The Dead Saint Speaking to Saints and Sinners Living, Treatise 3 · Royalty 15
Fifteenth Royalty. 15. Royalty. Faith is an Heart-raiſing-Grace.15. Faith is an Heart-raiſing-Grace.
There is a threefold Death, that Faith doth raiſe up the ſoul from.
1. The Death of Sin.
2. The Death of inward Trouble.
3. The Death of outward Trouble.
1. Faith raiſeth up the ſoul from the Death of Sin. Wee are all of us — Dead (by nature) in treſpaſſes and ſins, Epheſ. 2.1. Dead-Born. And as dead men, ſo wee have no notion to ſpiritual things, no motion, no ſtrength to any good; no ſenſe, being inſenſible of the weight of ſin, inſenſible of mercies and judgements: wee have no deſires after any thing good, no affection to them.
And a Death it is, not only Privative, A meer abſence and privation of ſpiritual life; but a Poſitive Death, wherein there is an Introduction of a Poſitive vitious Habit. As in Natural Death, there is not only a Privation of Life, of the former form: but the Poſition of another form: there is another form left in the body. So in Spiritual Death, there is not only a meer Abſence, a bare Privation of Life: But there is a Poſitive Evil, and Vitious Habit left in the ſoul. Hence, Heb. 9.14. The works of natural men are called — Dead works. There would bee a contradiction in calling them Dead works, if unregenerate men were only deprived of ſpiritual life, and had not another poſitive evil form in them.
Thus dead wee are then, not only Privatively, but Poſitively.
And it is Faith which doth raiſe up the Soul from the Death of Sin, to the Life of Grace. Faith is the Reſurrection of the Soul from under the ſpiritual death, the Death of Sin.
The firſt riſe of the Soul from the Death of Sin, is by beleeving. Vita ſancta a… fide ſumit initium. foreign. Chryſoſt. foreign. Fide regeneramut. Calv. Reſipiſcentia non modo fidem ſubſequitur; ſed ex ea noſcitur. Calv. ibid. foreign. Fides juſtificationem praecipit; ſanctificationem efficit. Tilen.An holy life hath its riſe from Faith. The Fountain of all our ſpiritual Graces. The worker of all good things: That which begets Love, Fear, Repentance. Hence Calvin ſaith, Faith regenerates.
Repentance doth not only follow Faith; but doth ariſe from Faith. Hence Clemens Alexandrinus. — Faith is the firſt awakening, the firſt inclination of the Soul to Christ.
Hence by ſome, Faith, and the New Creation: Faith, and Sanctification do differ as much as the Cauſe and the Effect. — Faith is the Inſtrument of Juſtification: but the efficient of Sanctification.
They, who diſtinguiſh Regeneration, which is part of our Vocation, and Sanctification, do make Faith and Sanctification differ as much as Cauſe, and Effect. Vocation (ſay they) produceth Faith, …nd Faith being begotten produceth Sanctification both habitual and …ctual: Hence it's called the Mother-Grace.
But they (who make Vocation and Sanctification all one, and both to bee nothing elſe but our inherent Righteouſneſs; or thoſe Habits, that frame of Grace implanted in the Soul, (whereof Faith is a part) they do ſay; Faith doth not produce the Cauſe of the Habits of Graces: but Faith produceth the acts of Grace, of Love, Repentance, &c. Faith doth not produce the Habits, but the acts of Grace.
For the clearing of this. Sanctification may bee conſidered as it is either,
In actu primo, vel ſecundo.1. Habitual. Or
2. Actual.
1. For our Habitual Sanctification, There wee ſay, the Spirit of God is the only Cauſe; and Faith is an Effect as well as others: Faith is a part of our inherent Sanctification.
2. For our Actual Sanctification, or as thoſe Habits do act and exerciſe; and there wee ſay, Faith doth help to produce the acts of Grace, of Love, of Repentance, 1 Tim. 1.5. — Love out of a pure heart, and a good Conſcience, and of Faith unfeigned. Faith doth not only lend an hand to its Fellow-Graces, for the perfecting of Grace; but Faith doth help to produce the Acts of Grace; the Acts of Love, of Repentance, Zeal, Patience, &c.
