Sermons Volume 4, Sermons on Thessalonians · Sermon 3
SERMON III. ON 2 THESS. I. v. 3.
— Your Faith groweth exceedingly, and the Charity of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth.
THE Growth and Encrease of Faith may be Judged of, 1. By the Nature of Faith: 2. The Properties of it: 3. The Examples and Instances of great Faith in Scripture.
We are now upon the Second Thing, the Properties.
(1.) A Dependance upon God for something that lyeth out of Sight. That this is an Essential Property of Faith, appeareth by the Description of it, Heb. 11.1. —The Evidence of things not seen; that is, not seen by Sense and Reason. Some things are invisible, by reason of their Nature, as God; for no man hath seen God at any time: Joh. 1.18. And therefore he is called the Invisible God: Col. 1.15. And some things by reason of their Distance, because they are Absent and Future, as the Glory of the World to come, and therefore 'tis an Object of Faith and Hope, Rom. 8.24. For hope that is seen, is not hope; for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for it? Vision and Possession exclude Hope, and leave no room and place for it: Now without Faith a Man can have no sight of these things, 2 Pet. 1.9. He that lacketh these things, is blind, and cannot see afar off. There is a mist upon Eternity, and we cannot look beyond the Clouds of this lower World, unless we have the Eagle-eye of Faith; but by Faith we can see them, so as to frame our Lives accordingly: 2 Cor. 5.7. For we walk by Faith, and not by Sight. By Sense we see what is pleasing or displeasing to the Flesh, but by Faith what conduceth to the saving or losing of the Soul: Faith being very much like Sight, and serving us for the Government of the Soul, as Sight doth for the Body; it may much be explained by it. Now to Bodily Sight, there must be an Object, a Medium to make the Object conspicuous, and a Faculty, or Organ. 1. The Great Object of Faith is Eternal Life, as procured by Christ, and promised in the Gospel. There is no use of Sight, where nothing is to be seen; therefore the Object is set before us in the view of Faith, in the Promises of the Gospel. Heb. 6.18. and Heb. 12.2. God's Truth is as certain as Sight it self can be in it, we see all things promised as sure and near. 2. The Medium: As we see Colours in the Light of the Air, so these Spiritual and heavenly things in the Light of the Spirit: 1 Cor. 2.11, 12. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the Spirit of a man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the Spirit of the World, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given us of God. 3. The Eye, or Visive Power: A Blind Man cannot see at Noon-day, nor the sharpest Sight at Midnight: Now this Eye is Faith, which is the Evidence of things not seen: we are are as sure of them, as if we saw them with our Eyes, or as we are of those things which we now see with our Eyes. The Sight of Faith may be considered, either (1.) As to its Certainty and Clearness. (2.) As to its Power and Efficacy.
First, As to its Certainty and Clearness. We do so see God, Heaven, Christ, that we are affected in some measure, as if we saw them with our Bodily Eyes. God; whilst we walk before him, Acts 2.25. I foresaw the Lord always before my Face. Christ; Gal. 3.1. Before whose eyes Iesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you. Christ was set forth before their Eyes, as if they had seen him hanging and dying upon the Cross. Heaven; They have it in their Eye, and are affected in some measure, as if they were in the midst of the Glory of the World to come: I say, only in some measure; for compare the Light of Faith, and the Light of Glory, and there is a difference in the degree. The Light of Glory nullifieth Sin, the Light of Faith only mortifyeth it; but yet really it maketh us do those things which we would do if we saw the Glory of Heaven; shun those things which are to be avoided, as if we saw the Flames of Hell. There is a Certainty and Firm Belief, which hath a great Influence upon us, so compare it with the Light of Sense. Those things which we are to see and feel, move the more passionately, for while the Soul dwelleth in Flesh, and looketh out by the Senses, the Objects of Sense are more apt to move the Passions, but yet Faith doth effectually move us, thô not so passionately.
