3.14 and there Translated Confidence Faith is a Confident and stedfast Expectation of Things promised It apprehends the Promise and adheres to it and assures the Soul of the Accomplishment of it and causeth the Soul to live in Expectation thereof It realizeth the Promises and shews the Soul how substantial they are that the things promised are no Trifles or feigned things but things of Substance weight and worth really subsisting and certainly to be enjoyed and enables the Soul confidently to expect them Thus it 's the Substance of the things Hoped for And it 's the Evidence of things not seen Things not seen either because future or because invisible Faith represents to the Mind as sure and certain The Eye of Faith beholds Christ with all his Excellencies the Immortality of the Soul and the Glory of Heaven as evidently as the Eye of the Body doth visible things Now â—et us reduce this to practice can we experimentally subscribe to this Description of Faith Do we see a reality in the unseen things it is evident to our Souls that God is the chief Good and Christ the fountain of Grace and chief of ten Thousands and that all his promises are certain and infallible and do we depend upon them and live in sure and certain Hope of the accomplishment of them then we have the faith which is called the Faith of the Elect Tit. 1.1 because it 's peculiar to them and to none but them Yet further Paul here describes faith not only by its Excellency but also by its Efficacy 2. By its Efficacy v. 2. By it the Elders obtained a good report and they are famous to this day for the Testimony that God gives of the efficacy of their faith Faith wrought in them such works as were such evidences of the Truth of their Faith It 's their works of Faith that makes their memory so Honourable Faith without works saith James is dead it is of no more worth than a dead Dog It 's our works that do shew what our faith is A working Faith is a saving Faith Let us then examine our Faith by our works are our works the works of Faith do we pray in Faith and hear in Faith and live by Faith thus much for the Trial of our saving Faith Come we to our Love let us examine 2. Our Love to Christ whether it be sincere 1 John 4.16 He that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God and God in him True Love you see is demonstrative of Gods dwelling by his Spirit in the Soul Let us then try our Love 1. By its Measure Do we love Christ most and best We love many Creatures and it 's allowed us Parents are to love their Chidren and Husbands their Wives but what is it that lies next our hearts and hath the largest measure of our Love I am sure Christ deserves most love from us for he hath done most for us but do we Love him above all is Christ a Pearl in our Eyes can we say with the Spouse in our Eyes he is altogether Lovely we have other Loves but none that lies so near our Hearts as Christ he is our Beloved and our best Beloved 2. By the Motive that moves us so to love Christ What is it that hath so endeared us to Christ is it the gain we expect from him or the good we see in him Cant. 5.10 The Church professeth much Love to Christ and tells the cause thereof it was the Beauty and Excellency of Christ that had gained her heart this was the attractive of her Love is it so with us is it Christs Love to Souls and his Loveliness that draws out your Love towards him Then there is sincerity and not selfish in your Love to Christ 3. By the Might and strength of your Love to Christ Love is of a constraining Nature 2 Cor. 5.14 Now do you find your Love to Christ constrain you doth it constrain you to vindicate the Honour of Christ against all that cast open contempt upon him doth it constrain you to value the Ordinances above worldly wealth and dignity doth it constrain you to venture all for Christ in suffering and trying times doth it constrain you to avoid every thing as far as you can that is offensive to Christ what influence hath your Love to Christ upon your Hearts and Lives doth it constrain you to carry it dutifully towards Christ and to cast off your beloved Lusts because they dishonour Christ and to conform to the Laws of Heaven because they are the Yoke of Christ are the things of Christ become precious to you Oh deal faithfully with your Souls 3 Vse Of Entreaty both to such as have not Christ in them and to such as have him in them 1. You that have not Christ as yet in you Be entreated and perswaded to live no longer without Christ in the World you have heard your danger and the dreadfulness of your danger and the desparate Madness of such as do sit down in so dangerous a Condition And now in the Name of Christ I earnestly beseech and entreat you to take the matter into serious