Graphautarkeia, or, The Scriptures sufficiency practically demonstrated wherein whatsoever is contain'd in Scripture, respecting doctrine, worship or manners is reduced to its proper head, weighty cases resolved, truths confirmed, difficult texts illustrated and explained by others more plain.

Of Faith, in its Nature, and Objects, and Use, Benefits and advantages, further the nas before, as relating to this Salvation.

Holding the mistery of faith in a pure conscience, &c. Without controversie great is the mistery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, &c. 1 Tim. 3. 9, 16.

1. In its Nature and Objects.

I know my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth, and though after my skin worms destroy this body (or, after I shall awake, this body shall be destroyed) yet out (or, in) my flesh, shall I see God, whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another, &c. Job 19. 25, 26, 27.

Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, &c. He who believeth shall not make hast.

The Centurion said, Lord, I am not worthy, &c. But speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed; for I am a man under authority, &c. And I say to this man, go and he goeth, and unto another, come and he cometh, &c. When Jesus heard this, he said, &c. I have not found so great faith no not in Israel, &c. Many shall come from east and west, and shall sit down with Abra∣ham, &c. Matt. 8. 8, 9, 10, 11, 13.

The woman of Canaan would not be put off, though Christ spake harsh to her, whereupon Jesus said to her, O woman, great is thy faith, be it unto thee as thou wilt, Matt. 15. 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28.

Simon Peter said, thou art Christ the son of the living God. And Jesus said unto him, blessed art thou, &c. For flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my father which is in heaven, Matt. 16. 16, 17.

The woman of the bloody Issue said, if I may but touch his clothes, I shall be whole, &c. Jesus said unto her, thy faith hath made thee whole, go in peace, Mark 5. 27, 28, 29, 34.

Jesus said unto them, have faith in God, &c. And shall not doubt in his heart, Mark 11. 22, 23.

O fools, and slow of heart, to believe all which the Prophets have spoken, Luke 24. 25.

His own received him not, but as many as received him to them he gave

to become, &c. John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world; This is he of whom I said, after me cometh a man who is preferred before me; for he was before me, &c. And I saw and bare record that this is the son of God, &c. Andrew said to his brother Simon, we have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ, &c. Philip said to Nathaniel, we have found him of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth the son of Joseph, &c. Na∣thaniel said, Thou art the son of God, thou art the King of Israel, Jesus said, Because I said, &c. Believest thou: thou shalt see greater, &c. John 1. 11, 12, 29, 30, 34, 36, 40, 41, 45, 49, 50.

He who hath received his testimony, hath set to his seal that God is true, John 3. 33.

The Samaritans believed on him for the saying of the woman, &c. And more believed because of his own word, and said unto the woman, now we believe not because of thy saying: for we have heard him our selves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world, &c. Jesus said to the noble∣man, go thy way, thy son liveth, and the man believed the word which Jesus had spoken, and he went his way, &c. And himself believed and his whole house, John 4. 39, 41, 42, 50, 53.

He who believeth on him who sent me, &c. Had ye believed Moses, &c. But if ye believe not his writings, &c. John 5. 24, 46, 47.

Simon Peter answered him, Lord to whom shall we go, thou hast the words of eternal life? And we believe and are sure, that thou art that Christ the son of the living God, John 6. 68, 69.

For if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall dye in your sins, Joh. 8. 24.

The man who was born blind Christ cured, and when the Jews had cast him out, Jesus heard of it, and when he had found him, he said unto him, dost thou believe on the son of God, and he answered and said, who is he Lord, that I might believe on him, &c? It is he who talketh with thee. And he said, Lord I believe, and he worshipped him, John 9. 35, 36, 37, 38.

Jesus, &c. whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never dye. Believest thou this? She said unto him, yea Lord, I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God which should come into the world, John 11. 25, 26, 27.

He who believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him who sent me, John 12. 44.

That when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he, John 13. 19.

Ye believe in God, believe also in me, John 14. 1.

The father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and believe that I came out from God, &c. Now we are sure that thou knowest all things, &c. By this we believe that thou camest forth from God, John 16. 27, 30.