Secondly, As to Efficacy and Prevalency, this Sight prevails over those things which we see and feel: A Christian hath Senses as well as others, and knoweth that he dwelleth in a World full of sensible Objects, which are pleasing to that Flesh which he still carrieth about with him; but God hath opened the Eyes of his Mind, by which he seeth better, and more Glorious things, which take up his Heart and Mind, Life and Love, Care and Time, and so is weaned from Sense-pleasing Vanities, and can deny them, and trample upon them, for the Enjoyment of these better Things; and neither Life, nor any thing comfortable to Life, is counted so dear, as that for their sake, he should hazard the Favour of God, his Redeemers Blessing, and the Happiness of the World to come; if Sight and Sense invite and entice him to Sin, and forsake his God and Christ, the Objects of Faith prevail against the Musements of Sense, and sway his Choice, and encline his Heart, and govern his Resolutions in the whole Course of his Life. He looketh not to things as they seem for the present, or Relief to the Flesh, or as they appear to short-sighted men, who are governed by Sense, but as they will appear at last, and will prove to all Eternity, and so can leave things which he seeth and feeleth, for things which he never saw, but expecteth shortly to enjoy.
Well then, This is the Essential Property of Faith, to look to things not seen by Sense, but revealed by God in his Word, and this Property sheweth its self in all the Acts of Faith, Elicite, and Imperate. Elicite Acts are those which are proper to this Grace, Imperate are such as belong to other Graces, but Faith hath an Influence upon them, by Vertue of which they are produced: We may more plainly call them Acts and Effects.
1. As the Acts of Faith; which are Assent, Consent, Trust, or Dependance. 1. For Assent to such Truths as God hath revealed in his Word. When we have sufficient Evidence of this Revelation, the less sensible Helps we need to underprop our Assent, the stronger is our Faith. Let me Instance in the great Article of the Christian Faith, Christs Person and Office: I shall produce that place of the Apostle, 1 Pet. 1.8. Whom having not seen ye love, in whom though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable, and full of Glory. Tho' they had never seen Christ in the Flesh, and he was now absent from them in regard of his Bodily Presence, being withdrawn into the Heavenly Sacrary, yet this did not hinder their Faith, they loved him, and rejoyced in him, as if they had seen him, and conversed with him Bodily. It was an advantage certainly to have seen Christ in the Flesh, and to Converse with him Personally here upon Earth, to see his Miracles, and hear his gracious words. But Faith can embrace him as offered in the Promise, tho' it never saw him in the Flesh, and the fewer sensible Helps Faith hath besides the Word, it is the more highly esteemed by Jesus Christ. The same appeareth by Christs words to Thomas, Joh. 20.29. Thomas, because thou hast seen, thou hast believed; but blessed are they that have not seen, yet have believed: Thomas must have the Object of Faith under the view of his Senses, which argued a great weakness, and Imbecility; Vnless I see in his hand the print of the Nails, and put my Finger into the print of the Nails, I will not believe. What if Christ would not give him that satisfaction, but other sufficient Evidence? This was his Infirmity, therefore Christ telleth us, they have the stronger, and more acceptable Faith, that do not give Laws to Heaven, or prescribe to God upon what Terms they will believe, but accept of the Assurance God offereth, without Satisfaction to Sense. 2. For Consent: When we come to enter into Covenant with God; God is Invisible who maketh the Promise, and Heaven, which is the great Promise that he hath promised us, is future, and yet to come, and lyeth in another World, and before we get thither, we must encounter many Difficulties, yea shoot the Gulf of Death; but the Believer can as really and heartily Transact with the Great God, and give the Hand to the Lord to become his, as he can with a Man that is present, and offereth a good Bargain upon easie Terms and Conditions; he hath so firm a Belief of the Life to come, that he taketh it for his Portion and Happiness: 2 Cor. 4.18. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; he looketh to things unseen, which he taketh for his Treasure and Happiness, and is resolved to be any thing, and do any thing which God will have him be and do, that he may obtain it. 3. Another Elicite Act of Faith is Trust and Dependance, which maintaineth us in a Course of patient and chearful Obedience to God, tho' our Happiness be yet to come; yea tho' for the present we are harras'd with great Troubles and Afflictions, and it may be see not the Signs, (i. e.) any sensible Tokens of God's Favour and Respect to us: Yet the Sight of an Invisible God, and Confidence of a future Reward, keepeth up Joy in the Soul, and no Violence of Temptation is able to break it, and remove us from the Truth: Rom. 8.24, 25. We are saved by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope, for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it: They are Confident, that in God's Time they shall have Salvation, and final Deliverance, tho' it be not to be seen any where, but in God's Promise by Jesus Christ. Well then, the fewer External Comforts we need, the stronger is our Faith; the more, the weaker; Weak Christians must be carryed in Arms, dandled on the Knees, fed with sensible Pledges, and ocular Demonstrations, or else they are ready to faint.
