Scripture Light the Most Sure Light, Sermon 24

Scripture Light the Most Sure Light · Sermon 24

p. 1THE GREAT THINGS Faith can do.

Hebrews, 11.32.Preached at the Charter-Houſe. Decemb. 23. 1655.

And what ſhall I ſay more? for the time would fail me, to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Sampſon, and of Jeptha, of David alſo, and Samuel, and of the Prophets; who through Faith ſubdued Kingdoms, wrought Righteouſneſs, obtained Promiſes, ſtopped the mouths of Lyons, quenched the violence of fire, eſcaped the edg of the Sword, out of weakneſs were made ſtrong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the Armies of the Aliens, women received their dead, raiſed to life again, &c.

IN this Eleventh Chapter to the Hebrews, you have a little Book of Chronicles; wherein the Beleevers of the old Teſtament, do ſtand upon Record for their great Work of Faith. In the former part of the Chapter, the Apoſtle doth inſtance in ſeveral Beleevers at large: In the latter part, he is more compendious, and draws up the Inſtances into a narrower Room; for ſaith he, The time would fail me to …l of Gideon, of Barak, and of Sampſon, and of Jeptha, &c. Now theſe Beleevers that he p. 2doth inſtance in, in the latter part of the Chapter, are of two ſorts: ſome famous, and of good reports for their actions; and ſome for their ſufferings: ſome did great things, and ſome ſuffered great things, and both by their Faith: Thoſe that ſuffered great things, are mentioned in the following words: Others were tortured, not accepting of deliverance. Thoſe that did great things by their Faith in theſe Verſes: their Perſons are mentioned, and the fruits and effects of their Faith, for which they are mentioned in theſe Verſes. Their Perſons are mentioned in Verſe 32. ye have their Names there; their State, Condition, and their Order: their Names, Gideon, and Barak, and Sampſon,, and Jeptha, and David: their State and Condition, ſome were Kings, ſome were Judges, ſome were Prophets: Faith runs through al Conditions, and Ranks of Men; Faith, and true Grace, is able to make a Plantation upon every Condition of men. And as for their order here, Gideon is before Barak, and Sampſon is before Jeptha: yet if you look into the Story in the Judges, you ſhal find Barak is before Gideon, and Jeptha before Sampſon; and here Gideon ſet firſt, and Sampſon firſt, why? becauſe they excelled in Faith, and thoſe are moſt excellent in Gods eyes, who are moſt eminent in Faith; thoſe are moſt excellent in Gods Eyes, who moſt excel in Faith. But now as for the Fruits and Effects of their Faith, they are many, here are no leſs than ten mentioned in theſe Verſes. Firſt they ſubdued Kingdoms, verſe 33. who through Faith ſubdued Kingdoms; ſo the Judges did, and ſo David alſo. And 2. They wrought Righteouſneſs; ſo Samuel did, Whoſe Ox have I taken? and ſo David did When he ſpared Saul. And 3. They obtained Promiſes; Promiſes, that is the thing promiſed; God is ſo Faithful, ſaith Beza, in fulfilling his Promiſes, that the Promiſe is put for the thing promiſed; they obtained the Promiſes, that is, the thing promiſed. Now the Promiſe they obtained, it was not the great Promiſe of the Meſſias; for ſo at verſe 39. They received not the Promiſe, that is, the great Promiſe of the Meſſias; but the Promiſes they obtained, were particular Promiſes of deliverance, Victories, and Kingdoms; ſo they obtained Promiſes, and ſo Gideon, and Barak, David, and others did. And then they ſtopped the mouths of Lyons; ſo David, and Daniel did. And they quenched the violence of Fire; ſo the three Children did. And eſcaped the edg, or mouth of the Sword; ſo Elijah, and Eliſha did. And out of weakneſs were made ſtrong; ſo He…ekiah was. And they waxed valiant in Fight, and turned to flight the Armies of the Aliens; ſo the Judges, and David did. And Women received their dead, raiſed to Life again; ſo the Woman of Sareptha, and the Shuna…te did. So that now here you may ſee what great things the Beleevers of the old Teſtament did by p. 3Faith: And ſo the Doctrine that I ſhal pitch upon at this time, riſeth from al the words, and not from any particular Clauſe, or paſſage, but from the whol.

Doct. That true ſaving faith, will do very great things.

It is true Faith that the Apoſtle here ſpeaks of, as appears by the whol Chapter; and theſe things that they did, as appears to the Reader at firſt view, were great things: So that I ſhal not need to ſpend any time for cleering of the Doctrine from the words that it doth ariſe from; and al theſe Verſes and words, they are witneſſes to it, they cry out this Doctrine with one Voyce, True ſaving Faith, will do very great things.

