Memorables of the Life of Faith, Text
Memorables of the Life of FAITH, Taken out of Mr. B's Sermon, Preached before the King at Whitehall. Publiſhed thus for the Poor that want Money and Memory.
By one Deſirous to promote the common Salvation.
Hebrews 11. 1.
Faith is the ſubſtance of things hoped for, the Evidence of things not ſeen.
Q. 1. WHat means the Apoſtle by theſe words? A. He means, that tho' the glory promiſed to Believers, and expected by them, be yet to come, and only hoped for; and be yet unſeen, and only believed: yet is the ſound Believer as truly affected with it, and acted by its attractive force, as if it were preſent and before his eyes. Or thus; That the Nature and Vſe of Faith is to be as it were inſtead of Preſence, Poſſeſſion, and Sight. Or, to make the things that will be, as if they were already in exiſtence; and the unſeen things which God revealeth, as if our bodily eyes beheld them.
It is true, 1. Faith changes not its Objects. 2. Nor gives it the ſame DEGREE of Apprehenſion or Affection, as the ſight of preſent things doth give. No; but,
1. Things Inviſible are Objects of our Faith.
2. And Faith is effectual inſtead of ſight of them.
It is ſo unto four Uſes; namely, 1. The Infallibility of our Apprehenſions. 2. The Determination of our Wills choice. 3. The Moving of our Affections in the degree neceſſary unto Holineſs. 4. The Ruling in our Lives, and bringing us thro' Duty and Sufferings for the ſake of the Happineſs believed.
Q. 2. Do you count Faith an Infallible ſort of Knowledge then? Why ſo?
A. Why, 1. So ſpeaks the Scripture, Joh. 6. 69. And we believe and are ſure that thou art that Chriſt, the Son of the living God; Rom. 8. 28. And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpoſe; 1 Cor. 15. 58. Therefore my beloved Brethren, be ye ſtedfaſt, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, foraſmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord 2. Believers know, as ſure as they know there is a God, that God is true, and his Word true; Heb. 6. 18. That by two immutable things, in which it was impoſſible for God to lie, we might have a ſtrong conſolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope ſet before us; Titus 1. 2. In hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lie, promiſed before the world began. 3. They know that the Holy Scripture is the Word of God, by his Image which it beareth, the Evidencs of Divinity which it containeth, and the many Miracles by which it is confirmed. God, beſides this, gives them to believe, Phil. 1. 29. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Chriſt, not only to believe on him, but alſo to ſuffer for his ſake; Eph. 2. 8. For by grace are ye ſaved, through faith, and that not of your ſelves: it is the gift of God. 4. And Believers have the Spirit of Chriſt within them to actuate Faith, and help them againſt Temptations; 1. Cor. 2. 12. Now we have received, not the ſpirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 5. Spiritual Experiences alſo advantage Faith. They have part of the Holy Scripture verified in themſelves, and that much confirms their Faith of the whole. 6. Likewiſe very Nature affords us undeniable Arguments to prove a future Happineſs and Miſery. And that doth exceedingly help us in the Faith of the Supernatural Revelation of it. 7. And thoſe that have ſeen the Objects of our Faith, have given us their Infallible Testimony; Joh. 1. 18. No man hath ſeen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the boſom of the Father, he hath declared him; Joh. 3. 11. Verily, verily I ſay unto thee, We ſpeak that we do know, and testifie that we have ſeen; and ye receive not our witneſs; 1 Joh. 1. 1, 2, 3. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have ſeen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the word of life: (For the life was manifeſted, and we have ſeen it, and bear witneſs, and ſhew unto you that eternal life which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us.) That which we have ſeen and heard, declare we unto you, that ye alſo may have fellowſhip with us; and truly our fellowſhip is with the Father, and with his Son Jeſus Chriſt. Add 8. Satan's rage againſt the Life of Faith diſcovers there is more than a fancy in it.
Q. 3. But why would not God let us have the SIGHT of Heaven and Hell; being that would have prevailed for our Converſion more generally and more certainly?
A. 1. Who are you that dare diſpute againſt God? Shall the thing formed ſay to him that formed it, why haſt thou made me thus? 2. It is fit God's Government ſuit the nature of its ſubject. Your Nature is a reaſonable one. And Reaſon is made to apprehend more than we ſee: and by reaching beyond Senſe, to carry us to ſeek nobler things than Senſe can reach. Should a man underſtand no more than he ſees? a wiſe man and a fool, and a man and beaſt would then be very like. In worldly matters, men can go to much coſt and pains for things they never ſaw; why not in ſpiritual matters? You ſhall believe God's Promiſes, if you have ever the Benefit of them; and believe his Threatnings, if ever you eſcape the Evils threatned. If the Reward and Puniſhment were ſeen, what ſhould difference wiſe men and fools good men and bad? No man plays the Adulterer in the face of the Aſſembly. No Thief will ſteal before the Judge.
