The Works of William Bridge Volume 2, Volume 2 · Part 2 · Sermon 3
Rom. 4. verſ. 19.
And being not weak (or weakned) in faith, he confidered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadneſſe of Sarahs wombe.
THe words are ſpoken of Abraham: and they hold forth Three great Truths, as yee have heard.
Firſt, That when God intends any great mercy, or bleſſing to the children of Abraham; he does firſt put the Sentence of death upon the bleſſing, or mercy, and upon all the meanes that do lead unto it.
Secondly, That then, and then eſpecially, 'tis the duty of all the children of Abraham, of all beleevers then, for to truſt in God.
Thirdly, That no difficulties can ſtand before Faith: true ſaving, juſtifying faith, carries the ſoule through all difficulties, diſcouragements, and naturall impoſſibilities to Jeſus Chriſt.
I have done with the two former, and am now to ſpeake unto the third.
No difficulties can ſtand before Faith: Doct. 3 True ſaving, juſtifying Faith, carries the ſoule through all difficulties, diſcouragements, and naturall impoſſibilities to Jeſus Chriſt.
Abraham had a promiſe given him, that his ſeed ſhould be as the ſtarres of Heaven: and that in his ſeed all the Nations of the world ſhould be bleſt. Upon this promiſe, Abrahams body is dead, and Sarahs body is dead: Now Abraham beleeves. Being not weake in Faith, he conſidered not the deadneſſe of his own body. And in this he had an eye unto Jeſus Chriſt: for this was imputed to him for righteouſneſſe; and herein he is held forth as an example to us that beleeve with a juſtifying faith, in this chapter. So that where ever there is true, ſaving, juſtifying faith, it carries a man through all difficulties, through all naturall diſcouragements.
For the clearing whereof, I ſhall deliver my ſelfe in theſe foure things.
Firſt, I will ſhew you, That the way to Jeſus Chriſt is clogged with many difficulties, and naturall diſcouragements: this as a rice unto all the reſt.
Secondly, That true, ſaving faith, will carry one through all theſe.
Thirdly, That nothing elſe can do it.
And Fourthly, What it is in true, ſaving, juſtifying Faith, that does is? How this Faith comes to do it?
Firſt, The way to Jeſus Chriſt is clogged with many difficulties, or naturall diſcouragements. No ſooner does a man begin to looke after Chriſt, but difficulties, and naturall diſcouragements do ariſe; and they are preſt by Satan with much violence. When the children of Iſrael began to make out of Egypt, Pharoah doubles their taske, and labours to make their way grievous, and troublous. And ſo ſoone as a ſoule begins to look after Chriſt; Satan, and the world labours to make his way troublous. The Devill is the great hunter of Soules: So long as the Game goes well with the hunter, and he is going into his ſnare, he makes no noiſe; but if once the Hare, or the Game begin to decline the ſnare, and go another way, then he hoopes, and he hollowes, and he makes a noiſe, that he may ſcare it into the ſnare againe. And ſo, as long as men are going into the Devils ſnare, he makes no noiſe; but if once they begin to turne aſide from his ſnare, then he raiſes Town & Country, and a great noiſe is made to ſcare the ſoule in againe He knowes that a candle may be eaſily blown into light, when 'tis new put out. Paul met with no buffetings of Satan, till he had been taken up into the third heavens and ſeene the glory there. So long as Paul went on in his Pharaſaicall way, he met with no oppoſition: and ſo long as a man goes on in the way of the world, or in ſome Pharaſaicall Devotionall-way, that is not the way of the Goſpell, he meetes with no oppoſition: but when once the Lord takes him (as it were) into the third heavens, and ſhews him the glory of Chriſt, then Satan begins to buffer him. Nature within us, that ſtands and ſaies, Will you go to Chriſt? 'tis impoſſible that ever you ſhould get him. And the world without: Will you go to Chriſt? you will loſe all your friends: Will you become a foole too? What with the world, and what with the fleſh, and what with the Devill, the way to Jeſus Chriſt is clogged with many difficulties.
And this will appeare yet further, if you conſider the Nature of Faith and the worth of it. 'Tis a grace, a Goſpel grace, a precious grace, whereby we do come to Chriſt. I ſay, 'Tis a grace; Nulla Virtus ſine lapide. When our Lord Jeſus Chriſt was crucified, they rould a ſtone over his ſepulcher, and when the Diſciples came, they ſaid, Who ſhall roule away the ſtone? Mark 16 3And as our Lord himſelfe had a ſtone roul'd upon him, ſo the more of Chriſt is in any vertue, the greater ſtone, and the greater difficulty is rould upon it; every vertue, and every grace, hath one ſtone or other that is roul'd upon it: but the more of Chriſt in any thing, the more, the greater is the ſtone that is roul'd upon it. Faith is an excellent grace.1 Pet. 1.7. The triall of your Faith is more precious then gold, ſayes the Apoſtle; what is Faith it ſelfe then? It is the Intelligencer of the Soule, the directrix or Queene-regent of all the graces, it ſits at the ſterne, and guides the whole Veſſel. 'Tis that grace that gives a Being unto a Chriſtian, other graces the Well-being. It is that grace that brings Chriſt and the Soule together: It is that grace, that covers the defects of all other graces;Epheſ 6.16. 'Tis called the ſhield; a ſhield does not only cover the body, but the reſt of the armour; Faith does not onelyonly cover the Soule, but the defects of all other graces. There is an excellency in grace: excellent things and jewels they are hard to come by. Therefore by it we come unto Chriſt. He that comes over the River, muſt come from that ſide of the water, if he will come to this: And he that comes to Chriſt, he muſt come from his old Cuſtomes, and his own Engagements, and his own Righteouſneſſe: this is a hard thing. I may ſay in ſome reſpects, 'tis harder to beleeve, then to keepe the ten Commandements, becauſe there is ſomething in nature towards them. Chriſt is the way to Heaven, and Faith is the way to Chriſt (underſtand it rightly) Faith is the way to Chriſt; now therefore it being ſo hard a worke to beleeve, ſurely, the way to Jeſus Chriſt muſt needs be laid with many difficulties, and naturall diſcouragements. But that is but the rice.
