First To believe in God or on God and Christ for both these Expressions are frequently used in the New Testament as any one in reading may easily observe is so to believe God or Christ as to trust in him to rely on him to stay our selves on him Isa 26.4 Phil. 2.19 24. 2· Chron. 13.18.16.7 Isa 50 10. to roll our selves on him as Dr. Hammond expresses it in his Practical Catechism Lib. 1. Sect. 3. and before him our Translators of the Bible in the Margent of Psal 22.8 To believe we know in its most proper signification is to assent to any thing upon the Authority of him that speaks it Therefore he that believes not makes God a Lyar That is accounts him such by Interpretation or deals with him as if he were so 1 John 5.10 Whereas on the contrary he that doth believe him or receive his Testimony sets to his Seal that is owns and acknowledges that he is true John 3.33 But this is such a Faith as wicked men may have and not that saving Faith which the Scripture so often speaks of but that is a fiducial resting upon him for the accomplishment of what he hath promised in the way and upon the terms whereon he hath promised it and no otherwise For that would be an unwarrantable presumption not properly a believing in him he having not promised such things on any other terms Now for the further clearing of this we may observe that there are Words not only in Scripture but in Heathen Authors many Instances of which I could give you which they call pregnant words which include or comprise some other word in them As where it is said all the People trembled after Saeul as you see in the Margent the Hebrew word signifies 1 Sam 13.7 which our Translators well render They followed him trembling So Joab and Abiathar helped after Adonijah That is following after Adonijah 1 King 1.7 helped him So to wonder after the Beast is to follow him wondering Rev. 13.3 So God heard David from the horns of the Unicorns Which doth not imply that God was there when he heard him as he is said to hear from Heaven his dwelling-place but to hear him so as to save him from the danger wherein he was which is set forth by that Metaphor as in the foregoing words by the Lions Mouth Psal 22.21 Heb. 5.7 As Christ was heard from his Fear or that which he was afraid of Neither do we need to render it as it is in the Margent for his piety For the word doth not only signify a religious Awe or fear of Reverence but a fear of danger as is evident from Acts 23.10 In like manner God loved the Soul of Hezekiah from the Pit of Corruption That is as our Translators render it in love to his Soul delivered it from the Pit of Corruption Isa 38.17 Acts 8.22 So to repent from wickedness as the Greek words imply is so to repent of it as to turn from it or depart from it and to be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ is to be corrupted so as to depart from it 2 Cor. 11.3 I know some Learned men observing how the prepositions both in the Hebrew and Greek are redundant or superfluous that is signify nothing in many places They conclude that to believe in God or Christ signifies no more but to believe them I answer that tho' we must suppose improprieties of speech defects or redundancies where the nature of the thing in hand doth necessarily require it yet there is no reason why we should so do when the matter in hand doth not require it but rather that we should take in such words or make use of them It is further to be observed that some words signify a complex act made up of many particular acts For example to Nurse a Child tho' it signify in the strictest sense to nourish or feed it by giving it meat or milk yet in the larger and most ordinary sense it is to take care of it in all that is necessary to be done to it So a Shepherd in most languages hath his name from feeding his Flock but there is more belongs to it than giving them Food or leâ—ding them into green Pastures Psal 23.2 1 Pet. 5.2 Or if we understand thereby Spiritual Pastors that are to feed the Flock of God This signifies not only feeding them with the Doctrine of the word as 1 Cor 3.2 And as some understand feeding with knowledge and understanding not of the manner but the matter of feeding Jer. 3.15 but it comprehends the whole duty of a Shepherd strengthening the diseased healing the sick binding up that which is broken bringing again that which is driven away seeking that which is lost Ezek. 34.4 Gathering the Lambs with his arms carrying them in this bosom gently leading those that are with young So tho Faith in its most strict and proper sense be an Assent to the Truth Isa 40.11 yet it comprehends many other Acts in it when we speak of a justifying or saving Faith I may further add That there are some words in Scripture which are not to be understood their in strict and