For the opening and cleering whereof, I ſhal labor to ſhew,

1. That true ſaving Faith, is a doing, working, ſtirring Grace.

2. That true ſaving Faith, will do great things. And,

3. How Faith comes to do ſuch great things.

2Firſt: True ſaving Faith, is a doing Grace, an active, working, doing, operative Grace: the more Spirits any thing hath, the more active it is: Faith, true ſaving Faith, hath the Spirit of the Goſpel in it; the Goſpel is the Miniſtration of the Spirit, and true ſaving Faith, it hath the Spirit of this Spiritful Diſpenſation; and therfore it muſt needs be a very ſpiritual, and a working Grace. It is called a work it ſelf, in 1 Theſ. 1.3. Remembring without ceaſing, your work Faith; and in 2 Theſ. 1.11. The work of Faith with power. Our Lord and Savior Chriſt ſaith, it is the Work of God; This is the Work of God, that ye beleeve; it is in it ſelf a work. And,

3Secondly: It is a friend to work: true ſaving Faith, it is a Work, and it is a great Friend to work; it is not an idle Houſwife. What is our Sanctification, but our Faith incarnate; it works Love, and it works by Love; and Love is very inventive, active, and expenſive: it is a friend to work; a work in it ſelf, and a friend to work. And

Thirdly: It is alſo the firſt worker in the Soul. Truſt in the Lord, and do good; not firſt do good, and then truſt in the Lord, truſt in the Lord firſt, truſt in the Lord, and do good: it is the work that ſets other works on work, the wheel that ſets al other wheels a going; without which, a man is idle, though he be at work. As a Child may be very buſie at his play, yet but play; and a Servant may be very buſie about his own imployment, and yet his Maſter counts it an idleneſs, becauſe he is not about his work appointed him. So now, a man may be very buſie in regard of the p. 4world, and yet he may be idle God-ward, Niſi a Deo agendo, nil ages; Faith muſt be the firſt Worker, and if Faith be not the firſt, al other works are as nothing. Yea,

4Fourthly: As Faith is a Work, and a Friend of Work, and a firſt Worker; ſo it is an Univerſal Work: Faith is that Grace that can turn its hand to every Work; ſome can work exactly at one thing, but they are bunglers at another: but Faith, true ſaving Faith, can turn its hand to every buſineſs: Poſſibly a man may be ſick, and he cannot pray himſelf; but yet he may beleeve; though Prayer cannot turn its hand to this Condition, yet Faith can. Poſſibly a man may be very poor, and is not able to help another; Liberality cannot turn its hand to this Condition, but Faith can work in it.

5Fiftly: And not only ſo, but Faith works beſt, when it works alone, when it works al alone; If Comfort come, and ſence, and feeling come, Faith knows how to uſe theſe; but though a man have no Sence, and no Comfort, yet Faith can work, and Faith works beſt, when it works alone, when it work… al alone, without theſe auxiliaries.

6Sixtly: Yea, Faith works beſt ſomtimes, when it works in the dark; as it works beſt when it works alone, ſo ſomtimes, it works beſt in the dark. Men can work wel in the light, but not in the dark; but though a mans condition be very dark, yet Faith can work then; Faith works beſt when it works in the dark: Faith loves to work like Chriſt, and Chriſts greateſt action of Obedience, was in the darkeſt time, when he was on the Croſs. I remember a Speech of that good old man, Mr. Dod, when a man that was troubled in his mind lay a dying, he ſaid to him, Sir, what wil you ſay to Chriſt? when he was dying, did he not ſay, My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? And was not Chriſts higheſt piece of Obedience upon the Croſs, in the dark, in a dark condition? Faith works beſt ſomtimes in the dark.

7Seventhly: Yet further, Faith, it works beſt at the laſt, and the longer it works, the better; for Faith grows by experience, and the longer that Faith works, the more experience it gets; and the more experience Faith gets, the ſtronger it is, and therefore Faith works beſt at the laſt. Now put al theſe together, Faith is a Work, and Faith is a Friend to Work, and Faith is the firſt Worker, and Faith is an Univerſal Worker, and Faith works beſt when it works al alone, and Faith works beſt ſomtimes in the dark, and Faith works beſt at the laſt; and certainly you have the firſt, namely this, That true ſaving Faith is a doing Grace, it is a working Grace. But p. 5IISecondly: You wil ſay, What are thoſe great things that Faith will do? for we have heard that Faith is a doing Grace, that is the Doctrine; Faith will do, and do great things; but what are thoſe great things that Faith will do ſtill?

Anſw. Faith wil do as great things now, ſurely in Goſpel times, new Teſtament times, as ever in old Teſtament times; and I ſhal not inſtance in thoſe ten Particulars, only ſo far as to make forth the general Doctrine, and to bring it unto our ſelves, I ſhal ſhew you what great things Faith wil do ſtil, and ſhal ſpeak to that more Poſitively, and abſolutely; and then Comparatively.

Faith, true ſaving Faith, it wil reſiſt great Temptations; it wil perform great Performances; it wil ſuppreſs al your Fears, it wil mortifie al your Cares; it wil aſſwage and ſubdue al your Griefs; it wil make you a ſtranger in this World; it wil keep your hearts ſteady and upright, in al the turnings and changes of your Life; it wil make you faithful under al your Betruſtments; it wil reallize Eternity to you, and make thoſe things viſible to you, that are in themſelves inviſible; and it wil make you live in continual dependance on Chriſt, and fetch al from him: Al theſe things are great things, and I muſt not dwel upon any of them, but only touch upon each of them.

1Is it not a great matter for a man to reſiſt, and overcome great Temptations? Joſeph did ſo; ſorely tempted by his Miſtris, but he overcame the Temptation, How? He beleeved, How ſhall I do this evil, and ſin againſt my God?

