Scripture Light the Most Sure Light, Sermon 19 – Title page 3

Scripture Light the Most Sure Light · Sermon 19 – Title page 3

p. 327THE CURE OF Diſcouragements, BY FAITH IN Jeſus Chriſt.

Sermon XIII.

PSALM, 42.11.

Why art thou caſt down, O my Soul?Stepney, June 25. 1648. and why art thou diſquieted within me? Hope in God; or, wait thou, or, truſt thou in God.

YOU have heard of the Saints Diſcouragements, and the unreaſonableneſs of them: there is no juſt cauſe, or reaſon for their Diſcouragements. Would you now hear of ſome means againſt them? The Pſalmiſt ſaith in theſe words, Hope thou in God, or truſt thou in God, or wait thou on God. And ſo the Doctrine plainly, is this: p. 328Doct. Faith is the Help againſt all Diſcouragements.

Hoping, Truſting, Waiting on God, is the ſpecial, if not the only means, appointed againſt all Diſcouragements. I had verily fainted, unleſs I had beleeved (ſaith David) to ſee the goodneſs of the Lord in the Land of the Living: I had fainted, unleſs I had beleeved. Faith bears up the heart againſt all Diſcouragements.

For your more cleer underſtanding of this Truth, and our better proceeding, I ſhal labor,

Firſt: To ſhew you what it is to Hope, Truſt in God, or to Wait on him.

Secondly: That Faith doth quiet ones heart in the times of Diſcouragements.

Thirdly: That it is the Duty of all the Saints, and People of God, when Diſcouragements do ariſe, then, and then especially to truſt in God, and to exerciſe their Faith.

Fourthly: VVhat there is in Faith that can bear up the heart againſt all Diſcouragements, and how Faith doth it.

Queſt. 1 Firſt: If ye ask, VVhat it is to Hope in God, to Truſt in God, and to VVait on him?

Anſw. I Anſwer: That to Hope in God, is to expect Help from God: To Truſt in God, is to rely, or reſt upon God for Help: And to wait on him, is to continue, and abide in this Expectation, or Relyance. Properly, according to Scripture Phraſe, Truſting in God, is the Recumbency, or the Relyance of the ſoul upon God in Chriſt for ſome good thing that lies out of ſight. I ſay firſt, it is the Recumbency, or Relyance of the ſoul upon God, the ſtaying of the ſoul upon God; ſo you read in Iſa. 26.3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whoſe mind is ſtayed on thee, becauſe he truſteth in thee. So the Spouſe in the Canticles, is found leaning p. 329upon her Beloved, and ſo we are commanded to truſt; not foreign only; but foreign, on him that raiſeth Chriſt from the dead, which notes a ſiducial repoſe:Rom. 4.…3.Rom 4:3 ſo that Truſting in God, is to ſtay upon him. And then I ſay, it is the Relyance, or the ſtayance of the ſoul upon God in Chriſt; and ſo I take it to be meant here: for the word here tranſlated [God] Hope, or Truſt [in God] is in the plural number, Elohim; and ſo when the Prophet in Iſa. 26. doth exhort unto Truſting in the Lord; he gives this reaſon, at verſe 4. For in the Lord Jehovah, is everlaſting ſtrength; ſo you read it: but according to the Hebrew, thus; Truſt in the Lord for ever, for in Jehovah jah is everlaſting ſtrength. For in Jehovah jah: Jah, is an abridgment, or an abreviation of Jehovah, noting the Son of God; and ſo when Jeſus Chriſt comes in the latter end of the world, to ſit upon his glorious Throne, the converting Jew ſhal praiſe him under that name, ſinging (as you read in Revel. 19.) Halelujah; praiſe the Jah: which if you compare with Pſalm, 68. you ſhal find, is to be underſtood of Chriſt, at verſe 4. Sing unto God, ſing praiſes to his Name; extol him that rides upon the Heavens, by his Name Jah; rejoyce before him, extol him that rideth upon the Heavens, by his Name Jah; and they ſhal ſing Hallelujah. Now if you look into the 18. verſe of that Pſalm, you ſhal find the reaſon why this Jah, is to be praiſed: for ſaith the Pſalm, Thou haſt aſcended on high, thou haſt led Captivity captive, thou haſt received Gifts for men: Which words, Epheſ. 4. are applied to Chriſt: But unto every one of us, is given according to the meaſure of the Gift of Chriſt: verſe 8. Wherefore he ſaith, when he aſcended up on high, he led Captivity captive, and gave Gifts unto men. So that when the Prophet doth exhort us to truſt in Jehovah Jah, he exhorteth us to truſt in the Lord, in Chriſt; and therefore I ſay, both according to the old, and new Teſtament, Faith is the repoſe, or recumbency of the ſoul upon God in Chriſt.

But yet, that is not all: A man that doth repoſe upon God in Chriſt, truſting in him, doth truſt unto him for ſome good thing that lies out of ſight; and therefore the Apoſtle ſaith, That Faith is the Evidence of things not ſeen, Heb. 11. where he gives divers Inſtances of Abraham, Sarah, Moſes, and others, who all did repoſe upon God for ſomwhat that lay out of view; and this indeed is only worthy of the name of Faith. I will truſt a man that is moſt unworthy, I will truſt a Thief, I will truſt a Lyer, ſo far as I can ſee him. But as Pariſienſis ſaith well, this is Fides Deo digna, Faith worthy of God, to repoſe on God for ſomwhat that lies out of ſight, and out of view: and when a man doth thus ſtay himſelf upon God in Chriſt, for ſomwhat that lies out of p. 330ſight, then he is ſaid to truſt in God; and when a man doth continue thus, then he is ſaid for to wait on God. This is the Firſt. But then,

Queſt. 2 Secondly: How may it appear that Faith, and the exerciſe thereof, will quiet the ſoul, ſuppreſs, or allay Diſcouragements?