precise Sense but presupposing some other things and comprehending such things as should or may be presumed to accompany or follow them For example Justification is sometimes ascribed to the knowledge of Christ as it is said by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many and therefore doth the Apostle so magnify the knowledge of him Phil 3.8 accounting all things but loss for the excellency thereof Isa 53.11 But it is not a bare knowledge of him that is of such value and excellency but of his Work and Office what he is and for what he was sent into the World which doth suppose what our own estate is and of what use he is to us and such a knowledge of him as puts us upon making use of him for the end for which he was given to mankind and came into the World then do we truly know him as we know that we know God when we keep his commands 1 Joh. 2.3 Tit. 1.16 Otherwise we do but profess to know him when in works we deny him When Josiah judged the cause of the poor and the needy and did Judgment and Justice this was to know God Jer. 22.15.16 Joh. 20.31 Acts 8.37 1 Joh. 5.1 Mark 1.24 Thus Salvation sometimes seems to be suspended upon our believing that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God But this faith will not save if it go no further For the Devils believe this as well as that there is but one God But as there must be such a knowledge of him supposed as I have before spoken of so it must be such a belief as brings us to him or makes us come to him Joh. 6.35 37. Isa 45.24 as having both righteousness and strength in him
therefore he will shew his displeasure against it But it is so likewise in Spiritual blessings we read of great things ascribed to Faith Acts 15.9 as purifying the heart overcoming the World quenching all the fiery darts of the wicked 1 Jo. 5.4 Eph. 6.17 Now it doth not all these things in a moral way as Moses overcame by looking to the recompence of the reward but we are thereby strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Heb. 11.26 Ephes 6.10 2 Tim 2.1 1 Peter 1.5 Col. 1.11 or in the grace that is in Christ Jesus and we are kept by the power of God through Faith to Salvation It is the Divine Power that keeps us and we are strengthned thereby or according thereto and not only morally by his word as men may strengthen each other Job 43.4 Ezek. 13.22 but it is Faith that takes in this aid or assistance of Grace or the supplies of the Spirit of Jesus Christ Phil. 1.9 which are communicated from him to the several Members of his Mystical Body as the Spirits are from the Head in the Natural Body and as Christ dwells in the heart by faith Ephes 3.17 so we derive Spiritual Life and Virtue from him in the daily Exercise of Faith he leaving those usually to themselves that trust to their own strength as Youth and Young men are ready to do when those that wait on the Lord and look to him for supplies of Grace shall surmount all difficulties and persevere in well-doing without weariness or fainting Isaiah 40.30 31. Psalm 27.14 He will strengthen the heart of those that wait on him and give Grace to such humble Souls as distrusting themselves rely upon him for strength and assistance CHAP. IX THere is yet one way more whereby Faith becomes such an effectual Remedy against Touble and that is as we thereby have a view or prospect of the other World or of the Future state We thereby look to the things that are not seen which are eternal And if any shall say 2 Cor. 4.18 the word there used doth not imply that he saw them or had a view of them but only that he made them his scope or aim I answer The word sometimes signifies to mark or observe as well as to consider or have respect to Rom. 16.17 Phil. 3.17 Heb. 11.27 And we do in a sort see the things which we aim at Moses is said to endure as seeing him that is visible which implies not the manner of his enduring but the ground of it not as if he had seen him that is invisible but because he saw him that is invisible or like one that saw the invisible God John 1.14 So as the glory of the only begotten Son of God is a glory becoming such an one And if it be said there is a Contradiction in the terms to see him that is Invisible I answer It is an Elegancy used frequently in Scriptures where a word in the same place is taken in different senses as to believe in hope Rom. 4.18 1 Tim. 5.6 against hope And she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she lives She lives Naturally but is dead Spiritually So God is invisible to our bodily Eyes but we see him by faith which is the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11.1 And if it be further objected that Faith and Sight are opposed in Scripture as We walk by faith and not by sight And in whom 2 Cor. 5.7 1 Pet. 1.8 tho