2Is it not a great matter for a man to perform Duties to the hazard of his Life? Thus Daniel did, ſet open his Windows when he went to pray, prayed and kept to his Duty to the hazard of his life, why? Becauſe he beleeved. Again,

3Is it not a great matter to mortifie your Fears, and al your Fears, your great Fears? This Faith wil do; What time I am afraid, I will truſt in thee. Again,

4Is it not a great matter to mortifie your Cares, and extream thoughtfulneſs? This Faith wil do. In Prov. 16.3. Commit thy Work unto the Lord, and thy thoughts ſhal be eſtabliſhed: Commit thy work, there is Faith, and thy thoughts ſhal be eſtabliſhed. And,

5It is not a great matter to have your griefs aſſwaged when they are great? Faith wil do it. Hannah was a Woman of a ſad, and a ſorrowful Spirit, and the Lord gave her in a word, a particular word, and ſhe beleeved, and was no more ſad.

p. 66Is it not a great matter to be kept ſtraight, and even, and ſteady, in times of Changes, the great turnings and Changes of your life? This Faith wil do. Job met with many Changes, but his heart was kept ſteady and upright in the midſt of al; Lord, though thou kill me, yet will I truſt in thee. Again,

7Is it not a great matter to be a ſtranger to the World, to be a ſtranger from the World? Faith wil do this. It is ſaid of Abraham in Heb. 11.9. By Faith he ſojourned in the Land of Promiſe, as in a ſtrange Country: Mark the Expreſſion, he ſojourned in the Land of Promiſe. There are ſome outward Bleſſings that we have by Prayer, that we have by Promiſe; it may be a Child, or ſuch a Relation, that we have by Prayer, and by Promiſe, and we think we may be very indulgent to our Affection in regard of that mercy: but ſee here, Abraham was a ſtranger ger in the Land of Promiſe, as in a ſtrange Country. And then again,

8Is it not a great matter for a man to be Faithful under al his betruſtments? Caleb and Joſhua were ſo; they were ſent to ſpy out the Land of Canaan, and when the other Spies brought up an ill report, they were faithful in their Report, why? Becauſe they beleeved, The Lord hath given them into our hands as bread (ſay they) Faith wil make a man faithful under al his Betruſtments. And,

9Is it not a great matter for a man, to ſee thoſe things that are inviſible, to reallize Eternity, and to ſee thoſe things that are inviſible? By Faith Moſes ſaw him that is inviſible. And,

10Is it not a great matter for a man to live in continual dependance on Chriſt, and fetch al from him? Faith wil do this; for as Chriſt could do nothing without Faith, he could do no great things there, becauſe of their Unbelief; ſo Faith can do nothing without Chriſt, I live, yet not I, but Chriſt liveth in me, why Becauſe I live by the Faith of the Son of God. Faith wil make a man live in continual dependance on Chriſt, and fetch al from him. Now Beloved, theſe are great things, every one of theſe is a great matter: but true ſaving Faith wil do al theſe things.

But then to ſpeak to it yet more Comparatively; there are two or three great Agents in the World, that are cloſe at work, and Faith wil out-work them al, and do greater things than any of them. 1. There is a Carnal Policy, with Power, which is a great Agent, and Worker, in reference to the Affairs of the World. 2. There is Civil Honeſty, a great Agent in reference to our dealing between man and man. And 3. There are Goſpel Gifts, Parts, and common Grace, which are great Agents in reference to our Religion. Now, not to ſhow the difference between them, p. 7but to give you a little taſt, that I may make out the general Doctrine, That Faith doth work beyond al. And

1Firſt of al: If you compare it with Power, Power cloathed with Policy, or Policy cloathed with Power: Faith wil do more than al Policy and Power can do. And I pray turn unto 2 Chron. 13. where you ſhal ſee this cleerly proved to you, verſe 3. There is a great Battel fought; And Abijah ſet the Battel in Array, with an Army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thouſand choſen men: Jeroboam alſo ſet the Battel in Array with eight hundred thouſand choſen men, being mighty men of Valor: Jeroboam had as many again, Abijah but four hundred thouſand. Now if you look into verſe 16. it is ſaid the Children of Iſrael fled before Judah, and Abijah, and his People, ſlew them with a great ſlaughter, verſe 17. So there fel down ſlain of Iſrael, five hundred thouſand choſen men, ſuch a ſlaughter as you ſhal not hear of: Abijah had but four hundred thouſand men, and they ſlew five hundred thouſand, Why? they had power enough, they were as many again: What was the matter, did they wane Policy? it is ſaid verſe 13. But Jeroboam cauſed an Ambuſhment to come about them; ſo they were before Judah, and the Ambuſhment was behind them: here was Power, and here was Policy, and yet this great Army is beaten with half the Company, and five hundred thouſand ſlain: How comes this to paſs? Indeed you read of the Children of Judah, That they cryed unto the Lord, They cried unto the Lord, at verſe 14. But if you wil have the reaſon, look to verſe 18. Thus the Children of Iſrael were brought under at that time; and the Children of Judah prevailed, becauſe they relied on the Lord God of their Fathers. See Faith can do more than al the Power and Policy in the World can do; true ſaving Faith can do more in reference to the Affairs of the World too: What Power is able to turn the Tide? if the Tide come in, and go out, you may bring in your Veſſels with it, or ſend out your Veſſels; who is able to turn the Tide? What power on Earth is able to turn the Tide? And what power of men can turn the power of Providence? or Policy of men, can turn the Tide of Providence? But Faith can do it, true ſaving Faith can turn the Tide, even of Providence; and therefore it can do greater things than al Power, the greatneſs of the World joyned with Policy.

