No Power But of God, Part 3
A few words of Faith.
FAith is as it were the wings of the ſoule, whereby the ſoule doth flye to heaven, and bring downe it's evi…nce under hand and ſeale, Heb. 11. 1. ….
Now this grace of Faith is of ſingular … to Chriſtians; it is that firſt and princi… wheele that makes all the other wheeles …move: But moſt men be mightily (as I …ppoſe) miſtaken in the true definition of …th. Seeing then it is that whereby we live grace, and it is that whereby we are …ried on to glory; that we might not be …ſtaken in that that is of ſuch rare uſe to Give me leave to tell thee, there is a Faith the Hiſtory, and a Faith of the Myſtery, …re is a Legal Faith, and a Faith of …racles, dead Faith, and a temporary …ith, &c. There is an Evangelical Faith, …ing the Faith of the Goſpel. Now men … various in their thoughts of the true na…re of this Goſpel Faith. I know one man, …. Mr. H. D. that ſaith, that this is the faith the Goſpel, to believe that Jeſus Chriſt is … Son of God; and another ſaith that this the true faith of the Goſpel, viz. Faith is a holy and humble perſwaſion ground upon the word of God, and witneſſed his holy Spirit. In a word, moſt men … give too general a definition of Faith. … general definition of the hiſtory, with… a particular application of the myſt… will ſtand the ſoule in little or no ſtead the time of neceſſity. Therefore I humb… conceive, that the faith of the Goſpel th… we are commanded to contend for, Jude is ſuch a Faith, viz.
Faith is a gift of God, begotten in … creature by the powerful preaching of … word, whereby the underſtanding is … lightned, whereby he believeth to be … whatſoever is revealed in the word; … cepting, receiving, and reſting upon Chr… alone for iuſtification, ſanctification; wi… a particular application of Chriſt, and a… his benefits unto his own ſoul.
I ſay, Faith is a gift of God begott… in the creature by the powerful preachin… of the word, whereby the underſtanding enlightned, ſo that he believeth to be tr… whatſoever is revealed in the word; … cepting, receiving, and reſting upon Chri… alone for juſtification, ſanctifieation, wi… a particular application of Chriſt, and … his benefits unto his own ſoul, &c.
Now the life of all lyes in the particu…r application, Pſal. 18. 2. The Lord is my … and my fortreſſe, and my deliverer, my God, ſtrength in whom I will truſt, my Buckler, and … horne of my ſalvation, and my high …ower, …al. 118. 28. Thou art my God, and I will praiſe …e: Thou art my God, I will exalt thee. Luke 46, 47. And Mary ſaid, My ſoul doth magnifie … Lord, and my ſpirit hath rejoyced in God my …viour. Joh. 20. 28. Thomas anſwered and …d unto him, My Lord, and my God! In the …xt verſe Chriſt pronounceth him to be a …iever. Gal. 2. 20. The life that I now live, …ive by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me …d gave himſelf for me. Phil. 3. 8. For the excel…cie of the knowledge of Chriſt my Lord, &c. general declaration, without a particu…r application, will not aſſure the ſoule of …lvation. Is not faith the firſt ſtone in the …iritual building, and the firſt ſtep in a …hriſtian race, the firſt linke in our golden …aine of Chriſtianity, the firſt act of our …ew life, that firſt degree of our holy con…erſation, the firſt round in our Jacobs lad…r, whereby we aſcend up into the preſence …f our Lord?
Firſt, there is in a true believer an aſſu…ance of underſtanding.
Secondly, there is an aſſurance of rejoy…ing, 1 Pet. 1. 8.
Thirdly, there is an aſſurance whi… carrieth forth a ſoule to powerful a… ings.
A Chriſtian believeth that he who ma… man, was made man himſelfe; he believe that no man hath ſeen God at any time, an… yet he believeth that Moſes talked with his face to face; he believeth him to be borne … time who was from everlaſting, and him be ſhut up in a narrow room whom heave… and earth could not containe.
