what he calleth for at their hands. If the benefits giuen be compared amongſt themſelues, one is as it were a cōdition to another: but they be all effects in reſpect of the grace and free fauour of God certainely conferring them vponupon whom he will. Righteouſnes and life are promiſed vponupon condition of faith: but the condition of the couenant is promiſed in the couenant it ſelfe. A new heart alſo will I giuegive you, and a new ſpirit will I put within you, Ezek 36.26, 27and I will take away the ſtonie heart out of your fleſh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cauſe you to walke in my ſtatutes, and yee ſhall keepe my iudgements, Hoſ. 2.19.20.and doe them. And I will betroth thee vntounto me for euer; yea I will betroth thee vntounto me in righteouſneſſe, and in iudgement, and in louing kindneſſe, and in mercies. I will euen betroth thee vntounto me in faithfulneſſe, and thou ſhalt know the Lord. The externall betrothing by outward couenant, ſo as God betrothes himſelfe to all profeſſing the true faith,Rom. 9.24, 25. 1. Pet. 2.8, 9, 10 Math. 7.24, 25. may be broken, for though God offer them merciemercy if they will belieue, yet hee giues not faith to them, but the internall by effectuall diſpoſition, of which the Prophet ſpeaketh in this place, is indiſſoluble. Whoſoeuer heareth theſe ſayings of mine, & doth them, I wil liken him vntounto a wiſe man, which built his houſe vpō a rock: And the raine deſcended, and the flouds came, and the winds blew, and beat vponupon that houſe, and it fell not, for it was founded vponupon a rocke. But all the faithfull are built vponupon the rocke, not vponupon the rocke now, and anone vponupon the ſand,Math. 16.18. but once built vponupon the rocke, they remaine vnmoueable. Thou art Peter, and vponupon this rocke I will build my Church, and the gates of Hell ſhall not preuaile againſt it: aſſaile it they may, preuaile againſt it they ſhall not.Iohn 10.27, 28, 29. Ezek. 34.15, 16. My ſheepe heare my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, And I giuegive vntounto them eternall life, and they ſhall neuer periſh, neither ſhall any man plucke them out of my hand: My Father which gaue them me, is greater then all: and no man is able to plucke them out of my Fathers hand. Who ſhall ſeperate vsus from the louelove of Chriſt? Shall tribulation; or diſtreſſe, or perſecution, or famine, or nakedneſſe, or perill, or ſword? Rom. 8.35, 37. Rom. 11 29.Nay, in all theſe things we are more then conquerours through him that loued vsus. The gifts and calling of God are without repentance. Bleſſed bee the God and Father of our Lord I…ſus Chriſt, who according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten vsus againe vntounto a liuely hope, by the reſurrection of Ieſus Chriſt from the dead. To an inheritance incorruptible, 1. Pet. 1.3, 4, 5.and vndefiled, and that fadeth not away, reſerued in Heauen for you. Who are kept by the power of God through faith vntounto ſaluation, ready to be reuealed in the laſt time. 1. Iohn 3.2.Beloued, now we are the ſonnes of God, and it doth not yet appeare what wee ſhall be: but we know, that when he ſhall appeare, wee ſhall be like him: for we ſhall ſee him as he is. Iude ….24, 25.Now vntounto him that is able to keepe you from falling, and to preſent you faultleſſe before the preſence of his glory with exceeding ioy: To the onelyonly wiſe God our Sauiour, be glory and maieſty, dominion and power, now and euer, Amen. Doth God in theſe places promiſe to protect vsus againſt forraine enemies, not againſt domeſticke perfidiouſneſſe? The texts doe reſpect no condition, as the cauſe of fulfilling theſe promiſes, but plainly affirme, that God himſelfe doth promiſe and will giuegive the condition which hee requires. For to what end doth he write the Law in the heart, vphold with his hand, and giuegive a good iſſue to the temptation, but that the will, prone to wickedneſſe, ſhould not yeeld, and altogether ſtart backe from grace receiued? Whoſoeuer is borne of God, 1. Iohn 3.9. 1. Iohn 5.18.doth not commit ſinne: for his ſeed remayneth in him, and he cannot ſinne, becauſe he is borne of God. And if the ſeed abide in the faithfull as an indeleble character and pledge of their inheritance, that they cannot ſinne in the Apoſtles ſence, then are they fenced againſt the treachery of their owne hearts remayning in them.Iohn 4.14. & 7.38, 39. Whoſoeuer drinketh of the water that I ſhall giuegive him, ſhall neuer thirſt: but the water that I giuegive him ſhal be in him a wel of water ſpringing vp into euerlaſting life: where thirſt is oppoſed to a totall want of grace, not to the earneſt deſire of increaſe in grace. The thirſt of totall indigencie is taken away by the participation of grace,1 Pet. 2.2, 3. the thirſt of complacencie or more ample fruition of grace, is increaſed. The Holy Spirit who is ſent into the hearts of the Sonnes of God, is not there as a gueſt to tarrie for a night or two: but as an inhabitant to dwell and remaine for euer: yea, as an earneſt of their inheritance,Rom. 8.11. Hag. 2.5. 