Remains, Part 2 · Section 6
HEB. 11.8.
By faith Abraham being called to go out into a place which he ſhould afterwards receive for an inheritance, obeyed, and he went out not knowing whither he went.
WE have ſpoken of Effectual Calling, what a great mercy it is, that God ſhould vouchſafe this unto us, and the abundance of benefits it brings to a man▪ we have ſhewed how it is differenced from in-effectual Calling; How a man may know whether he be effectually called, yea or no; and ſo we came to ſhew you how a man anſwers this call, and he anſwers it only by faith, and ſo we made a digreſſe to ſpeak of faith what it is, that it is an affiance in Chriſt; not every affiance, but a rooted affiance in Chriſt; and now we come to take up the point again, that it is only faith whereby a mans calling is made effectual; when a man is firſt called out of darkneſſe into marvelous light, out of the Kingdome of ſinne into the Kingdome of God, it is only faith that anſwers that call; and ſo it is ever after, whatſoever God cals a Chriſtian to do, or to leave undone, it is faith that makes a man obey this call.
The Apoſtle in this Chapter doth ſet out many commendations of faith to exhort the Hebrewes, and all Beleevers, and all perſons to the getting of it, and to labour to have it grow in them, and to make much of it, as being a moſt excellent Grace of God; and he commends faith two wayes.
Firſt, by the deſcription of it in the firſt verſe, Faith is the ſubſtance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not ſeen; a Believer hopes for great matters, though he ſeeth not any of them; may be he is yet a poore miſerable contemptible creature in the eyes of the world, yet he hopes for great matters, he hopes for a glorious reſurrection, and for an excellent triumph over ſinne, and death, and hell; and to have his body and ſoul for ever in the Kingdome of Chriſt Jeſus; you will ſay he ſeeth none of theſe things, he hopes that God will bleſſe him in all his wayes, and be with him in ſickneſſe, and in health, in miſery and proſperity, and in all eſtates, and that he will do him good while he lives, and when he dyes he ſeeth none of theſe things? No, ſaith the Apoſtle, Faith is the ſubſtance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not ſeen; though many think there is no ſubſtance in theſe things, yet faith doth deliver the ſubſtance of them unto him, and it is an evidence that he ſhall certainly have them, and it is as it were a Sacrament; therefore the Fathers call it the Sacrament of faith, and the Sacrament of hopes, and the Sacrament of repentance, becauſe they are certaine and ſure tokens and pledges of thoſe things that a Chriſtian looks for.
Secondly, the Apoſtle commends faith by a long Catalogue of believers, of Holy Fathers, and Patriarchs, and Prophets, and Judges, and Worthies from the beginning of the world, and he ſhewes there was no worth in them, but it did proceed from faith; and this he doth.
Firſt, generally, in the ſecond verſe; By it the Elders obtained a good report; he ſpeaks of them all ingeneral, he calls them Elders, a reverend grave company, and he amplifies this by giving a general ground and reaſon why faith can build upon nothing as it were to ſee to, and yet is able to gather great matters, though it ſee little or nothing, verſe 3. You may ſee this (ſaith he) by Hiſtorical faith; For, through faith we underſtand that the worlds were made by the Word of God, ſo that things which are ſeen were not made of things which do appeare; though nothing was before a mans eyes, yet through this faith he might ſee an whole world out of nothing; ſo, though the world, and fleſh, and blood ſee nothing, yet he that believes in God he is able to raiſe a world out of nothing, he may look for theſe things at the hands of God, though for the preſent he ſees nothing.
Secondly, he doth divide theſe believers into foure ſeveral rankes.
The firſt is, the Holy Fathers before the Flood; and he inſtanceth onelyonly in three for all the reſt, as Abel, En…ch, Noah, Verſe 4.5, 6, 7.
Secondly, the Holy Patriarchs from the Flood to the time of Moſes, and he inſtanceth in five, not as though there were no more, but he contents himſelf with theſe, Abraham, Sarah, Iſaac, Jacob, Joſeph, from ver. 8. to the 22.
And then in the third place, he takes all thoſe Worthies from Moſes to the time of the entrance into the Land of Canaan, and he doth inſtance in Moſes's Parents, and then in Moſes, then in the children of Iſrael, then in Rahab, from Ver. 23. to 31.
In the fourth place, he reckons up all thoſe Heroes, from that time, to the time of the Maccabees, and Names Gideon, and Barach, and Sampſon, and Jephtah, and David, and Samuel; and then he reckons them up only in generall, the Prophets, and Martyrs, and Confeſſors, under the perſecutions of curſed Antiochus. Now in all this Catalogue, he ſhewes the admirable effects of true juſtifying faith, what faith is able to do when a man is a true believer in God, what great matters he is able to archieve; it gives a man the teſtimony of a good conſcience, and makes him able to do the things acceptable to God; it makes a man believe things incredible to ſenſe and reaſon; it makes a man forſake all and follow God; it makes a man do or ſuffer any thing for Chriſt; it makes a man ſo precious, that the world is not worthy that he ſhould dwell among them, that there ſhould be any ſuch perſon in ſuch a baſe place as the world is; it is an excellent thing, and it is ſet out moſt admirably, what glorious things faith doth enable a man in the ſtrength of God to do; and his ſcope in all this is, to exhort them to abound in faith, and they that have it not, to uſe all meanes for the obtaining of it, and come by it, and lye at God, and to be trading in the meanes of Grace, and never be at quiet till they have it, and when they have it, to endeare it, and labour to abound in it, and perſevere in it to their dying day; now among all this grave, and venerable, and reverend ſociety of believers that he here reckons and ſummes up, he calls out Abraham in this text to ſpeak of him, and that he ſpeaks of him in this place is this; that when God called him to leave his Countrey, and Kindred, and Fathers houſe, to leave his inheritance, and all his friends and acquaintance, by faith he was able to obey this call, By faith (ſaith he) Abraham being called out to go into a place which he ſhould afterwards receive for an inheritance, obeyed, and he went out, not knowing whether he went.