Secondly, Though the way to Jeſus Chriſt be clogged with many difficulties, True, ſaving, juſtifying Faith, will carry us through all difficulties, diſcouragements, and naturall Impoſſibilities to Jeſus Chriſt. 'Tis that grace that is oppoſed to the ſinful foreign that the Apoſtle ſpeaks of; He being not weak in Faith, he conſidered not his owne body foreign he ſtaggered not; the word you tranſlate ſtaggering, in other places 'tis tranſlated doubting, Nothing doubting; but the ſame word is tranſlated alſo; diſcerning; Not diſcerning the Lords body. 1 Cor. 11.29. And, ſo the word will fully bear that ſignification. When a man lookes upon things with an eye of reaſon, he makes a diſcretion of Dijudication of things: ſome things are facile eaſy; ſome things are hard. But when a man lookes by faith, upon the power of God, there is not that diſcretion there. All things are eaſy to the eye of faith, that lookes at the power of God. You ſhall obſerve therefore, that when our Lord and Saviour himſelfe, would beare up the hearts of his diſciples over all diſcouragements, he directs them to this worke of beleeving with a ſaving, inſtifying faith; you know the place, Let not your hearts be troubled, Iohn 14.1.ye beleeve in God, beleeve alſo in mee. An Hebraiſme, noting a Similitude: The father workes hitherto, and I work. That is, as the father workes, ſo I work. So here, ye beleeve in God, beleeve alſo in me. That is, as ye beleeve in God the father, ſo beleeve alſo in me; ye beleeve that God the Father is able to provide for you: beleeve in me, that I am able to ſatisfy for you. If you would not hauehave your hearts troubled that I am now to leave you, at the many diſcouragements that you are to meet withall; 'tis not enough for you, that you beleeve in God, as God; but you muſt beleeve in me alſo, as your mediator, and reſt upon me: True, ſaving, juſtifying faith, is the onelyonly meanes to beare up your hearts through all this trouble, And if you looke into the 17. of Luke, you ſhall find, that when our Saviour Chriſt would teach his Diſciples how to do a hard work, he does point them unto this juſtifying faith. And the Lord ſaid, (at the ſixt verſe) If ye had faith as a graine of muſtard-ſeed, you might ſay to this Sycamine-tree, Be thou pluckt up by the roote, and be thou planted in the Sea, and it ſhould obey you. You will ſay, This is a faith of Miracles. You may be pleaſed therefore to obſerve, that our Saviour Chriſt uſes this, and the like expreſſion upon three ſeverall occaſions. Once upon occaſion that his Diſciples could not caſt out the Devil out of ſome that were poſſeſt. Once upon occaſion that the fig-tree was dryed up and withered. And once here upon occaſion that the Diſciples ſaid, Lord increaſe our faith: when they thought it was ſo hard a thing to forgive a man ſo often as Chriſt required.
Firſt, our Saviour uſes this and the like expreſſion of removing a Sycamine tree, and the mountaines; upon occaſion that the Diſciples could not caſt out the Divell. And of that you reade in Matth. 17.20. and there (indeed) he ſpeakes of the faith of miracles. Why could not we caſt him out? (verſe 19.) Ieſus ſaid unto them, becauſe of your unbeliefe: for verily I ſay unto you, if ye have faith as a graine of muſtard-ſeed, ye ſhall ſay unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place, and it ſhall remove, and nothing ſhall be unpoſſible unto you. Here he ſpeakes of the faith of miracles, becauſe thereby we ſhould be able to caſt out the divell; which plainly ſpeaks a miracle.
He uſes againe this like expreſſion, upon an occaſion of the drying up of the fig-tree. And concerning that you reade in Mark 11.20. As they paſſed by, they ſaw the fig-tree dried up from the roots. Peter calling to remembrance, ſaith unto him, Behold, the fig-tree which thou curſedſt is withered away. Jeſus anſwering, ſaid unto them, have faith in God. And verily I ſay unto you, whoſoever ſhall ſay to this mountaine, be thou removed, and be thou caſt into the ſea, and ſhall not doubt in his heart, &c. Here the faith called for, is both faith of Miracles, and a juſtifying faith too: a faith of miracles, it is brought in upon occaſion of this miracle, Chriſt ſayes if he hath faith, he ſhall not only do this, but he ſhall remove mountains, But here is a juſtifying faith alſo intended, for he ſayes, Have faith in God, (at the 22 verſe) ſo you reade it. But in the margent of your Bible, it is, have faith of God; when as the Scripture ſpeakes of a juſtifying faith, it uſes to ſpeak in ſuch an expreſſion as this. So Paul ſayes,Gal 2.19. I live by the faith of the ſon of God, ſpeaking of juſtifying faith, not by faith in the Son of God. So in Rev. 14. 'tis called the faith of Jeſus: and then it ſeemes to run very largely, ſomewhat too largely, if it were only a miraculous faith, faith of miracles that were here intended. For I ſay unto you, whoſoever ſhall ſay unto this mountaine, be thou removed, The faith of miracles and gifts only to ſome, unto another the gift of faith; not to all, ſayes the Apoſtle. And then here 'tis oppoſed to doubting, the ſame word that is uſed here in my text concerning Abraham, who beleeved, and ſtaggered not: ſayes he here, Whoſoever ſhall ſay to this mountaine, be thou removed, and be thou caſt into the ſea, and ſhall not doubt in his heart, or ſhall not ſtagger in his heart: 'tis the ſame word that is uſed there, the ſame oppoſition. So that I take it, both are here intended: one primarily, the other ſecondarily.
