Great Precious Promises, Sermon 6
SERMON VI.
Acts 26▪ 18.
To open their eyes, an… to turn them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unt… God, that they may receive for…givenesse of sins, and inheritanc… among them which are sanctified b… faith that is in me.
WHen first we did begin our di…course upon the precious … excellent grace of Faith; W… told you that we intended t… speak of it under a twofold notion and co…sideration. First, As it layeth hold upo… Christ for Justication; and of this we hav… spoken to you at some length, as ye hav… heard. Secondly, As it closeth with Chri… for Sanctification; and of this we are … speak at this time; and have chosen thes… words to speak of it, which are a part … that excellent Oration and Discourse th… Paul had before Agrippa in his own defence▪ In which Oration and Discourse of his, … may behold these four things eminently shin…ing: 1. That Godlinesse and good manner are not inconsistent, not contrary one to ano…ther: Therefore ye will see in the second an… third verses of this Chapter, Paul acting th… part of a Courtly Orator: and believe … there is more good manners to be learned by being seven dayes in the School of Christ, then by being seven years in all the Courts of France. This, secondly, that innocent Policy that he made use of in the deliverance of this Oration, which likewise doth appear in the second and third verse of this Chapter, where he endeavours to insinuate & ingratiate himself in the favours of the person before whom he had stood; I confesse, piety is the best policy that is taken up in intertaining piety, howbeit true policy may move in one … and sphere with piety, and the one is not contrary to the other in some case. 3. This shineth in that discourse, even the spiritual boldness Paul had in giving an excellent confession of his faith, and the declaring him to be God, even Jesus Christ in whom he did believe; Christ witnessed a glorious confession before Pontius Pilat for him, and he would witnesse a glorious confession before Agrippa for Christ, that since Christ had not denied him in that notable day, he would not now deny precious Christ in this day: and this is from the beginning and all alongs. Lastly, This shineth in the words that Paul doth set forth, the matchlesse freedom & unspeakable riches of Christ, not onelyonly toward himself in that he did cast the lot of everlasting love toward him; but likewise toward the Gentiles to whom he was sent as a Preacher, and that he did gloriously condescend to visit the dark places of the earth, and to have the morning Star, and the Day spring from on high …rising on the habitations of cruelty. And in this verse which we have read, you may behold these five glorious ends of the preaching of this everlasting Gospel, for attaining of which, Ministers are made instruments under God. The first is, to open the eyes of the blind, which in short is even this to give those that are ignorant of God, the spiritual knowledge of the deep mysteries o… the Father, and of the Son: So that from this, ye may see that the Gospel hath a kind of omnipotency in producing effects abov… the power of nature. The second, we may see in these words, to remove them from darknesse to light: Which importeth these two▪ 1. The removing of persons from an estate of excellent joy. 2. The removing of persons from an estate of iniquity, unto an estate of holinesse, darknesse in Scripture pointing out sin, and light in Scripture pointing ou… holinesse. 3. The bringing us from unde… the power of Satan unto God, the making … blessed exchange of captivity and bondage that these who were under the captivity o… Satan, may be under the captivity of Love that those who were under the bondage o… sinne, may bee under the sweet obedience … Christ, whose yoke is easie, and whose burde… is light, Matth. 11.30. 4. That person may receive the remission of sins, and the for…givenesse of their iniquity; This is the grea… voice of the Gospel, come to a crucifie… Christ, come to a pardoning Christ, com… to a glorified Christ, Christ hath the pardo… of iniquity in his one hand, and riches … himself in the other, and these are the grea… motives by which he studieth to perswade us to come. And the last is in the close of the verse, that persons may receive forgivenesse of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me, that is, that they may have a share of that glorious mansion, of that excellent Kingdome that Christ hath purchased, and hath gone before to prepare. And withall, in this verse as the words are set down, ye may see the excellent and orderly methode that the Gospel keepeth in conquering souls, & you may see these excellent alurements, these perswasive arguments that Christ holdeth forth to conquer you, as it were, Christ cometh not unto us cloathed with the robes of Majesty, but clothed with the robes of Love and advantage, knowing that in this posture he shal most …gain upon our hearts.
