with high estimations The young man when Christ bade him sell all that he had and give it to the poore It was praeceptum experimentale he goes away sorrowfull Thirdly to the Scepter and Government of Christ we will not have this man Reigne over us say they and you reade in Psalme 2. How they did consult to break his bands asunder The Scepter of Christ is Heavenly and his Lawes are spiritual and his Wayes are righteous and straight they lay injunctions on the inward man as well as on the outward conversation and binde the thoughts and the intentions and affections Now what do you meane to pinne up a spirit which would have elbow roome what would you have a licentious heart and a turning and winding conscience to be precised and narrowed and restrained and so every way straitened You must give it leave to break the Sabbath to improve its gaines dishonestly to sweare now and then and to comply c. Fourthly to the Righteousnesse of Christ O what a do had that blessed Apostle with the Romanes with the Galatians with others to break them off from Iustification by Works And to fasten upon their hearts the Justification by Faith We are apt to stand upon our selves and to look for the matter of our acceptance and acquittance in our selves on man he thinks that his good meaning shall make him speed Another thinks that his doing no body any harme will let him into Heaven or else God help us Another stands on his devout Sacrifices Another on his charitable bounties Yea and those who should know better in the Doctrine of Justification how extreamly do they cling to their inherent Graces much a do before they can be made to cast their Crowns to the earth and to give the glory only to Christ who is worthy What paines is God forced to take to break us off from our selves we are so proud and so unwilling to be beholding to Gods free grace and Christ that God is faine to break our heart to pieces and to split our ship into shivers that we might only to Christ He must imprint the holy and mighty vigour of the Law on our consciences to shew us our utter impotency and sensibly acquaint us with our marvellous imperfections in graces and interruptions in duties and excursions of daily sinnings and all to fetch us entirely to cast our safeties only on the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ CHAP. XI The facility of error and mistake about believing SEcondly as it is hard to believe so it is easie to mistake and delude our selves in the matter of believing Four things make it to be so 1. One is the various kindes of faith 2. Another is the consimilitude of one of the extreams of faith 3. The easinesse of both And 4 the aptnesse in our hearts to be satisfied with these First there are divers kindes of faith As the Apostle spake of bodies all bodies are not the same bodies but there are bodies Coelestial and bodies Terrestial so I say of Faith all faith I speak of habitual faith is not the same kinde of faith we read of a Faith which the Devils have and we read of a Faith which the Hypocrites have and we read of a Faith which even Christs enemies whom he did not dare to trust had and we read of a Precious Faith a Faith of Gods Elect a justifying and saving faith Divines ordinarily distinguish of faith There is an Historical faith which is a crediting the word relating but not an embracing of it promising it is like the passing through a Garden and observing and smelling but not a flower is gathered so in Historical Faith the eye of the understanding goes over the Word of God and hath some apprehensions and general grants and intellectual submissions that God doth not lye but what he saith is true Neverthelesse there is not that quality of justifying faith in this which makes the heart to close with the goodnesse of truth and to embrace Christ 2. There is a wonderful faith a faith of miracles to remove mountaines to raise the dead which had some special and immediate promise and yet it was a gift bestowed on those who had no faith to save themselves Many who have cast out devils may at the last day be cast among the devils Lord Lord have not we Prophesied in thy name and in thy name cast out Devils And yet Christ bid them depart Non novi vos 3. There is a temporary faith which hath in it some great apprehensions of the truths of God yea and reverent assents yea and some delightfull contentations in the same yea and some fruitfull expressions and with all these a singular degree of profession even to a zealous forwardnesse and notoriousness so that a man may be in the eye of others like a tall Ship and yet there is a Leake in the bottome which on the sudden sinks all This temporary faith though in many respects it handles the same object with saving faith it is tampering much about Christ and the promises yet it is intrinsically and extreamly different from it It doth not differ from it in respect of eminency or degrees nor in respect of existence or duration onely for the one is a living Spring and the other is a decaying Flood but in respect of formal nature also The temporary faith doth not indeed bring all the heart and settle it on Christ 4. There is this justifying and saving faith which bestowes the whole heart on Christ and takes Christ unfeignedly to be Lord and Saviour Now where there are so many sorts it is not a great difficulty nor an impossibility to mistake error is manyfold said the Phylosopher but the truâ—h iâ— single and there is but one line to hit the mark out many to misse it Nay secondly there is a great consimilitude of one of the extreames of faith with faith it self viz. credulity It is strange yet ordinary that a man should make a heaven of his own and a God of his own and a Christ of his own and a faith of his own and a way to heaven of his own Presumption is a work much of an idle fancy and a gracelesse heart like a thiefe very apt to finger the Kings coine but without a warrant But to the thing Is there knowledge in faith why presumption pretends to that is there confidence in faith what more bold then presumption is there any sweet assurance in faith why presumption never doubted but could believe ever since a man was borne is there any joy in faith why presumpâ—ion is as jocond and carelesse as if there were no heaven to be got no sinne to be bewailed nor course to be reformed Lastly these are easie and we are apt to content our selves with these instead of a true beleeving in Jesus Christ. To get a little seeming knowledge to carry Religion upon the lip and Christ on the tongue to be bold upon Gods mercy and Christs death
make his addresse unto the Lord Jesus for cure and health and that he should by faith accept of him and trust upon him for the healing of his soul and the subduing of his sins and then verily you shall finde vertue to come from Christ raising a greater hatred of sin war with it in the very fountaine watching and praying against it and the power of the ordinance successively weakening and crucifying the power of sin Lastly know this that the time of contrariety is the time for faith to work When a man sees death then is it the time for faith to believe life When he sees the grave then is it the time for faith to believe a resurrection when he sees guilt then is it the time for faith to believe pardoning mercy when he sees himself a sinner then is it the time for faith to believe a Saâ—iour when he sees strong corruptions then is it the time for faith to believe great grace when he sees great discomforts then is it the time for faith to believe strong consolations the exigences of sense and the reliefes of the promises are quite contrary what I feel is one thing what God doth promise is another thing That which the patient observes in himself is sicknesse and that which he hopes for in the medicine is health Hath God made thee sensible of thy sins dost thou finde thus much that al that thou canst do wil not become a rebuke of corruption thou art able now to see the strength of thy sinfull nature but to remove it thou art utterly unable Why what is now to be done truly as in the sense of the guilt of sin we must then flye by faith to God and put our soules upon his free mercy for pardon so in the sense of the filthy strength of sin we must to heaven by faith and put our soules on Gods faithful promises in Christ for the healing and subduing of it This is the way and therefore strive to walk in it you may try other waters but they shall not help you and perplex your own thoughts but they shall not availe you the cure of the sinful soul is only in heaven and it is faith only which can lift up a soul to God and Christ which puts it into the Pool When sin is felt then let faith work If thou canst finde any one promise which God hath made of sanctifying and healing and subduing Why here 's ground for faith yea for thy saith for in these promises are the cures of thy sinful nature and faith it is which will apply the healing medicines to thee 8. Obj. Yet I am not satisfied saith the sensible sinner and fearfull soul Why Because First I cannot finde an heart to duty to pray and seek of God and surely if God did purpose and mean any good to me he would in some measure frame and encline and excite my heart towards him Secondly yea and againe though I do sometimes seek and entreat yet I observe that what I was that I am nothing comes of it how then can I may I should I be enduced to believe Sol. Here are two sore and real scruples which do indeed vehemently beat upon a sensible sinner I shall endeavour to assoyle them successively 1. I cannot finde an heart to any duty to pray for faith c. I Answer 1. As the inability to holy duties depends on natural corruption so the indisposition towards them depends exceedingly upon unbelief There is nothing disheartens a man more towards God then it For bâ—sides this that unbelief in its own nature is a departure from God it is a bias drawing the soul downwards This also is true of it that it represents God to the soul in all the appearances and methods of discouragements It makes the soul to see nothing in God or from God which might encline it to him O saith unbelief there is such holinesse and purity in him that he will never endure thee there is such truth and justice in him that he will surely be avenged of thee There is such strength and power in him that he will certainly meet with thee and lay load on thee There is I confesse a mercifulnesse in him but alas his tender bowels of compassion his ready forgivenesse extends not to thee there are many sweet intimations in his promises but they concern not thee there is a mighty salvation in Christ and powerful intercession to ingratiate some persons and their services but what of this to thee He is a God hearing prayer yea but he will not regard the cryes nor tears of some but their Sacrifices are an abomination unto him And thus doth unbelief set up God utterly against the soule so that the poor soul conceiving of God as an enemy dares not come neer it flies off it is even afraid to speak to him It is perswaded by unbeliefe that God will frowne upon all that is done whereupon the spirit sinks the affectionâ— are flatted I have no minde nor heart am like a lump a stock a stone Secondly it is faith which will fetch up the soul Psal 27. 