The Breastplate of Faith and Love, Part 2 · Sermon 3
OF EFFECTVALL FAITH. The third Sermon.
1. THESS. 1.3.
Remembring your effectuall Faith, &c.
IN the fifth place;Vse. 5. To learne to iudge aright of our workes. If nothing please GOD, if he accepts of nothing but what comes from effectuall faith; then we should learne hence to iudge aright of our workes: for what workes soeuer wee doe, they please GOD no further then hee seeth and findeth some faith in them. The Vse before shewed vsus how to iudge aright of our faith; this teacheth you how to iudge aright of all the workes you doe, that you doe not mistake in them. For men are very apt to iudge amisse of what they doe in this case.
There be many workes that hauehave a specious and faire shew in the view of men, and perhaps in your owne opinion: But if there be not faith in those workes, GOD regards them not: as, Iames 2.22.Iames 2.22. when Abraham did that great worke, in offering his sonne, (which was the greatest worke that euer hee did, and the greatest worke that is recorded in all the Booke of GOD) yet, saith the Apostle there, Do ye not obserue how faith wrought with his workes? That is to say, If faith had not set him on worke to doe this, if faith had not beene the Spring to set this wheele on going, GOD had not accepted this. So, doe whatsoeuer you will,God accepts our workes no further then he findes faith in them. further then faith works with you in all that you doe, GOD regards it not.
Therefore you shall obserue in Christs answer to the Woman of Canaan, in her earnest prayer, in her comming to Christ, her fighting and striuing against the Diuell, her tendernesse to her Daughter, her holding out so long as she did; all this Christ lookes ouer: But when he comes to giuegive his censure of her worke, of her carriage, Oh Woman, great is thy faith, saith he. That was it that set a great price vponupon her worke: Matth. 15.26, 27.Mat. 15.26, 27. So, take the most excellent, the greatest worke that can be performed, GOD sets them at no higher a price then hee findes faith in them; he weighes them by that: so much faith as is in them, so farre he accepts them, so farre he regards them. Looke in Heb. 11.Heb. 11. you shall finde many glorious workes set downe. All the great workes that Sampson did, all the workes that Dauid did, the works that Gedeon did, the workes that Baruc did, the workes that Moses did, and so along, you shall see there, that there was nothing in all these workes that was regarded, but their faith: all is imputed to faith. And therefore, when you goe about any thing, labour to see faith set you aworke; and know, that as much faith as there is in any worke, so much GOD regards it, and no further. Iacob had done many good things, that pleased GOD, yet GOD, when he would put a marke of his fauour vponupon him, when he would call him Israel, when he would change his name, it was for that great worke of faith, when he prayed all night, when hee would not giuegive ouer, when he would not let him goe, when hee preuailed with God by faith; now, saith God, thy name shall be called Israel. (As if he should say) Now I will put a name of honour vponupon thee. Why so? Not because there was more in that worke, simply considered, as it was a worke: but because there was more faith in it. And it must needes be so: for GOD doth not as men doe, who accept the giuer for the gift. (If a man come to you with a great gift, you will accept his person for it.) But GOD accepts the gift for the giuers sake:God accepts the gift for the giuer. though the gift be neuer so small, if the giuer be such as beleeues in him; if his affections be right, if he doe it out of a right ground; that is, if he doe it out of a ground of faith, he is accepted, whatsoeuer it be. Indeed, otherwise, whatsoeuer we doe, we may call it by our owne name; we may say, he is a patient man, or he is a temperate man, or these are workes of Justice, or workes of temperance: But we can neuer call it godlinesse, except it rise from faith, except it come from this ground; because indeed it is not done to God. (Marke it) I say, further then a man doth a thing out of faith, hee doth it not to GOD. For, to doe a thing out of faith,To doe a thing by faith, what. is nothing else, but when out of perswasion of GODS louelove to me, I doe this thing: meerely for his sake whom I hauehave chosen, to whom I giuegive my selfe; one that I know loues mee; and therefore, though there were no reward for it, I would serue him. This is a worke of faith. Now, I say, this is properly godlines. And therfore, in 2 Pet. 1. when the Apostle had named Patience and Temperance, lest wee should mistake, (as if hee should say, There be many Vertues of this nature amongst men that belong not to GOD.) Therefore, saith he, Adde Godlinesse; that is, Let it be such as becomes a godly man to doe. Godlinesse is that which is done to GOD;Godlinesse what. such things and such qualities as hauehave an eye and respect to him, such things please him. What if a man should doe neuer so much, if it please not GOD, it is lost labour. It is said, Heb. 11.6.Heb. 11.6. that Henoch pleased God. Marke how the Apostle reasons: (saith hee) without faith it is impossible to please God: therefore, in that he is said to please GOD, it must needes be through faith. You know, it is said, Rom. 13.Rom. 13. whatsoeuer a man doth, if it be not of faith, and louelove, GOD lookes not to it; you know there can be no louelove without faith.
Consider but how it is with your selues; If a man should doe any thing for you, you know, hee may hauehave many other ends, hee may doe you many a great good turne; yet, if you be perswaded this comes not out of louelove to me, nor of true respect to me, you regard it not, whatsoeuer it bee. If it bee but a small thing, if it be done out of louelove, you respect it. So it is with GOD; workes that come from faith and louelove, (for those I reckon to be all one) those he respects wondrously. Therefore we should learne to iudge aright of our workes; it will helpe vsus against that position of the Papists, and also against the common opinion of men.