Now in speaking unto that last end of the preaching the Gospel, we shall only according to our present purpose, take notice of this one thing from it, (not intending to prosecute it as it is an end of the Gospel) but as a property of Faith: and it is that, Faith in Iesus Christ hath a noble and excellent influence upon the growth of Sanctification, and the attaining of holinesse, they are sanctified, saith he, through faith in me. We shall not stand long to clear this unto you, it is evident from Act. 15.9. where the Apostle telleth us of purifying their hearts by faith: And likewise, 1 Tim. 1.5. where a pure heart and faith unfeigned, they are joyned and linked together: As likewise, 1 Ioh. 3.3. Every man that hath this hope in him, … purifieth himself. All the Graces of the Gospel they are linked together by a golden an… unseparable chain, so that he that obtainet… one, he shall obtain all; yea, more, all th… graces of the Gospel, they have a mutual in…fluence upon one anothers growth, so tha… we may compare them unto Hypocrates twin of whom it was reported, that they … laugh and weep together, and they did grow together: even so when one grace doth re…joyce, the rest doth rejoce with it, an… when one grace doth mourn, the rest dot… also mourn with it, and when one grace dot… grow the rest of the graces of the spirit they do likewise grow apace.
There are only three particulars that w… shall insist a little upon: First, We shal… shew you how faith hath influence upon th… attaining of Sanctification, and this we mak… clear unto you in these respects.
1. In that it discovereth to the soul th… matchless excellency, that transcendent beauty, and that surpassing comelinesse that is i… Christ, which sight doth exceedingly perswade the soul to draw that conclusion, Wh… have I to do any more with idols? A gloriou… sight of Christ, and acquaintance with hi… maketh us lose our acquaintance with ou… idols, and when once we are united unt… Christ by faith, we break that union we ha… with them. And indeed, the want of th… knowledge of that excellent comelinesse th… is in Christ, and of love to him, is the grea… occasion that the poorest dieties and idols … the world taketh up your hearts: did ye but once see him who is that glorious Son of righteousnesse, yee would be forced to put in your Amen unto that excellent confession of Faith, Eccles. 1.2. Vanity of vanities, and all is but vanity and vexation of spirit.
2. In that it is the grace that discovers unto a Christian the spotlesse holinesse of Christ, Faith doth not onelyonly discover the beauty of Christ, but likewise his holiness, and this doth make the soul fall in love with that excellent thing Sanctification. It is recorded amongst the first steps to sin and misery, that we desired to be as Gods, knowing good and evil; but certainly it is among the first steps to life and happinesse, when the soul desireth to be holy as hee is holy: And I suppose, this is the great ground that yee are not much endeavouring a blessed conformity to God, and to be partakers of the blessed Image of Christ, ye know not the beauty of holinesse.
3. Faith layeth hold upon Jesus Christ, …nd draweth strength and vertue from him for the conquering of lusts, and in raising … up into a blessed conformity unto himself: when the Christian is weak; Faith is that noble correspondent between that emptiness …hat is in us, and the fulnesse that is in Christ; …aith is that noble correspondent between …hat weaknesse that is in us, and that everla…ing strength that is in him: Therefore …here are two noble and excellent counsels …f Faith: First, It counsels us not to lean … our own strength: And, secondly, to …ave our recourse unto him whose Name is Iehovah that everlasting strength; And no doubt, if we were more taken up in imploying Christ by faith, that prophesie should be accomplished, I will make the feeble ones as David, and David as the Angel of God: and when a Christian is most diffident in himself, then God should prove himself to be Almighty, and All-sufficient.
And, 4. Faiths influence may be cleared in this, that it layeth hold upon the promises, and doth believe them: and believing of the promises bringeth forth that noble birth, conformity to God, according to tha… word upon which we were speaking, 2 Pet▪ 1: 4. by believing the promises, (that is the advantage of it) We are by them made partakers of the divine nature.
5. Faith also believeth the threatning… that are past in Scripture against sin, and the believing them hath an undoubted and strong influence upon the attaining and growth o… Sanctification: Faith strengtheneth a Christian against the committing of iniquity with these two words: that word, Rom. 6.20 O soul (saith faith) commit not iniquity, fo… the wages of sin is death: and that word, Rev▪ 21. last, There shall in no way enter into th… City, any thing that is unclean, or that committeth iniquity. And be perswaded of it that the faith of the threatnings and of the promises that are in Scripture, would be as … threefold cord not easily broken, to restai… you from the acting of iniquity: And shall tell you briefly the ground why these curse… hearts of ours doth commit iniquity wit… so little fear, and with so much delight, it is even this, because we believe not the threatnings of God, which shall be accomplished in their own season: for is it possible that if ye believed that word, Rev 21. last. That nothing shall enter into the New Ierusalem that defileth or worketh abominations, or that maketh a lie; that ye durst not for a world adventure upon the committing of iniquity as ye do. And I shall only say to such that do undervalue the threatnings of God, the day is coming when they shall be constrained to cry out, He hath spoken it, and he hath done it, & faithful is he, there is not one jot nor title in the word of the Lord that shal fall to the ground: And believe it, God will be faithful in the accomplishment of his threatnings, as he is faithful in the accomplishment of his promises.
