A Cluster of Grapes Taken out of the Canaanite Womans Basket, Sermon 6
Faith alone carries the Soul thorow all Diſcouragements unto Chriſt. The Sixth SERMON.
Matthew 15. verſ. 28.
Then Jeſus anſwered and ſaid unto her, O Woman, great is thy Faith: bee it unto thee, even as thou wilt. And her Daughter was made whole from that very hour.
AS the dawning day after ſome long and dark night; And as the cooling winds in the midſt of ſome great and ſcorching heat; ſo are theſe words of our Lord to the Woman of Canaan, very comfortable, and very refreſhing. The man that hath lain toſſing all night, with what joy doth hee entertain the dawning of the day? and the Traveller that is ſpent with heat, with what eagerneſs doth hee ſuck in the cool breathings of the wind? Now, ſuch was this ſpeech of Chriſt to the Woman of Canaan in this place. They were as a day dawning, and as a cool refreſhing to her ſoul. By this ſpeech (my Beloved) no doubt, no doubt, but this poor Woman was now marvelouſly refreſhed, and as much as her ſoul could want or wiſh, ſhee had from the Lord in theſe words, as wee ſhall ſee afterwards. Then Jeſus anſwered and ſaid unto her, O Woman, great is thy Faith; bee it unto thee even as thou wilt. Theſe words have the laſt particular which I noted in this ſtory; Namely, the Iſſue or the Concluſion that Chriſt made with this Woman. The beginning was very ſad, A poor Woman, at the feet of Chriſt, begging much, but ſeeming not to bee heard; but behold the iſſue is very good. That Jeſus Chriſt that anſwered her not a word, anſwers her now many words, and many comfortable words; Oh Woman, great is thy Faith: bee it unto thee, even as thou wilt, &c.
There are two things you may obſerve in this Anſwer of Chriſt here.
Firſt, You have here, Chriſts Commendation of her Faith. And,
Secondly, You have Chriſts Condeſcention to her deſire.
Firſt, You have Chriſts Commendation of her Faith. O Woman, great is thy Faith. Thou art not onelyonly a Beleever, but a great Beleever; thou art no more a Woman of Canaan, but a Woman of Iſrael; no more a Dogg, but a Childe; Great is thy Faith.
Secondly, You have the Condeſcention of Christ to her deſires, Now that is held forth in two things.
Firſt, More Generally.
Secondly, More Particularly.
Firſt, More Generally, Bee it unto thee even as thou wilt. Oh great word! a word exceeding the Womans wiſh; Our Lord (as his manner is) exceeds her requeſt. The poor Woman would have been glad of a crumb, and by this word my-thinks Chriſt …ids her go to the Table, and cut what ſhee would, take not onelyonly crumbs, but what peeces ſhee pleaſed.
Secondly. Hee doth particularly grant her particular requeſt about her Daughter. For her Daughter was made whole from that very hour.
There were three Queſtions which truly my thoughts did ſuggeſt when I conſidered theſe words, and they were (if I may ſo ſay) they were in my own heart to make in the reading of theſe words. And I ſhall propoſe them with the Anſwers thereof, being they are Queſtions not of ſtrife, but of much edification. The
Firſt Queſtion is this, The Lord commends this Woman for her Faith, Wherein doth her Faith appear?
Secondly, Why doth the Lord ſay to her, Bee it unto thee even as thou wilt? And
Thirdly, Why was the requeſt ſhee made firſt, granted laſt?
Queſt. 1. The Lord ſaies to her, Woman, great is thy Faith; why, wherein did the Womans Faith appear? Shee prayed (that wee read) ſhee cryed (that wee read) ſhee worſhipped (that wee read) but it is not ſaid ſhee beleeved. Shee doth not ſay as hee, I beleeve, Lord help my unbeleef. How then doth Chriſt ſay, Oh Woman, great is thy Faith?
Two Anſwers I ſhall give.
Anſw. 1. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt doth know that which wee cannot ſee. That may, and doth appear to Chriſt, which oftentimes doth not appear to us. Hee needs not that men ſhould tell him, for hee knows all things, &c. John 16.30. The Woman needed not to tell Chriſt that ſhee did beleeve, for Chriſt himſelf ſaw it. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt doth obſerve that in us, which wee do not many times obſerve in our ſelves. In the laſt day, when the Lord ſhall judge both the righteous and the wicked, hee will rell the righteous, they did this and that thing, which they did not know, as that ſpeech intimates, When ſaw wee thee naked, and cloathed thee? Matth. 25. The Lord can ſee a few Names in Sardis, and a little ſtrength even there, where the heart can ſcarce finde any thing; Therefore minde it by the way, and do you (O poor of the flock!) (that fear your own Faith) I ſay, do you hear, and rejoyce, Jeſus Chriſt can ſee Faith in us, when many times wee cannot ſee it in our ſelves; that is light to him which is in the dark to us.