2Secondly: There is another great Agent in the World, and that is civil honeſty, and morality, which deals much between man and man; How may it appear that Faith can do greater things than this?

That appears plainly thus:

1Civil Honeſty, and Morality, doth trade but in ſmal matter…, p. 8and therefore the Civil, Honeſt, Moral man, he never breaks in his Profeſſion, Why? Becauſe he trades not in great matters. When do you hear a noiſe of a poor mans breaking? when a great, rich Merchant breaks, you have the noiſe of it through the City: When do you hear of Ships, or Veſſels miſcarrying in narrow Waters? in the Seas, Ships that launch out to Sea, they are Shipwrack'd; but thoſe that trade in narrow Waters, they ſeldom, or never Shipwrack. So thoſe Profeſſors that launch forth into the Ocean of the Goſpel, they break ſomtimes; but the civil, moral man, he bleſſeth himſelf when he ſees this; Theſe (ſaies he) are unconſtant men, theſe are uneven men, ſomtimes for this, and ſomtimes for that Opinion; but I am conſtant: Whereas the Truth is, it is becauſe he trades in Warrow Water, in ſmal things, and ſo never breaks, never ſuffers Ship-wrack. But now, true ſaving Faith trades in the high things of the Goſpel.

2Though Civility, and morality may do much between man and man; yet it wil never make a man to leave al, to follow Chriſt: The yong man that came to Chriſt, ſaid, Al theſe things have I done; but ſaith Chriſt, Go and ſel al that thou haſt, and give to the poor, and come, and follow me; he could not down with that: So that Civility, and Morality, wil never make a man part with al to follow Chtiſt, but true Faith wil: If Chriſt ſay, Follow me, Saith Faith, I will follow thee wherever thou goeſt.

3And though a civil man may do much in a way of Righteouſneſs between man and man, yet he doth not deal with God through Morality, doth not deal wiih God through man; Faith doth, true ſaving Faith doth; I was dumb, and opened not my mouth, for thou Lord haſt done it: Morality can ſay the firſt part. Suppoſe a Moral, and Civil man be reviled, out of the goodneſs of his Nature, he can ſay the firſt part, I was dumb, and opened not my mouth; but Morality connot ſpeak the ſecond part, becauſe thou Lord haſt done it. Morality doth not deal with God through man, but Faith doth, and ſo it doth greater things than this Agent.

3Thirdly: How may it appear that true ſaving Faith, can do greater things than Goſpel Parts, Gifts, and common Grace?

It appears thus:

1Though Goſpel parts and Gifts, are very uſeful, and profitable for the edifying of the Body, for edifying of other; yet they wil not humble a man, and cauſe him to walk humbly with God: Magnum non eſt magna facere, it is no great matter to do great things; but for a man to do great things, and think himſelf nothing, this is great. Now Parts and Gifts, they puff up; but p. 9true ſaving Faith doth humble. Mark the oppoſition in Hab. 2.4. Behold, his Soul which is lifted up, towred up, ſaith the Hebrew, his Soul that is towred up, is not upright in him; but the juſt ſhall live by his Faith.

2True ſaving Faith hath a, yet not I: If you look into the new Teſtament, you ſhal find there is a three-fold, yet not I: one that relates to ſin, in Rom. 7. I ſin, yet not I: one that relates to Spiritual Life, I live, yet not I: one that relates co Duties, I have labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I. True ſaving faith hath this, yet not I; Parts and Gifts know not this, yet not I.

3Though Parts and Gifts may be very uſeful unto the Body, yet they wil never make a perfect change in a man: Suppoſe a man hath very good Parts and Gifts, and withal he be given to paſſion, ye ſhal obſerve, his Goſpel Parts and Gifts, wil never take away his Paſſion, but he is as paſſ…onate now, as ever he was: Goſpel Parts and Gifts never make a through change in a man, Faith doth, and Faith makes ſuch a change, as a man is directly contrary unto what he was before. Zacheus, an Oppreſſor before, now ſaith he, Lord, behold, the half of my Goods I give to the poor; Why? Becauſe he was a Son of Abraham, a Beleever: and ſo the Jaylor; he whipt and ſcourged Paul, and Sylas; but when he came to beleeve, he takes them into his Hou…e, and ſet meat before them; why for he beleeved, and al his Houſe. True ſaving Faith wil make a perfect change; but Parts and Gifts wil never do it.