6. Faith discovereth unto a Christian the noble excellencies, and those spiritual dignities that are in that everlasting estate that is provided for the Saints in light; Faith (as it were) carrieth up the soul to the top of Pisgah, off which it is admitted to behold the promised land, and truely the seeing of these noble things that are provided for the Saints, cannot but make them study holinesse, since they know that there is an impossibility for one to attain to that estate with ou… holinesse, because he had said it, Without holinesse no man shall see God. O then if once ye saw heaven, ye would be constrained to walk in that path of Sanctification, since it is the glorious way by which ye must walk in through the gates of that blessed City. Bu… ye know▪ not the excellency that is there, i… is a fancy and notion unto you: and that i… the ground that ye do not study to conform your selves unto that blessed image of God. And I would only ask you this one question▪ Is it possible that such a delusion as this can overtake you, as to think, that ye who never studied holinesse on earth, shall yet enter into heavens gates. I know there are some that say in their hearts, I shall have peace though I walk in the imaginations of my own heart: and many more, that suppose that they might fight and overcome, that they may quite the estate of nature, and be compleat in the estate of grace all in one day. But why will ye deceive your selves, Can a nation be born in one day; Or is there but one step between hell and heaven? O remember, though nothing be impossible with God, yet there was but one thief saved upon the crosse.
7. Faith hath influence upon the attaining of holinesse in this respect, That it believeth the exceeding great advantages that are promised unto the person that studieth holiness: Faith believeth that word, Matth. 5.8. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for they shall see God: Faith it layeth hold upon the truth of the excellent sayings, and maketh the Christian endeavour to attain unto a likenesse and conformity with him, that so he may be admitted to behold his face for all eternity, and to be made like unto him.
8. Faith discovereth unto Christians the sinfulnesse of sin, that is never done till once they be in the lively exercise of the grace of Faith. And I will give you these three grounds why faith compleaty discovereth the sinfulnesse of sin. 1. Faith letteth us see the person against whom we commit this sin, and that doth exceedingly aggrege sin; for when the Christian is admitted to behold God; and to see that matchlesse excellency that is in him; then (saith he) what a beast was I to offend such a glorious Majesty as He? What a fool was I to kick against the pricks; or to enter in the lists with such an infinite God? 2. Faith letteth a Christian see these excellent obligations of love that Christ hath imposed upon us; Faith letteth us see the ancient and everlasting love of Christ; Faith is that grace that letteth us see his sufferings; Faith letteth us see all that he hath done for us, and this maketh the Christian to cry out, Do I thus requite the Lord, O foolish one and unwise: And no doubt, if a Christian were more taken up in the study of this duty, he would be lesse in contracting debt, and were you but seriously taken up in the study of these two great Registers. 1. The Register in which all the infinit acts of love are recorded. And, 2. That Register in which all your acts of offending precious Christ are written, ye would be astonished and ashamed to see so much forgiven you; and durst not sin any more; there ye would see infinite mercy desiring to rejoyce over Iudgement, and there ye would see the spotlesse riches of that transcendent grace that is in Christ. 3. Faith letteth a Christian see the disadvantages of sin, and what woful effects doth follow upon it, and this doth exceedingly hold forth the sinfulnesse of sin.
The second thing that we shall speak to concerning Faiths influence in the attaining Sanctification, shall be to enquire a little unto these things that hinder even Believers from attaining this blessed effect of their Faith; for some Christians there are that in some respects are taken up in the exercise of Faith, making use of Christ for Sanctification, and yet their making use of Christ by Faith, doth not weaken the strength of their idols (at least) to their apprehensions, neither yet raise them up to a conformity with God; so that they are constrained somtimes to cry out, I shall once fall by the hand of one of mine iniquities, and when they fight and doth not overcome, they are at last constrained to say, There is no hope.
The first ground of such a dispensation is, That a Christian is not constant in his acting… of Faith, he will be strong in faith to day, and when the morrow cometh, he will faint in that exercise, and this doth exceedingly interrupt the noble victory of Faith: For when faith hath gotten its advantages, they lose them through security and negligence: that is a command that should be continually obeyed, Trust in the Lord at all times: and no doubt, if a Christian were more taken up in the constant actings of Faith, he should sometimes sing that song, I trusted in God, and I was helped.
