without great mercy to the innocent party For the truth is Sancâ—ior copulâ— cordis quam corporis it can be no less than an original cheat and a wicked action when a Woman accepts a Husband meerly for gain or honour when her heart was never honestly and truly towards him It was the false act of a strange or whorish heart in the sight of God when others whose spirits were right might have stood sincere and faithful being filld with candor and sweetness in conjugal Relations Even so it is as to outward hypocritical and feigned Professors who take Christ in the Sun-shine of the Gospel and in hope of a great inheritance when the will in its personal adherence to Christ for his righteousness and holiness never came to a true and real union Whereas the Will is the main point in Marriage according to the determinate rule of the civil Law Consensus non concubitus efficit matrimonium Cod. Justin T is consent and not the bed that makes it So in all moral actions contracts and agreements neither is it otherwise in this grand spiritual concernment of the soul when the Judgment has declared the undone and ruined estate of any out of Christ and proclaimed the rare excellencies that are in him and how appropriate a Saviour to scatter all our fears root out all despondencies and to supply all its wants and indigencies Then comes in the Will and chooses his person as the most lovely in Heaven and Earth consents to all his gracious offers and sincerely embraces his love and mercy with unspeakable joy and thankfulness and delightful resolutions of new and constant Obedience The soul then being invited by Christ in such sweet alluring terms Rev 24 17 Isa 551 Song 1 3 as these Whosoever will let him come and take of the water of life freely and ho every one that thirsteth c. it finds a sweet inclination smelling fragrantly of the precious anointings of the Spirit when this powerful faculty is turned about renewed and filled with the balsome of heaven and thereby through infinite grace and irresistable power allured to look and run after him to accept him and close with him on the terms of the New Covenant of grace In Scripture therefore the Will is often phrased and signified by the bea rt Thus Solomon prayes at the Dedication that the Lord would incline their hearts that is 1 King 8 58 Psal 119 36 112. sweetly bend their wills to keep his laws and David thus incline my bea rt unto thy testimonies and to perform thy Statutes To incline the will is when divine light has set before the understanding the knowledge of the true good this divine power inwardly moves the will to it Lactant. de Orig c 3 de fals sap l. 3. c. 10 de ira Dei c 7. Bp Wilkins in a set discourse 8. Lond. 1678. not by any force or coaction but by a sweet melting and moulding it into the Will of God. Man is a rational creature and a religious as Lactantius seems to make the last his specifick difference from bruits So that when the stony heart is by infinite power changed into golden oar then 't is melted by the fire of divine love in the furnace of godly repentance and by degrees cast into the mould of the divine will and effigiated or shaped into the exact image of his Son. After this great work the renewed soul finds its will determina ely carried to blessed objects and turned quite about to delight in heavenly persons and things There 's no compulsion in the point but natura renovata fertur the soul being changed is now by its own spontaneous freedom carried with a spiritual naturality to that which is coadequate to its essence and hath received from God a blessed recovery to an enjoyment of and a complacency in this supreame and everlasting good Now though the soul can do no otherwise as far as 't is renewed yet it is no way compelled but acts according to its own delight and pleasure For the whole soul whole heart whole will so far as renewed is carried out with all the Sails of its desires and satiated with the sense and comfort of this most happy change and when come to heaven will be fully concentred in those enjoyments and bathed in that Ocean of bliss no otherwise in their though minute proportion than God himself the humane nature of our Lord then holy Angels and the Saints in glory After which manner some of the Ancients and several of the Moderns express themselves I shall a little touch upon what Strangius declares to this point Libertas naturae est ab omni necessitate Strangig de Voluntate Dei amstel 1657. p. 683. l 3 c. 14 p. 686. quae repugnat naturae voluntatis Liberty of nature is when free from all necessity which is a thing repugnant to the nature of the Will. Again Necessity doth not overthrow our Liberty Again p. 687. Indifferency lies then in the nature of Liberty when it can act or not act about the same object when it may choose either that or another and afterward instances in God in Angels and in the blessed Saints 690. and so Pemble p. 87. Ant Burges of sin p. 312. whose will is determined to true Good c. This powerful and sweet motion and inclination of the will of a believer by the spirit of God may be happily shadowed forth by the inclination of the mind in persons carried towards union in the Marriage-covenant It is of God and generally little or no reason to be given of many of their choices but an influence or impulse from heaven in those that out of pure and honest affection give mutual consent to that relation and not for any base and sinister ends but for personal delight in each other wherein that unspotted intaminated love in rational beings so vastly differs from bruitish lusts and draws nigh to an Angelical Excellency like that of an honourable Lady to a Philosopher in Scotland mentioned by Burton in his book of Melancholly How much more and transcendently excellent is that joyful and heavenly love moving in the heart by the finger of God in a soul that thirsts after spiritual espousals to the Lord of Life There is no adumbration of our union to the Lord Jesus more proper or pertinent than this wherein the Scripture doth so greatly delight To the accomplishment whereof the drawing of the Father is requisite and 't is performed by inward teaching Eph. 5.32 Rev. 19.7 Johae 6.44 45 and thereby producing a heavenly inclination to this union and communion with his Son as the most excellent person and most beloved of the Soul. This secret work being formed upon the heart makes up that inseparable conjunction with Christ which shall triumph in the same chariot to eternity Moreover when 't is freely consented to by the Soul For the gracious heart acts voluntarily tho by
the particular faculties let us further manifest it and begin with that of Philip to the Eunuch of Ethiopia If thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest he baptized so our Lord to the two Disciples O foolish and slow of heart to believe Again in the Epistle to the Romans If thou shalt believe in thy heart thou shalt be saved For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and we are commanded to trust in the Lord with all our heart And again Christ is said to dwell in our hearts by Faith and on the other side unbelief is fixed also Eph 3 17. Heb 3 12 or seated in the heart Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief I might multiply but its obvious in Scripture The Jewish Rabbins or Philosophers such as they are use to place the Soul and its understanding faulty in the heart Job 38 36 according to that in Job Barthol Anat. Hag. 165◠8 d. Cartesius l 3 c 6. p 336 Fromond de anima Who gives understanding to the heart but the Greek Schools in the head or brain where some Anatomists have found out a chamber of presence and therein the Glandula pinealis where this Empress sits in state and commands the little world or Empire of man. The Peripateticks give the Soul a Forest-range through the whole body others as Tremember conceit that it swims in the blood and flies up and down in the spirits c. and make a great stir about the fibula animae the button or bond that ties or links the rational and animal soul together and when they come to the powers and faculties of the Soul they make great distinction and from thence their notions are derived and mixed with many subtleties among the school Divines in the dark times before the Reformation appeared Whose works though in some things may be of good use to fix terms and distinctions yet ordinarily their niceties have eaten out the heart of solid Divinity till the happy dayes of the restauration of the Gospel As to what we are upon Durandus Q Scaliger c. I think with some of the School men and several other Learned men of late that there is no sound foundation in reason for this variety of faculties specifically distinct as some would have it yet having asserted that Faith is subjected in the whole Soul that I may conform to the received and used Opinion I would shew how Faith resides and acts in every reputed faculty and thence by induction of particulars in the whole Soul. That Faith is seated in the understanding is undoubted because it is a rational act of the soul being resolved into the divine authority of God who is insallible Since also our reason is finite corrupt and obnoxious to many impostures from satan I take him for the wisest and most rational person who in the deep and profound mysteries of Christian Religion 2 Coe 4 4 acts his reason by Faith in this life and waits for fuller Revelation when he comes to glory Here we see that is understand but in part but there we shall know even as we are known 1 Cor 13 12 In the work of Grace the understanding is first enlightned to know the truth called the opening of the heart in Lydia Acts 16 14 Joh 4 10 our blessed Lord tells the woman of Sichem if thou knewest the gift of God thou wouldest have asked him for living water There 's a thick massy wall broken through by the hammer of Gods word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 within the stony heart 2 Cor 10 4. and a clear christal window placed in the breach that the light of the glorious Gospel may shine into the mind 2 cor 4 4. which before was blinded by the God of this world that they should not believe the truth Eph 5 6 Ye were darkness it self sayes Paul more than Egyptian or Cymbrian this being the darkness of the bottomless pit but now are light in the Lord. This illumination from Heaven fetches off the scales as from the eyes of Paul and teaches us all to have a prospect of an Ocean of wonders in Gods Law and of deep mysteries in the promises yea to apprehend and apply them aright Isa 53 11 Therefore Faith is sometimes set out by knowledg Joh 10 38 by his Knowledg objectively shall my righteous servant justifie many Our Lord also proving his Deity by his Miracles 17 3 bids them if they will not credit his words yet believe his works that ye may know sayes our Lord and believe that the Father is in me and I in him Where knowledg and Faith are explicitly connexed together 14 20 Again This is life eternal to know thee and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent It was to that purpose our Lord made himself known and manifest to all his Disciples in the glory of his Deity Yea our Faith on him as God-man is wrought in us by revelation from the Spirit the eyes of our understanding being enligtned by him Eph 1 17 So that we have both the object and Organ illustrated at once Christ set forrh in the Gospel and our understanding shone upon by the Spirit and at length from the first degree of light the Saints proceed from Faith to Faith Rom 1 17 Col. 2.2 1 12 2 Tim 4 8 and then by holy Meditation with deligence arrive to that acknowledgment of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ Nay to such sweet and full assurance at last that with holy Paul they come to know whom they have believed and wait for the Crown of Righteousness at his appearance and Kingdom From all this we may conclude that a true Believer takes Christ for his Saviour and Ruler with a clear and irrefragable Judgment 2. The second particular work in the order of nature tho conjoynt in time as to conversion is the inclination of the will to receive Christ Now because the Scripture delights exceedingly to set forth our Relation to Christ by Marriage union Eph 5 32 Song of Solom I shall a little insist upon it We say then in such covenants that 't is the Will that makes the Match T is not the saying a few words in the Chancel out of a Book by inforcement of Parents or Friends instigation against their own wills and minds such Marriages are but bruitish conjunctions when persons marry meerly for Money or outward Preferments not unfained love which God never ordained or appointed to be the ends of that blessed union but with the heart and sincere affection Promises are but dipt in falshoods and lies and often managed by some subtle false Judas for base ends where the sweet unforced inclinations of the will is not present which will after a while vent it self in captious perverse suspitions and unnatural reflections and seldom ends but in gall and bitterness
potestas a power in the Soul to do something peculiar in calling things to remembrance carries a flaming Torch in its hand over all the chambers of the Soul â—nuert Instit and by Physitians and Philosophers is reckoned one of the three inferior senses Now in this as in all other powers Faith hath its residence and acts in and from them upon its most noble and spiritual objects I shall not recount many Scriptures Some trust in Horses and some in Chariots Psal 20 7â— but we will remember the Name of the Lord our God even what he hath done for us of old and trust him still Saints use to call to mind former mercâ—ies to encourage Faith I will remember thee from the land of Jordan Psal 42.6 and of the Hermonites from the hill Mizzar the little hill Mizoar before Zoar. In which and the like places David escaped the violence of Saul Memory helps Faith in a gracious person recalling the ancient benefits of God to his Church and his wonders of old Help a Holy mans Memory as to former actings of Faith in his straits and you comfort him presently with the sweet hope of continued deliverances till he arise to the great deliverance in the Heaven of glory But lest I be tedious I shall prosecute no more but descend to the second Section of this Chapter SECT II. Of the Primary Efficient Cause of FAITH AS to the efficient Cause Author or Worker of Faith in the heart we know that every good gift comes down from Heaven And hence Faith is sometime ascribed to the donation of God essential being called the gift of God the Faith of the operation of God. Again Jam. 1.17 Eph 2.2 Col. 2.2 Phil. 1.29 â— Thess 1.11 Phil. 2.13 t is said to be given to the Saints to believe and the work of Faith is said to be the effect of his mighty power In which and in all other heavenly gifts and graces to will and to do are both wrought of God. As t is in true repentance a grace that 's alwayes conjoyned with Faith and leads out of our selves by the hand of Faith into Christ the former being given of God so is Faith. â— Cor. 3.5 All our sufficiency to think but a good thought slides down from Heaven Q. If you ask then How thoughts come into the heart A. I Answer They flow into the head or heart by the power of imagination thru the windows of the senses or from concreated ideas or by some instillations and special infusions from God as it is in all curious Arts and Sciences Prev 8.12 He is the finder out of all witty Inventions as we read in the case of Bezaleel for the Tabernacle and in Hiram for Temple works If you ask whence holy thoughts come I answer from the infusion of the Spirit Gen. 1.2 and his warming the waters of the Soul as it is exprest by Moses in the first Creation so it is in the new Creation from the breathings of the Spirit on the garden of spices which â—e himself hath planted in our hearts Isa 26.12 Psal 33 22 1 Chro. 29 18 1 Joh 2 27 So it is in the work of Faith as the Church expresses it Thou hast wrought all our works in us and for us he causeth us to trust or hope in his Word He begins and inspires good thoughts into us and keeps them in the imagination of our hearts He teaches and anoints us with the oil of the Spirit He makes all new within us and puts hearts of flesh into us Jer. 31 18 Ezek. 36 26 and turns us unto himself because he is the Lord our God having accepted us into covenant relation with himself Sometimes the work of Faith is ascribed to the Father as in that to the Ephesians Eph 1 19 20 we are made to believe by the exceeding grâ—atness of the mighty power of the Father even the same power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead Joh. 6 4â— And otherwhere it is said that no man can come to the Son that is by Faith except the Father draw him by the golden chain of his electing love and teaches him from his chair in Heaven Besides the work is oftentimes ascribed to Christ who is said to be the Author and Finisher of our Faith and that he is exalted to give repentance and forgiveness of sins Heb 12.2 Act 5.31 both which are intimately connexed with Faith as in the case of the Father of the tormented Child Mark 9.24 praying to Christ to help his unbelief But more especially and immediately it s attributed to the holy Spirit who works in our understandings to think of heavenly things and puts holy motions into our hearts which are the original of those sudden thoughts by darting of Scriptures and precious Promises into our memories Rom. 8.5 9. â— John 14.26 and kindling sparks of light and comfort in our hearts yea the witnessing of our spirits to him are wrought by him He inclines our wills to embrace himself and Christ our Lord. For if we have not the spirit of Christ Rom 8.9 we are none of his Yea Faith it self even as all other graces are given by one and the same spirit Again one of the fruits of the Spirit is recorded to be Faith 1 cor 12 9 and to speak with reverence it is from his implantation and inoculation in the new paradise of the Soul. Gal 5.22 Yea and after that we have believed we are also sealed up in the Faith by this holy spirit of promises He seals all his own gracious workings upon our hearts Sometimes Believers are said to receive the Holy Ghost presently upon the first work which evidently shews the connexion of Faith and holiness by the same spirit Eph 1.13.13 19.3 16 17 Hence t is observable that tho Prophecies be never so perspicuously and radiantly fulfilled and tho admirable miracles were performed to illustrate the presence of the Deity yet they wrought not the least grain of Faith without the energy of the spirit he must add thereto an inward miracle upon the heart Thus it befel the Israelites in the Arabian Desart Deut. 29.3 4. For God sayes Moses gave them not a heart to perceive unto that day Just so the Capernaites they saw Christs blessed person and his eminent Miracles but believed not as not being given to them by the Father Joh 6.36 37. John 12.37 and so it was with the Pharisees and other Jews tho he had done such great works before their eyes yet they believed not on him There must be therefore a working power of the spirit concomitant with the Ministry of the outward call of the Word else none shall believe the report of Christ by Isaiah Isa 53.1 unless the arm of the Lord be revealed within Hence it is that some have professed to have heard a kind of voice at their
