Christ the Fountain of Life, Sermon 13
SERMON XIII.
1 JOHN 5.13.
That you may beleeve on the Name of the Son of God.
NOw we come to ſpeak of the other end of the Apoſtles writing of theſe Epiſtles, and that is, that you may beleeve on the name of the Son of God.
Doct. It is an holy end of the holy ſcriptures that beleevers may beleeve.
John, when he writes the Goſpel, he ſpeakes as wel to beleevers, as to others, but cheifly to beleevers, John 20.31. Theſe things are written that you may beleeve. Say not what is this, but to make the worke that is already wrought, for though faith and beleeving, bee wrought in the hearts of Gods people, yet ſuch as doe beleeve, had need to be helped to beleeve more and better, Rom. 1.17. It is not onelyonly the power of God to worke faith in ſuch as beleeve, but to lead them on from faith to faith, from one meaſure of faith to another, and the Goſpel is revealed from heaven for that end, that ſuch as beleeve not might be brought on to beleeve. And ſuch as do beleeve, may be carried an end in beleeving, ſuch as are faithful, had need be yet more faithful; you read alſo, Phil. 1.25. I ſhall abide with you, for your furtherance and joy of faith, ſuch a furtherance as is for the increaſing and augmentation of your faith, ſo that there is not only faith but increaſe and growth of faith too: as furthered by the Goſpel, 1 Theſſ. 3.10, That I might ſupply the defects of your faith, to ſupply what is wanting in your faith, there is not any of the ſervants of God, no not thoſe that receive the word with much joy in the holy ghoſt, in much affliction and tribulation, no not thoſe that give good pledges and evidences of their grace, as 1 Theſſ. 1.4, 5, 6, 7. yet there is ſomething wanting or lacking in your faith, not any, no not the moſt exemplary Chriſtians, v. 7. but there is ſomething wanting in their faith, and therefore to this end he deſires to come to them,Note this. as verſ. 10. he is preſſed exceedingly night and day, ſtirred up unto that duty, with much vehemency and in earneſtneſſe of ſpirit deſires exceedingly to ſee your faith, and to perfect what is wanting in it. A marvellous thing, that the beſt Chriſtians ſhould yet have ſomething wanting in their faith, ſo that this is not a needleſſe work he undertakes, in writing to them that beleeve on Chriſt, that yet they may beleeve better.
Queſt. Now what is that which they had need grow unto?
Anſw. Firſt, they had need to grow unto the beleife of ſome further principles of Gods truth, ſome further Articles of faith, which yet they know not: Some have need to grow in the object of their faith, to beleeve more then they yet doe beleeve. Some of the Apoſtles did not beleeve the reſurrection of Chriſt, Thomas ſaid, he would not beleeve, unleſſe he might ſee and feele, John 20.25. he was wanting in the beleefe of one Article of faith, the reſurrection of the dead, and 1. Cor. 15. the whole Church was wanting in this and in many other Articles of their Chriſtian faith; they doubted not but that their bodies ſhould riſe, but they wanted that before. And the Theſſalonians, they wanted this in their faith, they could not tell what to make of the long delay of the ſecond comming of Chriſt; they did expect a ſuddaine comming, and therefore many of them were troubled in their minds, ſo as that they neglected their callings, and minded not their outward buſineſſe in the world, expecting a ſuddaine diſſolution of all: And therefore the Apoſtle ſupplies what was wanting in their faith, by acquainting them further of the councel of God. That Chriſt muſt not come to Judgement, till Antichriſt have firſt come, with all deceiveableneſſe, and lying wonders, and till the Church have made an Apoſtacy, and the Galathians, they were ignorant of the Doctrine of Juſtification, for ſupply of which, and ſatisfying them therein, that whole Epiſtle is ſpent; ſo in all other Churches the Apoſtles labours to ſupply what was wanting in the object of their faith.
