Sermons Volume 4, Sermons on Thessalonians · Sermon 5
SERMON V. ON 2 THESS. I. v. 3.
— Your Faith groweth exceedingly, and the Charity of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth.
Fifthly, WE come to the Fifth Property of Faith, which is an high Value and Esteem of Jesus Christ: I mention this, (1.) Because Faith in the New Covenant mainly and distinctly respects Christ, Acts 20.21. Testifying both to the Iews, and also to the Gentiles, Repentance towards God, and Faith towards our Lord Iesus Christ. Why Repentance respects God, I shewed you lately, because from God we fell, and to God we return: We fell from him as we withdrew our Allegiance, and sought our Happiness elsewhere; we return to him, as to our Rightful Lord, and proper Happiness: But Faith respects the Mediator, who is the only Remedy of our Misery, and the Means of Eternal Blessedness. He opened the way to God by his Merit and Satisfaction, and actually bringeth us into this way, by his Renewing and Reconciling Grace, that we may be in a Capacity to please and enjoy God, and that's the reason why Faith in Christ is so much insisted on, as it begets a Title to the Blessings of the New Covenant: It hath a Special Aptitude and fitness for this work of our Recovery from Sin to God, partly because a guilty Conscience is not easily settled, and brought to look for all kind of Happiness from one whom we have so much wronged. Adam, when once a Sinner, was shy of God, Gen. 3.10. Guilt is suspicious, and maketh us hang off from God, Psal. 32.13. And if we have not one to lead us by the hand, and bring us to God, we cannot abide his Presence. (2.) Partly because the Comfort of the Promises is so Rich and Glorious, and the Persons upon whom it is bestowed so unworthy, that it cannot easily enter into the Heart of a Man, that God will be so Good and Gracious to us, unless we have a sound Belief of his Merit, who hath procured these Mercies and Hopes for us: 1 Cor. 2.9. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him: Therefore since Sense and Reason could look for no such thing, 2 strong Faith is necessary. (3.) The way God hath taken for our Deliverance, is so supernatural and strange, that nothing but Faith can receive it: Ioh. 3.16. God so loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him, should not perish, but have everlasting life: And Rom. 8.32. He spared not his own Son, but gave him to dye for us. (4.) The chief of our Blessings lye in another World, and Nature cannot see so far off, 2 Pet. 1.9. He that lacketh these things, is blind, and cannot see afar off. Unless we believe Christ, and his Message to us, we shall never entertain these things. (5.) For the present Christ's People are assaulted, and afflicted with so many Difficulties, and so seemingly forsaken; and Temptations to Unbelief in this lower World are so manifold and pressing, that we can take no Comfort in the New Covenant, unless we have Faith in Christ, who is able to maintain and defend us, till he hath brought us home to God, 2 Tim. 1.12. I know whom I have believed, and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. (6.) Faith in Christ is most fitted for the acceptance of his free Gift: Faith and Grace go always together, and are put as Opposites to Law and Works, Rom. 4.16. Therefore 'tis of Faith, that it might be of Grace: And Eph. 2.8. By Grace ye are saved, through Faith, and that not of our selves, it is the Gift of God: Faith establisheth the free Grace and Favour of God, or his Condescention to us in the New Covenant, wherein Pardon and Life are offered to Penitent Believers. What we receive by the Grace of God in Christ, cannot be of Right, or such as we may Challenge by Vertue of Obedience to the Law upon that Account. He might Condemn us, but he doth Accept us upon these New Terms which Christ propounded of his meer Grace; and therefore Faith solveth the Interest of Grace in our Pardon and Salvation. (7.) Because the Duties of the New Covenant are opposite to the bent of the Carnal Heart, which is set upon Liberty and Uncleanness, Rom. 8.7. The Carnal mind is Enmity against God, for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be: And nothing will bind us but Faith in Christ, to whom we must give an Account in the Solemn Judgment, Acts 17.30, 31. He commandeth all men every where to Repent, because he hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the VVorld in righteousness, by that Man whom he hath ordained, whereof he hath given Assurance unto all Men, in that he hath raised him from the dead: In which Words I observe four things. 