Sheba of Salomon thou exceedest the fame that we have heard no money or monies-worth can buy it if one have it not and if he have it once nothing can make him part with it 1. It is a defence against all evill as against the Devill it 's a shield wherewith we quench his fiery darts yea a shield of Gods own making Ephes 6.11 and 16. so against the world the victory that overcomes the world Joh. 5.4 against sinne and the flesh They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Gal. 5.24 against men Heb. 11.33 34. c. It made David not afraid of ten thousands of people Psal 3.6 against the Creatures the very Lions could doe Daniel no manner of hurt because he beleeved in his God Dan. 6.23 Object But sometimes they both hurt and kill the faithfull A. It is no hurt though it seemes so Rom. 8.28 what hurt doth the Chirurgion in lancing the flesh to cure an Imposthume and save the life nay they hurt not the faithfull though they kill them for what hurt is death to a good man so that Faith is a Coat of Male and Armour of proofe against all evill yea spirituall also as death of Soul He that beleeveth in me shall never dye saith Christ Ioh. 11.26 the curse Christ hath redeemed such from the curse of the Law Gal. 3.13 Condemnation there is none to such Rom. 8.1 2. It is as all the five Senses to the Soule It tastes and sees that the Lord is good Psal 34.8 It heares the Lord speake peace Psal 85.8 It smels the savour of Christs good Oyntments Cant. 1.3 It toucheth Christ and feeles his vertue Luke 8.46 47 any one Sense is of much esteeme but all in one is of most excellent worth such a thing is Faith to the Soule and that Soule that wants it may be said to want its Senses 3. As the Soule is to the Body that which keeps it alive so is Faith to the Soule nay more for it keeps it alive for ever that it shall never die more What would men give for such a thing as would keep the body ever alive how much better is this It is as Salt that keeps the Soule from corruption nay which is more it fetcheth it againe when before it was most odiously corrupted 4. It is a deare Friend indeed unto us that will stand us more in stead and doe more for us then all our friends then all the world yea then our own father and mother wife or husband c. It doth us many excellent Offices It 's as the hand to receive Christ Ioh. 1.12 to helpe the hungry soule to food and the thirstie Soule to drink Isai 55.1 to clothe the naked soule with the best Rayment it puts the Lord Jesus on us Rom. 13.14 It puls out sin as a Thorne in the heart Act. 15.9 and applies Christ as a plaister to the wound All these offices it doth as a blessed hand 5. It helps us to every good thing Whatsoever you shall aske in Prayer beleeving ye shall receive Matth. 21.22 so that if we want not faith we cannot want any good thing 6. It is of that excellent vertue that it turnes all our Crosses and Losses into gaine unto us Rom. 8.28 if not one way yet another if not in one yeere yet in another that our losses shall be but as the letting out or losse of superfluous bloud for the gaining of more health and saving of life 7. It prevents time and makes things future to be present as an Optick Glasse that drawes things neere and presents them to the sense that were a great way off before Heb. 11.13 8. It is our Ballast in the dangerous Seas and waves of Temptations that keepes us well setled and from perishing by an unballast lightnesse tottering and reeling every way 1 Cor. 15.58 9. This of all things is that for which God respecteth us our wealth beautie wit learning honour may make us accepted of men but it is our Faith onely that maketh God in love with us 10. It is like the Loadstone for as that pointeth ever at the North and hath power attractive so Faith pointeth ever at Christ for any thing the Soule needs yea drawes him to the Soule 11. It is such an admirable thing as Christ himselfe wonders at it as we see in the Centurion Mat. 8.10 we never finde him wondering at Silver or Gold or costly apparell or goodly sights no not at the Frame of Heaven and earth but at this he doth Oh then how good how great a thing is true Faith how rich a Jewell 12. It is our Credit and good report Heb. 11.2 3 13. it payes all our soules debts that none can claime any thing Rom. 8.33 CHAP. 13. The Necessitie of it SAving Faith is of absolute Necessitie not such a Thing as is convenient and usefull as a good helpe yet so as that a man may make shift without like a Staffe to a Travellor this is not so but as Legs and Eyes to a Travellor without which is no travelling in the way to Heaven possibly 1. Without this we are destitute of all Friends we have never a friend to help us being forsaken of all of God of Christ and the Creatures for they take part with the Creator and are Friends to none but his Friends 2. Without this all * such only materialitèr good works are lost unto us as 1. Hearing Gods Word The Word preached profited not them being not mixed with faith Heb. 4.2 yea though we goe never so farre or heare never so often with great paines and no lesse cost 2. The Use of the Sacraments as the Israelites that did eat the same spirituall meat and dranke the same spirituall drinke sacramentally as we doe yet With many of them God was not well pleased 1 Cor. 