4As for common Grace, Though a man may riſe to a very great Profeſſion thereby, he wil never hold it; theſe Colors are not laid in Goſpel Oyl, and it wil never hold, it is but a varniſh, and it wil off. But ſaith the Apoſtle, We are kept by the Power of God through Faith; Faith wil hold. You ſee how it is with the Leather that a man wears on his Shoo, it wil wear out; there are ſome poor people that go without Shoos, and their Skin is thin, not ſo thick as the Leather, and yet it wears not off, Why? Becauſe there is a Life in it; the one grows thicker, and thicker; the other thinner, and thinner; Why? Bec…uſe there is no Life in it. So Parts, and Gifts, and common Grace, they wear out becauſe there is no life in them: but now, true ſaving Faith, there is life in it, and it wil not wear out. So that thus you ſee, true ſaving Faith is above al others, conſidered alone: it wil reſiſt great Temptations, it wil perform great Performances, it wil mortifie al your fears, it wil ſubdue al your Cares, it wil aſſwage al your Griefs, it wil make you a ſtranger in this World, it wil keep your hearts ſteady, and even, and upright in al al the turns and Changes of your Life, it wil make you faithful under al your betruſtmen…, it wil reallize Eternity to you, it wil make thoſe things viſible to you, that are in themſelves inviſible, p. 10it wil make you to live in continual dependance on Chriſt, and fetch al from him, it wil do greater things than Policy joyned with Power, it wil do greater things than Morality, and Civility, it wil out-ſhoot that in its own Bow, and it wil do greater things than Goſpel Gifts, and Parts, and common Grace: Surely then, true ſaving Faith, wil do great things. But then

IIIThirdly: You wil ask me, How comes it to paſs, that true ſaving Faith can do ſuch great things?

Anſw. 1 Faith goes forth in the might of Gods Power, the Almighty power of God, and therefore ſaith our Savior, If thou canſt beleeve, al things are poſſible. And if you look into the Scripture, you ſhal find that the great Works of God, of his Almighty Power, are aſcribed to Faith, both in the old Teſtament, a…d in the new. In the old Teſtament, the great Works of God were much expreſt in Victories over Enemies; and in the new Teſtament, the great Works of God much in Cures of Diſeaſes; and both theſe are given to Faith: the great Victories of the old Teſtament given to Faith; and the great miraculous Cures of the New Teſtament given to Faith; and wil you know the reaſon? God wil aſcribe much to that Grace, that aſcribes much to him; and ſet the Crown upon the Head of that Grace, that ſets the Crown upon the Head of his Son. Now the more that any man can wait upon God in the uſe of low, and mean, and poor, and no means, the more he doth aſcribe unto God, and to his Power. It is ſaid, By Faith the Walls of Jericho fel down; Did Faith pul down the wals of Jericho? No, but it was the Almighty power of God that pull'd down the wals of Jericho; but this is ſaid to be done by Faith, why? Becauſe they did wait upon God in the uſe of Rams Horns; and when a man can wait upon God in nhe uſe of Rams Horns, then a man is ſaid to live by Faith.

2As Faith goes forth in the might of Gods Power, ſo in the might of Gods Promiſe; the Promiſe is made to Faith, the Promiſe of doing great things is made to Faith. In John, 14.12. Verily, verily, I ſay unto you, he that beleeveth on me, the works that I do, ſhal he do alſo, and greater wo…ks than theſe, ſhal he do, becauſe I go unto my Father: So …ha… not only the Promiſe is made to Faith, but the Promiſe of doing great things, is made to Faith.

3As Faith doth go forth in the ſtrength or the Promiſe, ſo Faith doth go forth in the ſtrength of Gods Cal: there is much might in Gods Cal, Faith goes forth in the ſtrength, and might of Gods Call. Read what the Lord ſaid to Gideon, in Judges, 6.14. And the Lord looked upon him, and ſaid, Go in this thy might, and thou ſhalt ſave Iſrael from the hand of the Midianites: what might was this? Go in this thy Might, have not I ſent thee? p. 11here is the Might; Go in this thy Might: what Might? the Might of my Call. Gods Cal is a Might, and when a Man doth go forth in the Might of Gods Call, he goes forth in a mighty ſtrength; Faith goes forth in the Might of Gods Call.

4As Faith goes forth in the Might of Gods Cal, ſo it doth go forth in the Sence of what God and Chriſt hath done for the Soul; I know Faith, and Sence, and Feeling differ; but I ſay, Faith is very ſenſible of what the Father hath done, and what Chriſt hath done for poor ſinners; and when a man is very ſenſible of what great things God hath done, and Chriſt hath done, then ſaith a man, Shal God do ſuch great things for me? and ſhal Chriſt do ſuch great things for me? and ſhal not I do great things again for God and Chriſt? Faith is very ſenſible of what God and Chriſt hath done for ſinners. And thus Faith makes a man do great things for God, Faith goes forth in the Might of Gods Power, Faith goes forth in the Might of Gods Promiſe, Faith goes forth in the Might of Gods Cal, and Faith goes forth in the Sence of what God and Chriſt hath done for the Soul. And thus it comes to paſs that Faith wil do very great things. And thus now I have done with the Doctrinal Part; I come to the Application.