1. That God requireth of all that will submit to the Gospel, Repentance and New Obedience. 2. That the binding Consideration is, that the Judgment of every Man's Estate is put into Christ's Hands, who in the day appointed will declare and determine every Man's right and qualification. 3. That the Efficacy of this Consideration dependeth on the strength of our Faith, or Belief in Christ. 4. That the strength of our Faith dependeth on that Assurance given, foreign. Woe be to those that now refuse Christ, or do not Believe him so as to Obey him, 2 Thes. 1.8. In flaming Fire, taking Vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Iesus Christ. (8.) 'Till we believe in Christ, all his Offices are useless to us, and therefore without Faith he will do us no good: Who would learn of him, that doth not believe him to be the great Prophet sent of God to teach the World the way to true Happiness? Who would Obey him, that doth not Believe that he is our Lord, that he hath Power over all Flesh, at whose Judgment we must stand or fall? Who would depend upon the Merit of his Obedience and Sacrifice, and be Comforted with his gracious Promise and Covenant, and come to God with boldness and Hope of Mercy in his Name, and be confident that he will Justifie and Save, who doth not believe that he is a Priest who once made an Atonement, and doth continually make Intercession for us? In the dayes of his Flesh, all that would have Benefit by Christ, he did put them to this Question, Whether they did believe he was able to do it? To the Father of the Possessed Child, Believest thou that I am able to do this? Mark 9.23. to Martha, Joh. 11.26. Whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never dye: Believest thou this? So still it holdeth good; this is the most necessary Grace, that maketh way for all other Respect to Christ.
Secondly, That this Respect is an high Value and Esteem of Christ above all other things: That Faith implyeth an Esteem of Christ, is plain by that of the Apostle, 1 Pet. 2.7. VntoUnto you therefore which believe he is precious: And that it is a Transcendental Respect and Esteem, so as that all other things are lessened in our Opinion of them, and Estimation of them, and Respect unto them in Comparison of Christ, appeareth by other Scriptures, as Phil. 3.8. I count all things but loss, for the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Iesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ: He had counted, and did count, as not repenting of his Choice; he could deny his own Honour, Ease, Profit and Estate, his own every thing but his own God, and his own Christ; so Matth. 13.45, 46. The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto 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: The Pearl was accounted of great Price, if he would sell all things for it. Christ is so dear and precious, that the most excellent things are not dear and precious, when they are to be ventured for his sake; Acts 20.24. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto my self, so that I might finish my Course with Ioy, and the Ministry which I have received of the Lord Iesus, to testifie the Gospel of the Grace of God: No Faith but this will allure and draw our Hearts to Christ, and no Faith but this will keep our Hearts to him, there being so many other things either to keep us, or to draw us off from him: Nothing but this Transcendentall Respect begets the close adherence to Christ.
Now I will shew three things. 1. That Christ hath deserved this Esteem. 2. That Faith only will give it him. 3. The Notes, or how this Esteem of Christ will shew it self.
