Gods shaking worke makes shaking hearts and trembling soules but had they faith in God concerning these promises they would stand still and be quiet waiting believingly for the salvation of God in the peacefull reigne and righteous government of Jesus Christ were God but believed in what he sayes all the temptations of Satan and the doubtings of our unbelieving hearts would be silenced and brought to nothing what exceeding folly is it in our hearts that GOD whom never deceived any that trusted on him should be distrusted by any and not believed by all he is the God of truth so is his word the word of truth and not any soule that ever tryed God by trusting him upon his word but found him so The Apostle Paul Rom. 8.28 tels us that all things workes together for good to them that love God This takes in all things as the other generall did all times so that put them together and it amounts to this that all things and all times are filled with Gods love to his people and so worke all together for the good of all his God loves his children as dearely upon their beds of sicknesse as in their most perfect health and his love in both makes both worke together for good to his people upon this account the Apostle knew both how to want and to abound and in all estates to be content such a presence of God is in the word of God promised to his people and God thâ—â— believed on doth quiet and establish the heart in all conditions all carnal feares are the fruits of our owne darknesses 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of faith open to see the loving kindnesse of God at he haâ—â—â—â—nifested it in the flesh of his Sonne and in his written 〈◊〉 these seares would vanish and our hearts would be fully 〈◊〉 â—â—ed by living on the fulnesse of God I have mentioned bâ—â—â—â—â—â—ety Teâ—ts of Scripture but I beseech you receive them and 〈◊〉 whole into the armes of faith they will prove cordials to 〈◊〉 hearte and establishment to your soules beleeve it GOD is worth the trust if faith open the everlasting gates and let this King of glory in his presence will make all such to be gloriâ—â—â— soules he dispels all darknesse and so all feares he fixes 〈◊〉 soules aâ— believe on him in the Lord Jesus Christ and layes them to rest in his owne bosome so as no thing or time no not Hâ—â—rulty iâ— selfe can either shake or disquiet them My whole design in this is to be an Advocate for faith in God therefore give me leave to mention one 〈◊〉 and two Rules which are subservant to this glorious end The caution is this He wary that you check not the spirit of God when it comes â—â—om God about this worke The Rules are these First Nourish all your experiences of God Secondly Be diligent in observing the workings of GODS Proâ—idence But first a little of the Caution Be wary that you cheek not the spirit of God when it comes from God to worke over and to seale up your soules in the beliefe of himselfe GOD and Christ hath promised that the spirit of God shall beare witnesse with our spirit that we are the Children of God now this promise is fulfilled many times in the hearing of the Gospel in reading of his Word or it may be in the immediate workings of himselfe upon our soules O be careful to entertaine this spirit wel a wound here may danger eternal life But it may be you wil say how shal I know the spirit of God from the dâ—ltisiâ—ns of my owne heart and the temptations of Satan I answer Try Gods Spirit by his Word and you shal finde them both centre in the manifesting Gods free graâ—e in the salvation of the worst of sinners through Christ in believing Now the delusions of our owne hearts wil lift up selfe not God and Christ and the motions of Satan wil be to distrust God as it was to our first Parents Does God say the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye sayes he It is not so God doth but delude thee â—â—te and thou shalt bee as God knowing Good and Evilâ— By this we may distinguish what spirit speakes in us and as the word and spirit of God beares witnesse each to other so doth Satans contradicting what God sayes confirme the truthes of God for were it not truth he could not oppose himselfe being the Father of lyes so that when I would lay hold of truth I would observe what Satan sayes to choose the contrary wel then if God by his spirit make knownâ— a Christ crucified toâ—â— and bid us believe on him through this Christ for everlasting salvation have a care of checking this spirit if the Dâ—vil and our owne darke hearts in which by nature the Prince of darknesse rules doth contradict the testimony of Gods spirit in this truth that is the fuller confirmation of the truth if in any streight or condition whatsoever God shall by his spirit bring to your hearts any suitable promâ—se or place of Scripture be exceeding watchful that you check not that spirit this spirit is a free spirit it is as the winde blowes where it pleaseth this iâ— Scripture advice try all spirits if they be of God that which comes from God wil leade thee to God quench not the spirit which leades thee to God in himselfe in his Sonne in his word and in his workes for that spirit which thus leadeâ— thee wil bring thee to God whom wil establish thee Oh prize that spirit that prizes God and tels thee his grace is free and rich his râ—demption ful and compleate his word true and faithful his workes great and glorious and the injoyment of him to be eternally with him if this spirit be deare to thee it wil seale thee up in this beliefe that thou art deare and neare to God in Christ and so establish thy soule by believing in the Lord thy God Now a little of the Rules First Nourish all thy experiences of God this wil much advantage faith in the soule we are apt to trust experimented creatures much more if spiritually wise shal we trust an â—â—â—â—â—mented God I have been large in the particulers of this beâ—on I onely mention it here by way of Rule for doubtlesse such souls as nourish their experiences of God doe thereby nourish and increase faith in God if such as have fought Gods battles doe preserve and nourish the experiences they have had of the powerful presence and loving kindnesses of God in those dying and difficult workes surely it wil nourish faith in their soule to trust God if ever hee shal bring to any more such workes againâ— Surely Shadrach Meshach and Abednego did never feare to follow GOD through the fire after they had experimented the power of his presence with them in the fire nor Daniel the Lyons Experiences are to faith as oyle to the fire it increaseth the flames where they meet in any soule
The Rest of Faith THAT IS Souls fixed and established in God by believing on him through the Lord JESUS CHRIST With the grounds of this Faith from sanctified Reason the benefits of Faith and the evils of unbeliefe Proved by Gods Word and presented to open view By Coll. ROBERT TICHBORNE Psalm 125.1 They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion which cannot be removed but abideth for ever John 6.47 Verily verily I say unto you he that believeth on mee hath everlasting life Isa 50.10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeyeth the voyce of his servant that walketh in darknesse and hath no light let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God LONDON Printed by M. Simmons at the gilded Lyon in Aldersgate-streete 1649. TO THE HONOURABLE Lieftenant Generall CROMWELL Honourable Sir GOD having first pitched my meditations upon the study after an establishment in this perishing World and shaking times in which we live and in this study more emminently then before made knowne himselfe in the Lord Jesus Christ to be that Rocke of Ages which never failes such as trust in him he did then draw forth my heart upon a principle of common good 〈◊〉 hold that forth to the World which he had made known to me that so if God would blesse it to the end I intended it every soule might be as happy in a fixed state as my selfe this is truly my end in publishing that to others which God did in secret imprint upon my heart Now in the publishing of this I take boldnes to Dedicate it to your self but if any aske why I doe so I shall render them these two Reasons First it is proper for me to tender respects to one from whom I have received so many I shall be short in this and say no more but that I remaine your Debtor My second reason is this Though the subject be of generall tendency to the wants of all Gods people yet such as God puts most worke upon have most need of this support such as fight and contend with the enemies of God either within them or without them will finde faith in God to be their best weapon that God hath emminently called and used you in such a weighty work I need produce no proofes to the World God himselfe hath done it what God hath further for you to doe I know not but this I know that faith in him will be your greatest strength in doing and a certaine rest what ever your worke maybe for this reason also I present this to your hands the scope and substance of which I believe hath strengthened your heart and hand in all that concernes you here and for ever Your enemies say you have done much but I beleeve the voyce of your owne heart is that God hath done all himselfe wherein he hath used you as an instrument What is yet behind for you to doe or suffer God only knows This I dare boldly affirme faith in God will be your best companion and your surest rest in all conditions therefore Sir in sincere love I present my service and this Treatise of the rest of Faith to your hands the Lord goe with it to your heart and make himselfe your rest here and forever which is the reall desire of him that truely loves you and in love will be ready to serve you in the worke of the Lord whilst I remaine ROBERT TICHBORNE To the READER READER I Observe in nature that the strongest liquors are of most use when the spirits are weakest as strong waters to a fainting man and when the seas are most boisterous then doth the Marriner cast forth his Anchor The dispensations of God in these latter dayes of the world in which we live hath made both Sea â—and full of troubles by reason whereof much fainting of spirit and trembling of heart hath overspread the Nation These out goings of God hath drawn forth my heart to follow that tracke of his Word in the light and strength of his spirit which leads to himselfe that so I might find in him reviving to my fainting spirit and a rest for my weary soule God having been so gracious in manifesting himselfe to be my all here and for ever and given me a heart to rest upon him by which I am in full and lasting rest It was set upon my heart that I should not be unthankfull to him and unchristian to others If I should have onely sed upon this bread of life in spirit and not tel forth to the glory of his grace and the good of others how sure a resting place his bosome of love is and how firmly all such shal be established that believe on him one drop of his love wll raise the lowest spirit that soule which stays it selfe upon God by faith will be at rest though the storms of the world be never so great If this be true which I am confident many thousand souls besides my own can bear the witness of to God then I am apt to believe the following Treatise will have acceptance with such as God hath made sensible that he is now shaking not onely the earth but the heavens also Most complaine of the earth-quakes which the Land and world is ful of but some complain of heart-quakes to these complaints give me leave to speak in the Prophets language Believe in the Lord your God so shall you be established Believe in God as your God so will your hearts be fixed when as God shal write vanity upon al the world God is now staining all glories besides his own but such as live and glory in God through believing wil have a living glory in a dying world a bed of rest what ever troubles the world beâ— ful of Therefore Reader if you would faine rest you must live on God by faith and if in this worke God shall use the following Treatise for your good I shal blesse him for your soule as for my owne truly this is the highest end of your servant in the Lord Robert Tichborne Beleeving in God doth advantage a Saint with an established heart 2 CHRO 20. later part 20. Verse Beleeve in the Lord your God so shall you be established THE Lord telleth us in his Word Heb. 12.26 of a time when as he will not onely shalâ—e the Earth but the Heavens also Shake all that may be shaken so as that which cannot be shaken may remaine and appeare this is his faithfull Word and truly his great and glorious workinge in these our dayes doth seem to point out that time to be neere at hand when God himselfe doth shake the whole Earth and heavens though they be vast bodies yet they must fall before the breath of the Almighty power which made them by a word this shaking truth and times hath with more solicitousnesse drawne forth my heart to seeke after establishment I found incouragement to this worke in that very text which
