sins upon him Christ was legally guilty of our sin and God punished him 1 Pet 2.24 He bare our sins in his own body upon the tree sai 53.4 Surely he hath born our griefs and carried our sorrows Rom 4.25 He was delivered for our offences And here we may take notice of a great difference between the first and second Adam The first Adam brought the guilt of one sin upon us but Jesus Christ takes away the guilt not only of that but of our innumerable personal Transgressions and this the Apostle minds Rom 5.16 And not as it was by one that sinned so is the gift for the judgment was by one to condemnation but the free gift is of many offences to justification the first sin that Man is guilty of layes him open unto death and his after sins do multiply his Obligations unto death but do not expose him unto so many several deaths yet they do expose him unto a sorer and greater degree of eternal death where there are several sins meeting in the same person they are to be punished with an aggravated death one death must be endured equivalent to so many several deaths for every sin must be accounted for in the day of judgment Eccles 12.14 and therefore Christ that he might procure a remission of all our sins bore a punishment proportionable to them all he was punished for them all Isai 53.5 He was wounded for our transgressions what he redeemed us from that he endured himself Gal. 3.13 only it must be remembred that by reason of the dignity of his person that sorrow which he endured was a greater measure of punishment that it would have been in us The Eighth thing to be considered is That the Righteousness of Jesus Christ is sufficient for the Elect of God in all ages he has an everlasting Priesthood and the vertue of his Sacrifice dos cotinue from the beginning to the end of the World therefore he is said to bring in everlasting Righteousnes Dan. 9.24 His Righteousness was efficacious for the ages before his coming though it was not then actually wrought out in former Generations this righteousness was available for justification as a man may be discharged of a Debt because of the Bond of his Surety before the money is paid so Christ was preached as the way of Salvation from the very fall of Adam Gen. 3.15 The seed of the Woman shall bruise the Serpents head the way that the Patriaks were justified was by Faith in Christ Rom. 4.3 hence they are said to be saved by Grace Act 15 11 the Covenant which was made with Abraham was made in consideration of the righteousness of Christ Gal 3 17 The covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ Christ was actually slain after the World had stood about four thousand years but he was reckoned as slain from the foundation of the World Rev 13 8 the vertue of his blood reached unto the first ages of the world that is implied Heb. 9.25 26. Nor yet that he should offer himself often as the High Priest entereth every year into the holy place with the blood of others for then must be often have suffered since the foundation of the World but now once in the end of the World hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself Hence there was through him remission of the sins that were past Rom 3 25. he died for the redemption of transgressions that were under the first Testament Heb 9 15 the means of the salvation of the Fathers was accomplished in the dayes of the Gospel they were saved before but the price of this Salvation was payed when Christ died that is intended by that expression Heb. 11 40 God having provided some better thing for us that they without us should not be made perfect His Righteousness is also efficacious for all ages after his coming Christ payed for the salvation of those Generations that were not born then he satisfied for sins that were not then committed for God has appointed the Gospel to be Preached to the end of the World Mat. 28 19 20 yea Christ appointed that his death should be shewed forth in the Lords Supper unto the day of Judgment 1 Cor. 11 26 in the Redemption of Christ God shewed grace to the ages to come Eph 2 7 there will be some saved by Christ in all Ages to the end of the world Eph 3 31 the Saints under Antichrist are said to be redeemed by Christ Revel 14 6. The reason of this everlasting efficacy of Christs Righteousness is from Gods acceptance God might accept it as well before it was wrought out as after and it was as easie for Christ to redeem millions of men as one Christ being a Surety the same righteousness that will serve for one will serve for all as it is with the sin of Adam it is as sufficient to condemn millions as one and if Christ had been to redeem many more he needed not to have done or suffered any thing more what is done by the representative is reckoned to all them whom he represents The last Proposition for the cleaning of the Argument is That Christ has so purchased Salvation that the Elect cannot fail of it and herein lies one great difference between the first Adam and the second though the first Adam made us Heirs of death yet there is a possibility of our escaping destruction but the second Adam has so made us Heirs of life as that it is impossible that we should miss thereof that is intended Rom. 5 17. If by one mans offence death reigned by one much more they that receive abundance of Grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in lise by one Jesus Christ Christs purchase gives us such a title to Salvation as that there can be no failure of it 2 Thes 2.16 God has given us everlasting consolation and good hope through Grace the reason of the difference is because there was an exception in the Law that we must dye except our Surety died for us but the promise of eternal life which Christ has purchased does admit of no exception the promise made unto Christ does admit of no exception Psal 72 17. Men shall be blessed in him according to that promise to Jacob all the Families of the earth should be blessed in his seed and the promise made unto Believers does admit of no exception there are many promises that have a limited interpretation some are indefinite and some are conditional but this promise is absolute and universal Joh. 