1. That he Deserveth it: And that (1.) By what he is in himself, the Son of God, and the Saviour of the World. This is the chief ground of our Respect to the Mediator, Acts 8.37, 38. If thou believest with all thy Heart, thou mayest, and he answered and said, I believe that Iesus Christ is the Son of God: So Martha maketh her Confession of Faith, Ioh. 11.27. Yea Lord, I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God that should come into the World: So Peter in his own Name, and the Name of his Fellow Disciples, Ioh. 6.69. We believe and are sure, that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God: This is the ground of adherence to him, and dependance upon him, that he whom the Christian World hath hitherto called their Saviour, is the very Son of God, appointed by God to execute the Office of King, Priest and Prophet, to the Church: This giveth us ground to adhere to him, and vanquish all Temptations, 1 Ioh. 5.5. Who is he that overcometh the World, but he that believeth that Iesus is the Son of God: The most part of the Christian World leap into this Opinion, and the Name of Christ is prized, but his Office is neglected; there is a fond Esteem of his Memory, but no real Improvement of his Grace: Quandoquidem panis Christi jam pinguis factus est, tractatur in Conciliis, disceptatur in Iudiciis, disputatur in Scholis, laudatur in Eclesiis, questiosa res est Nomen Christi: But this is the true ground of a Christian's Esteem, when soundly perswaded that he is the Christ. (2.) What he hath done for us: Christ requireth not so much at our Hands as he himself hath voluntarily performed for our sakes: He pleased not himself, that he might promote the Glory of God and our Salvation, Rom. 15.3. He became poor, that we might be rich, 2 Cor. 8.9. He was obedient to the death, even the death of the Cross, that we might have Life, Phil 2.7. He was made sin for us, that we might be the righteousness of God in him, 2 Cor. 5.21. He was made a Curse for us, that we might have the Blessing, Gal. 3.13. Doth he require so much of us? 'Tis grievous to the Flesh to be crossed, but he hath suffered greater Sorrows and Agonies, that we might have Eternal Life. (3.) What he still doth for us: He is our Life, Gal. 2.20. You live upon and by his Life, Ioh. 14.19. Because I live, ye shall live also: We use him not as an Instrument which is layed by when our turn is served, but as an Head Root: He is your Righteousness, 1 Cor. 1.30. and 2 Cor. 5.21. He hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him: You have the Effect of his Merit and Obedience to plead to God, he is your Blessedness for the present: Col. 1.27. Christ in you the Hope of Glory: All the Fatherly goodness of God cometh to you by him; all your Helps, Mercies and Hopes, are founded in him alone; 'tis he presents your Requests to God, and you take all your Mercies out of his Hands, 1 Cor. 8.6. To us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him, and one Lord Iesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him: Your Petitions are presented by the Hands of him who is the Beloved of God.
2. That Faith doth give him this Esteem, as it is an Assent, Consent, and Affiance.
(1.) As an Assent, we believing what he is, hath done, and doth still do for us, therefore we prize him: Faith knoweth him partly by what the Word revealeth, Ioh. 4.10. If thou knewest the Gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living Water: And Ioh. 6.40. This is the Will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: They see such an Excellency, Fulness and Alsufficiency in him, as draweth off their Hearts from all other things, and they cleave to him alone: Partly by Experimental Feeling, that he is such a one to us: As they see him to be such, they find him to be such, 1 Pet. 3.3. If so be that ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious: The Word revealeth, and Experience findeth him to be so.
(2.) As 'tis a Consent: We see Christ is so Necessary for us, so Beneficial to us, that we accept him for our Lord and Saviour, and count all the choicest Concernments in the World but base things in comparison of his Grace; therefore forsaking all others, we devote our selves to him, and are marryed to the Lord, that we may bring forth Fruit to God, Rom. 7.4. Nothing is allowed to rival Christ in the Soul, or to be a Competitor with him: Hos. 3.3. This is the Form of the Conjugal Covenant, Thou shalt not be for another, but thou shalt be for me.
(3.) As 'tis a Trust and Affiance in him, that we may be reconciled to God, and saved by him from Sin and Punishment, and so be brought safe into a State of perfect Happiness; every one of these Benefits doth endear him to the Soul. Surely dependance will beget Observance, and we will love him and please him in whose Hands we venture our all, even our Eternal Interests and Concernments.