holdeth forth the shaking both of Earth and Heavens also for it seemeth to hold out thus much that the end of Gods so shaking is to manifest that which cannot be shaken by its remaining in which God taught me this truth that the establishment of his people lay in that which should remaine stedfast to eternity even when himselfe should shake not onely the earth but the heavens also by Earth here I understand the whole Earth in its frame and fashion beauty and glory power and government the time is comming when God will shake all this into its first nothing so that the establishment of an eternall being lyeth not in this By Heavens I understand not onely the materiall Heavens as Sonne Moone Starres and Firmament but also the Law of Heaven and earth namely the Ordinances and worship of God here the Churches and government of Christ on earth truly these are very glorious as they are in God and God in them so that they may well bee called the heavens but even these as they come from God have their time and their end these are the top and exceeding glory of all one wildernesse mercies but all these are to be shaken their end will cease and so must they too these are as the pillars of cloude by day and of fire by night to the body of Christ whilst it or any member of it remaines in the Wildernesse but Christ our head is ascended whom will draw his whole body after him and then the end of this will cease and their shaking time will be accomplished to the full so that though this be the glory of the World yet they cannot make up establishment to eternall soules because they are to be shaken Now by this I am further taught where to begin in seeking establishment namely not in the whole Earth no not in any part or appearance of Heaven that may be shaken not in the ordinances or worship of God but in God himselfe not in the Churches or government of Christ but in Christ himselfe So that good King Jehoshaphats counsell to his people in their day of straights and shakings will leade mee and all the people of God to a sure center of establishment Beleeve in the Lord your God so shall you be established These are the words of Jehoshaphat the King to Judah and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem at that time when they were under much feare and doubts concerning their condition by reason of a numerous and potent enemy which was come up against them to an eye of fleshly reason they were a lost people and nation but this good man had a better and more seeing eye to behold withall namely the eye of faith for in the 14 15 16 17 verses of this Chapter we shall finde that Jahaziel the Prophet having the spirit of the Lord come upon him in the middest of the Congregation when all the people were gathered together to seeke the Lord did Prophecy and told the King and all Judah and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem that they should not bee afraid nor dismayed by reason of the great a multitude which come against them for the battell saith he is not yours but Gods He gives further direction when to goe downe against them and what to doe he tels them they shall not needs to fight onely to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord he bids them againe not to feare for the Lord would be with them Now upon this was Jehoshaphats eye of faith he did beleeve in the Lord and his word declared by his Prophet and in this twentieth verse telleth the people where his establishment was namely in God and if they also should beleeve in God as their God and in his Word declared by his Prophet that they should thereby be established Beleeve in the Lord your God so shall you be established My intentions are to take this Scripture in the largest sense and to make use of it in the carrying on a Treatise of Faith as faith and beliefe in God doth settle and establish beleevers The plaine and visible truth which lyes in this Scripture and upon which I shall carry on what followeth is this That Saints are established by beleeving in God as their God This is the sense and almost the very words of the Scripture and for its proofe it hath the concurrance of the scope if not the letter of the whole Word of God the Prophet Isaiah in his seaventh Chapter and ninth verse prooves this by its contrary when in the former verses he had told them what God would doe for them he telleth them in this verse If you will not beleeve surely yee shall not bee established As if hee had sayd it is not my bare narrative or the history of God in his power greatnesse and goodnesse that will establish you if you doe not beleeve it is faith trust and beliefe in God as your God which is onely able to establish you if you beleeve not your foundation will alwayes bee tottering so that surely you will not bee established where beliefe is not establishment cannot be the reason is obvious and plaine for it is God alone that can and doth establish the hearts of his people now faith and beleeving in God is the onely discovery of union with God in which soules come to be established the soule by faith receiveth in God to it selfe and involveth it selfe into God and God in the soule makes it an established soule 2 Ephes 17. Christ dwels in the heart of beleevers by faith This was Abrahams condition who is called the Father of the faithfull the Text saies Rom. 3.19 20. when God made him the promise of an heire out of his owne loyner that he was not weake in faith nor did he stagger at the promise through unbeliefe notwithstanding his owne great age and the deadnesse of Sarahs wombe yet he beleeved the word and promise of the Lord and was established by beleeving this Father of the faithfull gave himselfe up to God he lost his owne fleshly reasoning in beleeving the faithfull word of God God had said that he should have a Childe of Sarahs wombe he giveth himselfe over to God by beleeving so that there is no staggering saith takes in the promise and the soule is established but where there is not faith to take in the promise of God or rather God in the promise there the soule is not nor cannot be established staggering is as properly the fruit of unbeliefe as stability is of faith and they demonstrate each other as white doth black and black white that Scripture which sayeth If you beleeve not you shall not be established doth give proofe to that Text which sayes Beleeve in the Lord your God so shall you bee established So likewise on the contrary our Saviour gives in ample proofe to this truth that Saints are established by beleeving in God as their God in that John 6.47 Verily verily I say unto you hee that
be our God and that wee shall be his people to put his Low in our inward parts and write it in our hearts that all his people shall know him from the least to the greatest and that hee will forgive their iniquity and remember their sinnes no more In this Covenant God wraps up all the parts of the salvation of his free grace and doth fully oblige himselfe to them all Now what is the reason that God doth thus oblige himselfe by Covenant is it because of himselfe that he might not goe back from his designe of grace to his people No he is God that changes not an immutable God Numb Num. 23.19 Psal 90.2 23.19 God from everlasting to everlasting Psal 90.2 But God makes this Covenant for our sake that we might beleeve in him as a God of grace and a faithfull God the holy Ghost argues thus he telleth us that a faithfull man will keepe his Covenant much more God as if hee had said The faithfull God hath made his Covenant of grace that you might beleeve he will make good his Covenant as he is a faithfull God God obligeth his owne faithfulnesse in a Covenant of grace that his people might have both his grace and his faithfulnesse for a foundation of their faith God will be beleeved by his people and therefore hee ingageth himselfe as a faithfull gracious God to the faith of his people sayes God I will pardon your sinnes and remember them no more I will put my Law in your hearts the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus and I will be your God and you shall be my people beleeve all this for I will doe it saith God I the faithfull the gracious and omnipotent God I that am omnipotent who can hinder me I that am gracious so that your sinnes can be no barre nay I that am faithfull and cannot lye nor repent I have spoken it and I will make it good what is the meaning of all this but that we should beleeve the faithfull word of our faithfull and gracious God he will oblige his owne faithfulnesse by way of Covenant that wee might beleeve in the free salvation of his owne grace made out in that Covenant Secondly Consider what is Gods end in the promulgation and spreading abroad of the Gospell It is not that his people should beleeve in the salvation of his owne grace why is Christ pleased to be the way of Gods salvation to his people of his owne free grace so that whom ever beleeveth thus on him hath everlasting life John 6.47 But that they might beleeve and bee saved by him 29. verse This is the worke of God that yee beleeve on him that hee hath sent This is the end of the Gospell for it is the effect of it where it workes savingly this is Gods worke or the worke of his spirit in the Gospell to make soules beleeve in Jesus Christ whom hee hath sent when Christ sent forth his Disciples to preach the Gospell he directs them to the lost sheepe of the house of Israel and biddeth them to Preach this Mat. 10.6 7. that the Kingdome of Heaven was at hand Mat. 10.6 7. Matth. 10.6 7. That is goe to poore lost soules in themselves and tell them that the Salvation of Gods free grace iâ— at hand it is neere to them it seekes them and saveth them freely but what is the end of this onely that the history of Christ might come to these lost soules no sure that is not enough for lost sheepe but that they might beleeve in the salvation of Gods free grace and bee saved and for this end hath God preserved his Gospell in the World and made it to prosper against all the power and malice of Satan and his instruments that thereby his people might heare the glad tydings of salvation by free grace in Christ and in the beleeving of it be saved and established John 6.40 This is the will of him that sent me that every one which sâ—ttâ— the Sonne and beleeveth on him may have everlasting life It is not onely a bare hearing or seeing of Christ in the flesh but beleeving on him that makes Christ to bee everlasting life to the soule and this is the end of God in the Gospell that soules might haw everlasting life through beleeving in Christ it is faith in the soules of his people that God intends both by giving the Gospel to the World and preserving it in the World So that for these two reasons which might have bin exceedingly more inlarged is doth appeare That this is the will of God in keeping his salvation to bee wholy the worke of his grece that the hand which received and applyeth it should be a hand of faith which is the worke of his owne free grace in the soule Thus farre I have held forth matter for faith in the soules of beleevers to rest on for establishment in the poynt of salvation by shewing in some of Gods Attributes what hee is in himselfe and what the designe of his free grace is in the salvation of sinners My intention is to hold out more matter for faith to take in before I give the arguments for Faith or motives to Faith Now I finde this by my selfe and others that feares and doubtings in the soule next to its owne salvation is about the Church and people of God on earth how it will fare with them and therefore I shall in the next place take that into consideration You shall heare poore soules that love Christ and his people bâ—t are weake in faith make these sad complaints O the poore Church and people of Christ what will become of them the multitudes of the World they hate them so that they use all their power and policy to ruine and destroy them Princes off the Earth joyne themselves together and take counsell against them if any in power own them it is but a little number and they but for a little time we finde them men subject to temptations many times when as by faire promises and some sinall beginnings men in power beget a confidence in Gods people concerning them till fairer advantages are offered by Satan in a temptation to their flesh and then they prove false to former promises and undoe all their beginnings of good by setting open the Flood-gates of evill and tyranny upon the Church and people of God Satan sheweth them the World they are taken with the temptation fall downe and worship him and if Gods people will not doe so too then the furnace must bee hear seaven times hotter then before and if they desire to go into the Wildernesse to worship the Lord their God then they are idle the Task-masters must increase their worke so that truly sayes this poore bleeding heart if a man have any thing more then a naked profession of Religion in such a forme that will be turned by every blaft of power from men he is then taken for a
that it is the mind and wil of God he should so serve and worship him for uncertainty of Gods minde will make unsetlednesse in mans worship hee that believeth not that God is pleased with what he doth cannot be steady in that service to God He that worships an unknown God that is God in such a way as hee knoweth not whether God will approve of or not will not bee long known by that worship If faith cleares not up the will of God to the soule in its way of worship and serving God the soule walkes in the darke and hath trembling in it suitable to darknesse and trembling joynts cannot be steady in the way they walke the uncertaine soule will goe with every one that pretends to set it right but when faith hath cleared up Gode will to the soule then it moves steadily Faith is a steady eye and it makes God its object so that where faith lives the soule is steady in its motion and though it may as God comes nearer to it goe from lower to higher former yet in all it goes nearer to God and is more and more clear in the mind and will of God more steady and spirituall in its worship and service of God that is worships God more purely more out of the flesh and more in the Spirit according to that Gospel-worship our Saviour speaks of in John 4.24 God is a Spirit John 4.24 and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth In spirit because he is a Spirit in truth because he is the true God Now none but the believing soule can worship God either in spirit or truth for he that believeth not his worship to be according to God cannot worship in truth because he knows not the mind of God who is the God of truth nor can it be in the spirit for the Spirit is light and makes knowledge of God therefore it is only the believing soul that can worship God in spirit and truth and no other souls can worship God truly or be true to the worship and service of God which it doth professe It was faith made the three Children and the Prophet Daniel in the Booke of Daniel so emminently steady in their worship and service of God and truly it is want of faith that makes the unsettlement of souls in this thing and such as are so zealous to have multitudes to worship God whether they know and believe it to be Gods minde or not may bring many pretenders to God but not any whit more of worship and service to him Faith makes men true to the worship and service of God and force makes men true to the wil-worship of man for as hee that believeth will not swerve from what God hath revealed to him so such as worship onely by the rule of mans will and power is always ready to worship in what manner soever man will have him and this makes him as uncertain in his worship as man is who is his rule for worship but the soul advantaged to worship serve God in spirit and truth is the believing soule for what faith fixes of God in the soule that the soule is steady to God in and alwayes ready to worship and serve God with it therefore concerns such as would