Anſw. 2. Mark this Anſwer, You muſt diſtinguiſh between the real beeing, and the extrinſical, or explicite appearance of Faith. Things may bee really and eſſentially, which are not viſibly, and explicitely: And the Scripture takes notice of ſome things that are really, though not explicitely. As now in Job, Job 1.5. Peradventure my Sons have ſinned, and curſed God in their hearts; That is, implicitely they may do it. So the Lord takes notice of thoſe things that are in us (i. e. real and true, though it do not appear in the formalities thereof.) That poor Woman, in Luk. 7.50. had Faith, though there was no formal profeſſion of it. Chriſt hath a diſcerning eye, hee can ſee what is in us, even as in the root, before the bud, or fruit appear. Hee can, and doth know what is in us radically, though wee do not ſo viſibly, and expreſly make it out. Now ſuch was this Womans caſe. Though here is no explicite Confeſſion, or Profeſſion of Faith, yet ſhee did that which is Faith implicite. And in this Woman there was real Faith, which did act her in this addreſs to Chriſt; as you will ſee if you conſider it; for what is Faith? Faith is the coming of the ſoul to Jeſus Chriſt: Shee comes. Faith is the caſting of the ſoul upon Chriſt▪ Shee caſt her ſelf upon Chriſt. Faith is a reſting on Chriſt, without a word of evidence or aſſurance: The Woman doth ſo. You may by this ſatisfie your ſelves then in the firſt queſtion. This Woman did beleeve, though ſhe did not in ſo many words expreſs it; ſhee ſhewed it, though ſhee did not ſpeak it. But then in the ſecond place,
Queſt. 2. Why doth our Lord ſay unto her, Bee it unto thee even as thou wilt?
Take a double Anſwer to this likewiſe.
Anſw. 1. The Lord Jeſus ſaw that this Woman did want more things than one. Jeſus Chriſt ſaw all her wants, and all her wiſhes too, though ſhee did not expreſs them. That place in Romans 8. is known to all of you, but the 27. verſe is not ſo often taken notice of. And hee that ſearcheth the hearts, knoweth what is the mind of the ſpirit, becauſe hee maketh interceſſion for the Saints, according to the will of God. The ſoul ſighs, and groans by the Spirit, and many a time the ſoul doth not know his own ſighing; who ſhall know it? why, Hee ſhall know it that makes interceſſion; this is particularly ſpoken of Jeſus Chriſt. The Spirit helps thee to ſigh, and thou canſt not tell thy own ſighs; Jeſus Chriſt can tell what it means, I ſay, Jeſus Chriſt knows; for that place is to bee underſtood particularly of Chriſt, for it is hee that maketh interceſſion, as it is there expreſſed. It is a Scripture which may much ſtay our hearts; Chriſt knows what wee want, even then when wee cannot tell our ſelves; onelyonly in the general, ſigh. Minde it, Oh my Beloved you go to Jeſus Chriſt with one word, and a many ſighs, the Lord will anſwer all your ſighs, and will ſay, Bee it to you, not onelyonly as you ſpeak, but as you groan, and as you ſigh too.
Anſw. 2. The Lord Chriſt loves to ſhew his bounty in rewarding any ſouls, for any delay. Iſa. 61.7. for your ſhame you ſhall have double; And Zechariah 9.12. Turn yee to the ſtrong hold, yee priſoners of hope, even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee. Upon theſe accounts it was that our Lord doth not anſwer this Woman with a particular word, take what you come for; but in a general way, bids her take all things, any thing which ſhee could deſire; take what thou wilt, as thou wilt. But to proceed to the laſt Queſtion. The
Third and laſt Queſtion is, Why doth the Lord give this in the laſt place? Her Daughter was made whole. One would have thought this ſhould have been the firſt word; Woman go thy way, thy daughter is whole; but firſt hee ſpeaks of her Faith, and then to her ſouls deſire. Why doth Chriſt ſo? that is the Queſtion.