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him might not perish but might have everlasting life Before I leave this Argument it is needful to answer one Objection which is this If Christs Righteousness be that which the Law requires of us then God would deal with those that have an interest in that as he would have done if they had performed
not answer the demands of the Law there is a necessity of the righteousness of Christ which is legal righteousness 1 Cor. 1.30 and indeed Faith could not have been the condition of salvation had it not interested us in the righteousness of the Law the covenant of Works and covenant of Grace also must be fulfilled or we cannot be saved Christ fulfilled the covenant of works for us and gives us Faith in his righteousness whereby we fulfil the covenant of Grace 5. Whereas it is added to stengthen the Objection that Faith under the Gospel comes in the room of works under the Law and therefore as works under the Law were to be the matter of justification so is Faith under the Gospel I Answer Faith does not under the Gospel properly come in the room of works for works are necessary under the Gospel unto Justification works are the purchasing cause of life only God has found out another way of performing those works than the Law speaks of namely by a Surety but yet perfect Obedience is as necessary as at first for our Justification the Gospel does not justifie us in any way of contradiction to the Law works now are the legal condition of Justification but Faith is the evangelical condition of Justification and every Believer does fulfil both those conditions one in his Surety the other in his own person Faith is the condition of the covenant of Grace and Faith interests us in the righteousness of Chrst whereby the covenant of works is also fulfilled and when the Apostle does oppose Faith and the works of the Law he does not oppose Faith to the works of the Law as performed by Christ for they work together for our Justification but he opposes it to our works that our works in obedience to the Law can never justifie us works under the Law were the purchasing cause of Justification and so they are still works under the Law were the condition of Justification and they only but now they are the legal condition and Faith is the evangelical condition Faith is all the condition required to be performed by us in our own persons Objection 2. God has made many promises of forgiveness of sins unto Obedience and so also of Salvation whereby it seems that it is not safe relying upon Christs righteousness but upon our own there be many promises of forgiveness Isai 1.16 17 18. Wash you make you clean put away the evil of your doings c. come and let us reason together saith the Lord though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool Mat. 6.14 for if you forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you 1 John 3.9 if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins Isai 55.7 let the wicked forsake his way and the righteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon So there are many promises of Salvation made unto Obedience Rom. 8.13 if ye by the spirit do mortifie the deeds of the flesh ye shall live Mat. 5.8 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God and to like purpose eternal life in spoken of as the reward of Obedience Hebr. 11.1 26. He had respect to the recompence of reward Col. 3.24 knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ Answer To the first part of the Objection from promises of forgiveness made to Obedience I Answer 1. That forgiveness is not alwayes taken in Scrpture for the act of Justification whereby God does take off the sentence of eternal condemnation but many times it is taken for Gods overlooking sin so as not to bring that temporal calamity that he might have done so when God removes a temporal judgment he is said to forgive their sins Mich. 7.18 so when he forbears to destroy a people that have deserved it and only brings some less judgments on them he is said to forgive them Psal 99.8 Thou wast a God that forgavest them though thou tookest vengeance on their inventions Psal 78.38 He forgave their iniquity and destroyed them not Numb 14.20 21 22 23. And the Lord said I have pardoned according to thy word c. but they shall not see the Land that I sware unto their Fathers and sometimes he bestows this pardon upon them whom he does not deliver from the sentence of condemnation and sometimes he denies this unto them whom he does deliver from a sentence of condemnation Moses's sin shall not be so forgiven but that he must dye in the Wilderness for his trespass at the waters of Meribah Eli shall not be so forgiven but that sore judgment shall come upon his Family the preventing or removing of temporal calamities whether in ward or outward is called forgiveness and this is the very thing is intended by forgiveness sometimes when God makes