Sermons Volume 4, Sermons on Thessalonians · Sermon 4
SERMON IV. ON 2 THESS. I. v. 3.
— Your Faith groweth exceedingly.
THe Fourth Essential Property of Faith, is, its Respect to the Word of God. That I may explain this with more full satisfaction, I shall open Four things.
1. The Relation of the Word to Faith.
2. The Acts of Faith about the Word.
3. The Effects of Faith thus exercised.
4. The Notes whereby we may discern a strong or grown Faith.
(1.) The Relation of the Word to Faith.
1. 'Tis a Means to beget and breed Faith, Rom. 10.14, 15. How shall they call on him on whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a Preacher? and how shall they preach except they be sent: Every part of the gradation hath its weight: First, What I am bound to Adore and Invocate, I must believe in him as a Divine Power. For the Second, How shall Men believe in Christ as a God, unless they have heard of him? Faith is a believing such things as God hath revealed, because he hath revealed them; therefore the Divine Revelation must be conveyed to them by some means or other. The Third, There is no Hearing without a Preacher; some Messenger or Interpreter that may bring Tydings of Pardon and Life by Christ. Then for the Fourth Branch, How shall they Preach except they be sent? that is, come with Authority, Evidence and Power, whereby it may be known that he is a Messenger authorized and sent by God, that the things propounded may be received as a certain Truth of God's own Revelation, that we may depend upon the Credit of his Word, and that with such a lively and effectual Belief as may prevail with us to Assent unto it, and embrace it, notwithstanding all Difficulties and Objections to the contrary: Now such is the Doctrine of Salvation by Christ, which Inviteth us to call upon his Name, or Name our selves by the Name of Christ, because we may Believe in him, and run all Hazards for him, 2 Tim. 1.12. Why? Because we have heard of him; the Fame of his Doctrine, so suitable to the Glory of God and the Necessities of Mankind; and the Fame of his Miracles, especially his Death and Resurrection, and that by Authentick Preachers, or Faithful Men authorized by God, and sufficiently owned by him, as those that are Commissioned to Instruct the World, and to Teach them the way of Salvation: So that the Word is the great Means to work Faith.
2. 'Tis the Warrant of Faith; which stateth the Laws of Commerce between us and God, which sheweth how far God hath Obliged himself, and we may depend upon him, as appeareth by the Words of Christ, Ioh. 17.20. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also that shall believe in me through their word: The Principal Object of Faith is Christ, we believe in him, and the Warrant of Faith is the Word, that is, the Doctrine which by the Apostles is consigned to the use of the Church: For these and no other Christ Prayeth, and according to this way or Law of Grace, God offereth himself to be reconciled to his Creatures. So that here you may hold him to his Covenant, the Word is gone out of his Lips, and without this you make Promises to your selves which God will not stand unto.
3. 'Tis the Object of Faith, or the thing which we do believe, Acts 24.14. I believe all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets; and add to that, in the Writings of the Apostles; to make the Object of the Christian Faith compleat, take in also what is written in the Apostles, for We are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Iesus Christ himself being the chief Cornerstone, Eph. 2.20. That is, the Doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief summe and scope of it, who is to be accepted of, as he is revealed and offered in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, betwixt which there is a sweet Harmony and Agreement. But because this is too bulky and large for us to manage at one time, let us consider the summe of the Scriptures, in the Method wherein God hath put it, and that is the Covenant of Grace ratified by the Blood of Christ, which is the most glorious Discovery whereby God hath made known himself to his Creatures, Psal. 138.2. I will praise thy Name for thy loving kindness and thy truth, for thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy Name: There we see that God's Word is the chiefest Discovery that he hath made of himself to the Creature, for 'tis magnified above all his Name; that is, it doth set forth God above all that is named, famed, spoken, or believed, or known, or understood of God. And what is the Matter of his Word? his loving Kindness and his Truth; that is, in the Word there are contained Admirable Promises, which God will certainly perform to the utmost Importance of them: There we see his Mercy and loving Kindness in making such great Promises. The Promises of the New Covenant are beyond all Expression great and precious, 2 Pet. 1.4. they contain as much as the Heart of Man can desire; all Spiritual and eternal Riches, Pardon of Sin, taking away the Stony Heart, Eternal Life, these are offered to Men to Believe: And then his Truth and Fidelity in performing these Promises, most punctually to all those that do Believe, and will accept the Pardon, Grace and Blessedness offered, and behave themselves accordingly. Well then, God's Mercies in Christ to them that Repent, Believe, and Obey God, are the Matter and Object of our Faith.
