Discouragements removed by Faith Faiths Triumph over fear of Divine desertion God may forsake his people in five respects yet it is but gradual and momentary not total and final Reasons of Gods forsaking his people 1 For prevention of Evil two ways 2 For Confirmation in Good five ways The Life of Faith in Consolation Two Propositions stated 1 That the Just lives the Life of Consolation 2 That he lives this Life by Faith Four Reasons why the Lord will have the Just live comfortably Six Reasons why Consolation comes by Faith Faith fetches in Comfort from the Trial and Evidence of the Truth of Grace Objections against Assurance of Divine Love inferred from Marks and Signs of true Grace answered It is a preposterous course to judge of our interest in Divine Love by our Comforts before we have tried the sincerity of our Graces Differences of Regenerating Grace from Common Uses of the Life of Consolation in Believers 1Vse Information in five Particulars 1 Of the cause of sadness in the faithful 2Vnregenerate souls are uncomfortable souls 3 Religious Life is the onely comfortable Life Objection against this That the Saints walk sadly answered Where the Rise of the Saints heaviness is discovered in three general Causes The first is taken from themselves in five particulars The second from Satan The third from God himself who eclipses his Peoples Comforts for three Reasons 4 Information what to desire for our best friends 5 Information what great happiness attends the end of Saints in death 2Vse of Reproof 1 Of mis-judging the Life of the faithful 2 Of Papists who rob of Comfort while of Faith 3 Of such who fetch Comfort from Sense 4 Of such who refuse Comfort upon the Promises 5 Of such who go for Comfort to false Prophets 3Vse of Exhortation To live this life of spiritual comfort 1 Three Motives Vnder the third is set forth ten Properties wherein a believers joy excels all natural worldly sinful joy 2 Means to get and maintain spiritual Joy Faith is acted seven ways for the increase of Joy Having seen how the Just live by Faith in regard of Spiritual Life It remains to shew how they live by Faith in regard of Eternal Life The Work of Faith about Eternal Life Faith assures of three things about Eternal Life 1 That there is an Eternal Life This Faith makes good by Scripture and five Reasons flowing by necessary Consequence from Scripture 2 Faith informs a Believer what the happiness of Eternal Life is and wherein it consists viz. In the perfect Vision of God which causes perfect transformation in perfect Knowledge Love Obedience Joy which perfect transformation causes perfect Satisfaction which Satisfaction consists privatively in a fivefold freedom from whatever may annoy or interrupt the Joy of glorified Saints positively in the possessing of whatever good can be desired to make up complete Joy and Satisfaction which consists in a fourfold fulness of the Subject in glory as also in the fulness of the Object viz. The beatifical Vision of God 3 Faith assures a Believer of his peculiar interest in Eternal Life Under which Head is shewn How Faith assures a Believer of his particular interest in Eternal Life This it doth six ways all which are largely handled Five Reasons why Believers are kept out of possession of heaven so long after assurance of their interest in Eternal Life Uses of living by Faith in order to Eternal life 1Vse Confutation of such who deny Eternal Life both in respect of the Soul at present and of the Body after the Resurrection Five proofs of Eternal Life 2Vse Reproof to five sorts of persons 1 To such as complain that Religion is a fruitless Profession 2 To such as despair in stead of acting Faith for Eternal Life 3 To such as exercise their fancy more than faith concerning Eternal Life where vain curiosity in moving Questions about the state of glory rather than a due care to make sure an interest in it is condemned 4 To such who have an interest in Eternal Life but do not act faith to the improvement of that interest 5 To such who minde Earth for a portion more than Eternal Glory 3Vse Examination of Faith in respect of Life Eternal Whether we believe aright that there is such a state and that we have an interest in it 1 Sign By our carriage in Life Whether our Affections Meditations Speeches and Actions be heavenly such as sute such an inheritance 2 Sign By our respect which we bear to Death viz. as a passage to Eternal Life as a conquered Enemy Four Degrees of Christs Conquest over Death for all his Question stated Whether godly persons may not be afraid to die and unfit to die 4Vse Exhortation To live by Faith in respect of Eternal Life Five Motives to get assurance of Eternal Life Four Means to assure of Eternal Life 5Vse Comfort and Encouragement against the evils and temptations of this present life drawn from the nature of our heavenly life where hope or assurance of heaven is demonstrated to bear up the heart under adversity and to preserve the Souls integrity under temptations of Prosperity 6Vse Admiration and Thankfulness for our heavenly life To excite to this the excellency of heaven is set out five ways 1 By the excellent Names or Titles given to it 2 By the excellent Properties of it which are four 3 By the excellent Price given for it 4 By the excellent Causes of it 5 By the excellent Effects of it Thankfulness for Eternal life demonstrated two ways Reasons for living by Faith The Eighth General Head or Quaere concerning the Life of Faith viz. What are the Reasons why God will have the just to live by Faith and why a Christian should be willing thus to live First sort of Reasons taken from a Believers Condition in the flesh This is set out in five particulars 1 Absence from the Lord. 2 Distance of time 'twixt the Promise and Performance 3 The necessity of keeping the Saints humble 4 Saints present state of Imprfection for whose direction and support the Word and the Ministery of it is afforded Question herestated concerning the Divine Authority of the Scriptures Arguments of four sorts to prove it 5 Past Experiences of Gods faithfulness in fulfilling his Promises are given for a firm encouragement to exercise future Faith Three Grounds to expect that God will make good the same Promises for time to come Second sort of Reasons for living by Faith viz. The Relation betwixt Christ and Believers 1 Relation Christ is the Fountain of all Grace of whose fulness we receive onely by Faith 2 Relation Christ is our Lord and we cannot honour him without Faith Faith honours the Grace Faithfulness and Power of God Third sort of Reasons taken from the nature and use of Faith 1 It is our livelyhood with the difference of Faith under both Covenants 2 We first fell away from God by unbelief therefore he will recover his honour in
and Duty he owes him to judge this Tract through Gods blessing upon a serious reading and digesting it much conducing to make an able Christian and Divine Indeed it holds forth to us the way that we should walk Jer. 42.3 and the thing that we should do to attain Heaven and Salvation Many Ministers and others did desire the publishing of this Treatise by the Author in his Life but his modesty and other constant labours hindred Now it is come forth we wish it may not finde the like entertainment that the Frier wittily and sharply said his Auditors gave to his Sermons they dealing with them as with his Holy-Water sprinkled on them they called for it eagerly but when he cast it on them they presently wiped it off again Make this Book now published more publick by holding forth the Life and Practise of Faith in thy Life and Station Do not onely once reade it Verba vivenda and cast it aside but carry it in thy heart as the Carpenter his Rule in his hand to square all thy actions by it We shall onely adde some Motives to excite thy Practise and then commit all to the Blessing of God 1. Consider this Life of Faith is a high Mystery Christ believed on in the world is a like Mystery with God manifested in the flesh and received up into glory Faith in the habit or root is not a Plant of Natures Garden The very nourishing of it and causing it to bring forth in our hearts is much more difficult than that of Plants in a strange Country Grace in exercise is difficult Indeed it s in us as fire under dead ashes or in a Flint Exciting quickning cooperating Grace with us must be added to that within us Grace in us lies like some Physick of dead Drugs which works not untill stronger Physick be given Without me ye can do nothing Joh. 15.5 saith Christ of his Disciples But especially the living daily in all conditions and actions by the exercise of Faith is much more hard To believe is above Nature but to act Faith in each act of Life is above our very Grace Consider farther the difficulty of this Life and so make use the rather of this Help Other ways of life viz. Trades Multi vident cruces qui non vident unctiones Bernard are called Mysteries but this above all is a Mystery of Mysteries We wonder how some men live who have a secret way of Trading but this is not onely a supernatural Secret but directly opposite to flesh and blood The Carnal and Profane scoff at it as a Fancy Paradox and golden Dream of Melancholy Spirits They count all persons who admire discourse of and practise this Life of Faith but silly Abrahams in the world as Want-wits for managing or getting an Estate Yet who doth or can without this so much despised Faith Esay 53.1 believe our report of these things It grieves our Souls to observe how many professing Christians look upon the Use of Faith as the staff of their Old Age onely or as a strong Cordial onely in fainting Fits or at best to be worn as our Holiday-clothes when we attend on the Word Prayer Sacraments then put it on But this is not to live as becomes Saints in all things and at all times by our Faith as that devout Scotch Divine whom M. Trap relates to have eat drank and slept Eternal Life Dost thou finde it hard to live by thy Labour by thy Lands Learning Friends Wits yet all these ways are far beneath this high Mystery of believing and living by it Bless God then as for Other so for This Master of the Assemblies who designs in this Work to teach thee this Mystery and Trade how to pick a living livelihood out of this Now dead Commodity viZ. Faith 2. Consider what may farther stir thee up to the exercise of this Grace as also to the Reading and Meditating on this heavenly Directory to the Life of Faith We shall not forestall those things which thou maist finde in the Author nor dispute how far some Branches of this Tree of Life viz. Faith may spring out even in Heaven it self Yet take this as Solomons Argument that Wisdom excells because it gives life to him that hath it Eccles 7.12 Vita optimus modus Entis Life is the best and highest manner of Being A living Worm excels the Sun in glory Rational Life exceeds the life of Plants and Beasts So doth Faith Reason as the highest Life man is capable of on earth Seneca and others may write of a blessed Life but Faith onely finds it This Life must come from Heaven which is so far above the Earth and so rare to be found in it He who hath all his Provisions about him of his own must needs keep the best house and have all as we say at the best hand So is it by Faith we have all within our selves from God in Christ The good man is satisfied from himself Antisthenes gained this by Study and Learning that he could walk with himself as not needing to go abroad and be beholding to others for Exercise or Delight O thesauris omnibus opulentior fides O virtutibus corporis omnibus fides fortior O medicis omnibus salutarior Ambros This is much more true of Faith Faith walks with Christ and God on the Mount of glorious Discoveries every day and takes all as out of his hands What Grace more admired by Christ Paul spends a whole Chapter Hebr. 11. as a Chronicle of Faiths Victories and Trophies Its Worthies are there mentioned as Davids elswhere This very Text on which this Tract is built is cited no less than four times Rom. 1. Gal. 3. Heb. 10. Thrice in the New Testament which may convince us of the excellency of it being worthy of a double treble Meditaâ—â—on as the summary of our Christian Faith both Doctrinal and Practical Tarnovius inter opuscula as a learned man hints on the place 3. Consider the seasonableness of this Counsel about living by Faith in these days 1. As they are sickly dying evil Times in respect of Sufferings 2. As the latter Times and so evil in respect of Sinning Quis inter haec trepidus maestus nisi cui spes et fides deest jus est enim mortem timere qui ad Christum nolit ire Ejus est ad Christum nolle ire qui se non credit cum Christo incipere regnaâ—e Scripâ—um est enim justum fide vivere Cyprian de Mort. Cyprian wrote his Book of Mortality in a time of Mortality And this Cordial of Life is now given out in season to teach us how to live and fit us to die A Minister as hath been related being sick and meeting by Providence with Mr. Ball his excellent Book of Faith which then came newly out he took it as a Guide by the hand to lead him through that dark Valley and fit him