1. Pet. 4.14. 1. Iohn 2.27 John 14.16. vntill the redemption of the purchaſed poſſeſſion. I will pray the Father, and he ſhall giuegive you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for euer. Now he which ſtabliſheth vsus with you in Chriſt, and hath anointed vsus, is, God, who hath alſo ſealed vsus, 2. Cer. 1.21.21 Eph. 1.14. and 4.30.and giuen the earneſt of the Spirit in our hearts: which is the earneſt of our inheritance, vntill the redemption of the purchaſed poſſeſſion, vntounto the praiſe of his glory. 1. Pet. 1.23.The ſeede whereof the faithfull are begotten is incorruptible, the life which they liue by faith in Chriſt is an euerlaſting life.Iohn 5.24. Iohn 17.3. Iohn 6.47. Ʋerely, verily I ſay vntounto you, Hee that heareth my word, and belieueth on him that ſent mee, hath euerlaſting life, and ſhall not come into condemnation, but is paſſed from death vntounto life. And this is the record, that God hath giuen to vsus eternall life, 1. Iohn 5.11.12.and this life is in his Sonne. He that hath the Sonne hath life, and he that hath not the ſonne hath not life. Now the Scripture ſaying, He that belieueth hath euerlaſting life, and ſhall not come into condemnation, doth import that faith and the fruites thereof be ſuch from which the godly through the power of God neuer fall.Luk 22.32. Iohn 17.15. And for further confirmation the Scripture teſtifyeth, that Chriſt hath prayed for his people that their faith ſhould not faile, that they ſhould be kept from the euill. This cannot be reſtrained to the Apoſtles,Verſ. 20. but it is the cōmon priuiledge of all the faithfull; Neither pray I for theſe alone; but for all them alſo which ſhall belieue on mee through their word. And the interceſſion of Chriſt; euen for this particular bleſſing of the not failing of faith, neuer ceaſeth, is euer effectuall, and ſpeedeth alwayes. And that nothing might bee wanting to full conſolation in this point, we are aſſured from God, that he will perfect the the worke of grace which he hath begun.1. Cor. 1.8. Who ſhall alſo confirme you vntounto the end, that ye may be blameles in the day of our Lod Ieſus Chriſt. Being confident of this very thing, Phil. 1.6.that he which hath begun a good worke in you, will performe it vntill the day of Ieſus Chriſt. Faithfull is hee that calleth you, 1. Theſſ. 5.24.who alſo will doe it, that is, (as goeth immediately before) preſerue your whole Spirit, and ſoule and body blameleſſe vntounto the comming of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. 2. Theſſ. 3 3.The Lord is faithfull, who ſhall eſtabliſh you, and keepe you from euill.
Now ſeeing God hath bin pleaſed by ſo many promiſes to aſſure the faithfull of their ſure and ſtedfaſt eſtate,By ſerious meditation on theſe pr…miſes wee muſt ſettle our ſelues in belieuing, which is very neceſſary. it is neceſſarie ſeriouſly to learne and thinke vponupon them, that they might be ſetled in belieuing their perſeuerance. Had it not beene a point of great weight and neceſſitie, wee cannot thinke the Lord would hauehave mentioned it ſo often, and confirmed it ſo many wayes: which will ſoone appeare to any man that ſhall conſider his owne frailtie, and the ſtrength and malice of his ſpirituall enemies; how potent and vigilant they bee to aſſaile, how weake and feeble hee is to withſtand and make reſiſtance. Nor is our weakneſſe greater then our backwardneſſe to belieue the promiſes of perſeuerance, when wee ſtand in moſt need of them. When corruptions ſtirre, and tentations be hot & fierie, & we find our ſelues ready to f…int, then are we to ſeeke of a promiſe that might vphold againſt the feare of falling away; or if the promiſe be at hand, we cannot lay hold vponupon it, ſome miſt or other comes betweene it & the eye of our vnderſtanding. Many good Chriſtians are kept vnderunder with this temptation, They are afraid they ſhal neuer hold out, if perſecution ſhold come, they ſtand in doubt leſt they ſhould fall away as many hauehave done, who made greater ſhewes, & ſeemed to hauehave gone further then euer they did. And whilſt they diſtruſtfully queſtion their perſeuerance, all preſent fauours ſeeme leſſe then otherwiſe they would, all other promiſes be held the more weakly, & Satan takes aduantage to fill their hearts with manifold diſcomforts. God (I denie not) doth order theſe temptations to the beſt, & will do his children good by them: for hereby they are driuen to diſtruſt themſelues & run vntounto God, & relie vponupon him in all their neceſſities: neuertheleſſe the many perplexities wherein they are entangled for want of faith in the promiſes of perſeuerance, doth ſufficiently conuince how neceſſary it is wee ſhould labour to hauehave our hearts eſtabliſhed in this confidence, that the Lord will neuer leaue vsus nor forſake vsus. Confidence in the promiſes of