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THe Woman had no aparent evidences of believing; yet did she hang by one single thred of the word, of the mercies of the Son of David. Antonaclasis, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The more that the word of promise hath influence in beleeving, and the lesse of convincing reason
and appearances,* 1.1 the greater Faith, Rom. 4. A∣braham had a promise of a Son in whom the Nations of the world should be blessed: But 1. there was no appearance of this in nature. A∣braham and Sarah at this time were between them: two hundred years old lacking one, and so no naturall hope of a childe. 2. He had but one promise for his Faith; we have twenty, an hundred, yet Rom. 4.18. He against hope, belie∣ved in hope. Its an elegant figure having a form of a contradiction, there was no hope, yet he had hope, 2. ver. 19. Not being weak in the Faith: then he was strong in the Faith, and gave glory to God, as it is, ver. 20.3. He stag∣gered not through unbeleef, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 then its an Argument of a weak Faith, to dispute accor∣ding to the principles of naturall Logick with God, to go on upon Gods naked word without reasoning is a strong Faith, especially when the course of Providence saith the contrary. The word of promise is the mother and seed of faith, 1 Pet. 1.23. the more of the seed, the more of the birth: Wine that is separated from the mother doth sooner corrupt: that is strongest Faith that hath most of its seed and mother, that is, of the word of promise in it. Abraham had nothing on earth to sustain his Faith in killing his son, but only a naked Com∣mandement of God, all other things were con∣trary to the Fact; yet is Faith strongest, when it standeth on its own bases and legs, and that is
the word of Omnipotency, the word of Pro∣mise; other pillars of Faith are rotten and sandy foundations; Inspirations beside and without the word, are the naturall Faiths unwritten tra∣ditions: Every thing is strongest on its own pillars that God and Nature hath appointed for it: The earth hangeth by God and Natures statute in the mids of the Air, if the earth were up in the Orbe or Sphere of the Moon, it should not be so sure as it is now: And if the Sea, foun∣tains, and floods were up in the clouds, they should not be so free from perishing, as they now are: Faith is seated most firmly on a word of him, who is able to perform what he hath said▪ Wicked men are seeking good in bloods, in wars, in the destruction of the Church, of the Reformation and Covenant of God; yet their actions are not seated on a word of promise; but on a threatning that destruction shall come on them as a whirle-wind, therefore is not the wicked mans bread sure, when the child of God hath bread, sleep, peace, immunity from the sword (in so far as the sword is a curse) and that by the Covenant of promise. This woman had one Gospel-word, mercy from the Messiah, Da∣vids son.
6. That is a strong Faith which can forgo much for Christ, and the hope of Heaven.* 1.2 Moses was strong in the Faith in this, who refused the Treasures of Aegypt, the Honour of a Prince∣dome, and to be called, The son of Pharaohs Daughter, Heb. 11.26. For he had an eye 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
an Eagles look, and eye to heaven, to the re∣compence of reward. Abraham forgoeth coun∣try and inheritances for God, Heb. 11.9. By Faith he Sojourned in the Land of Promise, as in a strange Country, dwelling in Tabernacles. 1. He sojourned: 2. He played the Pilgrime: 3. He dwelt not in Castles and Cities, though the land was his by promise, and his grand son Jacob disposed of it in his Testament, Genes. 49.10. For he looked for a City which hath foundations: (to the strong faith, all Ci∣ties are bottomlesse except Heaven) Whose maker and builder is God: Now this Womans Faith is great in this; she looked for a Tempo∣rary deliverance from Satans power to her daughter, under the notion of one of the sure mercies of David, and that by Faith which in∣heriteth all the Promises: not to see beyond time and death, nor to see the gold at the races end fainteth the traveller, a sight of the fair ci∣ty is as a draught of wine to the fainting travel∣ler; it addeth legs and strength to him; heaven is down-ground, when Faith seeth it, it is (when sight faileth us) toylesome and up the mount: When Steven in a near distance heard the mu∣sick of heaven,* 1.3 his countenance did shine, he did leap to be at it: I see Heaven open and Jesus, &c.