Consideration The Lord Jesus Christ the great Mediator of the Covenant and victorious Captain of our Salvation makes as it were an Ho Yes Rev. 3.20 Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man open the door I will come in and Sup with him and he with me And he is now knocking at the door of your Heart and craving admission and tendering himself and the Riches of his Grace and Mercy unto you upon condition that you will receive and entertain him and accept of him as your Lord and Saviour and consent and submit to the gracious Terms of the Gospel Oh comply with his gracious offer and open to him and let him in Put off Christ no longer expect not Salvation by Christ without giving your selves up to Christ to be Governed by him according to the Gospel What shall I now say to perswade you to be over entreated to get Christ into your Souls and not to sit down still in a Christless condition the business is of great importance and I stand here in Christs stead to beseech you to be reconciled to God and to use your utmost endeavour to make sure of Christ and would gladly prevail with you for your own good to set about this great concern to this end press these following perswasives upon your own Spirits and that with the seriousness as the weightiness of the matter requires 1. The case you are in calls for speedy Help You live without Christ in the World this is your case and it is a case that you can neither live nor die in with safety or comfort As long as you live thus you live under the guilt of all your Sins and under the wrath of God and if you die thus you die in your Sins and to Hell you must go And is this a Case to be neglected and disregarded were your Estates
behind the Curtain and when he hides his Face you will be troubled Oh what Losses and Sorrow do Christians create to themselves by their Carnal Security Oh resolve against it and take warning from others and walk very circumspectly left Satan get an Advantage against you he that lets down his Watch gives place to the Devil 2. See that you live Chastly 1 Thes 4.12 Walk honestly that is not in the Lust of Concupiscence and the Reason is given in the 7th and 8th Verses God hath not called us to Vncleanness but to Holiness and given us his Holy Spirit And therefore it is not for us to be carnally Minded but to be Chast and Honest and Sober even in the Use of lawful Delights That is a notable Passage in 1 Pet. 4.6 The Gospel was preached to them that are Dead that is to the Martyrs that they may be judged according to Men in the Flesh but live according to God in the Spirit You cannot stop the Mouths of Men they will be Judging and Condemning you and say you are fleshly given and live in Uncleanness but you need not regard their Calumnies as long as you live according to God in the Spirit cleansing your selves from all filthiness both of the Flesh and Spirit 3. See that you live Charitably in Peace and Love 2 Cor. 13.11 Live in Peace and the God of Love and Peace shall be with you It 's great Matter of Lamentation that such as have Christ in them should live so Uncharitably and Contentiously and all through small differences about Words and Gestures and that these Minute things should cause such distances estrangements and unkindnesses amongst them I am sure this ought not so to be Those that are right in the main ought to hold Communion one with another and that in Peace and Love bearing one with another in things wherein they differ Phil. 3.15 16. Rom. 14. begin And it 's certain also that Christ makes it one of the Characters of a true Christian to Love the Brethren 1 John 3.14 And that Love is full of Charity and Kindness and Forbearance and hides many faults And why should there not be a fair Correspondency where there is a vital Inspiration by the self same Spirit 4. See that you live Contentedly Heb. 13.5 Let your Conversation be without Covetousness and be Content with such things as you have q.d. Keep your Hearts free from the Love of the World and the Gares Fears and Discontents that thence arise and be Content with Gods allowance for God is with you and will never leave you nor forsake you if Christ be in and with you by his Spirit then the Comforter is at hand in all sad Cases to Comfort and Support you and this should Still Quiet and Content our Spirits and preserve you from Discontentedness if Christ his Being in the Soul will not Content him surely nothing will do it 2 Cor. 4.8 We are troubled on every side yet not Distressed And how comes this to pass see ver 9 That the Life of Jesus may be manifested in our Body that is that our Lives may be conformable to his Life in submissive Sufferings and that it may be manifest that the Life that we live is the Life of Jesus Christ that he lives in us and that by him we live and that contentedly under all our Calamities 5. See that you live Comfortably and Cheerfully in the Consideration that Christ lives in and with you A Melancholly drooping Life is a great Reflection upon Religion and upon Christ himself and an occasion of stumbling unto many And will you carry it so as if you served a hard Master none have more Reason to live Chearfully and Joyfully than you that have Christ in you the Hope of Glory Such as you are called upon by God himself to rejoice in the Lord always and to be of good Comfort and that under the troubles of the World you need not to be troubled at your troubles but may and ought under your Crosses to Comfort your selves in Christ in your Union with him in your Interest in him and in your Enjoyment of him and that because he is in you Incessantly Intercessively Inseparably and Incumbently He is in you 1. Incessantly in you and alway in you when you perceive it not when he hides his Face and seems to be withdrawn and you conclude be is quite departed from you yet then he is with you John 14.16 The Spirit abideth with you and shall abide with you for ever As a vital principle to preserve and keep you from Apostacy and is not this Comfortable and a sure Hope of Glory 2. Intercessively Christ in Heaven is your Intercessour with God the Father and his Spirit within you is your Intercessour betwixt Christ and your Souls Rom. 8.26 27. The Spirit pleads Christs cause with us and stands up for Christ against the Flesh and it pleads our cause in Prayer with Christ and the Father The Spirit then is in you a Spirit of Prayer and Supplication and the Spirit of Adoption enabling you to go to God boldly as to a reconciled Father in Christ and to pour out your Souls to him It 's Christ his Spirit in you that is the Spring of all your Holy Desires and Motions God-ward And that only that comes from the Spirit in you finds Acceptance with God for the Spirit moves you to ask what is agreeable to Gods Will and with a Submission to his Will And you receive Answers of Prayers in your spirits oft in inward Strength and Consolation from the Spirit of God within you Such as cry down the Spirit of Prayer have need to take heed they do not despite to the Spirit of Grace 3. Inseparably nothing can sever Christ and your Souls John 14.16 The Spirit shall abide with you for ever And Ver. 17. He dwelleth in you and shall be in you he shall be in you in despite of all Opposition All the Devils in Hell cannot with all their Exorcisms cast the Spirit of God out of the Souls of his People Satan may be dispossessed but the Holy Ghost cannot be dispossest He is in you and shall be in you Blessed be God for this Promise he is in you not as a Guest in an Inn to stay but for a Night but as an Inhabitant to abide in you and he will secure his Possession And what a strong Consolation is this once Christs and always Christs If Christ be in you he will never depart from you he may in some Cases withdraw his visible Communion but not his Union And as to Communion he departs in the Souls Apprehension but that is no real departure 4. Incumbently as one in Office to oversee your Souls 1 Pet. 2. last Ye were as Sheep going astray but are now returned to the Shepberd and Bishop of your Souls Christ is the great Archbishop of the Soul and he is no Non-resident but Incumbent in the Soul as a Bishop is in his
Potent and permanent Refuge and God is this Refuge to him you must flie and that with speed by Faith and Repentance and in this way you may lay hold of this Hope whilst you neglect or refuse flying to this Refuge you have nothing to do to lay hold of this Hope of Glory I have now done with the first great truth that this Doctrine informs us of and enter upon the Second 2. All hearts in whom Christ dwells ought to live in Hope of Glory It 's their Sin and shame that their Hope of Glory is so low and little and their fears and doubts so many and great and therefore I shall expostulate the case with these to convince them of their Sin in cherishing Unbelief and to encourage them to sure and certain Hopes of Glory 1. Are not you under the Commands of God and his Sworn Subjects how dare you then live in the daily breach of his express Precepts you dare not Swear nor Lie nor commit Adultery because these are Acts of disobedience to the Lord your God how then comes it to pass that you dare refuse to hope in God and to Act Faith in Christ are not these commanded Duties Psal 121. last Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and for ever 1 John 3.23 This is his Commandment that we should believe Now judge in your selves ought you not to give an universal Obedience to the Commands of God and is not