Doct. So that the Doctrine which I obſerve from hence is this;Doct. It is faith that makes a man obey the call of God. that it is faith that makes a man obey the call of God, the command of God, whether it be the firſt call and command, for the coming out of ſinne, or all after commands whatſoever, it is faith that makes a man obey them; if a man have faith, though he had never ſo ſtubborne and perverſe an heart before, though he were never ſo ſet upon his luſts, and ſinfull courſes before, faith is that which will make a man lay it downe and diſavow it, and oppoſe himſelf againſt it, and he ſhall no longer live in it; as ſoone as ever faith comes into the ſoul it makes a man obey God, it brings a man home to God, to do his will and to walk according to his directions, and to be at his diſpoſe, and to commit, and commend, and reſigne himſelf wholly to God in all his wayes; this is the onelyonly thing that heales a mans backſlidings, this is the onelyonly thing that drawes a man home to God, this is the onelyonly inſtrument whereby a man is tyed to God himſelf, whereby a man doth fetch downe all the graces from above, ſo long as a man is ſtubborne and perverſe, and walks after the fleſh, and goeth on in any evil way; he hath no faith, as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaks, Pſal. 78.32. For all this they ſinned yet ſtill, and believed not his wondrous works; that is, they were diſobedient, therefore certainly they had no faith, for if faith once looked into their hearts, it would have made them to diſcard their ſinnes, and it would have made them obedient to God, it would have pared them from the fleſh, and weaned them from their owne deſires, and would have made them to give up themſelves to God; therefore ſeeing they went on in their ſinnes, it is certaine, they did not believe, for faith only makes a man obey God, and whereſoever it is, a man obeyeth God.
Reaſ. 1. Becauſe faith ſeeth an indiſſolvable couple of attributes in God,Reaſ. 1 Becauſe faith ſeeth Gods purity and mercy to be inſeparable attributes. that cannot be ſeparated and ſevered; as it ſeeth his grace and mercy to draw him forward, ſo it ſeeth his purity, and juſtice, and holineſſe, and righteouſneſſe, that it dares not but obey God, as it doth diſcerne his grace and mercy to make him perfectly to truſt in God; ſo it ſeeth another thing in God, that God is of that nature that he muſt be ſerved, and worſhipped, and obeyed. Therefore you ſhall ſee Noah, though the building of the Ark were an endleſſe work, and a coſtly, and chargeable work in the eyes of men, it would coſt him many yeares to build, and he could not look after his calling, and after the world, but it would take him up for an hundred and twenty yeares, and ſet all the world a talking of him, and mocking at him for it; yet when God commanded him to do it, faith made him do it, and how did faith make him do it? Heb. 11.7. By faith Noah being forewarned of God of things not ſeen as yet, moved by feare, prepared an Ark; fear moved him, faith made him do it; but how did faith make him do it? It moved him with feare, and ſo made him do it; it made him ſee God was an holy and righteous God that would not be dallied withal, and this moved him with feare, and he durſt not but do it; whatſoever it put him to, he durſt not omit it; faith makes a man that he dares not be bold with God, it takes away the impudency of the heart, and the venterouſneſſe of the ſoul; as long as a man doth not believe, he dares make bold with ſuch Commandements of God, as he likes not, he will omit them for all him; but when faith comes it reveales God to the ſoul, and ſhewes who he is, and what nature he is of, and that he is ſuch a one as will not be dallied with, but his Commandements muſt be done, and his will muſt be obeyed, or elſe woe to that man; it ſhewes to a man the infinite Majeſtie of God, and ſets it before a mans face, that he dares not go on in any thing contrary to Gods will, but obey God in whatſoever he commands him, and abſtaine from whatſoever God forbids, as Paul ſaith, We dare not make our ſelves of the number, or compare our ſelves with ſome that commend themſelves, 2 Cor. 10.12. He knew God had forbidden it, and he durſt not but obey. So, 1 Cor. 6.1. Dare any of you having a matter go to Law before unbeleevers? As who ſhould ſay, you are not beleevers if you do it; faith would ſhew you what God is, and what an inglorious, and what a bitter thing it is for you to do it, how dare you do it?
Secondly,2. Becauſe faith looks on Chriſt not only as a Saviour, but as a Lord. Faith doth not onelyonly look upon Chriſt as a Saviour, and a Redeemer, but alſo as a Lord and King, when Chriſt comes to a man, when faith comes into the ſoul: Chriſt is called our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, as he is a Jeſus, ſo he is a Lord; and faith doth not only receive him as a Jeſus, but ſubmits to him as to a Sovereigne; Faith takes them both together, faith will not let a man live Lordleſſe, it knowes he muſt take Chriſt as a Lord as well as a Redeemer; as faith takes off the guilt of ſinne, ſo it puts the yoake of Chriſt on; Is Chriſt divided? ſaith the Apoſtle, 1 Corinthians 1.13. So I may ſay, is Chriſt divided? Can he be diſjoynted himſelfe from himſelfe? Can people mangle Chriſt in pieces, and divide him aſunder? May be thou wilt have him as a Jeſus, but thou wilt not have him as a Lord, then thou canſt not have him at all; as Peter ſaith, Acts 2.36. Be it known to all, that God hath made the ſame Jeſus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Chriſt; As he hath made him a Chriſt by anointing him to be a Saviour, to bring men from ſinne, and to bring them to Gods Kingdome, and ſave them from wrath; ſo he hath made him a Lord, he hath ſet him up as a King upon his Holy Hill of Zion; look as it was with Jephtah, when the Gileadites would have him to ſave them from the Ammonites, ſhall I be your head then, ſaith he? and he made them to ſweare before the Lord that they would make him their Head, or elſe he would not deliver them; ſo if thou wilt have Chriſt to deliver thee out of the hands of thine enemies; ſinne is an enemy, and the Law is an enemy, and the Devill is an enemy, and the world, and thine own fleſh is an enemy; if thou wilt have Chriſt to deliver thee from theſe enemies, ſhall he be thy Head? He hath ſworne an Oath, That we being delivered from the hands of our enemies ſhould ſerve him in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe all the dayes of our lives, Luke 1.73. He hath ſworne with an Oath, that that man whom he delivers from his enemies ſhall ſerve him in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, and ſhall not live as he lift, he ſhall not live Lawleſſe, he ſhall take Chriſts Lawes as well as his Merits; as well Chriſts Government as the imputation of his truth and righteouſneſſe, he ſhall take the one as well as the other; Now, it is an eaſie thing for a man to believe by a preſumptuous faith that Chriſt is a Jeſus, but here is the difficulty to take him as a Lord; No man can call Chriſt a Lord but by the Holy Ghoſt, ſaith the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 12.3. He doth not ſay no man can ſay Chriſt is a Jeſus, the Devill and preſumption can make a man ſay ſo, and every man hopes, and beares himſelf upon this, that Chriſt is a Jeſus, but no man can truly confeſſe him to be a Lord, but by the Holy Ghoſt; unleſſe the Holy Ghoſt enable him, as our Saviour ſaith, David by the Spirit called him Lord; he ſpeakes of himſelfe, Matth. 22.43. It is a great matter to ſubmit to Chriſt as a Sovereigne, as well as to take Chriſt for a Saviour; now faith ſeeth both muſt be done, it muſt take Chriſt under both relations, as he muſt take him under the relation of a Redeemer, ſo under the relation of a Lord as to be ſaved by him, ſo to be guided and ſwayed by him in all his wayes, and to be at his diſpoſing in all his courſes; thus faith ſeeth Chriſt is propounded in the Goſpell, and thus Chriſt embraceth him, it cannot have him in one reſpect, but it muſt alſo have him in the other, and ſo faith brings in obedience.
