The Breastplate of Faith and Love, Part 2 · Sermon 2

The Breastplate of Faith and Love · Part 2 · Sermon 2

p. 41OF EFFECTVALL FAITH. The Second Sermon.

1. THESS. 1.3.

Remembring your effectuall Faith, &c.

THe third thing,The third thing, wherein the efficacie of faith consists: to take Christ. wherein the efficacy of faith is seen, is when we take CHRIST; this is the action of the will; when wee take him in a right manner, when we take him so as to hold him, when we take him in such a manner, as that we are knit and vnited to him. That this is required:

First, I will shew it in the generall: it is a p. 42point that wee hauehave often mentioned heretofore, but to all that I hauehave said, I will adde that in Heb. 10.22.Heb. 10.22. opened.Heb 10:22 Let vsus draw neere with a true heart, and assurance of faith. Marke it, first there must be an assurance of faith, that is in the vnderstanding and minde of a man, and to that must be added drawing neere, and that is an act of the will: for when we are assured of the truth of the promises, and hauehave appropriated them to our selues, then followes the act of the will;Vers. 38. therefore in vers. 38. of that Chap. it is said, The iust shall liue by faith: but if any man draw backe, my soule shall hauehave no pleasure in him. That Antithesis, that opposition, that is made in that withdrawing of a mans selfe from God, is opposed to faith, to drawing neere to him; when a man not only beleeueth the promises, but accepts and receiues them. Now to doe this in a right manner, is that wherein the efficacy of faith doth principally consist. Now what is that? It is to take Christ, to draw neere to him in a right manner; and then it is done, when you so take him, that you bring Christ into your hearts, to dwell there, as it is expressed, Eph. 3.17.Eph. 3.17.Eph 3:17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. That is, when there is an vnion made betweene Christ and vsus, when he comes into the heart, when he dwels in vsus, and we in him; when Christ is so brought into our hearts, that hee liues there, and when wee are so vnited to him, that we liue in him; when he growes in vsus, p. 43as the Vine in the branches; and we grow in him, as the branches in the Vine: when faith hath done this, then it is an effectuall faith, when it knits and vnites vsus to CHRIST, as he saith,Reu. 3.2….Rev 3:2 I will come in, and sup with him. That is, I will continue with him, I will liue in him, and rule ouer him.

Now when Christ is in the heart, he is not there to no purpose;What taking of Christ is effectuall. but, as Paul saith, I liue in Christ, and he in me. I say, when our taking of CHRIST shall proceede so far, as to make this vnion betwixt vsus, therein this efficacie lyeth; when the heart is knit to him, as the soule of Ionathan was to Dauid, and when CHRIST shall be knit to vsus againe, that we shall be content to leaue Father and Mother, and to become one spirit with him, as it is, Eph. 5.23.Eph. 5.23. opened.Eph 5:23 It is a similitude expressing the vnion betwixt Christ and the Church: A man shall forsake Father and Mother, and shall cleaue to his Wife. The word in the Originall, foreign signifieth to glew: if there bee any conjunction that is neerer then other, it is signified in that word: there is not a word in all the Greeke Language, that signifieth a neerer conjunction, then the word there vsed for cleauing, or glewing. When a man shall forsake all, euen Father and Mother, the dearest things in the world, and shall cleaue to Christ, (it is a repetition of what is said Gen. 2.24.Gen. 2.24.Gen 2:24 concerning Adam and Eue,) when faith hath done this worke, it is an effectuall faith.

p. 44But yet adde this againe, a man may take Christ, and seeme to draw neere to him, when it may be, it is done out of feare, it may bee, out of louelove to his, and not out of louelove to him, it may be done out of mis-information, and mistake; but when wee draw neere to GOD, and doe it out of louelove,We must draw neere out of louelove to Christ. (put these two together) that we so take Christ, as that there is an vnion made betweene vsus and him, and when it is done out of louelove; as that condition is put in, in 1 Tim, 1.5.1 Tim. 1.5.1 Tim 1:5 The end of the Commandement is louelove out of a pure heart and a good conscience, and faith vnfeigned. As if hee should say, There is a double kinde of faith, a false faith, and a faith that is not hypocriticall, that is the word vsed in the Originall. Now, saith hee, the end of the Commandement is louelove, &c. That is, all that God lookes for, is such a louelove as comes from a faith that is vnfeigned, that is not counterfeit. Herein is faith seene not to be counterfeit, if it beget louelove, and out of that louelove we cleaue to Christ. So that this is the third thing that makes faith effectuall.

Fourthly, faith is then said to be effectuall, when it hath not onelyonly done all this,44Thing wherin the efficacy of faith consists. when there is not onelyonly a good preparation made for it, when it is well built in the vnderstanding, and when the will hath thus taken Christ, but there must bee a further act, and that is the turning of the whole soule,The turning of the whole soule. and a seconding of it in our whole liues & practice, p. 45a seconding of it in our executions, and doing the things that Christ commands, as in Gal. 5.Gal. 5.Gal 5 In Christ Iesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor vncircumcision, but faith that worketh by louelove. Such a faith as workes, that is effectuall faith. As if he should hauehave said, Many will be ready to beleeue in CHRIST, but will doe nothing for him, they will not worke. (Now working is in doing,Working in doing and suffering. or in suffering: for in suffering there is a worke as well as in doing, onelyonly it is a worke with more difficulty, a worke with more impediments.) Againe, if they will doe any thing for Christ, it is not out of louelove, but for other respects: perhaps out of some flash, or good moode, or some other respects; out to doe it as being rooted & grounded in louelove, if faith hauehave this worke, it is effectuall faith; and therfore when faith hath once taken Christ, it must shoot it selfe into all the affections: for when they are all set on worke, endeuour will follow. If the will bee so set on worke indeed, the rest will follow after it. LoueLove will follow, Desire after Christ will follow, Feare to offend him will follow, Repētance and turning from Satan will follow, bringing forth fruits worthy amendment of life, and obedience, &c. will follow.Why the promises are made promiscuously. Therefore you shall finde, that the promises are made promiscuously, sometimes to one thing, sometimes to another: sometimes, he that repenteth shall be saued: sometimes, he that beleeueth shall be saued: somtimes, he that obeyeth shall be saued: p. 46you shall finde them promiscuously; because that when faith is effectuall, it hath all these with it, it purifieth the heart, and bringeth forth fruit worthy amendment of life. Therefore this must be added, to shew the efficacie of faith; and, if this be wanting, faith is not effectuall; not that it can be disjoyned from the other, but, that it is that wherein it consisteth with the rest.