now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory For this latter place distinguish of seeing as before and the sense is plain and for the former place Faith is there opposed either to the Vision of God which we shall have in the Future state or to present sense implying that we should govern our lives not by Sense or what we see but by what we belive or hereafter hope for And the Apostle when he would set forth the virtue of Faith and of what excellent use it is to support Christians under Trials and Sufferings he grounds it upon this Heb. 11.1 that it is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen It gives as it were a real and present subsistence to things that are yet but future and so hoped for and giveth us as full satisfaction concerning those things which we do not see as if we saw them clearly before our eyes And these two things make that which is future to affect us more and work more effectually upon us We say indeed among men that seeing is believing And they have Proverbial Speeches in other Nations like this of our own There is so much deceit and falshood to be found among men that persons will hardly believe till they see or have sufficient ground for it and so will not venture much on uncertain hopes But when we have to do with God that cannot lie believing is seeing that is when we have his Word to ground our Faith upon we are as sure as if we saw with our eyes or as if things were proved to us by a Mathematical Demonstration that is by such clear evidence as nothing can be objected against But tho we look upon things as certain they do not much affect us if we look upon them as at a great distance of time therefore wicked men relieve themselves against the fear of future Evils by looking upon them as at a great distance Ezek. 12.27 Amos 6.3 or putting far away the evil day We are likewise encouraged to patience by the near approach of the recompense of reward because he that shall come will come and will not tarry Heb. 10.37 James 5.8 9. Luke 21.28 The coming of the Lord draws nigh The judge stands before the door And our Saviour bids his Disciples lift up their heads when their redemption draws nigh If persons were going to some places and tired with the tediousness of their Journey and discouraged with the Difficulties and Dangers that they meet with in their way questioning whether they should find the way to it or hold out till they come at it should come to the top of an Hill and before they are aware see the place that they are going to a little before them what Courage and Life would it presently put into them As Columbus that first discovered the West Indies when his men were ready to Mutiny having been wearied with a Voyage of Sixty days over the Ocean he perceiving the Clouds to look clearer concluded that they were not far from Land and so promised them to return if they did not within three days discover Land which they did before the end of the third day So if we could get a sight of the other World as Moses did of the Land of Cannan on the top of Pisgah Deut. 3.27 What Vigour and Life would it add to us when we
Death gave up their hopes Luke 24.20 And the Greeks looked upon it as an absurd ridiculous thing to believe in a Crucified Person and worship one as God that died the most Infamous death of men Therefore it was needful to caution them against such a Temptation by encouraging them still to believe on him tho' he did leave them and by such an infamous Death And doth after his Resurrection upbraid them for their folly in being so slow of heart to believe because this was but according to what the Scripture had foretold that he must suffer before he entred into his glory Luke 24.26 The Scripture was to be fulfilled in some thing which did not seem in themselves so necessary as the parting of Christ's Raiment and not breaking his bones Joh. 19.24 35. But But as we speak of some things that are necessary not only by vertue of a Command or because they are required but as a mean in order to an end So the Scripture was to be fulfilled in this not only to save its veracity or that it might not be broken Joh. 10.35 Heb. 2.10 but in order to the bringing of his people to glory For he had continued alone if he had not died and been buried Joh. 12.24 and would not have had such a numerous seed As a Grain of Wheat if it die in the earth that is corrupts and spears and brings forth much fruit otherwise it abides alone Gal. 3.13 So Christ was to be made perfect through suffering and was to become a Curse for us that he might deliver us from the Curse So that they were still to believe in him notwithstanding all seeming discouragements Indeed we are ready to be troubled at many things which if well considered may rather encourage our hopes The Sense which we have of our own