I have given unto them the words which thou gavest to me, and they have received them, and they have known surely, that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didest send me, John 17. 8. 1 John 5. 10, 11.

Thomas, &c. said unto him, my Lord and my God; &c. Jesus said, &c. bles∣sed are they who have not seen, yet believed. These things are written, that

ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, John 20. 28, 29, 31.

The Eunuch said, what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.—He baptized him, Acts. 8. 36, 37, 38.

Paul preached Christ in the Synagogues, that he is the Son of God, &c. Proving that this is very Christ, Act. 9. 20, 22. ch. 17. 3.

God gave them the li•…•…e gifts, &c. Then hath God also granted to the Gen∣tiles repentance unto life, Act. 11. 17, 18.

We believe that through the grace of our Lord Jesus, we shall be saved e∣ven as they, Act. 15. 11.

Believing all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets, and have hope towards God, which they themselves also allow, that there, &c. Acts 24. 14, 15.

Paul said, be of good cheer, for there shall be no loss, &c. Be of good chear: for I believe God, that it shall be, even as it was told me, Acts 27. 22, 23, 24, 25.

To him who worketh not, but believeth on him who justifieth the ungod∣ly, his faith is accounted •…•…or righteousness, &c. Abraham against hope belie∣ved in hope, &c. And being not weak in faith considered not his own body now dead, &c. But was strong in the faith, giving glory to God: and being fully perswaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed unto him for righteousness, Rom. 4. 5, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22.

Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him, Rom. 6. 8.

We are saved by hope: but hope which is seen, is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for it? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it, &c. I am perswaded that neither life, &c. Rom. 8. 24, 25, 38, 39.

The righteousness which is of faith, speaketh on this wise, say not in thine heart, who shall ascend in•…•… heaven? That is to bring Christ down from above: or who shall descend into the deep? That is to bring up Christ from the dead. But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth and in thy heart, that is the word of faith which we preach, That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart, that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved; for with the heart man believeth un∣to righteousness, Rom. 10. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the spirit of God, 1 Cor. 12. 3.

Our preaching is not with inticeing words, &c. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God, 1 Cor. 2. 4, 5.

We also believe and therefore speak, knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus, shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you, &c.

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen, &c. are eternal, 2 Cor. 4. 13, 14, 18.

We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens, &c. We are confident I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord, &c. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we perswade men, &c. 2 Cor. 5. 1, 6, 7, 8, 11.

That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted (or, hoped) in Christ, Ephes. 1. 12.

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead, Col. 2. 12.

We pray for you always, that our God would, &c. fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power, 2 Thes. 1. 11.

Therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the liv∣ing God who is the saviour of all men, especially of them who believe, 1 Tim. 4. 10.

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life, 1 Tim. 6. 12

When I call to remembrance the unfeined faith that is in thee, &c. I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and am perswaded, that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day, 2 Tim. 1. 5, 12.

According to the faith of Gods Elect, &c. In hope of eternal life, which God who cannot lye promised before the world began, &c. Rebuke them sharp∣ly, that they may be found sound in the faith, Titus 1. 1, 2, 13. ch. 2. 2.

The word, &c. did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them who heard it, Heb. 4. 2.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, &c. For he who cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a re∣warder of them who diligently seek him, &c. By faith Abram, &c. Sojourned in the land of promise, &c. For he looked for a City which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God through faith, also Sarah her self received strength, &c. Because she judged him faithful who had promised, &c. These all dyed in the faith, not having received the promises, but seeing them afar off, and were perswaded of them, and imbraced them and confessed, &c. Abram of∣fered Isaac, &c. Accounting that God was able to raise him up from the dead, &c. Moses had respect to the recompence of reward, &c. as seeing him who is Invisible, and some refused deliverance that they might obtain a better resur∣rection, Heb. 11. 1, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 17, 19, 26, 35. chap. 6. 18.

Blessed be God, &c. who hath begotten us again to a lively hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, &c. Whom having not seen ye love, in whom though you see not, yet believing, &c. who by him do believe in God, &c. That your faith and hope might be in God, 1 Pet. 1. 3, 8, 21.

To them who have obtained like precious faith with us, 2 Pet. 1. 1.

Who is a lyer, but he that denyeth that Jesus is the Christ? 1 John 2. 22.