Where you have these four particulars 1 That it is so 2 In what things living by faith then consists 3 In what manner he doth so live 4 By what Means Then follows Application Next to the Conquering of those Adversities which happen to Believers in the course of their life That they live the Life of Faith in Death comes now to be treated of The Life of Faith in Death Wherein you have these particulars handled 1 That Faith is a godly mans life at the time of his death as appears by the living speeches of dying men 2 Six Reasons why Believers do all of them die in faith Heb. 11.13 3 Seven Vses drawn from the perpetual usefulness of faith in all estates especially that the just live by it in Adversity and Death Quest VII What Life is that which the Just lives by his Faith Answ All kind of Life which may truly be called Life First Natural Life a Saint lives this by Faith 1 In the very act of living where is shewed the different grounds upon which believers and unbelievers injoy this Natural Life 2 In the Conservation of Life They use not the same means in the same manner for maintaining of Natural Life 3 In the Preservation of Life from such things as are destructive 4 In the Prolongation of Life the Just live by Faith 5 In ordering aright all the natural and civil actions of life 6 In respect of the Comforts and Blessings of a Natural Life Instances of particulars for the obtaining of which and in the managing of which a Saint lives by Faith 1 Wealth 2 Health 3 Peace 4 Good success 5 Good Name 6 Posterity 7 Single Estate and Marriage 7 In the valuation of Natural Life Faith teaches Neither to under-value Life Faith teaches Nor to over-value Life USES 1 Reproof to those who say they trust God for Eternal Life and yet cannot trust in him for this Temporal Life and the things of it 2Vse of Exhortation to live by faith in respect of this Life Natural seeing believers hold these things not onely by common Providence but by Promise also from God so far as is needful for them This is twofold Spiritual Life lived by Faith Either the Life of Justification Or the Life of Sanctification Life of Faith in Justification Wherein these Particulars are opened 1 Wherein the Nature of Justification consists 2 How doth the Just live by Faith the Life of Justification This is declared in three respects 1 They live by Faith for the first act of God in justifying a sinner or which is all one for their being put into a justified state which flows from their immediate union with Christ Four ways Faith disposes the Soul for this state 2 How Faith acts for the continuance of Justification and renewing of pardon 3 The Just lives by faith for the assurance of being justified Faith is acted five ways in order to such an assurance 1 In moving a man to desire more faith 2 In using and embracing such means which may assure 3 In the trial of assurance it self whether sound or false 4 In answering all Objections and Doubts which cloud assurance 5 In expectation that assurance shall be given upon the diligent and humble sincere use of means All these Particulars are largely insisted on together with divers Uses drawn from this Life of Faith in Justification especially Examination whether we be in a justified state Signs thereof As also Motives to labour for this blessed estate and the assurance of it Means how to get assurance that we are justified and how we may live by Faith till we obtain such assurance The Life of Faith in Sanctification or Renovation Resolution of four Quaeres 1 Whether there be any such life in a Christian distinct from the Sanctification which is in Christ himself asserted 2 What it is and wherein it consists Difference 'twixt Morality and Sanctification 3 How and by what means it is wrought in the Soul Acts of faith in it When Spiritual actions flow from Faith in Christ 4 Why Sanctification is necessary in all justified persons Means which Faith Vses to promote Sanctification The Life of Faith in Fructification How faith hath influence into Fructification six ways The Uses of Faiths influence into Renovation and Fructification 1 Examination of the Truth of Faith 2 Reproof of Carnal Professors 3 Apologie against Papists 4 Exhortation to Faith as the root of Sanctity and fruitfulness Motives to live by Faith the Life of Sanctification Motives to act Faith for fruitfulness in season The Life of Faith in Mortification 1 How Faith proceeds in the Mortification of Sin 2 Why Faith will have Sin to be mortified 1Vse of Information in three Particulars 2 Marks of true Mortification Some Objections answered and a Case stated 3Vse of Conviction and Reproof to seven sorts 4Vse of Exhortation to mortifie Sin Motives and Means 5Vse of Comfort against the vigour and rigour of Sin The Life of Faith in Vivification Wherein two things demonstrated by way of Explication 1 Gods Children are subject to deadness What are the Causes Kinds and Degrees of it 2 Saints recover by Faith out of deadness Four Reasons of it and how Faith acts in such recovery Four Arguments of Faith to quicken under deadness Use of the Life of Vivification 1 of Reproof 2 of Exhortation Eight Motives to Vivification Six Means of Quickning 3 Trial of true Faith in Vivifying Four Signs of inlivening living Acts. The Life of Faith in Augmentation Two Propositions 1 The Just live the Life of Augmentation Four Reasons of Spiritual growth 2 Augmentation is by Faith Four Reasons why Faith hath an influence into it USES 1 Information about spiritual growth in four respects 2 Reproof of five sorts of men 3 Examination Five signs of spiritual growth What is the increase of God Col. 2.18 19. â—ig four things Cases of Conscience stated about growth 4 Humiliation for small growth 5 Thankfulness for growth 6 Exhortation to growth Six Motives to growth Nine Means of growth Seven Impediments of growth 7 Comfort at small beginnings in Grace 8 Direction how strong grown Christians should behave themselves towards the weak The Life of Faith in Perseverance Two Proposositions 1 The Just doth persevere 2 Perseverance is by vertue of Faith Six Reasons why the Just shall persevere Three Reasons why Perseverance is by Faith USES 1 Confutation of the Doctrine of falling from Grace Five respects in which there may be falling away Seven things from which the Elect can never fall Seven Objections against Perseverance answered 2 Vse Information about assurance of Salvation 3 Vse Labour for persevere 4 Vse Labour for Perseverance Six Motives to Perseverance Seven Means of Perseverance 5 Vse Examination of the Truth of Faith by its persevering How far a hypocrite may go in six respects Six Particulars wherein hypocrites come short 6 Vse of Thankfulness for Perseverance 7 Vse of Encouragement to persevere amidst all discouragements Five main
the way of believing 3 That Salvation may be on free and sure grounds The general Uses drawn from the Life of Faith 1Vse Information in seven Particulars 1 The happy condition of Believers They have comfort in six respects 2 The misery of unbelievers in six respects 3 The Reason of Satans enmity against Faith 4 The difference 'twixt the Life of Christ and that of a Believer 5 Why so many remain spiritually dead 6 There cannot be any thing of Christ or of Spiritual life in the Creature before Faith As Christ and life so Faith and life come both together 7 What is the choice work of a Minister 2Vse of Reproof to three sorts 1 Such who live upon other things in stead of living by Faith as namely their Sins Pleasures Creatures Riches Friends or upon themselves either sinful Self natural Self artificial Self moral Self religious Self These particulars are inlarge 2 Such who profess Faith but live not by it 3 Such as act not their Whether 1. In Actions 2. Conditions 3. Elections 3Vse of Examination 1 For Trial of persons whether we be just and in a state of spiritual life or no Divers Marks of true Faith from feigned 2 For Trial of all Doctrines and Religions whether they be true or false Where living by Faith is demonstrated to be the Touchstone of them 4Vse of Thankfulness for Faith Five Grounds or Arguments to provoke Believers to Thankfulness for Faith 1 It is Gods gift 2 It s necessary to the very Being of a Christian 3 Such a gift as none else can give where there are five Wonders of Faith spoken unto 4 Faith is a most precious Gift Three things very precious The preciousness of Faith in four particulars 5 The rarity or scarcity of Faith 5Vse Humiliation for Vnbelief The evil of Unbelief is set forth in 7 Particulars 1 It dishonours God 2 It grives the Holy Spirit 3 It pleases the Devil 4 It is the Mother-Sin The Brood of Unbelief 1 Ignorance 2 Security 3 Worldliness 4 Hypocrisie 5 Heresie 6 Apostacy 7 Atheism 5Vnbelief is a Step-mother to Grace 6Vnbelief is the Nurse of Sin 7 Judgements on Vnbelievers 6Vse of Exhortation wherein four Branches 1 Branch Exhort To get Faith where Faith is proved to be the wisest Purchase and Vnbelief the greatest Self-murther The excellencies of Believing which contains 1 Strength 2 Wisdom 3 Riches 4 Beauty 5 Honor. 6 Faith honors God 7 Dead without Faith 8 Faith makes to prosper Q How shall we get Faith Here are Means Negative and Positive prescribed Negative means to get faith or the removal of the Impediments of faith Means Negative is the removal of the Impediments of Faith which are these 1 Self 2 Satan 3 The World 4 Gods hardning where hardness of heart is treated of and Gods Justice justified in hardning some sinners Relief is prescribed to all four 5 General Impediment contains seven mixt Impediments of Faith viz. 1 False Trust 2 Limiting of God 3 Harbouring some Lust 4 Our own Vnworthiness pleaded against the Promise 5 Laying too much stress on the depth of Humiliation 6 Want of feeling 7 Doubt of Election To all these particular Cures are applied 6 General Impediment of Faith viz. Neglect of the Means which should work Faith or beget it Five Causes of the neglect of Means 1 Prejudice quarrels the Means of Faith 2 Pride contemns the Means 3 Sloth recoils from the Means 4 Presumption postdates the use of Means 5 Despodency quits and casts off the use To all which Cures are applied 7 General Impediment of Faith viz. Supposition of having Faith already when it is nothing so Differences 'twixt Presumption and true Faith 1 In the Conception 2 In the Birth 3 In the Growth 4 In the Fruit. The second Branch of false Supposition is That we have not Faith when we have it This hinders the actings ad increasings of Faith Four Corollaries or Conclusions from the difficulty of Believing 1 The Word of God Positive means for obtaining of Faith Every Word of God is an object of Faith especially the Promise How the Spirit convinces of sin The method of converting Grace Six Reasons why Humiliation must go before Faith Humility appears in all the periods of Grace Direction to humbled sinners how to apply Promises 2 Means of begetting Faith is Prayer Question stated Whether a natural man ought ta pray 3 Means Good Society 4 Means Meditation on Gods Name 5 Means Sight of Treasure in Christ 6 Means Diligence in the use of Means which signifie three things 2 Branch of Exhortation To keep Faith Where is shewed The general usefulness of Faith Reasons why we should look well to the keeping of it 1 Reas The Benefit of keeping Faith 2 Reas The Enemies who opposite it 1 Corruption 2 Temptation 3 Troubles 3 Reas It is the glory of a Christian to be found in the Faith at Christs appearing Means of preserving Faith 1 Soundness 2 Trial of it 3 Love of the Truth 4 A good Conscience 5 A right Bottom 6 Commit it to God 7 Prayer for establishment with Gods free Spirit What the free Spirit of God establishes How the free Spirit of God establishes 3 Branch of Exhortation viz. To act Faith and to live by it Six Motives to act and exercise Faith Divers Helps for the acting of Faith 4 Branch of Exhortation viz. To increase the stock of Faith Six Motives to increase in Faith Five Signs of a weak Faith Seven Means for the increasing of Faith Conclusive Sermons on Dan. 12.3 An Appendix concerning the Converting of others to the Faith Doctrine The Conversion of Souls to the Faith as it is the most excellent Work so it shall certainly be crowned with the most excellent Reward Explication twofold 1 It is the most excellent Work Seven Reasons to prove this handled largely 2 It shall have the most excellent Reward USES 1 Information of the Dignity of the Ministry 2 Reproof to four sorts of persons 3 Exhortation to Convert Souls This is directed in general to All but in special to Ministers Eight Motives to quicken converted ones to labour to Convert others Eight Means whereby the Conversion of Souls may be promoted 4 Exhortation to Ministers to preach in a Soul-saving way 5 Exhortation to the People 1 To be willing to be wrought upon 2 To attend upon such Means as are proper 6Vse of Thankfulness 1 If we our selves are Converted 2 If any by our Means be Converted Seven Marks of sound Conversion 7Vse of Comfort to the Promoters of others Conversion in the midst of Opposition and Reproach The EPILOGUE Courteous Reader BE pleased before thou readest this Treatise to correct with thy Pen the following mistakes in printing that the sense of the Author may not be misrepresented ERRATA in the Titles of the Pages Page 230. read Bawkers of Impediments Page 417. r. Life of Faith in the midst of Death Page 429. r. Love of Lust Page 510. r.
