that give Alms they perform the very same Duty the one gives as much alms as the other and yet what the one doth may be accepted with God and pleasing to him and the other not whence comes the difference One doth it in Faith and the other not Abel and Cain brought their offerings to God God had respect to Abel and his Offering and God had not respect to Cain and his Offering what was the ground of the difference saies the Apostle By Faith Abel offered a more acceptable Sacrifice than Cain Well but what Faith is it then whereby a Soul and his Duties and Services come to be pleasing unto God Answ Brethren do not mistake your selves it is not that Faith whereby a man or Woman gives his consent to and believes all that is written in the Scriptures all that is revealed in the Gospel concerning Christ a man or woman may believe all this and yet this is not the Faith whereby he comes to be accepted as you know the Devils believe all this and yet are not accepted So a man or Woman may believe all that is revealed in the Gospel and yet never please God But what Faith is it whereby a Man and his Duties and performances come to please God and without which it is impossible to please God Briefly there is a three-fold Faith required for the acceptance of a mans services and performances with God that God may be pleased with them Mind it I pray for it is a thing of great concernment and possibly that which very few have considered 1st There is required saving Faith in Christ that which we call justifying Faith such a believing in Christ whereby a Soul comes to be in Christ and Christ in the Soul whereby Christ becomes the life of the Soul the very principle of Life in the Soul a justifying saving Faith in the habit the principle of Faith the grace of Faith infused into the heart whereby a Soul comes really to be united to Christ and have an Interest in him to be in Christ as you know the Scripture frequently speaks I shall not stand to give you Scriptures for that you see Brethren here how Abel and how Enoch came to please God it was by Faith What Faith It was this true Justifying Faith this Faith in Christ that was to come for it was by their Faith in Christ that they came to be accepted and their Offering was accepted and pleasing unto God by Faith Abel was accepted and his Offering and Sacrifice was accepted Cain he offered his Sacrifice but it was not accepted because he had not this justifying Faith Enoch he pleased God and whence was it It was by his Faith and saies the Apostle thereupon he had his Testimony that he pleased God it was by his Faith his justifying Faith in Christ whereby he came to be accepted his person was accepted of God and consequently his services came to be accepted of God a man or woman must first have a principle of Life before he can live a Spiritual Life now Christ is a Christians life and how comes Christ to be the Life of a Christian Namely by his Faith when he comes to believe in Christ then Christ is his Life the principle of his life the Spirit of Christ now is in the Soul that is a plain word which the Apostle hath in Rom. 8.9 If any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his And saies Christ in John 15.5 As the branch cannot bring forth Fruit of it self except it abide in the Vine no more can ye except ye abide in me And without me mark without me ye can do nothing Nothing that is pleasing to God the word without me holds forth not so much without Strength from Christ though that is true too but the word signifies properly in the Original without me that is separated from me not united to me that is the word in the Greek just as when a Branch is cut off from the Vine the Branch cannot bring forth Fruit without ful disputations for one believeth that he may eat all things another who is weak eateth Herbs Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not and let not him that eateth not judge him that eateth for God hath received him And again at verse 5. One man esteemeth one day above another another esteemeth every day alike What then Let every Man be fully perswaded in his own mind if he do venture to eat any kind of Meats let him be fully and clearly perswaded in his own mind that he may do it and then he eats in Faith and if he do not observe those days if he be fully perswaded in his own mind then he doth it in Faith in the two last Verses he calls this Faith Hast thou Faith Have it to thy self before God Hast thou Faith that is hast thou a perswasion that it is lawful for thee to eat any kind of meats or it is Lawful for thee to forbear the Observation of those Days Hast thou Faith have it to thy self But mark Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing that he alloweth and he that doubteth is damned if he eat because he eateth not of Faith He that doubteth that is he that questioneth whether it be lawful for him to eat this kind of meat or no he that doubteth whether he shall do well to observe this day or no He that doubteth is damned if he eat because he eateth not of Faith That is he is not fully perswaded in his own mind for whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin whatsoever is not of that perswasioâ— that it is according to the Will of God oâ— not contrary to the Will of God if he do it without that perswasion then it is not of Faith and so is a damnable sin though the thing be Lawful in it self yet if he doth the same thing doubtingly it is a damnable sin that he commits without this Faith this perswasion in his Mind that what he doth is according to the Will of God and this Faith is requisite to the pleasing of God So here in the instance before us in Abel and also in Enoch Abel pleased God by offering up a Sacrifice he had this Faith not only a Justifying Faith but he had this Faith he was perswaded that what he did offer up in Sacrifice was according to the Will of God and so Enoch he walked with God and had this Testimony that he pleased God that in the course of his Lise the steps of his Life was according to the Will of God he walked with God the actions that he did he was perswaded was according to the Will of God and thus he pleased God and this is a Second Faith that is required to the pleasing of God 3dly There is another Faith that is required further to the pleasing of God without which though I be a Believer and have a justifying Faith and though I be perswaded that what
Truth and what he speaks is Truth God is a God of Truth that cannot lye it 's impossible for God to Lye Use 2. It 's a word of encouragement to every one of us this day that are before the Lord to receive the Testimony that God gives us to beleive what Jesus Christ doth speak because what he speaks is the Word of the Father the Word of the God of Truth and is that whereby you do exceedingly Honour and Glorify God It 's said of Abraham He believed and gave glory unto God Who is there that would not say he is willing to glorify God Honour him you would be willing to testifie to this truth that God is truth and if you had a Hundred Seals or if it were to set a Thousand seals to it that God is Truth you would do it O receive the Gospel in its tenders you that have not yet received it and lay the weight of your Souls your everlasting hopes upon Christ and his Righteousness and expect Salvation and Righteousness and Life meerly for that the Lord hath called you hereunto and here is encouragement because you cannot Honour and Glorifie God more than in believing SERMON IV. Hebrews XI 6. The beginning of the Verse But without Faith it is Impossible to please him HAving spoken somewhat largely concerning the Doctrine of Faith from another Scripture I shall desire a little to go on to back it And Oh that the Lord would back it by his Spirit and therefore I have chosen this portion of Scripture Briefly a little for the Coherence The Apostle Paul for most probably he was the Pen-man of this Epistle having in the former Chapter exhorted these Jews or Hebrews to whom he wrote to persevere and to be constant in the Faith taking an Argument from the danger of the contrary in the latter end of the Chapter If any man draw back or do not persevere my Soul shall have no pleasure in him Now I say having exhorted them to persevere in the Faith both in the Doctrine of Faith and in the Grace of Faith he comes in this Chapter to commend the Grace of Faith to them And that First By laying down a description of it for says he This grace of Faith doth make those things that are absent whether past or future as if they were present if we look by faith back upon the creation of the World and see how the World was made out of nothing Faith will help us to look upon it as present and so we may look upon those things that are to come and faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen whether past or to come But then Secondly he commends Faith by the excellent effects of it that have been found in the Faithful in all Ages from the beginning of the World until the coming of Christ for if you observe it look upon the Chapter and you will find that he gives instances and examples both of those faithful that were before the Flood and also of such as were after the Flood to the giving of the Law and then also of those faithful ones that lived after the Law until the Capivity and then of those that lived after the Captivity until the coming of Christ all these he instances in this Chapter Now first for these Faithful ones that lived before the Flood and the effects of Faith in them here he does lay down and mention three examples especially First He does instance in the example of Abel and of the effects of Faith in him Secondly He doth instance also in faithful Enoch and the Effects of his Faith And Thirdly The example of Noah and the effects of his Faith And what was the general effect of their Faith Why the great and General effect of all their Faith was that by their Faith they pleased God Says he first for Abel at the 4th Verse Abel he offered up a Sacrifice by Faith that pleased God by Faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain or a more pleasing Sacrifice than Cain it was by Faith that his offering was pleasing unto God And again he instances in Enoch By Faith Enoch walked with God and pleased God for so he says expresly at the latter end of the 5th Verse that he had this Testimony that he pleased God And then for Noah he also by his Faith pleased God How does that appear why he found Grace and Favour with God God instructed him to build an Ark whereby he and his Family might be preserved in the time of the General Flood He found Favour with God and that was by Faith for so the Apostle expresses it verse 7. By faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet moved with fear prepared an Ark c. But now this Scripture that I have read unto you it is from the commendation of the Faith of Enoch Enoch by Faith he pleased God for so saies the Apostle at the latter end of the 5. Verse just before the Text before his translation he had this Testimony that he pleased God He had this Testimony where had he this Testimony And where shall we find this Testimony concerning Enoch The place to which the Apostle does here refer and relate to is that in the 5 of Genesis the 22 23 24. Verses If you consult the place you will find never a word spoken that Enoch pleased God not expresly it is said Enoch walked with God after he begat Methusalah three Hundred Years and begat Sons and Daughters and all the days of Enoch were three hundred Sixty and Five Years and Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him Where is here any word expressed that Enoch pleased God Yet saies the Apostle in this place He had this Testimony that he pleased God why it must be in this place or no where therefore it is no where expresly said that he pleased God How then could the Apostle say here that he had a Testimony that he pleased God For answer though it be not said in express terms that Enoch pleased God yet here is that spoken for the substance of it that is equivolent to it for in that it is said He walked with God it holds forth that he pleased God for can two walk together if they be not agreed if they be not pleasing one to another can Enoch walk with God if God was not pleased with him the very expressing of it again and again that Enoch walked with God it holds forth this Testimony that Enoch pleased God And again the Lords taking of him to himself in a more than ordinary way and manner is a plain Testimony that he pleased God Now saies the Apostle He had this Testimony before his Translation that he pleased God he walked with God and God took him Here was a plain Testimony that he pleased God Now this was by Faith that Enoch pleased God so the Apostle says By
Two last Verses In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them Repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth God may peradventure give them repentance though it is a certain Truth that without Faith it is impossible to please God Yet thus much I may say to help to take off this objection That there is a perhaps if you be found diligent in seeking God and humbling your Souls before the Lord peradventure you may be forgiven I do not say you shall certainly be forgiven and God will certainly hear you but perhaps as Peter said to Simon Magus perhaps and if peradventure says Paul God will give them Repentance then here is a perhaps for those that are Unbelievers that God may graciously please to have respect towards them though God be not pleased with them not their prayers and duties therefore let not this Temptation prevail over you upon that account namely to give over all because you cannot please God by what you do peradventure God may have respect towards you but now if you go on and cast off seeking God and the ways of God and go on in your sinful ways and courses there is no perhaps for such no but if Men sin willfully mark the expression in Heb. 10.25 26. If Men sin wilfully and cast off the means of Grace wilfully there is no perhaps for such He puts an impossibility upon himself ever to be recovered therefore give not way to the Temptation but say Well there is a peradventure and perhaps for me though I be an Unbeliever But Secondly Let me answer it in another thing Though it be true that without Faith it is impossible to please God Nay though we do displease God by all that we do make the objection as strong as you can it is impossible to please God by all my Prayers Tears and Confessions in my waitings upon God yet notwithstanding know and understand it for a Truth that there are degrees of displeasing God a man may displease God more or less Look into Zachariah 1.15 I am very sore displeased with the Heathen that are at ease for I was but a little displeased and they helped forward the affliction God may be sorely displeased and God may be less displeased with a person as now if one sin doth displease God will not many sins displease him much more if that which we call a small sin will displease God then a greater sin will diplease him much more So now if we displease God by our Duties and Services then may we not displease God much more by casting off duties Nay may we not displease him most of all not only by casting of Duties but by running desperately and Headlong into all manner of Evil. Mark how you conclude you cannot please God by what you do therefore you will displease him more this is to run headlong and desperately into the lowest Hell As there are degrees of glory in Heaven as one Star differs from another Star in Glory so there are degrees of Torment in Hell It shall be more tollerable for Sodom and Gommorah at the day of Judgement than for those that have the Gospel and do not improve it As she hath fared deliciously saies God so much the more Torment give her saies God in Revelations 18.7 So now because we do displease God by what we do in our duties and services therefore shall we run further on to displease God more and more Is it not enough to displease God by doing things irregularly and unbelievingly but shall we therefore run headlong upon wickedness and care not how much we displease God O! therefore let us have a care of this Temptation for it is very great and dangerous because we cannot please God by doing what we can therefore we will run headlong on to displease him all that we can So now I have finished the explication of this Truth That without Faith it is impossible to please God I cannot now come to that Application which I chiefly intend Appli But in a word because I would not leave you wholy without some word of Application Use Here then let all those that are Unbelievers understand and know this day from the Lord what a dangerous state and condition they are in it is such a state and condition as is not to be rested quietly in because that they cannot possibly please God by all that they can do I would not speak any thing to discourage and cast down any but to awaken poor Souls Understand and know this day from the Lord that you never yet did please God by all that ever you have done you have made possibly many Hundred prayers and petitions to God you have been exercised in holy Duties and Services all along from day to day yet you have not pleased God in any thing that you have done Nay without Faith you cannot please God in whatever you shall do it is impossible What should I say more read but the Text saies the Apostle without Faith it is impossible to please God The