a Command from God a sufficient Warrant against Presumption why then do you exempt your selves from yielding Obedience to the Commands of Faith and Hope 2. Are you not under the Covenant of Grace and was it not made and Sealed on purpose to strengthen your Hope and doth it not Answer all Objections against Hope 1 Pet. 1.21 Christ was raised and Glorified that your Hope might be in God The Resurrection and Glorification of Christ proves the Consummation of the work of Redemption and that our Reconciliation with God was accomplished and the Covenant of Grace ratified and this calls upon Believers to hope in God and declares that their doubts and fears are groundless 3. Are you not under the Custody of Christ and your Salvation secured by him and your Life hid with him in God Col. 3.3 and can you doubt of his Love that loved you to Death can ye question his Power that commanded all things out of nothing can ye be Jealous over his Truth that hath alway been true to his word and is truth it self What can you say for your selves did Christ die for you and doth he now dwell in you and will ye account your Condition hopeless surely this is a piece of great weakness and very blame-worthy in such as you Obj. It is blame-worthy in such as have Christ within them but that is not our Case we had him in us and had Communion with him and lived in high Hopes of Glory but are now left without any Hope or ground of Hope we have Sinned him and all our Hope of Glory away and are justly cast off by him Answ This Objection answers its selfs The Concession in the former Part contradicts the Conclusion in the latter Part Such as have enjoyed Christ cannot be cast off by Christ and therefore I shall endeavour to make out these things for the satisfaction of such 1. That they are stated in a State of safety 2. That they stand under the Obligation of this Duty of hoping in God 3. That they are stockt and stor'd with vital Principles that assure us of their recovery 1. They are stated in a state of safety The safety of the Soul doth not depend upon their hopes of Glory but upon its Union with Christ Its Hope of Glory may be interrupted but its Union with Christ can never be dissolved once in Christ and alway in Christ Under the want of assurance the safety of the Soul continues The immutability of the Covenant of Grace the Eternity of Gods Electing Love and the Efficacy of Christs continual Intercession and the Excellency of the State of Grace do assure the true Believer that his Salvation cannot miscarry and that though he may by the violence of a Temptation fall yet he cannot fall away It 's one of the great Priviledges of the Sons of God that they are Heirs of Heaven and that their heavenly Inheritance is so firmly intailed upon them that they cannot fall short of it Grace enters the Soul into an Everlasting State of Happiness and if an Everlasting State could be lost then it were not Everlasting And that Grace is an Everlasting Estate we are assured from 1 Joh. 5.11 12 13. This is the record that God hath given us Eternal Life and this Life is in his Son He that hath the Son hath Life These things have I wrote to you that believe That ye may know that you have eternal Life John 3. last He that beliveth on the Son hath everlasting Life 2. They stand under the Obligation of this Duty of living in Hope of Glory Under their present Circumstances the Cloud that covers their Hope doth not discharge them from the Duty of Hope They are to Hope against Hope and to keep up Hope when the ground of Hope doth disappear for the ground of Hope remains though it be as a spark under the Ashes or as the Sun in an Eclipse out of present fight the Soul in this Case is to call to mind the days of Old and the Love that heretofore it received from Christ and to conclude thus my beloved hath withdrawn himself and now stands behind the Curtains to try my Faith Patience and Sincerity and to see whether I will serve him without a Pawn I hope he will return and will in hope wait for his return It 's but an Eclipse the interposition will be removed and the Sun of Righteousness will shine again upon my Soul Oh my Soul Satan is now aware that there is a distance betwixt Christ and thee and Tempts thee to Despair but harken to the Voice of my Beloved Isa 50.10 Who is amongst you that feareth the Lord that obeyeth the Voice of his Servant that walketh in darkness and hath no Light let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay himself upon his God See then that under Darkness thou expect Light for this is thy Duty and wilt thou suffer Satan to baffle the out of thy Duty is not the Voice of Christ to be regarded before the Voice of Satan and doth not not he say Isa 54.8 In a little wrath I hid my self for a moment but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee saâ—th the Lord thy Redeemer 3. They are Stockt and Stored with vital-Principles that will prevail at last against the present Temptation The Root of the Matter the Seed of Grace remains in the Soul that they cannot Sin unto Death nor with a full and free consent of Will 1 John 3.2 The force of the present Temptation may