4. The Word is the Security and Strength of our Faith. 1. As it puts God's Grace into the way of a Promise. 2. As this Promise is the Promise of God.
First, We have much Advantage in Believing, by the Formality of a Promise. A Promise is more than a Purpose, more than a Doctrinal Declaration, more than a Prediction or Prophecy.
1. More than a Purpose. A Purpose is only the Thought of the Heart, a thing secret and hidden, but a Promise is open and manifest: A Purpose is the Intention of a Person, a Promise is his Intention revealed, whereby we have a Knowledge of the good intended to us. If God had only purposed to give us Eternal Life, we might at last have enjoyed it, but we could not have known it before hand: It would have been as an hidden Treasure. Promises are the Eruptions and Over-flows of God's Love to us; his Heart is so big with Kindness and Designs of Goodness, that it cannot stay 'till the accomplishment of things, Isa. 42.9. Before they spring forth, I tell you of them: God's Purposes are a Sealed Fountain, but his Promises are a Fountain broken open, bubling forth. He might have done us good, and given us no Notice, but Love concealed would not be so much for our Comfort: Besides, they are Obligations which God taketh upon himself, Promittendi se fecit debitorem: So far as God hath Promised, so far he hath made himself a Debtor. God's Purposes are unchangeable, but his Promises are a Security put into our Hands, so that we have a greater Hold fast upon God now the Word is gone out of his Lips, Psal. 89.34. We may put the Bond in suit, throw him in his Hand-writing, Psal. 119.49. Remember thy word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope: We have the Pawn of the thing Promised, which we must hold fast 'till Performance cometh: His Truth and Holiness lye at stake, and are as it were impawned with the Creature.
2. 'Tis more than a Doctrinal Declaration: 'Tis one thing to reveal a thing, another to Promise it. A Doctrine maketh a thing known, but a Promise maketh a thing sure: A Doctrine giveth us Notice, but a Promise giveth us Right and Interest, if we be qualified. Christ hath brought Life and Immortality to light through the Doctrine of the Gospel, 2 Tim. 1.10. But he hath not only manifested, but granted, assured it to Believers by the Promises of the Gospel, 1 Ioh. 2.25. 'Tis so conveyed to us, as that we may be sure of Obtaining it.
3. 'Tis more than a Prophecy or simple Prediction: Scripture Prophecies will be fulfilled, because of God's Veracity; but Scripture Promises will be fulfilled, not only because of God's Veracity, but also because of his Fidelity and Justice: As by our Promise another Man cometh to have a right to the thing promised, therefore it is just it should be given unto him; so 'tis in God, 'twas his Mercy and Goodness to make the Promise, but his Holiness and Justice bindeth him to make it good, 1 Ioh. 1.9. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins: And as for Pardon, so for Life, 2 Tim. 4.8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness, which the righteous Iudge shall give me on that day: It becometh a Debt of Grace. This may be illustrated by what Divines say of an Assertory Lye, and a Promissory Lye: An assertory Lye is when we speak of a thing past or present otherwise than it is, and a promissory Lye is when we speak of a thing for the time to come, which we never intend to perform; and this is the worst sort of Lyes, because it doth not only pervert the end of Speech, which is Truth, but also defeateth another of that Right which we seem to give him by our Promise in the thing promised, which is a farther degree of Injustice: Now we should apprehend God to be very far from this, Titus 1.2. In hope of Eternal Life, which God that cannot lye, promised before the World began: And Heb. 6.18. That by two immutable things, in which 'twas impossible for God to lye, we might have a strong Consolation.
