A Little Cabinet, Section 18
Of Faith, the quality, object, acts, ſeat, ſubject, inſeparable concomitants and degrees of Juſtifying Faith: the difficulty of believing, and the faculty of miſtaking about it.
FAith gives courage and confidence in greateſt difficulties and dangers, but unbelief raiſeth fear where no fear is, Pſalm 23. 4.
Believing is the ready way, the ſafeſt way, the ſweeteſt way, the ſhorteſt way, the only way to a well-grounded aſſurance; now Faith is,
An habitual frame, or a believing diſpoſition of heart, whereby man is inclinable to believe whatſoever God hath ſaid in his word.
Or,
It is a grace of God, whereby the heart and will of a ſenſible ſinner, doth take and embrace Jeſus Chriſt as tendred in the Goſpel, in his perſon and offices, and doth wholly and only reſt upon him for pardon of ſin, and for eternal life.
Gods eternal decree is the original cauſe of it, Acts 13. 48. The inſtrumental cauſe of it is the Word of God, Rom. 10. 17. The immediate and ſingular cauſe of it is the Spirit of God, Gal. 5. 22. That the will or heart of a man ſhould be brought off from it ſelf, and to abhor its own condition and ſufficiency, and to take Chriſt as God tenders him, to be the only rock upon which a man muſt build his ſalvation, and to be the only Lord, to whoſe Law and will we muſt reſign up our whole ſoul, this ariſeth not from natural cauſes, or mans own free will.
Of the Object of Faith.
NOW the object of Juſtifying Faith is the whole Trinity; God the Father the ultimate object: God the Son the immediate, as he is joyntly one with the Father in juſtifying a ſinner, John 14. 1. ye believe in God, believe alſo in me; now whole Chriſt is the object of Faith: Chriſt you know is God and man, and he is to be conſidered as a Prieſt, as a Prophet, and as a King; now God tenders him in all theſe to ſinners, and Chriſt is willing to beſtow himſelf on them, as one who can and will aſſuredly ſave all that come to him; but ſaith Chriſt, if you would have me to be your Prieſt to ſave you, you muſt alſo be willing to have me to be your Prophet to inſtruct you and direct you, and to be your King and Lord to command you; you muſt reſign up your ſelves to my Scepter and Government, for I am a Lord as well as a Saviour, and I will be taken as both, or elſe you ſhall have part in neither. I will be taken as Lord and King, to command all the heart, to diſpoſe all the waies, to rule the very thoughts.
Of the ſubject of this Faith.
THE ſubject of this Faith is a ſenſible ſinner; there are two ſorts of ſinners.
1. Some generally corrupted, both in their natures and in their lives, and they are as unſenſible as they are ſinful, they know not their own vileneſs; theſe are not the ſubjects of this precious Faith.
2. There are ſenſible experienced ſinners, who loath themſelves, and groan under the burden of their ſins; I muſt confeſs there are ſeveral degrees of this ſenſibleneſs, neither dare I to aſſume the height and latitude of it, unto the terms, or horrour, and terrour, and dejections, before he can believe in Chriſt; no, though theſe ſharp throws are manifeſt in ſome, yet let us not make them a rule for all; but this be ſure, that the heart looks not towards Chriſt, until it feel it ſelf to be ſinful and loſt, then and not till then, the ſoul looks out and enquires after a Saviour; and anon he finds it written, that Chriſt …ame not to call the righteous, but ſinners; and that Chriſt was ſent to find that which was loſt; and that the whole need not a Phyſitian but the ſick▪ and that he is ſent to preach liberty to the Captives.
Of the Seat of Faith.
THE ſeat or habitation of Faith is the heart, or will, or both, Rom. 10. 10. with the heart man believeth unto righteouſneſs, Acts 8 37. and Philip ſaid, if thou believeſt with all thy heart, thou mayſt: now before Faith takes up his ſeat in the heart, or in order to it. 1. There is a looking to Jeſus, John 19. 37. 2. There is a coming to him, Mat. 11. 28. John 6. 37. 3. There is a leaning upon him, Cant. 8. 5. 4. There is an embracing of him, Cant. 2. 6. 5. There is a taking hold of him, John 1. 12. Col. 2. 6. 6. There is a believing in him, and that with the heart, and there is the ſeat of Faith.
Of the ground of Faith.
THE ground of believing is the word of God, the Scriptures of truth; he that doth ſay he doth believe in God, having no Scripture ground, he doth deceive himſelf; the ground of Faith is without our ſelves, not a light in us, or any thing done by us: the ground of Faith is, God in his word doth offer us Chriſt, and Chriſt cals us unto him, and ſaith, he will in no wiſe caſt us off, but if we believe in him we ſhall have eternal life; now this is a word of truth, and this word of his is worthy of all acceptation, and whatſoever was written aforetime, was written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope, John 20. 31. But theſe things are written that we might believe, and that believing we might have life through his name.