But now in Luke 17. there is an other occaſion, that this expreſſion is brought in by our Saviour Chriſt: he ſayes unto his diſciples, (at the third verſe) If thy brother treſpaſſe againſt thee, rebuke him; if he repent, forgive him; if he treſpaſſe againſt thee ſeven times in a day, and ſeven times in a day turne againe to thee, ſaying, I repent, thou ſhalt forgive him: And the Apoſtles ſaid unto the Lord, increaſe our faith: And the Lord ſaid, if you had faith as a graine of muſtard-ſeed, you might ſay unto this Sycamine tree, &c. Here is no miracle here, that theſe words is brought in upon: why ſhould our Saviour put that upon a faith of miracles, in doing a worke of Chriſtianity, the forgiving the brother ſo often thus? the faith that is to bwe exerciſed in prayer, and in forgiving our brother ordinarily, is not the faith of miracles: but the faith he here cals for, is a faith that is to be uſed in prayer, and in forgiving of our brethren: ſurely, this is a ſaving faith, a juſtifying faith that is here intended. And as one ſayes well, what's all the worke of faith, but an the removing of mountaines? when take our ſins, that ſtand up and hinder the light of Gods grace from ſhining in our hearts, and remove them off from our ſelves unto Jeſus Chriſt, to his bloud, that they are drown'd, as in the bottome of that Redſes, what is this but to remove mountaines? when we take our carnall Reaſon, and our High thoughts, and bring them into obedience unto Jeſus Chirſt, what is this but to remove mountaines? when our great and manifold Temptations are laid levell, that the promiſe may come into the ſoule freely, what is this but to remove theſe mountaines? Mountaines roſe up in the way of Zerubbabell when he was to build the Temple:Zach. 4.7. Who art thou, O Mountaine? Temptation, and Corruption, Mountaines; and the Curſe of the Law, a great mountain. Would you therefore now remove theſe mountaines? walk over theſe naturall impoſſibilities? ther's no ſuch way as to get a juſtifying, and ſaving faith, ſayes our Saviour. What a bundance of Difficulties did Noahs faith carry him through? The Lord commanded Noah to build an Arke; Noah, he might have ſaid thus: Lord, thou haſt now commanded mee to build an Arke: I was never brought up to that trade; I have been a preacher many yeeres, but I never yet was a Wheele-wright, never yet a Ship-Carpenter: And Lord, If I do go about to build an Arke, the whole world will jeere me: what will this old man doe? will he ride in a Ship upon the dry ground? And when I have built the Arke, Lord How ſhall I doe to get in all the Creatures into the Arke? And if the Creatures do come, they will teare me in pieces; the Lyons and the Bears they will prey upon me. Yea, Lord, And if they do come into the Arke, and into the ſhip, the very ſtench of all the beaſts will poyſon me: yet notwithſtanding all theſe Difficulties, and all theſe diſcouragements, Noah prepared an Arke, Why? For he beleeved, and he beleeved with a Saving, juſtifying Faith.
So, if you look into the New-Teſtament, that is full of this: What abundance of difficulties did the wiſe men go through that came to worſhip Jeſus Chriſt! They were commanded to go worſhip him that was borne King of the Jewes: They might have ſaid thus: What is the King of the Jewes to us? We know no ſuch King: Shall we go out of our own Kingdome, and out of our own Country to worſhip the King of the Jewes? The deſpiſed people of the Jewes? When they came at Jeruſalem; the learned men, the Prieſts, and thoſe that were of that Country; they knew none ſuch: when they came at the place where Chriſt was borne, they found him in a Stable; and they might have ſaid: Is this the King of the Jewes? Is this his Pallace? What? A Stable for his Pallace? What? Are theſe horſe, are theſe his Courtiers? Is this a King? 'Tis impoſſible he ſhould be a King: Yet not withſtanding, they went: Why? becauſe they beleeved, and this their Faith carryed them through all.
What abundance of difficulties did Matthewes Faith carry him through? The Lord commanded Matthew to follow him: Matthew follow me (ſayes Chriſt) and ſo he did:Mat. 9 9. But he might have ſaid thus: Whether ſhall I follow this man? I have a good calling, I have ſo many hundreds coming in by the yeere from the Cuſtome-houſe; this man hath not wheron to lay his head: I ſhall be a begger; all my friends will call me a foole: Notwithſtanding, Matthew leaves all and followes Chriſt: Why? He beleeved, with a ſaving, juſtifying Faith.
What abundance of difficulties did Zacheus's Faith carry him through? Zacheus (ſayes our Lord to him) haſt, Luk. 19.5.and come downe; for I muſt abide with thee this day: he came down, he received him into his houſe; and being there he ſayes, Lord, behold, verſe. 8 9.the halfe of my goods I give to the poore, and if there be any one that I have wrong'd by falſe accuſation, I reſtore unto him foure-fold. Marke, what a hard worke he went through: The halfe of my goods I give to the poore. Pray let us compute it a little: Suppoſe his eſtate was a thouſand pound. Lord, (ſayes he) the halfe of my goods I give to the poore, ther's but five hundred left. Suppoſe he had wroung'd a man to the value of a hundred pound: Lord, (ſayes he) I reſtore foure-fold; then there is but one hundred left of a thouſand: What a great matter was this? Yet this Zacheus did: Why? Oh! Zacheus (ſayes Chriſt) This day is Salvation come to thine houſe, for ſo much as thou alſo art the ſon of Abraham: He beleeved as Abraham did, with a ſaving, juſtifying Faith. So then, thus you ſee, that true ſaving, juſtifying ſaith; carries a man through all difficulties, diſcouragements and naturall impoſſibilities to Jeſus Chriſt.
But in the third place. Nothing elſe can do it, conviction of the good wayes of God cannot do it: Saul was convinced that David was a righteous man:1 Sam. 24.17. O my ſon David (ſayes he) thou art more righteous then I; and yet he perſecuted him. Conviction, bare conviction will not do it.