God permit And likewise the fifth about Entring into Covenant by Faith and shall now proceed to the sixth Chapter neither shall I handle that in the full Latitude I had prepared but speak more succinctly in some things under that Head for the same Reasons CHAP VI. The necessary and inseparable connexion between Sanctification and true FAITH WHat I may at present exhibit on this Subject may be comprized under these Heads 1. Let 's treat a little of the nature of Sanctification 2. Shew the undivided connexion between that and Faith. 3. Intermix some complaints about formal Professors 4. Answer a Case or two and end As to the first we may peremptoryly determine the point that wherever true Faith dwells there must and will be true holiness both in heart and life and where it is not that person who pretends to Faith without it is a self-deceiver and in his attendance upon Ordinances without life-obedience is but the servant of base hypocrisie Hei. 1.12 c Will any dare to tread Gods Courts on sacred dayes and lift up crimson hands in prayer that are full of blood and stain'd with bribery and oppression God loathes to smell any perfumes in such assemblies mixt with the unsavoury stench of their defiled bodies and putrid lives True Sanctification does not lie in outward solemnities and the gaudery of Temple-worship Jer. 7.22 as the Prophet treats the Jews in the Name of God that he commanded them not concerning Burnt offerings and Sacrifices or the Incense of Sheba 6.20 or the sweet Cane of Arabia that is comparatively no nor principally as he did moral duties of piety and honesty To obey is better than sacrifice 1 Sam. 15.22 and to hearken than the fat of Rams Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of fed Beasts Mich. 6.7 or ten thousand Rivers of Oyl or the children of our bowels to smoke upon his Altar no no! But to to do justly love mercy Psal 50.17 and to walk humbly with God this O Man is good in his sight Will God eat the flesh of Bulls Psal 69.31 or drink the blood of Goats no! he requires the offerings of praise and thanksgiving this will please him better than an Oxe that hath young horns and hoofs Hos 6.6 Jos 5.7 10 Amos 5.25 Act. 7.42 Mat. 12.7.9 13. Mnrk. 12.33 Eph. 4.24 Col. 3.10 and therefore in cases of mercy God dispenses with Ordinances as he did with Israel in the Wilderness both as to Circumcision and the Passeover for about forty years together but with Moral duties never Our Lord bids us therefore to go and learn this point more diligently For a Pharisee may be huge ceremonius with his white linnen about a platter but yet neglect the weighty matters of the Law Justice and Judgment and Mercy Whereas true Sanctification is a work of Gods Spirit renewing the whole man after the image of God in righteousness and true holiness whereby he is instructed and inabled in all wayes of Scripture obedience to mind the weighty and principal things of love to God and our Neighbour and not leave undone those lesser points which belong to any institution of God and not of man. By this inward work upon the heart the sanctified person immediately begins the practice of Mortification in dying to sin and of rising to newness of life but yet this work is not perfectly and compleatly wrought in any person during this life therefore we must interpret the Apostle in his prayer 1 Thess 5.23 that the Thessalonians might be sanctified throughout not in the highest pitch of degrees but of soundness and sincerity in every part 1 Cor. 6.17 and member of the new Adam There is a habit of holiness infused and wrought in the heart by the holy spirit of promise by which means we are joyned to the Lord and become one spirit with him We do not of our selves first believe and so receive the spirit of God this were to ascribe the actings of faith to the power of man before the infusion of grace but first the inspiring and inclining motions of the spirit descend into us â—oâ— 3.3 Eph. 2.22 whereby we are enabled to believe on the Son and to become by one Spirit united to him as our head All habitual graces are wrought in us feminally at first and at one time yea Faith it self as to the order of time is infused together with the rest in the same moment of our regeneration and sincere conversion to God. Habitual holiness therefore in the production of its blessed fruits and faith among the rest does antedate all the particular acts of Faith or other Graces As in natural Generation all the powers of life are in semine concepto animato formed at once Aristot d. gen animal l. Pecquet de venis lacteis but the heart having implanted within it the true sanguifying virtue becomes the primum vivens movens the first living and moving principle which is discerned by its pulsation like the desires of the Soul in the beginnings of Faith yet all sensation attraction digestion excretion sanguification formation of nervous juices and spirits with locomotion and the rest are all settled at once but display their operations afterward at the command of the rational soul Much like hereunto is the work of the new conception formation and exertion of spiritual and vital acts In the first actings of the Spirit we are passive being found of him after whom we sought not at first but after Isa 65.1 that by a connexed power and concourse of the holy spirit we act and rely on Christ in the promise of life Eph. 4 16 Col. 2.9 10 and receive all the supplies of nourishment from the glorious head of influence thru ' the spirit Even as the head of the natural body conveys the animal spirits thru ' the several conjugations of the nerves into all parts of the body to manage both sensation and motion Isal 44.3 Mat. 3.11 1 Cor. 6.11 As the Scripture expresses it we are sanctified in the â—ame and power of the Lord Jesus by the Spirit of our GOD. As to the Author of Sanctification it is no other than in all gracious works even God essential and the spirit of God in his more particular Operations and Applications As for preparations to grace in any spiritual way before the influences of the spirit Eph 2 1. they are insignificant and unsavoury notions for by nature we are dead in sins and trespasses T is the same holy Spirit who inclines at first to the use of means and warms the heart in and by them as appointed and sanctified of God. There are 't is true various degrees in moral habits and their actings by the common work of the Spirit in his ordinary efficacy but in many moral persons in the state of nature these moralities produce as of old in the Scribes and Pharisees strong and very
bitter root of all this Wormwood and Gall and being very desirous to deal in compassion as having been under some tentations I spake with several and found upon conference these following to be the principal causes of this Bondage of Spirit The 1. Was great ignorance of the true nature of Faith and of the main fundamental Truths of the Gospel which did amaze me to find upon search in so many glittering talking but indeed shallow Professors 2. Another was the great Levity Vanity and Laxness of their lives trifling out their precious time in fidling querks tales and jests to please some whose Trenchers they hang upon like the Parasites in Theophrastus not liâ—e the blessed People of the former age who far outshined us in the purity of Conversation and therefore in the brightness of their assurance 3. Others I observed to be of a froward perverse ill-natur'd ill-conditioned sower humor full of prate and unprofitable multiplicity of words censures backbitings hollowness of true friendship often murmuring at God and quarrelling with their Superiors 4. Others I perceived to be naturally of a fearful timorous wavering inconstant suspitious spirit ever learning and never coming to the knowledg of the Truth 5. And to end most people extream worldly couvetous full of sordid over-reaching tricks and cunning cheats in dealing and unless for a show basely backward to any excellent works of charity and strict in examining the poor to find an evasion which Jerom so complains of in some of his age Such as these eat out the very power of godliness and rob themselves of the season of meditation Periclitatur religio in negotiis Piety is lost in a crowd of worldly business with these and the rest I must declare that the holy Spirit of God delights not to hold communion as being fiery or miry Spirits Hereupon in my retirements I hope by the Grace of God I pitcht my thoughts when I could not be so publickly useful as formerly upon the composing a small Treatise of the genuine nature of Faith and in a peculiar Chapter to shew the individual connexion of Sanctification of heart and life in every gracious Believer In the management whereof I thought it might not be inexpedient to lay its foundation upon the Doctrine of the verity of the Scriptures in one Chapter and of the Deity of our blessed Lord in a second after the Preface the former being the Doctrinal object of Faith the latter the personal Now forasmuch that in all Sciences there be certain Principles on which their Theoremes and Maximes are built we may consider of the like in Divinity that the Holy Scriptures 2 Tim. 3.15 16. being able to make us wise to Salvation are the only true Basis and Foundation on which all the great Doctrines of Holiness and Happiness do most firmly insist In particular that great point of Faith which bears it self on the new Covenant of Grace revealed in those sacred Pages I thought meet therefore briefly to endeavour the proof of this high point that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the undoubted Word of the living God and thereby to be received with all veneration imaginable as the solid fundamental of true Christianity in special of the weighty Doctrine of Faith And this I have the more willingly performed at the entrance of this Tract that good Christians may not I hope need to go otherwhere to draw but have sufficient to settle their Faith on this Foundation tho it be more amply enlarged upon abroad Now whereas it may be said that Principles are indemonstrable as in Mathematicks and other Sciences Suarez 5 to Mettaph L. C. we must understand that Maxim of the Principles of Essence and not of cognition or knowledg It is so as to the verity of Holy Scriptures we cannot demonstrate them any further and t is enough than that they are founded on the glorious Authority of the infinitely wise true and most holy God as consentanious to the verity and excellency of his nature and published by his injunction as the rule of life and means of communion with himself in eternal happiness The Lord hath spoken and who shall not tremble Amos 3.8 Oh that Majestick stile Ezek 14.4 c. Thus saith the LORD makes Men and Devils to quake and rottenness to enter into their Spirits when God sets it home upon their Consciences My Design then is to shew that at the Revelation and Exhibition of the holy volumes that I may both satisfie and confirm weak Believers and convince if possible scoffing Atheists that there were such mighty Testimonies of their divine original attending the dispensing of them to the Church and the World that may convince all of their Heavenly Off-spring if persons put not on the veil of wilful ignorance 2 Cor. 3.15 detaining the truth in unrighteousness And in the close it will appear that Hystorical Faith well grounded is useful to true and saving Faith. There are then two principal points which did await their sliding down from Heaven into the hearts of the illuminated Pen-men inspired by the Holy Ghost and the uttering of them to the People in their distinct Ages which may be comprehended in the first Chapter 1. The wonderful Oracles and Prophecies mentioned in those sacred leaves which have been punctually fulfilled in the several Generations of the Church 2. The Divine Miracles above and beyond the power of nature exhibited at those two great junctures the delivery of the Law by Moses and the promulgation of the Gospel at Mount Zion In the conclusion of this first Chapter I intend God willing to treat somewhat of the consignation of the Canon of Holy Scripture a Point much desired by some and may be of use to others In the second Chapter let us speak to the Deity of our blessed Lord which indeed is the grand point of Christian Religion the very Foundation of the Church of God as Nicephorus Callistus reports a Story of a deep Cave discovered at Jerusalem under the ruines of the old Temple when the Jews by the permission and instigation of Julian to contradict the Prophecy of our Lord would needs attempt to build it again but were beaten off by Thunder and Lightning where they found within it upon a Stone Pillar the Gospel of the Apostle John fairly laid and preserved Let the Patriarch protect the truth of the story I mention it allusively to this great Truth that lies at the Foundation of the true Church that the Deity of Christ the principal design of John's Gospel is the only Rock laid by the Father in Zion Isai 28.16 without which our Faith sinks and all our hopes vanish If that be a nullity all is gone Christianity is a vain Profession and our Bibles as to Christ and the new Covenant of Grace of no value Wherefore O Professors of this true Religion hold these two points inviolable as your lives The verity of the Scriptures and the Deity of
of wounded Spirits and their consolation under the darkest clouds and deepest confusions while we are in this valley of Dragons which is the reason why truly gracious persons wade and dive through Sicknesses Troubles and strong anxieties when wicked and ungodly men languish and perish a thousand times over and over because the former enjoy the sweet influences of the Spirit of God in the promises of the Gospel to cool their consciences and calm their spirits into a halcyon serenity and sometimes tread upon the Asp and Dragon without any fear By these and the like meanes the Scriptures confirm and ascertain themselves like self-evident principles when the Spirit of God strikes aside the Curtains and Vailes of Ignorance and purges the Corruptions out of the minds of men Let all the world rage in Storms of contradiction and like him in Laertius affirm Snow to be black or another that there is no sense in pain or boldly assert the Sun shines not when I see it or a cordial comforts not when I feel it Job 6.4 Psal 38 2. or that a troubled conscience is but a melancholly fancy when the Terrors of the Lord drink up the spirits of men These should be sent to Anticyrae to purge with Hellebor for madness Pray what Energy or power can he in a printed paper in the reading of a Chapter wherewith Austin and Junius were converted from sin to God or what powerful charm in hearing a mean Preacher perhaps none of the Learnedest like the blessed Fishermen of Galilee to change the heart if so many proud haughty and rebellious sinners who of direful Persecutors have sometimes turned tender cherishers and protectors of the Church of God Jer. 22.29 Psal 19.11 Heb. 4.12 Ezek. 2.4.3 11 17. were it not for the fire of the Word of the Lord of Hosts that melts the Stone of the heart and the hammer of that Word that breaks the rocks of the sturdy Zanzummims all to powder insomuch that bitter scoffers have been changed into witty Tertullians and turned their Satyrs into Panegyricks Some morese Philosophers have proved quick and acute disputants in the primitive times to defend the Christian Religion What can that be imagined to be that works so strange effects upon whole Nations from the East to the Western-Indies whitened the Black-Moores civilized the hearts of Scythians more ferine ragged and bruitish than the Rocks and Hyrcanian Tygers that gâ—ve them suck and beautified the barbariously painted Britains far beyond the Oratory of the Gaules It could be no other power than the awful dread of the Divine Majesly and the melting sweetness of his mercy concomitant with his heavenly Word Wherefore such are justly to be suspected for strangers to the work of grace like Nicodemus at first tho a great Doctor in Israel yet a great dunce in the excellenc point of the New-Birth Or like that Doctor at Oxford sometime since that searcht his Dictionary for the word Regeneration and could not tell what to make of it because he found it not there I say we may greatly fear that they never felt this mighty power of the Spirit of God to change their hearts Rom. 1.16 that dare talk so proudly and irreverently against the self-evidencing power of the holy Scriptures on the consciences of men when the Majesty of God shines ten thousand times brighrer in the Meridian of that Book than the Sun without clouds at noon-day in the Zenith of Africa I shall intreat my ingenuous and pious Readers kind leave to descend into the bowels of two arguments to give evidence to the truth of the Holy Scriptures and so conclude this present chapter Which are drawn from the Oracles and Miracles mentioned in this sacred Book The fulfilling of the one and performing of the other to the consternation and amazement of such as had the happiness to be spectators of either are in some part attested and confirmed by Heathens themselves and cleared off by several Writers of unquestionable authority confessing the matters of fact which were accomplisht in the successions of several ages with great exactness and punctuality SECT I. Of Scripture Oracles FOr this purpose it must be laid down for a standing rule that the certain and determinate foreknowledge and prediction of future events long before they come to pass is an undeniable evidence of infinite Wisdom and Power and compatible to no created being Hence the Lord challenges this glory to his own name that former things foretold by him did issue in the time predicted Yea further Isai 42.9 to lift up the people into the mount of observation tells them He would declare new things before they should spring forth of the Womb of Providence Nay Isa 43 9 10 calls to the Heathen to bring out their Witnesses if they had any to justifie their Idols as to the verity of their predictions and then appeals to the Jews as his own Witnesses that they might know believe and understand that he was God and before him there was no God formed nor shall be after him Which argument is amplified and prosecuted in the forty fixth and forty eighth chapters asserting the Divinity of his Essence and the verity of his declarations and prophecies Citations might multiply in which the silver Trumpets of the holy Prophets sound harmoniously in the ears of all Nations 1 Pet. 1.25 proclaiming this mark and character of his eternal Deity and that his words endure for ever and are filled up to the brim with veracity and run over the banks of all ages in chrystalline streams of accomplishments while in the mean time their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all the Delphian and Dodâ—nean Oracles have filled the Heathen World with crooked serpentine lies and cheats Mat. 5 16. Whereas the very Ordinances of heaven shall sooner be involved into their ancient dismal Chaos then any of these blessed sayings shall in the least tittle be dissolved or made void I shall now enter upon some of the famous Oracles of Scripture which have bin so plainly verified before the eyes of many Nations that several Philosophers and Historians of the Gentiles have confessed this truth and born witness to their eventual fulfillings and doubtless honoured and embraced those Divine Parchments with great veneration when many of them travelled into Syria and had the great happiness by the leave of some Rulers of Synagogues prece pretio using gifts and intreaties to behold and read those heavenly prophecies and 't is more than likely that many notions among the ancient Platonists are corruptions of and Compositions with the matter of those profound Writings But before further procedure I must premise that for want of my Library at hand since my sad recess from my most desired services I am forced to make the best use I can of my memory and therefore cannot make my Citations so perfect and exact as I else would and partly from the defect of Historians in barbarous ages we