1. The Scriptures of truth are the ground of Faith; as they do give a man ſufficient ground and warrant to believe whatſoever is contained in them; this was the ground of Abrahams faith, and of Davids faith, remember the word upon which thou haſt cauſed me to hope, Pſal. 119. 49.
2. The Scriptures are the ground of Faith, as it is a ſure word: as we are not to believe any thing that is not contained in Scripture, ſo we need not doubt of any thing that is promiſed in them: they are the faithful ſayings of God.
3. The Scriptures are the ground of Faith, as it is a touchſtone to try all doctrines by, Iſa. 8. 20. John 5. 39.
4. They may be ſaid to be the ground of Faith, as they hold forth all things neceſſary to ſalvation, and all things neceſſary to be believed.
Again, they may be ſaid to be the ground of Faith, becauſe in them the Lord doth command us to believe, 1 Joh. 3. 23. Joh. 6. 29.
Again, in the Scriptures there are many ſolemn invitations to poor ſenſible ſinners, to come and take milk and wine, and the water of life freely.
And many precious promiſes to thoſe that do come, with many examples left upon record, how well thoſe have ſped that did come; all theſe are grounds and encouragements to believe.
The Springs of Faith, how God doth beget it in an unbeliever.
THere is no natural power in man to produce a cauſe within its ſelf; this great grace of Faith is no fruit of the wiſdom of the fleſh, nor is it the birth of a corrupt will. The immediate and ſole cauſe of Faith is the Spirit of God: He it is who is greater then the heart, who can perſwade and draw the heart, and change and renew the Spirit: There be means appointed by God which he doth ordnarily bleſs, for the production of faith; as he hath ordained means for the revelation of Chriſt, ſo he hath ſanctified means to lead the ſoul unto him, to implant Faith.
1. God lets the ſoul ſee that it is the command of God, that he ſhould believe, and that faith is the gift of God, without which we can do nothing acceptably; it is through grace that men believe, yet men are to uſe the means; now the great and ordinary means by which God works faith in the hearts of men, it is the preaching of the word▪ See Act. 13. 48. When the Gentiles heard this they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord, and as many as were ordained to life believed, Rom. 10. 17. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, Epheſ. 1. 13. In whom ye alſo truſted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the Goſpel of your ſalvation.
2. The preaching of the word doth diſcover to the ſoul, its extream miſery, and great need of Chriſt, and makes him ſay, men and brethren, what ſhall I do to be ſaved.
3. It is that which caſteth down all the reaſonings, arguments, and diſputes of the mind againſt the conditions of Chriſt, and renders all the terms of Chriſt upon which he will be taken, as moſt equal, fair and reſonable.
4. It is that which clears the way for the ſoul againſt all its fears, and unbelieving doubts; it layes before the ſinner, the freeneſs of Gods mercy, the fulneſs of Chriſts Redemption, the willingneſs on Chriſts part to accept of him.
5. It is that ſets the ſoul in a patient expectation, to lie at the Pool, for ever to attend the aſſemblies of the Saints, and to enquire in his Temple, till the ſoul can take a cloſe with Chriſt, by true believing.
6▪ Means to get faith; take one promiſe, and charge that upon the heart, and if the heart be ſtubborn, and will not yeild, then take another, if that will not do, then take another; and lay that home upon the heart, and never leave this work till you have gotten ſome ſmal meaſure of Faith.
7. Make as much conſcience of thoſe commands that require you to believe, as you do of thoſe commands that do require you to hear, read, and meditate, and pray.
Laſtly, conſider for thy encouragement that bleſſed text, Pſalm 147. 11. The Lord taketh pleaſure in thoſe that hope in his Mercy. See Pſalm 33. 18.
The Impediments, Lets and Hinderances of Faith.
AS the Eunuch ſaid to Philip, here is water, what hinders me that I may not be baptized? ſo may I ſay to my ſelf and others here in the Goſpel: is Chriſt ſet out to the life? here are arguments fair enough to draw on our ſouls to Chriſt, what hinders that we do not believe and receive Chriſt?
The firſt impediment to the getting of Faith, is groſs ignorance; whatſoever is contrary to knowledge, the ſame is contrary to Faith: the ſoul muſt have light for all its motions, for the eye to ſee, and the underſtanding to perceive; and for the heart to embrace thoſe ignorances that is a hindrance to faith, fals in theſe three parts.
1. They are ignorant of their own ſinful condition
2. They are ignorant of Gods juſt diſpoſition towards them.
3. They are ignorant of Chriſt and all his excellencies: what he is, God, or man, or both: they know not him in both his natures, neither in his Offices, Actions, Paſſion, Benefits, Vertues: they underſtand not how God hath manifeſted love in Chriſt; to what end he was made man; what is in him more then in any other. Alas they think not of theſe things: Now how is it poſſible for the ſoul to believe, or to be perſwaded to believe in Chriſt, or to labour for this precious faith, which is a ſtranger to it ſelf, to God, to Chriſt?