Secondly, The most part of Christians, they are not strong and vigorous in actings of their Faith, their Faith is exceedingly weak, and so they cannot bring forth these noble fruits and effects of Faith. If we were trusting in God with all our hearts, then that promse, Psal. 37.5. should be accomplished to us, Trust in the Lord, and hee shall bring it to passe. Thridly, There is a strong heart conjunction and soul union between us and our idols: wee are joyned to our idols, and therefore we cannot be easily divorced; yea, when we are in the heat of the war against them, there is a procuratour within that cryeth, O spare this little one, or this profitable or pleasant one, and this is ordinarily our practice, to spare the choisest of our lusts; so that our Agags may cry forth, The bitternesse of death is past. But I confesse, if that union were once dissolved, wee should then bee heard with greatest earnestnesse to cry forth, O blessed bee the Lord that teacheth my hands to fight. Fourthly, Sometimes a Christian layeth too much weight upon the actings of Faith, and doth not imploy Faith, but as an instrument to which Christ must bestow strength to conquer. Sometimes we think that faith hath the vertue of overcoming in its own hand, but remember, Faith is but an empty thing without Christ: as ye may see, Acts 15.9. where the purifying their hearts by faith is ascribed to the holy Ghost, so that the activity of faith is from him, and not in it self. Fifthly, A Christian doth not hate sin with a perfect hatred, even in the time of his warfare with his lusts, and with these strong idols that are within him, but there is a secret heart inclination to that very idol which he doth oppose: So that oftenimes there is that twofold contradiction in a Christian; Sometimes his light will cry, mortifie such an idol, and yet his heart will cry, O spare such an idol; yea more, sometimes his hear… will cry, mortifie such an idol, and yet hi… heart will cry, O spare such an idol: That is to say, there will be one part of our affection crying one thing, and another part o… it will cry another thing. O! but there is a remarkable command for the perfect hatred of sin, Rom. 12.9. Abhor that which is evil. The word is in the Original, ha…e evil, as ye would do hell, that is: have perfect hatred to sin, O to hate iniquity as much as hell a and joyn that word, Eph. 5.11. Reprove the unfruitfull works of darknesse; or as the word may be rendered, Make out by unanswerable arguments to your tentations, that you cannot imbrace the unfruitfull works of darknesse, convince your tentations that ye cannot do it: As we suppose, it was a noble arguing of Ioseph when he was tempted, How shall I do this? he put the tentation (as it were) to it: O tentation give me ou… ground why I should commit such an iniquitie. And certainly, if we were thus reasoning with our tentations, they should flee before us: But the truth is, we imbace the desire of our tentation upon implicite faith. It is a sad regrate; and yet I may utter it, O if men would but deal with God as they do by Satan, we never dispute the promise of Satan, and never examine these allurements he setteh forth, and yet we constantly dispute with God upon every thing. Sixthly, A Christian promoveth not in the growth of Sanctification, though in some measure exercising faith, because he hath not such a heart to holinesse. If we did discover more that excellent beauty, that is, in being cloathed with that glorious robe of the righteousnesse of Christ, and in having the sweet draughts of the Image of Christ engraven upon our hearts, we would have more victory over our lusts: There is a command for a perfect love to that which is good, and holinesse in that same place, Rom. 12.9. and cleave (saith he) to that which is good; or, as the word may be rendered, Be married and glewed to that which is good, let there be an unspeakable and undissolvable knot of union between you and that which is good: And certainly, if once we believed that report which is given of holinesse, we would endeavour more to be cloathed with it: but that is the great ground why we advance not in holinesse, we know not the advantage nor diguity, to be made like God. O will ye think on it, What a thing is it for you who are the dust of his feet, to be made conform to him? Seventhly, A Christian is not much in the exercise of other duties that should go along with faith, suspect that faith for presumption, that can act, and be maintained without Prayer, certainly prayer it keepeth in the life of Faith: Prayer, it is that grace that must act mutually with faith, in accomplishing that blessed work of Sanctification, and if we prayed more, and believed more, then we should have more to speak concerning the victory over our lusts. When was it, O Christian and expectant of heaven, that yee was constrained to put up an Eben… zer, and cry forth, Hitherto hath the Lord helped mee? When was it, O Christian and expectant of heaven, that ye was put to cry forth, God hath arisen, and mine enemies are scattered before my face? I will tell you what is your practice, ye make such a covenant with your idols, as Nahash did with the men of Iabesh Gilead, 1 Sam. 11.2, 3. your lusts desire to make you pluck out your right eyes, and there is nothing your lusts will command you, but almost ye will obey; but would you send out prayers as a messenger to tell the King of such a tyrannie, yee should know better what it is to bee victorious. There is such a Covenant between the graces of the Spirit, especially between faith and Prayer (if so wee may allude) as was made between Ioab and Abishai, 2 Sam. 10.11. one grace, as it were, saith to another, If I be weak, Come over and help me, and if ye be weak, I will come and help you. When once grace is like to fall in battel, then another grace cometh and helpeth it; when faith is like to die, then prayer and experience cometh in and sweetly helpeth faith; when love is beginning to die, and waxe cold in the fight, then faith cometh in and putteth life in love; and when patience is like to fall and be overcome, then faith comes in and speaks that word to patience, Wait on God, for I shall yet praise him for the health of his countenance. Oftentimes our patience and our sense they joyn together, for when sense speaketh good things, patience is in life, but when once sense preacheth hard things, it is like to die, and Faith must then maintain and uphold it.
