for the Life of Justification is perfect at the first though it be a continued act Therefore do not onely hear the Word but Pray Hearing the Word is the laying the mouth to the breast but Prayer is the drawing of the breast Therefore draw hard New-years-day O thou that createdst the first Heaven and the first Earth of nothing O thou that createst the New Heaven and the New Earth wherein dwells Righteousness when sin had made the creature worse then nothing O thou that createst the New Jerusalem coming down from Heaven as a Bride O thou that createst the New Creature the New man fit to be an inhabitant of the New World of the New Jerusalem O thou that hast said Behold I make all things New Create thou in me even in me Psal 51. a clean heart renew a right Spirit in me Plead with God and say Lord thou hast commanded me whilst it is called Heb. 1. To day to hear thy voice and not to harden my heart I beseech thee therefore whilst it is called To day hear my voice and harden not thy heart against me For if thy heart be hardned against my Prayer my heart must needs be hardned at thy Word Say Father let others give what gifts they please to their friends if thou please but to give me grace Eph. 4. grace to put off the Old man with the Old year as the circled Snake casts her skin and to put on the New man Psal 103. as the Eagle renews her bill and her age both together I shall esteem it the best New-years-gift that ever was given And say Father I have fast hold on thee and I will not let thee go Gen. 32. except thou bless me except thou giv'st me this blessing this New-years-gift of a new heart Lord I lay hold of thee in thine own promise Thine everlasting Truth is a cord strong enough strong enough to hold Thee and Lord I must needs make bold to binde thee to thy VVord Hast thou not said Lord A new heart will I give you Lord for whom is this new heart laid up in thy Promise for them that have it or for them that want it c. Therefore I beseech thee of thy faithfulness to answer me and in thy righteousness say unto me Though thy faith be weak Be it unto thee even as thou wilt Let there be light Mat. 8. let there be heat let there be a new heart Be thou holy as I am holy that thou maist be happy for ever as I am happy Thus much for the third Question How and by what means this Sanctification is wrought in the Soul 4. Questions follow Quest 4. What Reason of the necessity of Sanctification What is the reason that such a life is necessary in all justified persons Reas 1 1. Reason Because this is one of the great Ends of our freedom by the Death of Christ He died not onely to redeem us from Hell and from Satan and all our Enemies but from our vain conversation also 1 Pet. 1.18 Tit. 2 14. He gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Yea he delivered us from the hands of all our enemies that we might serve him in holiness Luke 1.74 Reas 2 2. Because it was one of Gods great designs in the work of our Redemption to make us conformable to the Image of his Son as in suffering Rom. 8.29 so in sanctity that as we have born the Image of the Earthly so we might bear the Image of the Heavenly 1 Cor. 15. VVe look upon Christ by the eye of Faith as they look'd upon the brazen Serpent not onely to save us but to transform us and heal us The vision of Christ begets transformation and transformation satisfaction this is partly in this life but perfectly in the life to come Psal 17. ult I shall behold thy face in righteousness when I awake I shall be satisfied with thy likeness In the mean time there are degrees of transformation and satisfaction to the Soul so far as it is able to look upon Christ by the eye of faith in the glass of the Ordinances 2 Cor. 3. ult But we all as with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed c. To be changed into the Image of Christ is a great part of a Christians happiness a great part of this happiness is his holiness without which even heaven it self and the glorified Presence of God would be a hell to him for so long as men are unregenerate and wicked they say unto God Depart from us we will not have the knowledge of thy wayes Job 21.14 Therefore that they may be made like Christ and take comfort in the fellowship of Christ it 's necessary they should live by Faith the life of Sanctification Reas 3 3. Because from the first Adam we stand guilty of a twofold sinfulness 1. Imparted Rom. 5.19 As by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so c. 2. Imparted Job 14.4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean Reas 4 4. This is for the honour of Christ Philip 1.27 Onely let your conversation be as becomes the Gospel c. 2 Sam. 10.4 Hanun's abusing Davids Servants was to cut off half their garments Reas 5 5. Because Gods free love in the Life of Justification cannot but stir us up to love God again 1 John 4.19 And love is active and full of inventions to do service for the beloved And so he must necessarily live the Life of Sanctification and so Sanctification is an evidence of Justification How doth Christ prove many sins were forgiven to Mary Luke 7.47 Because she loved much And how doth she prove her love by the fruits her cost and care and pains ver 37 c. If ye love me keep my Commandments sayes Christ Joh. 14.15 Faith works by love Gal. 5.6 As Faith applies Promises for Comfort so commands for Performance of Duty Psal 119 66. And so much for the first Branch in Sanctification viz. Renovation BRANCH II. THE LIFE of FAITH A LIFE OF FRUCTIFICATION SEcondly The just lives by Faith the Life of Fructification for we shall speak of the Use of both together in the fruits of New Obedience And this in these particulars How or in what manner faith hath influence into the life of spiritual Fructification 1. Faith makes us good trees 1. In making of us good Trees A man must be a good Tree before he can bring forth good Fruit Mat. 12.33 Now Faith makes us good Trees by grafting us into the Mystical Body of Christ Rom. 11.17 Thou being a wilde Olive-tree wert grafted in and partakest of the root and fatness of the Olive Thou derivest sap and juyce and life of grace in Christ and so thou dost not onely bud and blossom as Aarons Rod Numb 17. by good words and fair