vileness and unworthiness and the conflict which we find in our own Souls do many times discourage us as if it were not for such to come to Christ Whereas the former should as the Law be our School-master to bring us to Christ The greater our Sin is the more need we have of pardon Psal 25.10 We may plead the greatness of our Sin as an argument for the pardon of it and the pardon of great Sinners will best answer God's end in the Pardon of Sin Ephes 2.7 Therefore this is the best qualification to fit us for Christ which is not to make him willing to accept of us but to make us willing to accept of him He must not find us new Creatures but make us such Ephes 2.10 And the conflict which we find in us as it may be is an evidence that there is in us a Principle of Spiritual Life resisting our natural corruption I now shall shew you that Faith is the most effectual remedy against trouble The Apostle prays that the Romans may be filled with all joy and peace in believing Rom. 15.13 That is that they might abound with the greatest measure thereof as this expression in Scripture frequently signifies not all sorts or kinds of any thing but an high degree of any thing in its kind So all Faith and all knowledge 1 Cor. 13.2 are not all kinds of Faith but the greatest measure or degree of that Faith which he there speaks of that is the Faith of Miracles Or of such knowledge as he there treats of In like manner we are to understand all Wisdom So by believing we are not only kept in perfect Peace Col. 1.9.3 16. but rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory Joy is more than Peace Isa 26.3 1 Pet. 1.8 Psal 34.2 Psal 43.4 we may thereby not only have our minds quieted and composed but may make our Boast of God and with David call him our exceeding joy I will first give you some general Proofs that it is so and then shew you how it is so We find in the Old Testament that this was the chief remedy that the People of God did in all their troubles betake themselves to not only by what virtue the Apostle ascribes to their Faith Heb. 11. but by the frequent use which David makes thereof when at any time he was in any fear or trouble when fear was on every side Psalm 31.13 14. Psal 42.11 while men took counsel together to take away his Life he trusted in God and stirs up himself to this when he was cast down or disquieted And what time he was afraid that is whensoever he was so he would trust in God Psalm 56.3 And whereas it may seem to some that this doth not so well agree with what he saith of the righteous man Psal 111.7 That he shall not be afraid of any evil tidings his heart being fix'd trusting in the Lord These places shew that tho good men may unavoidably be surprised with sudden fear yet Faith is the way to cure it We see by experience that there are some sudden motions of the affections which prevent all reasonings of the Mind As we sometime start at what we do unawares hear or see but our fear is over as soon as we can recollect our selves and either see that there was no real danger or secure our selves against it So when we apprehend any sudden danger which may alarm our fear all is quiet when we can by Faith betake our selves to God as our refuge or cast all our care upon him And as this was the remedy which good men did then betake themselves to Isaiah 12.2 so under the New Testament Christ imputes the inordinate cares and fears of his Disciples to the weakness or want of Faith So he reproves the weakness of their Faith when they were too sollicitous about the things of the World or the necessaries of this life Matth. 6.30 One would think that it were one of the best uses or advantages of riches to free us from sollicitous cares and that a man might with him in Luke 12.20 dismiss all further care about these things when he is richly stored with them But we have seen often that Faith is more effectual for this end Heb. 13.5 and that a Promise is better security than a great Estate So when Peter was so afraid upon the Water Christ upbraids him with the weakness of his Faith And when they were in a storm and thereby put into a great fright Christ asks them according to one Evangelist Mark 4.40 Luke 8.25 How it was that they had not faith and according to another Where their Faith was they had it not actually at that time As some Philosophers make Knowledge to consist in Remembrance as if that were not to be accounted Knowledge which is only habitual and not ctual However tho they had Faith yet they had it to seek as a Work-man that when he should use a tool it is laid out of the way and so at present wants the benefit of it As a man