Anſw. You know how it was with Hannah, when ſhe had received a word from God, She went away (ſaith the Text) and looked no more ſorrowful, her heart was quieted; Why? ſhe had a word from God; and though before ſhe was a woman of a ſorrowful Spirit, yet having received a word from God, and beleeving that word, her heart was quiet. Prov. 16.3. Commit thy Works unto the Lord, there is Faith; and thy thoughts ſhall be eſtabliſhed, there is Quietude. And if you look again into Iſa. 26. you ſhal find that the Scripture is moſt expreſ… for this, verſe 3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whoſe mind is ſtaid on thee, becauſe he truſteth in thee: Mark the words. Firſt, The Lord doth here engage himſelf to give peace unto thoſe that do ſtay upon him, that have this Faith of Relyance, though they have not yet attained to the Faith of Aſſurance, to be able to ſay, I know my ſin is pardoned, and that Chriſt is mine, yet, if they can but ſtay themſelves upon God, the Lord doth hereby engage himſelf to give peace unto them: yea, he doth no… only engage himſelf to give peace unto ſuch a ſoul as ſtaies himſelf upon God, but double Peace: you read it in your Engliſh, perfect Peace; thou wilt keep him in perfect Peace: but in the Hebrew it is, Peace, Peace; thou wilt keep him in double Peace, he ſhall have Peace, and Peace; not Peace, and Doubting; not Peace, and no Peace: but if he ſtay himſelf upon the Lord, he ſhall have Peace, Peace; he ſhall have double Peace. Yea, the Lord doth not only engage to give Peace unto ſuch a ſoul, but to keep him in Peace; Thou wilt keep him in perfect Peace, or in Peace, Peace; and all upon this account, Becauſe he truſteth in thee; not becauſe he prayed, not becauſe he humbled hi…ſelf (though that is his Duty, and he doth thereby placere Deo, though not placare Deum) but becauſe he truſteth in thee, becauſe he ſtayeth himſelf upon thee. And ye know, that if ye have a buſineſs depending at Law, though for the preſent you be much troubled about it; yet, if you have a Friend, a Lawyer that is able, faithful, and willing to look to it; if you can but leave your buſineſs with him, it doth very much quiet your heart; the very leaving your buſineſs with him, doth quiet your mind. So here. If a man can but leave his buſineſs, and his Cauſe, p. 331and his Things with God; then he is at reſt, and he may ſay, Return unto thy reſt, O my ſoul, as David did; which is done by Faith. And to cleer this a little, Three or Four things there are that do ordinarily cauſe diſquietude, or diſcouragement. Firſt, The darkneſs that is in the Underſtanding; for when a man is in the dark, eſpecially if he be alone, he is very apt to be skared, and to be diſquieted. Secondly, Inordinate, and unruly Affections, and Paſſions, eſpecially that of Fear, whereby the ſoul is benighted. Thirdly, Guilt of Conſcience: Though there be much water that doth beat upon the Ship at Sea, yet it ſinketh not; but when there is a leak, a hole in the Ship, then the Ship ſinketh, and the water doth become its grave: So, though there be many troubles that beat upon a man, yet his heart doth not ſink; but when there is a leak in his Conſcience, when there is a hole there, when a man hath a guilty Conſcience, then he ſinketh, and his heart fails him. And Fourthly, The apprehenſion of Gods Greatneſs, with our diſtance from him. Now Faith cures all this; for in oppoſition to the firſt, of Darkneſs, Faith brings Light into the ſoul, and ſhews a man his Way, and his Warrant for what he doth. Secondly, It doth pare, and take off thoſe inordinate, and unruly affections, and paſſions that are in the ſoul; and therefore in Pſalm 37. at ver. 1. and 7. you ſhal find that fretting and truſting are ſet in oppoſition: Fret not thy ſelf becauſe of the evil Doer, verſe 3. but truſt in the Lord. And again verſe 7. Reſt in the Lord, and wait patiently for him; fret not thy ſelf becauſe of him who prospereth in his way. Thirdly, It doth heal the Conſcience, and purifie that, therefore ſaith the Apoſtle, Let us draw neer with aſſurance of Faith, having our Conſciences sprinkled, &c. Heb. 10. Fourthly, It doth alſo bring the ſoul neer to God; the great work of faith is to bring God and the ſoul together. So you have it in Eph. 3.12. In whom we have boldneſs, and acceſs with confidence, by the faith of him: Faith gives a man acceſs unto God, and brings him neer unto God. But a man may come neer unto God, & yet he may fear, and tremble, as the Jews d…d at Mount Sinai; true, but ſaith the Apoſtle, By this Faith we have boldneſs, and acceſs. The word is, foreign, a freedom of ſpeech; a man by Faith may come into the preſence of God with open mouth, and ſpeak all his mind unto God. Yea, Faith doth not only thus bring a man into the pre…ence of God with open mouth, freedom of ſpeech, and boldneſs; but it brings him into the preſence of God with open face, and uncovered: We all with open face (ſaith the Apoſtle, ſpeaking to Beleevers in the times of the Goſpel) We all with open face behold, as in a Glaſs, the Mirror of the Lord: with open, and uncovered face. There are Three Vails, or Coverings that we read of in the old Teſtament, that were thrown upon faces. p. 3321. There is the Vail of Obſcurity, and that was upon the face of Moſes. 2. The Vail, and the Covering of Guilt, and ſo Haman… face was covered, a cloth thrown over his face, and his face was covered. 3. And there is the Vail of Abaſhment, or ſhame; and ſo it i… ſaid of the Angels, that they cover their faces in the preſence of God. Now to ſhew with what boldneſs a Chriſtian, and a Beleever, comes into the preſence of God by Chriſt through Faith, as if all Vails were taken off; ſaith the Apoſtle, We come with open face; and we all with open face behold, as in a Glaſs, the Mirror of the Lord. And upon this account, a Beleever may now come with more boldneſs into the preſence of God, than Adam in the ſtate of Innocency: for though Adam in the ſtate of Innocency had no Vail, or Covering of Guilt thrown over his face; yet there was a great diſtance between God and him. But now, ſince the Fall, ſince Chriſts time, God is come into our Nature, manifeſted in the Fleſh; and ſo God is come neer to us, and by Faith we do draw neer to God: no wonder therefore, that the Apoſtle ſaith, That by Faith we have boldneſs, and acceſs with Confidence. Faith tels a man, that God is come neer to him, and he is come neer to God; and therefore Faith certainly, is the great Remedy, and means againſt all diſcouragements that can ariſe.

Queſt. 3 Thirdly: How may it appear, that when Diſcouragements do ariſe, it is the Duty of every Chriſtian to exerciſe Faith, and then eſpecially?

Anſw. You know what David ſaid; At what time I am afraid, I truſt in thee: And the Scripture is moſt expreſs for this, Iſa. 50.10. Who is amongſt you, that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voyce of his Servant, that walketh in darkneſs, and hath no light? Let him truſt in the Name of the Lord, and ſtay upon his God. Firſt, It is poſſible for one that is the Servant of God to be in darkneſs, and in ſuch a dark condition, where no light, nor no comfort is. Secondly, When he is in this dark Condition, and diſcouragements do ariſe (the Commandement is moſt expreſs) then he is to truſt in the Name of the Lord, and ſtay upon his God. So alſo our Savior Chriſt commands his Diſciples, John, 14.1. Let not your hearts be troubled, you beleeve in God, beleeve alſo in me. There was a great Cloud ariſing upon Chriſts Diſciples, Chriſt to be taken from them by Death; the Shepheard to be ſtricken, and the Sheep ſcattered: Now the only means againſt trouble that Chriſt preſcribes, is this; Ye beleeve in God, beleeve alſo in me; and he gives many Arguments to preſs thereunto, in this 14. Chapter. This time, was the time of Chriſts own trouble; p. 333Chriſt was now to die, and to bear the ſin of many, and to lie under the ſence of his Fathers wrath, and diſpleaſure; whereupon he ſaith, that his heart was heavy unto death; but though it was the time of his own trouble, yet he addreſſeth himſelf to comfort his Diſciples againſt their trouble; and the only means and remedy that he doth preſcribe, is this; Ye beleeve in God, beleeve alſo in me? So that I ſay, when Diſcouragements do ariſe, it is the Duty of all Chriſts Diſciples, then, and then eſpecially, for to truſt in God by Chriſt: for I pray, what is Faith made for? but for ſuch a time as this is? every Grace is to be exerciſed in its ſeaſon. If a man have ſinned, then he is to repent, that is the ſeaſon for his Repentance: If a man have received any mercy from God, then he is to be thankful; that is the ſeaſon of Thankfulneſs: If another poor Chriſtian be in want, then he is to exerciſe his Charity; that is the ſeaſon of that Grace of Charity: If Gods Face do ſhine upon a man, then he is to rejoyce; that is the ſeaſon of Spiritual Joy: If a man be given to wantonneſs, and have a beautiful Object laid before him, then he is to exerciſe Chaſtity; and that is a ſeaſon for it: So, when Diſcouragements do ariſe, then he is to exerciſe Faith; and that is the ſeaſon, the proper time and ſeaſon for it: For it is not only our Duty to bring forth Fruit, but we muſt bring forth Fruit in its ſeaſon:Pſalm, 1.2. Now this is the proper ſeaſon for Faith to work in, when all a mans Comforts are out of ſight: and therefore when Diſcouragements do ariſe, then, and then eſpecially, the Saints, and the People of God, are to exerciſe their Faith.