Reſolution won't do it neither: Reſolution to turne to God and to become a new man, or woman, that won't do it: bare Reſolution won't do it. Many Reſolve, thta won't do it. And therefore ſaies our Saviour to Peter; Luk 22…13Peter, I have prayed that thy Faith faile not: Satan hath deſired to winnow thee; and, Peter, thou haſt ſaid, though all men forſake me, thou wilt not; thou haſt taken up a great Reſolution, but Peter, tis not Reſolution will do it, if any thing hold, it will be thy Faith: and therefore Peter, I have prayed that thy Faith faile not. He does not ſay, I have prayed that thy Reſolution faile not: NO, Peter, I have prayed that thy faith faile not. You have reade what Hazael reſolv'd, when the Prophet told him he ſhould be a great perſecutor, rip up women with child: Oh! ſayes he, Does my Lord look upon me as a dogs head, and yet he did it. Reſolution won't do it: Reſolution won't carry one through Temptation, and difficulties.
Againe, Morall vertues won't do it. The yound man that came to Chriſt, he was a great moraliſt: when our Saviour told him he ſhould keep the Commandements, that he might obtaine eternall life, Lord, Mat 19.20(ſayes he) all theſe have I kept from my youth; and Chriſt look't upon him and loved him, he was a fine Moraliſt, but notwithſtanding he did not follow Chriſt, he went away, and was very ſorrowfull. Bare morrall vertues won't do it, for they are dead things: You ſee how 'tis with a mans ſhooe, though the Leather be never ſo thick, yet be going upon the ſtones and the gravell, the Leather weares thin, and weares out: But if a man goes barefoot, though the skin of his foot be tinner, the skin does not weare out, but growes thicker: as Indians, they go barefoot, and their skin of their feet weares thicker, by going upon the gravell, and upon the ſtones: What is the Reaſon? The Leather of a mans ſhooe is a dead thing, but the foot is a living thing. And ſo Faith is a living thing, and will carry a man over gravell and ſtones, and difficulties: but morrall vertues, they are but dead things, and though they be never ſo thick, they will grow thin, and weare out, and come to nothing. Bare morrall vertues won't do it.
And then againe, Gifts, and Parts, and Goſpel inlargements cannot do it, they leave black aſhes upon the Soule; they are a blaze, they make a great blaze: Straw that is burnt, makes a great blaze, but it leaves black aſhes upon the harth: So, where theſe are, without ſaving Faith, they may make a great blaze, but the end of them is black aſhes upon the Soule. Jedas, ye know, he had great Gifts, and Goſpel-parts; but that would not doe it, would not carry him through all his Temptations, and difficulties to Jeſus Chriſt. Pray do but compare Nicodemus and Judas: Nicodemus was but in his Catechiſme of Chriſtianity, when Judas was a preacher: Nicodemus comes to Chriſt by night, when Judas preaches Chriſt openly: but in the end, Nicodemus ownes Chriſt, when he is dead; and Judas betrayes him when he is living. Nicodemus had a true, ſaving-faith; Judas had onelyonly gifts; Goſper gifts, and Goſpel-enlargements, that will not do it neither.
And then againe, The experience of Gods former dealings, providentiall dealings and preſervation; that won't do it. You know how it was with thoſe Spies that was ſent into the Land of Canaan: there were two ſorts of Spies: There were good Spies, and there were bad ſpies: The good Spies brought up a good report of the Land: and the evill Spies, brought up an evill report.
How? Why? Conſider but a little. The good Spies they met with many troubles when they were ſent out to ſpy out the Land: faine to be hidden in Rahahs houſe: and then they fled to the mountaines, and there they lay: They come home, and they ſay, The Lord hath delivered this people into our hands The other Spies now, that brought up the evill report; they met with no ſuch hard fare that we reade of: and yet they come home, and they ſay, The men of the Countrey are the children of Anak, and the Cities are wall'd up to Heaven: they had experience of Gods preſervation in a ſpeciall manner, and yet notwithſtanding, that would not do it. Bare experience of Gods preſerving mercy, that will not do it,1 Iohn. 5.4 2 Co… 1.2.4. 'tis only faith will do it, ſaving juſtifying faith, will do it: This is the Ʋictory whereby you overcome the world, your faith: By faith yea ſtand. Looke upon your dangers under a Sea-notion, and Faith it is called your Anchor. Looke upon your dangers under a land-notion, and faith it is called your Shield: nothing but faith can doe it?
You will ſay to me, in the Fourth place, What is it in this ſaving, juſtifying faith, that is able thus to carry the ſoule through all Difficulties, and diſcouragements, and naturall impoſſibilities to Ieſus Chriſt? How does faith do it?
Give me leave to ſtay here.
Firſt, Faith ſhewes the ſoule the glorious, inviſible things of God and of his grace; and brings them neare unto the ſoule. It was a hard thing for Moſes to leave all the pleaſures, and profits, and preferrements of Egypt: he did it though, chooſing rather the afflictions of Pharoah with Gods people; Why? ſaies the. 11. of the Hebrews, He ſaw him that is inviſibel: But how did he ſee him? By faith (ſaies the text) by faith he ſaw him that is inviſible. Faith opens the eyes for to ſee that a man hath more with him, then againſt him: and the workes of God, in Chriſt, are not ſeene by the world: Gods pardoning mercy, not ſeene by the world: The Ʋnion with Ieſus Chriſt, and the priviledge thereof; not ſeene by the world: The ſatisfaction of Ieſus Chriſt for a poor Sinner, not ſeen by the world: The great Power of God not ſeen, or if ſo, yet at a diſtance, it don't much affect. Faith is the ſubſtance of things not ſeene: Heb. 11.1.it does not only ſhew a man things that are otherwiſe unſeene, but brings them neare; Salvation near; pardoning mercy near; the Priviledges of Union with Chriſt neare; Chriſts ſatisfaction neare: and ſo when Difficulties and Diſcouragements do ariſe, ſaies the ſoule through faith, Why ſhould not I be ſatisfied with any condition, ſeeing Chriſt hath ſatisfied for me? I am one with Chriſt, Chriſt is a common perſon: When Chriſt died, I died: when Chriſt roſe, I roſe: when Chriſt aſcended, I aſcended: Chriſt ſitting in Heaven, I ſit there. Thus faith, it elevates, and raiſes up the ſoule into heaven, it carries it over all difficulties and diſcouragements that it can meet withall.