Though at the ſame time they bee all implanted, yet in Nature Faith hath the precedency, and helps to produce the Acts of all the reſt.
As God the Father is before the Son in Nature, yet not in Time. Hee is not a Father till hee have a Son. So is it to bee underſtood concerning Faith, and all other Graces.
2. Faith raiſeth us up from the Death of inward Troubles. As the ſenſe of Gods Love, the apprehenſion of his favour is the life of the Soul, Pſal. 30.5. — In his favour is Life. So the ſenſe of Gods Diſpleaſure is the Death of the Soul, Pſal. 88.10. Shall the Dead ariſe to praiſe thee? Hee ſpeaks of that ſpiritual Deſertion in which hee was, labouring under the ſenſe of Gods wrath and diſpleaſure; which hee calls the Death of the Soul. — Shall the Dead ariſe to praiſe thee? Shall my Soul, dead and ſunk with diſcouragements, and apprehenſions of thy wrath; Shall it ariſe to praiſe thee? So that this is the Death of the Soul.
Now, Faith doth raiſe the Soul up from this Death. When the Soul ſeems to bee ſunk and buried under the apprehenſions of Gods diſpleaſure, is ſlain with diſcouragements, lies gaſping and breathing for comfort. The leaſt touch of the Promiſe by Faith doth raiſe up and revive the Soul, and fetches a man to life again.
All the while that ſenſe works, a man ſinks deeper and deeper into this ſad condition. But let ſenſe ſit ſtill, and Faith come in, and act its part; and the Soul cannot lye ſo low in Trouble, but it will raiſe it up, Pſal. 77.10. — I ſaid, this is my Death; yet will I remember the years of the right hand of the moſt high, &c.
What a precious thing is Faith? It is call'd precious Faith. And ſo it is indeed; that is able to work ſuch wonders in the Soul, in an inſtant.
What a Cordial is this! when a man is in ſwounding, and fainting-fits, that one taſte of the Promiſe by Faith, will fetch him to life again, when the ſoul lies in the duſt, under ſad apprehenſions, heavy Agonies, ſinking and dying; one dram, one grain of Faith, will fetch him to life again, ſet him on his feet again, walking and leaping, and praiſing God. This is precious Faith indeed.
Now, for the manner how Faith doth work for the raiſing up of the Soul from under theſe ſpiritual Troubles, wee will only adde theſe particulars.
1. Faith doth in this condition look back upon ſoul-raiſing-Experiences. It cauſes a man to conſider the dayes of old, the years of ancient time; as David did, in the ſame condition, Pſal. 77.5.
It makes a man revive thoſe former experiences of Gods Love; thoſe former workings; thoſe fore-paſt evidences; thoſe broken Rings, Pledges, Love-tokens, which have paſſed betwixt God, and the Soul.
Such a time hee took mee up into his Chariot, and ſpake friendly to mee: Such a time, I ſate down under his ſhadow, and his Banner over mee was love: Such a time hee took mee down into his Winecellar, staied mee with Flaggons: Such a time hee brake into my ſoul, diſcovered himſelf to mee a Reconciled God; gave mee an earneſt of his love, a teſtimony that hee manifeſted himſelf to mee; came and ſupped with mee; gave mee the White ſtone, the Hidden Manna, the New Name, &c.
This is the Act of Faith. Thus doth it produce the former evidences and experiences of Love; and from theſe doth take up arguments to raiſe the Soul, in this dark condition.
Why, will Faith ſay? Once a Father, and ever a Father. Once a Friend, and never an Enemy. Though wee change, yet God doth not change — With him there is no variableneſs, nor ſhadow of change. His carriage may alter, his heart cannot. His expreſſion may vary, his Affections cannot. God hath ſpoken Peace, and hee will never unſay what hee hath ſaid. Hee hath given mee ſure evidences, and hee will never take them away again, though hee may withhold the comfort of them. Hee that hath been gracious, will bee gracious. Men ſhut their hands, becauſe they have opened them: but becauſe hee hath once opened his hands, hee will never ſhut them.