little comfort in that We account that an excellent life when a man is full of spirit as we say and full of life such a one is a alive and alive's like Yet this life will decay the most spiritful man in the world his heart will fail him the â—out-hearted must sleep their sleep But herein is the excellency of the life Prov. 4.18 we have from Christ it is ever on the increasing hand The Sun of righteousness the Fountain of their life is ever rising upon them higher and higher but never setting He came to give life and that more abundantly as it is Joh. 10.10 Contrary to the nature of other life they have more vigour and spirit and consequently bring forth more fruit in old age Psal 92.14 5. Safety of it Fifthly In regard of the safety and security of it Hazard takes away the comfort of life otherwise excellent That which God threateÌ„s Deut. 28.66 Thy life shal hang in doubt before thee and thou shalt fear day and night c. But the life of a Christian is sure Col. 3.3 The Caldean dream's of long Empire ver 5. but he shall dye ver 8. because it is hid 't is laid up with Christ in God If the life of Christ may fail then the life of a Christian But because I live ye shall live also Joh. 14.19 Besides their life is in God's keeping Psal 31.15 My times are in thy hands The Caldean threatens he will spoil and kill but God sayes his people shall live Continuance of it Sixtly It is an excellent life for Continuance This is implyd in the words The Gospel is the power of God to salvation Rom. 1.16 17. as it is written The Chaldean may threat destruction yet the just shall live The just shall live by his faith The life of God's people then is an eternal life and therefore excellent Every life is accounted so much more excellent as it is of longer continuance the life of an oak that continues many yeers then the life of the grasse that grows upon the house-top that withers before it be plucked up Therefore as life is a blessing so long life Psal is a great blessing What account then should we make of an eternal life that knows no end 1 Pet. 1. springing from an incorruptible seed the Word of God and maintaind by a never dying principle the Spirit of God He that lives the longest life of nature must die at last Gen. 5. but he that lives the life of grace shall never die 1. His grace shall never die 2. Though he die he is out of the reach of the second death Joh. 11.25 26. The just shall live Seventhly Lastly 't is excellent in regard of the End 7. The end of it The Caldean imputes his power to his God c. 1.11 but the just c. 'T is the end crownes the action God is in a more special manner glorified by this life The strong people shall glorifie thee Isa 43. Now as Gods glory is the ultimate end of all his works Prov. 16.4 so that life must needs be most excellent that comes neerest that end Gods glory and the creatures happiness are wrapt up together in the same end 1 Sam. 2.30 Them that honour me I will honour Therefore this life is excellent And this leads us to the reason of it Reason from Gods praise why God's people receive a more excellent life from him God doth it to the praise of his free grace Eph. 1.6 To the praise of his grace both in the cause for none could deserve this life before they had it Rom. 9.23 and in the effect of it viz. that they might walk worthy of it As God had life in himself and did enjoy himself before there was any creature so the reason why he made any or gave life to any was his own praise And therefore as any creature hath a more excellent life then other 't is therefore that God may have more praise then from other From the Saints therefore God expects that his high praises should be in your mouths Psal 149.6 Even the high praises of the most high God All thy works praise thee and thy Saints give thanks unto thee saith the Psalmist Psal 145.13 The Saints in a special manner They praise God for themselves and they praise God for the rest of the creatures being as it were the tongue of all the rest whilest they blazon forth the wisdom and power and goodness of the Creator in the wonderful fabrick and orderly government of the creatures Vse 1 1. Let us be convinced that there is such a life For these things seem ordinarily as the message of the women to the disciples Conviction that there is such a life Luk. 24.11 idle tales and men beleeve them not And so if we never beleeve this life we shall never seek it and if we never seek it we shall never be saved Joh. 3.5 Except a man be born again and so have a new life he shall never enter into the Kingdome of Heaven It is true This life is a hidden life which arises 1. In regard of the inward and secret nature of it The Kingdom of God is within you 2. From the mean outside of it for God chooseth weak and foolish things things that are not 3. From the infirmities of those that live it which much blemish it as David Peter c. 3. From misreports of it Slanderously reported of Rom. 3. And 5. from the work of Satan blinding the eyes of them that beleeve not 2 Corinth 4 3. Yet there is such an excellent life and that is proved and plainly made manifest First because it carryes men to actions beyond the power of nature It enables some men to forsake the pleasures of natural life for the sake of spiritual life and this work of self-denial proves it Yea it makes willing to lay down natural life if need be therefore such must have a better that gives as skin for skin so life for life Secondly because when natural life is weakest the acts of spiritual life many times appear strongest Therefore there is a life besides that of nature 2 Cor. 4.10 There the dying of the Lord Jesus in Pauls body makes manifest the life of Jesus in the same body Vse 2 2. To perswade us to desire this life Life of all things is most sweet Perswasion to desire this life And therefore the tree of life was plac'd in the midst of Paradise as if it were the perfection of all other comforts How sweet is then the sweetest life In comparison whereof all other life is but death Luk. 15. last Thy brother was dead and is alive O that we had eyes to see hearts to consider the excellency of this life Look how much difference there is betwixt the life of a child in the womb and the life thereof when 't is come abroad into the world where it hath
in expelling the enemies of spiritual life And so the just lives by his faith Act 15.9 By faith purifying their hearts Unbelief and other corruptions are deadly enemies to spiritual life Faith expels them and purifies the heart from them As the living fountain if dirt be cast into it never leaves working and working until it hath wrought it self cleer again So a beleeving heart if earthly thoughts from Satan like dirt be cast into it never leaves working till it hath wrought it self pure and fit for God's service 2 Tim. 2.21 If a man purge himself from these c. It overcomes and abandons all within and all without resists Satan 1 Pet 5.8 overcomes the world 1 Joh. 5.4 3. Nutritive faculty of faith Thirdly God makes use of faith in the Nutritive facultie or attractive faculty in drawing such things to it self as whereby is life nourished and maintained And so the just lives by his faith Faith like the first-born of graces though indeed they are all twins delight to be in the arms of God's mercy where it first receives life and there it lyes at the brest of the word at the nipple of the promises drawing virtue and strength and nourishment from them tasting every day how sweet and gracious the Lord is 1 Pet. 2.3 Psal 34.8 O tast and see that the Lord is good blessed is the man that trusteth in him q.d. by trusting in God we live upon God and taste how good he is For else we tempt God It were a miracle to live without meat But the more strength the more food 4. Digestive faculty of faith Fourthly God maketh use of faith in the Retentive and Digestive faculty turning the word into wholsome blood And so the just lives by his faith Whereas an unbeliever hearing the word receiving the food of his soul is like a man of a weak bad stomack no sooner is the meat down but it mixeth with some base humor up it comes again it will hold nothing to do it good So it is with an unbeliever not mixing the word with faith but being mixed with some base humour of pride or passion up it comes again with violence though it be in the very face of the Physician Prov. 9.2 He that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot But where the word is mixed with faith it meets with a good stomack and there it turnes into good nourishment the party grows and thrives and comes on in grace and so lives by faith as a man lives by a good stomack See Psal 36.7 8. They that put their trust under the shadow of Gods wings are abundantly satisfied with the fatness of his house c. Good meat doth well a good stomack is better Gods blessing upon both is the best of all and so it is in the life of Grace Fifthly God makes use of Faith in the Motive faculty 5. Motive faculty of Faith And so the just lives by his Faith For as bodily exercise profits much for bodily health when the Apostle sayes It profiteth little his meaning is in ordine ad spiritualia 1 Tim. 4. for doubtless as to bodily health it profiteth much it is instar omnium in stead of all Physick and without this the best diet in the world will be defective It is so with the soul Be the diet the means of grace never so good yet without exercise of grace and godliness all comes to nothing Now it is Faith and onely true Faith which puts a man upon profitable exercise Faith will not suffer a man to be idle in his calling It will not onely move his tongue though it will move that too Acts 4.20 We cannot but speak 2 Cor. 4.13 I believed therefore spake For he is a very dead-hearted Christian that hath the dead palsey in his tongue that cannot speak a word for God But it will move his hands also and his whole man to be active for God Jam. 2. Shew me thy faith by thy works Christians full of faith are full of action and so full of life See Acts 6.3 6 8 10 Whereas unbelievers are like sluggards with hand in bosome or like Idols of the Heathen Psal 115. having eyes and yet see not ears and hear not feet and walk not neither speak they through their throat and so prove dead for want of this exercise 6. Breathing faculty of Faith Sixthly God makes use of Faith in the Breathing faculty And so the just lives by his faith Breath is the Chariot of life called therefore The breath of life This breathing is twofold 1. Inspiration 2. Expiration these maintain life And both these in a spiritual sense do spring from Faith 1. Inspiration First for the act of Inspiration For howsoever every first inspiration of the Spirit gives life yet Faith draws more and more of this heavenly air from day to day for the maintaining and increasing of this life A man can no more live a spiritual life without the continual breathing of Gods Spirit into his soul than he can live a natural life without the continual sucking in of fresh air into his body And therefore it is observable Our blessed Saviour chose to convey the Holy Ghost under that similitude Joh. 20.22 He breathed on them and said Receive the Holy Ghost q. d. Ye can no more live the life of grace without my Spirit than you can live the life of nature without the breath of your nosthrils We are all by nature like Ezekiels dried bones Now it is the voice of Faith that cryes out Ezek. 37.9 O Breath breathe upon these slain that they may live And again when a man hath life and begins to exercise himself in the way of Gods Commandments he knows he cannot exercise to purpose unless it be in this fresh air of the Spirit Therefore Davids Faith put him upon this practice I opened my mouth saith he and panted for I longed for thy Commandments Psa 119.131 He took in fresh gales of the Spirit from day to day to uphold the vitals of the New man Secondly 2. Expiration There is another act of the Spirit in spiritual life and that is Expiration an holy breathing out of holy speeches and holy prayers And usually in proportion to our inspiration will be our expiration As in Nature 't is unwholesome to breathe out more then we suck in when the expence of spirits is beyond our receipts so also in grace when our expiration of holy speeches doth exceed our inspiration of the holy Spirit But when these go hand in hand all springs from Faith 2 Cor. 4.13 We having the same Spirit of faith as it is written I believed therefore have I spoken we also believe and therefore speak Faith will put a Christian upon it Faith is as it were the very breath of his nostrils Seventhly God makes use of Faith in the Augmentative or growing faculty And so the just lives by his Faith