Againe, true, ſaving faith;2. 1 Cor. 3.22. it tels the ſoule that all things are its owne. All things are yours, (ſaies the Apoſtle) things preſent, and things to come, life and death; all things are yours. Faith ſpeakes the ſame language: All things are yours (Soule) all things are yours: Difficulties are yours, and naturall impoſſibilities are yours; things preſent are yours, and things to come are yours. Will you be afraid of that which is your owne? Will the owner be afraid of his owne dog: a maſtiffe, he fals upon a ſtranger, and worries him, and a ſtranger is a afraid of him; but the owner is not afraid, he leapes and fawnes upon him, but does not worry him. Sayes faith, all theſe Difficulties, and all theſe Temptations, they are your owne, they won't worry you; they may leape upon you, they may fawne upon you, but they won't worry you; they are all your owne; part of the purchaſe that Jeſus Chriſt hath made for you, all theſe are your owne, Faith holds this ſteadily upon the ſoule, and ſo a man breaks through Difficulties.
Againe thirdly, True ſaving, juſtifying, faith, it ſhewes a man greater excellencies in Chriſt, then all difficulties, and natur all Diſcour agements can amount unto on the other ſide. You know how 'tis with a dog, the Grey-hound, if hee ſees the game a great way off, he gives it over: but when he comes neare, he will ruſh through the very buſhes for to take the Hare, throw himſelfe upon his back that he may take it, a naturall hope makes him do it: Faith, it raiſes a mighty hope in the ſoule, preſents the ſoule with many Excellencies, and raiſes a mighty hope in the ſoule for the obtainment of them: it does ſpread more Excellencies before the ſoule, then can be loſt by the hand of Difficulties: for example: If a man hath beene a Prodigall, and now is returning to Chriſt: the world ſayes, friends ſay, if you take this courſe, you will loſe all; you will loſe all your acquaintance, loſe your liberty, loſe your eſtate, may be loſe your life: Be it ſo (ſaies faith) though thou loſeſt thy friends, thou ſhalt gaine better: and though thou loſeſt thy liberty, thou ſhalt gaine better: and though thou loſeſt thy life it ſelfe, thou ſhalt gaine a better; 'tis but a while neither (ſayes faith) that thou ſhalt loſe theſe things, and thou ſhalt have them better, in a better Edition. When a mans eyes are open to behold the Excellencies of Chriſt, then they are ſhut to outward Diſcouragements. When a man hath beheld the Sunne in its glory, his eyes dazle to the things that are below: Now Faith opens a mans eyes to ſee the Excellencies of Jeſus Chriſt, and ſo the ſoule is carried through Difficulties and Diſcouragements, though they be never ſo many.
Againe fourthly, True, ſaving faith, it inables the ſoule to leave the ſucceſſe and the event of all unto God himſelfe. Nothing ſtrengthens the hands of Difficulties and Diſcouragements, ſo much, as ſolicitude about ſucceſſe and event of things: True ſaving faith helps a man to leave the ſucceſſe to Chriſt; it does commit the ſoule unto God, unto Chriſt; there is a mutuall committing between Chriſt and a beleever: Chriſt commits himſelfe unto a beleever, and a beleever commits himſelfe againe unto Chriſt. Chriſt commits himſelfe unto a beleever: you know what is ſaid in the Goſpel,John 2.24. Pſal. 37.5. He did not commit himſelfe unto them, becauſe they did not beleeve him: arguing, that he did commit himſelfe unto others that did beleeve him. And beleever commit themſelves unto Jeſus Chriſt. Commit thy way unto the Lord; there is a mutuall way of committing: Chriſt, he does commit his Grace; he does commit his Spirit; he does commit his Truth unto a beleever: a beleever commits his Eſtate, and his Name, and Himſelfe againe unto Chriſt: Chriſt commits his work unto a beleever; and a beleever commits the ſucceſſe of the work againe unto Jeſus Chriſt. Faith now leaves the event, and the ſucceſſe unto Jeſus Chriſt; and therefore, when Difficulties and naturall Diſcouragements arife, and ſay, What wilt thou do now? What wilt thou do now to be preſerved? What wilt thou do to continue now? What wilt thou do to be delivered now? What will become of you now? Oh! Satan (ſayes a beleever,) thou haſt miſtaken the queſtion; My queſtion is not, What ſhall become of me? I have left the ſucceſſe of things to God: but my queſtion is, What ſhall I do for God? My queſtion is, How ſhall I love Jeſus Chriſt? My queſtion is, How ſhall I be like unto Jeſus Chriſt? My queſtion is, How ſhall I ſerve my generation, and owne Jeſus Chriſt in theſe times? This is my queſtion, Faith, true, ſaving faith, it leaves the ſucceſſe and the event of things unto Chriſt, and ſo thereby the ſoule is carried through all Difficulties and naturall Diſcouragements unto Jeſus Chriſt.