13. I had fainted unlesse I had beleeved to see the goodnesse of the Lord c. As if he should say my spirits were even breathing themselves out I was even sinking down giving up all unlesse I had beleeved but that confidence of Gods goodnesse towards me that did put life into me that did fetch me again that did put heart into me You see now the spring is coming on that those seemingly dead branches of the trees they begin to thrust out some hopeful sproutings and put on another colour of freshnesse why because the root is now more fed and warmed It is faith which will put colour into our faces and spirit into our hearts and life into our duties For 1. Faith sets open the mercy-seat It represents God to the Two reasons of it soul in all his attributes of graciousnesse not as an hard tyrant but as a good God willing to give audience to the humble requests and suit of a poore sinner Nay willing to dispatch and grant his requests What is thy request said Ahashuerus to Queen Ester it shall be granted thee c So saith the Lord What wouldest thou have of me Is it mercy I do promise it unto thee Is it grace I promise that unto thee Is it strength is it comfort is it deliverance whatsoever it be if thou beleeve on me I will not fail to give to thee Nay I will do it freely nay cheerfully with all my heart and with all my soul Jer. 32. Yea this makes the soul to come unto God as the ship into the haven with full speed and stretched sailes O the soul bends the knee with cheerfulnesse when it sees it shall be raised up with kindnesse a man may have some heart to pray when he knows My God will hear me that God hath a readiness to answer 2. Faith sets the soul in
the prevailing wayes it puts the soul to seek and pray with such motives as it is most sure shall make it to speed There are many motives which men take to prevaile with God O they can do nothing God regards them not the strength of a mans excellencies of his own worthinesse of his own abilities and frame alas these are not the prevailing and binding motives all these import that thou wouldest speed for their own sake But faith layes these asiâ—e it hath motives from Gods own heart and mouth with which it teacheth the soul to urge God the Name of Christ the gracious goodnesse of God himself the fidelity of his promises his own word Now God hath said that these shall prevaile with him and faith knows it to be infallibly so and hereupon drawes on the soule with marvellous cheerfulnesse to seek the Lord. 3. Know this that no man shall in good earnest set upon God for faith and other grace but Satan will set upon his heart and his heart will set against his wayes in this This were a wonder indeed if a man could get into Christs armes without any more ado That he should instantly have an heart in all imaginable respects sweetly and totally framed with the strength and un-interrupted gales of heavenly inclinations and performances Alas poor soul thou must by weak faith fight hard to get strong faith and thou must by any duty make way for clearer duty well is it with thee if instead of words thou canst sometimes seek God with sighs and when sighes faile if yet with groanes and desires When thou wouldest do good thou shalt finde evil present with thee when thou feelest an heart to pray perhaps even that motion is almost struck out by another heart in thee which is most unwilling to pray when thou feelest any climbings of thy soul by faith in thy heart even these will be opposed by strong doubtings and suspitions by another heart of unbelief within thee Neverthelesse remember this that this particular opposition being resisted disliked bewailed doth only declare that there is in thee that which is contrary to thee and that Satan dislikes thy way it doth not testifie that God dislikes it or will not accept of thee If God hath given unto thee any desires towards him O cherish them as one would a spark The beginnings of a Christian are in much weaknesse and manifold distractions and oppositions but there is a God who gave unto thee those breathings and can understand secret groans and there is a Christ who can and will make weak services acceptable and in time will give the victory after the combate Secondly Many seekings but nothing comes of them This doth exceedingly distract the soule the unsensible alteration of the soule after many seekings usually raise a prejudice against God and our selves but for this observe some particulars 1. The efficacy of seekings consists not in the quantity or number but in the quality and manner Have you offered unto me Sacrifices and offerings in the wildernesse fourty years O house of Israel Amos 5. 25. So I say hast thou offered prayers unto God in these many dayes of thy distresses nay thou hast come before him with words but not with prayers What thinkest thou that the Lord is pleased with all thy teares and with all the humblings of thy Spirit and with all the importunities of thy requests whiles under them all thou doest not stick to tell God to his face that he is a dissembler and lyar In all these thy sacrifices and approaches unto the great and high God thou didst not believe any one promise which he hath made thou hast thought that God would not do thee good and is it likely that thou shouldest speed well at his hand who reproachest the true and faithful God Obj. I do indeed pray because I must I am commanded but I verily beleeve it is in vaine tush what tell you me of Gods promises he will never perform them to me Sol. Good God! what shall the Lord not only command by a righteous word but assure and invite by a good and faithful word a word as true as truth it self and is it but a tush with us is it not of any more account with us nay not of so much account as the word of a poore man No marvel that nothing comes after many seekings such seekings of pride and unbelief infidelity for the pardon of which I advise thee to speed up many more seekings of faith 2. Right seekings shall alwayes come to something Though the proud and impatient persons said It was in vaine to serve God and what profit is it that we have kept his Ordinances and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord Mal. 3. 14. Yet God assures them that the day should come that they should returne and discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not Ver. 18. Sweet is that place of the Prophet Iâ—aiah Mine Elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands Isa 65. 22. They shall not labour in vain nor bring forth for trouble Verse 23. It shall come to passe that before they call I will answer and whilest they are yet speaking I will hear v. 24. And the reason is because God is faithful who hath promised and he will never suffer his truth to faile If there be any good thing which he hath commanded thee to pray for and which he hath undertaken for thee in his promises and which thou dost humbly sue out in the name of Christ by faith I say rest upon it it shall be given to thee if thou canst but wait on God in the use of the means 3. There is a double answer to the seeking of the soul one is real another is sensible As when a request is presented to the King either for pardon or settling if he accepts of the request and puts his seale to the authorizing of the grant the request is really done though perhaps the petitioner knows it not So it is with the Lord many times in his answerings he doth the things really for us though we be not presently sensible of it we beg for mourning hearts and for hearts to hate sinne and for hearts to pray unto him and then we feel our hearts hard and our corruptions bursting forth upon us which makes our hearts bitterly to grieve and stirres up extreame loathings of our vile natures and causeth the soule to lie groveling with most striving and servent importunities at heaven gate Why here are now the very things that we would have yet we are not many times sensible that these things are answers 4. We must distinguish 'twixt nothing absolutely and nothing comparatively Why it is true that the Holy heart hath such an extream abomination of sinne and such an high thirst of grace that the present answers from heaven seeme as nothing that is there is yet something more and more which
for a soul which is bitterly sensible of its wonderful and continual emptinesse Till the Angel came and opened Hagars eyes to see the fountaine she gave up her child for dead so unlesse we have faith to open our eyes to see the fountain of grace and mercy in God and Christ I tell you that in many of our exigencies we shall throw away all all as dead and lost and hopelesse 2. Againe It is nothing but faith which gives spirit unto us from a bare promise one word of God is security enough to faith If a Marriner can get to the top of the Mast and descry but a point of land he is now glad all is well faith is said to see the promises afar of Heb. 11. well saith faith to the soul now as Paul to them which sayled with him be of good cheer thou shalt yet do well grace and mercy and help will come God hath promised it and Christ will make all the promises Yea and Amen and now the soul lives because of that good and faithful word c. Secondly If we consider God himself there is sufficient reason why we should live by faith There be six arguments which we may behold in God to envite 6. Things and perswade us to live by faith First his Alsufficiency I am God alsufficient said he to Abraham What 's that That is I am an absolute and independent essence in respect of my self infinitely perfect and enough and have enough and enough to satisfie all the world Take all the particular creatures in the world and view into their natures and conditions you shall finde every one of them to be imperfect to be depending to be replenished with wants even one man for his own particular is covered over with innumerable wants the wants of his soul are many so of his body so of his estate what then and how many are the necessities of every man But now God is alsufficient that is he hath enough to supply every man He can open his hand fill every living thing Thou openest thy hand said David Ps 145. 15. and satisfiest the desire of every living thing and he is able to make all grace abound saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 9. 8. He is rich to all that call upon Rom. 10. 12. He is able to do Eph. 3. 20. exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Jesus Christ Phil. 4. 