The Unsearchable Riches of Christ, Sermon 4 · Section 4
Some Propoſitions concerning Spirituall Riches.Some Propoſitions concerning ſpirituall Riches.
And the firſt Propoſition is this.
ALL that doe grow rich in Grace, they grow rich gradually.
The Sun aſcends by degrees; Children, Plants, and Trees, they grow by degrees; ſo doe Saints in ſpiritualls. It's true, many men as to temporalls, by the death of ſome friend, or this or that providence, grow rich on a ſuddaine: But no ſoule that's rich in grace, but growes rich gradually. In Prov. 4. 18. But the path of the juſt is like the ſhining light, that ſhineth more and more unto the perfect day. He proceeds from virtue to virtue, untill at length he ſhines like the Sun in its ſtrength. And ſo in Mal. 4. 2. Ʋnto you that feare my name, ſhall the Sun of righteouſneſſe ariſe with healing under his wings; and you ſhall goe forth and grow up as Calves of the ſtall. Hoſ. 14. 5, 1, 7. I will be as the dew unto Iſrael, he ſhall grow as the Lilly, and caſt forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches ſhall ſpread, and his beauty ſhall be as the Olive-tree, and his ſmell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his ſhadow ſhall returne, they ſhall revive as the corne, and grow as the Vine: The ſent thereof ſhall be as the wine of Lebanon. I ſhall but hint at this now, becauſe I have ſpoken more fully to it already, &c.
The ſecond Propoſition is this.
Few or none are rich in all Graces.
There are ſome men in the world that are generally rich, that are rich in money, and rich in land, and rich in goods. But where you have one man that is a generall rich man in this ſenſe, you have ten thouſand that are onelyonly rich in ſome one thing, as Money, Goods, or Land, &c. ſo it is here. 'Tis a hard thing (if poſſible) to find a ſoule that's generally rich: That is, rich in every grace, that's rich in faith, and rich in wiſedome, and rich in love, and rich in patience, &c. Abraham was rich in Faith, and Job was rich in Patience, and Moſes was rich in Meekneſſe, and David was rich in zeale, &c. but none of theſe were rich in every grace. And ſo in theſe dayes you may find one Chriſtian rich in one grace, and another Chriſtian rich in another grace, but where will you find a Chriſtian that is rich in every grace? Such that are rich in ſome graces, are yet very defective and lame in other graces. No grace growes alike in all Saints. In the Parable ſome brought forth thirty, ſome ſixty, ſome a hundred, &c.The Saints once at Rome were richer in wiſedome and knowledge, then the Saints at Theſſalonica, Rom. 15. 14. And the Saints at Theſſalonica were richer in faith, love, patience, and charity, then the Saints at Rome, 1 Theſſ. 1. 4. 2. 8. compared with 2 Epiſt. 1. 3, 4. It is with Saints, as with ſinners, one ſinner excells in one vice, another in another vice: So one Saint excells in one virtue, and another in another virtue; one is rich in joy, in comfort, another is rich in humility, in feare, another in faith and hope, and another in love, &c. And mark how this ariſes.
It ariſes ſometimes from hence, that every Saint doth indeavour to excell in that particular grace that is moſt oppoſite to his boſome ſin: Now every Saints boſome ſin is not alike; it may be pride is one mans boſome ſin, and hypocriſie another mans boſome ſin, &c. Now it's the very nature of grace to make a man ſtrive to be moſt eminent in that particular grace that is moſt oppoſite to his boſome ſin, and upon this account it comes to paſſe that one is rich in one grace, and another in another.
Againe, Some Saints have frequent occaſions to act and exerciſe ſuch and ſuch graces; others are called forth to act ſuch and ſuch graces; now the more any particular grace is acted, the more that particular grace is increaſed; frequent acts cauſe a ſtronger habite both in graces and in ſins. If all Chriſtians ſhould be rich in all graces, what difference would there be between heaven and earth? what need would there be of Ordinances? and when would Chriſtians long to be diſſolved, and to be with Chriſt? &c.
The third Propoſition is this.
Soules may be rich in Grace, and yet not know it, and yet not perceive it.
The Child is Heire to a Crowne, to a great Eſtate, but The Sun aſcends with out perception, and ſo 'tis often in this ſupernaturall motion, &c. The Greeks derive their word for deſire, from a root that ſignifies to burn. Now if one ſhould heap never ſo much fuell upon a fire, i… would not quench it, but kindle it the more. The Application is eaſie. Gen. 28.knowes it not; Moſes his face did ſhine, and others ſaw it, but he perceived it not: So many a precious ſoule is rich in grace, and others ſee it, and know it, and bleſſe God for it, and yet the poore ſoule perceives it not: Now becauſe a right underſtanding of this, may be of much uſe to ſome ſadded dejected ſoules, I will ſhew you how this comes to paſſe.