In the fifth place. True, ſaving faith is that grace whereby the ſoule takes up the yoke of Chriſt, and the burden of Chriſt upon his ſoule. Chriſts burden, does unburden all other burdens, the very taking Chriſts burden upon a man, does eaſe him of all other burdens. This may ſeem ſtrange to you, that the taking of a new burden, ſhould eaſe one of the former: if a man be carrying coales or wood, the taking of a new burden would not eaſe him of the former; but the burden of Chriſt (Belove) is of another nature. Auſtin diſtinguiſhes them; there is a burden burdening, and a burden ſupporting: he expreſſes it thus; The feathers that a bird or a foule is cloathed with, they have a weight in them, the wings and feathers have a weight, a pound of feathers is as heavy as a pound of lead; there is a weight in thoſe feathers, yet notwithſtanding, they beare up the burden of the body; though there be a weight in them one weight beares up another: Or as 'tis with your coaches, the wheeles are heavy; yet notwithſtanding, being faſtened unto the coach, unto the body of the coach, makes the body to go away the lighter, though they be heavy in themſelves, So now 'tis here, the burden of Jeſus Chriſt it makes all other burdens to go away the lighter. Faith, true, ſaving Faith, it is the grace that takes up the burden of Chriſt upon the ſoule, and ſo thereby all other burdens are made the lighter, and difficulties and diſcouragements overcome.
In the ſixt place. True, ſaving faith, it does teach a man for to picke out the love of God, from under the anger of God. God never makes his Pils ſo bitter, but he mighles ſome Sugar withall: and true faith can find it out. When as our Lord and Saviour Chriſt ſaid,Ioh. 2.4.5. woman what have I to do with thee? mine houre is not yet come: The next words that ſhe ſaies is, to the ſervants, Whatſoever he bids you do, that do. They wanted wine, ſhe came to him for wine, and he anſwered her ſo: it may ſeem an hard anſwer, yet ſaies ſhe to the ſervants, whatſoever he bid you do, that do. For our Saviour had ſaid, my houre is not yet come: implying therfore, that he would do it. Implycation is enough for Faith, for Mary's Faith. Faith, it acquaints a man with the wayes of God, and acquaints a Soule what Gods wayes are: it tels the ſoule, that when Chriſt ſeemes to be the greateſt Enemy, he intends the greateſt friendſhip. He (ſayes faith) does then intend for to raiſe us up, when he ſeemes moſt for to caſt us downe: whereupon, when difficulties and diſcouragements do ariſe, Is this his way indeed? (ſayes a beleeving ſoule,) why then ſhall I be borne down with ſo many diſcouragements, though they be never ſo many?
In the ſeventh and laſt place: true ſaving juſtifying faith, fils the ſoule with Gods infinity, or infiniteneſſe. Gods way is not as your way (ſayes Faith) nor his thoughts as your thoughts; but as the Heavens are above the earth, ſo are his thoughts beyond yours, and his wayes beyond your. Faith lodges this principle into the Soule, that God is infinite; and having laid that principle there, when difficulties and diſcouragements do ariſe, ſaying, you ſee now into what diſtreſſe you are brought, now you ſee there is no hope at all for you deliverance; true indeed, ſayes the Beleever through the ſtrength of Faith, I ſee there is no way in any one reaſon, but God is infinite; I ſee many difficulties, but God is infinite: the ſoule by Faith being fild with the apprehenſion of Gods infiniteneſſe, hereby is carried through all difficulties and diſcouragements to Jeſus Chriſt.
I have not time, I ſee, to tell you how Faith workes by love, which much watter cannot quench, ſtronger then death. And how Faith is ſtrengthened with the ſtrength of the power of God that it layes hold upon. As the Ivie is ſtrong by the ſtrength of the oake that it graſpes upon: ſo Faith is ſtrong by the ſtrength of that God that it graſpes upon.
But the thing is ſufficiently proved, No difficultie can ſtand before ſaving Faith; True, ſaving, juſtifying Faith, carries the Soule through all difficulties, diſcouragements, and naturall Impoſſibilities to Jeſus Chriſt.
I come to the Application.
If theſe things be ſo,Applic. Then if difficulties and naturall diſcouragements do ariſe; (who is there among you, but meete with ſome or other in your ſeverall places?) ſee here the way how for to grapple with them; ſtrengthen your Faith, exerciſe your Faith; Reſolution (you are miſtaken) reſolution won't do it; (Chriſtian) here is thy ſtrength. Conviction won't do it, Morall Vertues won't do it, Evangelicall Gifts, and Parts, and Inlargements won't do it; Experiences of Gods preſervation of you won't do it; (Chriſtian) here's thy ſtrength: But Oh! let not your ſtrength be cutt off in the lap of any Dalilah. True, juſtifying Faith is your ſtrength, that is your ſhield. The Heathen could ſay, when he was ſore wounded, Is my ſhield whole? if that be well, all is well: So ſay I, if your ſhield be well, if your faith be well, if your true juſtifying ſaving faith be well, then all is well. Thus you ſhall be able to look difficulties and diſcouragements in the face, though they be never ſo great.
You will ſay unto me, Queſt. ſuppoſe a man hath newly begun to look unto Jeſus Chriſt and now difficulties and naturall diſcouragements do ariſe: how ſhall he be able ſo to raiſe, and to uſe his faith, as he may be able to breake through all unto Jeſus Chriſt?
Take heed that you do not ſtand poring too much upon them. Anſw. Abraham conſidered not the deadnes of his own body, Sarahs body; But if you will behold them,
Firſt, Exerciſe your faith in the promiſe, before you do ſpeak with thoſe difficulties. Some there are that ſtand poring ſo much upon difficulties and naturall diſcouragements; that they have ſpent the ſtrength of their ſpirits: So that when the promiſe comes, they have no ſtrength at all in their ſpirits to entertaine the promiſe with. If the Rope or Cable be never ſo ſtrong, that is thrown out into the water, if a man be drowned before the Rope or Cable come at him, what matter is it though the Cable be never ſo great? Some there are that ſtand poring ſo much upon naturall diſcouragements, that their hearts are even ſunke, and drown'd before the promiſe comes: and how can the promiſe help you then? therefore ſay, Come firſt promiſe, Come firſt promiſe.