must dye shamefully at last But the other lives so as not to be questioned again and when he dies he dies with honour and respect Just so an unbeliever lives as a man Repriev'd Joh. 3.18 He that believeth not is condemned already A believer lives as a man pardon'd absolv'd by the merit mediation of his friend in the Highest Court of Heaven and though he die his death is honourable 't is but a change for a better life Thus we reade of David pardoned in respect of his temporal life 2 Sam. 12.13 The Lord hath put away thy sin thou shalt not die 2. In the conservation of life 2. In respect of the Conservation of life in the use of means For however a believer and unbeliever use both of them the same means for the maintaining of life yet not in the same manner They use both the same ayre the same exercise the same bread but the unbeliever useth these means as a beast and rests in the means and never looks higher Luke 12.19 Soul thou hast much goods laid up for many years take thine ease eat drink and be merry The believer by faith looks above the means he knows man liveth not by bread alone Mat. 4. but by every word that cometh out of the mouth of God he knows except the Lord build the house Psal 127. they labour in vain that build it c. Indeed faith teacheth him to use the means else he should tempt God But faith teacheth him not to relie upon the means for then he should slighâ— God 3. In respect of the Preservation of life from such things as are destructive as sicknesses enemies 3. In the Preservation of life and the like Therefore faith is called a Shield Eph. 6.16 Thus Daniel lives by faith in the Lions den the three Children in the fiery Furnace Hezekiah in his mortal sickness and is recovered to his perfect strength again Paul in his shipwrack Acts 27.25 Obj. But these had particular Promises for their faith to rest on Ans It is true yet we have all that general ground of the Psalmist Psal 31.15 My times are in thine hand deliver me c. But of this before in the sixth Question 4. In respect of the Prolongation of life As a just man prolongs his Parents life so God prolongs his 4. In the Pâ—olongation of life Compare Prov. 15.20 Gen. 27. last Thus a childe dutiful to the natural Father layes hold on the fifth Commandment which is the first with promise and so hath life prolonged Eph 6. Heb. 12. Thus also a childe dutiful to the Father of Spirits layes hold on that promise Prov. 3.16 Length of dayes are in her right hand and in her left riches and honour See before v. 2. Or that Isa 40.30 31. Even the youths shall faint c. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength c. 5. In ordering the Actions of life as eating 5. In the Actions of life and drinking and even recreation labour and rest Eccles 10 16. Wâ—e to thee O Land when thy Princes eat in the morning Happy art thou O Land when thy Princes eat in due season for strength and not for drunkenness And Rom. 14. last Whatsoever is not of faith is sin if it be not a particular for these things yet it is a general Rule 6. He lives by faith 6. In the Blessings of life in respect of the Comforts and Blessings of a natural life In general 1 Pet 3.10 He that will love life and see good dayes let him refrain his tongue from evil c. More particularly in respect of 1. Wealth Prov. 3.16 Wisdom there hath both hands full of blessings if thou hast but a hand of faith to receive them And Prov. 10.22 The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich and he addeth no sorrow with it whereas the riches of an unbeliever will not suffer him to sleep Eccles 5.12 The abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep viz. Through his care of getting or keeping or losing Obj. But many believers are poor Ans Temporal blessings are promised onely so far as needful for our frame of Spirit and present condition See 1 Pet. 1.6 Now if need be ye are in manfold temptations and so if need be ye shall be crowned with many blessings 2. Health Prov. 3.8 Wisdome in which faith is included shall be health to thy navil and marrow to thy bones Davids experience that depended on God by faith Ps 103.3 who healeth all thy diseases and v 5. maketh thee young The love of God strengthneth the Creature Obj. By this rule they should never die who alway live by faith on God for health Ans Temporal promises are made onely pro tempore and to be applyed so long as they shall be meet and expedient for us as was said of the former and no longer Now so long as God by faith raiseth up the heart to lay hold on them it is a sure sign he means to fulfil them But when he means to withdraw them he layes the keyes of Faith and Prayer out of the way 3 Peace The just live by faith for peace 1. By looking at the promise of it Prov. 16.7 When a mans wayes please the Lord he maketh his enemies to be at peace with him 'T is a promise on condition yet of free grace 2 At the Precept as a means to peace Rom. 14.19 Let us follow after the things which make for peace c. We must follow the temper of love described 1 Cor. 13.5 7. Charity doth not behave it self unseemly seeketh not her own is not easily provoked c. It beareth all things believeth all thâ—ngs hopeth all things endureth all things viz. unless the actions or Doctrines of men be appâ—rently evil for then the contrary is required 2 Epist Joh. v 10. If there câ—me any unto you and bring not this doctrine receive him not inâ—o your house nor bid him God speed Rev. 2 20. The Church there is reproved for suffering the woman Jezebel to teach and seduce Christs servants and commit fornication c So we must not suffer if any teach Antinomianism for Christ sayes expresly Mat. 5 17. I came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it 4. Good success in the improvement of a mans natural life not onely for his own good but for the publick good And this implies many particulars For Faith teacheth a man 1. To improve his Natural life in undertaking some place of imployment in a civil life It will not suffer a man to live without a Calling So 1. Cor. 7.20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called which is meant of a particular Calling and supposes every Christian must have such a Calling for he mentions it as a charge under that general of keeping the Commands of God ver 19. 2. It stirs a man up to look to God for gifts for the
for so the Apostle applies this Text very frequently to prove that the just man lives a Spiritual life by Faith Obj. Obj. But the Apostle may seem to wrest the words because the Prophet speaks here of a temporal deliverance from the Chaldeans Ans Ans 1. Their deliverance from temporal Babylon was a Type of their Deliverance from Spiritual Babylon 2. However the secondary objects of Faith be divers some Temporal some Spiritual some Eternal yet the prime and principal object of faith is still one and the same and that is Jesus Christ and Gods favour in Christ and before I can embrace the other I must first embrace this Therefore the same faith in Christ that enables me to live in temporal things enables me to live in spirituals also and so the Apostles argument from one to the other holds good Well then the just lives by Faith in respect of Spiritual life which is far more excellent then the other as grace is above nature And this is either the Life of I. Justification whereby the Soul layes hold upon Christ or II. Sanctification whereby the Soul draws vertue from Christ And that is either Renewing and Cleansing vertue the Life of Renovation or Fructifying the Life of Fructification or Mortifying Vertue the Life of Mortification or Vivifying the Life of Quickning and Vivification Confirming Vertue the Life of Conservation that God will not forsake his people Augmenting whereby life is encreased and Comforting Vertue the life of Consolation In the first our spiritual life is purified in the second beautified and in all these the just live by faith THE LIFE of FAITH IN JUSTIFICATION 1. HE lives by faith the Life of Justification and so the Apostle applies this very Text Rom. 1.16 17. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith as it is written And so again Gal. 3.11 where he doth oppose justifying by faith to justification by works of the law But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God it is evident for the just c. The just doth not live by his own justice but by faith that is by the application of the justice and righteousness of another That we may the better understand the excellency of this Life of Justification it will not be amiss to adde the definition of it according to the Scriptures seeing whatsoever is truly known is known by the causes thereof Justification therefore is thus defined It is a most gracious and righteous action of God whereby he imputing the righteousness of Christ to a believing sinner absolveth him from his sins and accepteth of him as righteous in Christ and as an heir of eternal life to the praise and glory of his own Mercy and Justice For Explication consider 1. The Act to justifie 2. The Object a sinner and yet a believing sinner and so made righteous 3. The Application of the Act to the Object and that 's onely by Faith 1. The Act to justifie Now to justifie signifieth properly to make just as to magnifie to make great though sometimes onely to declare great Now God makes just either By Imputation or Infusion of Righteousness The first is the life of Justification the second of Sanctification the first perfect the latter imperfect 2. The Object is a sinner God doth not justifie those that were just before but such as were unjust 1 Pet. 3.18 Christ hath once offered for sin the just for the unjust There was a time then when we were unjust a time when we were sinners when we were ungodly Rom. 5.6 Christ dyed for the ungodly and While we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us much more then being justified we shall be saved from wrath through him So that as to heal signifies of a sick man to make sound so to justifie is of a sinner to make righteous and if it were not so where were the excellency of Gods free grace to make us righteous if we never were in a state of sin He that in no consideration looks at himself as a sinner fallen in the first Adam cannot possibly look at himself as a righteous person recovered in the second Adam How can God be said to shew mercy to that man that was never in misery to redeem that man that was never lost Lost I say and that really and not onely in his own conceit and apprehension 3. The Application of the Act to the Object and that is by Faith as here in the Text. Though a sinner be justified yet it is onely a believing sinner and so of a sinner is made just Rom. 5.1 being justified by faith c. By Faith how not as the meritorious but onely as the instrumental cause of our justification For the clearer understanding of this we must know according to the former definition there are several causes of our Justification viz. Efficient Material Formal and Final The Efficient cause is either 1. Principal or 2. Instrumental Principal is either 1. Working or 2. Moving to the Work Causes of Justification 1. Principal The 1. Principal working Cause is God himself It 's an action of God Rom. 8.38 it is God that justifieth Isa 43.25 I even I am he c. Vide Rom. 9.16 All other causes are nothing to this though man believeth and man wills and runs on chearfully in the wayes of God yet from whence comes all this but from God that justifieth a poor sinner So that it is not of him that willeth or of him that runneth c. but of God of God the Father as the Primary Cause the Son as the Meritorious the Holy Ghost as Applicatory It is God that justifieth who shall condemn c. He that is the Law-giver he justifies from the offences committed against the Law The 2. Principal Cause Moving or promoting to the Work is either 1. Internal Gods Mercy Justice It 's a gracious and a righteous action of God nothing without him the first Mover 2. External 1. Mans Misery moving to pity the Samaritan c. the Infant Ezek. 16. 