Fourthly: But what power hath Faith to ſuppreſs, Queſt. 4 and allay Diſcouragements? and what is there in Faith that can bear up a mans heart againſt all Diſcouragements, and how doth Faith do it?

Anſw. 1 Firſt: Faith doth give a man the true proſpect of things, paſt, preſent, and to come, and of things as they are. Whence are all our Fears, and Diſcouragements? but from hence, That men do not ſee things as they are: If Evil be ſtirring, they think it is greater than it is: If Good be ſtirring, they think it is leſſer than it is. If a man be in Temptation, then he loſeth the ſight of his former Experiences, and ſo he is much diſcouraged. If a man be under a Deſertion, he loſeth the ſight of what is preſent, what God is to him, and what he is to God; and ſo he is diſcouraged. If a man be under an Affliction, he loſeth the ſight of what is to come; the end, and the iſſue of the Affliction, and ſo he is diſquieted. But p. 334now when Faith comes, it opens a mans Eyes to ſee things that are inviſible; it is the Evidence of things not ſeen: By Faith, Moſes ſaw him that was inviſible. And therefore when the Apoſtle Peter doth direct his People for to ſee things paſt, preſent, and to come, he exhorts them to a work of Faith, Epiſt. 1. ver. 9. He that l…cks theſe things, is blind; one of thoſe things is Faith, as you read in verſe 5. Give all diligence, …ad to your Faith, &c. then, He that lacketh theſe things, is blind, at verſe 9. But ſuppoſe a man do want Faith; wherein is he blind? Why, ſaith the Apoſtle, He cannot ſee things afar off, he cannot ſee into the other world, he cannot ſee unto the end of a Temptation, or Affliction, or to the end of a Deſertion. Well, but though he cannot ſee things that are to come, yet he may ſee things that are paſt: Nay, ſaith he, if a man wants the Aſſurance of Gods Love (and that is an Act of Faith) he ha…h forgotten that he was purged from his old ſins: Wherefore the rather (ſaith he at ver…e 10.) Brethren, give all diligence to make your Calling and Ele…tion ſure. If you would ſee things paſt, preſent, and to come, then grow in Faith, and Aſſurance of Gods Love, and ſo ſaith he, ſhal you be able to ſee things that are afar off. Cou…d a man but ſee what would be the end, and iſſue of his Affliction, he would be quiet under it. It is in regard of our Affliction, as it is in regard of your Salt, or Sea Water: Take the Water as it is in the Sea, and ſo it is ſalt, and brackiſh; but drawn up by the Sun into the Clouds, it becomes ſweet, and fals down into ſweet Rain. So, take an Affl…ction in it ſelf, and it is ſalt, and brackiſh; but drawn up by Divine Love, then it is ſweet; and if a ſoul can but taſt the Love of God in it, and ſee what a loving end the Lord wil make; he wil then find it is very ſweet, and ſay, I could not have been without this Affliction; I do not know how any one twig of this rod could have been ſpared. Now, it's only Faith that ſhews a man the end, and the iſſue of all his troubles. It ſtands upon the high Tower of the Threatening, and Promiſe, ſeeing over al Mountains, and Difficulties; it ſeeth into the other World; it ſees through Death, and beyond Death; it ſees through Affliction, and beyond Affliction; it ſeeth through Temptation, and beyond Temptation; it ſeeth through Deſertion, and beyond Deſertion; it ſeeth through Gods Anger, and beyond his Anger: I ſay, it ſeeth things paſt, preſent, and to come. Now, if a man had ſuch a power as he were able to fetch in al his former experiences, to ſee things preſent as they are; and to ſee all the events, and iſſues of things to come, would he not be quiet, notwithſtanding all that might ariſe for the preſent? Thus Faith is able to ſhew a man things paſt, preſent, and to come; and to ſhew him greater matter of comfort, than the matter of his troubles is; and in ſo doing it muſt needs quiet the ſoul.

p. 335Anſw. 2 Secondly: Faith, true ſaving Faith, doth ſee that in God, and in Chriſt, which anſwers unto all our fears, wants, and miſeries: For Faith cloſeth with the Name of God; Let him ſtay himſelf upon the Name of God, Iſa. 50. Now there is that in Gods Name that doth Anſwer unto all our Fears and wants. For Example, Exod. 34. the Lord deſcended in the Clouds, at verſe 5. and ſtood with Moſes there, and proclaimed the Name of the Lord, ver. 6. The Lord, the Lord: Jehovah, Jehovah: that is, one that gives a being unto things that are not. Will you ſay, O! that it were thus, or thus with me? but as Rachel mourned for her Children, and could not be comforted, becauſe they were not: ſo do I mourn after Prayers, becauſe they are not; and after Duties; becauſe they are not; and af…er Humiliations, becauſe they are not. Well, ſaith the Lord, be of good comfort, for my Name is Jehovah, who do give a Being to things that are not; and this he repeateth, The Lord, the Lord; or Jehovah, Jehovah. Well, but though the Lord do give a Being to things that are not, this doth not comfort me; for though, I praiſe the Lord, I can ſay, my Prayers are, and my Duties are; yet the Lord knows they are very weak, and my Temptations are very ſtrong, and my Luſts mighty, and therefore I am thus diſcouraged. Yet be of good comfort; for ſaith the Lord, my Name is EL; that is, the ſtrong, or the mighty God: and therefore though thou beeſt never ſo weak, and thy Duties weak, yet I wil carry on the work of my Grace in thee; and though thy Temptations be never ſo ſtrong, and thy Luſts ſtrong, yet I am ſtronger, for my Name is EL, th… mighty God. O! but though God be ſtrong, and able to help me; yet I fear that God is not willing to help me; I know God is able, and that God is ſtrong enough, but I fear the Lord is not willing, and therefore I am thus diſcouraged: yet be of good comfort, ſaith the Lord, for my Name is Merciful, (that is the next word) The Lord, the Lord; the Mighty God: and as my Name is the Mighty God, and therefore am able to help thee; ſo my Name is Merciful, and therefore am willing to help thee. But though the Lord be willing to help me, yet I am a poor, unworthy Creature, and I have nothing at al to move God to help me▪ Yet be of good comfort; for ſaith the Lord then, my Name is Gracious; I do not ſhew Mercy becauſe you are good, but becauſe I am good; nor do I ſtand upon your deſert, but I ſhew mercy out of free Love; my Name is Gracious. O! but I have been ſinning, I have been ſinning a long time, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty yeers: had I come in at ſ…, I might have had mercy; but I have been ſinning long, and therefore I fear there is no mercy for me. Yet ſaith the Lord, be … good comfort, for my Name is Long-ſuffering (that is the no…) Gracious, and Long-ſuffering; p. 336ſlow to Anger, or Long-ſuffering. O! but I have ſinned exceedingly, I have ſinned abundantly; ſo many Sins as I am never able to reckon up, and to humble my ſelf for; I have broken al my Promiſes with God, and al the Vows that I have made unto him; and therefore I am thus diſcouraged. Yet ſaith he, be of good Comfort, for I am abundant in Goodneſs, and Truth: Art thou abundant in ſin? I am abundant in Goodneſs: And haſt thou broken Faith with me? yet I am abundant in Goodneſs, and in Truth alſo. O! but though the Lord be thus unto his own choſen Ones, ſuch as David, Abraham, or Moſes, yet I fear the Lord wil not be ſo to me. Yes, ſaith the Lord, at verſe 7. Keeping mercy for thouſands: I have not ſpent al my mercy upon David, or upon Abraham, or upon Paul, or upon Peter; but I keep mercy for thouſands. O! but yet my ſins do recoyl, I am the greateſt Sinner in the world, for I have ſinned al kinds of ſin, I have ſinned al ſorts of ſins, and therefore I fear there … no hope for me. Yet ſaith the Lord, be not diſcouraged, for I keep mercy for thouſands, forgiving iniquity, tranſgreſſion, and ſin; even all ſorts and al kinds of ſins; the Sin of Nature, and the Sin of Life; the Sin of Weakneſs, and the Sin of Preſumption; the Sin of Ignorance, and the Sin againſt Knowledg: theſe ſaith the Lord I forgive, even al ſorts, and al kinds of Sins, and this is my Name for ever. O! but I am afraid to lay hold upon this Promiſe, for I think this is a Doctrine of Liberty. Say not ſo, ſaith the Lord, at the next verſe, I will by no means cleer the guilty: But if there be ever a poor, drooping, fearing, trembling ſoul, that deſires to know my Name, Lo, ſaith the Lord, here is my Name, whereby I wil be known for ever: The Lord, Jehovah, that gives a Being to things that are not; The Mighty God; The Merciful God; The Gracious God; Abundant in Goodneſs, and in Truth; Reſerving Mercy for thouſands; Forgiving iniquity, tranſgreſſion, and ſin; and this is my Name for ever. Now Faith comes, and cloſeth with this Name of God, leading the Soul into this rich Wardrop, and ſo doth quiet the heart againſt all Diſcouragements.