be steady in their worship and service of God to doe nothing in his worship and service but what they can doe from a principle of faith believing it to be the mind and will of God concerning their souls in their worship and service of him and in this faith the soule will be steady to God and it may say as the Prophet David O Lord my heart is fixed my heart is fixed I will sing and give praise My heart is fixed on thee my joy is continually in thee and my praise and worship shall be alwayes to thee according as thou hast by faith sixed my heart on thee so shalt thou have fixed worship and service from me Soules thus fixed are rarely found nor are they ever found but where faith liveth and as faith growes so the soule fixes This is a benefit and advantage fixed to saith in the soule for they alwayes goe together and the want of either is the want of both but sure I am where both are they may truely be called benefits and advantages to the soule for that soul is advantaged above all the unsteady soules in the World whatever they pretend to besides A seventh benefit of Faith in the soule is this Faith it makes a ready submission in the soule to the will of God that soul which believeth in God and liveth upon God for alit hath or hopeth for doth not quarrel with or dispute against the will of God nay though Gods will be never so opposite against the will in man yet where faith liveth and bareth sway in the soule there the soule layes downe its owne will and readily submits to the will of God this was Josephs case in Matth. Mat. 1.24.25 1.24 25. there God bids him to take unto him his wise though she were with childe Now in the 19. verse his minde was to put her away privily because he would not make her a publique example but when God by the Angell had revealed his will to him he forsakes his former resolutions and doth as the Angell of the Lord had bidden him Now observe it was faith in Joseph made him thus to submit to Gods will for had not he beleeved the Angell of the Lord when he told him in the 20. verse That which was conceived in her was of the holy Ghost doubtlesse he would have keps to his former resolutions to put her away privily but believing that the thing was of God and of it was the will of God he said Take unto him Mary his Wise he through faith makes ready submission to the will of God And in the 2. Matth. 14. there by saith he readily obeyed God Mat. 2.14 In taking the young Childe and his Mother by night and departing into Aegypt which in the 13. verse was the command of God to him by the Angell the second time because Hered sought the Childes life thus Joseph believing God is ready to submit to all the will of God It was thus also with Peter and Andrew in Mat. 4.19 20 Mat. 4.19 20. when Christ called them to follow him he promising to make them fishers of men the Text sayes They streighway lift their Nets add followed him Had not they beleeved in Christ they would never have followed him but they did it streightway Faith it made them readily willing to obey the call of Christ saith it is the day of Gods power in the souls and it makes his people â—â—iling people unto his will This made Joshua readily obey all the commands of God in his besieging of Jericho as appeares at large in the fixt of Joshua he beleeved the word of God in the 2 verse That God had given Jericho into
in it selfe knowes its peace with God faith cannot be understood to be a justifier in the soule as by purchase for then there were no need of Christ to goe along with it but as the seale of purchase through our Lord Jesus Christ and this is the true meaning of the Text for thus the free grace of God and redemption of Christ is preserved in the salvation of soules but in the other sense both are destroyed now in this sense it proves the thing in hand that faith soules up the soule to the redemption of Gods free grace through Christ and herein is the soule justified in it selfe by faith But of grace through Christ So the Author to the Hebrewes in Chap. 11. vers Heb. 11.1 1. giving a definition of faith in the soule sayes It is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seene Faith is such a grace as giveth a substantiall injoyment satisfactâ—ry to the soule of that is hopes for and this is doth by evidencing and sealing up to the soul its reall interest in God Christ and heaven though through the clouds of the flesh is cannot 〈◊〉 the fulnesse and glory of its inheritance yet iâ— doth fully believe its interest in the inheritance because iâ— hath the seale in iâ— selfe thus faith is the seale and evidence to the soule of that which no other eye can see nor any other heart suck the substance of it seale up the soule to the redemption of Gods free grace and thus it is an exceeding great benefit and advantage to the soule the want of this makes those sad complainings that be in soules whâ—â— they heare of grace and good in God this blowes up the flames of their misery what is this to me sayes a soule that believes not in God I have no share in all this or at least I know of no interest that I have in the redemption of Gods free grace and so breakes out into such sad complainings of its condition as doth wound the hearts of standers by and breaks the heart that beare the first wound for a wounded spirit who can hearâ— this soule would give ten thousand worlds if it had the power for the seale of the redemption of Gods free grace in it selfe wee use to say things are worth as much as will be given for them by this rule the sealing love of God in his redemption of free grace to the soul by faith is more worth then can be expressed from whence I gather this that faith as it seales up the soule to the redemption of Gods free grace so it is an exceeding great benefit and advantage to the soule Another benefit of faith in the soule is this Faith carries the soule above feare into the strength of God so that though all creatures and meanes failes yet the believing soule hath its refuge and rest in God Faith in God carries the soule to God and there it lives in what God is in which life all distrustfull and distracting feare is banished from the soule It was thus with the Prophet David Psalm 27.1 The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear The Lord is the strength of my life Psalm 11â— 36 of whom shall I be affraid Here is first his faith in God and his living upon God by faith The Lord is my light my salvation and my strength hee did believe God to be so and lived upon God as his light salvation and strength But now observe what is the fruit of this faith iâ— his soule and what the benefit of such a presence Why it is this the soule is carryed above feare into the strength of God he lives in God and this makes him to be above feare whom should I feare of whom should I be affraid Is there any greater then Godâ— can any power take me out of his hands he is my light in which I see the powers of darknesse and know they are too weake to contend with him he is my strength so that not any thing can destroy me which cannot overcome him Nay he is my salvation he hath in the glory of his grace already saved mee out of the hands of all my enemies to this end that I might serve him without feare he hath so overcome all enemies for me that as I live in him so I have none to be affraid of these are the arguings of faith in such soules as live upon God which is the life of faith such soules argue their safety from what God is and therefore till a greater then God appeares they know no cause of feare This is the Apostle Pauls argument when as he was strong in faith Rom. 8.31 If God be for us who can be against us Rom. 8.31 His life was in God and by faith hee argues thus what power can contend with God hee speakes there of the greatest powers of darknesse that sayes if God be reconciled to us no power or powers can stand against him now faith in the soule sayes God is reconciled to us he is for us he is our salvation and strength none can be against us and prosper in their way therefore whom shall we feare or of whom shall we be affraid So the same Prophet in Psalm 31.14 In the verse before he sayes that fear was on every side untill faith came into his soule but faith that banisheth feare I trust in thee O Lord I say thâ—â— art my God Faith was his advantage to carry him above all those feares that were before on every side he commends to all Saints for such an end in v. 23. Be of good courage and he shall strengthen your hearts all ye that hope in the Lord. As if he had said you may live above feare if your trust be in God In Ps 56.9.11 Psal 56.9.11 We shall find the Prophet in the practices of what he exhorted to in the last Scripture When I cry unto thee then shall my enemies turne backe this I know for God is for mee Mark it here is his faith that when he cryed to God for help against his enemies that they should be confounded and turned backe and the ground of his faith is this for God is for me God will engage on my side and I live on him as my strength and my salvation but in vers 11. There is the â—ffect of this faith in his soule and that is it carryes him above feare In God 〈◊〉 put my trust I will not be affraid what man can doe unto me Observe it is not feare because I have put my trust in God Faith in God caste feare out of the soule for it carryes the soule up to God above feare I have put my trust in God and shall I now be affraid of man Shall I feare such an inferiour power to God that which God can destroy in a moment in the twiackling of an eye this feare hath no confistancy with faith nor can it live
soule is the life of faith and the effect of faith in the soule is a weaning of it from the World by a gathering of it into God The last benefit of faith in God which I shall mention is this True faith in God doth truly fixe and establish the soules of Beleevere in the redemption of Gods free grace from all our enemies from sinne death Hell Law grave men and Devils none of these can hurt or destroy such soules as lives in the free grace of God by faith free grace it freely pardons finne and so plucks out the sting of death delivers from the jawes of Hell satisfies and fulfils the Law gathers from the grave that which in sowne in corruption and cloathes it with incorruption chains up the power and malice of men and Devils against his people this free grace doth and by faith the soule lives thus on God by which it becomes a fixed and established soule beleeving soules are not like the restlesse waves of the Sea that rowle from shore to shore and soame up their owne mire but they are soules fixed in God and Christ God by faith did answer the Prophets prayer which deâ—â—red to be led to that Rock which was higher then himselfe that is the work of faith it leads the soul to God and Chirst and then it is an established soule it is then built upon 〈◊〉 Rock higher then it selfe so that windes cannot shake it nor 〈◊〉 undermine it as if it had built upon a sandy soundation faith builds upon a Rock and that the Rock of Ages i◠〈◊〉 in the free grace of God the redemption and the righteousnesse of Christ so that neither life nor death nor any thing no not finne shall ever be able to separate such soules from God and Christ and hence it is that soules beleeving thus in God through Christ by his spirit are fixed and established soules the Prophet David in Psal 125.1 gives in testimony to this benefit of faith in the soule he telleth us there They that trâ—st in the Lord shall be as mount Zion which cannot be moved but abideth for ever Faith in God fixeth the soule in everlasting safety and keepes it upon a Rock of establishment even when Earth and Heaven is shaking Now I shall gather up what I aime at in all this in reference to my owne soule and others and it is singly this to eye God with a single eye and to rest upon him with a steady undoubting heart by a single eye I meane a single heart fixed upon what God is does and sayes concerning his people and then by faith to apply and appropriate that to our selves resting steadily and undoubtingly upon him assuring our soules that what hee sayes concerning us he will fully make good unto us God cannot lye when he speakes he speakes his heart and what is in his heart to doe no power or powers can hinder his hand from doing such soules then as thus see God and rest upon him are sure to be established so as the counsell of good King Jeboshaphat is worthy to be received by all soules Beleave in the Lord your God so shall you be established Then first give me leave to advise to a serions and constant inquiry after God if establishment in the soule come by believing in God then knowing of God aright is of absolute necessity 〈◊〉 such a believing now soules sleight or inconstant in their inquities after God in what he is doth and saith are very unlikely soules to come to such a knowledge of him as will bring forth beliefe to establishment It was the saying of an established soule in God I know whom I have trusted and doubtlesse there had not been trust to establishment but that knowledge was in the very foundation the argument seemeth to me to runne thus I know God and therefore I have trusted in him and 〈◊〉 I know him I am assured I shall not be deceived by him so that from this knowledge I am established through believing darknesse is the proper wombe of feare there in nothing else foturely begotten there so is light of faith and establishment thiâ— I say and speake by experience in which I shall appeale to the â—â—perience of all Saints that the more any soule truely knows God the more that soule will trust him therefore give mee leave againe to say Be serious and constant in the inquiries after God study him as he is in himselfe in his Christ and our Saviour iâ— his Covenant of free grace in all his promises and performances in his word and workes in our owne and other Saints experiences of him And this I dare boldly affirme the more God is thus spiritually knowne of his people the more he will be admired loved and trusted by them and such soules the more truly established Secondly This seemes to be suitable advice to be exceeding watchfull over Satan and our owne hearts in all the temptations to or movings of unbeliefe in our soules there is nothing so great a friend to the Kingdome of Satan and so great an eneny to the Kingdome of Gods free grace as unbeliefe is nor can any sinne so certainely destroy the soule as unbeliefe nay all other sinnes without this can never destroy any soule doubtlesse these reasons have weight enough in them to make Christian soules stand upon their guard against this enemy of unbeliefe it is the Generall of the Host of evill it commands all other sinnes and where it enters it comes with great attendants of evils subservant to is selfe unbeliefe is the supreame Agient in the World for the Prince of darknesse in what ever God is distrusted and not believed Satan shall surely be served Faith is that Anchor that keeps the soule close to God if that be plucked up Satan sils the Sailes I meane the heart with the World and so carryes the Vessell where he pleaseth Faith is Gods interest and unbeliefe the Devile interest in the soule and at the last day when Christ shall give the Devill his due I mean his share of men in the world iâ— will be onely unbelievers for he hath interest in nor can lay claime to none else therefore unbeliefe should be dreaded as the Devils brand that by which he markes his owne distrust God and honour Satan for they cannot be parted he that doth the former cannot avoyd the latter A soule watchfull in this thing iâ— so for Gods glory its owne peace and eternall saivation for these two can never be parted what preserves the one preserves the other but unbeliefe looseth both consider free grace is the originall the first cause of all Gods promises to and his dealings with his people Now a distrust in these how doth it dishonour God and not onely unestablish but undoe our owne soules therefore no enemy so dangerous as unbeliefe and should with most watchfulnesse be prevented unbeliefe it opposeth Gods ends in his Covenant of free grace and in all his gracious promises