7. Its great Faith to pray, and persevere, and watch unto praying, as this woman did, when Christ seemeth to forbid to pray; as hee both
reproached this woman in her praying, as if it had been but the crying of a Dog, and said hee was not sent for her: When the promise and Christ seem to look away from you, and to re∣fuse you, yea, to forbid you to beleeve; then to beleeve is great Faith, actions in nature going on in strength, when contrary actions doth coun∣termand them, must be carried with prevailing strength: Its strength of nature that the Palm∣tree groweth under great weights, its prevalen∣cy of nature that mighty Rivers when they swell over banks doth break over all oppositi∣ons: Satan hath a Commission to burne and slay; a strong Faith quencheth all his fierie darts, Eph. 6.16. Let me alone, (saith the Lord to Ja∣cob, Gen. 32.25.26.) Pray no more; Iacobs strong faith doth meet with this cōmandment: thus, I will not let thee alone, I must pray on till thou blesse me: strong Faith beateth down misapprehensions of promises, or of Christ, and layeth hold on Christ under his maske of wrath, Lam. 3.9. And covered with a cloud.
8. Great boldnesse in the Faith,* 1.4 argueth great Faith; there be three things in Faith, in this Notion. 1. An agony, and a wrestling of Faith, Col. 1.29. which is a heavenly violence in believing. 2. To be carried with a great measure of perswasion and Plerophory, with full and hoised up sailes in beleeving, Col. 2.2. There's a rich assurance of Faith. 2. Not that only, but in abstracto, there's the riches of as∣surance.
3. There's all riches of assurance. 4. All riches of the full assurance of Faith: So strong prevailing light produceth a strong Faith; Alas, its but twilight of evi∣dence that we have. 3. To be bold, and to put on a heavenly stoutnesse, and daring, in ventu∣ring with familiarity into the throne of Grace, is a strong Faith, Heb. 10.22. and Heb. 4.16. We are to come with liberty, and holy boldnesse to the Throne, as children to their father, so the Church with heavenly famlliarity, and the da∣ring of Grace and Faith prayeth, Cant. 1.1. Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth: Johns leaning on Christs bosome is not familia∣rity of love only, but of Faith also; In whom we have boldnesse and accesse with confidence by Faith, Eph. 3.12. Faith dare go into the Throne, and Heb. 10.19. To the holy of holies; Faith blusheth not.
* 1.59. That which leadeth a man with Paul and Silas to sing Psalms in the stocks, in Prison, and in scourges, that is a strong Faith; Job is hence known to be strong in the Faith, because being made a most miserable man in regard of heavy afflictions, he could blesse God: A strong Faith prophecieth glad tidings out of the fire, out at the window of the Prison, and rejoyceth in bonds, Mic. 7.8.9. Isa. 52, 1, 2. and 54.1, 2, 3, 4. To glory in tribulation is an Argument of one justified by Faith, Rom. 5.1, 2, 3. And the grea∣ter gloriation of Christs chains and crosse,
is a stronger reason to conclude a strong Faith.