2. The Imperate Acts or Effects of Faith, they are produced by Vertue of this Property, Faith's prevailing over Sight and Sense: I shall name four.
(1.) To promote Holiness, and reduce us and reclaim us from the false Happiness. Surely none will accomplish the Work of Faith with Power, and so glorifie God and Christ in the World, that is, live in all holy Conversation and Godliness, but those that have that Faith which is the Evidence of things not seen; those that live always as in the sight of an Invisible God, are the thorow Christians: What greater Check can there be to Temptations to Sin, than to live always in the Sight of an Invisible God? Gen. 39.9. Or to Temptations to the World, than an Invisible Glory: Or to the Troubles and Molestations of the World: Rom. 8.18. For I reckon, that the sufferings of this present time, are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us: And 2 Cor. 4.17. Our light Affl…ction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding, and eternal weight of Glory. If Godliness expose us to Difficulties, Molestations and Troubles, Faith seeth the Final Rest, Glory and Happiness: If we are inclined to the Honours and Pleasures of the World, Faith seeth the most shining Glory will soon burn out, and end in a Snuff, Psal. 119.96. I have seen an end of all perfection, but thy Commandment is exceeding broad: And 1 Ioh. 2.17. The world passeth away, and the lust thereof, but he that doth the Will of God, abideth for ever. If Sense present the Bait of present Profit, Pleasure, or Honour, Faith seeth the Final Shame, Ignominy, and Loss, and so we are guarded on all sides, against Right-hand and Left-hand Temptations: This is a General, I shall speak of more particular Effects.
(2.) To keep the Heart tender, and in awe of God's Word. Surely 'tis a Blessed frame of Spirit, and very useful to us, to tremble at the Word of God, Isa. 66.2. To this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my Word: And to stand in awe of his Word, Psal. 119.161. My heart standeth in awe of thy Word. Now this can never be, unless we have that Faith which is the Evidence of things not seen; for many times the Word threatneth Evils which are not likely to come to pass, if we look to the visible face of things, and all that part of God's Discipline is lost, unless we can believe unseen things. See Heb. 11.7. By Faith Noah being warned of God, of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an Ark to the saving of his house, by which he condemned, the World, and became heir of the Righteousness, which is by Faith. The World was then in a Jolly Condition, and little dreamt of a Flood: The Earth flourished as much as ever, and there was Building, and Marrying, and Planting, but God had told him of an universal Destruction of all things by a Deluge; therefore he admonisheth the careless World, and provideth for his own, and Family's Safety. So we read of Iosiah, when he heard of the words of the Book of the Law, he rent his Cloaths, 2 Kings 22.11. We do not read of any actual Trouble that was then in the Land, or any Danger nigh. When an Age is very corrupt and ripe for Judgment, God giveth Warning: But alas! few take it, or lay it to Heart, for the World is led by Sense, and not by Faith, they are not affected with things till they feel them. Few can see a Storm, when the Clouds are in gathering, but securely build on the present Ease and Peace, tho' God be angry: But in the Eye of Faith a sinful Estate is always dangerous; therefore they fall a Praying, and humbling themselves, and cry to God mightily, and use all means of Safety, while a Judgment is but yet in its Causes.
(3.) To support us against the greatest Dangers and Terrors: Heb. 11.27. By Faith Moses forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the King, for he endured, as seeing him that is invisible. To depend upon God's Aid and Succour, in a time of great Extremity and Danger, needeth a strong Faith: as to appearance he was ready to be swallowed up, being pursued by a wrathful and Puissant King. The Sea was before him, the Egyptians behind him, and the Craggy and unaccessible Mountains on each side, but the Terrors of Sense may be easily vanquished by those Invisible Succours which Faith relyeth upon: An Invisible God can bear us out against Visible Dangers.