Anſw. Now the Anſwer hereunto is eaſie, and it may bee this. Our Lord Jeſus is wiſe and gracious, and therefore (knowing what wee need moſt, and what is beſt to beſtow upon us) Hee doth ſtill give that firſt which is moſt neceſſary, and which is the chiefest. My Beloved, I pray remember it. The Lord loves to give the beſt mercies firſt; her Daughter was poſſeſſed with a Devil, but that was but a corporal infirmitie; her own ſoul was more under the power of the Devil, and the deliverance of that moſt needful; therefore hee gives the more neceſſary thing firſt. O my Beloved, you have a wiſe Chriſt, a good Chriſt, hee will ſatisfie particular deſires, but hee will firſt do the beſt things. Indeed Chriſt reacheth us to begg the beſt things firſt. Seek yee firſt the Kingdome of Heaven, and therefore firſt pray, Thy Kingdome come. But wee are ignorant, and apt to miſtake; wee often ask the beſt things laſt. Now Chriſt will give the beſt firſt, Therefore hee begins to ſpeak to the Mothers ſoul here, before hee mentions her Daughters diſtemper. But let this ſuffice for theſe Queſtions. To come to the words, there are many Points obſervable from this place; Particular Notes I ſhall take in by the by, and therefore ſhall not touch upon them. Neither ſhall I preſs the words too hard, there is no need of it. This Text, like a brave hony-comb, drops out in three things, like hony without any preſſing.
Firſt, Obſerve here, What it was that carried the Woman on, and thorow all this while, (what bladder kept his Woman from ſinking.) It was Faith. O Woman, great is thy Faith.
Secondly, Obſerve, What rich bounty is here; here is glorious Grace, rich Grace; Have what thou wilt. And then,
Thirdly, Obſerve, That ſhee hath a particular grant of her ſpecial requeſt, her Daughter was made whole. It is the ſecond thing I do principally aim at, but ſhall ſpeak of the two other.
And firſt, Obſerve from the firſt, That it is true Faith alone that carries the ſoul thorow all difficulties, and diſcouragements, in the way to Chriſt. I ſhall not bee large in the handling of this Point. I have often ſpoken of Faith, and the work of Faith, as it doth receive Chriſt; how that is performed, &c. therefore I ſhall confine my ſelf to the Text, and the boundaries of it, to ſhew that in all the difficulties the ſoul meets withall in coming to Chriſt, Faith bears the ſoul up under all. And pray mark what I ſay, I ſay, true Faith nor ſtrong Faith, neither do I ſay a degree of Faith, but a true Faith. It is true, this Woman had great Faith (and ſhee needed it, for ſhe had great difficulties) but the Point lies poſitively thus, Faith, if it bee true, it is that, and that alone, that carries up the ſoul above all difficulties, and diſcouragements in its coming to Chriſt. I ſuppoſe I need not tell you that there are difficulties, in the way of coming to Chriſt. This Woman knew there were difficulties, and diſcouragements, but what carried her thorow, did her Patience carry her thorow? (ſhee had that) did her reverend eſteem of Chriſt carry her thorow? (ſhee had that) did the pinch of her wants carry her thorow? No, Chriſt doth not ſay, Oh Woman! great is thy patience, or great is thy eſteem of mee, or great is thy want; But, O Woman, great is thy Faith: It was the Womans Faith that carried her thorow theſe difficulties. I will demonſtrate this Doctrine by ſome inſtances; and therefore I ſhall mention ſome of the difficulties which are in our way to Chriſt, and ſhew how that it is Faith, and Faith alone, by which the Lord doth uſe to help us againſt all theſe difficulties. Now therefore I pray minde it, and you may moſtly obſerve in our-coming to Christ, There are four waies from whence our difficulties, and diſcouragements do ariſe; and you will ſee, that true Faith alone will carry the ſoul thorow all theſe.
The difficulties ariſe thus, from
1 Self.
2 Satan.
3 The World.
4 Christ himſelf may do that ſeemingly, which may, and doth make it difficult to come unto him. But now yet ſee as to each, how Faith carries the ſoul thorow all theſe.
To begin with the firſt, which is Self, that comes in to oppoſe us. And pray good people look about you, your ſelves are the greateſt hinderances to keep you from Chriſt; now what ſhall carry us up above our ſelves but Faith? by Faith Moſes denies himſelf. And ſaith Chriſt, Whoever will come after mee, muſt deny himſelf; how ſhall hee do it? nothing but Faith will do it. I will give you but an inſtance of it; Self doth hinder coming to Chriſt two waies.