10. To wait in patience for God all the day long,* 1.6 is an Argument of great Faith, Isa. 28.16. He that beleeveth shall not make hast; he shall not be confounded with shame (so the 70. traslateth it, and Paul after them, Rom. 9.33.) As those that fleeth from the enemy out of hastinesse, procured by base fear, which is a shame: I dare not say that the 70. readeth 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 festinet insted of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 confundatur: but it proveth believing & a valorous keeping the field without flying, & so continued waiting on God, to be of kin to be∣lieving; and the longer the thred of hope be, though it were seventy years long, as Hab. 2.1.2. or though it were as long as a cable going between the earth and the heaven, up within the vail, Heb. 6.19. the stronger the faith must be; unbelief not being chained to Christ leapeth over board at first, as the wicked King said in the ••••st of unbelief, 2 King. 6.33. What should I wait any longer on the Lord? Faith is a grace for win∣••er to give God leisure to bring Summer in his own season; the reasons of our weaknes be two. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. We see Israel & their dough on their shoul∣ders wearied and tired, lately come out of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉-Furnace, wandring without one foot of ••eritage, fourty years in the wildernesse, and four hundred years in Egypt, Act. 7.6. This ••••keth like poverty, to believe the other my∣••••ery in the other side or Page of Providence, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Glory of dividing the Red-Sea, and of
giving seven mighty Nations to his people, and their buildings, lands, vineyards, Gar∣dens, is a strong Faith. 2. The furnace is a thing void of reason and art, and so knoweth little, that by it the Goldsmith maketh an excel∣lent and comely vessell of Gold: Its great Faith to believe, that God by crooked instru∣ments, and fire and sword shall refine a Church and erect a glorious building, and these Mali∣gnant instruments are as ignorant of the Art of divine Providence, as coals and fuell are of the Art and intention of the Gold-Smith, Mic. 4.12. Isa. 10.5, 6, 7. The Ax and the Saw know∣eth nothing of Art, nor the Sword any thing of Justice. Prelates. Papists, Malignants in the three Kingdomes, understand nothing of Gods deep counsell upon themselves, in that God by a fire of their kindling, is burning themselves, and taking away the Tin and Brasse, and repro∣bate mettall, and refining the Spouse of Christ▪ they serve a great service, but know not the ma∣ster of the work.
* 1.711. An humble Faith, such as was in this wo∣man is a great Faith: the more sins that are pardoned, as it inferreth the more love to Christ Luk. 7.47. So the unworthier a soul is in it self to believe pardon in Christ, argueth the greater Faith; it must be a greater Faith, to believe th•• pardon of ten thousand talents, then to believ•• the forgivenesse of five hundred pence: Christ esteemeth it the greatest faith in Israel, tha••
the Centurion abaseth himself, as one unwor∣thy to come under one roof with him, and that he exalteth Christ in his omnipotency to be∣lieve that he can command all diseases, at his nod, Math. 8.8, 9, 10.
12. A strong desire of a communion with Christ is an Argument of a strong Faith,* 1.8 Rev. 22.20. Surely I come 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Quickly, faith answe∣reth with a hearty desire: Amen, even so, Come Lord Jesus, and 2 Pet. 3.12. These two are con∣joined, the one is a word of Faith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Looking for: the other a word of earnest de∣sire, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Hastning after (Stepha. votis accelerantes) the coming of the day of the Lord. Faith desireth an union with Christ, and a marriage union: The reason is, strong Faith cometh from strong love, and strong love, and strong coals of desiring to be dissolved, and to be with Christ, Phil. 1.23. Burneth in at Hea∣vens door; love-sicknesse for glory goeth as high as the lowest step of the Throne that the Lamb Christ sitteth on; and its faith and love together, that desireth Christ to mend his pace, and saith, Cant. 8.14. Make haste, my beloved, and be as a Roe or a young Hart upon the moun∣tains of spices. The fervor of love challengeth time, and the slow-moving wheels of yeers and moneths, and reckoneth an hour for a day, and a day for a yeer, Psal. 101.2. O when wilt thou come to me? So hope deferred is a child∣birth pain, and a sicknesse of the soul, Prov. 13.
12. Faith with love cannot indure a morrow▪ Faith putteth Christ to posting, and leaping o∣ver mountains, and skipping over hils, Cant▪ 2.8. And addeth wings to him, to flee more quickly. Yet is there a caution here most con∣siderable; Faith both walketh leisurely and with leaden feet, and moveth swiftly with Eagles wings: Faith, in regard of love and de∣sire of union with God, is swift, and hath strong motions for an Union; Yea, a love-sicknesse to be at the top of the mount to be satiated with a feast of Christs enjoyed face; but in regard of a wise assurance that Gods time is fittest, it maketh no haste: So to wait on, and to haste may stand together, 2 Pet. 3.10.