2. A ſecond impediment of Faith is a vain confidence of natural righteouſneſs; this was it which kept off many of the Phariſees; the text ſaith, that they truſted to their own righteouſneſs, they being ignorant of Gods righteouſneſs, and going about to eſtabliſh their own rigteouſneſs, have not ſubmitted to the righteouſneſs of God, Rom. 10. 3, 6.
3. A third impediment of faith is the honour of the world; how can you believe, ſaith Chriſt, which receive honour one from another, John 5. 44. again, Mat. 19. 22. He went away ſorrowful without faith, for he had great earthly poſſeſſions, John 7. 48. Have any of the Phariſees believed on him?
Motives to believe, or divers Arguments from Jeſus Chriſt himſelf to perſwade us to believe.
1. OUR Lord Chriſt doth lay his command upon us, John 14. 1. ye believe in God, believe alſo in me, John 6. 29. this is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath ſent. 1 John 3. 23. this is his Commandment, that we believe on the name of the Son of God, even Jeſus Chriſt.
2. The ſecond motive is or may be thus; conſider that Chriſt plainly ſaith, that he that will not believe ſhall be damned, John 3. 18, 36.
Excellency prevails much with an ingenious nature, and neceſſity with the worſt nature: When the Leapers ſaw that they muſt either venture their lives or dye, they would out into the Camp: when the Prodigal ſaw he muſt famiſh abroad, or repair home, he would then back to his fathers houſe; when the woman with the iſſue of blood had ſpent all, and grew worſe, and knew not whither to go, or what to do, then ſhe comes to Chriſt: now if thou haſt not ſo much ingenuity as to come to, and believe in Chriſt, in obedience to his command, yet let thy neceſſity prevail with thee, or elſe the Leaper and Prodigal ſhall riſe up in judgement againſt thee: were we in Adams created innocency, then we need not to look after a Saviour, but we are fallen, but we are broken, but we are ſold under ſin, but we are tranſgreſſours from the womb, but we are by nature the children of diſobedience and wrath.
3. He doth invite us to come, and to believe by the Prophets, Iſa. 55. 1, 2, 3. He beſeecheth us by the Apoſtles to be reconciled to him, 2 Cor. 5. 20. He cals upon us by his Church and ſpirit to take of the water of life, Revelat. 22. 17. and after all this, he waits upon us to be gracious to us; Iſaiah 30. 18.
4. Our unbelief grieves the very heart of Chriſt; he grieved at their unbelief, he complains at our backwardneſs to believe, (O fools and ſlow of heart to believe) Nay, and he ſheds tears becauſe we believe not on him; when he came neer the City, he wept over it, &c.
5. Motive, Conſider there is none who have right to thy ſoul but God and Chriſt; our ſouls are Gods workmanſhip, and Chriſts purchaſe; why then ſhould we not give to God and Chriſt that which is their own, 1 Cor. 6. 19, 20. ye are not your own, ye are bought with a price: God put forth his own power to make thy ſoul, and Chriſt ſhed his heart blood to redeem thy ſoul, and wilt thou through unbelief withhold it from him?
6. Chriſt outbids all Merchants for thy ſoul, he outbids the world, ſin and Satan: is there any one of them that preſents Redemption unto thee? is there any one of them that can procure remiſſion and pardoning mercy for thee? is there any one of them that can ſatisfie the wrath of God for thee? which can make thy peace, which can preſent thee righteous before the judgement ſeat, which can ſettle eternal life upon thee? all this can Chriſt do: none of this can they do.
Behold here is laid before thee life and death, life if thou doſt believe, death if not; now chuſe you whether; what ſhall I ſay more, by believing we honor God, Iohn 3. 33. by believing we come to be eſtabliſhed, Iſa. 7. 9. by believing we are kept in perfect peace, Iſa. 26. 3, 4. Rom. 5. 1. Our naked cleaving to God in his free promiſe, will carry down all our diſtempers at once, and fill our ſouls with peace in believing. O how can we look ſo many ſweet promiſes in the face, and harbour ſo many miſgivings in our hearts? Rom. 9. ult. whoſoever believeth in him ſhall not be aſhamed.
Of the evil of unbelief, and the ſprings of it, and the miſery that doth attend it.
VNbelief doth rob the ſoul of all joy, comfort and content: Nay further, unbelief doth throw reproach upon God, Chriſt and the promiſes, and gives Satan the greateſt advantage againſt us; he that lives without Faith, lives without comfort, joy, peace and content; by unbelief we add ſin unto ſin in the higheſt nature, 1 John 5. 10.
