Seven Treatises, Treatise 1 · Chapter 11
CHAP. 11. How weake faith is confirmed, and the comfort of it.
ANd now a little, I will adde yet further (as I promiſed) for the ſtaying and ſatisfying of thoſe which hauehave attained to lay hold of Gods promiſes, and hauehave ſome meaſure of true faith, how ſmall ſo euer it be. They who hauehave tasted how good the Lord is, by any ſmall light of true faith, they finde and feele it to be ſo ſweete, that in feare of forgoing and loſing it againe,1. Pet. 2.2. they deſire aboue all things to know how they may hold and keepe it. And it is indeede the moſt neceſſarie queſtion that they can moue. This queſtion I thinke very fitly to be anſwered in this place, becauſe it is the doubt of them which are newly borne of God: for otherwiſe of the dailie and continuall growing in faith, it is more fitly to be ſpoken of in another place, where I ſhall ſpeake of the new life, and the holy courſe of ſuch as are the Lords people already. Therefore to this queſtion, it is thus to be anſwered, that as they came by that little meaſure, which they hauehave by this meanes, that they were led by God to thinke it the moſt precious iewell in the world; of the which when they were perſwaded, they thought it no paine by hearing,The firſt means to hold and to be confirmed in faith. meditating, and praying to ſeeke to beleeue: euen ſo let them ſettle, and accuſtome themſelues to doe ſtill.
And if they doe deſire to keepe and hold their faith from day to day, till they ſee that it is paſt the danger of loſing, let them daily account it their chiefeſt happineſſe, which they hauehave in this life, euen their preciouſeſt treaſure and beſt portion: which if they doe, their heart will be euer vponupon it;Matth. 6.21. Matth. 13.44. Reuel. 3.11. Hebr. 10.35. their feare will be vſuallie, leaſt they ſhould loſe it; they will thinke it moſt neceſſarie to regard, and looke to it, whatſoeuer they hauehave beſides it, worth the looking after: Euen as the husbandman will more eſpeciallie regard his cattell, and corne, being his chiefe ſubſtance,A ſimile. The best things muſt beſt be regarded.then his pullen which is ſmaller and of leſſer value. And otherwiſe eueryevery ſmall occaſion will hinder them from nouriſhing and looking to it: and eueryevery trifle and fond deſire of their owne, will carrie them after it, and cauſe their hearts to be taken vp with it: and much more, their earneſt buſines, and waightie affaires, for the which they thinke, that any exerciſes of religion ought by good right to be neglected, and to giuegive place to them: for we are not ignorant of the diuels enterpriſes;2. Cor. 2.11. what ſwarmes of euill luſts, and noiſome delights, and other matters of like ſort, he filleth mens heads withall, euen ſuch as he knoweth doe like them beſt, that they may minde no better things: and euen ſuch eſpeciallie as are in the way to know Gods great kindnes towards them, that they may be,Euill must be auoided, and lawfull liberties ſoberly vſed. after ſome ſort, put out of the way againe. Therefore not onelyonly theſe, which are euill of themſelues, muſt grow loathſome to them; but they muſt alſo be ſober, and moderate themſelues, euen in their lawfull liberties and dealings ſo, as that one thing be thought needfull of them, whatſoeuer they goe about,Luk. 10.42. euen this; to nouriſh their faith, and to hold faſt their hope of eternall life, and Gods fauour, ſeeing God, who giueth it, doth neuer change his minde, Iohn 13.1.nor repent him.
And that they may doe this the better (which is too ſlacklie performed of many,The ſecond meanes to confirme faith. who yet hauehave felt ſome ſweetnes in the promiſes) they are further to be directed, that daily and oft, (which few will be brought vntounto) they ſend vp ſtrong prayers to God for it, and that they doe of ſet purpoſe ſeparate themſelues from all other things in the moſt conuenient manner, that they can, to call to remembrance the manifold and gracious promiſes of God: that they meditate and conſider deepely of them; of the nature and truth of them; of the vnchangeablenes and perpetuitie of them;Exod. 34.7. how louing alſo and kind God is: that thus their faith may be confirmed in them: and ſo bring their hearts by little and little to a new courſe and cuſtome, that they may hauehave more neere acquaintance with Gods nature, his mind and purpoſe towards them: how louingly he is affected to them: how little they neede to feare his anger and diſpleaſure: and how free they may be from doubting and wauering. For it muſt be well conſidered and oft thought vponupon, that weake bleeuers, who are priuie to themſelues of their many doubtings, doe ſoone let ſlip out of their memorie, and ſo out of their hearts, ſuch grounds of their faith, as they hauehave ſometime holden and imbraced, after hearing publikely, or any ſuch like meanes inioyed of them: they doe ſoone (I ſay) let them ſlip,True beleeuers are ſoone faint and fearefull. vnleſſe they can bring themſelues to reuiew and call them to mind vſuallie: Yea, and further; vnles they do prouide to helpe their feeblenes of heart and memorie (as they ſhall be able) with ſome pithie and cleere prooues of their ſaluation and ſafetie; ſuch as they hauehave before reſted on, and found comfort by: as this, Come to me, all ye that are heauie laden, and I will eaſe you: Matth. 11.28.and let them reaſon thus from it: If Chriſt call them that are loden, and promiſeth to eaſe them, and therefore they may come boldly, that is, beleeue his promiſe, and claſpe about it, and inioy it as their owne: then may I, being ſuch an one, doe ſo, and take it as ſpoken to me, as well as Peter, Paul, or any other. Thus ſhould the weake applie it.Ioh. 7.37. Another: If any thirſt, let him come to me, and I will giuegive him the water of life to drinke. 1. Ioh. 5.14. Hoſ. 14.2.3.4.5 Prou. 28.13.And many other ſuch: as in the margine.