1 Either by too much diffidence.
2 Or too much confidence. One while it is too high, and will nor ſtoop to come to Chriſt; Another while too low, it cannot bee raiſed up to ſuch a work; Sometime Self is arrogant, and proud, what, I go to Chriſt? not I, I can ſhift well enough, &c. Other while it is diffident, and fearful, and crieth out that it is not fit, or able, not is it meet for his ſoul to go, &c. Well, yet for all this I pray mark, it is Faith makes Self go, notwithſtanding all this. For, as to the Pride of ſelf, Faith brings in ſo clear a light of the excellency, and neceſſity of Chriſt, that ſelf-confidence is put to ſilence. And the high thoughts are brought down by the obedience of Faith, and ſo carried to the obedience of Chriſt. Hee that beleeves the teſtimony which God gives of Chriſt in the Goſpel, muſt ſtoop and bow; and Faith helping the ſoul in that buſineſs, carries the ſoul out of proud Self, ſo as that arrogancy ſhall not hinder the ſouls coming and cloſing with Chriſt. And for diffidence, and the working of Self that way, why Faith doth evidently carry the ſoul over that hinderance. For Faith ſeeth the arm of Chriſt ſtretched forth to receive the feeble ſoul. Faith tells the weak heart that Chriſt will come to it, if it cannot go to him. Faith aſſures the ſoul that Chriſt will inable it to imbrace himſelf. Faith ſhews Chriſt as able and willing to create a hand and heart in us to receive, and to take hold of himſelf. When Self cries but childe-like. I am weak, and ſame, and cannot go to Chriſt, then (mark it) Faith ſaies, true, thou haſt no leggs, but hee that bids the man ariſe, gives him feet; Faith ſaith, thou haſt no ſtrength, but hee that bids thee beleeve, will make thee beleeve. What did carry Abraham above and againſt himſelf? It is ſaid, Rom. 4.19. Being not weak in Faith, hee conſidered not his own body now dead, when hee was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadneſs of Sarah's womb, &c. Faith raiſeth up the ſoul, and carries it on to Chriſt, even notwithſtanding the ſouls nothingneſs. Faith incourageth the ſoul to go, although it bee empty; Faith ſaith, though Chriſt bee a great King, yet a poor ſoul may come to him without a preſent. In a word, Faith levels the mountains, and fills the Vullies; it carries the ſoul on its way to Chriſt, notwithſtanding any hinderance from Self. Self ſhall not keep off where Faith is, the ſoul denies Self, and goes to Chriſt. But then to proceed,
Secondly, Satan hee binders. And remember it, Satan doth more oppoſe your going to Christ, than hee doth oppoſe your leaving of ſin. If thou wilt leave thy fin, Satan will bee content ſo thou wilt but truſt to Self, and not go to Chriſts Grace. But when once the ſoul oppoſes ſin, and goes to Chriſt, then Satan oppoſes; now what ſhall help and carry on the ſoul, and ſtrengthen the oppoſed ſoul to oppoſe Satan? In Epheſtans 5. ſaith the Apoſtle, Above all take the ſhield of Faith, whereby you ſhall bee able to quench the fiery darts of the Devil. Let Satan do his worſt, Faith will carry on the ſoul, it will quench his darts, and tread upon his devices, and ſweetly ſtrengthen the heart to cloze with the Lord Jeſus, in deſpite, and in defiance of Satan, and all his hinderances. But then,
Thirdly, the world, that oppoſes too. The world hinders the ſoul, by ſaying, what, will you go to Chriſt, and leave my pleaſures, and leave my riches, and my honour, &c? Now, what carries up the ſoul above the world? why the Apoſtle tells, 1 John 5.4. And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our Faith, And then,
Laſtly, Christ himſelf ſeems to oppoſe. The Lord doth not ſpeak, and that is ſad; and ſometimes hee doth ſpeak, and that is as ſad. For (as wee formerly noted) hee ſeems to ſpeak harſhly, and Chriſt may ſeem to deny, and reject the ſoul in its approach to him. Now what ſhall carry up the ſoul, when Chriſt himſelf ſeems to put back? nothing but Faith. It is obſerved, that it was Faith carried up Job to go to God; it is therefore very obſervable that Job doth oftentimes profeſs his Faith in God. As in Job 13.15. Though hee kill mee, yet I will truſt in him; it is a known ſpeech. But that expreſſion in Job 19. makes it more evident what carried him up to God; you have very ſad expreſſions in that chapter, intimating how God himſelf ſeemed to oppoſe Job. Hee hath overthrown mee, verſe 6. And hee hath ſtript mee of my glory, verſ. 9. Yea, Hee hath deſtroyed mee, on every ſide, and hath kindled his wrath againſt mee, verſe 10, 11. Now what ſhall carry Job up? See verſ. 24, 25. I know my Redeemer liveth, and oh that this profeſſion of my Faith were written on a Rock for perpetual remembrance. It is as if hee ſhould ſay, My friends, my diſpuring-friends, do not break my heart with arguments, you oppoſe, and God oppoſes too; but this carries mee up, I have a Redeemer, and I know that my Redeemer lives, &c. Had Job no other grace but Faith? Yes, You have heard of the Patience of Job, but yet Jobs Patience failed. Had hee not Humility? Yes, Hee that could lay his mouth in the duſt at firſt, and ſay, Naked came I into the world, and naked muſt I return; Certainly Job had Humility alſo, but it was not that which ſupported him. Had hee not Prayer? without doubt Job had a praying ſpirit, and did call on God again and again, as hee often intimates; But yet it ſeemeth …ayer failed, and therefore hee is charged by Eliphaz with neglect of it, in Job 15.4. Thou reſtraineſt Prayer, thou doſt leſſen Prayer, thou doſt diminiſh Prayer; ſo the word ſignifieth.