nation but as wrapt up in Idumea a little parcel of the Province of Judea under the Romans which contained the Philistim Country and a little southward Nay there be many other Kingdoms fell under the same prophetical doom that are now lurking in their ruines and ravenous beasts preying upon the bones of the ancient Cities Of all other that of Egypt is remarkable that it should be a base Kingdom nay the basest of Kingdoms and should exalt it self no more Ezek. 29.15 and so it has been ever since the Persians conquered it under whom it groaned and then turned to the Grecians under one of Alexanders Captains till Cleopatra the nâ—a provincial to the Romans and after them to the Saracens the Mamalukes and Turks by whom it is dreadfully pillaged and plunged by every new Basla to this day But above all we should mind and diligently observe that most famous prophecy of the font great Monarchies in Daniel Dan. 2. 7 whose truâ—h almost every History of the civil Nations demonstrates age by age from Nebuchadnezzar to the end of the world Which as it is twice exemplified under two visions so the fourth or Roman is much more amplified by holy John in his Patmus Revelations By both which as by two great torches every man in his proper age beholds the verity of scripture prophecies to shine forth most illustriously and we may be as certain of what remains yet unfulfilled to receive its accomplishment as of that we have read and heard and seen performed before our eyes There is one Prophecy I would not let slip and that is in the Prophet Zephaniah which declares that God will famish all the Gods of the earth Eph 3â— 11. and men shall worship him every one from his place even all the Isles of the Heathen I the rather mention it because Plutarch that learned Gentile hath writ a tract as if on purpose to verifie this prophecy which he enstiles peri ekleloipoton Chresterion of the Eclipse or silence of Oracles Plut Suidas de Augusto Lactantius Boeth de distiol schoastirs hâ—lâ— 12 c 41 Orosius me puer Hebraeus jubet hinc ad tartara adire Heb 13 20 where he mentions the death of the great God pan o megas tethneke which some apply to our blessed Lord the great Shepherd of the sheep It is related also that the Temple of Apollo at Delphos in Phocis of the Grecians where afterwards true Religion was set up was overthrown by Earthquakes and Thunder and at the same time when Jerusalems Temple was destroyed and neither of them rebuilt to this day to intimate that Pagan worship of the Heathens and the ceremonious worship of the Jews should be removed and give place to the Christian Worship in Spirit and Truth The last thing that I shall mention is the noble Prophecy of the conversion of the Gentiles so often set forth in many Chapters the fulfilling whereof is attested by multitudes of Authors of all Countries how Thomas in the East converted the Indians and that the posterity of them that resisted him are markt at this day with one leg much bigger than the other as I received by eye-witnesses for a truth Capt. Prout but the account is only a child of tradition In the Northwest the Scythians were converted by Andrew and thence their Posterity the Scots own him for their Tutelars Saint The Britains as many assert were converted by Joseph of Arimathea â—udolph hist Abyss the Egyptians and Abyssines by Mark and his Disciples But I proceed no further it may be observed by every ones experience to this very day These things require just Treatises to inlarge upon and to display in their full and lovely colours But yet that I may set before all a method to convince every candid person of the truth of Scripture upon this score and hence their divine original I would desire them to do but two things 1. To observe and study what Prophecies the cardo saeculi the present state and scene of things determine us to be under the fulfilling at this present day 2. I recommend to their continued studious observation what things remain yet to be fulfilled that they may thereby be daily satisfied and fully convinced For if the great God have thought fit in love and mercy to reveal such great things to his Church we ought to lay aside our trifles and vanities of contradiction and observe the workings of his Providence which continually rowle upon the wheels of Prophecy And therefore I shall name some Prophecies yet to be fulfilled The second coming of Christ was prophecied of by Enoch before the Flood Jude 14. Numb 24 17 19.24 Rev 8 2 and by some part of Baalams Prophecy But the New Testament blows many Trumpets over Prophecies as if challenging the whole World to observe this issue and among others let us touch these following 1. The final period of the Metalline Image set forth by Visions in the Book of Daniel 2. The downfall of Antichrist after the expiration of his 1260 years now at the doors 3. The ruine of the Turk after the end of 391 years from the establishlishment of his Ottoman Empire Ezek. 38.10 and the great thoughts that shall come into the heart of that God in these latter dayes 4. The Conversion of all Israel to our Lord Christ and their restauration to their own Land never to be removed more 5. The glorious state of the united Church both of Israel and Gentiles from the River Indus to the Atlantick Ocean wherever the four mettals have obtained yea and the spreading of it wherever the ten toes have set the prints of their dominion and that this blessed state shall endure in all manner of spiritual Holiness and temporal felicity under a perpetuum ver â—rudentius ae continual spring when the seasâ—ns shall be most happy Heavens influences most benign unity and concord and interminable peace among all Nations and the deliverance of all the creatures which now groan under the cruel oppression of the wicked into the Festival liberty of the Sons of God Rom 8 21 22 this happy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or restauration of all things shall continue to the close of the World when those of the outsides about the Holy City attempting mischief shall be destroyed by fire from Heaven which enters us upon the sixth viz. 6. The Conflagration of the World and all the wicked in it by fire 2 pet 3 7 Mal 4 1 mentioned by Peter and crept into Ovid in his Metamorphosis Esse quoque in fatis c. It s written in Fatidical Books that the Heavens and Earth shall perish by fire 7. The return of our Lord to take up his People into Heaven 8 Then comes the great Resurrection and 9 The tremendous day of Judgment After which 10 He proceeds to deliver up his Mediatorian Kingdom to the Father Joh 14 3 Rev 20 12 13 1 cor 15 24
Son of God he required of all his Disciples and it must be understood of his eternal Being and not as Adam is called a Son of God because he urges the Jews with his works and such as none can produce but a God such as the Father performed whereof more by and by Mark 1.24.5 7. Luk. 4.34.8 28. â—ert in Thalete The Devils themselves do own this point and yet how many blind nominal Christians are there who have not attained the knowledg of Thales who calls him the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if cited right And yet our dayes find some who bear the Name of Christ but blaspheme his nature and speak boldly against this grand Fundamental of Christianity such as the Socinians and many Quakers poor wretches perverted by cunning sophisters that plead against the only true means of their own salvation and return again to the Old Covenant of works Whereas the scripture is both evident and copious in the case Prâ—v 8.23 As that of Wisdom I was set up from Everlasting c. which must be expounded of a person from that of verse 30. I was by him as one brought up with him I was daily his delight Psal 110.1 Mat 22.44 Ioh. 1.18 Deut. 30.12 Rom. 10.7 Eph 4.10 Ioh. 8 58. Rev 1.8 Ioh. 1.2 rejoycing alwayes before him This Problâ—me confounded thâ— Pharisees How can the Lord of David be his Son He it is that lay in the bosom of God and came down from Heaven being the same that ascended up again He it is that was before Abraham That was and is and is to come the Almighty That was in the beginning and had his glorious Being before ever the World was Isai 57.15 1 Tim. 3 16 as the Ancients truly expound that phrase Now what can be before the World began but Eternity wherein God inhabits Ioh 1.14 This person was God manifest in the flesh and therefore God before his manifestation on Earth Heb. 1.8 when he vailed his glory within the Tabernacle of his sacred flesh Moreover if God the Father call Christ God as he does Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever His Glory then must be coequal with the Fathers before the World began Phil. 2.6 he esteeming it no robbery to be equal with God. Yea as God in unity of Essence he is stiled the blessed and only Potentate the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Which Name and Stile is applied to him by the Apostle Iohn 1 Tim. 6.15 and seen by him as written in his vesture upon his thigh adding that he was the Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end the first and last Rev. 19.16 22 23 3. Hence flows the Doctrine of the unity of Christ the Son oi God with the Father in the same Divine Essence therefore the Father calls him his Fellow in Zechary and some observe concerning that passage in Isaiah Smitten of God and afflicted that OF the note of the Genitive Zech 13.7 Isai 53 4. is not in the Hebrew and therefore construed from the Hebrew A smitten God equivalent to that in the New Testament where the precious blood of Christ is called the blood of God Act. 20.28 as abovesaid yet others affecting not this reading in Isaiah I shall not contest it at present but as to his unity there be many plain places wherein our Lord determines it that he and the Father are one and had the same essential glory together from eternity For speaking of the manutenency and protection of his sheep from perishing Ioh. 10.30 17.11 21 22 23. he declares himself one with the Father that gave them to him whereupon the Jews being clear in the Argument took up stones again to destroy him as a Blasphemer in that he made himself one with God. 4. Again He that is Omniscient and knows our thoughts by his own discerning eye and power must needs be God. As Solomon spake to the Lord in Prayer Thou only knowest the heart of the Children of men 2 Chron. 6.30 Rev. 2.23 Mat. 9.4.12 25. Luk. 5.22 6 8. 9.47 11.17 Now our Saviour expresly assumes it to himself that he searcheth the Reins and the heart and t is often expressed that our Lord knew the thoughts both of his Disciples and his enemies as may be observed in the Scripture Nay he perceived when thoughts did but arise in their hearts much like that of David Thou understandest my thoughts afar off which demonstrates an Omniscient Deity Luk. 24.38 Psal 139.2 Heb. 4.12 13. this our Lord did not discern as to one of his Disciples only but of several at once So that this essential word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart and all things are naked and open before him and no creature but is manifest in his sight which must needs follow because he is the Creator of all which brings in the fifth 5. Another conviction of this glorious Truth of Christs Deity is drawn from his Omnipotency Joh. 1.3 For all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made which action of creating must needs be invested in the infinite power of his Essence whom we have before proved to be the Eternal God had the same glory with God the Father before the World was praying further that his humanity now assumed into unity with the second person might be dignified with the same glory John 17.5 Col. 1.16 This great truth is confirmed by the great Apostle By him were all things created in Heaven and Earth even the Angels those glorious Spirits were formed by him and for him that is for his glory and service and to sing his praises Rev. 4.11 Heb 1.10 But to end it s spoken by God the Father to Christ Thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the Earth and the Heavens are the work of thy hands Yet further 6. As Christ made the World it must needs follow that he also governs it sometimes immediately by himself sometimes by the ministration of Angels and as to the Church by his own Spirit Thence is he stiled King or Kings King of Nations and King of Saints The Apostle Paul asserts him to be before all things in his eternal Essence Col 1.17 and that by him all things do consist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 1.3 have the continuation of their Beings Lives and Motions Yea it is he that beareth supporteth and upholdeth all things by the word of his power He spake the word and they were made and he speaks and ordains the time method and means of their continuance 7. Besides as he maintains and preserves the world in its being Luk. 24.19 Joh. 2.11 11.4 6.54 5 21. 1 14 so likewise beyond the ordinary course of nature in the time of his Incarnation he wrought all those mighty Miracles by his
the spirits instigation and inflexion then does God impute the righteousness of his beloved Son to that soul being now become a true believer and by inward intire love in the heart espoused to him Hence it follows that whatever the son hath the Father makes over to a Saint who by vertue of those espousals enters into a right and title to Christ Wisdom â— cor 1.30 righteousness sanctification and redemption and becomes a co-heir with Christ of the same inheritance in the kingdom of glory and as it is here in the kingdom of grace so much more in heaven above fulget radiis mariti the Church shineth not by reflected but by infused or implanted rayes of her husbands glory being one with Christ in mystical union the same spirit and the same glory being in them as our Lord sets it out I in them and thou in me John 17.22 23. Ezek. 16.14 John 1.12 and the glory which thou gavest me have I given them that they may be one even as we are one In his comliness we are made perfect For on them that receive him the Father bestoweth a powerful and magnificent priviledge to become the adopted sons of God. Having discoursed a little largely with thanks to the stronger christians for their leave and candid forbearance of time as to the weaker Saints about the nature of the will as being the principal seat of Faith and the seminary of its fruitful effects Let us now proceed In the third place to the affections of the soul which are indeed but several emanations or streams from the Will and may be compared to semidiametral lines that flow from this center and run out into the spacious circumference of actions For when the heart or will inclines this or that way or to their opposites it then shines forth in those extensive eradiations by the passions and several affections of the Soul. As for instance Isa 26. the church of God in the Prophet cries out with my soul have I desired thee in the night season So in respect to fear holy persons are said to fear God in the singleness of heart Col. 3.22 Dâ—ut 13.3 Judg. 16 152. Song 1 4 7 and others are recounted to love and trust in the Lord with all their hearts and love is stated to be from the heart In this love of our hearts to Christ lies the quintescence of our union and thence a spouse like reverence and a sweet holy fear to offend or displease him in the least Eph. 5.33 The like whereof is commanded in Scripture to be the holy deportment of all Wives to their Husbands Let the Wife sâ—e or look to it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that she fear or reverence her Husband Insomuch that Solomon brings in the Spouse with such a reverent care when her bridegroom was asleep that she charges all persons in and about the place to make no noise that may disturb or awake her beloved till he please â—ong 2.3 She is filled with an heart-ravishing joy in communion with him though here but through the lattesse of Ordinances takes sweet complacency in an holy rest in his fellowship â—ong 2.5 and feels a delicious faintness in the sick agonies of love is always satiated in his society but never satisfied always filled to the brim with pleasure and running over in his praise to the daughters of Jerusalem while the fountain of love pours out of the heart of Christ into the bosome of a Saint by a true perpetual motion this glorious person 〈◊〉 5.7 delighting in his goodness and rejoycing over us with singing These and many more are the pure unstained sanctified motions of the will so far as renewed rectified by grace and acting towards its native and genuine objects at first concreated with it as fit proper and qualified for it 'T is the will then â—sal 42.1 8.25 which desires loves thirsts longs and pants after the living God and is never quiet or settles its full complacency on any person or thing besides God alone but there 't is satiated with all manner of delight and joy for evermore 4. In the next place conscience comes in to act its part and having lookt round about upon all the pre-actings of the soul subscribes to the new creation with this eulogy Behold all the work of God is very good It is a mixt act of the soul flowing from the understanding and will together and proceeds from an inward work Simplicius as a philosopher expresses it if I remember right When the soul makes dialogues within it self It is the reflexion of the soul upon all its precedent acts whether radical or deduced wherein conviction is mainely concerned As the Evangelist speaks of some Pharisees that they were convinced of their own consciences John 8.9 which do accuse or excuse according to the nature of the light and integrity within and so helps the soul to assurance by a diligent intuition into the actings of Faith. Conscience is the souls looking-glass Rom. 2.15 wherein it beholds all the red flashings upon its face when others talk behind them at a distance This inward redness more especially rises from the immediate rebukes of this vicegerent and happy are such who have their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience nil conscire sibi Heb. 10.22 nullaque aubescere onlpa To be conscious of no guilt and to have no faults staining vermilion upon the cheeks of conscience I might enlarge in the next place upon the power of fancy and imagination that anvill and hammer of thoughts in the work-house of the brain But I rather proceed to the last that I shall touch upon and that 's the Memory that wonderful faculty which Austin in his confessions does so extreamly and deservedly admire and the Platonists are so deeply affected with it that they thought the souls science to be little else then reminiscence or a recognition of what it had before its delapse from heaven into the body Memory is the souls christal cabinet replenisht with diamond cells or Loculi so termod by Tully wherein things heard and learned are safely retained and who is able to expound the reason of its rehearsals It is the recollection of the soul upon it self acting over and reviewing every thing at its pleasure and thereby hath a great influence upon the affections to excite them with delight or dolour meminisse juvabit dolehit When we lay up memorials in our hearts the end is to bring them forth of the treasury of a good and honest breast Luk. â— 66 Psal 139.18 63.6 like wise Scribes fitted for the Kingdom of God. Thus David remembers God sometimes to his comfort and when awake was still with God. At other times he remembred God and was troubled comparing his present dolesome state with his former more delicious times This faculty so we may term it Galen being a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or a faciendi
