A little cabinet richly stored with all sorts of heavenly varieties, and soul-reviving influences.: Wherein there is a remedy for every malady, viz. milk for babes, and meat for strong men, and the ready way for both to obtain and retain assurance of salvation: being an abridgement of the sum and substance of the true Christian religion; wherein the cause of our salvation, the way, the guide, the rule, the evidence, the seals, &c. and the connection of these points together, and dependancy of them one upon another: this I have endeavoured to do orderly, exactly, methodically, with much plainness and clearness. / By Robert Purnell.

Of Faith, the quality, object, acts, seat, subject, inseparable concomitants and degrees of Justi∣fying Faith: the difficulty of believing, and the faculty of mistaking about it.

FAith gives courage and confidence in greatest difficulties and dangers, but unbelief raiseth fear where no fear is, Psalm 23. 4.

Believing is the ready way, the safest way, the sweetest way, the shortest way, the only way to a well-grounded assurance; now Faith is,

An habitual frame, or a believing disposition of heart, whereby man is inclinable to believe whatsoever God hath said in his word.

Or,

It is a grace of God, whereby the heart and will of a sensible sinner, doth take and embrace Jesus Christ as tendred in the Gospel, in his person and offices, and doth wholly and only rest upon him for pardon of sin, and for eternal life.

Gods eternal decree is the original cause of it, Acts 13. 48. The instrumental cause of it is the Word of God, Rom. 10. 17. The immediate and singular cause of it is the Spirit of God, Gal. 5. 22. That the will or heart of a man should be brought off from it self, and to abhor its own condition and suf∣ficiency, and to take Christ as God tenders him, to be the only rock upon which a man must build his salvation, and to be the only Lord, to whose Law and will we must resign up our whole soul, this ariseth not from natural causes, or mans own free will.

Of the Object of Faith.

NOW the object of Justifying Faith is the whole Trinity; God the Father the ultimate object: God the Son the immediate, as he is joynt∣ly one with the Father in justifying a sinner, John 14. 1. ye believe in God, believe also in me; now whole Christ is the object of Faith: Christ you know is God and man, and he is to be considered as a Priest, as a Prophet, and as a King; now God tenders him in all these to sinners, and Christ is willing to bestow himself on them, as one who can and will assuredly save all that come to him; but saith Christ, if you would have me to be your Priest to save you, you must also be willing to have me to be your Prophet to instruct you and direct you, and to be your King and Lord to command you; you must resign up your selves to my Scepter and Government, for I am a Lord as well as a Saviour, and I will be taken as both, or else you shall have part in neither. I will be taken as Lord and King, to command all the heart, to dis∣pose all the waies, to rule the very thoughts.

Of the subject of this Faith.

THE subject of this Faith is a sensible sinner; there are two sorts of sinners.

1. Some generally corrupted, both in their na∣tures and in their lives, and they are as unsensible as they are sinful, they know not their own vileness; these are not the subjects of this precious Faith.

2. There are sensible experienced sinners, who

loath themselves, and groan under the burden of their sins; I must confess there are several degrees of this sensibleness, neither dare I to assume the height and latitude of it, unto the terms, or horrour, and terrour, and dejections, before he can believe in Christ; no, though these sharp throws are manifest in some, yet let us not make them a rule for all; but this be sure, that the heart looks not towards Christ, until it feel it self to be sinful and lost, then and not till then, the soul looks out and enquires after a Savi∣our; and anon he finds it written, that Christ ••ame not to call the righteous, but sinners; and that Christ was sent to find that which was lost; and that the whole need not a Physitian but the sick▪ and that he is sent to preach liberty to the Captives.

Of the Seat of Faith.