hands of Christians by teaching that perfection is not necessary to Salvation nor attainable in this Life because Chistians generally concern themselves more to endeavour after Assurance than after Perfection both as it is more attainable and more necessary to the comfort of their Lives As for the profession of the People of God in Scripture it is not universally true of them for as we meet with instances of many triumphing in the assurance of the love of God and the hope of future glory so we do of some under doubts and terrors and as Moses wished in another case that all the Lord's People were Prophets so I wish that all the Lord's People had Assurance yea I hope that if he call them to like sufferings he will give them like Assurance as his People had under theirs formerly it being his ordinary way to proportion their Consolations to their Sufferings 2 Cor. 1.5 Yea we ordinarliy teach not only that Assurance is attainable without extraordinary Revelation but that it is the Duty as well as the Interest of Christians to endeavour after it Having premised thus much briefly I will now proceed to enquire how far Faith is attended with Assurance and how it may be sometimes without it I will not say there is a direct Act of Faith and a reflex Act I think not the terms so proper but I own what they call the direct Act of Faith is the most proper Act of it and that when a man hath believed or doth believe he may reflect upon it and say with him Mark 6.24 I believe and thence he may infer his Interest in the promise of Salvation and so have Assurance which some call Assurance of Faith and we may call it so as it is inferr'd from our Faith rather than as it is an act of Faith The Scripture speaks of a full assurance of understanding Col. 2.2 which is a clear and certain knowledge of Truths Of a full assurance of hope Heb. 6.11 Heb. 10.22 that is a certain expectation of Salvation Of a full assurance of faith Now. the Assurance which we are now speaking of is indeed rather the Assurance of Hope than the Assurance of Faith tho it is indeed grounded on the Assurance of Faith wherewith we should draw nigh to God not only in particular Acts of Worship but in our first access to him in Conversion as the Prodigal first returned to his Father's House and when he was received into it made his particular Addresses to his Father as he had occasion And this full Assurance is not only such as that of Abraham That what God had promised Rom. 4.21 he was able also to perform Nor as that of Sarah That judged him faithful that had promised Heb. 11.11 So as he will certainly make good his promise according to the true Tenor thereof whether we believe or no he cannot deny himself 2 Tim. 2.12 Rom. 3.3 And if some do not believe their unbelief shall not make the faith of God without effect It shall be fulfilled to others that do believe But there is a further Assurance of Faith even in the first direct Act thereof whereby we do apply the Grace of God to our selves in particular which is not a believing that our Sins are already pardoned or that they shall be pardoned upon our believing that they are so but that they shall be pardoned upon our believing that is upon our addressing our selves to God by Jesus Christ upon our coming to him or casting our selves upon God's free Grace in Christ This is that boldness and access with confidence which we have by the faith of him Ephes 3.12 Heb. 10.19 that boldness which we have to enter into the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus Boldly adventuring our selves on God's free Grace in Jesus Christ for Salvation fleeing for refuge to lay hold on the hope that is set before us Heb. 6.18 in the encouragement of the gracious invitation of the Gospel to all those that are weary and heavy laden Matth. 11.28 Rev. 22.18 John 6.37 to those that shall desire really the Water of Life and the promise made to such And in confidence of the gracious promise made to all that come to Jesus Christ that he will in no wise cast them out And tho it is true Ministers in their preaching do often make use of the example of the Lepers that sate at the gate of Samaria 2 Kings 7.3 4. who resolved to go into the Host of the Syrians as the most likely way to save their lives because there was no other course that they could take wherein there was any hopes of it for if they went into the City they should dye there if they continued where they were they should dye So that if there were the least probability of saving their Lives by going to the Syrians this being the only way which did afford them any hopes it was the wisest course they could take So in this case there being Salvation in no other Acts 4.12 Mark 16.16 John 3.18 and Unbelievers being under Condemnation If there were but the least probability of finding mercy through him it would be the safest course that Sinners could take They would certainly perish if they should not believe in Christ and