Some of theſe and ſuch like are oft to be thought on, and applied, as I hauehave ſaid, if wee deſire to keepe in the ſafe eſtate, which I hauehave ſpoken of; that is to come to God in prayer when we will, with boldnes and confidence: and yet when we doe not pray, not to be afraid of him, but to walke in any of our actions without ſlauiſh feare before him. And if we doe not thus, we ſhall by and by wauer & wander either on the left hand or on the right, Luk. 1.75.& go out of the royall way; euen that way of which the Prophet ſpeaketh, when he ſaith: Thou vpholdeſt me in mine integritie, & ſetteſt me before thy face continually. As if he ſhould ſay,Pſal. 41.12. They muſt much helpe their weaknes and oft.thou wilt ſee that I take no hurt, being euer in thine eye, as ye child in the mothers eye, that it may hauehave no daunger. I ſay, in this royall way wee ſhall not keepe ſafe and ſound, except we doe (as men dimme of ſight, vſe of ſpectacles) helpe our ſpirituall eye ſight with oft looking in the glaſſe of Gods word and promiſes: which I ſay not, as though God did change his minde ſo oft (ſeeing there be ſo many doubts in vsus) who is euer one and conſtant; but for that wee hauehave riuen memories, wandring affections, and deceitfull hearts, in all which reſpects we hauehave neede of ſuch helpe and remedie. And if it trouble any at the hearing of this, asking, what ſhall the weake doe, who cannot doe thus? I anſwere, they that know not this, cannot doe it: but yet is not their eſtate therefore to be reſted in, no although they feare God; only let them follow that which they know: and they who know this, which I now teach, will neglect nothing willingly of that which I ſay, though they be weake; for it is their owne gaine and aduantage, which they would not loſe: yet I meane not that they ſhould neglect their particular calling for all this, ſeeing both may well, yea and ought ſtand together. Thus therefore let Gods children keepe themſelues from feare and doubting, when they are in greateſt daunger of both, by an oft and ſerious weighing, how gracious and good the Lord is vntounto them, that it may comfort them euen at the heart. And for a teſtimonie hereof, let them vſe to trie in ſmaller benefits, how they can beleeue that God will keepe couenant with them; for thereby ſhall they hauehave further proofe, with the former, to their conſciences, that they grow to beleeue him in greater. For although there muſt be ſome meaſure of true iuſtifying faith, before wee can doe any thing acceptable to God, Hebr. 11.6. yet for the confirming of it, wee muſt obſerue how Gods word is performed in other things alſo.
The 3. meane to confirme faith. 1. Theſſ. 2.10.13. & 1. Theſſ. 3.10. Luk. 22.19.And to this purpoſe they are alſo to helpe their weakenes in faith, by ordinarie and reuerent hearing the glad tidings of reconciliation publikly preached vntounto them: for that is one ſpeciall end thereof, as the Apoſtle ſaith; and therefore are the Sacraments alſo giuen by God, which ſeale vp this truth in their hearts, which they hauehave begun to taſte of: Doe this as oft as ye doe it, in remembrance of me. With theſe two they muſt carefully retaine a viewing of their ſinnes,Lam. 3.40. which by examination they hauehave found out: They muſt, I ſay, be daily kept within that compaſſe, and keepe vnderunder their hearts,The 4. meane to confirme faith. by a meane and baſe thinking of themſelues from fulnes and loathing of Chriſts death, as it is made too common a reckoning of. Neither can it be felt ſweete and pleaſant of any, except their ſins be felt bitter and tart. And beſides all this, their former experience is not the leaſt helpe to eſtabliſh and ſettle them in this perſwaſion: that for as much as they cannot denie,The 5. meane. but that they hauehave beleeued with ioy, and receiued much eaſe to their heauie hearts thereby: therefore much more now they ought, and lawfully may reſt and perſwade themſelues ſo againe. And therefore to ſay with themſelues,Pſal. 77.9. it is but their own weaknes, when they are pierced thorough with ſuch doubts: from God there is not the leaſt occaſion offered, who is euer one and chaungeth not: Iam. 1.17.for all this might they hauehave with Gods good liking; and worſe eſtate then this they neede not to be in, if they would be aduiſed by him, and not by the euill cuſtome of their hearts, whereby they are eaſily brought to thinke, that faith and other graces will dwell in them, though they be ſleightly cared for, and regarded: which conceit is moſt falſe and erronious.