2. Faith looks upon Soul-raiſing-Promiſes. Such as are not only made for ſupport, but for deliverance. — I will not contend for ever, nor will I bee alwayes wroth, leaſt the Spirit which I have made ſhould fail before mee, and the Soul which I have created. I was angry with him, I hid my face from him. But I will heal him, I will lead him alſo, and restore comfort to him, and to his mourners, Iſa. 57.16, 17, 18. For a moment I have forſaken thee; but with everlaſting kindneſs have I had compaſſion on thee, ſaith the Lord thy Redeemer, &c. Iſa. 54.8, 9, 10, 11. — Zion ſaid, the Lord hath forſaken mee: My God hath forgotten mee! Can a Woman forget her child, that ſhe ſhould not have compaſſion on the Son of her womb? Yea they may: but I will never forget thee. Behold, I have Graven thee upon the Palms of my hands: thy ways are ever in my ſight.
Theſe and ſuch like promiſes Faith looks upon. It doth not ſo much look at the Face of God; Gods outward carriage and expreſſion in the condition, as at the Heart of God, and his inward affection, which lyes in the Promiſe.
Full well Faith knows, The Ground of Comfort doth not lye in the Face of God, the aſpects of God. If ſo, then our comforts could not bee ſtable. This alters, as wee alter, changeth, as wee change: But the ground of Faiths comfort lyes in the Promiſes: and thither it hath recourſe, when from Outward appearance it can get no comfort.
Senſe looks upon the face of God onelyonly, upon his outward preſence: But Faith looks upon the Heart of God in the Promiſe, where it ſees a Calmy heart under a Stormy countenance; inward Smiles, though outward frowns, Inward Affections of Love, under Outward expreſſions of diſpleaſure.
As Joſeph had the affections of a brother, under the expreſſions of an Enemy. Hee could put on expreſſions of an enemy; An angry countenance: but yet not put off Affections of a brother; A loving heart: ſo is it often with God.
And therefore Faith doth view him in The Promiſe, hath recourſe thither; as you ſee poor David had, in the like caſe, Pſal. 77. to the tenth verſe. Hee was in ſad Conditions, and nothing could raiſe him. God abſented himſelf from him: Hee fell to Praying, to Complaining: but yet no comfort came. — Hee complained and his ſpirit was overwhelmed. Hee was ſo farre from Eaſe by this, that his Spirit was more oppreſt. Nay — Hee cald to remembrance times past. All this whie comfort came not in. At laſt hee betakes himſelf to the Promiſe, hath recourſe to the Covenant: and then his Soul revived, ver. 10.
Thus Faith looks upon the firmneſs of the Covenant, the ſtability of the Promiſe, and is raiſed, revived. Read Iſa. 49.14, 15. Iſa. 54. from ſeven to eleven, which are Soul-raiſing-promiſes.
3 Faith lays hold upon a ſoul-raiſing-Chriſt. Upon whom whoſoever doth lay hold, hee will pull him out of the deepeſt waters. If a man under water have hold of any thing above him, it will pull him out, hee ſhall not ſink. So here, when wee are overwhelmed in theſe deep waters; if, by Faith the Soul lay hold on Chriſt, it will bear him up, and bring him forth, John 12.46. — I am come a light into the world (ſaith Chriſt) that whoſoever beleeveth in mee, ſhould not abide in darkneſſe. The leaſt touch of Chriſt by Faith, doth raiſe up and revive the Soul in this ſad Condition.
As the dead man was raiſed to life, and revived, but by touching the dead bones of Eliſha, 2 King. 13.21. ſo the Dead Soul, if it do but touch the Dead and crucified body of Chriſt by Faith, is raiſed up and revived, Such a vertue and influence comes from Chriſt, as doth raiſe up and comfort the Soul.
Thus Faith doth raiſe the heart by laying hold of Chriſt. He, who raiſed up himſelf, will raiſe up all his members. If our head had been ſtill under water, wee had then periſhed: but he being riſen, will raiſe us up alſo being his members.
4 Faith inables a man to put up Soul-raiſing-prayers; indites Soul-raiſing-prayers, ſtrong Prayers, and cries to God. As Prayer helps Faith: So Faith helps Prayer. It inables a man to wreſtle with God, now in the Dark of deſertion, as it did Jacob in the Dark of the Night. Yea, and to wreſtle with him, by his own ſtrength, the ſtrength of his Covenant, of his promiſe, of his Chriſt.
