The vvay to the celestiall paradise Declaring how a sinner may be saued, and come to life euerlasting. Contained in three bookes.The first second third sheweth that a sinner may be saued, & come to life euerlasting. By faith, apprehending Christ for his iustification, & applying to himselfe the promises of the Gospell made in Iesus Christ. Repentance, hauing his sins washed away in the bloud of the lambe Iesus Christ. Prayer, calling vpon God in the name of Iesus Christ. By Robert Whittell, minister of the Gospell.

CHAP. XIII. Of the benefits of Faith; shewing what great good comes to a Christian, through true sauing Faith.

HOw necessary true sauing Faith is, hath beene shewed.

The seuenth thing in the treatise of Faith, is concerning the benefit and good that comes thereby.

The benefits of true sauing Faith, are exceeding great and many.

First, I mention the benefit of Iustification. True faith, apprehending Christ Iesus, iustifieth a sinner in the sight of God, acquitteth and dischargeth him from his sinnes, and causeth him to bee accepted righteous, not for his owne righteousnesse, but for the righteousnesse of Christ imputed vnto him. So witnesseth S. Paul to the Galati∣aus, a Knowing (saith hee) that a man is not iustified by the workes of the Law, but by the faith of Iesus Christ, euen wee haue beleeued in Iesus Christ, that wee might bee iustified by the faith of Christ, and not by the workes of the Law. The third and fourth chapters of the Epistle to the Romans, stand vpon this argument, affirming that we are iustified by Faith, without the workes of the Law: and proouing in the example of Abraham, that righteousnesse is imputed vnto vs by Faith.

If it be obiected, that S. Paul, speaking of Iustificati∣on [Obiect. 1] by faith without workes, speakes of workes done be∣fore a mans conuersion, before he be regenerate; and of those workes which goe before faith, and not of those which follow after.

I answer, that not onely the workes which are done [Answ.] before faith, are excluded from our Iustification before God, but also workes done after faith, euen in the state of grace: for S. Paul writing both to the Romanes and

Galatians, writes to them that had receiued the Gospell, and did now beleeue. And speaking of Abrahams faith, saith, b By faith Abraham, when hee was tryed, offered vp Isaak. Heere was a worke pleasing God, namely, the offering of his sonne Isaak, when God commanded him; and this was done by faith, when Abraham had true faith; it was a worke proceeding from faith, and a fruit of faith. But did this worke of Abraham iustifie him be fore God? No: c For if Abraham were iustified by workes, as saith S. Paul, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God. For what saith the Scripture? Abraham beleeued God, and it was counted vnto him for righteousnesse.

If it be further obiected out of S. Iames, that workes [Obiect. 2] doe iustifie; because S. Iames saith, d Was not Abraham our father iustified by workes, when he had offered Isaak his sonne vpon the altar? And againe, he saith, e Yee see then, how that by workes a man is instified, and not by faith only.

I answer, first, there is a twofold Iustification; the one [Answ. 1] before God, the other before men. The former Iustifi∣cation, before God, or in the sight of God, is by faith onely, without workes: and so we are iustified f apprehen∣siuely, that is, by apprehending the righteousnesse of Christ for our iustification: for, to speake properly, only the Righteousnesse of Christ doth iustifie a sinner; and faith is but the instrument, whereby we lay hold on the righ∣teousnesse of Christ for our iustification: and of this Iu∣stification it is, that S. Paul saith, g Abraham beleeued God, and it was counted to him for righteousnesse. There is also a Iustification before men, and this, is by workes pro∣ceeding from faith; and so we are iustified h declaratiuely, that is, our workes, proceeding from faith, doe declare before men, that wee haue faith: our good workes de∣clare the truth of our faith, and manifest that our faith is not in vaine. Of which later Iustification, S. Iames speakes, saying, i Was not Abraham our Father iustified by workes, when he had offered Isaak his sonne vpon the altar?

Secondly, I answer, that there is a true faith working [unspec 2]

by loue, knowne by the fruits of good workes; and there is also a false, fained faith, a vaine and fruitlesse faith. The former of these is commended by S. Iames in Abra∣hams faith, whose faith wrought with his workes. k Seest thou how faith wrought with his workes? and this faith, which is a working faith, being fruitfull in good workes, is that faith which we approue and allow of: this is that faith which we maintaine and defend: this is that faith which we preach, and exhort all men to labour for. And as for the other faith, which is without workes, wee doe with S. Ia••es hold, that it is l vaine, yea, a dead faith: and therefore doth not iustifie a sinner, either before God or men. In breefe, wee hold and teach, that faith onely iu∣stifieth; but yet that faith which iustifieth, is not alone; but hath necessarily joyned vnto it, the fruit of good workes. For if faith want good wokes, wee say with S. Iames, that m as the body with••ut the spirit is dead, so faith without workes is dead also. And therefore I conclude with S. Paul, n that a man is iustified by Faith, without the deedes of the Law.