The third thing that we shall speak as to faiths influence upon Sanctification, shall be to draw these four conclusions from the point.
The first is, That ye may know from this, the rise and original of your little successe over corruption: There are many that are troubled with this question; O! what is the ground that I get not victory over my lusts, and they propose that question to Christ that once the Disciples proposed to him, Why was it that I could not cast out such a devil? And I can give no other answer nor Christ gave to them, it is, because ye have not faith; For if yee had faith as a grain of mustard seed, yee might say unto your idols, depart from us, and they should obey you, and there should not be a mountain in the way between you and heaven, but if ye had faith, it should be rolled away and become a plain. And the ground why many are groaning under the captivity of their idols, is, That they are not much in the exercise of faith; sometimes yee enter in the lists with your lusts in your own strength, then ye are carried captives, and if ye do enter in the lists having some faith, yet ye maintain not the war, il faith get but one stroke.
I will tell you six things which if faith overcome, it keepeth the fields, and maketh the Christian sing a song of triumph, even before a compleat victory.
First, Faith helpeth a Christian to overcome that idol of impatience and discontent, some never met with a discouragement, but they cry out, This evil is of the Lord, why should I wait any longer, they are soon put to the end of their patience: Now faith can overcome such an idol, and I will tell you three excellent things that faith performeth to the soul under impatience, or when it i… in hazard of it. 1. Faith telleth the Christian there is an end, and their expectation shall not be cut off; Faith telleth that there is a morning as well as night, and this keepeth the soul from being overcome with disco… ragement, when they are brought to the midnight of trouble; Faith can tell what hour of the night it is, and how near the approaching of the morning, when day shall break and all their clouds flee away. 2. Faith helpeth the Christian to see there is much in Christ to make up any losse or disadvantage that they have; if ye losse your son, or your choisest contentment in the world, Faith will say such a word as Elkana said to Hannah, 1 Sam. 1.8. Is not Christ better to thee then ten sons? The choisest contentments ye can lose, (that is faiths divinity) Christ is worth an hundred of them: and so this maketh the …oul be ashamed of their impatiency, and to …ive over their fretting at the excellent and …ise dispensations of God. 3. Faith letteth Christian see, that there is not a dispensati…n that hee meeteth with, but it hath these …wo excellent ends, it hath our advantage as …ne end, and the glory of the Lord as another …: and there is not a dispensation that a Christia… meeteth with, but these are the glo…ious ends proposed in it. And therefore I would only give you this advice, evermore …hen yee meet with a dark dispensation, let …ith interpret it, for it is only the best inter…reter of dark dispensations; for if yee meet with sense, this is its interpretation, he is not …hastening me in love, but punishing me with …he wound of an enemy, but faith will pro…hesy good things to you in the darkest night.
The second next great idol that faith will …ring low, is that idol of covetousnesse and …esire to the things of the world. I think …hat word, Eccles. 3.11. was never so much …ccomplished as it is in those dayes, and …mongst you, Hee hath set the world in your …arts, that is the idol that dwelleth and …dgeth within you: yea, the world it hath …our first thoughts in the morning, and your … thoughts at night; yea more, it hath …our thoughts when yee are at Prayer, and …hen ye are at Preaching; yea, it hath such dominion over you, that it giveth you, as were, a new Bible, and in all the ten Com…ands s…rapeth out the Name of God, and …tteth down the world. And whereas …od saith, Thou shalt have no other Gods but me, the world saith, Thou shalt have no other Gods but me, &c. But faith will bring thi… idol low, and soon let you see the vanity and emptinesse of it; yea, faith would let you see a more noble object, and withall, discove… unto you how short your time is, and how few hours ye have to spend in following afte… lies: And I am perswaded of this, that if y… could win to shake hands with cold death every day, and say, thou at last shall bee my prince, and shall be the king to whom I shal… bee a subject, and if ye believed that the day of Eternity were approaching, it would be … mean to mortifie these pursuits after th… world: And I shall say, he is a blessed Christian that can maintain alwayes such thought… of the world, as he shall have when hee i… standing upon the outmost line between Time and Eternity. I shall say it, and believe it▪ O worldling, and O thou that hast the Moo… upon thy head, and in thy heart, the day shall once come, that thou may preach a… much of the vanity of the world, as thos… that undervalued it never so much.