Secondly, there is ſomething wanting in their approvedneſſe of the habit of faith, ſomething wanting in the gift and grace of faith. The Apoſtle prayes for the Coloſſians, That as they have received Chriſt they would ſo walke, and that they might be rooted and eſtabliſhed in him. Many of them were not ſo rooted and eſtabliſhed in Chriſt as they ſtood in need to be, not able to exclude and baniſh thoſe doubts, and feares, and cares of ſpirit, that ſometimes accompany beleevers, even thoſe that beleeve already on the name of Chriſt, yet there is ſomething wanting in the root of their faith; for looke as you ſee it is with a Plant, that is grafted into a Stock, it doth not forthwith take root, but a little matter will ſoone unſettle it; ſo is it in this caſe, a man may in ſome meaſure be implanted into Chriſt, and yet for a time be marvellouſly unſetled, and farre off from that rootedneſſe which God lookes our faith ſhould grow unto, and ſo in a building, it at the firſt framing may be ſo greene, as that yet it is not ſetled upon the foundation, but it would have a time to be dryed and withered, that it may ſtand the firmer on the foundation without ſhrinking, and be more fit for a mans dwelling, ſo is it ſometimes with the faith of a Chriſtian man, he may be knit to Chriſt, and may have a place in Chriſt, but his morter may yet be green, and may be eaſily ſhaken with wind and weather of temptation, and not be yet rooted and eſtabliſhed; there may want ſuch holy confidence, and aſſured perſwaſion of fellowſhip with the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, as we had need to be lifted up unto a further increaſe of faith, which this Epiſtle, and ſuch other Doctrines as theſe be, are wont to work in them.
Thirdly, It may be increaſed in the comfort of it, in the ſence and feeling of it, for it may ſo fall out, that many a good ſoule may come to a large meaſure of a lively faith in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, as that they may cleave to him, and ſeeke him early, and doe and ſuffer any thing for the name of Chriſt, and yet ſometimes doubt, whether their faith be ſound hearted or no; in ſuch a caſe he doubts whether his faith be true or no, he wants the ſence of his faith, for he beleeves not that he hath faith; now this faith of his had need to be increaſed in the ſence and feeling of it, that he may plainly ſee the faith he hath is no fancy, or preſumption, or deluſion, as he hath very much ſuſpected; but that he may ſee the faith he hath is the faith of Gods Elect, he had need be built up in his faith more and more: Lord I beleeve, help thou my unbeleefe, Mark 9.40. He could not tell whether he might call his faith, faith or unbeleefe, he could not tell what to call it, he was willing to beleeve, but it was with ſo much difficulty, and ſo much impotency of faith, that he prayes for the removall of his unbeleefe; ſo that in regard of the doubts that a man hath many times of his own faith, he had need grow up in faith, that he may beleeve that he doth beleeve, and this is that you read, Phil. 1.25. For the joy of your faith. This was ſomething in which they were to be furthered, it was the joy and comfort of their faith; ſo to riſe up in beleeving, as that they might have comfort in it, for ſo farre as a man beleeves, and yet is doubtfull of it, he hath little comfort and joy in his faith, and therefore the Apoſtle would have them furthered in their joy, that their faith might be a joyfull faith, ſuch as where in they might have comfort, and might be joyfull for that they had received faith.