(4.) To teach us how to carry an equal Mind in Prosperity and Adversity; in Prosperity, when we are born up by the Chin, we have but too much Confidence, and when we are lessened, and but short in the World, we are full of Diffidence and distrustful Fears: Psal. 30.6. In my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. When a Child of God hath gotten a Carnal Pillow under his Head, he lyeth down, and sleepeth sweetly, dreaming many a pleasant Dream of uninterrupted Felicity in the World, but if God taketh away his Pillow from under his Head, then he is as diffident as formerly confident, then — God will be favourable no more. God is the same, his Promises the same, the Covenant the same, the Mediator the same, but our Condition is changed, because we look to things seen, live upon things seen, and still imagine of things according to what we see and feel: So for supplies of Maintenance and Provision, if we have them not in View and sight, how little can we depend upon God: If Sense be against the Promises, the Promises do us but little good: How few can comfort themselves in God, when all faileth, Hab. 3.18. or make his All-sufficiency their Store-house, Gen. 17.1. No, they must have a full heap in their own keeping: How few can take his Promises for their Heritage, Psal. 119.11. No, they must have Lands and fixed Revenues, or else they know not where to have Food and Raiment for themselves and Children: How few can be contented to trust the Purse in God's Hands, and be contented to take their daily Allowance from him! which yet is a necessary Point of Faith, of continual Practice: How few can see all things in God, when they have nothing in the Creature, 2 Cor. 6.10. Many talk of living by Faith, but 'tis when they have enough in the World to live upon, they eat their own Bread, wear their own Apparel, only call it by God's Name. The Life of Sense is more evident than the Life of Faith. Well now, This being the Nature of Faith, thereby we may know the measure of it; for the Excellency and Degree of every thing is known by the Essential Properties.
2. The second Property of Faith is Self-denyal, or a venturing of all in Christ's Hands, or a foregoing all for Christ. That this is included in the Nature of Faith, yea, essential to it, I must prove to you. 1. By the Description of Faith in Scripture, Heb. 10.39. We are not of the number of them that draw back to perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the Soul; foreign, The Purchasing of the Soul: Not Purchasing in the way of Merit, but Means. A true and sound Faith will cause us to save the Soul, though with the loss of other things. The Flesh is for sparing or saving the Body, but Faith is for saving the Soul, whatever it costs us: The Flesh saith, Favour thy self; Faith saith, Hazard all for Christ. 2. By Reason, I will prove that it not only necessarily results from the Nature of Faith, but is included in it; for Faith builds upon the Promise of Salvation by Christ: Now this Promise is not only true but good, 1 Tim. 1.1. 'Tis certainly true, and requireth the firmest Belief; 'tis eminently good, and worthy to be regarded above all other things; the Happiness is most desirable, and the Assurance of enjoying it as strong as can be given us. Now we do not close with this Promise rightly, unless we Assent and Embrace, take the thing Promised for our whole Happiness, and the Promise it self for our whole Security. The thing promised we do not take for our whole Happiness, unless we forsake all other Hopes and Happiness, and can let go all Pleasures, Profits, Worldly Reputation and Honour; yea, Life it self, when 'tis inconsistent with our Fidelity to Christ, or the way we should take to enjoy the Blessedness that he offereth: Not only wilfull Sin, and all Carnal Pleasures, but any thing though never so near and dear to us: No, we will not take up with any other Portion and Felicity for all the Temptations in the World: And also there must be a Confidence of God's Promise in Jesus Christ, that we may Venture our all upon this Security, and if God call us to it actually forsake all; so that without Self-denyal we can neither trust God nor be true to him. 3. This suiteth with the Nature of the Conditional and Baptismal Covenant. There is an Absolute Covenant whereby God promiseth to give Faith to the Elect, and a Conditional Covenant sealed in Baptism, wherein 'tis said, that He that Believeth and is Baptized, shall be saved, Mark 16.16. Now by this Covenant none can be Believers or Disciples of Christ, but those that forsake all for Christ's sake, Matth. 