Unbelief ſtraightens the heart, ſtops the mouth, and hinders thankfulneſs; thou ſhalt be dumb, becauſe thou believeſt not, Luke 1. 20.
Unbelief is the door that lets in condemnation. John 3. 18, 30. He that believeth not is condemned. Rev. 2. 8. The fearful and unbelieving ſhall be caſt into the Lake of fire and brimſtone.
1. It is the greateſt ſin in the world, becauſe it is a ſin againſt the greateſt love in the world, John 3. 16. Rom. 5. 8. It is a ſin for which there can be no remedy, for aſmuch as it is a ſin againſt the only remedy; the Sentence of the Law may be repealed by the Goſpel, but the ſins againſt Goſpel remedy there is no appeal, it is a ſin that makes void and vain all the Covenant of grace, turning all the ſweetneſs thereof into bitterneſs, and all the truth of it to a lie, 1 John 5. 10.
Unbelief binds all our ſins upon the ſoul, and ſo murders the ſoul, it grieves the heart of Chriſt, leaves all our ſins upon record, leaves us to anſwer for our ſelves: it is a ſin againſt the greateſt love, againſt the only remedy, makes void the Doctrine of grace, and breeds an indiſpoſition towards all holy duties: it is a diſhonouring to God, a denying of Chriſt, a murderer of the ſoul, a belying of God, a denying of Chriſt, and a crowning of Satan; it doth without doubt proclaim the Devil a Conqueror, and lift him up above Chriſt himſelf. Judas did ſin more by unbelief, and deſpairing, then by betraying of Chriſt. In a word, doubts, fears and diſcouragements, proceed neither from God, Chriſt, nor the Spirit of truth, but they do proceed, Firſt, from the Devil, he either tempts us to ſin, and that will cauſe us to doubt, or elſe he doth tempt us to doubt, and that will cauſe us to ſin. Secondly, they proceed from our own hearts, Heb. 3. 12. Thirdly, from the lying vanities that we hearken unto, Jonah 2. 8. Fourthly, from ignorance, heedleſneſs and forgetfulneſs. Fifthly, from unskilfulneſs of the word of righteouſneſs, Heb. 5. 12. 7. Sixthly, from want of watchfulneſs. Seventhly, from building our hopes and comfort upon that which is mutable and uncertain, viz. our own perſonal Sanctification, and not upon Chriſt, and our free Juſtification. Eighthly, from our own falſe reaſonings, making Senſe, Reaſon, and Feeling the Judge of our ſpiritual condition. Ninthly, from our ignorance of the love of Chriſt and the Covenant of Grace.
The Characters, Marks or Signs of true Faith, &c.
THere are many characters or diſcoveries of this Faith of the Goſpel, called the Faith of Gods Elect, which worketh by love. Firſt, the habit of this Faith is infuſed into the ſoul, by God in regeneration, Eph. 2. 8. John 1. 12, 13. Secondly, this habit ſo infuſed, is brought to act by the Fathers drawing the ſoul to Chriſt, Iohn 6. 44. Thirdly, faith being thus infuſed and acted, doth chearfully accept of Chriſt upon his own terms, viz. ſelf-denyall, bearing the Croſs and following Chriſt, Luke 9. 23. Iohn 1. 12. Faith having thus accepted and received Chriſt, begins to taſte ſuch ſweetneſs and pleaſantneſs in him, that Chriſt is moſt pleaſant to the ſoul, 1 Pet 2. 3, 7. So the ſoul by degrees comes to be filled with joy and peace in believing. Again, Faith having thus taken and taſted Chriſt, contends after a fuller perfection, even after aſſurance, Col. 2. 2. Heb. 10. 22.
1. True Faith is not only a juſtifying grace, but a ſanctifying grace, Acts 15. 9. & 26. 8. the blood of Chriſt i… a pure blood as well as a precious blood. It is a cleanſing blood, as well as an expiating blood. So faith is a grace not only to acquit, but alſo to purge and renew the perſon where it dwells. It is not only an enlightening grace, but it is alſo a conforming grace; therefore we read that it doth ingraft us into the ſimilitude of his death, and in the fellowſhip of his ſufferings and Reſurrection, Phil. 3. 10.
Now then enquire; is there vertue gone from Chriſt to make thy dark mind ſeeing, thy ſtubborn judgement yielding, thy proud heart humbling, thy filthy heart cleanſing, thy hard heart relenting and mourning, thy carnal affections to be heavenly, thy ſinful ſoul to be holy? Read and well conſider that in 1 Cor. 6. 9, 10, 11.