perſeuerance doth encourage and quicken in a Chriſtian courſe, ſtabliſh in wel-doing, and hearten againſt the greateſt difficulties.Preuention of an obiection. Or old it hath beene obiected againſt the doctrine of aſſurance, of not falling away, that it doth ſet open a doore to all licentiouſneſſe: for if men cannot fall from their eſtate of happineſſe why ſhould they feare to commit all kind of wickedneſſe. But he that hath faith in-deed, will not, nay, hee cannot take courage to goe on in ſinne vponupon this pretence, that faith once had cannot vtterly bee loſt. The belieuer knowes himſelfe bound to the obedience of the Goſpell, though he be freed from the damnation of the law; and certaine it is, that faith which knits to Chriſt, doth leade vsus forth in all holineſſe.Pſal. 130 4. MercieMercy couering ſinne doth beget reuerence; the more aſſurance of ſaluation in a mans ſoule, the more feare and trembling in a mans courſe. Hee who is beſt aſſured hath moſt power of Gods Spirit, and the ſtronger the Spirit of God is within, the more holineſſe and fruits of grace without. Paul was aſſured that nothing ſhould ſeperate him from the louelove of God in Chriſt:1. Cor 9.27. 2. Tim. 4.7, 8. Peter was aſſured, that his faith ſhould not faile: did this make them the more careleſſe? Nay, rather the more carefull to runne their race; the more couragious to fight out their combate.1. Iohn 4.19. The load-ſtone of louelove is louelove: LoueLove in the ſuperiour doth draw louelove from the inferiour: & is it then poſſible for vsus to apprehend ſuch vnſpeakable louelove of God in chooſing vsus to ſuch an excellent, happy, vnchangeable condition, and not bee affected to louelove the Lord againe? Of neceſſitie the faith which continueth muſt be liuely, nor can it imbrace the promiſes of perſeuerance but whileſt it is liuely. The more operatiue faith is, the greater our aſſurance of future ſtanding: if faith be dormant or languiſh for a time, for that time wee are to ſeeke of this comfort, nor can it be recouered, till faith recouer, and put forth it ſelfe valiantly in combating againſt Satan, ſubduing corruption, and working righteouſneſſe. Looke how much we come ſhort in belieuing the faithfull promiſes of God concerning our future protection from all hurtfull euils, (the greateſt whereof is falling away) ſo much are wee lacking to ſound peace and ſtable tranquillitie of Minde and Conſcience. The better we hauehave learned to liue by faith in Chriſt, as the Authour and finiſher of our faith, and raiſer of vsus vp at the laſt day, the greater and more ſtedfaſt is our comfort. The men of this world be not ſatisfied with the poſſeſſion of their purchaſed inheritance, but they ſeeke to ſtrengthen and aſſure their title againſt future claimes, before they can be quiet. When a Chriſtian is acquainted with the promiſes of pardon and forgiueneſſe, belieueth in Chriſt for ſaluation, and is reconciled vntounto God; When his conſcience is purged, that there remaineth no more terrible remembrance of ſinnes paſt, his luſts ſubdued and vanquiſhed, his heart quieted from all perturbations, and all inward diſturbance, which was in man againſt himſelfe done away; and when theſe things are knowne vntounto the Conſcience: yet one thing is wanting to ſound and full peace, that is, holy ſecuritie for time to come againſt all enemies both inward and outward, that they ſhall not hunt vsus much leſſe preuaile againſt vsus. For if what we poſſeſſe may vtterly be loſt, or what we hope and expect be meerely vncertaine and coniecturall, built vponupon the good vſe of our free-will, and not vponupon the free and vnchangeable grace of God, what reſt or quiet in reſpect of his future eſtate can any man finde in himſelfe? But let the heart be eſtabliſhed in this, that God will carrie him forward from grace to grace till hee hauehave brought him to his euerlaſting Kingdome; that his faith ſhall neuer faile, the graces of the Spirit ſhall neuer wither and decay. Satan with all his malice, the world with the manifold allurements thereof ſhall neuer preuaile againſt him; this freeth from much heart-griefe, perplexitie, diſtruſtfull ſorrow, and vnprofitable trouble, when he feeles his owne weakneſſe, thinkes of Satan and the worlds power, heares of the falls of ſome who hauehave gone farre in the profeſſion of godlineſſe, and caſts with himſelfe what perſecutions may be raiſed againſt him for the truth and Goſpell. This alſo refreſheth the heart with ſweet and heauenly comfort in the midſt of thoſe many trials and incumbrances which we doe and muſt make account to meet with all: and this our heauenly Father knew to bee no more then neceſſarie for our chearefull walking before him. For the which cauſe I alſo ſuffer theſe things, 2. Tim. 1.12.neuertheleſſe, I am not aſhamed: for I know whom I hauehave beliued, and I am perſwaded that he is able to keepe that which I hauehave committed vntounto him againſt that day.