10.4 5. for want of Faith 3. Even Prayer is but prating and lying without this Psal 78.34 36. and for all other works either of pietie towards God or Charitie toward men they are all but meerly lost unto us if we have not saving Beliefe within us as it was with them that took pains in helping to build Noahs Arke but perished themselves at last in the floud or as they which take paines in digging setting planting seere boughes of Trees doe but loose their labour and shew their follie 3. Nay one cannot possibly doe a * viz. Formalitèr good worke without this for without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 It being a Christians chiefest instrument as the work-man can doe no worke if he want his principall Toole as Axe or Hammer c. or if he doe any thing it will be but a Botch that will give no good liking therefore this we must have and that of Necessitie whatsoever shift we make for it whatsoever it cost to get or else it had been better for us if we had never been born Which seeing it is
as a stolne thing 2. If it be well bred that is both by Law and Gospel as CHAP. 3. 4. things of the right breed are of the right kind 3. If it were much longed for and with difficultie obtained as Hannah obtained her Samuel 4. If it came by way of bargayning for Christ as CHAP. 9. was shewed For the second it may be known by its Followers as a Noble man by his Traine and Reteinue Nay Faith may be more readily and easily knowne by the * A Posteriori Fruits and Effects following then by * A Priori the Causes and things foregoing though this be the surer but both together do best as life by motion fire by heat the Sun by its Reflection on the wall or in the water a Seale by the print on wax may be as verily known as if you looke upon the things themselves Now then besides those immediate effects of true Beleeving mentioned CHAP. 11. it may be discerned by divers other in time and afterward as thus 1. It is a Living Faith both because it hath Life and Operation in it Gal. 5.6 It will * Si malè non benè operatur mortua est Aug. Enchir. cap. 67. worke for God and against sin as also because it makes us alive to God Rom. 6.13 2. It loves and desires the Word Gods Ordinances and holy meanes Psal 84.2 because first it 's begotten thereby as a Childe or young thing beares love to the breeders secondly they are nourishment to it as we being hungry love our food 3. It makes a new Creature purifying the heart Act. 15.9 and playning the life Rom. 6.4 It makes them vertuous knowing Gods will temperate patient godly which before were contrarie 2 Pet. 1.5 they therefore that joyne not to their Faith vertue but vice not knowledge but ignorance not Temperance but intemperance not Patience but impatience not Godlinesse but ungodlinesse their Faith is vaine and they not being new Creatures are not true Beleevers For Christ will draw all those his way in conformitie after him that partake of him as the Loadstone will draw the iron after it that comes within the reach of its vertue 4. It works repentance and abandoning of sin for a true hold of Christ will make us let goe our hold of sinne Obj. There is sin in the best Ans Sinne in the faithfull is like an harlot beaten out of doores which yet lies lingring in corners and out-roomes of the house though detested and not endured in sight but sin in unbeleevers is like an harlot harboured and maintained in the best roomes and delighted in Faith makes us grudge sinne any roome in this house of Christ whose honse are we Heb. 3.6 and this is Repentance 5. It will make one not content with thinking he hath it but to be very desirous and take paines to be sure and certaine he hath it 2 Cor. 13.5 6. It will worke selfe-deniall in us because we have given our selves away to Christ now as the wife to her husband Rom. 7.4 1 Pet. 4.2 3. Selfe-deniall First in regard of God for having doing suffering as he will and not as we would our selves so Christ Not as I will but as thou wilt Matt. 26.39 Secondly in regard of our neighbour in and for God Rom. 15.2 in * Col. 3.13 forgiving for bearing not doing them the least wrong to doe our selves the greatest benefit seeking and heartily desiring their good as if it were our own 1 Cor. 13.5 well requiting though they ill-deserving 7. A true Touch of Christ by Faith will draw vertue from him as Luk. 8.46 Matt. 14.36 as to the health of their Bodies so will it for the Soul much more and for the working of a Cure thereon it drawes from Christ the vertue of Holinesse and the closer we stick to him the more shall we draw from him as a plaister the closer it sticks the more it drawes 8. It makes us complaine of much want in our Faith and weaknesse in our Beleeving out of a sense of unbeliefe in us as a burden to us as Mark 9.24 Lord help my unbeliefe 9. It desires more and more earnestly the Favour of God and still better Assurance of it and therefore will make us 1. Not to favour our selves so much in sinne which stands not with Gods Favour 2. Not to be contented in any prosperitie without it 10. To long more after the Sweetnesse of Christ as Lovers that are agreed and contracted long for the Marriage day and the perfecting of their loves and as a Child that hath once tasted the sweetnesse of the bigg hunts more earnestly after it