EueryEvery man thinkes that Almes-deeds, doing good to the poore, and doing glorious things, &c. that these are good workes, when as common actions they exclude,We must reckon common actions in our callings to be good workes. as if they were not good workes: But it is not so; we may doe the greatest workes of this nature, and yet they may hauehave no excellency in them at all.
Againe, the very ordinary workes of our Calling, ordinary things to men, ordinary seruice from day to day, if it come from faith, if it be done as to the Lord, he accepts them, and they are good workes indeed. This vse we ought to make of it: If GOD regard not any thing but faith, we should not be deceiued in our workes which we doe.
Vse 6. To try if we hauehave faith.Againe, if faith be such a thing, that no workes are accepted without it, that no branch will grow except it come from this roote; if there be no saluation without it, if it be a thing that is most profitable for vsus; If thou sayest now, How may I know whether I hauehave faith or no? I may be deceiued in it. When we hang so much vponupon this peg, we had neede be sure that it be strong, and that it will hold vsus. I will therefore make this present Vse, in shewing what the signes of this faith, and what the characters of it are, that you may learne to iudge aright, whether that faith that sets all the price vponupon your workes, be a right faith, or no: You may know it by this:
1Triall. A secret perswasion of the Spirit.Where there is a true faith, there is a secret perswasion wrought in the heart, whereby GOD assures you that he is yours, and you are his; as you hauehave it, Reu. 2.17.Reu. 2 17. To him that ouercommeth, will I giuegive that hidden Mannah, and a white stone with a new name written in it, that hee onelyonly knowes that receiues it: (That is) That is one thing by which ye shall know whether you hauehave true faith or no: HaueHave you euer had any of that hidden Mannah? (that is) HaueHave you had such a secret perswasion, which hath beene as sweet as Mannah to you, which you hauehave fed on, as they fed on Mannah, Hidden Mannah.which giues you life, as Mannah gaue life to them? OnelyOnly hee sayes it is a hidden Mannah, it lyes not abroad, others see it not, but it is Mannah that your hearts secretly feede on. So that, wouldst thou know whether thou hauehave faith? Hath GOD giuen thee such a stone with a new name written in it,White stone, what it signifieth. that is the stone of absolution? As the manner was among the Athenians, among the old Grecians; that the sentence of absolution was giuen by white stones, as the sentence of condemnation was blacke stones: So (saith he) GOD will giuegive him such a secret testimony that he is acquitted, that when he is called in question, (as they were, that they knew not whether they should dye or liue; in that case, if they had the white stone, such a man was absolued: So, I say) Hath GOD giuen thee such a stone, with thy name vponupon it? Hath he giuen you such a stone, as you know in the secret of your heart, such as none knowes, but God and your selfe? (that is) Hath hee euer opened the clouds? hath hee euer shewed himselfe to you? hath he cast a good looke vponupon you? hath he made your hearts glad with the light of his countenance in his Beloued? (for such a secret worke there is of the Spirit, by which GOD cheereth and comforteth the heart of a man: that is his manner in working faith. After the Law hath beene a Schoolemaster to a man,Gods manner of working faith. after there hath beene such an inditement, that he hath beene brought in question of his life, when there hath beene a great storme, then he comes into the heart, as hee did into the Ship, and all is quiet. I say, that is his manner, he comes into the heart after such a manner, and speakes peace to a man.) HaueHave you euer found this worke in your selues, that after much trouble and disquiet within, GOD hath spoken peace to you, that he hath said to your soules, I am thy saluation? Not that that is absolutely required, that there should be such a trouble going before, For, although it be true, that he neuer speaks peace,Alike trouble of Spirit in conuersion not necessary to all, and why. but when there hath gone some trouble, but when there hath gone some conuincing of the spirit before, which conuinceth a man of sinne; yet this you must know, that still the promise is made to the comming, and not to the preparation. And therefore, if a man be at his journies end, it is no matter how he came there. If a man finde that he be in CHRIST, and hath had such a testimonie from his Spirit, though he hauehave not had such a worke of humiliation as perhaps he expects, yet know, that the promise is made to that. And if you hauehave that which the promise is made vntounto, is not that sufficient? It is true, as I said, you must hauehave it really, you must hauehave it in good earnest, there must goe alwayes a worke of humiliation before the testimony of the Spirit. But mistake not: that turbulent sorrow, that violent disquiet of the minde goes not alwaies before. For example; Take two men,Simile. the one is arrested, and condemned & brought to the poynt of death, he makes account of nothing else; A pardon comes to this man, and hee is saued; there was great trouble went before, and hee was wondrously affected when the pardon came: But now there is another man that is guilty of the same offence, and hee knowes certainly that he shall be called in question, and hee is sure to lose his life, vnlesse his peace be made. Now before this be acted, before that indeed he be put in prison, before that indeed he be condemned, and before his head be brought to the blocke, he is certified that a Pardon is come out for him. This man knowes his estate as well as the other, and he knowes that he had perished without a Pardon, as well as the other; and he makes as much account of his Pardon as the other, and will not let it goe for his life as well as the other.