3. The Notes, or how this Esteem will shew its self. (1.) In labouring to get Christ above all: This is the prime Care, and must be carryed on, whatever is left undone, Matth. 16.33. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you: Psal. 27.4. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the dayes of my Life, to behold the Beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his Temple: Prov. 4.7. Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get Wisdom, and with all thy getting get understanding: The Accessary things must give way to the Principal, the Arbitrary things to the Necessary. Food and Raiment is not so necessary as Christ: Temporal Want is not so great an evil as Eternal Misery. Well then, Communion with God in Christ must be minded, whatever is neglected. Most Mens Time and Labour is layed out upon unsatisfying Vanities, their Life, and Love, and Time, and Strength, and Care, is spent on Worldly things, and have seldom and cold Thoughts of Salvation by Christ, cannot deny themselves a little Worldly Pleasure or Carnal Ease, that they may attend upon this Work, to get an Interest in Christ's renewing and reconciling Grace: Of those that were invited to the Marriage-Feast 'tis said, Matth. 22.5. They made light of it. (2.) A Care in keeping Christ above all. Nothing should be so near and dear to you as Christ; He is your Life and your Strength: Your great Care is, that he may lye as a Bundle of Myrrhe in your Bosoms, Cant. 1.13. A bundle of Myrrhe is my well-beloved unto me, he shall lye all Night betwixt my Breasts; or dwell in your Hearts by Faith, Eph. 3.17. Christ is all in all to you. You are loth to put the Comforts of his Presence to hazard for a little Carnal Satisfaction; are chary and tender of your Respects to your Redeemer, that he be not displeased or provoked to withdraw, by any unkind dealing of yours. Whatever Temptations would withdraw you from your Duty, you reject with loathing and indignation. Christ hath pitched upon this as the true and proper Evidence of our Love to him, and Esteem of him, Ioh. 14.21. He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me; and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and will manifest my self to him: We are apt to flatter our selves with an Airy Religion, that we value Christ, and prize Christ; if so, we will be careful he be not offended and displeased. (3.) By a Willingness to lose all, rather than lose Christ, Luke 14.33. Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my Disciple: Counting the most dishonourable things in the World as honourable for his sake, Heb. 11.26. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the Treasures in Egypt, for he had respect unto the recompense of Reward: Acts 5.41. And they departed from the presence of the Council, rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his Name: They see a Beauty in his despised wayes. You can Worship Christ as the Wise Men did, though in a Stable, and are contented to be made Vile for his sake, 2 Sam. 6.22. I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in my own sight: And we read of Marsacus, when he was led forth to suffer, and because of his Quality, they bound him not as they did others, he cryed out, Cur non & me quoque Torquem donas, &c? Why do you not give me also my Chain, and make me a Knight of this Noble Order? Some will pretend to prize Christ, but can hardly suffer a disgraceful word for him, or endure to be brow-beaten with a Frown. (4.) By delighting in Him and the Testimonies of his Love above all things else. Faith must breed such a Confidence in Christ, as keepeth up our delight in him, and such a delight and well-pleasedness of Mind as we find not elsewhere, Psal. 4.7. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their Corn and their Wine encreased: And Cant. 1.4. We will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy Loves more than VVine. The choicest Contentments of the Flesh are nothing so satisfying as the Joy of his Salvation. This Joy is called unspeakable and glorious, as being better felt than uttered, 1 Pet. 1.8. The strength of it is seen when other Comforts fail: How precious are thy Thoughts unto me, O God! Psal. 139.17. How great is the summ of them!
