Heaven on Earth, Discourse · Chapter 5 (2 of 4)

Heaven on Earth · Discourse · Chapter 5 (2 of 4)

p. 343Fifthly, That Knowledge that accompanies2 Cor. 5. 16. Divine knowledge made the Apoſtle eaſily overlook all the world as a man doth eaſily over-look other things, that looks to finde a Jewel, a Peal of price, &c.2 Cor 5:16 Salvation, is a world delpiſing, a world crucifying, and a world contemning knowledge; it makes a man have low, poor, mean thoughts of the world; it makes a man ſlight it, and trample upon it, as a thing of no value. That Divine light that accompanies ſalvation, makes a man to look upon the world, as mixt, as mutable, as momentary; it makes a man look upon the world, as a lier, as a deceiver, as a flat…erer, as a murderer, and as a witch that hath bewitched the ſouls of thouſands to their eternal overthrow, by her golden offers and proffers. Divine knowledge put Paul upon trampling upon all the bravery and glory of the world. Phil. 3. 4, to 9. I ſhall onelyonly tranſcribe the ſeventh and eighth verſes, and leave p. 344you to turn to the reſt. But what things were gain to me, thoſe I counted loſs for Chriſt. Yea doubtleſs, and I count all things but loſs for the excellency of the knowledge of Chriſt Jeſus, my Lord: For whom I have ſuffered the loſs of all things, and do count them but dung, (foreign foreign Dicuntur quaſi, foreign micae quae canibus projiciuntur.dogs dung, or dogs meat, courſe and contemptible) that I may win Chriſt. Divine knowledge raiſes his heart ſo high above the World, that he looks upon it with an eye of ſcorn and diſdain, and makes him count it as an excrement, yea, as the very worſt of excrements, as dogs dung, as dogs meat. Of the like import is that of Heb. 10. 34. For ye had compaſsion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the ſpoiling of your goods, knowing in your ſelves, that ye have in Heaven a better, and an enduring ſubſtance. Divine knowledge will make a man rejoyce, when his enemies makes a bonfire of his goods. This man hath bills of exchange under Gods own hand, to receive a pound for every penny, a million for every mite, that he looſes for him: AndMatth. 19, 27, to ult.Matt 19:27 this makes him to rejoyce, and to trample upon all the glory of this p. 345world, as one did upon the Philoſophers Crown. It was heavenly knowledge that made Moſes to diſdain andHeb. 11. 24, 25, 26. Greek, Grown a great one.Heb 11:24Heb 11:25Heb 11:26 ſcorn, the pomp and pleaſures, the bravery and glory, the riches and advantages of Egypt and Ethiopia too, as ſome Writers obſerve. So when a beam of divine light had ſhined upon Zacheus. O how doth it work him toLuke 19. 2, to 10.Luke 19:2–10 part with the world, to caſt off the world, to ſlight it and trample upon it, as a thing of naught. And ZacheusMany Turks and Heathens will riſe in judgement againſt thoſe Profeſſors that act not as Zacheus did. ſtood, and ſaid unto the Lord, Behold Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by falſe accuſation, I reſtore him fourfold. And Jeſus ſaid unto him, This day is Salvation come to this houſe, for ſo much as he alſo is the ſon of Abraham. Before the Candle of the Lord was ſet up in Zacheus ſoul, he dearly loved the world, he highly prized the world, he eagerly purſued after the world; he would have it right or wrong, his heart was ſet upon it, he was reſolved to gather riches, though it was out of others ruines. I, but when once he was divinely enlightned, he throws off the world, he eaſily p. 346parts with it, he ſets very light by it he looks with an eye of diſdain upon it: His knowledge lifts him up above the ſmiles of the world, and above the frowns of the world; the world is no longer a ſnare, a bait, a temptation to him; he knows that it is more to be a ſon of Abraham (that is, to be taken into covenant with Abraham, toRom 4. 12, 16. & 9 1.Rom 4:12Rom 4:16Rom 9:1 tread in the ſteps of Abrahams faith, as children tread in the ſteps of their fathers, and to lie and reſt in the boſom of Abraham, as ſons do in their fathers boſoms,) then to be rich, great, and honorable in the world. And this made him ſhake hands with the world,Iſa. 30. 22. Hoſ. 14. 8.Isa 30:22Hos 14:8 and ſay to it, as he to his Idols, Get you hence, for what have I more to do with you. Verily, that light, that knowledge, will never lead thee to Heaven, it will never poſſeſs thee of ſalvation, that1 John 2. 15. Jam. 4. 4.1 John 2:15Jas 4:4 leaves thee under the power of the world, that leaves thee in league and friendſhip with the world: If thy knowledge doth not put the world under thy feet, it will never put a crown of glory upon thy head. The Church hath the Moon under her feet (Revel. 12. 1.) that is, cloathed with the Sun, p. 347and that hath a Crown upon her Head.

Ah knowing Souls, knowing Souls! do not deceive your ſelves; verily, if you are cloathed with the comelineſs and righteouſneſs of the Sun, which is Jeſus Chriſt, and have a crown of victory and glory upon your heads? You will have the Moon under your feet, you will tread and trample upon the traſh of this world; all the riches, glories, and braveries of this world, will be under your feet, in reſpect of your non-ſubjection to it, and your holy contempt of it. If thy knowledge doth not inable thee to ſet thy feet upon thoſe things that moſt ſet their hearts? thou art undone for ever, thy knowledge will be ſo far from lifting thee up to Heaven, that it will caſt thee the lower into Hell. Therefore let no knowledge ſatisfie thee, but that which lifts thee above the world, but that which weans thee from the world, but that which makes the world a foot-ſtool: This knowledge, this light will at laſt lead thee into Everlaſting Light.

Sixthly, That Knowledge that accompanies p. 348ſalvation, is, Soul-abaſing, ſoul-humbling knowledge, it makes a man very, very little, and low in his own eyes, as you may ſee in the moſt knowing Apoſtle, Epheſ. 3. 8. Unto me, foreign, a Comparative made of a Superlative.who am leſs then the leaſt of all Saints, is this grace given, that I ſhould preach among the Gentiles, the unſearchable riches of Chriſt. Pauls great light makes him very little; though he was the greateſt Apoſtle, yet he looks upon himſelf, a… leſs then the leaſt of all Saints. Of all the Evangeliſts, John was moſt ſharpſighted,John in the Hebrew ſignifies The grace of God. This Barbarian, ſaid the Philoſopher, hath compriſed more in three lines, then we have done in all our volumnious diſcourſes. Matth. 11. 9, 10, 11. Chriſt wonderfully extols John: Sayes Chriſt, he is a Prophet, yea, and more then a Prophet, yea, a greater is not born of women: But the greateſt wonder of all is, that John is ſo low in his own eyes.Matt 11:9Matt 11:10Matt 11:11 moſt Eagle-eyed, he had the cleareſt ſight of Chriſt, he lay moſt in the boſom of Chriſt, he knew moſt of the minde of Chriſt, he had the fulleſt manifeſtations, and revelations of Chriſt; and yet, O how little, how low is John in his own eyes. John 1. 26, 27. John anſwered them, ſaying, I baptize with water, but there ſtandeth one among you, whom ye know not: He it is, who coming after me, is preferred before me, whoſe ſhooes latchet I am not worthy to unlooſe. In this phraſe, John alludes to the cuſtom of the Hebrews, thoſe among them which were more noble then others, had p. 349Boyes who carried their ſhooes, and untied them when they laid them by. O, ſayes John, I am a poor weak, worthleſs Creature, I am not worthy to be admitted to the meaneſt, to the loweſt ſervice under Chriſt, I am not worthy to carry his ſhooes, to unlooſe his ſhooes. After Peter had been in the Mount, and inſtructed and enlightned by Chriſt, he cryes out, Depart from me, O Lord, for I am a ſinful man. (foreign.) A man, a ſinner, a very mixture, and compound of dirt and ſin, of vileneſs, and baſeneſs; as you may ſee in comparing Matth. 17. 1, 2, 3, 4. with Luke 5. 8. Abraham underGen. 18. 27.Gen 18:27 all his light and knowledge, acknowledges himſelf to be but duſt and aſhes. Jacob under all his knowledge,Gen. 32. 10.Gen 32:10 acknowledges himſelf to be leſs then the leaſt of all mercies. David underPſal. 22. 2. & 73 22.Ps 22:2Ps 73:22 all his knowledge, acknowledges him ſelf to be a worm, and no man; he acknowledges himſelf to be fooliſh and ignorant, and as a beaſt before the Lord. Job under all his knowledge,Job 42, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.Job 42:1Job 42:2Job 42:3Job 42:4Job 42:5 acknowledges that he hath much reaſon to abhor himſelf in duſt and aſhes. Agur was very good, and his knowledge p. 350very great, and yet under all his knowledge. O how doth he villifie, yea, nullifie himſelf. Surely (ſaith he) I am more bruitiſh then any man, and Prov. 30. 1, 2, 3, 4.Prov 30:1Prov 30:2Prov 30:3Prov 30:4have not the underſtanding of a man. I neither learned wiſdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. The Evangelical Prophet Iſaiah under all his knowledgeIſa. 6. 1. to 8, &c.Isa 6:1–8 and viſions, which were very great and glorious, acknowledges himſelf to be a man of unclean lips, and to dwell in the midſt of a people of unclean lips. Divine and heavenly knowledge brings a manThe light that the Moon borrows from the Sun, diſcovers her own ſpots, and makes them the more conſpicuous. Iſa 6.Isa 6 near to God, it gives a man the cleareſt, and the fulleſt fight of God, and the nearer any man comes to God, and the clearer viſions he hath of God, the more low and humble will that man lie before God. None ſo humble, as they that have neareſt communion with God. The Angels that are near unto him, cover their faces with their wings, in token of humility. Divine knowledge makes a man look inwards, it anatomizes a man to himſelf; it is a glaſs that ſhews a man the ſpots of his own ſoul; and this makes him little and low in his own eies. In the beams of this heavenlyWhen a beam of Divine light had ſhined upon Auguſtine, he cryed out, Teneo in memoria, ſcribo in charta, ſed non habeo i… vita. Gal. 6 3. Many in theſe days are like the Chineſes, who uſe to ſay, That they onelyonly did ſee with two eyes, all others but with one.Gal 6:3 light, a Chriſtian comes to ſee his own p. 351pride, ignorance, impatience, unworthineſs, conceitedneſs, worthleſneſs, frowardneſs, and nothingneſs. That knowledge that ſwells thee, will undo thee; that knowledge that puffs thee, will ſink thee; that knowledge that makes thee delightful in thy own eyes, will make thee deſpicable in God and good mens eyes. 1 Cor. 8. 1, 2. Knowledge puffeth up, (that is, Notional knowledge, Speculative knowledge, Knowledge that ripens a man for deſtruction, that will leave him ſhort of ſalvation; this knowledge puffs and ſwells a man, and makes him think himſelf ſomething, when he is nothing.) And if any man thinketh that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know, ſaith the Apoſtle. Will not that Philoſopher riſe in judgement againſt many of our high-flown Profeſſors (who ſwell, who look big, and talk big, under their notional knowledge) who ſaid under all his knowledge (which was very great) (Hoc tantum ſcio, quod nihil ſcio.) This onelyonly do I know, that I know nothing. Well, if that knowledge thou haſt, be that knowledge p. 352that accompanies ſalvation, it is a ſoul humbling, and a ſoule abaſing knowledge; if it bee otherwiſe, then will thy knowledge make thee both a Priſoner and a Slave to the Devill at once.

