Mans Active Obedience, Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
The vſe that is to be made of this, that God hath giuen the Commandements both of the Law and Goſpell, for the attaining of eternall life.
Queſtion.
COme now to ſhew, what vſe we are to make of the knowledge of this, that beſide the commandements ſet downe in the Law, for the fulfilling the righteouſneſſe thereof (promiſe being made, that if we ſhall ſo doe, we ſhall liue thereby), we hauehave another commandement inioyned vntounto vsus in the Goſpell, for our belieuing in the name of the onelyonly begotten Sonne of God, with promiſe likewiſe made in the ſame Goſpell, that all that belieue in him ſhall neuer periſh, but hauehave life euerlaſting?
A. We are occaſioned hereby, to obſerue the ineſtimable goodneſſe of God towards mankind for his ſaluation, ſo many waies being vſed by the Lord, for the recouering of this moſt wofull creature ſo lamentably fallen, that yet he might not periſh for euer, but liue and bee ſaued in the end. Firſt, for that in giuing forth his Law, he would euer treate about life with ſo rebellious a traitour, as man had ſhewed himſelfe to be againſt his Creator; and would offer any conditions of peace, or make any couenant at all for life and ſafety with ſuch a rebell, deſeruing ſo often to die, yea, and that euerlaſtingly: but ſuch was the firſt couenant of the Law, giuen by the Lord vntountoDeut. 4. 13. 8. all mankind to be obſerued by them; wherein it pleaſed the Lord to enter into this couenant with man, that (howſoeuer by his tranſgreſſion, he had deſerued to die without any mercy; yet) if he would now obſerue theſe his Statutes, and keepe the commandements which he had ſet downe in his Law, hee ſhould for all that liue and be ſaued thereby: Doe this (ſaith the Lord) and thou ſhalt Leuit. 18. 5. Rom. 10. 5.liue: which was done, to let man ſee his vnabilitie to keepe this Law, and thereby to driue him to ſeeke for life by the new Couenant made in Chriſt.
Secondly, whereas the conditions of this firſt couenantRom 8. 3. Gal. 3. 21. 22. Heb 7. 18. 19. Gal. 2. 16. Rom. 7. 10. of the Law, were found much too hard to bee ſtood vntounto, and to bee kept by any man, that ſo he might liue, and be ſaued by ſo doing (for by the deeds of the Law no fleſh can euer be ſaued): for by reaſon of ſinne, that commandement which was ordained to life, is found to be vntounto vsus to death. Herein the goodneſſe of God did yet ſuper-abound, that it would pleaſe him to couenant with man the ſecond time for life and ſaluation, making a new couenant; which is ſaid to bee a better couenant then theIer. 31. 31. 32. former, becauſe it is ſtabliſhed vponupon better promiſes (our Sauiour Chriſt Ieſus himſelfe being the Mediatour thereof),Heb. 8. 6. 7. 8. 9. euen the Couenant of grace, for the obtaining of life and ſaluation freely by his grace, through the redemptionRom. 3 24. 25. that is in Chriſt Ieſus, and through faith in his name: whom God hath ſet forth to be a propitiation, and price of redemption for al that beleeue, with this promiſe made to eueryevery ſuch a one, that whoſoeuer doe beleeue in him, they ſhall neuer periſh, but hauehave life euerlaſting. AndIohn 3. 16. that by Chriſt all that doe beleeue, ſhall be iuſtified for euer from all things, from which by the workes of the Law, Acts 13. 39.none could be iuſtified. Now this being the ſecond couenant for life, the promiſes whereupon this is ſtabliſhed, are ſaid to be better promiſes then the former, becauſe it is not ſaid, doe this, and thou ſhalt liue; but beleeue this, and thou ſhalt liue (there being a poſſibilitie of obtaining power at the hands of God to beleeue, if we be not wanting to our ſelues).