THE seat or habitation of Faith is the heart, or will, or both, Rom. 10. 10. with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, Acts 8 37. and Philip said, if thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayst: now before Faith takes up his seat in the heart, or in order to it. 1. There is a looking to Jesus, John 19. 37. 2. There is a coming to him, Mat. 11. 28. John 6. 37. 3. There is a leaning upon him, Cant. 8. 5. 4. There is an embracing of him, Cant. 2. 6. 5. There is a taking hold of him, John 1. 12. Col. 2. 6. 6. There is a believing in him, and that with the heart, and there is the seat of Faith.

Of the ground of Faith.

THE ground of believing is the word of God, the Scriptures of truth; he that doth say he doth believe in God, having no Scripture ground, he doth deceive himself; the ground of Faith is without our selves, not a light in us, or any thing done by us: the ground of Faith is, God in his word doth offer us Christ, and Christ cals us unto him, and saith, he will in no wise cast us off, but if we believe in him we shall have eternal life; now this is a word of truth, and this word of his is wor∣thy of all acceptation, and whatsoever was written aforetime, was written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope, John 20. 31. But these things are writ∣ten that we might believe, and that believing we might have life through his name.

1. The Scriptures of truth are the ground of Faith; as they do give a man sufficient ground and warrant to believe whatsoever is contained in them; this was the ground of Abrahams faith, and of Da∣vids faith, remember the word upon which thou hast caused me to hope, Psal. 119. 49.

2. The Scriptures are the ground of Faith, as it is a sure word: as we are not to believe any thing that is not contained in Scripture, so we need not doubt of any thing that is promised in them: they are the faithful sayings of God.

3. The Scriptures are the ground of Faith, as it is a touchstone to try all doctrines by, Isa. 8. 20. John 5. 39.

4. They may be said to be the ground of Faith, as they hold forth all things necessary to salvation, and all things necessary to be believed.

Again, they may be said to be the ground of Faith, because in them the Lord doth command us to be∣lieve, 1 Joh. 3. 23. Joh. 6. 29.

Again, in the Scriptures there are many so∣lemn invitations to poor sensible sinners, to come and take milk and wine, and the water of life freely.

And many precious promises to those that do come, with many examples left upon record, how well those have sped that did come; all these are grounds and encouragements to believe.

The Springs of Faith, how God doth beget it in an unbeliever.

THere is no natural power in man to produce a cause within its self; this great grace of Faith is no fruit of the wisdom of the flesh, nor is it the birth of a corrupt will. The immediate and sole cause of Faith is the Spirit of God: He it is who is greater then the heart, who can perswade and draw the heart, and change and renew the Spirit: There be means appointed by God which he doth ordnarily bless, for the production of faith; as he hath ordained means for the revelation of Christ, so he hath sanctified means to lead the soul unto him, to implant Faith.

1. God lets the soul see that it is the command of God, that he should believe, and that faith is the

gift of God, without which we can do nothing accep∣tably; it is through grace that men believe, yet men are to use the means; now the great and ordinary means by which God works faith in the hearts of men, it is the preaching of the word▪ See Act. 13. 48. When the Gentiles heard this they were glad, and glo∣rified the word of the Lord, and as many as were or∣dained to life believed, Rom. 10. 17. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, Ephes. 1. 13. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salva∣tion.

2. The preaching of the word doth discover to the soul, its extream misery, and great need of Christ, and makes him say, men and brethren, what shall I do to be saved.

3. It is that which casteth down all the rea∣sonings, arguments, and disputes of the mind against the conditions of Christ, and renders all the terms of Christ upon which he will be taken, as most equal, fair and resonable.

4. It is that which clears the way for the soul against all its fears, and unbelieving doubts; it layes before the sinner, the freeness of Gods mercy, the fulness of Christs Redemption, the willingness on Christs part to accept of him.

5. It is that sets the soul in a patient expectati∣on, to lie at the Pool, for ever to attend the as∣semblies of the Saints, and to enquire in his Temple, till the soul can take a close with Christ, by true be∣lieving.