Thirdly,3. Becauſe faith gleweth the heart to the Commandements as well as to the promiſes. Faith ſeeth another couple that cannot be diſjoynted and ſevered one from another, and that is this; as faith tyeth the heart to the promiſes, ſo it glueth the heart to the Commandements, theſe go together, and when faith reacheth forth the hand to the one, it reacheth forth the hand to the other, they are tyed with bonds of adamant that cannot be ſevered, Pſalme 119.56. When faith will go to God in vertue of a promiſe to do this or that for him, he reacheth forth the hand to the Commandements too. I am the Lord thy God, thou ſhalt have no other Gods but me; As who ſhould ſay, if you will look upon me as your God by faith, then look that you have no other gods but me, look that you honour me in all my wayes, and ſtoop to me, and obey my Word, as the Lord propounded the one, ſo he ſet before them the other, a man forgets that God is his God by faith, if he keeps not his Commandements, beware (ſaith Moſes) leaſt thou forget the Lord thy God in not keeping his Commandements; How can a man believe in God, when he forgets that which he ſhould believe? When a man forgets to be ſubject to God, and to give up himſelf in all his wayes? The Promiſes and Commandements are tyed together with bonds of adamant, and no man can pull them aſunder, as it is with ſinne and the threatnings, if a man go on in ſinne, he ſhall be ſure to have the threatnings light upon him, they are bound together by bonds of adamant and everlaſting coards; let a man do what he can, if he howle and roare to God to take away his plagues, to take away Hell fire and damnation; if he go on in ſinne, it will never be, they hang together in an everlaſting truth, The way of the wicked ſhall periſh; and if a man ſoweth iniquity he ſhall reap miſery, ſaith the Wiſeman, As a man ſoweth, ſo he ſhall reap, do not deceive your ſelves; We are marvelous apt to reaſon as Eve did, to put in perhaps, perhaps you ſhall dye; Nay, aſſuredly we ſhall dye if we go on in ſinne, and will not live that life which God hath ſet before us, the life of faith, the life of God, the life of Heaven, the life of true Holineſſe and righteouſneſſe; if we will not ſubmit to this, and give up our ſelves to be brought under it, we ſhall aſſuredly periſh, never did any man live and goe on in ſinne, but he dyed in perdition. Never any man lived a wicked and ungodly life, but had a wicked, wretched, and damned death; if a man do go on in ſinne he ſhall be ſure to have the threatnings of God light upon him, he cannot avoyde them; ſo it is on the other ſide, the Promiſes and the Commandements go together, and if a man do obſerve the Commandements of God by a true and lively faith, he ſhall aſſuredly have the promiſes; and if he reject the Commandements, or be unſound in the doing of them, he cannot have the Promiſes; if he have the one, he muſt have the other; he can never make a faithful Plea for Peace, for Pardon, for Heaven, or any thing that God hath promiſed, that bindes not himſelfe over to God to do his will in every thing; Nay, the ſtrength of Faith puts forth it ſelfe in as ſtrong an act towards the Commandements as towards the Promiſes, and if there be any difference, it is on the Promiſes ſide, for the Promiſes are more ſupernatural then the Commandements, for they were once written in the heart, therefore the Commandements are not ſo ſupernatural; a man was once acquainted with them, but the Promiſes of Mercy, and Pardon, and Redemption are more ſupernatural, and we ſee this in poore weak beleevers that go on and are enabled to make good conſcience of their wayes, and to be very carefull of ſinning againſt God, and walk in very good ſtrictneſſe, diligence, and circumſpection, and yet have much ado to apply the Promiſes, and appropriate them to themſelves. I ſay, broken-hearted people that are weak in faith, in regard of perſonall confidence, may yet notwithſtanding be very ſtrong in the doing of the Commandements of God; The reaſon is, becauſe obedience flows from a direct act of faith, and this bearing a man upon the Promiſes from a reflect act of faith, it flowes from a conſciouſneſſe of obedience; when a man is conſcious that he is ſincre; then, and never before can a man have confidence that the Promiſes are ſealed to him, this is a reflect act of faith; but it is a direct act that makes a man obey Gods Commandements, ſo that faith muſt needs work obedience, for if there be this bleſſed couple propounded to the ſoule in the Goſpel together with the Commandements, Faith looking on both takes one as well as the other.