Apostle doth not only speak of such as live in open known sins of Uncleanness and Drunkeness and Swearing and Lying that they do not please God that is plain enough every one will say that these men do not please God and that it is impossible they should please God And those that live in secret Sins in secret covetousness of heart in secret oppression secret omision and neglect of duty Family or Closet-prayer do these things please God think you not that I speak to such as these are but to those that are professors and that are careful to walk strictly and conscienciously in their places as far as ever they have light and understanding you are careful possibly to deal righteously in your Callings and Trade you desire to make Conscience of your ways in buying and selling and trading and conversing with the World to walk uprightly towards all men and what doth not this please God you will say do not I please God in this I pray mark is this Faith or no The Apostle saies here without Faith it is impossible to please God suppose you perform duties wait upon God in his Worship and Ordinances are very diligent in attending upon the Word Preached and very dilligent in reading the Scriptures daily day by day and you are very diligent also in private duties such as I mentioned before doth not this please God you will say why I pray still do but have recourse to the Apostles words without Faith it is impossible to please God Can you say that these things are Faith without Faith it is impossible to please God But if a Man or Woman be so Charitable that they are ready upon all occasions to relieve the Bowels of the Saints doth not this please God why saies the Apostle without Faith it is impossible to please God Do you believe that this is a Truth that this Text holds forth our Charity
driven out from the presence of God and there was a Flaming Sword that stood to keep him from coming near to God And so all his posterity are now driven from the presence of God and cannot have access into the presence of God but through Christ and through him we may have access with boldness as in Heb. 4.16 Let us come therefore boldly unto the Throne of Grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need Through him we may come and have access into the presence of God with boldness and confidence that is one thing that is implyed by performing any Duty in the Name of Christ to look for our access into the presence of God through him Secondly To do it in the Name of Christ is to look for strength and assistance to perform our Duties from Christ for as you heard before we are altogether insufficient of our selves to do any thing or think any thing that is good not only as we are in a state of nature before Conversion or before we be brought to believe in Christ for that is a state and condition that the Apostle describes to be without strength Rom. 5.6 But this is not only the condition of Unbelievers but even Believers themselves are insufficient of themselves to do any thing that is pleasing to God as you may see in those Scriptures that I mentioned to you even now You cannot pray no nor think a good thought you cannot will nor desire any thing saies the Apostle I am nothing and I can do nothing and yet saies the Apostle in Phil. 4.13 I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me Through the help and strength of Christ I can pray and I can hear the Word and I can partake of the Lords-Supper in a way of Faith through Christ and have communinion with Christ in it when there is Grace and strength communicated from Christ This is the Second thing implied To do every thing in the Name of Christ is to be looking for all our help from Christ and him alone Thirdly There is this further implied in it when we perform any Duty in the Name of Christ we look for all our acceptance of what we have done and performed only for Christ's sake and through Christ that the Lord should do this or that for us for Christ's sake as the Apostle speaks in Pet. 2.5 Ye are saies he a holy Priesthood to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ You come and offer up your Sacrifices your Prayers to God your Duties and Services But how shall they be acceptable to God How only by Jesus Christ this is to perform a Duty in the Name of Christ namely when we look for access into the presence of God to stand with a holy boldness in the presence of God with our Services through his being pleasing to the Father and when we look for all our help and strength to the performance of our Duties from Christ and when we expect all our acceptance of our Duties and Services through Christ Now that you may see how to apply this Rule and make use of it suppose now you are to pray you would pray in Faith so as to please God come then in the Name of Jesus Christ How When I pray I am to look to have access into the presence of God with my Prayers through him and I am to expect assistance and strength from Jesus Christ to enable me to do it And I am to look for aâ—dâ—ance and acceptance of my Prayers that I have performed only through Jesus Christ And so I might shew you for hearing the Word 'T is a general Rule we are to hear in Faith How Namely to hear the Word in the Name of Jesus Christ How is that Thus to come and present our selves in presence of God through Christ in Obedience to his Will that we may have access and stand in his presence in that Duty and Service through Jesus Christ and to expect Grace and Strength from Christ to inable me to attend unto the Word as I ought to do without him I cannot hear as I should but in hearing I shall not hear if I have not strength from Christ to enable me and when we have done to look for acceptance through Christ of the service that I have done And so for partaking of the Lords-Supper we should do all in the Name of Christ look for access into the presence of God in that Ordinance through Christ look to have assistance to be carried on in the participation of that Ordinance by strength from Christ and so look for acceptance of our participation of the Ordinance through Jesus Christ That is the Forth General Rule 5. Take one more Would we so act Faith in our duties and Services that they may be pleasing unto God the Rule is this namely to come with a resting and relying upon Christ with expectation to have that given out unto us by the Ordinance for which the Ordinance was instituted and appointed and therefore Resting upon God and Waiting upon God are frequently called Faith in Scripture saies David in Psal 62.5 All my expectation is from God My Soul wait thou only upon God for my expectation is from Him Therefore will I rest upon him for the giving out of what I do expect from him And so in Isa 26.4 Trust ye in the Lord for ever for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength Trust in him for ever Whenever you come to any Duty or Ordinance still act in Faith resting upon God with an expectation to receive that from God that he hath appointed the Ordinance for As now Suppose for Prayer When we come to wait upon God in Prayer we should come resting upon God with an expection to receive that from God which the Duty is appointed for To pray in Faith is not for a Man or Woman to believe and be perswaded that he shall receive the particular thing that he prays for No we do but deceive our selves if we think this be to pray in Faith For we may pray in Faith and yet not have the particular thing given that we pray for as I could instance in several examples But that shall not be my business now But to pray in Faith is only this namely to rely upon God he being a God hearing prayer that he would hear my Prayer and grant my Petitions so far as they are according to his Will at his own time and leasure O thou that hearest Prayer Psal 65.2 to thee shall all flesh come His Faith was built upon that that God was a God hearing Prayer and he relied upon God and expected that God would answer his Prayer in his own time And remember this for it is a daily Duty that we are to perfom Though we may be Believers and have an Habit of Holiness in us yet if we do not act Faith in Prayer our Prayer is not acceptable