9.18 might satisfie 1. Gods hardning cleer'd 1. If God had never given us ability it were something but he gave ability in Adam to obey him in all his Commandments to believe him in all his words Therefore when thou sayest By Nature our hearts are so hard c. I answer Not by our first Nature Naturâ integrâ but corrupt nature Therefore thank our Selves our Parents blame not God Simile Suppose a Master command his Servant to go a Journey of ten miles he by Drunkenness and quarrelling spends so much of his time and strength that he cannot finish his Journey in such a space whose fault is this Hath the Master lost his Power to command because the Servant hath lost his Power to obey Ans 2. I say a natural man doth not so much as he might do therefore God may justly strike him with judicial blindness If he would do that great hopes God would help him to do more Simile If a Father or a Master should say to his Servant Take up all these burthens some lighter and some heavier and when you cannot lift them your self I will help you and the Childe or Servant should say I 'll take up none at all because I am sure there are some I cannot stir Might not the Father or Master justly punish such a slothful and wilful Childe or Servant So God commands all men every where where the Gospel comes to attend upon the Means of Grace to Repent and Believe Now though they cannot Repent and Believe these are beyond their power yet they may attend upon the Means Why may they not go to a Sermon as well as to a Tavern or sit at home Why may they not reade the Scriptures as well as a Play-book or an idle Pamphlet Why may they not pray as they are able as well as smother the very work of their natural Conscience Acts 8.22 Pray God if perhaps c. Indeed to put natural men to duties and not to preach Christ to them withall were harsh but the Apostle doth both As if he should say Simon thou art in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity do not sit still and despair but use the means for all that and it may be God will shew mercy to thee What if thou canst not do so much as thou shouldst yet do as much as thou canst and God will help thee to do the rest otherwise this destruction is of thy self and who will pity thee Ans 3. I answer This hardness of heart falls not onely upon the Children of Perdition but upon Gods own People Therefore when we speak to a promiscuous multitude we know not which of them God may be pleased to heal and cure however the rest shall be left without excuse Ans 4. Perswasions from the Word to that which is good to Repent and Believe are not in vain because it is the triumphing Chariot in which the Spirit of God delights to ride along conquering and to conquer 2 Cor. 2.14 Do not say Alas what do you speak to us to repent and believe and take heed of hardning our hearts you had as good speak to a company of dead men Within the compass of these walls are many dead men under ground and there possibly are many dead men above ground I answer What do we know but the Spirit of God may joyn with the Word whilst we are speaking of it or soon after Acts 10.44 Whilst Peter yet spake the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word Obj. We have often preached in vain no Repentance no Faith c. Ans Yes in some possibly in many And for others wait proving if God at any time shall give repentance c. There is a time an hour wherein the Word shall be powerful Joh. 5.25 The dead shall hear c. Not as if we could cause this Psa 119.32 but When God shall enlarge the heart they shall run the ways of his Commandments What do we know but this may be the day and hour and so I beseech you in the Name of Christ Heb. 3. To day if you will hear his voice harden not c Lest God give you up to this fourth Impediment of Faith Judicial blindeness of heart Fifth general Impediment contains seven mixt Impediments of faith Fifthly Thrre are other Impediments which are of a mixt nature and do spring partly from our own corrupt Hearts and partly from Satan and partly from the World 1. False trust 1. Our trusting to the Mountain of some created strength our living upon our own stock in stead of living upon God whether it be in Temporal things Health Wealth Friends or in Spirituals when we trust to the Grace we have received already O we think we have so much knowledge and so much love to God and so much zeal for his Glory that we are confident though all men should deny Christ we 'll never deny him we trust to grace received and so we live not by Faith on God but we live upon our own stock But how shall we remove this Impediment how shall we rowl away this stone Cure of false Trust I answer 1. By considering the greatness of the Sin For Blessings received and Graces received are but Creatures and so to trust to them what is it but flat Idolatry To give that Worship and Service to the Creature which is due to the Creator who is blessed for ever Rom. 1.25 2. By considering the greatness of the Punishment it is that which causeth God