Seventhly, That Knowledge that accompanies ſalvation is an appropriating knowledge; a knowledge that appropriates and applies ſpiritual, and heavenly benefits to a mans own particular ſoul. As you may ſee in Job, my Job 19: 25. and 16. 19.Job 19:25Job 16:19Redeemer lives, and my witneſſe is in Heaven, and my record is on high: So David, the Lord is my portion, in Pſal. Pſal. 16. 5.Ps 16:518. 2. he uſeth this word of propriety eight times together, The Lord is my rock, and my fortreſſe, and my deliverer, my God, my ſtrength, in whom I will truſt, my buckler, and the horn of my ſalvation, and my high Tower. So the Spouſe, my Beloved is mine, and I am Cant. 2. 16. John 20. 28.Song 2:16John 20:28his. So Thomas, My Lord and my God. So Paul, I am crucified with Chriſt, nevertheleſſe, This is the pith and power of heavenly knowledge to appropriate Chriſt to a mans ſelfe.I live, yet not I, but Chriſt liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the fleſh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who hath loved me and gave himſelf for me. Applicatory knowledge, is the ſweeteſt p. 353knowledge, it revives the heart, it chears the ſpirits, it rejoyces the ſoul, it makes a man go ſinging to duties, and go ſinging to his grave, and ſinging to Heaven. Whereas othersThoſe that have a blemiſh in their eie think the Skie to be ever cloudy, and nothing is more common to weak ſpirits then to be criticizing, and contending, &c. (though gracious) that want this applicatory knowledge, have their hearts full of fears, and their lives full of ſorrows, and ſo go ſighing and mourning to Heaven. But leſt any precious ſoule ſhould turn this Truth into a ſword to cut and wound himſelfe, let me deſire him to remember that every Beleever that hath ſuch knowledge that accompanies ſalvation, hath notIt is commonly ſaid of knowledge (non habet inimicum praeter ignorantem) that it hath not a greater enemy then ignorance, &c. this applicatory knowledge that makes ſo much for the ſouls conſolation, and that doth accompany ſome mens ſalvation (I ſay not all mens ſalvation.) if thou findeſt thy knowledge to be ſuch a knowledge as is before deſcribed in the ſix former particulars, though thou haſt not attained to this applicatory knowledge, yet haſt thou attained to that knowledge that accompanies ſalvation, and that will (my ſoule for thine) give thee a poſſeſſion of ſalvation. This applicatory knowledge that accompanies ſalvation, p. 354is onelyonly to bee found in ſuch eminent Saints that are high in their communion with God, and that have attained ſome conſiderable aſſurance of their intereſt in God. Many mens ſalvation is accompanied with an applicatory knowledge, but all mens ſalvation is not accompanied with an applicatory knowledge of a mans particular intereſt in Chriſt, and thoſe bleſſed favors and benefits that comes by him: thy Soule may bee ſafe, and thy ſalvation may bee ſure, though thou haſt not attained unto this appropriating knowledge; but thy life cannotA man doth not attain to health by reading Galen or Hippocrates his Aphoriſms, but by the practical application of them … move his diſeaſes. You know how to apply it. be comfortable without this appropriating knowledge. Therefore if thou haſt it not, labor for it as for life, it is a pearle of price, and if thou findeſt it, it will make thy ſoul amends for all thy digging, ſeeking, working, ſweating, weeping, &c.

Eightly, and laſtly, that Knowledge that accompanies ſalvation, is accompanied and attended with theſe things.

Firſt; that Knowledge that accompanies ſalvation is attended with holy indeavors, and with heavenly deſires, p. 355thirſtings, and pantings after a further knowledge of God, after clearer viſions of God, Prov. 15. 14. The heart of him that hath underſtanding ſeeketh foreignknowledge, but the mouth of fools feedeth on fooliſhneſſe. The Hebrew word that is here rendred ſeeketh (…ebakkeſh) is in pihil, and ſignif…es an earneſt and diligent ſeeking; to ſeek as an hungry man ſeeks for meat, or as a covetous man for gold; the more he hath, the more he deſires; or as a condemned man ſeeks for his pardon, or as the diſeaſed man ſeeks for his cure. The word in the Text is from a root ( …aſh) that ſignifiesforeign to ſeek ſtudiouſly, laboriouſly, induſtriouſly, to ſeek by ſ…ing, praying, enquiring, and walking up and downe, that we may find what we ſeek. So inforeign that Prov. 18. 15. The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge, and the eare of Seeketh as men do for hid treaſure, &c.the wiſe ſeeketh knowledge. A man that divinely knows, will ſet his heart and his ear, his inward and outward man, to know more and more. Divine knowledge is marvellous ſweet, pleaſing, comforting, ſatisfying, refreſhing▪ ſtrengthening, and ſupporting; and ſoules that have found the ſweetneſſe p. 356and uſefulneſs of it, cannot but look and long, breath and pant after more and more of it. The new-born1 Pet. 2. 2, 3.1 Pet 2:21 Pet 2:3 Babe doth not more naturally, and more earneſtly long for the breſts, then a ſoul that hath taſted that the Lord is gracious, doth long for further, and further taſtes of God. David under allPſal. 119. 18, 19.Ps 119:18Ps 119:19 his knowledge, cryes out, I am a ſtranger in the Land, hide not thy Commandments from me. Open mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law. Job under all his knowledge,Job 34. 32.Job 34:32 which was very great, cryes out, That which I ſee not, teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

A ſecond thing that attends and accompanies that knowledge that accompanies ſalvation, is holy endeavors,The way to get more knowledge, is to communicate that we have, according to that, Habenti dabitur. to edifie others, to inſtruct others, to enlighten, and inform others in the knowledge of ſpiritual and heavenly things. Heavenly light cannot be hid under a buſhel; you may as eaſily hinder the Sun from ſhining, as you may hinder a gracious ſoul from diffuſing, and ſpreading abroad that knowledge and light that God hath given him. Divine light in the ſoul is like a light p. 357in a bright Lanthorn, that ſhines forth every way, or like a light in a room, or on a Beacon that gives light to others. A Chriſtian that divinely knows, is like the Lamp in the ſtory, that was always burning and ſhining, and never went out. So in Gen. 18. 17,Thus did Philip of Bethſaida. John 1. 45. Thus did the woman of Samaria, John 4. 28, 29. Thus did the Spouſe, Cant. 5. 10. to ult. Thus did that Scraphical Preacher St. Paul, Acts 26. 29.John 1:45John 4:28John 4:29Song 5:10Acts 26:29 19. And the Lord ſaid, ſhall I hide from Abraham, that which I do; for I know him, that he will command his children, and his houſhould after him, and they ſhall keep the way of the Lord, to do juſtice and judgement, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham, that which he hath ſpoken of him. He that communicates his knowledge to others, ſhall be both of Gods court and council; he ſhall lye in the boſome of God; he ſhall know the ſecrets of God. Prov. 15. 7. The lips of the wiſe diſperſe knowledge; but the heart of the fooliſh doth not ſo. The Hebrew word that is here rendred diſperſe, is a metaphor taken from Seedsmens ſcattering abroad of their ſeed in the furrows of the field. HeavenlyAuguſtine accounted nothing his own, that he did not communicate to others. knowledge is very ſpreading and diffuſive, it is like the Sun; the Sun caſteth his beams upward and downward, upon good and upon bad, ſo p. 358divine light in a gracious ſoul will break forth, for the advantage and profit of friends, and enemies of thoſe that be in a ſtate of nature, and of thoſe that be in a ſtate of grace. Acts 4. 18, 19, 20. And they called them, and Oppoſition is the black angel that dogs the Goſpel at the heels. Divine knowledge is like new wine, it muſt have vent, it is heavenly fire that will break forth. Jer. 5. 14. & 20. 9.Jer 5:14Jer 20:9commanded them not to ſpeak at all, nor teach in the Name in Jeſus. But Peter and John anſwered, and ſaid unto them, Whether it be right in the ſight of God, to hearken unto you, more then unto God, judge ye▪ For we cannot but ſpeak the things, that we have ſeen and heard. The Bee doth ſtore her Hive out of all ſorts of flowers for the common benefit; ſo a heavenly Chriſtian ſucks ſweetneſs out of every mercy, and every duty; out of every providence, and out of every ordinance; out of every promiſe, and out of every priviledge, that he may give out the more ſweetneſs to others. L…mod … a…ed, we therefore learn, that we may touch, is a Proverb among the Rabbins. And I do therefore lay in, and lay up (ſaith theSocrates, &c. Heathen) that I may draw forth a gain, and lay out for the good of many. This Heathen will riſe in judgement againſt thoſe that monopolize knowledge to p. 359themſelves, that impriſon their light within their own breſts, leaſt others ſhould out-ſhine and darken them. Syneſius ſpeaks of ſome, who havingSome ſuch there be in theſe dayes. a treaſure of rare-abilities in themſelves, would as ſoon part with their hearts, as with their conceptions. Verily ſuch men are far off from that knowledge that accompanies ſalvation;2 Cor. 6. 10. Gal 4. 19.2 Cor 6:10Gal 4:19 for that knowledge will make a man willing to ſpend, and be ſpent for the edification, conſolation, and ſalvation of others. Prov. 10. 21. The lips of the righteous feed many.