4. Becauſe faith looks to a fitneſſe for heaven as well as a title to heaven.Fourthly, there is another cloſe couple that faith looks upon, and that is, as upon a Title to the Kingdome of Heaven, ſo alſo to a fitneſſe for the Kingdome of Heaven, and one is as needfull as the other, as things without which a man cannot enter into the Kingdome of God; Now, Faith as it helps a man to a title to Glory, ſo it helps a man more and more with fitneſſe, becauſe it ſeeth it cannot be otherwiſe; When David had committed his two fowle ſinnes of murther and adultery, though he had not loſt his title to the Kingdome of Heaven, yet he could not enter into it, he could not have actual poſſeſſion of it; Why? Becauſe he was unfit, Heb. 12.14. Without holineſſe a man cannot ſee God, though a man hath all the titles in the world, though he be elected to it before all worlds, yet till he is made fit for it, he cannot enter into it, fleſh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; as the Apoſtle Peter ſpeakes, it is an inheritance holy and undefiled, and a man muſt be holy, before he can be made partaker of it; Joſeph muſt ſhave himſelf before he come before Pharaoh. Ahaſuerus women muſt be prepared, and purified with ſpices and odours, and mirrhe, Heſt. 2.11. And then they came before the King, when they were prepared and adorned, and made ſweet and perfumed; So a man muſt firſt be prepared and fitted for the Kingdom of heaven, or elſe there is no admiſſion into it, heaven is too fine a place for adulterers, and drunkards, &c. As ſoone as ever the Angels of heaven, though glorious creatures, began to ſinne againſt God, God thruſt them out of heaven; they left their habitation, it was too fine for them: and do you think the Lord will admit the Devill into heaven againe in his members? what a thing is it when every drunkard, and profane perſon ſhall think himſelf meet company for the bleſſed trinity? it cannot be, God will never take ſuch foule loathſome creatures into fellowſhip and Communion with him, they are too neare him already in the world, and therefore be will fling them out of his preſence into Hell; in Heaven is nothing but beatifical viſion, viewing of God, and delighting in God, and not thinking a thought but of God, and therefore no roome for thoſe that are empty of grace, and not fitted and prepared for it; now faith knowes this, and believes this, and therefore as it layeth hold on Chriſt for title, ſo it never leaves till it hath gotten fitneſſe from Chriſt, as the Apoſtle ſpeakes, Col. 1.12. Giving thanks unto the Father who hath made us meet, &c. God makes all meet for Heaven that he brings thither, and till they are ſo they cannot be admitted thither; if a man will go to heaven he muſt be a veſſel of honour, 2 Tim. 2.21. Therefore Faith purifies a mans heart, pares off a mans fleſh, weanes a man from the world, and knocks off a mans curſed corruptions more and more, and pulls downe a man before God, makes a man ſtoop to Gods Covenant, and to be holy and righteous as he is; it knows, unleſſe he be made fit for Gods Kingdome, he can never come there; we ſhould look to this, and it ſhould make us feare, and tremble, and look to our ſelves, for unleſſe we be fit for the Kingdome of Heaven we ſhall never have abode there, John 3.3. Except a man be borne againe, &c. That is, except a man be made meet for the Kingdome of God he cannot come into it, Except he have Heavens frame and diſpoſition, and Heavens converſation, except his converſation be in Heaven here, he can never come there; and this is the reaſon we are ſo often called upon to be godly in Chriſt Jeſus, to walk in pureneſſe and holineſſe of living, becauſe no uncleane thing ſhall enter into the heavenly Jeruſalem; without are Dogges, the Lord counts them Doggs that ſhall never enjoy his preſence; this is another reaſon why Faith workes obedience, becauſe if he will have Title to the Kingdome of Heaven, he muſt look to be fitted for the ſame.
Fifthly, becauſe Faith is eminently all that a man is to do,5. Becauſe faith is eminently all that a man is to do. it is the whole work of a Chriſtian, John 6.29. This is the work of God, &c. That is, this is eminently all the workes of God. But is there no work but this? Yes, there are many other works, but this is the work of God that ye believe, becauſe this is eminently all that God looks for, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, 1 John 3.22. This is his Commandement, that ye believe, &c. Is there no other Commandement but this? is this all we muſt do, and no more? No, but this is eminently the Commandement, there are other Commandements, but all are included in this of beleeving▪ ſo faith is eminently all graces, all other graces are but the daughters and brood of faith, they grow out of faith as out of the ſpring and root, ſo that do this and do all; do but beleeve in the Name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and what wilt thou not do? it will make thee give over thy ſinnes, and be humbled and mortified, it will make thee give over vaine company; and delight in all goodneſſe, make thee zealous and fervent, and teach thee how to pray and be thankfull to God; it will fill thy mouth with laughter, and thy tongue with joy, it will make thee do any thing if thou believe, Acts 16.31. As who ſhould ſay, believe in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt and this will make thee do all, there will be nothing left, as Chriſt ſaith, If thou believe, all things are poſſible; So I may ſay, if thou believe all things will be done, and thou wilt ſtick at nothing, be backward in nothing, but wilt be brought to obey God in every thing; it is like the turning of the Cock, if the Cock be turned, the water will flow forth; ſo if a mans heart be opened by faith, all the heart runnes to God; a Wind-mill, if the Sailes go, the ſtones and all go; ſo if faith be once working and operating, all the ſoul is turning it ſelf towards God, though never ſo Heavy, and Carnal, and Vaine, and Earthly before, yet now all is going in the wayes of God; As the Mother of Chriſt ſaid to the ſervants of the marriage, Whatſoever he bids you do, John 2.do it; So faith ſaith thus to all the ſoul, look whatſoever Chriſt commands, look you do it, minde thoſe things he bids you minde, affect that he affects, retaine that he bids you remember; it is like Abner, that brought all Iſrael to be the ſervants of David; ſo faith when it comes into the ſoul, it brings all the faculties of the ſoul of the whole man to be ſubject to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; thus you ſee that faith works obedience in a man.
The firſt Uſe is this, to anſwer a demand that will ariſe out of the hearts of people, when they heare that Faith makes a man to obey.
Quest. How doth it make a man obey?