The Godly are allowed to belieue their perſeuerance.And ſeeing God hath promiſed to perfect the worke of grace begun, and bound himſelfe by couenant to confirme, ſtrengthen, and ſtabliſh his children vntounto the end, and in the end to giuegive them eternall life, ſuch as find any true and liuely worke of grace wrought in them, are allowed from God to belieue, that they ſhall neuer periſh, nor quite be broken off from Chriſt, nor thoſe liuing waters cleane be dried vp, but notwithſtanding their owne infirmities, and the ſore temptations wherewith they are oppreſſed, they ſhall be preſerued, vpheld and kept vntounto ſaluation. For what God hath confirmed by promiſe and couenant vntounto his children, vndertaken to effect by his Almightie power, and ratified by earneſt and pawne, that they are allowed to belieue and expect from him of his vnchangeable grace and louelove. This is the golden and indiſſoluble chaine which the Apoſtle ſpeakes of,Rom. 8.30. Whom he did predeſtinate, them alſo he called: and whom he called, them he alſo iuſtified: and whom he iuſtified, them he alſo glorified: Luke 22.32. Math. 6.13.ſo that effectuall vocation is a pledge and token of glorification to enſue. Chriſt hath prayed for his people, that their faith might not faile: the faithfull pray inſtantly,Iohn 16.23. Lead vsus not into temptation: and that no man might wauer a promiſe is annexed, Whatſoeuer yee ſhall aske the Father in my Name, hee will giuegive it you. But without queſtion, they hauehave allowance to belieue the obtaining of that which Chriſt hath prayed for,1. John 5.14. and the faithfull aske of God in the Name of Chr…ſt according to his will. The ſeruants of Chriſt, who liued by the like pretious faith with vsus, groun…ed vponupon the ſame promiſes, and ſubiect to the ſame temptations,Rom 8.38.39. belieued their perſeuerance. I am perſwaded, that neither death, nor life, nor Angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things preſent, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature ſhalbe able to ſeperate frō the louelove of God, which is in Chriſt Ieſus our Lord. Phil. 1.20.According to mine earneſt expectation, & my hope that in nothing I ſhalbe aſhamed: but that with all boldnes, as alwayes ſo now, alſo Chriſt ſhalbe magnified in my body, whether it bee by life or by death. And the Lord ſhall deliuer me from eueryevery euill worke and will preſerue me vntounto his heauenly kingdome, 2. Tim. 3.18.to whom be glory for euer and euer. Amen. But what one belieued vponupon common and ordinarie grounds, that is the priuiledge of all belieuers which they are allowed to receiue. It is a great glory to God that wee liue by faith on him concerning our future eſtate, and relie vponupon his grace, that ſhall encounters wee ſhall bee more then Conquerours, through him that loued vsus. For this is to take God to bee our God, not only to put our confidence in him in proſperitie and aduerſitie, when wee hauehave meanes or meanes be wanting, for our ſoules and bodies: but alſo to relic vponupon him, that he will make vsus walke in his Commandements, and put his feare in our hearts, that wee ſhall not depart from him; that hee will perfect his worke begun in vsus, finiſh our fai h, and preſerue vsus vntounto his euerlaſting kingdome This faith doth giuegive vntounto God the praiſent all grace which he is pleaſed to beſtow, and of all workes of grace which he effecteth by vsus. Hee that relieth vponupon the good vſe of his free-will, muſt neceſſarily aſcribe the praiſe of his perſeuerance in part, if not principally, vntounto himſelfe: but he that reſteth vponupon the Lord for eſtabliſhment againſt all ſpirituall enemies, and abilitie vntounto eueryevery good worke, hee muſt neceſſarily aſcribe the whole praiſe vntounto the glory of Gods grace, vponupon which hee doth depend.The acts of faith concerning perſeuerance.