2. Where there is true Faith, it will cauſe the party to make a curious, narrow, impartial, diligent ſearch into his own heart and ſoul, to ſee what humility, what ſelf-denyal, what ſin abhorrency, what love to Chriſt, what delight to the Ordinances, what zeal for Gods glory, what contempt of the world, what deſires after the ſociety of the Saints, what ſympathizing with them in their afflictions? and if upon this ſearch thou findeſt any impreſſions of grace, any ſpiritual work, any ſavouring, ſavory diſtinguiſhing operations upon thy heart, then the Spirit hath been there, and begun to work the grace of Faith in thy heart.
3. True Faith doth make the heart humble and lowly; Have we pardon of ſin? why ſaith Faith, the cauſe of this is Gods love: Have we righteouſneſs? why ſaith Faith, the cauſe of this is Chriſts merits: Have we any gift? why ſaith Faith, the cauſe of this is Chriſts love. So that the ſoul ſits down, and often ſaith, O Lord, O Lord, in my ſelf I am nothing, nay of my ſelf worſe then nothing. But what I am, I am by grace, all that I have is thine, my bread, my health, my life, my body, my ſoul, all is thine. If any love, if any mercy, if any Chriſt, if any grace, if any comfort, if any ſtrength, if any ſtedfaſtneſs, if any performances, if any good work, if any good word, if any good affection, if any good thought, why, all is thine. I have nothing but what I have received, thou only art the cauſe, I am leſs then the leaſt of thy mercies, and what is thy ſervant that thou ſhouldſt look on ſuch an one as I am? thou madeſt me, and thou boughteſt me, and thou calledſt me, and thou juſtifieſt me, and thou ſaveſt me.
4. True Faith doth deſire and endeavour after an increaſe; Help my unbelief, ſaid the weak believing Father. O Lord encreaſe our Faith, ſaid the Diſciples; there are yet many degrees wanting to faith; either thou canſt not be perſwaded, or not fully perſwaded, or not conſtantly perſwaded; but if the Faith be true and living, it will bend after a riſing.
5. True Faith in Chriſt, and a mournful heart for ſin alwaies go together, Zach. 10 12. They ſhall look upon me whom they have pierced, and mourn, &c. there are two things that Faith will fetch up in the ſoul, the one is love to Chriſt, another is ſorrow for ſin.
6. True Faith is fruitful, James 2. 18. See Titus 3. 18. Although works do not cauſe Faith, or Juſtification, yet they do clearly manifeſt to others, whether we have Faith yea or no.
To cloſe up this point, let me acquaint the Reader, that there are ſpiritual and inward characters of Faith, which ſerve as evidences to him that hath it, many of thoſe I have hinted at under this fore-going head. Secondly there are outward or more external ſigns of Faith, and they conſiſt in walking, ſo in the ſight of men, that they may in charity judge of our Faith by our works: then there are characters of a ſtrong Faith, and alſo ſigns of a weak Faith: Firſt of a ſtrong Faith, Rom. 4. 20. he ſtaggered not at the promiſe through unbelief. Mat. 8. 6, 7, 8. I have not found ſo great Faith in Iſrael. Mat. 5. 22. O woman, great is thy faith, &c. So there are characters of a weak Faith; One is, he will be haſty to be anſwered, and be ready to ſuſpect Gods favour, and Chriſts love, if he be not preſently anſwered. Another is, he will be faint if delayed. And ſo much for the characte…s or ſigns of Faith.
The benefits of living by Faith: a Believers comfort, hope, joy and confidence ſhould be in God, the ſame at all times.
THE Lord hath various diſpenſations of providence as well relating to the outward, as to the inward man. Sometimes his way is in the whirlwind, and ſometimes he is in the ſmall ſtill voice, and ſometimes his foot-ſteps are in the deep waters, and ſo his way is not known. Nah. 1. 3. & 1 Kings 19. 12. & Pſalm 77. 19. His diſpenſations are many times contrary the one to the other; to day perhaps thou enjoyeſt peace, ſtrength, riches and honor, with health, proſperity and many friends, and tomorrow all theſe may be blaſted; to day God unboſoms himſelf unto thee, and ſhines forth upon thee, but in a moment he withdraws himſelf. As bleſſed Job, David, and divers others experienced. Now the reaſon why we ſhould believe, hope and rejoyce in God at all times, are as followeth.
1. Becauſe a Believers happineſs depends not upon his own doing, but upon Chriſt, who is of God made unto him righteouſneſs, ſanctification, &c. who hath ſaved us, and called us, not according to our works, but according to his purpoſe and grace, &c. 1 Cor. 1. 3. 2 Tim 1. 9
2. Becauſe the ſtate of a Believer in Chriſt, as conſidered in him, is a ſtate of perfection, he is clean from all ſin by the blood of Chriſt, they be removed from us; thou haſt caſt all my ſins behind thy back; as far as the Eaſt is from the Weſt, ſo far hath he removed our tranſgreſſions from us: ſeventy weeks are determined upon the people, to finiſh the tranſgreſſion, and to make an end of ſins, and to make reconciliation, and to bring in everlaſting righteouſneſs. Col. 1. 28. John 17. 23. Heb. 10. 14. 1 John 1. 7. Iſaiah 35. 8. & 38. 17. Pſalm 103. 12. Dan. 9. 24. Ezek. 16. 14.