Anſw. I anſwer, by ſetting before a man the corruptions of his owne heart, and what woeful ſtubborneneſſe is in the ſame; it makes a man ſee thoſe innumerable corruptions in the ſoul, and how deeply they have eaten into the ſoul; it makes a man ſee what a loathſome creature he is, and what a deal of rebellion there is in his will, and minde, and thoughts, and affections, and what oppoſitions there are againſt the doing of Gods Holy Will; he ſeeth that if he will obey God what little help he ſhall have from himſelf, from his own will, his own reaſon, his own parts, his own nature, though he had never ſo good a nature; Nay, how he ſhall be hindered, and hampered, and oppoſed by himſelf; faith lets him ſee this, and ſo pulls him down before God, to abhor himſelf in duſt and aſhes; it was thus in Paul, Rom. 7.24. O miſerable man, &c. It made him finde this, that he could not do the good he would; thus faith empties a man of himſelf, and makes him to renounce himſelf; and makes him not to ſtand upon his own feeet, never to ſtand alone, never to go about any thing but with the help of Chriſt; it makes a man ſee what a damned will he hath, what a damned reaſon he hath, what a damned heart and diſpoſition he hath: O! ſaith he▪ here is Wiſdome indeed, here is a diſpoſition indeed, I will never be ruled by this diſpoſition, and he looks upon himſelf as an undone creature if he followes his own deſires; here be deſires indeed, and thoughts indeed, and here is an horrible frame, and this makes him renounce himſelf: and thus faith works obedience in a man, by driving of him out of himſelf, and dividing a mans ſelf from himſelf, that he will not be led by his own thoughts, nor carried by his owne imaginations it ſeeth Hell in all theſe, and that he can do nothing without Chriſt live in his heart by faith; without faith you can do nothing, ſaith Chriſt, and faith tells a man this; it makes him know what a wretched creature he is, and what a damned nature he carries about with him, and that he muſt not follow, and pleaſe, and give ſatiſfaction to that at any time. Now, a natural man may ſee his inſufficiency of himſelf, and the vileneſſe of his nature, but conſcience only ſhewes him this; but becauſe he hath not faith, it doth not humble him, and put him down, but he will follow his own thoughts, and go after his own reaſon for all this, he hath not true and ſaving faith, to reveal theſe things in power to him, but when faith comes into the ſoul, it doth it to the purpoſe; it makes a man not to be a little affected with his ſinnes, but ſoundly affected, and makes him ſee that he is undone for ever if he go on in that courſe he was wont to do; and thus faith working in this faſhion delivers a man over to Chriſt, by taking a man off from that which was his Pilate and guide before, and making him to be guided by Chriſt.
Secondly, Faith works obedience by carrying a man to God,2. By carrying a man to God. it makes a man ſeek to God how to obey; Teach me O Lord to do thy will, Pſal. 143.10. Faith carried him to God; ſo faith doth whereſoever it is, it brings a man to God, that God would be pleaſed to ſtrengthen our apprehenſion, that ſo we may look upon his will, and to fortifie our underſtandings that we may conceive of all his wayes, with a Divine and heavenly underſtanding, and to fortifie our wills, that the feebleneſſe of them towards God may be removed, it crieth to God from day to day, that he may not do as he hath done, nor live as he hath done; faith whereſoever it is, drives the ſoul to God, and to lie at him from day to day, to guide him, and teach him, and inſtruct him, and ſhew him his wayes, and reveal unto him his Statutes; as David, Pſalme 119.35, 36 Incline my heart to thy Teſtimonies, and not to Covetouſneſſe; As who ſhould ſay, Lord, here is my heart, will, and whole man, I beſeech thee make me walk in thy wayes, I am very loath and untoward, I beſeech thee put ſome ſtrength into this will of mine; when I go to thy Word, let me heare it with trembling; when I go to prayer, let me go to it with an heavenly minde; encline my heart this way, and make it ſtand bent this way; 'tis true, when naturall men are convinced that all ſtrength is from God, they pray too, but this is not faith in prayer, but faith makes the ſoul that it cannot be quiet, but it muſt obey and ſtoop to him in all his wayes.
Thirdly, Faith works obedience by making a man improve all the abilities that God hath given him already,3. By making a man improve all his abilities. and this is the beſt way to encreaſe them, Matth. 13.12. When a man hath grace, hath a Talent, and makes uſe of it, and hath it to ſome purpoſe, and layeth it forth, that man ſhall encreaſe his Talent and abound, God will give him more; now as faith works obedience by ſhewing a man his own wretchedneſſe, that he muſt not yield to his own deſires, and be carried by his own vaine imaginations, that for his part would conclude ſuch a courſe is lawful; and why not? Though God ſaith the contrary, faith makes him conſider that, and ſo drives him to God, and ſo alſo it makes him go and improve thoſe gifts, and parts, and ſtrength that God hath given him already, that he may lay it forth, and uſe it to the uttermoſt, as if a man be haunted and baited by any luſt, deadneſſe, ſecurity, coldneſſe in duty, or ſome other luſt; Now, Faith when it would make a man obedient to God, to crucifie theſe luſts, it makes a man look out to ſee what power Gud hath given him, what abilities God hath lent, what helps and furtherances God hath reached out unto him, and he takes all to fight againſt that luſt; hath he underſtanding? that he employes to think of the evill of the ſinne, to conſider of the danger of the ſinne, how he may avoyde it, and what courſe he may take to overcome it; if God hath given him a memory, he layeth it forth to remember and recollect ſuch things as he hath heard, and hath been told of, he layeth all his Talents forth that ever he can to maſter that luſt, and ſo works obedience; as faith drives a man to God for help, ſo look what help God lends, and what Talent God puts into his hand, he layeth all forth for the working of obedience, he will not let any one lye idle, but will employ all to help him forward in obedience.