they can but perish if they betake themselves to him But all this is spoken not to discourage the hopes or weaken the confidence of such as flee to Christ for refuge as if it were doubtful whether Christ would shew them mercy or receive them to favour but to meet with the Scruples of Doubting Christians that fear that Christ may reject them tho we do not grant that it may be so while we have his promise that he will not do it Yet suppose such a thing possible it is acknowledged by all that we should take the safest way so that if there were only a possibility much more if there be a probability of Salvation by Christ and no possibility thereof any other way it is certainly the best way for us to betake our selves to him It is in this case as if a Physician should come to a sick Person and tell him his Condition is very dangerous and there is but one Remedy that will save his Life but if he will make use of that he doth not doubt of his recovery The sick Person is apprehensive enough of his danger but he hath not much confidence in this Remedy but doubts whether it will cure him or no. His fears may be such and his Melancholly prevail so far that the Physician can hardly hope to free him from his fears at present but may think it an unanswerable Argument to perswade him to use such a Remedy that if he do not use it there is no way but Death but if he do use it he may live So when Christians are under Temptation and the Power of Melancholly we may more easily prevail with them to venture
working of fancy but it must be imputed to God's immediate support putting Gladness into their hearts Ps 4.7 shedding abroad his love in their hearts by the Holy Ghost given to them Rom. 5 5. But to suppose this to be God's ordinay way of dealing with his People and to allow them no Assurance but what God gives them in such an immediate way would leave many humble serious Christians that dare not boast of what God hath not wrought in them under perpetual doubts and fears And because many are ready to think that what the Scripture speaks about the witness of the Spirit the seal of the Spirit and the earnest of the Spirit do imply some immediate way of the Spirit communicating himself to Christians I will endeavour to shew you what may be the true and proper import of such Expressions As for that the Spirit 's witnessing with our spirits or to our spirits that we are the Children of God Rom. 8.16 supposing what I before said about his immediate Comforts in extraordinary Tryals and Temptations which seems to be the state of Christians at that time the Spirit may ordinarily be said to witness with our spirit or to our spirit 1st With our spirit and for the clearing of this we must consider that whatever is written in Scripture is the Testimony of the Spirit he doth therein testify 1 Pet. 1.11 and it is said particularly that the Holy Ghost is a witness to us of the perfection of Christ's Sacrafice and this he is in the Scripture Heb. 10.15 or what he hath there testified as is evident from the words following Now it no where saith in Scripture that this or that person is the Son of God our Names may be written in Heaven but not in the Scripture so it is said to testify of Christ but not by Name but describing him by his works which verse 36. are said to testify of him or to bear witness that his Father had sent him Joh. 3.39 these put together the testimony of the Scripture and his own works did witness that he was the Messiah Thus the Spirit of God witnesses in general who are the Sons of God giving Characters whereby they may be known as walking after the Spirit loving the Brethren c. This we know by the Spirit of God speaking in the word but that we do these things we know by our own spirits which we must appeal to and examine about it this being the Candle of the Lord which searches the hidden parts of the belly Prov. 20.27 2 Cor. 1.12 that is our most secret thoughts and the witness thereof is the testimony of our Consciences therefore if we would have the witness of the Spirit we must see in the Scripture what that witnesses about those that shall be saved and then consult our own spirits and if we find those things in our selves that do accompany Salvation the Conclusion follows that we shall be saved But further it may be said to witness to or with our spirits as it witnesses in its effects which the Spirit it self may be properly said to do things are said to witness in Scripture when they are a real proof of any thing as the rust of Silver and Gold witnesseth against the owners So mens wickedness saith or testifies Jam. 5.3 Psal 36.1 that they have no fear of God before their Eyes So persons are said to testify or bear witness by their Works as the Holy Ghost is a witness of Christ's Exaltation by the Miracles