6▪ Means to get faith; take one promise, and charge that upon the heart, and if the heart be stub∣born,

and will not yeild, then take another, if that will not do, then take another; and lay that home upon the heart, and never leave this work till you have gotten some smal measure of Faith.

7. Make as much conscience of those commands that require you to believe, as you do of those com∣mands that do require you to hear, read, and medi∣tate, and pray.

Lastly, consider for thy encouragement that bles∣sed text, Psalm 147. 11. The Lord taketh plea∣sure in those that hope in his Mercy. See Psalm 33. 18.

The Impediments, Lets and Hinderances of Faith.

AS the Eunuch said to Philip, here is water, what hinders me that I may not be baptized? so may I say to my self and others here in the Gos∣pel: is Christ set out to the life? here are argu∣ments fair enough to draw on our souls to Christ, what hinders that we do not believe and receive Christ?

The first impediment to the getting of Faith, is gross ignorance; whatsoever is contrary to know∣ledge, the same is contrary to Faith: the soul must have light for all its motions, for the eye to see, and the understanding to perceive; and for the heart to embrace those ignorances that is a hindrance to faith, fals in these three parts.

1. They are ignorant of their own sinful condi∣tion

2. They are ignorant of Gods just disposition towards them.

3. They are ignorant of Christ and all his excellencies: what he is, God, or man, or both: they know not him in both his natures, neither in his Offices, Actions, Passion, Benefits, Vertues: they understand not how God hath manifested love in Christ; to what end he was made man; what is in him more then in any other. Alas they think not of these things: Now how is it possible for the soul to believe, or to be perswaded to be∣lieve in Christ, or to labour for this precious faith, which is a stranger to it self, to God, to Christ?

2. A second impediment of Faith is a vain con∣fidence of natural righteousness; this was it which kept off many of the Pharisees; the text saith, that they trusted to their own righteousness, they being ignorant of Gods righteousness, and going about to establish their own rigteousness, have not submit∣ted to the righteousness of God, Rom. 10. 3, 6.

3. A third impediment of faith is the honour of the world; how can you believe, saith Christ, which receive honour one from another, John 5. 44. again, Mat. 19. 22. He went away sorrowful without faith, for he had great earthly possessions, John 7. 48. Have any of the Pharisees believed on him?

Motives to believe, or divers Arguments from Jesus Christ himself to perswade us to believe.

1. OUR Lord Christ doth lay his command up∣on us, John 14. 1. ye believe in God, be∣lieve also in me, John 6. 29. this is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 1 John 3. 23. this is his Commandment, that we believe on the name of the Son of God, even Jesus Christ.

2. The second motive is or may be thus; consider that Christ plainly saith, that he that will not believe shall be damned, John 3. 18, 36.

Excellency prevails much with an ingenious na∣ture, and necessity with the worst nature: When the Leapers saw that they must either venture their lives or dye, they would out into the Camp: when the Prodigal saw he must famish abroad, or repair home, he would then back to his fathers house; when the woman with the issue of blood had spent all, and grew worse, and knew not whither to go, or what to do, then she comes to Christ: now if thou hast not so much ingenuity as to come to, and believe in Christ, in obedience to his command, yet let thy ne∣cessity prevail with thee, or else the Leaper and Pro∣digal shall rise up in judgement against thee: were we in Adams created innocency, then we need not to look after a Saviour, but we are fallen, but we are bro∣ken, but we are sold under sin, but we are trans∣gressours from the womb, but we are by nature the children of disobedience and wrath.

3. He doth invite us to come, and to believe by the Prophets, Isa. 55. 1, 2, 3. He beseecheth us by the Apostles to be reconciled to him, 2 Cor. 5. 20. He cals upon us by his Church and spirit to take of the water of life, Revelat. 22. 17. and after all this, he waits upon us to be gracious to us; Isaiah 30. 18.