Fourthly, Faith doth work obedience, by making a man to relie upon Chriſt,4. By making a man relie on Chriſt. it doth look unto an union with Chriſt, it doth make a man to caſt himſelfe upon Chriſt for power againſt his ſinnes, it doth extract vigour from Chriſt againſt corruption, it doth diſtill and draw down graces from him, faith is the pipe whereby grace is conveyed from Chriſt to the ſoul, and faith opens the paſſages of this pipe that it may deſcend down to the heart from the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; faith is a marvelous excellent thing, it doth extract efficacy, and validity, and power, from the life and death of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, for the crucifying of the fleſh, for the mortifying of the deeds of the body; and thus, it changeth the heart, and brings willingneſſe to every duty by doing thus. I ſay, faith goeth to Chriſt, and caſts it ſelf upon him for all things it wants, for the performance of all good courſes and wayes; Thus David got power againſt his carnal feare, when he was afraid of Saul on one ſide, and the Philiſtins on the other ſide; how doth he fence himſelf againſt this, Pſalme 56.4. I put my truſt in God, and therefore need not feare what man can do unto me; and ſo faith was able to root out his feares; So it was with the remnant of Iſrael, Zeph. 3.13. They ſhall do no iniquity; you will ſay, how can that be? Can fleſh and blood do that? As long as a man is fleſh and blood he will be doing ſome iniquity or other; how ſhall a man be able to do no iniquity, and let no iniquity have dominion over him? it goeth before in the twelfe verſe, They truſt in God, They truſt in God, and ſo ſhall do no iniquity; When a man doth truſt in God, and hath faith to relie upon him, and diſtill down power and ſtrength from Chriſt, this will help him to do no iniquity, and help him to oppoſe himſelf againſt all his corruptions, and fight againſt the ſtrength of all his luſts, as the Apoſtle ſaith, Rom. 3.13. let us therefore caſt off the workes of darkneſſe. You will ſay this is very ſtrange, are we able to do this? can we tame our own hearts, or change our own minds? are we able to purge out theſe corruptions? is this poſſible? how ſhall a man do this? Why? put on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, (in the next words) go to him by a true and lively faith, and then you may be ſtrong in Chriſt, and able to do every good Duty, and ſubdue every ſinne, receiving ſtrength from Chriſt; when a man is to go through thornes and briars, a man is not able to go through; but if he put on his Bootes and his Gloves, &c. he may; ſo when a man goes on in his owne wayes he cannot avoide ſinne, pride, and covetouſneſſe, and vanity, how ſhall he avoide theſe things? 'tis true, he cannot avoide them if he go naked, but if he put on Chriſt he may; it is a ſimilitude taken from a garment, and that in two reſpects.
Firſt, it muſt be fitted, and then it muſt be put on; ſo Chriſt firſt takes meaſure of all the infirmities, and frailties of his people, and communicates to them a ſutable grace; are they troubled with afflictions, then he meaſures out patience to beare them? are they perſecuted, then he makes them able to ſtand for his Name? are they to pray, to deny themſelves, to fight againſt Satan, he meaſures them out a ſutable proportion of his grace and Spirit to him? and now when a man hath his Gloves, and all proviſion on, he may go about hedging, or ditching, or any buſineſſe; ſo when a man hath put on Chriſt, and is armed with grace and ſtrength from him, what is it but a man may do? In that very moment wherein a man caſts himſelf upon God in Chriſt, and doth lay hold upon Chriſt by a true and lively faith, this grace is made over to him the ſame moment, may be the grace of victory he muſt ſtay for a while, but there comes a grace of ſincerity from God that very moment that he believes in Chriſt, though may be there comes not that power from Chriſt he would have, yet that power, that he ſhall be ſincere, and will never let corruption make him a ſlave; he ſhall never walk after the fleſh, never be ſtubborne and worldly, never do as the wicked do, never depart from God as unbelievers uſe to do; he ſhall depend upon God, and waite upon him, and adhere, and cleave unto him, and continue a faithfull Souldier to Chriſt, fighting againſt ſinne and corruption to the death; a man ſhall have power from Chriſt to do this, if he have a true and a lively faith, By faith, ſaith the text, Hebrewes 11.5 Enoch walked with God; how is it poſſible? could he walk with God? what a ſtrange kinde of life is this? How averſe is the heart of man from it? People cannot abide ſuch ſtrictneſſe to have commerce, and ſociety, and communion with God, to keep cloſe to God, and not go away from him, how could he do this? Why? By faith he walketh with God: So Abraham, God bade him leave his Countrey and all he had; you muſt think a thouſand things were objected to him; you muſt think he had abundance of reaſonings to and fro in his minde; I am in yeares, un…t for travell, and I ſhall now travell God knowes whither; and I am now where I was bred and brought up, and I have bear meanes, and maintenance, and friends, and know how to live; and for me to go into a ſtrange Countrey where I know no body, and I know not what may become of me; and for me to leave certainties for uncertainties, all the world will count me a foole; how did he do this? By faith he obeyed, ſaith the text, &c. Faith helped him with power to look up unto God, and caſt himſelfe upon God, that helped him againſt all difficulties, that helped him againſt all the backwardneſſe and dulneſſe of his nature; he committed himſelf to God, and would do it, he packt up himſelf, never once ſtanding upon the matter, but away be goeth; By faith he obeyed, &c. So, By faith Abel offered up a more acceptable ſacrifice then Cain, Hebrewes 11.4. How is that poſſible? Was he not made of the ſame mettall Cain was? was he not borne out of the ſame womb, digged out of the ſame pit? As apt and prone to ſerve God after an earthly manner as Cain? How was he able to offer up a more acceptable ſacrifice? He had no better ſheep then Cain. Why? it was done by faith, he had faith in God, he renounced himſelf, and was divided from himſelfe; he was united to God by faith, and reſolved to hang upon him, and ſo leaned upon him for every thing he had promiſed, and ſo got acceptance with God. So Rahab, by faith entertained the ſpies, Hebrewes 11.31. It was a hard, piece of ſervice, a marvelous difficult piece of buſineſſe; you muſt think ſhe thus reaſoned with her ſelfe, ſhall I entertaine Traytors? Shall I betray my owne Countrey? The Town will ſee it, it will come to the Kings eare, and I ſhall become a Traytor to my Countrey and Prince, and a thouſand to one but I ſhall loſe my life if I ſuffer them to be here; but how did ſhe overcome this? By faith, by faith ſhe entertained the ſpies, for all it was ſo hard, for all death was at the doore, yet by faith ſhe was able to do it; What ſhall we ſay to Gideon, Baruch, &c. Who by faith ſubdued Kingdomes, &c. Hebrewes 11.37? Out of weak they were made ſtrong; How, did they work righteouſneſſe? They were as weak as others, but faith made them of weak, ſtrong, faith ſtrengthened their wills to that which was good; faith corroborated their reſolutions and purpoſes towards the pleaſing of God; and reſiſting corruptions faith made them ſtrongly reſolve that they would not be led by their owne wills, they believed in God, and ſo were able to do it. What ſhall I ſay of Moſes, Hebrewes 11.24? This is a wonderful thing, that he ſhould refuſe to be called the ſonne of Pharoahs daughter; a meane man born, and yet refuſe to be called King Pharoahs Grand-childe! who would refuſe ſuch excellent hopes of honours and preferments? may be he might be King afterwards? Nay, when he was come to yeares to do it; if he had refuſed it when he was a childe, before he had come to yeares it had been no ſuch wonder, it might have been attributed to his childiſhneſſe; Nay, but he was come to yeares, and was a learned and underſtanding man; what man would have done this? Indeed rare are ſuch perſons that are able to renounce themſelves in this faſhion, but you ſee what faith can do.