And then againe, if you will behold theſe, Look upon them as they are your Tryall, and many times the devils Engines to worke your hearts off againe: I ſay your Tryals, and the devils Engines to worke your hearts back againe. When you were in your naturall condition, then your heart was quiet, your conſcience quiet, and the divell quiet, and your friends quiet, and did not ſpeak evill of you: Now you begin to look towards Chriſt, now conſcience condemnes, now the Divell accuſes, now your friends, your former friends they ſpeak evill of you. I appeale to thee (man or woman) in thine own ſoule, doeſt thou not thinke that thy former condition, was an ungodly condition? yes: and then quiet; then conſcience quiet, then friends quiet, then Satan quiet: and now conſcience accuſes, and now Satan accuſes, and now friends ſpeak evill. Oh! therefore, ſay, ſurely, this is nothing but a Temptation: and beleeve it (beloved) it is halfe a victory over a Temptation, to know that a Temptation is but a Temptation.
In the third place. Now, now eſpecially; ſet thy ſelfe with all thy might to venture upon Jeſus Chriſt: Labour much in venturing upon Jeſus Chriſt now. Mark. Faith is nothing elſe but the Soules venture: it ventures to Chriſt: it ventures on Chriſt: it ventures for Chriſt.
It ventures to Chriſt, in oppoſition to all legall torrours. It ventures on Chriſt, in oppoſition to all our own guiltineſſe. It ventures for Chriſt, in oppoſition to all Difficulties, and diſcouragements: The proper nature of faith is to venture: and what need we venture, if there were no difficulties? Difficulties properly call for venturing. (Marke it) Do difficulties ariſe? Now ſet thy ſelfe to venture upon Jeſus Chriſt.
If a man be to go home over ſome water, or River, and the water riſes, he ſayes with himſelf, how ſhall I get over this water? The longer I ſtay, the more it riſes: he begins to go into it, and he comes back againe: but (ſayes he) there is no other way, as good firſt, as at the laſt; I muſt venture, I muſt over, there is no other way; and ſo he ventures. So ſay I now unto thee: This thou muſt come unto at laſt (poor ſoule) Difficulties, and diſcouragements ariſe, to ſtave thee off from Chriſt; at the laſt thou muſt venture upon Jeſus Chriſt, at the laſt you muſt venture, notwithſtanding all your guilt: you begin to do it, and you are ready to go back; but know this, firſt or laſt you muſt venture upon Chriſt: hadſt thou not better do it at the firſt? Oh! therefore, when ever any difficulties do ariſe, put thy ſelfe upon faith: ſay, come, O my ſoule, here is a difficulty, now venture on Jeſus Chriſt.
In the fourth place, for your incouragement know this: That the more and greater difficulties your duties or your graces are recovered out of the hand of, the more comfortable they will be to you. (I pray mark it) I ſay, duty, or grace, recovered out of the hand of difficulty, is the moſt comfortable. You know how it was with David at Ziklag: the enemy had come upon him, taken away his wife, and all his comforts; a ſentence of death was upon all his comforts: David, he followes after, overtakes the enemy, recovers his wife, and all his comforts, and there he had the greateſt ſpoile of all ſpoiles; he ſent unto all his friends of his ſpoile, he never had a greater ſpoile. So I ſay, does difficulty, or diſcouragement break in upon your duty? Morning duty? Evening duty? Or any grace? Follow after it: if thou ſtrikeſt this difficulty in the hinder part, and recovereſt thy duty, or thy grace out of the hand of the difficulty, thy duty and thy grace will be more comfortable then ever it was.
And then in the Fift place, Study Jeſus Chriſt more, and labour for a cleare, & a diſtinct knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt. Faith in Scripture phraſe, it is called knowledge, the knowledge of Chriſt By his knowledge he ſhall juſtify many: Iſa. 53 11.to know, and beleeve, they are put together; the more you know, the more cleere and diſtinct knowledge you have of Chriſt, the ſtronger your faith: the leſſe knowledge you have of Chriſt, the weaker your faith; a weak faith is apt to be blown down with every wind: Abraham being not weake, he conſidered not his own body, ſo he ſtaggered not. The weake fire, it may be put out with fuell, caſting of much wood upon it; the ſtrong fire, it increaſes, and growes, even by throwing on of water that is contrary; a weak faith is borne down inſtantly. Art thou therefore weak, and haſt newly begun to look towards Jeſus Chriſt? Oh, labour to get ſtronger faith; and that you ſhall do, by growing in the knowledge of Ieſus Chriſt. Study Chriſt more; his life more; his death more; his fulneſſe more; the merciful diſpoſiton of Ieſus Chriſt more: Thus ſhal you be able to grow ſtrong, and ſhal work through all difficulties, and diſcouragements unto the Lord Chriſt.
Yet you will ſay to mee: Queſt. But ſuppoſe now that a man hath beleeved ſome time, a great while, been in Chriſt a great while; difficulties, and diſcouragements doe ariſe to beat a man out of the good wayes of Chriſt that he hath taken up: How ſhould a man ſo raiſe, and uſe his faith, as he may be able to work through all theſe unto Jeſus Chriſt?
I'le ſpeak but to this, and ſo I'le wind up all. Anſw.
Firſt of all, conſider your call, often conſider your call, your firſt call to a worke; and put your ſelves often unto this diſjunction, Either God hath called me to this worke, or elſe he hath not. If God hath not called me, what meanes this Scripture? And what meanes that Scripture? And what meanes the other Scripture? And if God hath called me, why ſhould I lay down the work for any difficulty? Will not he carry me through? And know this, that difficulties do ſometimes ariſe in our way, to make a ſtoppage in our proceedings: and ſometimes they ariſe onelyonly to draw out our faith. When as thou ſeeſt thy call cleare unto any work, then ſay, theſe difficulties ariſe onelyonly to draw out my faith, and not to make a ſtoppage in my proceedings.