We know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him: For we shall see him as he is, 1 John 3. 2, 3.

We have seen and do testifie, that the father hath sent the son to be the saviour, &c. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwel∣leth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed, the love which God hath unto us, &c. 1 John 4. 14, 15, 16.

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God, &c. Who is he who overcometh the world, but he who believeth that Jesus is the Son of God, &c. We know that the Son of God is come, &c. His Son Jesus Christ, this is the true God, and eternal Life, 1 John 5. 1, 5, 20.

But ye beloved, build up your selves in your most holy faith, Jude vers. 20.

2dly. In its Use, Benefits, and Advantages, further.

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the living, Psal. 27. 13.

Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust, &c. therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation, Isa. 12. 3.

Jesus said unto the blind man, believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, yea Lord, then touched he their eyes, saying, according to your faith, be it unto you. And their eyes were opened, Matt. 9. 28, 29, 30. Luk. 18. 42.

When Peter came out of the Ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus, but when he began to fear, he began to sink, &c. And Jesus said unto him, O thou of little faith, why didst thou doubt? Matt. 14. 28, 29, 30, 31.

When Christ saw the faith of the Woman of Canaan, Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt, and her daughter was made whole, Matt. 15. 26, 27, 28.

The Disciples came to Jesus apart, and said, why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, because of your unbelief: For verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard-seed, ye shall say to this mountain, re∣move hence unto yonder place, and it shall remove, and nothing shall be im∣possible unto you, Matt. 17. 19, 20. Mark 11. 23.

The saith of the Woman with the bloody-issue, derived virtue from Christ to heal her, &c. Jesus said to the Ruler (when news was brought that his daugh∣ter was dead) be not afraid, only believe, and Christ raised her, Mark 5. 27, 28, 29, 34, 36, 42.

If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him who believeth, &c. He cryed ou•…•…, Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief, Jesus healed his child, Mark 9. 23, 24, 25.

What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive, and ye shall have them, Mark 11. 24.

He who believeth on me, as the scripture saith, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water; but this spake he of the spirit, which they who belie∣ved on him should receive, John 7. 38, 39.

If thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God, John 11. 40

Christ prayed only for those who had, and afterwards should believe in him John 17. 20.

Through faith in his name, hath made this man strong whom ye see and know; yea, the faith which is by him, hath given him this perfect sou•…•…ness in the presence of you all, Act. 3. 16.

What doth hinder me to be baptized? And if thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest, Act. 8. 36, 37.

Putting no difference between them and us, purifying their hearts by faith, Act. 15. 9.

Rejoycing in hope, Rom. 12. 12.

The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, Rom. 15. 13.

We are always confident, knowing that whilest we are at home in the bo∣dy, we are absent from the Lord, for we walk by faith and not by sight; we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord, 2 Cor. 5. 6, 7, 8.

They who are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham, &c. We re∣ceived, &c. the spirit through faith, Gal. 3. 7, 14.

In whom, after, that ye believed, ye were sealed with the holy spirit, Ephes. 1. 13.

In whom ye have boldness, and access with confidence by the faith of him, &c. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, Ephes. 3. 12, 17. Heb. 4. 16.

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, Ephes. 6. 16.

We are the circumcision, &c. Who rejoyce in Christ, and have no confidence in the flesh, Phil. 3. 3.

Putting on the brest-plate of faith and love, and for an helmet the hope of salvation, 1 Thes. 5. 8.

Therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the saviour of all men, especially of them who believe, 1 Tim. 4. 10.

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life, 1 Tim. 6. 12.

The word, &c. did not profit, not being mixed with faith in them who heard it, &c. For we who have believed do enter into rest, &c. For he who is entred into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, Heb. 4. 2, 3, 10.

That by two immutable things, &c. we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us. Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, &c. Heb. 6. 18, 19.

Faith enabled men to do and suffer great things for God. See at large, Heb. 11.

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him, James 5. 15.

Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, &c. receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls, 1 Pet. 1. 5, 9.

To them who have obtained like precious faith with us, 2 Pet. 1. 1.

This is the victory which overcometh the world, even our faith, 1 John 5. 4.