The Excellency of Holy Courage in Evil Times, Chapter 23
CHAP 23.
Containing other vſes of the point. Uſe, 5. Shews the reaſon why we faile in any thing we do; it is for want of Faith. Uſe, 6. Labor to riſe in indignation againſt your unbelief. Uſe, 7. Conſider what it is to faile in that work which concerns thy eternal eſtate.
USE, 5.
FIftly, If ſo be that it be Faith that carries through difficulties, he…ce we ſee the reaſon why we faile in any thing that we doe, it is want of Faith: It is not ſuch a let, nor ſuch a hinderance; no, know it is the unbeleiving heart, it may be thou wenteſt in the reſolution of thy own heart, and thought to carry it through in the ſtrength of thy own ſpirit, and that would not do: As the Apoſtle ſaith. Heb. 11.29. By Faith they paſſed through the red ſea as by dry land, which the Egyptians aſſaying to do were drowned: So by Faith ſuch and ſuch paſſed through ſuch and ſuch works to the glory of God: But others at other times, would aſſay to do them by their own reſolutions, and they failed and were drowned; it is true reſolution may do great matters, but to carry a ſoule in a gracious manner through any difficultie it wil faile: Know therefore where lay the cauſe of thy failing, and lay thy hand on the right place, and accuſe thy ſelf of an unbeleiving heart,
USE, 6.
And upon that labour to riſe in indignation againſt thy unbeleiving heart; as ſuppoſe a man hath been in ſome great work, and ſome have letted him, and ſo let him, as to ſpoyle his work; his heart riſeth againſt him: I was in a good forwardneſs and ſuch a one came and ſpoyled my work; and ſo look upon thy unbelieving heart: I was in ſuch a work that God ſet me about, but my unbelieving heart came and hindered me, and Gods name loſt the glory, and my own ſoul was wounded.
USE, 7.
Againe doth thy heart faile thee? if my unbelieving heart make me faile in this work, what if I ſhould faile through unbelief in that great work that concernes my eternal eſtate? what ſhould become of me then? I ſeldom undertake a work but my unbelieving heart makes me faile in it; now there is a work of infinite conſequence, and nothing can carrie me through that but Faith, and if my unbelieving heart come and ſpoyl me in that, it were better I had never been borne, it hath done me hurt enough in ſuch and ſuch things, I had need have a care it doe not ſpoile me in that: As if a man ſhould ſay, there are ſuch and ſuch buſineſſes I have miſcarried in, and I have loſt much by them, but there are ſuch and ſuch works if I miſcarrie in I am undon, it is as much as my life is worth, and therefore I had need take heed of thoſe things that have been hindrances to me in my other works: So if unbelief have done you hurt in theſe works, take heed it do not hinder you in the maine work. And for a word to thoſe that are weake, who are ready to be diſcouraged, and think they ſhall miſcarry: Know God hath a ſpeciall care of all his people though never ſo weak to keep off hinderances in that maine work, though God do ſuffer them to faile in other works, and his name ſuffer ſome diſhonour by it, yet he will have a care they ſhall not faile in the maine work: and were we not ſure of this that God will have a care that our unbeleeving hearts ſhall not ſpoile us in that maine work we have to do about our Eternal eſtate, we could never have comfort know the covenant wil not bear this, the covenant will beare that God ſhould let our faith faile in ſome works, but it will not beare this that God ſhould ſuffer the leaſt degree of faith to faile in that work which concerns the eternal good of the ſoul; Chriſt is called the mighty counſeller, and the maine work of Chriſt is to counſel the ſoul in thoſe things that concern its eternal eſtate, and notwithſtanding all its unworthineſs, he will counſel it ſo far as it ſhall not miſcarry in that great buſineſs, yet Chriſt doth not alwaies afford his counſel in every particular action. As God deales in the way of his counſel, ſo of his power, though he may withdraw his ſtrength ſo, as not to aſſiſt our faith in ſome particular actions, yet in the maine and great buſineſs that concerns our eternal eſtate, we ſhall not want neceſſary ſtrength. As a Father that is going along with his child, may be he goes in ſuch waies as the child is in danger of many a fall, to get many a knock, and ſore bruiſe, the father will ſay to him have a care, take heed: but if he come to a way, that if the child fall he loſe his life the father wil not content himſelf with ſaying take heed, but he takes hold on him till he be paſt that place: ſo God in all our ordinary buſineſs ſaies look to your Faith, exerciſe your faith, but for all that we get many a fall, and many a knock, but then may be there comes another work, that concerns our eternal eſtate, which if we faile in we are undone for ever, god takes hold of the ſoul there, and will not let them miſcarry in that, which is the infinite mercy of God to us; and were we not ſure of Gods mercy in that reſpect, being conſcious to our ſelves of our unbeleeving hearts, we might fear, yea conclude we ſhould faile.