Faith longs therfore for Christs comming 2 Cor. 5.28 Cant. 8.14 Rev. 22.20 11. It expels worldlinesse from ruling in us 1 Ioh. 5.4 with 2.16 Heb. 11.26 So as a true Beleever cannot be a worldling that is to love worldly things more then Grace and Godlinesse no more then he can be a Iudas because Faith findes All-sufficiencie in Christ as Iacob for his Ioseph Gen. 45.28 so the true Beleever for his Iesus he can be content to want all so he have him 12. It exchades boasting of our gifts good parts good deeds Rom. 3.27 For first the more we perceive Gods mercie and love to us the more his Excellency and bountifulnesse appeares which will make us adore and reverence him in the more humilitie as a great personage the better he is knowne the more he is honoured Secondly the more we comprehend his mercie and Favour the more we apprehend our miserie standing in need thereof which will make us the more humble 13. It workes in us inward Spirituall Life now Christ liveth in us Gal. 2.20 and we in him which may be knowne as the naturall life 1. By the * Palpitatio cordis working of the heart panting after God Psal 42.1 and by beating of the pulses in our regular motions of constant endeavours and Holy Obedience Psal 50.23 2. By the Operation of the Senses Discerning good and evill effectually Heb. 5.14 3. By breathing a spirituall and a sweet breath of Grace Eccl. 10.12 Col. 4.6 4. By the motion of hand and foot which move to God and for God in all holy Actions contrary to the wicked mans speaking with his feet and instructing with his fingers Prov. 6.13 14. It cannot abide but driveth out Hypocrisie which serves not God for love but for by-ends for hypocrisie is all in feigning but Faith is unfained 2 Tim. 1.5 as contrarie as light and darknesse 15. It will not let us make haste to use ill or forbidden meanes to help our selves Isai 28.16 Psa 40.1 as it kept David from killing of Saul to hasten into the Throne for beleeving in God will not make us goe away from God as to hasten by evill meanes is to run away from him and we must be faine to come backe againe by Repentance 16. True beleeving obtaines what it beleeves viz. things for present
in present Mat. 8.13 Things to come in their due time Matth. 21.22 so the benefits of Christ as deliverance from the raigning power of sinne Rom. 6.14 Sanctification and Grace as well as Salvation dependance on God sufficiencie in him patience contentedness c. which if it obtaine it 's true else false for how shalt thou thinke thy beleeving thy Salvation shall bring thee that when as thy beleeving thy Sanctification doth not bring thee this nay no more the one then the other as the one is false so is the other how shall thy Faith prove true for another world when it proves false in this But if thy beleeving thy Sanctificatiō brings thee this thē as certainly thy beleeving thy Salvation shall obtain that CHAP. 17. The Degrees of saving Beliefe THere is a weake beleeving and a strong Examples many in Scripture of both 1 Iob. 2.13 Children and strong men Weake 1. In regard of knowledge for the Faith that sees but dimly beleeves but weakly in comparison 2. In regard of Application apprehending weakly as a palsie hand that receives a gift but with much shaking There is also weak beleeving 1. In those that were never yet strong as a Child that after becomes a man 2. Sometimes in those that have been strong but now fallen weake as a strong man weakned by some sore sickness so David Psal 27. c. with Bsa 22.14 and so Peter Strong Faith some but in regard of that which is weake for elfe there is some want and weaknesse in the strongest Faith something lacking 1 Thes 3.10 with Chap. 1.7 8. Things common to both these are 1. Sight and Sense of our sins driving us out of our selves 2. High-pricing of Christ and hungring after him even whole Christ 3. Earnest prayer daily 4. Use of good meanes out of good affection thereto 5. Discerning and lamenting some unbeliefe in us with desire of strengthening It is neither weak nor strong nor any true beleeving at all that wants these things The difference between them is weak Faith is 1. More troubled with quaking fears and doubtings 2. Sooner damped and discouraged when it is checked 3. Relyes more on seeing and feeling as it was with * Joh. 20.25 Thomas 4. Hath lesse Experience as it was with Samuel at first 5. Is in more danger of sinning and so of sorrow and is put more to its shifts Strong Beliefe 1. Hath Knowne it selfe in former times very weake and much weaker then now as 1 Cor. 13.11 2. Is fuller of Courage for God as was Nehemiah Chap. 6.11 3. More constant in the holy course as * 2 Sam. 6.22 David being mocked by Michal 4. Hath a more undaunted apprehension of death as Paul Act. 21.13 5. It makes one of strength and abilitie to beget other Christians as a man growne If thy Faith be weake 1. Slight it not for Good-will from God is in it a small gift of a very friend must not be slighted yea a blessing is in it 2. Be thankfull and acknowledge it it 's the way to have more and as small as it is it is more then thou canst be thankfull enough for 3. Rest not in it but get more as one that hath weak diet defence against danger evidence for land resteth not satisfied but labours to be better provided Object Weak Beleeving