Therefore trust in the Lord in all difficulties Say as David Psal 62.1 Truly my Soul waiteth upon God from him cometh my Salvation Vers 2. My Soul wait thou only upon God for my expectation is from him You can speak it by experience that Power belongeth unto God and that also unto the Lord belongeth Mercy You have had experience of both in his calling you out of darkness into his marvellous light therefore wait upon him and trust in him to perfect all that doth concern you both for Soul and Body Lastly Be willing to do or suffer any thing for Christ 1. Be willing to live to him The Apostle shews that it is but reasonable that we should live unto the Lord not only as we are Creatures but also upon the account of Grace 2 Cor. 14.15 Because we thus judge that if one died for all then were all dead and that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him that died for them and rose again Those that live by Christ it is but reasonable that they should live to him We must not of all others live to our selves besides our old obligation to obedience which we owe to God as our Creator and Soveraign Lord Grace lays a further obligation upon us to live to him 2. Be willing to dye for him if he call us to it Paul had heard the voice of Christ speaking from Heaven to him as all that are called do though not in such a manner as Christ spake to him and so he was made alive and now how precious was Christ to him he was willing to suffer any thing for his Name and Glory Act. 21.13 I am ready not only to be bound but to dye at Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus He was sensible that Christ had given him spiritual Life and therfore thought it a small matter to lay down his bodily Life in a way of bearing witness to his Name SERMON III. John III. 33. He that hath Received his Testimony hath set to his Seal that God is True THe words before going John says No Man received his Testimony though he testifie nothing but what he had seen and heard in Heaven and no man received his Testimony and yet here immediately it follows that He that hath received his Testimony says that God is True He that hath implying there was some that did receive it that is none few or none None in comparison of those that did not receive it some few there were that did receive it And here in this Verse John doth declare the Commendation of those that did receive Christ and what matter of encouragement to those that do receive Christs Testimony Why he says they do exceedingly Honour and Glorifie God they do subscribe as it were with their Hand and set their Seal to the Truth of God that what the Lord speaks and Christ speaks and what God the Father speaks is Truth and in doing this they Honour and Glorifie God by subscribing and setting to their Seal that God is True As he says he that set to his Seal that God is true doth Testify of what is Truth But how doth it appear that the Spirit is given unto those that Testify of him You may see it cleared in the opening of the Proposition So that the proposition is this taking up the words of the Text. Propos Whosoever he be that doth receive the Testimony of Christ doth set to his Seal that God it True You heard before in the opening of the former clause what we are to understand by the Testimony of Christ and then what we are to understand of the receiving the Testimony of Christ By the Testimony of Christ we are to understand the Gospel of Life and Salvation held forth to poor Sinners that you heard cleared from Scripture and for the receiving of it what is it to receive it it is not only a receiving it into the understandings and also into the affections and receiving it with some kind of Joy and Gladness but also a receiving it into the Heart and Soul in a way of Faith and Believing Believing is receiving the Testimony of Christ I shall not stand to speak of these things but shall now shew you that that Testimony that every believing Soul doth give of Jesus Christ doth set to his Seal that God is true First To shew that God is Truth Secondly what we are to understand by this setting to the Seal that God is true Thirdly To shew by what and wherein and how it doth appear that every believing soul that doth receive the Testimony of Christ doth believe that God is True First To shew you that God is Tru◠〈◊〉 that God is true and faithful in his Word in whatsoever he speaks in his Gospel as that which the Evangelists in the Gospel speaks of in the Testimony of Christ is true When God proclaimed his name by Moses he says of him He is abundant in goodness and in truth he is as abundant in his truth every way as in his goodness And in another place its said God is not as Man that he should lye hath he spoken it and shall he not do it And so I might multiply Scriptures to that purpose the Truth of God is from everlasting to everlasting whatsoever he speaks it shall be what he hath spoken with his mouth he will fulfil Every man says the Apostle are Lyars Let God be true and every man a Lyar in respect of God it is even so And so in the New-Testament God is a God that cannot Lye It cannot stand with his infinite Nature He cannot Lye yet it is impossible for God to Lye He must cease to be God were it ever so But it must needs be so Brethren that God is a God of Truth for God is the Author of all truth He is the Fountain of Truth and you know a Fountain cannot contain sweet waters and bitter He is Light and in him is no darkness at all He is Truth it self and no Lye there can be no falshood at all in him He is the Author of Truth the Devil is the Author of Lyes and the founder of them the Devil is the Father of Lyes and therefore God cannot be the Father of them but he is the Author of 〈◊〉 But â—gain it cannot be that God should speak that which is not truth which he doth not intend for God is an unalterable God an unchangeable God He don't speak and unspeak again but he is Immutable and unchangeable the same to day and forever without any shaddow of turning In our speaking there 's change and shaddow of turning but there is no shaddow of change or turnings in God He says not one thing and intends another If God should promise Life and Salvation unto all those that lay hold of Righteousness and Life and then they fall short of it here were change and shaddow of turning but there 's no shaddow
Abraham still So by Faith Sarah conceived it pleased God to give her conception when she was 90 Years old she had her infirmities and weaknesses she told a Lye in the hearing of the Angel but yet for all that she pleased God and so I might instance in others David pleased God by Faith David had his failings and did sometimes displease God but yet by his Faith he did please God And so look upon all those that have been believers by their acting and exercising of of Faith they have all of them come to please God and therefore we may take it up for a general conclusion and may be confident of it that by Faith we shall please God 2. The Holy-Ghost doth testifie in the Scripture again and again that a man or woman by Faith doth live What Life not a natural but a Spiritual life Now to live is not only to have the life of Justification and the life of Sanctification but to live is to have the favour of God to have God pleased with a person that is to live saies Abraham to God in the 17th of Genesis Oh that Ishmael might live in thy Sight what did he mean by that what that his Life might be lengthned out No but that he might find favour in thy Sight and saies the Prophet in Psal 30.5 In thy favour is life And so in Isaiah 6.55 Hearken unto me and your Soul shall live that is you shall please God and be accepted of God Now then this is frequent in Scripture that all that are Believers do live The just shall live by Faith both the Old Testament and New-Testament bear witness to it the same thing is in the Old-Testament Habakkuk 2.4 and repeated again in the new Hebrews 10.38 The just shall live by Faith therefore it is out of doubt and Question 3dly By Faith a Soul comes to have the guilt of sin taken away I pray what is that whereby a Man or Woman doth displease God Namely by his Sin guilt doth displease God Now then Faith is a means and instrument to take away that which is displeasing to God to take away the guilt of Sin In Acts 10.43 saies Peter there to Cornelius To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever beleiveth on him shall receive remission of sins And so in Chapter 13.38 39. Be it known unto you therefore men and Brethren that through this man is preached unto you forgiveness of sins and by him all that beleived are justified from all things from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses By believing on him we come to receive remission of sins And so in Acts 26.18 That they might receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among them which are sanctified through Faith which is in me Now then if so be that all believers all that have Faith in Christ and do exercise their Faith in Christ be justified from the guilt of sin then they are freed from all that makes them displeasing to God then by Faith they come to please God because by Faith the guilt of sin is removed which is the matter of Gods displeasure 4thly and Lastly to have done By Faith a Man or Woman comes to please God because by Faith now the