And fourthly, faith had need be increaſed, in reſpect of the acts, the proper acts of faith, which are chiefly perſwaſion and truſt upon the name of Chriſt, and thoſe heavenly truths, in which the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is revealed, and graciouſly diſpenced unto the hearts of his people, even theſe alſo had need to be marvellouſly inlarged in Chriſtian men, above what at the firſt they doe ariſe unto; ſee them both put together, Peter when he walked upon the water he was fully perſwaded, and did truſt upon Chriſt for protection in a very doubtfull and dangerous caſe, he did truſt upon him, Matth. 14.30, 31. but when the wind began to blow, and the ſtorme to ariſe, then Peters faith began to ſhrinke, and his body to ſinke, and then he cryes out, O Maſter, ſave me, elſe I periſh. O thou of little faith, ſaith our Saviour, to ſhew you, that a mans faith had need be further increaſed, for you ſee our Saviour rebukes him for his little faith; not only weake in the habit of it, but little in the proper act of it. He begins to ſhrinke in his perſwaſion, and in his truſt, and that was thought the littleneſſe of his faith; and ſo the two Diſciples that went to Emaius, they looked ſadly to thinke of the death of Chriſt, and complaine of it to Jeſus, and when he asked them, why they looked ſo ſadly, they tel him the cauſe, concerning the death of Chriſt, and ſay they, we truſted this had been he, that ſhould have delivered Iſrael; O fooles, and ſlow of heart, verſ. 21, 22. & 24. ought not Chriſt to have ſuffered theſe things? to ſhew you, that there is even in Gods owne ſervants that are true beleevers, ſomething to be ſupplyed in the acts of their faith, their perſwaſion and truſt is many times very much overwhelmed, ſo as that many times they call in queſtion the maine principles and foundations of their faith. We truſted this was he, but we are doubtfull whether we be not deceived or no, God knowes whether it was he or no; but we have juſt occaſion of doubting, for they thought the Meſſiah ſhould have lived forever, and now this is the third day ſince he was crucified, and we truſted this was he, but now he is dead, and hath laine ſo long in the grave, and we are therefore doubtfull whether this was he or no, and therefore in this regard faith had need be increaſed.
Fifthly, Faith had need to grow, even that faith which accompanies ſalvation, by which we beleeve on the name of Chriſt, not only thus farre as hath been ſaid, but had need to grow in the fruits of it, for many times though faith may have ſome ſtrength and comfort, and put forth it ſelfe in ſome acts, yet notwithſtanding it may ſometimes fall out, and often doth, that even the faith of Gods people is much intercepted from putting forth it ſelfe, in thoſe lively fruits of faith which redound to the praiſe and glory of God, Gal. 5.6. Faith workes by love; now you know what you have heard of the love of Gods people, that they may depart from their firſt Love, yea ſo farre depart from it, as that he may fall ſhort of the performance of his firſt workes of his faith and love together, Revel. 2.4, 5. Faith at the firſt was more abundantly fruitfull then now it is, and ſo their firſt love was more abundantly fruitfull unto good workes, then now they are able to reach unto, but Chap. 2.19. it is ſaid of the Thyatirans, their workes was more at the laſt then they were at the firſt. It is a ſigne their faith was as much growing in fruitfulneſſe as the other was decayed, ſo that ſomething may be ſupplyed to the faith of Gods people, their faith and love, and the fruits thereof had need to be increaſed; ſo that this is not a vaine end of Iohns writing to them that beleeve on his name, that they may beleeve, though they now beleeve, yet they had need to beleeve yet more, though it may ſeeme to be a Tautologie, yet it is an evident truth.
Now then for further opening of this point, firſt to ſhew you, that all which at this time hath been ſaid, may be one reaſon of the point why Iohn writes thus to them, which is taken from the defects that are found in the faith of all Beleevers, which it were meet and neceſſary ſhould be ſupplyed.
Reaſ. 2. It is taken from the marvellous power that is in this Epiſtle, and ſo in other Scriptures, to ſupply theſe defects that are thus wanting in our faith, whether in the object of it, or in whatever elſe; there is a marvellous power in the holy Scriptures to ſupply it all, and indeed the Scriptures are ſo carved out, and ſo diſpenſed, and when diſpenced aright there is a mighty power in them to ſupply faith, and the defects of it in every Beleever, The Scriptures are mighty through God, whether preached or read, or heard, or conferred upon, or meditated upon; for to my remembrance, the Scriptures are ſanctified of God to none other uſe but to one of theſe five; the Word of God is mighty, and mighty to this end, that beleeving in the Word, whether preached, or heard, or read, or examining what you have heard, or meditating, or conferring upon it, there is a mighty power in the holy Scriptures to ſupply the faith of Gods people.