Firſt, Sometime it ariſes from the ſoules ſtrong deſires of ſpirituall riches. The ſtrength of the ſoules deſires after ſpirituall riches, doth often take away the very ſence of growing ſpiritually rich. Many covetous mens deſires are ſo ſtrongly carried forth after earthly riches, that though they doe grow rich, yet they cannot perceive it, they cannot believe it: 'Tis juſt ſo with many a precious Chriſtian, his deſires after ſpirituall riches are ſo ſtrong, that they take away the very ſence of his growing rich in ſpiritualls: Many Chriſtians have much worth within them, but they ſee it not. 'Twas a good man that ſaid, The Lord was in this place, and I knew it not, &c.
Againe, This ariſeth ſometimes from mens neglecting the caſting up of their Accounts. Many men thrive, and grow rich, and yet by neglecting the caſting up of their Accounts, they cannot tell whether they goe backward, or forward: 'Tis ſo with many precious ſoules, they grow in grace, and are Seneca reports of one Sexius, that he would every night ask himſelfe theſe three Queſtions. 1 What evill haſt thou healed this day. 2 What vice haſt thou ſtood againſt this day? 3 In what part art thou bettered this day? &c.ſpiritually rich, and yet by neglecting the caſting up of their accounts, they doe not know it, they doe not perceive it, &c.
Againe, Sometimes it ariſeth from the ſoules too frequent caſting up of its Accounts. If a man ſhould caſt up his Accounts once a week, or once a monethmonth, he may not be able to diſcerne that he doth grow rich, and yet he may grow rich; but let him but compare one year with another, and he ſhall clearly ſee that he doth grow rich. Though moſt are to blame for neglecting the caſting up of their accounts, yet ſome are to blame for caſting up their accounts too often; for by this means they are not able to perceive their ſpirituall growth, and ſo can neither be ſo thankfull, nor ſo cheerfull as otherwiſe they might. Let there be ſome conſiderable time between your caſting up of your Accounts, and you will find that your ſoules are growne rich, though for the preſent you perceive it not.
But then againe, Sometimes it ariſeth from the ſoules miſtake in caſting up of its accounts. The ſoule many times miſtakes, 'tis in a hurry, and there the ſoule puts downe ten for a hundred, and a hundred for a thouſand; as ſometimes men in hurrying over their Books, they ſlip and make miſtakes, and ſo they think there's nothing got, whereas indeed there's much got, and in the cloſe they ſhall find it ſo. Many a gracious ſoule many times, takes a great deale of gra…e for a little, and a little grace, for no grace. Look as Hypocrites put downe their Counters for gold, their pence for pounds, and alwayes prize themſelves above the Market: So ſincere ſouls doe often put downe their pounds for pence, their thouſands for hundreds, and ſtill prize themſelves below the Market, &c.
The fourth Propoſition is this.
That Saints muſt indeavour to grow rich in every Grace.
'Tis the duty and the glory of Saints, to indeavour to grow rich in every grace. So the Apoſtle, 2 Pet. 1. 5. to 12. Add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, &c. It is the work, the duty, the glory of a Chriſtian, to be ſtill adding one grace to another. So in Chap. 3. 18. Grow in Grace (that is, in every grace, but more particularly and ſpecially) in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt.
Grow in Grace, that is, grow in love, in faith, in humility, in meekneſſe, &c. but eſpecially in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, becauſe that was a ſpeciall remedy againſt the errors of thoſe times, &c. All the graces that be in you, are weak, and therefore you had need to ſtrengthen them all.
Againe, You have the ſeeds of all corruptions in you, and is there any way to be rid of every ſin, but by thriving in every grace?
Againe, You have opportunities as well to thrive in one grace, as in another.