will save me if it be true Ans True but with more difficultie and discomfort as a crazie or leaking vessell that with much adoe makes shift to get to shore and that is all but what feare and disheartment in the meane time If thy Faith be strong 1. Be not high-minded but more humble for thou art the more indebted to God and the strongest may take a fall and become weak as a Child as a lustie man with a bruise by a Fall may goe halting to his grave 2. Despise not weake Beleevers but beare with them yea beare them in your armes Rom. 15.1 use them tenderly as men do with their weaker lambs bring them home and lap them up and as a strong man doth not scorne a little child or kick it up and downe because its a weak thing but dandles it in his lap CHAP. 18. What we must doe with saving Beliefe when we have it WE must be very carefull to use it well when we have gotten it and that thus 1. Setting great store by it not to blow it away at every word nor pawne it for every Trifle as it is too usuall a Custome 2. Be very charie of it not to wrong it in any kind as Parents are tender and doile of their only Darling 3. Allow it good keeping as an husband that hath all his meanes by his wife will be carefull of her and keepe her well We must keep it as our life Quest How must Faith be well kept Ans Thus 1. It must be fed with holy meanes Word and Sacraments for as the body if it want food awhile growes weake and faint so surely will Faith if it want its spirituall Feeding yea it must be fed with the Word of God every day specially that provision we made at Gods Market in his publike Ordinance the last time which we must by daily meditation and practise feed on till new Supply come hereby our Soule shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatnesse Psal 63.5 More principally our Faith must be fed with the Promises and that every day for which purpose we must get a good stock and store of Promises both concerning temporall things and this present life as also spirituall and eternall life as the Book of God like a rich Treasure is full of both sorts These I counsell every good Christian to cull out and get by heart as he meets with them to stand him in stead upon every Occasion that he may be able to bring forth a speciall Promise to comfort his heart and cheere his Faith at all times whatsoever Occasion happen Oh that more would be perswaded hereto thus to doe they that have done so have found by Experience how good it is and that a Promise sometimes hath been better to them then all their Friends Make a beginning then get some principall Promises by heart though your stocke be small to begin with yet increase it by gathering and adding still more to it and so make use of any Promise as each Occasion shall require you shall finde it a very great maintainer of Faith and to keepe it in excellent thriving case Trie and you will say so 2. Joyne good works to your Faith they that beleeve in God must be carefull to maintain good works Tit. 3.8 These strengthen Faith as Children begotten and brought up by their parents at length are able to defend and maintaine them and become a stay unto them 3. Experience is a great helpe to Faiths good keeping as Davids Lion and Beare stood his Faith in great stead when he had to doe with Goliah Make use of your former Experience you have
THE CHRISTIANS JEWELL OF FAITH OR The ready way to Beleeve and be saved Wherein is the * Mysterie of Faith laid open * 1 Tim. 3.9 By Timothy Rogers Minister of the Church at Chappell in Essex Mark 5.36 Be not affraid but beleeve Luke 7.50 Thy Faith hath saved thee goe in peace LONDON Printed for E. Brewster and G. Sawbridge at the Bible on Ludgate-Hill 1653. The Contents of the severall Chapters contained in this Book Saving Belief What it is Chap. 1 Saving Belief How it is called Chap. 2 Saving Belief How the Law workes toward it Cha. 3 Saving Belief How the Gospell works to bring to it Cha. 4 Saving Belief Questions resolved about the Gospels working of it Cha. 5 Saving Belief The true Grounds of it Cha. 6 Saving Belief Objections answered that hold back one throughly humbled from it Cha. 7 Saving Belief The main Lets to the getting of it Chap. 8 Saving Belief Helps for distressed soules to it Chap. 9 Saving Belief The seat or subject of it Chap. 10 Saving Belief The immediat effects following it Chap. 11 Saving Belief The Excellencie of it Chap. 12 Saving Belief The Necessity of it Chap. 13 Saving Belief 14. Sorts of professors that want it Cha. 14 Saving Belief Generall notes of triall whereby to know it Chap. 15 Saving Belief More speciall notes whereby it may be tryed and known Chap. 16 Saving Belief The degrees of it Chap. 17 Saving Belief What we must doe with it when we have it Chap. 18 Saving Belief What we must do when we want it and more of it desired Chap. 19 Christian Reader THe same author hath another work entituled The righteou◠mans Evidence for heaven Or 〈◊〉 treatise shewing how every one while he lives here may certainly know what shall become of him after his departure out of this life TO THE Right Worshipfull Mr JOHN EDEN OF Ballindon Hall in Essex Esquire my godly Patrone Right Worshipfull HAVING this small Treatise lying dead by me or at least asleep and being provoked to give it more roome and