The third great idol that faith will brin… low, is that idol of self love and self-indul…gence, that which is the great mother of al… other Idols. I think, if there were no mor… to bee said against that Idol of self love an… self indulgence, that which is in 2 Tim. 3.2. were sufficient, that amongst all the grea… idols of the latter times, this is put in the first place, They shall be lovers of themselves we cannot take pains for Christ, we canno… go about the exercise of any duty, because that idol of self-indulgence forbiddeth us. I will tell you its counsel and great advice it giveth you, O person, pity thy self, that same counsel Peter gave his Master, it biddeth you pity your self: But if wee could rightly interpret that language, it would be this, destroy your self, for self indulgence, and self-love is that which will ruine you. O what blessed attainments of God; what blessed fruitions of Jesus Christ, what advancement in mortification, what conformity to God hath that idol of self indulgence obstructed, and not only utterly ruined, even in the best? I think, if once yee could set your foot upon that idol, the rest should fall apace; that is the general of all the forces of your lusts, and it is as Saul, the head higher then the rest of all your idols within you.
The fourth idol that faith will subdue, is self-righteousnesse, this is a great thing wee maintain, we will never renounce our own righteousness and submit to the righteousnes of Christ: and the great ground of it is▪ That there is this principle within us all, … love to go to heaven through a Covenant of Works, …nd wee never desire to be much oblieged to …ny other, we cannot submit our selves to the righteousnesse of Christ.
The fifth great idol that faith can subdue, … that of pleasure, the world, and the con…entments of it: Pleasure is the great idol …hat many worship and adore, there are …ome …hat love the gain of the world, and …her …are others that love the pleasures of …he world; but faith hath a noble influence upon the bringing low of such an idol; for faith discovereth to a so…l more excellent pleasures, more sweet delights nor is to hee found under the Sun; Faith maketh a Christian lose his state unto all things that are here below; Faith is that grace that maketh us grow blind, and not much to behold these passing vanities, those transient dilights of a present evil world.
Our second conclusion is this, That as Faith helpeth Sanctification, so Sanctification helpeth Faith. I will tell yow three great advantages Faith hath by the growth and exercise of Sanctification. 1. It is a noble evidence of faith, and maketh a Christian to bee perswaded that hee is s…tled upon the Rock, and that his interest in God is made sure. Sanctification is that which will help a Christian dayly to read his interest in God: This is clear from Iam. 2.18. I will shew thee my faith by my workes, where this is clearly holden forth, That a Christian much in the work of Sanctification, hee can upon all times give an extract of his Faith, and, as it were, discover it and shew it to the world. 2. Sanctification maketh faith perfect, according to that remarkable word, Iam. 2.22. And by workes was faith made perfect. There is a noble perfection that redoundeth to faith through the exercise of the work of Sanctification; for not only is it thereby made manifest, and receiveth such a shining luster and splendor, as that sometimes the eyes of carnal men are e…en dazled to behold a Believer, but it also receiveth strength and power: Faith is not of the nature of these things that spend themselves in bringing forth, but on the contrary …f faith bring forth a hundred children (I mean works of holinesse) in one day, it groweth stronger: and this is further clear, 2 Pet. 1.8. For if these things be in you, and abound, ye shall …either bee barren nor unfruitfull. And from …hat other word, Iam. 2. where it is said, That faith without works is dead, being alone: …f faith be alone, it wants its spiritual life and …igour; but if yee were much in the exercise of the work of Sanctification, ye would, …o doubt, attain to a noble and lively acting of that grace of Faith. And, lastly, if a Chri…tian be much in this work of Sanctification, …here will be a comfortable exercise of faith, …ometimes Faith is exercised with much …xiety, and sometimes with much doubting, … faith and a pure conscience joyned toge…her, they make an excellent feast, and …aketh a Christian rejoyce with joy unspeak…ble and full of glory.