This is the first benefit of true sauing faith, Iustifi∣cation.

The second is, Adoption: whereas by nature, wee are children of wrath; by grace, through faith in Iesus Christ, wee are made sonnes of God. The Euangelist S. Iohn speakes thus of them that haue true faith in Iesus Christ: o as many as receiued him, to them gaue hee power to become the sonnes of God, euen to them that beleeue on his name. And S. Paul to the Galatians saith, p Yee are all the chil∣dren of God by faith in Christ Iesus. And this is an excee∣ding great priuiledge: for if we be children, and sonnes of God, then as the Apostle saith, wee are q heires, heires of God, and ioynt-heires with Christ.

The third, is the purifying of the heart. Faith puri∣fieth the heart: S. Peter, speaking of the faith of the Gentiles, saith, that God r put no difference betweene vs and them, purifying their hearts by faith. s Blessed are the

pure in heart, saith our Sauiour, for they shall see God. Now, t the hearts of men are purified (as one saith) by faith, that they may see God. Man, by nature, is corrupt, and the heart polluted with filthinesse of sinne: which filth is not washed away but by Faith in Iesus Christ. For true faith, apprehending Christ for iustification, is a meanes to purifie the heart: Faith purgeth out the corruption and filthinesse of sinne: it cleanseth the heart from euill thoughts, earthly cogitations, and fleshly Iusts; it puri∣fieth the heart, from infidelitie, superstition, ignorance; from pride, hypocrisie, rancour, grudging, hatred, ma∣lice, and enuie. For these defile a man, and make the heart vncleane, from which the heart is purified by Faith.

The fourth, is, a good and happie life: for we liue by Faith, as saith the Prophet Habakkuk, u the iust shall liue by his faith. Now, we liue by Faith two manner of wayes: First, spiritually, concerning the soule: of which S. Paul saith, x I liue by the faith of the Sonne of God. [unspec 1]

Secondly, concerning the affaires of this present life; for Faith doth teach and direct a man in the course of [unspec 2] his life, what to doe, and how to liue. As first, concer∣ning [unspec 1] a mans vocation and calling, faith teacheth a man to walke diligently in his vocation, and calling, and to depend vpon God, for a blessing vpon his labours.

Secondly, faith teacheth a man to commit his wayes [unspec 2] to the Lord, and to referre the successe of his affaires and businesse to God: and to waite vpon God, for the bring∣ing of his things to passe.

Thirdly, ••n afflictions and crosses, faith will teach a [unspec 3] man to rest vpon God for deliuerance to be patient, and not to seeke helpe by vnlawfull meanes.

Fourthly, faith will make a man depend vpon the pro∣uidence [unspec 4] of God, and trust God, not onely for himselfe, but for his children after him. Thus the iust man liues by faith.

The first benefit, is, victorie ouer the world: of which, [unspec 5]

S. Iohn saith, y this is the victorie that ouercōmeth the world, euen our faith. Now, whatsoeuer is in the world, is of three sorts: it is either about the pleasures and delights of the world, or about riches, and wealth of the world, or about honours, and preferments in the world. Which S. Iohn brings to these three heads: z the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Now, a Christian hath much adoe to striue against these, that he be not in∣tangled, and ouercome, either by ambitious seeking of honours, or greedie desire of profits, or sinfull delights of the pleasures of the world. But faith helpes a man to get victory ouer all these. An example whereof, we haue in Moses, whose faith the Apostle commending, saith, a By faith, Meses when he was come to yeeres, refused to be called the sonne of Pharoahs daughter; here was his con∣tempt of honour: chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season; here, was his victorie ouer earthly pleasures, and sinfull delights. Esteeming the reproach of Christ, greater riches then the treasures in Egypt: here was his victorie ouer transitorie, and deceitfull riches. Thus, by Faith Moses ouercame the world.

The sixt, is victorie ouer our great aduersarie, the De∣uill. Of this, S. Paul saith, b aboue all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fierie darts of the wicked. Where, Faith is reckoned, as a speciall part of the armour of God, to defend our soules against spi∣rituall wickednesse. And S. Peter appointeth faith as a powerfull meanes to driue away the Deuill. c your ad∣uersarie the Deuill as aroaring Lyon walketh about, seeking whom he may deuoure, whom resist stedfast in the faith.