some breath that it might be awakened by the Presse and Printers hand to come to light I could not bethinke my selfe to make Dedication of it as the use is to any one more fitly then your selfe and that for these reasons First you have been a good Disciple in the schoole of Piety from your very non-age and education by that pious Lady your ancient Mother whom I much honour with the rest of that vertuous brood some of whom it was my lot to seale up in their sepulchres besides some of your owne Secondly you have been a constant hearer of these and other my Collations when you have been in these parts Thirdly you are my loving Patrone by whose meanes and instigation according to the desire of the Congregation I was some yeares since brought to this place Fourthly I therefore am peculiarly ingaged unto you and love not to live or dye wholly in debt I look to lay downe my tabernacle daily accept I pray this small Testimony of Gratitude I must say as Peter Act. 3.6 Silver and gold have I not but such as I have give I you a little plaine fruit of my owne grafting I therefore dedicate it unto your selfe and by you to my well-affected friends my constant conscionable and profitable hearers Never more need of Faith and living by it then in this terrible tempest the blessing of the Lord goe with it Yours faithfully obliged in the Lord Timothy Rogers Imprimatur JA. CRANFORD August 12. 1644. SAVING-BELIEF OR The Ready and Right way to beleeve and be saved CHAP 1. What it is and the Definition of it explained THat every one must beleeve that would be saved is a truth out of question confessed by all that professe Christ but yet every kind of Beleeving is not saving Generall and common faith for the Devills beleeve Iam 2.19 and Simon Magus beleeved Acts. 8.13 and was baptized and yet St Peter saith he was in the gall of bitternes and bond of iniquity now then what kind of Beliefe it is that will save and that onely this Treatise shewes not therefore to meddle with historicall temporarie or miraculous faith which are not saving Saving beliefe The definition of it What is true saving Beliefe A right applying of Christ to ones selfe viz. by an hearty accepting of him and a true perswasion of our Soules wellfare by him 1 For better understanding whereof 1 I say it 's an applying of Christ for as Manna did no good unlesse it were fetcht home and fed upon nor Physick doth good without applying no more doth Christ unlesse he be applyed to the soule 2 It 's an applying to ones selfe for to apply Christ to another as when you are perswaded of such a ones Salvation by him will no more save thy soule then another bodies feeding will nourish thee or preserve thy life 3 It 's a right applying for if it be wrong it saves not Q. How may one know whether it be a right applying of Christ A. If it set an impression of the likenesse of Christ on the soule so as Christ is a Gal. 4.19 formed in it and it becomes like unto him in holynesse and true righteousnesse as a seale being rightly set and applyed to the wax leaves the right print of it selfe behind it 2 If it apply not a bare Christ but Christ with his benefits and one of them as well as another holinesse and mortification Rom. 6.4 as well as pardon of sinnes and mercy 3 If it make us let goe our hould of sinne as a full hand must first open and let goe what is in it before it can take hould of a better thing And this is the definition of true faith but I further add for Explanation by an hearty accepting of him and a true perswasion of our soules welfare by him because an hearty and unfained accepting of Christ is the true conception of faith and a true perswasion is the birth of it as shall be further shewed Chap. 5. I say also a true perswasion for in a Temporarie Hypocrite is found a particular perswasion or applying to himselfe but it 's not true Q. Is not true beleeving a resting upon Christ A. Yes for a perswasion includes a resting on him and a resting on him implyes some at least implicite perswasion CHAP. 2. How it is called and the working causes thereof SAving beliefe to difference it from that beleeving that will not save is called by peculiar names setting out the dignity of it as saith of Gods elect Tit. 1.1 the faith of Saints Rev. 13.10 the faith of Iesus Rev. 14.12 most holy faith Iude. 20. worke of faith with power 2 Thess 1.11 faith unfained 1. Tim. 1.5 Precious faith 2. Pet. 1.1 No other faith can be properly so called The working causes there of are either principall or in strumentall the principall is God himselfe Faith of the operation of God Col. 2.12