And therefore it is GODS vsuall manner, when men seeme to take CHRIST, and to beleeue in him,God tryeth mens graces. he puts them to the tryall, to see what they will doe, whether their faith will worke or no. Thus he did with Abraham, when hee would proue him; hee was a faithfull man before, God had experience of him before, but yet he would proue Abraham by offering his sonne, and when he saw he did it, he concluded that he had faith: indeede it was a strong faith, for it endured the tryall. I say, GOD will put men to it. So likewise those in Ioh. 12.42.Ioh. 12.42.John 12:42 Many of the chiefe Rulers beleeued in him, but they durst not confesse him, for feare of the Iewes, lest they should be cast out of the Synagogue. There was a faith in them, a taking of Christ, but when it came to the tryall, it held not out, they durst not confesse him, because they feared to bee cast out of the Synagogue: that is, when they came to suffer a little for Christs sake, when they came to such an action as confessing his Name, when they came to endure but such p. 47a thing as to bee cast out of the Synagogue, they forsooke him, which shewed that their beliefe was ineffectuall. So that, let a man seeme to hauehave all the other three, yet when the praise of men shall come in competition with any command of GOD, when God shall put him to doe any thing, to part with any thing that is deare to him, as he did Abraham, if his faith worke not, if his faith hold not out in the tryall, but start aside, like a broken Bow, it is not effectuall faith. So you see the things wherein the efficacie of faith consisteth.

First, in the soundnesse of the preparation.

Secondly, when the mind apprehends the promises, and sees good ground to pitch vponupon them.

Thirdly, when the will so takes Christ as to bring Christ into the heart, so that Christ liues in vsus, and that out of louelove.

And fourthly, when faith worketh, and that in the time of tryall, when God shall put vsus to it. I say, when you finde these foure things, you may conclude that your faith is effectuall.

The last thing I propounded, is to shew how this is wrought,33How effectuall faith is wrought, how our faith is made effectuall. It is made effectuall by the Spirit of God, it is not in our owne power, we are not able to beleeue, nay, wee are so farre from it, that wee striue against it, the spirit p. 48in vsus resists it; so that, if GOD himselfe put not his hand to the worke,It is not in mans power to beleeue. no man is able to beleeue.

You may thinke, when you see such generall propositions as these, that Christ is offered to eueryevery creature vnderunder heauen, and that whosoeuer beleeueth shall be saued, you may thinke, I say, that it is easie to bring this home in particular, to say, Surely this pardon belongs to mee. My Brethren, it is another thing for a man indeed to beleeue, for him to take CHRIST so as to deny himselfe for him, to take him so, as to mortifie his lusts, so as to take vp his crosse, so as to obey CHRIST, to follow him in all things, this is a thing that no man is able to doe, vnlesse GOD enable him to it, with his almighty power. For the heart of eueryevery man, by nature, is so shut vp against CHRIST, that it will giuegive no entrance to him, he may stand and knocke long enough; vnlesse GOD himselfe shake off the bolts, and open the gates, and breake open these euerlasting doores, that the King of Glory may come in, we will not admit him, but keepe him out.

EueryEvery man naturally hath a hard heart, that cannot repent, that cannot turne from sinne, he will bee content perhaps to take Christ for a Sauiour, but to take him so as to obey him, and feare him, so as to louelove him: this no man will doe, or can doe, vnlesse the Holy Ghost enable him.

p. 49But,Quest. you will aske, How doth the Holy Ghost doe it?

The Holy Ghost doth it by these three acts.Answ. First,How the Holy Ghost worketh faith: by three things. by putting an efficacie into the Law, and making that powerfull, to worke on the heart, to make a man poore in spirit, that so he may be fit to receiue the Gospell.11Putting an efficacy in the Law. For the Law, though it be fit to humble a man, yet it is no worke of sanctification. If a man were able to doe any thing, he were able to see the righteousnesse the Law requires, and how far he is from it, and to discerne the curse vponupon the not doing of it,A man cannot see his sins to purpose without the spirit of bondage. and yet this he is not able to doe, without the spirit of bondage: the spirit of bondage must make the Law effectuall, as well as the spirit of Adoption doth the Gospell. That is, except the LORD himselfe presse the Law on our hearts, so as to cause it to make sinne appeare to vsus, wee, that are the Ministers of GOD, may discouer your sinnes, we may shew you the rectitude required in the Law, we may shew you the danger, yet all will be to no purpose, vnlesse God awaken you: if he will set sinne vponupon the conscience to worry a man, to plucke him downe, when GOD shall charge sinne on him, that he shall feele the weight and burthen of it, when he shall sharpen sinne, and cause it to vse its sting, this makes a man fit to receiue CHRIST: otherwise, if the sonnes of Thunder should speake to men, if we should come in the spirit and power of Eliah, nay, if GOD himselfe p. 50should thunder from heauen, all would not moue the heart of a man, all would not awaken him to see his sinnes, till God himselfe shake the heart.

Act. 16.Acts 16To conuert the Ga…ler, in Acts 16. the foundation of the Prison was shaken; which was a resemblance of the shaking of his heart: wee may as well shake the Earth, as strike the heart of a sinner without the worke of GOD. For, though the Law be a sword, yet vnlesse GOD take that sword into his hand, and strike therewithall himselfe, it shall not be able to wound a sinner. Therefore the first worke of the Holy Ghost is to awaken a sinner, to set sinne vponupon him, that he may be fit to receiue CHRIST.