to his people which is that all the ends of the Earth should come unto him and be saved that is beleeve on his free grace for salvation Now this is Satans grand designe to hinder faith because he is the great enemy of Mans salvation Our Saviour tould his Disciples that to them that beleeve all things were possible Satan knowes this full well and therefore doth all that possibly he can to hinder faith in the soule therefore be exceeding watchfull over Satan in this thing and looke often and diligently into our owne hearts and know that so much unbeliefe as is there so much interest the Devill hath in us and by that possession he hath an iolet to the soul for any temptation therefore I say againe in our Saviours words Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation But in the last place I shall winde up all in the Prophets owne words Beleeve in the Lord your God so shall you be established And first beleeve God in himselfe and now I pray look back upon his Attributes and you shall finde him God and alwayes God an everliving and eterna â— God a faithfull God and a God that cannot lye a God of love and an everloving God his love is like himselfe unchangable he is the originall of all pure and holy love and as love is originally in him so that love is eternall like him he is a God of free grace and hath made his owne grace to be his Childrens title to life and salvation Now I date confidently affirme that whom ever thus believes in God shall be established what can shake that soule that lives upon God as God Almighty Omnipotent infinite and eternall what can kill those joyes and comforts that lives in God as he is a God of eternall and originall love and free grace these joys and comforts will live so long as the fountaine of their life abider and that is for ever God in what he it is unchangable the same yesterday to day and for ever from everlasting to everlstaing where God is the foundation and Christ the Comer stone that building will abide for ever shakings and great sâ—â—s doe arise from sandy foundations But the Prophe Davld teleth us that such people are blessed whose God is the Lord that is they have this blessing to be established whom have pitched upon God for their all and live upon what God is that soule which lives in God is above the feare of any other strength to overturne or destroy it because it lives upon an Almighty God neither can this soule feare to outlive its comforts and delights because they are bound up in an ever-living God and the eternall love and free grace of God to be the hand that bound them up and the wombe that brought them forth therefore this believing soule doth not say it shall one day fall by the hand of Saul that is of this or the other lust but that the eternall love and free grace of God hath delivered it from and carryed it up above all its enemies so that it may serve him without feare as a soule established in himselfe living purely upon what God is so that nothing can shake or unsettle this soule which cannot lessen God and as no power can make God lesse then the true Almighty Omnipotent Eternall and ever faithfull God no more can such powers shake much lesse destroy such soule soules as lives thus upon God the Author to the Hebrewes tels us Chap. 12. vers 27. That there are things which are made that are and must be shaken and there is a Kingdome which cannot bee shaken but shall remaine for ever Truely all below and besides God are now shaking and shall not cease til they return to their first nothing but the Kingdome of God or more properly God the glory of that Kingdome shall never be shaken but abide for ever so shall all those that live in him this is Mount Zion which cannot be moved to live in God ever hath and shall be a life of glory therefore this exhortation is alwayes ful of weight and glory but me thinkes in these latter dayes of the World when as the whole World is as it were giving up the ghost and every man complaining that there is no sweet nor relish in it the most discerning eyes plainely beholding its glory departed from it the Pillars cracked and breken so that it can be but a very little time before the Fabrick fals Now me-thinkes that which cannot be shaken but shall remaine for ever should have its exceeding worth and glory in our eyes and hearts and this is nothing else but God himselfe O then such as would live for ever must live in God for all things else are not onely dying but very neare their death God hath written upon honours pleasures and profits of the world Death so visible in such bigge characters that every eye almost can reade it but himselfe is the ever-living God hee that made all things out of nothing can when hee pleaseth make all that hee hath made returne to its first nothing and yet himselfe be to eternity what hee was from eternity an Almighty glorious and ever-living God Oh therefore live onely in the glory of this ever living God so shall you live when the World is dead so shall you dye to the World but live above the World Jehovah will be eternal life to all that live in him Faith in Jehovah will make an established soule Secondly Believe on God in the Covenant and salvation of his free grace in Jesus Christ the great gift of his grace in whom he hath satisfied his owne pure justice and perfected the salvation of his people and in all his gracious promises First believe him in his Covenant of free grace believe that he meanes to keepe it and will perform it to the utmost were there no othere reason this is enough to make us believe hee will keepe it because he hath made it in himselfe and hee is God that cannot lye he is Almighty and can want no power to prove himselfe the true and faithfull God it is all grace and so all God that it can never be lesse then it is but for ever the grace of God or the Covenant of the God of grace A little consider the conditions of this Covenant and then see how faith on God in this Covenant will establish the soules of believers First Sayes God this shall be the Covenant that I will make with my people As if God had said it is my Covenant so that if you that trust in it should finde it faile blame me but I am God and cannot lye It is the Covenant of my grace that is it is the powrings forth of my selfe it is eternall as my selfe and shall never faile in a title of it it is truâ— as I am true therefore believe this my Covenant as you would my selfe if I should speak to you face to face and in beleiving thus
Redeemer but I wel knew that the price of my precious blood was a full satisfaction to my Fathers justice for all the finnes of all those that should believe in him through me John 6.47 Verily verily I say unto you bee that beleeveth an mee hath everlasting life What soule soever believeth in the salvation of Gods free grace wrought by mee shall certainely nay hath eternall lifeâ— and if eternall life then doubtlesse sure establishment Sayes Christ I came from heaven and tooke flesh for your sakes that shall believe on God through me and I staid on earth till I finished the work of redemption purely for your sakes so now I am ascended and at my Father and your Fathers right hand in glory I am here for you as your head to draw all my members after me as your Mediator I live for ever to make intercession for you to prepare your Mansions and to preserâ—e your glory where you shall be fellow-heirs with me and when I come againe to judge the World it will be to pronounce you the blessed of my Father to change your mortality into in mortality and then to give my Kingdome up to my Father where you shall be for ever with the Lord and in all this my Father and I am one therefore believe in God through me so shall you be established In the next place believe the word and promises of God or God in them and you shall find them full of establishment And now once more let me defire you to turne backe and consider those glorious and gracious promises which God hath made to his Saints his Church and people on earth how hee hath â—â—gaged himselfe to take care of them and to preserve them as his peculiar interest so deare to him as the apple of his eye for whom he hath given Christ and to whom with Christ he hath given all things Remember that generall promise of God and believe it that he will never leave nor forsake his people So in Isa 4â— bâ—g There God makes promises to particular cases When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not over flow thee When thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee Now how exceedingly will the heart be established if God be believed in this the promise contains great things but remember it is the promise of an infinite and Almighty God it is I that make this great promise sayâ—â— God I that cannot lye I that can doe what I will and will be sure to make good every tittle of my promise to all that trust and believe in me Now to believe God in this how will it spirit a soule and carry it above all feare above deepe waters and slanting fires above all dangers and difficulties what an heroicke spirit will this make this man will be acted above himselfe because he lives believing in God so above the feares and doubtings of his owne flesh This faith will make soules speake in the language of the Church in Psalm 46. God is our resuge and strength a very prosent help in time of trouble in fire and water in all difficulties and streights therefore will we not feare though the earth be removed and the mountaines carryed into the middest of the Sea This is a soule that takes Gods word and believes that he will deliver it from all sâ—â—eights and therefore is not affraid what â—ver it â—â—ken or removed so aâ— God remaines having trusted in him for refuge and helpâ— in all times of trouble So in Isa 51.3 Isa 51.3 There God by the Prophet promiseth to comfort Zion yea to coâ—fort her in all her wast places to make her Wildernesse like â—den and her Desart like the garden of the Lord. This 〈◊〉 wraped up in the armes of faith will much establish the hearâ— for it doth beget great thoughts of heart how shal it fare wiâ—â— the Church of God and how shal it be with me that am a member of that Church Now believing on God in this promise answers those doubtful questions and so establisheth the hearâ— iâ— believing Isa 27.3 So in Isa 27.3 We may read Gods care of his vinâ—yard I the Lord doe keepe it I will water it every moment lift my hurt it I will keepe it day and night That is safe which God keepes and doubtlesse such soules as believe God in this promise will believe themselves to be safe in the care and keeping of God and so will be established soules God doth both promise and professe his care of his Church and people Isa 49.15 16. in Isa 49. He tels us there though a Mother may forget the soune of her womb yet that he would never forget his Church and people Nay sayes God I cannot forget you for you are graven upon the palmes of my hands Now believe God in this and try if it will not make an established soule againe in any or the greatest opposition remember that promise of God That no weapon formed against his Church and chosen ones shall prosper He will blast tongue and hands head and heart and all that 〈◊〉 themselves against him in his people though in their setting forth they may promise themselves victory yet they shall finde God will make good his word to his people such instruments and weapons shall not prosper Oh then take Gods Word and our hearts will be quiet though the Heathens doe rage yet they imagine but a vaine thing God hath said it and hee will make it good heaven and earth shall passe away but not one tittle of his word shall faile Read with an eye of faith that great and glorious promise of God to his people in Isa 41.10 and so forward Though Jacob be a worme yet hee should not feare when the Almighty is his God It is too large to recite but not too great for the armes of faith to containe and if believed I am sure it will make great establishment And now give me leave to begge saith in God for the fulfilling of al those promises which God hath made concerning the glorious and peacefull Reigne of Christ amongst his Saints in the latter dayes I dare say such soules as beleeves God in them wil finde much establishment in that faith those lattâ—r dayes must needs be hard by Now the World is so near aâ—end and to believe that glorious Reigne of Christ at hand wil make much joy and settlement in the heart though the present workings of God be to turne and overturne things yet all this serves to accomplish these glorious promises of his in bringing forth this Righteous and peacefull Kingdome of Christ God is now a shaking and overturning all unrighteous powers and governments now such soules as doe not believe these promises of God are ignorant of Gods end and so full of unsettlement in their spirits concerning the issue of his present dispâ—nsations and hereupon
