A Guide to Godliness, Book 1 · Chapter 9
CAP. IX.
Of the meanes whereby wee may obtaine a liuely faith, and daily increaſe it from the leaſt to the higheſt degree.
§. Sect. 1 Of fiue ſpeciall meanes wherby we may obtaine a liuely faith.
SEeing then faith is ſo neceſſary to a godly life, and higher degrees of it, for attaining of higher perfection, and making of a further progreſſe in the wayes of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe; it behooueth eueryevery one, who deſireth to leade a life acceptable vntounto God, to vſe all good meanes whereby he may attaine vntounto faith, and hauing the firſt degrees of it, not to reſt in them, but to vſe all indeuour, whereby he may grow from faith to faith, vntill he attaine vntounto fulneſſe of perſwaſion. Now the meanes of attaining faith are many. The firſt and principall is prayer, which is not onelyonly in it ſelfe a powerfull meanes to obtaine it of God, but alſo of making all other meanes effectuall to thoſe ends for which we vſe them. For faith is not of Eph. 2. 8.our ſelues (as the Apoſtle teacheth vsus) but it is a free grace and gift of God; and as our Sauiour ſaith, It is his worke that we beleeue on him whom hee hath Ioh. 6. 29.ſent. And none hauehave it, but they vntounto whom it is giuen, according to that of the Apoſtle; VntoUnto you it is giuen in the behalfe of Chriſt, not onelyonly to beleeue Phil. 1. 29.on him, but alſo to ſuffer for his ſake. Now the way to get Gods gifts, is, to beg them at his hands by effectuall prayer, according to that, If any Iam. 1. 5.man want wiſedome, let him aske it of God, that giueth all men liberally; ſeeing he hath tyed himſelfe by his gracious promiſe, that if we aske, wee ſhall receiue; Matth. 7. 7.and that whatſoeuer we deſire in his Sonnes name, he will giuegive it vsus. And Iob. 16. 23.therefore if we would hauehave faith, wee muſt bee frequent and feruent in prayer, and after that by Gods Spirit it is, like a ſmall ſeede, ſowne in our hearts, and ſcarcely to be diſcerned, being hidden from our ſight vnderunder the clods of our corruptions; we muſt vſe the ſame meanes to bring it to ſome growth, ſaying with the Apoſtles, Lord, increaſe our faith, and with Luk. 17. 5.the father of the poſſeſſed child, Lord, I beleeue, helpe thou mine vnbeleefe. Mark. 9. 24.The ſecond meanes is, that we adioyne our ſelues to the true Church of God, where the Word is ſincerely and powerfully taught, and the Sacraments duely and rightly adminiſtred. For howſoeuer our faith is not built vponupon the Church, yet doth it prepare our hearts to the receiuing of it, not onelyonly in reſpect of that authority which it hath, to mooue vsus to the imbracing of that which it imbraceth and commendeth vntounto vsus; but alſo as it offereth the meanes which onelyonly are effectuall for the begetting and increaſing of our faith, being the Maſter of the Rowles, which hath the cuſtody of all our ſpirituall euidences, and the keeper of Gods Seales, whereby our faith is aſſured of the truth of his promiſes. The third meanes, is the carefull and conſcionable hearing of Gods Word, with a deſire to profit by it; for faith commeth by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God; Rom. 10. 17. 1. Cor. 3. 5.in which reſpect the Preachers of the Goſpel are called Miniſters, by whom the people beleeue; becauſe their Miniſterie is the ordinary meanes of begetting faith in them. The fourth meanes, is the vſe of the Sacraments, which are as Seales annexed to the Couenant of grace, whereby wee are vndoubtedly aſſured, that God will make good vntounto vsus all his promiſes of grace and ſaluation in Ieſus Chriſt. The fift is, Chriſtian conferences and holy examples, whereby wee gaine ſubiects to Chriſts Kingdome, and build vp one another in our holy faith, as we ſee in the example of the woman Joh. 4. 59.of Samaria, who by her ſayings, drew many to beleeue in Chriſt: and of Aquila and Priſcilla, who by their holy conferences, informed Apollos Act. 18. 26. 1. Pet. 2. 12.more perfectly in the way of the Lord.
§. Sect. 2 Of the laſt meanes of obtaining faith, which is meditation on diuers ſubiects.