13.45, 46. The Kingdom of Heaven is like to a Merchant-man seeking goodly Pearls, who when he had found one Pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. Christ knew the Nature of Faith better than we do; many cheapen the Pearl of Price, but do not go through with the Bargain, because they do not sell all to Purchase it, all that is inconsistent with this Choice and Trust: So Luk. 14.26. If any Man come unto me, and hate not Father, and Mother, and Brother, and Sister, yea, and his own Life, he cannot be my Disciple: Shall we think to go to Heaven at a cheaper rate, after such express Declarations of the Will of Christ? All Christians are not called to this, but all must be ready for this, Eph. 6.15. —Your Feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace, Acts 21.13. I am ready not to be bound only, but also to dye at Ierusalem for the Name of the Lord Iesus: 1 Pet. 3.15. Be ready alwayes to give an Answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the Hope that is in you, with meekness and fear: This every Disciple must be, Prepared to undergo Martyrdom if God calls him to it. 4. I prove it by the Instances of Believers, ordinary and extraordinary: Faith was ever a venturing all, and a forsaking all upon Gods Veracity and Truth of his Promises▪ 1. Extraordinary: Noah had but God's bare Word for the Flood, Heb. 11.7. yet notwithstanding the Mocks of the incredulous World, with vast Expence and Care he prepareth an Ark, which was the prescribed Means to save himself and Houshold: Abraham leaveth his Father's House, though he knew not whether God would call him, Heb. 11.8. Here was venturing all on God's Fidelity; and afterwards we read that he was ready to offer Isaac, leaving the way to God how to fulfill his Promises, Vers. 17, 18. So the Israelites passing through the Red Sea, Ver. 29. there they put their All into God's Hands, when upon his Word themselves, and little ones, and all their substance, ventured into the great deep: So Christ's Tryal of the young Man, Mark 10.21. — Go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven, &c. But the Promise of Eternal Life, and great Treasure in Heaven, could not part the young Man and his great Estate. 2. Ordinary: Moses, Heb. 11.24, 25, 26. By Faith Moses when he was come to years, refused to be called the Son of Pharaoh's Daughter, choosing rather to suffer Affliction with the People of God, than to endure the pleasures of sin for a season, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he he had respect unto the recompense of reward: So those that the Apostle speaketh of, Heb. 10.34. Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in your selves that ye have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance: They had such a Faith in Christ, that though they had lost their Goods, yet because they lost not Christ, and the Hopes of Heaven by him, they thought themselves happy enough: So Paul's quitting all Honour and Respect with his Countrey-men, Phil. 3.8. I count all things but dung and dross for the Excellency of the knowledge of Christ Iesus my Lord. 'Tis endless to instance in all, but this is enough to shew you that the true Believers are still known by their Self-denyal. But you will say, if this be necessary to the very Truth and Being of Faith (as certainly it is) how shall we know our growth, for we can but forsake all? I Answer, By your readiness and willingness to part with all for Christ. The weakest Believer can part with no more but all, but the stronger this Faith is, he doth it with the more readiness of mind, and with least defaults in his Duty, and blots in his Fidelity to Christ. Would you know then whether your Faith be strong or weak? know it by this, The more you can adhere to Christ, whatever Temptations you have to the contrary, if you can venture not only some, but all things, upon the Account of the Promise of Eternal Life, 1. Deny the sinful Pleasures of the Flesh, they were never worth the keeping: If I cannot deny a little vain Pleasure, what can I deny for Christ? surely momentary Delight is bought too dear, if it must be bought with the loss of Eternal Joyes. Esau is represented as a Prophane Person, that sold his Birth-right for one morsel of Meat, Heb. 12.15. If the vain Delights of the World prevail so with Men, that all the Promises of the Gospel cannot reclaim them, these comply with the Motions of the Flesh, which is importunate to be pleased, but have no sense of the Offers of Christ, who calleth upon us to save our Souls. The true Christian is a Stranger and Pilgrim on the Earth, whose Mind and Heart is set upon better things, which are to come, 1 Pet. 2.11. Upon the security of God's Word, he is taking his Journey into another World. 