to hide his face and to withdraw the manifestation of his favour from his dearest Servants Psal 30.6 7. And in my prosperity I said I shall never be removed Lord by thy favour thou hast made my Mountain to stand strong But what follows Thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled O remember Friends how by trusting to the Mountain of any created strength either in Temporal or Spiritual things we wrong God we wrong our Selves we weaken our Faith and we cause God to withdraw his wonted influence 3. Pray God to deliver thee from trusting in any thing else as God hath directed his People to pray in the like case Hos 14.3 Ashur shall not save us c. 2. A second particular Impediment of Faith is this 2. Limiting of God Our measuring of God by our selves by our own strength or by our own Reason or Understanding Suppose God promise this or that and we presently consulting with Flesh and Blood cry out It is impossible or at least improbable and so we 'll never believe it Thus it was with Nicodemus at the first when Christ spake to him of a second birth Joh. 3. How can these things be saith he How can a man be born when he is old Can he enter a second time into his Mothers womb and be born And it was so with Mary the Mother of our Lord when the Angel told her she should conceive the Saviour of
lettest me see my own weaknesse and inabâ—lity to believe let me also see thy power in creating this grace of Faith in my heart And this is that other powerful means for the begetting of Faiâ—h Remember Preaching is the First Prayer is the Second Let not Preaching justle out Prayer nor let Prayer justle out Preaching as some would have the Ordinances quarrel one with another whereas all lend their hands and their natural help to give a lift at Faith It is not the Word without the Spirit can do it Therefore do thou pray the Spirit may speak to thy heart while the Minister Preacheth to the ear That is a remarkable passage Act. 11 21. And the hand of the Lord was with them with the Preachers and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord. Mark that The hand of the Lord was with them We may preach long enough before we convert one soul if the hand of the Lord be not with us till the bellows be burnt Jer. 6.29 Therefore as Ministers should spend time before-hand in praying as well as in studying So should people also in praying for the Minister as well as in hearing of him Before thou goest to the Congregation lift up thy heart to God in this or the like manner Lord let thy powerful hand go along with the Minister this day O let thy hand go along with his tongue that I may have grace to believe what he speaks to my Soul in thy Name whilst he knocks at the door of my heart let thy Spirit unlock it for me as the heart of Lydia was unlocked Act. 16.14 Whose heart the Lord opened whilst Paul was preaching to her To conclude Eph. 2.2 Remember Faith is the gift of God and therefore good reason that we should pray God to give us Faith Prayer of a Natural man It is Objected We cannot pray without Faith and therefore how can we pray for Faith before we have it This is to put a natural man upon duty before he be come to Christ and what fruit can we expect from this I Answer 1 God hath no where freed a natural man from his duty though he hath lost his power to perfom it 2. As we tell natural men their duty so we are to let them know from whom they may have power to perform it namely from Christ if they be willing to close with him 3. It is evident natural men are called upon to perform some duties before they do believe As for hearing the case is plain Rom. 10.17 Faith cometh by hearing therefore we must hear before we can believe and so for Prayer Act. 8.22 23. Peter cals upon Simon Magus to pray though he was in the gall of bitternesse and bond of iniquity Object But may not such prayer justly be abominable to God whilst we are strangers to God and Christ If I were a friend indeed then I might hope to speed according to that expression of Christ Joh. 15.15 Henceforth I call you not servants but friends c. And therefore in the next verse he saith Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name he shall give it you Friends may look to speed but strangers may ask and go without Ans I answer It is true the prayers of such as are strangers to Jesus Christ may justly be abominable But yet if we observe it God gives some incouragement a loof off that such as are strangers may not utterly be discouraged to cry to God for the bread of Life for the Scripture tels us an importunate suiter may be heard though not as a friend yet for his Importunity sake Luke 11.8 Object But where do you find that God hath heard the prayer of a natural man or unconverted Ans I answer 1. The Scripture saith nothing in vain Jam 4 5. But Act. 8.22 Such a one is exhorted to pray to God 2. Though God threatneth wicked men that are resolved to go on in their sins that he will stop his ears to their prayers yet sometimes when they are deeply humbled though not wholly converted God hath heard their prayers that this his goodness might lead them to through repentance He heard the prayer of Abimilech Gen. 20.4 and of the heathenish Mariners Jonah 1.5 14. Of Ahab when he humbled himself 1 Kin. 21. last And of Jehoahaz 2 Kin. 13.3 4. And Jehoahaz besought the Lord and the Lord hearkned unto him c. Yet this is observable Caution that the prayers of the righteous man availeth much more Jam. 5.16 The incouragement of Simon Magus was but if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee Acts 8.22 And God threatens such as afflict any widow