promises of forgiveness unto obedience and reformation the meaning is that God will prosper them and bless and not pursue them with Judgments and calamities this is evident because sometimes God promises forgiveness to a Nation in a way of obedience it is promised as a National blessing so in that Isai 1.16 17 18. therefore it does not intend deliverance from eternal condemnation for God does not promise that as a publick blessing depending upon publick reformation 2. Sometimes when God promises forgiveness unto Obedience the meaning is that if the soul do return unto God by a true work of conversion he shall be justified when men are converted they are brought into a state of acceptance with God God is reconciled unto them so that place is to be understood Isai 55.7 let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him Act 3.19 repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out and the reason why God promises forgiveness upon conversion is because Faith which is the condition of the covenant is included in conversion converted persons have Faith in Christ Jesus 3. Sometimes when forgiveness is promised unto particular acts of Obedience the meaning is that those acts of obedience are a sign that a man is in a justified condition so that is to be understood Mat. 6.14 for if you forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will forgive you and that 1 John 1.9 if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive our sins these things are not the condition of forgiveness much less the meritorious cause of forgiveness but they are a sign that a man is such an one to whom the promise of forgiveness does belong so any one upright act of obedience is a sign that a mans sins are forgiven and shall be forgiven in the day of Judgment because they are things that do accompany Faith in Christ though they have
to the enjoyment of himself in a way of hearkening to his counsels why did God make such a creature that should have such a capacity and such desires if he had not an heart to bestow this good upon him God satisfies the desires of every living thing heavenly glory though it be great yet it is not too much for our need he bestows upon the beasts of the earth the fish of the sea and Fowls of heaven such things as are suitable to their needs and why should we think that God is unwilling to bestow upon man what he needs if men will take the directions that he gives unto them 4. God has made heaven on purpose to bestow it upon men together with the angels the earth was made for man and so was heaven too God raised this glorious building on purpose to entertain men it is a Kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world Mat. 25.34 God has prepared for them a City Heb. 11.16 this was one of the first works that God ever did to prepare this place of blessedness for men he did not need any heaven for himself he was infinitely happy before heaven was made bnt he made it on purpose for such as shall come to Christ how then can we think that God is unwilling to bestow it upon them now it is made he will not say it is too good for them he turned man indeed out of Paradise that was made for him because that was made for him only so long as he retained his integrity but the heavenly Paradise was made for such as will come unto Christ 5. This is but proportionable to that design that is upon the heart of God men do not stick to do great things for the accomplishing of designs that lie much upon their hearts Princes will be at vast expence to shew their magnificence the Artist will take a great deal of pains to shew his skill and God has a design upon his heart to manifest his glory and has done great things for that end he made this glorious fabrick of heaven and earth to be as a glass wherein his glory is represented and the eternal salvation of such as you is greatly subservient to this end Eph. 1.5 6 Eph. 2.6 7 here is nothing in this contrary to Gods glory nothing that is an hindrance to it but it suits that end the mercy of God is much honoured by his pardoning and saving of sinners Micah 7.18 herein is seen what free compassion is in the heart of God it is much for the glory of God to lead sinners through all the difficulties of the way unto heaven it is much for the glory of God notwithstanding all their unworthiness to bestow heaven upon them it is much for the glory of God to have multitudes in heaven to be spectators and admirers of his glory Joh. 17.24 That they may be with me where I am to behold my glory which thou hast given me 6. There has been a great price paid for it if you had kept the covenant of works and been perfectly obedient unto God without any defect you would not have doubted of Gods readiness to accept of you and save you but here is as fair a way made for your acceptance and salvation God is fully satisfied for every jot of that glory that he promises unto you Jesus Christ has payed the full price of it according to the tenour of the covenant it is a due debt to all that are partakers of the righteousness of Christ it is an act of Justice in God to bestow salvation upon them heavenly glory is purchased glory Eph. 1.14 until the redemption of the purchased possession Discouragement 2. The many sins that he has been guilty of sometimes a Saint has a dismal frightful apprehension of his sins they appear to him as a dark cloud he knows that God is an holy and a jealous God he speaks dreadfully in his Word against sinful practices and has brought dreadful judgment upon angels and men for their sins and