22By shewing the excellency and the riches of Christ.Secondly, when this is done, that the heart is thus prepared by the Spirit, then the Holy Ghost shewes vsus what we hauehave by CHRIST, he shewes the vnsearchable riches of CHRIST, what is the hope of our calling, Eph. 1.18.19. opened.Eph 1:18Eph 1:19and the glorious inheritance prepared for the Saints, and what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power in them that beleeue. I say, we neede the Spirit to shew these things.

Obiect.But, you will say, a man may see these things without the helpe of the Spirit.Ans.

No man can so see the riches of Christ, as to be affected with them, with…ut the helpe of the Spirit.It is true, in some manner you may, but not in such a manner as shall affect you. For there is a manner of seeing proper onelyonly to the Saints, and that is the proper worke of the Spirit in them, when wee shall p. 51so see them, as to be affected with them. Otherwise, you may reade the Scriptures a thousand times ouer, you may vnderstand them, yet you shall not bee affected with them, till the Holy Ghost shew them vntounto you. This is the secret of GOD, that he reuealeth to those whom he meaneth to saue; that is, when hee presents these spirituall things prepared for vsus in Christ, in such a manner, as that we shall louelove them, and embrace them; when we shall not only see the truth of them, but the goodnesse of them, when GOD shall not onelyonly shew vsus the aduantages we hauehave by Christ, but the excellency of Christ, so that we shall be in louelove with his person, as well as to be ready to receiue the priuiledges with him.

Now this is done by the Spirit:1 Cor. 2.12. opened.1 Cor 2:12 1. Cor. 2.12. Wee hauehave receiued the Spirit of GOD, by which wee know the things that are giuen vsus of GOD, and they are reuealed to vsus by the Spirit. They are two or three times repeated in that Chapter; as if he should hauehave said, If you saw them no more then other men doe, then naturall men doe, you would bee no more affected with them, then they are: but when you hauehave the Spirit of GOD to shew you the things that are giuen you of GOD, that is the thing that workes vponupon you, and affects you. And so in Ioh. 14.21.Ioh. 14.21. opened.John 14:21 saith CHRIST, I will come to him, and shew my selfe to him: When CHRIST sheweth p. 52himselfe to a man, it is another thing then when the Ministers shall shew him, or the Scriptures nakedly read doe shew him: for when Christ shall shew himselfe by his Spirit, that shewing draweth a mans heart to long after him, otherwise we may preach long enough, and shew you that these spirituall things, these priuiledges are prepared for you in Christ, but it is the Holy Ghost that must write them in your hearts; we can but write them in your heads: Therefore the Lord taketh that as peculiar to himselfe:Ier. 31 33. opened.Jer 31:33 I will write my Law in your hearts. That is, I will make you affected with the things that I shew you, and this is the teaching of GOD. There is a teaching by men, and a teaching by GOD, that is, when God shall enable a man to see things in good earnest; otherwise it will be but as a man that sees a thing, when his minde is vponupon another matter: so, wee shall see, and not see: but when the Holy Ghost shall shew you these things, you shall see indeed, till then, you may heare oft enough of these things, but your hearts will bee minding other matters; some about their profits, and some their pleasures, &c. but when the Holy Ghost shall shew you these things; that is, when he presents them to vsus, that draweth the heart from minding other things, to seeke after CHRIST, to long after him, and not to content your selues, till you be vnited to him.

p. 53But, besides this, there is a third act of the Holy Ghost,33By assuring vsus that these things are ours, by which hee workes it, and maketh this faith effectuall, and that is the testimonie that the Spirit giues to our spirits, telling vsus that these things are ours: when the heart is prepared by the Law, and when these things are so shewed vntounto vsus, that wee prize them, and long after them, yet there must bee a third thing, that is, to take them to our selues, to beleeue that they be ours;This also must be wrought by the Spirit. and there needeth a worke of the Spirit for this too: for, though the promises be neuer so cleere, yet, hauing nothing but the promises, you will finde that you will neuer be able to apply them to your selues: but when the Holy Ghost shall say, Christ is thine, and these things belong to thee, and GOD is thy Father; when the Spirit shall beare witnesse with our spirits, by an immediate work of his owne, then we shall beleeue. This is necessarily required,The testimony of the Spirit wrought two waies. and without this wee shall not beleeue. It is true, the holiest man doth it two wayes.

One is by cleering of the promises,11By clearing the promises. shining into our hearts, by such a light as makes vsus able to discerne them, and to beleeue them, and to assent to them.

But besides that,22By an immediate voice. hee doth it by an immediate voice, by which he speaketh immediately to our spirits, that wee can say, as they said, Ioh. 16.Ioh. 16.29.John 16:29 Now thou speakest plainly, and speakest no parable, we vnderstand thee fully: p. 54so, till the Holy Ghost speake to vsus, we are in a Cloud, GOD is hid from vsus, wee cannot see him cleerely, but when we hauehave this Spirit of Adoption, to giuegive vsus this witnesse, then wee beleeue plainely indeed.Isa. 57.19. opened.Isa 57:19 Therefore in Isay 57.19. saith the Lord, I create the fruit of the lips, Peace, &c. That is, the Ministers may speake peace to you, but vnlesse I goe and ioyne with the Minister, except I adde a power of mine owne; that is, such an almighty power as I vsed in the Creation, it shall neuer bring peace to you. I create the fruit of the lips; that is, the words of the Minister to be peace, otherwise they would be ineffectuall. Therefore, I say, there must bee a worke of the Spirit to perswade a man in such a case. And you shall finde by experience, let a Minister come to them that are in despaire, they will not apprehend the promises,All arguments without the Spirit preuaile not. though we vse neuer so cleere reasons, though we argue with them neuer so long, and neuer so strongly, we shall finde that all will doe nothing, it will be but labour spent in vaine, till GOD himselfe open the Clouds, till hee will smile on a man, and send his Spirit into the heart, to giuegive a secret witnesse to him, till there be a worke of his owne joyning with the promises, we finde by experience that our labour is lost.