2. Christs Merit moving to forgive Col. 1.14 In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins 2. Instrumental Cause 2. Instrumental and that 1. On Gods part the Word Manus offerentis 2 Cor. 5.18 He hath given to us the Ministery of Reconciliation Dan. 12.3 Rom. 4.11 2. On our part Faith Manus accipientis Rom. 4.5 But to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is accounted for righteousness Rom. 10.5 c. Therefore faith doth not justifie by merit and dignity of the work for then we should be justified by works though by faith but onely by the Instrumentary application of Christs Righteousness 2. The Material Cause Christs Righteousness Material cause as Jacob gat his blessing in Esau's garment therefore called The Righteousness of God Rom. 1.17 the Righteousness of that Person who is God Now there is a twofold
unrighteousness 2. We may know it by the End of spiritual actions if it be the glory and honour of Christ and a care to preserve the things of Christ as the Members of the Body have a principal care of adorning and preserving the Head The Arm receives a blow to defend the Head so a living Member of Christ truly united to him as he goes to Christ for strength Phil. 4.13 so he refers all to the honour of Christ in conclusion another adventures himself far for the truth and cause of Christ as Paul Acts 20. Neither is my life dear unto me so I may fulfil the Ministery of Christ c. So in general Faith lives on Christ 2. In particular Or 2. In particular he lives by Faith in the Application Means 1. His Death 1. Of the Death of Christ for though we have benefit by the Birth of Christ Luke 2.10 11. as we shewed this day fortnight yet not so much as by his death and joy in birth onely in relation to his death He is born a Saviour i.e. one that shall die for your sins Rom. 5.10 Heb. 2.14 Through death he destroyed him that had power of death that is the devil Yet there is joy in his Birth as in the approach of a friend that comes to loose as out of Prison if we be in for Debt or Murther We then rejoyce when he comes to the door but onely in reference to paying of the Debt for if he should then turn back it would sad us the more So in this case Must Aarons ear and hand and foot be sanctified it must be done by the application of the Blood of the Covenant Exod 29.20 Thus our hearing thus our words thus our works thus our walking is sanctified in the application of the Blood of Christ Heb. 9 14. the Blood of Christ purge your consciences 'T is all the price of Blood 2 Cor. 5. ult He hath made him to be sin for us c. Faith sanctifies as by laying hold of the Blood and Death of Christ so of the Resurrection and Life of Christ Means 2. His Resurrection As the Resurrection of Christ is a Birth so he is called The first-born from the dead so the assurance of his Resurrection proved by the powerful government of the Church and of the whole World for the Churches sake in his Session at the Right-hand of his Father this begets a lively hope and so a spiritual new birth in us 1 Pet. 1.3 We are begotten again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead Faith or Hope makes use of Christs Resurrection and this New birth of faith begets a New life of Sanctification Coloss 3.1 If ye then be risen with Christ c. The love of Christ dying for us and rising for us and reigning for us acting all our affairs at the Right-hand of God his Father yea the love of Christ begetting of us to this lively hope by his Death and Resurrection all these constrain us to a holy life 2 Cor. 5. Ver. 14. For the love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judge that if one dyed for all then were all dead and that 15. He dyed for all that they which live should not live henceforth unto themselves but unto him which dyed for them and rose again Therefore 16. We live no more after the flesh i.e. with carnal and sinful affections And 17. If any man be in Christ he is a new creature a new man a regenerate person and hath a renewed conversation Therefore Wherefore because he seeing the love of Christ by the eye of Faith in dying for him and rising again this raiseth up his heart to newness of life As if he heard Christ perswading of him like as a tender-hearted mother perswades her childe per viscera by her own bowels If thou art my childe if thou dost own me for thy Mother then obey my commandments and follow my advice so saith the Apostle Col. 3. If ye be risen again with Christ if ye be partakers of a New Birth through the pangs of his Death and the power of his Resurrection if ye be his children if ye acknowledge God for your Father set your affections ow things which are above Phil. 3.20 and let your conversation be in heaven And so the just lives by Faith the Life of Sanctification in the application of the Death and Resurrection of Christ 3. He lives by Faith the Life of Sanctification Means 3. His Appearing and Judgment in the application of the Appearing of Christ and the Judgement of Christ 2 Tim. 4.1 I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom Preach the word be instant c. Look as the warning of an Assize or Sessions makes one careful to provide themselves that their cause may be found good that they may be able to stand in Judgement so in this case The same argument see Tit 2.13 Live soberly righteously c. looking for the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ And 1 Cor. 15. last Theâ—efoâ—e my beloved brethren be ye stedfast c. Wherefore for as much as ye know c. i. e knowing by faith or believing your labour one day shall not be in vain in the Lord. A cause of all sins is made not believing the Judgement 2 Pet. 3.3 4. Where is the Promise of his coming c and a cause of holy walking the believing of it ver 11 12. What manner of persons ought ye to be in all hâ—ly conversation and godliness looking for and hasting to the coming c. Therefore it is observable in Scripture where-ever almost there is mention of the last Judgement it speaks of Christs judging men by the fruits of Faith rather then by Faith it self that the believing of the last Judgement may stir us up to a holy life Mat. 25.35 c. 2 Cor. 5.10 Rev. 20.12 there the Books are opened the Book of Gods Decree and yet men judged according to their works Think of this you that have to do in Judgement this day * other Books must one day be opened It may make a Felix tremble it may move all to be holy and righteous in all their actions Means 4. His Word 4. He lives by Faith the Life of Sanctification in the application of the Word of Christ Without Faith the Word profits not neither this nor any other way but being mixed with Faith Heb. 4.2 it is quick and powerful and mighty in operation 2 Cor. 10 4. to the pulling down of strong holds i.e. proud thoughts earthly thoughts unclean thoughts Joh. 15.3 Now are you clean through the word that I have spoken to you Psal 19. The word of the Lord is clean and endures for ever And as it is clean in it self so it is a cleansing word in the effect
heaven by the light of the knowledge of Christ through Faith but the light is never alone for it is ever accompanied with the heat of love Gal. 5.6 Faith works by love Therefore they slander when they affirm we teach the contrary For we teach That a Christian lives the life of Sanctification and Fructification in many powerful and quickning Considerations Wherefore let us by well-doing put to silence the ignorance of foolish and malicious men 1 Pet. 2.15 Vse 4. Exh. to faith c. as the root of conveying all godliness fruitfulness Fourthly for Exhortation and Quickning in three Branches 1. To labour for Faith and encrease in it Why because Faith is the Root of Holiness and Fruitfulness or the foundation as it is Col 2.7 Rooted and built up in him and established in the faith c. A man that would have a goodly and a fruitful Orchard will be sure to plant Trees with a good Root Otherwise have they never so goodly Tops they will but the sooner wither away and come to nothing So those that would be fruitful and flourishing Trees in Gods Orchard should be sure to look to the Root of Faith the root of all Holiness and Fruitfulness otherwise be the Top and Branches and Leaves of our Profession never so great all will soon wither and come to nothing Such will be as trees twice dead and plucked up by the roots Jude v. 12. 2. To live by Faith this Life of Sanctification 2 Exhort 1. Motives to live by faith the life of Sanctification Motive 1. Else we shall never manifest we live the Life of Justification for they are Twins as hath been said 2. This is the most excellent Life makes us like God and is therefore called The life of God How do men aspire to imitate great men in their speeches gestures 2. Eph. 4.18 actions O that we could aspire and desire to imitate the great and good God to be like him and live the life of Holiness It is something to live if but the lowest life but the life of grace is above all lives for this is to live the Life of God Holiness is the highest Attribute of Honour 3. Without holiness none shall see the Lord Heb. 12 14. Our happiness consists in the Beatifical Vision 1 Joh. 3.2 3. and He that hath this hope in him purifies himself as he is pure 4. This Life of Sanctification is the onely Life of Thankfulness A justified person should say What shall I render to the Lord Psal 116. And as David Psal 103. Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me bless his holy Name Nor is that enough but surely all that is without us too should bless him our Tongues our Hands and all our Members All our very bones Psal 35.10 All my bones shall say Lord who is like unto thee c. All our actions and so our Bodie as well as our Souls It is the Apostles argument Rom. 12.1 I beseech you by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable to God c. Let us therefore live unto him by whom we enjoy our lives Let us live to him the Life of Sanctification from whom we receive the Life of Justification Let us live to him the Life of Fructification from whom we receive the Life of Faith 5. This is The way to glorifie God Psal 50. last Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me and to him that ordereth his conversation aright c. God the Father is glorified Joh. 15.8 Herein is my Father glorified that ye bring forth much fruit God the Son or Jesus Christ for hereby it appears Heb. 7. he is able to save to the uttermost how by saving from sin as well as from hell Mat. 1.21 The Spirit is glorified for the fruits of the Spirit are love joy peace long-suffering goodness c. Gal. 5.22 'T is the way to glorifie and adorn our Profession Tit. 2.10 Servants are commanded to be faithful Why That they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things To glorifie Free grace Tit. 2.11 12. The grace of God hath appeared Teaching us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly c. Otherwise it is the greatest dishonor to the grace of God when we turn it into wantonness Jude v. 4. yea 't is to deny God Tit. 1.16 in works deny him Exhort 3. Resolve to be fruitful but take the present time 3. To do it timely Not onely resolve to be fruitful but take the Time Time is one of the most precious things God hath committed to the sons of men Redeem time Eph. 5. viz. at any rate How hath God laid out the glory of his wisdome and power in making so many glorious Bodies to measure out Time to us that we might learn to take notice of the preciousness of it and do all our works in time yet we squander it away as if we knew not how to spend it fast enough And we put off to the future what belongs to the present We hardly return brazen Performances for golden Opportunities Remember 1. 