A Word to Sinners and a Word to Saints, Part 1 · Chapter 23
CHAP. XXIII. Of living by faith in Gods promises.
ANother singular duty incumbent upon the regenerate is, To live by faith, casting themselves upon God in Christ, and upon his gracious promises in all their straights and dangers, for such needfull and usefull things as they stand in need of. To live by faith is not only to believe in Christ for salvation, but also firmly to rest and rely upon God, and his gracious promises expressed in his Word, for support under all our tryalls, for succour in all our distresses, for assistance against all assaults, for deliverance out of all our dangers, and for supply of all our wants, whether temporal or spiritual.
Thus did those ancient Worthies mentioned, Heb. 11. Where we read that into whatsoever trouble or straight they were brought, they so lived by faith in Gods promises, that nothing could dismay them, much less overthrow them. And if thou in like manner couldst but quietly rest upon God and his gracious promises thou wouldst in thy greatest tryals and troubles be more than Conquerour, as the Apostle speaketh.
When therefore thou art troubled for thy sins, groaning under the weight and burden of them, then throw thy self upon the merits and righteousness of Jesus Christ, and there let thy soul rest it self in hope of the pardon of thy sins here, and of eternal life and salvation hereafter; venturing upon that comfortable promise,Mat. 11.28. Come unto me all ye who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
When thou art assaulted with the temptations of Satan, and fearest left thou shouldst be overcome by them: then look up unto God, trusting in him for deliverance in due time, and for support in the mean time,1 Cor. 10.13. relying upon that gracious promise, God is faithfull, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able: but will with the temptation make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it.
When thou art under any spiritual desertion, sitting in darkness, without any spark of comfort, th…n look up unto God with the eye of faith for the light of his countenance, and the assurance of his loving favour, resting and refreshing thy drooping soul with that comfortable promise,Isa. 54.8. In a little wrath have I hid my face from thee, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.
When thou apprehendest thy self weak and insufficient for the performance of duties, then look up unto God who hath promised to help the weaknesses and infirmities of his Servants: and trust upon the power of Jesus Christ; then wilt thou be able to say with the Apostle,Phil. 4.13. I can do all things through Christ which strengthneth me.
When thou feelest thy corruptions strongly working and stirring in thee, then look up unto God, who is able; and hath promised to subdue thine iniquities, and to keep down the power of thy lusts, laying hold on that good word,Rom. 6.14. Sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are not under the Law, but under grace.
When thou art reviled and persecuted by wicked, and ungodly men, then look up unto God with the eye of faith, trusting in him for help and strength, comforting thy self with that gracious saying of our Saviour, Bl…sse are ye when m…n shall revils you, and persecute you, Mat. 5.11, 12.and shall say all manner of evill against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in Heaven.
When thou art streightned in these outward things, and thereupon art full of Worldly fears and cares, what to eat, and what to drink, and what to provide for Wife and Children: then look up unto God, and by faith cast all thy care upon him, who careth for thee, 1 Pet. 5.7. Psal. 34.resting upon that comfortable promise, The young Lyons do lack, and suffer hunger, but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. Though thou maist not have that abundance and affluency which some others do enjoy, yet thou shalt not want that which God seeth good for thee,Phil. 4.19. who will supply all thy need according to his riches.
Thus in all thy streights and distresses thou maist by the Soveraign power of faith, working upon the gracious promises of God, exceedingly revive and refresh thy troubled Spirit. For all the promises of God set down in his Word for thy comfort and support, being sealed with the blood of Christ, are all yea and Amen, as true as truth it self, and therefore shall assuredly in their due time be accomplished.
For thy better encouragement to this Christian duty of living by faith, seriously weigh these few things,
I. The Properties of God, more especially,
1. His Almighty power, whereby he is able to strengthen thee in all thy weaknesses, to support thee under all thy tryals, and temptations, in a word, to perform whatsoever he hath promised. This made Abraham with strong confidence to rest upon the promise of God,Rom. 4.20, 21. which the Apostle thus setteth forth, He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, being fully perswaded, that what he had promised, he was able to perform. Abrahams eying the power of God was it that made him so confidently to rest upon his promise. The power of God is often in Scripture mentioned to move Saints to live by faith in Gods promises, and to rest upon them. When Sarah made some doubt of Gods promise concerning Abrahams having a Child by her; this question was by way of exprobration propounded to her,Gen. 18.14. Is there any thing too hard for the Lord? To like purpose said God to his Prophet Ieremy for the strengthening his faith,Jer. 32.27. Behold I am the Lord of all flesh, is there any thing too hard for me? implying there is nothing too hard for God.
