conditions viz. That it must be 1. Bonum 2. Arduum 3. Futurum 4. Possibile 1. Good 2. Hard to be gotten 3. Future Rom. 8.24 4. Possible to be attained Ap. So that a Christians Hope is a confident expectation of all good hings promised to us both concerning this life and a better in heavenly glory 1 Cor. 15.19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ c. But we rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God i.e. of the felicity and happiness which they shall have in the presence of God Rom. 5.2 though at present they suffer and others deride their Exultings Or Our hope in God for Salvation and future blessedness is a Grace infused into our hearts by the holy Ghost by which we expect all future good things grace and glory mitigationem presentis crucis liberationem as also the mitigation and deliverance from present miseries and afflictions according to the good counsel and will of God resting upon the promises of God and the merits of Christ apprehended by faith Psalm 40 1. 52.9 130.5 6 7 8. I have waited and do wait and yet will still wait for the Lord more then they that waited for the morning yea and let all Israel hope in the Lord for with him is mercy and plenteous Redemption And he shall redeem Israel from all iniquities and calamities 1 Pet. 1.13 yea hope to end for the grace to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ Hopes eyes are upon God the donor and giver Our salvation the ultimus finis the last and best gift to us Upon the means conducing thereto as the Auxilia gratiae the manifold graces by which we do attain to salvation and blessedness You have heard the Quid sit what this Hope is and the definitions of the same both general and special now for the causes of it 1. The principal efficient cause is God who is the giver of every good and perfect gift He of his abundant Mercy hath begotten us unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible c. 1 Pet. 1.3 4. 2. The instrumental cause is Faith Heb. 11.1 For hope springs from faith as a branch from the root Ap. For because we believe in him therefore we hope for all good from him 3. The impulsive or moving cause of our Hope is the manifold goodness and free benefits of God to his people and the former favours to them and to our selves of which we have had so great experience He that hath formerly drank at a plentiful spring will still hope to speed well there when he hath occasion and stands in need of supply of water and so may we here for support and succour 4. The final cause or end of our Hope 1. The Glory of God in whom we place our hope that must be promoted by us and exalted for his mercy and grace Isa 30.18 19.2 Our own salvation and blessedness for which we hope and wait upon him Ibid. Isa 30.18 19. 1 Thes 5.8 and thus for the causes of hope 3. The Subject of it is a true Christian and only such as are so it is spes piorum the hope of the godly not of the wicked living simpliciter dead Rev. 6.9 10 11. 4. The seat of it is the heart which is sedes Affectum the seat of the Affections not so much of the sensitive as of the intellective part of the Will especially which is sometimes called Appetitus mentis the souls appetite Pol. Syntag 598. 5. The place of it is most properly simpliciter the earth and those that are living both in soul and body in this world who hope for many things in heaven there is only the hope of resurrection of the body to immortal glory c. then there it will cease and the compleating of all divine promises to the Church and people of God as Rev. 6.9 10 11. then it ceaseth In hell there can be no hope of any good to all eternity to those damned souls chain'd and bound up to everlastling misery 6. The Object of it is first and principally the Lord Psalm 33.22 and 38.13 As we hope in him so we expect mercy c. from him His Mercy Psalm 33.18 and 147.11 Gods eye and pleasure is on such as hope so His Word Psalm 119.81 and 38.15 Else David had fainted And Jesus Christ his son 1 Cor. 15.19 If in this life and then in subservency All the benefits of God promised to us and particularly Beneficia Veniae Gratiae Gloriae of pardon of all our sins for the merits sake of Christ 2 Cor. 3.1 2. being freed from the ministration of death by the Law Grace and all the benefits spiritual and corporal usually conferred upon men in that state Psal 25.3.11 Hab. 2.3 wait for it though it tarry etiamsi supra natura essent Rom. 4.18 Glory in a joyful resurrection and in the state of glory Acts 2.26 27 28. and 23.6 and 24.5 Rom. 5.2 Tit. 3.7 7. The Adjuncts of it are 1. A preparation of Mind 1 Pet. 1.13 1 John 3.3 He that hath this hope purifieth himself 2. A holy Life 3. Perseverance to the end till the revelation of Christ then it shall cease 4. Assurance and this ariseth from and is grounded upon the truth of Gods promises the merits of Christ the effectual omnipotence of God that promiseth good to perform whatsoever he hath promised whereas mens promises merits and power of performance is as nothing 8. The effects of Hope are many for it makes men 1. The more godly 2. To think humiliter lowly of themselves and sublimiter highly of God upon whom the hopeful man doth wholly depend 3. To renounce our own merits and to rest only upon free grace 4. Assurance of future good by the mercy of God and merits of Christ only 5. Perseverance in our duty to God and man 9. Patience and joy in Afflictions Rom. 12.2 9. In quibus conveniunt differunt fides spes the agreement and difference betwixt Faith and hope Now concerning this ninth particularr consider that 1. Saving faith and hope do agree in the common efficient cause of them both viz. The holy Ghost for it is he that infuseth both into our hearts adjoyning certainty and assurance for each of them gives us the like assurance 2. But the difference between them 1. Faith begetteth Hope and so is before it but hope comes after and is an individual companion of Faith 2. Faith is perswaded that God spake truth hope waits the occasion of time when God will discover it 3. Faith is perswaded of the Truth of God who can neither lye nor deceive c. and of all his Promises hope expects patiently the performance of them and that God will effect them 4. Faith believes that God is our Father Hope expects that he will reprepresent himself to us accordingly 5 Faith represents future things as present Hope waits for Then