Mighty power in the Scriptures preached.Firſt, For Preaching, there is a mighty power in the Scriptures preached, for he writes theſe things that they may be preached, and to be read, and to make uſe of them in conference, and meditation, and in them all there is a mighty power. But firſt for preaching, Rom. 1.16, 17. The Goſpell is the power of God to ſalvation, for therein is the righteouſneſſe of God revealed from faith to faith. By the Goſpel of God preached, the Righteouſneſſe of God is revealed from faith to faith, to lead on beleevers to beleeve, and not to reſt growing in beleeving, til they reach unto ſalvation; it is the mighty power of God to ſalvation, to every one that beleeves, ſuch an one, while he lives ſhall be of the thriving hand in faith. And when the Apoſtle prayed ſo earneſtly, night and day to come againe to the Theſſalonians. Doth hee not therein imply, though there may be a mighty power in the word read to increaſe faith where it is already wrought, yet his perſonal preſence would helpe it much more, whether by conference or by preaching, and therefore he prayes much to ſee them again. An evident argument, though the word read may be of much uſe to eſtabliſh us; yet much more the perſonal perſence, and conference and preaching of the Goſpel of Chriſt, elſe that prayer of his had been ſomething impertinent.
Conference.And ſo ſecondly, for conferring of the Scriptures, you know when the two Diſciples were doubtful whether that was the Chriſt or no, Luke 24.21. our Savior doth not only reprove them for that doubtfulneſſe, but he begins at Moſes, and opened to them the things written in the Prophets, till in the end their hearts glowed and burned within them, and that was a furtherance of their faith, for then they preſently ran to Jeruſalem, and then they do not ſay, we truſted this was he, but they ſay, the Lord is riſen indeed: In very truth without any further diſſention, never diſtruſted it more, he is riſen indeed, ſo that there is a mighty power in the word confered upon, in private conference, and therefore they doubt no more of it: So that the word opened by way of conference made their hearts to burn within them, they do not call it preaching, but rather a private conference, an applying the Scripture to this point they ſtood need to be inſtructed in, and they go away with ful reſolution, the Lord is riſen indeed.
And you know the mighty power and uſe of the conference of Phillip with the Eunuch upon that conference, the Eunuch beleeved and was baptized, Acts 8.37. So that take the word preached, and there is a mighty power of God in it to lead a Chriſtian man from faith to faith: And take the Goſpell of God and conferre about it, and it is a mighty power to increaſe faith, that beleevers may beleeve.
Reading the word.Thirdly, And ſo it is for the word read, another kind of diſpenſing this word, that is a ſpecial end of it, that by reading you might beleeve on the name of the Sonne of God, that is the next uſe of the Scripture, they which do read, ſhal by reading finde their hearts confirmed, and eſtabliſhed in the faith, John 20.30, 31. There is a mighty power of God that accompanies the word of God read, to ſtrengthen men in the faith, that ſuch as beleeve already, may beleeve more, and bee eſtabliſhed in their perſwaſion of the truth of God.
Fourthly, If you ſhal examine the things that you have heard,Examination of things heard. that is another uſe of the Scriptures, an examination of what you heare; goe home and conſider whether the things that have been taught were true or no: whether agreeable to the holy Scriptures or no; for a Preacher ſpeaks not the expreſſe words of the Scripture, but comments and explications of the Scriptures, and therefore examine whether that which is delivered be agreeable to the Scriptures which are alledged for to prove the doctrine. We muſt make uſe of the Scripture as a rule to meaſure all the Sermon by we heare, whether it be of juſt length and breadth of Gods word or no, as the ballance of the Sanctuary, the two teſtaments be, and when you weigh what is ſaid, then you are confirmed and eſtabliſhed in it.