It is true, we ought to doe this, and eueryevery man is bound to looke to the Word: for, faith commeth by hearing; and to hearken to p. 55the Ministery; for it is Gods ordinance to breed faith in the heart, but yet till there be a worke of the Spirit, a man shall neuer be so perswaded, as to hauehave any sure and sound comfort by it.

Now all this is done by the Spirit, it is the wonderfull worke of GOD: for when CHRIST is propounded to men, when he is offered, (as we hauehave often offered him to you, we hauehave shewed you what accesse you hauehave to him, that no man is excluded, that he is offered to eueryevery creature vnderunder heauen, we hauehave shewed you the generality of the promise, that it takes in all, that you are contained vnderunder it, that you may apply it to your selues; I say, when all this is done) yet when a man comes to performe this, to apply it to himselfe, he is no more able to doe it, then a dead man is able to stirre himselfe. Therefore the same power that raised CHRIST from the dead, is required to worke faith in our hearts, as it is in Eph. 1.19.Eph. 1.19. opened.Eph 1:19 According to his mighty power which he wrought in Christ, when hee raised him from the dead. So that it is as great a worke, to moue a mans heart to CHRIST, as to put life into a dead man; we are as vnapt and backward to it, as a dead man is to receiue life. For what else is the reason, that when we preach CHRIST to you, when hee is offered to you, that there bee so few that are affected with him, that there be so few that take him? doth it not shew that you p. 56are dead? yea, so dead, that vnlesse GOD call you, and that there be a mighty worke of the Spirit, the hearts of men will neuer answer vntounto vsus. Therefore that is required as a condition in all them who will come,Act. 2.39.Acts 2:39 Act. 2. So many as the LORD our GOD shall call. That is, when wee preach, except there bee a secret voyce of the Spirit of CHRIST speaking to your hearts, as wee doe to your eares, and saying, Come and take CHRIST, no man will come. We see, CHRIST said to his Apostles, Follow mee, and presently they followed him; (for it was not the outward voice that did it, there was a secret voice within) so, when GOD shall call men to take CHRIST, then they doe it, but not before. That word that is vsed, Luk. 14.23.Luk. 14.23. opened.Luke 14:23 Goe and COMPELL them to come in, that my House may be full, it intimates a great backwardnesse in vsus.That men are▪ compelled to come in, what it implies. When men are compelled, it shewes, that not onelyonly the arguments are strong, and forcible, but that there is a great backwardnesse in men, that they must (as it were) be constrained, that they must be put on it by force, and against their will; such is the vnaptnesse that is in men.

What is implyed by drawing: Ioh. 6.44. opened.John 6:44So, saith CHRIST, no man comes to me, except the Father draw him. That phrase of the Holy Ghost shewes, that there is an extreme backwardnesse, that, if they be not forced to come, (as it were) they will not doe p. 57it: not but that when a man is once wrought vponupon by the Holy Ghost, hee commeth of himself; but that phrase is vsed only to shew that backwardnesse that is in man by nature. For, when the Holy Ghost hath wrought vponupon the will,How the Holy Ghost draweth. and hath turned that, then a man commeth vponupon his owne legs, and is moued from an inward principle of his owne; therefore men are so drawne, that withall, they runne after him, as it is, Cant. 1.Cant. 1.4.Song 1:4 but it shewes this thing, for which I hauehave vsed it, that there is a wondrous backwardnesse in all of vsus by nature, and that this must be done by a great worke of the Spirit.

Therefore the Apostle Paul, in Eph. 1.Eph. 1.18.Eph 1:18 in all the former part of the Chapter, to the 18. Verse, hauing declared the great Mysterie of saluation, he takes himselfe vponupon the sudden, and beginnes to thinke with himselfe, though I shew you all this, it is to no purpose, if GOD send not the Spirit of reuelation, &c. Therefore hee lifts vp his heart to GOD, beseeching him to giuegive them the Spirit of revelation, to open the eyes of their vnderstanding, that they might see the hope of their Calling, and the riches of their inheritance with the Saints. So should Ministers learne to doe, to pray for the people, that GOD would infuse and send his Spirit into their hearts, that they may be able to perceiue these things effectually, with a right apprehension, p. 58to see the secrets of GOD in them, you also should goe to GOD, and beseech him to helpe you with his Spirit, that so you may be able to apprehend these things, and that they may be powerfull, to worke the same thing, for which we deliuer them to you: and so wee hauehave shewed you these three things; First, what effectuall faith is: namely, in shewing you why it is called effectuall faith.

Secondly, wherein the efficacie of faith consists, and Thirdly, how it is wrought.

Now, last of all, wee are to shew you the reason, why GOD accepts no faith, but that which is effectuall.44Why God will accept no faith but that which is effectuall.

And there is good reason why no faith should be accepted of GOD, but that which is effectuall.

First, because otherwise it is not faith at all, if it be not effectuall;11Because else it is not faith, because it is dead. and if it be not faith, it is no wonder that he doth not accept of it. I say, it is no more faith, then a dead man is said to be a man: you giuegive the name of a man to him, yet he is not a man; no more is faith that is not effectuall, any faith; it hath only the name of faith, and there is no more in it: but as dead Drugges, which hauehave no efficacie in them, or as dead Plants, or dead Wine, which is turned to Vinegar,Similes. it ceaseth to be Wine, it is no longer Wine, but Vinegar; so it may be said of ineffectuall faith, it is not faith, it hath the name and the shaddow of faith onelyonly, and therefore God accepts it not.

p. 59Againe,22Because such faith hath no louelove. Rom. 8.28.Rom 8:28 GOD will saue none, vnlesse they be reconciled to him, and be such as louelove him, for that condition is eueryevery where put in. All things shall worke together for good to them that louelove him: and he hath prepared a Crowne for them that louelove him. Now, if faith be not effectuall, there will be no louelove; and if louelove be necessarily required, GOD cannot accept that faith that is ineffectuall.