The acts of ſaith concerning perſeuerance bee theſe and ſuch like.
Firſt, It makes a man ſenſible of his owne frailtie and infirmitie, how weake and feeble he is, apt not only to fall, but euen to fall away, if he were not vpholden by the grace and power of God.2. Cor. 3.5. Not that we are ſufficient of our ſelues to thinke any thing as of our ſelues: but our ſufficiencie is of God. Naturally we truſt in our ſelues, and are p…eſumptuous of our ſtrength: but when by faith we goe forth of our ſelues vntounto God for helpe, we can ſee nothing in our ſelues but weakneſſe and frailtie.
Secondly, It ſtirres vp holy iealouſie and ſuſpition, leſt we ſhould coole, decay, ſtart-aſide or fall backe. Faith is bold and timorous, confident and ſuſpicious: confident in God, ſuſpitious of our ſelues. I was afraid (ſaith Iob) of all my workes; Iob 9.28. Gatak. Spirituall Watch, pag. 84.knowing, that if I did wickedly, thou wouldſt not acquite me. And this ſuſpition doth beget care to ſhunne occaſions of ſinne, and watchfulneſſe to preuent ſpirituall diſtempers. A man iealous of his health is warie in his diet: and he that hath his ſoule in ſuſpition will euer be queſtioning with it and watching ouer it leaſt he ſhould offend. This iealoſie is euer waking, apt to caſt the worſt that may fall out, but to counſell the beſt, that is, to keepe farr from the occaſions of ſinne, abſtaine from all appearance of euill, and take heede of the ſnare in lawfull buſineſſes of this life. And ſurely, in this kinde conſidering our great frailty, it is more behoouefull for a man to be ſomewhat too hee die and cautelous, then to be a little too ſecure and ſelfe confident: to be ſuſpitious of his weakneſſe that hee may be enabled by God and become ſtrong in him, then while he is fool-hardie & ſtrong in his owne conceit, to run into danger, and proue weak in triall.
Thirdly,Pſal. 17.5. Faith inſtantly crieth vntounto the Lord for help & ſtrength and continuall ſupply of grace. Hold vp my goings in thy paths, that my footſteps ſlip not. Pſal 119.8.I will keepe thy ſtatutes: O forſake me not vtterly. Looke thou vponupon me and be mercifull vntounto me: as thou vſeſt to doe vntounto thoſe that louelove thy Name. Order my ſteps in thy word, Pſal. 119.32, 33. Cant. 1.4.and let not any iniquitie hauehave dominion ouer me. Draw me, we will runne after thee. Shew me thy wayes, O Lord; teach me thy pathes. Lead mee in thy truth, Pſal. 25.4, 5.and teach me: for thou art the God of my ſaluation, on thee doe I waite all the day long. When men be conſcious to themſelues of their owne wants, they are wont to reſort vntounto others by whom their wants may be ſupplied: The Belieuer is emptie in himſelfe and ſenſible of his owne weakneſſe, deſirous of ſupply and confident of helpe in God,2. Tim. 4.17. 2. Cor. 12.9, 10. 2. Cor. 4.7. who alone is able to confirme and ſtrengthen him, yea ſo to inable him notwithſtanding his infirmitie, that his power and might ſhall appeare in him amidſt his feebleneſſe, & his very infirmity ſhall make much for his glory: and therefore hee will not ceaſe day after day to repaire vntounto him for continuall ſupply and ſtrength of grace.
Fourthly, Faith deſireth, digeſteth, and feedeth vponupon the wholeſome food of life.2. Pet. 2.2. As new borne babes deſire the ſincere milke of the Word that yee may grow thereby. If the bodie be healthfull, and in caſe to grow in ſtrength, there will be an appetite to wholeſome food and good digeſtion by the ſtomacke; eueryevery liuing thing hath a facultie to draw nouriſhment vntounto it ſelfe: and the faith which neuer faileth doth not only couet, but kindly digeſt the Word of life, and ſucke nouriſhment from it, whereby it is made able and ſtrong to eueryevery good word and worke: If the ſtomacke decay, or the appetite be inordinate after things hurtfull and vnwholſome food, or the digeſtion ill, that meate taken in, paſſeth away not altered by the ſtomacke, the naturall life is in danger, ſo the life of grace languiſheth, when our appetite to the word decayeth, wee affect earthly things immoderately, delight in a frothy, windie, vaine ſound of words, which pleaſeth the ea…e, but edifieth not the conſcience, or if we heare ſleightly, but take not paines to feed ſubſtantially vponupon the Word. I denie not, but a liuely neuer-fading faith is ſubiect to theſe and more grieuous diſtempers for a time, but in this languiſhing fit, though it bee not vntounto death, vntill it recouer, it is vnable to embrace the promiſes of perſeuerance: and the more liuely it is to receiue thoſe promiſes, the more earneſtly doth it deſire and ſweetly feed vponupon the Word of grace.
