A Sort of Believers Never Saved, Sermon

A Sort of Believers Never Saved · Sermon

p. 1A Sort of BELIEVERS Never Saved, OR, The Danger of Miſcarrying, in Point of SALVATION; by a falſe Ineffectual Faith; A Faith having no Root.

LUKE, VIII. 13.

They on the Rock are they, which, when they Hear, Receive the World with Joy; and theſe have no Root; which for a while Believe; and in time of Temptation fall away.

OUR Bleſſed Saviour, Jeſus Chriſt, the Great Prophet of his Church; and the Apoſtle & high Prieſt of our Profeſſion, was wont to reveal the Myſteries p. 2of the Kingdom of Heaven in Parables; and in Parables to utter things, that have been kept Secret from the Foundation of the World. Great truths were thus Parabolically Delivered, Enigmatical and hard to be underſtood & diſcerned; a ſingular judgment upon Goſpel-Deſpiſers for their Contumacious Infidelity; Leaſt at any time, they ſhould ſee with their Eyes▪ & hear with their Ears; underſtand with their-Hearts; and ſhould be Converted & Healed; Our Saviour therefore ſpake to them in Parables; & without a Parable Spake He not unto them, Matt. 13.15. But who is wiſe ſhall underſtand theſe things; Prudent, and he ſhall know them. Theſe Myſteries (tho' Myſtically Revealed) the true Followers & Diſciples of Chriſt ſhall be inſtructed in them.

Our Saviour (in the Chapter, wherein you find our Text) obſerving the Infidelity and Unfruitfulneſs of great Numbers of his Hearers & Followers; He puts forth a Parable admirably adapted to the Purpoſe; to ſet forth the various Efficacy of the Word (the Seed of Faith) upon four ſeveral Sorts of Hearers, viz. By the Parable of the Sower, and the Seed, that fell upon four ſeveral Sorts p. 3of the Ground; the High Way, the Stony Ground, the Thorny Ground, & the Good Ground.

The Parable is (1) Propounded v. 5, 6, 7, 8. (2) Expounded in our Text & Context.

In our Text, under the Parable of the Seed that fell on Stony Places (or on the Rock) our Saviour Detecting a Sort of Hearers, upon whom the Word (the Seed of Faith) falling, it had two notable Effects. (1) Moving the Affections [When they Hear they Receive the Word with joy.] (2) Operating Faith. [Which for a while Believe.] The Seed of the Word, Received with Joy, Produced this Fruit. [Faith] Which Fruit is Deſcribed three ways in our Text.

1. From its Sprouting & Springing: It Sprang from a Sudden Pang & Flaſh of Joy in Hearing.

2. From its Laſting & Continuing: they Believe for a while, & indeed it was but for a While: it was not long & laſting.

3. From its Waſting and Withering, Occaſioned by the Scorching Sun of Temptation. [In the Time of Temptation they fall away.] So Mat. 13.6. When the Sun was up, they were Scorched: and the Reaſon is Render'd; Becauſe they had in Root, they withered away.

p. 4So in our Text [Theſe have no Root; Which for a while Believe, &c.] Their Faith was not well bottom'd, well Rooted, but like the Seed, that fell on the Rock, where poſſibly there was ſome Earth, on the Top of the Rock; or Work'd into the Roots of the Rock: but no depth of Earth: Hence the Roots being Shallow, when the Sun aroſe, the moiſture was ſoon dried up; and the Sprouting ſoon turned to Withering.

So it was with the Seed of Faith, that fell upon theſe Hearers; there was ſome ſhallow Earth, but the Rock at the Bottom; the Heart Unbroken, Unhumbled, Unſubdued; hence the Seed had ſome Sprouting but took no Rooting: Their flaſhy affections, in Hearing the Word, had no Principles, to maintain them; therefore came to nothing. The Root of the matter was not in them: they wanted depth of Earth: The Plough had not gone deep enough; and therefore, tho' the Earth were good and the Seed good; yet not being well covered, it miſcarries: Exoriuntur ſed Exuruntur: the Roots are burnt up, like the Wicked, Job 18.16. His Roots are Dried up beneath; and above his Bud is cut off.

Thus we ſee what becomes of the Faith of p. 5the Stony Ground Hearers: they had a Faith; but not being well Bottom'd & Rooted, it was not Sound & Saving: they fell away & miſſed of Heaven, in the Height of their Hopes, notwithſtanding their Faith.

Admiſt the many Truths, that are Deducible from this Text, we are to take notice of this one; from thoſe Words, [Who for a while Believe; and in time of Temptation fall away.]

DOCTRINE. There is a Believing, or a Faith which many that Sit under the Hearing of the Word Preached, may attain unto, that is not Sound and Effectually Saving; or notwithſtanding which, Perſons may fall away and Miſcarry in Point of Salvation.

There is a believing or a Faith which many attain unto, thro' a Delight in Hearing the Word Preached; who yet miſcarry in Point of Salvation: So it was with the Stony Ground, they Heard the Word with Delight; they Received it with joy; which Produced a Faith [the Genuine Fruit of Hearing the Word, For Faith comes by Hearing, Rom. 1.16.] p. 6And when Faith Springs from Delight in Hearing the Word; Such perſons are ready to think themſelves in a ſure and ſafe Eſtate; and that their Faith is well bottom'd, they bid fair for Heaven: But even ſuch may be Deceived and miſcarry in the great Point of Salvation, for want of laying a good Foundation; there being nothing of the Work of Humiliation: they never went to the Bottom, to break the Rock at the Heart: Saving Faith hath Humiliation laid for its Foundation, When Faith ariſeth only from a Flaſh of Delight in Hearing the Word, it is but a Counterfeit and not Laſting. Many Apoſtates have had many meltings & much Suddain ſtrong joy: So had thoſe Stony Ground Hearers; but it amounted not to Saving Faith. They had ſome flight Knowledge of Chriſt, their affections were ſtirred; their underſtandings were gilded over with a Common kind of Supernatural Light, (Heb. 6.4.) but not to a Tranſmentation. They were Elevated in Hearing the Word; and had ſome Aſcenſions upwards, in their Affections; but were like Meteors hanging a while in the air, not having ſtrength enough to aſcend to the upper Region: Hence they ſoon vaniſh: p. 7their Faith fails and comes to nothing.

The Word [The Seed of Faith] in the Parable, falls upon four Sorts of Ground; but it takes Rooting in but One. The Good Seed, if not caſt into the Good Ground, it yields no Harveſt. The Word [The Seed of Faith] it miſcarry's in moſt: It is trampled upon by the High Way Hearers; and the Devil Caſhiers it: the Devil comes and picks the Word out of their Hearts; leſt they ſhould Believe & be Saved, v. 12. The Seed of Faith in others ſoon withered and ſcorch'd up; as in the Stony Ground: Faith in others is chocked & ſtifled; as in the Thorny Ground; Eminently with thoſe three Chokers, the Cares, & Riches & Pleaſures of the World.

The Seed of Faith Proſpers only in the Good Ground: there, tho' ſmall and as a Grain of Muſtard-feed, it grows and flouriſheth to Life Eternal.

It had ſome fair Beginnings in the Stony Ground and Thorny Ground; there were ſome motions, ſome meltings & ſome Good Affections, ſome Breathings in Prayer; and Delight in Ordinances; as in Hearing the Word, &c. Here were fair Beginnings! So it is with many. Oh! ſee how far a man p. 8may go; and yet be never the near after all. The Stony and the Thorny Ground were nearer to the nature of the Good Ground, than that of the High Way; and yet no Fruit of Faith: they fell Short of Heaven. They had ſome ſproutings of Faith, a ſort of Faith; but yet far ſhort of Saving: they attained to a Faith but yet (our Text tells us,) They fell away, and miſſed of Salvation.

It is not Every Faith, that is Saving: there are many that attain to a Faith; but yet never obtain the End of their Faith. It is a moſt certain Truth, That there are many Believers that ſhall never be Saved; for all Faith in the Name of Chriſt is not ſound & ſaving. It is true, it is granted, that Faith or Believing is the Goſpel Condition of Salvation, Joh. 3.16.36. Act. 16.31. Mark. 16.16. He that Believeth ſhall be Saved, but he that Believeth not ſhall be Damned. Faith & Salvation are inſeparably Connected; and without Faith there is no Salvation. This is the Hinge of our Salvation: Here is the Condition of Life under the new Covenant: The Covenant of Grace is, Believe & Live; Believe & be Saved. Faith is the Condition; but then you had need look to your Faith, that it be of the p. 9Right Stamp: a Faith of the Operation of God; for Every Believing is not Saving: there are many that Believe & are Damned; as well as others that Believe and are Saved. Great Numbers Pretend to Faith; & Hold up a Head of Profeſſion; but there are many Profeſſors that are no Believers; and many Believers, that have not Faith; and many, that have Faith, that miſs of Heaven.

Many there are of Great Profeſſion, that Live and Dye in ſtrong Deluſion; & miſs of Heaven in the Height of their Hopes; being miſtaken, as to the Foundation of their Faith. There are many in Hell, that have had a Preſumptuous Confidence that they ſhould get to Heaven: Praeſumendo Sperant & Sperando Pereunt: Many Damned, that have been Perſwaded, they ſhould be Saved: there are many, that go believing to Hell; their Eyes never opened till ſhot into the other World.

Many grow bold in an Ignorant Sottiſh Conceit of their good Eſtate, becauſe of ſome good affections; & becauſe they have ſome ſlighter Experiences, tho' unſound: ſome taſte of the good Word of God and a Faith, that hath ſprung from a Delight in Hearing the p. 10Word: they have Received the Word with joy; as the ſtony Ground; which for a while Believe; and yet miſcarry at laſt and miſs of Heaven; their Faith being not the Faith of Gods Elect; as wanting its true Object, and a Good Foundation, having no Root; and therefore cannot ſtand in the Day of Tryal, againſt the Burning Tempeſt & Floods of the Wrath of God to come: thoſe ſcorchings will wither up their ſhallow Roots.

But for a more methodical Proceeding, in the management of the Truth in Hand briefly.