Thirdly, though this ſecond couenant for life and ſaluation, be a better and more fauourable couenant, then was the firſt; and the condition thereof more eaſie to be performed through the aide of Gods grace, which is ordinarily giuen to ſuch as ſhal be ſaued: yet (leſt any ſhould faile to doe that, which otherwiſe he hath meanes to bee made able to doe, and ſo might doe, namely, beleeue) herein Gods exceeding goodneſſe vntounto man ſeemeth more abundantly to be ſet forth, in that he leaueth it not as a thing indifferent to the choice of eueryevery man whither they will beleeue or not, but as that which is moſt needefull for all, he chargeth all that they doe beleeue; that is, that they be not wanting to themſelues in vſing all poſſible meanes, whereby they may come truly to beleeue. So that if any ſhall now periſh vnderunder the Goſpell, wherein ſaluation is offered vntounto vsus, vnderunder the condition of our beleeuing, ſuch ſhall periſh; not ſo much for their other ſins, as for their vnbeliefe, becauſe they beleeued not in theIohn 3. 18. name of the onelyonly begotten Sonne of God; and they ſhall die twice damned as double tranſgreſſors of all the commandements, both of the Law commanding them to do, and of the commandements of the Goſpell commandingHeb. 2. 23. & 4. 1. 6. them to beleeue; and as violaters of both couenants of workes and of faith, not keeping the conditions of either; neither doing that which the Law commandeth, nor beleeuing that which the Goſpell promiſeth. Vnutterable therefore is this goodneſſe of God, that commands vsus to beleeue, that wee might bee ſaued; who thus thought it not enough to prepare ſaluation for vsus, and to proffer it vntounto vsus, but preſſeth it vponupon vsus, and vrgeth vsus to take it, charging and commanding vsus to beleeue: which is the onelyonly hand, by which ſaluation is to bee laid hold vponupon.
Fourthly, the knowledge of this, that God commandeth vsus to beleeue, may bee our warrant for our making ſure to our ſelues our owne ſaluation, and for our ſtedfaſtly2. Pet. 1. 10. beleeuing, without all manner of doubting to be ſaued by Chriſt Ieſus, and to hauehave redemption in his blood, euen the forgiueneſſe of all our ſinnes: as alſo to free vsus from that falſe imputation charged vponupon vsus by our aduerſaries, of being too preſumptuous thus boldly and confidently to beleeue (and not to remaine as they doe euer in ſome doubt), ſince it is obedience, and not preſumption, to doe that we are commanded, God thus commanding vsus to beleeue.
Laſtly, the practice of this knowledge that it is our dutie to beleeue, ought to be ſeene in our carefull endeuouring by taking all poſſible paines, and vſing with all diligence the good meanes of reading the Scriptures, of hearing of Sermons, of often partaking at the holy Sacraments, of priuate conference, of holy meditation, of feruent and continuall prayers; ſo to get the ſauing knowledge of Chriſt, as wee may bring our hearts to reſt, and relie vponupon him and vponupon him alone for our ſaluation; apprehending him to be our Sauiour, and laying hold vponupon all that he hath done and ſuffered for vsus, as that whereby a full ſatisfaction hath been made for our ſinnes, and a price hath been paid of value ſufficient for our perfect redemption: that ſo we hauing Chriſt with his merits by faith to be ours, in hauing him we may hauehave life by him: for God hath giuen vsus eternall life, and that life is in his1. Ioh. 5. 11. Sonne. We are eueryevery where counſelled and called vponupon to get faith and to labour to beleeue. It is the ſpeciall worke that our Sauiour ſet the people about, which hee ſaid to be the worke of God, to labour to beleeue. We areMark. 11. 22. Iohn 6. 29. willed to hauehave faith in our ſelues, whatſoeuer elſe wee ſhould want beſide. And no marueile, for of all other graces it is that which is moſt needfull, without which euen Chriſt himſelfe ſhould profit vsus nothing. It is the mother grace of all the reſt, and roote from whence all vertues beſide doe ſpring and flouriſh out: it is a iewell of vnualuable worth, and pearle of an vnſpeakable price. Among pretious ſtones, the faireſt tincture is giuen toExcellencie of faith. the Ruby, and the quickeſt light vntounto the Diamond: but there is no Ruby, no Diamond nor Saphire, how coſtly and pretious ſoeuer they be, that may be compared with it for brightneſſe and beautie; or