* 1.913. Faith effectuall by, or with child of love and good works is a strong Faith, 1 Thes. 1.3. Remembering your work of Faith, Philem. v. 6. Faith effectuall. There be bones in a strong Faith: yea, sap and life. How many Thousands of Apples be there vertually in a Tree that beareth fruit, for thirty or fourty years toge∣ther? So its said of Stephen, That he was full of faith and power, Act. 6.8. And Barnabas, Act 11.24. Full of the Holy Ghost, and of Faith. What is then a small Faith, or a weak Faith, is easily known.* 1.10 1. A Faith voyd of all doubting is not a weak Faith: Nor yet the strong Faith. Antinomians erre many wayes in this point. 1. After the revelation of the spirit, neither Devill nor sinne can make the soul to doubt
(say they:) Yea,* 1.11 but the spirit of revelation was in Jeremiah, who doubted when he com∣plained, Chap. 15. v. 18. to God of God, Wilt thou be to me altogether as a liar, and as waters that fail? Chap. 20.7, 8, 9. v. 14.15.16. Job doubted c. 13. v. 14. when he said, Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy? And Asaph, Ps. 73.13. Heman, Ps. 88.13, 14, 15. And the Church, 77. Psal. Yet all these were sealed by the spirit unto the day of redemption.* 1.12 2. This is like the foul errour of the Arminians, who, with Socinians, hold that as there be three degrees of believers, 1. Some babes. 2. Some aged, so there is a third sort of truly perfect ones, who do not sin from the root of concupiscence, the combate between the flesh and the spirit now ceasing, only they sin through inadvertence or some errour, or over-clouding of their light, as Adam and the Angels sinned, there being no inward principle of corruption in them: Hence some Liber∣••ines say, These that are in Christ can no more sin, and not walk with God, then the sun can leave off to give light, or fire to cast heat, or a fountain to send out streams, in regard that the spirit acteth them to walk with God by such a necessary impulsion that destroyeth all freedom of will; and if they sin, they are not to be blamed, because the spirit moveth them not to abstinence from sin, and to holy walking. But Paul, a chosen vessel, and a strong believer,
Rom. 7.14, 15, 16, 17, &c. Complaineth of the in-dwelling of sin, of his carnality, and the fleshes lusting against the spirit, and of his cap∣tivity under sin, which must argue his imper∣fect Faith, liable to the distemper of sinfull doubtings.* 1.13 It is also a great errour to say, that to call in question, whether God be my Father after, or upon the commission of some hainous sins, as murther, incest, &c. Doth prove a man to be in the covenant of works. Now there be sundry sorts of doubtings opposite to Faith.* 1.14 In the renewed: There's 1. A naturall doubting; and as all Popery is naturall and carnall: so this strangenesse of affection by which men are un∣kind to Christ, and never perswaded of Gods favour in Jesus Christ, argueth the party to be under the law, and not in Christ. This doubting may, and doth in carnall men consist with pre∣sumption, and a morall false perswasion that na∣turall men have all of them, while their consci∣ence be wakened; that they shall be saved. Why? I am not a Murtherer, a Sorcerer, &c. Why? Or how can God throw me into Hell? So its made up of reall lies and contradictions: Yet they have no divine certainty of Salvation. For ask a naturall man, Have you a full assu∣rance of salvation, as you say, that you alwayes believe and doubt not? he shall be there at a stand, and answer; Who can have a full assu∣rance? But I hope well, I believe well night and day. And so doubt Papists also, and they