Secondly, 'Tis the Promise of God: In every Promise, that it be certain and firm, three things are required. 1. That it be made seriously and heartily, with a purpose to perform it. 2. That he that promiseth continue in his Purpose without change of Mind. 3. That it be in the Power of him that promiseth to perform what he hath so promised. Now in the Promise of God there can be no doubt of any of these things: Certainly God meaneth as he speaketh, when he promiseth Eternal Life to the Faithful Servants and Disciples of Jesus Christ; for what need had he to court his Creatures into a false and imaginary Happiness, which he never meant to bestow upon them? to send his Son with a Commission from Heaven, to assure them of it, who also wrought Miracles to confirm the Message that he brought from God, dyed upon this Truth, and rose again, and entred into the Happiness that he spoke of, to give us Assurance, and a visible demonstration of the Truth of it; sent abroad his Apostles to invite the World to embrace it, his Holy Spirit accompanying them, and sealing their Message also with divers Signs and Wonders? And surely he doth continue in the same mind, for there is no repeal of this Law of Grace; and He is able to perform it, for what difficulty is there which Omnipotency cannot subdue and overcome. Surely what God hath promised he is fully able to perform.
(2.) The Acts of Faith about the Word.
1. We are to Believe and Credit it upon solid and sufficient Evidence: 'tis said Heb. 11.11. They saw these things afar off, and were perswaded of them: And Acts 13.48. When the Gentiles heard this, they glorified the Word of God and believed: that is, Blessed God for his glorious Mercy revealed in the Gospel; the sound Belief and firm Assent leadeth on other things, for the most powerful Truths work not 'till they are believed, 1 Thes. 2.13. Ye received the Word not as the Word of Man, but (as it is in truth) the Word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe: Here beginneth the Efficacy: Now usually we receive the Truth at first upon low and insufficient Evidence, but afterwards our Assent is upon better grounds, and more valid and strong; as the Samaritans, Joh. 4.42. Now we believe, not because of thy saying, for we have heard him our selves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the World: Her saying was much, for the Woman had testified that she had met with an Holy Person, that had told her of all that ever she did. So Nathaniel was drawn to Christ by Philip's perswasion, but when he perceived that he knew the Heart and secret things, Ioh. 1.48, 49. He saith unto him, whence knowest thou me? Iesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the Figg-tree, I saw thee: Nathaniel answered, and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel: Christ then promiseth him farther Assurance, and greater Evidence, which should beget a more confirmed and strong Faith, Verse the 50th. Iesus answered, and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the Figg-tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. The Church is in possession of a Religion which God hath Blessed throughout successions of Ages, and we received the Doctrine of the Gospel and New Covenant upon report and hearsay, hereafter we see farther and better grounds, and the Scriptures are owned with more certainty of Evidence. Well then, here is the first thing, Assent, or a receiving all Truths about Supernatural things, upon the Credit of God's Word.
2. The Work of Faith is to apply these things: For the closer such Blessed Truths are laid to our own Souls, the more we feel the vertue of them: Iob 5.27. Lo! this it is, know thou it for thy good. Rom. 8.31. VVhat shall we then say to these things? The Promise includeth you as well as others, and promiseth, and offereth you Pardon and Life, if you will believe in Christ: Therefore the Application I press you to, is not a Claim of Priviledges, (stay a while there) but an exciting your selves to perform the Duties of the Gospel, that you may turn away from all other ways of Felicity, and choose this alone. Faith must be Applicative, and the closer the Application, the better: But there is a difference between the Application which is an Excitement of your Duty, and that Application which is an assurance of your Interest: Acts 13.20. To you is this word of Salvation sent. 'Tis my Duty to make general Grace particular, but not presently, and at first dash to enter my Plea and Claim, but to oblige me to take God's Way: God calleth upon me to Repent and Believe in Christ, that I may have Pardon and Life.
(3.) We are heartily to Consent to this Blessed Covenant, which is contained in the Word of God; taking the Promises offered for our Happiness, resolving upon the Duties required as our Work: Acts 2.41. They received the word gladly, and were baptized: There was a Precept, and a Promise, Verse 38. they accepted the Counsel, and waited for the Promise: Our Respect to the Word is made up of a mixture of Obedience, and Dependance; there must be a Consent to both, and we must resolve for the Holy and Heavenly Life. Faith is an Act of the Will, as well as of the Understanding: Heb. 11.13. These all dyed in Faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were perswaded of them, and embraced them. Besides being perswaded, there is embracing: The promises of God in him are Yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God, by us: 2 Cor. 1.20. And they are exceeding great and precious Promises, 2 Pet. 1.4. In one place you have both; 1 Tim. 1.15. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Iesus came into the World to save Sinners: Therefore embrace them you must with all your Hearts, and submit to this way of Covenanting with God.