Againe,33Because the Deuils hauehave such a faith. if GOD should accept of a faith that is ineffectuall, the Deuils hauehave such a faith, by which they apprehend the Word, and a faith that brings forth effects: for they feare and tremble; but this is not the faith that purifieth the heart, it is not an effectuall, it is not a purging, liuely faith.

Againe,44Because it workes no mortification. CHRIST receiues none but them that deny themselues, and are willing to take vp their crosse and to follow him, that mortifie the deedes of the body by the Spirit. Now an ineffectuall faith doth none of these, and therefore that faith that saueth, must bee a working faith, or else these things should not be necessarily required.

Againe,55Because else Christ should lose the end of his comming into the world. it was Christs end in comming into the world, that he might destroy the workes of the Deuill, and for this end hath the grace of God appeared, that men should deny vngodlinesse and worldly lusts: and for this end did hee giuegive himselfe, to purifie to himselfe a people zealous of good workes, He comes to be a King, as well as a Sauiour, to rule among his people, to p. 60hauehave men obey him, which could not be, if faith were not effectuall, if it did not purifie the heart, and enable men to deny all worldly lusts, and to liue soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.

66Good workes are the way to saluation. Eph. 2.10.Eph 2:10And last of all, good workes are required of necessity, as the way to saluation; Eph. 2.10. We are Gods workmanship, created in Iesus Christ vntounto good workes, which he hath ordained that we should walke in them. Good workes are required of necessity, GOD judgeth vsus according to our workes, Rom. 2.Rom. 2.6.Rom 2:6 and at the last day, the reward is pronounced, according to that which men hauehave done:Mat. 26.35, 39.Matt 26:35Matt 26:39 When I was in prison, you visited me; when I was naked, you cloathed me, &c. And if they be required of necessity, then it is not a dead, liuelesse, workelesse faith, but a powerfull, energeticall faith, a faith that is stirring and actiue, a faith that is effectuall, which GOD requires, without which we cannot be saued.

We come now to make some Vse of what hath beene said.

Vse 1. To try our faith, whether it be sound.First, If GOD accept no faith, but that which is effectuall, it should teach vsus not to be deceiued in a matter of so great moment; It should teach vsus to looke to our faith, to consider whether it be a right faith or no. If a man hauehave Euidences, vponupon which his lands, and whole estate dependeth, if one should come, and tell him that they were false Euidences, it would affect him; he would, at p. 61the least be ready to looke, and to examine them, and yet these are matters of lesse moment.

If one be told that his Corne is blasted,Simile. that all the Trees in his Orchard are dead, that all his money is counterfeit, a man would looke euen to these things; a man would hauehave that which he hath to be sound, and not counterfeit: and shall not we then looke to the faith that we hauehave, vponupon which the saluation of our soules depends? seeing God accepteth none vnlesse it be …ound, and seeing there is so much counterfeit faith in the world. It should teach vsus to looke about vsus, and consider what our faith is: For, as Iames saith, faith without workes cannot saue vsus.Iam. 2.14.Jas 2:14 What auaileth it, my Brethren, if a man say he hath faith, and hath not workes, can his faith saue him? So I say to eueryevery man, in such a case, thou that thinkest thou hast faith, if there be not workes too, if it be not effectuall, if it be not a liuely faith, will such a faith saue thee? If a man should come and say to one that brags of the Balsome or Drugges which he hath, (that are dead, and hauehave lost their efficacie) Will such a Balsome heale thee?Simile. If a man hauehave a guilded Target, made of paper, a man may say to him, Will that Target defend thee? And so I say, when a man hath a counterfeit faith, Will such a faith as this saue thee? It will not saue you; you may please your selues in it, as a man is pleased with a false dreame, but, when you p. 62are awaked, you will finde that you are deceiued. Learne therefore to consider of your faith, to see if it be effectuall.

When the LORD proclaimed himselfe to be a mercifull God, Exod. 34.6.7.Exod 34:6Exod 34:7forgiuing iniquity, transgression, and sinne; yet it is added, he will not hold the wicked innocent. So, when we hauehave said so much of faith, and that faith saueth; yet know, that it must be a working faith that saueth vsus: It must be such a faith as purifieth the heart, it must be such a faith that may shew it selfe in fruits worthy amendment of life. And therefore Saint Iames taketh so much paines in this case, as you shall finde in his first Chapter, and the beginning of the second; hee layeth downe rules, and tels them, that if they keepe the whole Law, and yet faile in one point, they are guilty of the whole.

Now hauing dealt so strictly, some might be ready to object:Obiect. GOD is mercifull, and I shall be saued through faith.

Ans.It is true, (saith hee) if you hauehave a right faith, you shall be saued by it; but yet know this, that vnlesse your faith be such a faith as enableth you to doe what I say, it is a faith that will doe you no good,Fiue arguments of Saint Iames against worklesse faith it will not saue you: for, though faith saueth you, yet it must be such a faith as worketh. And that he proueth by many arguments; (it is a place worth the considering, and fit for this purpose) I say, hee vseth some arguments to proue, p. 63that that faith which is not effectuall will not saue vsus.

As first, Saith he, if a man should say to 1one, Be warmed, or, Be filled: as this is but vaine liberality, when as yet a man doth nothing; so, for a man to professe that he beleeueth in CHRIST, and yet doth nothing for him, it is a vaine faith.