or fatherless child Exod. 22.22 23. If thou afflict them in any wise as if he should say Take heed thou dost not Why If they cry at all unto me I will surely hear their cry Object But these prayers are for temporal mercies and not spiritual Answ If God will hear the prayers of such for temporal mercies then much more for spiritual mercies because those prayers are more agreeable to Gods will to seek the things of his Kingdom When Solomon asked wisdom 1 King 3 6 c. 10. And the speech pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing Jam. 1.5 If any of you lack Wisdom let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him Object But a natural man cannot discern nor yet desire the things of God 1 Cor. 2.14 Rom 8 7. Answ We must distinguish of natural men 1. Some left wholly to themselves 2. Some are stirred up and enlightned in a great measure though not wholly converted Of such Christ speaks they are not far from the Kingdom of God Mar. 12.34 Though all natural men be infinitely distant by Nature yet God brings some neerer and neerer by degrees till they enter in Although others may be neer and never enter of such also speaks the Author to the Hebrews 6.4 For it is impossible for those who were once inlightned and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the holy Ghost and have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the world to come if they shall fall away to renew them again unto repentance Now though some such fall away yet others in the use of Means come at last to be fully converted and Prayer is one Means among the rest Look upon Manasses 2 Chro 33.12 c. When he was in affliction he besought the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers and prayed unto him and he was intreated of him and heard his supplication Look upon Paul Act. 9.11 behold he prayeth Yet his Conversion was not wholly perfected though his conscience was stirred and he was much humbled for as yet he was not instructed by Ananias he had not received his sight a pledge of the cure of his Spiritual blindness he had not
honour to God Such are more fruitful Heb. 6.11 12. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end that ye be not slothful but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises 2 Cor. 5.14 For the love of Christ constraineth us c. 2. Receives more honour from God Rev. 2.17 To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden Manna And mark the Promise is made not to the Combatant but the Conqueror To eat of the hidden Manna Obj. But Christ is that Manna Joh. 6. I am the Bread came down from heaven therefore the weakest believer eats of him Ans Yet such a one tastes not at the first so much sweetness Exod. 16.31 The taste of it was like wafers made with honey A pleasant taste but not at first Manna was set within the Holy of Holies Exod. 16.32 before the Testimony they did not taste it so soon as they entred into the Temple 8. A jucundo Luk. 10.20 Rejoyce because your names are written in heaven like Paul are caught up into the third heaven By the least degree of faith a man is in the first heaven by a strong faith in the middle region of a Christian by full assurance in the third heaven This is to be with Christ in the Garden in the Wine-cellar in his Bosom as John Cant. 1. to be kissed with the kisses of his mouth to wear his favour which he gives to his especial favourites Joh. 15.15 All things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you to be è secretioribus consiliis a joy that the world knows not of Prov. 14.10 A stranger doth not intermeddle with their joy 9. A periculoso or ab incommodo for 1. Life is uncertain as a vapour and death uncomfortable if it come before we be assured Therefore David Psal 39. ult O spare a little that I may recover strength c. Simeon Lord now not before Say to thy Soul I may be dead before night and in hell before morning therefore it is good to be sure For temporal estate it s a great trouble to think estate is not made sure to Wife and Children it s a great mercy to set our house in order Isa 38.1 but a greater to set our souls in order they are dearer then the dearest and then we shall not fear though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death Psal 23.4 2. If it were certain yet there 's danger in deferring this 1. When God commands to make sure and we do not endeavour after it this is rebellion as the sin of witchcraft 1 Sam. 15. 2. It 's more difficult to obtain in ordinary course of working Mark 9.21 If Satan long possess he is hardly outed 3. The best condition of life is bitter without this Dan. 5.5 6. Belshazzar troubled in his feasting c. è contra this will sweeten the most bitter affliction cause to sing in prison Matthew 9.2 Christ said to the man sick of the Palsey Sonne Be of good cheer 10. A minori ad majus si isti callidi rerum aestimatores c. If men take pains to make sure the World yea Hell let their folly teach us wisdome If any thing be given by Will man rests not till he see his own Name written c. 11. Such have great boldness at the Throne of Grace in Prayer if they know Christ their High-priest Heb. 10.21 22. 