'T is excellent to know and take the time It was the commendation of the men of Issachar 1 Chr. 1.32 As on the contrary nothing more unpleasant than doing things out of time Pro. 10.26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes so is the sluggard to them that send him 2. It is very difficult to know and take time The foolish Virgins lost their tide the wise had much ado to gain it Mat. 25. Jacob said Surely God was in this place Gen. 28.16 and I was not aware So may we say In this Time in this Providence and yet I was not aware of it In Cant. 5.3 c. The Church was but a minute too slow and she paid dear for it 3. It makes every duty easie if we do take it in time or else it is difficult 'T is easie to enter if the gates of a Castle be open and the Governour invites but if there be stay till it is shut and the Portcullis let down it may cost much blood 'T is easie to lift a great weight whiles many lift together but if each asunder most hard So while God sayes Hear now c. it is easie to move in grace or duties but if we go about it after we may move as Pharaoh's Chariots Exod. 14. with the wheels taken off And late fruit we know is kill'd with Winters frost 4. If we do not take it Opportunity may be irrecoverable A tree may be fruitful next year if not this if it stand but it may be the Ax may cut it down So it may be we may never have the like opportunity as now Time and Tide stay for no man We may happen on a day after the Fair. 5. We know not how soon the folding-doors of time shall be folded up together when the Heavens 1
From the Danger of Spiritual drowziness First from the Judgement threatned Revel 2.5 Repent and do thy first works or I will remove thy Candlestick Amos 8.10 11 Such as sleep by candle-light are in danger of burning the house over their heads or of their Masters removing the candlestick Secondly from the Judgement felt Psal 32. David was in a dead condition of Soul he made no confession of his sins but God quickned him by his afflicting Rod ver 3 4. Thy hand was heavy upon me c. And as Faith will feel the Rod so it is that Heavenly Wisdome will teach us to hear the Rod and who hath appointed it Micah 6.9 An unbeliever is not stirr'd Jer. 2.30 5.3 Vse of all in general Use of the Life of Vivification 1 Reproof FIrst this then Reproves the want of living by Faith this Life of Vivification Simile Divers men though they are dead and dull and can sometimes complain of it in Prayer in Hearing in Practice O weary of themselves yet labour not to blow up the fire to stir up the gift Gen. 49.14 but like Issachar bow under their burthens They are like such as are troubled with the Green-sickness or some such lazy disease Though motion be the onely way of cure they had as lieve die as stir they will not act their Faith O say they God must do all I can do nothing and under this pretence they give themselves up to Spiritual sloth That look as some turn the grace of God into wantonness who under pretence that Christ died for sinners take occasion to run into all excess of riot So others turn the grace of God into slothfulness who under pretence that God must do all wil do nothing at all themselves But the Scriptures reason the contrary way God our heavenly Master works all the works of his poor Servants Phil. 2. in them and for them therefore we should be encouraged to work As when the Master is willing to hold and guide the hand of the Scholar he should be encouraged to write That is the Argument Phil. 2.12 13. Work out your own salvation for it is God that worketh in you to will and to do of his good pleasure Thus as the Father said Agimus acti when God helps us in the action we should be willing to act the grace receiv'd and employ the talent bestow'd The slothful Servant and the wicked Servant are put both together Mat. 25.26 Therefore they are justly Reproved who live not by Faith this Life of Vivification but give themselves up to spiritual sloth and laziness Such are in danger of a sudden blow from God if they smite not on their own hearts to quicken themselves The warning that Christ gives to the Church of Sardis is proper to such Rev. 3.1 2 3. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die c. Else he threatens to come as a Thief upon such drowzy Souls A Thief comes suddenly and terribly and so will Christ Though he may save their Souls at last yet it may cost them a scouring in the mean-while Obj. But what can I do Ans 1. Thou maist come to the place of hearing 2. Thou maist frequent good Company 3. Thou maist complain of thy deadness to God This I do but I am not quickned I confess my deadness is a burthen to me O that I might meet a Messenger one of a thousand Job 33. to deliver my Soul out of this pit of deadness In answer to this therefore We shall propound a Second Use viz. Of Exhortation To perswade us to live by Faith the Life of Vivification Vse 2. Exhortation In prosecution whereof I shall first propound some Motives to make willing and secondly some Means to make thee more able Motive 1. We should be active stirring lively Christians because as God is a pure Act so he is active for us 1. Motives to Vivification Joh. 5 17. My Father worketh hitherto and I work says Christ and therefore of him 't is said Acts 10.38 He went about doing good and healing all for God was with him Wherefore we should be alwayes working for him 1 Cor. 15. Alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord. Mot. 2 God loves active and lively Servants as he is a living God And as the God of Spirits he loves to be served in the Spirit not onely as 't is opposed to falseness and dissimulation but as 't is opposed to sloth and negligence God would not have an Ass to be offered up in Sacrifice Exod. 13.13 because that was a dull and slow creature He maketh his Angels his Messengers because they are all Spirit And God would have us as Angels not onely in our Intellectuals but in our Practicals that his Will may be done on Earth as it is in Heaven and that is with life and vigour However in Scripture Christians are compared to Stones 't is not for their coldness or deadness but onely for their firmness and then they are called too Living stones 1 Pet. 2.5 Therefore as their faith is a living faith * Joh. 11.26 their hope a living hope †1 Pet. 1.4 so their prayers should be lively and fervent prayers ascending up as Incense their works living works The first Lesson the very A B C of a Christian is Repentance from dead works Heb. 6.1 In a word himself should be a living Sacrifice if acceptable to God Rom. 12.1 In the 3 of Rev. 20. after Christ had reproved them for lukewarmness and exhorted to be zealous he then invites them to Supper where we may observe a lukewarm temper to be the worst temper and a zealous temper the best temper the first is a Dish for the Devil but the latter is a Dish fit for Christs own palate Now where there is zeal there is heat and where there is heat there is activity as fire mounts Heaven-ward Therefore God would never have the fire go out upon his Altar to signifie there should be heat in all our spiritual Sacrifices of Prayer of Preaching of Hearing of Meditation Wisd 4.13 and Practice In all these we must live by Faith the Life of Spiritual Fervor Mot. 3 An active Christian lives long in a little time as others live but a little in a long time For we live no longer to any purpose than we fulfil the end of our life which is to do God service Ioh. 20.4 Herein active Christians do like that Disciple that out-ran Peter and came first to the Sepulcher And indeed they are fittest for the Sepulcher in another sense that are swiftest in their Christian race It is the highest commendation of a Christian on earth and will be their Crown in Heaven through Free-grace to have been active for God Their Commendation on Earth The honorable salutation of active Christians stands upon Record that all that are gracious may call them Blessed Rom. 16.12 Salute Triphena and Triphosa
must set Though it may be morning yet with some and high-noon with others yet the night of death comes when no man can work The times come on apace when the keepers of the house shall tremble and the strong men shall bow themselves and the grinders cease because they are few and they that look out of their windows be darkned c. Eccles 12. The strongest life in nature must yield to death but this Spiritual life of the Soul is always on the increasing hand and never declines The just lives by Faith the Life of Augmentation to his dying day even till he comes to the state of perfection and in that state he stands for ever How excellent therefore is this life above all other lives yea above all other things in the world All flesh is grass Isa 40 of a withering nature but the word of the Lord and that life which is begotten by that Word endureth for ever it is ever upon the growing hand Some love to give in their Coat of Arms a young Branch or the Moon increasing with this Motto Pluâ—Vltra But alas if they look at Temporal things they do but speak as they would have it not as they shall have it 'T is but a dream not a reality They think their houses shall continue for ever and their dwelling-places to all generations but alas they do but think so for man being in honour abideth not he is like the beasts that perish Psal 49 They shall be sure to perish and their houses too The greatest Persons the greatest Families the greatest Kingdoms have their periods they have their declensions old age and death as well as their youth and manhood Grey hairs are here and there upon Ephraim Hos 7.9 though he know it not But true grace is ever in the Spring there is no fall of the leaf in this Region Psal 1.3 A Christians Arms are indeed like Joseph's A fruitful Bough even a fruitful Bough by a well whose branches run over the wall Gen. 49.22 Some fruitfulness indeed doth hinder the growth of trees but a Christians fruitfulness doth increase his growth though he be fruitful yet his branches run over the wall His life of Fructification doth help forward his life of Augmentation The just lives by Faith the life of Augmentation Inform. 2 A second Point of Information is To let us see the difference betwixt a Believer and Unbeliever or a true Believer and an Hypocrite True Believers are like the Moon in her increase Hypocrites like the Moon in her wane ever less and less till it altogether disappears They are like the grass upon the house top Psal 129. which withereth afore it groweth up to its full height But true Faith is ever upon the growing hand Inform. 