hence he is fearful that God will not pardon him his sins proves his great temptation hence his heart is still harping upon that string that God is an holy sin-revenging God and that he hath been guilty of abundance of sin Psal 40.12 mine iniquities take hold of me so that I am not able to look up they are more than the hairs of my head therefore my heart faileth me And there are two things especially that prove matter of temptation and make him afraid to believe One thing is the many aggravations that he sees in his sins he sins against light against covenant not withstanding abundance of mercy with a great deal of perverseness they have reiterated sins after bewailing of the same they have sinned with deliberation their sins seem to have exceeded the limits of pardoning mercy The other thing is that they fear that their sins do speak and evidence their hypocrisie they are apt to think they should not they could not do so if they were not hypocrites they fear that such carriages are not consistent with grace and thence they are much discouraged they think if they have been hypocrites all this while there is very little hope for them that would be such a provocation that they fear God would never pardon it the fear of their hypocrisie makes them fearful to cast themselves upon Christ For the removal of this discouragement Consider 1. That the law of God leaves as much room for the pardon of great fins as of little ones lesser sins and greater sins are all mortal by the law by the sentence of the law one sin is as certainly destructive as a thousand The wages of sin is death Rom. 6.23 and the Law does allow of the pardon of multitudes as well as of one the Law allows of the pardon of sin provided there be satisfaction the Law stands upon it to have punishment but it does not stand for personal punishment in case of great sins no more than in case of little sins the Law makes no distinction but it gives as much liberty for the pardon of great offenders as of lesser there is no tittle that way in the covenant of works that great sinners must dye in their own persons the thing that the Law looks at is that sin be punished according to the demerit thereof that the Justice of God be vindicated but God does not bind up his own hands that he may not forgive great sinners he reserves that liberty to himself in the law of punishing any sins in a surety and so of pardoning them the law admits of the pardon of any sin if there be satisfaction the reason that the sin against the Holy Ghost is unpardonable is not from any thing in the covenant of works but because God when he provided a surety made an exception of that sin but if sin be punished the law is satisfied the law does not forbid the pardon
a cloud of Witnesses that have gone before you in other ages and many at this day that betake themselves unto Christ for refuge others that have been trying all conclusions and turning every stone have at last seen a necessity to come unto Christ others have been satisfied with the encouragements that God has given and have taken sanctuary in Christ men of judgment and prudence not subject to be led by fancies and delusions more than other men have let go all carnal confidences and fled to this hope set before them and this they have done nor once or twice in any hurry of temptation but they live in this way I live by faith in the Son of God Gal. 2.20 their coming unto Christ is no rash inconsiderate act but after they have had the consideration of it many years have weighed it and pondred it looked on all sides and considered all that can be said they don't see cause to repent but continue to believe it is no unadvised act they understand what they do 2 Tim. 1.12 and the longer they live the more established in a way of believing Gods dispensations towards them since their coming unto Christ are not such as do discourage them but they are more encouraged still to commit themselves unto Christ why don't you come also unto Christ methinks you should be ashamed to be listning unto carnal reasonings and giving way to the pride of your hearts when others have overcome them methinks it should stir up a spirit of fear to see others getting into the way of salvation and you left behind to be a prey to Devils think what your sins have been what inward workings have been in your bea rt and you must say you have as much need of Christ as other men think what the call of God is how free and full the invitation is and you must say you have as much encouragement to come to Christ as other men and others that love their souls as well as you do yours have ventured them in the hands of Jesus Christ and do you not think that it will be hard to you to see others stand at the right-hand of Christ another day and your selves rejected 2. You must never expect inward peace and quietness unless you come unto Christ you complain now in the bitterness of your souls what a sorrowful life you lead you find little comfort in any thing you are so terrified with a guilty conscience that it eats out the comfort of your life a dreadful sound is in his ears Job 15.21 you are under such apprehensions of the anger of God that you know not how to bear it when you hear or read the threatnings of Judgment you are terrified that that will be your portion when you see instances of judgment you are afraid that God will do so with you leave you to such and such sins bring such and such calamities upon you your heart is meditating terror affrighted with the thoughts of damnation Sermons terrifie you