Now, both these are pardoned, both are sure of life: but there is a different manner of doing it. The one man was affected and much stirred before, he was put into a wondrous afright before: The other man is convinced of the danger, he is in as well as he, although he be not put to that extremity of sorrow, though he be not brought to so neere an exigent as the other: So, if a man be convinced of sinne, if a man know in good earnest, throughly, what the danger is, that he must perish, if he hauehave not this Pardon. Now, I say, if thou hauehave such a testimony, build vponupon it: For it is true, that GOD, before hee comes in the soft voice, he sends a Wind before, that rends the Rockes downe, that brings downe the Mountaines there, so much as makes the way plaine, before hee can come within the soft voice. I say, if the Mountaines be broken downe, (after what manner soeuer it be) that is enough; doe not stand on that; Be sure of this, that if there come a soft voice, thou hast reason to beleeue that, whatsoeuer preparations were before, which are diuers: for GOD workes sometimes after one manner, sometimes after another.
Soft voice, what.But now, what is this soft voice? that I may a little further come to explaine that: for certainely, if he come in the soft voice, that is, the voice of the Gospel, you are sure. But what is it?
1Part of the soft voice, a clearing of the promise.I take it to be this. One thing is, when there is a clearing of the promise, (for the voice is the very Gospell it selfe:) Now, when wee preach the Gospell to men, and open the promises of saluation, and of life, if God doe not joyne with vsus now, and cleare them to you, by kindling a light within, that you see the meaning of them; except he, I say, doe thus joyne with vsus, you shall not be able to build vponupon these promises. Therefore that is one thing that God must doe: For, though it bee true, the Word is neere you, that you neede not goe vp to heauen,Though the promises are neere, vnlesse God cleere them, we see them not. nor downe to hell to fetch it, (for saith Moses, the Word is neere you, the promises are neere, in your mouthes, in the midst of you) yet, except God doe shew them, as cleare as they be, you cānot see them. As when Iesus stood by Mary Magdalene, he was neere enough, but till her eyes were opened, she saw him not. So Hagar, the Well was neere enough to her, but till her eies were opened, she could not see it. So, when wee preach these promises, when we lay them open as neere as we can, as neere as may be, yet it must be the worke of the Spirit to see the promises,Luk. 24. to see them so as to beleeue them, and to rest on them. Therefore that is one part of this soft voice, to open the Gospell vntounto you.2Part of the soft voice, the immediate testimony of Gods Spirit. There is another, which is the immediate testimony of the Spirit, spoken of in Rom. 8. This Spirit beareth witnesse with our spirits: Rom. 8.when God comes, and by a secret testimony of the Spirit, worketh such a perswasion in the heart, that he is a Father, that he is a friend, that he is reconciled to vsus.
Obiect.But, you will say, this may be a delusion?
Ans.Therefore you must hauehave both together: know that they are neuer disjoyned:How to know the testimony of the Spirit from a delusion. GOD neuer giues the secret witnesse of his Spirit, he neuer workes such a perswasion, such an immediate testimony, but it hath alwaies the testimony of the Word going with it; bee sure to joyne them, be sure thou doe not seuer them one from the other. So that, if you would know now whether you hauehave faith or no, consider whether euer GOD hath spoken this to you, or no; whether euer hee hath wrought this worke in you.How faith is wrought. For faith, you must know, is wrought in this manner: The Spirit comes, and shewes CHRIST to you, and not onelyonly shewes you his merits, not only tels you that he will be a Sauiour, not only tels you of a Kingdome that you shall hauehave by him; but shewes you the beauty and excellencie of CHRIST; it shewes you what grace is, and makes you louelove it, and then hee shewes you mercy: Out of this you come to long after CHRIST,Whence longing after Christ comes. and to say, I would I had him; a man comes to louelove him as the Spouse loues her Husband.
Now to this worke hee addes a second: CHRIST comes and tels a man, I will hauehave thee, he comes and shewes himselfe; he discouers himselfe to a man, and speakes plainly, (as in that place wee hauehave often mentioned, Iohn 19.Ioh. 19.) and saith to him, I am willing to marry thee. When this is done on the Holy Ghosts part, and we on our part come to resolue to take him, now the match is made betweene vsus, and this is faith indeede; when this worke is done, a man may truely say, This day is saluation come to mee. Now thou art sure that all thy sinnes are forgiuen; now faith is wrought in thy heart.How to know whether faith be wrought in vsus. Therefore if thou wouldest know whether thou hauehave faith or no, looke backe, reflect vponupon thine owne heart, consider what actions hauehave passed thorow there: for that is the next way to know what faith is, to looke what actions hauehave passed thorow a mans heart: a man may know what the actions of his soule are, for that is the benefit of a reasonable soule, that it is able to returne vponupon it selfe, to see what it hath done,A beast cannot reflect vponupon his actions, as a man can. which the soule of a beast cannot doe.
Now let a man consider whether such a thing hauehave passed or no; that is, (marke it) whether on Christs part there hath beene such a cleering of the promise, that thou art so built,How to know that the promise is cleared to vsus. that, if an Angell from Heauen should come and preach another Gospell, if Paul himselfe should be liuing on the earth, and should preach the contrary, thou wouldest not beleeue him. Dost thou see the Word so cleerely, art thou so set vponupon the Rocke (as it were) that thou canst say in good earnest, as the Apostle said in Rom. 8.Rom. 8. I know that neither principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor any thing in the world, shall euer seperate me from the louelove of God in Christ, and that because I hauehave his sure Word?
