The Christians Charter, Chapter 21
CHAP. XXI. The Beleevers Objections answered.
THere are three great Objections which he makes: Object. 1. Alas, saith he,Object. 1. I cannot tell whether I have faith or no?
Answ. Hast thou no faith?Answ. how didst thou come to see it? a blind man cannot see: thou canst not see the want of grace, but by the light of grace. Quest. But sure,Quest. if I had faith I should discern it? Ans. 1.Answ. 1. Thou mayest have faith, and not know it: a man may seek for that sometimes which he hath in his hand. Mary was with Christ, she saw him, she spake with him, yet her eyes were held that she did not know it was Christ: the child lives in the womb, yet doth not know that it lives. 2. Faith oft lies hid in the heart, and we see it not for want of search; the fire lies hid in the embers, but blow aside the ashes, and it is discernable: Faith may be hid under fears, temptations; but blow away the ashes. Thou prizest faith; hadst thou a thousand Jewels lying by, thou would'st part with all for this Jewel: no man can prize grace but he that hath it. Thou desirest faith, the true desire of faith is faith. Thou mournest for want of faith; dispute not, but beleeve; what are these tears but the seeds of faith?
Object. 2.Object. 2. But my faith is weak, the hand of it so trembles, that I fear it will hardly lay hold upon Christ?
Answ.Answ. There are seven things which I shall say in reply to this. 1. A little faith is faith; as a sparkle of fire is fire: though the pearl of faith be little, if it be a true pearl, it shines in Gods eyes. This little grace is the seed of God *1 Joh. 3.9, and it shall never die, but live as a sparkle in the main sea. 2 A weak faith will entitle us to Christ as well as a stronger. To them that have obtained like precious faith, 2 Pet. 1.1 not but that there are degrees of faith; as faith purifies, so all faith is not alike one is more then another; but as faith justifies, saith is alike precious; the weakest faith justifies as well as the faith of the most eminent Saint; a weak hand will receive the almes: for a man to doubt of his grace because it is weak, is rather to rely upon grace, then upon Christ. 3. The Promise is not made to strong faith, but to true. The Promise doth not say, Who ever hath a faith that can remove mountains, that can stop the mouth of Lions, shall be saved; but whoever believes, be his faith never so small, the Promise is made to true faith, and for the most part to weak. What is a grain of mustard-seed, what is a bruised reed, but the emblem of a weak faith? yet the Promise is made to these: A bruised reed he will not break *Mat. 12.20.. The words are a miosis, where the lesser is put for the greater: He will not break. that is, hee will bind up: Though Christ chides a weak faith, yet that it may not be discouraged, he makes a Promise to it. Hierom observes upon the Beatitudes, there are many of the Promises made to weak grace: Matth. 5.3 Blessed are the poor in spirit; Blessed are they that mourn, ver. 4. Blessed are they that hunger, ver. 5.
4. A weak faith may be fruitfull; weakest things do multiply most. The Vine is a weak tree, it is born up and underpropt, but it is fruitfull; it is made in Scripture the Emblem of fruitfulnesse *Psal. 128.. The Thiefe on the Crosse, when he was newly converted, he had but a weak faith; but how many precious clusters grew upon that vine! Luk. 23.40. he chides his fellow-thief; Dost thou not fear God? Luk. 23.40. Verse 41.he falls to self-judging, we indeed suffer justly: he believes in Christ when he said, Lord: he makes an heavenly prayer, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdome: here was a young plant, but very fruitful. Weak Christians oft are more fruitful in affections; how strong is the first love, which is after the first planting of faith!
5. A Christian may mistake, and think he is weak in faith because he is weak in assurance, whereas faith may be strongest when assurance is weakest; assurance is rather the fruit of faith: The woman of Canaan was weak in assurance, but was strong in Faith. Christ gives her three repulses, but her faith stands the shot; she pursues Christ with an holy obstinacy of faith, insomuch that Christ sets a trophy of honour upon her faith, *Mat. 15.28.O woman, great is thy faith: it may be a strong faith, though it doth not see the print of the nailes: it is an heroicall faith that can swim against winde and tyde, believe against hope *Rom. 4.18. Christ sets the crown upon the head of faith, not of assurance. Ioh. 20.29. Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
6. God hath most care of weak believers; the mother tends the weak child most: God will gather the lambs with his armes, and carry them in his bosome *Isa. 40.11. The Lord had a great care of his weak Tribes: when Israel march'd towards Canaan, the Tribes were divided into several companies or Brigades: now it is observable, all the weak Tribes were not put together, lest haply they should discourage one another, and so have fainted in their march; but God puts a strong Tribe to two weak Tribes; as Issachar, Zebulon, two weak Tribes, and Iudah a victorious Tribe; therefore he gives the Lion in his standard: surely this was not without a mystery; to shew what care God hath of his weak children, CHRIST the Lion of the Tribe of Iudah shall be joyned to them.