A third thing that attends and accompanies that knowledge that accompanies ſalvation, is holy zeal▪ courage,Prov. 28. 1.Prov 28:1 and reſolution for God. Divine knowledge makes a man as bold as a Lyon. Dan. 11. 32. And ſuch as do wickedly againſt the Covenant ſhall be corrupt by flatteries; but the people that do know their God ſhall be ſtrong, and do exploits. So Prov. 24. 5. A wiſe man is ſtrong, yea, and a man of knowledge increaſeth foreignſtrength, or, he ſtrengthneth might, in ſtrength foreignas it is in the Hebrew. Divine light makes a man full of mettle for God, it makes the ſoul divinely fearleſs, and p. 360divinely careleſs. Joſh. 24. 15. Chuſe you whom you will ſerve, I and my houſhold will ſerve the Lord. Come what will on it, we will never change our Maſter, nor quit his ſervice. ThoſeThe heavenly light and knowledge that the Prophets and Apoſtles had, made them very zealous and couragious for their God, in the face of all difficulties and deaths, as might be ſhewn in very many Scriptures. beams of light that ſhined in upon Chryſoſtome, did ſo heat and warm his heart, that he ſtoutly tells Eudoxia the Empreſs, that for her covetouſneſs ſhe would be called a ſecond Jezabel; whereupon ſhe ſent him a threatning Meſſage: To which, he returned this Anſwer, go tell her, (Nil niſi peccatum timeo,) I fear nothing but ſin. A Prophetical man in the Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtory, went to the Pillars a little before an Earthquake, and bad them ſtand faſt, for they ſhould ſhortly be ſhaken. Ah Chriſtians, there is an Earthquake a coming, and therefore as you would ſtand faſt, as you would not have any Earthquakes to make your hearts quake, get this zeal and courage that attends Divine knowledge, and then you ſhall in the midſt of all EarthquakesPſal. 125. 1, 2.Ps 125:1Ps 125:2 be as Mount Zion that cannot be removed. They that write the ſtory of the Travels of the Apoſtles, report, That Simon Zelotes Preached p. 361here in England. Ah England, England, Epiphanius ſaith that Eliah ſucked fire our of his Mothers Breſts, there are very few ſuch Eliahs in theſe days.if ever thou needeſt ſome Zelotes, it is now. O how ſecure, how dull, how drowſie, how ſleepy in the midſt of dangers art thou? For this and other of thy abominations, I deſire my ſoul may weep in ſecret.

The fourth and laſt thing that attendsKnowledge and Faith are Twins, they live and lodge, and act together, they are two lovers that may be diſtinguiſhed one from another, but they cannot be ſeparated one from another. or accompanies that knowledge that accompanies ſalvation, is, Faith and confidence in God. Pſal. 9. 10. They that know thy Name, will put their truſt in thee; for thou, Lord, haſt not forſaken them that ſeek thee. 2 Tim. 1. 12. For the which cauſe I alſo ſuffer theſe things, nevertheleſs, I am not aſhamed; for I know whom I have believed; and I am perſwaded, that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him againſt that day. I ſhall not inlarge upon this Branch, becauſe I ſhall ſpeak at large concerning Faith, in the next particular.

And thus I have ſhewed you from the Scriptures, what that Knowledge is that accompanies Salvation. Now the ſecond thing I am to ſhew you, is, What that Faith is that accompanies Salvation, I have formerly ſhewed p. 362you that Faith doth accompany ſalvation; but now I ſhall ſhew you what Faith that is, that doth accompany Salvation, and that I ſhall do by Divine aſſiſtance thus.

Firſt, That Faith that accompaniesFides eſt interdum id quod credimus, interdum id quo credimus. Aug. Salvation, that comprehends Salvation, that will poſſeſs a man of Salvation, is know firſt by the objects about which it is exerciſed, and ſecondly, by the properties of it. Firſt, By the objects about which it is exerciſed. Now the objects of Faith are theſe.

Firſt, The perſon of Chriſt is theChriſt as Redeemer, is the mediate object of Faith, and God is the ultimate; for we believe in God through Chriſt. Rom 6. 11. 1 Pet. 1. 21. 2 Cor. 3. 4.Rom 6:111 Pet 1:212 Cor 3:4 object of Faith, it is Chriſt in the Promiſes that Faith deals with. The Promiſe is but the Shell, Chriſt is the Kernel; the Promiſe is but the Casket, Chriſt is the Jewel in it; the Promiſe is but the field, Chriſt is the Treaſure that is hid in that field; the promiſe is a Ring of Gold, and Chriſt is the Pearl in that Ring; and upon this ſparkling, ſhining Pearl, Faith delightsFaiths M…rto is, Nolo benedictionem tuam, ſed te. moſt to look. Cant. 3. 4. It was but a little that I paſſed from them, but I found him whom my ſoul loveth. I held him, and I would not let him go, until I p. 363had brought him into my Mothers houſe, and into the chamber of her that conceived me. So in Cant. 7. 5. The King is held Not but that the Father is alſo the object of Believers faith. Iohn 14. 1. Iſa. 63. 15, 16. with many other Scriptures, but Chriſt is the object held forth by the Father, for our faith to cloſe with, in reſpect of our juſtification and ſalvation. God is (objectum ultimum fidei) the ultimate or higheſt object of Faith; and Chriſt (objectum mediaeum) the mediate object thereof.John 14:1Isa 63:15Isa 63:16in the Galleries. Faith hath two hands, and with both ſhe layes earneſt and faſt hold on King Jeſus. Chriſts beauty and glory is very taking, and drawing, Faith cannot ſee it, but it will lay hold on it. Chriſt is the principal object about which Faith is exerciſed, for the obtaining of Righteouſneſs, and Everlaſting Happineſs. Acts 16. 30, 31. And the Jailor ſaid, Sirs, what muſt I do to be ſaved? And they ſaid, believe on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and thou ſhalt be ſaved. Chriſt is in a world of Scriptures held forth to be the object about which Faith is moſt converſant; and the more Faith is exerciſed upon the perſon of Chriſt, the more it buds and bloſſoms like Aarons Rod. Faith looks upon him, as the expreſs Image and Character of his Father: Faith beholds him as the chiefeſt of ten thouſand: Faith ſees him to be the moſt glorious object in all the World.

The ſecond object that Faith is exerciſed about, is the Righteouſneſs of p. 364Jeſus Chriſt. Phil. 3. 9. I deſire to be found in Chriſt, not having my own Righteouſneſs, which is of the Law, but that which is thorow the Faith of Chriſt, the Righteouſneſs which is of God by Faith. Paul would not be found in a legal righteouſneſs, for he knew all his legal righteouſneſs was but as filthy rags,Iſa. 64. 6.Isa 64:6 all his legal righteouſneſs ſowed together, would but make up a coat of patches, a beggars coat, that is good for nothing, but to be caſt away; therefore he deſired to be found in the righteouſneſs of Chriſt by Faith; he knew that Chriſts righteouſneſs was a pure righteouſneſs, a ſpotleſs righteteouſneſs, a matchleſs righteouſneſs, a compleat righteouſneſs, a perfectCol. 2. 10.Col 2:10 righteouſneſs, an abſolute righteouſneſs, a glorious righteouſneſs. Faith loves to fix her eye upon that rich and royal Robe, that blameleſs and ſpotleſsCant. 4. 7. Revel. 145. Epheſ. 5. 27.Song 4:7Eph 5:27 righteouſneſs of Chriſt, wherewith the ſoul ſtands gloriouſly cloathed before God, as being all fair, as being without ſpot or wrinkle in divine account. O it is the actings of Faith upon this bleſſed object, this glorious righteouſneſs of Chriſt, that makes a p. 365man familiar and bold with God, that makes a man active, and reſolute for God, that ſtrengthens a man againſt temptations, that ſupports a man under afflictions, that makes a man long for the day of his diſſolution, that makes him prefer his Coffin above a Princes Crown, the day of his death above the day of his birth, that makes him triumph over Sin and Satan, Hell and Wrath. Adams righteouſneſsRom. 3. 21. & 10. 3.Rom 3:21Rom 10:3 was but the righteouſneſs of a Creature, but the righteouſneſs about which Faith is exerciſed, is the righteouſneſs2 Cor. 5. 21.2 Cor 5:21 of a God. Adams righteouſneſs wasThe righteouſneſs of Angels, is but the righteouſneſs of Creatures, but the righteouſneſs that the Saints are cloathed with, is the very righteouſneſs of God; and in this reſpect the meaneſt Saint is more excellent and glorious, then the moſt glorious Angel. a mutable righteouſneſs, a righteouſneſs that might be ſinned away; but the righteouſneſs that a Believers Faith is exerciſed about, is an Everlaſting Righteouſneſs, a righteouſneſs that cannot be ſinned away. Prov. 8. 18. vide Dan. 9. 24. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and upon thy holy City, to finiſh the transgreſsion, and to make an end of ſins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in Everlaſting Righteouſneſs, and to ſeal up the viſion and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy. Pſal. 119. 142. Thy Righteouſneſs p. 366is an Everlaſting Righteouſneſs; and thy Law is the Truth. The righteouſneſs of Adam was a righteouſneſs ſubject to ſhaking, and we know that Satan did ſhake all his righteouſneſs about his ears, as I may ſay; O but that glorious Righteouſneſs about which Faith is converſant, is an unſhaken Righteouſneſs, a Righteouſneſs that cannot be ſhaken. Pſal. 36. 6. Thy righteouſneſs is like the great mountains, or rather as it is in the Hebrew,foreign Thy righteouſneſs is like the mountains of God. What more ſtable then a mountain,The Hebrew uſeth to note excellent things, by adding the name of God; as Cedars of God, Pſal. 80. 11. Rivers of God, Pſal. 65. 10. Wraſtlings of God, Gen 30. 5. Harps of God, Revel. 15. 2.Ps 80:11Ps 65:10Gen 30:5Rev 15:2 and what Mountain ſo ſtable as the Mountain of God. The Mountains cannot be ſhaken, no more can that glorious Righteouſneſs of Chriſt about which a Believers faith is exerciſed. Adams righteouſneſs was a low righteouſneſs, a righteouſneſs within his own reach, and a righteouſneſs within Satans reach; it was not ſo high, but Adam could lay his hand upon it, as I may ſay; it was not ſo high but Satan could reach to the top of it, yea, to the over-topping of it, as we have all found by woful experience. O but that righteouſneſs that Faith is p. 367converſant about, is a righteouſneſs of ſuch a height, as that neither Satan, nor the world can reach to it. Pſal. 71. 15, 16, 19: My mouth ſhall ſhew forth thy righteouſneſs, and thy ſalvation all the day: For I know not the numbers thereof. I will go in the ſtrength of the Lord God, I will make mention of thy righteouſneſs, even of thine onelyonly. Thy righteouſneſs alſo, O God, is very high, who hath done great things. O God, who is like unto thee. This glorious Righteouſneſs of Chriſt about which Faith is buſied, is called The Righteouſneſs of Faith,Rom. 3 28.Rom 3:28 becauſe Faith apprehends it, and applies it, and feeds upon it, and delights in it. Rom. 4. 13. For the promiſe that he ſhould be the Heir of the World, was not to Abraham, or to his Seed thorow the Law, but thorow the Righteouſneſs of Faith. Chap. 9. 30. What ſhall we ſay then? That the Gentiles which followed not after righteouſneſs, have attained to righteouſneſs, even the righteouſneſs which is of faith. The Righteouſneſs ofRom. 10. 6. But the righteouſneſs which is of Fai…h. i. e. Which is appr…hended by Faith, &c.Rom 10:6 Chriſt about which Faith is imployed, is called The Righteouſneſs of Faith, becauſe Faith puts on this Righteouſneſs upon the Soul. Faith wraps the p. 368ſoul up in this Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, and ſo juſtifieth it before God inſtrumentally. The actings of FaithMark, Faith is onelyonly the inſtrument, it cannot be the ſubſtance of that righteouſneſs, as it were, whereby we are juſtified and ſaved. Firſt, Becauſe it is imperfect Secondly, The acts of Faith are tranſient. Thirdly, Then ſhould man have ſomething within him whereof to boaſt. Fourthly, faith is a part of inherent holineſs. Fifthly, Then ſome men ſhould be juſtified more, and ſome leſs, according to the different meaſures of Faith in them. on this glorious Righteouſneſs, doth moſt ſtrengthen the ſoul. Iſai. 45. 24. Surely ſhall one ſay, In the Lord have I righteouſneſs and ſtrength. The actings of Faith on this bleſſed Righteouſneſs, doth moſt glad and rejoyce the ſoul. Iſa. 61. 10. I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord, my ſoul ſhall be joyful in my God, for he hath cloathed me with the garments of ſalvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteouſneſs. The actings of Faith upon this compleat Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, renders ſouls juſt and righteous, pure and holy, in the account of God. Rom. 10. 4. For Chriſt is the end of the Law for righteouſneſs, to every one that believeth. Chriſt fulfils the Law for Believers, and they by believing do fulfil the Law in him; and ſo Chriſt by doing, and they by believing in him, that doth it, do fulfil the Law, and ſo are reputed fair and ſpotleſs, compleat and perfect, before the Throne of God. Faiths putting this righteouſneſs on the ſoul, brings down bleſſings upon the ſoul: When p. 369Jacob had put on his elder BrothersGen. 27. 15.Gen 27:15 garment, he carried the bleſſing away. The actings of Faith upon this Pearleſs Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, brings down the bleſſing of Peace, and theRom 5. 1. 1 Pet. 1. 8. Acts 10. 43.Rom 5:11 Pet 1:8Acts 10:43 bleſſing of Joy, and the bleſſing of Remiſſion of ſins; and in a word, all other bleſſings that contributes to the making us bleſſed here, and happy hereafter, &c.