that can in like manner inrich, deck and ſet foorth the outward man, as this doth in rich the heart, beautifie, decke and adorne the hid man therof. There is not the like pretious ſtone euer to be heard of, hauing ſuch vertue to be found in it, as hath pretious faith, which is the faith of Gods elect. No not that ſtone (if euer ſuch there were) which being caſt into the ſea when the ſtorme is at the higheſt, and the waues thereof moſt troubleſome and horribly raging, (as ſome hauehave conceited and ſtick not to report) to quiet and to calme all the boiſterouſnes thereof: yet were not that worke ſo wonderfull and change ſo great and marueilous, that thus ſhould be ſeene done in the foaming wilde ſea, as is that which is moſt certainly and that vſually and daily found to be wrought and done by this pretious faith in the afflicted conſcience, in the perplexed ſoules and trembling hearts of the diſtreſſed ſeruants of God. Who encountring with the tentations of the diuell, and wreſtling in conſcience with the wrath and diſpleaſure of God, as for life and death, are ſorely ſhaken with the terrors of God, and blaſted with the whirlewinde of his diſpleaſure; which is able to driue the whole frame of our nature into extreame miſerie and vtter confuſion: eſpecially when Satan with all (taking the aduantage of ſuch opportunitie) moſt furiouſly doth breake in vponupon thoſe diſtreſſed hearts with ſuch force and violent rage of his dreadfull tentations, as is able to lift the minde off the hindges, and to teare vp the very foundations of comfort from the bottome; the ſtorme of tentations being ſo at the higheſt, the poore diſtracted and diſtreſſed ſoule is then as the raging ſea that cannot be quiet; but is like toPſal. 88. 6. 7. 15. 16. 17. 18. Pſal. 69. 14. 15. be ouerwhelmed and ſwallowed vp in thoſe tempeſtuous waues which threaten to drowne all in the gulfe of deſpaire, when neither banke nor bottome can bee ſeene, nor any thing before them but preſent death and vtter periſhing: yet if in all this extremitie faith can finde but any intertainment, and if any way can bee made in the heart for the ſame to hauehave footing, and that place may be giuen vntounto it there to worke in; ſo will it keepe the heart, the hands, the voyce and the eyes vpward, as it wil keepe all ſafe from drowning, or finall miſcarrying in the end; and will neuer giuegive ouer working in the effectualnes of the operation thereof, till it hath obtained helpe from God, and till ſafetie and deliuerance be fully come; till by his helpe who ſtilleth the rage of the ſea, the noiſe of the waters Pſal. 65. 7.and tumults of the people, theſe heauie tempeſts and ſtormes of tentations may be made wholly to ceaſe, and all be made peaceable and comfortable, yea ioyfull again: aſſwaging all ſorrowes, expelling all feares, bringing quietnes to the conſcience, refreſhings to the ſoule, ſetting the heart at peace with God, and cauſing that the peace of conſcience as a ſweete ſleepe, may fall vponupon ſuchRom. 5. 1. tired and wearied ſoules, that were well neere worne vp and waſted with diſtreſfull griefes and ſorrowes before, that ſo they may now returne to their owne reſt againe.Pſal. 116. 3. 6. 7. Theſe be indeed worthie of the name to be called the faire Hauens, into which faith (where it may be allowedAct. 27. 8. to be Pilot) will bring out of the greateſt flawes and fearefulleſt ſtormes (that can happen) the poore diſtreſſed ſoule ready to wracke; that ſo in all ſafetie at the length, the ſame may be thruſt in here, and moſt quietly and ioyfully againe reſt therein, as in a moſt ſure hauen. Theſe with the like being the effects, which are wrought in the hearts of true beleeuers by this pretious faith (euen in the hearts of ſo many, as it can finde way and place giuen vntounto it to ſhew the operation thereof), they are ſuch as are moſt worthie both to be marked and to be marueiled at: when as in the ſtead of the horrors of conſcience, and the ſound of feares which affrighted them before in the times of their troubles, Gods ſeruants are yet againe ſo cheared and comforted in the end, as their change ſeemeth worthie to be celebrated with the ſongs of Angels and the reioycings of men. Wee wonder at the vertue of the Load-ſtone that it ſhould euer be pointing at the Northpole,Called Magnes of the great vertue that is in it. and that it ſhould draw ſo forcibly the heauy yron vp to it