Againe, when thou hast such a secret impression of assurance from his Spirit, which will not faile thee, when thou findest this, on GODS part, and againe when thou findest this act on thy owne part;The match betweene Christ and the soule reciprocall. when thou sayest, I hauehave resolued to take him, (for a man may know what he hath done) I hauehave resolued to take him for my husband, I hauehave resolued to prefer him before all things in the world, to be diuorsed from all things in the world, and to cleaue to him: This I know, these acts hauehave passed on Gods part, and this I hauehave done on my part; when thou findest this wrought in thy selfe, be assured there is faith wrought in thee: when the Law hath beene a Schoolemaster to thee, and when CHRIST hath spoken peace, and when thou art built vponupon him againe; consider if this hath beene wrought.
This is the first meanes to try thy faith: but, because this may bee an ambiguous meanes, a man may be deceiued in it; therefore faith doth shew it selfe by many other effects. And therefore we will adde to this, (which is the very thing wherein faith consists) other signes;Fiue signes of effectuall faith. and they are fiue in number.
First, a man must know that there may be many delusions in this kinde: many Hypocrites may hauehave great raptures, they may hauehave great ioy, as if they were lift vp into the third heauen, they may hauehave a great and strong perswasion that their estate is good. Satan is very apt to delude vsus in this kinde, to put a counterfeit vponupon vsus in stead of true faith; Therefore wee will not content our selues with this, but giuegive other markes, that will not deceiue. At this time you are to consider, you that come to the Sacrament, Is it not a maine thing to consider whether you hauehave faith or no? What do you here else, you hauehave nothing to doe with Christ, you hauehave no interest in him; and if you hauehave no interest in him, what doe you with the Elements which represent his body and his blood? And therefore you hauehave cause to attend to it. First, therfore, if thou find such a worke in thy heart, (for if thou conclude that there is no such worke, thou needest not examine further, thou maist be sure that thou hast not faith, but if thou hauehave such a worke) if thou wouldst know whether it be really and truly, or whether it be a fancie or delusion, consider:
First,1. Signe. True faith purifieth the heart. if it be true, it purifies the heart: in Acts 15.9. saith the Apostle Peter there, God hath put no difference betweene vsus and them, Acts 15.9.after that by faith hee had purified their hearts. So in Acts 26.18.Acts 26.18. And thou shalt preach forgiuenesse of sinnes to those that are sanctified by faith. So that this you must take as a sure rule: If thy faith bee true, it purifies thy heart, it sanctifies thee. And therefore you see,Faith and repentance put together in the Scripture, why. faith and repentance are alwaies put together. Repent and beleeue: for they are neuer disjoyned. If thou find the worke of repentāce be not wrought throughly & soundly in thee,True faith hath repentance. if thou finde thy heart not purified, if thou be not sanctified, if there be not a sanctified disposition in thee, be sure it is a delusion, it is not faith: or, if faith be (as you heard heretofore) a taking of CHRIST, not as a Sauiour onelyonly,Faith, what it is. but as a Priest; and not as a Priest onelyonly, but as a King too, it must needes be that there must be reall obedience, or else it is not faith,Obedience. thou hast not taken him: If there be nothing but a meere assent, as the Papists affirme in another case; For faith is a taking of Christ, and a giuing of our selues to him againe; so that there is a match, there is a bargaine, a Couenant betweene vsus, as hee saith in Heb. 8.8.Heb. 8.8. I will make a New Couenant with them. A Couenant, what.Now a Couenant hath two parts: If GOD doe this for you, you must doe somewhat on your part, you must louelove him, and obey him. As in a Marriage, the Husband doth not onelyonly take the Wife, but the Wife also takes the Husband. If faith bee such a thing as this, there must needes be a generall reformation of the life, or else it is certaine thou hast not taken him.Generall reformation.
Therefore know, that as there is a liuely hope, so there is a liuely faith: And when it is said to be a liuely faith, it intimates that there is another, that is a dead faith; that is, There is a kinde of beleeuing, a kinde of taking Christ, a kinde of giuing a mans selfe to him: but yet, (marke it) saith he, it is such a one as breeds no life in thee. Marke, if thy faith be such a faith as hath brought Christ to dwell in thy heart,Christ dwels in the heart, as the soule in the body. so as the soule dwels in the body, if it be such a dwelling in thy heart that there be life in thee: for Christ, when he dwels in vsus, he acts the soule, as the soule acts the body: As the body now, when the soule is there, is able to moue, is able to stirre, is able to doe any thing: So the soule of a man, it fals to the duties of godlinesse, and new obedience, to all good workes; it is ready (as the Apostle saith) to eueryevery good worke; it is nimble, and ready to goe about them, you are aliue to righteousnesse. Hath faith so brought Christ into thy heart, that he liues in thee, as he did in Paul, that thou canst finde and say truely,Gal. 2.20. I am dead to sinne, and liue to righteousnesse? That thou hast mortified the deedes of the body by the Spirit, that thou findest another life working in thee; except thou canst finde this, it is not true faith: for true faith is such as brings Christ to dwell in thy heart, and he dwels there when he reviues thy spirit; as it is, Isay 57.13.14.Isay 57.13.18. opened. I dwell in the high Heauens, and with him also that is of a contrite spirit, to reviue the Spirit of the humble; that is, he neuer dwels, but he giues life. And, if thou finde not such a life in thy selfe, conclude that thy faith is not good. And this you ought the more to marke, because many thousands seeme to take CHRIST, and to doe much, and yet for all this, they hauehave not life all the while.