now art so And God hath alway been A Sun and Shield that succour yield As thou hast often seen His Word is sure and doth endure For ever and for aye Witness thou can to every Man All 's true that he doth say If this be so come let us go To God and on him stay It 's not absur'd to plead his Word To it he ne'er says nay His Word applaud his Name with Laud And Praises celebrate Let not thy Love to God above In any thing abate And now O Lord for thy sure Word Of Promise I thee bless And whilst I live will Glory give To thee not to the Flesh Praise is thy due thy Word is true Thy Promises our store And full though wide from side to side Praised be God therefore A full supply in Misery I see it doth afford O let it be now unto me According to thy Word Let Faith be fed and by it led To live on Thee alone Help me to trust in the most Just Faithful and Righteous One. My Doubts expel let Hope excell Let Praises be my Trade Let me rejoice with Heart and Voice In all that thou hast said Let none despair the news is rare The Promises revealed Are high and great without deceit Records most firmly Sealed Oh praised be thy Majesty For Promises of Grace All the Elect may hear expect Supplies in every Case Another Song of Praise MY Soul give Praise unto the Lord With Joy his Praises Sing To Praise the Name of God thy Lord Is a most pleasant thing His Promises rich Jewels are These Jewels are thy own Though thou art Poor yet very rich In Promises alone Thy Faithful God will certainly His Promises perform Fear not O Soul the frowns of Men Fear not the greatest Storm Rejoice in God and in his Word Of Promise made to thee His Promises most precious Certain and faithful be Though thou art Poor God will provide Supplies he will afford Yea such supplies as shall suffice According to his Word Though thou art weak his Arms support What need is there to fear Above beneath and round about His mighty Arms appear When Troubles like a Hurrican Do compass thee about It s for thy good this Physick thou Canst not be well without Yea safety in and sure support And all that needful be For aid and help in this sad Case Are promised to thee Thy Sins though great are pardoned Thy Enemies are strong But cannot hurt because to thee The Promises belong Such guards and aids the Promises In readiness still have And will be granted unto thee When thou for them dost crave Oh Blessed be the Lords of Hosts My dear and faithful Friend According to his Promises He help and aid doth send His Promises never do fail They are most firm and sure His faithfulness is vastly great And ever shall endure My Soul exalt the living Lord For Gracious is he His Mercy now and evermore He will extend to thee Awake my Glory glorifie And Praise the Lord of Host And of his precious Promises Make thou thy daily boast The World is full of Wickedness Envy debate and strife But these are the great Cordials That do support my Life Thy Presence and thy Promises Are rare and precious things And all along unto my Soul The greatest Comfort brings FINIS Books Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns at the lower end of Cheap-side near Mercers-Chappel A Body of Practical Divinity consisting of above One Hundred Sermons on the Lesser Catechism of the Reverend Assembly of Divines at Westminster with a Supplement of some Sermons on several Texts of Scripture By Tho. Watson formerly Minister of St. Stephens Walbrook A Discourse of Spiritual mindedness Person of Christ On the 130th Psalm The Doctrine of the Trinity Of Mortification of Sin in Believers An humble Testimony concerning the Goodness and Severity of God in Dealing with sinful Churches and Nations A Treatise of Temptation Eshcol or Rules of Fellowship These Eight last by John Owen D. D. Heywood's Baptismal Bonds renewed Grotius of Christ's Satisfaction in English Hursts Revival of Grace i.e. on the Sacrament The good of Early Obedience A Sermon of Unity The Vision of the Wheels in three Sermons Spiritual Wisdom improved against Temptation The Almost Christian discovered All Five by Mat. Mead. Consolation for the afflicted at the Funeral of Mr. Edward Rede By Tim. Rogers M. A. Calamy's Godly Mans Ark in five Sermons his Art of Divine Meditation Redemption of Time the Wisdom and Duty of Christians in Evil Days By John Wade Minister at Hamersmith Intercourses of