Hereupon the ſoul begins to rejoyce in God, for he hath cloathed me with the garment of ſalvation, and covered me with the robe of righteouſneſs. Our ſins are laid upon Chriſt, and his righteouſneſs is ours: hereupon ſaith God, thou art all fair my love, there is no ſpot in thee.
3. Reaſon: Why a Believers comfort, hope, joy and confidence ſhould be the ſame at all times, becauſe that God who hath loved an everlaſting love, loves thee in his Son: thou art not beloved for thy own ſake, or for any thing in thee, but upon the account of the Lord Jeſus, in whom God is well pleaſed: Believers are never the more juſt before God for their own integrity, nor the leſs juſt for their iniquity. God doth ſay of himſelf, I am the Lord, and change not: his love is as himſelf, ever the ſame: and Chriſt in whom thou art beloved, the ſame yeſterday, to day, and the ſame for ever: and hereupon ſhould we live by Faith, and rejoyce evermore with joy unſpeakable and full of glory, Heb. 13. 8. 1 Theſ. 5. 16. Pſal. 32. 11.
4. Becauſe whatſoever thoughts we have of God, he is unchangeable; if he doth withdraw himſelf, and lead thee into the wilderneſs, it is that he may ſpeak comfortably to thee. Hoſ. 2. 14, 15. and all this while thou haſt his promiſe with thee, and his faithfulneſs is engaged unto thee. Iſaiah 54. 7, 8. For a ſmall moment have I forſaken thee, but with great mercy will I gather thee: in a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlaſting kindneſs will have mercy upon thee. Jer. 51. 5. Neh. 9. 16, 17. Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them to the end, Iohn 13. 1.
5. God doth ever look upon his as they are in his Son, and not ſimply as they are in themſelves: they dwell in Chriſt, and he in them, they live in Chriſt, and their life is hid with Chriſt in God; and when Chriſt who is their life ſhall appear, then ſhall they alſo appear with him in glory, and be found in him, not having their own righteouſneſs, &c.
Theſe Scriptures do fully prove all the fore-going reaſons, why a Chriſtians hope, joy and comfort ſhould be the ſame in God at all times, and ſo live by faith, and not by ſight, Hoſ. 2. 19, 20. Jer. 3. 14. Jer. 33. 8. Iſa. 62. 5. Heb. 8. 10, 12. Ezek. 16. 62, 63. Heb. 3. 6. Jer. 33. 20, 21. Hoſea 14. 5. Iſa. 61. 10. Iſa. 54. 5. Jer. 31. 9. Heb. 3. 17, 18. Heb. 6. 17, 18. Rom. 3. 3. 2 Tim. 2. 13. Rom. 8. 28, 33, 35, 38, 39. Iſa. 41. 10 Iſa. 57. 18, 19. Iſa. 54. 7, 8. Heb. 10. 19, 20, 22. Pſalm 46. 1, 2, 3, 4. Rom. 8. 1, 2. John 13. 1. Iſa. 63. 16. Pſal. 89. 30, 31, 33.
Several waies for a believer to hold faſt his confidence in God, at all times.
To live by Faith in infirmities, is to live upon Chriſt and his promiſes, viz.
If under temptations, 1. Cor. 10. 13. there is a promiſe of ſupportation and deliverance.
In deadneſs of heart, Iſa. 35. 5, 6. there is a promiſe of relief and quickning.
If fallen by tranſgreſſion, Jam. 5. 17. yet there is others of the Lords own in the ſame caſe.
If thou ſeeſt thy duty, and want ſtrength to do it, here is help and ſtrength for thee, Job 17. 9. Pſalm 84. 7. Iſa. 45. 24. and 40. 29, 30. Jer. 17. 8. Pſal. 1. 2, 3. Pſal. 92. 13, 14. Iſa. 61. 9.