It is by his appointment that we have life yet we must make use of food and raiment That the earth is fruitful to which there is a concurrence of the stars influence the heat of the Sun the moisture of distilling and refreshing showers And this knitting the first and second causes together is so indissolvable in the appointment of Almighty God that without them the effects do not ordinarily follow So our Prayers for Gods blessings though they be no natural Causes of them yet they are a means appointed by the Will of God to obtain them Neither do we pray to alter the disposition of God but to obtain what he hath ordered to be obtained by the prayers of his servants He hath decreed the victory yet the Soldier must not cast off or run away from his arms so in many other cases Vid. Alsted Theol. Cat. pag. 727. So in the significationsof Gods secret Will Precepts and Promises are ever conjoyned together And if the duty commanded be neglected the blessing promised is not obtained See Jer. 18.7 to 11. Ap. It hath been the practise of the godly that when they have been most certain of obtaining they were most instant in praying Isaac had a seed promised and renewed yet he prayes Gen. 25.21 And Elijah knew when rain would come nevertheless he prayes instantly to obtain it 1 King 18 42. So must we also God so promiseth his blessings that he will have them obtained by prayer that it may not be said of us as of them Isa 4.2 Ye have not because ye ask not Here its true Spare to speak and spare to speed III. Others neglect this duty out of Conscience and sense of their own vileness and unworthiness and Ergo dare not presume 1. But since God hath so honoured us as to command us let us not be guilty of unthankfulness and disobedience 2. And we present not our prayers in our own righteousness but in his great mercies Dan. 9.18 3. And to this end the Lord hath provided us a Mediator his own Son Jesus in whom he doth accept our persons and prayers IV. Others are discouraged and omit the duty because of their weakness and coldness in prayer and want of words to express their desires c. I answer Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit but sighs groans are the best R hetorick in prayer Rom. 8.16 God bears with Solecisms and Barbarisms Better break the Rules of Grammer then of the holy Ghost and his Canon Weak performance is better then whole omission We know not how God may quicken our dull affections But we know we have an Advocate with the Father 1 John 2.1 propitiating for our sins and imperfections in prayers Rev. 8.3 4. You have heard in the former Use the reproof of such as either neglect or argue against this practise that out of sense of their own vileness or fear of their weakness are beaten off and discouraged from the performance of this Duty and so restrain prayer from before God as Eliphaz charged Iob but not truly Iob 15.4 and with-hold from God this Worship due unto him These things lead to a second Use of Exhortation Use II. This second Use exhorts us to the constant practise and performance of this duty To which we have so many precepts presidents promises and performances as have been before mentioned in the proof of the point and to put on this piece of Armour to set upon the use of this Excellent Gift and to exercise this Grace which so much concerns us And to this I hope I need not urge many Motives to perswade and excite you as if you were backward since all the Reasons before named to confirm the Point do sufficiently invite us Hence Motives arise from the greatnesse and goodness and the loving kindnesse of God in covenant with us and Ergo ready to do us good were enough to which you may add this the necessity of prayer which in respect of us is absolutely necessary 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Simpliciter Absolute as a part of divine Worship due to God from us In and after this present Life for ever and to all Eternity II. Our own wants and weaknesse deficiency and uncertainty of either having or enjoying corporal temporal or earthly or spiritual supernatural and heavenly Blessings and Graces the good things from above but only according to the good Will of God and the measure of his gracious Dispensation towards us besides the manifold fears and feelings of evils which our short lives are alwayes obvious to and never free from These may very well send us to the fountain of all good the Rock of Ages for our supply safety and security Thus the manifold wants weaknesses evils and troubles that we with others have experience of should be as wings or spurs to our devotions Hence it is said precatio sine Malis est avis sine alis Alsted Theol. Cat. p. 728. We are apt in prosperity to cease our flight and slack our pace in our prayers till winged and spur'd on by afflictions or if we consider others whether they be Friends and what need they have of our help this way Or Foes and what need we have of help against them These may well put us to seek ayd from above to help us both according to our necessities IV. The duty of prayer in it self and the excellency of it in the cause end and effects It is God that sets us on work he is the Author Efficient cause and Christ his Son hath taught us he is our Tutor herein and the Holy Ghost doth enable us in the service and shall we be negligent And if Christ himself was so often in prayer in the dayes of his flesh did offer up so many supplications with strong crying tears Heb. 5.5 6 7. to testifie that God his Father was the Author and Fountain of all good Mat. 11.25 To obtain of his Father the Fruit and Efficacy of his Ministry John 17. For strength to undergo his sufferings and to compleat the work of our Redemption Luke 22.41 And that by his Example as well as Precept he might animate us hereunto that so we might follow his steps Ap. Consider then if he did thus who was most holy had the fulness of the Spirit how much doth it behoove us that are poor miserable sinners that are destitute of all good but what we have by divine Dispensation to supplicate earnestly at the Throne of Grace for help and supply in every kind And since all the most Renowned Worthies in all Ages that ever we Read of Patriarchs Prophets Apostles c. were all frequent and servent in this Duty let us then excite our best abilities hereunto For except we ask as we are commanded Mat. 7.7 how can we think to obtain blessings either corporal or spiritual earthly or heavenly Mercies all which are necessary for this present life and for a better life which is to come
which our good works are directed must be good else spoil all The end crowns or shames the work Now the end of our works that they may be justified must be the glory of God 1 Cor. 10.31 Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine c. The edification of our neighbour the discharge of our Obedience testification of our Faith 2 Pet. 11.10 answering of our calling in Jesus Christ Ephes 4.1 Escaping the punishment or sin and the destruction of the wicked obtaining the Glory of Heaven with many other subservient ends Ap. These things considered do clearly evidence to us That Works without warrant from the word of God how speciou soever they be in pretence and outward appearance as were the Ceremonies of the Jews so of Papists and superstitious persons to this day yet they are rejected for God is not pleased but with what himself prescribes We may not devise new things in Gods Worship as we please Where the Agents are Unbelievers and not accepted of God If the Tree remain uncorrupt so is the fruit and Ergo both are unacceptable Where there is no purging of our selves nor preparation to good works there cannot but be very many miscarriages When good works are not our business but fall in by accident or are inforced by some extremity as by sickness or death or when we begin too late when it is with us as with them Prov. 1.27 28 c. and Mat. 25.10 But we ne glect our opportunity whilest we may and lose all when we never make them our delight as we do other matters of natural concernment such as to eat and drink c. When our good works are for sinister base or bad ends As to be seen of men Pharisee-like Mat. 25.5 