Q. 4. Who is it (then) that with you goes for a Believer, or a Chriſtian?
A. 1. He is one that lives as if he ſaw the Lord; that in ſome meaſure ſo lives. He does all, as if he ſaw God ſtand by. All the day he waits on God, Pſal. 25. 5. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my ſalvation, on thee do I wait all the day. 2. He is one that liveth on a Chriſt whom he never ſaw. Lives on him with Truſt in him, Adherence to him, Love of him, Joy in him, 1 Pet. 1. 8. Whom having not ſeen, ye love, in whom though now ye ſee him not, yet believing, ye rejoyce with joy unſpeakable and full of glory. 3. He is one that judges of men by their inviſible inſides. Pitying the ungodly who pity not themſelves, becauſe they ſee not what he ſees. And admiring the inward beauty of the Saints, thro' all their poverty ſeeing God's Image. Valuing none for ſtature, complexion, cloaths, or learning, &c. Pſal. 15. 4. In whoſe eyes a vile perſon is contemned: but he honoureth them that fear the Lord: he that ſweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 4. He is one that ſeeks a Happineſs that he never ſaw; and that with a greater eſtimation and reſolution than he ſeeks any things that he hath ſeen. 5. He is one, that, all his life, prepareth for a day that is yet to come; and for the preſence of his Judge. One, that is asking, O what Life and Actions will be ſweeteſt upon review when I come to my doom! Not ſo much caring, what will now beſt pleaſe the fleſh, and ingratiate with men. 6. He is one careful to prevent a threatned miſery that he never felt; and a place of torment that he never ſaw.— Other Faiths are ineffectual Dreams. And (remember) to dream you are Princes, may conſiſt with Beggery.
1. O how rare a Jewel is true Faith?
2. And how weak in Faith are the moſt of true Believers? [Even as Dying men are weak in Body.]
3. How plain is the reaſon, that Believers are ſeriouſly holy, juſt, and charitable? They are men that do ſee the Lord, ſee Heaven, ſee Hell. Their Faith ſees them all in the Glaſs of Divine Revelations.
4. How plain is the reaſon, that Vnbelievers are careleſs of their hearts and ways; and mock at Believers care, and take them for fools and mad men? Poor wretches, they do not ſee the things that Believers ſee. If they ſaw the King of glory, as Believers do ſee him, they muſt reverence him as Believers do reverence him.
Q. 5. Does it not concern every man, then, to make ſure of this Faith? This, that is given to make things to come as if they were at hand, and things unſeen as if we ſaw them.
A. It doth infinitely concern every man. For, 1. It is not ſo common a thing, as moſt do imagine it. 2. Till you have it, you are no living Members of Chriſt. 3. Till you have it, you are at enmity with God. 4. Till you have it, you are under the guilt of all your ſins. No one of them is forgiven. 5. Till you have it, you will be carnally minded: and thro' the carnal end you will have in them, your works that be good materially, will be corrupt and fleſhly. 6. Till you have it, you have no right to Heaven; Joh. 3. 16, 18, 36. For God ſo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoſoever believeth in him, ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting life. He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not, is condemned already, becauſe he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God. He that believeth on the Son, hath everlaſting life: and he that believeth not the Son, ſhall not ſee life: but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Q. 6. Well, how ſhall I know whether I have this true Faith and ſaving, tho' in the leaſt and loweſt degree of it?
A. All that have it, tho' in the loweſt degree, will have theſe four ſigns of it within them. 1. A Practical Eſtimation of things unſeen, above all earthly things. 2. An Habitual Inclination of heart to embrace unſeen things freely, delightfully, and reſolutely; above and againſt earthly things. 3. A Bent of Life for God, and for unſeen Bleſſedneſs, as in Reſolution, ſo in Practice. 4. A Diſpoſition to let go all ſenſible poſſeſſions, when they be inconſiſtent with ſpiritual Hopes and Happineſs; Luk. 14. 33. So likewiſe, whoſoever he be of you, that forſaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my diſciple. Theſe you will have, if Faith be the Eye you do ſee by for the conduct of your Life.
Q. 7. If Faith be the Eye by which I do ſee, whereby ſhould I quicken my ſelf to live by it? Or if it be not, wherewithal ſhould I ſtir up my ſelf to ſeek Faith and the Life of Faith?
