The Bibles Abstract and Epitome, Part 94
Faith and Hope.
FAith is the ground of things hoped for, and the evidence of things which areHeb. 11. 1. Ioh. 1. 12. Rom. 3. 2…. 1 Cor. 3. 14. Ioh. 14. 17. Matth. 10. 20. Eph. 2. 8. Gal. 2. 3. Rom. 3. 24. Rom. 5. 1, 18, 19 Eph. 2. 8, 9. Gal. 2. 16, 21. Ga…. 5. 4. Chap. 3. 11. Tit. 3. 5. Jam. 2 …7, 22, 26. not seen, being an assured affiance in Christ, and in the Father through him, certifying the Conscience that our sinnes are forgiven, and the damnation of the Law taken away: As also that whatsoever God hath spoken in his word shall come to passe. It is the only instrument, and excellent gift of God to man, wherewith he doth receive all the Divine Graces, the gifts of the Spirit, all whatsoever good, Christ, or whatsoever blessednesse he hath wrought for us, for our Salvation.
Object. Doth Faith only justifie?
Answ. Faith only justifieth before God: we are saved by Grace through Faith, not through works, saith the Apostle, lest any man should boast himselfe: Workes justifie before man (so saith Saint Iames) shew me thy faith by thy works, &c. for Faith without works is dead.
Faith is like a Rock, the gates of Hell shall not prevaile against it: the mysterie whereof is strange to carnall reason, dark to the work, Learning cannot reach it; Wisdome is offended at it, Nature is astonished at it, the devils do not know it, men do persecute it, few only attain it. As there is no way for life so easie, so is there none so hard: easie to whom it is given from above, hard to carnall sense not yet inspired.
Hope is a patient expectation of Gods presence, and an affiance in all thingsPsal. 37. 5, 7. Prov. 16. 3. whatsoever art for to come.
Faith and Hope how differing.
1. Faith is a spirituall Prudence: Hope is a spirituall Fortitude: Faith resteth in the Understanding: Hope resteth in the will: Yet cannot they be separated,Exod. 37. 9. the one having respect to the other, as the two Cherubims of the MercieMercy seat which could not be covered.
2. They differ in respect of their office, that is, of their working: Faith tels what is to be done, it teacheth, prescribeth, and directeth, and is a Knowledge.
Hope stirr…th up the minde, that it may be strong, bold, and couragious, and is an Expectation.
They differ as touching the Object, that is the Matter whereon they look.
Faith Hath for her Object the Truth, teaching us to cleave thereunto surely, looking upon the Word and Promise of things promised.
Hope Hath for her object, the Goodness of God, looking upon the things promised in the word, that is upō such matters as Faith teacheth to be hoped for.
4. They differ in Order.
Faith is the beginning of life before all Tribulation.Heb. 11. 17. Rom. 5. 5.
Hope cometh afterwards proceeding from Tribulation.
They differ in diversitie of working.
Faith Is a Teacher and a Judge, sightinig against …rours and heresies, JudgingMartin Luther on Galat. spirits and doctrines.
Hope Is as it were the Generall and Captain of the field against tribulation, the Crosse, impatiencie, heavinesse of spirit, weaknesse, desperation, &c. waiting for good things in the midst of evill.
Through Faith
Abel offered unto God a better sacrifice then Cain did.Heb. 11. 4.
Abraham Obeyed God when he called him, abode as stranger in the land promised him: as also offered up his sonne Isaac, as the LordJoh. 8. 56. Heb. 11. 8.commanded him, trying him.Rom. 4. 20.
King Asa Overcame the Ethiopians, being an hoste of many thousands, saying, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, 2 Chron. 14.or with them that have no power.
Barak, Iephthah, and Samson, overcame many an one.Heb. 11. 32. Mat. …. Ioh… 9. Matth. 8. Act. 14.
Blinde men received sight, being by Christ restored to them.
The Centurions servant was healed, and the Centurion commended.
The Creeple was healed: his Faith being by Paul perceived.Ps. …6. 1, &c.