Divine Love betwixt Christ and his Church being Sermons on the 1st and 2d Chapters of the Canticles or the Song of Songs Several Discourse of actual Providence in three Parts These two last by John Collings D. D. Spiritual Songs or Songs of praise to Almighty God on several Occasions with thirty penitential Crys with a Poem also of Dives and Lazarus The Midnight Cry a Sermon These two by John Mason Mr. Corberts Self-Employment in Secret A Treatise of the Day of Judgment By Mr. Sam. Lee Minister Husbandry Spiritualized A Saint indeed A Token for Mourners All these three by Mr. John Flavel Minister of the Gospel Satan sifting or the Oyl of Joy for the Spirit of Sadness Whites Little Book for Little Children The rare Jewel of Chistian Contentment with four useful Discouses by Mr. Jer. Burroughs An Earnest Call to Family Duties being the substance of Eighteen Sermons by Sam. Slater Hymns for the Sacrament composed mostly out of the New Testament Theological Discourses and Sermons on several Occasions By John Wallis D. D. The Truest and Largest account of the late Earthquake in Jamaica June 7. 1692. from a Reverend Divine there to his Friend in London The best way to mend the world by perswading the Rising Generation to an early and Serious Practice of Piety Both by Samuel Peck Lecturer of Ipswich A Sermon preach'd at the Funeral of the Reverend Mr. Tho shewell M. A. and Minister of the Gospel in Coventry These two last by William Tongue Minister c. A Discourse concerning Old Age tending to the Instruction Caution and Comfort of Aged Persons By Richard Steel M. A. A Sermon at the Funeral of the Worshipful John Symonds late of Great Yeldham in Essex Esq by John Brooke M. A. and Rector there A Vindication of the Church of Scotland being an Answer to five Pamphlets by Dr. Rule A Sermon of the absolute Necessity of Family Duties Preached to the United Parishes of St. Mary-Woolnoth and St. Mary Wool-Church-Haw in Lombard-Street His Farewel-Sermon These Two by David Jones Student of Christ-Church Oxon. A brief on the 7th Commandment wherein is discovered the Cause of all our Controversies about the Sabbath-Day and the means of Reconciling them Recommended by the Reverend Dr. Bates and Mr. John How Convivium Caeleste A plain and familiar Discourse concerning the Lords Supper shewing at once the Nature of that Sacrament as also the right way of preparing our selves for the receiving of it In which are also considered those Exceptions which men usually bring to excuse their not partaking of it A Sermon preached before the King and Queen at White-Hall Nov. 5.1692 These Two by Richard Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells The Confirming Work of Religion and its great things made plain by their primary Evidences and Demonstrations whereby the meanest in the Church may soon be made able to render a Rational Account of their Faith
great Point Whether we lie under the aforesaid danger or have made our escape out of it the Determination of this depends upon the indwelling of Christ in the Soul Let us then put it to the Question Is Christ in us or no And if we would satisfie our selves herein we must search 1 What Freedoms we enjoy by Christ his in-being in our selves 2 Cor. 3.17 Where the Spirit of God is there is Liberty If Christ be in us by his Spirit he hath set our Souls at Liberty There is a sort of Liberty peculiar to the People of God John 8.36 If the Son make you free ye shall be free indeed This Freedom is Demonstrative that Christ is in us and by his Spirit hath set us free Now there is a twofold Freedom that the Spirit gives to all in whom it dwells viz. Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Spirit 1. Freedom of Speech whereby especially in Secret they are enabled to pour our the desires of their Souls unto the Lord with much enlargedness of Heart I say especially in Secret to distinguish these enlargements from enlargements in Publick Exercises drawn out by outward incouragements A Hypocrite praying in his Family or with the Church whereof he is a Member for Ostentation sake and Affectation of applause puts forth his Parts to the utmost and is oft much enlarged But he is seldom in Closet Prayer and commonly flat and with little Life but the Children of God find their Secret Enlargements exceed their Publick Enlargements It 's in Secret that Christ and his Spouse have the sweetest embraces 2. Freedom of Spirit viz. From the Bondage of Sin and Captivity of Satan Rom. 8.9 Ye are not in the Flesh if the Spirit dwell in you that is ye are not in a Carnal Estate and under the Dominion of the Flesh the Spirit of God is a pure and Powerful Spirit and will overcome the Flesh and keep it in Subjection that though Sin remain yet it