The laſt meanes is often to meditate vponupon theſe points following. Firſt, vponupon Gods euerlaſting and vndeſerued louelove, which mooued him, euen whilſt we were ſinners, the children of wrath, the vaſſals of Satan, and enemies to God and his grace, to ſend his onelyonly begotten, and dearely beloued Sonne into the world, that taking our nature vponupon him, hee might therein redeeme and ſaue vsus, by ſatisfying his iuſtice, in paying for vsus an all-ſufficient price for our redemption. And therefore hee that ſought vsus when wee were loſt, will not caſt vsus away when hee hath found vsus. Hee that ſo loued vsus when wee were enemies, will not forſake vsus now, if wee ſeeke his fauour. He that out of meere louelove gaue Chriſt to redeeme vsus by his death, will not, when he hath bought vsus at ſo deare a price, ſuffer vsus to periſh, if we apply Chriſt and his merits by faith, when as a free gift hee offereth him vntounto vsus. Secondly, let vsus meditate on Gods infinite mercy, which cauſeth him to delight, not in death and deſtruction, but the conuerſion and ſaluation of ſinners. The which his mercy being aboue all Rom. 5. 10. Ezek. 33. 11.his workes, and infinitely greater then all our ſinnes, is freely offered vntounto vsus, and wee are ſure to receiue it, if wee doe not reiect it by vnbeliefe. Thirdly, let vsus meditate on Gods immutable and infallible truth in his promiſes, and his omnipotent power, whereby hee is able to performe them. Fourthly, vponupon the all-ſufficiency of Chriſts righteouſneſſe and obedience, whereby Gods iuſtice is fully ſatisfied, and his wrath appeaſed, of which wee ſhall bee partakers, if wee beleeue in him as our onelyonly Sauiour and Redeemer. Fifthly, let vsus meditate on the Couenant of grace, wherein the Lord promiſeth the pardon of our ſinnes, and the ſaluation of our ſoules, not vponupon the condition of our workes and worthineſſe, nor with exception of our ſinnes, but vponupon the alone condition of a liuely faith, which bringeth foorth the fruits thereof in vnfained repentance. Sixthly, let vsus meditate vponupon the generality and indefiniteneſſe of Gods promiſes, which exclude no ſorts of ſinners, who doe not exclude themſelues by their vnbeliefe, reiecting Gods pardon when as it is offered, and pulling off the ſoueraigne ſalue of Chriſts merits and obedience, ſo as it cannot cure their ſores of ſinne. Laſtly, let vsus meditate vponupon faith, not only as it is an inſtrument, whereby Chriſt is applyed, but alſo as it is a duty, which is not arbitrary to be done or not done at our free choyſe, but expreſly commanded by God, as the condition of the couenant which Mark. 1.he hath made with vsus, the which we alſo in our baptiſme hauehave vndertaken to performe. And therefore ſetting all doubts and diſputes aſide, wee muſt beleeue in obedience to Gods Commandement. And ſo much the rather, becauſe God hath not only required it at our hands, but hath alſo vſed all meanes enabling vsus to performe it. For he hath made his couenant with vsus of grace and ſaluation, and though he be truth it ſelfe, and cannot fayle of his promiſes, yet reſpecting our imbecility and weakeneſſe of faith, he hath, to put away all doubting, confirmed them by his oath, and by annexing vntounto his hand-writing, his ſeales the Sacraments.
§. Sect. 3 Of the meanes whereby we may attaine vntounto fulneſſe of perſwaſion.
And theſe are the meanes of begetting and confirming of our faith, that it may not only aſſent vntounto the truth of Gods promiſes, but alſo apply and apprehend them to our owne particular vſe. Now, that from theſe two firſt degrees we may grow vntounto fulneſſe of perſwaſion, which, in aſſurance of our perſeuerance in the fruition of Gods louelove, doth make vsus, with the Apoſtle, to triumph ouer all difficulties and dangers, there are diuers Rom. 8. 38, 39.other things required. As firſt, that we eſteeme faith our chiefe riches; and this will make vsus ſpiritually couetous, and carefull by all meanes to adde vntounto this treaſure. Secondly, we cannot come to this fulneſſe of fayth, but by often experience of Gods louelove, ſhining in the riches of his mercies, eſpecially in things appertaining to grace and eternall glory. To which purpoſe we muſt bee ſenſible of Gods goodneſſe, and diligently obſerue his fauours towards vsus, and ſo by induction of particulars (that ſeeing ſo often and many wayes he hath bin gracious, and hath giuen vntounto vsus ſuch innumerable teſtimonies and pledges of his louelove, hence) we may gather an experimentall concluſion, that being immutable in his goodneſſe, wee ſhall liue and dye in his fauour, and nothing ſhall be able to ſeparate vsus from it. Thirdly, we attayne vntounto this fulneſſe of perſwaſion, by becomming more and more acquainted with God in the vſe of his holy ordinances, as prayer, hearing the Word, receiuing the Sacrament of the Supper, and meditation; for hereby our communion and acquaintance with God is increaſed; and the better we know him, the more firmely will we truſt and beleeue in him, taſting hereby the ſweeteneſſe of his goodnes, and the infallibility of his mercy and truth. Fourthly, we attaine vntounto certaine and full aſſurance of Gods louelove toward vsus, by our often teſtifying and approuing of our louelove towards God, in our care to keepe all his Commandements, that thereby we may glorify his Name, by hauing the light of our holy conuerſation ſhining before men: ſeeing we could not poſſibly louelove 1 Iohn 4. 19. Ier. 31. 3. Iohn 13. 1.him, if he had not loued vsus first: and whom he loueth, to the end he loueth them. Finally, we attaine vntounto it by continuall exercizing our ſelues in good workes, and by the dayly practice of Chriſtian duties, and leading of a godly life. For as faith iuſtifying vsus, by applying Chriſts righteouſneſſe, doth cauſe a good conſcience, after we hauehave peace with God; ſo when we keepe our conſciences, purged with Chriſts blood, cleare and vnſpotted of any knowne, willing and groſſe ſinne, it doth maruailouſly confirme our faith in the aſſurance of Gods louelove, ſeeing we are carefull to maintayne our peace with him, and therefore aſſuredly he will be at peace with vsus; according to that of the Apoſtle; If our hearts condemne vsus not, then hauehave we confidence towards God.1. John 3. 21.