Applic. 1 If this Doctrine be true, True ſaving Faith wil do great things, and very great things; then we may here ſee the reaſon why men do no great things for God, why men do no great things in their Generation, and why there are no great things in their Generation, and why there are no great things found in mens Converſation, no great things for the moſt part; It is becauſe men do want this true ſaving Faith, it is a working Grace, an active Grace; and therefore if I be not a worker for God, it argues I have none of this Faith: True ſaving Faith, it wil do great things for God; what ſhal we ſay to thoſe that cannot do ſmal things? It's a ſmal thing to leave drunken Company, a ſmal thing to leave a fooliſh Faſhion, a ſmal thing to leave an idle word, Faith, or Troth; men cannot do ſmal things; true ſaving Faith wil do great things, and very great things. O! What ſhal we ſay of thoſe that are ſo far from doing gre…t things, that they cannot do ſmal things? have they Faith? Let not men be deceived: I ſay agiin, true ſaving Faith wil do very great things. Was it not a very great matter for a yong man brought up in the Court, to leave al the Court Preferment, and to chuſe Affliction wi…h the People of God, rather than the Preferments of the Court? this Moſes did by Faith. Was it not a great matter for a People to venture into the Sea, meerly upon a Command? thi… Faith made the People do. By Faith Peter ventured on the waters of the Sea; by Faith Iſrael entred into the Sea: true ſaving Faith is a venturing Grace, it p. 12wil venture far for God, and far after God. Was it not a great matter for Rahab the Harlot; an Inn-keeper, a Whore to become a Saint, a Beleever? for a Drunkard, and for an Adulterer, to become a Beleever? is it not a great matter? By Faith, Rahab the Harlot beleeved. Certainly, where there is Faith in truth, it wil make a man do great things, there wil be ſomthing that is great, found in his Life and Converſation: Thus it was with theſe men, Gideon and Barak. It wil be ſaid that their Faith was a Faith of Miracles, and they wrought Miracles by it; Indeed ſome did, al did not; for by Faith they wrought Righteouſneſs, the Text ſaith, and that is not a Miracle: this is one of the great things. O! but their Faith was ſtrong, and ours weak. But Gideons Faith was weak, he was fain to have two or three ſigns to underprop his Faith: and Baraks Faith was weak, he would not go forth againſt the Enemy without the Woman Deborah. O! but theſe men were buſied about great Works, and great Imployment. Miſtake not, you may do great things by Faith, in ſmal Imployment: It was no great matter of imployment for the poor Woman to give two Mites, it was a great matter ſhe did, Why? Becauſe ſhe did it by Faith. And ſo the Woman of Sarepta, when the Prophet ſaid, give me a Cake firſt; it was no great matter that her Faith was imployed about, a Cake, and a little that ſhe did; but a great matter in giving him firſt: So that I ſay, Faith may do great things, although it be not imployed about great matters. O! but I do great things, and therefore I hope I have this true ſaving Faith; I do great things: that is wel. But I pray, only conſider this, Thoſe things are great, which are great in their own preſent Generation; that which was a great matter heretofore, may be a ſmal matter now; and that which was a ſmal matter heretofore, may be a great matter now. In the times of the Biſhops, it was a ſmal matter then to keep the Doctrine of Religion, and a great matter to oppoſe the Ceremonies: Now it is a ſmal matter to oppoſe the Ceremonies, and a great matter, to keep the Truth, and the Doctrine of Religion. I ſay, that which was a great matter before, may be a ſmal matter now; and that which was but a ſmal matter heretofore, may be a great matter now. But if your Faith be true, you wil do great things, there wil be ſome great thing or other found in your Life, and ſuch as are great indeed.

Applic. 2 If this Doctrine be true, In caſe Chriſtians, that you have any great work to do, cal in for Faith, cal in for Faith. In caſe ye have a great outward imployment, you wil ſend to the moſt skilful man in that Faculty: If it be to build a Houſe, or go to Law, you wil cal in for the moſt skilful Agent. True ſaving Faith is a great Agent, a great Worker; and therefore if you have any great work to do, cal in Faith, look to your Faith. It is ſaid of Mr. p. 13Tyndal in the Story of his Life, there being a Conjurer in the Low Countries, where he lived, that would undertake to fetch a Diſh of Meat off any Princes Table, and make a great Dinner for his Friends; and it being reported he had often done it, they being met together to behold this Skil, Mr. Tyndal would go in among them, and he ſets himſelf to beleeve that this Fellow ſhould not be able to do it; and when al his Company was met together, he could not do it; ſaith he, There ſits the man that hinders me. O! Faith can do more than al the Conjurers in the World. Have you any great matter to do, Chriſtians? Cal in for Faith: And certainly, there are yet great things to do; Antichriſt to fal, the Jews to be called, great things to be done for this Land; God hath done great things, yet greater things are to be done; God hath done great things for your, and my Family, there are yet greater things to be done; God hath done great things for your Soul, there are yet greater things to be done. When any great thing is to be done, Chriſtians, Chriſtians, Cal in for Faith, ſet Faith a work now.

Queſt. You wil ſay, What ſhall we do, and bow ſhall we ſo improve our Faith, as we may do great things thereby?

Anſw. 1 Firſt of al: Study much the greatneſs of God; for the more you ſtudy the greatneſs of God, the more wil your mind be grandeur'd, greatened, and your Faith ſtrengthened. Children do little things, becauſe their minds are not upon great things: Kings and Princes are the great men of the Earth, they do great things, for their minds are great; they have great minds, Why? Becauſe their minds are exerciſed about great things. Saith Solomon, I wil build a Houſe, a great Houſe, Why? For it is to the great God. Would you do great things? ſtudy much the Greatneſs of God. Thus wil your mind be great, and your Faith ſtrengthened to do great things.