Thirdly, Wee may draw this conclusion, …f faith have influence upon the work of …anctification, and helpeth the producing of noble conformity to God, then I say, there …re many that their faith is a delusion, and …heir hope shall bee cut off as a spiders web. There are some that have faith, that have not …anctification, nor knows not what it is. and …hall not that faith unquestionably perish as a …eam, and evanish as the vision of the night ▪ …nd therefore if ye would testifie the reality …f your faith, then study more the work of …a…ctification. I shall but from Ioh. 8.14▪ 15. give you these eight properties of a hypocrites faith and hope, which may make you try and examine your self. 1. Their hope and their faith is but an act of folly, yea, there is not such an act of foolishnesse under heaven, as a hypocrites hope; because it is but a castle in the aire, and as writing to himself a charter on the sand: so that word yee have rendered, whose hope shall be cut off; is in the Original, whose folly shall be cut off; shewing this, that they build without a foundation, and so their faith must bee most unsure and uncertain, 2. The thing they hope for shall at last loath them: O hypocrites, yee hope for enjoyment of Christ, but be perswaded of it, Christ shall eternally loath you, and yee shall eternally …ath Christ: that is clear in that same wor…, Whose hope shall be cut off, or as the word may be read, Whose hope shall loath them, the thing he hoped …or shall loath him, and Christ shall say, Depart, I know you not. 3. And though yee have now much delight and pleasure in the actings of your presumptuous hope, yet at the last, ye shall loath that hope: The word will carry that, not only the thing ye hoped for shall loath you, but ye likewise shall loath your hope. The day is coming, that yee shall cry forth, cursed be the day that ever I believed that I should get heaven. 3. It shall at last be the matter of his vexation▪ from that word, whose hope shall be cut off; or as the word may be rendered, whose hope shall vex him. O whe… the hypocrites shall meet with that anxious, that dreadull disappointment one day, they shall then put their hand on their head, being ashamed because of their confidence. 4. He studieth by all means to keep his hope, though it be but false, therefore have ye that word in the 15 verse, hee holdeth it fast, or is the word is, hee keepeth it with hand and arm, with all his strength hee keepeth his hope: so that if Christ would come from heaven and say, man, thou art a hypocrite, and thy hope shall be cut off, they would say, I will keep my hope Sir, and maintain it, and that is an evidence your hope is not built upon the foundation; I love never a faith that in this side of time is unchangeable, and never knoweth what it is to have ups nor downs. 5. It is built alwayes upon a wrong foundation, which is imported in … word, He shall lean upon his house, which we suppose may interpret thus, hee shall lean upon his, worldly …njoyments, or upon these spiritual like enjoyments hee met with. The hope of a hypocrite is never built upon Christ, and so unquestionably that hope shall be cut off and evanish. 6. Let hypocrites hold fast their hope with both their arms, I will say these three words to them: First, … all the Ministers should preach to you, and desire you to quite your hope, and yee will not, yet doth your hope and you shall bee separate: as it is in that word. Your hope shall depart from you, and yee shall quite it. Secondly, Your hope will bring you to death, and no further: according to that word, Iohn 18.14. Whose hope shall bring them to the King of terrours: Will it bring m… no further say you, O no, The King of ter…rors shall separate you and your hope. Thirdly The day is coming when the foundation o… it shall be discovered, and there shall no… bee a delusion but it shall be unfolded. Th… day is approaching when Christ shall as… how you got your faith, and how you main…tained it. 7. The hypocrites hope is … poor building, it is as a spiders web; which I conceive (without being critick) is this▪ The hope of hypocrites they spin it out o… their own bowels, they have it not from Christ, but as yee see a spider spin out o… its own bowels, so do they out of them…selves, it is no better stuff then their ow… …otten righteousnesse, Christ never beg… those unto a lively hope. Let mee beseech you therefore, that by all means ye would study to make sure your interest in God, an… to build your faith on him, whose name i… that munition of rocks; For believe it, I may say it with much perswasion, I know ther… are many that shall once meet (if God pre…vent it not) with a dreadfull disappoint…ment: And therefore as ye would not incu… that eternal hazard that is attending thos… that presumptuously take hold of a hope before Christ take hold of them, study to search your hope what it is: I desire not to raze any foundation of their hope that i… laid by the hand of Christ, but would desir… and charge you to raze the foundation o… that hope which yee have laid from the be…ginning by your own hands, and hee knew i… not. I would presse these three things upon you. First, O yee that are strangers to Christ, and that know not what it is to imbrace the offers of the everlasting Gospel, obey that excellent counsel, 2 Chron. 