The third object that Faith is exerciſed about, is the precious promiſes,2 Pet. 1. 4. Mark, the whole Word of God is the object of Faith, but the promiſes, more eſpecially are the prime object about which Fa…h, is moſt converſant.2 Pet 1:4 which are a Chriſtians Magna Charta. As every precious ſtone hath an …gregious vertue in it, ſo hath every promiſe: The promiſes are a precious Book, every Leaf drops Myrrhe and Mercy; and upon theſe precious promiſes, precious Faith looks and lives. From theſe Breſts Faith ſucks comfort and ſweetneſs. Pſal. 119. 49, 50. Remember thy word (that is, thy promiſe) unto thy ſervant; upon which, thou haſt cauſed me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, for thy word hath quickned me. So in Pſalm 27. 13. I had fainted, unleſs I had believed, to ſee the goodneſs of the Lord, in the Land of the living. Heb. 11. 13. Theſe all died in faith (or p. 370according to faith) not having received the promiſes, but having ſeen them a far off, and were perſwaded of them, and embraced them (or as the Greek hath it,foreign, i. e. Perſevering in Faith. foreign, ſome think that it is an alluſion to the cuſtom of ſaluting one another, by embracing or laying hold of each other. ſaluted them by Faith, they kiſſed the promiſes, and kiſſed Chriſt in the promiſes) and confeſſed that they were ſtrangers, and pilgrims on the Earth. It would be an endleſs thing to ſhew you, how the faith of the Patriarks, Prophets, Apoſtles, and other Saints, have been acted and exerciſed upon promiſes of Sanctification, upon promiſes of Juſtification, upon promiſes of Salvation, upon promiſes of Glorification, upon promiſes of Protection, upon promiſes for Direction, upon promiſes for Supportation, &c. Look as the Lamp lives upon the Oyl, and the Childe upon the Breſts, ſo doth Faith upon the promiſes. For the further advantage and comfort of your ſouls▪ in eyeing the promiſes, let me give you theſe two ſweet hints.

Firſt, In your looking upon the promiſes, minde moſt, eye moſt ſpiritual promiſes, abſolute promiſes, viz. Thoſe and ſuch-like that you ſee inJere. 32. 40, 41. Ezek. 11. 19, 20.Jer 32:40Jer 32:41Ezek 11:19Ezek 11:20 the Margent. Theſe ſpiritual and abſolute p. 371promiſes are of neareſt andEzek. 36. 25, 26, 27. I a 42. 1. Ezek 20. 41, 42, 43. Pſal 91. 15. Iſa 65. 24. Jere. 33. 3. Iſa. 32 15. Ezek 34 30, 31. with many others of the like import.Ezek 36:25Ezek 36:26Ezek 36:27Ezek 20:41Ezek 20:42Ezek 20:43Ps 91:15Isa 65:24Jer 33:3Isa 32:15Ezek 34:30Ezek 34:31 greateſt concernment to you; theſe carry in them moſt of the heart of Chriſt, the love of Chriſt, the good will of Chriſt; theſe are of greateſt uſe, to ſatisfie you, and to ſettle you; when you are wavering, to ſupport you; when you are falling, to reduce you; when you are wandering, to comfort you; when you are fainting, to counſel you; when you are ſtaggering, &c. Therefore make theſe your choiceſt, and your chiefeſt companions, eſpecially when it is night within your ſouls, when you are ſenſible of much ſin, and but a little grace, of much corruption, but of little conſolation, of much deadneſs, but of little quickneſs, of much hardneſs, but of little tenderneſs, of many fears, and but a littleSpiritual and abſolute promiſes, are the moſt precious Mines to inrich you; in them you will finde he greateſt Pearls of price. Faith. The Jews under the Law, had more temporal promiſes then ſpiritual, but we under the Goſpel, have far more ſpiritual promiſes then temporal; therefore ſit down at this fire, and be warmed; drink of theſe ſprings, and be ſatisfied; taſte of theſe delicates, and be cheered. Let the eye of Faith be caſt upon all the promiſes, p. 372but fixt upon ſpiritual promiſes, upon abſolute promiſes; they will have the greateſt influence upon the heart to holineſs, and to prepare it for Everlaſting happineſs.

Look not onelyonly upon ſome of theHaman took notice, yea, and would have his friends take notice of all his greatneſs, honors, and riches. Eſth. 5. 10, 11, 12. And will not you ſtir up your hearts to ſee all thoſe riches and pleaſures that be in precious promiſes.Esth 5:10Esth 5:11Esth 5:12 riches, the Jewels, the Pearls, that be rwapped up in the promiſes, but enlarge and expatiate your underſtandings to an effectual contemplation of all thoſe riches and treaſures that God hath laid up in the promiſes. Caſt not the eye of your Faith onelyonly, upon one beam of the Sun, but endeavor to ſee all the beams of the Sun: Look not upon one branch of the Tree of Life, but upon every branch of that Tree; look not upon one bunch of the Grapes of Canaan, but look upon the whole Land. As underſtanding Heirs, when they come to read over their Evidences and Writings, they will ſee what they have in Houſes, what in Goods, what in Lands, what in Money, what in Jewels, what at home, what abroad. They will not ſit down, and ſay, Well, we finde in our Evidences, that ſuch and ſuch Land is ours, and look no further; no, no, they will look all over, p. 373and take exact notice of every thing; they will ſay, We have ſo much Land, and ſo much Money, &c. O beloved, there is much Marrow and Fatneſs, there is much Honey and ſweetneſs, much Grace and Glory wrapped up in the promiſes. O preſs them, and oppreſs them, till you have got forth all the riches, and ſweetneſs that is in them.

Ah Chriſtians, did you this, God would be more honored, the promiſes more prized, your Graces more ſtrengthned, your fears more abated, your hearts more warmed and engaged, and your lives more regulated, and Satan more eaſily and frequently vanquiſhed. And ſo much for this third object, about which Faith is exerciſed.

The fourth object (and laſt that I ſhall mention) that Faith is ſet and fixt upon, is, That Glory, Bleſſedneſs, and2 Tim 4. 8. Faith antedates glory.2 Tim 4:8 Life, which God hath laid up for them that love him. The things of eternity, are the greateſt things; they are the moſt excellent things, they are moſt excellent in their natures, in their cauſes, in their operations, in p. 374their effects in their ends; and upon theſe, Faith looks and lives; FaithHeb. 11. 1. foreign, the Subſiſtance. i. e. That which gives a ſubſtantial being to the things of eternal life. Faith alters the Tenſis, it puts the Future into the Preſent. Pſal. 60. 6. Heb. 12. 2.Heb 11:1Ps 60:6Heb 12:2 realizeth things, it makes abſent things preſent; Faith is the ſubſtance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not ſeen; Faith makes abſent glory preſent, abſent riches preſent, abſent pleaſures preſent, abſent favors preſent; Faith brings an inviſible God, and ſets him before the ſoul, Moſes by Faith ſaw him that was inviſible; Faith brings down the recompence of reward, and ſets it really, though ſpiritually before the ſoul; Faith ſets Divine favor before the ſoul, it ſets peace, it ſets pardon of ſin, it ſets the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, it ſets the Joy of Heaven, it ſets Salvation before the ſoul; it makes all theſe things very near and obvious to the ſoul. Faith is the evidence of things not ſeen. Faith makes inviſible things viſible,foreign, the Index or clear conviction by diſputation. abſent things preſent, things that are afar off, to be very near unto the ſoul. By convincing Demonſtrations, by Arguments, and Reaſons drawn from the Word, as the Greek word ſignifies. 2 Cor. 4. 17, 18. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh p. 375for us a far more exceeding, and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the foreign, To look with a diligent eye, as men do at the mark, whereat they ſhoot.things which are ſeen, but at the things which are not ſeen: For the things which are ſeen, are temporal, but the things which are not ſeen, are eternal. Faith trades in inviſible things, in eternal things; its eye is always upwards, like the Fiſh called (by Galen) Urano Scopos, that hath but one eye, and yet looks continually up to Heaven. FaithHeb 6. 19. Rom. 8. 18. Heb. 10. 34. Acts 7. 55, 56. An adopted Heir to a Crown, cannot but have his heart at Court, his minde and thoughts will be upon his future glorious condition. He will be ſtill a creating Idea's and Images of it.Heb 6:19Rom 8:18Heb 10:34Acts 7:55Acts 7:56 enters within the vail, and fixes her eye upon thoſe glorious things of eternity, that are ſo many, that they exceed number; ſo great, that they exceed meaſure; ſo precious, that they are above all eſtimation. Sayes Faith, the ſpangled Firmament is but the Footſtool of my Fathers houſe; and if the Foot-ſtool▪ the outſide, be ſo glorious, O how glorious is his Throne. Verily, in Heaven there is that life that cannot be expreſſed, that light that cannot be comprehended, that joy that cannot be fadomed, that ſweetneſs that cannot be diſſipated, that feaſt that cannot be conſumed; and upon theſe Pearls of glory, I look and live, ſayes Faith.

p. 376And thus I have ſhewed you the choice and precious objects, about which, that Faith is exerciſed that accompanies Salvation. I ſhall now in the next place ſhew you the Properties of that Faith that accompanies Salvation, and they are theſe that follow.