very heart which is a fountain of uncleanness comes to be made clean this is the only way to have our hearts purified and cleansed Purifying their hearts by Faith saies the Apostle Acts 15.9 so in 1 Timothy 1.5 saies the Apostle there Out of a pure Heart and a good Conscience and Faith unfeigned Faith unfeigned is the means whereby the Conscience and the Heart is purified and truly hence it is that believers are called clean all that have Faith in Christ and do exercise their Faith in Christ they are all pure and every thing is clean to them Titus 1.15 To the pure all things are pure Who doth he mean by pure mark now by the contrary But unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure but their very conscince is defiled By Faith now a mans heart comes to be pure which is the Fountain of all his actions all that he performs and does it must come from the Heart if the heart be clean if the Fountain be clean then the water that flows from the Fountain is clean so now the Heart being purified by Faith now the Actions come to be pure in the sight of God through Christ To a believer every thing is pure all that he meddles with and undertakes if he doth act Faith in it he pleaseth God So now you have seen the 4th thing opened how we may be sure that by Faith we come to please God Now there is a further question remaining But may not a Man or Woman please God without Faith by doing the thing that God hath commanded as now to pray and perform duties to walk uprightly c As the generality of the World do think that this is the way and means to please God I do not deny but we should do those things and the things themselves as to the substance of them are pleasing to God but yet still without Faith it is impossible to please God How that appears follows to be spoken to in the next place and then come to the Application But thus much shall suffice for the present SERMON V. Hebrews XI 6. But without Faith it is impossible to please Him YOU have heard the dependance of these Words upon the foregoing we came directly to open the Proposition as it lay before us in the Words Doct. That without Faith it is impossible for any Man or Woman alive ever to please God We have shewn you first what it is for a Man or Woman to please God Secondly we have proved to you that this pleasing of God is a matter of very great concernment it is a thing very desirable for a Man or Woman to be found pleasing God And then in the third place we came to enquire what Faith that is without which it is impossible to please God And then fourthly we came to clear it up to you that by Faith a Soul doth please God Thus far we have gone 5. Now we come in the fifth place to give you some demonstrations to make it evident to you if the Lord please to set in with it that it is impossible for any Man or Woman ever to please God without Faith It is not only said here that without Faith a man hath not pleased God or without Faith no man ever shall please God but he speaks a greater word without faith it is impossible to please God This is such a thing that it will hardly enter into the hearts of men and women to be perswaded of it What! not please God by doing what God requires why if I be diligent and faithful in my calling doth not that please God! if I perform the Duties that God requires doth not that please God! if I give
is said in the parable of the Talents in Matt. 25. He that had one Talent and improved it not but hid it he came and brought his Talent but did he please his Lord with the Talent He had not improved his Talent for his Lord and saies his Lord to him Thou wicked and sloathful Servant take away the Talent from him Now what would his Lord have said to him if he had improved it for himself he did not improve it for his Lord nor for himself neither and was this displeasing to his Lord how much more displeasing would it have been if he had improved it for himself Certainly whatever a man or woman doth if he do it not for God but for himself he cannot please God in it Then a man cannot please God without Faith because without Faith he cannot go beyond self Ephraim is an empty Vine he bringeth forth Fruit to himself Hosea 10.1 And so God speaks of every unbeliever such a man or woman is an empty vine he bringeth forth fruit to himself he doth not he cannot please God in any thing that he doth This is the first demonstration Secondly Without Faith it is impossible to please God because till a man or womans person be accepted and pleasing to God all that ever he doth cannot please God and that cannot be without Faith It is said in Genesis 4.4 5. that God had respect to Abel and to his Offering he had not respect to Cain and his Sacrifice but he had respect to Abel's Sacrifice why because he had first respect to Abels person By Faith his person was accepted and then his Sacrifice was accepted God had no respect to Cains Sacrifice because his person was not accepted and his person was not accepted because he was not a Believer When a Soul comes to believe on Christ then and not till then his person is accepted because that which made God displeased with him is removed and his Sin is pardoned and now the Soul doth appear Righteous in the sight of God but till a person comes to believe on Christ it is impossible that ever this person should please God because his person is not accepted then whatever comes from him is not accepted It is a full word that the Apostle hath to this purpose in Rom. 8.8 So then he brings it in by way of conclusion So then they that are in the Flesh cannot please God Obj. That are in the flesh you will say what is that was not Paul in the Flesh when he saies in Gal. 2.20 The life that I now live in the Flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God Paul was in the Flesh and did not Paul please God all the believers that are upon the face of the Earth are in the Flesh and yet the Apostle saies here those that are in the Flesh cannot please God But I pray observe what the Apostle means by being in the flesh there is a douacceptation of the Word one is to live this life here in the Body but that is not the Apostles meaning when he says those that are in the flesh cannot please God for then never a Believer in the World can please God But then 2dly there is another meaning of the Word according to the Scripture to be in the flesh is to be in a fleshly carnal State a corrupt State an unchanged State an unbelieving State and condition they that are thus in the flesh cannot please God and this is the sence of the Holy-Ghost in Rom. 7.5 For when we were in the Flesh saies he c. why he was in the Flesh in one sence but he was not in the Flesh in another sence when we were in the Flesh that is when we were unbelievers in a fleshly carnal state when we were so in the flesh we could not please God and no man that is in the Flesh in that sence can please God But why is it not possible for a man or woman that is an Unbeliever to please God Why so why look but into the former verse Rom. 8.7 there he gives you the reason of it why those that are Unbelievers cannot please God because the carnal mind is enmity against God it is not subject to the Law of God nether indeed can be and then he brings in this conclusion So then they that are in the Flesh they that have a carnal mind they that are altogther unbelievers cannot please God because they are Enemies to God enemies in the highest degree for mark the expression he doth not say the carnal mind is an enemy to God but he puts it in the abstract the Carnal mind is enmity against God Enmity it self it is irreconcileable to God it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be till God change it Now see the force of the demonstration every unbeliever is an Enemy to God and every thing he doth comes from a principle of enmity against God and do you think that can please God though he seems to do much for God he prays much and reads much and is much in thanksgiving and much in confessing of sin but all this comes from a principle of enmity against God and what can this please God Suppose now you should have an enemy and he should come and seem to speak you fair and you know that he hath a heart full of hatred and enmity against you possibly he comes and confesses he hath done you wrong and he is sorry for it but he hopes he shall do so no more if you know he comes and speaks this with a spirit of Enmity and that he doth maintain his enmity as fully in his heart and mind as ever are you pleased with these confessions no you abhor him the more because he comes in a dissembling hipocritical way Now God sees and knows our Hearts possibly we may be taken with some such expressions of an enemy and think he means as he says and take it in good part but a Man cannot deceive God So when an Unbeliever comes and confesses his Sins to God the Lord sees he doth it with a spirit of enmity he comes with his humble petitions and supplications and the Heart is full of Enmity and hatred against God Will the Lord now accept of this He comes and gives thanks to God but the Lord looks upon all as hypocritical and flattering and can this be pleasing to God in Psalm 78.34 When he slew them then they sought him and they returned and inquired early after God Verse 35. And they remembred that God was their Rock and the High God their Redeemer Now they challenge acquaintance with God and claim interest in God well but what doth the Holy-Ghost say of this their inquiring after God Verse 36. Nevertheless they Flattered him with their Mouth and they Lyed unto him with their Tongues And could God be pleased with this I pray consider this is the very case every Unbeliever is an Enemy to God is