(4.) Your Judgments must highly esteem these Promises, and your Hearts find full Contentment and Satisfaction in them. We read often of receiving the Word with Joy, and the confidence and rejoycing of Hope: Heb. 3.6. Usually the Word of God hath too cold and slight Entertainment in our Affections, and we do not value those precious Promises as we ought to do; they should be dearer to us than our Lives, and give us more Satisfaction than all the Enjoyments of the World: Psal. 119.111. I have taken thy Testimonies as an heritage for ever, they are the rejoycing of my Soul; they do you good to your very Heart, and the more you are acquainted with them, the more you will see the worth of them: Luke 6.23. Rejoyce and leap for joy, for great is your reward in Heaven: And of the Eunuch, when he had sealed Covenant with God, Acts 8.39. It is said, he went his way rejoycing. Faith cannot do its Office, that it begets an Holy Gratitude to God, to draw us off from the Allurements of Sense, and fortifie us against Adversities and Troubles, and engage us to the Duties of Christianity, which are distrustful to Flesh and Blood, unless it did fill our Hearts with an higher and better Joy than the World yieldeth. Surely 'tis Comfortable to be pardoned, and reconciled to God, to be in the Way, and under the Hopes of Eternal Life.
Thirdly, The Effects which these Acts produce: These may be stated by the several Uses for which the Word of God serveth. 1. Tis the Seed of a New Life. 2. The Constant Rule of all our Actions. 3. The sure Charter of our Hopes. 4. Our Strength and Preservation against all Temptations from the Devil, the World, and the Flesh. 5. Our Comfort and Cordial in all Afflictions.
(1.) 'Tis the Seed of a New Life: 1 Pet. 1.23. Being born again, not of Corruptible seed, but of Incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever: And Iames 1.18. Of his own will begat he us, with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his Creatures: And also 2 Pet. 1.4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises, that by these you might be partakers of the Divine Nature. When we so believe the Pardon, and Grace, and Blessedness offered, that our Hearts are changed into the Life and Likeness of God; for the Truth is not rightly owned and believed, till this Change be wrought both in Heart and Life, then we are cast into the Mould of this Doctrine, Rom. 6.17. Ye have obeyed from the heart that form of Doctrine that was delivered to you. Gospel Truths serve not for Speculation, or meer Talk and Discourse, but for Sanctification; and therefore if this Seed be sown and engrafted in your Hearts, and you begin to live to God, an Holy and Heavenly Life, you have the surest Evidence of your Faith, for Causes are made sensible to us by their Effects. 'Tis usually brought as a proof of the Word, the Sanctifying Vertue of it; so 'tis of the Sincerity of your Faith, for the Word profiteth not, unless it be mingled with Faith, and since both Faith and the Word concurr to this Effect, it may be ascribed to either: Surely therefore if we believe the Word of God, and value it as we ought, it doth leave the Impression of God's Image upon us, for it is the fairest Draught and Representation of God, that ever was in the Law and Life of Christ, 2 Cor. 3.18. If our Souls and Lives be a Transcript of the Word, this Image is thence deduced to us by the Spirit, and of necessity it must be so, for Christs comforting Promises of Mercy and Glory are made to these New Creatures, who live the Holy and Heavenly Life: They have God's mark and Signature upon them, and therefore are said to be sealed to the day of Redemption, Eph. 2.30. and Eph. 1.3. This Renovation of the Soul is the Seal of God, the Pledge of his Love, and the Earnest of the heavenly Inheritance.
(2.) The Constant Rule of all our Actions: There is a fixed determined Rule from whence we cannot swerve and vary, without Sin, and if we would have Communion with God here, or enjoy him hereafter. We must keep close to this Rule, Gal. 6.16. As many as walk according to this Rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. This Rule, that is the Word of God, which directeth us as to our General Path and Way, and all our steps, or particular Actions: Psal. 119.105. Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my paths. We must hide the Word in our Hearts, Psal. 119.110. Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. We must consult with it upon all occasions, as willing to understand our Duty, Psal. 119.24. Thy Testiminies also are my delight, and my Counsellors: And because we may mistake thrô Error of Mind, or be tempted aside thro' aversion of Heart, and manifold Temptations: Therefore we must earnestly beg it of God: Psal. 119.133. Order my steps in thy VVord, and let not any Iniquity have dominion over me. And we must use all study our selves, Rom. 12.2. and constant watchfulness▪ Eph. 5.15. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. Now that which I say is this, When the Word ruleth the main Course of our Lives, and teacheth us how to live in the World, soberly, righteously, and godly; the tenderness of the Word, and high respect to it, that we dare not transgress it, whatever Temptations we have so to do, sheweth that Faith hath obtained its effect in us: For trembling at the Word, fearing of a Commandment, and whatever of that kind is spoken of in the Scripture, they are all Fruits of Faith.