Againe, Will not Satan labour might and maine to keep your graces low and poore? You never hurt him leſſe, you never honour Chriſt leſſe, you never mind your work leſſe, then when grace is weak and low: This he knowes, and therefore labours to keepe your graces downe▪
Againe, Are not you liable to ſeverall changes in this world? As to be rich and poore, exalted and abaſed, now to relieve, and anon to be relieved; now well, and anon ſick; Whilſt Pompey p…oſpered, and Rome flouriſhed, Cato ſtoutly held and defended a Divine providence; but when he ſaw Pompey overthrowne by Caeſar, his body caſt upon the ſhore without honour of buriall, and himſelfe expoſed to the danger of Caeſars Army, he changed his opininion, denying tha… there was a Divine providence, but that all things fell out by chance▪ &c.now ſtrong, and anon weak; now in ſtormes, and anon in calmes; now tempted, and anon delivered; now in one condition, and anon in another condition; now up, now downe; now forward, now backward, &c. Now pray tell me, doth not the ſeverall cha…ges and variety of providences that we meet with in this world, beſpeak us to be rich (not in ſome) but in every grace? Don't a ſtate of proſperity beſpeak a man to be rich in wiſedome, rich in humility, rich in love, and rich in compaſſion? that his heart may be kept cloſe to God in that ſtate, and that he may doe nothing unworthy of God, who ha's done ſo much for him: And now when God ſhall change the manner of his adminiſtrations towards ſuch a man, when God ſhall put out his Candle, pull off his Robes, and cloath him with raggs, and ſet him, with Job, upon the dunghill, don't this condition beſpeak much patience, much contentation, much ſelf-deniall, much faith? how elſe will this man bravely bear up, when God ſhall write ſuch bitter things againſt him, and paſſe the ſentence of death upon his neareſt, and his deareſt comforts? If a man be not rich in one grace, as well as in another, when God ſhall bring changes upon him, and poure him from veſſel to veſſel, his life will be a burden, a hell unto him, &c.
Againe, Conſider this, growing rich in every grace renders a Chriſtian moſt lovely and beautifull in grace. As a growth in all the members of the body, renders the body moſt lovely and beautifull; the perfect beauty and comelineſſe of the body riſes from the ſymmetry and fitneſſe of the parts unto one another. Rare and excellent beauty ariſeth from the comelineſſe of all parts; if one part be comely, and another deformed, then there is no perfect beauty. Well, remember this, there's no ſuch beautifull Chriſtians, as thoſe that grow rich in every grace: Oh! they are the beauty of Chriſt, the honour of the Goſpel, and the glory of Chriſtianity.
And ſo much for the fourth Propoſition, viz. That we muſt labour to be rich in every Grace.
The fifth Propoſition that I ſhall lay downe, is this.
Saints ſhould labour more particularly, and more eſpecially to be rich in Faith.
Though 'tis of concernment to believers, to be rich in every grace, yet it is of ſpeciall concernment to them to labour to be rich in this particular grace of faith. In Jude, verſ. 20. Building up your ſelves in your moſt holy faith. 'Tis not enough to have faith, but they muſt build up themſelves, and build up one another in their moſt holy faith.
There are three things that the Scripture calls precious.
Firſt, The Blood of Chriſt. In 1 Pet. 1. 19. Ye are not redeemed with ſilver, and gold, but with the Precious Blood of Chriſt, as of a Lamb without blemiſh, and without ſpot.
Secondly, The Promiſes are called Precious Promiſes. 2 Pet. 1. 4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and Precious Promiſes.
Thirdly, Faith is called Precious Faith. Verſ. 1. Ʋnto them that have obtained like Precious Faith with us. Now though it be of concernment for every Saint to labour to be rich in every grace; yet more eſpecially, and more particularly to be rich in this Grace of faith, and that upon this account that followes.
Firſt, Becauſe that Faith is the ſoules greateſt and choyceſt fence againſt her worſt enemies.
In Epheſ. 6. 16. Above all, take the ſhield of Faith, whereby yee may be able to quench all the firey darts of the wicked.
Above all, take the ſhield of faith. Neglect no part of your Armour, but above all look to the ſhield of Faith. Look what the ſhield is to the body, that is Faith to a believers ſoule, to ſecure him againſt all the fierce and fiery darts of Satan.
It is reported of Satan, that he ſhould ſay of a learned man, *Tu me ſemper vincis.Thou doeſt alwayes overcome me: When I would exalt and promote thee, thou keepeſt thy ſelfe in humility; and when I would throw thee downe, thou lifteſt thy ſelfe up in Aſſurance of faith. Faith makes the ſoule invincible, it makes the ſoule victorious, it leads captivity captive, it binds Satan in chaines, it foiles him at every weapon; and therefore above all labour to be rich in faith.
Secondly, Growth in faith will advance the growth of all other Graces.