providences terrifie you your heart is always loaded the way to have inward peace and quietness is to come to Jesus Christ Rom. 5.1 being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ but until you come to Christ you must never expect to be better you may have a pleasing dream it may be for a while and your wound may be skinned over but you must not expect to have any true peace so long as you stand at a distance from Christ what peace can men expect while their sins are not pardoned what peace can men enjoy as long as God is angry you must expect no other but to spend your days in vanity and your years in trouble if you give not entertainment unto Christ through fear of death they were all their life-time subject unto bondage Heb. 2.15 the venom of sin will be burning in your bowels until you look unto the brazen serpent and what madness is it for men needlesly to live a tormented life are you not weary of this condition have you a mind to live in sorrow longer don't you care to be delivered from your fears thou wilt never have peace without coming unto Christ you have tried a great while in vain and it will be in vain still but if you will give entertainment unto him his blood will heal the conscience scatter fears and refresh your hearts The sting of death is sin and strength of sin is the law but thanks be to God that giveth victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. 3. If you do no not come to Christ you will lose all the pains that you have taken in religion you had need be careful that you lose not the things that you have wrought the labour that you have taken in religion is all lost with respect unto some expectations of yours therefrom as to the mortifying of sin thereby the getting of the good-will of God the purchasing of pardon c. and if you do come to Christ you must see it to be lost in this respect Phil. 3.7 those things which were gain to me those have I counted loss for Christ but yet in some respect the pains you have taken may be of advantage unto you in as much as you are nearer to salvation than before you began to seek after God you have been travelling in the way towards heaven some men are nearer the Kingdom of God a great deal than others Mark 12.34 Thou art not far from the Kingdom of God you have been taking a great deal of pains have withstood temptations have got much knowledge have broken off your sinful practices come to understand somewhat of the plague of your own hearts you are got over many bars that lay in the way of your salvation you have escaped many rocks upon which some souls have split in pieces are in a fairer way to get to heaven than you were sometime since and it would be sad to perish upon the borders of Cannan after sore travel in the wilderness to sink at the mouth of the harbour after you have rid out many Storms to lose all your care and labour and sorrows after all to go down to hell among those that never took any pains for salvation and this you will certainly do if you do not come to Christ though you are past the streight of reformation yet if you don't enter and go through the gate of humiliation and faith if you do not cast away your carnal confidences you will not enter into life when the Galatians were carried away with opinions of their own righteousness Paul says to them have you suffered so many things in vain if it be yet in vain gal 3.4 all your labour will be in vain and your souls will be lost if you come not to Christ 4. You will exceedingly bewail it hereafter if you do not accept of Christ you will rue it in another world you stand upon frivolous objections neglect to come unto
Salvation to any that would accept of it Mat. 4.23 and he has commanded his Ministers to Preach it unto you Mark 16.15 Go into all the World and preach the Gospel to every creature that is every humane creature Ministers have as good a warrant to preach it to them that are or have been prophane as to those that have lived a civil life to those that have had more violent workings of corruptions as to those that have been more restrained the promise of the Gospel is universal it is not limited to such or such sinners but it comprehends you as well as others Joh. 3.16 if the Minister did know all the sins that you have been guilty of from your Childhood to this day he could not with a good conscience neglect to offer Salvation unto you Objection 2. I am so bad that I fear God cannot be willing to shew mercy unto me it seems that God must needs loath me and his heart is turned away from me Answer Such reasonings are but the conjectures of mens hearts who are ignorant of God there is no foundation in the Word of God for such thoughts they are but the imaginations of men who know not God God can find in his heart to shew mercy to whom he pleaseth he could shew mercy to devils if he would there is nothing in him to restrain the exercise of grace but his own pleasure For 1. There is nothing in God to compel him to destroy the sinner what should force God to damn you if you be never so bad yet God is not necessitated to reject you his holiness does not compel him the holiness of God is no impediment to the exercising of pardoning grace there is a Scripture that looks that way Josh 24.19 ye cannot serve the Lord for he is an holy God he is a jealous God he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins but the meaning of it is that they were such a perverse people that they could not serve God so but that they would bring his judgments on them for he is so holy as that he will