19. The Sunne you see hath light enough for a whole world and a fountaine hath water enough for a whole countrey Why all good is in God both originally and eminently and causally that is he is goodnesse it self and all goodnesse fulnesse without want strength without weaknesse holinesse without blemish yea and the universal cause of goodnesse and therefore infinitely able to supply and help and do good there is no one necessity but he is able infinitely to succour it and many yea all necessities are not to be compared to the unfathomed greatnesse and exceedingnesse of his fulnesse and alsufficiency 2. His Command As God is an absolute and full good all our helps do center in him as in their compleat cause so he hath commanded us to live upon his alsufficiency by faith How often do you read those charges Trust upon the Lord commit thy way to the Lord rest upon him stay upon the God of Jacob cast thy care on him As if God should say unto the sons of men I am he and there is none else besides me who can do you good there is not any good in all the world which you want but I am able to supply it I am alsufficient for wisdom for holinesse for mercy for power for grace for comfort for peace If you want water you would go to the Spring and if you want light you would look up to the Sunne and if you want any good why will you not look up to me who am goodnesse it self I tell you that I am a God and have the greatnesse and the fulnesse of a God Nay and I charge and require you when you need any thing come to me for it I am the Master of all the families of the earth and the Lord of all good It is my expresse will that you come unto me and that you put your trust on me that you beleeve on my alsufficiency that you live upon that stock which is in my fulnesse Nay I shall take it exceeding ill if you rest your selves or live on any other 3. His Promises Consider this two wayes 1. Generally his promises of good wherein is ground to trust 2. Particularly His promises to them that will and do trust Psal 37. 3. Trust in the Lord and verily c. Isa 26. 3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee So Isa 57. 13. This puts life to all the rest for though God were never so able to do good and though his commands were never so urgent to live on him for all our good yet if he had not made over this good unto us we might maintain secret feares and discouragements But now God hath promised all good unto us that is he hath firmly and graciously made it over As if he should say all the good that I can do I will do it for thee all the ample fulnesse in me is to replenish thee it is to supply thy wants and necessities and I assure thee in the Word of a God it is so Psalme 84. 11. The Lord is a Sunne and shield the Lord will give grace and glory no good thing will he with-hold from them that walk uprightly Ver. 12. O Lord of Hosts blessed is the man that trusteth in thee There is not any one particular want which is fit to be stiled a want and fit to be supplied in this life for soul but God hath by promises particularly engaged all his sufficiency to help and supply it Doest thou want an holy heart a returning heart an heart to hate sinne to mourn for sinne a beleeving heart an upright heart a meek and patient heart a joyful heart doest thou want any grace more grace pardon of sin assurance of pardon strength against sin strength for any duty active or passive wantest thou any convenient and fit good for thy body for thy name for thy estate for thy children for thy family any good for life at death after death Not any one of these which God hath not distinctly promised If you knew a man to be sufficient to have an estate worth ten thousand pounds and all free you will presently trust him for an hundred pounds or if such an one should command any in his need to come to him and borrow this would draw many to him but if he should take a man out particularly and say to him Friend my estate is thus great I have a great estate and I pray thee if
pardon and to crown him with eteâ—nal glory Beleeve it assurance will make thy life more fruitful and thy heart more suffering Faith will make holy duties to be no harden and assurance will make it a delight Faith will make a man to bear the Câ—osse â—nd assurance will make a man to triumph under it We are more then conquerours said perswaded Paul Seventhly Assurance of faith it is a bathing spring to all our graces Shall I instance in some 1. The mourning heart doth much depend upon the assured minde No man ever did or ever shall take God by the hand as reconciled to him or look on Christ as redeeming him or read his pardon with assurance but his heart shall be full of joy and his eyes full of teares They shall look on him whom they have pierced and shall mourne as a man mournes for his only childe Zach. 12. 10. There is nothing softens the heart so well as faith and which melts it so much as assurance The powers of the greatest kindnesse and most gracious love do open the fountain of godly sorrow within the soul 2. Love kindles in the heart upon assurance To whom much is forgiven the same will love much said Christ Luke 7. 47. We love him because he loved us first said John The love of God to us is the cause of our love to him againe and againe and the more that love is cleared to us the more is our love rekindled to him goodnesse is a cause of love here it is bountifulnesse is a cause of love here it is knowledge of both a special provocation of love in assurance here it is What a thing is this that God should give his Covenant to me his Sonne to me his Mercies to me his loving kindnesse to me his glory in heaven unto me I love a man who defends my Name I love a man who gives me a book I love a man who gives me my ransom I loue a man who gives me a meales meat Ah! poore things in comparison how do I then infinitely exceed in love to my God who I know hath pardoned hath justified hath accepted will save me for ever More might be said of all particular graces whatsoever 8. Assurance by faith doth but ease us of the world and mounts the soul above it 1. It easeth us of the world How can he walk with cares who is indeed perswaded that God is his Father he that gave him Christ will give him all other things freely God will not stand for a little earth who hath bountifully given a whole heaven and he will surely finde me food and rayment for my body who found mercy and the blood of his own Sonne for my soul 2. Nay it mounts us above the world they do observe that these lower things grow little and lesse by how much the higher a man is seated If a man could be elevated to one of the celstial orbes the whole world would seeme but a narrow spot of ground unto him In one point this is most true the neerer God draws unto the soule the more nothing doth this world appeare O the blessed favour of God! the evidences of our union with Christ This is like the light of the Sunne which puts out the light of ten thousand candles Thou wouldest never complaine of too little in the world if thou haddest so much as made up a true assurance of heaven 9. Lastly Assurance will breed comfort in life and confidence in death Object Why are Gods people afraid many times to die they cannot say with Christ I will go to my Father They have the bond but see not the seale They are not assured of Reconciliation of pardon of salvation But if they could with Simeon Take Christ into their armes if once they could be assured Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy salvation He who by assurance looks Christ in the face may with cheerful confidence look death in the face I have a desire to depart and to be with Christ said Paul Phil. 1. 23. How so verse 21. For to me to live is Christ and to die is gaine But how knows he that 2 Tim. 1. 12. For I know whom I have beleeved and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day So 2 Cor. 5. 1. For we know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens SECT V. Quest 1. NOw I come to the last inquiry by what means the soule mâ—y get up to this assurance Sol. I shall only 〈◊〉 be such rules as reach a beleeving person Thereâ—oâ—e 〈◊〉 1. If thou be a bâ—â—eever and wouldest be assured then preserve the sense of thy own natural wretchednesse and of the darknese of thy souls state without assurance Christ came to Mary when shee was weeping and the Great God looks down upon thâ— broken Spirit The highest mountaine hath the first sight of the Sunne but the lowest Christian hath the first sight of God When the people of God were mourning then saith God Comfort ye comfort ye my people and say unto them your sins are pardoned You shall finde this That the truely sensible heart hath Note three properties in it which envite the Lord much to gratifie it with assurance viz. One that is very humble Another that is much in the prizing of Gods love and mercy And a third that it is exceeding thirsty after a good look from God after some taste of Christ and God will satisfie all these 2. Be no strangers to the Ordinances you shall finde this that the ripening of faith belongs to them as well as the seeds of it The word you know is the soule of faith it was that which did incline the heart to yeild which did make it to accept of Christ and it is that also which can make us to know our possessions 1 John 15. 13. These things have I written vnto you that beleeve on the Name of the Sonne of God that ye may know that ye have eternal life So 1 John 1. 4 These things we write unto you that your joâ— may be full More plainly In whom after you heard the Word of truth ye beleeved in whom also after that ye beleeved ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise Ephesians 1. 13. For look as the Word hath promises which draw the soul to Christ so it hath promises to clear the soul in its interest in Christ to answer all doubts and feares and to answer the feare about acceptance so it removes doubts which strive against evidence and propriety The Sacrament you know it is the Seal of righteousnesse which is by faith Rom. 4. 11. Look as a Seale doth distinguish and confirme and settle the minde so is the Sacrament ordained to satisfie and perswade the heart of a beleever God appointed this
p. 142 Every Beleever partakes of Christs crucifying vertue p. 143 Every beleever partakes of preserving vertue from Christ p. 144 Every beleever partakes of Christs assisting vertue p. 143 Uncheerfulnesse Uncheerfulnesse of heart shews faith to be weak p. 135 Unbelief Dangerous misery of unbelief p. 87 Unbelief leaves all our sins upon record p. 87 The unbeliever must alone answer for his sins p. 87 The unbeleever judged as an unrighteous person p. 88 The greatnesse of the sinne of unbelief proved p. 88 A sinne against greatest love Ibid Against the only remedy p. 89 Makes void all the Covenant of grace p. 89 Directly murders the soul p. 89 Unbelieving state dangerous p. 160 Unbelief binds all our sins upon the soul p. 160 Unbelief grieves the heart of Christ p. 166 The cunnings of natural unbelief hindrances to faith p. 175. What those cunnings are p. 175 176 Unbelief is the worst of sinnes p. 185. Unbelief is no cure to the strength of sin p. 206 207 Unbelief breeds an indisposition towards holy duties p. 210 A threefold difference betwixt an unbeleever and a beleever p. 210 Unholy An unholy beleever is as proper a phrase as a holy Devil p. 100 Upright An upright care to please God a meanes of assurance p. 28◠Unworthinesse Unworthinesse should not keep us off from Christ p. 188 Personal unworthinesse is no prejudice but a furtherance p. 188 A twofold unworthinesse p. 192 Unity Habitual unity of all true faith in four particulars p. 119. 