which he wrought Act. 5.32 and God did bear the Apostles witness both with signs and wonders and divers gifts of the Holy Ghost Heb. 2.4 and thus the Spirit bears witness with our spirits that we are the Children of God Ezek. 36.27 by that filial frame or Spirit of Adoption which he puts in us And by bringing forth in us the fruits of the Spirit Gal. 1.16 she reveals his Son in us We knowing that he abides in us 1 Jo. 3.24 by the Spirit which he hath given us I will now proceed to speak of the sealing of the Spirit and I desire this may be observed that whenever the Scripture speaks thereof it doth not speak of the Covenant or of our Salvation being sealed to us but of our being sealed 2 Cor. 1.22 Eph. 1.13.4.30 Now we must know that a Seal is not a Natural but an Instituted Sign and it being a particular mark belonging to some person it signifies his ratifying or confirming any thing that it is applied to And Seals were used in three Cases 1st For the confirming of Writings being an Evidence of a man's consent to what he hath set his Seal to Esth 3 12. Jer. 32.10 Dan. 6.17 2dly It is for keeping a thing sure as the Lyons Den and Christ's Sepulchre not by force Wax is not proper for that but for securing it so as none can meddle with it but it will be known 3dly It was used for marking things that they might be known to whom they did belong and to distinguish them from other mens and they did not only mark things or Goods but Persons We read in Heathen Authors as Plutarch in Nicias that they did sometimes mark their Captives or Servants in the Forehead And hence probably the Scripture speaks so oft of Marking and Sealing the Servants of God Ezek. 9.4 Rev. 7.3 4.9.4 Rev. 13.16 Ps 4.3 so the Beast is said to mark those that did enjoy any privileges under him Thus when God doth set apart any for himself as David expresses it he seals them or marks them for his own And as the Emperors had not only their Superscription but their Image impressed on their Coin Matth. 22.20 Col. 3.10 so God impresses his own Image on his People or renews them after his own Image And if it be said That they were sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise after they believed as if it were not the Impression of the Image of God upon us at our first Conversion but some work of the Spirit afterwards I answer Those that make this sealing to be the confirming or assuring our Justification and Salvation to us suppose it is done at our first believing in the direct Act of Faith So if they make this Objection let them Answer it themselves I add that this is not an Act finished in a moment as a Seal may be set upon Wax but a Progressive Work and the Impression is made clear and deeper by degrees We being changed into his image from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3.18 And lastly The Greeks take much liberty in the change of their Tenses and there is the same Tense used here which is used where it is said Mark 16.16 he that believes shall be saved I will now add something briefly about the earnest of the Spirit which the Scripture speaks sometimes of 2 Cor. 1.22 Chap. 5.5 Eph. 1.14 By the
which we have 1 Sam. 21.11 c. on such grounds a godly man will chuse such for his necessaries his near or familiar friends These are the few things amongst many about which I would have Christians to examine themselves that they may be the better able to make a judgment concerning their Spiritual State and to take the comfort of their Christian Privileges especially in times of trouble and when we approach towards our latter end CHAP. VIII FAith is yet a great help against Trouble as we thereby have the comfort and benefit of the Promises of God which are so exceeding great and precious 2 Pet. 1.4 1. It is a great thing for God to oblige himself to us by promise as Austin saith Confes L. 5. c. 9. Thou art pleased because thy Mercy endures for ever to become a Debtor by thy promises to those to whom thou hast forgiven all their Debts We love to be free and disengaged and would have others stand to our courtesy for that which we intend to give them but we would not give them that advantage against us to challenge us upon our word But it hath pleased God for our more abundant consolation so far to condescend to poor sinners that we may as Austin saith in the place before cited of his Mother urge upon him his own hand-writing or plead as David Psal 119.49 1 Jo. 5.10 Remember thy word to thy Servant on which thou hast caused me to hope For we make him a lyar if we do not trust his promise 2. The promises of God are exceeding great and precious in respect of the matter of them he having promised so many and so great things which we should not have had the confidence to ask or think if he had not encouraged us by such