The firſt Property of that FaithQuid eſt igitur fides? Opinior fideliter hominem, Chriſti creder…, i. e. Fidelem eſſe, boc eſt fideliter Dei mandata ſervare, ſaith one. that accompanies Salvation, is this, It puts forth it ſelf into vital operations, it makes a man full of life and activity for God; it will make a man diligent and venturous in the work, and wayes of God. Faith is a moſt active quality in it ſelf, and ſo it makes a Chriſtian moſt active; it is a doing thing, and it makes the perſon doing, Faith will not ſuffer the ſoul to be idle; Faith is like the vertuous Woman in the laſt of the Proverbs, who put her hand to every work, who would ſuffer none of her Hand-maids to be idle; Faith puts the ſoul upon grieving forZach. 12. 10.Zech 12:10 ſin, upon combating with ſin, upon weeping over ſin, upon trembling at the occaſions of ſin, upon reſiſting temptations that leads to ſin, upon fighting it out to the death with ſin: p. 377Faith puts a man upon walking withThe eleventh of the Hebrews is a full proof of theſe things. Gal. 2. 20.Gal 2:20 God, upon waiting on God, upon working for God, upon wraſtling with God, upon bearing for God, and upon parting with any thing for God: Faith makes Religious duties to be eaſie to the ſoul, to be delightful to the ſoul, to be profitable to the ſoul: Faith makes the ſoul to be ſerious and conſcientious in doing, to be careful & faithful in doing, to be delightful & chearful in doing, to be diligent and faithful in doing.Jam. 2. 17. to the end. Faith looks to precepts, as well as to promiſes. Pſal. 119. 66. Teach me good judgement and knowledge, for I have believed thy Commandments.Jas 2:17Ps 119:66 That faith that is not a working faith, is no faith; that faith that is not a working faith, is a dead faith; that faith that is not a working faith, is a deluding faith; that faith that is not a working faith, is a worthleſs faith; that faith that is not a working faith, will leave a man ſhort of Heaven and happineſs, in the latter day. Faith that accompanies Salvation, is better at doing, then at thinking, at obeying, then at diſputing, at walking, then at talking. Tit. 3. 8. This is a faithful ſaying, and theſe things I will that thou affirm conſtantly, that they which have believed in God, might be careful to maintain good works. Faith will make a man endeavor p. 378to be good, yea, to be beſt atforeign, the word ſignifies, to bend their wits, and beat their brains to maintain good works. every thing he undertakes: It is not leaves, but fruit; not words, but works that God expects; and if we croſs his expectation, we fruſtrate our own Salvation, we further our own condemnation. Faith makes the ſoulIſa 65 24. Gen. 4 4. 1 Pet. 3. 11. Cant. 2. 14. Luther prefers the meaneſt work of a Country Chriſtian, or poor Maid, above all the victories and triumphs of Alexander, and of Julius Caeſar. Matth. 27. ult. Iſa. 41. 10, 11. Heb. 13 5, 6. Ezek. 36. 26, 27, &c.Isa 65:24Gen 4:41 Pet 3:11Song 2:14Matt 27Isa 41:10Isa 41:11Heb 13:5Heb 13:6Ezek 36:26Ezek 36:27 much in doing, abundant in working, and that partly by perſwading the ſoul, that all its works, all its duties, and ſervices, ſhall be owned and accepted of God; as in Iſa. 56. 7. Even them will I bring to my holy Mountain, and make them joyful in my Houſe of prayer: Their burnt-offerings, and their ſacrifices, ſhall be accepted upon mine Altar; for mine Houſe ſhall be called an Houſe of prayer for all people. Faith aſſures the ſoul, that every prayer, every ſigh, every groan, every tear is accepted: And this makes the ſoul pray much, and ſign much, and mourn much. Again, Faith ſpreads the promiſes of Divine aſſiſtance before the ſoul; O ſayes Faith, here O ſoul, is aſſiſtance ſuitable to the work required: And this makes a man work, as for life; it makes a man work and ſweat, and ſweat and work. Again, Faith ſets the Recompence, p. 379the Reward, before the ſoul. OHeb. 11. 25, 26. One good work of a Chriſtian, is more precious then Heaven and Earth, ſaith Luther.Heb 11:25Heb 11:26 ſayes Faith, Look here ſoul, here is a great reward, for a little work; here is great wages, for weak and imperfect ſervices; here is an infinite reward, for a finite work. Work, yea, work hard, ſayes Faith, O believing ſoul, for thy actions in paſſing, paſs not away; every good work is a grain of Seed for eternal life. There is a ReſurrectionRev. 14. 13.Rev 14:13 of works, as well as of perſons, and in that day, wicked men ſhall ſee, that it is not a vain thing to ſerve God; they ſhall ſee the moſt doing ſouls, to be the moſt ſhining ſouls, to be moſt advanced and rewarded. O the ſight of this Crown, of this Recompence, makes ſouls to abound in the work of the Lord, they knowing1 Cor. 15. ult.1 Cor 15 that their labor is not in vain in the Lord. Again, Faith draws from Chriſts fulneſs, it ſucks vertue and ſtrengthJohn 1. 16.John 1:16 from Chriſts breſts: Faith looks upon Chriſt as a Head, and ſo draws from him; it looks upon Chriſt as a Husband, and ſo draws from him; it looks upon him as a Fountain, and ſo draws from him; it looks upon him as a Sea, as an Ocean of goodneſs, andCol. 1. 19.Col 1:19 p. 380ſo draws from him; it looks upon him as a Father, and ſo draws from him; it looks upon him as a Friend, and ſo draws from him; and this Divine power and ſtrength, ſets the ſoul a working hard for God, it makes the ſoul full of motion, full of action. In a word, Faith is ſuch a working Grace, as ſets all other graces a working. Faith hath an influence upon every Grace, it is like a ſilver thred that runs thorow a chain of Pearl, it puts ſtrength and vivacity into all other vertues. Love touched by a hand of Faith, flames forth; hope fed at Faiths table, grows ſtrong, and caſts anckor within the vail. Joy, courage,Acts 5. & 16. Rom. 15. 13.Acts 5Rom 15:13 and zeal, being ſmiled upon by Faith, is made invincible, and unconquerable▪ &c. Look what Oyl is to the wheels▪ what weights are to the clock, what wings are to the bird, what ſails areExcept it be winter with the ſoul. to the ſhip, that Faith is to all Religious duties and ſervices.

And thus you ſee, that that Faith that accompanies Salvation, is a working faith, a lively faith, and not ſuch a dead faith, as moſt pleaſe, and deceive themſelves with, for ever.

p. 381The ſecond Property of that Faith that accompanies Salvation, is this, It is of a growing and increaſing nature; it is like the waters of the Sanctuary, that riſe higher and higher, as Ezekiel ſpeaks; it is like a tender Plant that naturally grows higher and higher;Matth. 13. 32. The righteous ſhall flouriſh like the Palm tree. Pſal. 92. 12, 13, 14. Now the Palm tree never looſeth his leaf, or fruit, ſaith pliny.Matt 13:32Ps 92:12Ps 92:13Ps 92:14 it is like a grain of Muſtard-ſeed, which though it be the leaſt of all Seeds, yet by a Divine power it grows up beyond all humane expectations. Faith is imperfect, as all other graces are, but yet it grows and increaſes gradually. Rom. 1. 17. For therein is the righteouſneſs of God revealed, from Faith to faith: As it is written, The juſt ſhall live by Faith. As a gracious ſoul is ſtill a adding knowledge to knowledge, love to love, fear to fear, zeal to zeal; ſo he is a adding faith to faith. A gracious ſoul knows, That if he be rich in Faith, he cannot be poor in other Graces; he knows the growth of faith, will be as the former and the latter rain, to all other graces; he knows that there is no way to out-grow his fears, but by growing in Faith; he knows that all the pleaſant fruits of paradiſe, viz. Joy, comfort, and p. 382peace, flouriſhes as faith flouriſhes; he knows that he hath much workAn old man being once asked, If he grew in grace, anſwered, Yea, doubtleſs I believe I do, for God hath ſaid in his Word, that we ſhall flouriſh and bring forth fruit in old age. Ille non eſt bonus, qui non vult eſſe melior. upon his hands, that he hath many things to do, many temptations to withſtand, many mercies to improve, many burdens to bear, many corruptions to conquer, many duties to perform: And this makes the believing ſoul thus to reaſon with God; Ah Lord, whatever I am weak in, let me be ſtrong in Faith, whatever dies, let Faith live, whatever decayes, let Faith flouriſh: Lord, let me be low in repute, low in parts, low in eſtate; ſo thou wilt make me high in Faith: Lord, let me be poor in any thing, poor in every thing; ſo thou wilt but make me rich in Faith: Lord, let the eye of Faith be more opened, let the eye of Faith be more quick-ſighted, let the eye of Faith be the more raiſed, and it ſhall be enough to me, though Joſeph 2 Th…ſ. 1. 3. That is but a Wooden leg, that grows not, no more is that any more but a Wooden faith, a counterfeit faith, that grows not.be not, though Benjamin be not. It was the glory of the Theſſalonians, that their faith growed exceedingly: A growth in Faith, will render a man glorious in life, lovely in death, and twice bleſſed in the morning of the Reſurrection; ſo will not a growth in p. 383honors, a growth in riches, a growth in notions, a growth in opinions. That Faith that accompanies Salvation,The union between Chriſt and the Saints, is the neareſt and the higheſt union; and ſo it advantages their graces, and advances them to a higher degree of happineſs, then any other Creatures whatſoever. John 17. Chriſt would have his people one with him, and the Father, though no… eſſentially, nor perſonally, yet really and ſpiritually.John 17 unites the ſoul to Chriſt, and keeps the ſoul up in communion with Chriſt. And from that union and communion that the ſoul hath with Chriſt, flows ſuch a Divine power, and vertue, that cauſes Faith to grow: Yet that no weak Believers may be ſtumbled, or ſadded, Let them remember, Firſt, That though that Faith that accompanies Salvation, be a growing faith; yet there are ſome certain ſeaſons, and caſes, wherein a man may decay in his faith, and wherein he may not have the exerciſe, and the actings of his faith. This bleſſed Babe of Grace may be caſt into a deep ſlumber; this Heavenly Pearl may be ſo buried under the thick clay of this world, and under the aſhes of corruption and temptation, as that for a time, it may neither ſtir, nor grow, as might be ſhewn in Abraham, David, Solomon, Peter, and others. Secondly, Remember this, That the ſtrongeſt faith at times, is ſubject to ſhakings, as the ſtrongeſt men are to faintings, as the p. 384ſtouteſt ſhips are to toſſings, as the wiſeſt men are to doubtings, as the brighteſt ſtars are to twinklings, &c. Therefore if at certain times, thou ſhouldſt not be ſenſible of the growth of thy faith, yet do not conclude, that thou haſt no faith: Faith may be in the habit, when it is not in the act; there may be life in the root of the Tree, when there is neither leaves, bloſſoms, nor fruit upon the Tree; the life that is in the root▪ will ſhew it ſelf at the Spring, and ſo will the habits of Faith break forth into acts, when the Sun of Righteouſneſs ſhall ſhine forth, and make it a pleaſant ſpring to thy ſoul. And thus much for this ſecond particular.