120 W Waiting A waiting faith is a strong faith p. 130 Way Way of beleevers is not a By way nor an uncertain way p. 110 Weak An anxious and careful soul is weak in faith p. 135 A weak faith though not sure that Christ is its Saviour yet will honour Christ as its Lord. p. 136 A weak faith what it wants in breadth of perswasion makes up in depth of humility p. 137 A weak faith though it have but tender confidences of its interest in Christ yet it hath strong dislikes and combates with unbeliefe pag. 137 A weak faith will not rest in weaknesse if truth be in it p. 138 A weak faith ventures its soul on Christ though it cannot clear its title nor answer its fears p. 139 A weak beleever falls short in joy p. 146 A weak Beleever hath not that sweet peace a strong beleever hath p. 147 A weak Beleever hath not that sweetnesse in communion with God pag. 149 A weak Beleever hath not that successefulnesse in communion with God pag. 150 A weak beleever is more under the power of the creature then the strong pag. 151 A weak beleever cannot bring God so much glory as a strong p. 153 A weak beleever will be more puzzled to die p. 154 A weak beleever hath not such cheerful expectations nor quiet submissions p. 155 A weak beleever is more entangled with efficacy of temptations p. 155 Will. The Will cannot of it self enliven it selfe to that great part of life believing p. 33 34 Christ is willing to accept sinners proved p. 193 Christs Will to save sinners manifested three wayes p. 195 196 Vid. Assurance Word The Word and Prayer the great power of God to change the heart and conquer Satan p. 1 What word a sinner hath to induce the soul to believe p. 165 The word is the Ministerial instrument to beget saith p. 177 The word a meanes to make us know our interest in Christ p. 280 World The world an impediment to beleeving p. 174 Works In what the perfection of good works doth consist p. 58 59 No proportion betwixt our works and our pardon p. 59 60 What relation there is betwixt good works and salvation p. 60 Works justifie our faith p. 105 How works can evidence faith since evil men may performe them and some beleevers have not wherewithal to do them p. 106 Worthinesse There is a double worthinesse p. 192 Vid. Unworthinesse The Contents of the Chapters and Sections CHap. 1. The dependance of the words p. 1 Chap. 2. The words opened with the several doctrines p. 4. § 1. Change of heart breeds change of estimation towards the Ministers of the Gospel p. 5 § 2. Sensible sinners are ever inquisitive p. 5 § 3. The main and choise thing the troubled soul looks after is how to save it self p. 6 § 4. Persons rightly sensible are as throughly resolved for the means and wayes as for the end and scope p. 9 § 5. When God doth throughly work upon mens consciences personal injuriousness must be forgotten by them who are to deal with them p. 10 § 6. Troubled souls must be directed to Christ p. 12 Chap. 3. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the only way to salvation p. 13 § 1. What Jesus signifies and what kinde of Saviour Christ is p. 14 § 2. What Christ signifieth and of his anointing p. 18 § 3. Vnto what Christ was anointed and of his office of a Priest p. 20 § 4. Christ anointed to be a Prophet p. 26 § 5. Christ anointed to be a King p. 27 Chap. 4. What believing in the Lord Jesus Christ doth import p. 29 Chap. 5. Faith in Christ described p. 32 § 1. The spring or fountaine of faith p. 32 § 2. The Subject of faith p. 34 § 3. The seat or habitation of faith p. 35 § 4. The proper and genuine act of faith p. 37 Chap. 6. The object of justifying faith p. 40 § 1. The immediate object of faith p. 41 § 2. The adequate and proper object of faith p. 41 § 3. How faith doth exercise it self about whole Christ p. 43 § 4. What is the exercise of faith in Christ as a Saviour King Prophet Lord. p. 45 § 5. Five particulars about taking and receiving Christ as a Lord and Saviour p. 46 § 6. The consequent object of faith remission of sins and righteousnesse and how faith is conversant about remission of sins p. 48 § 7. How faith looks on Christ for righteousnesse p. 50 Chap. 7. How it may appear that to beleeve in Christ is the only way to be saved Where are some particulars premised p. 52 § 1. The Argument for the confirmation of the Doctrine p. 55 § 2. The second Argument p. 62 § 3. The third Argument p. 63 § 4. The fourth Argument p. 63 § 5. The fifth Argument p. 64 Chap. 8. Consectaries from this doctrine setting out the singular use of preaching and hearing of the Gospel p. 65 Chap. 9. Our Justification to be found only in Jesus Christ p. 68 § 1. The word Justification explained p. 69 § 2. Justification defined and opened p. 70 § 3. The person justified is a believing sinner p. 73 § 4. The Remission of sinnes belong to Justification p. 74 § 5. The righteousnesse of Christ is that by which we are Justified p. 76 § 6. The Justification of a sinner is a gracious and just action p. 78 Chap. 10. The difficulty of beleeving p. 79 Chap. 11. The facility of
and do rest my soule on thy precious blood trusting that it was shed for the remission of my sins I have taken thee to be my Christ and therefore I commit the answering of my sinful debt to thy full satisfaction and sufferings Put the case to a beleeving heart you have many sinful debts to answer for sinnes before conversion and sinnes after conversion sins of ignorance and sinnes of knowledge these sinnes have that in them which bindes you over to wrath and curse now to whom doth it belong to pardon these sinnes your soul answers to God Who can forgive sinnes but God only And I even I am he that blotteth out thy sins c. yea but for whose sake will God pardon them the soul answers onely for Christ Jesus sake for he did shed his blood for their remission and therefore faith goes with the soul to Christ and saith O blessed Saviour thy blood was shed for the remission of sinnes and thou hast invited all that are heavy laden to come unto thee and thou wilt ease them Thou sayest if any man sinne 1 John 2. 1. he hath an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation for sinnes Now I am thus and thus sinful and these guilts lie upon my conscience I am never able to get them to be pardoned for any thing in me but I do put my soul upon thee and do trust to thee to get off these sinnes I put them on thy account yea all of them and do beleeve that in thy blood they shall be pardoned c. SECT VII NOw for the second thing which faith looks on in Christ and that is Righteousnesse Beloved this know that God doth never Justifie a man nor will ever save a man who hath not a perfect Righteousnesse for he is a Righteous God and will not pronounce the sinner guiltlesse his Law and Justice must be satisfied in all points or else the sinner shall never come to heaven Now the soul of a person is marvellously distressed when it seriously thinks of this How shall I stand before the great and holy God another day being by nature so wholly sinful and at the best being but defectively and imperfectly good But faith in this case brings the soul to Christ and in him it findes a most perfect and absolute righteousnesse For whom saith the scrupulous soul for thee saith Faith what for me yea for thee for the Scripture saith That Christ was made the righteousnesse of 1 Cor. 1. 30. God for us and that he was made sinne for us that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him So that if thou wouldst 2 Cor. 5. 21. have such a righteousnesse as may answer the Law and satisfie God and which God will accept for Justification Thou must by faith get out of thy self and lay hold on that righteousness which is in Christ As Paul I account all things but dung that I may win Christ and be found in him not having mine own righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God by Faith Phil. 3. 8 9. There is a twofold righteousnesse One inherent which is in us and this imperfect it can never justifie us in the sight of God Another is imputed which is not in us yet it is for us And this is the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ both in his nature and in his obedience Active and Passive which God reckons unto him who doth beleeve in Christ of which the Apostle abundantly in Rom. 4. 12. c. 5. on this doth faith rest only in the matter of justication Though inherent righteousnesse be absolutely required to salvation yet no righteousnesse but that only which is Christs and is imputed to beleevers is the matter of our justification When a sinner comes to account it with God he can never say Lord Lo here I am see if there be any sin in my person or defect in my holinesse I will expostulate with thee upon bare termes I have not offended thee or if I have here 's grace enough to answer for me my heart is wholly cleane my duties at all times in every respect for matter and manner have been performed just as thou requirest in thy holy Law enter into judgement with me if thou pleasest I will be tryed by my own holinesse by my own goodnesse O no there can be no such thing no sinner can be pronounced just this way ever the Saints must cast their crowns to the ground and give glory to the Lamb who only is worthy For when we come to the point of justification before God we must renounce our own righteousnesse as filthy rags we must cry out enter not into judgement with thy servant for in thy sight shall no flesh living be justified But as they who were in danger fled to the hornes of the Altar for their lives so must we if we would be justified fly by faith to the Altar of Christs perfect righteousnesse and so doth faith when it would present the person of a sinner perfect and unblameable before God It doth bring him unto Christ and saith before God I beleeve in him to be the Lord my righteousnesse CHAP. VII How it may appeare that to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only way to be saved BEfore I give you the Arguments or Reasons to evince this I must premise some particulars viz. First That beleeving or faith may be considered four wayes either 1. Absolutely as a simple habit or quality of grace apt to change the unbelievingnesse of the heart and to send forth the acts of trusting and acceptance 3. Premises Thus faith is not the only way of salvation partly because other habits are required as well as faith and partly because there is not in faith absolutely considered any meritorious dignity of it self to challenge salvation We say that a Ring is worth a hundred pound not absolutely considered not that the gold which makes the Ring amounts to that value but in respect of the Diamond set in that Ring so faith is a grace of wonderful price much more precious then gold Not so much in respect of it self as if it did by its own natural dignity cause our Justification and salvation but in respect of Christ whose person it takes and on whose righteousnesse it doth rely so though this be true we are justified by faith yet this is as true we are not justified for faith but for Christ on whom faith doth trust 2. Actually that is for the very act of beleeving Arminius and Birtius and some of that cut do say That not the righteousnesse of Christ is that which justifieth but the act of beleeving on it is that which is imputed in our Justification A righteousnesse of Christ they do grant but 't is the act of our beleeving on this which by divine acceptation or favour is imputed for