To devour widowes houses Mat. 23.14 or to act mischief To suit with the multitude and please the world as they did John 7.7 That hated Christ and persecuted the Apostles John 16.2 who thought it well done And some real good work may be done to this end To purchase our own pardon and peace with God as Papists and Patrons of Merit think they do though thereby they do frustrate the merits of the Lord Jesus for us In a word The ends of our works are many and that both good and bad as they are directed by the Agents and Workers of them But if they be not suitable with the Rules before expressed and that our works will not endure the tryal of the light as John 3.20 21. Whether they be of God or no. We have great reafon to suspect yea and to reject our own works as unacceptable and displeasing to Almighty God Thus much touching the Rules concerning our good works II. But now if any should say You have given us Rules for our works Quest But what are the works in particular in which we are so to abound Answ Good works are such as are performed by the grace of the holy Spirit out of a true faith according to the prescribt Rule of the Law to the Glory of God the certainty and assurance of our own salvation and the Edification of our Neighbour Wolleb p. 192. Polan p. 256. And these good works must be performed out of such a true faith by which we are sure that they are commanded of God and that both we and our works are pleasing to God through Christ Pol. 258. And for the names conferred upon good works They are called the fruits of the Spirit from their efficient cause Gal. 5.22 Ephes 5.9 The fruits of Faith from the instrumental cause The works of the Law from the form because suitable to it and from their quality good works and good fruits For their number for they are numberless extending to all the affections and actions of a regenerate man Wall p. 293. and to all those things prescribed by the moral Law of God about which such actions and works are conversant Bucan 334. So that for this I must only say as the Apostle doth conclude Phil. 4.8 Finally brethren saith he whatsoever things are true honest just pure lovely and of good report every vertue And every praise-worthy action enters into the list and helps to make up the number and measure of works that be good in the sight of God Bucan p. 333 334. As to the causes of good works they are many especially these 1. The principal efficient cause it God his Grace and holy Spirit who doth begin continue and perfect all our good works in us Phil. 1.6 2.13 He that begins will perform to the utmost And it is God which worketh in us both to will and to do c. For without him we can do nothing John 15.5 So then our good works are not the fruits of our own free-will as Pelagians Papists and too many others think 2. The instrumental cause is Faith which is the Root whence all good works do spring Gal. 5.6 For it worketh by love 3. The matter of our good works is our affections and our actions and all things about which they are conversant 4. The formal cause of them is their conformity to and agreement with the Word of God Psal 119 1.2 c. Deut. 4.2 Ezek. 20.18 19. Mat. 15.9 Else all is vain worship 5. The final cause or end of our good works is manifold and may be distributed into things referring to 1. God 2. Ourselves And 3. Our Neighbour In reference to 1. God His glory is the main end our due obedience to his Will and Command and our thankfulness for our Redemption and all other benefits are hereby testified 2. Our selves We do good works to evidence the life of our faith which else is dead being alone Jam. 2.17 Solitaria To get sure that we are justified before God for Bona opera sequuntur justificatos non praecedunt justificandos To make sure our Election to eternal life 2 Pet. 1.10 To exercise nourish and strengthen our Faith to adorn our Vocation to avoid temporal and eternal punishment that we may receive the Reward of well-doing freely promised by Almighty God Mat. 25.21 23. Well done good c. 3. Our Neighbour That we may be hurtful to none but useful and profitable to all to our power Thereby to edifie the faithful and to win unbelievers Wal. p. 260 261. As for the Species or particular kinds or forms of good works The particular actions so styled are very many yet you may distinguish or distribute them into three Channels viz. As works referring 1. To God 2. Our selves And 3. Our Neighbour 1. To God and so the whole worship of God and every particular branch of the same are good works whether they refer to the inward Worship of God as a right and true acknowledgement of God Love towards him Trust and Confidence in him by a lively saving faith and assured hope in him as also by Humility and Patience in the sence of his greatnesse and goodness to us even in our Afflictions The inward and outward worship of
keep your ground the ground of Truth 1 Tim 3.15 For Nothing is more pernicious or dangerous in an Army then Ataxy and flinching or falling off from our Fellow-Souldiers or our places 3. Stand vigilantly and watchfully as Sentinels Be not secure but remember that of the Apostle Be sober 1 Pet. 5. 8 9. Be vigilant because your Adversary the Devil as a roaring Lyon walketh about seeking whom he may devour 1. Thus far the Exhortation proceeds viz. to the fourteenth verse 2. Then you have an enumeration of the several parts of this compleat Armour in the five next verses viz. Ver. 14 15 16 17 18. which are either 1. Defensive Or 2. Offensive 1. Defensive viz. 1. A Belt or Girdle 2. A Breast-plate 3. Shooes 4. A Shield and 5. An Helmet 2. Offensive viz. 1. A Sword 2. Prayer Both which may be styled both defensive of us and offensive to the Enemy Of these I shall speak particularly if God will hereafter at present I am upon the Exhortation This Exhortation in the three former Verses is briefly repeated sum'd up and Epitomized in this thirteenth Verse and doth in the main strength of it affords us this DOCT. The Best of Men well grounded in the Truth most Eminent in Grace Or 1. The Church of God in her best condition when very well eastblished and throughly instructed in the Truth c. 2. Had great need of christian strength and courage in the Lord. 3. And of a compleat spiritual armour 4. To avoid and withstand resist strenuously and over come victoriously 5. The Manifold wiles And. 6. Mighty oppositions and assaults 7. Of powerful adversaries and enemies that are against her on every side 8. Environing and invading her every way 1. Within 2. And without 9. And especially in the evil day of Tribulation and Temptation 10. And That she may be able to stand and hold her own ground Stand fast in the Faith and hold firm to the Truth and so to become and remain victorious in the end This general point doth contain the strength of the whole Exhortation and doth reach every particular of the Doctrine before named and the proof and reasons of this point will be appliable to each particular 1. The Church in her best condition when well instructed c. For then 1. When the Field was sown with wheat then came the envious man and sowed Tares Mat. 13.24 to 31. among the Wheat i.e. Not in the world abroad but in the Church of God Vt periret dominica messis 2. When the Churches were planted and well instructed by the Apostle St. Paul in Rome Corinth Galatia Ephesus Philippi c. 3. So also these seven famous Churches in Asia mentioned Rev. 2 3. Chap. how fast did Hereticks and Seducers start up and step in to trouble them and how doth he complain of them from time to time Rom. 16.17 18. 