I. We ſhall Confirm the Truth from Scripture, by Proving, That there is a Believing that is not Saving.

II. Diſcover what Sorts of Believers thoſe are, that miſcarry in Point of Salvation; or that do not Effectually Believe.

III. What Sorts of Faith, ſuch attain unto.

IV. What be the Flaws & Defects in their Faith; whence it Proves ineffectual.

V. I ſhall briefly lay down, The Signs of an unſound; and the Nature of a Sound and Saving Faith: which may lead on to ſome ſuitable Application.

I. For Confirmation; The Scriptures of p. 11Truth tell us, that there are many Believers, That ſhall never be Saved: Our Text produceth an inſtance in the ſtony Ground Hearers, they were called Believers: they had a Faith, yet that their Faith was not Sound and Saving; as appears from the laſt Clauſe of the verſe, [In time of Temptation they fell away.] There is a Believing, that doth not put the Subjects into a ſtate of Salvation: many may be Believers on the Name of Chriſt; and yet not true and effectual Believers; as many Believed, when they ſaw the Miracles which he did; and yet were ſhort of Saving Faith, Joh. 2.23: Men may believe on Chriſt with ſome kind of Faith; & yet never be Accepted and Entertained by Chriſt with his Peculiar Love; and Conſequently never Saved.

All Faith in the Name of Chriſt is not ſound and ſaving: this truth is confirmed alſo from other Scriptures: We read, Joh. 12.42, 43. Among the chief rulers many Believed on him; but becauſe of the Phariſees, they did not confeſs him; for they loved the praiſe of men, more than the praiſe of God; and therefore Chriſt tells them, Joh. 5.44 That ſuch a Believing could be no true Faith. [How can ye Believe, that receive honour, one of another▪ ] See, Acts p. 124.4, 32. We read there of a great Multitude, that are called Believers, to the number of about five Thouſand; but yet there were in that croud of Believers, ſundry that were unſound; as appears by the ſpecial inſtance of Ananias & Saphira, Chap. 5. So, Act. 8.13. Its ſaid (of that Sorcerer) That Simon himſelf Believed; and was Baptized; but yet he had no true Faith; for (v. 21.23.) his heart was not right in the ſight of God; we find him in the Gall of Bitterneſs; and in the Bond of Iniquity. See, 1 Tim. 1.19. Holding Faith and a good Conſcience, which ſome having put away, concerning Faith have made ſhipwrack; and therefore they were Bottoms, laden with ſome kind of Faith: they had of that ware in their veſſels; how elſe could they make ſhipwrack of it: So, 2 Tim. 1.5. The Apoſtle ſpeaks of an Unfeigned, therefore there is a feigned Faith, Jam. 2.14, 17. There is a Dead Faith there mentioned, which Saves not. But thus the Scripture is frequent in the mentioning of a Faith that is not Saving, Pſal. 78.34, 37. Iſai. 48.1, 2.

II. We may Enquire, What Sorts of Believers thoſe are that miſcarry in Point of Salvation; that do Believe, but not Effectually.

p. 13Omitting needleſs diſtributious.

A. They may be reduced to two Sorts.

1. Thoſe that do only Outwardly Profeſs before men to Believe; that do conform their outward man, to the ways of God; and take up a general formal Profeſſion. There are ſwarms of theſe eſpecially, in all places, where Religion is in Credit, men run with the croud and do as orders do; they put on a viſard of Religion, a common ſhew of it, without any Impreſſion; or any Conſiderable Impreſſion upon their Hearts at all.

Indeed thoſe in the Text went farther than thus; for they did not only ſeem, Pretend and Counterfeit a Believing; but had ſome real Common work upon them: But yet thoſe others are in a large ſenſe called Believers, that do make an Outward Profeſſion, as many do for faſhions ſake; out of Cuſtom; Example of others; to pleaſe men; to be well ſpoken of, to gain Credit, &c. tho' they have no Love to God, nor his ways, in their Souls. So. Act. 8.13. So men go in the croud (as they from Egypt) theſe, in a large ſenſe, are called Believers, who ſeem before men to Believe, when all this while, there is no truth of Grace in their Hearts. There is a p. 14great deal of ſeemingneſs in the World; and Every Grace hath its Counterfeit; and thoſe that have no Grace, can for a while Look and Live like Saints.

2. Another ſort of Perſons, who pretend to Faith; but fall ſhort, are thoſe, That have ſome Impreſſions upon their Minds & Hearts, and do really believe (and not only ſeem to do ſo) with ſome kind of Faith, which yet is not Saving and Effectual: there is ſomething, that looks like true Faith: they have ſome kind of work wrought upon them; it is not a meer outward Seeming; they have ſome kind of actings in their Minds and Hearts towards Chriſt; ſome ſtirrings of Affections. Now how far this goeth & diſcovereth it ſelf; take up in theſe following particulars.

1. Men may take up a Profeſſion of the Truth; and not only ſeemingly, but Really: they may do as others do; be carried in the ſtream and croud of Profeſſors, in the Place, where they are; attend Ordinances; take up the Name of God & Chriſt, into their Mouths; ſeem to be Religious, Jam. 1.26. Say, Lord, Lord; give an outward Honour to the ways of Chriſt; & yet fall ſhort.

2. They may Believe the Truth of the Scriptures, p. 15at leaſt in a general Way; both know the Heads and Truths of Religion; and alſo Believe them; Believe that Chriſt is the Son of God & Saviour of the World. Men may believe the great Truths concerning his Perſon, Natures, Offices, Benefits; The Myſtery of his Incarnation, His Birth, Crucifixion, Death, Burial, Reſurrection, Aſcenſion, Seſſion at the Right Hand of God, & Interceſſion there, His coming to Judgment; the Reſurrection of the Body, & the Life Everlaſting. In a word; a man may know all the Heads & Points & Principles of Religion; and Believe all the Articles of the Chriſtian Creed; and yet miſcarry in Point of Salvation, for want of Effectual Saving Faith.

A man may believe, that Chriſt is the Saviour; and yet fall ſhort of Saving Faith; not having a diſtinct underſtanding of the way of cloſing with Chriſt in his Offices, as the object of Faith: So they, Joh. 6.12. When they had ſeen the Miracles, that Jeſus did, Said, this is of a truth, that Prophet, that ſhould come into the world: they believed what was Propheſied concerning him; and that he was the Great Prophet & Teacher ſent of God; and ſo his Doctrine to be true, and p. 16that he was indeed the Meſſiah, that was to come; and therefore they believed on his Name: tho' they did not take up his Name aright. There was a common work of Grace upon their Hearts: there was a general work of Converſion wrought in them; but not Saving Faith: But hence they cry out; This is of a Truth the Prophet that ſhould come; and ſo; Joh 7.31. And many of the People Believed on him, & ſaid, when Chriſt cometh will he do more Miracles than theſe which this Man hath done. Theſe you ſee, had a Faith; and what they did underſtand of Chriſt & of his Doctrine, they did believe it to be true. And thus there are many, that do Aſſent to the Fundamental Truths of the Goſpel: they believe what the Scriptures ſay concerning Chriſt, & the way of Salvation by Faith in him; but yet fall ſhort of Saving Faith▪

Man may be much Affected with and toward Chriſt, Receive his word with Joy; They may extol, applaud hint; they may behold his Works & Miracles with wonderment and joy in his word; as the Stony Ground, and cry out as they, Joh. 7.46. Never Man ſpake as this Man▪ The word may rap them into a great eſteem of it, and an high Perſwaſion p. 17concerning the Glorious Truths delivered.

Never Sermon had ſuch an Impreſſion; never Preacher ſpake like this Man! But yet after ſuch Raptures of Affection, ſuch may fall away with the Stony Ground; and believe but for a while.

4. They may be Forward & Earneſt for a Time, in attending upon Chriſt, & Seeking after him▪ As thoſe, in the Text, Who for a while Believe: they may be forwardeſt with the firſt, as the Seed in the Stony Ground; ſprang up quickly & forwardly. And there may be a great Zeal for the Name of Chriſt, as they ſhewed, Joh. 6.15, 24. They would come and take him by force, to make him a King; and they followed him, whitherſoever he went: they took Shipping and came to Capernaum, Seeking for Jeſus, v. 24.

Many others are zealouſly Affected, for the Name of Chriſt; and therefore have a ſtrong Faith and Confidence, that they ſhall be be accepted at that Day; as appears by there Plea, Matt. 7.22. Many will ſay unto me in that Day, Lord, Lord, have we not Propheſied in thy Name, and in thy Name have caſt out Devils, & in thy Name have done many wonderful Works. And yet notwithſtanding p. 18their forwardneſs & zeal, they fell ſhort of Saving Faith; and miſs'd of Heaven in the Height of their Hopes; for Chriſt ſaith to them, v. 23. I never knew you: Depart from me ye workers of Iniquity. And thus we have diſcovered what ſorts of Believers they are, that miſcarry in Point of Salvation; that do Believe, but not Effectually.

III. We may Enquire, What Sorts of Faith ſuch attain unto?

This may be eaſily gathered from the ſorts of Believers, that pretend to a Faith; but it is not Sound and Saving. There are two Sorts of Faith, that are not Saving, viz. an Hiſtorical, & a Temporary Faith.