Queſt. How doth faith fetch power from ChriſtQueſt. Thus you ſee how faith doth work obedience, and now if you would know how faith doth fetch power from Chriſt to do theſe things.
I anſwer, it is by two wayes.
Anſw. 1. As an inſtrument.Firſt, Faith is an inſtrument whereby God doth by the acting and placing of it aright upon him, let out that power which is in Chriſt to a poore ſoul; that that power which is in Chriſt is to him, and that goodneſſe which is in Chriſt is to him, that he ſhall have grace for grace, an anſwerable grace, for every grace in Chriſt, Epheſ. 1.19. The exceeding greatneſſe of his power, to us-ward that believe; When we believe the exceeding greatneſſe of his power is to us-ward, it is not only a power in God, but it is for us, and we may take that power and fetch it from God, and obtaine of him to put it forth. You know that Chriſt hath promiſed to take away the ſtony heart, &c. He hath made ſuch promiſes as theſe, to pull down ſtrong holds, to overcome Satan and all the enemies of our ſoules, to poure out his Spirit upon his people, as water upon the thirſty ground; now as ſoone as ever faith comes into the ſoul it goeth to theſe promiſes, and takes hold of them, Lord here is ſuch a promiſe, Lord make me a new heart, make me obey this Commandment, and overcome ſuch a ſin, and all the power that is in God, it is to him-ward.
Secondly,2. In a moral way. Faith doth fetch down power from Heaven in a moral manner, by conſidering the exceeding greatneſſe of the recompence of reward, as its ſaid of Moſes, Hebrewes 1.25. I ſay, faith looks unto Chriſt, looks unto the favour of God, unto the forgiveneſſe of ſinnes, and Title to Gods Kingdome, it looks unto eternal life, unto thoſe admirable joyes that are at Gods right hand for evermore, which are promiſed to them that believe; it ſeeth theſe things, and this makes him able to deny any thing, to overcome any thing, to go about any thing; ſhall I have Heaven, the favour of God, a Kingdome; ſhall I be happy for ever? Shall I have all theſe things if I will pray and heare the Word? Obey God, and give over vaine company, and joyne to Gods people, and hate all manner of evil, if I will labour to croſſe my own thoughts and deſires and approve my ſelfe to God in all my wayes, ſhall I have all theſe things? this makes him able to do it; he looks to this, and ſo goeth about it, and when the fleſh ſhall object hardneſſe, and difficulty, and oppoſition, and loſſe of comfort, and loſſe of carnal eaſe and delight; faith goeth and ſets theſe admirable things againſt them, it ſets Heaven; and the Kingdome of Heaven, and Chriſt, and the joyes of Gods right hand againſt them, and this makes him do it; it ſets the will of God▪ againſt his will, the favour of God againſt the favour of men, the joyes of Heaven againſt carnal joyes, eternal happineſſe for evermore againſt the ſufferings here for a moment, weighs one in one ſcale and the other in the other, and ſo works with them.
Here we may ſee what little faith there is among people,Uſe 2. See what little faith is in the world. certainly there is but little faith, becauſe if there were much faith, there would be much obedience given to God; we ſhould have admirable Townes, gracious Congregations; we ſhould have never a drunkard, never a prophane perſon, but all Saints, and holy men, and women, every one would be thinking of God and his wayes, and heavenly minded; if there were much faith, people would have their lives changed, and their converſations altered; as Chriſt ſaith, When the Sonne of man comes, ſhall he finde faith upon the Earth? So may I ſay, if the Sonne of man ſhould now come among us, ſhould he find faith among us? He ſhould find it very rare; for this is certain, there are not very many that profeſſe faith; drunkards, and the greateſt company of prophane perſons are ſuch as have not the face of holineſſe and faith; and amongſt this little number that profeſſe it, how few are there that have true faith indeed? You ſee none have true faith but thoſe that are obedient unto God; true faith doth bend the ſoul to God, it makes the ſoul ſpiritual, and holy, and humble, and cleane another man from that he was before, that he ſhall be reſigned over to God, to live at his diſpoſe; this is true faith, therefore faith is hardly to be found upon earth; it is a pitiful thing to ſee how little Gods will is regarded up and down; and though God be our Maker, and his hands have formed us, though we profeſſe we are his people whom he hath redeemed, though we know he hath ſent Chriſt into the world, and the blood of his own Sonne is cried up and down in the ſtreets, and calls upon men to believe, and take hold on it; though we do know theſe things, yet for all this equity of obedience to God, and notwithſtanding the neceſſity of obedience, how do people ſleight the will of God? it is his will we ſhould be fruitful under the meanes, heavenly in holy duties, fervent in calling upon his Name, that we ſhould have the true feare of his Name before our eyes; it is his will that we ſhould ſerve him in ſincerity all the dayes of our lives, that we ſhould ſtand for him, and glorifie him before men; that we ſhould walk with God and be ſtrangers upon earth, and wean our ſelves from the world, and be taken up with him, more then with any thing in this life, that we ſhould count nothing deare for him, and deny our ſelves in every thing, it is his will for us to do theſe things, but who looks after theſe things? As if we were poſſeſſed with a legion of Devils, we go ſlighting, and contemning, and breaking all bonds of equity, and neceſſity of obedience, and Gods will is not obeyed, his worſhip is not promoted, his name is not feared, few give their minds to do theſe things; if God had not thrown millions of devils into hell for ſinning againſt him; if God had not revealed his wrath againſt ſinne and iniquity, and all unrighteouſneſſe; if God had not ſhowen how jealous he ſtands upon keeping his Lawes, and obſerving his Commandments, and his holy and heavenly Word; if God had not revealed himſelf unto us, it had been another matter, but he hath revealed theſe things, yet how ſecure are we? He hath made it appear, Rom. 2.9. Tribulation and anguiſh ſhall be upon every ſoul that doth evil, and curſed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this Covenant, Jer. 11.63. And he will come in flaming fire to render vengeance upon all that obey not the truth, 2 Theſ. 1.8. Theſe things are ſpoken and delivered, and we know theſe things, and confeſſe them; yet God is not reſpected for all this; Nay, ſuch is the impudency of men, that they will acknowledge that God ought to be obeyed, and ſerved, and it is good to ſerve him, and it is a dangerous thing not to ſerve him, and yet for all this they will not do it, as if it were nothing to be damned, and as if they would try whether they can bear hell; nay, ſuch is the impudency of mens faces, that notwithſtanding they have heard they are unconverted, and their hearts are not ſubject to God, yet they hope they have true faith in God, and their ſins are infirmities, whereas you ſee it cannot be true faith unleſſe it make a man to be obedient to God in all his wayes, and binde a man in a perpetual bond to God for ever, never to depart from him.