Simile.Take two grafts, it may be there is incision made in both, both may be planted, as you often see in Plants, after they bee planted, if you would know whether the grafting bee true or no, if you come a while after, and see one of the grafts dead and withered, you say this grafting was not good, or the stocke was not good, somewhat was amisse: and if you finde it to bud, and that there be life in it, then you say it was grafted indeed, the grafting was good and right. So when a man comes and takes CHRIST, if thou see thou be grafted, if thou find thy life to be the same, if thou finde thou art no more able to pray,How to know if Christ dwell in the heart. nor no more able to doe any duty then thou wast before, that thou liuest in thy lusts as much as euer thou didst, thou hast not that new heart, that new spirit, and that new affection which the Scriptures speake of; bee sure then, that thou art not grafted: for if thou wert grafted aright by faith, (for it is that which grafteth) there would bee life.
When as the graft is taken out of the former Tree, it beares no more that fruit, but it liues, and beares another fruite; Therefore consider if this be so or no: and that is the reason of that answer of Philip to the Eunuch, in the 8. of the Acts, Acts 8.37. opened.Vers. 37. The Eunuch professed to beleeue, and would hauehave beene baptized. Saith Philip, thou mayest, if thou beleeue with all thine heart. Thou mayest thinke it is nothing; but it is a resoluing from time to time to giuegive vp thy selfe to be Christs seruant, to take his yoake, to weare his Liuery and his Badge.Baptisme, what. Now Baptisme is but a seale to confirme and testifie this to thy selfe, and to the World, that thou hast giuen thy selfe to CHRIST: saith Philip, take heede to thy selfe: if it bee a false taking, thou maist not hauehave him, but if thou beleeue with all thy heart, thou mayest be baptized. So I say to men,Taking Christ deceitfully. there is a kinde of taking Christ, when a man takes him with some part of his heart, when he resolueth, I confesse it is good, I hauehave a present disposition to it, it will serue me for such a turne; I am afraid of Hell, it will deliuer me from that; in such an exigent, in such a crosse, in such a trouble, that will come vponupon me, it will free mee from that: but this is not enough; but, if thou beleeue with all thy heart, that is, when thou hast summed and reckoned all together, all reasons, and all objections to and fro, thou resoluest altogether to take him in all respects.
Againe,To take Christ with the whole heart, what. when all thy heart shall come in, that is, when the vnderstanding of a man is fully perswaded of these promises, that they are true, and that it is best for him to take CHRIST, if the perswasion be good, and the will follow: for that you may take for a sure rule, there is no man that is fully perswaded, and convinced eueryevery way that such a thing is best, but the will will follow. If the mind be right, the will will follow, and if the will follow, be sure the affections will follow. For, if a man wils a thing in good earnest, and resolue, I would hauehave it indeed, then his desires will come and be earnest; and if hee be in doubt, feare will come; and if any thing hinder, anger will come and thrust away the impediments: and if he get the thing, there will be reioycing; and so all the affections will follow; and then certainely, action and endeuour will follow. There is no man that desires a thing earnestly, but where the affections are strong and busie, action and endeuour will be answerable. Now, if thou take CHRIST with all thy heart, that there is no reseruation, that it is not done by halues, then thou mayest hauehave him, and the fruites, and all the priuiledges by him, so as thou shalt be saued by him. Consider whether this be done, or no.
When we preach faith, you may see what it is in Acts 26.17, 18.Act. 2….17, 18. Marke what the message was that CHRIST sends to Paul, nothing but to preach faith; but what was that? Saith hee, to turne men from the power of Satan, to God, to turne men from darknesse to light. That is, to cause them to forsake their former wayes of darknesse, that they hauehave beene ledde into by the Deuill, and to turne them to GOD, to seeke him. So that then a man is said truely to beleeue, when his heart is turned to GOD;To turne to God, what. that is, when a man before was giuen to this pleasure or to that pleasure and commodity, his heart was wedded to it, hee would hauehave an estate in this world, and hee would hauehave credit in the world, and he would hauehave place with men, and he would be some-body in the flesh; his heart was set on these things, he would follow them.
Now faith is nothing but this, wee come and tell you that Christ is offered; if you will be content to let all these things goe, and to turne your hearts to him that the whole bent of a mans minde is turned the contrary way, and set vponupon Christ, this is faith indeede, when there is this generall turning of a mans minde from these things. Therefore know, that faith in CHRIST, and couetousnesse, cannot stand together. When thy mind goeth a whoring after thy wealth, what hast thou to doe with CHRIST? That is not to take CHRIST. For, to take CHRIST, is to turne the minde from these things to seeke him.
Againe,Faith, and the desire of satisfying lusts, cannot stand together. if thou wilt hauehave praise with men, thou canst not beleeue and hauehave that too; it is impossible. And so for any pleasure, for any lust: dost thou thinke to follow thy pleasure, to seeke that, to satisfie thy flesh, and to hauehave CHRIST? No, it is another kinde of taking; and this is not done with that sleightnesse as they did, Ieremy 3.Ier. 3. You turned to me (saith the LORD) feignedly, and not with all your hearts: but it is to turne in good earnest, to turne to GOD vponupon sound ground. therefore now let vsus come to the examination of this.