conversion as holy Austin declares expresly concerning himself under a fig tree in the Garden at Millain Confes l 8. c 1â— not difformous from that of the Prophet Isa 30.21 They shall hear a voice behind them saying this is the way walk ye in it Q. But some may say If Faith be wrought by the Holy Ghost Gal. 3.2 how is it said that we receive the Holy Ghost by Faith A. I Answer Tho the Holy Ghost work Faith in us at first that Faith which was wrought in us by him is further augmented and increased in us by the fame holy spirit and acts together with him in prayer for a further addition of his gifts and graces Besides in the primitive times it was the method of mercy that when persons had declared their Faith upon that they received the Holy Ghost in his dona ministrantia or gifts for good of the Church I might treat further of the adjuvant suborninate and instrumental causes the various and wonderful methods the seasons and times of divine working As Naaman was excited by a poor captive Maid at home and by his Servants abroad to believe God for his cure by the Prophet it is in thousands of cases and notable circumstances wherein God produces this blessed work but I must surcease and end with a deduction that since the work of Faith is supernatural and our conversion birth from the spirit then are we not the sons of God begotten by the will of man Joh 3 6 Joh 1 12. but of God and are breathed upon with the breath of spiritual life by that free agent the spirit of God. Not where and when the heady list and free will of man pleases that great Idol of a perishing World Act 18 29 Prov. 1.19 Eph 2 1 rejecting the free grace of God. Faith is of Grace There 's no power in nature to believe nay the very preparation of the heart is from the Lord. We are by nature dead in sins and trespasses and can no more believe than the old feigned Atlas can support the heavens or an inconsiderable fly with her impetuous hummings can shove a Mountain into the Sea. But I pass to the six Sections belonging to this Chapter whereof briefly hasten-to the Chapters I chiefly aim at SECTION 3. The next thing to have toucht was the more immediate and peculiar Object of Eaith and that 's no more than the person of our blessed Lord in his sufferings our beloved Saviour on the Cross viz. to believe on his Name to look up to the Antitype of the brazen Serpent John 1 12 Act 16.31 Rom 5 11 3 25 when lifted up upon the pole of the Gospel As Paul told the Jaylor If we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved a Lord to Rule a Jesus to Save and a Christ to Anoint us and so we shall receive the attonement For God hath set him forth for a Propitiation through Faith in his blood without blood there is no remission Heb 9 22 and without blood of an infinite value there can be no expiation to infinite Justice Now if any be so bold as to dispute with their Maker why this way and no other I Answer Rom 9 20 Who art thou that repliest unto God being thy self but a defiled shiver of a pitiful Earthen Vessel ready to be dasht in pieces every moment I shall rather turn off to answer the caril of a Jew who being askt how they can expect now to be saved since their magnificent Temple and the brazen Altar of Sacrifice lie in the dust whereas they are commanded not to presume upon Sacrifice but in that place at Jerusalem since also they can legally pretend to no pardon without blood and yet will rest upon that place misinterpreted of a poor mans Offering of a handful of fine Flower Lev. 5.12 and Moses his saying from the Lord that his sin should he forgiven him To which may be answered that the Temple was dâ—dicated and the Priest and the Altar were Consecrated with blood Mat 23 19 which gave a vertue to all the Sacrifices and offerings but I rather reply that this handful was to be offered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not as we translate it according but upon the Offerings of the Lord made by fire This being joyned with the Lords Flower which was continually burnt with the Lords Lamb of the morning or evening Sacrifice and so had its vertue from that bloody offering But alas there 's now no place to offer either Lamb or Incense or Wine or Oyl or fine Flower according to Gods Institution since the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus and Hadrian the Roman Emperors Let us pray therefore that the poor Jews might be enlightned to come to theâ— blessed Altar of the Cross of Christ and to this Priest of the Tribe of Judah Heb. 7 28 who is Consecrated for evermore But le ts remove to the fourth SECT 4. The fourth section should exhibit wherein the true and genuine essence of Faith consists The formalis ratio or that which gives to it the force and power to unite us to Christ and thereby to receive influences from him Of this having said somewhat already in this Chapter and intending God willing to dilate upon it in the next and shew that it lies in recumbency or relying upon the Lord Jesus Christ as he is set forth in the Gospel promises I shall strike off to the fifth SECTION 5. 5. The fifth particular concerns the great ends of Faith. The first and more immediate is the forgiveness of sin and justification of our persons by the imputation of the meritorious Blood of Christ Acts 13.38 39 As Paul in his Sermon at Antioch in Pisidia preacht the forgiveness of sins and that all which believed in him were justified from all things as to which they could not be by the law of Moses according as the Evangelist exprest it Mat. 1.21 He came to save his people from their sins A second is the Salvation of our souls according to Peter receiving the end of your Faith the salvation of your souls 1 Pet 1.9 The last and ultimate end as of all both persons and things is the glory of the wisdom justice and mercy of an infinitely holy God. Rom. 4.20 Johc 17.23 For he that believes on the son glorifies the Father also As Abraham being strong in Faith gave glory to God so Christ professes in prayer that he was glorified in his believing Disciples and when all the Saints shall triumph together in heaven their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or song of victory will be with blessing and honour and glory and power to him that sitteth on the Throne Rev 5.13 and to the Lamb for ever and ever even the Lamb that was slain even the same that taketh away the sins of the believing world SECTION 6. In the sixth place it 's of great use to amplifie
of Melchizedeck shall continue in being and that 's according to the Law of an endless life for evermore Hâ—h 7.6.28 4 This acting of Faith is shadowed forth by our receiving of Christ and therefore must be an act of the will and affections when being sensible and convinced of his being the most adequate good for the soul stretches forth its hand like a ragged indigent beggar after a bag of gold when frankly held to him by some munificent prince or as a drooping sinking languishing patient holds out his cup for a physitians cordial For to as many as will receive him he gives out the right and priviledge of adoption to a glorious inheritance above the starry heavens John 1.12 Col. 2 6. John 17.24 Rev. 3.21 O Blessed Saviour wilt thou give thy heaven thy glory thy joy thy crown thy throne by mystical union to as many as do but accept of this motion of mercy grot de jure c. Will acceptation bring us into acquisition and a just perception of all the territories of this vast immense and eternal patrimony Who would not open his arms his heart the penetralia cordis the most intimate chambers of his soul according to all thy tenders in all thine offices and to all thy blessed purposes and cry out with vehement and ardent moans Are not the doors wide open come bright morning star come Lord Jesus come quickly True Prov. 22 16. Son. â— 5 Faith indeed is but the hand that turns the lock of the souls closet to entertain her blessed Lord But 't is the spirit of Christ who lays his powerful hand upon the hand of Faith else would continue shut and never open But this instrument of instruments as the Philosopher calls the hand acts and works in the power of that great efficient the spirit of God and is co-operative in him with him and by him Yea the spirit hath a co-essential communion with Christ himself who stands at the door and knocks by the call of his Ministers and leaves sweet smelling myrrh dropping upon the handles of the lock which like the famed oil of Lunaria beare with the comparison will eat throrow all and make the iron bolts to fly in sunder O then my soul since the Lord of glory is come to these everlasting gates take heed of a third knock lest he take unkindly depart and leave thee in the dark night of desertion 5. Another medium to set forth the actings of Faith is laying hold of him and his most blessed covenant This is called Isa 56.4.27 5. Isa 27.5.56.2 6. taking hold of Gods strength that is the ark of his strength that so we may make peace with him that dwells between the Cherubims The fame with laying hold on Gods righteousness and salvation in flying to the horns of the Altar of propitiation viz. the brazen by blood and the golden by incense Levlt 19.30 Isa 56 6.58.13 It is further deciphered by loving the name of the Lord Jehovah wherein is everlasting strength and in keeping the Sabbath from being polluted which is a special part of Gods covenant and a true token of a gracious and godly man in this his laying hold of God. Nay we find that the Lord complains of the church that few or none did lay hands on him a kind of holy violence in fervent prayers and Faith mixt with ardent desires and coming to him with earnest resolves to hang upon him as Mary did on Christ at his resurrection The Lord knew the soul of Mary would be clinging upon him and therefore with a gracious requital manifests himself to her and sends her with an errand of love to his Disciples There is a sort of holy violence and gracious impudence to be used in those cases as Chrysostome expresses it of the woman of Canaan that would have no denyal When we seek the kingdom of God Mat. 11.12 we must seek it with vehemence and take it by violence We are commanded to lay hold on eternal Iâ—se in allusion to the swift courses at the Olympick stadium in Greece 1 Tim. 6 12. who coming near the prize or garland stretcht out the hands and leapt up with some violence to take hold of the crown of victory 1 Tim 6.12 Heb 6 18 So the Apostle exhorts us lay hold on the hope that is set before us as Jacob held the Angel fast and would not let him go before he was blest Yea the Spouse in the song having found whom her soul loved Song 3.4 held him close and let him go no more 6. In the sixth place When we are now come to him and have laid hold of his strength and are sweetly solaced with his favour then begin we to relie Prov. 325 leane and rest upon him with some holy confidence For leaning and trusting are in Solomons language terms equivalent A posture this is of great sweetness and satiates the soul that it seeks no further All sublunary relations and enjoyments leaves a windy emptiness in the soul but here 's Jacobs enough which indeed contains all things and so indeed should be translated Jer 33 11. Song 8.5 Such high contentment of spirit fills the soul in her walking out of the wilderness towards Canaan leaning upon her Beloved The same posture we find the beloved disciple in John 21 20 Psal 37.5 22.8 leaning upon the bosom of our blessed Lord Thus are we encouraged in our streights to rowl our selves and our affairs upon the Almighty revolve te tua Vsher Divin p. 161. Lond. 1677. To the same purpose that holy man Bishop Vsher is much pleased with the term of the souls hanging upon Christ for life and salvation when he is setting out the nature of Faith Isai 10.20 Sometimes the Scripture useth the expression of the souls staying it self upon the Lord the Holy One of Israel in allusion to the support of a staff imployed by weak or aged persons to preserve from stumbling and falling Accordingly they find a holy rest and repose of spirit with a sweet recollection from the trembling of heart and quivering limbs by an happy settlement in his arms Yea when the feet have been swelled and blistred with rambling up and down in a weary and thirsty land Dan 8 4 here they find the shadow of a high rock with pleasant chrystal streams powring out of its cavernes to revive the faint and recal their flying spirits But now le ts search what are the great ends of the souls recumbency innitency resting and quiet reposing it self on this blessed Lord in the Arhâ—retum sacrum or paradise of his love why certainly such things that asswage its vehement thirst quell and subdue its fears compose its trem blings and allure its confidences and are no other than these following viz. Remission of all sin Justification by free grace peace of conscience when sprinkled with the blood of atonement adoption into Sonship
heirship and all the priviledges and liberties of the children of God Sanctification to mortifie the power and dominion of sin and to quicken our graces and duties to support us against and under all fiery tentations to eularge and fortifie our spirits under dificult services and to persevere to the end Phil. 1.6 1â— that at last we may attain the redemption of our bodies from the dust and the resurrection to glory But these resort more properly under the tenth and last chapter and therefore here I forbear 7. The next place sets forth Faith by our cleaving to the Lord with full purpose of heart Aâ—s 11 23. Isai 28.16 When the soul is glewed by an holy love to the mercies and goodness of God it will then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stedfastly abide with him It makes not haste out of the mountains of Zion as if full of bogs and quakemires Deut. 10.20 Josh 2â— 8 1 Cor. 1.17 2 Cor. 11 2 but as being setled on the strong and lofty rock of ages This closing of the soul with God is often set down in Scripture by that trust and assiance which a true believer hath in God adhering on cleaving to God is a term also which sometimes attends upon conjugal relation wherby true and faithful persons having the yoke of that union lined with the soft velvet of love 1 Cor. 6.17 become one as in person by the law so much more in spirit and delight To the same purpose the Apostle affirms that true believers being united to Christ by a true and lively faith become one spirit with the Lord and long daily to be more sully espoused by larger affections of the unction of Christs spirit in order to the solemnity of that glorious marriage-day of the Lamb. Rom. 7.4 Rev 19 7 Phil 3 20 And this is true faith indeed when persons long for the appearance of Christ in glory 8. Next follows that term of embracing of Christ as the Saints of old being first perswaded of the truth and goodness of the promises Heb 1â— 13 then at length embraced them utrispue ulnis with all affection and what are the promises but the precious fine linnen wherein Christ our sacrifice was involved after his death at his funeral which is the principal object of our saith even Christ in his sufferings This act of embracing notes our ardent affection to him delight in him and heavenly communion begun betwixt Christ and the heart of a believer Love is Faiths Agent and factor Faith worketh by love a true lover of Christ is certainly a true believer in him and this love increases by faith and faith by love For the soul determines it The more I know of his Excellencies the more I believe in him Rom. 5.4 5 and I love him more because I have the experience of Christs love to me In this very state of the valley there is a mixing of hearts and spirits but in heaven the soul is swallowed up in his love for ever 9. In the ninth place a Believer arrives at this reverent freedom with the Lord in all its streights and dificulties to cast its cares and burdens upon him being both commanded and encouraged by him to do it Whenever I am afraid saith David Psal 56.3 He trust in thee If the heart safely trust in a friend Prov. 31 11. there follows a mutual unvailing and disclosing of the most secret and bosome counsels Psal 71.3 Jer 20.12 Psal 142 2 So does the soul pour out its sorrows and open its whole cause before God. Three things make a friend or relation desirable power to protect wisdom to advise and love to comfort and mingle joys sorrows together All these are eminently and transcendently found in heaven There 's a heart large enough to entertain thy moans Jam 1â— wise enough to guide thee in the dark turns of Providence and so good as not to upbraid thee and can command Legions of Angels at a beck for protection â— Pet. 5 7. Let us therefore cast our care upon him for he careth for us and 't is worth notice what the Apostle terms thy care the Psalmist terms thy burden promising that the Lord will sustain thee to shew that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dividing cares Psal 55.22 heart-rending cares are great burdens But divine sustentation and support of the soul in trouble plainly shews that God takes a fatherly care of thee and will not suffer thee finally to be moved as Davids song in the end of that Psalm since thou art a righteous man and hast cast all thy soul-battering cares upon Gods promise which are but so many tentations to try thy faith and trust in him Besides this trust is exprest by casting anchor within the vail Heb 6 19 When the ship of the soul being turned up-side down as to the world though too near the earth in this bodily estate yet in spirit sails above the firmament and makes all its sails upward still Rev 11.19 and if any storm arises it then rides at Anchor upon the Ark in heaven within the vail beyond the starry Canopy as upon the rock of life the Lord Christ himself 10 In the tenth and last place faith acts by Resignation giving up all its comforts into his heavenly hand when a true believer both living and dying commends his spirit into his divine manutenency during this frail life in all the mighty turns circles or helixes of providence full of intricate meanders and mazes past finding out is led by a hand coming down from heaven So that all ends well with a Saint his stormy dayes do always end in a sun-shine evening He gives up himself to the guidance of his counsel and as to death both for time place way and method yields up all to his safe conduct and yet sometimes breaths out with a most humble and reverent motion his soul still lying in the dust of submission before him to grant him an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or an easy departure out of this life if it may be his holy pleasure and still quietly hoping and waiting for his salvation Thus Jacob in the Old Testament in the midst of his last languishments cries out I have waited for that Salvation O Lord gen 59.18 Luke 2.30 23 46. and good old Simeon in the New Let thy Servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen and mine arms embraced my Saviour and thy Salvation This did our most blessed Lord Father into thy hands I commend my spirit and so did blessed Stephen Lord Jesus receive my spirit testifying to the Deity of Christ Acts 7.59 the immortality of his soul and the resurrection of his body in the same prayer of resignation There may be found in Scripture some other passages exhibiting the nature of Faith and Trust as fixing the heart choosing of Christ waiting for his coming and expecting the blessed day much to the same effect