All other graces thrive in the ſoule as faith thrives, and no otherwiſe; be rich in this, and be rich in all; be weak in this, and be weak in all. Faith hath an influence upon all other graces; it is like a ſilver threed, that runs through a Chaine of Pearles, it puts ſtrength and vivacity into all other graces. You never knew a man rich in any grace, that ha's not been rich in faith. Every mans hope, joy, feare, love, humility, patience, &c. is as his faith is. In Heb. 11. 1. Faith is the evidence of things not ſeene, and the ſubſtance of things hoped for. Or as the Greek ha's it, The ſubſiſtance of foreign.things hoped for. All other graces live upon faiths coſt and charge. Look what the breaſt is to the Child, wings to the bird, Oyle to the wheeles, and the ſoule to the body, that is faith to all other graces in the ſoule of man.
It is reported of the Christall, that it hath ſuch a virtue in it, that the very touching of it quickens other ſtones, and puts a luſtr… and a beauty upon them. I am ſure 'tis true of faith, there is ſuch a Divine virtue and power in faith, that it will quicken and caſt a luſtre and a beauty upon all other graces in the ſoule of man; and therefore you ſhould labour as for life, to be rich in this particular grace of faith.
Thirdly, Conſider this, Of all Graces▪ that be in the ſoule of man, faith is the moſt uſefull grace, and therefore you ſhould above all labour to be rich in faith.
'Tis a Chriſtians right eye, without which he cannot ſee for Chriſt; 'tis his right hand, without which he cannot doe for Chriſt; 'tis his tongue, without which he cannot ſpeak for Chriſt; 'tis his very vitall ſpirits, without which he cannot act for Chriſt.
Some ſay that King Midas had obtained of the Gods, that whatſoever he touch'd ſhould be turn'd into gold. I am ſure that whatever faith toucheth, it turnes into gold; that is, into our good. If our faith touches the Promiſes, it turns them into our good; whatſoever faith layes its hand upon, it appropriates to it ſelfe, and turnes it into the ſoules good. If Pſal 63. 1. Pſal. 89. 26. John 20 28.faith looks upon God, it ſaith, This God is my God for ever and ever, and he ſhall be my guide unto death. When it looks upon Chriſt, it ſaith with Thomas, My Lord, and my God. When it looks upon the Crowne of righteouſneſſe, it ſaith, This Crowne is laid up for me, &c. Faith is bread to nouriſh us, and wine to cheere us, and a Cordiall to ſtrengthen us. Faith is a ſword to defend us, a guide to direct us, a ſtaffe to ſupport us, a plaiſter to heale us, a friend to comfort us, and a golden key to open heaven unto us. Faith of all graces is the moſt uſefull grace to the ſoule of man. Without faith it is impoſſible Heb. 11. 6.to pleaſe God. All thoſe ſervices are loſt, wherein faith hath not a hand. You may write loſſe upon all the prayers Heb. 4. 2.you make, and upon all the Sermons you hear, and upon all the teares you ſhed, and upon all the almes you give, if all be not managed by a hand of faith.
Fourthly, You ſhould labour above all to be rich in faith, becauſe faith is that Princely Grace that Chriſt is moſt taken with.
Cant. 4. 9. Thou haſt raviſhed my heart, my Siſter, my Spouſe, thou haſt raviſhed my heart with one, of thine eyes, (that is, with that piercing eye of faith that looks up to my Mercy-ſeat) with one Chaine of thy neck.
There are two things that with open mouth ſpeake out Chriſt to be moſt taken with the faith of his people.
And the firſt is, His uncrowning himſelfe, to Crowne his peoples faith. Chriſt doth often take the Crowne off his owne head, and puts it upon the head of faith, witneſſe ſuch paſſages as theſe (which are frequent in Scripture, Thy faith hath healed thee, Thy faith hath ſaved thee, Thy faith hath made thee whole, &c. Chriſt takes the Crowne off his owne head, and puts it upon the head of faith; and no wonder, for of all graces, faith takes the Crowne off a mans owne head, and puts it upon the head of Chriſt. Man naturally is apt to Crowne any thing but Chriſt; he is apt to Crowne his prayers, and Crowne his deſires, and Crowne his indeavours, &c. Oh but now faith acts like a King of Kings, and uncrownes all▪ and ſets the Crowne upon the head of Chriſt.