you know what belongs to it 5. Have you been driven out of all good conceit of your selfe seeing nothing but matter of damnation in you not thinking your selfe better but as bad as any bodie and deserving damnation as much as any one And secondly your heart so oppressed with sorrow thereupon that it would not let you be at quiet nor content your selfe in the comfort of any thing without Christ for griefe of your lost Soule so that no worldly Joy could extinguish it nor rid you of this sorrow but only the Joy of Beleeving and thirdly hath made you therefore resolve to get Christ if possibly you could though you loose all else if it hath been thus with you you have been humbled enough to make you capable of beleeving Qu. What should they doe that have not beene humbled enough A. Let them studie well and throughly of the vile nature of sinne which * 1 Sam. 3.13 makes us vile what infinite wrong it doth to God what daring and provoking of him what a poysonfull thing and murderer of our souls not the least * Job 33.27 good to be gotten by it but the greatest losse most hateful to God and hurtfull to our selves they that plod well on this it will make them thinke more basely of themselves and humble them more Hee that would be a meet subject of mercy must bee throughly abased in him selfe the world accounts of us thereafter as we set forth our selves but God thereafter as we abase our selves 5 Object How is it likely that God favours me so well as to give me Christ whenas all good people have discountenanced me and not cared for me for my naughtinesse A. Both God and they have so long as you followed your ignorant profane or meer civill course but now that you are changed as sure as Gods people so surely God himself makes reckoning of you and likes you well 6 Obj. But now my old friends and companions cast me off A. It 's a signe of Gods better liking of you for that which the world most despise is most welcome to God namely a dejected Soule and broken heart this is a sweet * Psal 51.17 Sacrifice to him 7 Obj. But I am so unworthy c. A. If you stand upon worthinesse Christ can profit you nothing the more you see your unworthinesse and groane under it the fitter you are for him and he for you as if one readie to starve having an Almes offered him by one extreamely wronged by him should say O nay I am unworthy and so chuse rather to die than to receive it just so doe you 8 Ob. If I could prevaile more over my corruptions I should have some good hope but they alas are so many so strong that my heart failes me A. The cause why your corruptions prevaile so much is want in Beleeving and because you do not as God bids you to beleeve that he will save you by Christ he will have you know if you get any Grace at his hand it must be by doing as he bids you and not by disobedience if you would beleeve this better you should finde such admirable sweetnesse in Gods love as should constraine you to love him more and the more you love him the more should you hate sin and corruption which is contrarie to him and the more you hate that the more it would wast in you for it is your love to it that nourisheth it and makes it thrive and shoot up in you In a word your Beliefe must be stronger that your corruptions may grow weaker therefore give your minde to it as good at first as at last Beleeve stedfastly in the Grace of God 9 Object But I feare if I should thus perswade my selfe I should presume Ans Feare not that you being rightly humbled for that perswasion that goes before sound Humiliation is presumption but not that which followeth it if you can attaine to a grounded perswasion after safe and good to presume is to be perswaded when one should not not when hee should as now you should and ought feeling the burden of your sins God requires it of you Matth. 11.28 10 Object But there are a very few Beleevers therefore I am afraid I am none of them A. Few indeed yet not because God is unwilling to save more but because so few will accept of his proffer on his Termes which if thou wilt it 's all one to thee few or many 11 Obj. I feare I have sinned against the Holy Ghost because I have often resisted that good Spirit and gone against my Conscience A. But thou wilt not renounce Gods Truth nor as an enemie maliciously persecute it therefore hast not committed that unpardonable sin 2. Thou grievest forthy resisting the Spirit and wilt be more carefull not to doe so how then hast thou committed that sin whereof one cannot repent when thou seest thou dost even now repent of it 12 Obj. I feare if ever I had it that I have lost it again because I have not such Joy and Cheerefulnesse as I had at first A. You cannot loose it if you had it not before and if you had it before you cannot loose it because its a thing that * 1 Pet. 1.5 and 9. cannot be lost as for your Joy it is with you as with the Church ravisht most with Joy upon their first deliverance out of captivitie Psal 126.2 and yet their deliverance lasted long after or like the creeple Act. 3.8 who upon his unexpected cure shewed greatest Joy at first and yet he was as sound of his limmes long after 13 Obj. I feare I shall not be able to hold out because Satan and my corruptions are so strong and my Faith so weake if I have any Ans God who hath begun the good worke will finish it Phil. 1.6 and Christ is both Alpha and Omega Rev. 1.11 not onely the Beginner but also the Finisher of our faith Heb. 12.2 A living member of Christ cannot perish unlesse he should perish with him as the members of the body cannot be drowned without the head 14 Ob. O it is a difficult matter to beleeve truly A. The matter of difficultie is most in the will be you more willing and it will be more easie CHAP. 8. The maine Lets to the getting of saving Beliefe in meere naturall ones THere are many Lets and Hinderances that keep men from getting of it some of the Chiefe are these 1. Ignorance not knowing what it is how good and how they ought to labour for it such God sweares shall not enter into his rest Psal 95.10 11. because they know not his wayes 2. Feare and Distrust lest God will not give it them though they seek it whereby they do him no small dishonour seeing he hath promised the contrarie Matt. 7.7 Seeke and ye shall finde 3. Spirituall Pride and well-conceitednesse of themselves We are all by nature as full of pride and selfeconceitednesse as