Religion is a myſtery in every part of … Faith believeth ſtrange things, Hope w… for the accompliſhment of that which re… ſon cannot comprehend; and ſo for lo… and patience, and all other graces, there … a great myſtery in the actings of each … theſe; as to inſtance in one for all, a littl… look upon faith, and ſee what it believe concerning the Trinity, and Election, Juſtification, and Sanctification, and Repentance.
Firſt, concerning the Trinity.
He believes that the Father is not th… Sonne, and the Sonne is not the Spirit and yet the Father, Sonne and Spirit are a… but one.
He believes that God is Alpha and Omeg… the beginning and the end, and yet he be… …ves that God had never a beginning, and all never have an end.
He believes that the Father ſent forth the …nne, and that the Sonne ſent forth the …pirit, and yet he believeth they were never …parated the one from the other.
And concerning Election,
He believes that God is no reſpecter of …erſons, and yet he believes that God elected …me, and left others, when he found no …fference.
And concerning Iuſtification,
He believeth that his qualifications doth …ot cauſe Gods love; yet he would queſtion …hether God loved him, if he were not …ualified.
H… works not for wages, yet hath an eye …o the recompence of reward.
He believes that the moſt juſt God, hath …uniſhed the moſt innocent perſon; and to …ave juſtified himſelf, though a ſinner: he is often in priſon, yet alwaies at liberty, and a freeman though a ſervant.
And concerning Sanctification,
He believes that he goes not to heaven for holineſſe, and yet he believes that he cannot go thither without it; he liveth on earth, but his converſation is in heavenly things; he is careful for nothing, and yet none ſo careful as he. He eſteems his nam… as a precious ointment, yet he cares no… who reviles him.
Concerning Repentance.
He often weeps for ſorrow, and yet h… doth rejoyce when he weeps.
He is of all men moſt humble, and yet n… man hath a heart ſo lifted up as he, 2 Cor. 7. ….
He is one who lives to dye, and dyes t… live; yet he is dead whiles he liveth, and live when he dyeth.
He believes himſelfe to be precious i… Gods ſight, and yet he doth loath himſelf … his owne fight.
And concerning the Scriptures.
He believeth that the Scriptures wer… written by men ſubject to errour, and yet he believeth there is no errour in them.
Nay he believeth there is no errour in Scripture; and yet he findeth that which is commanded, Gen. 17. 12. to be forbidden Gal. 5. 22.
Now there is a great controverſie among men, whether it be Chriſts work or th… creatures work to act faith. But I ſhall ſay nothing to that here, having ſpoken o… laid down my judgement concerning it be… fore. But a word or two of theſe things.
Firſt, how Faith is wrought, or by what …eans uſually.
Secondly, ſome lets to be removed.
Thirdly, ſome motives or conſiderations move us to believe.
Firſt, how faith is wrought, or by what …eans ordinarily; and that is by the miſtery of the Word. Rom. 10. 17.
1. The ſoul is enlightened to ſee it ſelf …ful, miſerable, and naked, polluted in its …ood.
2. Then the ſoul ſearcheth to find, if it …ere poſſible, a promiſe ſhould be made to …ch a ſinner as he is: well, at length he …deth it.
3. Then the ſoul beginneth to enquire …hether with out preſumption he may lay …old on the promiſe: Well, he finds it is …o preſumption to believe, but rebellion …ot to believe.
4. The ſoule begins to conſider what he that hath made theſe promiſes: Well, he …nds him to be God, that cannot be worſe …hen his word, as man will.
5. He enquires further, and finds that his God is a moſt faithful God; ſo faith…ul, that not one …ot or tittle of his word …all paſſe, till all be fulfilled. Then when …he ſoul ſees his ſin, and a promiſe of pardon, and that it is his duty to believe, an… that it is God that hath made theſe pr… miſes, and that to the worſt of ſinners, an… that this God is a faithful and a true God then the ſoul roots it ſelf upon Chriſt, an… ſaith, There will I venture my ſoule; if periſh, I periſh: But I ſhall not periſh; … I never did read of any man that went the far, and miſcarried. And this is the fai… of adherence, which ſoon grows up to … faith of evidence.