Anſw. 3 Thirdly: Faith doth put the Soul under Gods Commandement, and leaveth God to Anſwer unto al ſuch Objections, and Inconveniences, as may come thereby; which if a man can do, he may be very quiet. Now true ſaving Faith wil enable him to do this: for ye know how it was with the three Children, Shadrach, Meſhach, and Abednego; they put themſelves under Gods Commandement: The Lord commanded, and ſaid, Thou ſhalt not make to thy ſelf, any graven Image: Well, but the King commands them to fal down before his Image: No, ſay they, we wil not ſtir, we wil not bow: but ſaith the King, I wil make you p. 337bow, or I wil heat the Furnace ſeven times hotter for you: Well, be it ſo, ſay they; as for that, we are not ſolicitous, we wil do the work that God hath ſet us to do; we wil put our ſelves under Gods Command; we know that our God is able to deliver us; and whether he wil deliver us, or no, we wil leave that to him, let him anſwer to the inconveniencies, and miſchiefs that follow upon his Work; for ſaith the Text, They truſted in the Lord. And ſo you know it was with Noah; Noah was commanded to build an Ark, for ſaith the Lord, yet an hundred & twenty yeers, and the whol world ſhal be deſtroyed, and therefore Noah, build thou an Ark for thy ſelf, and thy family; which Noah did, and put himſelf under this Command. But now the world, the old world might ſpeak thus (as certainly the language of their Converſation was) Noah, Doſt thou think that thou art the only man in al the world that God loves? Doſt thou think Noah, that God loves thee, one man, more than al the men or the world? and thy one Family, more than al the Families in the world beſide? And if thou doſt beleeve what thou preacheſt, That the World ſhal be deſtroyed by Water, in an hundred and twenty yeers, why doſt thou marry, and bege… Ch…ldren, as thou haſt done ſince thou haſt preached this Doctrine? And Noah, if thou doſt make an Ark, or a Ship, who ſhal be the Pilate? who ſhal be the M…riner, the S…ler? As for thy ſelf, thou haſt been a Preacher, and doſt thou think that thou, and thy few Sons, are able to guide, and g…vern ſo great a Veſſel? If it be as thou preache…t, That the …eaſts, the wild Beaſts of the Field ſhal come unto this Ark; the Lyon, and the Bear, and the Tyger, wil they not tear thee to pieces? And if all the Beaſts of the field, two by two, ſhal come into the Ark, Noah, wil there not be ſuch a ſtench in the Ark with their dung, as wil poyſon thee? ſhalt thou be ever able to live, thinkeſt thou? Wel, for al this, Noah goes on, and he built the Ark, and leaves God that …et him on work, to anſwer to al theſe Objections, and to all thoſe Inconveniences that might come by the doing the thing which God commands: And ſo doth Faith alwaies; Faith puts a man under the Commandement of God, and leaves God to anſwer to thoſe O…jections, and inconveniences that may come thereby. Now when a man can do thus, muſt he not needs be quiet?

1It is (to ſpeak more briefly) the proper w…rk of Faith to reſign, and give up our wils unto God; for by the reſignation of the wil unto God, we do truſt God with our ſelves, and Conditions.

2It is the proper work of Faith to fal with a ſuitable Promiſe, and to apply the ſame: if that Plaiſter of the Promiſe be no… laid on the Soul with a warm hand, it wil not ſtick. And what is the p. 338reaſon that the Promiſe ſticks not upon many ſouls, but becauſe it is laid on with the cold and chil hand of Unbelief? Now the hand of Faith, is a warm hand.

3It's the proper work of Faith, to trade with the Call of God; for true ſaving Faith is a venturing Grace; but without a Call it wil not venture.

4It is the proper work of Faith to ſee the hand of God in every Diſpenſation; The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away, ſaith Faith: I was dumb, and opened not my mouth, for thou Lord haſt done it, ſaith Faith.

5It's the proper work of Fai…h to look on both ſides of Gods Diſpenſation, and of our own Condition: there is a dark ſide of a Diſpenſation, and there is a light ſide thereof: Sence and Reaſon looks on the dark ſide alone, Faith ſeeth both ſides. Come my beloved Brethren (ſaid La…imer to his fellow Priſoners, when he went to the Stake) though we paſs through he fire to day, yet we ſhal light ſuch a Candle in England, as ſhal never be put out again. He ſaw both ſides of the Diſpenſation, why? but becauſe he beleeved.

6It is the proper work of Faith to ſee one Contrary in another; for it ſpeaks and concludes as the Word of Faith doth. Now the word o… Faith ſpeaketh on this wiſe, I will give you a door of Hope in the Valley of Achor. And the Lord ſhall judg his People, and repent towards his Servants, when he ſeeth that their power is gone, and none ſhut up, or left. Deut. 32.36.

7It is the proper work of Faith to engage God to ſuccor, Pſal. 37.40. For the Lord ſhall ſave them, becauſe they truſt in him: So Eſai. 26.3. Thou will keep them in perfect peace, becauſe they truſt in thee. Now when a man can do al theſe things, wil he not be quiet, and free from Diſcouragements? Surely he wil. Faith can, and wil do theſe, and al theſe things: certainly therfore, Faith, and Faith alone, is that Grace which wil bear up the heart againſt al Diſcouragements.

Applic.Now if Faith be ſuch an help againſt al diſcouragements; Then in caſe that Diſcouragements do ariſe, you ſee what to do: Exerciſe your Faith; Truſt in the Lord, truſt in the Lord for ever; for in Jehovah Jah, is everlaſting ſtrength; he is the Rock of Ages, truſt in him. O! ye People of the Lord, truſt in the Lord for ever, pour out your hearts before him; W…t, Hope, Truſt in the Lord.