punish his visible people while they go on in wayes of degeneracy but his holiness and his grace don't thwart one another for it is no prejudice to the interest of holiness that God pardons great sinners for when God pardons he sanctifies too 1 Cor. 6.11 neither is the Justice of God any hinderance to the exercise of pardoning mercy justice forbids pardon without satisfaction made but not if there be satisfaction if the Law which is the rule of Justice be attended there is nothing contrary to the justice of God the Law makes no distinction between great and little sinners great ones are capable of pardon as well as others if there be satisfaction the law admits of the pardon of no sin without satisfaction but it admits of the pardon of any sin if there be satisfaction neither does Gods care of his glory hinder him from pardoning of great sinners for he can turn that to the advantage of his glory the pardoning of such is greatly subservient unto that design Eph. 1.7 2. There is mercy enough in God for the pardoning of your sins be they never so great Gods nature is of infinite and unlimited perfection there is an infinite ocean of Grace in the heart of God it is not possible for man to commit such sins that God should not be able to pardon them God is of such mercy that he can do any thing that is an act of mercy as there is nothing too hard for the power of God so there is nothing too hard for the mercy of God and certainly sinners have little reason to object that God can't find in his heart to pardon them when he has found in his heart to provide a sufficient sacrifice for them when he has found in his heart to offer them pardon when he has found in his heart to pardon others as great sinners as they Objection 3. God is exceeding angry with me he is in his providences testifying against me and fills me with terrors and though I cry to him he don't regard my cries therefore I am afraid to believe Answer 1. The great thing that God is angry with you for is your unbelief the despising of the Gospel is the great provoking sin that was it that greatly provoked God against the Jews Rom. 11.20 they were broken off by unbelief and this should put you upon it to make hast to Christ that you may not provoke him more to anger against you the longer you live in unbelief the more angry God will be 2. Anger in God is not a passion as it is in men God is not capable of being angry after that manner that men are angry men are so angry sometimes that they cannot forget an injury they are quite over-ruled with this passion passion masters them they are in servitude to it but God is not passionate he is never transported with anger anger is but figuratively applied unto God it notes his will to punish and chasten men for their sins but in men it is a violent affection that many times they cannot restrain 3. When God is very angry yet it is safe venturing upon Christ if you come to Christ God will not reject you though he be very angry this is the way proposed by himself for the removing of his anger tho he be angry yet he is ready to pardon in a way of believing he is never so angry as to reject those that come unto Christ when grievously provoked yet he has a pardon in his hand to bestow upon all that will accept of it there is encouragement enough in the Gospel to make you with joy to rely upon a provoked God he assures you in this way you shall be forgiven though he be angry yet he will not forget his promises that he has made unto returning sinners Jer. 3.22 Objection 4. God threatens such as I am peremptorily with ruine Prov. 29.1 He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy and therefore I am afraid God will not accept me Answer Such threatnings as this are only declarations of what God does oftentimes do there are some threatnings that are absolute wherein God does absolutely declare what he will do such are the threatnings of ruine for final impenitency and unbelief but many other threatnings are but declarations of what God oftentimes does and in their application to particular persons are to be understood with a condition according to that rule Jer. 18 7 8. so that such persons may be sayed if they do repent this is evident not only from the many invitations in the Scripture that reach and comprehend such sinners as well as others but from hence also that the generality of those whom the Lord accepts have been guilty of rejecting many reproofs the generality of the Saints have lived to Mens and Womens estates under means before they
made unto us of the blood of Christ for the remission of sins Mat. 26.26 27 28. herein the hearts of Gods people have had peculiar establishment some when in a discouraged condition are backward to come to this Ordinance the Devil has a great hand in it to keep them from that which is the means of help they are afraid that they shall eat and drink judgment to themselves but God no where requires a faith of assurance in those that partake of that Ordinance this Ordinance is a special help to those that are in the dark with a good conscience and though it must be granted that to partake of it without Faith is a sin and so deserves damnation and so it does to pray or hear without Faith yet when the Apostle says that he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation or judgment to himself 1 Cor. 11.21 he intends particularly that evil of not distinguishing this eating and drinking from common eating or drinking doing it either ignorantly or profanely therefore he adds not discerning the Lords Body 4. Be