I but mark, though Patience failed, and Humility and Prayer failed; yet Faith carries Job thorow all; Yet I will beleeve and truſt. I pray obſerve, whatever Grace, or Gift, you have nothing will carry you thorow difficulties and diſcouragements in your way to Chriſt, but onelyonly Faith; It was the Womans Faith that kept her up all the while. And it is that, and that alone, which carries every ſoul thorow all hinderances (as well as thoſe which I have hinted) unto Jeſus Chriſt. So you ſee the demonſtration of the Point; to come to the next thing then.
You will ask mee the Reaſon, Whence is it that Faith ſhould thus bee the onelyonly Grace to carry up, and carry out the ſoul, in the midſt of all difficulties, in going to Chriſt. I will name very briefly theſe two heads of Reaſons.
The firſt is, From the appointment of Faith by God.
Secondly, The operation of Faith in us.
Theſe are the two great pillars of this Truth.
Firſt, From the appointment of Faith by God. My Beloved, Faith doth therefore carry us out thorow all, becauſe it is that Grace that God alone hath appointed. Read the Goſpel, or the Prophets, and you will finde them ſpeaking of theſe two great Truths.
Firſt, That Chriſt is the onelyonly one that is appointed to bring us to ſalvation. (There is no name but his, Act. 4.12.)
Secondly, That Faith is the onelyonly Grace appointed to bring us to Chriſt. You have our Lord ſhortly in one place ſpeaking of both, in John 6.40. And this is the will of him that ſent mee, that every one which ſeeth the Son, and beleeveth on him, may have everlaſting life: and I will raiſe him up at the laſt day. There is a great Queſtion among Divines, Why Faith, rather than Charity, Patience, or Goſpel-Obed…ence, ſhould bee the great inſtrument of Juſtification? And (my Beloved) this is the abſolute Anſwer to the Queſtion, Becauſe God hath onelyonly appointed it. There may bee ſome conjectural Reaſons, why God hath appointed Faith, but the chief Reaſon is, becauſe God hath appointed it. Now Divine Inſtitution being upon Faith, thence it is that Faith doth the work; it is not from any inherent worth in the Grace. (Alaſs! What is the worth of a ſinners hand, to take a glorious Chriſt!) But it is onelyonly from Gods pleaſure, and appointment, that Faith alone ſhall bee the Grace to carry the ſoul to, and help the ſoul in its receiving of Chriſt. God hath appointed no other leggs to carry us, and becauſe hee hath appointed theſe, hee will bleſs his own apointment to effect the work. The Lords appointment makes all things operative: Therefore
Secondly, The Reaſon is from the operation of Faith in us, by virtue of that appointment. My Beloved, Faith it is a working Grace, and Faith is our great ſtrength in every working Grace; it conveyeth ſtrength unto all Graces.
There is a threefold Operation of Faith to carry the ſoul thorow all difficulties and diſcouragements, in its going to Chriſt, viz. an Inlightening, an Enlivening, and an Embracing work, in the bleſſed buſineſs of cloſing with Chriſt. I will a little open them all three.
Firſt, Faith hath an Inlightening work. An inlightning work, is that which carries a man thorow many difficulties and diſcouragements. In Pſal. 34. you have a fine expreſſion, where David is ſpeaking of his and others ſeeking God, and of their incouragement in that work, ſaith hee, in verſ. 5. They looked unto him, and were lightened; and their faces were not aſhamed; by Faith the ſoul ſees the neceſſity of Chriſt, the inclinableneſs of the heart of Chriſt, &c. and this carries the ſoul thorow all difficulties. Saith Faith, look yonder, there, and there alone, is the rock of ſafety; And if you bee not there, you muſt ſink; this makes the ſoul ſwim amain. And look, ſaith Faith, there is a ſafe Landing. Chriſt (ſaith Faith) ſtands with out-ſtretched arms of power and love to imbrace thee; and Faith realizeth ſuch a fight, evidenceth it to the ſoul, and ſo inabling the ſoul to ſee it, helps the ſoul to go to Chriſt.