And that the Lord giueth his beloued ones ſuch bold and free acceſſe to him, to know his minde toward them,The faithfull hauehave neere acquaintance with God. They are called his friends. Ioh. 15.14.15. Epheſ. 2.4. Zach. 2.8. and to hauehave this holie acquaintance with him (which can hardly be perſwaded to the weake in faith, at their firſt comming to him) hereby it may appeare, that he ſaith, he will not count them as ſeruants, but as friends, with whom he will communicate his very ſecrets, as farre as ſhall be expedient for …em to know them: and as Paul ſaith; God of his rich merciemercy hath loued vsus thr…gh much louelove. God ſaith, they are as the apple of his eye, and therefore deare vntounto him: he telleth them that hee hath taken from them the ſpirit of bondage, that they ſhould no longer be afraid of him, Rom. 8.15. Luk. 1.74.75. Phil. 4.4.but ſerue him without feare: and to reioyce in him alwaies: which cannot be, except they knew his minde, and affection to them, yea and that more cleerely then the ſonne can know his fathers, or the wife her husbands minde. And therefore if they who hauehave begun to lay hold on eternall life through beleeuing, ſhould by ſome occaſion loſe the feeling comfort of their faith; as by Sathans fearing them, with their coldnes, falles, weakneſſes, or ſuch like: yet are not they to giuegive place vntounto doubting; eſpecially being ſuch as hauehave felt aſſuredly the louelove of God by Chriſt ſhed into their hearts: Let no place be giuen to doubting. Ioh. 13.1.but to count it their frailtie and timorouſnes, and that without cauſe; euen for that they were not better acquainted with the will of God, who loueth to the end all ſuch as he hath once loued.
And yet this is not without the moſt wiſe prouidence of God, who diſpoſeth all theſe weakneſſes of theirs to their good, that they may be humbled the more in themſelues, and riſe to their faith againe; and to the glorie of God, who bringeth backe againe, thoſe who were almoſt in their owne feeling, at the brinke of hell. The ſame I ſay of other lets which they may bee ouertaken by, as of their loſing of the ſenſe of their faith,How faith is weakned. through neglecting the meanes whereby it ought to hauehave been preſerued; or by ſleightnes in the vſe of them; or by letting looſe the heart after ſome vanitie or worldlines, which it luſted after; or being diſquieted, and vnſetled otherwiſe: this is not their refuge to ſay, we muſt be content to goe without it: and it is impoſſible to hold it: when wee hauehave beſtowed all our trauaile, we hauehave done it but in vaine:Reuel. 2.5. But as they eſpie their weaknes, ſo let them remember how they hauehave fallen, acknowledge it to the ſhame of the euill heart, and ſo recouer that one thing which is amiſſe, and hold their confidence as before, and let not the whole frame, and well ordered courſe of their life be broken off for that one thing:A ſimile. as he that hath ach in his teeth, or a wound in his legge, doth not neglect the health of his whole bodie for that, but ſeeketh the redreſſe of that one, that the whole may be in good caſe, as it was before.
And ſeeing it helpeth much to the nouriſhing of our faith, among all other times, to ſeaſon our hearts, in the morning, if it may be, with the recording and thinking vponupon Gods promiſes of his louelove and ſaluation: therefore, if the morning meditating on the promiſes, with earneſt prayer thereto adioyned, ſhould by any neceſſarie occaſions, or weightie affaires, or other lets of neceſſitie be intermitted, being the thing which ought moſt carefully to be looked to; yet let them prouide, that this dutie be not altogether omitted, as though it were ſome light matter, which needed no ſuch attendance to be giuen vntounto it: but let it, aſſoone as it may, with conueniencie be performed, if they deſire to paſſe the day in ſafetie and peace; as knowing otherwiſe that Sathan in this their weaknes will giuegive them little reſt. And ſo ſhall they hauehave it as a ſtrong weapon through the day to ſhield them from the violence and furie of the enemie.
But this is not the place to ſhew how the day is to be paſſed; that ſhall follow after, but onelyonly by the way, as in moſt fit or …ace to aduiſe how the weake Chriſtian is to keepe his faith.
The ſixt meane to confirme faith. Compare Exodus 4. with chap. 10.The ſixt meane to hold and confirme faith, is the examples of others, whom of weake, wee hauehave ſeene to become ſtrong in faith: as Moſes, with whom as God hath been, and with other his good ſeruants to ſtrengthen them: ſo will he be with vsus, till he perfecteth in vsus in like ſort the work which he hath begun. And this be ſpoken of the meanes, by which weake faith is helped and confirmed.