4. The like befel in Germany saith Zanchius in Epist p. 659. of which they had daily and woful experience 5. Is it not so in England now after 100. years establishment and instruction and upwards in K. Ed. 6. and Q. Elizabeths time what a multitude of Tares have been sown preached and printed and what a multitude of Errours Heresies and strange Opinions have sprung up and prospered in these sad times of Toleration Do but mark how apt this Field of the Church is to be sown and over-run with Tares For thus hath it befallen 1. Rome once so famous Rom. 1.7 8. for their Faith c. Is it not become Apostatical Antichristian and Damnable in their Doctrines 2. Those other Churches so much honoured with the other Epistles of our Apostle Corinth Galatia Ephesus Philippi Thessalonica c. Are they not a Den of Dragons the seat of the Turk 3. Those famous seven Churches of Asia brought to the liek pass which are so remembred Rev. 2. 3. Chap. 4. Germany once so sound in Doctrine is it not brought to Misery and Desolation almost upon the like account 5. England once the Glory of the Islands in the Earth for Religion c. what a Labyrinth and Confusion of Troubles Errours and evil Opinions do overflow Her and do threaten the like Ruine and Desolation to us 2. The Church in this Conflict had need to be strong and 1. Of a good courage and not to dread nor be dismayed 1. As David instructed Solomon his Son 1 Chron 22.13 2. As Moses yea and God himself instructed Joshua formerly Deut. 31.7 8. Joshua 1.6 7 9. Great atchievements must have great strength and courage to bring them to Accomplishment We are apt to be dismaid dicouraged and terrified at difficulties and had need therefore to rouze up our spirits the more as those Instructions both Affirmative and Negative to Joshua and to Solomon do import viz. To be strong and not to fear or be dismayed 2. Yet this strength and courage must be in the Lord and in the power of his Might As the Apostle speaks Phil 4.1.3 I can do all things through Christ c. And 1 John 5.4 5. This is the victory that overcometh the world even our Faith viz. whereby 1. We lay hold on Christ and apply his victory to us He hath overcome the world John 16.33 And given us victory 1 Cor. 15.57 And 2. Get strength from Him to go on in this spirtual warfare till we have fully overcome all Satans Temptations Rom. 16.20 The God of Peace shall bruise or tread down Satan under your feet saith St. Paul Even the Devil whom you are to resist stedfast in the Faith 1 Pet. 5.8 9. Ap. And thus by Faith you shall be Conquerors 1. Thus Christ in whom we believe is the principal Agent or Efficient And 2. Faith the instrumental cause of this victory For those Saints and Martys of old overcame Satan by the blood of the Lamb i.e. by the vertue thereof not by any worldly power or strength and by the word of their testimony i.e. by bearing witness to the Truth which is called The Testimony of Jesus Rev. 12.10 11 17. because Christ was the Object of their Confession Constancy and Martyrdome 1. Thus whilest others Goliah like strengthen themselves in the Arm of flesh 2. The strength of the Godly is in the Lord and in the power of his Might as Davids was in that great encounter with the Gyant 1 Sam. 17.4 5 6 7 42 45. Although with a Gyant of nine foot in height and so armed yet David the Youth remained the Conquerour over this mighty Monster so do the Saints over Satan by this assistance and the Church at the best state had need of strength c. So also 3. She hath need of compleat spiritual Armour Armour of Proof that will not fail nor deceive Her such is the Armour prescribed in the Text v. 14. to 19. Which also is 1. Defensive viz. 1. A Girdle 2. A Breast-plate 3. Shooes 4. Shield And 5. An Helmet 2. Offensive viz. 1. A Sword 2.
a Serpents wisdom are 1. A searching observing and knowing things by experience 2. To avoid dangers by flying hiding and securing themselves In these the Disciples were to imitate the Serpents Wisdom viz. 1. In wisely observing and prudently searching out the knowledge of things by their experiences which though it be called Ma. Stultorum yet may it be as truly named Mr. Dr. Sapientum 2. In Flying hiding and securing themselves from dangers by all lawful means 1. Save your selves from this untoward generation Acts 2.40 i.e. perverse and wicked men 2. When they persecute you in one City flee into another Mat. 10.23 3. Thus Christ himself did 4. And others Athana sius 2. The other two pernicious properties viz. To 1. Deceive 2. Wound 1. To deceive and seduce and so the old Serpent seduced and beguiled 1. Eve 2 Cor. 11.13 and in her the root of all makind His deceitful poyson hath infected all the branches 2. As the Crocadiles of Egypt with her tears 3. And other Serpents by Wiles do deceive them whom afterwards they do devour 2. To wound mortally with a poisonous sting as it is usual Ap. And in these the godly must not only beware lest they be beguiled by him but also act contrary to him since he is so wise in his generation to deceiva and destroy and that two ways viz. 1. By alluring men to that which is good and winning them to be healed of sin as the Apostle did 1 Cor. 9.22 2. Let us undeceive and direct men wounding men with godly sorrow never to be repented of that they may besaved Ap. All these are a deadly sting to the Devil him self and to all his Agents that the godly can either 1. Know by experience his Wiles 2. Or be secured from his rage 3. Or gain men to good 4. Or wound them for sin unto Repentance that they may be saved God is the healer of Israel Mal. 4.2 ☞ Thus wise had the godly need to be that must encounter with so many wiles and with all this wisdom they must adjoyn that foundation and topstone of perfect Wisdom viz. The Fear of the Lord Job 28.28 Psalm 111.10 Pro. 1.7 by which they shall be preserved from every evil way 1. And as they must be wise so had they need of more then 2. Sampson-like strength and the courage of the antient Worthies Heb. 11.33 To wrestle with such strong temptations and such infernal powers 1. So mighty which at some time have prevailed over 1. a Sampson 2. a David 3. a Solomon 4. an Apostle 5. and others in all Ages so mighty are they and impetuonsly powerful in temptation 2. and so â—any that their name may well be called Legion Mark 5.9 And we may well say of our spiritual Enemies That the Devils and Evils that are against us are innumerable Psalm 40.12 See the 4 5 6 and 7. Reasons before Let me a little explain this courage and give you some reasons why we should be furnished herewith 1. For the Nature of it it is Aggressio terribilium ubi mors imminet propter bonum salvandum Aristotle Christian Courage is the undaunted boldness of a sanctified heart in adventuring upon difficulties and hardships in a good cause upon a good ground when God calls us to it Et haec fortitudo praestat Magnanimitate Fiducia Securitate Magnificentia Constantia Tolerantia Firmitate Macrobi 1 Pol. p. 1065. Never were Joshua and Solomon and others that were to undertake great atchievements Nehemiah and Zorubbabel c. upon a juster cause or better ground called upon to be strong and couragious and not to fear Ap. Then we are to be strong and couragions in this spiritual Conflict See Deut. 31.7 8. Josh 1.6 7 9. 