In Chriſt thou haſt perfectly obeyed the Law, perfectly ſuffered and ſatisfied for all thy ſins to the juſtice of God; ſo that in Chriſt, thou art perfectly juſt and righteous, and thereupon it is ſaid, Col. 3. 3. Epheſ. 2. 6. that our life is hid with Chriſt in God, and we are raiſed up with Chriſt, and made to ſit together in heavenly places in Chriſt Jeſus; though in thy ſelf there is a body of luſt, and corruption, and ſin, and there is a law revealing ſin, accuſing and condemning, but if we live by faith in Chriſt, and in the apprehenſion of his love, believing in the life, righteouſneſs, obedience, ſatisfaction, and glory of him whom the Spirit cals ours. Chriſt is ours, we are Chriſts, and Chriſt is Gods: he then lives out of the power of all condemnation, Chriſt being the end of the Law for righteouſneſs; and thus a believer is bleſſed only in a righteouſneſs without, not within, and all his aſſurance, confidence and comforts to flow into him through a channel of faith, and not of works, believing himſelf happy for what another, even Chriſt hath done for him, not for what he hath done, nor can do for himſelf: for when we are at the beſt, we are but vanity, Pſal. 39. 5. and unprofitable ſervants, Luke 17. 10.
Now this believing in God is attended with theſe five bleſſed things.
1. It is the higheſt piece of obedience to God, Rom. 16. 26. It is called the obedience of Faith.
2. It doth put a new engagement upon God to make good his promiſe, upon which faith is grounded, Pſal. 119. 49. Remember the word unto thy ſervant upon which thou haſt cauſed me to hope, 1 Chron. 5. 20.
3. Conſider alſo another priviledge is this, the greateſt mercies that ever came into a ſoul, comes in a way of believing, Rom. 15. 13. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, Rom. 5. 1. being juſtified by Faith, we have peace with God. &c.
4. By it we give the greateſt honour to God, John 3. 33. He hath ſet to his ſeal that God is true, but he that believeth not hath made him a lyar, 1 John 5. 10.
5. This is the way to have God take pleaſure in us, Pſal. 147. 11 The Lord taketh pleaſure in thoſe that fear him, in thoſe that hope in his mercy, Pſal. 33. 18. The eyes of the Lord are upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy. The joy of a believer would be alwaies unſpeakable, did he alwaies apprehend his happineſs in and by Chriſt Jeſus.
Faith in Chriſt ſupplies all wants, it honours God, as Heb. 11. the whole Chapter: and God honours thoſe moſt that live by it: by it, ſaith the Scripture, the Elders obtained a good report; by faith we may live a life to God, of joy in him our righteouſneſs, as if we had never ſinned; by faith we live above ſin, infirmities, temptations, deſertions, ſenſe, reaſon, fears and doubts: Faith ſweetens the ſweeteſt mercy, and the bittereſt miſeries, it renders great afflictions as none, it is the bulwark of the ſouls ſtrength and comfort: by Faith we cheerfully, readily, and univerſally, and conſtantly obey God. In a meaſure it makes the the yoak of Chriſt eaſie and ſweet, it ſtates the ſoul in the poſſeſſion of heaven, whilſt the body remains on earth, as John 3. 36. By faith we view the glory of heaven, and know our ſelves to be happy, even then when to a carnal eye we ſeem moſt miſerable. By faith we can cheerfully part with, and ſuffer deprivation of the ſweeteſt outward comforts and enjoyments, and welcome them, knowing that we do but exchange the worſt things, and place for a better; thoſe that live up by faith, live upon God, and are refreſhed in his houſe, which is plentifully ſtored with all deſirable dainties, having this welcome, eat O friends and drink abundantly: It is O believer thy portion, duty, and priviledge thus to do: O then, O then let us at once believe that God will be to us according to his gracious promiſe and Covenant, notwithſtanding our daily omiſſions and commiſſions, excuſes and defects, according to that portion of Scripture, Pſal. 89. from 30. to 37. If my children forſake my Law, and walk not in my judgements; If they break my Statutes, and keep not my Commandments, then will I viſit their tranſgreſſions with the Rod, and their iniquities with ſtripes: Nevertheleſs my loving kindneſs will I not utterly take from them, nor ſuffer my faithfulneſs to fail, my Covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips, &c. He that lives by Faith in infirmities, may be thus characterized.
1. He will hear Chriſt and not the voice of a ſtranger, John 10. 27. 5.
2. He is not offended at whatſoever Chriſt requires, Mat. 11. 6.
3. The revealed will of God in the Scriptures is his Rule, and not the light within, nor the traditions of men; he walketh more by rule then example.
4. He will truſt God, and relye upon his word, he eyeth the promiſe, and ſaith, ſurely in the Lord have I righteouſneſs and ſtrength, Iſa. 45. 24. Jude 3. Act. 20. 31, &c.