And then a ſecond thing that ſpeaks out Chriſt to be moſt taken with the grace of faith, is this, That he overlooks all other graces in compariſon of faith, as you may ſee in the Canaanite woman, Mat. 15. 21-29. The poore woman ſhewes a great deale of compaſſion, a great deale of wiſedome, a great deale of humility, a great deale of love, and a great deale of ſelf-deniall; but in the cloſe ſaith Chriſt, O woman greae is thy faith, be it unto thee even as thou wilt. He doth not ſay, O woman great is thy love, nor O woman great is thy wiſedome, nor O woman great is thy humility, and ſelf-deniall, nor O woman great is thy patience, &c. but O woman great is thy faith. He overlooks, as it were, all other graces, and ſets the Crowne upon the head of faith, O woman great is thy faith. So in Mark 5. the woman that had a bloody iſſue twelve yeares, comes to Chriſt for cure, and in the cloſe of the ſtory, ſaith Chriſt to her, Woman, thy faith hath made thee whole. He doth not ſay, Woman, thy preſſing hard to come to me, hath made thee whole; but Thy faith hath made thee whole. He doth not ſay, Woman, thy earneſt deſires and indeavours to be made whole, ha's made thee whole, but Thy faith hath made thee whole. He doth not ſay, Woman, thy feare and trembling hath made thee whole, but Thy faith hath made thee whole, &c. So in Luke 7. ult. Thy faith hath ſaved thee, goe in peace. Though ſhe wept much, and loved much, yet Chriſt doth not ſay, Thy teares have ſaved thee, thy ſorrow hath ſaved thee. He doth not ſay, Thy humility, thy charity hath ſaved thee; but O woman, thy faith hath ſaved thee. Chriſt overlooks all other graces, as it were, and caſts a lovely eye upon the grace of ſaith, &c.
And then againe in the fifth place, You ſhould above all labour to be rich in faith, becauſe of all graces in the ſoule of man, faith makes him moſt lively and active.
There's no grace, I ſay, no grace in the ſoule of man that makes him ſo full of life and action, as the grace of faith. Faith is the Primum Mobile, the firſt pin, the firſt wheele True faith puts forth it ſelf into vitall operations. Ferdinands of Arragon believed the ſtory told him by Columbus, and therefore he furniſhed him with ſhips, & got the Weſt-Indies, by his faith in the undertaker But Henry the Seventh of England, believed h…m not, & therefore truſted him not with ſhipping, and ſo loſt all the purchaſe of that faith, which purchaſe may yet be recovered, if the Lord ſhall pleaſe to own and crown the juſt and noble deſigne of Generall Pen, &c.that moves all the golden wheeles of obedience. In Heb. 11. you read what thoſe Worthies did, they left their Countrey, their kindred, upon a bare command of God. Faith hath Rachel's eye, but Leah's womb, it makes ſoules very fruitfull in wayes of well-doing. Faith is as the ſpring in the Watch, that moves the wheels; not a grace ſtirs, till faith ſets it on work. Faith is like Solomons virtuous woman, that ſets all her maidens to work. Faith ſets joy on work, Abraham deſired to ſee my day, and ſaw it, and rejoyced. Faith ſets love on work, It workes by love, Gal. 5. 6. It ſets hope on work, Rom. 8. 24, 25. It ſets godly ſorrow at work, Zech. 12. 10. It ſets patience at work, I believe that God is wiſe and loving, and what he does is out of ſome noble deſigne to doe my ſoule good, this ſpins out patience. Faith fits a man to doe, to ſuffer, to waite, to walk, &c. therefore labour above all to be rich in faith.
And then ſixthly, Of all graces▪ faith renders the ſoule moſt invincible, and therefore you ſhould labour above all, to be rich in faith.