1. An Hiſtorical Faith. Many, yea moſt, that live under the Sound of the Goſpel, may attain to this; and do content & quiet their Hearts with a bare, Notional Knowledge & Aſſent to the Doctrine of the Goſpel: On this Sandy Bottom moſt Profeſſors Build their Hopes for Heaven; and claim their Priviledges among the beſt of Saints on Earth; even to Eat and Drink in Chriſts Preſence. Indeed without knowledge the Mind cannot be good; and the Hiſtory and Knowledge p. 19of Goſpel Truths is neceſſary and leading on to a Saving Faith. See, Rom. 10.14. How ſhall they Believe on him, of whom they have not Heard? Yet a bare Hiſtorical Faith will Scarce Diſtinguiſh the Faith of Men from the Faith of Devils, Jam. 2.19. Thou Believeſt there is One God; Thou doeſt well; The Devils alſo Believe and Tremble. They Believe there is a God and they Tremble at his Wrath: their Hearts ake and Tremble within them. They Believe, that Chriſt is the Son of God and the Saviour of Men: See the Confeſſion of their Faith, in the Poſſeſſed Gergeſene, Matt. 8.29. What have we to do with thee, Jeſus, Thou Son of God: art thou come to Torment us before our Time? The Devils Believe and Tremble; but how many among us, worſe than Devils in this Reſpect, that Believe, but never Tremble at the Wrath of God; and at the Wrath of the Lamb; a Generation of Gods Wrath; who are warned, but never awakened to flee from the Wrath to come, Matt, 3.7. They Believe the Judgment, and Know the Terrour of the Lord; they have an Hiſtorical Faith, but more Regardleſs than Devils; They Believe the Hiſtory of Goſpel Truths revealed; p. 20but are Strangers to the Myſtery of Godlineſs: The Hiſtory of the Great Truths of the Goſpel, Relating to the object of Saving Faith, may be attained by Reading, Inſtruction, by acquaintance with the Holy Scriptures opened and applied in the ordinary Diſpenſations of the Miniſtry; but the Myſteries of thoſe Goſpel Truths can never be diſcerned, without Supernatural and Saving Illuminations of the Spirit working Faith in the Soul. A man may have his natural underſtanding informed in the Doctrinal Truths, neceſſary to Salvation; but his Mind blinded by Satan, leaſt the Light of the Glorious Goſpel of Chriſt, which is the Image of God, ſhould ſhine into him, 2 Cor. 4.4. A bare Hiſtorical Faith is, when the Mind only gives aſſent to the Truth, without any work upon the Heart; this is a Sort of Faith, but far from Saving.

2. There is a Temporary (or rather an Ineffectual) Faith. When there is ſome work on the Heart; but not thorough and ſolid: So the Stony Ground in our Text, and others that we read of, that were Chriſts Followers; they not only Believed the Doctrine of Chriſt, ſo far as they knew of p. 21it, but alſo their Hearts were Affected: they Heard the word with joy: they did not meerly diſſemble; but they had their Hearts awed and affected with the Majeſty and Power of Chriſts Doctrine and Miracles: So that for a while, they Believed: they had a Temporary Faith, now this Temporary Faith, where there is ſome kind of lighter work upon the Heart, which is not thorough, it may Expreſs it ſelf ſundry Ways, (as we find in the Scriptures) viz. From hence, from this Temporary Faith, there may be,

1. A Forwardneſs in men to give up their Names to Chriſt, to become his Followers and Profeſſed Diſciples; to Enrol their Names in that little Flock and Company, that are for Heaven, Matt. 8.19. Maſter (ſaid that Scribe) I will follow thee, whitherſoever thou goeſt, Luk. 9.61, 62.

2. There may be a taſte of the Sweetneſs of the Things of Chriſt, of his Word, Grace, Benefits and Heavenly Priviledges, Heb. 6.4—6. Having a taſte of the Gift of Faith; they may alſo have a Tranſitory and Lighter Participation of the Sweetneſs of the Word and Joys of Heaven, by ſome Hopes and Pangs of Tranſporting Affection: as Balaam had, p. 22Numb. 23.10 Who can Count the Duſt of Jacob and the Number of the fourth Part of Iſrael? Let me dye the Death of the Righteous, and let my laſt End be like his. So the Stony Ground, in the Text, Joy in Hearing the Word and the affecting things therein.

And ſo, on the other ſide, there may be Tears and Terrours in the apprehenſions of Wrath; as in Felix and Ahab and Judas: The Affections may be ſtirred; and yet the Rock, the ſtone in the Heart never broken; the Will and Affection never throughly broken and transformed; the Conſcience never purged; and the Heart never took off from all other things to cleave to Chriſt alone.

3. There may be a Doing of ſeveral Eminent Services for Chriſt; for which they may have much applauſe from men and be lifted up in the Mouths of others, Matt. 7.22. They may be Miniſters admired in their Preaching, Preach well, and they may be Inſtrumental in their Places, and by their Gifts, to do much Good: God may ſo Sanctify a mans Gifts, as to make them Profitable to others; and yet not unto the Salvation of his own Soul.

4. There may be an Affectionate Acknowledgment p. 23for the Preſent; and Conviction of the Excellency of Chriſt; and that none is like to Chriſt: Joh. 7.46. The Officers anſwered, never Man Spake like this Man. Yet we have not Grounds to think, that they were Savingly wrought upon; for they go their ways and return to the Tents of his Enemies. They were but for the Preſent overpowred and aſtoniſhed by the Majeſty, appearing in Chriſt, and in his Word: So Matt. 7.28, 29. And it came to Paſs, when Jeſus had Ended theſe Sayings, the People were aſtoniſhd at his Doctrine; for he taught them, as one having Authority and not as the Scribes. They were ſtrangely tranſported and rap'd with an Extaſy of admiration and amazement, at his Doctrine; for he taught them, as having authority: but how many Heard Chriſt at that Time, who in Hearing did not Hear: yet all this that we have been ſpeaking of falls ſhort, becauſe the whole Heart is not Divorced from all things elſe, & turned to God in Chriſt Jeſus. There is no Effectual Change in the Soul; but the Rock is unbroken the thorn unſtubbed up: Men Sow among Thorns; and hence the Fruit is choaked. And thus we have Diſcovered, p. 24what Sorts of Faith are not Saving and Effectual.

IV. We may Enquire into the Flaws and Defects of Faith: whence it Proves Ineffectual and Unſound?

1. When the Object of Faith is not Rightly underſtood and diſcerned. This Defect is ſuch a Flaw, as Renders the Faith of ſuch of none Effect: and here many miſs it in Point of Salvation: thus it was with many in the Goſpel, that followed Chriſt and did indeed Believe, that he was the Meſſiah; they wanted a right underſtanding of Chriſt the Object of Faith, whom they were to cloſe withall: So they, Joh. 6.14.15. They dreamed of a Temporal Kingdom and a Temporal Advantage and Pomp, to come by the Meſſiah, which was the Common Errour of the Iews at that Time: They Embraced him, as a Worker of Miracles, by whom his Followers might have Glory and Honour, &c. But they did not underſtand the Spiritual Office of Chriſt; nor did they look at the Spiritual Bleſſings to be had by him: They Miſtook the Perſon, they Believed on; or at leaſt were not duly Informed concerning him out of the Word; and ſo were not well Grounded p. 25either in the Knowledge of the Object, or the Word of Faith. Theſe Defects and Flaws Spoil'd all: Their Faith was not rightly ſet upon the True Object.

2. A Second Flaw and Defect in Faith, that makes it unſound and ineffectual, is The want of an Inward Spiritual Work of Humiliation and Regeneration. When Perſons are ſtrangers to Inward Regenerating Grace and change of Heart; then they are ſtrangers to Saving Faith. Whatever other Qualifications and Excellencies they may Pretend to, Relating to the Knowledge of the Object of Faith, Eminency of Gifts, Parts, Place or whatever; yet without Inward Regenerating Grace, wrought by the Spirit, cauſing a Change of Heart; no Saving Faith. We have an Inſtance of this in Nicodemus, Joh. 3.1—10. He was a man in Place, a Phariſee, a Ruler of the Jews, One that was a Follower of Chriſt, an admirer of him: Rabbi (ſaith he) We know that thou art a Teacher, Sent from God. v. 2. He had a Reſpect for Chriſt; and hence Chriſt falls upon him with that, in the firſt Place, v. 3. Except a man be born again, he cannot ſee the Kingdom of God, i. e. Thou art taken with the Miracles; and giveſt me p. 26Honourable Titles; and haſt ſome Good general Affections; yea but thou wanteſt ſtill a Work of Regeneration, a new Birth, a Change of Heart and State, a Spiritual Work of Grace Soaking into the whole Heart, and making the Frame thereof new: without this thou canſt never come to Heaven. Do not think, that a General Hiſtorical Faith or ſome general Good Affections will ſerve without Regeneration: And hence alſo ſuch want the Preparatory work of Sound Humiliation, in order to Saving Faith. Such have not the Fallow Ground broken up; nor are they Broken off from their Sins and Selves: they yet remain like the Stony Ground: the rock at the Bottom remains ſtill.

3. A Third Flaw and Defect, rendering Faith Ineffectual, is, Not coming up to the Goſpel Terms of Effectual Faith. Not complying with the Goſpel Conditions of cloſing with Chriſt; Renouncing and Forſaking all other things, and Following Chriſt with the Croſs on our Backs; not getting over the Stumbling-Blocks of the World, viz. Worldly Honours, Pleaſures, Profits; So as to part with all for Chriſt.

This was the fault Chriſt found with many p. 27Followers of him, and ſeeming Believers on him: Thus Nicodemus came by night, for fear of the Jews, and as aſhamed to be Known to Own Chriſt: He was not got over the Blocks of Carnal Fear and Worldly Honour: So they, Joh. 12.42, 43. Among the Chief Rulers, many Believed on him; but did not confeſs him, leaſt they ſhould be Put out of the Synagogue: for they loved the Praiſe of men more than the Praiſe of God.

The Terms of Saving Faith propounded are to forſake All to Follow Chriſt, to Renounce Sin, Self, & World, Matt. 14.26, 27, 33. The Stony Ground in the Text, fell away in Time of Temptation. The Faith of moſt can hardly comply with Goſpel Propoſals: the Terms Propoſed are not agreeable to their Diſpoſitions and Affections: Hence▪ their Faith fails them: In the Hour of Temptation they fall away.

4. A Fourth Defect and Flaw in Faith ariſeth from the Falſeneſs and Hypocriſy of the Heart. Men Believe; but not with the whole Heart. This God calls for, The Heart: and this is a mark of true Faith, Rom. 10.10. For with the Heart man Believeth unto Righteouſneſs: Upon this Flaw and Defect we may p. 28ground the main Reaſon for the confirmation of the Doctrine, viz. Why there is a Believing that is not Saving; and ſo, Why there are many Believers that ſhall never be Saved.

Becauſe God accepts of no Faith as Saving, but only that, which is with all the Heart. That which carries the whole Soul with it; that whereby a Man doth embrace whole Chriſt, according to the Terms of the Goſpel, with an whole Heart; that, that infers a change of Heart, that carries with it a New Heart, and a New Spirit. But now there may be ſome kind of Believing, and yet not come thus far.

1. Becauſe of the Deceitfulneſs of the Heart. There is ſuch cunning and guile in the Heart, that it will ſeem to Do ſome things; ſeem to Believe, and yet not believe indeed; act a part upon the Stage of Profeſſion; and yet hide and keep its Sin: yea not only deceiving others, but a Man's Self, by its fair pretences and partial comings off.