by a false Compass and so steers his Course wrong Truly thus it is with many Professors they perform Duties they go on with full sail in Duties they perform Duties every day and they attend upon the Lord as they have opportunity to hear the Word and read the Word daily they go on amain Ay but still they steer a wrong Course they sail by a false Compass and certainly they will never come to the Haven of Rest but will run upon their own ruine at last Therefore observe it the Devil will allow a Professor to go on in a course of Duties to pray every day in his Family and Closet he will allow him to go on in a course of Ordinances attending upon God daily so long as his Duties and Services are not touched with the Loadstone if they be not done in Faith he knows what will be the Issue of them he lets him alone because he knows he doth but deceive himself and delude his own Soul he looks to come to such a Haven but he will perish and miscarry for ever Therefore Brethren I pray consider whether it be not a matter of very great concernment for every one of us to look to it and be careful that all our Duties and Services be done in Faith or else we can never please God Well This is the Question How shall we so perform our Duties and Services in Faith as they may be pleasing unto God Answ In answer to it there are some Directions that I shall lay down that may be of general Concernment and reach all the Duties that we are to perform and shew you how we shall perform them in Faith that they may be pleasing unto God And then afterward we shall come to lay down more particular Directions how we may perform every Duty as Prayer in Faith and hearing the Word in Faith and partaking of the Lords-Supper in Faith how we may perform every Duty in Faith that so we may please God in what we do First Then for the General Rules that we may make use of in all Duties for the performing of them in Faith that so they may be pleasing unto God 1. First then take this for a general Rule that may be of concernment for every Duty Let us look especially that we be Believers that we have a Faith in Christ for if we be not Believers we can never perform any Duty in Faith we must first believe in Christ before we can perform any duty in Faith Therefore I say Let us be sure of that that the work of Faith be wrought effectually in our hearts that we do really and truely believe on Christ be sure of that lay that for a foundation and the more clear that is the more sure we are of that that there is a real work of Faith wrought in our hearts we may be the more easily perswaded that what we do we do in Faith though that alone is not enough neither But without that it is impossible for us to do any thing in Faith so as to please God it is by Faith that our persons come to be accepted without Faith our persons are not pleasing unto God No It is through the beloved that we must be accepted in our persons Ephes 1.6 And if our persons be not accepted nothing that we do can be accepted No we may pray day by day and cry aloud and we may perform extraordinary Duties too and none of these accepted if our persons be not accepted through Faith in Christ there must be the foundation of all For Brethren it is by Faith that our hearts are purified and made holy now if so be that we be not holy we cannot please God by any thing that we can do for he is a holy God and whatsoever is pleasing to God must be holy Now it is by Faith that our hearts come to be purified Act. 15.9 By Faith we come to have an habitual Holiness wrought in us though there may be and there is still a body of sin but still there is a Principle of Holiness by Faith wrought in the heart whereby we come to be made holy in Gods account For if so be that we be not made holy through Faith then all that ever we do is unclean all that comes from us is unclean look as the Fountain or Spring is so is all that issues from it every drop of water that comes from it is accordingly Can you bring forth a clean thing out of an unclean None can do it Does a bitter fountain send forth sweet water No it cannot be The fountain must first be made clean and sweet or else all the streams will be according as the fountain is A corrupt Tree cannot bring forth good fruit make the Tree good or the fruit cannot be good All that comes from a man or woman that is in a state of unbelief is unclean and whatever Duties or Ordinances he touches is unclean and polluted and therefore cannot please God Look as it was under the Law if one that was Legally or Ceremonially unclean touched any thing it was unclean Hag. 2.12 13. If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment and with his skirt do touch bread or pottage or wine or oyl or any meat shall it be holy And the Priests answered and said no it shall be unclean So now whatever Duties be performed under the New-Testament if we be not Believers if our hearts be not purified by Faith truly then all that we touch is impure and unclean to us as the Apostle saith Tit. 1.15 Unto the pure all things are pure but unto them that are defiled Who are those he explains it in the very next words and unbelieving is nothing pure They can do nothing that the Infinite Holy and Pure God can be pleased with Now there is no way for a Soul to be made clean to lave an habitual Holiness but through Faith wrought by the Spirit of Christ and the application and sprinkling of the Vertue of the Blood of Christ upon the Conscience So a man or woman comes to be made clean In Heb. 9.13 saies the Apostle there For if the blood of bulls and goats and the Ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifie to the purifying of the flesh that is The Holy Water under the Law that being sprinkled upon the unclean did purifie him and make him clean and if the sprinkling of that water did purifie from Ceremonial Uncleanness How much more shall the blood of Christ verse 14. Who through the eternal Spirit offered up himself to God purge your Conseiences from dead works to serve the living God Two things the Apostle doth plainly hint to us in this Scripture Namely 1. That all our Works that we perform before we be cleansed by the Blood of Christ they are all but dead works unholy and unclean And then 2. it implies thus much That we come to be cleansed from our dead works by the sprinkling of
But now Faith will help a Soul to go over all these Objections it is my Duty and I will do it in Obedience to the Will of God notwithstanding this or that or the other Temptation God hath commanded me to pray evermore and Pray without ceasing and that I should pray and not faint possibly Satan will come with his Temptations and Objections Do you not see that God seems to be angry and offended with your Prayers God seems to answer you contrary to your Prayers then to what end is it for you to pray Yet Faith will help a Soul to answer all with this It is my Duty it is Gods command and therefore I will do it For Faith does carry a Soul beyond Difficulties and Objections As you see it was with Abraham his Faith carried him beyond all his carnal reasonings and objections As when God called him to go out of his Native Country into a place that he knew not and it may be scarce ever heard of in all his Life Flesh and Blood now and the Devil would be ready to make Objections What! shall a Man venture to go he knows not whither But now Faith helped him to go on therefore it is said in Hebrews 11.8 By Faith Abraham when he was called to go out into a place which he should afterward receive for an inheritance obeyed and went out not knowing whither he went He went because of the Command of God in obedience to the call of God So when Abraham was called to a hard piece of Service to offer up Isaac here might have been a Temptation What shall I go and cut the Throat of