A. Put to thy Heart theſe queſtions, frequently and ſeriouſly. Q. 1. What ſhould I be, if I ſaw the Lord continually before me? And that as verily as I ever ſee a man? If I ſaw him as Moſes ſaw him, Exod. 34. Or as John ſaw him, Rev. 1. 13. And in the midſt of the ſeven Candleſticks, one like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. Or as St. Paul ſaw him, Acts 9. Q. 2. What ſhould I be if I had ſeen the things that God hath done already in time paſt? If I had ſeen the World drowned and the Ark ſaved; Sodom and Gomorrah burned, and the righteous Lot ſaved; Pharaoh and his Hoſt ſwallowed up of the red Sea, and the Iſraelites ſaved? And the like memorables of the H. Scripture. Q. 3. What ſhould I be, if I ſaw the glory of Heaven above? If I were rapt up but into the third Heaven, and had ſeen what St. Paul ſaw. If I had ſeen what St. Stephen ſaw before his Death. If I had ſeen Lazarus in Abraham's Boſom? Q. 4. What ſhould I be, if I ſaw the face of Death, and were under the power of a mortal ſickneſs, and were given over by all Phyſicians and Friends? Or had a Meſſenger from God to tell me, I muſt die to morrow? Q. 5. What ſhould I be if I ſaw the great and dreadful day of Judgment as Chriſt doth deſcribe it? Mat. 25. If I ſaw that fulfilled which St. Paul ſpeaks, 2 Theſ. 1. 7, 8, 9 And to you who are troubled reſt with us, when the Lord Jeſus ſhall be revealed from Heaven, with his mighty Angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Who ſhall be puniſhed with everlaſting deſtruction from the preſence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. Q. 6. What ſhould I be if I heard Satan accuſing me for all my ſins unto God, and calling for juſtice againſt me? Q. 7. What ſhould I be, if I had ſeen and did now ſee the Damned in their miſeries? If I heard them cry out of the folly and ſelf-deſtruction of their careleſs lives; And wiſhing one were ſent from the dead unto me to warn me that I come not unto their place of torment? Q. 8. What ſhould I be, if in my Temptations unto ſin, I ſaw the Devil the Tempter, and heard him hiſſing me on to ſin, to Swear, Curſe, Rail, Lie, Scorn a holy Life? O ſhould I then ever chuſe to be ungodly, or be patient of ſo being? Nay,
Q. 1. Should I not ſay in my heart, that the moſt gainful ſin is worſe than madneſs? Q. 2. Should I not plead for the moſt ſerious Godlineſs? Q. 3. Should I ever be offended with a Miniſter again, for plaineſt Reproof, and cloſeſt Exhortation? Or for too much and plain Preaching? Q. 4. Should I not hear at another rate than ever yet I heard a Sermon? Q. 5. Should I not give over my greedy purſuit of worldly Wealth and Credit? Q. 6. Should I ever be drawn away by Temptations again as I have been? Q. 7. Should I ever ſtick at ſufferings when God calls for them from me? Q. 8. Should I not highly value Chriſt, his Spirit, his Grace, his Promiſes, his Word, his Ordinances? Q. 9. Should I ever be quiet under uncertainty of my Reconciliation unto God? Q. 10. Should I not then be all for Peace, Quietneſs and Love, with all that love the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and are ſeeking inviſible things?
1. O live not too much on things viſible!
2. Live upon the things inviſible.
3. Promote the Life of Faith in others. Remember,
1. Worldlineſs is a loathſom Diſeaſe. To live by Senſe, is to ſtand on ones head, and to turn ones heels toward Heaven. 'Tis unnatural.
2. Vnſeen things be the only great and neceſſary ones.
3. Faith is the Souls Wiſdom, Senſuality is very Blindneſs.
4. Viſible things are tranſitory. They be things that are not.
5. Things viſible, by their changing, give us a diſgraceful mutability. Fill us with diſappointments and vexations.
6. Fore-ſeeing Faith is of neceſſity unto your Eternal bleſſed Life.
7. Vnſeen things kept duly in your thoughts will ſerve you excellently unto theſe things.
1. They will repel your Temptations.
2. Quicken you to your Duties.
3. Inſtruct you to chooſe your Companies.
4. Furniſh you with daily Comforts and Satisfaction.
Things Sublunary be ſomething or nothing as they relate unto Eternity. We judge of Means, as they conduce unto their Ends. I deſire to know no mercy in any other Form or Name; and to value none upon any other account. Idem alicubi.
I have lived a ſweet Life by Gods Promiſes, and I hope, through Grace, can die by a Promiſe. They be Gods Promiſes can ſtand by us. Through them Life is mine, Death is mine. God's Covenant is all my Salvation and all my deſire.
Joſ. Alleyn foreign.
O that I could by the effectualneſs of Contemplation behold the greatneſs of the heavenly Felicity which is provided for me! Yet, as I can conceive it, I cannot chuſe but long to be abſent from hence, that I may be preſent with the Lord▪
J. Ratliff.
Theſe Four Books are lately Publiſhed by Mr. Baxter. 1. Engliſh Nonconformity, truly ſtated and argued. 2. A Treatiſe of Knowledge and Love. 3. Cain and Abel; or Enmity to ſerious Godlineſs Lamented. 4. Scripture Goſpel Defended, and Chriſt, Grace and free Juſtification vindicated.
London, Printed for Tho. Parkhurſt at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapſide near Mercers Chapel▪ 1690.
End of the text · Richard Baxter, Memorables of the Life of Faith (1690)