Fiftly, It putteth forth it ſelfe to performe all duties of holineſſe and louelove with life and fe…uour: It laboureth and taketh paines in wel-doing. For Idleneſſe corrupts naturall ſtrength; vſe and exerciſe confirmes it. Dull and ſluggiſh actions argue feeblenes of the faculty & tend vntounto decay; as if we do not things with that vigor we hauehave done, it is a ſigne of infirmitie, and of a facultie inwardly or outwardly hindred; and if wee reſt in ſuch a perfunctorie courſe and challenge not our ſelues for it, wee are in danger to grow worſe and worſe. But liuelineſſe and contention in doing is both an argument of good diſpoſition, and a meanes of increaſe. The more liuely faith is, the better it worketh: and the more it worketh, the faſter it groweth. Life is the daily & continuall v…gour of a liuing ſubſtance: and eueryevery thing as it is moſt liuely and likely to continue, the more it doth ſhew forth it ſtrength in working. For a time faith may fall aſleepe, and the actions of faith bee heartleſſe, dull and perfunctorie: but faith now aſleepe will awake anone, ſh…ke vp it ſelfe, ſtirre vp affections, reſiſt ſloth, blow vp deuotion, and reſtleſſely aſpire after heauenly things. And like as it is with them, whoſe going backe helpeth them to take their riſe and fetch their leape more commodiouſly, or whoſe linking for a ſeaſon makes them to ply their buſineſſe the cloſer afterward: So here, faith (through him that is the Authour and finiſher of it) after ſuch remiſſeneſſe doth renue it endeuours, and with more vigour and holy contention ſet vponupon the workes of pietie and godlineſſe, ſtirre vp the graces of the Spirit, tie vp the thoughts to heauenly things, labour againſt winde and tide, and walke before God in all wel-pleaſing, though not without great weakneſſe.
Sixtly, It coueteth encreaſe of grace and ſanctification; Heale me, O Lord, and I ſhall be healed: ſaue me, Ier. 17.14. Pſal. 41.4.and I ſhall be ſaued: for thou art my praiſe Lord bee mercifull vntounto mee, heale my ſoule, for I hauehave ſinned againſt thee. How are men affected in recouering bodily health, ſomewhat better will not content or ſatisfie? When they can ſit vp, but not able to walke vp & downe the chamber, oh that they had a little ſtrength to ſtirre: when they dare walke within doores, oh that they could ſtirre abroad, then that their ſtomacke were returned, and they could walke in their accuſtomed ſtrength. EueryEvery liuing thing the more it doth liue, the more it coueteth perfection of life in it kinde. And ſo is faith affected in receiuing ſpirituall ſtrength from the ſickneſſe of ſinne, till it feele it ſelfe enlarged to walke conſtantly and chearfully before the Lord, yea, till it be perfectly recouered, which cannot be ſo long as we carrie about vsus this bodie of death. By reaſon man excelleth the beaſts, by holineſſe he excelleth himſelfe, inferiour only to the Angels in degree, and made like vntounto the Lord, as farre as a creature may be to his Creatour: Sinne is the ſickneſſe of the ſoule, ſo much more lothſome and dangerous then diſtempers of the bodie, as the ſoule is more excellent then the bodie: Holineſſe is the health, ornament and excellencie of the ſoule, as farre ſurpaſſing it in worth, as man doth the baſeſt creature in dignitie and honour. There is no trouble, ſhame, and ſorrow to ſinne: there is no honour and comfort to holineſſe and ſanctification. According to the nature of holineſſe, ſo is the fruit;Prou. 3.14, 15. the merchandiſe thereof is better then the merchandiſe of ſiluer, and the gaine thereof then fine gold; It is more pretious then rubies, and whatſoeuer can be deſired without, it is not to be compared vntounto it. The naturall man negl…cteth to ſeeke after holineſſe or take paines to get it, becauſe he feeles not the ſickneſſe of his ſoule, nor vnderſtands the worth and fruit of grace: But the true Belieuer, who is grieued with his infirmities, and knowes the excellencie and comfort of ſpirituall health, cannot but deſire and couet grace more and more, that in due time hee might be perfectly healed.