1. Chron. 22.13 2 Chron. 19. ult Jehoshaphats counsel to them Hag. 2.4 The Lords charge to Zerubbabel and Joshua The Prince and high Priest to build the house of God the Temple and for our charge see 1 Cor. 16.3 ver 10. hujus cap. and in the Text Watch ye stand fast in the faith quit you like men be strong In the definition before you hear that this spiritual courage is 1. An undaunted boldness or animosity of heart This is the Lords gift Ezek. 3.8 9. I have made thy face c. as an Adamant harder then flint The rock fears no change of weather heat or cold c. and the horse fears no dangers Job 29.19 to 26. Clothed with thunder c. And the Lyon turns not away from any Prov 30.30 Ap. So the Christians Courage will not shrink nor be danted but by the Assistance of the Almighty will bear up against all the storms and most terrible Assaults of these terrible ones the enemies named ver 12. 2. The Subject of this courage is a sanctified heart for as the heart is the subject of Courage both natural and spiritual est quasi cordis actio for so a valiant man is described 2 Sam. 17.10 Amos 2.26 His heart is as the heart of a Lion cordatus vir strong of heart So Sanctification is the necessary qualification of this heart in which spiritual courage dwells by which it differs from other kinds of courage This is the difference and which is caracterised by these three Notes viz. the 1. Root whence it springeth viz. Love to God 2 Cor. 5.14 2. Rule by which it is directed viz. The Word of God 1 Chron. 22.12 13. 3. End to which it referreth viz. which David charged to Solomon his son and God he is the Centre to which and wherein all things and undertakings of a sanctified heart do refer and rest as every thing resteth in his own proper Centre 3. The object of this carriage about which it is imployed is matters of great difficulty and hard services See Heb. 11.33 34 to 39. Who through Faith subdued Kingdoms c. Like their service 1 Sam. 31.12 When the valiant men of Jabesh recovered the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Bethshan when there fastened by the Philistines Conquerors So have many been rescued from the mouth of Lions and many souls from Hell by their Christian Courage and fortitude against Satan Jude 23. pluck'd out quasi from the fire of Hell pulled out of the fire 4. It must be always in a good cause 1. In matters of faith 1 Cor. 16.13 Jude 3. Stand fast in the faith c. and contend for it 2. And for Righteousness sake 1 Pet. 3.14 Then you are happy The cause makes the Martyr not the punishment Causa non supplicium facit Martyrem ☞ And it is a Christian resolution and worthy of imitation rather to run the hazard of whatsoever difficulties imaginable the loss of all that is dear and precious life it self rather then to transgress the commands of God violate my vows wound my own conscience and make a breach between God and my own soul which men care not for in these our days so are they habituated in
6. Faith believes that Eternal Life is given us Hope waits till it come and be revealed to us 7. Faith is the foundation and Hope resteth upon it 8. Faith sustains feeds and supplyes Hope for we cannot hope to have any thing from God except we believe his Promises and Hope by patient waiting strengthens the weakness of our Faith if that fail not 10. The Opposites are Doubt Despair hope in the Creature and humane inventions and all the vain hopes of evil men in and for evil things Thus you have the 1. Definitions 2. Causes 3. Subject 4. Seat 5. Place 6. Object 7. Adjuncts 8. Effects 9. The difference betwixt Faith and Hope c. and 10. Opposites of this Grace of hope the helmet of salvation And thus much shall suffice for the explication of the point 2. Now I descend to the second particular propounded viz. The confirmation of the point I. It is frequently commanded in Scripture Psalm 130.7 8. Let Israel hope in the Lord with him is mercy I need not multiply Scriptures II. It is highly commended 1. Good 2 Thes 2.16 2. Blessed Tit. 2.13.3 Lively 1 Pet. 1.3.4 Sure stedfast Heb. 6.19.5 And by it we are saved Rom. 8.24 because hope is necessarily joyned with faith For we believe what we are not in possession of but hope expecteth the performance in due time so that it continues with us till we have happiness in hand and then hope endeth in fruition and there determineth and ceaseth Thus it brings us to heaven Ergo we are said To be saved by it III. And eminently compared for its further commendation 1. As here to an Helmet for durableness and defence it fails us not 2. To an Anchor Heb. 6.19 for its usefulness in storms and in the most trouble some times To a Staff to lean and rest upon in our pilgrimage here Psalm 33.22 Isa 50.10 Stay upon his God IV. And for instances 1. Abraham above hope Rom. 4.18 2. David all along in the Psalms 3. The faithful in death Prov. 14.32 Isa 25.9 Jer. 14.22 Rom. 5.2 4. Joseph of Arimathea Luke 23.51 for the kingdom of God 5. The Disciples Luke 24.21 6. St. Paul of the Resurrection c. Acts 23.6 and 28.20 c. 7. And the Thessalonians 1 Thes 1.3 with patience of hope Now as we have the Commands Commendations Comparisons and divers instances of Scripture so we might raise divers Reasons and Arguments out of the Scriptures already cited further to acquaint us why we should take this helmet of salvation and thus hope in the Lord and persist therein V. And these reasons do arise in respect of 1. God himself because he is our help and Shield He that plucks our feet out of the Net Psalm 25.15 and 33.20 and because with him is Mercy and plentiful redemption Psalm 130.7 8. 2. Our selves because hope in God never shames men Rom. 5.5 i. e Non frustratur sperantes hope in other things often doth and we gain much by it for we renew our strength and become indefatigable Isa 40.31 3. From the perseverance and continuance in hope in it self for we ought to persist and continue therein to the end because the grace and benefit to be broughtto us is so great 1 Pet. 1.13 because the whole world hopes for a Restauration much more reason have we Rom. 8.19 to 26. You have heard the point from this piece of Armour viz. Doct. A Christians hope of salvation is to him an helmet which he must take and make use of in his spiritual Warfare This point you have heard explicated confirmed Now I do proceed to improve and make use of it 3. I do now descend to the third particular propounded viz. the Uses I. Use is of Reproof to those that hope not as they ought to do 1. Doubtful persons that fear God will not defend nor deliver them in time of temptation nor bestow eternal life upon them True it is that in us there is cause enough to doubt when we consider our sins but let us bewail this and our Confidence may be in God 2. Despairful people that apprehend their sins to be greater than mercy can pardon Gen. 4.13 Thus did Cain so those that had no hope 1 Thes 4.13 This is a great sin Of this see my Notes 3. Those that hope in the creature as too many do See my Notes of trust in God or In humane inventions and forged tales as poor superstitious persons and Papists do who place their hope in the Saints departed and in their Reliques in Bulls Pardons and Indulgencies of the Pope in Vows and Pilgrimages and a thousand other Ceremonious Observations Or in their own merits 4. This Use doth justly reprove and condemn the vain hope of evil men in and after evil things We are here in a Labyrinth a Maze an inextricable way It were endless to speak of the vanity of mens hopes Take but a few Instances 1. Balaam no doubt hoped to enrich and advance himself by the wages of unrighteousness according to Balacks promise Numb 22.17.2 Pet. 2.15 but it proved otherwise 2. And bloody Abimeleck by the slaughter of his Brethren made himself a King but you know what his End was Judg. 9.5 6. 