The Whole Duty of Divine Meditation, Part 2 · Meditation 16
MED. XVI. Of Divine Faith.
Heb. xi. i.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
LET us now consider the Efficacy of Faith, and offer up an Oblation of Praise and Thanksgiving unto him who is the only Giver of it. It is that alone which ingrafts us into the Body of Christ; and as Branches extract their Sap from the Vine, so from him proceeds Life, Righteousness, and Salvation. Adam, in his pristine State, fell, and lost his Divine Image, by his Incredulity; but we are restor'd again by Grace; and the Image of the Almighty, by Faith, is renewed in us. By this Faith, Christ dwells in our Hearts; and where He inhabits, there His Grace resides, and an Assurance of an Inheritance of Eternal Life.
II. AND as the Effects of Faith are Wonderful in their Operation, so they are Exemplary in their Demonstrations: For, By Faith, Abel offered unto God a greater sacrifice than Cain, Heb. 11. 4. So, by Faith, we are enabled to offer Omnipotency spiritual Sacrifices; that is, the Fruit of our Lips, Heb. 13. 15. And, by Faith, Enoch was translated, Heb. 11. 5. So that Vertue withdraws us from the Society of the World, and invites us to place our Conversation in Heaven, Phil. 3. 20. By Faith, Noah prepared an Ark, Heb. 11. 7. So we, by that Theological Virtue, are received into that Church wherein our Souls are preserved, amidst all the Storms and Tempests which happen in the World.
III. BY Faith, Abraham left an idolatrous Land, and went into a strange Countrey, in Expectation of the Promised Land, Heb. 11. 8, 9. So by the Energy of that Vertue, we depart this World, forsaking all that is near and dear to us, expecting to arrive at that Celestial Ierusalem which God hath prepared in the Heavens, Rev. 21. 2. We are Strangers and Pilgrims on this side Heaven, and travel, by Faith, unto a heavenly Countrey. By Faith, Moses chose rather to suffer Affliction with the People of God, than to enjoy the Pleasures of Sin for a season, Heb. 11. 25. So Faith animates us to contemn the World, and to despise the Glory, Honour, Riches and Pleasures of it; and excites our Minds to Eternal Felicities.
VI. BY Faith, Israel kept the Passover, Heb. 11. 28. So we, by the Eye of Faith, celebrate the Lord's Supper; where Christ is the Paschal Lamb, whose Flesh is meat indeed, and whose Blood is drink indeed, Joh. 6. 55. By Faith, Rahab was saved, Heb. 11. 31. So, in the universal Conflagration of this World, we shall be saved from Destruction. By Faith, the Fathers overcame Kingdoms, stopt the Mouths of Lions, and quenched the force of fire, Heb. 11. 33. So we, by Faith, destroy the Kingdom of the Prince of Darkness, escape the Treacheries and Rage of the infernal Lion, and are deliver'd from Hell's implacable Malice, and everlasting Burnings.
V. NOW, Faith is not a naked Opinion, and slender Profession; but a true and lively Apprehension of Christ propounded to us in the Gospel, a full Assurance of his Grace residing in us, the Tranquillity of our Souls, which relies only upon Christ's Merits. This Faith is fructified of the Seed of the Sacred Word, whereby the Holy Spirit and this Vertue is united. Now, Faith resembles a spiritual Illumination; for our Hearts are illustrated by its Splendor, and the Rays of a Life of Sanctity shines forth: Evil Actions are the Works of Darkness; and, What communion (saith the Apostle) is there between light and darkness? 2 Cor. 6. 14. Deeds of Darkness are the Seeds of Satan, but a lively Faith proceeds from Christ; and, What communion is there between Christ and Satan? 2 Cor. 6. 5.
VI. LASTLY, By Faith, our Hearts are purified; but no Internal Purity can center where the Words and External Actions are defiled. St. Iohn tells ye, That Faith is the victory which overcometh the world, 1 Joh. 5. 4. Now, there cannot be a true Faith fixed, where the Flesh vanquisheth the Spirit, and leadeth it away Captive into the Law of Sin. No impenitent Sinner, that persevereth in his Sins, can be Partaker of Life Eternal; neither can he, without true Repentance, claim any Privilege or Share in the Merits of Christ Jesus. Kindle in us, O God, the Light of True Faith, that by the Vertue of it, and Thy alone Merits, we may obtain Eternal Salvation, and reign with Thee for evermore, in Thy Kingdom of Glory, World without end, Amen.