It renders the ſoule invincible and unconquerable under all the hardſhips and tryalls it meets with in this world. Faith makes a man triumph in all the changes and conditions of this life. It was their faith that made them invincible in Dan. 3. 16, 17, 18. O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not carefull to anſwer thee in this matter, if it be ſo, our God whom we ſerve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O King. But if not, be it knowne unto thee, O King, that we will not ſerve thy Gods, nor worſhip thy golden Image which thou haſt up. And ſo Daniels faith ſtopt the Lyons mouths, it made him too ſtrong for the ſtrongeſt Beaſts of prey, as you may ſee in Dan. 6. Though the Enemies of a believer are very ſubtile, ſtrong, and experienced, and though the battell be hot and long, yet a ſoule rich in faith ſhall have the day. Faith will render a believer victorious in the cloſe; He may ſuffer death (as Mori poſſe vinci non poſſe. Cyp.Cyprian ſaid to Cornelius) but never Conqueſt: Faith renders the ſoule a Lyon, a Rock, &c. It is reported of ſome of the Roman and Grecian Captaines, that they proved alwayes As may be fully ſeen in the Book of Martyrs, and in Heb. 11.victorious, and were never beaten by any. Such is the nature of faith, it renders a ſoule victorious in all ingagements: In all ingagements faith brings a man bravely off, and inables him to keep his ground, and triumph. Pſal. 60. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. God hath ſpoken in his holineſſe, I will rejoyce, I will divide Shechem, and meet out the valley of Succoth. Gilead is mine, and Manaſſeh is mine, Ephraim alſo is the ſtrength of my Faith alaers the Tenſes, it puts the future into the preſent, Gilead is mine, &c.head, Judah is my Law-giver, Moab is my waſh-pot, over Edom will I caſt out my ſhooe, Philiſtia triumph thou becauſe of me, &c. 'Tis not great reſolutions, nor bigge words, nor high looks, but faith, that will make a man ſtand faſt in ſhaking times. No hand can put the Garland upon a Chriſtian, but the hand of faith, &c.
And then ſeventhly, Above all labour to be rich in faith, becauſe Satan will labour might and maine to weaken your faith.
Oh! the great deſigne of Satan is not ſo much to weaken you in externalls, as it is to weaken you in internalls. Satan can be contented that men ſhould have their heads full of notions, and their mouths full of Religion, and their baggs full of gold, and their cheſts full of ſilver, and their ſhops full of wares, ſo their ſoules be either voyd of faith, or but poor and low in faith. Satans greateſt plot is to weaken the faith of Chriſtians, Luke 22. 31, 32. And the Lord ſaid, Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath deſired to have you, that he may ſift Satan knowes that Nihil retinet qui fidem perdidit.you as wheat, but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith faile not. Satan hath an akeing tooth at thy faith, his deſigne is upon that, he will labour might and maine to weaken that, to fruſtrate that, and therefore I have prayed that thy faith faile not.
And then eighthly, Conſider this, of all graces faith contributes moſt to the bringing downe of mercies and bleſſings upon your ſelves and friends, and therefore you ſhould above all labour to be rich in this particular grace of faith.
Faith contributes to the bringing downe of bleſſings upon our ſelves. In Dan. 6. 23. Daniel was delivered (ſaith the Text) becauſe he believed in his God. 'Twas his faith, and not his prayers; 'twas his faith, and not his teares; 'twas his faith, and not his ſighes, that ſtopt the Lyons mouths, and wrought deliverance for him. So in Pſal. 27. 13. I had fainted unleſſe I had believed to ſee the goodneſſe of the Lord in the Land of the living. So in 2 Chron. 20. 20. Believe in the Lord your God, ſo ſhall ye be eſtabliſhed; believe his Prophets, ſo ſhall ye proſper, and ſo they did. That's a very famous Scripture to this purpoſe, 2 Chron. 13. 15, 16, 17. Then the men of Judah gave a ſhout, and as the men of Judah ſhouted, it came to paſſe that God ſmote Jeroboam and all Iſrael Were men more rich in faith, they would be more rich in other bleſſings, &c.before Abijah and Judah, and the Children of Iſrael fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hands: And Abijah and his people ſlew with a great ſlaughter, ſo there fell downe ſlaine of Iſrael five hundred thouſand choſen men. (Here was a dreadfull ſlaughter; no wars, no ſlaughters comparable to thoſe the Scripture ſpeaks of.) And the reaſon is rendred, verſ. 18. Becauſe they relyed upon the Lord God of their fathers. And as faith is the onelyonly way to bring downe a bleſſing upon our ſelves, ſo faith is the onelyonly way to bring downe bleſſings upon our friends and relations. Though another man cannot be ſaved by my faith, yet he Gen. 39.may be bleſt with many bleſſings, upon the account of my faith. In Mat. 15. 22. to 29. it was the Canaanitiſh womans faith that brought a bleſſing of healing upon her daughter. And ſo in Mat. 8. 6. to 14. the Centurions faith heal'd his ſervant that was ſick of a Palſie, and from that very houre he was healed. The ſervant got well by his Maſters faith. And ſo likewiſe in Mark 9. the faith of the father prevailed for the diſpoſſeſſing of his Son. If thou canſt believe (ſaith Chriſt) all things are poſſible: And the poore man ſaid with teares, Lord I believe, helpe my unbelief. And preſently Chriſt charged the foule ſpirit to come out of him, &c. A believing husband, a bel…eving wife, a believing Child, or a believing ſervant, may bring downe (by the actings of faith) many a bleſſing upon their relations. Faith hath a happy hand, and never but ſpeeds in one kind, or another: It hath what it would, either in money, or moneys worth.