Now this kind of making uſe of the Scriptures to examine what you hear, it is of ſpecial uſe to helpe forward the faith of ſuch as do beleeve, yea, (and which is more) it may bring on men to beleeve, which it may be never did beleeve before, mightily ſtirred before, but beleeved not, til they goe home and ſearched the Scriptures, ſeeing that which is ſpoken to be fully agreeable to the word of God, they have been brought on wonderfully to beleeve; famous is that of the Bereans, Acts 17.11, 12. they heard the word, and what he ſpake they received it gladly, they thought he ſpoke well, but they ſearched daily to ſee whether thoſe things which were ſpoken were ſo or no, therefore ſee the bleſſing of God upon it, verſ, 12. many of them beleeved, they received the word with reverence and did not cavell at it, but heard it patiently, and when they came at home conferred about it; and when upon examination they ſaw it was according to the Scriptures of the holy Prophets, when they ſaw, that what Paul preached was ſuitable to Moſes and the Prophets, the bleſſing of God was great upon them, for the number of them that beleeved was not a few, to ſhew you that a man that hath heard the word, and hath been ſtirred with what he heard, if he ſhal go home and conſider and weigh well, and ſee how one thing bears witneſſe to another,Note this. ſo as that the word preached, opens the word written; and the word written, confirmes the word preached, then though before he was doubtfull, as ſometimes a godly mans heart may faile him in applying the word to himſelfe, as Jacobs heart failed and he beleeved not, yet when he conſidered it, and ſaw what tokens of love was ſent him, and laid circumſtances together, then his ſpirit revived. So a man heares much, and ſome thing pertinent to him, yet his heart may faile him, and may have much adoe to gather any comfort out of it, but when he conſiders things more privately and ſearches the Scriptures, upon examination,Repetition of the word bleſſed. many a man beleeves the word, which before he was doubtful of. Repetition and examination of the word, is marvellouſly bleſſed by God to this end, to helpe forward our faith, it is of good uſe both to beginne, and to increaſe faith; ſometimes to worke it, where it was heretofore wanting, much more to increaſe it where it was begun before, and therefore as we were begotten by the immortall Word of God; ſo no Word of God, being diſpenſed in any Ordinance of God, none of them but are of mighty uſe for the ſupplying our defects of faith, and to make us beleeve more.
5. Meditation on the Word.Fifthly, the Word alſo meditated upon, when a man hath heard it, and ſearched it, and beleeved it, read and conferred about it, or ſay none of theſe for the preſent, but whether theſe have gone before or no, for the preſent the very meditation of Gods Word, which a man now takes into his minde as he is riding, or working; there is a mighty power in the Word, pondering upon it, and chewing of it, to make a man more rooted in it, more fruitfull, and more comfortable in beleeving. This truth you ſee in Pſal. 1.1, 2, 3. when a man meditates upon the Law of God day and night, he growes to more delight in it; one of theſe helps another, and what will be the fruit of it? He ſhall be like a tree planted by the rivers of waters, planted and rooted, and well watered there, and he brings forth his fruit in due ſeaſon, and whatſoever he doth ſhall proſper; not as planted in a dry Wilderneſſe, but by the rivers of water, and that makes him not only well rooted, and growne tall, but it inables him to bring forth fruit in due ſeaſon, and as for his leafe it withers not, neither Summers heat, nor Winters Froſts makes it to fall, but he ſtill holds his greenneſſe, and his fruitfulneſſe, and he growes in all the graces of God which tend to the praiſe, and glory of his grace, and this is by reaſon of his delighting, and meditating in the Word of God, and thus you ſee the point opened.