Caleb said, Let us go up at once, to wit, against the Amalekites, Hittites, &c. for undoubtedly we shall overcome them.Numb. 13. 31. Dan. 6. 16. Heb. 11. 35.
Darius beleeved that Daniel should be delivered from the Lion.
Daniel stopped the mouth of the Lion that he could not hurt him.
David overcame Goliah the Philistine in the Name of the Lord.1 Sā. 17. Act. 13. Act. 8. Rom. 11. Act. 16. 2 Sa. 23. 5. Psal. 3. 6. & 6. 8. & 7. 10. & 11. …. & 23. 4. & 49. 5. 15. Gen. 5. 22. Heb. 11. 21▪ Heb. 11. 22. Heb. 11. 22. Heb. 11. 29. Job 13. & 19. 26. 1 Sam. 14. 2 Chron. 20. Matth. 8. 2. Iohn 11. 22. Luk. 7. Matth. 9. 2.
The Deputie seeing Gods judgement on Elimas, beleeved Gods word.
The Eunuch became a Christian, being by Philip converted.
The Gentiles were called: The Jewes being for a time rejected.
The Gaoler was converted by Saint Paul, with all his houshold.
Henoch walking with the Lord was translated.
Isaac blessed Iacob and Esau concerning things to come.
Iacob when he was dying blessed Manasseh and Ephraim.
Ioseph made mention of Israels departing from the Egyptian.
Israelites passed thorow the red sea as on dry land.
Iob said his Redeemer lived; and though he sl…w him, he would trust in him.
Ionathan said, it was not hard with God to save with few, or many.
Iehoshaphat overcame the Moabites and people of Mount Seirs army.
The Leper was cleansed by Christ, as Christ himselfe confessed.
Martha beleeved that the Lord would give Christ what he asked.
Magda…ene was saved, having many sinnes by Christ pardoned.Luk. 1. 45.
The man sick of the palsie, and the sonne of the Father were cured.
Through Faith
Godly men were racked, and would not be delivered, were tryed by mockings, by imprisonment and scourgings, were stoned, hewen asunder, and tempted, wandring up and down in beasts skinsHeb. 11. 35. in the wildernesse, as also lived in caues, dens & mountains.
Men Walk, and not by sight: saying, though the earth be moved, and the2 Cor. 5. 7. Psal. 46. 2. John 1. 12. Epl…s. 3 12. Ioh. 5 24. Rom. 3. 28. Heb. 11 3. Ma…k 16. 17. Joh. 25. 3. Act. 15. 9. 1 Pet. 4. 9. Mark 11. 23. mountains fall, yet they will not feare.
Men Are made the Children of God, receive the Promises, escape condemnation, are justified without works, have boldnesse and entrance unto Christ: Understand that the world was made by the Word of God: They overcome the world, and the devill: their hearts are purified▪ being by the Word made cleane, and all things desired of God in the Name of Christ are given.
Mountaines are removed (saith Christ) that is sin the burden of man.
Moses was three moneths after his birth hid by his parents, and made choice to suffer adversitie with the Israelites, rather then to beHeb. 11. 23. Act. 7. 22. Heb. 11. 7. Joh. 1. 49. & 6. 69. Neh. 4. 20. called the sonne of Pharaohs daughter.
Noah prepared the Ark to save himselfe therein, and other.
Nathaneel and Peter confessed Christ to be the Son of God.
Nehemiah seeing many dangers imminent, put his trust in the Lord.
The Prophets Obtained the promises, stopped the mouthes of Lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, of weak were made strong, waxed valiant in the battell, andHeb. 11. 33. Ps. 116. 10 & 118. 7. Act. 27. 25. turned to flight the army of the Aliants.
Rahab was saved, when all they in Jericho else perished.1 Pet. …. 15. Heb. 11. …1. Joh. 4. 50. Heb. 11. 11. 1 King. 17. Ioh. 4. 42.
The Ruler concerning his sonnes health, beleeved the Word of God.
Sarah being a long time barren, in her old age conceived.
The son of the woman of Zarephath was from death to life raised.
Samaritanes said that Christ was the Saviour of the world in deed.