though weak and strong faith may vary much in the manner and degree of the apprehension or perswasion or reading of the pardon yet they both agree in the strength and in the latitude of pardon The weak believer hath as an effectual and as ample and full remission as the strongest believer for Christ did not become an unequal surety or an uneven Sacrifice for sinne my meaning is this that he did not only undertake the debts of some believers but of every one nor did he undertake some debts only of some beleevers but all the debts of all beleevers Therefore it is said Esay 53. 6 The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all and Jer. 32. 8. I will pardon all their iniquities whereby they have sinned which words extend to all beleevers because to all that are covenanted Thirdly Justification by imputed righteousnesse There is a common equal interest in this by all beleevers It is but one garment for every beleever it is an entire thing One believer hath not one righteousnesse to justifie him and another believer another but all are justified by the same righteousnesse of Christ neither is the imputation of this righteousnesse partial or unequal but alike to all that believe Rom. 3. 21. The righteousnesse of God without the Law is manifested being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets Ver. 22. Even the righteousnesse of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that beleeve for there is no difference Therefore God is said in v. 26 the Justifier of him that beleeveth in Jesus if any man doth truely believe in Christ God justifies that man and Christ is made righteousnesse unto him that is the Lord will reckon unto him the righteousnesse of Christ he will in Christ pronounce him just and acquit him The most elevated beleever cannot be presented in a judicial way before Gods justice safely in the strength of his own perfections and therefore hath no reason to glory or boast and the most weak beleever is not excluded but adorned with the robe of Christs compleat righteousnesse notwithstanding his own manifold imperfections and therefore hath no reason to be discouraged or dismayed for as much as Christ is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that believes Rom. 10. 4. Fourthly the inheritance of glory even those weak Disciples who were oft rebuked for their fears and doubtings were commanded by Christ to rejoyce because their names were written in the book of life If we be Believers we are sonnes and if sonnes then heirs heires of life and co-heires with Christ in glory Rom. 8. 16 17. Gal. 4. 26. Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus Vers 29. And if ye be Christs then are ye Abrahams seed and heirs according to the promise John 3. 16. Whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life for eternal life is founded in Christ God hath put all life in him from him we draw our life of grace and by him we possesse our life of glory 1 John 5. 11. God hath given unto us eternal life and this life is in his Sonne Verse 12. He that hath the Sonne hath life Obj. Yea but who are they who have the Son Sol. See ver 13. These things I have written unto you that believe on the Name of the Sonne of God that ye may know that ye have eternal life as if he should say every believer is he who hath the Sonne and by him that eternal life 3. Every beleever hath vertual interest in Christ that is he shall partake of the vertues and graces and strength of Christ The vertues of Christ are many I will touch at some viz. 1. A crucifying vertue which subdues the love and dominion of sinne now every beleever shares in this though one beleever be more troubled with the insolent motions of sinne then another yet no believer shall lie under the dominion of sinne Rom. 6. 14. Sinne shall not have dominion over you for you are not under the Law but under grace Gal. 5. 24. And they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Every beleever is gathered under the rod and Scepter of Christ and is made alive to Christ and dead to sinne yea and Christ will more and more mortifie his corrupt heart He will be made death to the strongest lust in the weakest believer 2. An assisting vertue which aides the soul in matter of duty and service now Christ will not only guide the strong but also lead the weak believer He will send forth his enabling strength for all the services which he requires 2 Cor. 12. 9. He said unto me my grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weaknesse most gladly therefore will I glory in mine infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me As if he should say there was weaknesse and infirmity on Pauls part but there was strength and power on Christs part and this strength would Christ make to appear in Pauls weaknesse that is though Paul saw and felt his own strength insufficient yet he should find Christ sufficient sufficiently inabling him in that particular Rom. 8. 26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it selfe maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered Mark that place though we are very infirme very weak to any holy duty to prayer and the rest yet Christ will help he will come in with his Spirit which shall enable us with supplications so that even very weak believers may take comfort in this that Christ will strengthen and aide them by his Spirit in duties as well as the strongest The greatest believer cannot performe service by his own strength and the weakest shall be inabled by Christs There be three things which Christ will communicate to every believer even to the weakest about duty One is an affection and heart Another is strength and assistance The last is pardon and acceptance what is amisse and wanting shall be pardoned and what is imperfectly and weakly good shall yet through his intercession be accepted His Father for his merits will not despise the day of small things 3. Persevering vertue by which the soul comes at length to cast Anchor and to be safely landed Now the strong faith hath in a sort heaven already yet weak faith shall also make a saving voyage as it was with them in Pauls shipwrack some of them could swim and quickly and better get to shore others were more unskilful and therefore laid hold and made use of broken boards yet the text saith That they all came safe to land That I say of strong and weak faith though the strong believer can better cut through the manifold oppositions of the world though he can rise more easily above the waves of Satans temptations then the weak believer
streames on the Spring or the beames on the Sun and the fruitfulnesse of both depends upon the richnesse of faith Though the habits of grace depends immediately on Gods Spirit and not on faith yet the measures of grace depend instrumentally very much on faith it being the Conduit pipe that which draws grace for grace from Christ A weak believer cannot have such a strength of affection nor vigor of actions as the strong He is not so thankful you shall for ever finde this to be true that what is a weakening to faith that is a lessening to thanks No mans tongue is more in praise then he whose heart is filled with perswasion God hath but cold thanks from him who is yet disputing and questioning his receipts where the mercy is fully cleared there the heart is exceedingly enlarged But till the soul sees it self indeed a debter it will prove but an ill and slow pay-master How can I fully thank God that he hath expressed that Mirandum of love to give Christ to me when yet I do in my soul suspect and question whether this be so or no How can I fully blesse and praise God for his rich mercy in the pardon of my sinnes whiles my soul doth yet suspect that the book is uncrossed and the controversie of guilt is not yet taken up 'twixt God and me But where faith is strong there praise is great when the Moon is fullest of light then the tydes are higher in their returnes so the more clear apprehensions of Gods love to us in Christ even raiseth affections to a greater flow of thankful retributions Psal 103. 1. Blesse the Lord O my soul and all that is within me blesse his holy Name Ver. 2. Blesse the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits See how he chargeth and rechargeth his soul to praise but why Ver. 3. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities Ver. 4. Who crowneth thee with loving kindnesse and mercies 7. The weak Beleever will be more puzled to die then the strong believer It is with the strong believer as with Simeon who held Christ in his armes Now said he lettest thou thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy salvation He may easily desire death to let him out of a miserable world who hath assuredly got and hath Christ the Authour of a better life Or as with Paul having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better 2 Cor. 5. 1. We know if our earthly house c. we have a building of God For the strong believer knows that Christ is to him in life and death advantage By him we shall go to the God of all mercies and to the Father of all consolations He shall go to that mansion which his Saviour hath provided and there have a glorious union with God and society with Saints for ever But the weak beleever will perhaps stagger and his heart will divide it self I would not yet die if I must what shall I do Christ is he whom I have loved and served but I am not sure that he is mine Heavenly glory is the wages for our service but I am not sure that I shall go into it matters are yet doubtful and my heart is yet fearful I know not whether such sinnes are yet taken off and how will God look upon me if I die of whose loving favour I have not been assured whiles I have lived I hope the best and yet I see cause to fear death may do me good yet I had rather live to clear accounts 'twixt God and my soul that so then I might give up c. 8. The weak beleever hath not such cheerful expectations nor quiet submissions as the strong believer The strong believer is at it as the Church in Micah My God will hear me and if he denies a particular good yet he can sit down and sing when he is going to prayer he chears up his heart with a confidence on God and when he findes God determining and revealing his will there he blesseth God and follows his calling But the weak believer is apt to forestal a mercy he cannot see a plain way for his grant nor an easily quiet heart after his denial 9. The efficacy of temptations doth more intangle the weak beleever then the strong like the weaker vessel at sea amidst the greater waves Satan doth cousen his soul with ease and ever and anon disrobes him of his comforts like a lewd subtile enemy he forceth the weak believer often to try and clear his title and increaseth mistakes in all passages 'twixt God and the soul 1. If he doth cast himself on mercy then it is presumption If he holds off then it is infidelity and rejecting of Christ 2. If he doubts then it is despaire and a forsaking of God 3. If he sinnes then it is unpardonable because since knowledge and mercy 4. If he findes distractions in dutie then this is hypocrisie in the heart 5. If he meets with hellish suggestions of which Satan is only the Author O then who could be in Christ and have such abominable thoughts 6. If the Ordinances do not presently comfort O then they are sealed up and there is no faith else the Word would profit 7. If every corruption be not subdued in every degree and motion and act O then vertue is not gone from Christ the heart is still nought and the faith unsound 8. If not the same constant tenor of smart affections why then there was never any true love of God no reverence of him now nor fear nor duties but the soul is dead utterly hardened and God hath no pleasure in it 9. If God doth answer the soul yea but that is but an imagination If he doth not answer why then it is cleare that God neither doth nor will ever regard you 10. If I do not go to the Sacrament why then thou slightest Christ and his blood If I go and come away with tears O then thou wast unbeleeving or else thou hadst been sent away with joy and increase 11. If I do not put on for grace then thou art wicked If I do put on for grace then thou art so wicked that God will not bestow it on thee Thus doth Satan involve and distresse and set the soul of a weak Believer like a man at chesse forward and backward he makes him to suspect every mercy and every grace and every affection and every duty and every promise and every Ordinance so violently doth he tosse though he cannot totally sink the heart of a weak believer SECT VIII Motives to strive to greaten thy faith 1. THis is a signe of truth True grace is rising dead things do moulder and artificial things remaine the same but the living childe is growing to a full stature Phil. 3. Not as though we had already attained the graine of mustard-seed grows and the smoaking flax will flame Presumption hath all its perfections at first 2. This is