The third Property of that Faith that accompanies Salvation, is this, It makes thoſe things that are great and glorious in the worlds account, to be very little and low in the eyes of a Believer. Faith makes a Believer toHeb. 11. 9.Heb 11:9 live in the Land of Promiſe, as in a ſtrange Country; it is nothing to live as a ſtranger in a ſtrange Land, but to live as a ſtranger in the Land of Promiſe, this is the excellency and glory p. 385of Faith. Faith will make a man ſet his feet, where other men ſets their hearts. Faith looks with an eye of ſcorn and diſdain, upon the things of this world: What, ſayes Faith, are earthly treaſures, to the treaſures ofMatth 6. 19, 20.Matt 6:19Matt 6:20 Heaven? what are ſtones to ſilver, droſs to gold, darkneſs to light, Hell to Heaven? No more, ſayes Faith, are all the treaſures, pleaſures, and delights of this world, to the light ofPſal. 4. 6, 7.Ps 4:6Ps 4:7 thy countenance, to the joy of thy ſpirit, to the influences of thy grace. I ſee nothing, ſayes David, in this wide world, onelyonly thy Commandments are exceeding Heb. 11. 24, 25, 26.Heb 11:24Heb 11:25Heb 11:26broad. Faith makes David account his Crown nothing, his treaſures nothing, his victories nothing, his attendants nothing, &c. Faith will make a man write nothing upon the beſt of worldly things; it will make a man trample upon the Pearls of thisPhil. 3. 8.Phil 3:8 world, as upon droſs and dung. Faith deadens a mans heart, to the things of this world, I am crucified to the world, Gal. 6.Gal 6and the world is crucified to me, ſayes Paul. This world, ſayes Faith, is not my houſe, my habitation, my home, I2 Cor 5. 1, 2.2 Cor 5:12 Cor 5:2 look for a better Country, for a better p. 386City, for a better home. He that is adopted Heir to a Crown, a Kingdom, looks with an eye of ſcorn, and diſdain, upon every thing below a Kingdom, below a Crown. Faith tells the ſoul, that it hath a Crown, a Kingdom2 Tim 4. 8.2 Tim 4:8 in reverſion; and this makes the ſoul to ſet light by the things of this world. Faith raiſes and ſets the ſoul high; And hath raiſed us up together, Epheſ. 2. 6.Eph 2:6and made us ſit together in heavenly places in Chriſt Jeſus, ſaith the Apoſtle. Faith makes a man live high, our converſationPhil. 3. 20.Phil 3:20 is in Heaven; and the higher any man lives, the leſs, the lower will the things of this world be in his eye. The fancy of Lucian is very pleaſant, who placeth Charon on the top of an high Hill, viewing all the affairs of men, and looking on their greateſt, richeſt, and moſt glorious Cities, as little Birds Neſts. Faith ſets the ſoul upon the Hill of God, the Mountain of God, that is, A high Mountain; and from thence, Faith gives the ſoul a ſight, a proſpect of all things here below. And, ah how like Birds Neſts does all the riches, braveries, and glories of this world look, and appear to p. 387them, that Faith hath ſet upon Gods high Hill. Faith having ſet Luther upon this high Hill, he proteſts, that God ſhould not put him off with theſe poor, low things. Faith ſet Moſes Heb. 11.Heb 11high, it ſet him among inviſibles, and that made him look upon all the treaſures, pleaſures, riches, and glories of Egypt, as little Birds-Neſts, as Mole-hills, as droſs and dung; as things that were too little, and too low for him to ſet his heart upon. Verily, when once Faith hath given a man a ſight, a proſpect of Heaven, all things on Earth will be looked upon, as little and low. And ſo much for this third Property of Faith.

The fourth Property of that Faith that accompanies Salvation, is this, It purifies the heart, it is a heart-purifyingActs 15. 9.Acts 15:9 faith: Purifying their hearts by faith. Faith hath two hands, one to lay hold on Chriſt, and another to ſweep the heart, which is Chriſts houſe. Faith knows that Chriſt is of a Dovelike nature, he loves to lie clean, and ſweet; Faith hath a neat Huſwifes hand, as well as an Eagles eye; Faith is as good at purging out of ſin, as it p. 388is at diſcovering of ſin. There is a cleanſing quality in Faith, as well as a healing quality in Faith. Sound faith will purge the ſoul from the love of ſin, from a delight in ſin, and from theEzek. 16.Ezek 16 reign and dominion of ſin. Sin ſhall not have dominion over you; for ye are Rom. 6. 14, 21.Rom 6:14Rom 6:21not under the Law, but under Grace. Now Faith purges and cleanſeth the heart from ſin; ſometimes by preſſing, and putting God to make good the promiſes of Sanctification. Faith takes that promiſe in Jere. 33. 8. And I will foreign I will purifie them, is an alluſion to the purifications preſcribed in the Law, for the cleanſing of polluted perſons, till which purifications were performed, they could not be admitted into the Camp, or Congregation, &c.cleanſe them from all their iniquity, whereby they have ſinned against me; and that promiſe in Micah. 7. 19. He will turn again, he will have compaſsion upon us; he will ſubdue our iniquities, and thou wilt caſt all their ſins into the bottom of the ſea. And that promiſe in Pſal. 65. 3. Iniquities prevail against me; as for our tranſgreſsions, thou ſhalt purge them away. And that promiſe in Iſai. 1. 25. And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy droſs, and take away all thy Tin. And ſpreads them before the Lord, and will never leave urging and preſſing, ſeeking and ſuing, till God makes them good. Faith p. 389makes the ſoul divinely impudent, divinely ſhameleſs. Lord, ſayes Faith, are not theſe thine own words; haſt thou ſaid it, and ſhall it not come to paſs? art thou no… a faithful God? is not thine honor engaged to make good the promiſes that thou haſt made? Ariſe, O God, and let my ſins be ſcattered; turn thy hand upon me, and let my ſins be purged. And thus Faith purifies the heart. Again, ſometimes Faith purifies the heart from ſin, by engaging againſt ſin in Chriſts ſtrength, as David engaged againſt Goliah, not in1 Sam. 17. 45.1 Sam 17:45 his own ſtrength, but in the ſtrength and name of the Lord of Hoſts. Faith leads the ſoul directly to God, and engages God againſt ſin; ſo as that the combate, by the wiſdom of Faith, is changed and made now rather between God and ſin, then between ſin and the ſoul; and ſo ſin comes to fall before the power, and glorious preſence of God; that is a choice word. Pſal. 61. 2. From the ends of the earth, will I cry to thee▪ When my heart is over-whelmed, lead me to the Rock that is higher then I. Look as a childe that is ſet upon by one that is ſtronger then he, cryes out p. 390to his Father, to help him, to ſtand by him, and to engage for him againſt his enemy; ſo Faith being ſenſible of its own weakneſs and inability, to get the victory over ſin, cries out to Chriſt, and engages Chriſt, who is ſtronger then the ſtrong man; and ſo Chriſt binds the ſtrong man, and caſts him out. Faith tells the ſoul, That all purpoſes, reſolutions, and endeavors, without Chriſt be engaged, will never ſet the ſoul above its ſins; they will never purifie the heart from ſin. Therefore Faith engages Chriſt, and caſts the main of the work upon Chriſt, and ſo it purges the ſoul from ſin. Luther reports of Staupicius, a German Divine, that he acknowledged, that before he came to underſtand the free and powerful grace of Chriſt, that he vowed and reſolved an hundred times againſt ſome particular ſin, and could never get power over it; he could never get his heart purified from it, till he came to ſee that he truſted too much to his own reſolutions, and too little to Jeſus Chriſt: But when his faith had engaged Chriſt againſt his ſin, he had the victory. Again, Faith purifies the p. 391heart from ſin; by the application of Chriſts Blood. Faith makes a plaiſterIt is the excellency of Faith, that it can turn the Blood of Chriſt, both into food and into Phyſick. of Chriſts bleſſed Blood, and layes it on upon the ſouls ſoars, and ſo cures it. Faith makes a heavenly vomit of this bleſſed Blood, and gives it to the ſoul, and ſo makes it caſt up that poyſon that it hath drunk in. Faith tells the ſoul, that it is not all the tears in the world, nor all the water in the Sea, that can waſh away the uncleanneſs of the ſoul; it is onelyonly the Blood of Chriſt that can make a Blackmoor white; it is onelyonly the Blood of Chriſt that can cure a Leprous Naaman, that can cure a Leprous ſoul. This Fountain of Blood, ſayes Faith, is the onelyonly Fountain for Judah and Jeruſalem, to waſhZach 13. 1.Zech 13:1 themſelves, to waſh their hearts from all uncleanneſs, and filthineſs of fleſh and ſpirit. Thoſe ſpots a Chriſtian findes in his own heart, can onelyonly be waſhed out in the Blood of the Lamb by a hand of Faith. Again, Faith purifieth the ſoul from ſin, by putting the ſoul upon heart-purifying Ordinances, and by mixing and mingling it ſelf with Ordinances. The word profited Heb. 4 2.Heb 4:2them not (ſaith the Apoſtle) becauſe p. 392it was not mixt with faith in them that heard it. Faith is ſuch an excellent ingredient, that it makes all potions work for the good of the ſoul, for the purifying of the ſoul, and for the bettering of the ſoul, and no potion, no means will profit the ſoul, if this heavenly ingredient be not mixt with it. Now Faith puts a man upon praying, upon hearing, upon the fellowſhip of the Saints, upon publick duties, upon family duties, and upon Cloſet duties; and Faith in theſe, comes and joyns with the ſoul, and mixes her ſelfAs Chriſt came and joyn'd himſelf to his Diſciples. with theſe ſoul-purifying Ordinances, and ſo makes them effectual for the purifying of the ſoul, more and more, from all filthineſs and uncleanneſs. Faith puts out all her vertue and efficacy in Ordinances, to the purging ofSin is like the wilde Fig-tree, or Ivy in the Wall, cut off ſtump, body, bough, and branches; yet ſome ſprigs or other will ſprout out again, till the Wall be plucked down, &c. ſouls from their droſs and Tin: Not that Faith in this life ſhall wholly purifie the ſoul from the being of ſin, or from the motions or operations of ſin, no; for then we ſhould have our Heaven in this world, and then we might bid Ordinances adue; but that faith that accompanies Salvation, doth naturally purifie and cleanſe the heart p. 393from the remainders of ſin by degrees. Sound Faith is ſtill a making the heart more and more, neat and clean, that the King of glory may delight in his habitation, that he may not remove his Court, but may abide with the ſoul for ever. And thus you ſee that that Faith that accompanies Salvation, is a heart-purifying Faith.