Vſe 1. Firſt then, you may from hence gather a ſigne of tryall of your owne faith, for if this be the Spirit of a godly Teacher to draw on thoſe that are beleevers to beleeve; it is a good ſigne, as of a faithfull Miniſter, ſo of a faithfull Hearer, when he deſires to ſupply the defects of his owne and others faith; you ſee Iohn, a faithfull Miniſter to thoſe Chriſtians to whom he writes, he when he had brought them on to beleeve, and found faith wrought in their hearts, it was his care not there to leave them; he doth not ſay as ſome would, well, there is now truth of grace in them, and truth of faith, ſuch faith as accompanies ſalvation; and now he that begun this worke in them will finiſh it, and ſo leave them; and you ſay, now you need take no further care about them, but now they will doe well enough; no, this is not the ſpirit of a faithfull Miniſter of Jeſus Chriſt, and it will be but uncomfortable to ſuch Miniſters, as thinke now they may be left to the wide world,Property of a faithfull Miniſter. they wil ſhift any where, but where we ſee any ſeeds of faith begun, we muſt be deſirous to increaſe it in our ſelves, and ours; the Apoſtles themſelves pray, Lord increaſe our faith, Luke 17.5. and ſo they deſire to increaſe other mens faith, wee had need grow faſt this way if we would have a true ſigne of a lively faith, true and lively faith always deſires to grow in it ſelfe, and it would cauſe the like faith alſo to grow in others, and therefore as you ſee faithfull Miniſters are thus deſirous to grow themſelves, and to cauſe others to grow, as Paul prayes exceedingly night and day, to come to thoſe whom he had taken pains withall, that he might make a ſupply of what was wanting in their faith, and as faithfull Miniſters muſt cloathe themſelves with this earneſt deſire, to be calling yet more and more upon beleevers, that ſuch as doe beleeve may beleeve yet more, and grow from faith to faith. Truly ſo godly Chriſtians, looke as Miniſters are deſirous to grow in their owne faith, and to helpe on others, ſo in Chriſtians, it is a true ſigne of faith, not to content our ſelves in truth of faith, but to deſire earneſtly after growth in faith, had not they cauſe to pray that Paul might come among them againe and helpe them? And therefore, doubtleſſe this is that which every true beleever hath reſpect unto, every faithfull Chriſtian prayes for himſelfe, Lord increaſe my faith, Lord helpe my unbeleefe, this is the prayer of every ſoule that comes to Chriſt, that though we have ſome meaſure of faith already, yet mixed with ſo much unfruitfulneſſe, and unſetledneſſe, and ſo many defects, that every Chriſtian hath cauſe to pray, Lord helpe my unbeleefe; ſometimes a man is hindred with offences, and they are to be avoyded, in which a man will not be able to put forth love unleſſe hee have a ſtrong faith, and that was the reaſon why the Apoſtles prayed ſo earneſtly Lord increaſe our faith, Luk. 17.5. for it was upon this occaſion our Saviour had been exhorting them, how to carry themſelves in reſpect of offences, if thy brother treſpaſſe againſt thee rebuke him, and if he repent forgive him, &c. Now they apprehended, it was a great work, they ſaw it was a great worke to rebuke him, he had need have much faith before he can do that, but ſuppoſe upon that a man doe humble himſelfe, and repent, then for a man to forgive him, Note this.it requires a great faith to forgive a wrong, or an injury offered to us; but what if he come and offend me againe, and againe, ſeventy times ſeven times? why if he doe, and ſay it repents me, thou ſhalt forgive him: Now when they heare this, that a man muſt bee ſo free-hearted in forgiving wrongs and injuries done to themſelves, they had need have a ſtrong love, and ſtrong love ſtands in need of a ſtrong faith, to ſhew you, that a man that ſhal have occaſion to trade with his faith, and to live and walke by his faith, he ſhall have much need of the growth and increaſe of it, if it be but for the healing of offences, many occaſions and temptations may meet with us in the world, temptations from Satan, as well as from the world, 1 John 2.14. And if a man have ſtrong enemies, he will ſtand in need of a ſtrong faith, to cut aſunder all the fiery darts of the Devill, Epheſ. 6.16. Above all take the ſhield of faith. There is no man willing to go to the field with weak armour, he would if he could have armour of proofe, ſuch as might repulſe a weapon or a dart caſt againſt him, ſo a Chriſtian he hath to fight againſt many enemies; And a ſheild covers his whole body, and ſo differs from a buckler, that covers but one part, but a ſhield covers the whole man ſtands upon the ground, and covers him all over, and now faith being ſuch a ſheild, it is of mighty force, and is able to repulſe all the fiery darts of the Devill, and all the reſt of the enemies of their ſalvation, ſo that the ſervants of God, that know what uſe they have of their faith, they know they have need of the growth and increaſe of it.