doth not Reign It 's a subdued Rebel and kept under by the Spirit yet will be raising up new Rebellions in the Soul The Flesh will be Lusting against the Spirit but in the main the Spirit is the prevailing Principle and doth enable the Soul more and more to die unto Sin and live to Righteousness 2ly What Fellowship we have with Christ in his Ordinances The natural Man hath no Fellowship with Christ in his Ordinances but the Children of God have Men in the State of Nature are Strangers to Communion with God Psal 94.20 Shall the Throne of Iniquity have Fellowship with thee No no They have no Fellowship with thee 1 John 1.6 If we say we have Fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lie Such as have Fellowship with the unfruitful works of Darkness have no Fellowship with Christ But it 's the Priviledge of the Children of God to live in Fellowship with the Trinity 1 John 1.3 Truely our Fellowship is with the Father and the Son It 's an Assertion with an Asseveration Christians are no sooner Effectually called but they are admitted into this Fellowship 1 Cor. 1.9 God is Faithful by whom we were called unto the Fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Christ dwelling in the Soul doth verifie the Truth of this can Christ and a Christian live together and not have Communion together No if Christ be in us there will be Communion betwixt Christ and Us. And this Communion is a Manifestation of his abode in us Now then let us examine our selves hereby do we experimentally know what this Mistery of Communion betwixt Christ and the Soul meaneth Do we feel and find it in our selves Have we a Receptive Participation from God in our selves that Dilates Revives and Refresheth the Soul above what any sensible sublunary thing doth or can do and leaves behind it a relish which raiseth in us a singular Love to and Delight in the Ordinances how Familiarly doth God sometimes carry it towards his People he takes them into his Banquetting-House and his Banner over them is Love he Dandles them upon his Knees embraceth them in the Arms of his Love and speaks comfortably to them sometimes he gives in such a Sense of Sin as makes them weep with Grief and Godly Sorrow and dissolves their Souls into Penitential Tears And sometimes such a sight of Grace and such symptoms of Love as makes them weep for Joy and Solace If it hath been thus with us at any time it proceeds from the influence of the Spirit in us and is demonstrative of the Presence of Christ in our Souls 3ly What first Fruits of the Spirit is there in us A natural Heart is barren ground destitute of the Fruits of the Spirit but when Christ comes into the Soul he changeth the Soil and makes it fruitful And all the good Fruit that it brings forth are the Fruits of the Spirit and discover the State of the Soul and declare the goodness of the Tree Now the Fruits of the Spirit are divided into First-Fruits and After-Fruits Though the Graces of the Spirit are linkt together and are all in semine in the Seed in the Soul of a Child of God yet some of these Seeds spring up before others and are called the First-Fruits of the Spirit Rom. 8.23 We our selves have the first Fruits of the Spirit Though the Spirit it self be the first Fruit of Glory yet here something more must be understood than the Spirit it self because he speaks not of the first Fruit of Glory in the singular number but of the first Fruits of the Spirit in the Plural number and therefore the first Fruits of the Spirit must be understood of such Fruits as the Spirit causes to spring up in the Soul and there make the first visible Appearance such as saving Knowledge Evangelical Repentance Faith and Love These two last include the two first for there is no true Repentance without Faith nor any true Love without Light to discover the Loveliness of the Object Therefore I 'll confine my self at this Time to the two first Fruits of saving Faith in and sincere Love to Christ Jesus our Lord. Let us Examine then 1. Our Faith whether it be saving Faith This is the uniting Grace that knits Christ and the Soul together and all that truely believe shall be saved For saving Faith though it may be shaken yet it cannot be lost and extinguished It 's a spark that never goes out a durable Dye that cannot be washed away And if we have any Faith though in the least Degree that is of a saving Nature then for sure Christ is in us and we may Hope for Glory Now Paul tells us Heb. 11.1 2. what this Faith is he doth not define it but describe it by its Excellency and Efficacy 1. By its Excellency It 's the Substance of things Hoped for The Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a Word of that force that no Language can fully express It 's used in Heb.