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 of such absolute necessitie it behoves every one to make as much speed to get it as may be Quest But may not one make too much haste to beleeve Ans Yes if they over-run sound Humiliation they make more haste then good speed but if one have been soundly humbled as was shewed CHAP. 3. then let him make as much hast as he can to beleeve for these Reasons 1. We cannot beleeve too soone if we beleeve
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
Saving-Beliefe OR THE READY AND RIGHT VVAY to Beleeve and be Saved Wherein is the * Mysterie of Faith laid open * 1 Tim. 3.9 By Timothy Rogers Minister of the Gospel twixt Essex and Suffolke in Sudbury Mark 5.36 Be not afraid only beleeve Luke 7.50 Thy Faith hath saved thee goe in peace LONDON Printed by G. M. for Edward Brewster at the Bible on Fleet-bridge 1644. 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 The Contents of the severall Chapters contained in this Booke Saving Beliefe What it is Chap. 1. How it is called Chap. 2. How the Law workes toward it Chap. 3. How the Gospel works to bring to it Cha. 4. Questions resolved about the Gospels working of it Chap. 5. The true Grounds of it Chap. 6. Objections answered that hold backe one throughly humbled from it Chap. 7. The maine Lets to the getting of it Chap. 8. Helps for distressed souls to it Chap. 9. The seat or subject of it Chap. 10. The immediate effects following it Chap. 11. The Excellencie of it Chap. 12. The Necessitie of it Chap. 13. 14. Sorts of Professors that want it Ch. 14. Generall notes of tryall whereby to know it Chap. 15. More speciall notes whereby it may be tryed and knowne Chap. 16. The degrees of it Chap. 17. What we must doe with it when we have it Chap. 18. What we must doe when we want it and more of it desired Chap. 19. 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. â—3 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 What is true saving Beliefe Saving beliefe The definition of it 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 thereof are either principall or in strumentall the principall is God himselfe Faith of the operation of God Col. 2.12 and therefore the blessed work of Father Son and Holy Ghost Loe how goodly a thing it is as a rare peece of a famous Artist The instrumentall causes are Gods Ministers with the word preached in their mouthes Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God Rom. 10.17 and how shall they heare without a Preacher verse 14. for though God could work faith in men wihout this yet he will not as he could if it
is he is to be exhorted to give his minde to be perswaded of Gods good will to him in offering him the Remedie in good earnest and is as willing to shew him mercie and to bestow the Remedie on him as on any other so that be refuse it not and so judge himselfe * Act. 13.46 unworthy of everlasting life therfore he is to be required by resolving theron desirously to accept thereof which is to Beleeve CHAP. 6. The Grounds of true Beleeving Qu. YOu have shewed how the humbled sinner by the working of the Gospel comes to beleeve but upon what Grounds doth he thus beleeve A. He hath his Grounds for else that were as a building without a Foundation but it is not any thing in himselfe only he is prepared for and made capable of the Remedie by sound Humiliation as CHAP. 3. his Grounds are all in God as 1. His Free Proffer and good leave whosoever will Rev. 22.17 and any one that thirsteth Joh. 7.37 2. His Will who would have him do so Ioh. 6.40 3. His Desire as though God beseech you by us saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 5.20 4. His Command requiring and charging him to beleeve This is his Cōmandement that we should beleeve on the Name of his Son 1 Joh. 3.23 so that he should highly offend God Make him a liar 1 Joh. 5.10 and set the Grace of God at naught if he did not 5. His Promise that he shall not in so doing have the Repulse Him that commeth to me I will in no wise cast out saith Christ Ioh. 6.37 and therefore most safetie herein Thus though he see no cause why in himself any more then his own necessitie yet because it is Gods Will and Desire Command with Promise c. he gives his minde and bends his will to rest perswaded of Gods good will to his Soule by Christ This is to beleeve meerly upon Conscience when we see in our selves no reason why we should doe so yet because it is Gods will this is the best beleeving for the lesse there is of our selves in beleeving the better it is and this will sticke surest by us nor is so subject to waverings and reelings as otherwise Let it be well marked for divers mistaking their Grounds and looking for something in themselves to ground on loose their way and are so wofully bewilderd that thereupon they are in great perplexitie * See more Chap 9. the 6. help Now the partie drawing to a perswasion upon the foresaid right grounds this is such a thing as should be done once for all seeing it is done in Conscience and according to truth therfore he should doe it with this mind and meaning to rest thus perswaded now and for ever and never to deny it or yeeld to doubting of it afterward it must be advisedly done as in Marriage once for ever wherein there is an