Secondly, Faith hath not onelyonly an inlightening work, but an inlivening work. My Beloved, other graces ſtir us up, and put us on to go to Chriſt, but Faith doth onelyonly enliven us. Love and humility doth marvelouſly ſtir up the ſoul to go to Jeſus Chriſt, and ſo do other Graces; I but theſe do not feed the ſoul, nor ſtrengthen; there is a great deal of difference between the Whip and the Meat you give the horſe. A whip, a blow, that ſtirs it, but doth not ſtrengthen it. A conviction of need, a fear of hell ſtirs us to go to Chriſt, but it doth not inable us, or inliven us. My Beloved, Faith is the ſtrengthening Grace. The Juſt ſhall live by Faith, Heb. 10. (there ſaith hee) you have need of patience, that after you have done the will of God, yee might receive the Promiſe, &c. Now, The Juſt ſhall live by Faith, 36, 37, & 38. verſes; Do not caſt away your confidence, what then? You have need of patience, &c. doth hee ſtay there? No, but adds, The Juſt ſhall live by Faith. True, you will need patience, if you go to Chriſt; but you will live alone by Faith. Wee need patience to tarry the Lords leiſure; to bear the Lords frowns, to tarry till hee come; but how ſhall wee live in the mean time? Oh, The Juſt ſhall live by Faith. Faith being an enlightening Grace, therefore it is an enlivening Grace; Faith it findes honey (as Jonathan) and Faith it findes a Promiſe, and dips in the finger, and takes a little, and that enlivens and ſtrengthens the ſoul. Nay, Faith, though it bee full of fears, it is a ſoul-enlivening-Grace. Take that inſtance of the Woman with a bloody Iſſue, in Luke 8.44. compared with verſ. 46. It is clear, ſhee had a Faith, and ſhee had fears, and ſhee had virtue. For this Faith full of fears did gather virtue from Jeſus Chriſt: So thy Faith that is full of fears may gather virtue from Jeſus Chriſt, and therefore is it that it carries us thorow all difficulties in our going to Chriſt.
Thirdly, Faith it hath an imbracing work. Theſe all died in Faith, not having received the Promiſes; What then, how could they live? but having ſeen them afar off, embraced them, Heb. 11.13. My Beloved, Faith it hath an imbracing work of the Promiſe, and becauſe Faith can imbrace the Promiſe, therefore can it carry the ſoul thorow all the difficulties that it meets with in the way to Chriſt. What is the Anchor at the end of a Cable (one Ship will carry a thouſand Anchors) but one Anchor will hold the Ship, becauſe it hath a faſtening power. Faith is but a little Anchor of it ſelf, I but it hath a faſtening power, and ſo Faith ſtaies the ſoul. In Iſa. 26.3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whoſe minde is ſtayed on thee, becauſe hee truſteth in thee; becauſe you truſt in God, therefore are your minds ſtayed. Oh Sirs, what ſhall I ſay more, Faith, it is a catching hold of that Chriſt that puts thee off? And becauſe Faith imbraces, and holds him that is ſure and ſtrong, it doth therefore ipſo facto (as wee ſay) in that very thing carry the ſoul to Chriſt thorow all difficulties. Well, I pray minde and meditate a little upon theſe things, for they are of the life and Myſtery of real Chriſtianity. But I will now ſpeak to ſome Uſes of this Point; Therefore to make ſome Application, there are onelyonly three Uſes.
Uſe I Let mee ſay, This Doctrine is profitable for reproof. Is Faith ſuch a Grace? is it Faith that carries the ſoul thorow all? Oh then, bee reproved all who profeſs to beleeve, and yet are ignorant of what Faith is. Why poor ſoul, what ſhall carry thee thorow all, but Faith? and art thou ignorant of that? Is there but one boat to carry us over the Sea? and are wee ignorant of that? Ask, what is your Faith? why, ſaith one, I ſay my I beleeve, I ſay my prayers, &c. Ask another what is your Faith? hee replies, I leave my ſins, ſaith hee, &c. this is thy Repentance, but not thy Faith. There are three great parts of peoples ignorance about Faith.