2. Means of Assurance 2. In using of the Means by which we may come to Assurance True the Spirit is all in all Rom. 8.16 The Spirit beareth witness with our spirits c. yet this witness comes by means used As General Promises First Applying general Promises to our particular condition Whether they be 1. Such Promises as are made to sinners in general as 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying c. And therefore saith the Soul Though I am a sinner though I am the chief of sinners as he said there yet there are no rails made about the promise to keep me off onely I must know thus much I can no sooner lay hold of the promise but the very first touch will draw vertue from Christ to make me a new man in the frame of my heart Acts 15.9 Purifying their hearts by faith Or 2. Whether such promises were made to sinners so and so qualified not as if these qualifications did spring from themselves for God himself worketh all in all as he pleaseth As for Example Matth. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that are weary c. Now then when I see my self not onely in this condition that I am weary of my sin but willing to obey the Command surely then I have as great cause to apply the Promise as to apply the Commandment I may as well claim the Promise for my Comfort as the Commandment for my Duty If I be willing and obedient in yielding to the Commandment and my heart tells me its holy and just and good why then God tells me from his Word That if my sins were as scarlet they shall be as wooll Isa 1.17 3. Or in laying hold of the Promises tending directly to Assurance it self Isa 60 16. Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles and shalt suck the breasts of Kings and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer c. Isa 57.19 I create the fruit of the lips peace peace to him that is afar off and to him that is near saith the Lord and I will heal him 2. In receiving the spirit in the sealing work of it Sealing of the Spirit For there is one work of the Spirit whereby we cast our selves upon a Promise before we get assurance yet this is faith Isa 50.10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord c. that walketh in darkness and hath no light let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God And another work of the Spirit after this Faith is begotten that assures us we do indeed believe Eph. 1.13 14. In whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with the holy Spirit of Promise which is the earnest of our inheritance c. And this especially in Scripture is called a Seal wherein Christ is offered particularly as meat and drink 1 Cor. 11.24 Take eat this is my Body c. Exercise of Prayer 3. By stirring us up to exercise the spirit of grace and supplication more abundantly than formerly Psal 35.3 Say unto my soul I am thy salvation Zech. 12.10 They shall look upon him whom they have pierced and mourn Then they shall have a clear sight of Christ crucified and they shall mourn Obj. But where is Assurance in this mourning condition Ans Godly sorrow doth nothing hinder godly joy nay they are ever twins of the same womb for as godly sorrow so joy springs from
reigning Unbelief when we believe nothing at all when we have not so much as laid hold of any Promise to make peace with God! Partial unbelief deprives us of many Mercies on this side Heaven but total unbelief deprives men of Heaven it self Mark 16.16 He that believeth not shall be damned O the misery of that poor Soul that never yet believed one Promise O that we could even with Soul-bleeding tears bewail our unbelief O that God would give to each of us a heart to get into a corner and to weep in secret over our unbelief each man bemoaning himself as Ephraim did Jer. 31.18 O that I should have such a stiff neck such a base hard unbelieving heart O that I should spend so much time to so little purpose for death hath possest all that part of my life wherein I was an unbeliever The heathen man could say O Friends we have lost a day but many of us may say O Friends we have lost many days and many years wherein we have done God little or no service nay a great deal of disservice by our unbelief O that I should be so foolish and slow of heart to believe all that Lord hath spake by his Prophets and Apostles Luke 24.25 O how justly may God upbraid me for my unbelief Mark 16.14 c. that I should be so backward to believe the God of Truth and so forward to believe the Father of Lies Blessed Saviour lay not this great sin this Mother-sin to my charge which is the Mother of Abominations Thus should we pray Consider not how often I have dishonoured thy Majesty and grieved thy holy Spirit by my unbelief But O thou Mirrour of Patience and Pity who didst sometimes mourn over the People because of the hardness of their hearts Mar. 3.5 I beseech thee let that be the object of thy Pity which might be the object of thy Fury O pity and heal mine unbelieving heart Doubtless if we can but thus bemoan and bewail our selves in our unbelief that God who made good that gracious Promise to him that went on frowardly in the way of his heart I have seen his ways and I will heal him Isa 57.18 will much more make it good to such an one as with all his heart and with all his soul bewails his own frowardness and backwardness to believe I will restore comfort to him and his mourners Vse VI. Of Exhortation Vse 6 Of Exhortation The next Use is for Exhortation 1. For our selves 2. For others For our selves 1. To perswade us to labour to get Faith As Solomon saith of Wisdom with all thy getting get wisdom So with all thy getting get Faith for it is thy life 2. To keep it when we have it Non minor est virtus c. It is no less a piece of Spiritual good husbandry to keep our stock of Faith when we have it than to get it at the first 3. To live by it or use it as well as to keep it It s far better to put our Faith to use than our Money to use The Just makes a living of his Faith whilst he puts it to use 4. So to live by it as not to live barely and poorly but so as to increase the stock of our