ſelfe, contrary to the naturall motion thereof. God hath put this admirable vertue into faith, that it is euer looking vntounto Chriſt alone, and pointing vsus only vntounto him; it faileth not to draw home moſt effectually Chriſt Ieſus our Sauiour into eueryevery ſoule in the which it is placed, and lifteth vp againe vntounto him the heart of eueryevery true beleeuer (how heauie ſoeuer), coupling them together by an vnion, though true and vnſeparable, yet eueryevery way ſtrange and moſt vnutterable. Faith followeth Chriſt as doth the flower follow the Sunne, which hath the name giuen it vponupon the ſame to be called the flower of the Sunne: becauſe it is euer ſeene turning it ſelfe to the Sunne, when it doth ariſe and when it doth decline. Thus doth faith euer turne it ſelfe vntounto Chriſt, it lookethGal. 2. 16. after him alone, and after none but him; which worthily is therefore called the faith of Chriſt, and the faith of his name. This ſauing grace which commeth from aboue,Acts 3. 16. and hath his beginning from on high, as it commeth from God, ſo doth it leade vsus to God againe; it mounteth vsus aboue the world, and ſetteth vsus vponupon the power and prouidence of God, aſſuredly to looke for and ſtedfaſtly to beleeue to hauehave (without failing) all that he hath promiſed, who ſpeaketh in righteouſneſſe and is mightie Iſai. 63. 1.to ſaue: it ſtaieth and ſetleth the heart from vnconſtantly wauering and doubtfully ſtaggering or reeling in vncertaintie to this ſide or to that: it is a ſure arch-pillar of ſtrength to leane vntounto, wee may bee bold with all our weight to ſtay our ſelues by it. Mightie is the working of that faith that is not fained, to get helpe and ſauing from Chriſt for eueryevery ſoule that hath it: yea ſo powerfull and effectuall is the working of it in this behalfe, as nothing can ſtand in the way to hinder it from Chriſt which it will not remoue, nothing can be able to keepe it from Chriſt. It burſteth through all things, not onelyonly that wee hauehave in our ſelues, but whatſoeuer elſe is in earth, heauen or hell, vntill it come to Chriſt crucified, and to the eternall ſweete mercies of God in Chriſt Ieſus. Here here is the only reſting place thereof, and no where but here. By how much the greater be the vnlikelihoods and impediments that lay before faith, by ſo much the more glorious and excellent doth faith ſhew it ſelfe to be in the working thereof, and wreſtling to ouercome all that ſtands againſt; ſtill riſing vp from vnderunder all her burthens, and running on with greater force when it meeteth with lets in the way to ſtop her courſe, taking ſtrength euer from reſiſtance. If way be not made for it to get vntounto Chriſt, it will make way for it ſelfe, whoſoeuer or whatſoeuer it is that may ſeeme to reſiſt. It is not a poore ſilly garment, that can ſtand in the way of it to hinder it from touching Chriſt to draw vertue out of him, but it willMark. 5. 27. 28. 30. 34. Luk. 6. 19. Mark. 6. 56. reach through all coates and couerings that Chriſt can put vponupon him: he cannot ſo hide himſelfe vnderunder any couering or garment, how ſtrange ſoeuer it may ſeeme to be that he may put vponupon him, but faith will finde him out: though he ſhould kill me, yet would I truſt in him,Iob. 13. 15. ſaith the conſtant beleeuer. Chriſt cannot ſo conueyMark. 7. 24. 25. himſelfe away into any place, or go into other company,Whether ſhall I goe from thy preſence, ſaith Dauid? ſo of God it may be ſaid, whether ſhall he goe and not be followed and found, of hungring and thirſting ſoules? and get among the throng and thicke of the multitude, but faith will ſtriue and wreſtle to come neere vntounto him. He cannot ſo ſhut himſelfe within the walles of any houſe, but faith will breake in vponupon him: if other entrie will not be allowed vntounto it, it will vncouer the houſe and plucke downe the tiles, but it will hauehave paſſage vntounto him. If Chriſt be any where vponupon earth, it will be with him: yea though he hath left the earth, yet faith hath not forſaken him; but it followeth him through the cloudes, asMark. 2. 4. 5. Mark. 6. 31. 32. 33. 1. Pet. 1. 