but to cut off prolixity Psal 108 1. Luke 10. ult I shal rather convert the former ten particulars with the like into some spiritual Soliloquies since all of them exhibit some excellent benefits flowing from Christ alluring the soul to him as by the smell of those precious ointments wherewith he was affused and inaugurated into all his offices by the Holy Ghost which was signified by the inunction of the Aaronieal Priesthood of old in type by a choice composition of myrrhe or Benzoin cinamon sweet calamus cassia lignea Exod. 30.24 and oil-olive So was our holy Lord conse crated a Priest for ever over the house of God. Psal 45.7 Let us now breathe out our warm desires and flowing hopes in some few Ejaculations as to all the ten particulars into his own bosom The Soliloquies 1 O Blessed Lord I am scorchd and burnt up with the sense of thy wrath the thunders of thy Law amaze my soul Death and Eternity make my bexes to quake Psal 22.15.119.13 I am dryed like a pot-sheard or as a bottle in smoke Vox faucibus haeret my tongue is ready to cleave to the roof of my mouth But I come to thee as a gracious Saviour inviting calling promising to help me in those fainting agonies I thirst after thee as the fountain of Siloam and more than David after the water of Bethlehem 2. I faint and my soul quivers upon my pale lips nay is upon the wing to take flight into eternâ—ty I look up for some reviving smiles from the light of thy countenance Do thou look down O blessed Lord with one beam of mercy and it cures me for ever speak Lord for my soul waits to hear that peace which is the fruit of thy lips Psal 45.2 and that grace which was poured out into them O let me not faint nor sink into the dust of death and perish for ever For I have chosen to exhale my soul into thy bosom and dye at thy feet These are the sweet ardours of Faith. 3. Now then since I am come to thee O my blessed Saviour and that with my whole soul and come at the call of thy Word and Spirit For I heard thy voice in the woods of the wilderness and am returned to lie down at thy foot shall the hungry go emty away from the feast of such a Solomon Thou didst invite me by thy Ministers in many a choice calling Sermon and I made no excuse Luke 1.53 Prov 9.3 though too much delay so speaks my sorow yet the feet of those who brought the glad tidings of thy love were to me more beautiful and enamouring than the ruddy morning 4. Moreover O searcher of Reins thou knowest that I am inwardly willing to receive thee upon all the terms in thy holy Gospel signified by thy heavenly call since then my bended will inclines its bowing head towards thy bosom and my whole soul cries after thee since my hands are stretcht out towards thy holy place and my parched mouth wide open to receive that Nectar of heaven the waters of life O fail not â—he expectation of the needy that commits his soul to thee be not silent to my cries Psal 40.2 that ascend out of the deep and dark pit and from the horrible clay 5. Thou hast O Saviour full of bowels given strength to my feet and restored the nerves and sinews that hung shriveld about my anckle bones as thou didst to the cripple at the Temple-gate so deal with me thy Lazarus that 's spiritually lame and full of fores Acts 3.7 yet limps towards the throne of grace the Temple of mercy Strengthen my hands O Lord that I may as firmly take hold of thy love as I am freely come to thee for thy Salvation 6. Yea most blessed Saviour I begin to be encouraged by the warm beams of thy love and feel some vertue flowing from thee to invigorate all the muscles and tendons of my affections and whatever incites and inspirits the motive faculty of my soul so that I now most humbly and reverently beg leave and permission to lean upon thee and to lay my soul down by thee and in thy bosome to repose as far as thou shalt graciously please to admit me into thy communion for succor suâ—port and comfort 7. O stay me with flaggons for I am faint by the strong and over coming beams of divine love and yet resolved in thy strength to cleave to the arm of thy power 1 Cor. 6.17 and by the unction of thy spirit to be united into one spirit with the Lord. 8. And to embrace thy love that everlasting love which sprang from thee in thine electing mercy and pity before the world began 9. And am now become more solicitous by thine aid and help to cast all my cares upon thee then ever I was anxious and distressed as to events while those pressures caused my foul to groan out to heaven 10. I am now determined by thy power to breathe out my soul at last only into thy compassionate bosome Col. 1.11 to be kept to the day of Redemption and being strengthned with all might by thy glorious power humbly resolve to wait with all patience in the fresh actings of Faith till I see thy face in the joyful morning of the resurrection The soul having in these few panting Soliloquies poured forth its breakings of heart before God desires yet further to be resolved in one question to help its joy and therewith I shall conclude this chapter Quest How may I discern the truth and integrity of these breathings of the soul to be the true actings of Faith. Answ I answer labour to feel the pulse of thy soul as once a Greek Physitian touching the arterial pulse of a young Prince of Macedon knew whether his heart wâ—nt So may we assuredly know where our treasure is seated and where our love is planted if we find our hearts to be where Christ is set down even at the right-hand of God. But le ts reply a little more distinctly Col. 3 1 2. 1. Consider where thy soul doth most acquisce where dost thou feel thy soul at most rest and quiet He that bids his soul take ease in a fat barn was but a gross fool Luke 12.18 and he that puts his hope or trust in a clod of yellow clay bows down to a dumb Idol that cannot profit But if as David when dying we have all our hope and salvation in the covenant of a living God 2 Sam. 23. establisht to us in all things and sure If thou repose thy weary spirits in the bosome of Christ and findest thy lingring weariness to wear away in the warm bath of his Love and resignest thy self into his tuition and under the canopy of heaven and exercising thy self in applying precious promises suitable to thy captive state by the rivers of Babylon and patiently waitest for his bright and blessed appearance and Kingdom
vigorous resistance against the more spiritual operations of the holy Spirit of God. 2. I proceed now to the second point premised which is to shew that Faith and Holiness are inseparable companions like Jonathan and David native twins coming up from the washing of regeneration both together which may be evident as follows 1. Because Faith is a part of holiness or the new creature in the renovation of the image of God whom to believe on his Word was the duty of Adam in Innocency and is indeed a branch of the first Commandment and part of that blessed pourtraicture is restored again by Christ under the new Covnant By nature since the fall 't is true we incline to distrust God and believe Satan before him and in not obeying him in trusting to his Son upon his Word we give God the un truth as to the method of salvation by anothers righteousness But indeed Faith is a prime part of our holiness whereby we trust God as to his promise of eternal life by his blessed Son Jer 17 7 Act. 26.18.15.19 and is the very critical and discerning character between a true convert and a carnal man We are said therefore to be sanctified by Faith in Christ and the heart to be purified by Faith not from it self as an efficient cause of holiness but as it daily fetches and derives holiness from him as head of the Church Gal. 5.6 So that Faith in sanctifying us after the first infusion of grace is a power or vertue co-operating with the spirit of God and enjoys a constant concourse of the same holy Spirit in all our spiritual actions 2. Another ground may be taken from the conjunct work of the spirit John 3. who in his very first impulse and motion to true and saving conversion at his coming down into our hearts for that purpose works both Faith and Holiness at the same moment 3. Because our blessed Lord came into the World 't is the end of his advent to us not only to be the object of our Faith but to save us from our sins Mat. 1.21 Tit. 2.14 1 John 3. â— and Faith must act upon him for that end to purifie and deliver us from our iniquities not only for salvation from hell or wrath to come but also from the guilt and filth of sin For we are chosen in him to be holy and created in Christ unto good works Christ gave himself to redeem us from all iniquity Eph. 1.4 2.10 Tit 2.14 to purifie us for a peculiar people zealous of good works I where we may observe justification and sancttification riding together in the same Chariot If then all gracious habits be wrought at once the too much nicety of arguing about the precedency of this or that grace is to be rejected as not agreeing to the uniform work of the new nature nor the inward experience of saints whose graces work according to influence opportunity of providence 1 Cor. 12 11 the good pleasure of the spirit in his assistances who divideth to every one severally as he will. We may admit somewhat as to congruity of the seeming order of nature or time but not press such conceptions over strictly for various experiences will contradict the curiosity of such notions But we may firmly determine that the understanding cannot spiritually discern the excellencies of Christ 1 Cor 2 14 nor the will of man stedfastly believe in him nor the affections savingly embrace him till we are first regenerated by Gods most holy Spirit who is powred out into every faculty and power of the soul at the very first initials of Conversion 4. Because the Commandments of holiness are part of the object of our Faith in its doctrinal foundation Rom. 7.12 Therefore Paul in his conflict sets down this as a maxim that the Law is holy and the Commandment holy just and good 5. Besides the truth of our Faith is demonstrable by holiness as its genuine effect It s vain for persons to pretend to Faith where this is wanting tho' it may not appear so evidently at the first Jam. 2.17 The Apostle James spends a large discourse upon this Argument to prove that Faith without the works of holiness is but a dead Faith. Indeed our holiness being imperfect does not justifie the person before God but it justifies the faith of the person to be true and the Apostle Paul conjoynes Faith and Holiness together and thence proves our eternal life 2 Thess 2.13 Blessing God for having chosen the Thessalonians to glory and proves it because they were sanctified by the Spirit and did believe the truth of the Gospel 6. Lastly Because the application of Faith or the working or actuating of our Faith upon Christ in the promise doth not only sweetly and clearly manifest our being justified but assists us also in the obtaining and increasing of holiness 2 Cor. 7.1 They walk and work together For how do the precious promises of the covenant purge us from sin and all filthiness of flesh and spirit but by the acting faith in Christ and so do embrace Christ for our sanctification 1 Cor. â— 30. and in his name and power derive holiness from those precious promises which are the golden Pipes or nerves that convey it from our glorious head Whence it comes that our belief of the inheritance promised and of Heavens aimiableness revealed by the Word and ratified on and by the verity of God helps us daily to walk more holily and to be made more meet for that Kingdom with the Saints in light And thus it is Act. 15.7 Lev. 4 20 33. that Faith purifies both the heart and life for glory Even as under the Levitical Law the action of the Priest in his offering the Bullock and sprinkling the blood before the Lord is said to purge away sin Rainold praelect vol. 1. p. 123. or make attonement for their sins that is instrumentally So may Faith be an instrument in deriving the sense of our justification and the sweet influences of our sanctification from our blessed Lord in believing the sanctifying promises made in his Name and actuated by virtue of his holy Spirit Now then according to that common and useful sentiment there be two works that attend Sanctity the first is to mortifie sin and the second to vivifie and quicken Grace Pet. 3.11 that we may be holy in all manner of conversation and this not of our own power either to begin carry on or finish but wholly by the work of the Spirit at first and then by his gracious concourse with every holy action of the new creature to the last being carried on by the power of God thru ' Faith to Salvation This is so great a Scripture truth that t is to be admired that the impugners of it who stand upon their own power so much both as to conversion and as to perseverance should be so noted for looseness
of life which shews the secret tremendous judgment of God that such as too much neglect the righteousness of God Mr. Hickman Hist of Arminianism p. 396. should many times have so little of their own as t is observed by a Learned Writer in a short History of such points Having thus treated a little about the necessary conjunction of holiness with Faith le ts exhibit its beautiful face in the following chrystal Glass of Holy Scripture 1. It principally consists in the inward frame of the heart according to the Will of God when the image of God does most illustriously shine into it True Religion and Holiness are fundamentally seated in the heart all other is but painted false and hipocritical Bell-Religion is but mocking of God when lewd men and women run to the Assembly to shew their clothes stare upon their goatish paramours Prov 7 14 and like the strange woman in the Proverbs pay their peny at the Temple and then with an impudent face deck their Bed with Tapistry and perfume it with Spices ver 16 17 But true inward holiness excites and instigates persons constantly upon the taming and subduing rather than bridling only their fierce and sensual lusts and to crown right reason with full power and dominion over their inferior beastly appetites which is and may be performed genuinely and successfully alone by true grace 2. Holiness consists in studying and observing the purity of Gods Worship prescribed in his Word according to his Will. For what communion can we have with so holy a God Heb. 12 9. Exod 20.24.25.22.29 42. Numb 6.24 in methods formed besides and contrary to his appointment If earthly Princes will not receive Addresses but according to their own prescriptions and appoint Masters to order those solemnities why not much rather be subject to the King of Kings that Father of Spirits and live when God had set down all the Ordinances of his Worship to Moses then adds there will I come unto you and bless you 3. In sobriety and chastity towards our own bodies 1 Thess 4.4 Tit. 2.12 possessing those noble vessels wherein our souls those Lamps of life shine so radiantly in Sanctification and Honour 4. In a vigilant care of Justice and Righteousness between man and man setting before our eyes that golden rule Mat. 7 12. of doing to others as we would others should do to us Whoever then upon the high testimony given to Faith in Scripture shall wax wanton with Grace Rom. 6.1 and fancy they are set at liberty to live as they list such do but trifle with God and impose upon the purity of his Precepts in the end will deceive themselves if repent not fall into the precipice of eternal Damnation Which point is faithfully determined in the Homilies of England concerning Faith Chap. 4. P. 23. and more copiously in the second part about Faith Page 24. where they declare Faith to be a working grace and again Page 28. citing the Apostle Peter where we translate the words 2 Pet. 1.5 Add to your Faith vertue they read it Minister or declare vertue in or by your Faith. that is shew forth the force power or vertue of your Faith in all your other graces and in the holiness of your lives by the effects and fruits of a true and living Faith. Let us now consider one or two questions and finish this Chapter at present Quest 1. What means may we use to attain and increase true holiness Answ 1. I answer Study thine own heart keep it with all diligence especially from your own iniquities Prov. 4.23 and your own special tentations by a wakeful guard both in prayer and watchfulness Observe who comes in and goes out Examine thy self more frequently and meditate deeply and seriously to give a wise and deliberate answer to these three questions in the Catechism of conscience 1. Whence came I what 's my original State. 2. Where am I what and whose work am I doing 3. Whether go I after this life is ended Give a satisfying answer according to Gods Word to these questions and scrutinies of an enlightened conscience and this will comfort you upon a dying pillow When all the world is not worth the tip of an atome to you You will need no longer Catechisms but as to dependent explications upon these heads For if your peace be made with God on this score you are out of gun-shot But ever remember Josephs question about the Eye and Presence of God in all places saying gea 39.9 How can I commit this great wickedness and sin against God. Especially consider his flaming Eye to awe you from secret sins which are all in the light of his countenance Psal 90.8 when no other eye is upon you and be ashamed to commit those things under his eye which you would blush to commit before a little child and are in a fright at the turn of every door lest a child should come in to observe you and tell tales of you when faithful Relations out of Town return again O the hellish practical Atheism that lurks in the hearts of professing hypocrites that write Sermons only to accuse them at the day of Judgment and to be a pile of papers to burn them in hell unless they repent O set your ways before the eyes of the Lord Prov. 5.21 who pondereth all your goings That 's like an Isaack in the field a Joseph in an empty house or a pious Nathanael under the Fig-tree alone John 1.48 2. Study an exact imitation of the Saints in glory that are now enjoying the promises whose faith follow If vain persons would ensnare by their scoffs or inticements remember they are but the wiles of the Devil Lustful villains dare not stand the repulse of a brave and virtuous spirit casta est quam nemo rogavit They shrink and sink with shame into the Devils bosome when the glory of an holy life chaftizes them into horror and strangling Ponder the path of thy feet and walk in the way of good men Prov. 4 20 25. 2.20 5 6. and the righteous that are the excellent upon the earth let be thy companions Aiery persons so called are fit for no company but the prince of the power of the Air that ruleth and rageth in the children of disobedience Eph. 2.2 the Sons and Daughters of Belial that shall be damned When sinners intice consent thou not A man is discerned by his companion and a woman by her Gallant as the infatuated world shamefully Italianizes but a wound and dishonour shall he get and his reproach shall not be wiped away keep thou in the path of the Just that shines more and more nill the perfect day Prov. 6.33 Mark the perfect and behold the upright the end of that man is peace Follow their grace Psal 37.37 and their glory will follow you Shining beams stream from their paths to enlighten