2. Becauſe of the ſtrong and deep-rooted Enmity of the Heart againſt God and Chriſt, which is not over-come and ſubdued by lighter Impreſſions: Nor when there is ſome Temporary good Affection towards Chriſt. The heart p. 29may yield a little, and yet not be changed from its enmity and oppoſition to all that is Holy.

3. Becauſe of the Inability of Nature to put forth the Supernatural act of Faith, without the Mighty Power of the Spirit, to cauſe it ſo to do. It is above the Power of Nature, (yea tho' aſſiſted with the common workings, lighter impreſſions, ſtrivings and motions of the Spirit) to put forth ſuch an act as Saving Faith is: Joh. 6.65. No man can come unto me, Except it were given unto him of my Father.

V. We now Proceed to lay down the Signs of an Unſound, and the Nature of Sound and Saving Faith.

1. An Unſound Faith may be Diſcovered by theſe Signs; which may have ſome reference to what hath been Premiſed.

1. That Faith is Unfound, that is without Previous Humiliation. A ſudden Faith and Joy, without Humiliation, without breaking of the heart for, and from Sin: Such was the Faith of the Stony Ground in our Text; it had no depth: the Rock at the bottom was never broken and diſſolved. Conſider, if thy Faith hath been but a ſuddain pang of p. 30Affection in Hearing the Word, without Conviction, ſight and ſenſe of Sin and Wrath, &c. Such ſlight Faith is not to be reſted in. When a Man on the ſuddain, hearing of the Riches and Glory of Chriſt, is taken therewith; but never was Convinced of Sin; never ſaw himſelf in a periſhing condition; never ſtung with the fiery Serpent; never loſt, poor, miſerable, blind, naked in thine own feeling, &c. Why this is a ſhallow Faith, which a little heat of the Sun will wither away. Till a Man ſee Sin, as the greateſt Evil; he will never prize Chriſt, as the greateſt good.

2. That Faith is Unſound, that doth not bring a Man to an abſolute, preſent, preremptory conſent to take Chriſt, and give up himſelf wholly to Chriſt upon his own Terms. So it is with many; Chriſt makes his Motion, requires their Hearts, bids them renounce all other Lovers, and imbrace Him alone for ever; but when the Heart gives him good Words, and yet puts him off, and ſaith, I will hereafter, at ſuch a Time, I will conſider of it; and ſo continues Parlying & Bartering with Chriſt; but comes not to an abſolute Marriage conſent, to part with all, and cloſe with him; this is a diſcovery of an Unſound Heart. Why if there be p. 31not ſuch a Faith as reacheth the proper Work of Faith, i. e. The abſolute Taking and Receiving Chriſt on his own Terms; then truely is here no effectual Faith, Luke 9.61. The Unſound heart hath ſtill ſome-what to do, before it will Follow Chriſt: it never comes to a preſent cloſing with him.

3. That Faith is not ſound, which is not ſee upon the Perſon of Chriſt, upon Chriſt Himſelf. To run away with the Word and Promiſe, and to miſs of Chriſt himſelf, is a broken Faith, which will deceive. Saving Faith doth not only cloſe with a Truth or Propoſition, but with a Perſon. Many, when they hear of the Word, the Promiſe, (viz. He that confeſſeth & forſaketh, ſhall find Mercy. He that hungers and thirſts after Righteouſneſs, ſhall be filled. He that Mourns is Bleſſed, &c.) Why they apply the Promiſe to themſelves, and believe the Truth of it, and ſo have Peace: Here they reſt, and here is all their Faith but to believe on Chriſt, and Match and Cloſe with the Perſon of Chriſt, this they are great Strangers to.

4. That Believing that a Man has found Eaſy, which he could do and attain of himſelf, by his own Strength, that is Unſound. Right p. 32Faith is not of our ſelves, Eph. 2.4. The Lord makes the Soul, on whom he works effectually, to feel that it is not of Himſelf, it is not in his own Power to Believe; it is a Supernatural Work (as we have heard.) If a Mans Faith be bred by Fleſh and Blood; by his own Will and Strength, &c. it is a baſe, baſtard Faith, and not begotten of the right Father, and therefore ſhall never poſſeſs the Inheritance. If there hath not been a Supernatural Hand and Power on thy Heart, thou art in a State of Nature to this day.

5. That Faith that doth not Separate and Divide a Man from every known Sin, and ſet him upon a Warfare againct all Sin whatſoever; that Faith is not Sound. Faith ſo ſeparate, I mean, as to make a Man willing to part with Sin, & deſirous to improve all means againſt it.

6. That Faith that is Barren & Unfruitful, is an Unſound Faith; that brings not forth Fruits of Grace and New Obedience in the Life, and Converſation. When a Man hath a Faith, that does him no good, that he is never the better for; the Faith that brings no Life into the heart, no quickning Spirit into the Soul; but a Man is the very ſame after he has believed, as he was before; Dead to p. 33all good Works; when there is no Working by Love. That is a falſe Faith that is without Works, Jam. 2.14. 2 Pet. 1.8, 9. And know for a certainty, that the Faith that never Sanctifies thee, will never Save thee in the Day of Jeſus.

2. The next Branch to be Enquired into▪ is, The Nature of Sound & Saving Faith. And I intend here, only ſome brief hints, both Negatively and Affirmatively; to ſhew both what it is not, and what it is.

1. Negatively: Which may lead us to a right underſtanding of it, and the Premiſſes may be helpful herein.

1. Saving Faith is not a bare Knowledge of, or Aſſent to the Truth of the Scriptures; to believe the things that are written in the Law and Goſpel: tho' this muſt be, but this is not Saving Faith, James 2.19. Neither is it the Truth of the Scripture only in general, but Chriſt Jeſus, the Perſon of Chriſt, that is the Object of Saving, Juſtifying Faith.

2. Neither is it the bare Believing of Chriſt, or of the Truth about the Doctrine of the Goſpel. Tho' this is neceſſary; Rom. 10.14. How ſhall they call on him, in whom they have not Believed? And how ſhall they Believe in him p. 34of whom they have not heard? &c. There cannot be believing on Chriſt, without Believing of Him, without Knowledge and Aſſent to the Truth concerning his Perſon, Offices, Offers and Benefits. There muſt be in all Adult Believers a competent Underſtanding of theſe Things, and Aſſent to them; this is abſolutely neceſſary. True Faith is an Affiance grounded upon Knowledge: An unknown Chriſt cannot be Believed on, as, Act. 17.23. Paul found an Altar at Athens with this Superſcription: [To the Unknown God,] whom therefore (ſaith he) ye ignorantly Worſhip. But this is not enough; to believe Chriſt and to believe on Chriſt are ſeveral things; the former is but the act of the Mind, the latter of the Will alſo, Joh. 5.40.

3. Nor is it an Aſſurance or Settled perſwaſion of a Mans Intereſt in Chriſt, and of the Lords Everlaſting Love to him in Chriſt. Tho' this being rightly grounded is a Precious, ſweet and comfortable thing; and true Faith ought to grow up to this. It is fearful Security for any to be at reſt without Aſſurance; but yet this Aſſurance is not the proper act of Saving, Juſtifying Faith; but follows it, as preſuppoſing it: for there muſt be Intereſt in Chriſt, p. 35in order of Nature, before there can be Aſſurance of it; and there muſt be Saving Faith, before Intereſt, 1 Job. 5.13. Rom. 5.1. Therefore, being juſtified by Faith, we have Peace with God, through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.

But,

2. Affirmatively. To ſpeak Poſitively, What this ſound and effectual Faith is, that is the condition, upon which Salvation is Promiſed in the Goſpel. Not to enter into any large or full Diſcourſe. In Sum, you may take up this Deſcription of it.

Deſcirp. Saving Faith is a Saving Grace of the Spirit, whereby we Receive and Reſt upon Chriſt Jeſus, for Righteouſneſs and Life.

Or more fully.

Effectual Faith or Believing, Is when a Soul, feeling its Sinful and Periſhing condition, receiveth Chriſt, as he is freely offered in the Goſpel, reſteth on him, as an Alſufficient Saviour for Righteouſneſs and Life.

This ſets forth the Nature of Saving Faith, whereby an humbled Sinner, being perſwaded of, and aſſenting to the Truth of the Goſpel, and Chriſt revealed therein; he doth heartily embrace and reſt on Him for Righteouſneſs and Salvation. But the Nature of Saving p. 36Faith may be more familiarly ſet forth, by the eſſential requiſites comprized in the Deſcription.

There are four eſſential requiſites, that go to the conſtitution of Saving Faith. There muſt be, (1) An humbling ſight and ſenſe of Sin, and Miſery by Sin. (2) A ſight of Jeſus Chriſt, revealed and freely offered in the Goſpel. (3) An embracing and receiving Chriſt thus offered. (4) A reſting and relying upon him for Righteouſneſs and Life.

1. There muſt be an Humbling ſight & ſenſe of Sin. This Humiliation (or ſenſibleneſs of Sin) whether you call it a part of Faith, taken largely; or a preparation for Faith, taken ſtrictly: to be ſure it is a neceſſary requiſite unto Believing. It is the humble Publican that comes to Chriſt for Mercy in earneſt, Luk. 18.13, 14. Faith & flying to Chriſt, the City of Refuge, is but a Notion to the ſecure and unhumbled. In believing there is, A flying for Refuge and Help to Chriſt; and implies ſenſe of evil and danger. There is an hearty embracing of a Remedy, that preſuppoſeth hearty ſenſe of a diſeaſe. It was the bitten Iſraelite that looked to the brazen Serpent. It is the ſtung and wounded Sinner, p. 37that will look in earneſt to Chriſt Jeſus, Mat. 9.12, 13. Iſai. 61.1, 2, 3. There muſt be a cloſing with a Saviour from Sin, as Precious, 1 Pet. 2.7. That implies, that Sin is apprehended to be bitter: The Soul muſt be apprehenſive, that it is Periſhing; thy Periſhing condition muſt be felt: there muſt be a ſenſe and feeling thereof; as the famiſhing man feels what it is to be hungry: the man that is in danger of his Life, feels what it is to cry out for help: the ſick man feels what it is to need and prize the Phyſician. Oh! was thy heart ever wounded for Sin and made ſick of it? Did the Lord ever awaken thee by his Word, not only to Dream of a Natural Eſtate; but to ſee it; to ſee thy ſelf a dead man, under the Power and Guilt of Sin, under the ſtrength of the curſe, Rom. 7.9. Has the Spirit convinced thee of Sin? That is the firſt ſtep in order to the Working of Saving Faith, Job. 16.9.