8. it were with the wings of an Eagle, entring the heauens after him. Where Chriſt giueth it leaue to hauehave acceſſe vntounto him, there is no keeping it from him, no force nor violence this way can ſerue the turne: not armies of men nor troupes of ſouldiers, not cloſing vp in priſons, not caſtles and holds, be they neuer ſo ſtrong, though the walles and the gates were all of braſſe; not all the force of the world, if it were all ioyned together againſt one poore man, were able to keepe backe from out of the ſight of Chriſt Ieſus that partie, whom and whoſe caſe faith hath once vndertaken to preſent and bring before him. The whole world is too weake to ſtriue againſt faith: for this is our victorie whereby we ouercome the world, 1. Ioh. 5. 4. 5.euen our faith; yea, all the gates of hell ſhall neuer bee ableMatth. 16. 18. to reſiſt faith, or to preuaile againſt the ſame: ſo wondrous is the force thereof in our ſoules, as by it all thingsMark. 9. 23. are made poſſible vntounto vsus, whither to ſuffer or ouercome. O moſt incomparable and victorious grace of faith! that is thus impregnable and vnconquerable, which cannot bee reſiſted of any thing, but ouercommeth all things that it ſtriueth withall. How ſafe is it with that ſoule, that this grace doth once inhabite in? How well is it with that man, to whom is euer giuen the power of beleeuing? for who ſo findeth this precious faith, findeth life, and hath2. Cor. 5. 7. Rom. 11. 20. Gal 2. 20. Iohn 3. 36. Iohn 5 24. obtained mercy and fauour from God for euer to be ſaued: by it we walke, by it we ſtand, by it wee liue; yea, hee that truly beleeueth, doth ſo liue as he hath now eternal life, & ſhall neuer ſee death; where eueryevery one that beleeueth not, is condemned already. How then is the merchandize of this better, then the merchandize of ſiluer? and the gaine of this grace better, then the gaine of the fineſt gold? It isLaeta mercatura fides. Cyrill. a gladſome and merry merchandiſe to bee traffiqued about, and a gainefull commoditie to bee got: for hee that hath it, hath all things to bee his: God for his Father, Chriſt Ieſus for his Sauiour, the holy Ghoſt for his Comforter, the Angels in heauen, the Miniſters in earth, the world it ſelfe, things preſent and to come; all is his, he is 1. Cor. 3. 21. 22. 23.Chriſts, and Chriſt is Gods. What cauſe is there then, that all ſhould be ſet aworke, to labour about the obtaining and getting of this grace, that is ſo precious, and euen to be rich in this? and that eueryevery one doe make prouiſion for beleeuing, that true faith doe not faile vsus; that ſhould be all our care. How well may that be ſpoken of getting faith in particular, which is ſpoken of wiſdome in generallProu. 4. 5. 7. by Salomon in his Prouerbs; Get wiſdome, get vnderſtanding, forget it not: wiſedome is the principall thing; therefore get wiſdome with all thy gettings, get vnderſtanding: So may it be truly ſaid, get faith, get the power of beleeuing, forget it not; faith is the principall thing,Heb. 12. 2. Phil. 1. 29. Epheſ. 2 8. therefore get faith, and with al thy gettings, get the grace of true beleeuing. Faith we know is the gift of God, aFaith, Gods gift by word. commoditie ingroſſed into his owne hand alone, it is not to be had elſewhere at the hand of any other, then onelyonly at his hand, whoſe prerogatiue royall it is to be the Father of light, from whom eueryevery good and perfect gift doth come; Iames 1. 17.particularly touching this gift of faith, he is knowne to be the onelyonly author, and the onelyonly finiſher of it. The Miniſters of the Goſpel, they indeed may be ſaid (as Paul ſpeaketh of himſelfe and of Apollos) to be Ministers, by whom 1. Cor. 3. 5.the people doe belieue (God vſing the miniſterie of the Goſpell, as a powerfull meanes and ordinance of his owne, to work faith in the harts of thē that ſhall beleeue); but they are not the Miniſters of whom, as of the authors of it, the people receiue their faith, as though they were Maſters & Lords of their faith: which the Apoſtle elſewhere doth vtterly diſclaime; but only helpers (as he there ſpeaketh)2. Cor. 1. 24. of the peoples ioy. The Miniſters in this worke, they are indeed labourers and workers together with God: but yet2. Cor. 6. 1. in an inferiour degree, and in ſuch a low place, as the ſame Apoſtle ſaith, they neither are any thing, nor can doe any1. Cor. 3. 7. thing without the Lord, who alone doth all; their labour is but as the labour of them that doe plant, and that doe water, it is the Lord alone that is the bleſſer, and hee that giueth the increaſe to come: in ſaying therefore they are the Miniſters by whom the people doe beleeue, hee preſently ſheweth how; notwithſtanding they came to hauehave their faith, euen (ſaith he) as the Lord gaue to eueryevery man. 1. Cor. 3. 