Queſt. But will every Faith, quiet a mans heart againſt Diſcouragements? ſuppreſs, and allay our Diſcouragements?

Anſw. No: There is a Feigned, and there is an Unfeigned Faith: There is an Effectual, and there is an Ineffectual Faith: There p. 339is an Operative, working Faith, and there is a Workleſs Faith. Saith the Apoſtle, Thou ſayeſt thou haſt Faith, ſhew me thy Faith by thy Works. The more precious a thing is, the more Counterfeits there are of it. And what is more precious than Faith? therefore there is a counterfeit Faith, and a counterfeit Faith wil… not quiet ones heart, ſuppreſs, and allay ones fears: yea, true ſaving Faith wil not do it neither in the habit; it is only that Faith can do it which God rewardeth: God doth not reward the habit of Grace, but the act of Grace; he rewardeth men according to their works, and not according to their habits. Yea, ſtrong and grown Faith wil not do it alwaies. A man may have aſſurance of Gods Love, and yet he may be diſcouraged. You ſay indeed, if I had but the aſſurance of Gods Love in Chriſt, and did know that God were mine, and that I had an intereſt in Jeſus Chr…t, I would never be diſcouraged. But be not deceived, when David ſpake the words of the Text, he had aſſurance, for he ſaith, I ſhall ye… praiſe him, who is the health of my Countenance, and my God, and yet he was diſcouraged; for he ſaith, Why art thou caſt down, O my ſoul? and why art thou diſquieted within me? So then it is not every Faith, nor alwaies true Faith, nor alwaies grown Faith, can do it.

Queſt. But how then ſhould a man ſo exerciſe his Faith, as he may bear up his heart againſt all Diſcouragements, in caſe that Diſcouragements do ariſe?

Anſw. 1 Firſt: You muſt be humbled for your Unbelief. A man can never beleeve as he ſhould, that is not humbled for his Unbelief, and he is not far from Faith, and the workings thereof, that is humbled for Unbelief, and the workings thereof. You ſhall ſee therefore in Lament. 3. that as ſoon as the Church had reproved her ſelf for her Unbelief, how preſently the gathereth Hope; ſaith ſhe at verſe 17. Thou haſt removed my ſoul far from peace, I forgot proſperity, and I did, my ſtrength, and my hope is periſhed from the Lord. Now ſhe hu…bles her ſelf for it: Remembring mine affliction, and my miſery; the wormwood, and the g…l; my ſoul hath them ſtill in remembrance, and is humbled in me: this I recal to min…, thereforh have I hope: I humbled my ſelf for my former Unbelief, and diſpairing thoughts, and words; and therefore have I hope. Some think they do wel to doubt: O! ſaies one, if I ſhould not thus fear and doubt, I ſhould grow ſecure: But a man may be tutus, though he be not Securus: Safety ſpeaks oppoſition to Danger, Security to Watchfulneſs; yea, there is an holy Security which we are to labor alter, and the more we are freed from theſe doubting fears, the more we attain unto that Security. Would you therefore, ſo exerciſe your Faith, as that you p. 340may not labor under ſad Diſcouragements? take heed that you do not pleaſe your ſelf in your doubting, but be humbled for your Unbelief.

Anſw. 2 S…condly: Be ſure that you do not go to God immediately without Chriſt, but with Chriſt in your Arms; Ye beleeve in God, beleeve alſo in me, ſaith our Savior: God out of Chriſt, is a conſuming fire, and there's no coming at him; ſo he is a dreadful God, and we tremble at his preſence, not rely on him. Now we are very apt to go unto him alone, and to truſt in a naked God; for there is much of old Adam in us ſtil: the Veſſel keeps that ſavor long, wherewith it was firſt ſeaſoned. And at the firſt, Adam went unto God immediately, and truſted unto him immediately. But now ſaies Luther, give me a God cloathed with Fleſh, God manifeſted in the Fleſh, is the Object of our Faith. Take heed of a Natural Faith, for that wil end in Diſcouragement.

Anſw. 3 Thirdly: If you would to exerciſe your Faith, as that you may not be diſcouraged whatever your Condition be; Then truſt in the Lord himſelf, and not in your own Duties, your own Enlargements, Humiliation, or Holineſs. I know men ſay, that they do not truſt in any of theſe things, but in God alone. But ſuppoſe now, that a man ſhould come to borrow a Sum of Money of you, it may be an hundred pounds, and you will not lend him this Sum of Money, unleſs he gives you a Pawn, or unleſs ſuch and ſuch men be bound with him; wil you ſay that you truſt this man alone? ſurely no. So, when a poor ſoul wil not truſt the Lord, unleſs he have a Pawn from God; unleſs this, or that Duty, or Enlargement, ſhal become bound for God; do you truſt God alone? David ſaith in the 62. Pſalm, at the 5th verſe, My ſoul, wait thou ONLY upon God, for my expectation is from him: and then ſee what the iſſue is, at verſe 6. He ONLY is my Rock, and my Salvation, he is my Defence, I ſhall not be moved: He had ſaid at verſe 2. thus; He only is my Rock, and my Salvation; he is my Defence, I ſhal not be [greatly] moved: But when he had digeſted this matter a little further, and more fully, he leaves out the word [greatly] and ſaith, I ſhal not be moved. Wherefore, would you …o truſt in the Lord as you may not be moved? truſt in the Lord Alone; although you have nothing to be bound with, or for the Lord.

Anſw. 4 Fourthly: If you would truſt in the Lord ſo as you may not be diſcouraged: Then truſt in the Lord before you do act, or move, or work, in your buſine…s. Some there are that wil truſt in God when they can go no further; they wil act, and work, and do what they can; and when they can go no further, then they ſay, I wil truſt in the Lord for the reſt. But ſaith the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 37.3. Truſt in the Lord, and do good; he doth not ſay, do good, p. 341and go as far as you can, and when you can no further, then truſt in the Lord: No, but ſaith he, Truſt in the Lord, and do good. But if you think to do good, and to go as far as you can, and then to truſt; ſuch a truſt as this, wil end in diſcouragement; and therefore I ſay, truſt in the Lord firſt, before you do work at all.

Anſw. 5 Fiftly: If you would truſt in the Lord, ſo as you may not be diſcouraged what ever your Condition be: Then truſt in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt in the firſt place, before you truſt in the Promiſe. Chriſts Blood, is the great, and firſt Object of our Faith. In times of the old Teſtament, they came to Chriſt by the Promiſe, becauſe Chriſt was not then come, but promiſed: now Chriſt is come, we come to the Promiſes by Chriſt. Yet miſtake not; there is a Promiſe of Chriſt, and a ſoul muſt come to Chriſt in that Promiſe. But I ſpeak of particular words, and Promiſes: Some wil not truſt in Chriſt, unleſs they have this or that particular word ſet upon their hearts and ſpirits; and ſo indeed, do rather reſt on the bare letter of the Word, or the ſence and impreſſion that is made upon the ſoul by the ſetting on of the Promiſe. But al the Promiſes are Yea, and Amen in Chriſt: Chriſt therefore is firſt, and if a man doth truſt in the Promiſe firſt, and ſo go unto Chriſt afterward; then when he wants a particular Word, or a Promiſe, he wil not truſt in Chriſt, but be quite diſcouraged. But when a man doth truſt in the Lord Chriſt firſt, and in particular Promiſes afterwards; then, though a particular Promiſe doth not ſhine forth, yet his Faith lives, and he is not di…couraged; wherefore, venture upon Jeſus Chriſt firſt, and then upon the Promiſe, as given unto thee by the hand of Chriſt.