your feet in the way to bliss and happiness 3. Stop up the casements of thy senses at any approaches of vanity Prov. 4.25 Let thine eyes look right forward and take heed to thy going Wax up thine ears as Vlysses in Homer from the Syren-songs of fools that may split thy soul upon the Rocks of Charib dis The five senses are as so many rushing flood gates to set open the heart to all iniquity 4. Beg of God a quickned heart to secret and family-duties Cry to the Lord Psal 80.18 Jer. 10.25 Quicken me and I 'le call upon thy name and tremble to be among those families that for not calling on Gods Name shall have his fury poured out upon them Family-prayer is like some Elixir or morning antidote in pestilential times and like some anodyne or cooling cordial julep in an evening to procure beloved sleep in the bosome of God. I was told a notable passage from a holy man a native of Lancashire Mr. Hilton that a witch being to be turned over confessed at her Execution that she could never bewitch the person or family as I remember of a certain godly man in that country because she could never find him come out of his doors without prayer in a morning Again I beseech you let us take heed of Omission-sins and beg pardon for and assistance both of memory and strength against them yet be not too much discouraged if age sickness or weakness or some sudden disappointments hinder or impair thy work Nay if sometimes the sweet wind of the spirit do not breath so fragrantly upon thy garden of spices with the same benigne influences as to melt thy heart in holy ardors and flames of love remember that relentings and mournings under such apprehended absences of the spirit do manifestly infer the inward presence of the same holy spirit in the compunction and brokenness and languishments of heart for Christ do shew a sickness for want of communion visible by secret invisible touches of his love Behold he stands behind the wall Sâ—ng 2.9 and will by and by look forth at a window and shew himself through the lattesse to thee Let me here interpose an humble and earnest request to all persons who may light upon these lines to set upon a speedy and sincere reformation of all things displeasing in his sight that the Lord may bless us and restore and preserve our mercies and especially to conserve the Gospel among us Le ts ' also mix prayer with holy thankfulness for the least of mercies which reminds of a passage of Mr. John Ball when occasionally at a very short and mean dinner with Adams Ale as the Author terms it he breaks out into these words It would cost a man many a years labour to be truly and throughly thankful for one piece of bread and cheese Clearks lives p. 176. Oh how many poor persons in this land would leap at the crusts parings and offals which many lewd persons and wastful servants fling away presumptuously against the command of our Lord who could make bread by a word out of stones out of nothing and yet bids that nothing be lost while as they consider not what bitter poverty they may howl under John 6 1â— nor the dreadful judgment of a famine of bread and water But then how much more abundantly thankful ought we to be for the festival-days of the Gospel which we have enjoyed that so we provoke not the master of the feast to remove both his flourishing table and such ungrateful guests Since many people are even weary of their faithful and painful Ministers who are so disheartned grieved and wearied with abuses offered to them that we may justly fear lest God should prove weary of us all as we are weary of him and provoke him to take away the golden and put brazen candlesticks in their room as that holy man Dr. Owen exprest himself with much sadness to that purpose a little before his ascent to the spirits of just men made perfect Le ts earnestly implore the divine love and patience to forbid these dangerous symptoms and return in mercy to us again 5. Look well to the flocks of your families that no sin break forth without rebuke restraint and punishment as the matter requires study and beg for prudence in government Take heed of multiplying over-many especially impertinent words in family-prayer lest worshippers prove sleepers and disturb that duty by snoring Remember that God is in heaven and thou upon earth Eccles 5.2 therefore let thy words be few It often makes the ways of Religion tedious and irksome to young persons and sometimes hinders their looking towards heaven In all points labour to keep servants and children in full work and business and keep them from gadding with Dinah For womens chaste behaviour gives a flatter denial than their saying of no to wanton fellows They come too near a grant to airy women that would seem to deny it Let the reins of government be held in a gentle hand moderata durant Let not little faults be the object of severe chastisements yet wise correction is most necessary tho now fled from this dissolute age which is the true cause of many enormities 't is hard for good persons to retrieve it while wicked persons are so rampant and powerful but do what thou canst in the wisest way for a good mans paths are ordered of the Lord. Ill and sordid breeding and evil communications affects many thousands with corrupt manners all their dayes Good education helps to sweeten ill-tempers betimes as a new vessel that 's scented with a vinous liquor And although under bad influences at birth and in nursing by a froward milk as Plutarch points it yet wise parents by the blessing of God may greatly form and lick their conversation into some smooth civilities It s a weighty work to fashion young ones to religious habits it tames the heathen fierceness and barbarism of some natures and brings them up by degrees to advance in some measure the glory of God their countries benefit and their own peace Eph. 1.2 within and ornament without Whereas others who are hurt by bad presidents and examples in the ungraceful carriage of Superiours who care not to prune or lop off the wild luxuriancies of youth they often prove quarrelsome and contentious wretches in age disturbers of families the instruments of mischief in cities and towns and if many then they prove firebrands to whole Nations 6. Deliver your souls from this wicked generation fly youthful lusts Acts 2.40 fast away tentations beat down the flesh that great Ass as Hilarion terms it by moderation and abstinence especially from wine and strong drink and all excesses Shun as a serpent or a flying dragon the dreadful madness of these days which tends in the end to shame and beggery here to the ruine of many ancient and famous families who have swallowed many a park and many a
when thou hast wisely and deliberately weighed the various phrases in the promises then examine the frame of thy heart and if finding them suit in some sweet measure tho not so clearly as thou longest to have it yet fear not delay not to joyn thy heart and the promise together And this moreover I 'll say to thee for thy comfort that tho the hand of thy Faith should shake with some tremblings at present be not dismayed Mat 9.2 Mark 2.5 our blessed Lord who spake to the palsie man both can and will in due time for thy inward hope is an evidence of it speak that great strengthening word to the relaxed nerves and sinews of thy Faith Son be of good cheer 2 Tim. 2.13 thy sins be forgiven thee for if thou hold but the head nay if touch but the hem of his garment virtue will proceed and thou l't perceive it by some sweet settling quietings of Spirit as when the dew of heaven falls in a still evening For he will abide faithful tho we do not in so full and triumphant a manner act Faith upon him Psal 149.4.50.23 yet he will continue to be gracious and will shortly beautifie the meek with salvation If you order your conversation aright he will shew and make to shine the face of your Saviour and the Sun of his salvation upon you his beloved ones That person may certainly conclude himself to be in Christ who walketh in this World as he did all to our proportion and continue in acts of contemplation and adherence 1 Tim. 4.8 Heb. 12.6 embracing the promises Hitherto I have spoken somewhat to the application of the promises whereby we may argue true Faith and thence lay a strong foundation for assurance but before I relinquish this Subject I would touch upon the several Arguments used by the Apostle John which he insists upon in his Epistles written on purpose foâ— the comfort of Bâ—lievers 1 Joh. 1.4 5.13 1 John 3.23 that their joy may be full and that we may know that we have eternal life To which end it is Gods Commandment to believe in the Son and to love one another Let us then mention the chief in Order 1. The first evidence of eternal life is drawn from our walking in the Light that is of holiness 1 John 1.6 2 29. 3.6 9. walking in the truth Epist 3.3 in obedience to his Commandments 1 John 2.3 5 3.24 5.2 3. Epistle 2.6 In imitation of Christs holy walking 1 John 2.6 4.17 and in purifying of our selves according to his pattern 1 John 3.3 and yet all this must be qualified in respect to our infirmities and weaknesses 1 John 1.8 9 10. 2.1 2. 2. The second Argument to prove the truth of grace and assure our selves before God is love to the Brethren 1 John 2.9 10 and chap. 3.11 14. 4.7 12 20. and in his Gospel Joh. 13 35. 3. The third Argument is from our not loving the World nor the things thereof 1 Joh. 2.15 as the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes or the pride of life ver 16. That is 1. Pleasures of all sorts as luxury in Diet Habit Houses Gardens rambling about the World without special ends and all inordinacy and intemperateness in the body as Jerom uses to express it iâ— ventre sub ventre For they that love Pleasures and Riotings shall not be rich in purse sayes Solomon nor in grace Prov. 21.17 sayes the whole current of Scripture 2. The lust of the eye which is as to all sorts of covetousness to get and retain by right or by wrong in an excessive appetition of the things of this World which must be left behind us and do not can not fill the heart of man no nor the eye with satisfaction Eccles 5.11 Nor 3. the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the Pride of Ambition Fastuousness Honour and advancement into great places and to be alone in the Earth These things eagerly pursued eat out the heart and power of godliness 4. The fourth Argument is assumed from the anointings of their Spirit 1 Joh. 2 20 27 3.24 4.13 whereof more by and by God willing 5. The fifth Argument is taken from a holy and reverent hearing of Gods Ministers 1 John 4.6 we may know what spirit we are of by this if we receive Christ as Hilary expresses it Qualis ab Apostolis praedicatus est as he was preached by the Apostles and submit to him in all his Offices and Ordinances such a one belongs to the spirit that is of God that keeps the Doctrine of Christ as the Apostle expounds himself Epistle 2. ver 9. 6. The last Argument arises from our love to Christ 1 Iohn 5.1 and in him to the Father Now if these things be found in us we shall then overcome the World 1 Ioh. 5.4 and shall not be touched virulently or fatally by Satan 1 Iohn 5.18 shall have access to God in prayer 1 Iohn 5.14 and shall have boldness in the day of Judgment 1 Iohn 4.17 and this will so settle our sense of the love of God to us that it will by degrees cast out the torment of fear For it will allure us to a holy familiarity with divine love 1 Iohn 4.18 and so sweeten our thoughts and affections of and to him that we may begin to enjoy a kind of heaven upon earth which the Father of his great mercy in Christ grant unto us by the Spirit Having hitherto treated about Argumentation I proceed now to the second Head about attaining Assurance which is by the irradiation of the Spirit of God upon the hearts of Believers For all is in vain as to gaining of solid and permanent comfort unless the Spirit of God come in and confirm us against the innumerable doubts and cavils that will arise upon us under all our Arguings because of the subtlety of satan the natural diffidence of our own hearts and the clouds that arise from the unholiness of our lives and the dread of eternity I design therefore to treat a little while about the witness of the spirit his immediate breathings his bright shinings and as it were speakings within our hearts when a holy soul hath this witness in himself 1 Iohn 5.10 2 Cor. 1.3 Act. 10.44 For in and upon believing the Father of Lights and of all consolations sends in his own due time this his holy spirit like a dove of peace into our hearts who helps us to discern the truth of the work of grace After ye believed sayes the Apostle ye were sealed with the holy spirit of promise Eph 1 13. He is sometimes set forth by a Seal and a Witness to the bond of the Covenant by a Seal and an Earnest to the contract about the inheritance 2 Cor. 1.22 by a Seal and a Love-Token or an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a word used of old to note
no delusion Answ In answer to this I must first in all manner of humble modesty declare that I would not dare to meddle too far with such deep and mysterious workings and influences only professing with all thankfulness to the Majesty of divine mercy that having had some glimpses of hope a little sometimes and thirsting after some further and clearer helps from heaven we faint not utterly but striving after to attain towards the resurrection of the dead crave leave to set down somewhat that hope may be a clue to conduct us out 〈◊〉 the Labrinth and maze of delusion The first and best token that these aâ—â— no deceits can only arise from the spirt himself According to that saying of â—oy Iohn It is the Spirit that beareth witness that the Spirit is truth 1 John 5.6 Whitak de sacramentis p. As I remember thâ—â— learned Whitaker in his book of the Sacraments says it should be translated I have forgot the page my books being laid upâ—â— But this is a great truth as no better light to see the Sun by Psal 36.9.34.5 than his own light So 't is of the Spirit as David expresses In thy light we shall see light and they looked to him and their faces were enlightened This is the apprehension of learned gracious persons that the spirit of God never speaks by this his inward heavenly voice but that he graciously helps them to know that it is no delusion but that it is he even the spirit himself that speaketh to them This phrase of speaking to the heart and in and upon the heart is more visible in the Original Hebrew of the Old Testament and was well known to the Prophets of old and is much treated upon among Jewish Antiquiaries Out of whom I must not here stand to enlarge but call to mind what the Apostle Peter mentions of the Day-star arising in our hearts 2 Pet. 1.19 so that it is as clear when the spirit of God does thus shine and testifie yea and more radiant than the Sun at Noon-day without clouds I shall say no more to this but what our Lord to the Angel at Pergamus of them that have a new name written in the white stone Rev. 2.17 which none knoweth saving he that receiveth it 2. I need say little more but that wherever the Spirit doth so illustriously speak and shine it is concomitant with growing in holiness For this most holy Spirit of God is still a building and increasing in such the works of holiness they are of a heavenly frame rivers of holy discourse flow from their lips in prudent seasons they are not vain and trifling spirits but grave and serious and yet chearful For the joy of the Lord is their strength and they have inward delights and value not the cracklings of fools Divine joy is a weighty thing and yet greatly upholds the spirits and sustains their griefs and infirmities If you come into their company by a blessed accident as they say of the Adepti in Philosophy there 's a glittering star shines from their converse society 3. They are the most humble persons living For the humble he will teach his way and shew his Covenant Psal 25.9 I know they may fall sometimes and othertimes have need of a little holy courage against despisers But the main of their conversation is like them of whom the spirit of God says they took notice of them that they had conversed with Jesus Acts 4 13. who was meek and lowly if we imitate him we shall find this rest and remember that Moses the meekest man had the greatest interviews with God in the Mountain Such as are given to much prate and length of idle impertinent discourses are seldom and little or never acquainted with the Spirit of God. 4. They are also the sweetest persons and fullest of love though sometimes provokt by fierce evil spirits about them but if their natural tempers had been before somewhat eager and sharp yet now they are washed purged whitened and sweetned by the Spirit of God. Tender to the Tempted kind to the afflicted pitiful to all bear every ones burden with a gracious frame onely they are taught by the holy Spirit 1 cor 23 4.5 as to such as prate with malicious words against them to imitate hole John not to succumbe under a prouâ—â— Diotrephes 3 John 9. but loves a child of God as such with the full stream of his Spirit And this love to the brethren is much more to Christ himself being filled with the love of the Spirit which by degrees casts out the torments of fear 1 John. 4.18 and gives a blessed confidence as to the Appearing of the Day of Judgment To end this we must remember that the holy Spirit of God doth never witness or illustrate apart from the Word Isa 8 20. 〈◊〉 any light in you try it by the Word and Testimony and hence that as Tentations and afflictions sanctified so the manifestations and communions of the Spirit help us to understand holy Scriptures and promises by experience Let us then be sure as far as possible that the person that pretends to be thus illustrated prove himself to be an holy person in heart and deed or else all 's like a puft and swoln delusion and such an onâ— must lie down in sorrow For the Spirit of God is a most holy spirit and never seals but as he is the holy Spirit of Promise upon the holy heart of an holy child of God. Well then to end this second part of the Spirits illustration Eph 1 3. Rom. 8.16 1 John 4.13 I say it is not meant of the Spirit of God concurring or witnessing with our spirits in the point of assurance clearing up our doubts dispelling the mists and clouds uponour spirits But it is an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or like an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a bright shining Ray a most illustrious beam streaming down from heaven into the inmost chambers of our hearts and is an act distinct and apart from his former blessed concurse with our spirits in time of argumentation or the gracious application of the promises for our peace and comfort it is an irresistable evidence of divine love See Dr Owen of the spirit 167. scattering all the clouds of diffidence and distrust in that very moment and when this immediate irradiation flows in though it may be a distinct act from that upon argumentation yet it cannot be totally severed from it because in this glorious light though we may see further yet cannot but see any argument we think meet to touch upon to be also illustrated by it as the Moon in her increases may be seen in the heavens like a cloud in the day time which also has its light from the Sun while he is yet shining bright within our hemisphere at the same time and when these come together they make heavenly work indeed That these blessed