accepting and covenanting not for the Marriage day only but for all their life this is a great setling to Faith Q. How may one know whether he beleeve thus on Conscience because God wils and commands it A. Then he will as well make Conscience of obeying God in other things because he Commands us to be humbled for sin to repent thereof to renounce all knowne sin yea to part with our best beloved sins and to take up the Crosse and follow Christ to embrace self-deniall true holinesse and Sanctification and the like CHAP. 7. Divers Objections answered which hold back ones beleeving after he is throughly humbled THE broken-hearted and humbled sinner for of such an one I speake and the Answers to the Objections following are only meant to such an one is pestered with many Objections to keep him off from beleeving some before the birth of Faith and while it is in conception some afterwards for now Satan assaults him as the red Dragon stood before the woman ready to be delivered Rev. 12.4 to devoure her Child as soon as it was borne now that a Soule is breaking loose or broken from him he bestirres himselfe to fetch back his prisoner some of which objections most usuall are these 1 Object If I be not elected I cannot beleeve doe I what I can and whether I be elected I cannot tell A. Trouble not your selfe with Gods secret will Beleeve and you are elected then you shall know and before you cannot you must first know that you beleeve before you can know that you are elected 2 Obj. I cannot beleeve unlesse God inable me A. True yet God requires you to be willing to take abilitie when he offers you as now he doth 2. To use abilitie as he bestowes it on you in making you willing therein he inables you in some measure he would have you put forth this Strength to the uttermost and doe what you can for your heart to beleeve else it is as if one deadly hungry having Food offered him should say I cannot feed unlesse God give me abilitie and so not assay nor trie to doe what he can to eat or for leaving of sin as if one should say I cannot leave sin unlesse God inable me and so continue in sin nay thou must give thy minde and will and yeeld thy selfe to doe it and so it is for beleeving 3 Obj. I feare I have not been rightly humbled all my trouble was onely for feare of hell Ans It can be no other till you beleeve there is nothing but Law till Grace come there can be no love of God in you till you taste the sweetnesse of his love to you by Christ * 1 Joh. 4.19 first which is by beleeving 2. If it be only therefore it doth indeed prove you doe not as yet beleeve but yet it proves withall that you are prepared to beleeve and may so doe now safely and without danger 4 Obj. But I feare I was never humbled enough and as I see some others have been A. 1. Others must not be your measure the Lord deales differently If one woman have not so grievous paine in Child-bearing as another doth it prove her no mother of a Child 2. If you feare it that is a signe you desire to be humbled throughly an Argument of the Truth of it 3. If you unfainedly desire whole Christ to sanctifie as well as save you above any thing then you have been humbled enough 4. If you can feelingly pitie others that are humbled and distressed in soul and not be angrie with them nor count them fooles as carnall people doe that 's a signe 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
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 1 Joh. 1.8 so then he is willing to shew you mercy and that he can you cānot 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 c. If thus you consent to it with good liking the bargain is stricken up Christ is yours yea though the whole be not performed in present but an earnest laid down in true part of payment for you must be in good earnest and the Remainder from time to time continually afterward viz. daily to part with sin and your corruptions more and to grow more holy to give the Lord your heart in loving and delighting more
in him and seeking of him c. yet the Earnest makes the Bargaine if in good Truth of heart you consent begin these things 7. Then take up your bargaine and carry it away with you rejoycing as did the Eunuch Act. 8.39 now you may be sure that Christ is yours having thus made the Bargaine unlesse you thinke God will fly from his bargain and not performe which farre be it from your thoughts Num. 23.19 He is not as man that he should repent 6. It is an especiall help to beleeving to observe well the right grounds thereof shewed before CHAP. 6. and to take heed of the wrong grounds which is when the humbled sinner lookes to find something in himselfe to perswade him to it as the fruits of Sanctification and Evangelicall Repentance to forsake his sins out of love to God c. and is afraid and dares not be perswaded he shall be saved by Christ unlesse he finde these first which as they appeare more or lesse so he beleeves accordingly but when this humbled Soule longing truly after Christ findes not for that followes upon our apprehension of Gods love to us by Christ though faith be conceived in him yet hath he no power to bring forth in a setled perswasion nay he is so stumbled that in stead of drawing on to the perswasion of Faith he is further set off from it So then