him in whom all the promises are to be performed From Isaac Christ was to come and God had told Abraham that in him all the Families of the Earth should be blessed yet go saies God and sacrifice your Son Here was the command Abraham goes notwithstanding all the Cavils and objections of carnal reason Abraham goes about it in obedience to the command of God Brethren take this as another direction to help us to pray in Faith notwithstanding the objections and Temptations that may take us off it is our duty here is the Command of God for it and out of obedience to Gods Command I will do it whatever come of it You read in the 5th of Luke the beginning that Peter had been Fishing all Night and had Caught nothing in the Morning Christ stood upon the shore and called to him saies he Cast your Net on the Right side of the Ship Sir saies he we have been labouring and toyling all Night and have caught nothing it is but a vain thing But yet he did recollect himself nevertheless at thy Command we will do it and thereupon casting out the Net upon Christ's command they had a very great Draught in so much that they were Amazed Well this is the second direction to help us to pray in Faith to pray in Obedience to the Lords Will. Thirdly The third Direction is this namely to be eying of the Lords Promise and to pray by vertue of some promise or other and this will mightily strengthen and help Faith in Prayer If a Soul have but a promise to encourage him in Prayer by this means the Soul will come to see as through a Crevice the Willingness of God to hear him and answer him The Soul may possibly scruple and Question But if I pray will the Lord hear me But if the Soul comes in the vertue of a promise he comes with a great encouragement and perswasion that God will hear him Now Brethren for your help in this thing in praying by vertue of some promise understand and know that there are two sorts of promises there are some more general promises concerning Gods hearing Prayer and then there are some more particular promises concerning some particular Mercy or Blessing that we pray for Now as for the general promises the Scripture is full of them that God is a God hearing prayer in Psalm 65.2 O thou that hearest Prayer unto thee shall all Flesh come God is a God hearing Prayer for the encouragement of all Flesh to come unto him So in Psalm 86.4 5. Unto thee O Lord do I lift up my Soul for thou Lord art good and ready to forgive and Plenteous in Mercy unto all them that call upon thee Here is a general promise so in Psalm 102.17 He will regard the Prayer of the Destitute and not despise their Prayer And in Psalm 145.8 The Lord is nigh unto all that call upon him that call upon him in Truth He is nigh them to hear their Prayer So in the New-Testament saies Christ in Matt. 7.7 8. Ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you for every one that asketh receiveth c. And so you have such expressions frequently up and down in the Scripture that are general promises to encourage the Soul in Prayer as the Apostle saith in Rom. 10.12 The same Lord over all is Rich unto all that call upon him Such general promises you have frequently in the Scripture and then there are some more particular promises about Gods hearing Prayer as now for some particular Mercy or Blessing that a Man or Woman may stand in need of there are some particular promises that suits them more particularly As you know Jacob he makes use of that Lord saies he Thou hast said that thou would'st do me good When he was in danger by his Brother Esau in Gen. 32.9 10 11. Lord saies he Thou hast said that thou would'st do me good God had promised to bless him and he makes use of that promise and strengthens his Faith in his Prayer by that Argument And so David in 2 Sam. 7. there you may read how the Lord made a gracious promise to David and his House to establish the Throne to him and his posterity that his Posterity should succeed him in his Throne David would have built God a House Well saies God wilt thou build me a House I will build thy House for thee There was a Gracious promise well David makes use of this promise in the latter end of the Chapter verse 27 For thou Oh Lord of Hosts God of Israel hast revealed unto thy Servant saying I will build thee an House therefore hath thy Servant found in his Heart to pray this Prayer unto thee c. So Jehoshaphat in 2 Chron. 20. having his Land invaded by a Foreign Enemy he goes to God in Prayer but mark how he eyes a promise in his Prayer vers 8 9. And have built thee a Sanctuary therein for thy name saying If when evil cometh upon us as the Sword Judgement or Pestilence or Famine we stand before this House and in thy presence for thy Name is in this House and cry unto thee in our affliction then thou wilt hear and help c. He takes hold of the promise of God and pleads that in
hear the Word we should attend upon it and hear it as the very Word of God as if God himself did speak from Heaven and so receive it Object But you will say What shall we receive every thing that is Preached by Ministers as the very Word of God Indeed if they were infallible we might but men are not infallable in their Preaching as the Apostles were they are but men and they may err and mistake sometimes now are we bound to receive every thing from them as if God himself did speak it Ministers also you will say may differ sometimes in their teaching one man is of one opinion and another man of another opinion what are we to receive whatever one and another speak as the very Word of God as if God spoke to us how can this be Answ For Answer to this briefly 1. I say therefore it doth concern Ministers of the Gospel to take very great heed that whatever they speak it be according to the Mind and Will of God to speak nothing of their own heads but what they have warrant for from the Word and therefore we should usually back what we hold forth to the people for matter of Doctrine to be believed or for matter to be practised from the Word of God we should be very careful of that so that we may be able to say as the Apostle did 1 Cor. 15.2 3. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received c. and so should we do And let me tell you I confess it hath been matter of some trouble to me fearing lest I should sometimes speak what I have not warrant for from the Lords mouth to hold forth according to his Will It hath made me sometimes to tell you plainly to wish that I were otherwise imployed and that the Lord might imploy those that might more fully declare and hold forth his Mind and Counsel to the people than possibly I may be able to do but this is that that lyes incumbent upon Ministers to be very careful to hold forth nothing but what they have warrant for from the Word of God But 2. Suppose what is held forth and delivered sometimes by Ministers be not expresly backed by the Word yet notwithstanding we should be very backward and slow to reject and despise what is held forth though we do not see at present what warrant there is for it in the Word possibly it may be according to the Mind of Christ in a consequential way it may be reduced from the Word And thus far further we should do we should be searching and inquiring whether those things be so or no like the Bereans in Acts 17.11 It is said that they were more noble than those in Thessalonica for they received the Word with all readiness of mind and searched into the Scriptures dayly to see whether those things were so or no. The Bereans when they heard Paul Preach something possibly that they did not so well apprehend to be grounded upon the Scriptures they did not thereupon slight and despise what they heard but here was matter of further inquiry for them they searched the Scriptures to see whether it was according to the Scriptures or no and they were commended for it so should we do if any thing be held forth that we cannot see for the present express warrant and ground for in the Scripture we should not slight it and cast it off but be searching into the Scriptures to see whether there may not be some ground and warrant for it This is the third Direction if we would hear the Word of God in Faith we must be careful to receive it as the very word of God Fourthly If we would hear the Word in Faith so as it may be to profit and edification we should so hear it as to make a particular application of it to our selves as spoken to us in particular mark it I pray here is the direction we should not only hear the Word and receive it as spoken by the Lord as if God himself should speak to us but take it as spoken to us particularly from the Lord every one should take it to himself as particularly spoken to me and to me in particular as they said to Job in Job 5.27 Lo