5. He will hold faſt to, and earneſtly contend for the truth, and Faith once delivered to the Saints.
6. His ſin doth not ſink him into deſpair; though he may have many doubtings, he will ſay in the mid … of all his imperfections, I have as much of the love of God, acceptation in Chriſt as the beſt Saint ever had; though I come ſhort in the manifeſtation, my ſtate is as happy as any of theirs, Heb. 3. 17. Although the Figtree ſhall not bloſſom, neither ſhall fruit be in the vine, &c. Yet I will rejoyce in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my ſalvation, &c. What ſhall I ſay more? my body ſhall be raiſed. 1 Theſ. 4. 16. And I ſhall have a ſpiritual body, 1 Cor. 15. 43, 44. I ſhall have a glorified body, Phil. 3. 21. The Sun in the firmament is not ſo glorious as my body ſhall be, becauſe the Sun is but a natural body: I ſhall have fulneſs of knowledge, Epheſ. 3. 18. and fulneſs of joy and pleaſure, Pſal. 16. 11. No miſery, hunger, cold or nakedneſs, pain, grief nor wearineſs ſhall attend me, but I ſhall reſt without labour, 2 Theſ. 1. 7. And I ſhall have in reſt tranquility, and in tranquility contentment, in contentment joy, in joy variety, in variety ſecurity, in ſecurity a glorious eternity, then ſhall I be like him, and ſee him as he is, 1 John 3. 1, 2. compared with 1 Cor. 13. 12.
To cloſe up all that I ſhall ſpeak of this grace of Faith, which is of ſo great concernment, give me leave to anſwer two conſiderable queſtions that do ariſe in the hearts of many.
1. What conditions or qualifications muſt or ought I to find in my felf before I believe or lay hold on a promiſe?
2. If to believe in God is of ſo great concernment, both to being, and well being, why do ſo few men and womens ſons and daughters believe?
1. Quere is: What conditions and qualifications muſt, or ought a man to find in himſelf, before he believeth or lay hold of the precious promiſes in the Scriptures of Truth.
Anſw. I know no qualifications or conditions required of us, before we come, unleſs theſe be conditions and qualifications; tob uy milk and wine without mony and without price, and to take of the water of life freely, Iſa. 55. 1, 2, 3. Rev. 22. 17. Iſa. 43. 25. Iſa. 45. 22. And this I ſay there will be found in all that do believe, without which they will not come to Chriſt: I do not ſay without which they ſhould not come.
1. A ſenſe of his loſt condition, and great need of a Saviour; the whole need not a Phyſitian, ſaith our Lord Chriſt.
2. There will be poverty of Spirit, which doth ſpring or ariſe from theſe two things.
Firſt, that a ſoul hath a ſenſe, that it hath nothing that good is in it ſelf.
Secondly that he can do nothing to procure good to himſelf.
3. There will be an inquiring after a remedy, &c. Sirs, what ſhall I do to be ſaved? Lord what wilt thou have me to do?
4. There will be a willingneſs to part with any thing for Chriſt, that ſtood in oppoſition to him, that ſo he may enjoy him.
5. There will be a reſolution and purpoſe of heart to lead a new life, more holily, ſpiritually and heavenly, for time to come.
6. A reſolution to wait upon God in his wayes, and to lie at the Pool of Betheſda. Now theſe and the like things are not required, as that without which we ſhould not come to Chriſt, but theſe things will be in him that doth come, without which he cometh not.
2. Quere: What is the reaſon why ſo few do believe in God, ſeeing the way is ſo opened, and cleared, and the ſtumbling blocks removed?
Anſw. 1. Ground or reaſon, why believing on the Son of God is ſo hard, is becauſe every thing in man doth fight againſt it: hence it doth come to paſs, that believing doth require the greateſt piece of ſelf-denyal in them: for a man to break the Law, and yet to be freed from the curſe of the Law, this reaſon cannot comprehend.
2. Ground why ſo few believe, is, either becauſe they think they do believe already, and yet do not; or elſe they would believe, but ſay they cannot: Firſt they think they do believe, and yet do not, and theſe are of three ſorts; Firſt, ignorant perſons: now ignorance and unbelief, they alwayes go togegether; we read of Paul that did things before he was converted, in ignorance and unbelief. Jer. 4. 22. My people are fooliſh, they know not me, to do good they have no knowledge. Secondly, thoſe that boaſt and glory in their own righteouſneſs, theſe have no faith in Jeſus Chriſt and his righteouſneſs. The third ſort of people that do think they do believe and do not, are prophane perſons, and theſe be of two ſorts, men of prophane ſpirits, and men of prophane lives, prophane practices.
3. Ground or reaſon why ſo few believe, is, becauſe it is the great deſign of Satan either to hinder or overthrow our Faith; becauſe believing doth give the greateſt glory to God, and brings in the greateſt good to us. Firſt, it doth give the greateſt glory to God of any work in the world, it doth give glory to his truth and faithfulneſs, and power, and mindfulneſs. So it doth give glory to Jeſus Chriſt, to his name, power and God-head, Offices and attributes; by doubting we diſhonour him, fruſtrate the grace of God, make the death of Chriſt of none effect.
4. Reaſon why believing is ſo hard a work, is, becauſe of the multitude of falſe Doctrines that there are in the world, that a man ſcarce knows who to hear, or whom to believe, &c.