Faith Faith is such an excellent grace we can never have too much of it he that increaseth his Faith increaseth his livelihood For the just shall live by his Faith First therefore labour to get Faith Branch I. To get faith There are many things that men labour to obtain in the world Some are all for their Profits others for their Pleasures others for their Preferment and so every man as his Principle leads him But when all is done nothing is so worthy of our diligence and best endevours as is the getting of Faith Should a man gain all other things and lose this he makes a hard bargain Mat. 16. â—6 For what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul Should a man lose all the rest and gain this he makes a wise bargain Job 2.4 Skin for skin and all that a man hath will he give for his life Now Faith is the very life of the Soul For the just shall live by his faith and therefore with all thy getting get Faith it is thy life Should a man hear of such a Medicine as would certainly preserve his life and cure all manner of Diseases whither would he not travel what would he not give to procure such a Medicine And such a Medicine is Faith commended unto us from the hand of our heavenly Physician Be of good comfort saith Christ Luke 7.50 17.19 thy faith hath saved thee and Thy faith hath healed thee Faith is a Remedy against all diseases yea suppose a faithful man dies of his disease yet his Faith is a Remedy against death it self Woe is me saith the natural man there is no friend against death But blessed be God saith the true believer for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain Phil. 1.21 The greatest of evils is turn'd into the greatest good by Faith even death it self is made advantage Who would not labour for such a Grace What should I say to raise the price of Faith in your esteem What do we esteem instead of Faith Certainly the best of men and the best of blessings are but dead things without Faith Faith puts life into a man and into all that a man enjoys Without faith men of high degree are a lie Psal 62.9 and so are all those things which make them so high Honours Profits Pleasures all these promise much O say they we 'll make thee a happy man if thou wilt set thy heart on us But they lie when they say so Jon. 2.8 They that follow after lying vanities forsake their own mercy If thou wouldst not forsake thine own mercies labour for Faith He is merciful to the purpose that is merciful to his own Soul Prov. 11.17 and that man is the most desperate Self-murtherer that is willing to live and die in his unbelief I beseech you I beseech you Friends listen to the voice of your Immortal Souls Me-thinks every man now and then should hear the voice of his precious Soul crying out in this manner Am I not the most excellent piece of Gods Workmanship And did God make me so for nothing Is not my being to continue to everlasting Do I not feel in my self the very spark of Immortality Must I not be either happy or miserable to all Eternity Is there but one means under Heaven to make me happy which is to get Faith and shall I neglect that Is this the great Work that God hath given me in charge that I should believe in him whom he hath sent Joh. 6.29 and shall I do evething else before I do this Is my life but as a day in this world and the night of death coming
and also for the opening of the heart by working upon the affections Vse 5 Vse 5. Exhortation to the People To People twofold 1. To be willing to be wrought upon and to be converted 2. To be willing to attend upon such means as is most proper for the effecting of that great Work 1. To be willing to be wrought upon First To be willing to be wrought upon and to be converted For if it be such an excellent thing to be an Instrument of others Conversion then it must needs be excellent to be converted O remember the vast difference betwixt a man in the state of Nature and in the state of Grace betwixt a man converted and unconverted O remember whilst you are unconverted you are in a state of Darkness Enmity Death But when once converted in a state of Light Peace Life Motives 1. When ye are unconverted ye are in a state of Darkness Eph. 5.8 Once darkness c. 1. Darkness of Ignorance Ephes 4.18 Alas they know nothing 1. Of themselves and their miserable condition by nature Rev 3.17 I counsel thee to buy of me eye-salve c. 2. Of Christ in a Soul-saving way Ephes 2.12 Without Christ c. 2. Darkness of Sorrow at least when unconverted persons lie down in the Grave Isa 50. last They shall lie down in sorrow 2. In a state of Enmity Ephes 2.3 Children of wrath as well as others Joh. 3.36 God is an enemy to unbelievers and to be sure they are enemies to God Rom. 8.6 7. The carnal minde is enmity against God c. O what a dangerous condition this is It were better to have all the world enemies to us than God Remember what God saith Ezek. 22.14 Can thy heart endure or thy hands be strong in the day that I shall deal with thee 3. In a state of Death Ephes 2.1 Dead in sin and liable to death for sin to a first death and a second death and this of all terribles is the most terrible But secondly when once converted thou art in a state of Light Peace Life Mal. 4.2 1. In a state of Light Ephes 5 8. Ye were once darkness but now are ye light in the Lord. The Sun of righteousness doth arise with healing in his wings Healing the darkness of Ignorance Sorrow True Light and Heat come both together 2. In a state of Peace Rom. 5.1 Being justified by faith we have peace with God It is better to have God to be our friend than to have all the world beside 3. In a state of Life