3.8. Give Christ your hand; for that word which ye have rendered, Yeeld your self to the Lord, it is in the Original, Give your hand to God; which is in short, Marry him, and be content to contract your s…lf to him; for believe it, the day is coming, that either that contract between you and Christ, shall bee eternally confirmed, or that contract between the devil and you, shall be eternally ratified. And, I suppose, there is so much spoken to the commendation of that noble Plant of renown, that yee may take Christ (if so wee may speak) blindly, ye may close your eyes and take him, for hee shall never disappoint your hope; for let you think of him to Eternity, hee shall alwayes be above your thoughts. Secondly, I would earnestly desire you once to search and try, what was the first rise of your faith in Jesus Christ: I am perswaded of it, there are many that take up their faith at their foot, they never travelled in pain, and yet faith is brought forth. Is not this a mystery? shall it be said, before they travelled, they brought forth? I do not question but there may be lesse and greater pangs of the new birth, but this is most certain, there is alwayes some either lesser troubles or greater, till that childe be brought forth: and yet I may condemn these that stay too long in the place of the breaking forth of children, Christ will never refuse you when ye do really come, because y… have not been so many years and dayes in prison to the Law: Thirdly, Let me desire you to go and ask, is there a grave between you and heaven, in all that way through which the Saints have travelled, upon which this is written, here lyeth a man that sincerely sought life from Christ, and he denyed him. I think without encroaching too much upon the searching forth of the exercise of the Saints in heaven, I think we may suppose, there may be in heaven some Queries and Interrogations: Christ shall ask▪ O beloved, Did ye want any thing here below when ye was sent forth to travel in the world? and yee shall be constrained to an…swer, No: Christ shall ask that question a… you. Did I not all things well? and y… shall be constrained to answer, Yes: Christ shall propose that question, Are ye not well rewarded for all your pains? and you shall be constrained to answer, Yes: O but to take him, He is the blessed and most excellent One in heaven and in earth, it is the best bargain ever ye made: O ye Merchants that have made many excellent bargains to your own apprehension, will ye come and make one excellent bargain yet, that will make you eternally up? And what is that? Come and buy Christ and take him for nothing, this is not your ordinary bargaining: there is few comes to you, and biddeth you buy excellent things without money; but come in the Gospel, and ye shall get Christ without money: O niggards that are loath to spend your money in the world, will yee come to Christ and believe on him, take him freely: O say ye, if I could get three things of Christ, I would come. 1. I would have much gold and silver; I say, come to Christ, and ye shall get much gold and silver: Is that true? it is abundantly true: See Iob 22.25, 26. where pressing that exhortation, Acquaint thy self with God ▪ and using many arguments, he saith. Thou shall lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. Is not that gold enough? yea, ye shall have silver likewise, Thou shalt have plenty of silver. In the 26. verse, ye shall not only have gold and silver, but shall have plenty of it, and shall have the most excellent and refined gold. But O say ye, will that promise be literally accomplished to me if I come to Christ. I would only say these three things to thee: 1. Come to Christ, and if gold and silver be for thy advantage, thou shall have it literally accomplished. 2. I say, ye shall have as much contentment in Jesus Christ, as if yee had this house full of gold. 3. I will say this to thee, Christ shall be thy gold and thy silver: according to that word in the 26. verse, which is most remarkable; yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence; or as it is in the Original, shall be thy gold, speaking of the promise of gold before. Secondly, Ye say, I would have this that what I purpose might be accomplished: I say, come to Christ and yee shall have that likewise, Iob. 22.28. Thou shalt decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee; which I conceive, doth not only take in these spiritual decrees; but likewise these that relate to temporal enjoyments. But there is a third thing I would have (say yee) and I would come to Christ, and it is, that I might have all the desires of my heart: I say, O man▪ and O woman, come to Christ, and thou shall have what thou desirest: This is clear from Psal. 37.4. Delight thy self in God, and hee shall give thee the desires of thy heart: What can ye have man but it is there? Would yee have any thing of Christ? Hee putteth a blank in your hand, and saith that word which he said to Solomon, Ask; What would yee have, and I shall give you, Christ, as it were, putteth his name to the foot of a clean sheet of paper, and hee desireth you to ask what ye would have, And is not this an excellent bargan? O niggard, what would yee have which ye will not get in Christ? And bee perswaded, that ye that refuse and will not take him, the eternal curse of all that is in heaven will return upon thy head, the eternall curse of all the expectants of heaven and heirs of life will return upon the head of that person that will not take Christ. And cursed, cursed shall that person be who will not take Christ, and one day all the Congregation in heaven and earth shall say, Amen.