(3.) 'Tis the Charter of our Hopes: Iohn 20.31. These things are written, that ye might have life through his Name. 1 Iohn 5.11. This is the Record that God hath given unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Now the Work of Faith is to lay hold upon eternal life; 1 Tim. 6.12. that is, seize upon it as ours, as assured to us by the Word of God; or to take it as our Happiness, and accordingly pursue after it, Eph. 1.13. In whom ye trusted after ye heard the word of Truth; the Gospel of your Salvation. Now when we choose this Felicity for our Portion, set our Hearts upon it, make it the chief Care and Business of our Lives to seek it, and do all as Means thereunto; carry our selves as Strangers and Pilgrims in the World, and look for no great Matters here, but wholly depend upon God's faithful Word for this Happiness to come, then is Faith wrought in us.
(4.) 'Tis our Strength and Preservative against all Temptations from the Devil, the World, and the Flesh: The Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit; Eph. 6.17. A Weapon of excellent use in the Spiritual Warfare: And 'tis said, 1 Ioh. 2.14. Ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. This helpeth us to ward off the blo… of any Temptation, When the Heart is well stocked and furnished with this Word of God, you have something to oppose still to Darken the Splendo… of the World, to check the Desires of the F…esh, and so do the better carry on a continual Warfare and Watchfulness. And so the Fleshly Inclination is overruled, and the Profits, Honours, and Pleasures of the World have less force upon us. VVhen the Devil sheweth the Bait, and the Flesh is ready to swallow it. Faith sheweth the Hook: A Belief of the VVord of God being of a lively and vigorous Nature, produceth Noble effects in us: It casteth down all that rebell…th against God, and casteth out all that would be preferred before him. Psal. 37.31. The Law of his God is in his heart, none of his steps shall slide: A lively active Sense of his Duty is kept fresh upon his heart.
(5.) To be our Comfort and Cordial in our Afflictions: Psal. 119.59. This is my Comfort in my Affliction, thy VVord hath quickened me: Verse 92. Vnless thy Law had been my delight, I should then have perished in my Affliction. Heb. 12.5. Ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto Children, My Son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him. So Psal. 94.19. In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy Comforts delight my Soul. God's Comforts are such as God alloweth, or God worketh: The Matter of both is in the Scriptures, though the Spirit be the Author of them, and the Instrument he worketh by is Faith: In Wants and Streights how sweet is it to a Believer, to consider how amply we are provided for in the Covenant. When Gods Hand is heavy upon us, and Providence represents him as an angry Judge, yet the Covenant represents him as a Father. In a time of Tryal, one promise of God will give you more true Comfort and Support than all the arguings of men.
Fourthly, The Notes whereby we discern a strong and grown Faith, as to this Property of it, its respect to the Word.