Now the ſoul ſaith, It may be I ſhall be … in the day of the Lords wrath. But ſhortly will ſay, The Lord hath ſaved me, he doth ſ… me, and he will ſave me; I will not be afraid ten thouſands of people that hauehave ſet themſelv… againſt me round about.
Q. Why wilt thou not be afraid, Chriſtian?
A. Becauſe I know God, (ſaith he) an… I know him to be able, and not only ſo, b… I know him to be willing to help me: … my name in Scripture, and God ſpeakin… to me by name.
Oh then (ye ſons and daughters of me… conſider, that he that was the Son of Go… became the Son of man; that we who we the ſons of men, might become the ſons God.
Would'ſt thou believe thine own intereſt this?
Firſt, gather up and eſtabliſh thy thoughts …on the object of faith, the Free-grace … God, in the righteouſneſſe of Jeſus …hriſt.
Secondly, claim thy common intereſt in … the promiſes which be made to ſinners: … the promiſes be made to ſinners, and as ſinner thou haſt an intereſt in them.
Thirdly, conſider the terms on which …hriſt is given; he is not given upon terms …f qualifications, but upon terms of accep…tion and believing; which believing is …s gift alſo.
Secondly, there are ſome lets to be re…oved as hindrances of faith.
1. The firſt let is, Ignorance of thine …wn miſery, and Gods mercy.
2. The ſecond let is; If thou doſt know …hine own miſery, to deſpair of mercy.
3. A third let is, Carnal reaſoning to …onſult with fleſh and blood, which will …ell us either that it is well enough with us …lready, or elſe it is impoſſible to have it …etter.
4. A fourth let is, our hearkening to …he motions of Sathan; and you ſhall know …hem by theſe three things.
Firſt, they drive a ſoul from God, as … dam hid himſelf after he had ſinned, he we… as far as he could from God.
Secondly, the motions of Sathan may … known by this; they tend to the weakenin… of that little that thou hadſt before.
Thirdly, the motions of Sathan m… be known by this alſo, they tend to bre… and deſtroy the ſoule, that is bruiſed … ready.
5. The fifth let of faith may be thi… when the Lord by his word begins to di… cover our ſinnes, then we begin to cove… them; and hence it is that we do not pro… ſper in our ſouls, Pro. 28. 13.
Now as I lately heard from a ſervant … Chriſt, a man may be ſaid to cover his ſinn… three wayes.
1. When we do not draw it forth to th… hand of juſtice, when we let alone that tra… tor that doth lurk in our ſouls: the Lon… comes and calls for our pride, and covetouſneſſe, and frowardneſſe, ſaying, Brin… it forth to juſtice! Then we concea…e o… hide it.
2. When we do ſomething to cover i… by leſſening it: we ſhould rather aggravat… then extenuate our ſinnes.
3. We hide our ſinnes, when we preſerv… …ur ſinnes. Now a man may be ſaid to pre…rve his ſinne three wayes.
(1. When we nouriſh it and feed it, as it …ere.)
2. When we do defend it: it may be we … a great blow coming to wound, ſtriking … the head of our beloved ſinne; and we …efend the blow with all our ſtrength and …olicie.
3. When we take no notice of it: perdventure a man will take notice of groſſe …ns, but not of ſecret ſins: we ſay, This is …t a little one; The Lord be merciful to me in …is thing. This is all I ſhall ſay at preſent …oncerning the lets of Faith. Next of thoſe Conſiderations, as ſo many motives to …ove us to believe.
Thirdly, let us a little conſider what en…ouragements have we to move or prevaile with us to ſet about the beginning, or go…ng on and growing up in this grace of …aith.
1. Conſider, that to believe in God, is …he greateſt obedience that we can give un…o God; for in ſo doing, we are ſaid to ſet …o our ſeals that God is true. This is the moſt acceptable work with God. See Joh. …. 29. and the firſt Epiſtle of John, chap. 3. …er. 23.
2. This is the way to become fruitful our converſation. What is the reaſon the is ſuch barrenneſſe among men and wom… profeſſing godlineſſe? why, the reaſon … there is little fruit, becauſe there is ſo litt… ſaith. Joh. 15. 5. Ye are not planted in … houſe by faith, therefore ye do not flour… in his courts. You want faith; hence it … that you have no works. Thou haſt a … body, but a lean ſoul: Thy ſoul witho… faith, is like a Dove without wings; … cannot fly to the ſtorehouſe for meat, the… fore muſt needs be lean.