on Jesus Christ as our Lord Jesus Christ so the soule comes to be at peace with God and to finde God to be reconciled to it and is thus justified in its owne bosome by beleeving in Christ that is the soule doth now beleeve all that God hath said concerning Christ and what Christ hath done and suffered for finners 2 Cor. 5. last and doth by faith apply and appropriate this to it selfe my Lord Jesus Christ saith a beleeving soule whom God made to his sinne for mee Isa 53. that I might be the righteousnesse of God in him upon whom God hath layd all my iniquities and the chastisements due to my sinnes Col. 2.19 and by whose stripes my soule is bealed So that now I stand compleate before God in him Thus by beleeving and appropriating Christ to our owne soules wee come to be justified in our owne spirits and to be at peace with God in beleeving God to bee as peace with us we come to be at peace with him that is all hard thoughts of God they are gone with unbeliefe now the soule beleeveth in God through Christ it findeth God to be a gracious loving reconciled Father and is now at peace with God or at peace in God full of peace by beleeving in God through Christ this is the justification that faith giveth the soule it lives upon the peace of God in Jesus Christ and quiets the soule in this that God is at peace with it through Jesus Christ and in this sense through the whole Booke of God wee must understand those Scriptures wherein it is said we are justified by faith Gal. 2.16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the workes of the Law Gal. 2.16 but by the faith of Jesus Christ even wee have beleeved in Jesus Christ That is knowing that God doth justifie all through Christ by his free grace in beleeving and not any by workes we doe beleeve in his free grace through Christ and are thereby justified not of workes no not by faith as a grace for then by workes but of his grace through Christ laid hold on and apply by faith the Apostle Paul in Rom. 3.22 Even the righteousnesse of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all that beleeve the righteousnesse of God is the grace of God in Christ or the grace of God making Christ our righteousnesse which righteousnesse of God by Jesus Christ we apply to our selves by beleeving in the grace of God which hath made Christ our righteousnesse and in Christ as hee is made righteousnesse to us righteousnesse is the gift of grace but if faith as an act in us could justifie us then righteousnesse and justification would not be of grace but as faith is onely a hand to lay hold on Christ the righteousnesse of Gods free grace and this faith the gift of God not of our selves Ephes 2.8 So it hath its place and worke in the great designe of God the Salvation of his free grace So in Rom. 10.4 For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that beleeveth Rom. 10.4 The holy Ghost doth not there say that by beleeving which is a worke of grace in the soule the soule doth put an end to the Law that is satisfie it and make it selfe righteous no for then righteousnesse would be of the Law but Christ he hath put an end to the Law for righteousnesse to every one that beleeveth that is by beleeving in Christ as our righteousnesse there is an end put to the Law the Law is no righteousnesse but Christ is righteousnesse and the fulfiller of the Law for all that thus beleeve on him faith is only the hand to lay hold of and to appropriate and apply Christ to the soule whom is Gods righteousnesse and the sulfiller of this Law for all that so beleeve on him Beleevers should be exceeding tender of preserving the glory of Gods grace for it is by grace that wee are saved and onely of grace that we are what we are and for this very cause was faith made the hand to lay hold on grace grace in God hath not made a hand to destroy it selfe we must be very watchfull in this thing and make the grace of God to bee the tryall of faith for that faith cannot bee true which doth not advance the free grace of God the highest pitch of faith in which it is very glorious is to apply the grace of God to the soule and to cast the soule upon the free grace of God to unselfe the creature to trample its best workes under feet as drosse and dung and resting full in the grace of God through Christ desiring onely to be found in him Not having our owne righteousnesse which is of the Law Phil. 3.8 9. but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God by faith Phil. 3.8 9. True faith it lifts up free grace in God by seeking his righteousnesse by faith it aimes no higher but to be a hand to receive the gift of grace Gods righteousnesse the Lord Jesus Christ The true worke of faith in the soule is to bring in Christ and cast out the Law as that Schoole-Master which keep◠the soule under feares till Christ came and to acquaint the soule that it is a Childe of God through Christ Jesus Gal. 3.25 26. John 6.40 47 Gal. 3.25 26. and that in Christ it hath everlasting life John 6.40.47 Thus beleeving in Christ the soule is strengthened in the inward man Christ dwelling in the heart by faith Eph. 3.16 17. Ephes 3.16 17. and establishing the soule in its union with Christ that soule which beleeveth in Christ as the gift of Gods free grace in whom God giveth eternall life 1 John 5.10 11. hath the witnesse in himselfe 1 John 5.10 11. Hee is sealed up to the love of God in beleeving the record of God that saith he loveth it freely and hath given Christ for it now the soule beleeves this word of God and rests upon it take Gods word for its eternall salvation this is the true office of faith in the foule to lay hold of the Salvation of Gods free grace in Christ declared by his word and to apply and appropriate 〈◊〉 to it selfe so as to rest and depend wholy upon it for Saivation and herein the soule comes to have the witnesse within its selfe by beleeving thus on the Sonne of God That it might appear◠to be the will of God that all which are saved of his free grace by Christ should be made partakers of this Salvation in themselves by beleeving in him and the salvation of his grace I shall of at two things to consideration First The Covenant of Gods free grace And secondly The promulgation and spreading abroad of the Gospell First Gods Covenant of free grace in Jer. 31.31 32 33 34. and Heb. 8.8 9 10 11 12. In which God doth freely ingage himselfe To
Sectary an Heritique and an enemy to Caesar So that not onely the ignorant multitude but even Authority it selfe which should protect them is set against them Now helpe Lord sayes these afflicted Spirits Psal 12. good and goodly men they cease for the faithfull fall among the children of men They speake vanity every one with his neighbour with flattering lips and with a double heart doe they speake So that all worldly men who are much the greater number are either open or private enemies to the Church and people of God therefore words are but the fleshly policy of their false hearts the mischiefe lyes at the root so that what ever the Serpent brew'd proveâ— their businesle is to bruise the heele of the Woman Christ in his Church and people So that indeede the condition of Gods Church and people in the World is very sadd they are a Lilly amongst Thornes enemyes either open or private round about them Is it so poore heart Why then looke up with an eye of faith are all men false yet God is true will not the powers on earth bea kinde to Zion doe they neglect their duty to protect the praise-worthy Yet feare not God will he kinds and faithfull too he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings all the powers is Heaven and Earth must obey him for thy incouragement and matter for thy faith to build on to the establishments of thy â—â—â—rit take into thy bosome and seriously consider what followes First Isa 43.1 confider Gods interest in his people Isa 43.1 〈◊〉 now thus saith the Lord that created thee O Jacob and hee that â—â—â—med thee O Israel feare not for I have redeemed thee I have â—â—led thee by my Name thou art mine Observe the end of God is this Scripture is to keepe up his peoples hearts above feare and the way God taketh is this to let them know his interests is them why sayes God I have not onely created thes but I have redeemed thee also thou hast not onely my first but also my second creation upon thee the new creature thou are my redeemed one my image so that thou bearest my name thy 〈◊〉 myee looke upon thee as the redeemed of the Lord thou beareâ— my Name and thou art mine my interest thou art Jacob my servant Isa 44. â— and Israel whom I have chosen Marke the Scriptures Thâ—â— art my chosen interest my redeemed interest my new creaâ—â—â— interest my servant whom I have chosen to beare my names theâ— are thou mine Now why shouldest thou feare Doest thou think I will let my name be blotted out I am God not Men I cannot Iyes I cannot hee changable if I choose thee to love thee to make thee my redeemed one upon whom I will ingrave my Nature as a holy God in the new creature and so proclaim thee to the World to be mine I will never cast thee off againe nor out of my love and care thou art mine and I am thine my love thine I am thine as I am a God of free grace in Christ I am thine my power is thine that is it is all for thee as I am 〈◊〉 Omnipotent Almighty alsufficient and Eternall God so 〈◊〉 I thy God therefore feare not none can pluck theâ— out of my hande Zâ—â—h 2.12 Gods Church and people are his inheritance Zach. 2.12 And the Lord shall inherite Judah his portion in the holy Lâ—â—â— Gods people are his inheritance in that Land where they are God so accounte of them that is though Heaven and Earth be the Lorde yes he counts his people his inheritance that which he most loves and priseth so that hee will never cast them off nor destroy them God useth these tearmes meeâ—ely to speake â—o our capacity that he might tell us we are to him that which 〈◊〉 count most deare to us so as never to part with them but to use our utmost power to preserve and keepe them as our Name and our Inheritance we are exceeding tender of these and doe our utmost to preserve them so sayes God my Church and people are to mee exceeding deare as tender as the apple of my eye all my power shall preserve them they are my Name and my Heritage nay the Church and people of God is Gods habitation and his dwelling place not as a confined God but as a glorious God and loving Father Ezekiel 37.26 27 28. Ezek. 37.26 27 28. God Covenants to set his Sanctuary and his Tabernacle in the midst of his people for evermore That is I will dwell amongst you for ever you shall be my delight and my habitation for evermore I will walke among you sayes God and will be your God and you shall bee my people Levit. 26.12 I am your God you are my interest Lev. 26.12 I will live in you and walke amongst you as in my Heritage and the people which I have chosen to beare my Name so the Apostle Paul writing to the Church of God at Corinth 2 Cor. 6.16 2 Cor. 6.16 telleth them that they are the Temple of the living God the people whom God had chosen to dwell in and to walke in them as their God and they as his people Wee see then this is the Churches interest in God they are his people whom he ownes for his dwelleth in them sets his Sanctuary and his Tabernacle in the midst of them walkes with them puts his Name upon them makes them his owne Inheritance and is as tender of them as of the apple of his eye and this God declares to his Church and people that they should not feare for hee hath power enough to preserve his owne interest and love enough to answer all their wants Gods people they are the sheep of his pasture Psalm 100. Psal 100. Hee feedes and keepes them as his owne peculier interest the children of Zion finde bread enough in their Fathera house Psalm 134. last Psal 134. last The Lord that made Heaven and Eerth blesse thee out of Zion As if the Psalmist had sayd God as a God of blessngs dwelleth in Zion that is his heritage his throne where he sits and blesseth So in the 146 Psalm last The Lord that reignes for ever Psal 146. last even the God of Zion and the 147 Psalm 12. Praise thy God O Zion Psal 147.12 The Lord is for ever thy God O Zion therefore praise him this iâ— Gods interest he is the God of Zion and so he reâ—gties forever there he wraps up the glory of 〈◊〉 grace and there he right in his power and greatnesse for over This doubtlesse is ground of great establishment to our souls concerning the Church and people of God though in the wildernesse amongst ravenous beasts and subtle foxes that seekes to destroy the tender vines yeâ— eveâ— here they are Gods interest his inheritance his chosen and redeemed ones in whom he dwelleth and amongst these golden Candlesticks he walkes so that his Church