have a lie in their right hand, it cannot stand with Gods mercy or justice; since I am not this and this, to throw me into hell. So is unbe∣lief a lie, Esa. 57.11. And of whom hast thou been afraid and feared, that thou hast lied and hast not remembered me? 2. There's an occasi∣onall doubting that riseth by starts upon wic∣ked men out of an evill conscience of sin, but it vanisheth as a cloud: as in Pharaohs confession, I and my people have sinned. This argueth a law-spirit, rising and falling a sleep again. 3. There's a finall doubting of despair, like the [ 3] doom past on the condemned malefactor: as in Cain, Gen. 4.13.14. In Saul, 1 Sam. 28.15, 16. All these conclude men under the law, and the curse of it. But there's 4. A doubting in the be∣lievers, which though a sin, yet (if I might have [ 4] leave to borrow the expression) is a godly sin: Not because it is not a sin indeed,* 1.15 and so opposit to grace and godlinesse, but a gracious sin, Ratione subjecti, in regard of the person and adjuncts, it being a neighbour to saving Grace; and no reprobate can be capable of this sin, no more then Pagans, or flagitious and extreamly wicked men can be capable of the sinne against the Holy Ghost. So beggars are remotest from high and personall treason, because they have never that honour to come near the Kings Per∣son. So Davids bones, not Sauls bones were broken, Ps. 51.10. Humbled bones. (For a hum∣bled heart is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Nidcheh.) Broken▪
and bruised with a fear of Gods wrath for sin. And the converted souls moisture is turned to the drought of summer, Psal. 32.3, 4. And his bones waxen old with roaring all the day, God withholding the joy of his salvation. This doubt∣ing befalleth never any reprobate under the law or covenant of works, and so though it be an ill thing, yet its a good sign, as out-break∣ings of boils in the body, are in themselves, diseases, infirmities, distempers and contrary to perfect health; yet they are often good signs and arguments of strength of life, and much vitall heat and healthinesse of constitution. That affections of the childe of God, under in∣cest, murther, or other hainous sins be stirred, that sorrow be wakened and rise, when our Fa∣ther is offended, and when our Lord frowneth and standeth behind the wall, and goeth away, is lawfull; yea it speaketh tendernesse of love, softnesse of heart, but that they be so far wake∣ned as to doubt, and fear that the Lord be changed, that he hath forgotten to be mercifull, that is sinfull doubting, but doth no wayes con∣clude, that the person is under the Covenant of Works; but the contrary rather, that Grace sitteth and bordereth with this doubting. And so that the person is under Grace, not under the Law. Even where Faith is strong, it is not ever in the same temper. Health most vigorou•• will vary in its degrees and decrease at times of 〈…〉〈…〉 and yet be strong and have much of
life in it. Take the strong and experienced Christians life in its whole continued frame, and for the most part he hath the better of all temptations; but take him in a certain stage, or nick of providence when he is not himself, and he is below his ordinary strength, even in that wherein he excelleth. If a gracious temper of meeknesse like Christ was not the predomi∣nant element of grace in Moses, yet it was in a great measure in him, he bearing the name with him, who best knoweth names, and things, of the meekest man in the earth: Yet in that which was his flour, he proved weaker then himself, and spake unadvisedly with his lips. Our highest Graces may meet with an ill hour. Job by the testimony of the Holy Ghost is pati∣ent, Ye have heard of the patience of Job. And, Chap. 3. We have heard of the cursing passion of Job also. Believing is like sailing, which is not alwayes equall,* 1.16 often strength of wind will blow the ship twenty miles backward. 2. The smallest measure of Faith. The minimum quod sic, is sincere adherence to Christ. Not that negative adherence simply,* 1.17 by which some one may say, I dare not for a world quit my part in Christ, or give up with him. Naturall spirits may have a naturall tendernesse, by which they dare not quit Christ, and give up with him. Yet there's no saving faith in naturall spirits, but there's in the beleever some positive adherence under, or with the negative, by which there's a