§. Sect. 4 Of that ſpecial faith whereby we apply Chriſt for our ſanctification.
And ſo much concerning iuſtifying faith, which is the ground and foundation of a godly life. Beſides which generally conſidered, there is a ſpeciall faith, or rather a branch of the other, which is very profitable and neceſſary to vphold and further vsus in our courſe of Chriſtianity; namely, when as we doe by faith apply Chriſt, not only for ſaluation; but alſo for ſanctification, and apprehend the promiſes, both for iuſtification and life eternall, and alſo for the ſubduing of our corruptions, and renouation vntounto newneſſe of life in this World. In which reſpect alſo it may be truly ſayd, that the iuſt doe liue by their faith, and that they cannot leade their Heb. 2 4liues in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe without it. For there are ſo many mighty enemies that encounter vsus in this way, ſo many difficulties and dangers which we muſt ouercome, ſo many duties contrary to our corrupt nature to be neceſſarily performed, and ſo many ſtrange corruptions to be mortified and ſubdued in vsus, that if we reſpect our owne ſtrength, it will plainely appeare to be vtterly impoſſible to goe forward in the courſe of godlineſſe, or to attaine vntounto any meaſure of that ſanctification which we labour after; whereas contrariwiſe, if wee renounce our ſelues, and our owne ſtrength, and by a liuely fayth reſt vponupon the power and promiſes of God, for the beginnign, continuing and perfecting of this worke, then neede we not to be diſcouraged by our wants and weakeneſſes, from vndertaking or proceeding in it, nor by the malice and might of our ſpirituall enemies, or any other difficulties which meete vsus in the way; ſeeing we are aſſured that the Lord our God is all-ſufficient to remoue all impediments, to giuegive vsus ſtrength againſt all oppoſition, to make things in themſelues impoſſible, to become poſſible and eaſie vntounto vsus; and not only able, but alſo willing to bring vsus on in the wayes of godlineſſe, and to perfect that good worke of grace in vsus which he hath begunne. In which reſpects, we hauehave great cauſe with all courage and cheerefulneſſe to vndertake this worke, and to goe on in the wayes of godlineſſe, if by faith wee are once perſwaded, that we ſhall, in Gods good time, ouercome our ſpirituall enemies, ſubdue our ſtrong corruptions, performe with eaſe and comfort, thoſe duties which ſeeme yet ſo difficult, and in ſome good meaſure attaine vntounto that ſanctification, and holineſſe of life, which wee labour after.
§. Sect. 5 Of the meanes whereby wee may ſtrengthen our faith in the aſſurance of our ſanctification.