4. Our unbelief grieves the very heart of Christ; he grieved at their unbelief, he complains at our backwardness to believe, (O fools and slow of heart to believe) Nay, and he sheds tears because we believe not on him; when he came neer the City, he wept over it, &c.

5. Motive, Consider there is none who have right to thy soul but God and Christ; our souls are Gods workmanship, and Christs purchase; why then should we not give to God and Christ that which is their own, 1 Cor. 6. 19, 20. ye are not your own, ye are bought with a price: God put forth his own power to make thy soul, and Christ shed his heart blood to redeem thy soul, and wilt thou through unbelief withhold it from him?

6. Christ outbids all Merchants for thy soul, he outbids the world, sin and Satan: is there any one of them that presents Redemption unto thee? is there any one of them that can procure remission and pardon∣ing mercy for thee? is there any one of them that can satisfie the wrath of God for thee? which can make thy peace, which can present thee righteous before the judgement seat, which can settle eternal life upon thee? all this can Christ do: none of this can they do.

Behold here is laid before thee life and death, life if thou dost believe, death if not; now chuse you whether; what shall I say more, by believing we ho∣nor God, Iohn 3. 33. by believing we come to be established, Isa. 7. 9. by believing we are kept in perfect peace, Isa. 26. 3, 4. Rom. 5. 1. Our naked cleaving to God in his free promise, will carry down all our distempers at once, and fill our souls with peace in believing. O how can we look so many sweet promises in the face, and harbour so many mis∣givings in our hearts? Rom. 9. ult. whosoever believ∣eth in him shall not be ashamed.

Of the evil of unbelief, and the springs of it, and the misery that doth attend it.

VNbelief doth rob the soul of all joy, comfort and content: Nay further, unbelief doth throw reproach upon God, Christ and the promises, and gives Satan the greatest advantage against us; he that lives without Faith, lives without comfort, joy, peace and content; by unbelief we add sin unto sin in the highest nature, 1 John 5. 10.

Unbelief straightens the heart, stops the mouth, and hinders thankfulness; thou shalt be dumb, because thou believest not, Luke 1. 20.

Unbelief is the door that lets in condemnation. John 3. 18, 30. He that believeth not is condemned. Rev. 2. 8. The fearful and unbelieving shall be cast into the Lake of fire and brimstone.

1. It is the greatest sin in the world, because it is a sin against the greatest love in the world, John

3. 16. Rom. 5. 8. It is a sin for which there can be no remedy, for asmuch as it is a sin against the only remedy; the Sentence of the Law may be repealed by the Gospel, but the sins against Gospel remedy there is no appeal, it is a sin that makes void and vain all the Covenant of grace, turning all the sweetness thereof into bitterness, and all the truth of it to a lie, 1 John 5. 10.

Unbelief binds all our sins upon the soul, and so murders the soul, it grieves the heart of Christ, leaves all our sins upon record, leaves us to answer for our selves: it is a sin against the greatest love, against the only remedy, makes void the Doctrine of grace, and breeds an indisposition towards all ho∣ly duties: it is a dishonouring to God, a denying of Christ, a murderer of the soul, a belying of God, a denying of Christ, and a crowning of Satan; it doth without doubt proclaim the Devil a Conquer∣or, and lift him up above Christ himself. Judas did sin more by unbelief, and despairing, then by betray∣ing of Christ. In a word, doubts, fears and dis∣couragements, proceed neither from God, Christ, nor the Spirit of truth, but they do proceed, First, from the Devil, he either tempts us to sin, and that will cause us to doubt, or else he doth tempt us to doubt, and that will cause us to sin. Secondly, they proceed from our own hearts, Heb. 3. 12. Thirdly, from the lying vanities that we hearken unto, Jonah 2. 8. Fourthly, from ignorance, heedlesness and forgetfulness. Fifthly, from unskilfulness of the word of righteousness, Heb. 5. 12. 7. Sixthly, from want of watchfulness. Seventhly, from building our hopes and comfort upon that which is mutable and

uncertain, viz. our own personal Sanctification, and not upon Christ, and our free Justification. Eighth∣ly, from our own false reasonings, making Sense, Reason, and Feeling the Judge of our spiritual con∣dition. Ninthly, from our ignorance of the love of Christ and the Covenant of Grace.