Firſt, Many are ignorant about the ground of Faith. What is the ground of Faith? why, the ground of my Faith is this (ſaith one) I am ſo and ſo mended of what I was formerly, and God hath a little frightened mee, and troubled mee for my ſins, and therefore I beleeve. As if trouble for ſin, and moral amendment, were a ground to build Faith upon; whereas the great, and the precious Promiſes are the onelyonly and alone ground of Faith.
Secondly, Others are ignorant about the Object of Faith. The Object of my Faith is the Promiſe, ſaith one, &c. Now the Promiſe is not the object of Faith; it is true, the object of Faith is in the Promiſe, but the Promiſe it ſelf is not the object of Faith; It is Chriſt in the Promiſe that is the object of Faith; the Promiſes are your spectacles thorow which you ſee Chriſt, it is hee alone that is the object of your Faith, which you are to eye, to look, and to live upon.
Thirdly, Others are very ignorant about the working of Faith, &c. Many know not how Faith works, therefore minde it; The work of Faith is onelyonly to bee our hands, and our feet, to go to Chriſt, and to take Chriſt. It is obſervable, in Heb. 11. That Faith was the life of thoſe worthies there mentioned; ſome did this, ſome did that; ſome went this way, ſome went that way, but ſtill it was all through Faith, and they obtained a good report, but all by Faith; for it was Faith that carried them thorow all. But alaſs, how ignorant are ſome about the working of Faith? Ask, what do you when you beleeve, one ſaith, I ſay my prayers, another, I read the Bible, &c. Ah ſouls, you are much to bee reproved, that know not yet what that is, which onelyonly carries the ſoul to Chriſt. Let that bee for reproof.
Uſe 2. It ſerves very much for Conſolation to all thoſe who have true Faith. Bear up thy heart (O Beleever!) with that which is in the heart. The ſoul is ready to ſay ſometimes in the way to Chriſt, what have I to carry my heart up? haſt thou Faith in our Lord Jeſus Chriſt? beleeveſt thou the Scriptures? beleeveſt thou in God? upon the Son of God? &c. then bee of good comfort, thou haſt that which will carry thee thorow. You know the ſtory of Father Jacob, hee muſt go over Jordan, but hee hath no company nor help, nothing but his ſingle ſtaff in his hand, and hee walked all his pilgrimage, forward, and backward, with that ſtaff. O! the ſtaff of Faith, thou who haſt it, thou mayeſt walk thorow a wilderneſs, into the good Land with it. Faith, it is your Jacobs ſtaff, your Moſes Rod, &c.
Object. But saith the ſoul, I fear I have but a little Faith, yea, I fear I have none at all, &c.
Anſw. 1. Thou ſayeſt thou haſt but a little Faith; mark, what ſaith our Lord? If you have Faith but as a grane of Muſtard ſeed, you ſhall ſay unto this Mountain, remove hence, &c. Matth. 17.20. Though thou haſt but a little Faith, it ſhall not fail, it ſhall carry you thorow. It is true Faith doth all this, not thy great Faith.
Object. I but ſaith the ſoul, I do not ſee that I have any Faith at all.
Repl. Why Jeſus Chriſt hee can ſee it, when thou canſt not. The Woman that had the bloody Iſſue had great Faith, though poſſible ſhee ſaw it not. Haſt thou that which that Woman had? haſt thou ſaid of all the world, they bee Phyſicians of no value, and doſt thou, though in much fear, come, bee it but behinde Chriſt, perſwaded as ſhee was that Chriſt can, though thou queſtion whether hee will, heal thee? why comfort thy ſoul notwithſtanding thy fear, Chriſt will obſerve, and own thy Faith, as hee did hers.
Uſe 3. If it bee thus, That it is Faith alone that carries the ſoul thus to Chriſt thorow all Diſcouragements, this will then bee profitable for Inſtruction. My Beloved in the Lord, look within you, ſtrengthen Faith. Oh my Beloved, as the love of many waxes cold, ſo the Faith of many waxes weak; but remember, a Chriſt above you, and a Faith within you, is all that which you ought to minde. Chriſt above you will carry you thorow all things to glory; and Faith in you will carry you thorow all to Chriſt. But I pray look to this, look to True Faith. A poor fearful beleever that hath a trembling ſoul at a dying hour, what ſhall relieve it then but Chriſt? and what ſhall carry, and keep the ſoul to and with Chriſt, but Faith? when your ſouls muſt immediarely go to God for Judgement, nothing but Faith will, or can carry you with comfort, or with confidence: againſt a dying hour prepare a living Chriſt, and in order to a clozing with Chriſt, ſtrengthen, Oh ſtrengthen your Faith.
I ſhall give you two Directions. If you would have Faith carry you thorow all, &c.