precepts and the promises being the rule of asking We have a most free access to plead the promises both of this and the life to come Eph. 3.12 Heb. 4.16 1 Tim. 4 8. so that by holy degrees and steps we may arrive to further humble confidence of divine mercy 4. When we feel some gracious risings of love to God as pardoning our iniquities for Christs sake and tho we do not so fully and sweetly feel it as we would yet our hearts do pant and long after it This is a true sign of Love. But yet to clear it a little the humble soul will ask Quest How shall I know that I love God Ans I answer Of all the affections that spring and bubble out of the will this is most easily to bediscerned and known Do you know the Sun when you see him walk in brightness do you know that you live by the actings of the senses and the pulsation of your arteries or do you know that you walk when you move your feet and feel your motions from place to place you may as certainly know your affections and the workings of your Soul This distinguishes men from Bruits in the acting of their reason upon all they do and in managing ends and means The affections spiritually beating are the pulsations of the regenerate heart Observe then your Objects if you love the things above better than all below Col. 3.2 Isal 73.25 in your choice and preference tho sometimes under some ebbs and eclipses yet still you find an inward regard to God and his glory and that you perform every action in ordine ad Deum and love all as to the inward sincerity of your heart 1 Cor. 10.31 and enjoy every relation with some desire to work up your mercies towards God in thankfulness and usefulness These are good tokens that you are risen with Christ by Faith and that your life is hid with God in him and that by continued degrees of Sanctification you shall at last arrive to this even to appear with him in Glory 4. But that I may at length wind out of this delightful Labyrinth in discoursing about Assurance Let us hearken to the second Question wherein the Soul being somewhat revived does now start the fourth Particular at the beginning and that is Quest 2. How may I preserve and retain Assurance when it is gained Ans The reason of this Question arises not only from hence because the sweet sense of divine love is a most desirable frame of Spirit and fills the soul to the brim with joy and peace in the Holy Ghost and besides renders persons very serviceable and greatly honours Religion But also because 1. Many gracious persons that have true Faith yet labour under deep fears of Hypocrisie arising from their pious Education not answered by proportionable holiness It puts great jealousies in their hearts that all they have done is but a forced work and a habit of formality attracted from the precepts of godly Ministers and Parents instilling into an inlightned conscience the frightful form of an outward conversation consonant and therefore fear at a strange rate that their diamonds are but as it were from the soft Rock of St. Vincent their Gold but Alchymy their Faith but fained and temporary But be not discouraged For that Faith is true and unfeigned which proceeds from a pure heart 1 Tim. 1.5 19. and a good conscience that is without fraud and guile in setting it naked and open before God Act. 24.16 in labouring and exercising to keep a good conscience in sight of God and Men. You may then rejoyce in the testimony of such a conscience having been upright before him in the main bent of the soul Psal 18.23 and in keeping from your own iniquity What tho thou didst not come in with such remarkable pangs no more did Zacheus nor Lydia T is not the manner but the truth of our coming in to Christ is the great point if thou constantly adhere to the Lord with full purpose of heart Nay what if there were some errors at first Act. 11.23 this puts no bar if the root of the matter be in thee The Apostles followed our Lord at first in some hopes of preferment in the temporal Kingdom of the Messiah but at length understood the Doctrine of the Crosse better which God in great tenderness is pleased to vail from young converts at first or at least preserve them from suffering till they are strengthened and then like the Apostles they still cleave to and continue with the Lord under all trials by the exceeding power of his might And thus as I remember Dr. Crakenthorp in defending of Cyprian and Jerom against some pontificians imputing some errors to them Crakenthorp of the sixth Council P. the better to vindicate their Liberius answers that if they did erre they did it not willingly but were ready to reform upon the first approach of Scripture light and conviction T is so in our case they are ready with that holy man to pray what I see not teach thou me Job 34.32 The mind and will of God is the perfect square rule canon and compass of all their actions and tho they may fail threu ' weakness yet never thru ' wilfulness Wherefore be not out of heart O tender and trembling soul let not go your hope and confidence because you have not had so long and such bitter pangs in the new birth that makes the work the harder but not the truer A child may be born sometimes with greater ease and speed Great horrors may attend great sinners and yet after all their heavy convictions may stick in the birth and never be truly converted till they are truly and perseveringly reformed which indeed cuts the work short and makes the evidence clear If thou hast been under a gentler hand from God bless him with louder Songs of praise For the shorter and sweeter the method the greater is the mercy and as one said A young Saint may make as old Angel. 2. This question begs a full answer because though want of Assurance does not denote an unbeliever yet it keeps a true believer under the dark shades of fear and sorrow Assurance besides in the best of Saints is but an imperfect work because our Faith it self is but imperfect we see but in part because we do but trust in part If our Faith do at any time waver and stagger â—ol 2.2 assurance must needs qviver and shake It 's true there 's mention made of the riches of full Assurance but that 's comparative in respect to some Saints and mentioned as attainnable with full sweetness and may possibly for the main continue pretty constant especially in very active and suffering Saints yet 't is not without ebbs and buâ—â—etings in the best There are but few that walk in the mountain of Sun-shine all their lives as 't is said of Zabarel the Philosopher when one day
suffer great pains travel dust smoke and swelter in their fiery furnaces and though they attain not the great Arcana yeâ— often meet with curious rarities which sufficiently reward their diligence 2 pet 1.5 10. Assurance usually comes in upon our diligent use of prayer meditation and holy walking in some time after several plunges fears and sorrows Though indeed somtimes the wayes of God prove unsearchable and sometimes he is pleased to bestow this favour on a sudden to such as are gracious from their childhood tractable and ingenuous at the calls of God as young Samuel when he understood it by the instruction of an elder Saint and when such have not been defiled by any great staines and blotches in their youth nor caused the ways of God to be evil spoken of by any scandalous sin Quest If now you ask how to preserve it when you have received it in an answer to your earnest prayer Psal 25.7 A. I answer Conservatur qua quaeritur T is preserved by the very same methods 6. Call to mind what former experiences you have enjoyed Having once seen the Kings face it will for ever enlighten yours former mountain-visions makes a Saints heart to shine as bright as Moses's face Psal 34.5 and reflects upon the heart gloriously in the vally of desert once haviâ—g câ—eared up the love of God to you then may you return to that experiment As a fountain shewn by the Angel of the Covenant at Beersheba the well of the sacred â—ath of God Gen 21.14 Rom. 11.29 Heb. 3.14 10.35 Phil. 1.6 It will never dry up it fears no scorching summers For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance Caâ—r not away then the beginnings of your confidence For he will perfect what he hath begun till the day of Christ 7. Cherish the sacred motions of the Spirit of God for he takes of the things of Christ not from us our merits faith or holiness for they are of no value but of his blood to comfort us John 16.15 therefore hearken to his affectionate breathings If thou at any time fall thru ' infirmity this holy Spirit helps thee to mourn under the sight of displeased love If thy faith seem to muddle and grope in the dark he will shine upon thy paâ—h again If grace like the sensible plant shrink up by the touch of some rough hand of tentation it will open and expand its branches again by this Suns warm and sweet influences If then the joy of Assurance spring again if the glories of heaven be described as in a lively Landskarp before thine eyes written as it were with bright illuminated letters E capite mortuo sanguinis vel urinae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Song 4. Jerom. bless the Spirit of grace and cry out with the Spouse in the book of Songs Be gone O chill and blasting north and come O fruitful cherisâ—ing distilling south upon the garden of my Soul that the spices thereof may flow forth that my beloved may come and eat his pleasant fruits 8. Be careful in the constant use of Ordinances and pure worship and especiaâ—ly the Lords Supper and considering the times of trouble as frequent as thou canst but woe to them that are obstructers and remember when God opens the doors of his Sanctuary that thou behave with all holy reverence endeavouring to enjoy it in its purity and power There the King sits at his Table Song 1 1â— and the Spiknard fends forth its fragrâ—ant smell At this banquet Faith helps to assure us that we shall as certainly sit with Christ in glory as we now partake of the seals in grace Here Christ is received by the hand of a true believer here we eat drink Christ into our souls As we take the bread and wine into our bodies so by Faith we take his most precious body and blood which being digested with an holy heart is turned into the nerves and spirits of Assurance That thou mayst now sing the holy hymn of praise with a loud voice This is my Lord and my God he will come and save us Let not go this your holy confidence but hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.13 Lastly look dilgently to the holiness of your ways and with it be careful of a humble resigning interpretation of the ways of God towards you that you be never too much elevated or high-crested in prosperity nor in time of adversity despise his corrections Heb. 12.5 Souls conflict p. 321. Rom. 8.28 or faint under them It is a never-sailing rule said holy Sibbs to discern a mans state in grace when he finds every condition draw him nearer to God and when all things work together for his good As the flesh of vipers I may add and other poysons compounded and corrected into Antidotes and mixt well together prevail against contagious diseases so do corrections sanctified sweat out the poyson of fin that it shall never fatally touch the heart and vitals of such as truly love God and are called according to his purpose I shall now conclude this long but sweet Chapter with Mr. Scudders Testimony of the work of Grace Walk p. 555 Lond 8. 1674. The Question being put about Assurance he there asserts that whoso can answer affirmatively to these following queries which I may contract may be assured of Gods peace and love and of his own salvation what ever fears or feelings may seem to happen to the contrary Quest 1 How stand you affected to sin are you afraid to offend God and dare not sin wittingly is it your grief and burden that you cannot abstain it nor get out of it as soon as you would Quest 2. How are you affected to holiness and the power of godliness To know Gods will and do it to fear and please him is it your grief when you fail and your joy when you do well Quest 3. How to the Church of God are you glad when it goes well and grieved when it goes ill and sit trembling with Ely to hear how it goes with the Ark of God however it be with your own particular Quest 4. How towards men do you dislike wicked men and love those that fear the Lord because they are good Quest 5. Can you endure your soul to be ript up and your beloved sin to be smitten by a searching Minister and like him the rather and can yield an obedient ear to such a wise reproof Quest 6. Tho you have not Evidence alwayes or can scarce tell whether you ever had it yet resolve or desire and will as you are able to cleave to God in Christ for salvation by Faith and to trust in no other person nor by no other means to be saved If you can answer Yea to all or Any of these assure your self you are in God 's favour and state of grace and that you sin
Dreadful Bar where all the great Dons of the World shall tremble to appear and none but Sainâ—s shall lift up their heads in that great morning of their Redemption 3. Since this treatise concerns a happy preparation for our state in the world to come it strongly incites to an impartial examination Whether we be in the Faith or no to enquire what graces or what degrees are yet deficient 2 Cor. 13.5 1 Thess 3.10 and especially to work at the main or fundamental grace of all to search what 's lacking there 2 Pet. 1.10 For when the defects are supplied it will give you an abundant entrance into the heavenly Kingdom and certifie you that you have a blessed right and title to that incorruptible inheritance ver 5. Your holy Faith will work sweetly by the help of love and unfeigned Faith is ever coâ—comitant with unfeigned Repentance to purge and cleanse continually both heart and life and then comes thankfulness riding into the heart in the Chariot of love and helps to conduct us into higher measures of service and sweeter degrees of joy Song 3.10 as a prodromus and fore-runner of the eternal happiness 4. This Treatise may serve as a powerful motive to fervent and uncessant love to the Lord Jesus who has done all for us yea more than we can think It cannot enter into our hearts to conceive what he hath purchased and prepared for those that love him Isai 64.4 Oh what delight should we take in him Oh what thankfulness can we express or render to him He has planted his graces in and upon us as so many pearls and jewels to adorn us Prov. 4.9 1.9 Song 7.12 Joh. 14.2 His love is advanced as a Banner and Shield to protect us He is ascended far above all heavens to fit a place for us and then will come again and take us thither Let us give forth all our love to him till we come to the full enjoyment of his Here I would beg a little leave to pour out a complaint and weep over our want of love to Christ for we see and find that we are all too apt by the sad inclination of the old Adam within us to love and embrace any temporary comfort above and beyond him and then to few the old fig-leaf excuses to hide our nakedness from his all-searching eye sometimes we make Idols of Relations if sweet tempered and pleasant like Jonathan and David and so incite God to take them away in displeasure and to plant sower dirty and crabbed tempers in their room and yet 't is in a mixture of mercy to wean us more to himself for very few have the wit and grace to set God on the Throne in the midst of their hearts Rev. 3.20 and let all others wait and tend while he sups with us Let 's pray our heavenly Father and beg it earnestly that if he will please to purge away our former miscarriages and indulge such mercies to us in our pilgrimage that he would please also to teach help and incite our hearts to love him best and above all and love none but as foot-stools to advance our hearts the more to him and to improve all in order to him Then are we more likely to keep and enjoy our mercies and tast more of God in them all till the blessed time of our ascention to his bosom There be multitudes of a far more inferiour orb stamp and form that instead of persons which sometimes have an excellency when holy meek and chearful fit to converse with man Prov. 5.19 1.10 and ordained of God to be his solace but their price is far above Rubies I lament over those that value not persons gracious and rare-tempered which are the very ornaments of the Creation but being of a low and sordid frame fall down and worship fine houses green Gardens fleet Ships bags of Guynnies and such like trash with many other dumb Idols that will not profit in the day of wrath and yet continue dancing in the plains of Dura Dan. 3.1 at the sound of the Organ Flute and Sackbut and in a moment slip down into the Grave I have read of a good Woman that after her conversion having flung away her foolish trifles once upon the opening her Chest and seeing them ly there cries out Oh sayes she these were once my Idols but now she had left her idolatry and minded nobler Objects There be some yet worse that if you attempt them tho by gentle reproofs are not content with ordinary leaves to cover it as being decent comely fashionable but are in mad rave and cry like Micah will ye take away my gods Judg. 18.24 and ask what ailes me They dote upon a painted trifle or a silly lace or a dress with silver hawksbells as one in the West or a well-set Border of false hair Isai 3.24 Tho as Martial reflects Scit te Proserpina canam the Goddess of Hell knows thee to be but a bald Coot But yet they will in their Moon-like tires worship the Queen of heaven When will the world be wise nay when will Christians be modest and sober remembring they are but dust that Paradise had no garments and Heaven will have none and serious christianity and a mortified heart to the vanities of this life if risen with Christ seeks things that are above Col. 3.1 and is not only content but pleased with great moderation in all those things Phil. 4.5 1 Pet. 3.3 like the holy Women that were of old and called their Husbands Lords not afraid of any amazement or scorn from a vain world knowing that all must shortly perish in the dust and clothe red worms with all your Scarlet Vicus Parmensis Imag. Augustorum P. 142.400 Livia the Empress being askt by the Roman Matrons what art she used to render Augustus so kind and gracious as to obtain any thing at his hand Answered I do it by my modesty since I do all things according to his will and mind This would rid the world of Serpents when the Law of kindness sits down in the chair of duty Let not such as would be thought other persons and such as would be highly favoured of God let not such by an Herodias-attire betray their unacquaintance with him the slightness and lowness of their spirits and the deformity of their souls and how little of the image of Christ is formed in them that can delight in things that please him not in midst of their many outward pleasures forget the afflictions of Joseph alluding to the ten Tribes in the rocks and mountains of Media and lay but little to heart the sorrows of the Church of Christ either abroad or at home Amos 6.6 If you truly love the Lord Jesus remember your vanity and foolishness is alwayes before him Psal 69.5 beg his pardon and study these things and walk in the Garden of Gethsemany among his sorrows and drops of blood which may inflame your affections to him and