2. A Second requiſite of Saving Faith, is, The ſight of the Object, a ſight of Jeſus Chriſt revealed and freely offered and held forth in the Goſpel. And this revelation and offer, it muſt be entertained with an underſtanding & aſſenting to the Truths revealed. There is in p. 38Faith (or goes to the making up of Faith) Knowledge, Aſſent, and Affiance; the former of theſe cannot be without the revelation of the object; and the two latter cannot be without the former. There muſt be a revelation of a Chriſt, and a ſight of Chriſt in the underſtanding, in order to the cloſing with him by the Will: Joh. 6.40. This is the Will of him that ſent me. Every one that ſeeth the Son and believeth on him, may have everlaſting Life: — and this ſight is both by Knowledge and Underſtanding of the doctrine of Chriſt, and by aſſent thereunto, or being perſwaded of the truth thereof, which precedes embracing, Heb. 11.13. Joh. 20.31.

Make not a light matter of the revelation and offer of Chriſt in the Goſpel: it is eſſentially requiſite to Saving Faith. In the day of Grace when the Spirit, by its powerful operations, works Saving Faith in the Soul; it doth it by opening the eyes of the underſtanding, to ſee Chriſt revealed and freely offered in the Goſpel, and letting in the ſweetneſs and ſavour of it to the Heart and Will; Rom. 10.17. & 1.16, 17. 2 Cor. 3.18. It is poſſible indeed that a man may have the revelation of Chriſt in the Goſpel, and ſome real p. 39ſight of the things of Chriſt; and yet not ſavingly embrace them; as in thoſe that are enlightned, and yet fall away, Heb. 6.4. & 10.26. And thoſe, in our text, Who for a while Believe. There is ſome revelation, ſome light, ſome knowledge; but ordinarily and uſually men that live in unbelief, they are Defective in knowledge of what is revealed in the Goſpel, concerning the object of Faith; or at leaſt in aſſent to what is revealed; eſpecially this latter; but Chriſt, as an All-ſufficient Saviour, with his Redemption, Righteouſneſs, Benefits, &c. revealed in the Goſpel and freely offered and held forth; is the ground of our Believing or cloſing with him by Faith.

3. A third eſſential requiſite of Saving Faith, is, The Souls embracing and receiving Chriſt, thus revealed and offered, even the Perſon of Chriſt, Chriſt himſelf. God holds forth his Son, and the Soul takes him; that is Faith, Rom. 5.17. Faith it is the Souls embracing,— receiving, reſting relying on, truſting in Chriſt, as revealed and offered in the Goſpel. This expreſſeth that Fiducia or Affiance, which is the main or moſt formal act and nature of Saving Faith. Theſe terms expreſs the formal and fiducial act of Faith, reſting on Chriſt or truſting p. 40in him; this is the formal nature of Faith: hence it is not only to believe Chriſt; but to believe on Chriſt: hence believing is oft expounded by truſting (as, Eph. 1.12. Matt. 12.21.) and that imports theſe three actings of Faith.

1. A rolling and caſting our ſelves upon Chriſt, having no other bottom to ſtand on, and ſeeing with him a Rock able to bear us, and Arms open to receive us. Now we throw our ſelves & our whole weight upon him, and fall into his Arms, Pſal. 37.7. & 55.22 Caſt thy burthen upon the Lord, and he ſhall ſuſtain thee.

2. A ſtaying, hanging, leaning, depending upon him, Iſai. 50.10. Who is among you, that walketh in darkneſs and hath no light; let him truſt in the Name of the Lord, & ſtay upon his God.

3. An Acquieſcence in Chriſt; a reſting of the heart in him (as well as on him) as believing that he is alſo able (as well as faithful) to be and do that which we depend upon him for. And now being come to the Rock of Ages & built upon it; having committed our ſelves to Chriſt, embracing him, and relying on him; now we reſt there, as in One, in whom there is good enough to ſatisfy us, and power enough to help us and ſave us; and who is p. 41faithful to fulfill what he hath promiſed. The ſoul ſeeth him able enough to ſuſtain him, a rock and bottom ſtrong enough to bear him: he ſees his arms long enough to reach, ſtrong enough to hold him; ready enough to embrace him: hence he caſts and throws himſelf thereinto, and ſeeing no help nor hope in himſelf; no ability at all to ſave & deliver; and ſeeing Chriſt able, mighty, faithful, willing to help, every way All-ſufficient: hence the Soul finds in him an everlaſting foundation; a rock fit to ſtay on; hence it lets all other hopes and ſtays go; and reſts and truſts here for ever.

4. Faith is a reſting and relying on Chriſt for righteouſneſs and life; for righteouſneſs unto juſtification, Rom, 5.17. Iſai. 45.24. In the Lord have I righteouſneſs and ſtrength. We do not only want power from Chriſt to help us; but righteouſneſs to be the matter of our Juſtification; the foundation and ground of our whole Salvation; for that is the inlet of Life eternal. In acting of Faith the Soul comes in ſpecial to Chriſt for Righteouſneſs: Rom. 10.4, 10. For Chriſt is the End of the Law for righteouſneſs, to every one that believeth. And Faith looks to Chriſt, as for imputed Righteouſneſs unto Juſtification; ſo alſo p. 42for inherent Righteouſneſs and Life in Sanctification: And hence Faith is a relying on Chriſt for Life; Spiritual Life began in the Grace of Sanctification here, and compleated in the perfection of Glory hereafter.

Thus you have the eſſential requiſites of Saving Faith, ſetting forth the formal Nature of it, which few attain unto. The truth is, Moſt Profeſſors content themſelves with a falſe Ineffectual Faith, like the Temporaries in the Text, Who for a while believe, and in Time of Temptation fall away: Or as others, who at laſt miſs of Heaven in the height of their hopes, being miſtaken as to the grounds of their Faith not well rooted. It is not every Faith, that is Saving; nor every Believer that ſhall be Saved; nor every one that Crys, Lord, Lord, that ſhall enter into the Kingdom. The Way through Faith to Salvation is a difficult Way to hit, and dangerous to miſs; and Multitudes miſcarry, even many of thoſe that are Believers, who ſhall never be Saved.

The APPLICATION.

USE I. This Doctrine may ſhake looſe and unſound Profeſſors out of their carnal Security, p. 43and falſe Peace, by means of their Reſting in their Faith. A falſe Faith breeds unto many a falſe Peace. Many there are that uſe their Faith ſtill to ſhelter them from all Convictions and Terrors of the Lord: they have bad hearts, and many corruptions, and are full of wants and failings, &c. yea, but they believe, and that Salves all: they have Faith in the Name of Chriſt. Indeed if your Faith be of the right ſtamp, you may rejoyce: True and Sound Faith in Jeſus Chriſt is that, whereby we have our Righteouſneſs; and may have our Peace in the midſt of many failings and imperfections. So Paul had, and ſo the Saints in Scripture had. If you have but Pauls faith, i. e. A Sin-lamenting faith, as, Rom. 7.24. A Groaning faith, Rom. 8.23, 26. A Labouring faith, Col. 1.29. A Sanctifying faith, Rom. 6. A Growing faith, Phil. 3.10—13. And if you have Johns faith, A faith that works by love; then indeed you may triumph over relicts of Sin, and Imperfections of Grace. But the falſe and counterfeit faith will be the Ape of the true; that alſo will cry Peace, and then it doth but deceive.

Men will cover all their noiſome and running Sores, with the Fig-leaves of a falſe and p. 44ineffectual Faith, which will be but as a Spiders webb at laſt, Mic. 3.11. Oh! Remember there is a faith that will not do; a believing that will never Save; and ſearch and ſee if thine be not ſuch. An Awakening thing it is to conſider, That a Man may be a Believer and yet fall ſhort: he may have a faith, and yet periſh and be damned for all that. Now (I ſay) ſeeing there is a faith that will not evidence the Subjects thereof to be in a ſafe Eſtate; therefore reſt not preſently becauſe you have ſome kind of faith; but ſearch and ſee whether it be not Unſound or no: And to find out this, I may refer you to the Premiſſes, and what may be ſpoken in the following Uſe.

USE, II. Of EXAMINATION.

Examine and Try whether you have that Faith, that Believing that is Sound and Saving and Effectual. We ſee there is a faith that is not ſound; and there is much of that kind of Ware in the World. There is a Stony-ground, and there is a Thorny-ground-believing that never reaches home. There are many Believers that fall ſhort: why then we ſhould p. 45never reſt, till we have attained ſound and ſaving Faith: Why, as, 2 Cor. 13.5. Examine your ſelves whether you be in the faith: prove your ſelves, &c. Sirs, ſee what metal you are made of, whether true Gold, or Copper; be not put off with every Varniſh, with every glittering: All is not Gold that glitters; is a true Proverb. There are Multitudes of Profeſſors, with their high Priviledges, that make a glittering ſhew among men; that paſs for currant Coin here, that will not paſs at that Day of Trial, when God ſhall Kindle his fire in Zion, and ſet up his furnance in Jeruſalem, Iſai 31. There are many that paſs Examination and Trial among men, that croud among Believers unto the Church on Earth, that ſhall never have a Seat among Saints in Heaven. Multitudes of Counterfeits among us, whoſe faith upon a due Trial will not amount to the value of a braſs Farthing. We are often deceived with Counterfeit Pieces for Currant Money; and our want of diſcerning makes the ſame paſſable: So we cannot diſcriminate between Profeſſors and Profeſſors, between Formaliſts and true Believers. We know not what offerings Perſons preſent before the Lord; but be ſure there is a World of falſe p. 46Coin caſt into the Lords Treaſury. Many ſit down at the Table of the Lord, who have no right to the Childrens Bread: they feed without Faith, or Fear, or Examination of their Fitneſs; but ſuch ſhould tremble at the Damnation threatned, and remember the caution given, 1 Cor. 11.28, 29. But let a man Examine himſelf and ſo let him Eat, &c. for he that Eateth and Drinketh unworthily, Eateth and Drinketh Damnation to himſelf. And ſo doth he that hath not Sound and Saving Faith, whereby to diſcern the Lords Body; this being an eſſential requiſite to that heavenly Participation. Many for want of this Effectual, Saving Faith may deceive their own Souls, and ſo miſs of Heaven in the heights of their Hopes; as they, Luk. 13.26. and, Matt. 7.22. Lord, Lord, Open to us: we have eat and drank in thy Preſence, &c. But Chriſt will diſown them, and ſend them packing away, with that Curſe, Depart from me ye workers of Iniquity.

