Two Books, Treatise 1 · Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX.
How the life of Faith is ſaid to be mean. Firſt. If compared with any other kind of living wel: 1 as Compared with the life of Adam in innocency. 2. Compared with the life of Glory. Secondly, If compared with any other kind of living by Faith. An Objection anſwered.
But compare the life of faith with any other kind of living wel, Or compare it.
2 With any other kind of living by faith then this, and ſo it is exceeding meane. I ſhal open theſe a little to you.
Firſt, It is meane compared with any other kind of living wel.
1 As compare with it the life of Adam in innocency, and ſo is the life of faith meane. Becauſe al that Adam did receive, he received it by way of Juſtice: Here what you do receive is by way of almes. Adam ſhould have received for his work: and here we receive meerly for good wil.
2. Compare this life of faith with the life of Glory, which the Saints live in heaven, and which the Saints ſhal: and ſo the Apoſtle ſaith in 1. Cor. 13.13. That faith ſhal ceaſe as an imperfection.
Secondly, Yea compare this life of faith with any other kind of living by faith, and it is the meaneſt of al. Firſt There is a living upon God by faith for preſervation, and Secondly a living upon God by faith for Juſtification and pardon.
For perſervation. The moſt perfect of the creatures do live upon God. It implies a contradiction that they ſhould be without their dependance upon him. For in him we live and move and have our being.
But the life of faith for Juſtification and pardon that now ſuppoſeth guilt, yea it ſuppoſeth weakneſs. Guilt: for where there is no offence, there needs no pardon nor forgiveneſs. And it ſuppoſeth weakneſs, as not being able to keep our ſelves in the love of God by any thing that we are able to do.
There are two things which do mainly make the life of faith to be meane.
1. Becauſe its a life of dependance. A man lives not of himſelf, nor on his own, but he lives upon another. He eates not his own bread (as I may ſo ſpeak) nor wears his own cloaths, but what is given him. And not only ſo, but.
2. In the ſecond place. A man receives not only by faith, but from hand to mouth. Suppoſe al a man had was given him, but he did receive it at once, and ſo became maſter of it himſelf for his uſe and diſpoſe of it, then there were ſome honour in it you know. The Prodigal you know prays that he may live no longer at his fathers hand, but that he may have his portion, and live like a man of honor upon his own. But through faith we receive no more then we have need of, and we have no more then we need. We are fain to go to God for every penny and morſel. The life of faith is often ſeen in prayer. It is al one, as I often ſhewed you in the ſcripture for a man to beleeve upon God and for a man to pray to God, and for a man to live upon begging, and to have no more then every day he can get as an alms, or as a favor. That is ſuch a kind of life as takes away al glory, and al confidence in a mans ſelf.
Object, But you wil ſay unto me, That this is enough to diſcourage a man from any way looking after that life of faith, becauſe it is ſo meane,
Anſw. I anſwer to that in a word. That there is no reaſon it ſhould diſcourage. For it is better for us a great deal conſidering what we are to have in this way, then any other. For
Firſt, God wil look better to us, then we can look to our ſelves. As a bird in the Cage is more tendered, and better provided for then ſhe could be if ſhe had her liberty in the wild waſte flying up and down in the vaſt wilderneſs. We live upon God, but we live upon one that is bountiful, and liberal, and one that hath enough, and one that thinks nothing too much to give to us. Were our eſtate in our own hands, we would quickly ſpend it or ingage and morgage it, and bring our ſelves under wrath, which now the Lord prevents. Such a kind of living upon God by faith is exceeding Glorious unto God. For upon this account he hath Glory, that he doth provide for us al things that do belong unto life and Godlineſs. Yea.
Secondly, There is a great deal of ſweetneſs in this life. As a bit (you know) from a Princes hand at his table, hath more ſweetneſs in it then a whole diſh. What ever proviſion we could make for our ſelves, could not carry that refreſhing to the heart, which the leaſt thing doth which we receive from God by Chriſt through faith. For it carrys this with it, The love of God in Chriſt, the favor and loving kindneſs of God: his wiſdom, which cuts out this portion for me, who knows what is better for us then we can choſe for our ſelves.
Laſtly to ſay no more. Though the life of faith be meane in it ſelf, yet this ſhould encourage to it, becauſe it is ſo meane, therefore pride is hid from your eyes. There is nothing that hinders a man more from receiving from God, then pride doth. Jam. 4.6. He gives grace to the humble, but he reſiſts the proud. There is nothing more burdenſom to a Beleever than pride of heart is. Pride of heart is unto the Soul of a Beleever, like the ſwelling of a Joynt which puts to extream pain. Saith the Soul in it ſelf, I have nothing, and can do nothing, and am nothing, and yet notwithſtanding I am lifted up as if I wanted in no kind. As you know it is ſaid concerning the Church of Laodicea. To be poor, and yet proud: To borrow, and yet to carry it as if we were beholden to none, is as great wickedneſs as poſſibly can be before the Lord. Becauſe all this is hindred by Faith, therefore it is a great encouragement to the Life of Faith, though it be a mean Life in compariſon.