The last benefit, which we receiue through true faith, is Saluation: of which saith S. Paul, d by grace are ye sa∣ued through faith. The promise of saluation, is made to them that haue true faith; and beleeue in the Sonne of God: as saith S. Iohn. e God so loued the world, that he gaue his onely begotten Sonne, that whosoeuer beleeueth in

him should not perish, but haue euerlasting life. This was the comfortable saying of the Apostles, Paul and Silas, to the keeper of the Prison: he said, f What must I doe to besaued? and they said, beleeue on the Lord Iesus Christ, and thou shalt be saued, and thy house. These are the bene∣fites of true faith.

Now, seeing that the benefit of true, sauing faith is so [Vse.] great; seeing that such are the excellent dignities, and ex∣ceeding great priuiledges thereof: seeing that through true faith we are iustified; and made sonnes of God, by Adoption, and grace; seeing faith purifieth our hearts; and we liue by faith; seeing faith helps vs to get the vic∣torie ouer the enticements of the flesh, the allurements of the world, and the temptations of the Deuill; and lastly, seeing true faith saues the soule from perishing, and brings euerlasting life: if we desire to be thus hap∣pie, and blessed; if, of sinners, we desire to be accepted iust and righteous; if, of sonnes of men, and children of wrath, we desire to be sonnes and children of God; if we would haue our corrupt hearts purged, and cleansed; if we would so liue, as to depend, and waite vpon God for a blessing vpon our labours and enterprises; if we would ouercome our spirituall aduersaries, the flesh, the world, and the Deuill; finally, if we would saue our soules from perishing euerlastingly; then, let vs euery one labour for the obtaining of true, sauing Faith. We know, that a man will labour hard, and euen straine himselfe, to obtaine that thing which he knowes to be of great price, of great value, and singular worth. Such a thing is Faith: it is very excellent, and precious: for, by Faith in Iesus Christ, we are g iustified from all things, from which we could not be iustified by the law of Moses. And h being iustified by faith, we haue peace with God, through our Lord Iesus Christ. By true faith we are made sonnes of God, which is a great priuiledge; for, if it be an honourable thing to be the sonnes of Nobles, and Princes on earth; how honourable a thing is it to be the sonnes of God?

yea, heires of God, and ioynt heires with Christ? By faith we liue, by faith we accomplish great victories, by faith we fight against our spirituall enemies, the flesh, the world, and the Deuill, and ouercome them; and by faith in Iesus Christ, we saue our soules from perishing. Who is he then that hath any feeling of his spiritual state, who is he that hath any hope of the inheritance of the life to come, that will not earnestly desire, and diligently seeke so precious a lewell, the rare gift of faith? And if any be enflamed with a loue of this excellent grace, and haue a longing desire to obtaine it; the means how true, sauing faith may be obtained, shall be shewed in the next place.

Notes

• 7 The benefits of true faith. Which are diuerse.
• 1 Iustification.
• a

  Gal. 2. 16.
• b

  Heb. 11. 17.
• c

  Rom. 4. 2, 3.
• d

  Iam. 2. 21.
• e

  Verse 24.
• f

  Apprehensiuè.
• g

  Rom 4. 3.
• h

  Declaratiuè.
• i

  Iam. 2. 21.
• k

  Vers. 22.
• l

  Vers. 17. & 20.
• m

  Vers. 26.
• n

  Rom. 3. 28.
• 2 Adoption.
• o

  Joh. 1. 12.
• p

  Gal. 3. 26.
• q

  Rom. 8. 17.
• 3 Purifying the heart.
• r

  Acts 15. 9.
• s

  Matth. 5. 8.
• t

  Fide mundan∣tur corda, vt pos∣sit videri Deus, Bern.
• 4 A happie life.
• u

  Habb. 2. 4. How we liue by faith.
• x

  Gal. 2. 20.
• y

  1. Iohn 5. 4.
• Victorie ouer the world.
• z

  1. Ioh. 2. 16.
• a

  Heb. 11. 24. 25. 26.
• 6 Victorie ouer the Deuill.
• b

  Ephe. 6. 16.
• c

  1. Pet. 5. 8. 9.
• 7 Saluation.
• d

  Ephe. 2. 8.
• e

  Ioh. 3. 16.
• f

  Act. 16. 30. 31.
• Vse all meanes to obtaine the true faith.
• g

  Act. 13. 39.
• h

  Rom. 5. 1.