Apollenius, ſaith Sozonem, Never askt any thing of God, either for himſelfe, or his friends, but he had it. And one pointing to Luther, ſaid, There's a man can have any thing of God that he will aske.
And as faith brings downe bleſſings upon our owne heads, Faith hath a kind of Omnipotency in it, i…'s able to do all thing…, &c.and the heads of our friends, ſo it often brings downe wrath upon our enemies. There's nothing contributes ſo much to our enemies ruine, as faith doth. I am confident, it hath neither been Armies, nor Navies, nor Parliaments, that have had the chief hand in bringing howne the proud and ſtout enemies of Chriſt, and Zion, in this and other Nations, but the faith of his deſpiſed people. One Enemy may ſtand before Mary Queen of Scots, that was Mo…her o King James, was wont to ſay, That ſhe feared M…. Knockes prayers (who was a man of much …i…h) more then an Army of ten thouſand men.the face of another, but what enemy can ſtand before the face and power of faith? That's a remarkable Scripture, Heb. 11. 33. Who through faith ſubdued Kingdomes, wrought righteouſneſſe, obtained Promiſes, ſtopped the mouths of Lyons, quenched the violence of fire, eſcaped the edge of the ſword, out of weakneſſe were made ſtrong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the Armies of Alians. Other means were uſed, but that which did the work, and ſtruck all dead, was faith; faith ingages God in every incounter, and who can ſtand before a conſuming fire?
Polybius ſpeaking of Horati…s his keeping of the field againſt his Enemies Forces, ſaith, That his enemies were more afraid of his faith, then of his war like ſtrength. And truly there is nothing that renders men more dreadfull to an underſtanding enemy, then their faith. Oh! 'tis brave for men to believe downe the powers of darkneſſe, to believe downe thoſe that war againſt the Lamb, &c. No way to get an Enemy downe, like this; nor no way to keep an Enemy downe, like this: No way to ſave a Kingdome, like this; nor no way to keep a Kingdome, like this; the Nation is beholding to none ſo much, as to believing ſoules. Oh England! England! thou hadſt long before this, been a prey to men that delight in blood, had it not been for the faith of the Worme Jacob, &c. Chriſtians, as you would have Chriſt goe on, and doe more and more glorious things for England, as you would be Crown'd with the choyceſt and the chiefeſt bleſſings, and as you would have vengeance executed upon all that hate, that wage war againſt, and perſecute Chriſt and the Saints, be mighty in believing.
Ninthly, and laſtly, Faith is a root Grace, and will the branches flouriſh, if the root wither?
O therefore water this root, have an eye to this root. If you have a choyce root in any of your Gardens, Oh how carefull are you of it? you will mind it, and water it, and look to it, &c. Well, of all graces faith is the root grace, and if this dye, you will find your graces to languiſh; your hope, love, fear, patience, humility, joy, &c. can never outlive your faith, theſe live together, and they dye together; therefore above all labour to be rich in faith, for this is a root grace, and if this flouriſh, all other graces will flouriſh; but if this decay, all other graces will looſe their ſtrength, beauty, and glory, &c.
And thus much for the fifth Propoſition: We come now to the ſixth Propoſition, and that is this.
That no gracious ſoules doe at all times alike grow and thrive in ſpirituall riches.
A Child ſometimes ſhootes up more in a month, then he doth at other times, in many months; and ſometimes more And don't Plants and Trees ſometimes ſhoot up more in a week, then …n many, &c.in a year, then he does afterwards in many years. So many a Chriſtian thrives more, and gets more ſpirituall riches in one monethmonth, then in many; in one year, then in many. I appeale to your experiences, Chriſtians, don't you find it ſo? I know you doe: To cite Scripture to prove this, would be to caſt water into the ſea, and to light Candles to ſee the Sun at noone. Sin and Satan doe ſometimes work more violently, and more ſtrongly in the ſoules of Saints, then at other times. Now when ſin and Satan work moſt, and prevaile moſt, then grace thrives leaſt. As the life of grace, is the death of ſin, and the growth of grace, the decay of ſin, ſo the increaſe of ſin, is the decay of grace; and the ſtrengthning No ſhips have it all times the ſame gales of wind, &c.of ſin, is the weakning of grace.