Shadrach Said, Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us out of thy hand: Dan. 3. 17.but if he will not, yet will not we fall down, and worship the image erected by thee.
Sergius beleeved, being astonied at the word by Paul preached.Act. 13. Gal. 3. 2. Ro. 10. 17. Act 2. Matth. 15. Luk. 8. 43. Heb. 11. 35. 1 King. 17. 24.
The Spirit is received not by works of the Law, but by faith preached.
Three thousand souls were at one Sermon of Peters converted.
The womans daughter of Canaan, and the woman of the bloudy issue were healed.
Women had (saith Paul) their dead to life again raised.
Faith Is that whereby the just man liveth (saith the Prophet.)Gal. 3. 14, 26. & 5. 6. Sphes. 3. 17.Hab. 2. 4.
Faith Is that whereby we please God: nothing can without it.
Faith Is the victory by which the world is overcome.1 Iob. 5. 4. Gal. 5. 6. Idem. Iames. 1 Pet. 1. 9. Rom. 14. 2….
Faith Working by love availeth in Jesus Christ alone.
Is the Christian mans life towards God inwardly.
And Charitie towards his neighbour (saith the Apostle) outwardly.
The end of Faith is the Salvation of man, what is done without faith is sinne.
Use.
1. Doth Faith only justifie before God? Then this condemnes
The Jewes, who think to be saved by their Moses Law without Christ
The Philosophets, who think to be saved by their morall vertues without Christ
The Turkes, who think to be saved by their Alcaron without Christ
The Papists, who think to be saved by their merits and Christ
The Heathens, who think to be saved by their idols not knowing Christ
The Atheists, who thinke there is no Salvation or Resurrection by Christ
Is Faith so pretious? strive then to obtain, which albeit it be implicite, yet remember what Saint Augustine saith,
Ʋse. Si credis, caves; si caves, conaris; & conatum novit Deus, & voluntatem inspicit, & luctum cum carne considerat, & hortatur ut pugnes, & adjuvat ut vincas, & certantem spectat, & deficientem Judg. l. 20. Psal. 27. 14. & 20. …. Ephes. 6. 16.sublevat, & vincentem coronat.
If thou have Faith, thou wilt attend to thy Faith, and God knoweth thy endevour,August. in Psal. 32. Isai. 42. 3. and considereth thy strivings with thy flesh, and looketh into thy will, and exhorteth thee to the sight, and helps thee that thou maist overcome, and beholds thy striving, and proppeth thee when thou art falling, and crowneth thee overcomming.
Hope.
Abraham and Isaac expected long till they had children.Act. 2. 26. & 24. 15. Psal. 16. 9. & 20. 7. 2 Cor. 1. 20.Gen. 21. Act. 1. Gal. 4. 4. Gen. 15. Iob 19. 25. Act. 7. 1…. Luke 2. 25: Luk. 18.
Apostles expected the accomplishment of Christs Promise at Jerusalem.
The Elect looked a long time, till Christ came in fulnesse of time.
Israelites waited foure hundred yeeres in Egypt to be delivered.
Iob still remained, and Moses fortie yeeres with Iethro lived.
Simeon waited long till Christ was by him embraced.
Ʋse. The woman continued suing to the Judge that God nor man feared.1 Cor. 15. 19. 1 Joh. 3. 2, 3. Heb 6 18▪ 19. H…sd. 5. 14. & 1…. 29. Psal. 3…. 24. 2 Cor. 4. 18.
Experience bringeth forth Hope, Hope maketh not ashamed.Rom. 5. 5. Chap. 8. 24. Isai. 3. 23. Lam. 3. 24.
By Hope we are saved, but hope that is seen is not hope.
The hope of the hils is but vain, but in the Lord is health.
The Lord is my Portion, therefore will I hope in him.
Use.
Hope then in the Lord, be strong, and he shall comfort thy heart.Psal. 27. 14. 1 Pet. 1. 3.
Blessed be God, who hath through Christ begotten us to a lively Hope.Rom. 15. 3. Psal. 27. 14.
Reade Rom. 10. 17. Phil. 1. 29. Iam. 1. & 2. 1 Ioh. 5. Mar. 9. 23. Ps. 57. 1. Ps. 77. 1. &c.