earnest with God in prayer for the strengthning of Faith Christ prayed for Peter on this account Luk. 22.32 and on the same account we should pray for our selves prayer is the way to win any thing that we need from God importunate prayer is like the sword of Saul that returned not empty tho' the people of God are compassed with infirmities yet their prayers are very prevailing Elias was a man of like passions yet his prayers were successful God loves to gratifie his people he takes delight in the exercise of their graces in prayer he loves to encourage them in waiting on him according to his appointment therefore constantly attend this duty and be much in secret prayer be often pouring out your heart unto him this is duty Mat. 6 6. and in this way christians have much communion with God whereby their faith is strengthned such christians as can make shift so to stifle their consciences as to be negligent in this duty lose a great advantage for their flourishing in faith and holiness 5. In case of need advise with those that can help you when under darkness and temptation have recourse to such as can direct you that can speak words in season to them that are weary make use of such as are skilful and faithful some out of fearfulness or pride or through ignorance of their duty go with an heavy load upon their hearts a long while whereas it may be their scruples might be easily answered if they would have recourse to those that have skill by the blessing of God they might soon be led into such a way that they might have comfort Joh 33.23 if there be a messenger with him an interpreter one among a thousand to shew unto man his uprightness God fits some men to discover mens uprightness unto them and to shew them how to get it have recourse to such as may be able to comfort you with the comfort whereby they themselves are comforted of God. 6. Rely upon God in Christ to maintain Faith in you it is needful to have all your expectation from him if men be in the use of means for the strengthening of Faith and trust to their own endeavours they give God occasion to blast their labours and leave them to the doubtings and discouragements of their own hearts no wonder if God lets them fall that trust to their own strength you are not able to maintain a spirit of Faith in your selves nor to fortifie your hearts against discouragements by any power or wisdom of your own therefore it is fit you should depend on God in Christ to work it in you Christ is our under aker to preserve Faith Heb. 12.2 He is the author and finisher of Faith therefore be not proud of your own strength but under a sence of your own inability rely on Christ to work it in you continually Direction 2. Get a more clear large and distinct understanding of this way of salvation by Jesus Christ many Christians are exposed unto temptation by their ignorance though they know that that is a sufficient foundation for Faith yet they are but rude in knowledg greatly to seek about many things that they need to know for the establishing of their Faith many Christians fall under that reproof Heb. 5.12 ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the Oracles of God it is a great help against Discouragement to have a clear knowledg of the Gospel the highest degree of literal knowledg is not sufficient to make a man believe but without litteral knowledge there can be no Faith and without a considerable measure of it you will be in great danger to be out bid with such temptations as you might easily see thorow if you had more knowledg and therefore the Apostle exhorts them to grow in the knowledg of Christ 2 Pet. 3.18 Christians should be able to give a reason of the hope that is in them 1 Pet. 3.15 when they are under doubts a little information about the way of salvation by the gospel does remove their doubts therefore labour to get a distinct knowledg of the gospel that you may be able to give account of the design of God in it as it is revealed in the gospel of the equity of it and its consistency with the Law of the absolute freedome of the grace of God of the true reason why Christ died of the terms of the covenant of Grace and of the manner of Gods dealing with his when he brings them into union with Christ and after their union with him a clear knowledg of these and such like things are of great advantage unto faith two wayes 1. It supplies us with Arguments to prove this way of salvation hereby men are furnished with strong reasons for the confirmation of their Faith these things do shew that the salvation of a Believer is built upon a strong foundation by reason of mens ignorance men are strangers to many things that would confirm their Faith there be many things in the Gospel that would clear it up to men it they did know them that it is impossible that believers should fail of Salvation Men might if they had more knowledg be able many wayes to prove undeniably that it is a safe thing for them to come to Christ 2. It supplies us with answers to temptations and many carnal reasonings the strength of many of those reasonings that prove perplexing to the people of God lies in their ignorance many temptations would presently vanish if men had more understanding the objections that many times men are perplexed with are easily answered by those that are more skilful in the word of righteousness there is enough in the Gospel to satisfie their scruples if they did but understand it many things that are great stumbling blocks to them would not puzzle them at all if they had more knowledg Direction 3.