7. Weak faith is a growing Faith; 'Tis resembled by the grain of Mustard-seed, of all seeds the least; but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a Tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the Branches thereof *Mat. 13.32▪. Faith must have a growing time; The seed springs up by degrees; First the Blade, and then the Eare, and then the full Corn in the Eare: the strongest faith hath sometimes been weak. The faith that hath been renowned in the world, was once in its infancy and minority: Grace is like the waters of the Sanctuary, which did rise higher and higher. Wait on the Ordinances, these are the brests to nourish faith: be not discouraged at thy weak faith, though it be now in the blossome, and bud, it will come to the full flower.
Object. 3. But, saith a childe of God,Object. 3. I fear I am not elected?
Answ.Answ. What, a Beleever and not elected? Who told thee thou wert not elected? Hast thou any skill in the black Book of Reprobation? The Angels cannot unclasp this Book, and wilt thou meddle with it? Which is our duty to study, Gods Secret will, or his Revealed? 'Tis a sin for any man to say he is a Reprobate. That which keeps him in sinne, must needs be a sinne; but this Opinion keeps him in sinne, it cuts the sinews of endeavour. Who will take paines for heaven that gives up himselfe for lost? O Beleever! be of good comfort; thou needest not look into the Book of Gods Decree, but look into the Book of thy heart, see what is written there: he that findes the Bible copied out into his heart, his nature transformed, the byasse of his will changed, the signature and engravings of the Holy Ghost upon him, he doth not look like a Reprobate.
When you see the fruits of the earth spring up, you conclude the Sun hath been there; 'Tis hard to climb up into Election: but if we finde the fruits of holinesse springing up in our hearts, we may conclude, the Sun of Righteousnesse hath risen there, 2 Thes. 2.13. God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation by the Sanctification of the Spirit. By our Sanctification we must calculate our Election. Indeed, God in saving us, begins at the highest Link in the Chaine, Election; but we must begin at the lowest Link of the Chaine, Sanctification, and so ascend higher.
Therefore laying aside all disputes, let me poure in of the Wine of consolation. Thou who art a Beleever, (and though thou wilt not affirm it, yet thou darest not deny it without sin) let me do two things, shew you your happinesse, then your duty.
1. Behold your happinesse: all the things which you have heard of, present and to come, are your portion and prerogative. What shall I say to you? All my apprehensions fall short: When I speak of things to come, I know not how to expresse my selfe but by a deep silence, and astonishment. O the Magnitude and Magnificence of the Saints glory! The ascent to it is so high, that it is too high for any mans thoughts to climb: The most sublime spirit would here be too low and jejune. How happy art thou, O Beleever! if God himselfe can make thee blessed, thou shalt be so: If being invested with Christs Robes, enamell'd with his beauty, replenished with his love: If all the dimensions of glory will make thee blessed, thou shalt be so. O the infinite superlative happinesse of a Beleever! All things to come are his. What? To have the same Joynture with the Angels, those blessed Spirits! Nay, to speake with reverence, to have a partnership with God himself! to share in the same love, to be enriched with the same glory which did sparkle forth in the humane nature of Christ *Joh. 17.22.! How amazing is this! the thoughts of it are enough to swallow us up. O what an inheritance is he born to, who is new borne? Suppose he is poore in the world, and despised, (The King of the Moors was offended at Religion, because the Professors of it were poore,) I say to him as our Saviour, *Luk. 6.20.Blessed are ye poore, for yours is the Kingdome of God. All things to come are yours. Who would not be a Beleever! O that I might tempt such to Christ as yet stand out.
2. Learn your duty. Mercy calls for Duty.