Of Divine Dreames.
There are three kindes of dreames, Naturall,
There are three kindes of dreames, Spirituall,
There are three kindes of dreames, Diabolicall.
Naturall Flow from over-ruling humours in a mans body, and by multitude of businesse, whereby it commeth to passe that men dreame according to their Constitutions.
Men of Sanguine Constitutions, of Love, lightnesse, pleasant things.
Men of Cholericke Constitutions, of Warres, strifes, brawls.
Men of …egmaticke Constitutions, of Waters, windes, stormes, &c.
Men of Melancholie Constitutions, of Sad matters, of death, &c.
From whence likewise it commeth to passe,
Dreames of
The Ambitious
The Angry
The Citizen
The Drunkard
The Epicure
The Hypocrite
The Hunter
The Jesuite
The proud man
The proud woman
Honours.
Spoyles.
Tricks and Frauds
Ouaffings.
Daintydishes and Fat Morsels.
Distimulation.
Venison.
Treason.
Fashions.
Paintings.
The jealous man
The Lawyer
The lustfull
The Musitian
The Souldier
The Seminary the secure man
The Timerous
The Thiefe
The Usurer
Dreames of
His wives errours.
Quirkes and Demurres.
Embracings.
Crochets.
Encounters.
Equivocations.
Delghtfulnesse.
Dangers.
Robberies.
His Bonds and Trunkes.
Secundum Dictum, Nascitur ex studiis praetoritis Somnium.
What man desires in the day, he dreames in the night.
2. Spirituall Have been such as have been knowne, either of the party, or of some other, who have had the true interpretation thereof, such was Iacobs, Pharaohs, &c.
3. Diabolicall Are illusions wherewith Satan vexeth those that are his, to wit, Witches, Sorcerers, &c.
Where much carefulnesse is, there are many dreames, but who so regardeth dreamsEccl. 5. 2. is like him that will take hold of a shadow, and follow after the winde.
Southsayi…g, witchcraft, …orcerie, and dreaming is but vain; whereas visions comeEcclus. 34. 2. not of God, set not thy heart upon them; for dreames deceive many a man that pu… thei… trust therein.
In a Dreame
Abimelech was told by the Lord that he was but a dead man, for taking Abrahams wi…e in house to him.Gen. 20. Dan. 7. Gen. 28. Iob 7. 14. Gen. 37. Gen. 31. 11.
Daniel had divers visions upon his bed shewed him.
Iacob saw a ladder on the earth whose top reached to Heaven.
Iob saw visions, yea, such as terrified him.
Ioseph Saw his Sheafe arise and stand upright, and his brothers Sheaves to do reverence unto his, as likewise the Sunne, the Moon, and the eleven starres to reverence him.
Ioseph The supposed Father of Christ, was willed by an Angell not toMatt. 1. & 2. feare to take Mary his wife unto him, as also to fly into Egyp… with Christ to preserve him.Iudg. 7. Gen. 31. Gen. 41. Chap. 40. Matth. 27.
An Israelite saw a barly Loafe tumbling into the Hoste of Midian.
Laban was commanded to speake good unto Iacob meeting him.
Pharaoh saw seven leane kine, and seven fat fed: And his butler saw vines, his baker a basket over his head.
Pilates wife suffered many things, because of Christ, as she confessed.
Nebuchadnezzar Saw a great image, whose had was gold, brests and armesDan. 2. Chap. 4. silver, belly and thigh brasse, legges iron, and feet part i…on part clay. As also a great Tree that foreshewed unto him his ensuing miserie.
Salomon was willed by God to aske what he should give him.
The wise men were warned by God to return another way home again.
In a Dreame
And Visions of the night when sleep falleth upon men, and they sleep uponJob 7. 14. Wisd. 18. 19.their beds, the Lord then openeth even the eares of men, even by their Corrections which he had sealed, that he might cause men to turneIob 33. 15. &c. away from his enterprize: and that he might hide the pride of man, and keep back his soul from the pit, and that his life should not passe by the sword.