Anſw. 6 Sixtly: if you would ſo truſt in the Lord, as you may not be diſcouraged, wha…er your Condition be: Then, if ever it pleaſeth the Lord to give our a Promiſe to you, never let it go, but hold it faſt, although you ſee nothing but the contrary unto the thing promiſed. This was Abrahams caſe; the Lord gave Abraham a Promiſe, but Abraham ſaw the contrary to the thing promiſed; yet Abraham did not diſpute the Promiſe, he did not ſtagger at the Promiſe, and ſay, Surely the Lord hath not given me this Promiſe, it …s but a deluſion, and I was deceived: No, but Abraham ſtil be…s up to the Promiſe, and doth not diſpute, or ſtagger at the ſame. So muſt you do likewiſe; if ever the Lord give out a Promiſe to you, hold it, keep it, never let it go, although you do ſee the contrary.

Object. O! but this is hard work indeed; and if I ſhould do ſo, I fear that I ſhould preſume, and that I ſhould tempt the Lord; What! truſt in the Lord when there is no means in view! yea, when I p. 342ſee the contrary unto the thing promiſed? I would do it, but I fear I ſhould preſume, and tempt the Lord.

Anſw. Tempt the Lord ſay ye? Doſt thou know what it is for to tempt the Lord? It is ſaid o… the Children of Iſrael, That they tempted the Lord, and ſaid, Is God amongſt us? And when thou ſayeſt after al the experience of Gods pre…ence with thee, Is God with me? Is hot this rather for to tempt the Lord? It is ſaid of the Children of Iſrael, That they tempted the Lord, and limited the Holy One of Iſrael: and when you limit God, and ſay, I ſhal never receive this Mercy, for now I do ſee the contrary; Is not this rather for to tempt the Lord? Properly, and according to Scripture Phraſe, to tempt the Lord, is to put God upon a tryal for the ſatisfying of ones luſt; and therefore if you look into Pſal. 78. you ſhal find that theſe two go together, at verſe 18. They tempted God in their heart, by asking meat for their Luſt: To put God upon a work for the ſatisfying of ones Luſt, is indeed to tempt the Lord: Every putting God upon a tryal, is not a tempting God; but to put God upon a tryal for the ſatisfying of ones luſt, this is to tempt the Lord: And therefore it is ſaid, the wicked Jews came to our Savior Chriſt, tempting him, and ſaying, Shew us a ſign. Gideon deſired a ſign, and yet he did not tempt the Lord, Why? Becauſe he did not deſire a ſign to ſatisfie his Luſt, but to ſtrengthen his Faith. But now theſe Jews came, and deſired a ſign to ſatisfie their Luſt; and therefore ſaith our Savior Chriſt unto them; Ye wicked, and Adulterous Generation: How comes the word [Adulterous] in there? Why look as it is with a woman that is n…ught, filthy, and unworthy; her Husband ſending a Meſſage to her, and warning her to take heed of ſuch Company; when the Meſſenger comes, I doubt ſaith ſhe, whether you come from my Husband, or no; and what ſign have you, that you come from my Husband? ſhe knows that he comes from her Husband, but becauſe ſhe may go on in her ſin, ſhe asketh a ſign; How may I know that you come from my Husband? So it was with theſe wicked Jews, they asked a ſign that ſo they might go on in their ſins; whereupon our Savior ſaith, Ye wicked, and Adulterous Generation. But now, when a poor, doub…ing, fearing, trembling ſoul, ſhal deſire to beleeve, and would fain have ſome token from the Lord to ſtrengthen his Faith, he is not Adulterous then, nor doth he tempt the Lord, nor preſume: for is it preſumption for a man to keep the Sabbath day? No, Why? Becauſe it is commanded. Is it preſumption for a Child to obey his Parents? No; Why? Becauſe it is commanded. So it is commanded for a ſoul to beleeve, when al comforts are out of ſight, and when he ſees nothing but what is contrary to the thing promiſed. Preſumption properly, is the taking of a thing before it's given, or offered. But in this caſe, the p. 343Promiſe is given, and therefore no preſumption for to hold it faſt. There is a Two-fold Pre…umption which you read of in Scripture: One whereby men do reſt upon their own Work… for Salvation without Chriſt: So the Jews did, and therein they preſumed of mercy before it was given unto them. Another, whereby men do as they think, or in their way, reſt on Chriſt for Salvation, and yet live without Works, and Ob…dience: and therein they pre…me alſo, becauſe they take mercy …hen it's not given them. E… if I r…l on the Promiſe, or on Chr…ſt, that I may be made the more holy, doing what I can to be fruitful in every good work, yet reſting upon Chriſt for al; this is no preſumption; Why? Becauſe I do not take mercy before it is offered: and though I hold the Promiſe faſt, when I ſee nothing, but what is contrary to the thing promiſed, yet this is no preſumption; Why? Becauſe I do what's commanded: For ſaies the Apoſtle, Let them that ſuffer according to the Will of God, comm… the keeping of their ſouls to him in well doing, as unto a Faithful Creator. Now Creation-Work, is out of nothing, it is light out of darkneſs. Yet thus are we commanded to commit our ſouls unto God; and therefore though al fail, and we ſee nothing of the Mercy promiſed, it's no preſumption then, to hold and keep faſt the Promiſe.

Queſt. But ſuppoſe the Lord hath given me a Promiſe, and now after the Promiſe given, I ſee nothing of the mercy promiſed, and that all my Comforts are out of ſight; how ſhal I be able to bear up my heart againſt all Diſcouragements, notwithſtanding I ſee nothing but what is contrary to the thing promiſed, and to the mercy deſired?

Anſw. Either thou haſt aſſurance of Gods Love, or elſe thou haſt not. If thou haſt aſſurance of the Love of God, then put thy ſelf often to this disjunction. O my ſoul, either it is thy Duty to beleeve, or it is not: If it be not thy Duty to beleeve, why doſt thou beleeve at al? If it be not thy Duty to beleeve, and reſt on Chriſt, why doſt thou reſt upon Chriſt at al? And if it be thy Duty to reſt on Chriſt, and beleeve, why then ſhould ſt thou not beleeve at al times, and truſt perfectly unto the Lord? And if you have Aſſurance, then actuate your Aſſurance, mind your ſelf of your Priviledges, and your Intereſt in Chriſt; then you wil ſay unto your ſelf, what though I have nothing but bad tidings from this world, yet notwithſtanding, I have nothing but good tidings from the other world, and from my Father above: and if Chriſt be mine, then al is mine, Life is mine, and Death is mine; and what though al my Comforts be dead, and are gone, and are al out of ſight, yet Chriſt is a living Chriſt, Chriſt is a living Savior; and p. 344therefore be of good Comfort, O my ſoul.

1But if you do want aſſurance of the Love of God, then yet you muſt, and may look on Chriſt, who is the Brazen Serpent, the only Brazen Serpent, and your very looking upon him in the time of your Diſcouragement, ſhal go for Faith: Look unto me (…aith he) from all the ends of the Earth, and be ſaved.