Secondly, Some man might say, Thou 2hast faith, and I hauehave workes, shew me thy faith by thy workes. That is, if a man hauehave faith, hee will shew it by his workes. As if hee should hauehave said,Note. If the Sunne be the greatest light, let it giuegive the greatest splendor; If the Loadstone be of such a vertue, let it shew it, by attracting the Iron to it: So, if thy faith be effectuall, shew it by thy workes: that is, if thy faith be a true faith, it must bee a working faith, or else it is nothing, GOD will not accept it.

Thirdly, vnlesse it be a working faith, an effectuall 3faith, the Diuels hauehave the same: thou beleeuest that there is one God; the Diuels doe the same, and tremble.

Fourthly, If any man could be justified by 4faith without workes, Abraham might hauehave beene so justified; but Abraham was justified by his workes; that is, by such a faith as had workes joyned with it. And not Abraham onelyonly, but Rahab, (that is another example: for it might be objected, Abraham indeed beleeued, and was justified by workes, but Rahab p. 64had no workes, shee was a wicked woman, and therefore was justified by faith?

To this therfore he answereth, that) she had workes, or else she could not hauehave beene saued, vnlesse she had such a worke as that in sending away the Messengers, her faith could not hauehave justified her. Indeede, that was a great worke; for she aduentured her life in it.

5And lastly, saith he, as the body, without the soule, is a dead body, a stinking carrion, there is no preciousnesse, nor no excellency in it; so faith without workes is dead. Therefore looke to your faith; doe not thinke that a faith that meerely taketh Christ, and beleeueth in him, that it is a faith that shall justifie you. Let all these arguments perswade you, that if it bee not a working faith, it shall doe you no good. Therefore let this be the first Vse, to consider your faith, whether it be effectuall or no, by the working of it.

Vse. 2. To judge our conditions by the efficacy of▪ our faith.The second Vse that we may make of it, is this: Hence we should learne to iudge of our estates and conditions, by the efficacie of our faith: for, if no faith be receiued, but that which is effectuall, then it behooues vsus to looke to the working of our faith.

Againe, if GOD accept no faith but that which is effectuall, hence we may learne also not to beleeue all that say they hauehave faith,Not to beleeue all that say they hauehave faith, nor all that say they hauehave none. nor to beleeue all those that say they hauehave none. As for those that say they hauehave no faith, yet, if we see the fruites of faith in them, that they p. 65hauehave those things that faith brings forth: If you see a man that complaineth he beleeueth not, yet if he louelove the Saints, if he endeuour to keepe GODS Commandements, if he continue not in any knowne sinne, if hee doe not dare to omit holy duties, nor to sleight them, certainely, this man hath faith: for we finde the effects of it there: although he hauehave lost one act of his faith, which is the comfortable assurance of a good estate; yet if the first act, by which he resteth vponupon Christ, Act of faith double.and by which he taketh Christ to himselfe, be there, we may conclude there is faith.Simile. When we see smoke, and feele heate, we say, there is fire, though we see no flame: so, when we see these fruits in a man, we may boldly say, he hath faith, though he hath not such a reflect act,A man may hauehave faith, though he want feeling. as to know in himselfe that he hath it, and so to hauehave a comfortable assurance of his condition.

On the other side;Of those that say they hauehave faith, but hauehave not. if a man saith, he knoweth and is perswaded that his sinnes are forgiuen, his conscience is at rest, and yet for all this, we finde no workes, I say, this man hath not faith: for there wants the efficacie of it: So that as the two sonnes in the Gospell; one said he would goe into the Vineyard, and did not; the other said he would not goe, yet afterwards he repented, and went: so it is with these two; the one saith he hath not faith, and yet for all that, we see, he doth the things that faith requireth, we see the efficacy of faith in p. 66him. Againe, the other saith hee hath faith, and yet doth not bring forth the fruites of faith, he doth not shew the efficacy of faith in his life; the one shall be justified, the other shall be condemned.

Simile.As when we take two Drugges, or two Pearles, &c. the one hath lost his colour, seemeth withered and dead, so that to the outward view, it hath lost all, yet it hath its efficacie still, that such a thing should hauehave; the other looks very faire, and hath a right colour and smell, but it hath no efficacie in it; wee say, one is a liuely Drug, and a good one, and the other a counterfeit: so, when one man complaines that he hath no grace, that he is an hypocrite, and yet hee brings forth fruite worthy amendment of life, and wee see the working of his faith; I say, this is true faith: On the other side, hee that makes a shew of faith, and yet wants the efficacie of it, he hath no faith. Wee should learne thus to iudge, when men professe they hauehave faith, and wee finde it not by their workes. It should teach both ciuill men and hypocrites to know their estates: for it discouereth both. For when the ciuill man commeth, and seeth that hee doth much of the second Table, and little of the first; and the hypocrite againe, doth much of the first, and little of the second; let them consider that faith enableth a man to hauehave respect to all Gods Commandements: Psal. 119.7.Ps 119:7it workes a generall change. And as this is true, for the p. 67substance, so it is also for degrees: for, if God accepts onelyonly effectuall faith, then so much efficacie, and so much working as you finde in any man, so much faith there is. If there be no workes, there is no faith; if the workes be few, the faith is a languishing faith; if the workes be many, the faith is great and strong. That is the second Vse wee should make, to learne to judge aright of our selues and others.

Thirdly,Vse 3. To iustifie the Doctrine of good workes against the Papists slanders. if it be onelyonly an effectuall faith, which GOD accepteth, then this justifieth our Doctrine against the Papists, that say, we teach that onelyonly faith justifieth, and require no good workes. I say, we teach, that not a naked, but an effectuall faith doth it. So that all the difference betweene them and vsus, is this; we agree both in this, that workes are necessarily required to saluation, that no man shall see GOD without them, without purenesse of heart, and integrity of life. We say, Except men mortifie the deedes of the body by the Spirit, they shall dye; and there is no condemnation to them that walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit: That is, there is a necessity put vponupon men to walke after the Spirit; in this we agree:Difference betweene vsus and Papists in the Doctrine of iustification. but here is the difference: They say that faith and workes both are required to justifie; we say, that nothing is required but faith, and that workes follow faith: wee say, faith indeed is working, and produceth …uch effects; so that, whereas they say faith, and p. 68workes; we say faith only, but it must be an effectuall faith, a working faith.