power of love and kindnesse, making the soul to cleave to Christ: There may be great weak∣nesse with this, and great failings, and yet faith unfained. We have need of much charity to these that are weak in Faith. A reed, a broken reed may grow; and Christ will not break it. A buried believer is a believer; if Christ have a neer relation of blood to a peece of blew clay, and the dead corps of a believer; seeing in his flesh there's the seed and hope of a resurrection, as the seed and hope of harvest is in rotting, and dying grains of Wheat, sown in the cold earth, as is cleer, Psal. 16.9. 1 Cor. 15.42, 43, 44. Much more the relation of mercy remaineth in Christ, toward the wrestling, deserted, and self dead believer. Now this smallest measure of Faith, may consist, 1. With much ignorance of God, as it was with the believing Disciples, who con∣tinued with Christ in his temptations, confessed him, believed and adhered to him, when many went back, and departed from him, Luk. 22.28, 29. Mat. 16.16, 17. Joh. 6.66, 67, 68, 69. And yet were ignorant of great points of Faith, as of his death, Mat. 16.21.22. Of his resurrection, Joh. 20.9. 2. So there be great faintings and doubtings, when a storm ariseth, and the soul is a sinking, Mat. 8. v. 25, 26, 27. Mat. 14.3. Yet a little Faith is Faith. As touching a fainting Faith, its not alwayes a weak Faith that faint∣eth; strong and healthy bodies may have fe∣vers, and deliquies. For the causes of fainting
are, 1. The want of the influence of mercy, and of stirring or exciting Grace causeth fainting, 2 Cor. 4.1. As we are mercied, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, we faint not; we degenerate not. It is in the bo∣some of Christ, and lieth about the bowels of our mercifull high Priest that keepeth from fainting: If our Intercessor pray not, we faint, Luke 22.32. I have prayed that thy Faith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 may not be ecclipsed. The moon is in a certain death, and soon in an ecclipse; So is Faith under fainting. 2. Fear of wrath may cause distraction and hanging of minde, and un∣certainty, where there is strong Faith, Ps. 88.14.15. Compared with v. 8, 9. As apprehensions report of God, so are we affected in believing. Yet may it be collected from Mat. 10.19. In that hour it shall be given you, that Christ hol∣deth the head of a fainting believer. 3. The dependence of Faith will faint, when Christ withdraweth love, though he inflict no anger. The ingenuity of Grace gathereth fear from a cloud, though there be no storm. 3. A soul dead in himself, and that cannot put out Faith in acts, for want of light and comfort, is a weak Faith. A tree in winter is a living tree. There may be life where there's little stirring or moti∣on. 4. That Faith that seemed smallest to the man himself, is sometime in it self greatest. 1. In sad desertions there's most of Faith, and least of sense of Faith, Psal. 22.1. 2. A suffering Faith may be small to the sufferer. Many of the
Martyrs in their own sense were in a dead and unbelieving condition:* 1.18 Yet Christ is more commended for a suffering-faith then any, Heb. 12.1, 2, 3. In that he did run, indure the crosse for the glory that was before him. He saw hea∣ven. And his Faith went through Hell, to be at Heaven. There is a high commendation put on the suffering Faith of these who were tryed with hands, imprisonment, sawn asunder, moc∣ked, slain with the sword, Heb. 11.37, 38. Of whom the world was not worthy; This is not put upon the active and doing Faith, which is put upon the passive Faith, nor is so much said of these, who by Faith pulled down the walls of Jericho, of Gideon, Baruch, Sampson, and such as by Faith subdued Kingdoms. The reason is, suffering is a losse of being, and welbeing: These who by doing give away their evil being, for Christ, and crucifie their lusts for him, are dear to him: but such as die for Christ, they give away both being, and welbeing. Moses, & Paul, who in a manner were content to go to hel, with believing that Gods glory in saving the people of God was to be prefered to their eternal being, and well-being, behoved to have great Faith. 3. The Faith,* 1.19 that is weak, in regard of intensi∣on of degrees, may be a great faith in regard of extension: the Children of God, whose life is the walk of Faith, 2 Cor. 5.7. May have but a small measure of Faith: Yet its a constant and well breathed Faith, good at the long race, that carrieth a soul through: In, 1. His naturall ca∣pacity