3 Thirdly it informs us That there are Degrees in Sanctification because there is a growth in Sanctification and therefore Sanctification is not perfect at the first For where any thing is perfect there can be no addition or diminution But in Sanctification there is a daily addition and augmentation They that are truly gracious grow in grace 2 Pet. 3. and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ And therefore it shews the Mistake of those who conceive Sanctification to be perfect at first and so make no difference betwixt Sanctification and Justification whereas the Scripture makes a wide difference for Justification is imputed Sanctification is imparted and inherent Justification is perfect Sanctification is imperfect in this life in the best of Saints even in the Apostle himself Phil. 3.12 I count not my self perfect Therefore there are degrees in Sanctification it is not perfect at the first Though all Saints are justified alike they have an equal measure in that grace yet all are not sanctified alike each hath his measure Eph. 4.7 some have two talents some five c. Mat. 25. Inform. 4 Yet fourthly observe No man should content himself with a small measure of grace He that hath Faith lives the Life of Augmentation So that it is not enough to walk according to the Rule in some things but our endevour must be to walk up to the utmost extent even to the height and breadth of the Rule which is to walk accurately Eph. 5.15 And till we come up to the Rule we must ever be on the increasing hand getting ground of corruption and coveting earnestly the best gifts For this is the man that lives by Faith the Life of Augmentation And if we do not grow and go forward we are sure to go backward as it is with the Mariner that is rowing against the stream if he do but intermit a stroke or two he loses of his course and as it is in our vital heat Vid Ames cas consc l. 2. c. 12. it never stands in one state if it increases not it decays It also serves for Reproof Vse 2 First to those that grow not at all Reproof for want of due growth They are like Trees or Beasts that are hide-bound they stand at a stay they thrive not they come not forward May be they had as much knowledge love to God c. seven years ago as now and so when for the time they ought to be teachers they had need one teach them which be the first principles of the Oracles of God Heb. 5.12 Like those silly women spoken of by the Apostle 2 Tim. 3.7 ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth Have these the true life of grace Remember the grounds before laid down That 1. Grace is of a growing nature 2. Of a sweet and desireable nature 3. That the End of Christs coming is frustrate in respect of them Again have these any Faith For 1. as Faith increaseth so other graces Where is the Root when there is no growth in the Branches 2. How are such united to the Head that grow not O what a dishonour to their Head as if he had no vertue to communicate to his Members 3. How do such remove the impediments of Spiritual growth How can such as these have any good assurance that they are planted in the Courts of the Lord You would wonder in case you had purchased a piece of ground in a good soil planted a yong Orchard appointed a skilful Gardiner took notice of the height of your Trees if you should come ten or twenty years after and finde them no higher You would say I never saw the like in all my life these Trees were just as high when I planted them as now I could reach the tops of them then and so I can now it 's the strangest thing that ever I saw surely they are dead And yet do but change the name and thou art such a Tree thou wert planted in Godâ— Orchard twenty years ago thou hadst then as much love to God and zeal for God as now it is to be feared thou art dead though thou hast a name to live
of thy Servants glory and happiness for a great while to come even as far as to Eternity And is this the manner of man O Lord God Can any man in the world or all the men in the world if they would lay their heads and hearts and hands together to exalt a poor Creature can they do this Can they redeem their brothers Soul from Hell Ps 49.6 7 8 9. or can they make him happy to Eternity No no they must let this work alone for a God to perform all the world can never do it And therefore admire this unparallell'd expression of Gods goodness to a poor Creature And Secondly be Thankful for it If we be bound to be thankful for the least mercy for the least mercy of this present life how should we be thankful for the greatest gift the gift of Eternal Life Rom. 6. last The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord Therefore be thankful for it And indeed the excellency of it the excellency of Life Eternal should raise up our hearts to thankfulness The excellency of Heaven set out Which excellency appears 1. By the excellent Names and Epithetes that are given to it 2. By the excellent Properties of it 3. By the excellent Price given for it 4. By the excellent Causes of it 5. By the excellent Effects of it 1. By its Names First By the excellent Names and Epithets given to it It is called An Everlasting Kingdom The Kingdom of Heaven A House The Fathers House not made with hands A Mansion The Presence Chamber of God Abrahams Bosom where Gods people are safe as children in their Parents bosom Paradise Luk. 23.24 in comparison of which the Garden of Eden was but a dunghil Lords Joy Matth. 25.21 The New Jerusalem Rev. 21.10 and Gal. 4.16 Jerusalem which is above All the glory of the Old Jerusalem in Solomons Temple was but a Type of this The Immortal Inheritance 1 Pet. 1.4 The glory of God Rest 2 Thess 1.7 Refreshing Acts 3.19 Peace Isa 57.2 And what is more desireable than these things Therefore be thankful for it Secondly 2. By its Properties the excellency appears by the excellent Properties of it For 1. of all the happiness of heaven is most pure Rev. 22 1. It is called A pure river of water of life clear as Chrystal proceeding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb. All earthly Pleasures have their admixtures of the mud of Sin and Misery but this is pure 2. It is most sure and secure because out of the reach of Satan and all enemies Rev. 20.10 The devil that deceived them was cast into the Lake of fire and brimstone where the Beast and the false Prophet are and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever In this world the greatest comforts are upon a very uncertain tenure but there all is sure and secure 3. It is most Satisfactory The River of Life must needs quench your thirst Rev. 7.16 They shall hunger no more neither thirst any more there shall be no want of any thing their Souls can desire Psal 17. last 4. All this shall be Eternal When thou hast lived so many thousand years as there are little sands on the shore piles of grass on the ground stars in the Sky thy happiness shall be as new to begin as at thy very first entrance As long as there is a God and a Christ thy life shall last O then be thankful for it Thirdly the excellency appears 3. By its Price by the excellent Price given for it We judge the worth of things by the value Would you not be thankful if one should give you an Inheritance should cost so many hundred thousand pounds but heaven is such an Inheritance that cannot be bought with all the Silver and Gold in the world For neither we nor our inheritance were redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold but with the precious blood of Jesus Christ as of a Lamb undefiled and without spot 1 Pet. 1.18 19. That must needs be a precious Inheritance that cost such a precious price Therefore be thankful for it 4. By its Causes Fourthly the excellency of it appears from the excellent Causes of it As 1. The primary Efficient Cause is God the Father and his free love from all Eternity 2. The Meritorious Cause is Christ his Son 1 Joh. 5.11 And this is the Witness that God hath given us eternal life and this life is in his Son 3. The Instrumental Cause offering and holding forth Eternal Life is the Everlasting Gospel Rom. 1.16 17. The Instrumental Cause receiving is The precious grace of Faith Eph. 2.8 Ye are saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God 4. The Sealing Cause is The Holy Ghost Eph. 1.13 14. In whom c. 5. The Final Cause is Gods Glory and our Glory Gods Glory in glorifying his Servants his Servants Glory in the glorifying of God Whilst they do behold the glory of God they glorifie God to all eternity and are glorified by God Joh. 17.24 Behold my glory and so glorifie God and receive glory from God For in beholding Gods glory we are transformed 2 Cor. 3.18 Therefore Rev. 5.13 Blessing and honour are to him O who would not praise God for such a life Why do you not begin your Heaven upon Earth which will be strong assurance to you that you shall go to Heaven when you die As wicked men begin Hell upon Earth whilst they curse God and blaspheme God and dishonour God by their wicked words and actions So do you begin your Heaven upon Earth in praising God for your living by Faith in regard of Life Eternal 5. By Effects Fifthly the excellency of Life Eternal appears as from the Causes so from the Effects also which are admirable and glorious viz. Man's being made like to the very Angels Matth. 22.30 yea as like to Christ himself as may be As we have been like him in sufferings so like him also in glory He that is willing to conform to Christ in the former shall be made conformable to Christ in the latter Phil. 3. last He shall change our vile bodie that it might be made like his glorious bodie c. And as in Body so in Soul also in the whole man Was Christ a King Priest and Prophet so are they that are Christs Revel 1.6 He hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father What follows Therefore to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen If all Gods Saints have such honour how should they honour Him who thus honours them of his free grace and will honour them to all Eternity If Eternal Life be so excellent a gift as appears by the Epithetes that are given to it by the excellent Properties of it by the excellent Price given for it by the excellent Causes of it and by the