there are two wayes in use with those that are honestly minded thirsting after Christ whereby they labour to bring forth Faith in getting a true perswasion The first is by pitching on the right grounds mentioned CHA. 6. wherto I referre you not looking to any thing in themselves any more then Preparation by sound Humiliation The other way is when they looke to finde first some fruits of sound Grace before they be perswaded of their Salvation by Christ else think they should presume but that 's a great mistake this is a further way about and more uncōfortable wherin also when they have wheel'd about perhaps a great part of their life it must fall into the other way at last to 1. These the Temptor playes upon exceedingly as if a man should let a young Tree lie above ground and not set it in the Soyle till he first see what fruit it will beare or as if one should be afraid and refuse to eat till he first feele some working and Effect of food in him 2. They that take the former way shall thrive and grow more in a moneth then the other shall doe in a yeare as a Science skilfully put into the Stocke growes more in one yeare then another in three that is not well set in and besides often cropt to though some sap in it 3. The latter way is full of continuall uncertaintie perplexed with more cares feares and doubtings for as they finde abatings and coolings ebbes and flowes so doth their perswasion ebbe and flow If one be set forward in it one day he will be set back again two for it he is so cloyed and tired with thoughts of his own unworthinesse with fruitless fears and doubts that he cannot apply himselfe to goe on cheerfully in godly practice 4. They that take this latter way hang longer in the Birth with paine and discomfort yea they put themselves to a great deal more pain then they need Paine which shall not profit Jer. 12.13 whereas the former with more comfort are more speedily delivered and to their great Joy bring forth Faiths true perswasion Obj. To what use then serve sanctifying Graces and Fruits the signes of our Salvation are they needlesse Ans No they are of excellent use for they serve 1. To discover to men their Estate that they beleeve for all that truly beleeve have these things undoubtedly upon their beleeving but not before they serve not to put the Sience into the Stocke that is to set us into Christ but to declare that we are in him 2. They serve comfortably to confirme us in Beleeving not to bring us to beleeve as love-tokens betweene friends which are not the Ground of their first good-will but lively Demonstrations thereof and so serve to confirme it further as to this use serve the holy Sacraments 3. They are Faiths sun-beames as the Sun-beames are to the Sunne whereby it hath its working and operation in us and by us to the glorifying of God 2 Object Doth not the Scripture say The unrighteous shall not inherite the Kingdome of God Were it not folly then for me to beleeve I should be saved before I find my self such an one Ans Beleeve and thou art righteous for first thy Faith is accounted to thee for Righteousnesse and Christs Righteousnesse becomes thine and secondly by Faith thou partakest of inherent personall Righteousnesse 3 Obj. None shall be saved but they that are sanctified Gods Word tels us How can it then be safe or true for me to beleeve I shall be saved till I see my Sanctification Ans It is true you cannot be saved unlesse you first be sanctified but it 's as true you cannot be sanctified unlesse you first * Immundi omnes quos non mundat sides Christi Aug. Enclir c. 75. beleeve and unlesse it be by this meanes you shall never be sanctified Sanctification comes by Beleeving 2. You are as soon sanctified as justified and you might as well object Should I beleeve that I unjustified shall be saved No for in beleeving thou art justified and so it is for Sanctification But remember I have spoken all this while of the broken-hearted sinner sufficiently humbled and prepared at least for beleeving whatever more he hath attained I speake of no other so understand me and then you take me right CHAP. 10. The seat or subject of saving Beliefe THis is of some use for one may the better finde a good thing if he once know the very right place where it lieth the Seat and proper place of its abode and residence I take to be the Soule rather then any one particular facultie of it alone for Faith shewes it selfe and its vertue in the severall faculties of the Soule as in the Will by accepting of Christ in the Heart by trusting and relying on him in the Understanding by perswasion in the Conscience by Assurance And I conceive it to be after this order thus after that the understanding of a distressed Soule is enlightned to see a sufficient meanes Christ offered freely to him then first the heart if one belong to God is affected therewith and earnestly desires it viz. whole Christ here Faith begins for this in the humbled Soule drawes with it inseparably secondly an act of the Will to wit the accepting of it for whatsoever is desired the will chooseth and accepteth of it accepteth of it in making choice of Christ above all and in Resolution to hold fast to him and never to forgoe him then the work runs back again to the heart to rest and trust on him