to believe God will feed him: And, 2. In his civill relations, as a father, son, servant, magistrate. 3. In his spirituall condition, in the duties of the first table; in all which capacities we are to walk by Faith. Yea to eat, drink, sleep, to laugh, to weep, as concerning the or∣dering of all these Heaven-ward by Faith. All the Saints that go to Heaven believing, and or∣dering all these conditions by Faith, have not al∣wayes a Faith, as great as Abraham, as Moses. Weak leggs carry some through the earth many thousand miles; A sorry and small vessell in comparison of others, may sail about the Globe of the whole earth. The wings of a Sparrow or a Dove can carry these little birds, through as much Sea and Land, as the wings of an Eagle doth carry the Eagle.* 1.20 But ere I go from this point, I crave leave to adde somewhat of the least and smallest measure of Faith. 2. Of the condition of the childe of God under it. Touch∣ing the former, I onely say, There is a degree of fire, and a coal so small, that lesse cannot be, the thing remaining, Fire having the nature, essence, and properties of fire. And when any is in a de∣liquium or swoun, the man hath life, but it is kept in narrow bounds, there is breathing one∣ly. 2. Some vitall heat. 3. Some internall motion in the heart and vitall and animall spi∣rits, but no more to prove life almost then the man is a dead corps, yet somewhat there is to difference him from dead clay: For friends will
not bury a sounding man willingly and know∣ingly. So at the lowest condition of the weak∣est Faith that the believer is in, some fire and coal of love and Faith there is, and some smoaking, though little fire, and possibly we cannot give it a name. Yet if the just live by Faith, there must be some measure of Faith. 2. Some smoaking of love to Christ. 3. Some dis∣cerning of an ill condition. No man on earth in a sleep hath a reflect act to know that he sleepeth, no dead corps knoweth it self to be dead. Never sleeping man could say, nay, not Adam in his first sleep, when God formed the woman out of a rib of his side: Now I am slee∣ping. No man naturally dead can say, Now am I dead, and I lie amongst the worms and corrup∣tion. Death maketh no report of death: but the believer can say at his lowest condition, Cant. 5.1. I sleep but my heart waketh; and he who saith, Psal. 119. Lord quicken me, must say, Lord, I am dead; yet to say, Lord quicken me, and to feel and know deadnesse, are acts of the life of Grace. A Saint in this condition may love Christ through half a dream, and half sleep∣ing, half waking, retain honourable thoughts of Christ, Job 13.15. Job 19.25, 26, 27. Some have said in hell they should love Christ. This truth is in it, that in such a pain and sad conditi∣on of suffering as the damned are in, (sin, de∣spair, or Gods hating of them excepted) Saints can believe and love Christ, Psal. 22.1. at least
desire to have leave to love Christ, for the evill of sinne may, the evill of punishment cannot quench the love of Christ, which is stronger then death, then hell, Cant. 8.6, 7. The soul at the lowest condition is like the man who hath ingaged his lands for so great a sum, as may be a Just price to buy the land, and so in effect he hath sold the land, but with a reversion, he keepeth the reversion, and so by Law within such a time he may redeem his morgaged inhe∣ritance. The weakest of believers at his lowest ebbe, keepeth the reversion of Christ: He may by some grievous sinne, be under such a terrible desertion, as to put the inheritance of Heaven to a too great hazard of being lost; and in ap∣pearance and in his own sense, and in the sense of many, all is gone; yet then to say nothing of the invisible chain of Gods unchangeable decree of Election, which the strongest armes of Devils and Hell cannot break; there is fire under the embers,* 1.21 sap and life in the root of the Oak tree: God saith of the bud of this Vine tree, though the man neither see nor hear it, destroy it not, for there is a blessing in it.