purified a body for himselfe will never be a head without a body for he is 〈◊〉 head as can both purifie and preserve his body yea he is such a head as is sensible of the sufferings of his body as Christ hath taken his people into all the relations of love so they shall surely finde the fulnesse of his love in all those relations Christ will be a King of love to his Kingdome a Husband of love to his Spouse a loving head to his body and all his Brethren and Sisters shall finde him a Brother of love Nay he is a loving Redeemer so full of love that he became sinne for us to make us righteous so full of love that he would beare all the stripes due to our sinnes so that we might be healed in his stripes What doe you argue from hence Why that he will never cease to love his people nor will he ever lose his interest in them or be failing of his love in any relation to them he will certainely preserve them alive for whom he hath dyed to give live Because I live sayes Christ you live also John 14.19 John 14.19 You are my body I am your head I have life in my selfe and give life to my body for I cannot be a head to a dead body what life is in me is your life for that is your interest in me and this is my glory and the glory of my Fathers grace through me That whom ever beleeveth in mee hath everlasting life John 6.47 John 6.47 John 14.1 Now sayes Christ let not your hearts bee troubled you beleeve in God beleeve also in mee John 14.1 Beleeve in God through me I have an interest in you as God hath and I will be very tender of it for I dyed to purchase it and I live to maintaine and preserve it and assure your selves as certaine as I live you live I live that in me you might have eternall life and that God in me may fulfill all those promises which he hath made unto you of my peacefull Kingdome and of the righteousnesse of my reigne in you and over you therefore consider them they are Gods promises made in me not one tittle of them shall faile they are your portion your peculiar interest take them and live upon God in them for he will make them all good in me you are Gods interest and mine and these are your interest in God through me Feare not little flock it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdome the Kingdome of grace and of glory of righteousnesse and peace where none shall be able to disturbe or distroy you I intend here to gather up some Scriptures together which holdeth forth this righteous and peacefull Kingdome of Christ in the Earth Aâ— first Jer. 23.5 6. Jer. 23.5 6. Behold the day is come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a righteous branch and a King shall reigne and prosper and shall execute judgement and justice in the Earth In his dayes Judah shall bee saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is his Name whereby he shall be called THE LORD OVR RIGHTEOVSNESSE This is a promise of the righteous and peaceable Kingdome of Christ this righteous branch and King in the Text is meant of Christ for this is his Name The Lord our Righteousnesse which is Christ whom is a God made righteousnesse to us now behold Christ our King and righteousnesse his day is come saith the Lord when he shall reigne in righteousnesse amongst his people and shall execute judgement and justice in the Earth and in his dayes Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely it shall be a Kingdome of peace and safety for the Lord our righteousnesse shall reigne a righteous reigne must needs produce a peacefull Kingdome therefore Christ the righteous is called the Prince of peace when he shall execute his judgement then will justice be done in the Earth then Judah shall be saved from the hands of the spoyler and Israel shall be kept in safety I this will make a Kingdome of peace indeed and this is the peace that Christ our righteousnesse will bring in the dayes of his glorious reigne amongst his people in the Earth so in the 11. of Isaiah Isa 11.1 to the 10. from the 1. to the 10. verse There is a Prophesie of the peaceable Kingdome of the Branch out of the Root of Jesse which branch is Christ it is said the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him and it shall be a spirit of Counsell and might and knowledge and the feare of the Lord so that he shall judge the poore with righteousnesse and reprove with equity for the meek of the Earth That righteousnesse shall be his girdle and faithfulnesse the girdle of his reynes Now observe what is the fruite of the reigne of this righteous King why it is peace in all the holy Mountaine neither Wolfe nor Leopard Lyon or Beare Aspe nor Cockatrice shall hurt or destroy in any part of it but this King of righteousnesse will make the Wolfe and the Lambe dwell together the Leopard to lye downe with the Kid and the Calfe and young Lyon together and a little child to lead them the Cow and the Beare with their young ones to feed and lye downs together and the sucking child to play at the hole of the Aspe and the weaned child to put his hand into the Cockatrices Den. What is the meaning of all this Why it is a description of that glorious change which the righteousnesse of Christ in his reigne over the Earth shall have upon the natures of his and his peoples Enemies those Beasts of prey though they remaine Wolfeâ— and Leopards Lyons and Beares Aspeâ— and Cockatrices yet the righteousnesse of his reigne shall be so glorious that it shall chiane up their devouring nature and take off their strength to mischief his righteous government shall over awe them and be as a hooke in their nostrills so that a young childe a little strength shall lead them for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea God shall be knowns to reigne over all the Earth it shall be covered with the brightnesse of his glory his enemies shall know and tremble and his people shall know and rejoyce Isa 42. beg So the same Prophet in the 42. Isa beginning speaking of Christ sayes of him A bruised reede shall be not breake and smoaking Flax shall he not quench for hee shall bring forth judgement unto truth he shall judge and give judgement in truth hee shall set judgement in the Earth and the Isles shall waite for his Law He shall reigne and command the whole earth they shall all waite for his Law and then shall the whole Earth be filled with judgement when the righteous childe Jesus shall reigne So the Prophet David speaking of the reigne of Christ under Solomâ—n his Type in
appearance of God did astonish the King so that he called them to come forth and when they came out of the firy Furnace they were so farre from any harme That a haire of their heads was not singed mither had the smell of fire passed on them What a most glorious experience of the power faithfulnesse and goodnesse of God is here the Kings fury was so hot that the Furnace must be heat seaven times hotter then before and it was made furious in heat indeed for the flames which came forth from it slue them which cast in Shadrach Meshach and Abednego to the firy Furnace but notwithstanding all his fury God preserveth those that trust in him he is with them according to his promise when as they passe through the fire and as the Winds and Seas so the flames of fire obey him for they finge not so much as the cloathes of these faithfull ones nor leave so much as the smell of fire upon their Garments O the infinite power and faithfulnesse of God fire shall lose its nature and cease to burne rather then such as trust in him shall be consumed by it God hath power enough to preserve his owne interest those that trust in him even in the eaging flames of consuming fire no flames nor fury can destroy that which the power and mercy of God will preserve and now here is a full experience of God he will preserve that which his people commits to him and trusts to him for the preservation of it these precious soules God had brought to this glorious pitch that they sleighted the Kings power and fury by beleeâ—ing in the power and faithfulnesse of himself And now sayes God it shall he knowne what I am and what it is to trust in me God could either have turned the heart of Nebuchadnezzar or have crushed his power that he should never have been able to have cast them into the firy Fumace but in this also God workes as the wheele within the wheeles he lete the furious man go on that he might have the fitter opportunity to manifest the glory of his grace power and faithfulnesse in their deliverance and that his people might have greater experience of their safety in trusting him God lets them goe into the fire that they might have experience of his love in going with them and of his power in preserving them and bringing them forth againe to the astonishment of all beholders and that it might remaine on Record to after Ages that Generations to come might say this is God and this will God be for ever to his people Should I inlarge according to the matter and worth of these experiences I should swell into a great bulke which I seâ—ke to avoide and therefore shall upon the matter onely make resitallâ— and leave inlargements to the Spirit of God upon the hearts of the Readers We shall finde in this Booke another glorious experience of God which the Prophet Daniel himselfe had in the sixth of Daniel we shall finde a decree to cast the Prophet into the Den of Lyons was deceitfully gotten and the cause was his making of petitions to God the Prophet knew of the decree which waâ— as of the Meades and Perâ—â—ans not to be altered and yet he alters not his course of calling upon God by Prayer he opens his mouth to God and trusts God to stop the Lyons mouthes he lifts up his hands and heart to God and trustâ— God to keâ—pe downe the Lyons pawes well God will not deceive his trust but yet he will let him be cast into the Lyons Den Daniel 6.16 Though the King was sorry yet he commanded Daniel to be cast into the Lyons Den and there Daniel is as safe as amongst Lambes the Angell of God had shut the Lyons mouthes that though they remained Lyons still yet to Daniel they had no more harme in them then so many quiet Lambet and when the King comen early in the morning with dread in his spirit lest the Lyons should have feasted themselves upon that precious piece Hecryes out O Daniel servant of the living God is thy God whom thou servest continually able to deliver thee from the Lyons Vers 20. vers 20. In the 22. vers Daniel answers him My God hath sent his Angell and shut the Lyons mouthes that they have not burt mee In the 23. vers Then was the King exceeding glad and commanded to take Daniel out of the Den so he was and not any manner of 〈◊〉 found upon him But in the 24. vers when his accusers were cast into the Lyons They brake their bones before ever they came to the bottome of the Den. The Lyons were raging Lyons in themselves though their mouthes were stopped by God in the preserving of Daniel that put his trust in him O the power of God fire cannot burne nor Lyons bite where God forbids he that made all for his own glory can change the nature of what he hath made when in so doing he may magnifie the glory of his grace and faithfulnesse to his people doth not these experiences say that God is onely to be trusted and feared he shuts where no man opens and opens where no man shuts Daniel had experience of Gods love and power in this that those very Lyons that lay like Lambes by him should devoure his enemies before his face none can bound the holy one of Israel but he can lock up the Lions mouths and open them at his pleasure sure it is good to trust in so good a gracious and powerfull God one that giveth such full experience to his people that trust in him of what he is a God infinite in power mercy and goodnesse there is a spirituallity in all these experiences of God which if God give in in the reading it will make them exceeding sweet and apt to that end I quote them for namely to beget faith in God and a holy dependency on him Amongst these holy witnesses let the Prophet Jonah be admitted to bring in his experiences of God and we shall finde them to be very glorious the Prophet doth at large declare how he came to be cast into the Sea in a great tempest here is nothing appeares to fleshly reason but destruction and doubtlesse those that cast him out of the Ship expected nothing else but that the Sea should be a grave to his dead body therefore they prayed that God would not lay his blood to their charge in the 14. verse But in the 17. verse Now the Lord prepared a great Fish to swallow up Jonah Jonah 1.17 and Jonah was in the belly of the Fish three dayes and three nights Well and is this a likely way of preservation is there not as much death in the belly of the Fish as in the belly of the Sea Lay aside fleshly reasonings for a little and observe the end of Gods worke In the 2. Chap. vers 10. And the Lord spake unto the Fish and it
not simply in themselves to be rested upon the highest degree of men are but men so vanity 〈◊〉 and must p rove a lye to that flesh which trusts in them The Psalmist in Psal 103.15 16. shewes the vanity of all flesh in man the top of the whole creation As for man his dayes are as grasse as a flower of the field so he flourisheth For the winde passeth over it and it is gone and the place thereof shall know it no more This makes good the Wise mans truth that all things under the Sunâ—â—re vanity For if man the chiefest piece of the whole creation be so light as a flower of grasse which is withered dead and dry by a puffe of winde so made nothing that the place it was in shall know it no more then surely vanity is a girdle about the loynes of all created beings then of necessity they must crack under any weight that is laid upon them and prove a lye to all those hoped for contentments that flesh lookes for from them they must prove like Jonahs Gourd because of that worme of vanity that is at the root and they will leave the soule as the Gourd did Jonah arguing for its peevish folly saying it doth well to be angry though it hath committed a double evill First in trusting to vanity and then to be angry that it appeares vanity In the 46. Isay beginning there the Prophet shewes how the Idols of Babylon could not save themselves but they and them which trusted in them were led into captivity together I shall offer but one Scripture more to this truth and that is in the 17. Jer. 5 6. Thus saith the Lord Cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arme and whose heart departeth from the Lord for he shall be like the Heath in the desart and shall not see when God commeth Here we see is the curse of God upon trusting that in flesh which is onely proper to God this is his glory which he will not give to another and the curse of God will soone blast all flesh that is but grasse so that it shall prove vanity and deceive all that trust in it thus I hope the truth of the argument appeares by Scripture and sure I am the experience that every soul hath had of the vanity of all things besides God doth add much testimony to this truth and if thus give me leave to aske sanctified Reason if it can justifie it selfe to be reason in choosing vanity to put trust in and laying the weight of eternity upon that which hath not a moment of its owne or a dram of sufficiency to answer that weight if not then to this sanctified Reason I dare affirme that God is the onely object for a soules bellese and that there is no other eternall and sure foundation to build upon and this is the maine scope that I have in all the arguments to hold this forth to sanctified Reason that God who is the onely true Almighty Omnipotent infinitâ— eternall faithfull experimented God and an inexhausted fountaine and treasury of mercy and grace is the onely foundation of trust and confidence and that all things besides God will prove vanity under such a weight so that the light of God in the reason of his people that which sanctifies reason might from these arguments that suites with right reason leade the soules of Saints out of their owne flesh and all other vanity to cast themselves onely and eternally upon the free grace of God in Christ by beleeving in God to the establishment of soules is my end in all this and I trust thus dealing with sanctified reason will appear to be in the way to that