2. His truth and faithfulness in performing what he hath promised. For faith the Apostle to the Hebrews, faithfull is he that promiseth. Heb. 10.32.We read how under the Law God commanded by Moses concerning him that voweth or promiseth any thing to the Lord,Deut. 30.2. that he shall not break his word, but shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth: And shall the Lord say, and not do it? Shall he promise and not perform it? Surely it is as possible for him not to be, as not to keep his word, and not to perform what he hath promised.
Indeed the Lord many times maketh his Children wait long for the accomplishment of his promises: Yet he never faileth to be as good as his Word. Which duly considered cannot but strengthen our faith in the firm expectation of all good things promised, and enable us quietly and contentedly to rest and repose our selves in God for the accomplishment of what he hath promised, and not to doubt thereof, though he seem long to deferr the performance of them.
3. His infinite Wisdom, whereby he dispenseth the good things contained in his promises, in their fitest time and season, whenas they shall make most for his own glory, and his Childrens good. Farr be it therefore from us to prescribe unto God the time and season for the performance of his promises. But let us rather resolve with patience to wait his appointed time and season, who is infinite in Wisdom, and so knoweth what is best and convenient for us, even better than we our selves. Thus did the Church,Psal. 123.4. Our eyes wait upon the Lord our God untill he have mercy upon us. Therefore as the Lord speaketh by the Prophet Isay, Isa. 28.16.He that believeth shall not make haste, because he is assured by faith, that though he have not the thing he desireth at his own time, yet he shall have it in that time which God in his Wisdom knoweth to be best for him, whenas it shall make most for his good.
II. Consider the good success believers have found upon their living by faith, how things have fallen out according to their hope and expectation. It is recorded of Abraham, that he lived by faith in Gods promise to him of a Son; being fully perswaded that what he had promised, he was able to perform. And God accordingly did perform the same unto him. Look into the Histories of the Kings of Iudah and Israel, and you shall find that according to their trust in God, and faith in his promises, was their success and deliverance.Psal. 22.4, 5. Our Fathers trusted in thee, they trusted, and thou didst deliver them: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. And saith David of himself, The Lord is my strength, and my Shield, my heart trusted in him, and I was helped. What an encouragement must this needs be unto us, to trust in God, and live by faith in his promises? Seeing he never failed such. Faith in the promises being like the bow of Ionathan, and Sword of Saul, which never returned empty: but allwayes finds what it seeks, and enjoyes what it desires.
III. Take notice of the particular fruits of living by faith recorded in Scripture, some whereof are these,
1. Protection from things hurtfull. Though Daniel was cast into a Den of Lyons, yet it is said, that no manner of hurt was found in him. Dan. 6.23.And this reason is rendred thereof, Because he believed in Gods Word: by faith relying on his power, whom he knew was able to deliver him.
2. Provision of needfull good things. Therefore the Apostle exhorteth to trust in the living God, and that on this ground,1 Tim. 6.17. he giveth us richly all things to enjoy: namely all such things, as he in his Wisdom seeth to be needfull for us. And to set out Gods bounty in providing for such as live by faith in his promises,Prov. 28.25. the Wise man faith, He that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat, that is, he shall not only have such a competency, as is absolutely necessary to preserve life, or to keep body and soul together; but also such plenty, and abundance, as will make him fat, and well-liking.
3. Comfort in every condition, is another fruit of living by faith in Gods promises. The promises of God in his Word are the Christians Cordials, to cheer up his fainting spirits, when he is ready to sink. They are his aqua-vitae, to revive him when he is ready to swound. They are breasts of consolation, full of sweet nourishment for the faint and weak. They are Sacred and sure Anchors, in the tempestuous seasons of trouble and affliction, to stay and six believers amidst all tossings whatsoever. They are roses that blow in the Winter, which with their fragrancy revive drooping and dejected souls, in the sad Winter of their desertion, when the verdure of all other comforts wither, and drop like leaves that are bitten with the frost. This David found in his own experience, for faith he, thy promises are my comfort in my affliction, Psal. 119.50.for thy Word hath quickned me.
Whereas the best of the Worlds comforts are only applicable to some particular condition: the comforts of the promises are universal, such as agree with every estate, and suit every malady; and therefore apt to relieve the soul of a believer in every condition, though never so sad and disconsolate. So that the Christian who lives by faith in Gods promises, many times walks more cheerfully under sore, fiery troubles, than others in the Sun-shine of Worldly prosperity. The three Children walked to and fro with more joy in the fiery Furnace, than Nebuchadaezzar in his stately Pallace.
4. Contentment in our present state and condition, is another Fruit of living by faith.foreign. Arist. Homo quadratus. Erasm. A Believer is like a dye that hath four squares, throw it which way you will, it falls upon a bottome. Let God cast a Believer into what condition he pleaseth, he still falleth upon his bottom of contentment, he will be contented with his present state, believing it to be ordered by God as in Wisdom, so in much mercy and goodness unto him.