5.To come then to hauehave faith, we muſt firſt attend vponupon Gods ordinance in the miniſterie of his Word, watching daily at wiſdoms gates, & giuing attendance at the poſtesProu. 8. 33. Iſai. 55. 3. of her doores: we muſt incline our eares and come; wee muſt heare, that our ſoules may liue; faith is ſaid to come by hearing; they that hauehave loſt and left hearing, how ſhould they looke to finde faith, or euer come to beleeuing? Yet this is not all: for hauehave not men heard, and doe not men daily heare? Yes verily: for the ſound of the Goſpell is gone abroad in all the earth, and theRom. 10. 18. 1. Theſ. 3. 2. word of this preaching vntounto the ends of the world: yet all men hauehave not faith. And the Miniſters of the Goſpell may take vp Iſaiahs complaint againe, and ſay, LordIſa. 53. 1. Mat. 3. 11. who hath beleeued our report? Miniſters may offer grace to all, but they cannot conferre or giuegive grace to any. Paul may ſpeak to the women that reſorted to prayer and to preaching; but if God had not opened Lydia's Act. 16. 13. 14.hart to beleeue what was ſpoken, they ſhould hauehave gone away as they firſt came. We muſt then, beſide our hearing, ſend vp to heauen for helpe in this thing, that wee may beleeue. We muſt plucke downe that power of God by earneſt begging, that may ſtrengthen vsus vntounto this thing: for it is no eaſie matter to hauehave faith wrought ſoundly in any mans heart: it is ſuch a worke, as ſtandeth in need of no leſſe then the mighty power of God to bee ſet a worke about the effecting of it. Which the Apoſtle knew full well; which made him ſpeake as hee doth, when he prayed for the Theſſalonians, that God would fulfill all the good pleaſure of his goodneſſe towards them, 2. Theſ. 1. 11.and the worke of faith with power. Like vntounto this, is the manner of his praying for the Epheſians, that God would open the eyes of their vnderſtanding, that they might know Epheſ. 1. 18. 19.what is the exceeding greatneſſe of the power of God to them that doe beleeue, according to the working of his mighty power. In both which places, for the worke of faith in the hearts of beleeuers, he maketh mention of the power of God, the mighty power of God, and exceeding greatneſſe of the power of God, and all but needfull: for there is ſo great an oppoſition againſt our beleeuing, and ſo many lets lying in the way to hinder the working of faith in our hearts, as leſſe then all this would not be ſufficient throughly to effect it. The heart is bound vp ſo in vnbeleefe; in bonds as ſtrong as bonds of braſſe, that no powerRom. 11. 32. can poſſibly looſen them, but the Almighty power of God. The diuell holdeth men in ſo ſtrait a bondage,Heb. 2. 14. 15. and 3. 12. 13. Iſa. 61. 1. and doth ſhut vp mens hearts ſo in vnbeleefe, as none can breake in vponupon the heart to worke any faith there, but he, whoſe power is ſuch as cannot bee withſtood, and who onelyonly can looſen the workes of the diuell: if the Lord1. Ioh. 3. 8. himſelfe doe not open the doore of our hearts for faith to be got in; euen he who onelyonly hath the key of the houſe of Dauid, who openeth and no man ſhutteth. & ſhutteth when Apoe. 3. 7.no man can open: all the gates and doores of our hearts are ſo barred vp, that there is no paſſage for faith to hauehave entrance. The heart is faſt locked vp in the diuels gaile of blindneſſe and ignorance, he hath rampired vp eueryeveryMat. 13. 15. gate there, to keep grace out; he dealeth as enemies that labour the deſtruction of a place, who take all paſſages that no victuall may bee brought, nor helpe to giuegive them ſuccour. The diuell doth thus; he takes the paſſages of the ſoule, by which, comfort, knowledge, and grace might bee deriued vntounto it, and faith might bee there wrought, that would put him to flight. As hee blindes2. Cor. 44. vp mens eyes, that the light of the glorious Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus ſhould not ſhine vntounto them; ſo hee ſtoppes their eares, as with clay, and with earth, that they can liſten after nothing but earthly matters, and things belonging vntounto this life: they heare not Gods word; or if they doe, they doe not regard; they are as the deafe adder that heareth not the voice of the charmer. The diuell fittethPſal. 58. 4. 