Sixthly, The sixth Property of Faith is Victory over the World, 1 Ioh. 5.4, 5. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the VVorld, and this is the Victory that overcometh the VVorld, even our Faith; who is he that overcometh the VVorld, but he that believeth that Iesus is the Son of God? I shall dispatch this briefly, and shall shew you,
1. What is the World that is to be overcome? All worldly things whatsoever, so far as they lessen our Esteem of Christ and Heavenly things, or as they hinder us in our Duty to God: In short, the Delights and Terrors of this World, for we must be Armed on both sides with the Armour of Righteousness, both on the right hand and the left, 2 Cor. 6.7. The Fears of this World are apt to stagger us, so do Snares pervert and inveigle us. Moses had Temptations of all kinds, right-hand Temptations from Riches, Honours, Pleasures, 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 enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: Left-hand Temptations, Ver. 27. By Faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the King, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. The Armour of the right hand is called Temperance, of the left hand Patience, 2 Pet. 1.6. To Knowledge Temperance, and to Temperance Patience. In the Parable of the Sower sowing his seed, we read that which fell on the Stony ground withered in Persecution, Luk. 8.13. They on the rock are they which when they hear, receive the Word with joy, and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away: That which was sown in the Thorny-ground was choaked with the Cares, Riches and Pleasures of the World, Verse 14. And they which fell among Thorns, are they which when they have heard, go forth, and are choaked with Cares and Riches, and Pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection: If the Terrors of Sense assault our Constancy, we must set Loss against Loss, Pain against Pain, Fear against Fear, Matth. 10.28. Fear not him that can kill the Body, and do no more, but fear him that can cast both Body and Soul into Hell. If they threaten a Prison, remember God threatens Hell: If they threaten Fire, God threatens everlasting Fire: If they threaten loss of Estate, loss of Heaven is much worse. If the Delights of Sense are likely to Corrupt us, to pervert, or divert our Minds from better things, we must look to it, and remember what better things are reserved for us. Persecution is opposite to Prosession without, but this obstructs the very Vigour, Life and Power of Godliness within, Ioh. 2.15. If any Man love the World, the Love of the Father is not in him: And then for Pleasures, 2 Tim. 3.4. Lovers of Pleasures more than lovers of God: Heb. 12.16. — Or prophane Person as Esau, who for one Morsel of Meat sold his Birth-right. Honours are baneful to our Faith, Ioh. 5.44. How can ye believe which receive Honour one of another, and seek not the Honour that cometh from God only: They eat out the Heart of it. These are our daily Temptations.
2. The Necessity of Overcoming the World.
(1.) 'Tis by the World that our spiritual Enemies have advantage against us: The Devil seeketh to tempt or fright the fleshly Nature in us, either by the Terrors or Allurements of Sense: therefore Conquer the World, and the Tempter is disarm'd, he blindeth us as the god of this World, 2 Cor. 4.4. In whom the god of this World hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, least the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the Image of God, should shine unto them: He Vexeth as the Prince of this World, and having a strong Party in the World, he findeth it no great matter to entice a sensual Worldly Mind to almost any thing that is evil. The Baits and Provisions of the Flesh are in the World, 1 Ioh. 2.16. For all that is in the World, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the World. The World fits us with a Bait agreeable to every Appetite, or a Dyet that suiteth with every Distemper of our Souls. A proud Mind must be Honour'd and Humoured, and will go nothing lower than high Place and Pomp of living: a Sensual Mind must have its Pleasures, and the Covetuous the Increase of Wealth, and Religion is either cast off, or neglected and made an Underling.
(2.) The World is the great Lett and Impediment to our Obedience: In the first Epistle of Iohn, ch. 5. in the Context to the Words that I am now explaining, Verse the 2d, and 3d. it is said, By this we know that we love the Children of God, when we love God and keep his Commandements; for this is the love of God, that we keep his Commandements, and his Commandements are not grievous: Then it followeth, Verse 4. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the VVorld, &c. So Titus 2.11, 12. For the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation, hath appeared to all Men, teaching us, that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present VVorld: The one must be done, that the other may be done. We shall soon be tempted to make a Breach upon Righteousness, Sobriety or Godliness, if we do not labour to overcome the World. So Psal. 119.36. Incline my Heart unto thy Testimonies, and not to Covetousness.
(3.) This Victory over the World distinguisheth the Spiritual from the Animal Life: The World of Mankind is distinguished into two sorts; some that live the Animal Life, and some that live the Spiritual Life. They that live the Animal Life, are such as only behave themselves meerly as living Creatures, or as a wiser sort of Beasts, and the Comfort of their Life is only kept up by the good things of this World; Land, Heritages, Honours, Pleasures, Riches; and so Reason is subjected to Sense, all their Contrivance is for the Flesh: But the Spiritual and Divine Life is supported by the Comforts of the Spirit, and the Foresight of Eternal Joyes in the World to come, and so Reason is raised and sublimated by Faith. These two Lives are distinguished, Ioh. 3.6. That which is born of the Flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit: 1 Cor. 2.14, 15. But the natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are Foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned: But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no Man: And Iude v. 19. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit: Now the more we live this spiritual Life, the more thorough Christians we are: Another kind of spirit cometh upon a Man, he liveth as a Man of another World; he can bear up when the Outward and Animal Life is exposed to the greatest difficulties: 2 Cor. 4.16. He fetcheth his Solace and Comfort from those great and glorious things which are kept for him in Heaven. 'Tis a mighty thing to have this spirit of Faith.
