The Saints Encouragement in Evil Times, Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
Of living and dying by Faith.
I. Of living by Faith.
FAith is a staying,What faith is. Justifying faith is a spirituall habit, by which a regenerate man having in himself, upon a Divine testimony, an evidence of t…e truth and goodnesse of the promise, and covenant of eternall salvation through Jesus Christ, relies on him only for everlasting life. Mr White. resting, depending and relying upon the merits and satisfaction of our blessed Saviour, by the vertue and merit thereof to obtain remission of sins and eternall life, and all good things promised in the new covenant, at the hands of God.
That there is such a life as the life of faith, is plain, Habak. 2. 4. But the just shall live by his faith. The just shall live the life of grace here, and of glory hereafter, in and by faith.
Gal. 2. 20. Neverthelesse I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God
Psal. 74. 13, 14. Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters: That is, of the chief captains, and commanders under Pharaoh. Thou brakest the heads of Leviathan (that is, Pharaoh) in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to …he people inhabiting the wildernesse, for their faith, not their bellies. While they were in the wildernesse they remembred Gods mercy to them at the red sea, and lived by the faith of this providence of God.
It is a life arising from the union of God with us by his sanctifying Spirit, whereby a man is able to perform actions spirituall, in the Promises is the life of the spirit of Gods people.Isa 38. 16. The life of faith (saith Mr Perkins) is a true life indeed, the only life.
The Schools dispute of faith, Ministers preach of faith, Professours talk of faith,M. Ward. prophane men swear by faith, but few men live by faith
None can live, nor rightly understand this life but the Saints of God, a Promise from God is sufficient for faith to rest upon against all improbabilities whatsoever.
Many reasons might be given why we should rather live upon Gods Word then any thing else.
The first reason may be taken from Gods Alsufficiency.
Consider 3. Attributes in God.
1. His Almighty power, he can as easily perform as promise. God urged this to his people when they were weak at any time, Numb. 11. Is the Lords hand shortened? Gen. 18. Is any thing too hard for the Lord?
2. The goodnesse and love of God, his promises are given to his people as fruits of his love, Jer. 31. 3.
3. His truth, faithfulnesse and unchangeablenesse, Mal. 3. 6.
The second reason may be drawn from the interest which Christ hath in him that makes the promise, and in him to whom the promise is made.
1. All the Promises are yea and Amen in Christ, Consider,
1. Christs interest in his Father who makes the Promise, his Father makes them all for the Sons sake, all the Promises are called the sure mercies of David, Isa. 55. He being a type of Christ.
2. Christ hath bought all the Promises of the Father with his own hearts bloud.
2. The interest Christ hath in his people,Ephes. 5. So is Christ, that is, the Church. he is one with them, and they one with him.
A third reason may be taken from the nature of faith, the proper object of it is a Promise from God, Heb. 11. 1. Faith sees things clearly, infallibly, strongly.
Motives to living by faith.
First, The necessity of it.
1. Take away this and you take away the only principle which distinguisheth the life of a man as a Christian from the life of other men.
2. The only cause of all heart-breaking and uncomfortable sorrows which Gods people meet with in any condition is the want of this, Psal. 42.
3. The want of this is one great cause, if not the only cause of the unevennesse found in the conversation of Gods people. Rebecca and Jacob had a direct Promise that Jacob should have the blessing, yet because Esau was great with his father they used unjust means.
4. Without this we can expect no benefit from the Promises (though they be precious) unlesse we rest our selves upon them, Isa. 26. 3.
Secondly, It is a very becoming, amiable, fitting thing that we should rather live upon a word of God, then any other help whatsoever. No creature on earth ever attains to a self sufficiency, one must have something for his support, therefore it is better to take a Promise from God, then to depend upon the deceitfulnesse of creature-comforts.
Thirdly, The wonderfull gain which comes by it.