The fifth Property of that Faith that accompanies Salvation, is this, It is ſoul ſoftning, ſoul mollifying, O nothing breaks the heart of a ſinner, like Faith. Peter believes ſoundly, andMatth. 26. ult. Luke 7.Matt 26Luke 7 weeps bitterly, Mary Magdalen believes much, and weeps much. Faith ſets a wounded Chriſt, a bruiſed Chriſt, a deſpiſed Chriſt, a peirced Chriſt, a bleeding Chriſt before the ſoul; and this makes the ſoul ſit down and weep bitterly. I will pour upon the Zach. 12. 10, &c.Zech 12:10houſe of David, the Spirit of Grace, and of Supplications: And they ſhall look upon him, whom they have pierced, and they ſhall mourn for him (All Goſpel-mourning flows from believing) as one mourneth for his onelyonly ſon, and ſhall be in bitterneſs for him, as one that is in bitterneſs for his firſt-born. O the ſight of p. 394thoſe wounds, that their ſins have made, will wound their hearts, thorow and thorow, it will make them lament over Chriſt, with a bitter lamentation. They ſay, nothing will diſſolve the Adamant, but the Blood of a Goat. Ah, nothing will kindly, ſweetly, and effectually break the hardned heart of a ſinner, but Faiths beholding the Blood of Chriſt trickling down his ſides. Pliny reports of a Serpent, That when it ſtings, it fetches all the blood out of the body; but it was never heard that ever any ſweat blood, but Chriſt; and the very thoughts of this, makes the believing ſoul to ſit down ſweating, and weeping, That Chriſt ſhould love man, when he was moſt unlovely; that mans extream miſery, ſhould but inflame Chriſts bowels of love and mercy: This melts the believing ſoul, that Chriſt ſhould leave the eternal boſom of his Father; that he tha was equal with God, ſhould come in the form of a ſervant; that he that was cloathed with glory, and born a King, ſhould be wrapped in raggs; that he that the Heaven of Heavens could not contain, ſhould be cradled p. 395in a Manger; that from his Cradle, to his Croſs, his whole life ſhould be a life of ſorrows and ſufferings; that the Judge of all fleſh, ſhould be condemned; that the Lord of Life, ſhould be put to death; that he that was his Fathers joy, ſhould in anguiſh of Spirit, cry out, My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me. That that head that was crowned with honor, ſhould be crowned with thorns; that thoſe eyes that were as a flame of fire, that were clearer then the Sun, ſhould be cloſed up by the darkneſs of death; that thoſe ears which were wont to hear nothing but Hallelujahs, ſhould hear nothing but Blaſphemies; that that face that was white and ruddy, ſhould be ſpit upon by the beaſtly Jews; that that tongue that ſpake, as never man ſpake, yea, as never Angel ſpake, ſhould be accuſed of blaſphemy; that thoſe hands which ſwayed both a Golden Scepter, and an Iron Rod; and thoſe feet that were as fine-braſs, ſhould be nailed to the Croſs; and all this for mans tranſgreſſion, for mans rebellion. O the ſight of theſe things, the believing of theſe things, the acting p. 396of Faith on theſe things, makes a gracious ſoul to break and bleed, to ſigh and groan, to mourn and lament: That Faith that accompanies Salvation, is more or leſs a heart-breaking, a heart-melting Faith.

The ſixt Property of that Faith that accompanies Salvation, is this, It is a world-conquering faith, it is a world over-coming faith. 1 John 5. 4. For whatſoever is born of God, over-cometh the world; and this is the victory that over-cometh the world, even our Faith. Faith overcomes the frowning world, and the fawning world, the tempting world, and the perſecuting world, and that it doth thus. Firſt, Faith by uniting the ſoul to Chriſt, doth intereſt the ſoul in all the victories and conqueſts of Chriſt, and ſo makes the ſoul a conqueror with Chriſt. John 16. ult. Theſe things have I ſpoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace, in the world you ſhall have tribulation; but be of good chear, I have overcome the world. We have to deal but with a conquered enemy, our Jeſus hath given the world a mortal wound; we have nothing to do, but to ſet our feet upon a ſubdued p. 397enemy, and to ſing it out with the Apoſtle, Over all theſe, we are more then Rom. 8. 37.Rom 8:37conquerors. Secondly, Faith overcomes the world by out-bidding fights, Faith out-bids the world, and ſo makes the ſoul victorious. The world ſet honors, pleaſures, &c. before Moſes, but his Faith out-bid the world, it preſents the recompence of reward, it brings down all the glory, pleaſures, and treaſures of Heaven, of that other world, and ſets them before the ſoul; and ſo it over-tops and overcomes the world by out-bidding it; ſo Chriſt for the joy that was ſet before him, endured the Croſs, deſpiſingHeb. 12. 2.Heb 12:2 the ſhame. Thirdly, Faith overcomes the world by telling the ſoul, that all things are its own; ſayes Faith, This God is thy God, this Chriſt is thy Chriſt, this Righteouſneſs is thy Righteouſneſs, this Promiſe is thy Promiſe, this Crown is thy Crown, this Glory is thy Glory; theſe Treaſures are thy Treaſures, theſe pleaſures1 Cor. 3. 22.1 Cor 3:22 are thy pleaſures. All things are yours (ſaith the Apoſtle) things preſent (are yours) and things to come are yours. Thus the Faith of the Martyrs acted,Heb. 11. 35.Heb 11:35 p. 398and ſo made them victorious over a tempting, and a perſecuting world. Fourthly, Faith overcomes the world by valuing the things of this world as they are; moſt men over-value them, they put too great a price upon them, they make the world a god, and then they cry, Great is Diana of the Epheſians. O but Faith now turns the inſide of all Creatures outward; Faith preſents all worldly things, as impotent, as mixt, as mutable, as momentary to the ſoul, and ſo makes the ſoul victorious; Faith makes a man to ſee the prickles that be in every Roſe, the thorns that be in every Crown, the ſcabs that be under every Gown, the poyſon that is in the Golden Cup, the ſnare that is in the delicate diſh, the ſpot that is in the ſhining Pearl, and ſo makes a Chriſtian count and call all theſe things, as indeed they are, vanity of vanity; and ſo the believing ſoulOmnis vita infidelium peccatum eſt, & nibil bonum fine ſummo bono. Aug. There is no good without Chriſt, the cheifeſt good. ſlights the world, and tramples upon it, as dung and droſs. Fifthly and laſtly, Faith overcomes the world by preſenting Jeſus Chriſt to the ſoul, as a moſt excellent, glorious, and comprehenſive good, as ſuch a good that comprehends p. 399all good. Chriſt is that one good that comprehends all good, that one thing that comprehends all things. All the beauties, all the rarities, all the excellencies, all the riches, all the glories of all created Creatures are comprehended in Chriſt. As the worth and value of many peices of ſilver, is connected in one peice of Gold, or in one precious Jewel, ſo all the whole volume of perfections which is ſpread thorow Heaven and Earth, is epitomized in Chriſt; and the ſight and ſenſe of this makes the ſoul to triumph over the world. Faith preſents more excellencies, and better excellencies in Chriſt, then can be loſt for Chriſt, and ſo it makes the ſoul a conqueror. I have been long upon theſe things, becauſe they are of much weight, and worth, I ſhall be the briefer in what follows; but before I leave this point, I ſhall give you theſe hints.

In the firſt place, I ſhall give you ſome hints concerning ſtrong Faith; in the ſecond place, I ſhall give you ſome hints concerning weak Faith. My deſign in both, is to keep precious ſouls from miſtaking and fainting, p. 400concerning ſtrong Faith, I ſhall give you theſe ſhort hints.

Firſt, Strong Faith will make a ſoul reſolute in reſiſting, and happy in conquering the ſtrongeſt temptations. Heb. 11. 3. Dan. 6.

Secondly, It will make a man own God, and cleave to God, and hang upon God, in the face of the greateſt difficulties and dangers. Rom. 4. 18, &c. Pſal. 44. 16, 17, 18. So Job will truſtJob 13. 15, 16.Job 13:15Job 13:16 in God, though he ſlay him.

Thirdly, It will inable men to prefer Chriſts Croſs, before the worlds crown, to prefer tortures, before deliverance. Heb. 11.

Fourthly, Strong Faith will make a ſoul divinely fearleſs, and divinely careleſs, it will make a man live as the childe lives in the family, without fear or care. Pſal. 23. 4. Dan. 3. We are not careful to anſwer thee, O King, our God whom we ſerve, is able to deliver us, and he will deliver us, &c. Micah 7. 7, 8, 9.

Fifthly, Strong Faith will make a man cleave to the promiſe, when providence runs croſs to the promiſe. Num. 10. 29. 2 Chro. 20. 9, 10, 11. Pſal. 60. 6, 7. p. 401God hath ſpoken in his holineſs (ſaith David)So Joſhua and Caleb. Numb. 14. 22, 23, 24.Num 14:22Num 14:23Num 14:24 I will rejoyce, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth: Gilead is mine, and Manaſſeh is mine, &c. Though David was in his Baniſhment, yet his faith accounts all his, as if he had all in poſſeſſion, and that becauſe God had ſpoken in his holineſs. His faith hangs upon the promiſe, though preſent Providences did run croſs to the Promiſe, &c.