Oh Sirs! Examine your ſelves, be much upon this work of Self-Examination: Be not deceived, as to Truſt in every working, thou findeſt and feeleſt in thy own Heart; every pang of ſweet Affection; every ſtirring of p. 47Joy and Delight in Hearing the Word; tho' be thankful for any ſuch thing. There are many Hearers, that hear Sermon after Sermon, the moſt raviſhing Truths of the Goſpel diſplayed in the moſt Affecting & Charming manner, in the higheſt ſtrains of Divine Rhetorick to gain their Affections; and yet to this day never come up to that with the Stony-ground Hearers (in the Text) to Receive the Word with Joy. It may be thou never heardſt a Sermon in thy Life-time with any Affection of Joy or Rejoycing in Hearing the Word; but rather that hath been thy inward Thought and working of Heart, Mal. 1.13. Behold! what a wearineſs is it, &c. and thou art reſtleſs till the Tireſome Glaſs be run out, and the Tedious Sermon be ended. Alas! many (if not moſt) that ſit in our Aſſemblies, are meer High-way Hearers, that are ſo trodden, beaten, harden'd with the commonneſs of Preaching, that they are not Affected with any thing. The wild fowl of roving Thoughts & carnal Affections devour all.

Such as theſe are far from Faith: they have ſcarce ſo much as any kind of Faith or degree of Believing: they are not got ſo far as the Stony-ground, Who receive the Word with Joy, p. 48and for a while Believe: but neither is this a faith that reacheth home. Oh! it highly concerns all to ſee whether they have that Faith that accompanies Salvation. Fall upon the work of Examination, grounded upon the Premiſſes & the Nature of Saving Faith; If you pretend to faith,

1. Examine which way you came by your faith. Conſider how faith was wrought in thee; or whether thou haſt a kindly work of faith wrought in thy Soul. Haſt thou been made to ſee thy Periſhing condition, by reaſon of Sin and Wrath lying upon thee? Canſt remember how the Lord has made thee bemoan thy ſelf to him with Ephraim, Jer. 3.18, 19. To renounce all falſe Props and Confidences With Paul, Phil. 3. To confeſs the iniquity of thy Sin with David, Pſal. 51.32. To cry out with them, What ſhall we do? Act. 2.37. Haſt thou ſeen the wonderful, glorious, rich Grace of God in the free offer of Chriſt in the Goſpel? Didſt thou ever ſee the fight of Chriſt in the Goſpel, as a moſt glorious ſight? Didſt thou ever reliſh that glorious object offered, as exceeding ſweet and precious?

Has it broke thy heart, that yet, after all thy backſlidings, He ſhould lift up a cry of p. 49Grace in thine Ears? Jer. 3.1. Haſt thou been made to hear the Voice of Chriſt's call in the Goſpel, and been thereby drawn to come to him, and to receive him, and cloſe with him? Was it thy ſpecial end in coming to Chriſt, to get Poſſeſſed of himſelf, and by him deliverance from Sin and Spiritual Life? and has that been the voice of thy Soul in coming to him, Hoſ. 14.2, 3. Take away all iniquity.

He, that hath had Faith wrought in his heart, hath been made to know what theſe things mean: ſuch Breathings and Workings as theſe, are the Footſteps of the Spirit of Grace, and Expreſſions of that Faith, which is of the operation of God. Thus (I ſay) Examine which way you did come by your Faith: How ſaith was wrought in you.

2. Examine whether you have changed the Reſt of your Souls. Where there is true faith, the Reſt of the Soul is changed; there is a reſting upon Chriſt or in him; and indeed that is the formal Nature of faith; a reſting and relying on Chriſt for Righteouſneſs and Life. Naturally all men Reſt ſomewhere elſe, viz. in Themſelves, in the World, in their carnal Contentments and Hopes, in p. 50their own Righteouſneſs: therefore the Believer hath changed his Reſt: his Reſt is now upon God in Chriſt Jeſus, Heb. 4.3. For we, which have Believed do enter into Reſt. The Soul caſts it ſelf upon Chriſt, as the whole foundation of its Hope, Rock of its Refuge, ſtay of its Soul, and the All of its Expectations and Deſires. Oh! Examine, is Chriſt the Rock, you build your Reſt on; the ſtrong Hold you ſhelter in; the help you Truſt to; the Portion you Live upon; the Hill of Salvation your Eyes are to; the Hope & Good, that gives Quiet and Contentment, and Reſt unto Souls.

3. Examine, Doſt thou Live by Faith, Whence is the Spring of thy Life? Is Chriſt the Feeder & Maintainer of thy Life by Faith? as, Gal. 2.20. Faith is the Believers daily work: He is often putting it forth and acting it upon Chriſt. Is Faith thy Practice, thy Trade? Are thy Prayers the voice of Faith? Oh! are we Knit to an higher Principle? Have we a Pipe laid to a higher fountain than this World?

Oh Conſider of ſuch things, and make clear this grand Tenure and Title to Salvation (to that glorious Inheritance of the Saints in p. 51Light & Glory) Faith in Chriſt Jeſus, Sound and Saving Faith: And would you by Examination have further Knowledge of it, what it is? For your further help here, take theſe three Characters of a ſound & effectual Faith.

1. That Faith is ſound, that is accompanied with a forſaking of all for Chriſt; Sin, Self, & World, and all the Luſts and Vanities thereof. When there is an abſolute Divorce from all others, then there is a Marriage to Chriſt; for there is no intermediate ſtate.

2. That Faith is ſound, that is accompanied with eſteem of and love to Chriſt; and that produceth a Conjugal Affection to him. He hath the Wedding Garment on, that hath a Marriage Affection to Chriſt Jeſus. Where there is ſuch peculiar Love to Chriſt, there the Heart is indeed ſet upon him; for Love carries the whole Soul with it. Ibi anima ubi amat, et amor figit Oculum: Love it is a knitting Affection▪ This knits the Soul to Chriſt. Where there is Love out of a pure Heart, there is Faith Unfeigned, 1 Tim. 1.5.

3. That Faith is ſound and effectual, that Purifies the Heart, and is fruitful in the courſe of ones Life. A Purifying and a working Faith, ſuch a Faith as is accompanied with Repentance, p. 52and followed with new Obedience, Act. 15.9. Jam. 2.18. Gal. 5.6. That Faith is effectual that is accompanied with a change of Heart and Life. True Faith & Repentance ever go together.

USE III.

From the Premiſſes be Inſtructed, that nothing ſhort of Effectual Saving Faith, can give a man any grounded Hopes that he ſhall be Saved: Or what ever any perſon hath or may pretend unto, that is ſhort of and ſeparated from ſound and effectual Faith; can give him no title to Heaven and Happineſs. We ſee it is not every Faith that is Saving; much leſs any thing ſhort of Faith: and yet many ſuch things perſons place their Truſt and Confidence in, and build their Hopes of Salvation upon. Many things there are that perſons are apt to lean upon and comfort themſelves with, which yet will give them no Title to Salvation; becauſe ſhort of ſaving Faith: As Paul in the days of his Phariſaiſm, he thought he had many things that could ſtand him in ſtead, which after he ſaw were Vain; and nothing would do, but Faith in Chriſt whereby he might be found in p. 53him, Phil. 3.4, — 8. Take a ſhort view of what perſons build their Hopes of Salvation upon, which yet fall ſhort of ſaving Faith.

1. Some would gather up hopes for Heaven, becauſe of their Happineſs here on Earth. Their Outward Proſperity wherein God Bleſſeth them, from whence they gather that God loves them; and it ſhall be for ever well with them: and here they bottom their hopes for Salvation. If any ſhould be ſo ſtupid and fooliſh as to reſt in worldly Wealth, Riches & Honours and Comforts of Outward Eſtate; why remember theſe are not Faith, nor akin to it. The Lord hath no where ſaid in all the Scripture, That he that is a Rich man, or a Great man, ſhall go to Heaven. Riches do not carry Faith along with them, nor help to it; but often much hinder it, Matt. 19.23. The Young man in the Goſpel went away ſorrowful, for he had great Poſſeſſions: whereupon, ſaith Chriſt, A rich man can hardly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. 1 Cor. 1.26. For you ſee your Calling Brethren, how that not many Wiſe men, after the Fleſh, not many Mighty, not many Noble are called. The Pooreſt Man on Earth may get to Heaven, as ſoon as the Richeſt, you often ſooner. It is he that is p. 54Rich in Faith, that is the Heir to the Kingdom, Jam. 2.5.

2. Some build up their Hopes and Confidence, upon their Gifts and Parts. Natural and Acquired Wit, Memory, Learning, Activity, Knowledge of Arts, or Skill therein, &c. Why theſe are good and commendable in themſelves, and very uſeful, and make men famous, but theſe are not Faith: theſe alone will not Save. Had one the Parts and Abilities of an Achitophel, yet theſe alone would not render one any Better, than he who, with Judas, went and hanged himſelf. Knowledge is good and excellent, yet may be ſeparated from Faith and Love; and then it is nothing in Point of Salvation, 1 Cor. 13.1, 2. Yea Miniſterial Gifts themſelves may be ſeparated from Faith, as in Judas, and others, Mat. 7.22. And if ſo, they Save not. Oh! thou may'ſt know many things, and yet not Know Chriſt and him Crucified, with a believing application to thy Own Soul; and then thou knoweſt nothing, that will ſtand thee in ſtead for Salvation.