2. We must be willing to Sacrifice all our Interests, Matth. 16.24. If any Man will come after me, and be my Disciple, let him deny himself, and take up his Cross and follow me: If God be trusted as our Felicity, Worldly Felicity must be no Impediment to our Duty; therefore if we cannot incur blame and shame with Men, yea, damage and loss, that we may be faithful with God, our Faith is worth nothing. 3. If God call you not to Sufferings, yet there are some Expencefull and Self-denying Duties which ever are incumbent upon you, Matth. 25.35. Visiting the Sick, Cloathing the Naked, Feeding the Hungry; Luk. 12.33. Sell that ye have, and give Alms, provide your selves Bags which wax not old, a Treasure in the Heavens that faileth not: Can you trust Christ upon such Promises, and be at some loss for the Gospel? for a Religion that costs nothing is worth nothing; most Men love a cheap Gospel, and the Flesh ingrosseth all, Faith gets little from them to be layed out for God. These Men run a fearful hazard of being rejected for ever; they Sow to the Flesh, Gal. 6.8. He that soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption, but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 4. If your Faith maketh you to submit to Providence: When we first entred into Covenant with God, we entirely and absolutely gave up our selves to God, to be governed by his commanding Will, and to be ordered by his disposing Will: You cannot shift your selves out of his Hands, but your voluntary submission to any thing, if you may have Christ and Heaven at last, is the Tryal of your Faith, Iob 1.21. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the Name of the Lord: Phil. 1.20. So Christ be magnified in my Body, whether it be by life or death: He was come to a Point: Nothing should be reserved; so Christ may be glorified, and you may have his saving Grace, let him give or take; the more willingly you do this, the stronger is your Faith. Certainly, to deny all, is an essential Property of Faith.
3. The third Evidence of a growing Faith is, when our Light is turned into Love: For Faith is not a bare Knowledge, but a sound, a savoury and affective Knowledge, a knowing things as we ought to know them, 1 Cor. 8.1, 2. A Knowledge with a Taste; for such a difference as there is between the sight of Meat and the tasting of it, such a difference there is betwen speculative Knowledge and the Apprehension of Faith, 1 Pet. 1.3. You may dispute him out of his Belief that Seeth, but you can never dispute him out of his Belief that Tastes, for you cannot make him go against his own sense. The stedfastness of unlearned Christians cometh mainly from their Taste and Love: They adhere more closely to Christ than those that have only a dead Opinion, because they received the Truth not only in the light but love of it, 2 Thes. 2.10. Now the more Taste we have of the things we know and believe, the stronger is our Faith. Now besides the manner of Apprehension, the Truths apprehended tend mainly to raise our Love to God, that we may love him that loved us first, 1 Ioh. 4.19. We know God, that we may Love him, and Faith is nothing else but a beholding the Love of God in the Face of Jesus Christ, that our Hearts may be warmed, attracted, and drawn to God. Faith is the Bellows to enkindle the Fire of Love in our Souls, and therefore Faith the more sound and sincere it is, the more it worketh by Love, Gal. 5.6. Faith is required sub ratione medii, Love sub ratione finis. The End of the Gospel Institution is Love, 1 Tim. 1.5. Well then, when you make it your great Business to love God, and count it your great Happiness to be beloved by him, then may you best judge of the Growth of your Faith. The Gospel representeth the Goodness and Amiableness of God, that he may be more lovely to us, and be beloved by us: For this was the end of Reconciling and Saving Man by Christ, his Incarnation, Life, Sufferings, Death, Resurrection, Ascension and Intercession, is all to reveal the Love of God in Christ, and to work our Hearts to love God again. To this end also tend his merciful Covenant and Promises, and all the Benefits given to the Church, all the Priviledges of the Saints, his Spirit, Pardon, Peace, Glory, all these to warm our Hearts, and fill them with a sense of the Love of God. Now if we slightly reflect upon these things, with cold and narrow Thoughts, we have not the true Faith, certainly not a grown Faith.