a bladder is of wind but when we are pricked with the Law we finde our selves empty and lanke and their doings as he thinks scorn to beg or be beholding to another that hath of his own alreadie Every one that is thus proud in heart is abomination to the Lord. Prov. 16.5 4. Carnall Securitie thinking their Soules are not in danger nor will be perswaded of it he that thinkes not himselfe in any danger of death will not use Physicke to preserve his life these are like Sisera fast asleep and secure Judg. 4.21 when Jael was ready to pierce his braines 5. Carnall Confidence and trusting to their outward prosperitie because they thrive and fare well in the world in bodie and in outward Estate therefore are confident their soules doe so too as if a Traitour in hold finding good keeping should be confident of a pardon 6. Sloth and a lazie humour whiles men had rather be without it than to take paines for the getting of it and to remove such logges out of the way as hinder them towards it as one in a swoune that had rather go away then be rubb'd and struggled with for the saving of his life 7. Delay as men putting off so long the getting of a pardon which they might have that they are hanged before it come thus many an one looseth the land of promise by lingring so long in the wildernesse of sin as the old Israelites 8. Presumption which is not saving but deceiving Beliefe false beleeving where with Faiths roome is taken up that there is no Roome for it to enter these are they that were never made so much as capeable of beleeving by getting a broken heart and yet beleeve and apply Christ to themselves after their owne fashion without any ground or warrant from God nay against his Word They doe not take Christ the Remedie 1. in Gods order by being humbled first nor yet 2. upon Gods termes viz. to be rid of their sins by him as Act. 3.26 They that thus by presumption have falsly laid hold on Christ it 's an harder matter farre to make them loosen and so take true and good hold of him then those that have beene ever fearing and doubting and never yet apprehended at all As one at point of being drowned having taken fast hold of a Bulrush in the water it 's harder his Senses being stonied to make him let goe and take hold on a strong pole reacht to him then if he had taken hold on nothing at all Carnall people are even shackled fettered with these fore-named hinderances and as it were with strong Chaines held in which if they get not loose from they are bondmen to Satan still no freemen of Christ to wit true Beleevers for all their smooth and civill behaviour wronging no body paying every one their owne keeping their Church and professing true Religion CHAP. 9. Helps to saving Beliefe for distressed Soules THese helps are onely meant for the afflicted Conscience and for weake wavering ones for to offer helpe to a dead man is lost labour but to a weake man is a benefit they are therefore for those humbled sinners in whom Faith is to be conceived or is conceived as CHAP. 5. and come to the birth but there is no power to bring forth in a sensible persuasion which yet their soules long for more then any woman for her deliverie O say they that I had this assurance that I could be so perswaded yea some with many teares thus expressing their desires to whom I say consider 1. God hath provided Christ a Remedie effectuall for every poore distressed soule that seeing and feeling it's necessitie is truly willing and * As Chap. 5. Q. 4. desirous to receive him Isai 55.1 Beleevest thou this yes Then also you see your soule is such a soule yes Therefore of necessitie you must yeeld that God hath provided him such a Remedie for your Soule what say you to this Ans I am not able to contradict it Go to then now then you are perswaded that God hath provided the Remedie to be effectuall even for your Soul in particular and for the Salvation thereof which is to beleeve yea the birth thereof 2. Are you unfainedly desirous of Grace the favour of God and Salvation by Christ Lord thou knowest I desire it with my heart Well then know that God is a thousand-fold more defirous of it Ezek. 33.11 For thy defire is finite his infinite and if God be willing and you to what should hinder God and you are agreed upon it therefore so it shall be Object The doubt is of his willingnesse for I find willingnesse in my selfe to it Ans Doe you beleeve you have deserved hell because Gods Word saith so yes Why then doe you not beleeve that Gods will and desire is to save you seeing his Word saith so to if it be true in one thing it 's true in another Remember If we with humble and upright hearts confesse our sinnes he is faithfull and just to forgive us Joh. 1.8 so then he is willing to shew you mercy and that he can you canot doubt if you thinke him Almightie and seeing he both can and will you must be perswaded so it shall be 3. Further consider