precious end I have done with the Arguments I trust the Lord will make them his and blesse them to the end they are intended In the next place I shall offer by a few particulers in some measure a discovery of the evill of unbeliefe of not trusting of God and in God of not trusting all upon God and making him our all in all and this discovery hath one and the same end with the former arguments The first evill which I shall hold forth of unbeliefe is this That it doth as much as in us lyeth make God a lyer For proofe consider that full Scripture to this purpose in the first Epistle of John 5.10 He that beleeveth not God maketh him a lyer because hee beleeveth not the Record that God giveth of his Sonne This Scripture holds forth plainely this that not to beleeve the Record of God is to say in the unbeleife of our â—earts that God is a lyer truly unbeliefe can speake no other language nor give no better title to God for not beleeving the Record of God is a denyall of the truth of that Record and so consequently the truth of God for the Record of God cannot bee false so long as God is true and that unbeliefe which sayes the Record of God is not true doth in the same breath say that God is not true now not to beleeve the Record of God is to say it is not true for this carryes the strength and basses of all reason along with it to beleeve that which we judge to be true and to deny beliefe where we judge untruth The old Serpent the Devill began in Paradise with this temptation to perswade our first Parents that what God had said was not true that they might eate of the forbidden fruite that death was not in the act as God had said But the knowledge of good and evill It was unbeliefe of God in their hearts that made them call God the lyer and what the Serpent said to be truth therefore chose to eate not beleeving they had eate to death as God told them and so in their hearts making God a lyer this is properly the fruit of unbeliefe to count Gods record untrue and so to act contrary to the recorded and revealed truths of God This is a horred evill that which Saints in truth cannot but tremble to thinke of to put the lye upon God reproach upon his perfection to trample his truthes under our feet as untruthes and to question the righteousnesse of the ever righteous God this is the spring-head of all evill the onely safe and retyring place for Satan he reignes no where so securely as in the unbeleeving heart where God is made a lyer that darknesse makes the Devill to be counted as truth so that there his lawes prevaile and he reignes as supreame Secondly Second evill of unbeliefe Unbeliefe makes men to deny and forsake their fairest professions of Christ and holinesse rather then to suffer for them and this is the true reason why so many Professours of Christ and holinesse in times of prosperity and publike owning of godlinesse doe forsake both Christ and holinesse in times of suffering for God and his wayes because these withering branches were onely in Christ by profession not by
and excellency of Gods free grace of Jesus Christ and the redemption of his grace yet he believeth not any thing If this unbelieving soule should heare the Spouse in the Canticles say that Jesus Christ her Beloved is fairer and fuller of beauty then all the beloveds in the world Hee would not believe but thinke that the world is a more beautifull Beloved then Jesus Christ and upon this consideration unbelievers choose the world for their Beloved as by faith soules close with and center in Christ so by unbeliefe soules leave Christ to embrace this present evill World The reason is this faith sees the beauty and believes the reality of Christ and the free grace of God so rests and centers there but unbeliefe that sayes there is no such grace in God nor any such riches of glory in grace no such beauty in Christ nor such necessity of being saved onely through his blood and therefore rests and centers their eternall soules in something below God and Christ this is another true property and perfect evill of unbelife in the soule Another evill of unbeliefe in the soule is this It makes men inordinate in their pursuites after the World and so likewise in their sorrow upon their disappointments or losses of the World it makes men seeke their heaven here and looke upon nothing in God as enough to repaire the losse of the World An unbelieving soule cannot live upon God day by day for its daily bread if the barns be not full it believeth it shall starve the fulnesse of God cannot satisfie it If the heart be empty of faith the hand must be full of the World or there will be no quiet in the bosome and therefore unbelieving soules will in their inordinate pursuite after the World venture soule and all upon this foundation of unbeliefe men create their owne happinesse in themselves and shape their owne felicity in their owne braines and pursue their owne fancies with a violent zeale of spirit Now if God disappoint them if hee cracke their foundation throw downe that building which they have raised in their owne fancies as a habitation for themselves to rest in then they are as inordinate in their griefe as they were before in their pursuite and both these the fruit of unbeliefe unbeliefe makes them seek felicity out of God and the same frame of spirit makes them to be as men without hope when as the world proves empty though God be everlasting fulnesse Unbelieving soules have no eye to see that more exceeding and eternall weight of glory which is in God in Christ in heaven for Saints and therefore they so eagerly pursue a dying glory and are such livelesse hopelesse undone soules when that sailes them If there be no heaven in the world such soules thinks there is no heaven at all if their owne heaven faile them then there is not heaven enough in God to satisfie them It is worthy the observing how unbeliefe in Job did make him break out into passion upon this very consideration Job 3. beg Job 6.8 How he quarrels with the day of his birth and makes it his request to God that he would cut him off What is the matter with Job now this language had not hee heard to fall from his lips formerly why now Job is stripped of the worlds riches hee would be cut off from the world if the comforts of the world dyes then he would have no longer being in the world If it be thus with Job when the sunne of unbeliefe which is dying in him doth but appeare how is it then with those that live in unbeliefe and have no acquaintance with God at all their disappointments is their hell and they say of God as those evill spirits did of Christ That he is come to torment them before their time Thus we see that unbeliefe is so potent an evill in the soule that it unjoynts the whole frame of the soule leaves it so loose that every blast shakes it and overturnes all the joyes and comforts of it that which is not fixed in God is apt to change with all that is changeable and living only in changeable vanity is alwayes in a troubled sea where it can finde no place to cast the anchor of hope on because it sees not God This is another certain evill of unbeliefe The last evill which I shall mention of unbeliefe is this It is a sinne which hath all other sinnes in it and keepes the soul in a readinesse to answer all the temptations of Satan with obedience It was unbeliefe that made the children of Israel to murmure against Moses and to doubt of Gods making good his word to them Exod. 14.10 11. And they said unto Moses Exod. 16.2 Exod. 17.2 because there were not graves in Aegypt hast thou taken us away to dye in the Wildernesse They distrusted God as well as Moses and therefore they murmure at the worke of God by Moses It is unbeliefe makes the anger so that it is a teeming sinne it brings forth more sinnes then it selfe and keeps the soule in a readinesse to entertaine all sinne the unbelieving heart it is a treasury of obedience to the Devill hee is sure never to faile of service from that soule which doth not believe in God nay the Davill can have no service from any soule 1 Chron. 21. beg but so far as unbeliefe lives in the soule Had not the Devill found unbeliefe in David he had never prevailed with him to number the People when his heart began to doubt the strength of God then was a time for the Devill to tempt him to try his owne therefore sayes he number the people Know how strong the arme of flesh is that thou maist have something to trust too this is as true a touch-stone of unbeliefe in the heart as any liveth when the soule by faith sees enough in God it is not solicitous to have an account of the fulnesse of flesh but distrust in the former puts the soule upon enquiry after the latter for satisfaction and thus unbeliefe keeps open house for Satan at all times it is the chiefe engine by which he upholds his kingdome and his credite no sinne so neare and deare to him as this it is his second selfe where ever it beares sway it maintaines his lawes and his Image See an emminent example of this in Judas Matth. 27. Matth. 27.4 5. Who when he had betrayed his Master went and hanged himselfe Satan by his Engine of unbeliefe drew him through the one sin to the other he did not believe in Christ therefore he betrayed him nor did he believe there was grace enough in God to pardon the worst of sinners therefore hangs himselfe So the Devill first perswaded Eve in Gen. 3.4 Gen. 3.4 5. 5. Not to believe what God had said and then he knew hee was able to effect his owne ends to make her disobey God and obey him in eating the forbidden fruit
all accomplishing his owne will in the giving in to his people the fulnesse of his pâ—â—mises made to them this the soule by faith is assured of and therefore waites patiently and is not moved from its beliefe of God though his present dispensations speaken some other thing to his fleshly understanding Now if this hee the workings in the soule as doubtlesse it is then faith is an exceeding great benefit in this very thing for a soul fixed on God in his word and promises is in a measure in Heaven already it is as rest in God and is filled with the joyes of God in its rest it lives above â—â—tward appearances even in what God in and what God saith noâ— doubting but that all his workeâ— shall make good his word to that what ever his owne flesh or any other shall speake contrary to the Word of God that faith beates downe in the soule and keeps up the soule in a steady expectation of Gods making good all his promises and a patient waiting upon God for his 〈◊〉 time the troubled unfixed soules of unbelievers could they speake would set forth the exceeding benefit of faith in this particuler that which fixeth the soule in God leaves it in the full possession of all good now this is the true property of faith it is that gift of God which gives the soule singly and purely up to God to live onely in him and upon him and from hence flowe this benefit to the soules of Beleevers Againe Faith in God is a benefit to the soule in this namely That By Faith Saints are weaned from the World When a soule by faith sees its interest in God in that more exceeding and eternall weight of glory then and not till then hath it a low esteeme of all the dying vanities in the World that iâ— as the Wise man computes vanity all things under the Sunne Faith is such an eye as can read that love which is in Gods heart and behold the glory of that love as an heire of God a joynt heire with Christ and a Citizen of the new Jerusalem and in this vision is the soule in all its affection centered in God and so truely weaned from the World and it is nothing lesse can doe it there is such a naturalnesse a congruity and onenesse between the World and our owne fleshly hearts that nothing can breake off this league and mount up the affections of the soule but an Almighty power the indwelling of God in the soule by saith through which the soule dwels in God and is continually feasted and satisfied with fuller love and richer glory then the World can give the soule now being made spirituall sees God and to be the onely fountaine of love the single object worthy of love and its eternall portion of love and so is carryed in its love and affections above the world into God and Christ being thus swallowed up into God the soule in its love joy pursulte and rest becomes crucified to the World and the World to it it looks upon the World as a dead thing and its heart is truely dead to the World this is a true effect of faith see this in the Apostle Paul 2 Cor. 2 Cor. 5.1.2 5. begin For wee know that if our earthly house of this Tabernaclâ—were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands but eternally in the heavens This is the worke of faith in the soule to assure the soule of its interest in God this we know sayes this Apostle that God is our interest himselfe is our eternall habitation so that when ever these clay walls shall crumble into dust we shall be no loosers by it for the dissolving of them is nothing else but the possessing of our full interest in God Now marke the effects of this faith in the 2. verse For in this we groâ—ne earnestly desiring to be cloathed upon with our house which is from Heaven The knowledge of interest in God which is the proper worke of faith in the soule it makes the soule not onely weaned from but also a weary of the World it groanes earnestly to be uncloathed of the flesh to be absent from the body that it might be fully present with the Lord faith weanes the soule in the whole lumpe from the World it would leave it wholy it groanes to be uncloathed of the body that it might leave the World in all it is the disappointments of the World doe many times make worldlings out of love with sonte pieces of iâ— but it is onely faith that weanes any soule wholy from it and that because faith in God manifests the fulnesse of God to the soule and the soules interest in that fulnesse so that it rests in God nâ—â— onely as its interest and so better to it then all the World 〈◊〉 as a better interest so that being made wise in Christ its wisedome the soule makes choyse of God as having seene the dying glory of the World and the living glory of God by a spirituall eye of faith it is thereby made dead to the World and alive to God Christ he speakes to a believing soule in the spirit and tels the soule It is your Fathers good will to give you the Kingdome and that the Kingdome of glory to he joynt heirea with me in glory the soule believing this becomes dead in its love to all the Kingdomes of the world and to a world of King lomes Christ tels the soule further that in your Fathers house are many Mantions and I goe to prepare them for you your building in God is ready when ever God shall uncloathe you of your flesh the soule in believing this hath its heart where its treasure is it in now risen with Christ and gone to Heaven and in its affectionâ— doth manifest it selfe to be Crocified with Christ to the World wâ—â—nerâ— from all lower glories because liâ—ing in the glory of God thâ—â— is in God where all glory centers and from whom all gloryen have their originall so that when the soule is at the 〈…〉 doth not thirst after narrow streames whom over dâ—inkes of thin fountaine of life thirsts no more that is no more after fatilfaction in any thing but God it hath all in God therefore weaned from all below God doubtlesse this is a rare benefit of faith in the soule it is rare in its appearance and for such soules that with Demas forsake God and imbrace this present World what ever they have professed and though never so long under a profession of God and godlinesse yet they never truly knew God in the spirit nor did they ever live in God by a true and lively faith for if they had it would have wrought this effect in the soule to have weaned their hearts from I and have Crucified their hearts to the World had they ever tasted God in truth the would never have forsaken him for tenne thousand Worlds For the life of God in the