3. Some Build their Hopes of future Happineſs and Salvation upon good Nature and Diſpoſition. The Temper of ſome is not ſo inclined p. 55to ſome Vices; and more apt to gain Love and Eſteem, than others are: but this is not Faith, no nor Sanctification. The Young Man in the Goſpel was of an Amiable Lovely Diſpoſition and Demeanour: Mark 10.21. Jeſus beholding him, Loved him; and yet miſſing of Chriſt, he miſſes of Heaven. An Abſolom can ſo pleaſingly carry it, as to Steal the Hearts of the men of Iſrael; and yet a Graceleſs Wretch. Be it, thy Diſpoſition and Carriage is ſuch, as every one is taken with thee; yet take heed of Reſting in that, that will not ſuffice. A lovely Young Man (you ſee) may go down to Hell, not following Chriſt with a Self, and World-renouncing Faith; when a Rude rugged Jaylor, believing on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, may go to Heaven.

4 Some Build their Hopes of Salvation upon a comparative Goodneſs, that they are not ſo Bad as others. Many do, Phariſee-like, bear themſelves upon this, Luk. 18.11. But be it ſo; yet to have leſs Sin, than ſome others; that is not to have Faith. Thou art not ſo bad as many others; but it may be it is alſo True, thou art not ſo good as many others, who yet never ſhall be Saved. It may be p. 56thou art not ſo good as the Young Man in the Goſpel, or the Scribes and Phariſees; and yet they are gone to their own Place. Oh! thy Righteouſneſs muſt exceed theirs, if ever Saved, Matt. 5.20. Oh! you muſt exceed thoſe, whom happily thou haſt not yet equallized. If thou art not ſo bad as others, yet art thou as good, as the Rule of the Goſpel requires unto Salvation? Haſt thou ſound Faith in Chriſt? It is not what others are, but what the Rule, the Word of God, the Terms of the Goſpel require, by which thou ſhalt be judged another day.

5. Others Build their Hopes of Salvation upon Moral Honeſty and Vertue and External Blameleſneſs. To be a juſt Dealer, a good Neighbour, Civilly Honeſt, a good Common-Wealths-Man; a good Townſman, a good Houſholder, &c. To perform theſe external civil Duties Well, is more than is found with many; but yet this alone hath not the Promiſe of Salvation made unto it. Paul a Phariſee was blameleſs, Phil. 3.6. Alas! it muſt be another kind of Righteouſneſs, than this, that will ſtand before God, viz. The righteouſneſs, which is of God by Faith, Phil. 3.9.

p. 576. Others Build their Hopes of being Saved upon their Outward Church-Privileges. They Enjoy Means and Ordinances: they are within the Pale of the Church: they are Jews outwardly by Profeſſion and Privileges; the viſible People of God; but manifeſt it is, that theſe things are ſeparable from Saving Faith: A viſible and an inviſible Saint are not of equal latitude: To have Eat and Drank in Chriſts preſence, will not be a ſufficient Plea at that day, Luk. 13.26. The Promiſe is not that every Church-Member ſhall be Saved; but every True Believer ſhall be Saved. Oh! it is not the ſhadow of Outward Privileges, that will ſhelter you from the Wrath of God. The Sinners in Zion are under as much cauſe of fear, as any there, Iſa 33.14. It is no new thing to go out of a Church on Earth, into the Chambers of Hell. Many, that walk with Saints now, will be ſent to Devils one day. Many, that are Ear-mark'd among Chriſts Sheep here, will be found to be Goats, when Chriſts Fold ſhall be ſearched at that day. You Build much upon it, that you are within the Boſom of the Church; but Oh! are you within the Boſom of Jeſus Chriſt by Faith. Thou art an Iſraelite, but art thou an Iſraelite indeed by effectual Faith in Chriſt.

p. 587. Others Build their Hopes for Heaven upon the apprehenſion of a Saving Work of Converſion wrought by the Spirit; but miſtaking Legal Terrors, for Evangelical Convictions, and being deceived by ſome Common and Remoter preparations.

If Perſons have been Convinced, Awakened, Terrifyed, Troubled and Affrighted out of the Lewdneſs of their former ways, and have Prayed and took up good Reſolutions, and here-upon their Hearts have been quieted and calmed, now they think all is well; but even ſuch things as theſe are ſeparable from Saving Faith: ſuch as theſe, as ſome legal Trouble wounds them; ſo a little legal Reformation heals them. Thou waſt Terrified and Troubled; but was it not rather a Pang of fear, than a Spirit of Mourning for Sin? Thou hadſt Terrors, ſo had Judas; but did they carry thee to Chriſt Jeſus, did they end in Faith unfeigned?

8. Others Build their Hopes for Heaven and Salvation upon their Reformations and Duties Cuſtomarily Performed. They have laid aſide their Groſs Sins; and have took up a courſe of duties: they come to Meeting, and they Pray in their Families, and it may be do ſomething p. 59in Secret too; and here they reſt in the work done; and but done formally & careleſsly, without delight and conſtancy; and meerly to ſtop the mouth of Conſcience, rather than to attain the end of Duty: and they Cry Peace to themſelves and ſay, All is Well.

Oh! Upon what a ſlight ſhady weak Bottom, do men build their Hopes of Salvation? But verily, it is a matter of the greateſt Concernment in the world to ſee what Bottom you build your Hopes upon: Why nothing ſhort of Effectual Saving Faith, can give a man any grounded Hopes of Salvation.

USE IV.

Hence ſee the Reaſon why ſo Few are Saved; viz. becauſe there are but a very Few that attain to ſound and ſaving Faith. Many are Called, but very few of thoſe many are Choſen & effectually Wrought upon, Mat. 20.16. & 22.1… Heaven is well compared to a ſtately Palace, with a narrow Portal: Hence ſo few enter it. The Gate is ſtrait; the Way is narrow, and Few then be that find it, Mat. 7.14. There are but a very few that ſhall be Saved. Chriſt's Flock is called, but a little Flock, Luk. 12.32. p. 60Sometimes ſcarce diſcernable; as in the Old World, but Eight Perſons ſaved from the Univerſal Deluge. Noah Condemned a whole World of wicked People, by his contrary courſes; and became Heir of the Righteouſneſs which is by Faith, Heb. 11.9. Though Chriſt hath ever had a Church in the world, yet many times brought to a very low Ebb: Sometimes over run with Idolatry, Paganiſm, Hae…e…. Hierom complained in his days, that the whole world was turned Arian; and Baſil Lamenting the obſcurity of the Church, cried out, An Eccleſias ſuas prorſus dereliquit Domin…s? Hath God utterly forſaken his Church? It is the miſerable Portion of the greateſt part of the world, that they ſhall be Damned!

Such as have Surveighed the known parts of the world, inform us; that if the known parts of the world were divided into Thirty one parts, the Chriſtians part is but as Five to Thirty One; the Mahometans as Six; and the Idolaters as Nineteen. And among the Chriſtian part of the world, the greateſt part by far over-run with Antichriſtian Idolatry; the ſmalleſt part Proteſtants: And among the Proteſtant Profeſſors, all are not Covenanters in Church-Fellowſhip; and in ſome Churches, p. 61the moſt are the worſt. Chryſoſtom ſolemnly Profeſſed in a Sermon to the People of Antioch, (where he was beloved and did much good) that he could not be well perſwaded, that an Hundred among them ſhould be Saved▪ and he doubted of them too; tho' there were many Thouſands in the place. And thus it may be, of the many Thouſands in one City▪ poſſibly not an Hundred Saved of the many Hundreds in one Town; poſſibly (as in Abrahams ſuit for Sodom) not Ten Righteous in the Place. How many Families paſſed over, and poſſibly not one in a Family Saved. Look into the greateſt Aſſemblies, the largeſt Meeting-places, throng'd with multitudes of Hearers, it may be but here and there one prick'd at the Heart, by the Word of Faith. Look into Churches, many ſit down at the Feaſt of the Goſpel; but it may be but here & there one with his Wedding-garment on. It is not every one, that Cries Lord, Lord, that ſhall enter into the Kingdom of God. There are many Profeſſors; but few Sincere Converts: and many Believers who ſhall never be Saved; and the reaſon is, becauſe of the difficulty of attaining Saving Faith; therefore ſo Few are Saved.

p. 62USE V. Of AWAKENING.

It is matter of Awful and Awakening Conſideration to every Soul; and calls upon us to work out our Salvation with Fear & Trembling. To think how many Run, and obtain not the Prize; but fall ſhort of the Crown of Life. Oh! To think, there are many Believers that ſhall never be Saved, with what Fear & Care ſhould it fill us? Heb. 4.1. Let us fear therefore, leſt a Promiſe being left us of entring▪ into his Reſt, any of you ſhould ſeem to come ſhort of it. It is not every Running, every Believing, we ſee, will ſerve the turn. Oh! How ſolemn a thing it is to think, there are many Believers that never ſhall be Saved: Not only many Sinners, many Drunkards, many Whore-mongers, Sabbath-breakers, Thieves, Liars, Swearers; many Profane Perſons; but many ſeeming Believers, many Profeſſors, many Church-members, many that ſeem fair and go far, never ſhall be Saved. The Scripture ſaith, He that Believeth ſhall be Saved; i. e. he that indeed, truly and effectually Believeth. But the Scripture alſo tells us, that there are many that are in a ſenſe Believers, that have ſome p. 63kind of Faith; others think, and themſelves think they are Believers; and yet ſuch ſhall miſs of Heaven in the heighth of their Hopes: they ſhall not be Saved. Oh! What need to throw down thy ſelf before God, and to ly at Him for a thorow Work to be wrought. Run not away with Taſtes; reſt not in Beginnings, in Pangs, in ſudden Stirrings, in Overtures; but follow on in the uſe of all Means, with Groanings unutterable, Hoſ. 6.3. Oh! Cry to Heaven for Effectual Faith, Effectual Conviction, Humiliation, Converſion, Believing; a Faith that is well rooted. Put up Davids Petition with the greateſt Importunity, Pſal. 119.80. Let my Heart be ſound in thy Statutes. Reſt not in Uncertainties relating to the ſtate of thy Soul; that Peradventure thou may'ſt be Saved, and Peradventure thou may'ſt be Damned; but uſe all Diligence to make your Calling and Election ſure. Oh! Be Awakened to look to your State & Standing; and to ſee what Bottom you build your Hopes of Salvation upon, that you may not miſtake in that great Point of Saving Faith. Tremble to Live in a ſtate of Unbelief; to ſit under the Hearing of the Word Preached, and yet fall ſhort of Saving Faith.

p. 64By way of Awakening Conſider, (1.) The Miſery and Danger of ſuch an Eſtate. (2.) The Sin and Sinfulneſs of it.