Firſt, Leave Faith to it ſelf, Let Faith alone. Faith alone muſt do it, and Faith alone can do it. I will tell you how God clears up the thing to mee. You have ſeen a brave work-man, that was to remove ſuch a peece of Timber, and hee by his own skill could remove it, but there bee ſome that ſtand by, and will bee helping; when as wee know that they do but hinder him; and ſaith the Artiſt, let mee alone, and I can do it my ſelf; and wee uſe to ſay, let the man alone, you do but hinder him, hee will do it himſelf: So here, let Faith alone in its work, you think to help it, but you oft hinder it. You have ſeen, or heard it may bee, of a man, that being to go over a River, and having two friends with him, one ſaith, it is deep and dangerous, I will go and ſee if there bee any ſhallow place; The other faith, it is good to make a bridge, or boat to go over; Oh but ſaith the man, I can ſwim, and I muſt go, and I will venture, let mee alone, I will ſwim, and never look for bridge or boat. Truly ſo it is here, Faith would go to Jeſus Chriſt, but Reaſon and Senſe will not let Faith alone. Reaſon comes and ſaith, Bee wiſe, beware what you do; If you will needs go to Chriſt (ſaith Reaſon) I will go make a bridge, or invent a boat; then cometh Senſe, and ſaith, I will go look a ſhallow place where you may go over, &c. whereas Faith will ſwim thorow. And ſaith the beleeving ſoul, I muſt venture and ſwim, I cannot bee drowned in a way of ſwiming. Oh Sirs, let Faith alone, and it will ſwim to Chriſt; Senſe and Reaſon do but hinder, not help Faith; Single ſimple Faith doth its work alone; Therefore I ſay, Let Faith alone, do not trouble it with ſuggeſtions of Senſe or Reaſon. But then,
A ſecond Direction is, Let Faith have its perfect work. Therefore (as the Apoſtle faith about Patience, ſo) let Faith have its perfect work. Faith goes at firſt to half a Promiſe, but let it alone, it knows where to fetch a whole Promiſe. Let Faith alone, it will go to a Promiſe; for what? for refuge, for help, for all. Faith will go to, and look upon Abraham (as Iſa. 51.2.) and finde incouragement from him: Nay, it can run back to Adam, and help it ſelf with the thoughts of his experience; let Faith have its courſe, and it will carry you to every Promiſe and Example to incourage you. If it have its perfect work, it will gather ſtrength from all the Word of God, to help you in your work of cloſing with Chriſt. I beſeech you in theſe Directions ſtrengthen and labour to incourage Faith. O ſoul, minde it, ſtorms and trials may come, and then you will need afreſh to run to Chriſt: Look to your leggs, your Faith, it is that muſt carry you. If death come, death and doubting will come together; now remember what muſt carry you thorow, nothing but Faith. Truſt to no parts, duties, &c. onelyonly truſt to the Lord in the way of Faith. I ſhall conclude with two things.
Firſt, Woe to thee poor ſoul (whoever thou art) that wanteſt Faith. I do not ſay, woe to thee that art a poor man, nor woe to thee if thou beeſt mean in the world, nor ſay I, thou art a ſick or weak man, and therefore woe, No, No, But art thou an unbeleever, a ſoul without Faith? then woe indeed to thee. Ah, woe bee to that man that wants Faith; for without Faith it is not poſſible to pleaſe God, or to go to Chriſt; and how ſad is the ſtate of that ſoul that can do neither? Woe to all unbeleevers.
Secondly, Bleſſed are you that have Faith; I ſay not that have ſo great a Faith, but Faith, true Faith. I ſay, Bleſſed are you that beleeve, you that do beleeve, though but a little, yet your little Faith will do this great work, it will keep you from drowning, it will carry you to Chriſt. That little Faith Peter had (for all his fears) kept him up from ſinking. I remember what our Lord ſaid to Nathaniel; who beleeved, as I may ſay a little; Beleeveſt thou? thou ſhalt ſee greater things than theſe, John 1.50. Do but go on beleeving, and thou ſhalt ſee greater things than yet thou haſt ſeen. Two things your Faith will do.
Firſt, It will bee your Leggs to carry you to Chriſt, and that thorow all difficulties; ſo you ſee it did this Woman. And,
Secondly, It will (if I may ſay ſo) Compel (as it were) Chriſt to entertain you after all denials. Ah ſouls, what a glorious entertainment did Chriſt give this poor Woman at laſt. Well, therefore ſtrengthen Faith, and that will help you to do as this Woman did; and then you ſhall in the Iſſue ſpeed, even as ſhee did. But of that in the next.