promises And as there are in Physick some Catholick remedies and some particular Medicines for particular Diseases so there are some general comprehensive promises as that great promise in which all the promises of the life that now is and that which is to come are summed up That God will be our God or that he will be a God to us 1 Chr. 17.24 Heb. 8.10 So that promise which occurs so oft in Scripture that God will be with us which is not to be with us as he is in all places Jer 23.24 or so as to be an unconcerned spectator of what befalls us but so as to deal well with us as Jacob expounds it as we shall see by comparing Gen. 31.3 with Gen. 32.9 So there are some promises wherein several things are put together as many ingredients into one Cordial such is that promise Ps 84.11 that God will be a Sun and Shield that he will give grace and glory and will withhold no good thing from such as walk uprightly ThiS promise comprehends all the good things of the life that now is and of that which is to come And I know not but the Apostle may have particular respect to this promise there being a promise of things Temporal Spiritual Eternal 1 Tim. 4.8 of Comfort Direction Protection Provision But there are particular promises suited to the several conditions of Christians which are by some reduced to several heads and brothers summed together in the order wherein they stand in Scripture So that whatever circumstances we are in we may find promises suited thereto And as they are exceeding great and precious in respect of the fulness and great variety of them so they are precious in respect of the truth and certainty of them This is it that makes other promises from men of so little value that every man is a lyar Psal 116.11 David indeed spake that rashly and it may be therein might have respect to the promises which were made to him from God by Samuel or Nathan as under temptation he said he should one day perish by the hand of Saul 1. Sam. 27.1 and then the promise would have failed But he did more deliberately say men of low degree are vanity and men of high degree a lye deceiving others either through weakness or wickedness Psal 62.9 either not being able to make good what they have unadvisedly promised or willingly flattering them into vain expectations of what they never intended to do for them But these are promises of God that cannot lye As he is faithful that hath promised Tit. 1.2 Heb. 11.11 Rom. 4.2 Psal 77.8 so he is able also to perform and tho we are ready to say sometimes doth his promise fail for evermore We do either through ignorance mistake the meaning of them as the Jews of Old and many still are ready to expound many promises too rigidly according to the letter or we are ready to understand those things absolutely which are to be understood with that limitation so far as they are for our good Psal 34.10 84.11 Eccles 6.12 which we are not always competent judges of or we are too quick and impatient of delays the vision is for an appointed time Hab. 2.4 and the things which God hath promised shall be fulfilled in their season Luk. 1. â—0 I will now shew you how by Faith we have the comfort and benefit of these promises 1. By Faith we have an interest in the promises We read of the covenants of promise Eph. 2.12 whereby we may either understand the promises of the Covenant there being the like Hypallage oft found in Scripture Rom. 9.31 as by the Law of righteousness is meant the righteousness of the Law And the Nations of those that shall be saved Rev. 21.24 are those that shall be saved of the Nations And it may be called the Covenants because tho it be one in the substance of it yet it is diverse in respect of its administration on which account it is called both Old and New Heb. 8.13 Or it is called the Covenants of promise as being founded on and consisting in promises In Scripture we find promises frequently called Covenants Gen 6.18 2 Chron. 7.18 Ezr. 10.3 Neh 9.38 Covenants consisting of mutual promises or engagements and where the promise on one side only is expressed the engagement on the other side is ordinarily implied Now there is no case wherein the words Promise and Covenant may with more reason be used promiscuously than in this case in hand Gal. 3.17.22 and so they are used by the Apostle for tho this Covenant be not an absolute promise there being something to be done by the Mediator of it for the confirmation thereof as likewise by us for partaking of the benefit of it yet it is ordered in all things and sure 2 Sam. 23.5 and not suspended on any uncertain condition depending on our fluctuating will but what is required on our part is likewise promised to be wrought in us Jer. 31.33 John 6.37 Eph. 2.8 So that as there are promises to conditions which I may speak without the