…. The Miſery and Danger of a ſtate of Unbelief. The Goſpel Terms run thus; He that Believes ſhall be Saved; and he that Believes not ſhall be Damned, Mark 16.16. Oh! Can you be at quiet, in a ſtate of Unbelief? The time haſtens, that you ſhall have no Portion in this world: What will become of you if you have no part in Chriſt? Oh! Do not ſit down Careleſs and ſay, All is well; I ſhall yet have Time enough to get into a ſtate of Salvation, & to obtain Saving Faith. To Awaken out of this Stupidity, remember theſe four Particulars.

1. At preſent thy ſtate is a ſtate of utmoſt Miſery. The Wrath of God is piled upon thee: the whole Curſe of the Law is now abiding on thy Soul, Joh 3.36. Thou art ready to drop into Hell every moment: Devils are Preying upon thy Soul: The Shackles of Sins and Luſts, the Chains of Darkneſs, the Bolts & Irons of a Blind Mind & Hard Heart are upon them. Thou art ſinking in the Seas of the Wrath of God; and at preſent thou haſt no hold of any thing, that can Save thee: ſo p. 65that thy Preſent ſtate is Doleful, and not to be Reſted in.

2. Thou knoweſt not whether thou ſhalt have much, or any time more to attain Saving Faith in. Thy preſent ſtate is certainly Miſerable; but thy future time to eſcape it, is Uncertain. Oh! The ſtopping of time Ears to Day, may be thy Undoing for ever. Thou lotteſt upon more time; but rememember, Luk. 12.20. Thou Fool, this Night ſhall thy Soul be required of thee. And remember the Advice of our Saviour, Ver. 40. Be ye therefore Ready; for the Son of Man cometh at an Hour when ye think not.

3. Remember Faith is not in thine own Power, Eph. 2.8. It muſt be the Operation of the Mighty God: Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt muſt come into thy Soul, and put forth an Almighty Power there, if ever ſaving Faith be wrought in thee: And thou that receiveſt this Grace in vain now; how canſt thou expect, that he ſhould do any ſuch thing for thee hereafter?

4. The longer thou Liveſt and Continueſt in Unbelief, the more unlikely it is, that ever thou ſhouldſt be brought to Believe. Thy Heart is ſtill the more Hardened, and God the more p. 66Eſtranged, and Satan hath the more Hold of thee. But thus ſee the Miſery and Danger of a ſtate of Unbelief.

2. See the Sin and Sinfulneſs of ſuch a ſtate. Unſpeakable is the Sin, that the Unbeliever lies under: All Sin lives and reigns, where Unbelief lives and reigns; for now the Curſe reigns in its ſtrength, and ſin hath dominion, Rom. 6.14. A man is in his ſins ſtill, if not in Chriſt by Faith. Faith flies to a Saviour for deliverance from ſin; but Unbelief deſpiſeth a Saviour, and chuſeth to live in ſin. Unbelief in its own Nature, is an exceeding great ſin: A deſpiſing of God, when he tenders the greateſt Gift of his Love, his only Begotten Son; when he offers Himſelf and his Grace upon the ſweeteſt and eaſieſt Terms. Oh! This ſin of Unbelief, it is a Damning ſin. And if we Enquire, Who they are, that are guilty here; and in a ſtate of Unbelief: For we ſee all men have not Faith. Briefly to ſingle out ſuch.

1. They that have no Acquaintance with Chriſt, but are utter Strangers to him; either groſly Ignorant, or utterly Negligent of Him. Where there is Faith, it brings the Soul acquainted with Chriſt: but there are, that live under the p. 67Means and Miniſtry of the Word, that are utter ſtrangers to Chriſt, as to any diſtinct Knowledge of him. Chriſt is but a general Name, an empty Sound in their Ears: Theſe are in their Unbelief: The god of this world having blinded the minds of them that Believe not, 2 Cor. 4.4.

2. They whoſe Hearts were never yet Broken & Humbled. Faith grows in a contrite Soul; and not upon a Rock. The ſtony Ground, where the Heart is an unbroken Stone, and hath no depth of ſoft Earth, it will not bear the good Grain of effectual ſaving Faith. And how many Rocks are there, that were never Broken; hearts of Stone, never turned to Fleſh: to whom Sin was never bitter, nor Wrath terrible, nor Chriſt ſweet.

3. They that allow themſelves in any known Sin, 2 Tim. 2.19. They that have ſound & ſaving Faith, do faithfully maintain a War againſt Sin, as Sin; and ſo againſt All Sin. It is otherwiſe with the Unbeliever, he knows there is ſome ſweet ſin, ſome ſecret ſin that he ſpares and loves and will not forſake. To go on boldly, careleſly and impenitently in any Known Sin, is inconſiſtent with effectual Faith in Chriſt, and with that Regeneration p. 68that the Believer is made Partaker of.

4. They are yet in Unbelief, that are Engaged ſo to the Things and Contentments of the world; as that they cannot part with them for Chriſt, Joh. 5.44. Jam. 4.4. 1 Joh. 2.15.

5. They that Eſtabliſh their own Righteouſneſs, Rom. 10.3. We muſt remember, that Faith is a going out of our ſelves to Chriſt, and reſting on him for Righteouſneſs.

USE VI. Of EXHORTATION.

Labour after Sound Saving and Effectual Faith. There is nothing elſe without this, that will Entitle you to Salvation, or give you Right to Life Eternal. If you would take the way to attain to Salvation, attain to ſaving Faith: atttain to the Righteouſneſs which is by Faith, Rom. 9.30. If you would work out your own Salvation, this is the main Work, Joh. 6.27, 29. It is not a few Moral Endeavours, or Religious Devotions, or Reformations will be to any purpoſe, without this. You ſay, I will Pray, and I will be Diligent in my Calling, and I will Sanctify the Sabbath, and will Cleave to the Truth: Yea, but nothing will ſerve; neither can you do any of theſe p. 69things to purpoſe, unleſs you attain to ſound and ſaving Faith. Conſider, you Periſh if you do not Believe: You will be Damned if you have not Faith.

If one ſhould tell you of a thing your Life lay upon; you certainly Dy if you get not ſuch a Receipt; what Pains and Coſt would you ſpare? You would ſend far and near for it. Oh! The Lord of Heaven and Earth tells you in his Word, that no Faith, no Salvation: You Dy for ever, if you get not Faith before you Dy.

But Believe, and you ſhall Live: You ſhall have Life Eternal, and all that pertains to it, 1 Joh. 5.12, 13. And this is that, that will be the ſupport of your Life here. When the World withers about you, yet if you have Faith, you have Roots that reach to the Well of Life, Jer. 17.7, 8.

Faith brings in all: Faith goes to the Market where all is to be had, and furniſheth it ſelf to the full. Faith is a diſcriminating Grace: it is that that makes the difference between Chriſtianity and Morality; and nothing doth ſo Honour God as the Grace of Faith. Get Faith & you have all; but without it, nothing at all. And, Oh! Labour that your Faith p. 70may be ſound and effectual. Get good C… that may paſs current in Heaven; Faith of the right ſtamp.

And for Direction here;

1. Tremble to reſt in Beginnings, in Ineffectual Work; in ſome Taſtes and Stirrings, Enlightnings and Meltings, and Pangs of ſudden Joy in Hearing the Word of Faith: as the Stony Ground (in our Text) without making Thorough Work, Heb. 4.1. Do not reſt in ſlight Work, in ſome little Smatterings, in Taſtes of the good Word of God.

2. Cheriſh the Motions of the Spirit: And Thank God and Bless Him on thy bended Knees, for that Little thou haſt; for thoſe Beginnings he hath given thee; tho it be but Common, tho' it be but Little; yet Bleſs him for it: It is the way to have more.

3. Attend and Liſten to the Word of the Goſpel, and the Preaching thereof: Rom. 10.17. So then Faith cometh by Hearing; and Hearing by the Word of God. It is the great End of Hearing to get Faith. Hear the Voice of Chriſt, ſpeaking in his Word, and ſay, as, 1 Sam. 3.9. Speak Lord, for thy Servant heareth. And Labour to be a Profitable Hearer of the Word; ſo may'ſt thou be a Believing Hearer of the Word.

4. In all Means look to and ly under a Power above and beyond Means to create Faith in thee; even the Power of God in Chriſt Jeſus.

5. Pray and Cry to the Lord for Faith, for ſound and ſaving and effectual Faith; Jer. 31.18. Faith is the Gift of God: Ask it of him, Eph. 2.8. Oh! The Lord can teach thee to Pray, whilſt thou art Praying; and teach thee to Believe, whilſt thou art Crying after Faith, and ſaying, Lord, help my Unbelief, Mark 9.24. And pour out thy Heart to God with Groanings that cannot be uttered; that he would go in with thee; and that he would not leave thee in the Mid-way. Oh! Beg ſound and effectual Work, Pſal. 119.….

6. Be often Renewing thy Faith. That is a great means to perfect Faith, and that which is lacking in it. By often Believing, thou ſhalt come to ſee and feel, that thou doſt effectually Believe.

7. Uſe Faith much. If you think you have Faith; let it appear by this, Uſe it. Do not think it enough to ſay, Thou hopeſt God hath wrought Faith in thy Heart, and thou art in a …; and … …rap up thy Faith, …, & lay it by thee againſt thou co… to Dy. Oh! Know it; that will prove a miſerable, ruſty Faith at Death, that was not made uſe of in the time of Life. No; but if thou haſt any Faith; uſe it: Uſe it to ſanctify thy Heart, Act. 15.9. Uſe it to overcome the World: Uſe it to mortify thy ſtrong Luſts and Corruptions, and to maintain a Warfare againſt them: Use it to carry thee thorough Afflictions, Changes, Troubles, Trials: Uſe it to the increaſe of all Grace, and Live by it, Gal. 2.20. And GOD grant, as, 1 Pet. 1.7. That the tryal of your Faith being much more Precious than of Gold that Periſheth; tho' it be tryed with Fire, might be found unto Praiſe and Honour and Glory, at the Appearing of Jeſus Chriſt.

FINIS.

End of the text · Jeremiah Shepard, A Sort of Believers Never Saved (1711)