(4.) We cannot hold out with Christ, whilst any Temporal and Sensitive thing lyeth too near the Heart, 1 Tim. 6.10. For the love of Money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the Faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows: And 2 Tim. 4.10. Demas hath forsaken us, having loved this present VVorld: The Devil hath them in a string, and are easily taken again, though we seem to make some escape from him.
3. Faith is the Grace that is employed in overcoming the World: 'Tis not only said to be a means of overcoming, but the Victory it self; for 'tis the Nature of Faith; there are Terms in it as in other Graces, 'tis a Recess from the World, and an Access to God, a drawing off the Heart from things Visible and Temporal to those which are Invisible and Eternal. How doth Faith overcome the World?
1. As 'tis an Assent to God's Word, and chiefly to the Promises of the Gospel: Now this strong and firm Assent doth preposses the mind with the Glory of the World to come, Heb. 11.26. Moses had an eye to the Recompense of Reward: And 2 Cor. 4.18. VVe look not to the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: And Heb. 11.1. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen: By this sight and View of Heavenly things our Esteem of the World is abated, so by consequence the Force of the Temptation. Alas! whatever this World offereth must be left on this side the Grave; Pomp, Pleasure, Estate, … Tim. 6.7. For we brought nothing into this VVorld, and 'tis certain we can carry nothing out: Here we lust for greatness, but Death soon endeth the quarrel. In the Grave no difference is to be discerned between Rich and Poor, both are alike Obnoxious to Rottenness and Corruption; but Faith perswadeth us of better things, 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, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the Earth.
2. As 'tis a Consent: It causeth us to Surrender our selves to Christ's Discipline, or that Religion which wholly draweth us off from this World to the World to come: Its purpose and drift is, that we may deny our selves, bear the Cross and follow him; this we Promise in Baptism, 1 Pet. 3.21. Baptism saveth us, (not the putting away the filthiness of the Flesh, but the Answer of a good Conscience towards God) by the resurrection of Iesus Christ. The Spirit of our Religion is not the Spirit of the World, 1 Cor. 2.12. 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 to us of God.
3. As it is a Dependance and Trust in Christ's Power and Sufficiency to maintain you, and defend you safe, 'till you are brought home to God: He dyed for this end, Gal. 1.4. Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil World, according to the Will of God, and our Father: He intercedeth for us to the Father for this end, Ioh. 17.15. I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the World, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil. He overcame the World in his own Person for this end, not only to encourage us, but to enable us by his example, Ioh. 16.33. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace; in the World ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the World. He sendeth his Spirit into our Hearts, to preserve us against the Assaults of the Devil, the World, and the Flesh, 1 Ioh. 4.4. Ye are of God, little Children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the VVorld: And because every state of Life is thick set with Temptations, he reneweth his Influence upon us, Phil. 4.13. I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. He had before spoken of carrying an equal mind in all Conditions, Christ enabled him as well as taught him this Contentment.
Well then, reckon the growth of your Faith by the exercise of your Mortification, and weanedness from the World, rather than by strong Confidence of your good Estate, or high flown Joys and Comforts. The Comforts of the Spirit will not be tasted by an unmortified Worldly Heart. Most men's Confidence cometh from their Security, and mindlesness of these things. The Comforts are more suspicious, when the Mortification is a sure Note.