And ſo againe, in regard of their daily imployments, the juſt man lives by his faith, Rom. 1.17. Gal. 2.20. A man doth nothing Chriſtianly and ſpiritually, but by his faith,Faith profitable to all things. now when faith muſt be the inſtrument to helpe us to work all our workes ſpiritually, we had need to grow to ſome life and fruitfulneſſe in faith, and if our faith be not fruitfull, we ſhall make but hard work of our daily imployments, how ſhall we depend upon God, and do all in the name of Chriſt, and doe all in obedience to a commandement, and live by a promiſe, for Gods preſence and bleſſing in it? how ſhall a man do this if he have not faith, yea if he have not ſome dexterity of faith? A weake faith will then ſlug it, when a man ſtands in moſt need to uſe it: and therefore that a man may be ready to ſhew his faith upon every occaſion, in prayer in conference, in every thing both concerning this life and another. A man had need of a great deal of faith, and therefore this is an evident ſigne that a mans faith is well wrought, a ſound, and a lively faith, if it be a growing faith: But if you heare men ſaying, they thanke God they have a ſtrong faith, and they alwayes beleeved on Chriſt; and fie upon them that doe not, let me ſay, this is a preſumption of faith, but is no faith, yea, it is the badge of the want of faith, when therefore you ſee the Apoſtle writes to them that beleeve, that they may beleeve more certainly, and more ſtrongly, that is a true faith, and it will grow.
Ʋſe 2, It ſerves to reprove the moſt ſacrilegious and uncharitable faith of the Papiſts, that take away theſe writings from the people, John writes this Epiſtle to the intent, that beleevers may beleeve, you heard that the word diſpenſed in any ordinance is of mighty power to increaſe faith, where it is begun, and to beget it, where it is wanting. Take away reading of the Scriptures, and conference about them,Infidell practiſe of Papiſts and you take away all. And therefore an infidell practiſe to go about to take away the faith of Gods Elect. God ſent us the Scriptues to the end that we might beleeve, and if this be the nature of faith, to deſire that themſelvs and others might grow in faith, what are they but Infidells in truth, who as much as in them lyes lock up the Scriptures in a ſtrange tongue, that the people may not underſtand what is read unto them, and as much as in them lyes drives the Bibles out of their houſes. And it is heretical preſumption for ſuch and ſuch men to uſe the Scriptures, this is infidelity, and moſt ſacrilegious to God: And it is likewiſe uncharitable and injurious to the faith of Gods people.
An evident argument of infidelity, how can you charge the wiſdome of God of more folly, and lightneſſe? God ſends his word to his ſervants, that they might be reading, and hearing, and conferring of it; and that by beleeving they might beleeve: Theſe men to caſt an imputation of folly upon God, they are afraid that God did not conſider the danger of it, if beleevers ſhould fall a reading, and poore tradeſmen a conferring about the Scriptures, they are afaid they will be diſtempered with hereſie, and ſo trouble the whole Church; do not they by ſo doing set the wiſdom of God at naught, and ſhew themſelves ſacrilegious againſt the truth of God?
Ʋſe 3. It may ſerve to exhort us all, ſince the holy ghoſt did write theſe things, to the intent that you that beleeve on the name of the Sonne of God might beleeve.
Firſt, to you that beleeve, and then to you that beleeve not. You that have been diligent in hearing and reading the word, be diligent in it ſtil, and make it a point of your Chriſtian practiſe, not to faile to read ſome part of it every day, unleſſe you be neceſſarily hindred, or if you have been neceſſarily hindred by buſines from reading, yet be ſure nothing hinder you from meditating upon it, the bleſſed man meditates on Gods word every night, and every day, & though he takes the ſhorter time to it, yet he muſt have ſome time for meditation upon the word, upon ſomething he heard this day, or ſomething hee hath ſometimes read, and you ſhall finde a mighty power in it to fructifie, as if you were planted by the Rivers of waters, Mighty power in meditating upon the word.for the ſpirit of God breaathing in the word, and your hearts ſucking it up, and by meditating upon it, you grow in more knowledge in the object of your faith, in the rootedneſſe in the ſence, and in the acts and fruites of your faith, and this by hearing, and reading, and meditating; read therefore, the King himſelfe muſt doe it daily, Kings muſt read the Word of God daily.who hath more buſineſſe then any man, Deut. 17.19. And if he doe ſo, God will learne him the feare of his name; now if God will not excuſe Kings, much leſſe private men, who have leſſe affaires then Kings have; and therefore be reading every day, and when you cannot read, be ſure you meditate upon ſome part of Gods Word, every day, and every night.