this we have searched it so it is hear it and know it thou for thy good for thy good in particular And as Paul said in Acts 13.26 To you is the word of Salvation sent So to you and to every one in particular is this word sent and this is the very proper work of Faith to make a particular application of the Word that is spoken to its self This I say is the proper work of Faith for you know in Scripture the word of Command and the word of Promise lay in general now it is the very work and act of Faith to take the word that lies in common and general and apply it particularly to the Heart this is the very proper work of Faith or else Brethren the word will do us no good It will be just like a Table full of Meat the Meat will do us no good if it be not taken so long as it stands upon the Table it will do us no good if it be not taken and eaten down and applied particularly to us So in this Case so long as the Word lies only in the Scripture before us the word of Command or the word of Promise or whatever word it be if it lie before us as common and in general and there be no particular application of it it doth us no good at all we shall not profit by it but now when it comes particularly to be applied that God speaks this as a word of Command to me that this is my Duty and I must take it as if God did speak it particularly to me that which I am called to perform so if it be a word of Promise I should take it as spoken from the Lord to me the Lord calls me to accept of it and embrace it and Brethren though the Word of the Lord seems to lay in common yet it hath an eye upon every person that hears it it looks to every one just as a Picture if it be exactly drawn if there be a Hundred Persons in the Room the eye will be upon every one in the Room so the eye of the Word is upon every particular person that hears it and know it for your good that the Lord doth speak to everyone of us in particular when the Word is Preached and we should not say Well here was a word fit for such a one applying it to others and such a one was met with in the Word No no Brethren so long as we can apply the Word to others and not to our selves it will do us no good but this is our work and business when the Word is Preached in the Name of the Lord and according to the Will of God we
to come and partake of the Lords-Table then we must have some grounds to hope and perswade our selves that we have some right to it or else we cannot partake in Faith Object But you will say This may be a ground of discouragement to many a gracious heart Many a gracious Soul is exercised with scruples of Conscience and may Question whether they have a right or no and such by this Direction must be forced to with-hold from it Answ For Answer briefly we are to know that every doubt and scruple and Question that Christians may have about their coming to this Ordinance is not sufficient for them to withdraw from it or to withhold their presence in it no they are not presently therefore to withdraw and withhold from the participation of it What shall they do then You will say Answ Briefly I pray mind it because it may concern some that are scrupulous and to be exercised with Questions and doubts whether they have right to it or no therefore such are seriously to consider what the ground of their doubt and scruple is whether it be sufficient and warrantable to cause a withdrawment from this Ordinance amongst others the grounds of scruple in this case may be reduced to three heads First Possibly some do Question and scruple their coming to this Ordinance for fear they should eat and drink unworthily and so eat and drink their own damnation that is my fear saies one and therefore I dare not come I fear I may not come I pray now therefore consider this briefly for I may not inlarge but consider this whether a mans Questioning whether he shall eat and drink unworthily be a sufficient ground and warrant for him to withhold from the Lords-Table I pray mind and consider what the Apostle saies 1 Cor. 11.27 28. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this Cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself and so let him eat Mark doth the Apostle say that he that fears that he shall eat and drink unworthily shall therefore withhold no but let him be the more solicitous and careful to examine himself and prepare himself that he may not partake unworthily of it that the Apostle doth intimate The Apostle doth not give a liberty upon it to withhold Therefore I say that is not a sufficient ground because we fear we shall partake unworthily but therefore we should be the more Solicitous and careful to examine our selves and to be preparing our selves the more to partake of this Ordinance Secondly Ordinarily some do fear and doubt whether they may partake of this Ordinance or no by reason they find themselves so weak in Grace Oh! saies one my Faith is so weak and my other graces so weak that I fear I shall but sin if I should come to the Lords-Table Now I pray Consider whether this be a sufficient scruple or no for I pray mark Consider the end of this Ordinance and for whom it is appointed what is it appointed for those that are perfect in grace for those that are perfect in Faith and other graces Is it not appointed rather to be a means to perfect and strengthen our graces therefore the weaker we apprehend our graces to be the more need we have to draw near to Christ in this Ordinance for the further Communication of the Spirit and grace to us that we may be strengthened in our inward man and have our grace increased That is the second scruple Thirdly The third scruple may be this which commonly is the greatest of all but suppose that I have no grace at all as I question whether I have any grace in truth or no upon examination of my self I cannot find that I have any Faith is it for me to come to this Ordinance Mark I pray in a word briefly A Soul sometimes under Temptation may be ready to conclude it hath no grace at all but I pray consider thus much though a Soul cannot say that it doth truly believe on Christ yet if so be there be a real hungering and thirsting after Christ a real desire after Christ in such a case a Soul is to come and partake of this Ordinance Blessed are they that Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness for they shall be filled Therefore though you cannot say certainly that you have Faith really wrought in you yet notwithstanding if there be a real hunger and desire and thirst after the enjoyment of Christ and communion with Christ in such a case a Soul may may come to partake of this Ordinance and such a Soul hath a right to it This is now a third direction how we may come in Faith to this Ordinance Namely to have some grounds to perswade us to hope that we have a right to it otherwise we cannot come in Faith Fourthly Take a fourth Direction which is this Namely if we would act and exercise Faith in this Ordinance then we must be careful to be found diligent in those things that are required towards our preparation to it I pray mind it it is the proper nature of Faith to put a Soul upon diligence in applying its self to the means for the obtaining of any end it is the proper nature of Faith to put a Soul upon the diligent use of means tending thereunto this is the proper nature of Faith indeed presumption if it have any hope of any Blessing or Mercy presumption leads a man to neglect the means but the proper work and nature of Faith is to lead a Soul to the diligent use of the means to obtain the Mercy or Blessing it hopes for I could give you divers instances in Scripture for this how Faith doth put a Soul upon the diligent use of means that are required for such an end I remember 't is said in 2 Chron. 20. concerning Jehoshaphat he was invaded by a foreignâ— enemy and thereupon he set himself to seek the Lord in wrestling by Prayer well the Lord is pleased to give him a gracious answer by the Prophet in the midst of the Congregation vers 14 15. And he said Hearken ye Judah and ye Inhabitants of Jerusalem thus saith the Lord be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude for the Battel is not yours but the Lords Vers 17. Ye shall not need to fight in the Battel set your selves stand ye still and see the salvation of the Lord with you O Judah and Jerusalem fear not be not dismayed to morrow go out against them the Lord will be with you Now Jehoshaphat having this promise his Faith did carry him out to set himself in Battel-aray as if they were to fight for it he would not neglect the means that God had appointed So you read of Paul in Acts 27. Paul was in danger by Sea in a great Storm in danger to be wrecked and it is said the Angel of the Lord came to him vers 23 24. For