Obiect.If they object that place of Iames, wee are not justified by faith, but by workes.

Ans.I answer, that there is a double justification, there is a justification of the person;Iustification double. so was Abraham justified by faith, as Paul expresseth it, Rom. 4.Rom. 4.Rom 4 But then there is a second justification, a justification of the faith that Abraham had, he justified his faith by his works, he shewed that hee had not a dead faith, a liuelesse faith, a faith without workes, but that he had a liuely effectuall faith: for he added workes to his faith, his workes wrought together with his faith. So that, if the question be, Whether Abraham was an hypocrite? his workes justified him that hee was none. If the question be, Whether Abraham was a sinner? his faith justifieth him, and shewes that he was made righteous through faith.Note. So, there is a justification of the person, and a justification of the faith of the person: as when a man is said to justifie such an action,Simile. or such a cause, the meaning is not, that he will make that just which was vnjust before, but he will make it appeare to be just; so Abraham was declared to hauehave a justifying faith, by that power and efficacie it wrought in him, in offering vp his sonne.

Againe, it is objected out of that place, that by workes faith is made perfect; therefore it seemes that faith is nothing alone, p. 69if workes bee not joyned with it.Answ.

I answer,Faith made perfect by works, what. that when it is said that faith is made perfect by workes, the meaning is, that faith is made good by workes; the perfection of faith is declared by workes. As one that professeth that he hath an Art,Simile. and that he is able to doe this and that; if he doe the worke wherein his Art is shewed, if he make any artificiall worke, by that he maketh good his Art. Or, as when we say, these Trees are good, because they hauehave sappe in them, they are not dead Trees. Now the Tree is made perfect by the fruit; so faith by workes is made perfect. Not that workes put life into faith; the sap must first be in the Tree, and then it bringeth forth fruit: so there must first be a life in faith, and then it bringeth forth workes. So that, when we say that faith is made perfect by workes, the meaning is, that workes declare faith to be right, as the fruit doth declare the Tree to hauehave sap.

Againe,33Obiect. if it be objected, (as it is by them) that workes, and louelove, &c. are to faith, as the soule is to the body: for, as the body, without the soule is dead, so faith without workes is dead: Hence they gather, that faith is as the body, and that louelove, and workes are as the soule: therefore faith justifieth not but workes.Ans.

To this I answer;What meant by these words Faith without workes is dead. They take the comparison amisse: For the scope of it is this; as a soulelesse body is nothing worth, it is p. 70dead, and no man regardeth it; so is a workelesse faith: The meaning is not, that workes are as the soule, and faith as the body; but, as a man, when he lookes vponupon a carkasse, and seeth no life in it, no pulse, no motion, no sence, such a body is nothing worth; so when we see a faith without motion, that hath no pulses, that hath no expression of life in it, such a faith is of no worth.

44Obiect.But, you will say, if we be not justified by workes, to what end are good workes required?

Ans.I answer, there is end enough, there are motiues enow:Why good works are required, seeing they iustifie not. Is not louelove a ground strong enough to bring forth good workes? When this objection was made to Paul, Rom. 6. If Grace abound,Rom. 6.1, 2.Rom 6:1Rom 6:2 why may wee not sinne the more; for Grace aboundeth, as sinne aboundeth? he might easily hauehave answered,11They euidence our right in Christ. Except you doe good workes, you cannot be saued; but he saith, How can we, that are dead to sinne, liue any longer therein? That is, when a man is once in CHRIST, there will be such a change wrought in him, that hee shall finde CHRIST killing sinne in him, and hee shall be raised againe to newnesse of life, insomuch that he must of necessity doe it; there will be louelove in his heart, that will set him aworke, that will constraine him: therefore, saith he, are you not baptized into Christs death? That is, when a man is in CHRIST, he is dead to sinne, as CHRIST dyed for him: so that, p. 71though there be no such motiue, as for a man to get Heauen by his workes; yet, vponupon the taking of Christ, there is a louelove planted in the heart, there is a change wrought in the heart, so that there is an aptnesse in it to doe good workes; so that now a man delighteth in the Law of God concerning his inward man, he desires nothing more then to be employed in it, it is his meate and drinke to doe the will of GOD. Is not this enough to moue vsus?

Againe;22God rewards according to our works. though good workes be not required for justification, yet this may be a motiue: GOD rewards vsus, he chastens and afflicts vsus according to our workes: 1 Pet. 1.15.1 Pet. 1.15.1 Pet 1:15 We call him Father, that judgeth eueryevery one according to his workes: That is, if our workes be good, he is ready to reward vsus; if wee faile, he is ready to chastise vsus, as a Father doth his children: therefore let vsus passe the time of our dwelling here with feare. So that the Saints, after they are in the state of grace, they may contract a kinde of guiltinesse vntounto them, so that they may make their Father angry, they may feele many effects of his displeasure, though they shall not lose his fauour for euer: and the more our good works are, the greater is our reward.

Againe;33Good workes necessary, though not to iustification. wee require good workes of necessity, as well as the Papists: wee say, you must hauehave good workes, or else you cannot be saued; so that, except you hauehave repented, except you hauehave louelove as well as faith, p. 72except there be a change of heart, Christ is not in you.