Luke 15. last This thy brother was dead and is alive And thus the just lives by his Faith the most excellent life that can be desired Therefore come in and be willing to be wrought upon c. Obj. If you shall say as they in Jeremy There is no hope I am so great a sinner God will never shew mercy to me It were presumption for me to offer to lay hold on the Promise Answ Look to the Pattern of great sinners converted on purpose to incourage others to come in to Christ Did Manasses or Mary Magdalen or Paul presume when they did believe 1 Tim. 1.13 I was a blasphemer a persecutor injurious c. and v. 16. How be it for this cause I obtained mercy that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering for a pattern to them that should hereafter believe Onely be humbled for thy sins and accept of Christs Righteousness go not about to establish thine own Rom. 10.3 Remember As no man is accepted for his own Righteousness but Christs So no man is rejected for his own unrighteousness but for his final impenitency and unbelief Therefore be perswaded to come in Accept of mercy while God offers mercy Do not draw back when God is drawing of you I hope you have some good thoughts Act. 26. some good desires in your hearts You are almost perswaded O be not onely almost but altogether Perhaps some of you are even upon the very pangs of the New-birth O let not Spiritual difficulties cause you to draw back as Ephraim did Hos 13.13 O strive O pray The Kingdom of heaven suffers violence O be earnest with God and bemoan your backwardness Jer. 31.18 I have surely heard Ephaim bemoaning himself thus Thou hast chastised me and I was chastised as a Bullock unaccustomed to the yoke Turn thou me and I shall be turned c. Pray God to open the everlasting doors c. Psal 24 ult O yield to God when he perswadeth when he beseecheth When Christ and Satan are Suitors and Competitors do not put off Christ and yield to Satan Be not cruel to your own flesh and enemies to your own Souls Remember how you rejoyce Angels The Churches Christ himself Your own Hearts Therefore be perswaded c. Secondly 2. To be willing to attend upon such means as are proper Be willing to attend upon such means as are most proper for the effecting of that great Work To attend upon a Soul-saving Ministery God complains by the Prophet Jeremy that as the false Prophets did Prophecy smooth things and false things so his People did love to have it so Jer. 5 last That same Athenian itch in the people to hear some new strange thing Act. 17. doth too often draw forth an Athenian scratch from the speaker to tell what they so much desire to hear Act. 17.21 But 't is wisdom in both to be conversant in the pattern of wholesom words To give and receive that Spiritual food which may not so much please the palate as nourish the person to Life Eternal Doubtless he preaches best and he hears best that preaches and hears to the Salvation of the Soul Many thousand Souls in heaven shall bless God for ever for the plain and powerful preaching of the Word And many thousand Souls in hell shall complain to all Eternity that their hurt was soon healed and skinned over with silken language and soft words as the Prophet Jeremy speaks Vse 6 Vse 6. Of Thankfulness Of Thankfulness Of Thankfulness in case 1. We our selves are converted 2. If any by us or by our means be converted 1. If we be converted our selves First if the conversion of Souls be such an excellent Work Be thankful if we our selves be converted 1 Tim. 1.13 17. Now unto the King eternal immortal invisible the onely wise God be honour and glory for ever This shout of Praise follows upon the acknowledgement of Pauls Conversion and it were easie to shew how those Attributes have an influence on Conversion Eternity is little enough to praise God for such a Mercy Luk. 10.20 Rejoyce not in this that the spirits are subject unto you but rather rejoyce that your Names are written in heaven Psal 33.34 Sing unto him a new song play skilfully with a loud noise for the word of the Lord is right and all his works are done in truth This for
comfort yet a necessary qualification evidencing our right to comfort 297 298 Satan Satans rage should be a motive to perseverance 252 Satan is a great enemy to the comfort of the Saints 315 Reasons why Satan is such an enemy to faith 424 488 489 Satan presents and applies the Promises in a wrested sense and for licentious ends 511 512 Scriptures They are a staff to believing Pilgrims 403 Arguments to prove their Divine Authority 404 405 Accomplishment of Scripture-Prophecies is a whâ—tstone to sharpen our assent to their Divine Authority 406 407 There is all the reason in the world why we should believe the Scriptures 408 409 Sealing of the Spirit It is a consequent priviledge of believing 93 Security It is the off-spring of the Devil and Vnbelief 462 Security twofold Spiritual and Carnal 246 247 The Saints Security for a sevenfold treasure 243. 