River Kishon that ancient River or River of Antiquities or great battels of old but now swelling to a great overflow swept away the Host of the Canaanites How did the Lord tame the pride of Egypt by locusts hail fire and frogs and darkness that might be felt thick fogs as black as pitch and many other ways How did God subdue the proud Pope Hadrian by a fly c. There 's no age but ecchoes and cries aloud to all people to prove and make all to acknowledg the Soveraign Dominion of the Lord of Hosts in the Heavens Earth and Seas and over all Creatures nay under the earth in Mineral Caverns if Paracelsus and the Learned Agricola write true stories of multitudes of Spirits and living creatures in the bowels of the earth All testimonies trumpeting aloud how God at times arms what of his Hosts he pleases for the protection of his Church and the ruine of his enemies Famous is that memorial of the cloud which presented its dark side to the Egyptians but gave light to Israel when the Red-sea stood up in heaps and the depths were congealed or frozen in the heart or midst of that sea Exod. 15.8.14.22 so that the waters became as a wall to his people which the Egyptians essaying to pass thorough were drowned Nay the wonderful motion of the tides which is so great a mystery Heb. 11.29 Exod. 15.10 Psal 147.18 is managed by Gods Wisdom and the inconsiderable sands are a boundary to the Ocean determining how far his waves shall toss themselves and go no further Jer. 5.12 They have their stated and fixed limits by the laws of Creation which has settled their channels into which they shall subside at his command Some there be to mention it a little that would inferr the sea to be higher than the earth from such a Text. But 't is a mistake and misapply of Scripture Jonah 1. Exod. 20.4 Psal 24.2 Psal 107.23 which expresly sets the waters under the earth and that it is establisht upon the floods and mentions mens going down to the sea in ships If the sea were not lower comparatively to the ordinary surface and globe of the earth besides the mountains how can all the Rivers râ—n down into the sea if the earth out of which they spring Psal 42.10 Eccles 1.7 Jer. 51.42 were not higher wherefore the Prophet alluding to the natural situation foretells that the sea should come up upon Babylon and more to that purpose But this belongs not properly to our present work only so far as to shew that God rules the raging seas and the stormy winds fullfil his pleasure Let 's step to Land and end our voyage with one note more Psal 1â—8 8 to observe how that God injoyned Israel to plow and sow for six years but must trust him for the seventh and part of the eighth till the harvest came living for the while on the blessed providence of God sending them the greater plenty in the foregoing years 4. Fourthly and Lastly le ts touch a little upon the mysterious government of the Church by his most Holy Spirit swaying his golden scepter in the hearts of Converts and ruling them by his rod out of Zion But this refers to that great point of communion with the Spirit of God Psal 110 2. which this treatise only considers in the doctrine of assurance Chapter 8th and in one further consequence following which is the seventh 7. We may learn from the preceding tract that the knowledg of our Faith and the attainment of assurance flow principally from the influences of the Spirit of God. He is the profound teacher of all mysteries and the worker of Faith and therefore gives the clearest evidence without the necessity of arguing when he is pleased to speak to the heart Joh 16.13 He shall teach you all things our Lord promises and guide into all truth He glorifies the Son receives of his shews it to us and manifests things to come Where he teaches any doctrine he works the knowledg and sense of it into the heart and causes us to believe He is the former of faith he commands and inclines us to trust and imprints the image of Christ upon us Epist Gassendi de motu impresso c as the vis impressa sends out a power from the hand or instrument upon the ball arrow or bullet which together with the air that 's gathered by the force into an impulsive vortex behind the body as in the ignis lambens carries on the motion to the end of its vigor 'T is more abundantly here when the spirit becomes the arm of God to break the stone in the heart he moves works in the most intimate recesses of the soul he shapes and forms the new Adam within us and inspires it with fire from the throne between the wheels of the cherubims Ezek. 10.7 He is the skilful architect of the Temple of the Church cementing the living stones together which were cut out of the mountain of the divine Decrees to make a glorious Habitation for God by the Spirit Eph. 2.22 Let 's then never forget to be earnest in prayer for the gift of the spirit since the influx of all grace and the beautiful enamel of our hearts with heavenly gifts flows from this holy spirit of Vrim and Thummim And the truths in Scripture can only be settled and confirmed upon our hearts by him He is like the master of Assemblies that fastens the nail in a sure place Eccles 12.11 like the great shepherd that knock's in the paxilli in caula the stakes about the hurdles of the sheep-cotes to keep the harmless creatures from the Wolves close and warm together in a dark and stormy night 8. Another deduction from the former treatise may be that the number of true believers is very small for the generality of the world knows not God in Christ The Turks indeed own him for a great Prophet but disdain his banner The Jews confess there was such a person at Jerusalem but contradict his message blaspheme his Deity and stumble at his sufferings Among the various nations bearing the name of Christian what wild confusions and absurdities are practised in Muscovy by the testimony of the ingenious Olearius Marriage and what rude mixtures and barbarities are found among the Abyssins south of Egypt as we are taught by that learned Writer Ludolphus or what ignorances blind Customs and perverse worshippings are notified among the Armenians Ludolph Edit 1684. Fol. Maronites or Thoma-Indians as are related by Breerwood Paget and in the collections of travels in Purchas and several others What shall we say to the corruptions among the Pontificians nay in the Reformed Churches of God in the world and how are the lives of most grown degenerate and prophane insomuch that one has adventured to pronounce that 't is hazardable whether above one in a million may be saved I remember also to have read somewhere Dr. Mouliâ— that Chrysostome should say to
Country Mind not their supercilious conceited proud reproofs and slanders spurn them away with the foot of faith and courage know thy duty and study to do it When they are in a better mood and humour and begin to repent and be humbled 1 Cor. 4.3 pity them if they desire thy pardon be as ready to forgive them else remember the divine counsel to Jeremy Let them return to thee but return not thou unto them for they are rebellious against God he will save and deliver thee Trust in him Jer. 15.19 and he will bring it to pass We are then most uneasy and usually most unsuccessful when we govern our wayes by the pride of others directions and their sayso's especially of those that ought to be guided by your self and to enquire the Law at your lips if in such a station 't is Gods Ordinance and if they be in the state of inferiors Caelo descendi◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you 'l never find sweet rest till you have stept over the style of that foolish question What will they say of you Make the Word of God your rule according to the best of light and study to increase it and that in fine will bring peace and rest He that is not Tattle-proof is so far forth in the minority of his wisdom and judgment Every man is allowed judicium discretionis his judgment of discerning upon and above all the world and ought to guide his own actions by the light of his own conscience and to walk by the candle of the Lord within his own Spirit conjoyned with the light of Gods Holy Word For according to that must he answer at the great Tribunal and not for neglecting what some conceited Vsurper would impose upon his conscience Prov. 20.27 Follow the verdict of the honest Jury of the vicinage your own impartial thoughts sitting in the court of conscience illuminated to the best of your integrity and knowledg But never make other mens dictates your laws For as Solomon says every fool will be medling Prov. 20.3 and being full of words his own lips at last will ensnare and swallow up himself Turn off such proud insulting spirits with a holy disdain Eccles 10.14 verse 12. 1 Thes 4.11 and chido them home to look to their own affairs to study quietness and do their own business Mind them not turn away thine ears from such viperine mouths make them not thy compass to steer by either in Calms or Storms but let the holy Laws of God be taken in hand Psal 119.24 Let Moses David Paul and John be thy Counsellers Turn the Bible and discourse with those Divine Lawyers ask counsel at their mouth and give them thy fee of meditation and they 'l advise thee better than Papinian or Justinian and if very difficult cases rise consult Gods holy Ministers that are in being they are the present lively Oracles of heaven Job 33.23 his Interpreters to whom he reveals his secrets their digests and pandects will advise thee thorowly and let the Scriptures dwell richly in thee in all utterance and wisdom Col. 3.16 Thus shalt thou gain and maintain peace with God and with Christ the Son of God set down in his last and blessed Legacy to fortifie thy heart and compass thee with adamantine armour against a foolish quarlelsome and troublesome world Jon. 14 27. and mark such as walk disorderly and cause divisions and offences in Churches contrary to sound doctrine 2 Thes 3.6 11. avoid them and have no fellowship with such unfruitful works of darkness Rom. 16.17 Eph. 5.11 that are set on by Satan to undermine the peace and comfort of Saint◠communion such sower and rough tempers they live and dye undesired and are laid in the dust as a bundle and burden of dung unlamented but keep society with such in whose hearts the peace of God doth rule to render them both humble and thankful These are the Jewels wherein God delights while others continue troublers of Israel the Excellent Ones upon Earth with such keep thy choicest interviews till thou arrive by his safe conduct beyond both the stains of sin 2 Chron. 21.20 Jer. 16.4 and the pains of sorrow If then the blessed marks in the foregoing tract be found in thy heart and life for the main thou shalt find thy graces to bloom and flourish in these mountains of Spices Song 4.16.8.14 and in due time thy beloved will come leaping over the fragrant hills to thine excceeding joy which was presented in our Title page as the end and scope of all these lines and like a boiling spring will ascend higher and higher till it run over in the joy of full Assurance which bubbles first out of a believing heart and runs in the current of a well-spent life and flows into the joy of a blessed death and then your soul being perfumed with the odoriferous ointments and spices wherewith Joseph honoured out Lords Funerals John 19.40 shall lye down by his sacred side in the same fine linnen till the day dawns to the joyful marriage of a holy soul to a holy new raised body and t◠the joyful marriage of a holy Saint with a most holy Saviour the heavenly Bridegroom of his Church when all the promises shall be sanctified in accomplishment and compleatly fulfilled in all their circumces At this Resurrection Day the present joy of Faith as Faith shall end Rev. 14.2 Mat. 24 31. 1 Thes 4.16 and welcome the joy of Vision when the joyful Angels shall sound their Empyraean trumpets and the twenty four Elders shall sing melodiously to their pleasant harps made of the Algum trees of Paradise Mat. 13.43 the Song of Moses Heb. 2.12 and the song of the Lamb when Christ himself shall sing in the midst of that bright constellation of the Stars those Sons of the Morning in Zion above And when all the Saints like Kings with golden Crowns on their heads and like Priests with pure Linnen Ephods on their shoulders shall prophesie with their instruments of Musick before the Lord sitting as King and Priest upon his Throne for ever and ever Zeeh 6 13 Then the Saints shall invent new instruments of Musick like David and shall dance before the Ark of the testimony in heaven and sometimes Riding in Curule Chairs made of the Cedar of the Caelestial Lebanon shall wait upon his triumphal Chariot of Cherubims thru ' all the holy Mountains of the heavenly Canaan 1 Chron 28 18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal 36 8 and shall at pleasure drink of those Rivers of Eden that slide in chrystal streams from under the threshold of the Throne of God. Then shall all they who have here thirsted after the Righteousness of Christ be filled with it to the brim and shall ever sing for Joy of heart Isai 65 14 since they are sweetly and fully arrived at that Eternal and unspeakable mercy The Joy of Faith in its Glorious Vision June 11. 1685. Die Jovis at Abbots Langly in Hartfordshire FINIS
of my own deficiency and intreat a candid Reader to pardon what is here done out of a great thirst and desire to cast in some mites for initiated believers as may help I hope and add to their faith or the joy of faith and supply something of what is yet lacking in the faith of some weaker christians with whom we converse in Ordinances Divinity is an Ocean that hath neither shoares nor bottom there is room enough without envy for every one to spread new Sails and in continual travelling we may still see more wonders of God in these Deeps But yet not to prescind and cut off all proper method and genuine handling of this subject I shall first set down the true nature and essence of this grace of saving faith and then proceed to the rest of the chapters in their prescribed order Now since it hath pleased the goodness of God to give spiritual life to many thousands in these British Isles that have and do believe by the instrumentality of several burning and shining lights ever since the latter end of the Reign of Tiberius Gildas deexciâ— Britan. when the Gospel began first to shine among our praecessors whom God hath raised from age to age out of his infinite mercy as serviceable under his divine commission to open and apply the holy Scriptures from Joseph of Arimathea and his companions at Glastenbury as our Ancestors do generally determine it and have handed it through dark and gloomy times Spelman concil Tom. 1. till its brightness recovered again by the industry of German of Auxere and Lupus of Troyes their disputation at Vepulam against Pelagius his errors and heresies Nay through his divine goodness there never wanted some worthy patrons of the truth under British Saxon and Nerman Governments till the days of Wicklif that great Luminary whose rayes shone into Bohemia Helvâ—tia and thence into Poland as a late worthy Rector of Lesna an university in that Kingdom sometimes since did acquaint me that they own it And after him still sprang up more and more illustrious persons till the restauration from Popery Since which the doctrines of holy â—aith derived from Scripture have been set forth by the Reformed in several Nations and called a Body of confessions printed in quarto But to let them pass I shall for the maine follow that Type of truth which our own teachers have gather out of those sacred pages In the first place then the church of England having exhibited the main doctrines consonant to the holy Scriptures in their Articles Catechism and Homilies I shall name some particulars to our purpose about Faith. In the eleventh Article we have this clause That we are justified by faith only is a most wholsome doctrine and very full of comfort See Nowels Catechism Homilies edit Lond. 1635. Fol. p. 22. Homily of â—alvation or justification part 1. p. 14. as is more largly expressed in the homily of Justification of which more fully in the confession of Faith and the defence of it by Bishop Jewel some hints see in the Catechism but especially the Homilies In the fourteenth Homily thus Lively Faith is a true trust and confidence of the mercy of God through our Lord Jesus Christ and farther that this true and lively faith is not ours but by Gods working in us and again p. 17. 'T is not the act of faith that justifies that were by some act or vertue that is within our selves c and again p. 18. By Faith given us of God we embrace the promise of Gods mercy and of the remission of our sins and yet still more fully in the third part p. 20. True christian faith is c to have a sure trust and confidence in Gods merciful promises to be saved from everlasting damnation by Christ whereof doth follow a loving heart to obey his Commandments In the little Catechism there are hints to the same purpose as that in the answer about Baptism there is required Faith Whereby they stedfastly believe the promises of God. But le ts proceed to others The Assembly of Divines in their Confession of Faith after some previous Discourse about it expresly thus The principal act of saving Faith are accepting receiving and resting upon Christ alone for Justification Sanctification and eternal life by vertue of the covenant of Grace There 's also much to the same effect amplified in the larger and contracted in the shorter Catethism The Declaration of the Faith and Order of the Congregational Churches in England met at the Savoy in London by the Elders and Messengers Octob. 12. 1658. express it in the very same words Chap. 14. Sect. 2. Page 24. which are before rehearsed out of the confession of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster All these Societies then for substance do most harmoniously agree in the same Doctrine of Faith exclusive of works in the point of Justification And oh that they would also once agree to live quietly and peaceably by each other as becomes Professors of the same holy Faith washt in the same holy Baptism and called in one hope of the same calling and as becomes the worshippers of one Lord and one God and Father of all Eph. 4.5 who is above all and through all and in all that truly believe We agree in Judgment as to the great points of Salvation and why not affection and brotherly love and peace forbearing one another in little matters not introduced into the primitive Churches before the declension and apostacy began I am sure the Church of England teaches other Doctrine in the second and third part of the ☞ Sermon of Faith. Well then we are at amity in this great particular That Faith is the gracious acting of the whole soul or heart of a sincere Christian whereby he rests and relies upon a crucified Saviour for remission of sins and eternal life grounded on the precious promises of God which is infused and wrought there by the holy Spirit at our new birth and convertion from sin to holiness In this Declaration of the nature of Faith we may for distinction sake take more especial notice of the succeeding particulars in peculiar Sections SECT I. 1. FIrst We may enquire where this Grace of Faith is subjected and that 's exprest to be in the whole man. The Subject of its inherence is not this or that particular faculty but the whole Soul or heart of Man as the Scripture often expresses it and we may observe that some times the Heart is put for the a 1 King. 3.9 understanding sometimes for the b Act. 7.39 will other times for c 1 Cor. 7.37 purpose for the affection of d Mat. 6.21 love for inordinate e Rom. 1.24 lusts in their seat for f Eccl 6.7 desire and for the g Luk. 1.16 21.14 Acts 8 37 Luk. 24 Rom. 10.9 Prov 3 5 memory Now that Faith is scituate first in geral in the heart and then in