2Secondly: If you would to improve your Faith, as you may do great things thereby, keep cloſe to the Ordinances of God: Faith lives upon God in the Ordinances. Thoſe that caſt off the Ordinances, do not live by Faith; What then? By Experiences, by Revelations, Impreſſions, and Viſions, I had almoſt ſaid by Fancies, they do not live by Faith; Faith lives upon God in the uſe of Ordinances, and it gathers ſtrength thereby. Look I pray again, into 2 Chron. 13. and you ſhal ſee how Abijah's Faith was raiſed; by Faith he overcame Jeroboam, and ſlew five hundred thouſand of them together: but I pray how did he ſtrengthen his Faith? Mark the words; And Jeroboam came out againſt him, and Abijah ſtood upon a Mountain, and ſaid, Hear p. 14ye me Jeroboam, and all Iſrael, verſe 4. Ought ye not to know, that the Lord God of Iſrael, gave the Kingdom of Iſrael to David for ever? And verſe 9. Have ye not caſt out the Prieſts of the Lord, the Sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you Prieſts after the manner of the Nations of other Lands? So that whoſoever cometh to conſecrate himſelf with a yong Bullock, and ſeven Rams, the ſame may be a Prieſt of them that are no Gods. But as for us (ſee how he ſtrengthens his Faith) the Lord is our God, and we have not forſaken him; and the Prieſts which Miniſter unto the Lord, are the Sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait upon their buſineſs, and they burn unto the Lord, every morning, and every evening, burnt Sacrifices, and ſweet Incenſe; the Shew-bread alſo ſet in order upon the pure Table, and the Candleſtick of God, with the Lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the Charge of the Lord our God; but ye have forſaken him, and behold, God himſelf is with us for our Captain, &c. He argues God had not forſaken him, becauſe they had not forſaken the Ordinances. Would you therefore, ſo improve your Faith, as you may do great things thereby? keep cloſe to Ordinances.

3Thirdly: If you would ſo improve your Faith, as you may do great things thereby, do not check your Faith, do not rate off your heart from beleeving, do not chide off your heart from beleeving, let your heart beleeve to the utmoſt. Our Lord and Savior Chriſt, hath given us a very good encouragement in this reſpect; for (ſaith he) I ſay unto you, Whatſoever things ye deſire when ye pray, beleeve that ye ſhall receive them, and ye ſhall have them: Do but beleeve it, ſaith our Savior Chriſt. I charge you ſaith he, do not doubt, do not chide off your Faith, do not check your Faith, do not rate off your heart from beleeving; there are many do ſo, they check their Faith by doubting, and rate off their Faith by Unbelief.

4Fourthly: If you would ſo improve your Faith, that you may do great things thereby, uſe your Faith to do ſmal things, put your Faith to work every day, uſe your Faith to do ſmal things. It is a good Rule; Do not commit any ſin, becauſe it is ſmal; do not neglect any Duty, becauſe it is not great: and though the thing be ſmal, put your Faith to work in ordinary matters, put your Faith to work. Somtimes you come to a great matter, and you put on your Faith there; but becauſe your Faith is not uſed to ſmal things, your Faith wil not come on here. I remember a Speech of Mr. Greenham concerning Suffering; ſaith he, If you would ſuffer hard things from Papiſts, be content to ſuffer ſmal things from Proteſtants; and if you would be able to ſuffer hard things from Enemies, you muſt be content to ſuffer p. 15ſmal things from Friends; ſaith he, you wil never be able to ſuffer great things from Enemies, if you are not able to ſuffer ſmal things from Friends. So ſay I in the point of Doing; You wil never be able to do great things by Faith, if your faith be not uſed to do ſmal things. And therefore Chriſtians, in al things you do, the Life you live in the fleſh, put your faith to work in your particular Callings, in ſmal things; and when your faith is uſed to do ſmal things, you wil be able to do great things; but you wil never be able to improve your faith to do great things, if you uſe not your faith to do ſmal things.

5Fiftly, and Laſtly: Study much, and look much upon the Cal you have to any Work, and do not ſtand poring upon your own ability, or upon the difficulty of the work: Thus theſe Worthies, when the Lord called them, the work was great awd difficult, and they were weak; but they looked upon Gods Cal, and they did not ſtand poring upon their own Abilities; but as Abraham conſidered not his own Body, ſo theſe, and therefore they did great things by faith. Poſſibly a man is called to a Place in the Magiſtracy, and he looks upon it as a great Work; I am not able (ſaith he) it is beyond me: So a man is called to the Miniſtry, I have no Parts, nor Gifts, the Work is beyond me. So for beleeving, a man is commanded to beleeve, but I cannot beleeve, my heart is dead, I cannot beleeve: whereas now, if men did but look upon the Cal of God, they would be able to do great things for God. Either Chriſtian, thou art commanded to beleeve, or not: If thou are not commanded to beleeve, then Unbelief is no ſin; and if you are commanded to beleeve, then you are called to it; do not ſtand poring upon the Difficulty of your Work, but look upon the Cal of God; and thus ſhal your faith work, and do great things. And thus I have done with the main Doctrine that grows out of theſe words. There are ſome particular Notes, that as little Twigs, do grow from this great Oak, which I ſhal draw out, and ſo conclude; and that is out of the 32. Verſe.