Thirdly,Uſe 3. For examination. it may be an Uſe of examination, to ſee whether we obey God or no, for if our faith be the faith we hope it is, it will make us obedient.
Firſt,Evidences of true obedience. 1. Willing and hearty. then true obedience is a willing, affectionate, hearty obedience, Prov. 3.1 My ſon, let thy heart keep my Commandments; the Lrod will have ſuch obedience as proceeds from the bottome of the heart, not when a mans heart is dull, and dead, and hangs off; but when the heart poures forth it ſelf in his wayes, and performing his gracious pleaſures from day to day; this the Lord requires, that it be done with the affection of the heart, as well as the thing be done, in the thing done, & the wicked may go as far; nay, further then the ſincere, they may multiply duties as well as the other for the things done; but here is the thing, a wicked man doth duties heartleſly, unaffectionately; but a child of God doth them ſincerely, and willingly, and lets out his heart and affections upon them all; God loves a chearful giver, 2 Cor 9.10. He loves a giver that gives with all his affections; ſo he loves a chearful comer to Church, that is glad to hear a Sermon, and his heart leapes to hear the Word of God, and he is affected with it, he loves a chearful praying, one that in prayer poures out his ſoul before him; he loves a chearful comer to the Sacrament, that delights to ſhew forth the Lords death till he comes; God doth not love a man unleſſe he doth this with all his affections; as it is ſaid, it is good to be zealous in a good matter, the worſhip and Commandments of God are good matters; now, it is good to be zealous in theſe matters; nay, to have the creame, and flower, and chief of our affections ſet upon theſe things; we are acquainted with the wayes, and hiſtories of grace, and we can ſpeak thereof, but it doth not ſink down into our hearts, it doth not warme us, nor put any heat into our ſouls, we are not quickened and moved by theſe things; we know Gods attribute, his power, and wiſdome, and mercy, and juſtice, &c. But none ſink down into our hearts, they affect us not as they ought to do, where are our affections in prayer? We pray, and come to Church, and to the Lords Table, but where are our affections in all theſe things? The Lord cares not for theſe ſervices, that have not affections to ſpice them and ſweeten them, and beautifie them; the Lord loves when a man ſerves him with all his heart; when the will hangs off, it is baſe ſervice, and the Lord regards it not; as the Lord loves that we that are Miniſters ſhould preach with a ready minde, 1 Pet. 5.2. That we ſhould preach with gracious affections, and be affected in the Pulpit, and deſire from the bottome of our ſouls to do good to the people, and yearne over the people; the Lord loves theſe things when we do them willingly and heartily; ſo he delights in people when they heare and call upon his Name with affection; when we go about Gods Commandments as a Bear to the ſtake, God abhors it; may be God commands a man to do ſuch a thing, he doth it, but it is hard ſaith he; when money is to be fetched out of his purſe for good duties, it is hard ſaith he; and when he muſt go againſt the wicked, and pull the ill will of the Countrey upon him, may be he doth it, but it is hard; the Lord diſtaſts this, the Lord loves a chearful giver, and a chearful worker, a chearful Miniſter, and chearfull people; now if faith comes into the ſoul, it will not only work obedience, but chearful obedience, and from the bottome of the heart.
Secondly, true obedience makes a man reſigne himſelf to God,2. Works reſignation to God. it makes a man to be altogether at Gods diſpoſe; I am thine, ſaith David, he looked upon himſelf as if he were altogether at Gods diſpoſe, as if he were his, and not his own; You are not your own, ſaith the Apoſtle, you are bought with a price, 1 Cor. 2 6. So that is true obedience, when a man gives up himſelf to God; many will do things that God commands, but they know not how to do them with reſignation, to be altogether at Gods diſpoſe; they love to be called Gods ſervants, but they will be only retainers; as many will get to be ſervants to ſome Gentleman, but it is only for their own advantage, to ſave their purſes, to have the Gentlemans countenance, theſe will not dwell with the Gentleman, but in their own houſes, and when he hath ſome great ſtrangers at a Feaſt, or when he rides abroad in ſtate, then they will attend upon him, but yet they will live at home, and be their own men; ſo moſt people are but the Lords retainers, this is no obedience at all, it is none of faiths obedience.
Thirdly, true obedience puts forth all a mans ſtrength to God;3. It puts forth all a mans ſtrength to God. Thou ſhalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and all thy ſoul, and all thy ſtrengh; Praiſe the Lord O my ſoul, and all that is within me praiſe his Holy Name, Pſal. 103. True obedience lets forth all that is in a man to Chriſt, Mat. 4.20. When Chriſt called Simon, and Andrew, they flung away their nets and followed him; it was all the living they had, and yet they flung away all to follow him; ſo when he ſpake to Matthew a Publican, faith came no ſooner into his ſoul but he followed him preſently, Mat. 9.9. Though it was a rich office, he was a Knight by his place, as Cicero ſpeaks, it was worth five hundred pounds a yeare of our money; yet as ſoone as ever Chriſt called him, he left his place and went after Chriſt; ſo when a man will part with purſe and friends, and all he hath, and fling all at Gods foot, and give up all to him, this is true obedience; now if we have not this, we have not faithful obedience.