1. The soul which hath but once learnt to make the Word of God a sufficient stay to it self, such a one will live the easiest life that any man in the world lives. It is not easily learnt (for much grace is required to it) but when thou hast once got it, it is comfortable. Such a one lives as a childe when he is in his fathers house, he is never troubled with care for meat, drink, or cloathes: the soul is at quiet when it hath learn'd to center it self upon the word.
2. It is the greatest ingagement (as I may say) to God to help them, we cannot put a greater obligation upon him, then by trusting in him, God will never fail such as trust in him, Isa. 26. 3. Psal. 91. 9, 14.
Means to attain this life of faith.
How may a soul learn to pick a living out of the word, to live by faith.
The life of faith is to fetch the counsell, the portion and comfort of his life out of the word.
Ten directions how the soul may attain to live this life of faith.
First, Nothing but a sound, true, living faith is a principle of this life, all the Schoolmasters in the world cannot teach any creature to live by reason, till it hath a reasonable soul. Labour to understand the true nature of faith, and get it wrought in thy soul, the just man will live by his faith.
Secondly, Every degree of saving faith will not serve a man to live comfortably and free from distempers, one must have a sound faith, and a pleropho…y, and a great deal of faith for that end, the least degree of saving faith will serve for justification, sanctification, adoption, salvation, but not for consolation: Every blast of temptation overthrew the Disciples while they were weak beleevers, they questioned the truth of all, Christ therefore rebukes them for it, and saith, Why are your hearts troubled? Paul when he could say, I know whom I have beleeved, though after he was told he should be whipt, he said, none of these things troubled him.
Thirdly, He gets acquaintance with some things in the covenant of grace which may take off those objections that usually trouble beleevers, which are four, and these doe hinder Gods people from living by faith.
1. They finde corruption in their hearts, this should no way hinder their comfort, if they hate it and strive against it.
2. Temptations trouble them, whereas Gods own people are liable to temptations of all sorts.
3. Afflictions, God breeds them up which are in covenant with him under divers and great afflictions.
4. Desertions, They finde not the working of Gods Spirit, nor the assurance of his favour, God many times leaves his best children to great and sad desertions.
Fourthly, Thou must get sound acquaintance with the Promises of the Gospel, else thou wilt be to seek in time of trouble. Some generall Promises concern all estates we can be in, all things shall work for good to them that fear God, and no good thing shall be wanting to such. 2. There are excellent promises in the Scripture for any condition imaginable.
Fiftly, As the exigents or occasions require, whether to bear afflictions or go through temptations, act thy faith upon that Promise which sutes thy present need.
A good man having all taken from him, and his wife desiring to know how he and his family would live, he said he would now put his bond in suit. Think on Gods power, truth, love, and Christs interest in the Promises to incourage thy soul.
Sixtly, As a Promise from God must be measured by faith, so only by faith, not by carnall sense or reason, doe as Abrahaem did, he never told his wife Sarah when he was to go cut his childes throat and offer him a sacrifice to God.
Seventhly, Faith must be helped with a use of all other means which God hath appointed to attain the blessing, 2 Sam. 7. later end. Psal. 5. 3. Psal. 119. Deal well with thy servant according to thy word. Faith made Noah to build him an Ark, work belongs to us, successe to God.
Eightly, Resolve to wait the Lords leasure in all thy beleeving, limit him not to the time or manner of delivering thee, resolve God shall do it in his own time, if thou hast an able good paymaster thou wilt be willing he should pay thee how and when he will. He that beleeves will not make haste.
Ninthly, Get thy will so far subdued to Gods will, that his will may be thine, as near as it is possible for poor sinners to attain it: learn to say Gods will is the best will, Rom. 12. 3. 4.
Tenthly, Study the life of holines, let David be an example to thee, he had great communion with God, and knew how to improve a Promise. Some think one ought to beleeve whatever corruptions he gives way to, they say men are duty-mongers, merit-mongers. Others of Gods people are too much dejected with the remainders of their own corruption.