2Again: If you want Aſſurance, you may, and muſt turn your eye, and your thoughts, from thoſe Objections that do invade your Faith. 'Tis ſaid of Abraham, That he conſidered not the weakneſs of his own Body: and this was imputed unto him for beleeving, that he conſidered not what might invade his Faith: And ſo this ſhal be imputed unto you for Faith, if when theſe Obj…ctions ſhal come in upon you, you turn your Eye from them (unto Jeſus Chriſt) and do not conſider them.

3And if you do want Aſſurance, then ſet your ſelves to beleeve, that you do beleeve. Faith is the Evidence of th…n …s not ſeen; and therefore if your Faith be not ſeen, you muſt beleeve that you do beleeve; thou …uſt beleeve ſomtimes that thou haſt Faith. As there is a feeling in Prayer, ſo Faith ha…h it's feeling too; and therefore i… you cannot ſee your Faith, you muſt beleeve, that you do beleeve. And whether you have Aſſurance, or have not Aſſurance, conſider theſe few things as ſome Helps to your Faith in this caſe.

1Firſt: That God doth never lead his People unto any great Mercy, but firſt he doth put the Sentence of D…ath upon al the means that do rend unto it, Thus it was with Abraham, ſo with Joſeph, ſo with David, and many others.

2Secondly: That it i… a great ſin to li…t …ods Mercy, as wel as to limit his Power: You ſay it is a great ſin to limit the Power of God; the Children of …rael are conde…ed for this; they limited the Holy One of I…rael; they tempted the Lord, and limited the Holy One of Iſrael. Now, d…h not a man limit God, when he limits his Mercy, as wel as when he limits his Power? And when you ſay, you ſhal never have ſuch a mercy granted, becauſe I now ſee the contrary; is not this to limit his Mercy?

3Thirdly: That when the Lord hath given out a Promiſe to his People, he doth then ſomtimes try whether they wil truſt to his naked Word, or no. Chriſt hath his times to try men; and when he gives out a Promiſe, and bringeth the ſoul into a quite contrary condition, this is his trying time: And therefore hath the Lord now given out a Promiſe unto you? and do you ſee nothing but what is contrary to the thing promiſed? Say unto thine own ſoul, O my ſoul, it may be Chriſt is now trying of me, it may be this is my trying time, and therefore now wil I wait on God.

4Fourthly: That God doth oftentimes fulfil one Promiſe by p. 345denying another. Hath the Lord therefore given thee a Promiſe, and doeſt thou ſee nothing but what is contrary to the thing promiſed? Now know, and remember, That we have by not having; God doth give by denying, and fulfils ſome Promiſes by not fulfilling others.

5Fiftly: That when we ſee nothing but what is contrary unto our help, then is Chriſts time to help. I read (as I remember) but twice in the new Teſtament, that mention is made of Chriſts Hour: once in John, 13. And he knowing that his hour was coming, and that was the hour of darkneſs: Once in John 2.4. when his Mother came unto him for Wine, he ſaid, Woman, my hour is not yet come: But afterwards, when their own Wine was done, and their pots were fill'd with Water; then he turns their Water into Wine, then Chriſts hour was come. So now, when al our Bottles are dry, when there is no Wine of Comfort in our own Bottles, then is Chriſts hour; and when the hour of darkneſs is upon our Condition, then is Chriſts hour: And if thou would'ſt but ſay ſo unto thine own ſoul; Soul, Chriſts time and hour, is an hour of darkneſs; Chriſts time, is a time when there is no Wine in our own Bottles. Now thus it is with me; I have no Wine left in my own Bottles, my Bottles are al dry, and empty, and there is an hour of darkneſs upon my Condition, therefore this time is the time for Chriſt to help me. This would cauſe you to wait on God, and exerciſe Faith in the loweſt Condition, even when you ſee nothing but the contrary unto your deſires, and the Lords Promiſes.

6Sixtly: That either you are under an extraordinary Affliction, or an ordinary: Either you are under an ordinary Temptation, or an extraordinary: Either you are under an extraordinary Deſertion, or an ordinary: Either thy ſtreit, or ſtreſs, and trouble is ordinary; or elſe it is extraordinary: If it be an ordinary trouble, why then are you troubled more th…n ordinary? why are you diſcouraged extraordinarily? If your Affliction, or Miſery, be extraordinary, then either God hath brought you into this condition, and hath led you heretofore in a way of extraordinary deliverance, or of ordinary deliverance: if God have led you heretofore in a way of ordinary deliverance, what means thoſe wonderful incomes of Love, and ſupporting Grace that you have had, when your ſoul have been ready to ſink, and to die within you? And if the Lord hath heretofore led you in a way of extraordinary deliverance, and hath now brought you into this extraordinary condition; then know from the Lord, that it is as great a ſin for you now, not to truſt in God for extraordinary mercy, as it would have been for you, not to have truſted in the Lord for ordinary deliverance in an ordinary caſe. You know how it was with the p. 346Children of Iſrael, they ſinned greatly in the Wilderneſs, ſo much that the Lord kept them out of the Land of Canaan, and many of their Carkaſſes fel in the Wilderneſs; what was the reaſon? the Text tels us, they did not beleeve. Wherein was their Unbelief? They did not truſt God for meat in the Wilderneſs: why, but that had been a miracle to have Meat in the Wilderneſs; true, yet this was their Unbelief, That they did not truſt God for Meat in the Wilderneſs. Again, they ſinned, and did not truſt God for Water: why, but it was a miracle for them to have Water in that place, where no Water was naturally; true, yet becauſe the Lord had led them in a way of miracles before, they ſinned now in that they did not truſt God for miracles; and it was as great a ſin that they did not truſt God for Miracles, being led in a way of Miracles, as that they did not truſt God for ordinary mercies, when the Lord led them in waies of ordinary mercies. So I ſay to you; If God lead you in a way of ordinaries, then muſt you truſt God for ordinaries; but if ordinary means cannot be had, and God have led you in a way of extraordinaries, it is then a ſin in you to tie God to ordinaries. Are you therefore in an extraordinary caſe and ſtreit? know that it is no ſin now, to truſt God for extraordinary mercy, help, and relief.

7Seventhly: And if after al theſe things, your hearts fail you, and you would ſo truſt in God, as that you may not be diſcouraged whatever your condition be; then ask thine own ſoul theſe Queſtions Firſt: Whether there be any gain by doubting? whether there is any Spiritual gain to be made by doubting? Faith purifies the heart, but doth doubting purifie the heart? Secondly: Whether there is any thing in all the World more pleaſing to God, than to truſt the Lord, in and by Jeſus Chriſt, when all Comforts are out of view, and when you ſee nothing but what is contrary to the thing promiſed? Thirdly: Whether you muſt not venture upon Chriſt at the laſt? and if you muſt venture upon Chriſt at the laſt, why not now, as wel as at the laſt? When a man comes to go over a River, though he ride once, and again into the Water, and comes out, ſaying, I fear it is too deep for me; yet conſidering that there is no other way for him, he reſolves to venture; for ſaith he, the longer I ſtay, the higher the Waters wil riſe, and there is no other way for me, and I muſt through at the laſt, as good at the firſt, as at the laſt; and ſo he doth venture through, and is ſafe. Thus it is here. You muſt venture upon Chriſt at the laſt, there is no other way but venturing upon Jeſus Chriſt, thou muſt do it at the laſt; and were it not as good for you to do it at the firſt, as at the laſt? Surely, the longer you ſtay, the harder you wil find it to venture, and the more difficulties wil ariſe upon the work of Beleeving. p. 347You ſay now, O! but my heart is not humbled; O! but I am a great ſinner, and ſhould I venture upon Jeſus Chriſt? But wil thy heart be more humbled by keeping from Chriſt? and ſhalt thou be a leſs ſinner by keeping from him? No certainly; but the longer you ſtay from Chriſt, the harder work it wil be to venture upon Chriſt at the laſt. Wherefore, if there be ever a poor, drooping, doubting, fearing, trembling heart in al this Congregation, know, That I do here in the Name of the Lord, call out to you, and ſay, O ſoul, man or woman, Venture, venture, venture upon Chriſt now; for you muſt come to this venturing Work at the laſt, and if ever, it is true here, better at the firſt, than at the laſt. Muſt you not venture upon Chriſt at the laſt? and if at laſt, why not now? Thus ply, and follow your own ſouls with theſe three Queſtions. And