Now the meanes to attaine vntounto this faith, and to be more and more confirmed in it, is to conſider, that God the Father hath elected vsus as well Epheſ. 1. 4.to the meanes as to the end; and as he hath ordayned vsus vntounto life eternall, ſo alſo that we ſhall walke in the way of holineſſe and righteouſnes, that leadeth vntounto it; according to that of the Apoſtle, he hath choſen vsus before the foundations of the world, that we ſhould be holy and without blame. And therefore as his election is certaine to bring vsus vntounto euerlaſting happines, ſo alſo to conduct vsus thither by this way of holineſſe, eyther by a ſhorter cut, as the thiefe vponupon the Croſſe, who was not cōuerted before he ſuffred; or by alonger way, as Simeon, Iohn the Apoſtle, and many others. So in that golden chaine of ſaluation; whom hee did predeſtinate, them alſo he called; Rom. 8. 30.whom he called, them he iuſtifyed; and whom he iuſtified, them he glorifyed: the decree of God is coupled and linked vntounto the end by the meanes which come betweene them. Againe, we hauehave Gods promiſes, vponupon which wee may build our faith as well for our ſanctification, as for our ſaluation, and that not only, as the promiſes of life eternall include the promiſe of holyneſſe and a godly life, as the way that leadeth to that end, but ſeuerally and in ſpeciall manner. For in the Couenant of grace, the Lord promiſeth to write his Law in our hearts, by which phraſe is ſignified, that we ſhall not only know his will in our vnderſtandings, but incline vntounto it with our affections, Ier. 31. 34.that we may practiſe it in our liues; euen as the law of nature written in the heart of Adam by creation, inabled him both to know it, and alſo to imbrace and obey it. So God promiſeth, that vnderunder the Kingdome of Chriſt, he will take away their corruptions of nature, and make them to become new creatures. Yea the Lord hath not onelyonly ſaid, but Eſa. 11. 6, 9.ſworne it, that all who are redeemed out of the hands of our ſpirituall enemies, Luke. 1. 74, 75.ſhall worſhip and ſerue him in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, before him, all the daies of their liues; that is, not by fits and ſtarts, but from the day of their conuerſion, to the day of their death. Againe, the Lord promiſeth to giuegive his Spirit to thoſe that aske him: and our Sauiour, that he will ſend the Comforter, who ſhall leade vsus into all truth, ſo that he ſhall not barely teach Luke. 12. 11. Iohn 16. 13.vsus the way, but guide vsus in it; ſubduing the fleſh with the luſts thereof, and inabling vsus to withſtand the tentations of Satan and the world, to ouercome all difficulties, and to hold out in our profeſſion and practice of true godlineſſe vntounto the end. Moreouer, we may hauehave a ſufficient ground for this ſpeciall faith, if we conſider, that the vertue of Chriſts death being Rom. 6. 4.applied by faith, is as effectuall for the mortifying of our fleſh and ſinfull corruption, as for the taking away of the guilt and puniſhment of our ſins; and that his reſurrection is as powerfull to rayſe vsus vp to newneſſe of life in this world, as to the life of glory in the world to come; and therefore they that hauehave part in Chriſt, may apply him vntounto themſelues by faith, for aſſured ſanctification, as well as for iuſtification or ſaluation; according to that of the Apoſtle: But ye are in Chriſt Ieſus, who is of God made vntounto vsus, wiſedome, and righteouſneſſe, and ſanctification, and redemption, that is, not 1. Cor. 1. 30.onelyonly ſufficient to make vsus holy by imputation of his holineſſe, but by working in vsus inherent holineſſe by his Spirit. Finally, the holy Ghoſt who dwelleth in vsus, is all-ſufficient to perfect the worke which hee hath begun, and will not willingly loſe his labour, in giuing it ouer before he Phil. 1. 6.hath attayned his end. And therefore though our fleſh be neuer ſo rebellious, he both can and will tame and mortify it; though our enemies bee neuer ſo many and malicious, he is all-ſufficient by his owne ſtrength, in our greateſt weakeneſſe to ouercome them. And though we meete with neuer ſo many difficulties, he will ſo aſſiſt and ſtrengthen vsus, that they ſhall not bee able to hinder vsus from proceeding in the way of holineſſe, till we come to our place of happineſſe. Now if by theſe conſiderations we ſtrengthen our fayth in this ſpeciall perſwaſion, that if wee will waite Gods leyſure in the vſe of all good meanes, wee ſhall certainely attayne vntounto that ſanctification which we labour after, it will bee a notable incouragement to make vsus goe on cheerefully in the practice of all duties, which concerne a Chriſtian life; for who would not couragiouſly fight, that is beforehand aſſured of victory? or run a race, that is ſure to come to the goale, and winne the garland? or vndertake waighty and neceſſary enterpriſes, though of great difficultie, if he be throughly perſwaded, that hee ſhall ouercome them? whereas on the other ſide, for want of this faith, or rather this ſpeciall art of application, many deare ſeruants of God are hindred and diſcouraged, from going on, in the duties of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, or elſe proceede with much vncomfortableneſſe and diſquietneſſe, becauſe comparing their weakeneſſe, with the difficulty of the worke, they thinke that they ſhall neuer atchieue it in any meaſure acceptable to God; though in the meane time they want not faith to reſt vponupon the promiſes of the Goſpell, the mercies of God, and merits of Chriſt, for their iuſtification, and the bringing of them to euerlaſting happineſſe?