The Use and Practice of Faith, Question 3
QUESTION III. Why a Chriſtian is ſaid to live by Faith, rather than any other Grace?
Reaſ. 1 WHy not by Love, or Thankefulneſs, or Patience, &c? The reaſon is (in a word; for what is ſaid already may give light hereunto:) Firſt, becauſe Faith is not onelyonly the grace which receives Chriſt,Joh. 1. 12. who is our Life; but it is alſo the grace that receives all other grace from Chriſt. Therefore Faith is the firſt link of all that Chain of Graces, 2 Pet. 1.5, &c. at leaſt in order to their working. Otherwiſe indeed, we know all graces are infuſed ſimul & ſemel, in reſpect of their being and exiſtence. See Joh. 7.38. He that believeth in me, out of his belly ſhall flow rivers of living water. The graces of the Spirit run into the Soul, and out again in the iſſues of life, and all through the conduit-pipe of Faith.
Indeed a Chriſtian hath great uſe of other graces, but Faith onelyonly layes hold on Chriſt for all. Sanctified knowledge ſaith, There is an infinite fulneſs in Chriſt, the fulneſs of a Fountain; Faith ſaith, This is all for me, for he is my Husband; then Prayer ſai…h▪ If all this be thine, I will go and fetch it for thee; and Thankefulneſs ſayes, I will return praiſe to God for it (and that's better than the receiving of mercies) Pſal 63.5. My ſoul ſhall be filled with marrow and fatneſs, and my mouth ſhall praiſe thee with joyful lips.
It is plain therefore, however ſpiritual life is much exerciſed in other graces, as well as in Faith; as in Prayer, and Patience, and Love, and Thankfulneſs: yet becauſe Faith acts and exerciſes, and puts life into all, therefore a Chriſtian is ſaid rather to live by his Faith. As may be ſeen, Heb. 11. through the whole Chapter. For Prayer is no prayer, unleſs it be a prayer of Faith, Jam 5. and Patience is no patience, unleſs joyned with Faith, Here is the faith and patience of the Saints, Rev. 13. and ſo of all the reſt.
Reaſ. 2 Secondly, Becauſe Faith layes hold upon that Word by which man lives. For man lives by the word of God, Mat 4.4. Other graces are begotten by the Word, but do not lay hold on the Word. So as no word, no means can profit us without Faith.
Reaſ. 3 Thirdly, Becauſe when other graces and comforts (to our ſenſe) lie dead, and uſeleſs, even then Faith lives, and acts its part. It is like the Cork that ſwims aloft, when the Leads, and all the Net is under water. It is like the Card or Compaſs, when Heaven and Earth fail; no ſight of Earth or Heaven, or comfort from either; when 'tis a day of darkneſs and gloomineſs, as that deſcribed Zeph. 1.15. or when 'tis with us, as it was in Pauls voyage, Acts 27.13. to 26. neither ſun nor ſtar appearing for many dayes; or a time as that, Iſa. 50.10. wherein we ſit in darkneſs, and ſee no light; yet then ſaith, can truſt in the Name of the Lord. It is as an Anchor in a ſtorm; ſo long as the Anchor holds, there is hope; but if that break, there is no more governance of the Ship. So Faith is compared, Heb. 6.19. It is as the Widows Oyl; when all other proviſion failed, ſhe lives upon that, becauſe ſhe had a word from God. So when all fail, Faith ſhall not totally nor finally fail, becauſe there is a word from God, which was ſpoken to Peter in perſon, of all the faithful, Luke 22.32. I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not. Or like the heart in the body, though other parts be dead, yet ſo long as the heart lives, the man is alive. Pſa. 73.26. My fleſh and my heart faileth, but God is the ſtrength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
Thus David lived by Faith when all failed, and by it thus ſpeaks himſelf, Pſal. 42.5. Why art thou diſquieted, O my ſoul? — ſtill truſt in God, for I ſhall yet praiſe him. When graces fail, performances fail, ſo that we abhor our ſelves and duties, yet Faith ſayes, We are a holy Prieſthood, to offer up spiritual ſacrifices, acceptable to God (1 Pet. 2.5.) by Jeſus Chriſt. When Paul cryed out, Rom. 7. O wretched man that I am, &c. yet by Faith he can thank God through Jeſus Chriſt. When the Church is under water, yet ſhe can ſpeak thus in Faith, Mic. 7.8. Rejoyce not over me, O mine enemy; though I fall, I ſhall riſe again. When Job conſiders his body turned to duſt and worms, Job 19.19, 25. yet by Faith he ſees, my Redeemer lives, &c. Even when Patience failed in Job, yet Faith failed not. Though God kill all other graces and comforts, and my ſoul too, yet he ſhall not kill my Faith, ſayes he. If he ſeparate my ſoul from my body, yet not Faith from my Soul. If he kill me, he ſhall not kill my Faith. And therefore the juſt lives by Faith, rather then other graces, becauſe when all is gone, yet Faith remains; and Faith remains, becauſe the Promiſe remains: For ever, O Lord, thy word is ſetled in the heavens, Pſal. 119.89. And this is the proper and principal meaning of this place.
Reaſ. 4 Fourthly, Becauſe even then, when neither graces, nor comforts do fail, yet then the juſt lives principally by his Faith: 1. Becauſe there is yet more to be believ'd then we already enjoy; for we walk not yet by ſight, and therefore by faith, 2 Cor. 5.7. 2. Becauſe Faith is ſur…r, then any ſenſe or feeling in the world. When the Apoſtle had ſpoken of the glorious Viſion; and their being eye-witneſſes, 2 Pet. 1.19. yet, ſayes he, We have a more ſure word of prophecy, &c. Now 'tis the property of Faith to live upon the word.
Ʋſe 1 Therefore, 1. Eſteem of Faith, as precious Faith, precious above all other graces.
Ʋſe 2 And learn, That Faith ſerves not onelyonly for manifeſtation that we are alive, but to live by, and maintain the life of all other graces.