Seuenthly, It receiueth new ſupply of grace continually from Ieſus Chriſt the fountaine of grace.Iohn 1.16. Of his fulneſſe hauehave we all receiued, and grace for grace: Chriſt is an euer-flowing fountaine of grace, of whoſe plentie all Belieuers are abundantly pertakers, and that from one degree of grace to another, though not all in the ſame meaſure and degree. Water in a ditch, which hath no liuing ſpring to feed it, is ſoone dried vp: but the pond which is nouriſhed continually with freſh ſprings, doth not fea…e the drought of Summer, or ſcorching heate of the Sunne. The Temporarie, who was neuer knit vntounto Chriſt, as a liuing naturall and proper member, may fall away from that which he ſeemed to hauehave; But the true Belieuer, in whom Chriſt, the fountaine of life dwelleth, who daily receiues grace from him,Epheſ 3.17. Epheſ. 4.7. according to the meaſure of the gift of Chriſt, he ſhall neuer vtterly be deſtitute. He that eateth my fleſh, and drinketh my bloud, dwelleth in mee and I in him. John 6.56, 57.As the liuing Father hath ſent me, and I liue by the Father: ſo he that eateth me, euen he ſhall liue by me.
Eightly, It aſſureth of perſeuerance through ſuch promiſes as theſe;Ezek. 36.27. Ier. 32.40. I will make you to walke in my Commandements; I will put my feare in your heart, that you ſhall not d part. Iohn 6.54.Who ſo eateth my fleſh, and drinketh my bloud, hath eternall life, and I will raiſe him vp at the laſt day. But Faith giueth aſſurance of perſeuerance as it doth of the pardon and forgiueneſſe of ſinnes, and what is neceſſary to be knowne of that point, hath beene largely handled before.
Now if a Chriſtian would ſtirre vp his faith to belieue the promſes of perſeuerance,Meanes to ſtirre vp our ſelues to belieue theſe promiſes of perſeuerance. when hee feeles his owne weakneſſe, and conſidereth the ſtrength and malice of his Aduerſaries.
Firſt, Let him heartily bewaile his proneneſſe to ſinne, aptneſſe to decline, inabilitie to withſtand any one temptation, or ſet one ſtep forward in the way to Heauen. Woe is me, poore wretch, blind, lame, crooked, ſicke, impotent, vnſtable as the running water: How was I bewitched with ſelfe-confidence and conceit of ſpirituall fulneſſe? I hauehave preſumed vponupon my wiſdome, as ſufficient to direct my wayes, and leaned vponupon my ſtrength, as able to make reſiſtance againſt temptations, ſtand vponupon mine owne bottome, and goe through ſtich with my reſolutions: But now I finde my wiſedome is ignorance, vanitie and folly, my ſtrength weakneſſe: I am vnable to thinke one good thought, ſet one ſtep forward towards Heauen, keepe my ſtanding, or withſtand the leaſt aſſault. In paine I am pettiſh, vnderunder croſſes faint, heartleſſe, diſcontent, readie to flie at the ſound of perſecution, ſecure in proſperitie, puffed vp with comforts, apt to bee led away with worldly allurements. My ſpirituall taſte is diſtempered with carnall vanities, which relliſh ſweeter to me then the mercies of God in Chriſt; mine appetite to the Word and food of life is abated, my zeale decayed, mine affections dull to good, my deuotion cooled, my conſcience benummed. I heare, but feed not vponupon the Word, my Prayers are cold, heartleſſe, rouing; in earthly imployments I keepe no moderation, daily weakneſſes and leſſer ſinnes goe downe without reluctation: the motions of the ſpirit quickly die, the motions of the fleſh liue and get ſtrength, admonition is fruitleſſe, reproofe vnwelcome in my courſe I am ready to ſtumble at eueryevery rub, linger after eueryevery baite laide by Satan or the world to catch mee, and totter vponupon the ſmalleſt tentation. EueryEvery day I hauehave greater experience of my weakeneſſe then other; ſoone diſtempered and put out of frame, if by any meanes for a little time my heart bee brought into ſome better order, I am forgetfull of my purpoſes, negligent of the opportunities to get good, diſtracted with lawfull buſines and wearie of the wo…kes of my calling, perplexed at the troubles I meete w…th, giuing way to forwardneſſe, not looking vp to God: vnthankefull for mercies, trifling out the the time in fooliſh ſurmiſes, vaine ploddings, and vnprofitable ſpeeches. The poore, leane, thinne fruits of grace, which through the merciemercy of God now and then I eſpie in my ſelfe, theſe proclaime my ſicke and feeble ſtate: my thoughts and meditations of good poore and few; ſtriuings ag…inſt ſin weake, appetite to the wholſome food of life ſmall, digeſtion ſlow, obedience m…ruellous defectiue and in a manner liueleſſe. I liue vnderunder the powerfull meanes of grace, enioy many helps in priuate, am free from many great tentations wherewith others are exerciſed in reſpect of their outward condition, bleſſed with the ſocietie of them that feare God, pruned and dreſſed by my heauenly Father, and yet I reele, wauer, am toſſed too and fro, and ready to fall vponupon eueryevery occaſion. Ah, wretched man that I am, how ſhall I bee able to ſtand if the meanes ſhould faile, perſecucutions bee raiſed, or the powers of Hell let looſe vponupon mee.