Men deceiued in the definition of faith.Now, if we were not mistaken in it, there would be no question of this: we thinke that faith is nothing but a perswasion that our sinnes are forgiuen, a perswasion that the promises are true, a perswasion that the Scripture is true, a perswasion that CHRIST dyed for my sinnes: And thence it is, that men are apt to be deceiued in it: If they tooke faith as it is in it selfe, a marrying of our selues to CHRIST, with all our heart and affections, when hee hath giuen himselfe to vsus, as in marriage, and we are giuen to him, in doing this wee should neuer bee deceiued.
Try faith, as we doe other things.If thou wouldest know now if thy faith bee right, examine it as thou wouldest examine another thing.
Similes.If you take Wine, if you would know whether it be good Wine, if you finde it flat and dead, if you drinke it, and it heates you not, it warmes you not at the heart, it quickens you not, it reviues not your spirits; you will say, it is naught, if it were good Wine, it would doe this.
If you come to looke on Plants, if you find there no fruite, nor no leaues, you say, this Plant is dead.
So take a Iewell, and when it comes to the Touch-stone, or any way that you try it; you say, it is faire, but it is a counterfeit Iewell, it is a false Diamond, or whatsoeuer it be.
If you come to take a dramme of Physicke, if you take a Drugge, if it doe not worke: Take Leauen and put it into your Dough, if it sower not the lumpe, you say, it is dead Leauen, it is a counterfeit thing:
So I say, If thou finde not in faith this effect, this operation vponupon thy heart, that it workes not this generall change in thee, that it fires not thy soule with louelove to CHRIST, if thou finde not life in it, and that it bring forth such fruites, if thou finde it not grow, that it put another taste vponupon the whole soule, that it leauens it throughout; know that thou art deceiued, rest not in it, cast it away, get a right faith, such as will not deceiue thee. But I cannot stand vponupon this. This is the first signe of effectuall faith.
Before I come to the second thing,Digression for application to the Sacrament. know this, (by the way) you that receiue the Sacrament, That, if you be vnworthy receiuers, you cannot doe your selues a worse turne, then to offer to come to the Sacrament without faith, to prouoke GOD more, to eate and drinke your owne damnation. Now examine your selues by such rules as this:Rules of examination before and after the Sacrament If you hauehave changed your life; If you hauehave receiued it heretofore, and continue still in your sinnes; If you say, it is true, I hauehave done it, I hauehave returned againe to my gaming, I hauehave returned againe to my swearing, to my loosenesse, to my company-keeping; but yet I had a good meaning, I intended it at that time, well, that is not enough. If thou hadst faith, thou wouldest doe it indeed; doe not say, I had a good meaning: for, if thou hadst faith, it would not onelyonly worke a good meaning in thee, but it would worke power in thee to doe this,Where Christ dwels indeed, he giues power against sinne. that thou wouldest be able to mortifie these affections, it would worke a reall and an effectuall change in thee. Consider, how faith doth it: faith takes CHRIST; when you hauehave taken CHRIST, as soone as euer you hauehave him, he sends his Spirit into your hearts, and the Spirit is able to doe all this, and doth as Saint Paul saith, when hee had CHRIST once,Phil. 4.12. I am able to doe all things, through Christ that strengthens mee. So certainely, when thou hast CHRIST, as thou commest to take the elements of Bread and Wine, if thou hadst taken him indeed, thou wouldst be strengthned to doe all things, thou wouldst finde thy heart able to doe this, thou shouldest finde a change in thy heart, that thou wouldst doe it without difficulty, thou wouldest finde thy selfe turned and changed, thou wouldst hauehave new affections, and a new life. And if thou doe not finde this, know that thou hast nothing to doe with the Sacrament, know it before-hand, and know that thou hast had warning giuen thee, that thou receiuest vnworthily, and art guilty of the body and blood of CHRIST;To be guilty of the body & blood of Christ, what. that is, thou committest such a sinne as those did that killed CHRIST.
What was their sinne that killed him?Quest.
They despised him,Answ. they mocked him, they knew him not to be CHRIST, they made no account of him; their greatest worke in killing him, was, they despised him, they mocked him: So thou commest and art bold with him here, it is a despising of CHRIST: If thou didst reuerence him, if thou didst feare him, if thou didst tremble at him, if thou didst know him to be such a one as he is, thou wouldst not be bold to doe it. And therfore, if thou wilt venture vponupon small grounds to goe on in sinne, and yet come and receiue the Sacrament, the Apostle saith, thou art guilty of the body and blood of Christ: that is, thou committest a sinne of that nature, and therefore looke to it.
Secondly,2Signe. A Spirit of Prayer. if thou wouldst know whether thy faith be true or no, consider whether thou hast this consequent of it, the Spirit of Prayer: for wheresoeuer there is a Spirit of faith, there is also a Spirit of prayer: that is, (marke it, and you shall see the reason why I deliuer this to be a signe of faith.) Faith, you know, is wrought in vsus by the Spirit of Adoption. Now what is the Spirit of Adoption,Spirit of adoption, what. but the Spirit that tels you that ye are sonnes? as in Gal. 4.6.Gal. 4.6. So many as are sonnes, receiue the Spirit of sonnes. Now whensoeuer the Spirit tels a man he is a sonne; that is, workes faith in his heart, the second thing that the Spirit doth, it teacheth him to pray: and therefore those words are added, that you cry Abba Father: that is, the Spirit neuer doth the one, but it doth the other; if it be the testimony of the Spirit. And therefore this is the second signe: If thou hauehave such a perswasion that the Spirit hauehave spoken to thee, if thou wouldest know whether this be a delusion or no, thou shalt know it by this: If thou hauehave the Spirit, it will make thee able to cry Abba Father, The Spirit of adoption maketh vsus,it will make thee able to doe two things.