244 The best security for the best purchase 380 Seducers Their sleights to beguile unstable Souls 254 Seducers are the Devils Factors 604 Self Shifting self is shiftless folly 433 Self a great Impediment of faith 486 Its Cure 487 Self-love The blessing of it is a sign of growth in grace 205 206 There is a fivefold self contrary to the life of faith 431 432 433 Sense Living by Sense is a great impediment of faith 503 514 Sin It dishonours God and wrongs the Soul forsake it as the highest demonstration of ingratitude 393 395 Sins great defilement in five respects 155 Believers have sin remaining to be mortified 157 Life of sin lies in the will ergo subdue desires 158 Sin may revive where it is mortified 159 Comfort against the vigour and rigour of sin 169 170 Scandalous sins cause great sadness 312 Inordinate aggravation of sin sinks into sadness 312 313 Sincerity The excellency of sincere grace in that 't is durable 247 248 Sloth It recoils from the means of faith It s Cure 508 509 Society Good society is a means of begetting faith 533 534 535 Soul Eternal life of the Soul proved 356 357 See Life Eternal Speech Our speeches either condemn or justifie us 365 Spirit of God What its testimony and witness is 347 The Spirits testimony may be separated from its fruits 347 348 Difference 'twixt the Spirits in dwelling in Believers and common assistance in hypocrites 426 427 The Spirits perswasion out-weighs and quickens all means motives in drawing to Christ 454 455 We must pray for Gods free establishing Spirit 552 What Gods free Spirit is from what he sets believers free and how he establishes 552 553 554 555 See Free Spirit See Establishment Strength A believers strength 471 472 473 Strength to do duties and resist temptations a sign of growth 209 210 Strength to bear afflictions and injuries a sign of growth 210 211 Strength to bear others infirmities as also to shake off Ceremonies a signe of growth 211 Its part of our strength to be sensible of weakness 212 Success This in the improvement of natural life is fetcht in by faith and that in six respects 71 72 Sufficiency All sufficiency Self sufficiency Sole sufficiency in Christ 540 T Temptation The just live by faith in temptation 50 Satan tempts sinners to conceit God to be either all Mercy or all Justice 536 Yielding to temptations is a sign of weak faith 573 Such who tempt others to sin are Satans factors and shall have deep condemnation 604 605 Thankfulness Be thankful for the life of Justification 109 110 The Saints thankfulness for the blossomings of Eternal life 391 392 393 How that thankfulness is exprest 393 to 397 Thankfulness for faith with the grounds of it 449 Time The Just live by faith in respect of all the parts of Time 44 45. Tradition Traditional faith is unsound 40 41 Trial. True faith is tried by undergoing adversity 63 We must try our comforts by our graces and not our graces by our comforts 300 to 304 Triumph The triumph of damned Spirits over unbelievers 491 Troubles These are various yet the Saints live by faith in them 51 Manner of living by faith in troubles nine ways 55 56 Means of living by faith in troubles five ways 57 58 Trust Such reproved who say they trust God with their souls and yet cannot trust him for temporals 75 76 False trust on Creatures or Grace received hinders faith together with its Cure 498 499 V Valuation See Precious A Believer neither over nor under-values his natural life 74 Vision Vision of God fourfold 337 Perfect Vision causes perfect transformation ibid Vivification The liveliness of faith in the cure of spiritual deadness 171 What meant by Vivification 172 Reasons why the Just live by faith the life of Vivification 175 176 Four Arguments or Meditations whereby faith quickens 177 Reproof of such who act not faith for Vivification 178 179 Motives to Vivification 179 180 Means to live the life of Vivification 184 185 186 187 Trial of true faith by its vivifying power 187 188 189 Vide Deadness Unbelief Unbelievers Unbelief is a piece of pride 3 It makes the heart and condition not right 4 5 Unbelievers lead a sordid life 8 Unbelief is the spring of sadness 307 308 309 Unbelief was the root of mans first Apostacy 415 Their dead condition 423 Humiliation for Unbelief 459 Unbelief is the Goliah-sin 460 Unbelief grieves the Spirit but pleases the Devil 461 The monstrous brood of Unbelief 462 The Unbeliever is the greatest Time-server 464 Unbelief is a Stepmother to grace 465 Unbelief is the Nurse that maintains life in every sin and which binds it on the Soul 465 466 Unbelief is a merciless Sequestrator 466 The Arraignment of Unbelief 467 Unbelief is the greatest Self-murther 470 The contrariety of presumption and despair unite in the Unbelievers ruine 510 Naturally we have hard unbelieving thoughts of God 536 Unbelief is a going out from God into our selves 539 Unchangeable Gods unchangeable nature is the cause of the Saints perseverance 239 Union Signs of spiritual actions flowing from Union with Christ 124 125 Union with God is unchangeable 50 Unregenerate Their Soul is no fit soil for comfort 309 310 See Regeneration Unsetledness In Gods truth its a sign of weak faith 571 W Watching Watching over one another is a means of perseverance 255 Wealth How the Just shall live by faith for it 70 Wisdom The believer is the onely wise builder 474 The believer is never at a stand because Christ is his Wisdom 475 476 477 Word See Ordinances Faith applies the Word of Christ for Sanctification 128 129 The Word mixt with faith is a means of growth 227 228 The Word is one of Christs Brests 293 How the Word works faith 443 Cavilling and mocking at the Word is the Seal of Vnbelief 494 The Word is the life of faith 517 The Word and Spirit go hand in hand 518 The Word both the object and instrument of faith 518 Living above the Word is living by a deluded fancy and not by faith such are neerer Hell 518 The Word is appointed to work faith not miracles 519 Every divine Word is an object of faith especially the Promise 520 Attendance on the Word a means to increase faith 574 Worldly World Worldly-mindedness reproved 361 362 Worldly-mindedness springs from unbelief 464 The VVorld tries fair means and foul to hinder faith 489 Wordly examples of the multitude not to be follow'd 490 FINIS