Secondly He muſt ſtirre vp himſelfe to reſt vponupon God through Ieſus Chriſt, for eſtabliſhment and conformation. Why ſhould I feare by reaſon of mine infirmities, or the malice of my ſpirituall enimies? I am ſicke, but God is my phyſitian; weake, but God is my rocke, my ſtrength, my high tower; I like a loſt ſheepe am readie to goe aſtray, but the Lord is my Sheepheard, and will not ſuffer me to periſh. Chriſts interceſſion is euer effectuall: but he hath prayed that my faith ſhould not faile, and promiſed that the gates of hell ſhall not preuaile. The ſons of Adam mortall by birth, can neuer grow beyond the ſtate of mortalitie: the children of God borne of immortall ſeede can neuer fall from the ſtate of immortalitie. True faith is a neuer fading faith, the life of grace an euerlaſting life, the water of life, a well ſpringing vntounto eternall life. Chriſt once died for ſinne, neuer to die any more: and he that liueth in Chriſt ſhall liue for euer. Indeed if faith were the worke of freewill or had dependance vponupon it, it might well periſh, but being the intire gift of God according to his purpoſe of grace, it muſt needs pertake of the vnchangeable louelove of God, which is the fountaine whence it ſpringeth. I will walke iealous of my ſelfe, becauſe feeble and apt to offend, but confident in Gods merciemercy and grace, becauſe he is faithfull, who ſhall confirme mee vntounto the end, and perfect his worke hee hath begun. My care ſhall be to feede vponupon the word of life, to ſhunne ſinne and the occaſions leading thereunto, to cry for aide and ſtrength and when I feele my ſelfe readie to ſinke, I will hang vponupon the Lord, for his power ſhall ſuſtaine mee, his right hand ſhall vphold mee, and by his might I ſhall be keept through faith vn…o ſaluation. A bruiſed reede ſhall he not breake, and ſmoking flaxe ſhall hee not quench,Math. 12.20. 2. Cor. 12.9. till he ſende forth iudgement into victorie: his power ſhall be magnified in my weakneſſe.
Thirdly, He muſt pray inſtantly that God would vphold him, and make him to ſee that hee will eſtabliſh him vntounto the end. Our ſtrength is of God, and it is of him that wee know or be aſſured that through the power of his grace, we ſhall ſtand firme and vnmoueable. The ſtate of a Belieuer is ſure, and it is impoſſible the elect ſhould bee deceiued: but as they ſtand by the grace of God, ſo it is of God that they know their ſtanding. O Lord God of heauen, the great and terrible God, that keepeth couenant and mercy for them that reſt vponupon thy gratious promiſe and deſire to yeelde vp themſelues in obedience to thy Commaundements, loooke mercifully vponupon mee, thy weake vnworthy ſeruant: heale mine infirmities, for they are many, and ſtabliſh mee by thy free Spirit for I am brought very low. Remember, I beſeech thee,Ier. 32.39, 40. the word of thy co…e…ant, ſaying, I will giuegive them one heart and one way that they may feare mee for euer for the good of them, and of their children after them. And I will make an euerlaſting couenant with them, that I will not turne away from them to doe them good, but I will put my feare in their hearts, that they ſhall not depart from mee. Now I am thy poore creature, the wo…ke of thine hands whom thou haſt made; thy poore ſeruant with whom thou haſt ſtriken couenant, vntounto whom thou haſt ſhewed this merciemercy, that I deſire to feare thy Name: O Lord, I beſeech thee, teach mee thy way, make me to walke in thy truth, vnite my heart to thy feare, confirme, ſtrengthen, ſtabliſh me vntounto the end, and make mee to know that by thy power I ſhall bee inabled to ſtand faſt and vaniſh the enemies of my ſaluation, that I may fight manfully, obey cheerefully, perſiſt vndaunted, and reioyce in thy ſaluation all the dayes of my life.