3. Ahab hoped to compass Naboths vineyard to enlarge his Homestal and to hold it also when he had gotten it he did so but he had and held it with a vengeance 1 King 21. 4. Zimri no doubt when he had slain his Mr. Elah King of Israel and reigned in his stead hoped he had been safe enough but Omri brought him to a desparate end 1 Kings 16.9 10 16 to 21. 2 Kings 9.31 Had Zimri peace 5. Athaliah hoped that she had secured the Kingdom to her self by the slaughter of the Seed Royal but she found it otherwise 2 Kings 11.1 6. Sennacheribs huge Army could not compass their design but were miserably destroyed no doubt he hoped otherwise 2 Kings 18.19 7. Israels hope in Egypt never did them good Isa 30.2 11 to 15. 8. And those that had made a Covenant with death and hell hoped that all would be well enough with them but they were disappointed Isa 28.15 to 20. 9. Those Husbandmen Mat. 21.33 to 42. and Luke 20.9 to 17. They slew the Heir and did seize upon his inheritance hoped that they had much advantaged when they undid themselves thereby Why should I be endless in Instances that are innumerable Ap. All those hopes vanish and perish and no marvel for God hath spoken it The Hypocrites hope shall perish and Job 8.13 14 15. be as a Spiders web his house shall not stand c. but be as a dying man giving up the Ghost Job 11.20 For God destroyes such hope Job 14.19 Quest So that we may ask the Question as Job 27.8 What is the Hope c. though he had gained when God takes away his soul Answ Sure when death comes The hope of unjust men perisheth Prov. 11.7 23. and ends in
wrath Psalm 112.10 The wicked shall see and grieve and perish and melt away the desire or Hope of the wicked shall perish Such hopes are like dust or chaff fome or thin froth smoak that is soon dispersed or a Guest that stays but a day saith the wise man Eccles 5.14 Or like an unfaithful man in time of Trouble a broken tooth and a foot out of joynt Prov. 25.19 saith Solomon Ap. Should I bring these things down to our times when should I end and conclude this Subject For how many did hope that upon the death of the late King both Name and Thing King and King-ship hath been dead for ever and that either Anarchy or Tyranny Stratocracy or Oligarchy c. viz. the Rump should have domineered over us for ever And that King Kingdom Settlement or Free Parliament conducing thereto should never have appeared more Others had better hopes and now God hath decided the business You know the point from this helmet of salvation viz. Doct. A Christians hope of salvation is to him an helmet which he must take and make use in this spiritual Warfare This hath been explicated confirmed and applyed in part The first Use did reprove doubtful and despairful persons The second Those that hope in the Creature in humane inventions or in their own Merits And thirdly The vain hopes of evil men in and after vain or evil things Instances of which are innumerable 1. Balaam 2. Abimeleck 3. Ahab 4. Zimri 5. Athaliah 6. Sennacherib 7. Israel hoping in Egypt 8. Those Covenanters with death and hell And 9. Those Husbandmen in the Gospel who slew the Heir and did seize upon his inheritance hoping they had much advantaged themselves thereby Mat. 21. whereas indeed they utterly undid themselves by so doing as it is evident to this day 1600. years since These nine Instances were propounded unto you with a brief Application to these times and expression of the righteous Judgements of God against such sinful and ungodly hopes Thus far I have proceeded I do now descend to the Uses of Examination and Exhortation which you may conjoyn together for brevity sake The second and third Use of Examination and Exhortation is A Christians hope of salvation a helmet then try and examine your selves what Use you make of it You have heard it opened in the Causes and Effects of it c. 1. Now do you importune God much for this Grace of Hope he is the Donor of this and every perfect gift He is the Fountain of all good and to him we must have recourse 2. How do we cherish Faith the Root and Instrumental cause of this Faith is a principal grace as you have heard Then use all means to strengthen it and starve it not 3. Doth our hope of salvation make us act the more strenuously and vigorously For the 1. Glory of God from whom we expect salvation according to what we pray for Orat. Dom. Pet. 1. hollowed be thy Name Glorifie him in all things Ap. How can we hope for such honour from him whom we wilfully dishonour daily Be you exhorted and perswaded to mend what is amiss in this particular 2. And for our own Salvation in the way of it and in the pursuit of whatsoever may further the same Ap. These are the final causes and ends of your hope do you answer them 4. Hope it is Spes piorum and is appropriated only to the godly See that you be such these are the proper Bottles fit for such Wine The wicked have no hope being without God in the world Ephes 2.12 1 Thes 4.13 5. What are the Objects of our hope Is our hope fixed upon God Christ his Word and his Mercy Goodness and the manifold benefits Veniae Gratiae Gloriae of Pardon Grace and Glory the fruits of his Mercy and the streams of that fountain of living water For the Mercies of God fail not Ap. Do we esteem the fruition of these the greatest Blessings or is our hope set upon the world the pleasures profits and preferments of the same 1. Sensual and sinful pleasures are as much as some Epicuri de grege porci Epicures and others do hope for 2. With others Gold is their hope and gain their godliness Job 31.24 He did not so And Mammon their God Mat. 6.24 3. And the Glory Pomp and Preferment of this world have caused many to fall down and worship the God of this world This our Saviour refused 6. How are our minds prepared 1 Pet. 1.13 and our lives purified 1 John 3.3.1 To entertain such a perseverance as is required of us viz To hold fast our confidence and rejoycing of hope firm and stedfast unto the end Heb. 3.6 14. And 2. Such a full assurance of Hope unto the end as is expected and desired by us Heb. 6.11 which must be accomplished by diligence Faith and Patience not slothfulness Ap. We must be at pains to reach this Assurance and great diligence must be used to keep it free and full without anxiety and doubting Let this be your work 7. What effects have this our hope of salvation wrought and produced in us Are we hereby taught to be more heavenly minded Are our hearts there where our hopes are And are we more conformable