Scripture Light the Most Sure Light, Sermon group 4
The Contents.
The great Things Faith can do. On Hebrews, 11.32.
Sermon I.
THe Text Opened. Page 1, 2
DOCT. Saving Faith will do very great things. Page 3
Opened by three Propoſitions:
1 Saving Faith is a working Grace. ibid.
2 Saving Faith will do great things
3 How ſaving Faith comes to do great things
Firſt Propoſition proved. ib.
1 True Faith hath the spirit of the Goſpel in it ibid.
2 'Tis a friend to work. ibid.
3 'Tis the firſt worker in the ſoul ibid.
4 It is an univerſal work Page 4
5 It works beſt alone ibid.
6 It works beſt ſomtimes in the dark ibid.
7 It works beſt at laſt ibid.
II. What are thoſe great things Faith can do? Page 5
Anſw. Faith will do as great things now, as it did under the old Teſtament ibid.
1 Is it not a great matter to overcome temptations? ibid.
2 Is it not a great matter to perform duties to the hazard of life? ibid.
3 Is it not a great matter to mortifie fears? ibid.
4 Is it not a great matter to mortifie your cares? ibid.
5 Is it not a great matter to have your griefs aſſwaged? ibid.
6 Is it not a great matter to be kept ſteady in times of changes? Page 6
7 Is it not a great matter to be a ſtranger to the world? ibid.
8 Is it not a great matter for a man to be faithful under all his betruſtments? ibid.
9 Is it not a great matter to ſee things inviſible? ibid.
10 Is it not a great matter for a man to live in dependance only upon Chriſt? ibid.
More Comparatively.
There are three great Agents in the world; …ut Faith works beyond them all Page 6
1 Compared with Power Page 7
2 Compared with moral Honeſty. This is Proved by three Reaſons ibid.
3 How it may appear that faith can do more than Goſpel Gifts, and common grace. It is made to appear by four Arguments Page 8, 9
III. How comes it to paſs that true faith can do ſuch great things? Page 10
Anſwered by four Reaſons.
1 It goes forth in the might of Gods Promiſe ibid.
2 It goes forth in the might of Gods Power. ibid.
3 It goes forth in the ſtrength of Gods Call ibid.
4 It goes forth in the ſence of what God and Chriſt hath done for the Soul Page 11
Application.
1 The Reaſon why men do no great things in their Generation, is becauſe they want Faith ibid.
2 If you would do great things call in for faith Page 12
Queſt. How ſhal we improve our faith to do great things? Page 13
Anſw.
1 Study much the greatneſs of God ibid.
2 Keep cloſe to Gods Ordinances ibid.
3 Do not chide off your heart from beleeving Page 14
4 Ʋſe your faith to do ſmal things ibid.
5 Look much upon the Call you have to any work Page 15
Notes from Verſe 32.
1 The number of Beleevers under the old Teſtament, it ſeems was not ſmal ibid.
2 God will own that Faith that is but weak at firſt ibid.
3 From Sampſon I collect it is poſſible a great ſinner may be a true Beleever ibid.
4 Note from Jeptha, a baſtard may be a true beleever ibid.
5 From the mentioning of David, Samuel, and the Prophets, &c. conſider, when God hath extraordinary work to do, be raiſeth up extraordinary men Page 17
Laſtly, You ſee what high eſteem God hath of Faith. ib.
The Great Things Faith can ſuffer. ON Hebrews, 11.35.
Sermon II.
The Text opened Page 20, 21
DOCT. True ſaving Faith will ſuffer great things. ib.
Three Propoſitions.
1 A true Beleever may ſuffer hard things
2 Faith wil carry him through them.
3 How Faith can carry him through them. ibid.
The firſt Propoſition proved, Page 21, 22, 23
Queſt. Secondly. How ſhall a man be able to go through theſe hard things? ibid.
Anſw. True ſaving Faith will do it. Proved by four Reaſons. Page 23, 24
Object. We have read of many that ſuffered hard things, yet had not this faith ibid.
Anſw.
1 A wicked man may ſuffer as an evil Doer Page 25
2 A wicked man doth not ſuffer upon choyce ibid.
3 He doth not lay the ſtreſs of all upon Faith ibid
4 He ſuffers not cheerfully, but diſcontentedly ibid.
5 He will reſt upon his ſufferings ibid.
6 He will yield at laſt Page 26
7 He doth not bring forth the quiet fruits of Righteouſneſs. ibid.
Queſt. Thirdly. By what means can Faith do this ibid.
Anſw.
1 It is the work of ſaith to ſubmit to Gods will. ibid.
2 It is the work of Faith to cleave to the Commandement of God ibid.
3 It is the work of faith to cloſe with the Goſpel Page 27
4 It is the work of faith to look upon the recompence of r… ward ibid.
5 The more one ſees the hand of God as a Father in ſufferings, the more able a man will be to ſuffer. ibid.
6 The more a man can ſee to the end of his affliction, the better he will go through it ib.
7 It is the proper work of faith to look on both ſides of the diſpenſation Page 28
8 It is the proper work of faith to ſee one contrary in another ibid.
9 If God engage to help us, faith can ſuffer much in afflictions ibid.
Application. If any man be to ſuffer great things, let him call for faith. Page 29
Object. Theſe are no ſuffering times. ibid
Anſw. Bleſs God for your Gospel Liberty. Conſider the ſufferings of your Brethren. ibid.
Particular applications to ſeveral conditions ibid.
Who knows how ſoon ſuffering times may come? Page 30
Queſt. How ſhall we ſtrengthen our Faith that we may be able to ſuffer? ibid.
Anſw.
1 Conſider frequently what great things the Lord hath done for you already ibid
2 Study much the Book of the Revelations, which is a ſtanding Cordial for ſuffering times Page 31
3 Conſider frequently, the great gain of ſuffering Page 32
That ſuffering times, are gaining times, proved by ten Arguments Page 32
1 Suffering times are teaching times ibid.
2 Suffering times are ſin-diſcovering times ibid.
3 They are ſelf-bethinking times ibid.
4 They are growing times. ib.
5 They are truth-adorning times ibid.
6 They are uniting times. Page 33
7 They are praying times ib.
8 They are ſoul-aſſuring times ibid.
9 They are weaning times. ib.
10 They are Heavenly, and glorious times ibid.
Three Obſervations from the Words Page 34
1 Conſider the Perſons that ſuffered, mentioned in the text, whence I collect, That greatneſs of ſufferings, are no argument to make you doubt of your Salvation. ibid.
2 They ſuffered in hopes of a better Reſurrection; whence conſider, what thoſe men are that would ſteal from you the hopes of a better Reſurrection Page 35
3 They ſuffered all by faith, whence obſerve, That it is no eaſie thing to beleeve Page 36
FINIS.
End of the text · William Bridge, Scripture Light the Most Sure Light (1656)