thou not heard of that accursed and despitfull death which I was put to numbred with transgressors cast out of the City nailed to the crosse pierced through the heart and yet my love to thy soul made me to poure out my soul an offering for thy sins Why and shall I veile my glory under the condition of a servant in vaine shall I combate and conquer Satan in vaine shall I beare the scorne of men the wrath of God the terrors of death the curse of the Law in vaine was not all this for thee shouldst not thou have susteined all this if I had not and must thou not if thou refusest him who hath done it and yet wilt thou prefer thy sins before me yet wilt thou not accept of me yet wilt thou not get faith to receive me have I sought thee freely bought thee so dearly and thou neglect and refuse me so easily Thirdly consider thou hast extreame need of a Lord Jesus 3. Motives Christ Excellency prevailes much with an ingenious nature and necessity with the worst when the Lepers saw that they must either venture their lives or die they would out into the Camp when the Prodigal saw he must famish abroad or repaire home he would then back to his fathers house Why Brethren the Captive doth not more need a Redeemer and the sick doth not more need a Physician then the sinner doth need a Christ and a Saviour Were we in Adams created innocency then we need not to look after a Saviour but we are fallen but we are broken but we are sold under sin but we are transgressors from the womb but we are by nature the children of disobedience and wrath Had we any stock left in our hands to set up our broken souls againe had we any strength to repaire our losse to recover our good to purchase our own peace and salvation but we are dead in trespasses Eph. 2. 1. we all fall short of the glory of God Rom. 3. 23. we are all without strength Rom. 5. 6. Could any thing be a Plank to the Shipwrack but Christ or an hand to lay hold on the rock but faith then we needed not to give such diligence for faith to believe but there is no salvation in any other name and there is no quality but faith to get us into Christ It is not the confidence which thou mayest put upon the faith of another which will do it as every mans soul is for his own body so every mans faith is for his own soul the wise virgins had no more oile then would serve their own Lamps and no mans faith is more then enough for himself Though Christ can save many yet faith saves him only who hath it It is not the confidence of a naked decree which will do it if God hath decreed to save me I shall be saved O no his decrees are his own secret wayes and the way which he hath opened to us is to get faith and to believe in his Son It is not an empty profession nor the worthlesse accesse of all the creatures that can ensure or save thy soul Only Christ none but Christ thou art wounded and Christ is thy plaister thou art dead and Christ is thy life thou art sold and Christ is thy ransome thou art an enemy and Christ is thy peace The debts are infinite the curse great the justice of God pure thy strength nothing and nothing satisfies and delivers but Christ and none hath Christ but the believer why then wilt thou not labor for faith Fourthly consider Christ is every way fitted to thy need 4. Motive Why Brethren gold will ransome a debtor to man it will not ransome a sinner from the Law an offender against God Why look upon your need aright and then judge who but Christ for a sinner There is guilt much guilt lying upon thy soul and who is the Priest to suffer to offer to satisfie to take away transgressions but Christ None can blot out the guilt of sin for us but he who had not a spot of sin in himself There is filth much filth defiling our natures poysoning our actions and who is the Prophet to enlighten to teach to change to cleanse from sinfulnesse but Christ None can teach us holinesse and obedience but he who was Holy undefiled separated from sinners and was obedient to the death There is dominion much dominion of sin prescribing a Law to our members sending out all insolent inclinations holding us in a willing subjection to every base lust and who is the King to conquer the heart to subdue iniquities to lead captivity captive to spoile principalities and powers to bid the captive go free to erect a thorne of righteousnesse and peace in the soul but Christ So that the wise love of God hath prepared and fitted Christ in all respects sutable to the exigencies and straits of a sinful soul and hath appointed faith to be that which shall put on this Christ upon the needy soul why then will we not labour for faith Fifthly God hath not only fitted a Saviour for thee but he 5. 〈◊〉 comes neer unto thee with him he deales mightily with thy soul â—o beleeve on him Thou hast the word of revelation to this very day wherein the mystery of thy salvation is made known and cleare unto thâ—e Thou needest not to say in thine heart Who shall ascend into heaven to bring Christ down from above or who shall descend into the deeps to bring up Christ againe from the dead But the word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the word of faith which we preach That if thou shalt confesse with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him him from the dead thou shalt be saved Rom. 6. 7 8 9. Thou hast the word of gracious proposition God hath offered Christ with all his plentiful redemption with his strong salvation unto thee yea he hath assured thee by his Word of John 3. truth which cannot lie nor deceive that if thou believest on him thou shalt be saved by him Thou hast the word of injunction which layes a bond of duty upon thee This is his Commandment that we beleeve on the Name John 3. 23. of his Son Jesus Christ Nay thou hast the word of penalty and correction God hath said that he will judge thee for not believing and that in the sharpest method of expression He that believes not shall be damned Nay thou hast the word of obsecration and gentle intreaty God stoops infinitely below himself he doth streine curtesie with thee God doth beseech you by us and we pray you in Christs stead to be reconciled to God Nay thou hast the word of expostulation why will you not beleeve why will ye die in your sins why will ye not come to me that you may be saved How often would I have gathered thee All the day long
his God and hath undertaken for him and he who hath promised is faithful who will also do it Now Paul though I have not in hand yet I have in promise though I have not in the coffer yet I have in the bonds my estate is even all that is good for me and it lies in a sure hand in the hand of my good God who will not faile Hereupon I live to this I trust though others vex and fret and curse yet I sit down quietly Why because faith goes about what we see and it is able to see the estate large enough though lying in divine promises and this is to live like a Christian for this is to acknowledge a God and a Christ to some purpose 2. The life of faith it is the only comfortable life It is with our life as it is with fire which if it burnes faire and clear then is it pleasant and delightful but if it be dull and smoking it makes us weary both of it and the roome Whiles faith doth guide our lives by settling our thoughts and desires on God and Christ then the lamp is cleare life feels like life we can pray with joy and hear with delight and follow our callings with cheerfulnesse and lie down in peace But if you sever faith from the life that we dare not to trust on God nor rest on Christ we must possesse or else we cannot trust nor live Now the chimney smoaks the soul becomes displeasing to it self the soul craves help from the body and the body from the soul but neither is able to help either and therefore that is wanting and this is vexing The waves now get over the ship and sinks it with a load and deluge of worldly endlesse fruitlesse anxious vexing cares and feares And in sober-sadnesse tell me what you think of such a life wherein the head is disturbed and curiously tortured with variety of manifold and exquisite suspitions and thoughts and the heart is deeply racked with the continual breakings of trembling sighes and griefes That a man is not able to get nor yet patient to want he can neither give himself help nor will he trust him who can That his estate is burdened with many wants and all this is made unspeakably grievous by another worse burden of unbeleeving thoughts that a man sees he cannot beare and yet will not ease his shoulder by trusting That a man cannot begin to think but his thoughts throw him into a way of what ifs What if the Lord will not do me good what if I cannot have that what if such an one faile or what if it comes not on such a day c. So that he cannot think without tumults nor speak without discontents nor eat without dislike nor walk without slavishnesse nor work without distrustâ—ulnesse nor sleep without terrours nor awake without bitternesse nor rise without carefulnesse and amidst all this he hath no heart to duty nor no God nor to heaven nor earth nor to Christ nor to himself nor his for either he hath no faith or else will not live by it He dares not trust God or Christ There be three things which concur to make the life uncomfortable 1. One is a sense of want A man hath an extreame feeling of need no sâ—nâ—e or slight sense availe not to break our spirits 2. Another is a strong desire the heart pants and reacheth after the supply and this multiplies thoughts and cares 3. A third is palpable insufficiency that a man cannot for his life compasse his desires and supplies and therefore like Ahab who was impeached for Naboths vineyaâ—d he is dejected and grieved all which fall ordinarily into the life of unbeliefe But now to wheel about on the contray the life of faith is sweet and comfortable Foure things would make a mans life very comfortable 4. Things 1. One is if he were eased of all burdens 2. Another If he were secured from all prejudices 3. A third If what he had were very good and enough 4. A fourth If he were assured that whatsoever good he should need of that he should be without fail supplied in a fit time Now then the life of faith produceth all these 1. It easeth a man of all burdens There be but two burdens which we can well think of 1. One is the sinful burden 2. The other is the earthly burden The burden of guilt and the burden of cares But saith if a man could live by it takes them both off It lives upon Christ for the one and upon Gods providence for the other It sees a sufficiency and an accepted price in his blood to remit our guilt and it sees an alsufficient careful faithful providence to remove our care And I tell you that the soule comes to great ease which is released of both these Sonne be of good comfort thy sinnes be forgiven thee Sinne shall be discharged therefore I am comfortable cares are gone therefore I am cheerful 2. It secures against all prejudices and why because it states the person in goodnesse it selfe in him who is nothing but goodnesse that is who is in respect of himselfe good and who will order all things for good to the Beleever nay and in his hands who is an absolute Lord. 