Seventhly, The seventh Property of Faith is quieting the Heart against Fears and Doubts, and Waiting on God: I joyn these two things together because the Scripture doth, Lam. 3.26. It is good that a Man should both hope, and quietly wait for the Salvation of God: But we must handle them asunder. (1.) Waiting: Sense is all for present satisfaction, but Faith can tarry God's leisure, 'till these good things which we do expect do come in hand, Isa. 28.16. He that believeth shall not make haste. Men that cannot tarry for relief, will yield up a Town upon the basest Terms. The Children of God were always forced to eat their Words, when they spoke in haste, Psal. 31.22. For I said in my haste I am cut off from before thine eyes; nevertheless thou heardest the Voice of my Supplication when I cryed unto thee: And Psal. 116.11. I said in my haste all Men are Lyars: But where Faith and Hope is, there is Patience, Rom. 8.25. If we hope for what we see not, then do we with Patience wait for it: James 5.7, 8. Be patient therefore Brethren unto the coming of the Lord: Behold the Husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the Earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter Rain: Be ye also patient, stablish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Unbelief leapeth overboard on the first danger. Impatience and Precipitation is the Cause of all Mischief. What moved the Israelites to make the Golden Calf, but Impatience in not waiting for Moses 'till he came down from the Mount, where he was with God? What made Saul to offer Sacrifice, but want of Patience 'till Samuel came? 1 Sam. 13.8, 9, 10. He tarryed seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: But Samuel came not to Gilgal, and the People were scattered from him, and Saul said, Bring hither a Burnt-offering to me, and Peace-offerings; and he offered the Burnt-offering, and it came to pass that as soon as he had made an end of offering the Burnt-offering, behold Samuel came, &c. What made the bad Servant to smite his Fellow Servant, and to eat and drink with the drunken, Mat. 24.40. but this, My Lord delayeth his coming? Hasty Men are loth to be kept long in doubtful suspence: The Voluptuous cannot wait their time, when they shall have Pleasures at God's right hand for evermore, therefore take up with present Delights, like those that cannot tarry 'till the Grapes be ripe, but eat them sowre and green: Solid, everlasting Pleasures they cannot wait for, therefore choose the Pleasures of sin that are for a season. A Covetous Man will wax Rich in a day, cannot tarry the leisure of God's Providence, Prov. 20.21. An Inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning, but the end thereof shall not be blessed. The Ambitious Man will not stay 'till God gives Crowns and Honours in his Kingdom. All Revolts and Apostacies from God proceed hence, they cannot wait for God's Help, and tarry the fulfilling of his Promises, but finding themselves pressed and destitute, the Flesh which is tender and delicate groweth impatient. 'Tis tedious to suffer for a while, but they do not consider 'tis more tedious to suffer for evermore. Thence come Murmurings and Unlawful Attempts, stepping out of God's way. An impetuous River is always troubled and thick, so is a Precipitated Impatient Spirit, out of Order, and ready for a Snare. (2.) Quieting the Heart against Doubts, Fears and Cares. By a grown Faith Thoughts are established, Prov. 16.3. Commit thy VVorks unto the Lord, and thy Thoughts shall be established. Fire well kindled casteth the least smoke: We have firm ground to stand upon, therefore we must not reel too and fro in a doubtful agitation of Mind: Iames 1.6, 7, 8. Let him ask in Faith, nothing wavering; for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed; for let not that Man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord: A double minded Man is unstable in all his wayes. Faith fixeth the Heart against Fears, Psal. 112.7. He shall not be afraid of evil tydings, his Heart is fixed trusting in the Lord: Isa. 26.3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee: Rom. 5.1. Therefore being justified by Faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ: Phil. 4.7. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your Hearts and Minds through Christ Iesus: Rom. 4.20. Abraham staggered not at the Promise of God thro' unbelief, but was strong in Faith, giving glory to God: And Matth. 6.30. Wherefore if God so cloath the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the Oven, shall he not much more cloath you, O ye of little Faith! So Matth. 8.26. He saith unto them, why are ye fearful, O ye of little Faith! The weak are mated with every difficulty, Matth. 14.31. O thou of little Faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Psal. 42.5. Why art thou cast down, O my Soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him for the help of his Countenance. Well then, here is a sure Note of a grown Faith, the more we can quiet our selves in the Promises of God, and wait his leisure for their Accomplishment.