In which Encounter, Faith will take up arguments,
1 From it ſelf.
2 From God.
1 From it ſelf: By preſenting its miſerable Condition in the abſence of God: That all his own work is ready to ſink, and dy, to come to nothing; if hee help not. Oh! (will Faith ſay) Lord, my fleſh fails, my heart fails, my ſtrength fails, my ſpirit fails. Oh! Come down before I dye: come, ſtrengthen the things that are ready to dye in me.
This argument David took up, Pſal. 143.7. — Hear me ſpeedily, O Lord, my ſpirit fails. Oh! Hide not thy face from mee, leſt I bee like unto them that go down into the Pit. So Pſal. 39.10, 12, 13.— Take thy plague from mee, I am conſumed by the stroke of thy hand, &c. Hear my prayer, O Lord, hearken to my cry. Keep not ſilence at my tears, for I am a ſtranger with thee; a ſojourner as all my Fathers were — Oh! ſpare a little, that I may recover ſtrength before I go hence, and be no more.
2 Faith will take up arguments from God.
1 From the juſtice and truth of God, He hath promiſed never to leave nor forſake his people.
2 From the immutability of God. — Thou art JEHOVAH, thou changeſt not: therefore the Sons of Jacob are not conſumed, Mal. 3.6. Thou never repenteſt of thine own work. Thou never haſt wooed my heart, to loſe it again. Thou never tookeſt my heart, to leave it again, and take thy heart clean away. Thou never didſt ſet thy heart on mee, to take it off again.
3 From the power of God. Abraham at a plunge was ſupported with this ſtrong ſtaff of Comfort, when though by Gods command hee was to ſacrifice his Sonne Iſaac, yet hee accounted that God was able to raiſe him up even from the dead, Heb. 11.19. Lord, if thou wilt, thou canſt, Mat. 8.2.
4 From the mercy of God. Lord, thou art gracious and merciful; ready to relieve. It's true, I am a ſinner, but thou art a Saviour. I am ſinful: but thou art mercifull. I am impious; but thou art gracious. I have done that,Ego admiſi undè me damnare potes: Tu non amiſiſti undè me ſalvare ſoles. for which thou mighteſt damn mee: but thou haſt not loſt that, by which thou mayest ſave mee. True, I am not worthy of a ſmile from Heaven. I have deſerved to bee ſent from darkneſs here, to everlaſting darkneſs hereafter: from this partial, to total and univerſal darkneſs. But Lord, proportion not thy dealings to mee, according to my deſervings from thee. Let not the ſtrong God take a pattern from my weakneſs, good God, do not ever remember my evil, leaſt thou forget thine own goodneſs, thine own mercy.O bone Do-… mine, noli recordare malum moum, ne obliviſcaris bonum tuum. But, thou, who art found of them, who ſeek thee not; Oh! Be mercifully found of a ſoul, who ſeeketh thee.
Thus will Faith work it ſelf out of trouble, and gather arguments to prevail with God, for deliverance.
It will take up arguments,
From Soul-raiſing-Attributes.
From Soul-raiſing-Promiſes.
From Soul-raiſing-Relations.
From Soul-raiſing-Experiences.
It will incompaſs God with Gods own ſtrength. And God cannot, becauſe hee will not deny. God will not reject his own ſtrength, not ſtrive againſt his own mercy, not reſiſt his own Spirit, not falſifie his own Truth; but will raiſe up, and revive the Soul.
Thus you ſee, Faith is a Soul-raiſing-Grace. Where Unbeleef holds the ſoul under water, buries the ſoul in theſe ſad conditions; Faith raiſeth up and reviveth it. A beleeving ſoul cannot long lye under trouble. If all the Power, Truth, and Mercy of God will fetch him out, hee ſhall bee ſure to bee delivered. Faith ingages and ſets a work all theſe to help.
Oh! The Reaſon, my Brethren why you lye ſo long in ſpiritual Agonies, buried up in ſpiritual troubles, is, becauſe you let not Faith come in to work for you; let Faith have her perfect work, and it will raiſe you.