'T is true that one change in our estate may be contrary to another and because we esteeme one of them to be good therefore we judge the other to be evil but then though changes be opposite in sense yet they are concordant in issue in the event all falls out for good As sicknesse though opposite to health yet it may fall out for the further preservation of life sometimes the Christian is high sometimes low sometimes he is in a freed state sometimes in a clouded state sometimes he is in conquest sometimes he is in conflict sometimes he is oyled in the mouths of men and sometimes traduced and torne in pieces as if the tongues of Christians were the teeth of Lions Paul gives a Catalogue of his changes in these and the like cases yet in all and after all the Christians condition is not prejudiced God still owns the person watching over his safeties Keeps all poyson from the heart and like a ship sometimes by a fair winde sometime by a rough storm he still brings him safe to harbour As Paul spake even of his bonds that they fell out to the furtherance of the Gospel So I say of the calamitous occurrences the sense sees nothing but misery yet faith can see the good end which God made with Job and therefore to rejoyce in troubles 3. It makes the present condition good and enough I will tell you one reason why the life of sense is uncomfortable namely because it is grounded on a short and empty good that which a man can see with his eye and hold in his hand is not halfe of that which he can desire with his heart no worldly thing can ever be enough to
darknesse and David answers him in Psal 23. 4. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evill for thou art with me thy rod and thy staffe they comfort me How triumphant is Paul and beyond both himself and all crosses and all because of his assurance and perswasion Rom. 8. 35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or distresse or persecution or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword Ver. 37 Nay in all these things we are more then conquerers through him that loved us Ver. 38. For I am perswaded that neither Life nor Death nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come Ver. 39. Nor Height nor Depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Can more be said need we to adde See him againe in Romans 5. 2. We rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God Objection Who would not may some reply in so great a good Sol. 3. And not only so but we glory in tribulation also and who can do this but he who hath some measure of assurance Indeed faith can make the soul to submit in a crosse but it is assurance which makes the soul to rejoyce and to triumph What the Apostle spake of death that is true of all afflictions the sting of them is finne where the conscience is wounded and the sight of heaven is darkned there the crosse is heavy and bitter A man hath a burden on his shoulders and a burden on his conscience and yet a burden that he cannot see any to smile on him and comfort him But now when the spirit of a man is sound and the evidence of faith is cleare when a man feeles all to be right within all to be peace abroad that all stands faire 'twixt him and his God Nay and he can see God as his God the strength of this assurance doth not onely allay a burden but raiseth the heart exceedingly above it yet God is good to Israel and though I see the Olive to faile and the Fields not to yield and the flocks to be cut off yet I will rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my Salvation The Lord God is my strength Hab. 2. 17 18. Sixthly it makes all kinds of duty to flow and to rise I wil instance briefly in some 1. In the Active 2. In the Passive 1. Active 1. Praise and thankfulnesse Psal 103. 1. Blesse the Lord O my soul and all that is within me blesse his holy Name Ver. 2. Blesse the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits Verse 3. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities Nay he is at it againe Psal 116. 12. What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me I will take up the cup of salvation c. O the evidence and apprehension of so great a mercy and salvation it fills every vain of the heart c. Musick is highest and sweetest in the fairest weather He who disputes his mercy can hardly bless for it Now I see much forgiven and therefore I blesse much What! and all this forgiven to me and so freely and so fully also so many transgressions yet to cover all yet to be reconciled yet to put down the gracious pardon before mine eyes 2. Prayers There are two properties in these which will surely arise out of assurance One is confidence and boldnesse A man will come boldly to the throne of grace who is once assured by faith Now that of John comes in indeed 1 John 5. 14. This is the confidence that we have iâ— him that if we ask any thing according to his Will he heareth us Christ I remember teacheth his Disciples and in them all Beleevers to pray for many excellent things both for soul and for body but then he preferred he set this in the front Our Father as if he had clearly suggested this unto us that the assurance of God as our Father is that which gives unto the heart a strong confidence in all petitions why who will not come freely and confidently to a Father to his Father to his reconciled Father Another is quicknesse and life in the affections Psal 63. 1. O God thou art my God early will I seek thee Observe it I will seek thee there is now diligence early will I seek thee there is quicknesse of affection and why I will seek thee early because O God thou art my God 3. Ordinances Now a man will flie to them as the Doâ—es to the windows it is the Prophet Isaiah's expression A man hath an heart to bow the knee when he knows that my God will help him A man hath an heart to heare the Word when he knows my God will teach him to profit and will speak peace unto him A man will with cheerfulnesse addresse himself to the Sacrament when he knowes this is the blood which was shed for the remâ—ssion of his sinnes and his salvation is there sealed The Apostle hath an apt passage in 1 Pet. 2. 2. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word and surely that is with much delight and with much earnestnesse for so do babes desire the milk of the breasts But what might stirre up this Ver. 3. If so be that you have tasted that the Lord is gracious a taste of God of God as gracious yea this is it which whets the appetite this sets on the heart to the ordinances indeed 4. All obedience actuating the whole kinds of duty Why assurance in the soule makes all duty both cheerful and stedfast Psalme 26. 3. Thy loving kindness is before mine eyes therefore have I walked in thy truth Why is duty to good hearts sometimes so weary-some so slack so troublesome verily faith is weak doubts are strong feares are many could they once see God to be their God Christ to be their Lord and Saviour sinnes pardoned in his blood and all this to them Now even the lame would walk and the weary would runne the heart would set upon obedience with all its strength and all its care 2. The like may be said for passive obedience assurance enables it exceedingly The love of Christ constraineth us said Paul 2 Corinth 5. I remember the Apostle hath a notable passage Romans 5. 7. For a good man some will even dare to die That is for a bountiful man a man of eminent and singular good to preserve him for his sake a private man would lay down his life If the goodnesse and kindnesse of a man hath sometimes such a force with us what influence then hath the goodnesse of a God upon a beleeving heart the kindnesse the blood of a Christ upon a beleeving and an assured heart Who would not suffer reproach for Christ who suffered death for him who would not kiss the stâ—â—ke to bring him honour who shâ—d his blood to get his
Ordinance as for other ends so for this That the matter might be out of doubt out of controversie that Christ is ours and sinne is pardoned in his blood 3. Be much in prayer If a man would gaine assurance he must be much in prayers to perswade and assure the heart David found marvellous loving kindnesse but then he cried in supplications Psalme 31. 21 22. Thou must pray earnestly for mercy earnestly for pardon and most earnestly for Christ And thou must use diligence Remember this that in all thy endeavours for assurance thou must use diligence a cold hearing a cold reading a cold praying will not bring the soul to it No you must be most diligent and fervent in them and so c. 4 Again with all these there must be joyned strong upright care to please God This know that sinne separates but uprightnesse gathers God and the soule together To him that ordereth his conversation aright I will shew the salvation of the Lord Psalme 50. 23. Why Light is sown for the righteous and joy for the upright in heart Psal 97. 11. See that of the Prophet Isa 64. 5. Thou meetest him that rejoyceth and worketh righteousness those that remember thee in thy wayes Unevennesse of heart or way it is a flaw and it is that which cuts us off after many prayers it renews our doubtings again and we are as far to seek as at the first but if the heart be plaine if it be sincerely set for God desirous to please him in all things this a compendious way of assurance the Word falls in directly to settle and confirme such a soul The steps of the Words direct us to the sight of our God 5. Lastly you must be much in the exercise of faith There be two parts of it which you must improve One is you must against all sense and feeling and against all the contradictâ—ons of reason and unbelief cast the soul on God in Christ and rest on him to be your God and on Christ to be your Lord and Saviour and that your sins shall be pardoned Then you must wait you must not limit God but seek still I will hearken said David what God the Lord will speak for he will speak peace to his Saints Psalme 85. 