on mee shall your hearts be established Secondly God doth engage himselfe by Covenant to forgive the iniquity of his people and to remember their sins no more Now to beleeve God in this his own Covenant how exceedingly will it establish the soule there is nothing like sinne and iniquity to make an earth-quake and a soule quake If God once brings a soule or a Land to account with him for sinne and iniquity that will make dreadfull shakings indeed so on the contrary where God acquits from sinne and iniquity he makes rest and establishment for it is sinne that is the troubler of Israel but when God in his Covenant of grace shall engage himselfe to pardon and acquit soules from sinne such soules as receives this Covenant of God and believes that he hath and will make it good to them will surely be at rest But this is not all for God Covenants further with his people That he will put his law in our inward parts and write it in our hearts so that he will be our God and that wee shall be his people Now examine it over againe and see what is wanting to make an established soul if God be believed in it and rested upon for the fulfilling of it Here is choosing grace pardoning and purging grace here is justifying and sanctifying grace yea all this is grace free grace the grace of God and God in his free grace engaging himselfe to make all this good to such soules as rest upon him What now can any soule say against trusting in God for all that hee hath covenanted to doe in his owne free grace if the soule say I am not worthy what is that to the free grace of God God doth not move upon any such grounds it may be a good heart may say it is not broken enough why a broken heart is a new heart that which God hath Covenanted to give trust God hee will make good every part and tittle of his owne Covenant that should not hinder faith for it is the effect of faith Seeke not first to make thy heart good and then to trust God but trust in God and he will mend thy heart nay he will give thee a new heart that which thou wouldst give all the World to gaine he will give thee freely if thou trust in him he will not onely establish thy heart but sanctifie it also Now hence I dare be bold to affirme to any soule if it believe iâ— God and his Covenant of grace it shall be established finne shall not shake it for God hath acquitted such soules of that and cast all the sinnes of Believers out of his remembrance God hath done this great worke in his owne grace and neither can nor will ever undoe it Corruption shall not be able to unestablish a soule that believes on God in his Covenant of grace for such soules goe to God and spread their corrupt hearts before him and pleading his owne Covenant with him for new hearts and that he would renue right spirits within them Believing soules are fixed upon a rocke that is higher then themselves so that nothing in selfe can reach them and what ever is in God doth establish them such souls see God to be rich in mercy full of grace pardming iniquity transgression and sins for his owne Names sake Thus are soules established by believing in the Lord their God Againe Believe God in Christ our Saviour himselfe cals for this in John 14.1 You believe in God believe also in me That is believe in God through me looke through my wounds and see how he loves you behold the streumings of my blood and see how freely and fully he hath justified you consider your union with me and therein how he hath made you compleatly right â—teous in his owne sight He hath made me to be sin for you who knew no sin that you might be made the righteousnesse of God in me 2 Cor. 5. last Now believe thus in God through me that I have born your sinnes and satisfied his justice to such a perfection that you stand the righteousnesse of God in me Believe in God through me so shall you be established above the feare of sinne or puniâ—â—â—ment for you shall see I have borne them both for you Isa 53. I have â—â—orne your griefes and carried your sorrowes God hath struckeâ— smieten afflicted and wounded me for your transgressions he hath bruised me for your iniquities the chastisement of your peace hath hee laid upon me and with my stripes are you healed for the Lard hath laid on me the iniquities of you all God hath made my soule an offering for your sinnes and hath seene the travâ—ll of my soule and is satisfied Now if you believe thus in God through me your soules will be satisfied too you will be established as soulee that are fixed in the bosom of God me-thinks Christ sayes here goe with holy boldnesse to the barre of Gods justice and by faith offer up my wounds my stripes and the travell of my soule in full satisfaction for all your sinnes and I dare assure you hee will acquit and write your discharge by his owne spirit in your own bâ—somâ—â— I begge of you says Christ have not the least doubt of his faithfulnesse or the fulnesse of my satisfaction I have paid the â—â—most farthing you may boldly goe to Gods justice believing this there shall not to all eternity be a tittle laid to your charge No sayes he God will be just both to you and me he will nâ—ver charge you with that which I have paid and beâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 have finished the whole worke of redemption I have 〈…〉 that believe in God through me from the curse of the law being 〈…〉 curse for them In the whole worke of redemption I did the will of my Father in my agony when I sweat drops of bloud and on the Crosse when there issued out from my sides streates of â—â—ter and blood I did bear your sinnes for I had none of my own and in all this I have perfected your redemption in the â—â—ll satifaction of my Fathers justice so that by believing in God through me you will see Gods Justice fully satisfied for your finnes and your selves wholy acquitted from sinne and made righteous in the righteousnesse of God himselfe and this I am sure will establish your hearts where sinne is discharged and righteousnesse sealed up there all cause of feare and shaking is banishâ—â— and this is by believing in God through me sayes Christ for 〈◊〉 the great designe of Gods free grace my blood hath discharged all your sinnes and I am your righteousnesse I that am the fulnesse of the God-head bodily and you compleat in me perfectly righteous without spot or wrinckle in the pure eyes of God nay sayes Christ had not my blood made a full end of sinne I should have valued it at a higher rate then to have sheddâ— it as I did had I been but a perfect
to all that believe in me through him the pourings forth of my holy spirit and those mantions prepared in Heaven from all eternity for all that shall thus believe on my Nature through Christ I tell you poore doubting trembling soules it is my chiefe delight as God to glorifie my free grace in the salvation of sinners and to shew forth the riches of my eternall and unchangable love to poore soules lost in themselves doe not feare to draw neare to me to call me Father and to trust in my free grace for you cannot please me better if your hearts say you are unworthy to be beloved yet heare what I say I love purely from my selfe and I save onely of my grace so that your unworthinesse may heighten my grace but it cannot hinder your salvation that believe in my grace argue not that against your selves which I will never aggrevate against you beleeve in my grace I will never charge you with your own◠〈◊〉 for I have laid them upon Christ and he hath 〈…〉 my Justice fully for them all I tell you so and he is your righteousnesse made so of me that now you are righteous before me in him to all eternity If I that can onely charge you will acquit you why doe you feare if I acknowledge my selfe satisfied for all your sinnes in Christ why doâ— you so injure my justice and my grace to thinke I will ever charge them upon you againe nay me-thinkes Christ speake to our soules in this as hee did to Thomas put your hands into my wounds be no longer faithlesse but faithfull by this hand of faith in my wounds you may feele my Fathers justice satisfied he loved me so dearly that he would never have wounded me upon any consideration whatsoever but to save you Oh sayes God distrust not my saving grace Christ he sayes Oh distrust not my bleeding wounds for your salvation is the end of both these and the eternall salvation of your soules lyes in believing this Gods grace sayes Christ is so full and the redemption of my blood so compleate that no sinne or sinnes without unbeliefe in these can damne you Now why will you dye O house of Israel sayes God here is my free grace and the blood of my Son for your lives believe and you have eternall life nay I have promised my spirit to them that aske it aâ—ke me and trust me see if I deny For your own sakes sayes Christ I beseech you believe in God through me your salvation doth not advantage my Father for hee is in himselfe that perfection to which there can be no addition it is for your sakes that I tooke flesh and dyed methinkes you should believe this love And now for your owne sakes I beseech you cast your eternall soules upon the eternall love and free grace of God in his redemption through my blood stronger arguments of love cannot be given but if refused they will be the stronger aggravations against your unbeliefe Nay sayes Christ there is mansions above prepared for them that love the Lord and believe in him God loves you so dearly that he will have you for ever with himselfe Oh let there never more be a hard thought of this love of God and this God of love trust him love him admire him rejoyce in him and speake good of his Name the longest day of your lives His free grace sayes Christ hath plucked you our of the power of the Prince of darknesse and made you heirs of glory Oh glory in this inheritance be you filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory in believing Nothing can hurt you but unbeliefe Oh begge heartily and watch carefully against those wounds of Satan Nothing but unbeliefe can shake our soules in the rest and joyes of them through this shaking World therefore such as love and seeke establishment must take this way to attaine it for it will be found in nothing else but by beleeving in the Lord your God and so shall you be established To winde up all let this faith live in our bosomes in all Gods wayes to us and our walkings with God in the World it hath pleased God to make our beings in those latter dayes in which the Scripture tels us shal be perillous times and that because of this men shall be lovers of themselves more then lovers of God We see that Scripture fulfilled in our dayeâ— most exactly why what shal wee doe now for establishment in these perillous times why believe in the Lord your God so shall you be established Search his word and what ever Scripture you finde which administeâ—â— comfort believe in him he wil make that good as wel as this let not this be our reliefe that a little time may settle the worlds shakings and give us a more fixed being here but let this be our rest to live in God himselfe let him be our all here then though the whole world be not only shaken but overturned also yet we shal have rest in him on these troubled Seas and fulnesse of glory when we come into that safe harbour of Heaven to live believing on him wil make us all the wildernesse along â—â—â—dy in our way and worke we shal doe Gods worke in the world faithfully and live by faith in himselfe above the World though Devils men rage yet such soules as live by faith in God wil be fixed so that they as David will in their soules sing and give praise If the earth tremble yet this soule is established because it liven upon that rocke which is higher then it selfe yea as high as heaven even God himselfe Oh then wee cannot complaine of God when as we complaine of shakings but of our selves for if we live in God through Christ by faith we shal finde he will establish our hearts above the feares of Devils World or â—e Though thousands encamp against me sayes David and 〈…〉 sands make warre with me yet will I not be affraid for my 〈…〉 in thee Thou art my shield my buckler my defence 〈…〉 all and therefore was his soule so full of joy rest and holy confidence because he knew whom he had trusted so shall all sucle as trust in God be established upon his fulnesse such soules will by faith be able to bring the whole Nations of the earth before God and to see them as the drop of a bucket and the small dust of the ballance when as they contend with God and herein keeping close to God he knowes nothing can hurt him hee can with God goe through fire and water and believe that God will bring him safely out of all Base feare can finde no corner to creepe into when as by faith the soule is imbosomed in God and bathed in the blood of Christ This is not only the counsâ—ll of King Jehoshaphat but of our King Jesus to believe in the Lord our God for establishment This I will end withall Believe in the Lord your God through Jesus Christ so shall your hearts be established though in a shaking World even for this life and to eternity FINIS