to heavenly conditions and qualifications there is perfect Peace Vnity Amity Love and Concord all in agreement and one God and Father over all who is infinitely good Ap. But we on earth have had many Masters none of the best and amongst our selves are full of Fractions and divisions Machiavels wicked rule hath had great power influence and prevalence with us for many years viz. Divide impera which hath been mightily acted by a Jesuited party Divide and Rule We have more resembled a wilderness of Bears and Lions Wolves and Tigers rather then a Paradise of God a place of peace where the Lion and the Lamb lye down in peace together Isa 11.6 to 10. and 65.25 We have broken one anothers heads and hands and hearts and Estates and how all things have suited with this Helmet of Salvation I leave to wise experienced Christians to determine Tantaene animis coelestibus Irae Great anger among heavenly minds was strange to Heathens The good Lord mend it now among Christians 2. How much more humble are we then formerly This is a valley of grace Capsula virtutum a Cabinet of vertues the first step to heaven to which God gives his grace and then adds Exaltation Ap. Yet how few have and embrace this 3. How much Self-denial all in reference to the things of this world hath this hope wrought in us Who denys himself the more in respect of dishonest gain Or willingly restores things unlawfully gotten We hope for heaven yet we would willingly hold the worst gotten goods on earth Ap. How these things suit I know not 4. What Patience upon earth in bearing Afflictions and Injuries Hath our hope of heaven wrought in us 5. And lastly What
not sanctified to us how soon are we made worse by them and are the more exposed to Satans snares and temptations Thus for temporal blessings and for spiritual Graces and blessings how many do we want and are yet wholly without them besides the use of them all how requisite growth of them and encrease daily how necessary and our perseverance in them to crown all with comfort and the efficacy of all the means of Salvation as to our good and to become a Savour of life unto life All is to be had from God he only opens the heart Acts 16.14 He did of Lydia else Paul may plant 1 Cor. 3.6 but God only gives the encrease Our Faith is but weak our Hope but faint our Obedience imperfect our resolutions vowes promises purposes how variable are they and how apt to change the woful experience of many sick persons when recovered and many troubled Consciences when comforted who have revolted from all to sin again doth speak too much to this 5. And our lives how short and how momentary 5. And lastly The very shortness of our lives which are but for a moment and our own inability as of our selves to bring any thing to perfection All these do call upon us and invite us earnestly to be importunate with God for his help from above to strengthen and confirm us And since our lives are so short to pray and do as Psalm 39.4 5. Lord make me to know mine end and the measure of my days Psalm 90.12 And teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom and may learn of the Apostle to redeem the time because the days of our lives are evil Ephes 5.15 III. Others whether Friends or Enemies 1. For Friends How many elected are yet uncalled remaining in darkness How many weaklings are there in the body of Christ that need thy aid in this kind And how many fainting under the cross being feeble-minded and comfortless Compassion must move us to do as we are commanded James 5.14 viz. To pray one for another 3. And as for Foes whether men or devils we know they are many and mighty and crafty and cruel violent and insolent aiming at our destruction Therefore we had need to pray Psalm 25.19 Lord consider mine enemies for they are many and they hate me with cruel hatred And deliver us not over unto their Will for they breath out nothing but cruelty Psalm 27.12 .. And thus in respect of our selves and others there will be everlasting Use of this Armour and that in several kinds 1. Prayers or Apprecations for blessings 2. Supplications or Deprecations against evils either felt or feared that they may be prevented or removed 3. Intercessions for others 4. To all which we must add Thanksgiving in reference to all as occasion is offered and success comes in as they are in part named here in the Text and all of them conjoyned 1 Tim. 2.1 2. In that serious Exhortation of the Apostle That first of all Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks be made for all men c. You have had reasons from God our selves and others 4. Now add a fourth Reason which is the last and which ariseth from or is in respect of the duty of Prayer in it self and its excellency in the Cause End and Effects of the same 1. In the Cause viz. God himself It is the Lord that sets us on work to the performance of this duty by Precepts and Promises And he only doth effect this in us by his holy Spirit Rom. 8.26 17. Who helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self doth inform and act us hereunto and in the duty And this is very welcome and acceptable to him which he prefers before other sacrifices and calls for as for Musick Can. 2.14 Let me hear thy voice for it is sweet Ap. These are the pleasant harps and sweet perfumes which he delights in Rev. 5.8 Here be the golden vials full of Odours or Incense and this must needs be excellent which hath such acceptance with him 2. In the End of it viz. The Honour and Glory of God He is set up and magnified in our prayers to him And in his Answers to us Prayer gives him the honour of his greatness and us the experience of his goodness 3. In the Effects of Prayer which are marvellous There is so great an Efficacy and such an invincible force in prayer that it is said of Prayer thus Vincit invincibilem ligat Omnipotentem it conquers the invincible and bindeth the Omnipotent overcoming him that overcometh all things Do but mark what God saith to Moses Exod. 32.10 Deut. 9.14 Let me alone or suffer me that my wrath may wax hot against them and that I may consume them Quest Why what could Moses do to hinder God or stay his punishment Answ Surely nothing by the prevailing of humane force above divine but by condescending of divine Grace to the desires of the godly as Gen. 32.24 25 26. In Jacobs wrestling by powerful prayer Hos 12.4 Hence Israel and the destruction of Sodom Gen. 19.22 Nothing could be done till Lot was gone His presence and prayers prevent it Ap. Oh how much are the wicked bound to the godly for their company and the godly to the Lord for his benignity who spares them in such a comcom calamity as he did Noah before See Isa 65.8 As the new wine is found in the Cluster c. destroy it not for a blessing is in it so will I do for my servants sakes that I may not destroy them all 1. Prayer is truly styled Consolatio slentium cura dolentium Sanitas Aegroterum a comfort for mourners the joy of the sorrowful and health for the sick 2. Prayer hath a faculty of singular prevalency it is like the gift which is as a precious stone or a stone of grace Eben-chen Lapis gratiae Arias Mont. in the eyes of him that hath it whether Giver or Receiver whether soever it turneth it prospereth it maketh room for a man i. e. It gets him favourable audience and exalts him to honour Prov. 17.8 and 18.16 of these we have daily experience and the like we may say of Prayer It prospers it moke room for and honoureth us This piece of Armour is of admirable use viz. Prayer and that in the way of Offence and Defence I. Offence Of which take a few instances by this it was that 1. Moses overcame Amalek Exod. 17.10 to 14. 2. And Israel the Canaanites and Midianites Judg. 6.7 c. 3. By this David frustrated the Councel of Achithophel 2 Sam. 15.31 and 17.23 so mayest thou of the Devil against himself and conquered his enemies often Psalm 56.9 4 Abijah Jeroboams mighty Army 2 Chron. 13. so that five hundred thousand chosen men of Israel were slain vers 17. 5. And Asa Zerah the Aethiopian with his Host of a Million 2