8Eighthly: If you would ſo truſt in God, as that you may not be diſcouraged whatever your condition be; Then conſider frequently, and ſeriouſly, what a bleſſed thing it is for to wait on God, and for God: yea, what a reaſonable thing it is, that you ſhould wait for him, and on him. For,

1He hath waited on you, and for your Repentance; He waited in the daies of Noah, for the Repentance of the old World, and he waited long, 1 Pet. 3.20. a long while alſo hath he waited for your repentance; & if he had not waited long, what had become of you? Yea, and he hath not only waited, but he doth ſtil, and wil wait to ſhew Mercy, Eſai. 30.18. he waiteth to ſhew mercy on them that wait for his Mercy. Now ſhal God wait for us, and for our Repentance? and ſhal not we wait for him, and his Grace?

2Ye have waited on others, and do ſtil wait on others; who is there in al the World that you deal with, but you do wait upon? Will ye inſtance in great men? muſt you not wait long to ſpeak with them? yea, though it be for their own good? It's recorded of Henry the Emperor of Germany, That when he came to ſpeak with the Pope, the Pope made him, and his Wife, and eldeſt Son, ſtand waiting three daies in the cold Winter ſeaſon, at his Pallace Gates, before he would ſpeak with the Emperor. Wil ye inſtance in your Inferiors, and ſuch as are beneath you? muſt you not wait even for them that do wait on you? your Servants, if you bid them do a thing, you muſt wait til it be done; and if you bid them come, you muſt wait til they come. Or wil ye inſtance in other Creatures? Do you not wait on the Sun for Light? on the Water for Coolneſs? on the Fire for heat? Now if we wait on the Creatures, al the Creatures, is it not reaſonable that we wait on the Creator? Yet further, Do ye not ſomtimes wait on the Luſts of men? yea, ye have ſomtimes waited on your own Luſts, The Adulterer waiteth for the twy-light, ſaith Job. p. 348And h…w often have you waited for an opportunity of ſinning? Now wil ye wait on Men, your Inferiors, other Creatures, yea, on the Wils and Luſts of Men? and wil you not wait on the Grace of God?

3Look when you give over waiting, then may deliverance come; and if it come then, how wil you be filled with ſhame and confuſion? 2 King…, 6. laſt. the King ſaid, It is a vain thing to wait on God any longer: And if ye look into the next Chapter, at verſe 1. ye ſhal find that deliverance came in the next words: No ſooner had the King ſaid, It's a vain thing to wait on God any longer, but the Prophet in the next words ſaith, To morrow about this time, ſhall a meaſure of ſine flower be ſold for a ſhekel, and two meaſures of barley for a ſhekel in the Gates of Samaria, Chap. 7. verſe 1. So that deliverance doth ſomtimes come when men give over waiting: And if deliverance do thus come to you, what ſhame and grief wil this be to you? how wil you befool your ſelf, and ſay, O! what a fool was I that I could not wait a little longer? I have given over waiting, and lo, now deliverance is come, and I have no comfort in it.

4When you give over waiting, then you loſe al your former labors: though you have performed many Duties, yet if you do not wait upon God therein, you do loſe al your prayers. It's ſaid of Saul, 1 Sam. 28.6. That he enquired of the Lord, who anſwered him not; and ſo he ſought unto a woman that had a Familiar Spirit, ver. 7. yet 1 Chron. 10.14. it's ſaid, That he enquired not of the Lord: He enquired, and he enquired not; how doth this agree? Wel, for though he did enquire of the Lord, yet becauſe he did not wait upon God therein, but gave over waiting, his enquiring in Scripture Phraſe is ſaid to be no e…quiring; Prayer without wai…ing, in Scripture Phraſe, is no Prayer. Look when a man doth give over waiting, then d th he lo e al his labor; his former Prayer is no…hing, his former Duty no…hing: it ſhal not once be remembred, or imputed to him.

5On the other ſide: If you wait on God, he wil not alway forget your work of Faith; though he may ſeem to forget you, yet the patient abiding of the meek, ſhall not be forgotten for ever, Pſal. 9.18. God wil come and viſit you in due time, He that doth come, wil come, and will not tarry: yea, and your very waiting (that I may ſpeak with reverence) wil make him come the ſooner. 'Tis not ſo with men; if you expect a friend, you do go forth to meet him; but 'tis not your expecting, waiting, that wil make him come. But ſo it is with God; your very expecting of him, and waiting for him, wil make him come; and therefore the holy men in Scripture, uſe this Argument with God for mercy: Let me not be aſhamed, for I have waited on thee; yea, and if p. 349God do come, he wil come with a recompence, and pay you al your forbearance-Money, Eſ. 35. yea, and when he doth come, you ſhal be able to triumph in his appearing, and ſay, Lo this is our God, we have waited for him: if you have not waited, you cannot triumph in his appearance; but if you wait, you ſhal ſay when he comes, Lo this is my God, and I have waited for him; yea, the Lord wil not only c…me, bu… he wil come with a bleſſing, for Bleſſed are all thoſe that wait on him; yea, he wil not only bleſs you upon your waiting, but he wil ſtrengthen you therein, Eſai. 40. Thoſe that wait on the Lord, ſhall renew their ſtrength. O! what a bleſſed thing is it then for to wait on God, who would not hope, truſt, wait on the Lord? Is there any thing to be gotten by your ſad Diſcouragements, O ye of little Faith? Are you able to alter one hair of your Condition by al your thoughtfulneſs? Is it not much better now, for to wait on God? Why then do you not call your own heart aſide, and ſay, Come O my ſoul, Why haſt thou limited the Holy One of Iſrael thus long? Why haſt thou diſhonored Chriſt thus long by thy vain fears? Why art thou caſt down, O my ſoul? and why art thou diſquieted within me? Hope, truſt, wait on God; for he is the health of my Countenance, and my God.

And thus now I have done with this great Argument: ye have had the Patience to hear it,Iſa. 35.4.Isa 35:4 the Lord give you Grace to practice it. I conclude all with the words of my Commiſſion: Ye that are of a fearful ſpirit, be ſtrong, fear not: behold, your God will come, even God with a recompence, he will come and ſave you.

OF THE SIN Againſt the HOLY GHOST.

Wherein is ſhewed,

I. What this Sin againſt the Holy Ghoſt is.

II. How, and in what reſpect this Sin againſt the Holy Ghoſt, is above all other Sins, the Ʋnpardonable Sin.

By William Bridge, of Yarmouth.

LONDON: Printed by Peter Cole in Leaden-Hall, and are to be ſold at his Shop, at the ſign of the Printing-Preſs in Cornhil, neer the Royal Exchange. 1656.