The Use and Practice of Faith, Epilogue
THE EPILOGUE: OR, A Pathetical Concluſion of the whole Work.
THus you ſee how ſuch as live by Faith themſelves, ſhould labour to convert others to the Faith. And thus have we done (through Gods grace aſſiſting) with this whole Subject of Faith, I have now but two Requeſts to make unto you by way of Concluſion: the one is, that I may obtain the help of your Prayers, that I may be enabled from God to hold forth by Pattern, what I have ſo long held forth by Precept in the Life of Faith, whatever Trials ſhould come.
And the other is, That you would be perſwaded to follow after, in walking according to the Rule that hath been ſet before you; That what hath been ſpoken, may be preſt and imprinted upon your hearts by the Spirit of the living God.
You have heard much of Faith in my Reverend Predeceſſors time, as appeareth by what is left upon Record; and God hath directed me to ſtrike upon the ſame Nail; I may ſay, as many years together, as I intended days at the firſt. But he that multiplied the barley loaves, and the broken meat, was pleaſed in the dividing and diſtributing of this Subject of Faith, to multiply my Meditations far beyond my firſt intentions
I heartily deſire this … be the fruit of my poor labours, That when I have done preaching of this Subject, you may ſo begin and continue to practiſe what hath been taught, that your life may be a living by Faith, and a perpetual Commentary upon the Text.
And Oh that I could perſwade you to live this Life of Faith, before you lay down this Life of Nature, or elſe you die, and die for ever. And do not ſay thus within your ſelves. I'll do it the next
Year,
MonethMonth,
Day.
How many Scores yea, hundreds have been cut off by Death, ſince we began to ſpeak of this Life of Faith. And it may be many of them thought themſelves as likely to live as any of us, and it may be they were ſo indeed, in the courſe of Nature. But remember, our Times are in Gods hands, and not in our own. And therefore let us put our hearts into his hands alſo, that he may fit us for our times, how long or how ſhort ſoever our lives may prove.
Some have ſaid, I have been too long upon this matter of Faith: but I confeſs they were ſome ſuch as heard me not; and therefore I do the leſs reſpect what they ſay, becauſe they ſpeak evil of the things they heard not, and therefore of the things they know not. It hath been ſome encouragement (and an Argument of Bleſſing) that ſuch as were uſual hearers, have not been tired out (as hath appeared by theſe days aſſemblies, compared with the other Lecture-day.)
But I beſeech you, be you Believers and doers of this word, and not hearers onelyonly, deceiving your own ſelves. Jam. 1.Elſe I ſhall have cauſe to complain, I have not ſtood long enough upon this Subject: For that is never ſufficiently taught, that is not ſufficiently learnt and put in practiſe.
My hearts deſire and Prayer to God for Ipſwich is. That as they have heard much of Faith: ſo they might live by it as much; that whilſt our Neighbors look upon us, and mark our ſteps, they may not ſee in this Town, here a company living by Senſe; and there another living by Wits, Shifts and Projects; and a third living upon their Luſts; and a fourth upon their unrighteous Mammon; and a fifth upon their Self-righteouſneſs: and ſo the reſt. But we might ſo generally live by Faith (through the grace of God) that I might have cauſe to glory of you, as the Apoſtle doth of the Romans, Chap. 1.8. I thank my God through Jeſus Chriſt, that your Faith is ſpoken of in all places.
However, in the mean time I bleſs God, that I have found ſome fruits of my weak endevours, in helping any to ſet their faces Sion-ward, who have acknowledged the moving of the Spirit upon the waters; & that God hath drawn out the deſire of their ſouls to the remembrance of his name. I have great cauſe to be confident, That where God hath begun this good work of Faith amongſt you, he will perfect it unto the day of Jeſus Chriſt. And therefore grounding upon this good Word of Promiſe, I ſhall conclude my Preaching of this Subject, in that Prayer of the Apoſtle Peter, 1 Pet. 5.10, 11. Now the God of all grace, who hath called us into his eternal glory by Chriſt Jeſus, after that ye have ſuffered awhile, make you perfect, ſtabliſh, ſtrengthen, ſettle you. To him be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
FINIS.