5. in mens hearts; he hath ſo erected his throne there, as no grace will be ſuffered to come in. The onelyonly remedie in this caſe, is to flie to God for ſuccour, to lift vp our voices, and cry loud vntounto him; to importune him by earneſt prayer night and day, till helpe doe come. We are to ſet out our throats and cry; yea with a holy kind of impudencie; as did blind Bartimeus, cry out to the ſonne of Dauid, and not hold our peace, that he would hauehave mercyMar. 10. 47. 48. vponupon vsus, and open our eyes that wee may receiue our ſight; not withſtanding the diuell would keepe vsus ſtill in blindneſſe, we are to bring our deafe eares vntounto him, thatMark. 7. 32. 33. 34. 35. he may boare them open, that we may heare Gods bleſſed word; and in hearing, may come to beleeue, that faith may be begotten in vsus, by that immortall ſeed of Gods euerlaſting word, and that God himſelfe will become the worker, and the authour of this true ſauing grace of precious faith in vsus. Neither are we to reſt in the firſt beginnings of this grace, but follow on with our beſt endeauours, vſing all good meanes for the daily encreaſes therof; plying God ſtill with vnceſſant prayers, that he who hath been the authour, will now alſo bee the finiſher ofPrayer is the exerciſe of faith, her recreation, and meanes to keepe it alone. faith in vsus; that hee will bleſſe vsus with happie growth and encreaſes in this grace, carrying vsus on from faith to faith. This is that which our Sauiour himſelfe hath taught vsus to doe, euer to pray, O Lord encreaſe our faith. WeeRom. 1. 17. are to follow herein the example of the poore man in the Goſpell, that came to Chriſt to hauehave his ſonne healed; who ſhewed great faith in his vnbeleefe, in that though he doubted whether Chriſt could heale his child, yet heeMark. 9. 24. beleeued he could heale his faith; crying with him, Lord, I beleeue, helpe my vnbeleefe. Neither are we to reſt in ſo doing alone, but to do what we can our ſelues, yt the ſmallHow to nouriſh faith. meaſure of this grace being once thus begun, may euer be encreaſed, by our more diligent vſing the meanes of the Word, Sacramēts, & Prayer; ſtirring it vp by meditating, endeauouring, ſtriuing, asking, ſeeking, knocking; when we feele any ſparkles of true and liuely faith lye glowing in our hearts within, they muſt be cheriſhed, ſuccoured, and much made of: that holy fire muſt not be quenched, nor let to goe out for want of tending, and blowing vp the foreign 2. Tim. 1. 6.coale, as Paul ſpeaketh to Timothie. When we perceiue any light of faith to breake forth and ſhine out, wee muſt looke well to our lampes, that oyle be poured in and bee neuer lacking. When the fier of this burning is once kindled vponupon the altar of our hearts, eueryevery one muſt doe, the office of the Prieſt to himſelfe, to keepe this fier ſtill a burning; and to trimme theſe lights that they may neuerExod. 2…. 20. 21 leaue ſhining: yea, this fier is not onelyonly to bee kept in, but to be blowne vp and made to flame: prayer is in ſtead of bellowes to the fier; the Word and Sacraments rightly and reuerently vſed, are as oyle to make this holy fier to flame; conference with others, and holy meetings with Gods ſeruants, for the comforting of themſelues together, by the mutuall faith both of one and of another (as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh), are as the bringing togetherRom. 1. 12. of firebrands that doe ſet one another a burning; as the two diſciples that went to Emmaus ſaid one to another, did not our hearts burne within vsus, while hee was talking to Luk. 24. 32.vsus? heauenly meditations, as we are alone by our ſelues, when the heart is rapt vp to heauen, flaming vp in the deſires thereof, to receiue grace from aboue; they are as a fiery chariot, which carrieth vsus vp with Eliah, from this earth, vntounto heauen. If after this manner we ſhall bee diligent in vſing all good meanes, both for the beginning and encreaſing of precious and true ſauing faith in our hearts, and ſhall be found no way to bee wanting to our ſelues; God will not be wanting to giuegive his bleſſing, but doe that for vsus in this behalfe, which Paul craued of him in the behalfe of the Theſſalonians; namely, Fulfill 2. Theſ. 1. 11.all the good pleaſure of his goodneſſe, and perfect the whole worke of faith in our hearts, with power to our eternall ſaluation in this life; and in that which is to come.