Use I. Informs us how wanting we be in performing good works how wicked we be in producing and practising so much evil as provokes the curse of Christ Use II. Of reproof to men of all ages babes old and young for that having so much means they continue so weak sick and wicked as they do and produce no better fruit Use III. Exhorts men of Eminency and Authority and all men to labour for proficiency which to effect prune and lop off superfluities which hinder growth and fruit viz. Idleness Pride Worldliness Custome of smaller sins and ill company Make use of such things as further Increase and Fruitfulness viz. Industry Humility heavenly Mindedness Conscience of all duty and Gods Society All which are soveraign Antidotes against Dwarfishness and Barrenness and then provide for growth and fruit thus Get the Spirit and let the Vine-dressers be diligent Make use of Ordinances and Means Exercise your Graces and use good company Use IV. Of Examination teacheth us to try whether we Increase or not Use V. Of Comfort But alas When can all this be done Not in a moment or in one hour c so that I am at a stand what to do the acceptance of me and my labours of late and the manifold exceptions against both my sickness and weakness neither considered nor pitied have put me almost upon the resolution of the Prophet Jer. 20.8 9. viz. To preach no more for as he so have I been rewarded c. But that I have a glorious God and Father in heaven that design'd me to this work from my birth a gracious Redeemer that doth command me often to feed his Sheep John 21.15 16 17. A blessed Spirit that doth encourage and strengthen me hereunto That many Souls are to be edified and instructed I have a Conscience to be discharged as in the sight of God A great Account to be answered and cleared And a Soul to be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus And but that the Word of God is as a fire burning in my heart with zeal for his glory and the good of souls I had been utterly discouraged long since in our confused times But a necessity is upon me yea woe is to me if I preach not the Gospel 1 Cor. 8.16 Therefore with the Prophets Isa 62.1 Jer. 4.19 I will not nor I cannot hold my peace for Sions sake for your souls sake till your righteousness appear in brightness and that you do grow on to perfection in some good measure Therefore though aged and weak I shall resolve with aged St. Peter not to be negligent to put you in remembrance of the things that concern your salvation though you know them and be established in the present truth 2 Pet. 1.12 13 14 15. Now to pursue our premised and intended Method I hope I need not produce many particular proofs For the whole Scripture aims at this and perswades us to grace and to the fruits thereof by many Arguments 1. Yet to give you in a few for many St. Peter layes a strict charge upon us for the root 2 Pet. 3.17 18. Beware of being misted c. But grow in grace c. Auxanete implies Motion and Augmentation Growth and Increase a progress to a fulness and abundance 2. And for the fruit our Apostle is as serious 1 Cor. 15.58 Be ye stedfast c. Always abounding 3. And for both the Apostle tells us That this is the main end of the work of the Ministry and the manifold gifts of God upon men viz. For the edifying of the body of Christ unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ vers 13 14. That we be not children c. But speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things which is the Head Christ c. and may receive increase of the body unto the edifying of it self in love Ephes 4.12 to 17. 4. And answerable hereunto are our Apostles incessant prayers for the Colossians Col. 1.9 10 11. That they might be filled with the knowledge of Gods will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding that they might walk worthy of the Lord c. being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God strengthened with all might by his glorious power unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness And this is a passing from strength to strength fath to faith and from glory to glory 1. From strength to strength Psalm 84.7 i e. Never weary but encreasing in strength and courage till they came to Mount Zion to Gods House so doth the Christian till Heaven From Faith to Faith Rom. 1.17 Not to several kinds of Faith but from one degree of faith to another till it do attain its full accomplishment in Life Eternal From glory to glory 2 Cor. 3.18 i.e. From glory begun upon Earth by Grace to glory consummated and perfected in the glory of Heaven Thus much for Scripture proof 2. I shall add a few instances of either sort proficients non-proficients men of stature and Dwarfs fruitful and barren 1. For the first sort Christ is the incomparable president and most transcendent pattern in this for he encreased in wisdom and stature c. Luke 2.5 2. For stature he encreased by little and little as Children do and that Lege humanae naturae by the course of Nature Enthyminus And for Wisdom although the fulnesse of the Godhead did dwell in him bodily Col. 1.19 and that God gave him the Spirit beyond measure John 3.34 Yet because he assumed a reasonable Soul as well as an humane Body the Deity thereto united was so vailed that the graces thereof discovered themselves by certain degrees according to the nature of his humane Faculties so he is said to encrease And he encreased in Wisdome Experimentally for though he was a Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered Heb. 5.8 ☞ As God he was absolutely perfect and needed no encrease but as Man consisting of an humane Body and Reasonable Soul and as a man obvious to sufferings he is said to encrease in wisdom and stature c. But this first is an instance beyond Example a President that admits no parallel incomparable 2. Come we to a second that reflects more upon us viz. The Thessalonians that were here exhorted to this duty how are they commended 2 Thess 1.3 4. in that the Apostle gives thanks to God for them that their Faith grew exceedingly and that their Charity towards each other abounded so that the Apostle c. did glory in them in the Churches of God c. Oh how well were it if all people would give their Teachers cause thus to glory but these Examples are Rare 1. Their faith encreased in regard of the Object when they apprehended more profound Mysteries of faith then before Subject When more confirmed in the Mysteries apprehended and that we give a more full Assent unto them without any staggerings or