As ever you deſire to beleeve, uſe the meanes that you may beleeve, this being ſanctified of God to that end, then be not you wanting to uſe it; and doe not only ſo, but heare it likewiſe, and conferre upon it, and ſearch it daily whether it be true or no; uſe the meanes that God hath ſanctified his Word to be diſpenſed in, and by which he will bleſſe it to his people, and then you ſhall finde this: In beleeving you ſhall beleeve, you ſhall grow from faith to faith, and from ſence to ſence, and in the fruits of faith till you be perfect in Chriſt Jeſus: be diligent in hearing Gods Word, for it is the mighty power of God unto ſalvation; and conferre of it, there is a mighty power in the Word being conferred upon, take heed ye neglect not occaſions in this kinde, and ſearch the Scriptures, and examine what you heare, and you will finde a mighty power in it to increaſe faith; Since therefore God hath given you his Word, and ſhed abroad the water of his Spirit, to run through every line of the Scriptures,Note this. ſo that the more you ſhall read, and heare, conferre, and meditate, and ſearch the Scripture, the more you ſhall finde the life of faith increaſed in you; and therefore you muſt not wonder if you ſee Chriſtian men that neglect theſe duties, complaine of the deadneſſe of their hearts. Doeſt thou doubt in thy perſwaſion, is thy confidence mixed with much diffidence? then aske thy heart this queſtion; Whether haſt thou uſed the Scriptures for thoſe ends God hath appointed them, and haſt thou been diligent in conferring about them, and ſearching of them, whether what is delivered be ſuitable to them or no, and meditated of them, and brought them home to thy houſe, and compared them together, and meditated upon them day and night, and taken times to chew and digeſt them? If thou hadſt done thus, then thou wouldeſt have beleeved more aſſuredly; but if we be negligent in any of theſe kinds, then wonder not, if we take away bodily food, we take away bodily heat, take away the fuell that nouriſhes faith, and then it muſt needs grow weake and infirme. And therefore as you deſire to grow in beleeving, be diligent in theſe duties, that you may beleeve on the name of Chriſt, and in beleeving may beleeve much more. And for you that doe not beleeve ſavingly, whoſe faith will not put you in poſſeſsion of eternall life, though this Scripture was not ſo much written for your uſe and benefit,Note this. as for them that already beleeve, yet ſince there is no meanes to come to faith but by the Word, be not you wanting, as ever you deſire to come to that faith which accompanies ſalvation; be not wanting diligently to heare the Word of God, and conferre about it with thoſe that beleeve already, Faith comes by hearing, Rom. 10.17. and it is the mighty power of God to ſalvation. Be glad of any opportunity to heare the Word, and waite at the poſts of wiſdomes gates, Prov. 8.34, 35. He that findeth me findeth life, the promiſe is very plaine, waiting daily at my gates. Implying, that in hearing we ſhall finde him, and in finding Chriſt we ſhall finde life; be diligent therefore to heare, and when you have heard it goe home, and ſearch whether it be true or no; and if you have liberty be doing this often, be conferring about it, as you can have any opportunity; God hath ſanctified theſe Ordinances to this end. Be diligent in inquiring after wiſdome, after Chriſt in the Scripture; there is a treaſure lyes, digge for it and you ſhall have it, eſpecially if with all theſe you joyne humble and hearty prayer to God for a bleſſing upon all theſe Ordinances, for 1 Tim. 4.5. they are all ſanctified by the Word, and Prayer, and Prov. 2.2, 3. God would have you to uſe Prayer, intreat him to open your eyes and hearts, that you may beleeve and obey, and that no Ordinance might be in vaine to you, but might profit by them all, and might grow up in beleeving.