The excellency of holy courage in evil times by Jeremiah Burroughs ; published by Thomas Goodwin ... [et al.]

CHAP 23. (Book 23)

Containing other vses of the point. Use, 5. Shews the reason why we faile in any thing we do; it is for want of Faith. Use, 6. Labor to rise in indignation against your unbelief. Use, 7. Consider what it is to faile in that work which concerns thy eternal estate.

USE, 5.

FIftly, If so be that it be Faith that carries through difficulties, he••ce we see the reason why we faile in any thing that we doe, it is want of Faith: It is not such a let, nor such a hinderance; no, know it is the un∣beleiving heart, it may be thou wentest in the resolu∣tion of thy own heart, and thought to carry it through in the strength of thy own spirit, and that would not do: As the Apostle saith. Heb. 11.29. By Faith they passed through the red sea as by dry land, which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned: So by Faith such and such passed through such and such works to the glory of God: But others at other times, would assay to do them by their own resolutions, and they failed and were drowned; it is true resolution may do great matters, but to carry a soule in a gracious manner through any difficultie it wil faile: Know there∣fore where lay the cause of thy failing, and lay thy hand on the right place, and accuse thy self of an unbeleiving heart,

USE, 6.

And upon that labour to rise in indignation against

thy unbeleiving heart; as suppose a man hath been in some great work, and some have letted him, and so let him, as to spoyle his work; his heart riseth against him: I was in a good forwardness and such a one came and spoyled my work; and so look upon thy unbe∣lieving heart: I was in such a work that God set me about, but my unbelieving heart came and hindered me, and Gods name lost the glory, and my own soul was wounded.

USE, 7.

Againe doth thy heart faile thee? if my unbelieving heart make me faile in this work, what if I should faile through unbelief in that great work that concernes my eternal estate? what should become of me then? I seldom undertake a work but my unbelieving heart makes me faile in it; now there is a work of infinite con∣sequence, and nothing can carrie me through that but Faith, and if my unbelieving heart come and spoyl me in that, it were better I had never been borne, it hath done me hurt enough in such and such things, I had need have a care it doe not spoile me in that: As if a man should say, there are such and such businesses I have miscarried in, and I have lost much by them, but there are such and such works if I miscarrie in I am undon, it is as much as my life is worth, and therefore I had need take heed of those things that have been hindrances to me in my other works: So if unbelief have done you hurt in these works, take heed it do not hinder you in the maine work. And for a word to those that are weake, who are ready to be discouraged, and think they shall miscarry: Know God hath a speciall care of all his people though never so weak to keep off hin∣derances in that maine work, though God do suffer them to faile in other works, and his name suffer some dishonour by it, yet he will have a care they shall not

faile in the maine work: and were we not sure of this that God will have a care that our unbeleeving hearts shall not spoile us in that maine work we have to do a∣bout our Eternal estate, we could never have comfort know the covenant wil not bear this, the covenant will beare that God should let our faith faile in some works, but it will not beare this that God should suffer the least degree of faith to faile in that work which concerns the eternal good of the soul; Christ is called the mighty counseller, and the maine work of Christ is to counsel the soul in those things that concern its eternal estate, and notwithstanding all its unworthiness, he will coun∣sel it so far as it shall not miscarry in that great business, yet Christ doth not alwaies afford his counsel in every particular action. As God deales in the way of his coun∣sel, so of his power, though he may withdraw his strength so, as not to assist our faith in some particular actions, yet in the maine and great business that concerns our eternal estate, we shall not want necessary strength. As a Father that is going along with his child, may be he goes in such waies as the child is in danger of many a fall, to get many a knock, and sore bruise, the father will say to him have a care, take heed: but if he come to a way, that if the child fall he lose his life the father wil not content himself with saying take heed, but he takes hold on him till he be past that place: so God in all our ordinary business saies look to your Faith, ex∣ercise your faith, but for all that we get many a fall, and many a knock, but then may be there comes another work, that concerns our eternal estate, which if we faile in we are undone for ever, god takes hold of the soul there, and will not let them miscarry in that, which is the infinite mercy of God to us; and were we not sure of Gods mercy in that respect, being conscious to our selves of our unbeleeving hearts, we might fear, yea conclude we should faile.