Againe, No Saints have at all times alike gales of the ſpirit of God, and therefore they doe not grow in ſpirituall riches at all times alike. A man thrives in ſpirituall riches as the gales of the ſpirit of God are upon him, and no otherwiſe: When the ſpirit of the Lord doth blow moſt ſweetly Cant. 4. ult.and ſtrongly upon his heart, then his graces thrive and flouriſh moſt, then thoſe beds of ſpices doe yeeld the moſt fragrant ſmell. But when the ſpirit of the Lord doth withdraw, and with-hold his influences, how does the ſtrength and glory Latimer ſaid of the Spirit, That 'tis coming, and going, &c.of grace, wither and decay?
The Herb Heliotropium doth turne about, and open, and ſhut, according to the motion of the Sun, ſo doe the graces of the Saints according to the internall gales, motions, and operations of the ſpirit, &c.
Againe, No Saints have at all times the like externall advantages and opportunities of growing rich in ſpiritualls. They have not the word, it may be, in that power and life, as formerly; or it may be they injoy not the communion of Saints, as formerly, or if they doe, yet perhaps thoſe that have formerly been as fire to warme and inflame them, are now become water to coole them, and deaden them; or it may be they have not thoſe advantages for Cloſet duties, as formerly; or it may be the courſe of nature is changed, and if ſo, 'tis no wonder that they thrive not in ſpiritulls, as formerly. When Children have not as good food, and as good lodging, and as good looking after, as at other times, no wonder if they thrive not, as at other times. When men have not the ſame advantages and opportunites to grow rich in the world, as formerly, doe we wonder that they thrive not as before? Surely no.
And ſometimes this ariſes from the breaking of ſome bone by ſin; David found it ſo. Many a man by breaking a bone Pſal. 50.is much hindered from thriving in the world. O this broken arme, this broken legge, hath loſt me many a faire pound, which otherwiſe I might have got. O friends, ſin is the breaking of the bones, the breaking of a mans peace and communion Iſa. 59. 1, 2. Chap. 64. 7. Gal. 6. 1.with God; 'tis the breaking of his hope and confidence in God, 'tis the diſ-joyning of a man from God, and ſo it hinders a mans ſpirituall growth. Believe it, Chriſtians, if you play and dally with ſin, if you fall in with ſin, if you make one with ſin, you will never grow rich in ſpiritualls. Sin will cauſe ſuch a breaking of bones, as will undoubtedly hinder the proſperity of your ſoules. And ſo much for the ſixth Propoſition.
The ſeventh and laſt Propoſition I ſhall propound, is this. A man may grow rich in thoſe Graces that are more remote from Chriſt, that are leſſe converſant about Chriſt, when he doth not grow rich in thoſe Graces, that, as ſpeciall favourites, ſtand alwayes at the elbow of Chriſt, and are moſt buſied and converſant about Chriſt.
Let me open it thus to you.
You know at Court there are ſome that have the honour to attend alwayes at the Princes elbow; and there are others that appertaine to the ſame Prince, but are more remote in their imployments for him, &c. So in the ſoule, there are ſome graces that are more remote, and not ſo converſant about the perſon of Chriſt, as now Humility, Self-denyall, Patierce, Meekneſſe, Temporance, Sobriety, and the like. Now though theſe graces doe appertaine to the ſame Prince, though they are all ſervants of the Lord Jeſus, yet notwithſtanding they are more remote, and buſied about other objects, and things. O but now faith and love are choyce favourites that alwayes ſtand at the elbow of Chriſt, faith and love, are Chriſts greateſt favourites in Heaven. Now I ſay, a Chriſtian may grow rich in thoſe graces that are more remote from Chriſt, that are leſſe converſant about the perſon of Chriſt, when he doth not grow rich in thoſe particular graces that are moſt active about the perſon of Chriſt. He may grow rich in Humility, in Self-deniall, in Meekneſſe, in Temperance, &c. when he doth not grow up in joy and delight, Some Limbs and branches of a Tree grow more then others.and comfort, &c. The Tree growes downward, when it doth not grow upward; ſo a ſoule may grow rich in ſome particular graces, when he doth not grow rich in other graces; he may grow rich in thoſe graces that are more remote from Chriſt, when he doth not grow rich in thoſe graces that are more converſant about the perſon of Chriſt.
And ſo I have done with theſe Propoſitions, the ſerious minding of them may prevent many Objections, and to many give ſatisfaction in ſeverall caſes, &c.
The fourth and laſt thing propounded, was to give you