that in a yeelding Resolution of an humbled Soule to Gods proffer and in an heartie desire is faith conceived though not brought forth as was shewed CHAP. 5. Thus it is with you therefore Faith is in you though not seen nor sensibly discerned of you and seeing it is in you needs must you thinke that Christ is yours and that you shall be saved by him 4. To studie much often upon Christ is a good help and meanes to bring us to come to partake of him by Faith for what our minde thinkes much on it is by degrees transformed into if of worldly things into worldlinesse if of heavenly into heavenly-mindednesse if of Christ very much into Christ at last as that which lies soaking in fresh water growes fresh but if in salt water it will grow brackish We must not thinke to catch Christ swimming aloft by superficiall and sleight thinking of him now and then but must dive deepe in serious studie and deep meditation of him as Eph. 3.18 19. 5. You must bargaine for Christ and so you shall be assured that he is your owne the * Mat. 13.46 Pearle must be bought doe then as the Buyer 1. See you want the Commoditie 2. That it is to be had 3. What a pleasure it would doe you and what a benefit to you to have it 4. Thereupon take liking to it to desire it 5. Consider on what Termes and at what Rate it is to be had for there is no having of Christ but at Gods Rate you must so take him or let him alone 6. Consent thereto to give God his asking and demands viz. to give him your heart to be all for him to renounce your sins and sinfull lusts
had of Gods dealing with you Psal 77.5 6. 4. Examples of others that have beleeved and how well they have sped must be much thought on Our fathers trusted in thee saith David and thou deliveredst them Psal 22.4 5. Yea the weak Beleeving of some and how they have overcome it may hearten us much this way One saith THOMAS his doubting hath done me more good then MARIES ready beleeving Plus mihi prosuit dubitatio Thomae quà m credulitas Mariae Gre. Mag. 5. Keepe a good Conscience which is a great nourisher of Faith and Nurse unto it 1 Tim. 1.19 CHAP. 19. What we must doe when it is wanting and more of it desired with Exhortation to all 1. LET every one for himselfe apply himselfe unto the meanes and manner of working thereof shewed in the beginning of this Treatise with a yeeldable heart especially attend upon Gods Ordinance the Ministery of the Word 1. Acknowledge Gods * 1 Cor. 3.4 Ministers his Instruments for it yea being well perswaded they are the parties God hath appointed especially your owne faithfull Pastour purposely to work Faith or more of it in you 2. Acquaint them how it is with you for beleeving as Act. 8.37 3. ◠Cor. 16.16 Put your selfe into their hands to be ordered by them having more skill then your selfe concerning your Beleeving and how to doe therein as a sick patient puts himselfe into his Physicians hands for his body And thus lye waiting at the poole of Bethesda for the stirring of the water by divine power 2. Let every one endevour the bringing of others also to beleeve Ioh. 4.29 and Joy therein Act. 15.3 We account it a good and blessed worke to helpe one into this though a miserable sinfull world and therefore every one thinkes himselfe beholding to the Midwife how much better work is it to help one into that other most happie and blessed world by beleeving To conclude let my Counsell be acceptable to three sorts of people 1. To those that were never humbled Consider if your breath were but gone you were in Hell Be content therefore to suffer the paine of a broken heart and to be cut to the heart as Act. 2.37 now rather then torment in hell for ever as we see some are perswaded to be cut for the Stone or searched of a wound which else will cost them their life and will not you be perswaded to endure this for your Soule 2. To those that are or have been rightly humbled I say to beleeve is to betake our selves to a safe place as the usuall * Chasab Hebrew word signifies and as David did Psal 57.1 Therefore fly with all speed to Christ as the Citie of Refuge to get into him For if death the Avenger of bloud overtake you first you are undone for ever And know that when the distressed Soule seeing its selfe pursued with sinne and spirituall dangers feares and flies out of its selfe to Christ desiring to be sheltered under him it is sure and safe Object But will not he refuse it Ans No. Ioh. 6.37 Psal 9.9 10. figured by the Citie of Refuge to which the man-slayer flying for safetie could not be kept out 2 Object May not an Hypocrite do so much Ans No he onely dreames of comming to Christ but doth not so indeed or else makes some flourish of comming but comes not home to Christ 3. To those that beleeve in truth I say Cast not away your confidence which hath great recompence of reward Heb. 10.35 Holy Confidence is like a Garment which the Soule wraps it selfe in the flesh and world goe about subtilly to steale it from us but the devill with his terrible blasts of Temptation to make us let goe or loosen our hold at least but God bids us hold fast for else the poore Soule will be naked and destitute Hold fast therefore what you have Rev. 3.11 Goe on in this your Strength you Saints of God and the Lord be with you and send you good speed to Heaven FINIS