1Earnest in Prayer.First, it will make thee able to cry; that they shall be earnest prayers which thou makest; thy prayers shall be feruent; they were cold before, thou camest to performe lip-labour, thou camest to doe the duty, to performe it, perhaps eueryevery day; but alas, what prayer was it? This shall make thee cry.
2Bold and confident.But againe, which is the maine, not onelyonly so, but thou shalt speake to him, as to a Father: that is, thou shalt goe to GOD, and looke vponupon him as one doth vponupon a Father, as one lookes vponupon one whose louelove he is sure of, of whose fauour he doubts not, one that hee knowes is readie to heare his requests. It may bee thou hast prayed before, but not to him as to a Father all the while, that is the worke of the Spirit; if it euer giuegive thee testimony of thy sonneship, it will make thee pray feruently, and it will make thee pray to God as to a Father: that is to be made able to pray.
But,Obiect. you will say, eueryevery body can pray: Is that such a signe, is that such a distinguishing marke and character, to bee able to pray?
My brethren,Ans. be not deceiued in it: you must know, that prayer is not a worke of the memory, or a worke of the wit. A man that hath a good wit, or a ready invention, or a voluble tongue, may make an excellent praier, in his owne esteeme, and in the esteeme of others,True Prayer, what. but this is not to pray. Prayer is the worke of a sanctified heart, it it the worke of GODS Spirit: There is a double prayer,Rom. 8. Rom. 8. there is one praier,Prayer double. which is the voice of our owne spirit; there is a second praier, which is the voice of Gods Spirit in vsus:The voice of Gods Spirit in vsus, what. that is, when the Holy Ghost hath so sanctified the heart, when hee hath put it into such a wholeframe of grace, that the heart comes to speake as it is quickned, as it is acted and moued from GODS Spirit. Now, saith the Text there, God knows the voice of his own Spirit: for that makes requests according to his will, he heares that prayer: But now the prayers which are made by the voice of our owne spirit, he knowes not the meaning of them: that is, he heares them not, he hearkens not to them. Consider whether thy prayer be such or no; consider whether thy prayer bee the voyce of Gods Spirit in thee.
Quest.But thou wilt say, How should I know that?
Ans.Thou shalt know it by this, as I said before, Dost thou come to him as to a Father?How to know the voyce of Gods Spirit in our prayers. Wicked men come to God as a stranger, the Saints, as to a friend. Another man prayes to GOD, it may be, all his life, but hee comes to him as to a stranger; yea, sometimes he may be very earnest, when it is no prayer, but when he is put to an exigent, he may be earnest, as a Thiefe is earnest with the Judge to spare him: there may be much earnestnesse, although this may bee farre off from prayer. But canst thou come to GOD as to a friend? Canst thou come to him as to one whose fauour thou art assured of? Canst thou come to him as to a Father? Except thou canst doe this, know that he regardeth not thy prayers.
And this, me thinkes now, when we consider, we should not deferre our repentance, and thinke with our selues, I will repent when I am sicke, I will goe to GOD in the time of extremity. Well, it may be thou maist doe it; but alas, canst thou come to speake to God now as to a friend, when as thou hast beene a stranger to him, and he to thee, all thy life? Certainely thou canst not. And when thou commest and prayest earnestly, when some great crosse is on thee, in some great exigent, in the day of death, in the time of thy sicknesse; know, that though thou pray neuer so feruently, although thou adde fasting to quicken it, yet it is doubtfull whether it bee acceptable prayer at all in that exigent. The Scripture giues it another terme, in Hosea 7.14.Hosea 7.14. opened. Saith he, You prayed not to me with your hearts, but you howled vponupon your beds: it came not out of any louelove to mee, nor from any change of heart, it came not out of a holy disposition in you. Therefore you praied not to mee, when you howled vponupon your beds: that is, as if hee should say, they were no more but howlings. Will not a dogge, or a beast, or any other vnreasonable creature, when they are pinched, when they are in extreamity, will they not cry, will they not moane for helpe? Your prayers were no more, they were but howlings vponupon your beds. And what were they for? They were to bee deliuered from the present affliction, they were to hauehave Wine and Oyle in that great dearth that was vponupon them: And so in those cases, your earnest prayers are but howlings vponupon your bed. And therefore thinke not that this is prayer, be not deceiued in it. And therfore it is the manner of the Saints, if you would know it, when they come to pray, they come boldly to GOD, they come boldly to the Throne of Grace, as the Apostle saith, Eph. 3 7.Eph 3.7. By faith we hauehave boldnesse, and entrance with confidence. Another man hee prayes earnestly, but examine his heart, and he must needes say, Indeede, GOD is a stranger to mee, I cannot be confident; it may be he heares me, it may be he heares me not. Whereas we are required to lift vp pure hands in eueryevery place, without wrath or doubting; we are required to come with boldnesse: And know this, that if otherwise thou pray morning and night, if thou make neuer so many prayers, from day to day, if thou be neuer so constant in them, GOD regards them not, hee takes them by weight, and not by number, not by labour, not by earnestnesse, which is a thing that may come from the flesh. If thy prayer come from his Spirit, he accepts of it; if not, be sure it is no prayer, and if there be no prayer, there is no faith.