3. By this thou ſhalt be able to over come all the fiery darts of the World, Fleſh and Devil.
Firſt, it overcomes the world, Joh. ep. … 5, 4.
Secondly, it overcomes all the Devil, 1 Pe… 5. 8, 9. & Jam. 4. 7.
Thirdly, it overcomes all the fiery dart of the wicked, Epheſ. 6. 16.
4. Again, this is the way to be eſtabliſhed, Iſa. 7. 9.
What is the reaſon that men are carried about with every wind of doctrine? Why they do not believe, and ſo they are no… eſtabliſhed. Oh then, be ye ſtedfaſt, unmoveable, rooted and grounded upon the rock …hriſt, and ſo ſickleneſſe and inſtability will … done away.
5. Faith will reach forth her arm as far heaven, and fetch in to thy ſoule things …at are abſent, and make them preſent, …eh. 11. 1. & 13.
6. This is the way, by believing, to …tain that joy, that unſpeakable joy, … Pet. 1. 8.
What is the matter that Chriſtians do … hang down their heads under a ſpirit of …ondage? Why, they have but little or no …ith; the more faith, the more joy, 1 Pet. …. 8.
7. This is the way to have our hearts …urified from that map of miſery or ſtore…ouſe of filthineſſe, Act. 15. 9.
8. This is the way, namely to believe, … overcome that unprofitableneſſe that is … thee and me. How many a Chapter haſt …hou read, and learned nothing from it? …ow many a Sermon haſt thou heard, and …earned nothing? What is the reaſon? why, …hou haſt no faith. Heb. 4. 2.
9. And again, this is the way to obtain …hat ſpiritual ſtrength, to doe the will of God, although it be againſt our own wils. Faith will endeavour to pleaſe God, al…hough we diſpleaſe our ſelves and others. See what a peece of ſelf-denial Faith ha… wrought in Abraham, who followed … command of God in whatſoever he r… quired, as in his departing out of his o… country, and there truſted upon Gods ba… word, notwithſtanding all improbabiliti… in nature: he was willing to depart wit… the moſt dear thing for God, as in offerin… up his only ſon; and gave God his ow… time for the accompliſhment of his ow… promiſes. To adde no more.
1. Conſider, that whatſoever you … without it, it is ſinne, Rom. 14. 23.
2. We cannot pleaſe God in any thing without it, Heb. 11. 6.
3. We cannot pray without it, as … ought, Mar. 11. 24. Iam. 1. 6.
4. We cannot be ſaved without it, M… 16. 16. Epheſ. 2. 8.
When a ſoul begins to conſider the grea… neceſſity he hath of it, and the willingneſ… of Chriſt to work it, theſe two wings wi… carry thee to the treaſury of faith. Wha… ncceſſity thou haſt of it, is laid before; an… as concerning the willingneſſe of Chriſt … have thee believe, I might inſtance in all th… it more (almoſt) ſpeaking ſomething … it more or leſſe. Let me inſtance in one fo… all. Joh. 14. 1. & 11. 12, 13 verſes. In th… … verſe, Believe in me: and in the 11. verſe, …ieve in me for the very works ſake. Then, that …s precept might not be ſlieghted, he …mes in with both his hands full of pro…ſes, verſe 12. He that believeth in me, the …ks that I do ſhall he do, and greater: and then …he 13. verſe, Whatſoever you ſhall aske in name, that will I do for you. As if he had …d, O ye ſonnes of men, I do but require … thing of you, and that is for your …n good too, That you would believe in me; … is the one thing that I deſire of you, … if you will do but this one thing for … I will doe two things for you:
…. You ſhall doe the works that I doe, and grea… Joh. 14. 12.
…. You ſhall but aske, and have what in …on you deſire, Joh. 14. 13.
… had thought to have written many …gs more concerning Faith: But for …e reaſons I forbear.