8. See Isa 64 4. Since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the eare neither hath the eye seen O God besides thee what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him The Lord will wait that he may be gracious blessed are they that wait for him Isa 30. 18. so Isa 25. 9. It shall be said in that day Lo this is our God we have waited for him c. This is the Lord we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoyce in his salvation For Psal 147. 11. The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him in those that hope in his mercy So that this is the summe of all walk with all uprightnesse and with an humble penitent and believing soul cast your sins upon God in Christ trusting in him alone for the favour of God pardon of sinnes and eternal salvation and wait upon God for all this in the use of the means and constant diligency in prayer you shall at length have your hearts desire you shall hear from God thus much I am thy salvation and from Christ as much Be of good cheer thy sinnes are forgiven thee FINIS AN ALPHABETICAL Table A Affiance THe neer relation betwixt Christ and a beleever is the ground of Affiance p. 254 Anointing vid. Christ Antecedent The difference betwixt an Antecedent and a cause p. 90 What antecedents go necessarily before faith p. 91 There is no concluding the presence of the habit of faith from the common antecedents of faith p. 91 Assent Assent how one beleever differs from another therein p. 121 122 Assisting Assisting vertue from Christ p. 143 Assurance Three things granted about assurance p. 38 39 How assurance is an act of faith p. 39 Assurance of Christs willingnesse an encouraging ground to beleeve p 196 A double assurance of Christs willingness p. 196 Assurance a fruit of an eminent faith p. 93 Assurance easily let go argues a weak faith p. 134 The improvement of faith to a full assurance p. 259 What the assurance of faith is p. 260 Assurance is the conclusion of an evangelical sylogisme p. 260 Assurance is a victorious conclusion against the strength of doubtings p. 261 Assurance is an asserting or perswading act p. 262 Two kinds of assurance touching our personal interest in Christ and the difference of them p 263 Assurance of saith directs to a personal evidence of particular interest in Christ and his benefits p. 265 Every beleever may be assured thereof p. 266 Arguments to evince it Ibid To be assured how far it is a duty p 267 A Christian is obliged to assure his heart that Christ is his p. 268. Arguments to evince it Ibid Want of assurance hinders thankfulnesse p. 268 Arguments to perswade to labour for assurance p. 269 The things about which assurance is conversant are of greatest consequence p. 269 Assurance will marvellously quiet and settle the soul p. 271 Assurance arms the heart against future temptations p. 270 Assurance sweetens all other blessings to us p. 273 Assurance sweetens all our crosses p. 274 Assurance makes all kind of duty to flow and to rise p. 275 Assurance is a bathing spring to all our graces p. 277 Assurance doth ease us of the world and mounts the soul above it p. 278 279 Means by which the soul may get up to this assurance p. 280 Atheisme Natural Atheisme a hindrance to saith p. 168 How to be removed p. 169 Atheisme what it is p. 168 B Beleever Believing Believing in Christ what it doth import p. 29 The general nature of believing in several propositions p. 30 The difference betwixt knowledg opinion and belief p. 30 31 Believing as restrained to a divine and theological consideration what it is p. 31 Vid. Faith In what sense beleeving in Christ is the only way to be saved p. 54 The difficulty of believing in Jesus Christ p. 79 The facility of errour and mistake about believing and what makes it so p. 84 Comfort for all true believers p 109 Believers are in a true and sure way to heaven p. 110 Every Beleever hath a sure interest in Christ p. 140 Every Beleever hath a beneficial interest in Christ What these benefits are p. 140 141 Motives to beleeving p. 158 God deals mightily with the soul to believe in Christ p. 165 We are noâ— losers by beleeving on the Lord Jesus Christ p. 166 Boldness Beleevers may with boldness approach the throne of grace p. 116 This boldness cures sinful modesties and unbeleeving fears p. 116 C Certainty The difference betwixt reflexive certainty and real certainty of interest p. 140 Change An inward change an infallible testimony of a living faith p. 98 There is a change produced
by faith p. 99 How faith produceth a change of the condition and how of the person p. 99 Every beleever hath a changed and hâ—ly heart p. 99 Wherein this change lies ib. No man hath a changed nature but a beleever p. 100 Enquire after this change in thy self p. 100 Change of condition easily complyed with an evidence of strong faith p. 128 Christ What it signifies p. 18 Christs anointing doth import his assured ordination abundant qualification sweet and pleasant acceptation both with God and man p. 19 20 Vnto what Christ was anointed p. 20 Vid. Priest Prophet King Christs and his Churches enemies who they are and how conquered by him p. 28 Whole Christ the adaequate object of faith p. 41 Whole Christ taken and received by faith p. 42 How Christ is taken by faith as a Saviour and Priest p. 43 How Christ is taken by faith as a Saviour and King and Prophet p. 45 Taking and receiving Christ as Lord and Saviour hath many things in it p. 46 Vid. Taking All that can save and justifie a man is only to be found in Christ as the meritorious cause p. 62 Christ should be the main scope of our preaching and studying p. 67 Christ may be preached two ways p. 67. Plentifulnesse of our supplies in Christ encourageth to live by faith on him p. 248 The ordination of Christ to supply beleevers encourageth trust p. 249 Christs services done in behalf of beleevers encourageth trust p. 250 Christ is given out of rich grace mercy and love p. 190 Christ is worth your taking though we be unworthy of receiving p. 191 Christs disposition encourageth trust p. 251 Christs conjunction and relation encourageth trust p. 253 Christs invitation encourageth trust p. 255 Christs assurances that he will not fail him that lives by faith on him p. 255 Foure things by which we may be perswaded that Christ will do us good if we live by faith on him p. 255 Christs offices encouragements to live faith on him p. 256 257 Impossible to have supplies for the soul any other way then by faith in Christ p. 258 Comfort Comfort not sure but by believing p 64 Distinguish betwixt the ground of our comfort and the testimonies of our interest in them p. 64 Communion No prison can boult out communion with God p. 3 Communion with God in Ordinances and duties not so sweet in a weak beleever as in a strong p. 149 Reasons of it p. 150 Confidence Confidence of easie answers for great matters an argument of strong faith p. 125 Covenant A double Covenant and for two wayes of life p. 56 Impossible to be saved by the legal Covenant whence it is so p. 56 Vid. Holiness Vnbelief makes void the Covenant of grace p. 89 A true beleever is in singular Covenant with God p. 114 Covenant of grace what it is in the offer and revelation of it and what in respect of our entrance and admission into it p. 114 115 Happinesse of being in Covenant with God p. 115 Every beleever in the same fundamental Covenant with God p. 145 Crucifying Crucifying vertue from Christ p. 143 D Day Day of grace fear of having outstood it divers considerations about it p. 203 Debts Christ takes our debts upon himself the comfort of it p. 112 Degrees Degrees of faith what they are and how beleevers differ in them p. 122 123 Reasons of the diversity of degrees of faith p. 124 Delay vid. Hasty Desertions In times of desertions to live upon Christ and the promises an argument of a great faith p. 130 Discouragement Stedfast following Christ notwithstanding discouragements argues a strong faith p. 125 Distrust Arguments of distrust when they grow weak faith gets strength p. 128 Doubtings Doubtings argue weaknesse of faith p. 131 Doubtings prejudice our suits p. 150 Doubts of the weak beleever about his title and mistakes in passages betwixt God and the soul p. 155 Duty Want of a heart to duty should not discourage from beleeving p. 210 Faith puts life into our duties the Reasons of it p. 211 E Exchange A real exchange betwixt Christ and beleevers and wherein it is p. 111 F Faith Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the only way to salvation p. 13 Faith in Christ described p. 32 The spring and fountain of justifying faith p. 32 The subject of faith p. 34 The sâ—at of faith p. 35 Three kindes of faith distinguished viz. Credere Deum Deo in Deum p. 36 How faith is seated in the will how in the understanding p. 36 37 The proper act of faith as justifying p. 37 The object of justifying faith p. 40 The immediate object of justifying faith p. 4. 1 Vid. Christ The consequent object of faith p. 48 Faith may be considered Absolutely Actually Correlatively Instrumentally how to be understood p. 52 53 How faith justifieth p. 71 72 Whether faith deal with the person of Christ or the benefits of Christ first p. 73 Divers kinds of faith p. 84 Historical faith what it is p. 84 Faith of miracles what it is p. 85 Temporary faith what it is Ib. How temporary faith differs from justifying faith Ibid The consimilitude betwixt faith and presumption p. 86 The easinesse of faith short of justifying and of presumption and our aptnesse to rest in that Ibid Rules for the discovery of faith p. 90 Some things faith doth produce not as essential properties but as magnificent testimonies and how we must distinguish betwixt them p. 91 93. Some things faith doth produce yet not alwayes therefore we may not conclude a wait of faith from the absence of these p. 91 92 Many inward contrarieties to the intrinsecal acts and fruits of faith p. 94 Evidences of faith cannot be given by way of abstraction but by way of existence how to be undersstood p. 95 A double contrariety to faith Ib. Faith endeavours after increase and wherein p. 107 Wherein true faith in one differs from faith in another p. 120 121 Signes of a great and strong faith p. 125 Signes of a weak faith p. 131 Vid. Weak The vital act of faith is not reflexive but direct p. 136 Motives to greaten our faith p. 156 Exhortations to labour for faith p. 157 Impediments and hindrances to faith p. 168 Means whereby God works faith p. 176 The proper rise and ground of faith is without our selves p. 189 To receive Christ by faith is not a matter of merit but a point of duty p. 190 Faith no hindrance to holinesse p. 208. The time of contrariety is the time for faith to work p. 209 Two offices of faith p. 216 Vid. living by faith Faith of adherence and faith of evidence the difference betwixt them p. 259 The frequent exercise of faith improves it to assurance p. 282 Fruitful True faith is fruitful The more fruitful the stronger faith p. 130 G Glory vid. Salvation The inheritance of glory all beleevers have a like interest in it p. 142 How many wayes God hath glory from