In the ſecond place, conſider this, That the more you beleeve in the face of difficulty, the more you pleaſe God. Nothing ſo pleaſing to God, as beleeving in the face of difficulty. God will truſt him with much, that truſts much to God: God will break through many difficulties to ſave thy ſoule, if thou canſt break through many difficulties to come to him. There's no grace does more honour God, then Faith; of all graces it honours God moſt: and of all the pieces of faith, none doe more honour God, then beleeving in the face of difficulties. When therefore any difficulty or naturall diſcouragement does ariſe, ſay, the Lord pardon mee; Oh! I have diſhonoured God enough already: is this the way for to honour God, to beleeve in the face of difficulties, and naturall diſcouragements? Here now I have more opportunity to do it; the Lord help mee, now will I ſet my ſelfe to beleeve.
In the third place, Sometimes when you meete together, ſpeak unto one another of the great things that God hath done; the great things that God hath promiſed; the great things that Faith hath done. As words of anger do draw out anger, ſo experiences do draw out Faith. OnelyOnly I pray take heed, when ye ſpeake of your experiences, and what God hath done, that ye don't lay, or ground your Faith upon your experience, but upon the promiſe. 'Tis a good ſpeech that Pariſienſis hath, Experience (ſayes he) 'Tis like the crutch, the lame mans crutch, it does uphold the lame man, but it don't cure him: And ſo, an experience, it ſtayes up thy ſoule for the preſent, but experience cannot cure you of your unbeliefe; 'tis onelyonly the promiſe cures you of your unbeliefe. 'Tis ſaid in the 106. Pſalme, concerning the children of Iſrael, When they ſaw the Egyptians lie in the ſea before them, then they beleeved in God, and ſang his praiſe: And the next words that follow, are, They ſoone forgate his works. I, when as we beleeve the word onelyonly becauſe of experience, no wonder that we ſoone forget our experiences, and all. Therefore take heed, tell of your experiences, draw out your experiences for to ſtrengthen your Faith, yet lay not your Faith upon your experience, but upon the Word.
And againe in the fourth place. Above all things, conſider what great difficulties Jeſus Chriſt hath broke through to come to you. Ye reade of him ſo deſcribed in the Canticles, He comes leaping over the mountaines; many are the mountaines, that Jeſus Chriſt came leaping over to come to you. Paſſion-worke is greater and harder then Creation-worke: he came leaping over the mountaines of worke. Oh! ſhall Jeſus Chriſt come leaping over mountaines, and difficulties to come to my Soule, and ſhall I go over no mountaines, and breake through no difficulties to get to Jeſus Chriſt? thinke what difficulties he broke through to come to you.
And laſtly, Never ſpeak with your difficulties or diſcouragements apart from the promiſe. If a man be travailing in the rode, and a thiefe can ſunder him from his company, draw him alone into the woods, a hundred to one but he takes his purſe, if he ſave his life. And if the Devill can part you from the promiſe, take you into the woods, where you ſhall ſee nothing but darkneſſe, difficulties, and diſcouragements; a hundred to one but he ſpoiles you of all your comforts: (man or woman,) does difficulty ariſe therefore? naturall diſcouragement ariſe? Away to the promiſe, and ſay unto them when they come, I will never ſpeak with you, unleſſe it be in the preſence of a promiſe.
Oh, but Gods providence ſeemes for to croſſe his promiſe. Obj.
Be it ſo; yet thou mayeſt beleeve, Anſw. though Gods providence ſeemes for to croſſe his promiſe, yet thou mayeſt reſt on the promiſe.
Oh, but I have a threatning ſet on upon my heart. Object.
Be it ſo, yet thou mayeſt beleeve the promiſe, Anſw. although the threatning have taken hold upon thee, and fild thee with trouble, for God does therefore threaten, that he may make way to a Promiſe; Gods promiſes don't make way to his threatnings; but his threatnings make way to his Promiſes. God does therefore threaten that he may not fulfill: but God does therefore promiſe that he may fulfill: and therefore though the threatning have taken hold upon thine heart, and thou lieſt under the apprehenſion of Gods diſpleaſure, get away to the promiſe, reſt upon the promiſe.
I but Jeſus Chriſt hath withdrawn from me, Object. and hid himſelfe from me.
Be it ſo, yet thou mayeſt go to the Promiſe. Chriſt doth therefore withdraw from thee, that he may draw thee to him. Anſw. Jeſus Chriſt does therefore hide himſelfe, that he may ſhow thee his face more and more: Our brother Joſeph he cannot conceale himſelfe long, his bowels and compaſſions won't let him.
Wherefore then, whenſoever any difficulties, or naturall diſcouragements do ariſe upon you, come to this concluſion, now therefore will I truſt in God, now therefore will I venture upon Ieſus Chriſt; O my ſoule, now venture, now venture and ſay, Lord, ſuch and ſuch difficulties are riſen; thou haſt called me to this work: difficulties ariſe upon me, ſurely thou haſt called me to this work: they are not therefore to make a ſtoppage in my proceedings, but to draw out my faith: now therefore, I do here lay the waite of my poore guilty ſoule upon thee, do with me whats good in thine eyes: Ah Lord, my prayers are dead, my affections dead, and my heart dead: but thou art a living God, and I bare my ſelfe upon thee. Beloved, if ye can beleeve, all things are poſſible; if you cannot beleeve, all things are unpoſſible; faith will make a thing eaſy though it be never ſo difficult: as unbelief doth make a thing difficult though it be never ſo eaſie. This is a certaine truth: no difficulty can ſtand before faith: true ſaving juſtifying faith carries the ſoule through all difficulties, diſcouragements, and naturall impoſſibilies to Jeſus Chriſt. Oh therefore, as you deſire to grapple with the difficulties that you do meet withall, ſtirre up your ſelves in a way of beleeving; for you have hear that nothing elſe can do it. The Lord teach us to beleeve at a higher rate then ever yet we have done.