1Firſt; In that the Apoſtle ſaith, What ſhould I ſay more? for the time would fail me, &c. The number of Beleevers in the times of the old Teſtament, it ſeems was not ſmal: The time would fail me (ſaith he) to t…l of the Beleevers of the old Taſtament: few ſhal be ſaved indeed comparatively; but through Grace, many there are that do beleeve. If there were many in the old Teſtament times, certainly then there are many now, in the new Teſtament times, that do beleeve.

2Secondly: In that the Apoſtle doth here inſtance in Gideon, and Barak, and Sampſon, and Jeptha: Gideon and Barak, he inſtances in them, thus much you may note; God will own that p. 16Faith that is but weak at firſt. Gideons faith was weak at the firſt, Bara…ks faith was weak at the firſt; it is more like to live, this faith that is weak at the firſt, than that which is born with Teeth; faith that is weak at the firſt, God wil own. It is true, not only for Faith that is weak at firſt, but al weak Faith; God wil own the weak faith, and commend the ſtrong faith; he will bear with the weak faith, and commend the ſtrong faith. See it in the caſe of Thomas; Thomas, ſaith he, Reach hither thy hand, and thruſt thy finger into my ſide: Lord, ſaith he, I beleeve, my Lord, and my God: wel ſaith Chriſt, Thomas thou beleeveſt: here he owns his faith though it is weak, but commends the ſtrong faith; Bleſſed is he that hath not ſeen, and yet hath beleeved. Chriſt wil own the weak faith, and commend the ſtrong faith; but I ſay, he wil own the faith that is weak at the firſt. May be here are ſome that are Beleevers, that begin to look after Chriſt, ſome yong Chriſtians that begin to look after God, and turn from their evil waies, and begin weakly at the firſt; remember this, God wil own that faith as weak as it is.

But God ſee here, Gideon before Barak, and Sampſon before Jeptha. The Second Note from thence is, Though the Lord wil own the weak faith, weak at the firſt; yet God doth moſt highly eſteem of them that do moſt excel in faith; Gideon is before Barak, Sampſon before Jeptha: thoſe are in moſt account with God, that do moſt excel in faith. But then,

3Thirdly: In that the Apoſtle doth here inſtance in Sampſon for a Beleever. It is poſſible that a great ſinner may become a true Beleever; yea, poſſibly a man may have true faith, yet he may fal foully, ſo Sampſon: but if he do fal foully, and be a Beleever, he is like to pay dearly for it, ſo Sampſon, both his Eyes went for it: but though a man do pay dearly for it, yet God wil return again, and own his faith, and record his faith: ſo Sampſons faith is.

4Fourthly: In that the Apoſtle doth here make mention of Jeptha: Jeptha, who was a Baſtard, under a reproach, yet recorded for a Beleever. Poſſibly a Baſtard may become a Beleever, one that lies under great reproach in regard of Parentage, may become a true Beleever. Behold what that is, that wil rowl away reproach from a Family, it is faith, true ſaving faith: behold, here was a reproach upon Jeptha and his family as a Baſtard; now he beleeves, and faith rowls away the reproach from his perſon, and from his family, and he is recorded for a Beleever. Let none be diſcouraged in regard of any reproachful Condition that they are in; true faith wil rowl away the reproach, and by faith you may become of good report.

p. 17Fiftly: In that the Apoſtle doth ſpeak of David: Of David alſo, and Samuel, and of the Prophets: Conſider I pray, theſe were extraordinary men. When then, God hath any extraordinary work to do, he wil raiſe up extraordinary men to do it; and when God doth raiſe up a man ex…raordinarily, he wil give extraordinary Gifts. But mat I would have you conſider thence, is this; That we may make uſe of extraordinary Examples, to ſtrengthen our ordinary faith: here are extraordinary caſes, and brought in by the Apoſtle to this end and purpoſe to ſtrengthen our faith. Be not diſcouraged then, when you go into Scripture, and read of extraordinary Examples; Satan tels you, I, but this is an extraordinary Example, and it reacheth not me: do not ſay ſo, God wil make uſe of extraordinary examples, to ſtrengthen ordinary faith.

But to end al: you ſee what high eſteem God hath of faith, theſe men did great Matters, Gideon, and Barak, and Sampſon, and Jeptha, and David; yet their great Actions are brought in here upon the account of their faith, Fides nobilitat omnes; it is faith that raiſeth a man: great things they did, but thoſe things are upon record only as they were wrought by faith, and their faith was weak, and labored under many Infirmities. Look into this 11. of the Hebrews, here is no mention made of Sampſons Infirmities, here is no mention made of Rababs Infirmities; here is mention of their faith, but their Infirmities paſt by, and not once mentioned; their faith is mentioned, and al the great things that they did, mentioned only upon the account of faith. What a great eſteem hath God of faith! What a mighty encouragement then ſhould this be to al that hear the Word of the Lord this day, to get faith, to ſtrengthen your faith. O! you that have no faith at al (and ſome ſuch there may be here) you that have no faith at al, get faith, get faith; and you that have true ſaving faith, improve it to do great things by it; and the Truth is, if you have true ſaving faith, you wil do it, and there wil be ſome great things found in your Converſation: for you remember the Doctrine, True ſaving faith wil do very great things. And thus I have done with the firſt Rank of Beleevers: Their Doing is firſt mentioned, their Suffering follows.