3. Signe of faith: Peace.Thirdly, if thou wouldest know whether thou hast faith or no, consider whether thou hauehave peace: for faith pacifies the heart aswell as purifies it, as the Apostle saith, Rom. 5.1.Rom. 5.1. Being justified by faith, wee hauehave peace with God. Now, if thou wouldest know whether thy faith which thou hast be right or no, consider if there be peace there: Hast thou that peace that passeth al vnderstanding? You know now, if a man were in debt, and were ready to bee cast into prison, and saw not how he should escape, and one should promise him an hundred pounds, which would deliuer him; if he beleeue this friend, he is full of peace and quiet: if thou beleeue thy pardon to be good, there will be peace.
But,Obiect. you will say to me, there is many a man hath peace, who hath no faith.
It is true:Ans. But I would aske this Question concerning this peace: Is it a peace that comes after Warre? Hast thou knowledge of that enmity betweene GOD and thee? Hast thou had the sense of it, and after this hast thou beene reconciled againe? Is it such a calme that followed after a storme going before? As I said before, when it hath beene alwaies so with thee, when thou hast had peace, and there hath beene no difference with thee, certainely this is not peace, this is a blinde peace, when a man is at peace, not because he hath escaped the danger, but because he neuer saw the danger, because he saw not what danger there was. Hence it is, that many men, yea many thousands of men, liue peaceably all their liues, and dye peaceably. Alas, the reason is, because they were neuer acquainted with the Doctrine of Iustification, and of Sanctification, they are strangers to it; and hence it is that they die with as much confidence as the best Christians, they hauehave no more trouble then holy men: for this is all one, to be sure that I am free from a danger, and not to know it; both breed alike confidence.
Againe, know that there may bee peace built on fancy, such contentments as a man may find in a pleasant dreame, he is as strongly perswaded as the waking man: So many hypocrites, that hauehave had some trouble before, and come to hauehave some peace after, they thinke it sure, when it is built vponupon a false ground, and not vponupon the sure Word. Therefore consider whether it be such a peace as is well built, whether it be such a Peace indeed that casts out Satan, and thou findest some assaults made by him againe. For, be thou assured, if it be true peace, if Satan bee cast out, he will not let thee alone, thou shalt bee sure to hauehave thy peace troubled, he will make many rebellions against thee by the flesh and the world: And therefore if thou finde all quiet, that there are no such assaults in thee, that there are no troubles or attempts made on thee, be thou assured it is counterfeited peace: But still keepe this, that if there bee faith, there will be peace; that is, the heart will be at rest, it will be quiet, there will be a certaine security in GOD.
See it in other things. Take faith in any thing else, and you shall see, so much faith, so much quiet in you. For example, Hannah, in 1 Sam. 1.18. when her petition was granted, that she beleeued it, saith the Text, she went away, and tooke meate, and looked no more sad. That was an argument that she beleeued, she tooke meate, and looked no more sad. Take Mose… at the Red Sea, Exod. 14.Exod. 14. you shall finde that the people were all troubled and disquieted, and that they knew not what to doe: But (marke how Mos…s carrieth himselfe) Moses was quiet, and stood still, he was not troubled: And why? Because he beleeued, and they did not; if they had beleeued as well as he, they would hauehave beene at rest as well as hee: (Marke what hee saith) Stand still, and see the sal…ation of the Lord: and the Lord will fight for you; and therfore feare not: As if he should say, If you did but beleeue, you would be at quiet, you would stand sti…l, you would not feare, you would not hauehave your soules troubled. So, I say, so much faith, so much quiet. Looke vponupon Dauid, in Psal. 3.Psal. 3. when he fled before Absolon, saith he, Thou art my Buckler, &c. And therefore I laid me downe to rest and sleepe: that is, I was as a man that sleepes quietly. One would thinke that that was a matter that would breake a mans sleepe, when he lay in that danger, that if Achitophel's councell had taken effect, hee had beene destroyed: and yet now, saith he, I laid me downe and slept: as if he should say, This is an argument of my faith, my heart is at rest and quiet, so that I can sleepe quietly without stirring. And …o Paul, see how hee accompts it, how he behaued himselfe, when God told him that he should appeare at Rome before Cae…r he knew that he should be deliuered from Ship-wracke: and though forty men had bound themselues with a curse, that they would destroy him, and hee was told of it, yet he made no great matter of it, but said, Goe and carry this young man to the Captaine. So, consider whether thy heart be quiet, and rest vponupon God or no: for so much faith, so much peace: as in particular, so in generall, for matter of assurance; know, that there is a double peace or assurance:2A twofold peace. One peace that ariseth from the confidence in the creature, when a man thinkes he is strong in his wealth, when he thinkes he is at rest. The other is from assurance in GOD; I know that he will be as good as his word; I know whom I hauehave trusted: Let security be built on this ground, and the more security, the more faith. Therfore examine thy faith by peace. I should adde somewhat more in this, and some other signes, which I must reserue vntill the next time.
FINIS.