Different rise of good works in Papists and vsus.We require good workes with the same necessity; onelyonly they hauehave a different rise, they rise from different grounds. When the Papists are asked what should moue a man to doe good workes? They say it is by way of merit, to get heauen; and that is it that maketh all their workes to be of no worth. For, take any naturall man, he that hath the most impure heart, may not he, to escape Hell, and to get Heauen, doe all the workes the Papists require, and for the same end that they require them? May he not giuegive Almes, &c.An hypocrite cannot doe things out of louelove to God. But to doe it out of louelove, that is a thing that no Hypocrite is able to reach vntounto: And therefore we say, that the meanest worke, euen the giuing of a Cuppe of cold water, is a good worke, if it proceed from louelove: whereas, take the fairest worke, that hath the greatest glory, and splendour, though it be Martyrdome; if it come not from louelove,2 Cor. 13.2:2 Cor 13:2 if it be not a fruit of faith, if a man giuegive his body to be burned, and giuegive all that hee hath to feede the poore, if it come not from louelove, GOD accepts it not. So much for the second Vse.

Vse. 3. To labour to grow in faith and assurance.The third Vse that wee should make of it, is this: If nothing be accepted, but that faith that is effectuall, we should learne hence, that, if we will grow in ability to worke, if we will grow in obedience, wee must grow p. 73in faith: for all efficacie must come from faith: for it is onelyonly the effectualnesse of faith that GOD requires. That is, if there be any effectualnesse in man, that comes not from faith, GOD requires it not: for it is the efficacie of faith which GOD requires. Therefore, if wee will bee enabled to doe the duties of new obedience, labour to grow in faith, that must inable vsus to doe what wee doe: if wee hauehave not the ground, all that we doe is in vaine.What course to take in weaknesse of grace. Therefore, when we finde any coldnesse, any weaknesse in the Graces wee hauehave, any languishing; increase faith, and all other Graces will grow. If you finde you cannot pray, when you find your hands weake, and your knees feeble, that you cannot runne the wayes of Gods Commandements, strengthen your faith, labour to increase your assurance.Simile. When the branches are weake and withering, we vse to dung the root; so, in this case, labour to strengthen your faith: for that will inable you to doe much; it is all in all.

This will be of much vse to vsus in many cases.Labouring to strengthen faith, of much vse. When a sinne is committed, we should labour now to recouer our selues out of that relapse.11In getting assurance of pardon after sin is committed. What is the way? By labouring to get assurance of the forgiuenesse of it. Goe to GOD to strengthen thy faith, that is the way to get out of sinne.

If there be a strong lust,22In conflict with strong lusts. that thou art to grapple withall, and which thou canst not p. 74get the victory ouer, the way is to goe and increase faith, to increase assurance: for, the more faith is increased, the more louelove, the more the heart is inclined to GOD: for faith turnes the bent of the heart from pleasures, and profits, from a desire of the praise of men, to GOD: so that, the more faith, the more ability there is to striue against the corruption that is in you.

33In want of graces.Againe; if a man finde hee wants patience, he wants thankfulnesse, the way is, not to looke on the Vertues, to reade morall Writers, but goe and strengthen thy faith, and that shall enable thee to doe wonders: otherwise we water the branches, and let the roote alone.

How Ministers should build.Thus should wee Ministers doe, lay this maine foundation, to build vp our hearers in this, and the rest will follow. This Paul did, that was the great Master-builder, hee layes downe in all his Epistles, the foundation of faith: in his Epistles to the Romanes, to the Ephesians, to the Colossians, to the Galatians; and after that hee deduceth particulars, and buildeth on it: so your maine businesse is to consider whether you hauehave faith, to get assurance of that, and when you hauehave that, then striue against particular vices, and adorne your selues with particular graces: For, because you labour not to hauehave this maine grace, this roote and foundation of all the rest, I say, this is the reason p. 75why those good motions that you hauehave put into you by the Holy Ghost, those motions that you hauehave in the hearing of the Word, and the good purposes that you take to your selues, come to nothing, because they hauehave not faith for their ground.

That generall of Faith,Simile. must goe before these particulars: Though the Plants bee good, yet, if the ground bee not good, and connaturall, where they are planted, they will not grow. Therefore we finde it ordinarily, that when men hauehave resolutions to giuegive ouer such and such sinnes, to leaue such and such vices, their wicked company, drinking, gaming, and the like; it may be it holds for a day or two, yet this comes to nothing; because the maine foundation is not laid, they goe to worke without faith: when the ground is flesh, and the worke spirituall, how can it liue?Simile. for eueryevery thing liues in its owne element; and these motions in them, are as the Fish is out of the water: and as the fire, when it is out of its place, dyes and is extinguished; so these good purposes, when they are not particulars that arise from that generall of faith, they are in the heart as a thing out of its owne element, and therefore they perish. Therefore, when you hauehave these purposes, know that they will come to nothing, if you take not the right course. Therefore labour to beleeue the promises, to bee assured of saluation, that you are translated p. 76from death to life, by an effectuall faith: when this is done, you shall finde that your purposes will hold, and till then they are in vaine.

Vse 4. To looke to faith in our search.And so againe, this should teach vsus, seeing all depends vponupon faith, when wee come to search, to consider what assurance wee hauehave, that so we may goe the right way to worke. For commonly, when wee consider our estates, we looke what fruites wee hauehave, what sincerity hath appeared in our life, and if we finde that weake, we commonly conclude, that our faith is weake also, and so the weaknesse of our sanctification weakneth our assurance; but wee should goe another way to worke: When we finde a weaknesse, we should go to the promises, and strengthen our assurance: for there be two wayes to increase assurance.Two wayes to increase assurance.

One is by the promises, the sure Word, on which faith is built.

The second is by the fruites of sanctification in our selues.

Now when we finde these languishing, we should goe to the first, and the other will be increased by it. Faith worketh in you sanctification, and maketh you to beleeue the promise; as exercise begets health,Simile. and we are made fit by health for exercise: or as acts beget habits, and habits are meanes to exercise those acts: So assurance, grounded vponupon the promise, it enableth, and enlargeth, and increaseth p. 77sanctification, and sanctification increaseth assurance: but first see faith, and then the other as fruites of it. If you finde a weaknesse in sanctification, labour to strengthen your faith, and that will increase it: for that is the ground of all.

FINIS.