(1.) When the Consolations laid down in the Word of God are more prized than any extraordinary Dispensations. Certainly 'tis a weakness, when Men undervalue the Comfo…ts of the Word, as slender, empty, unsatisfactory, and would have the Manifestations of God's Love exhibited to them in some singular and extraordinary way. Eliphaz chargeth it on Iob wrongfully, Iob 15.11. Are the Consolations of God small with thee? is there any secret thing with thee? God's ordinary way is the sure way, the other layeth us open to a Snare: Surely our Consciences are best settled in the ordinary way of God's Word, in a way of Faith, Repentance, and close walking with God; but as Naaman despised the Waters of Iordan, so many despise the ordinary Comforts, and would have Signs and Wonders to assure them: These may long sit in darkness, because if God comforts them not in their way, they will not be comforted at all. Now though God sometimes in Condescention to his People, may grant their desires, as Christ did to Thomas, yet 'tis with an upbraiding of their Weakness and Unbelief, Ioh. 20.28. You should acquiesce in the common allowance of God's People, least you seem to reflect on the Wisdom and Goodness of God, and lay open your selves to some false Consolation, and dream of Comfort, while we affect new Rules without the Compass of the Word; especially when we find not our expectations there speedily answered, like hasty Patients ready to tamper with every Medicine, they hear of, rather than submit to a regular Course of Physick. Gregory telleth us of a Lady of the Emperors Court, that never ceased importuning him to seek from God a Revelation from Heaven, that they should be saved; Rem difficilem petivit & inutilem: 'Twas a thing difficult, and unprofitable; difficult for him to obtain, and unprofitable for her to ask, having a surer way by the Scriptures, 2 Pet. 1.19. foreign, We have a more sure word of Prophecy, than Oracles: The adhering of the Soul to the Promises, is the unquestionable way to obtain peace. Luther, as he confesseth, was often tempted to ask for Signs, or some Special Revelation: He tells also how strongly he withstood these Temptations; Pactum feci cum Domino meo, ne mihi mittat Visiones, vel etiam Angelos, contentus enim sum hoc dono, quod habeo Scripturam Sanctam quae abunde docet & suppeditat omnia quae necessaria sunt, tam ad hanc vitam, tam ad …uturam: I indented with the Lord my God, that he would never send me Dreams and Visions, I am well contented with the Gift of the Scriptures.
(2.) When the Word is matter of Joy, and firm Confidence to us, before there is any appearance of performance. This in two Cases: 1. In Case of Delay, when 'tis long e're God appeareth, and Faith doth not require the Existence and Pre-essence of the thing believed, only the Promise of it: Therefore though the Promise be delayed, it eyeth the Blessing at a distance, Heb. 11.13. These all dyed in Faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, were perswaded of them, and embraced them. Abraham was one of them, Ioh. 8.56. Your Father Abraham rejoyced to see my day, and he saw it, and was glad: And we, if we would be strong Believers, must do likewise, Heb. 6.12. Be not slothful, but followers of them, who through Faith and Patience inherit the promises. A Christian is not to be valued by his Enjoyments, but his Hopes: Heaven is all performance. Here he dealeth with us by Promises, but you will find his payment sure, and that God in effect is better than all his Promises, for they cannot signifie and convey the full Sense of all that God meaneth to bestow: Therefore we must wait, whether the Promise be to be fulfilled in this Life, or the Life to come; let us dig the Pit, and tarry till God fill it with Rain from Heaven. 2. In case of Difficulties, Wants, Distresses, the naked Promise must be ground of Hope and Comsort to you, though it seem to be contradicted in the Course of God's Providence, when it is neither performed, nor likely to be performed, you are to go by his Word, whatever his Dispensation be: Rom. 4.18. Abraham against hope believed in hope: And David saith, Psal. 56.4. In God will I praise his Word, in God I have put my trust, I will not fear what man can do unto me: So Verse 10. In God will I praise his Word, in the Lord will I praise his Word. The best holdfast Faith can have on God, is to take him by his Word; though he withholdeth Comfort and Deliverance from us, yet we may praise him as long as we have his Word: His Dispensation giveth no Satisfaction, yet the Soul can find Rest and Contentment in his Word. Well then, if the Word be an impregnable Bulwark against all Fears and Dangers, and Comfort against all Wants and Distresses, your Faith is grown, for the more simply our dependance is upon the Word of God, without sensible Encouragements,, the stronger is our Faith.
(3.) When all the Trust we have in God concerning the Comforts we expect by the way, is still referred to the great Blessing of Eternal Life. We are to trust God by the way for our Protection and Defence, as well as for the Reward at the end of the Journey; by swimming in the shallow Brooks we learn to venture in the great Ocean, but still in subordination to the main Blessing. This is the great Comfort, Luke 12.32. Fear not, little flock, it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. And our Faith in the Word tendeth to this, Rom. 15.4. Whatsoever things were written afore time, were written for our Learning, that we thrô patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope. Therefore strength of Faith is hereby determined.
(4.) Because the Word is not only our Charter, but our Rule: The strength of Faith is known by this. If we value the Word of God as it maketh us wise unto Salvation, therefore we delight in the plain Word, without the Ornaments of wit, as painting in Glass Windows hindereth the Light. Every thing communicateth to it's own Nature, Heat causeth heat, Cold causeth cold. Ministers speak as the Oracles of God, and so the People receive.