As touching the second. The Question may be, What remaineth for him in this condition, to know his condition, or what can he do? I answer, 1. When Christ hath left his bed and is gone, he is to keep warm the seat that Christ was in; I do not say that the Church, Cant. 5.6. was at the lowest ebbe; yet a desertion there
was and a sad one: But in this condition, she openeth her heart to Christ, I rose up to open to my beloved. 2. vers. 5. There be some drop∣pings of Myrrhe from her hands, some sense of Christ. 3. I called him, but he answered me not; there remaineth a faculty of praying. 4. A love-sicknesse: hence it is evident in the low∣est and ebbest condition of a fainting faith, there is something answerable to this, and this is to love the smell of Christ that he hath left be∣hinde him, when he himself is gone; it is to desire to behold with love and longing the print of his feet, the chair of love that he sate in: hence though you feel no work of sanctificati∣on, his seat is kept by some spirituall meditati∣ons; as to consider, what a kinde of love it is, that Christ hath bestowed on sinners, for that he loved his own before he died for them, his love being the cause why he died for them; and still after, the purchased Redemption, he loveth them, and intercedeth for them up at the right hand of God; and this is as much as to say, Christ hath loved you, and repenteth not of his love: love made him die for you, and if it were to do again, he would die over again for you, Rom. 8.33, 34. 1 Tim. 3.16. And suppose we that there were need that CHRIST should die twice, or foure times, or an hundred or millions of times, and that he had ten thousand millions of lives, and that our sins should have required that he should first die for one believer,
and then die again the second time for another, and then the third time for another: and so that hee must for every severall Elect person, have died a severall death; Love, love should have put him upon all these deaths willing∣ly: and therefore if the beleever had ten loves, as many loves in one as there be E∣lected men and Angels, all had been too little for Christ; and when the believer hath been serving and praising up in the highest Temple as many millions of ages of years, (or a tract of Eternity answerable to that duration of ages) as the number of the sand on all the coasts in earth, of all the stars in Heaven, of all the flowers, hearbs, plants, leaves of trees that hath been, or shall be from the Creation of God, to the taking down of the workmanship of Hea∣ven and earth; yet shal he be as much in Christs debt for this infinit love when that time is en∣ded, as when he first opened his mouth in the first breathing out of praises in the state of glo∣ry. 2 He may turn over in his minde all the promises, and the literall revolution of them in the minde, though it be but a deed or act of the understanding and memory, may cast fire on the affections in which there resideth a habit of grace; though there be no fire in the bel∣lows, yet blowing with the bellows, may waken up and kindle fire in the hearth where there is little: The habit of grace is often as sparks of fire on the hearth under the ashes, and may be
kindled up and made a fire. 3. When Faith is weakest, and the soul under a winter and a dead eclipse; its fit to keep the heart in a pas∣sive frame of receiving of him again as to sorrow for sin, and to put to door unrepented sins; as when the King goeth abroad, sweep the Cham∣ber for his return. Missing of Christ, longing for his return, inquisition for him, Watchmen, saw ye him? Love-sicknesse for him, putteth the soul in a sweet passive capacity to receive him again, Cant. 3.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. 4. When the Church is in bed sleeping, yet she is charged to open, Cant. 5.2. to weep at the noise of Christs knock; when you cannot rise is somewhat, a prisoner may stir his legs and cause the iron fet∣ters tinckle, though he cannot get out; there is some strength when we are bidden, Heb. 12.12. Lift up the hands that hang down, and the feeble knees: Motion will make fire. 5. Especi∣ally Christ sleepeth least, when his childe is in a high feaver: Love watcheth then most at the bed side.
The more of the word & the lesse of rea∣son the stronger Faith is.
6 A faith that can forego much for Christ, i•• a strong faith.
7. Its a strong faith to pray and believe, when God see∣meth to forbid praying.
8. Great boldnesse argueth great faith.
9 To re∣joice in tribulati¦on is a strong Faith.
10. To wait on with long patience is an Argu∣ment of a strong faith.
11. An humble Faith is a strong Faith.
12. A strong desire of a com∣munion argueth a strong Faith.
Strength of work∣ing by love, ar∣gueth a strong Faith.
Rise, Reign, and ruine of Anti∣nomians, Er. 32. pag. 6.
A great Faith is not free of boubt∣ings.
Declar. Remon∣stra••t. Exerro∣re, abre∣ptione, aut ob∣nubila∣tione mentis.
Rise, Reign, and ruine Er. 20. pag. 4.
Diverse sorts of doubting opposit to Faith.
Some doubting a sin, and a bad thing in it self yet Per ac∣cidens, and Ra∣tione subjecti good sign and ar∣gueth Grace in the party.
Diverse sorts of weake faith.
Nega∣tive ad∣herence to Christ not suffi∣cient to saving Faith.
A suf∣fering Faith a strong Faith.
Faith weak in regard of intension may bee strong in regard of extensi∣on.
The low∣est ebbe of a fain∣ting Faith.
What of Christ remain∣eth, in the low∣est ebbe of a fain∣ting Faith.