6. Strong faith will make men comply with thoſe commands that do moſt croſs them, in their moſt deſirable comforts, Heb. 11. 8, 9. & 10. 34. Gen. 22.

Now, O precious Souls, you are not to argue againſt your own ſouls, that ſurely you have no faith, becauſe thatAs it is dangerous to make falſe definitions of ſin; ſo it is dangerous to make falſe definitions of grace. your faith doth not lead you forth to ſuch and ſuch noble things; thou maiſt have true faith, though thou haſt not ſo great faith, as others of the Lords Worthies have had. The Philoſophers ſay, That there are eight degrees of heat; we diſcern three. Now if a man ſhould define heat onelyonly by the higheſt degree, then all other degrees will be caſt out from being heat: So p. 402if a man ſhould define Faith onelyonly by the higheſt degrees and operations of it, then that will be denied from being faith, that indeed is faith, as I ſhall preſently ſhew.

In the ſecond place, I ſhall give you ſome hints concerning weak faith.

1. A weak faith doth as much juſtifie, and as much unite a man to Chriſt, as a ſtrong faith; It gives a man as much propriety and intereſt in Chriſt, as the ſtrongeſt faith in the world. The Babe hath as much intereſtBut a Babe cannot improve his intereſt, as he that is of grown yeers. 2 Pet. 1. 1.2 Pet 1:1 in the Father, as he that is of grown years. A weak faith gives a man as good a title to Chriſt, and all the precious things of Eternity, as the ſtrongeſt faith in the world. A weak hand may receive a Pearl, as well as the ſtrong hand of a Gyant. Faith is a receiving of Chriſt, John 1. 12.

2. The promiſes of Eternal Happineſs and Bleſſedneſs are not made over to the ſtrength of Faith, but to the truth of Faith; not to the degrees of Faith, but to the reality of Faith. He that believes ſhall be ſaved, though he hath not ſuch a ſtrength of Faith, as to ſtop the mouth of Lyons, as to p. 403work Miracles, as to remove Mountains,Heb. 11. 33, 34, 35.Heb 11:33Heb 11:34Heb 11:35 as to ſubdue Kingdoms, as to quench the violence of Fire, as to reſiſt ſtrong Temptations, as to rejoyce under great perſecutions. No man that is ſaved, is ſaved upon the account of the ſtrength of his faith, but upon the account of the truth of his faith. In the great day Chriſt will not bring ballances to weigh mens graces, but a touch-ſtone to try their graces; He will not look ſo much at the ſtrength, as at the truth of their graces.

3. The weakeſt faith ſhall grow ſtronger and ſtronger. A weak Believer ſhallRom. 1. 17. Heb. 12. 2.Rom 1:17Heb 12:2 go on from Faith to Faith. Chriſt is the finiſher, as well as the Author of our Faith. Chriſt will nurſe up this bleſſed Babe, and will not ſuffer it to be ſtrangled in its infancy. He that hath begun a good work, will perfect it. Chriſt is asPhil. 1. 6.Phil 1:6 well bound to look after our graces, as he is to look after our ſouls. Grace is1 Pet. 1. 5.1 Pet 1:5 Chriſts work, therefore it muſt proſper in his hand; he is the great Builder and Repairer of our Graces; he will turn thy ſpark into a flame, thy dropMat…h. 12. 20. & 13. 32. into an Ocean, thy penny into a pound, thy mite into a million: Therefore p. 404do not ſit down diſcouraged, becauſe thy faith is weak. That which is ſowed in weakneſs, ſhall riſe in power; Thy weak faith ſhall have a glorious Reſurrection: Chriſt will not ſuffer ſuch a Pearl of price to be buried under a clod of Earth.

4. A little faith is faith, as a ſpark of fire is fire, a drop of water is water, a little Star is a Star, a little Pearl is a Pearl. Verily, thy little faith is a Jewel that God doth highly prize andMatth. 18. 10.Matt 18:10 value; and thy little faith will make thee put a higher price upon Chriſt,1 Pet. 2. 7.1 Pet 2:7 and Grace, then upon all the world. Well, remember this, That the leaſt meaſure of true faith will bring thee to Salvation, and poſſeſs thee of Salvation, as well as the greateſt meaſure. A little faith accompanies Salvation, as well as a great faith; a weak faith as well a ſtrong. Therefore do not ſay, O precious Soul, That thou haſt not that faith that accompanies Salvation, becauſe thou haſt not ſuch a ſtrong faith, or ſuch and ſuch degrees of faith. A great faith will yeeld a man a Heaven here; a little faith will yeeld him a Heaven hereafter.

p. 405The third thing that I am to ſhew you, is, What Repentance that is that accompanies Salvation. That Repentance doth accompany Salvation, I have formerly ſhewed. Now I ſhall manifeſt in the following particulars what Repentance that is that doth accompany Salvation, that comprehends Salvation, that boarders upon Salvation.

Firſt, That Repentance that accompanies Salvation, is a general, a univerſal change of the whole man; a change in every part, though it be but in part. That Repentance that accompanies Salvation, changes both heart and life, word and work; it makes an Ethiopian an Iſraelite, a Leaper an Angel. Waſh ye, make you clean; there is the change of your hearts: Put away theIſa. 1. 16, 17, 18.Isa 1:16Isa 1:17Isa 1:18 evil of your doings from before mine eyes, ceaſe to do evil, learn to do well; there is the change of their practices. So the Prophet Ezekiel, Caſt Ezek. 18. 30, 31, 32. True Repentance is a thorow change both of the minde and manners.Ezek 18:30Ezek 18:31Ezek 18:32away all your tranſgreſsions (ſaith he) whereby you have tranſgreſſed; there is the change of the life: And make you a new heart, and a new ſpirit; there is the change of the heart. That Repentance p. 406that accompanies Salvation,Optima & aptiſſima paenitentia eſt nova vita, ſaith Luther. It is ſaid, that upon ones Preaching, Repent, Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, There followed almoſt every where, Delictorum paenitentiae, morum reformatio, omnium contritio, ceſſabant blaſphemiae, aleae ludi, &c. works a change in the whole man; in all the qualities of the inward man, and in all the actions of the outward man. The Underſtanding is turned from darkneſs to light; the Will from a ſinful ſervility, to a holy liberty; the Affections from diſorder into order; the Heart from hardneſs into ſoftneſs: So in the outward man, the wanton eye is turned into an eye of chaſtity; the uncircumciſed ear is turned into an obedient ear; the hands of bribery are turned into hands of liberality; and the wandering feet of vanity, are turned into ways of purity. And verily, that Repentance that changes a man in ſome part, but not in every part, that onelyonly makes a man a Herod, or an Agrippa, a half Chriſtian, an almoſt Chriſtian. That Repentance will never bring down Heaven into a mans boſom here, nor never bring a man up to Heaven hereafter. That Repentance that accompanies Salvation, makes a man all glorious within, and his raymentPſal. 45. 13.Ps 45:13 to be of imbroidered gold; it ſtamps the Image of God, both upon the inward, and the outward man; it p. 407makes the heart like the Ark, all Gold within; and it makes the life like the Sun, all glorious without.

Secondly, That Repentance that accompanies Salvation, is, a total turning, as well as an univerſal turning; a turning from all ſin, without any reſervation or exception. I hate and abhor every falſe way, but thy Law doPſal. 119. True hatred is (foreign) to the whole kinde. Ariſt. And God hath engaged himſelf to cleanſe the hearts of his people from all, and to ſet their ſoul… againſt all. Jere. 33. 8 Ezek. 36. 25, 29, 33. 1 Iohn 1. 9. Repentance for ſin; is nothing worth, without repentance from ſin.Ps 119Jer 33:8Ezek 36:25Ezek 36:29Ezek 36:331 John 1:9 I love. So in Ezek. 18. 30. Therefore I will judge you, O houſe of Iſrael, every one according to his ways, ſaith the Lord God, Repent and turn your ſelves from all your tranſgreſsions, ſo iniquity ſhall not be your ruine. So in Ezek. 33. 11. As Noahs flood drowned his neereſt, and his deareſt friends; ſo the flood of penitent tears drowns mens neereſt and their deareſt luſts. Be they Iſaacs or Benjamins, be they right eyes, or right hands, Repentance that accompanies Salvation, puts all to the Sword; it ſpares neither Father nor Mother, neither Agag nor Achan; it caſts off all the rags of old Adam; it leaves not a Horn, nor a Hoof behinde; it throws down every ſtone of the old building; it ſcrapes off all Leviathans skales: it waſheth away all leprous ſpots. Ezek. p. 40814. 6. Therefore ſay unto the houſe of Iſrael, thus ſaith the Lord God, Repent, and turn your ſelves from your Idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations. Sin is a turning the back upon God, and the face towards Hell; but Repentance is a turning the back upon ſin, and a ſetting the face towards God. He that looks upon Jeruſalem, and uponThus did Herod and Judas to their eternal ruine. Jam. 2. 10.Jas 2:10 Babylon, with a learing eye at the ſame time; He that looks upon God, and at the ſame time looks upon any ſin with a learing eye, hath not yet reached unto this Repentance that accompanies Salvation; his Repentance and Profeſſion cannot ſecure him from double damnation: He that ſerves God in ſomethings, and his luſts in other things, ſayes to God as David 1 Sam. 19. One ſtab ar the heart kills, one hole in the ſhip ſinks her, one act of treaſon makes a Traytor: So one ſin not forſaken, not turned from, will undo a ſoul for ever. Sin ever ends tragically, and this puts the penitent in battel array againſt every ſin.1 Sam 19ſaid to Mephiboſheth concerning his Lands, Thou and Ziba divide the Lands, So thou and Satan divide my ſoul, my heart between you: Ah doth not ſuch a ſoul deſerve a double Hell? Chriſt takes every ſin at a penitent mans hands, as Caeſar did his wounds from him, of whom he merited better uſage, with foreign, And thou my ſon? What thou wound me? what p. 409thou ſtob me? that ſhouldſt venture thy own blood to ſave mine. There are no wounds that are ſo grievous and terrible to Chriſt, as thoſe that he receives in the houſe of his friends. And this ſets the penitent mans heart and hand againſt every thing that makes againſt Chriſt. A true penitent looks upon every ſin as poyſon, as the vomit of a dog, as the mire of theIſa. 30. 22. Nihil in lege menſtruato immundius. Hieron.Isa 30:22 ſtreet, as the menſtruous cloath, which of all things in the Law was moſt unclean, defiling, and polluting, (Pliny ſaith, that the very Trees with touching of it, would become barren.) And his looking thus upon every ſin, turns his heart againſt every ſin, and makes him not onelyonly to refrain from ſin, but to forſake it, and to loath it more then Hell.