all his hopes 400 401 The exercise of faith keeps the soul humble 401 Faith makes up the match 'twixt Christ and the soul 411 Faith is the Conduit-pipe to convey spiritual life 412 Faith brings in a revenue of honor to God 413 In both Covenants God required faith but with a large difference what that is see 414 415 Faith establishes salvation on freer and surer grounds then the first Covenant did or could 415 Faith discovers life in the midst of death 417 The triumph of faith over a sixfold condemnation 418 Faith a Cordial against fainting fears 420 Faith not an Evidence but an instrument of spiritual life 427 Faith not improved exposes to reproach 436 Faith seems extinct where it is not exercised 437 The conduct of faith in every action condition and choice 436 437 438 The Touch-stone of true justifying faith 442 443 The Fruits and Effects of saving faith 444 445 Faith never gives quiet possession to sin 446 Living by faith the touchstone to try all Doctrines and Religions whether they be true 448 449 The life of gratitude for the life of faith 449 Faith such a gift as is all in all Faith in order of working is the root of other graces 451 Faith cannot be implanted by any creature 452 The wonders of faith in its several steps 453 Faiths rarity or scarcity 458 Exhortation to get faith 469 The notable exploits of faith 472 True faith is omnipotent faith 473 Faiths safety is grounded on the promise 475 Faith consults with God in the Word 476 Faith is the Christians Al-sufficiency 478 Faith honors God 480 Faith and Life come into the soul both at once 481 Faith makes to prosper 481 Faith a sweet companion from first to last 483 Means how to get Faith Impediments and Hindrances of faith together with Directions to remove them 486 to 515 Faith no easie matter though it makes all things easie 515 Positive means of faith to beget it 517 to 543 Exhortation to keep faith 543 Faith a Treasure to be secured ibid. The general usefulness of faith 544 Reasons why we should look to the preserving of our faith 544 to 548 Comparisons to excite chariness over faith 546 Faith is a spiritual charm or antidote 547 Means of preserving faith 548 to 556 Exhortation to act faith and to live by it 556 Far better to put faith then mony to use ibid. Motives to act faith 556 to 560 Means to act faith 566 to 564 Six Motives to increase in faith 565 to 571 Signs of a weak faith 571 Means for the increase of faith 574 Fear Filial fear of God assures of his love 95 Difference 'twixt true and false fear of God 304 Forgiveness We must imitate God in forgiving others yet this overthrowes not Civil Courts of Judicature 108 109 Ignorance of Gods forgiveness causes great sadness 313 Forsaking See Desertion God only forsakes his people gradually and for a time 274 Reasons of Gods forsaking his people 275 to 278 It confirmes a fivefold good 276 277 Free Spirit of God How many wayes said to be free 552 553 What the free Spirit of God sets believers free from 553 Gods free Spirit establisheth in freedom 554 See Christian Liberty Friends What to desire for our best friend 317 3â—8 Fructification Or New Obedience How faith hath influence into spiritual fructification 135 Faith makes sinners become good trees 136 Faith discovers what is good fruit 137 Faith excites the soul to be fruitful two wayes ibid. Faith suits our fruit to the seasons of grace 137 138 Faith ripens the fruits of new obedience 139 Faith procures acceptation of our fruitfulness 139 140 Motives to be fruitful in season 147 148 Fulness There is a fulness of the subject and object in heaven 339 340 Sight of Christs fulness is a means to beget faith 539 540 G Gift Faith is Gods gift 449 Faith is a gift necessary to the very being of a Christian Faith is such a gift which none but God can give 451 Faith is a most precious gift 455 456 457 Faith is a rare gift 457 Glory The more we aim at Gods glory the more we grow in grace 212 There is much glory in the sufferings and reproaches of Believers 480 Gospel Gospel revelation requires solemn gratulation 459 Grace See Growth in Grace An elegant description of its nature in a Metaphor 302 How to distinguish common grace from saving 303 304 An hypocrite cannot desire grace as grace 304 Growth in Grace See Augmentation Just live the life of spiritual growth 191 192 Reasons of spiritual growth 192 193 194 195 The influence of faith into spiritual growth 195 196 Four Reasons why the growth of grace depends on faith 196 197 198 199 Life of grace is always on the growing hand 199 200 There are degrees in grace ergo aspire to increase 201 Reproof for want of due growth 202 Reproof of such as think themselves perfect 202 263 Reproof of such who decline in grace 203 Reproof of such who hinder growth in others but grow in sin themselves 204 205 The touchstone of true spiritual growth 205 to 217 Vide Strength Vide increase What to judge in the sense of want of growth 214 215 Humiliation for want of growth 217 218 Thankfulness for growth against opposition 218 219 Motives to grow in grace 220 to 226 Means of spiritual growth 226 to 231 Seven Impediments of spiritual growth 229 230 Comfort to young beginners in grace 231 232 How strong grown Saints should carry themselves toward the weak 232 H Hagiography Or spiritual boundaries to the loose professing world 434 435 Hardness of Heart Gods judicial hardning of the heart is an Impediment of faith 492 Divine justice justified in adding judicial hardness to wilful affected 493 496 Partial hardness mourned over is probational 495 Health How the just live by faith for it 70 Heaven See Life Eternal A fourfold fulness of the subject in heaven 439 340 A fivefold freedom in heaven 340 Christs being in heaven assures believing of glory 348 Heaven a reserved inheritance why 350 351 352 Curious Questions concerning Heaven condemned 359 The meditation of heaven is to be improved 360 361 The excellency of heaven in five respects 388 389 Citizens of heaven known by their Language 365 Degrees of Glory in heaven 221 Heaviness Rise of the Saints heaviness from 312 to 317 See Sadness Heirships Difference twixt heavenly earthly heirs 345 346 See Adoption Heresie It is the daughter of unbelief and hypocrisie 463 464 Holy Holy life is a sign of Right to Heaven 366 367 Honour It is a Christians honour to persevere 249 250 Believers are the only right honorable ones 480 Hope The touchstone of sound celestial hope 362 to 373 Hope of heaven is a buckler against fear of adversity 382 Hope of heaven is a charme against prosperity 385 Humility Humiliation It is a means to attain assurance 95 Feigned humility is the root of licentiousness 143 Laying too much
stress on the depth of humiliation is a great hindrance of Believing 502 503 Reasons why humiliation must Precede faith 522 523 524 Humility in all the periods or degrees of grace 525 Hypocrisy It is an impediment of spiritual growth 230 How far an Hypocrite may go 257 Wherein an Hypocrite comes short 258 An hypocrite cannot rejoyce in the whole word of God 302 303 Hypocrisy springs from unbelief 463 I Ignorance Vnbelief is the root and parent of it 462 Increase There is a divine and diabolical increase 213 How the increase of the natural man in moral vertues differs from the increase of God in saving graces 213 214 See growth See strength Injoyment Believers have the firmest tenure and sweetest injoyment of earthly blessings 77 78 Interest Interest in Christ clears up interest in the covenant of grace and this an interest to all the promises of which sons in Christ are heirs 560 Joy see Consolation How to discern the joy of a hypocrite from that of a Saint 302 303 The joy of a Believer excells all natural worldly sinful Joy in 10. Properties from 323 to 328 Means to breed Spiritual Joy 328 to 344 Judgment Faith applies the last judgment as a means of sanctification 127 128 Judgments on unbelievers 466 Examples of Gods judgments on apostates 250 251 Just Who are such and why said to live by faith not by their justice 31 None are just or justified till thy believe 32 Justification The life of Faith in justification 80 The definition of it which contains the act object and application of both and its fourfold causality 81 to 85 Faith puts forth a fourfold act upon the conscience heart of a sinner to fit him for pardon 86 87 Faith how it acts in the continuance of justification 88 Faith how it fetches in assurance of justification Faith moves a man to desire more faith in order to assurance of his justification and uses 11 Motives 89 to 92 Vses of the Doctrine of faith in justification 105 Justification by free grace breeds humiliation 105 106 Four Marks of true justification 107 We must not justifie sinners or condemn Saints 108 Motives to seek for the five-fold benefit of justification 110 111 Justification and sanctification are inseparable twins 141 142 The first and second evidence of justification what 301 K Keep See Establish Exhortation to keep faith 543 Reasons why we should look to the keeping of our faith 544 Seven Means whereby to keep faith 548 to 552 See Free Spirit See Perseverance L Libertinisme The root of it is feigned humility and laziness 143 Liberty Faith and Christian Liberty support each other 554 Many account it their liberty to sin 555 See Free Spirit Life Spiritual Gods People are in a state of life by way of eminency 8 The excellency of the Saints Life in seven particulars 8 9 10 11 Saints Life is a hidden life and why 12 Spiritual life proved to be existent in believers 12 Spiritual life very desirable 13 Signes of Spiritual life 14 15 16 Life Natural Five evil and troublesome concomitants of it 60 Believers injoy it by faith upon different grounds from unbelievers 67 68 Saints live a natural life by faith in seven respects 68 to 76 Life Spiritual Is twofold either the life of Justification or Sanctification the just life by faith in both 79 80 Four differences twixt true living Spiritual actions and false 187 188 Spiritual life is alway increasing 199 200 The comliness and pleasantness profit equity safety and necessity of such a life as it increaseth 200 to 226 Vide growth Life Eternal See heaven The work of faith about eternal life 334 It assures that there is an eternal life from scripture and reason with the degrees of it 335 336 What the happiness of eternal life is 336 337 Wherein it consists from 337 to 341 Confutation of those who deny eternal life 353 354 Motives to get assurance of eternal life from 374 to 379 Means to get this assurance The believers homage-penny for eternal life 386 The excellency of eternal life from 388 to 391 Life of unbelievers They live on their lusts pleasures upon Creatures and upon a fivefold undoing self 429 to 434 Limiting of God It is a great impediment of faith how cured 499 500 Logick Faiths holy logick 348 349 Love of God It is a reason why the Saints persevere 237 238 The want of feeling it should not hinder believing 503 Love to God is a means to increase faith 580 Love to the Saints Difference 'twixt that which is true and false 304 305 Lust Love of lust is the life of a sinner 429 Lusts haboured oppose faith with considerations how to abandon them 501 M Marriage How Saints live by faith in it and in single estate 73 Meanes In the conservation of the natural life must be used in faith 68 69 Meditation It is the fruit of holy affection 364 Meditation on Gods Attributes especially mercy is a good means to beget faith 536 Melancholy It is a scandal to Christian profession 319 320 Mercy Gods mercy becomes a suiter to mans misery 537 Ministry See Preaching What the chief work of a Minister is 427 428 The dignity of the Ministry 601 Exhortation to Ministers to preach in a soul-saving way 611 612 God usually blesses a setled proper Ministry 42 Merry Merry madnesse 311 Morality Difference 'twixt morality and Sanctification in nine respects 119 120 121 Mortification The influence of faith into the life of mortification 149 The art of faith in mortifying of lusts 151 to 154 Reasons why faith will have sin to be mortified 155 156 Error of such who refuse to believe till sin he mortified 158 Marks of true mortification 159 160 Enemies unto and juglers in mortification reproved 161 Alarm to Mortification 163 Motives to Mortification 164 165 Means of Mortification 166 167 168 169 Murther Soul Murther is the worst kind 17 470 N Natural men They are distingusht into two ranks 532 Necessity Of faith in Adversity 64 New Obedience See Fructification Nourishment Strong desires after Spiritual nourishment are a signe of Growth is Grace with three Cautions in this particular 206 207 208 209 Nursery Spiritual Faith lays hold on Christ in the Ordinances as breasts of Consolation and thence draws strength 293 294 295 O Opposition There is no true faith without Opposition 514 515 He that would believe must break thorow opposition 515 516 Gods Spirit delights to grapple with the greatest opposers of his word and wayes that he may convert them 516 Ordinances See Word Despising of them is an impediment of Spiritual growth 230 Neglect of the ordinances hinders believing 505 Five causes why men neglect the ordinances 505 to 511 Though it be not in the Power of the ordinances to beget or increase faith yet they are to be used 516 517 They who live above that is without ordinances are absurd 518 519 P Papists and carnal Professors These make Sanctification justification