The Characters, Marks or Signs of true Faith, &c.

THere are many characters or discoveries of this Faith of the Gospel, called the Faith of Gods Elect, which worketh by love. First, the ha∣bit of this Faith is infused into the soul, by God in regeneration, Eph. 2. 8. John 1. 12, 13. Secondly, this habit so infused, is brought to act by the Fathers drawing the soul to Christ, Iohn 6. 44. Thirdly, faith being thus infused and acted, doth chearfully accept of Christ upon his own terms, viz. self-deny∣all, bearing the Cross and following Christ, Luke 9. 23. Iohn 1. 12. Faith having thus accepted and re∣ceived Christ, begins to taste such sweetness and plea∣santness in him, that Christ is most pleasant to the soul, 1 Pet 2. 3, 7. So the soul by degrees comes to be filled with joy and peace in believing. Again, Faith having thus taken and tasted Christ, contends after a fuller perfection, even after assurance, Col. 2. 2. Heb. 10. 22.

1. True Faith is not only a justifying grace, but a sanctifying grace, Acts 15. 9. & 26. 8. the blood of Christ i•• a pure blood as well as a precious blood. It is a cleansing blood, as well as an expiating blood.

So faith is a grace not only to acquit, but also to purge and renew the person where it dwells. It is not only an enlightening grace, but it is also a conform∣ing grace; therefore we read that it doth ingraft us into the similitude of his death, and in the fellowship of his sufferings and Resurrection, Phil. 3. 10.

Now then enquire; is there vertue gone from Christ to make thy dark mind seeing, thy stubborn judgement yielding, thy proud heart humbling, thy filthy heart cleansing, thy hard heart relenting and mourning, thy carnal affections to be heavenly, thy sinful soul to be holy? Read and well consider that in 1 Cor. 6. 9, 10, 11.

2. Where there is true Faith, it will cause the par∣ty to make a curious, narrow, impartial, diligent search into his own heart and soul, to see what hu∣mility, what self-denyal, what sin abhorrency, what love to Christ, what delight to the Ordinances, what zeal for Gods glory, what contempt of the world, what desires after the society of the Saints, what sympathizing with them in their afflictions? and if upon this search thou findest any impressions of grace, any spiritual work, any savouring, savory di∣stinguishing operations upon thy heart, then the Spi∣rit hath been there, and begun to work the grace of Faith in thy heart.

3. True Faith doth make the heart humble and lowly; Have we pardon of sin? why saith Faith, the cause of this is Gods love: Have we righteous∣ness? why saith Faith, the cause of this is Christs merits: Have we any gift? why saith Faith, the cause of this is Christs love. So that the soul sits down, and often saith, O Lord, O Lord, in my self

I am nothing, nay of my self worse then nothing. But what I am, I am by grace, all that I have is thine, my bread, my health, my life, my body, my soul, all is thine. If any love, if any mercy, if any Christ, if any grace, if any comfort, if any strength, if any stedfastness, if any performances, if any good work, if any good word, if any good affection, if any good thought, why, all is thine. I have nothing but what I have received, thou only art the cause, I am less then the least of thy mercies, and what is thy ser∣vant that thou shouldst look on such an one as I am? thou madest me, and thou boughtest me, and thou calledst me, and thou justifiest me, and thou savest me.

4. True Faith doth desire and endeavour after an increase; Help my unbelief, said the weak believing Father. O Lord encrease our Faith, said the Dis∣ciples; there are yet many degrees wanting to faith; either thou canst not be perswaded, or not fully per∣swaded, or not constantly perswaded; but if the Faith be true and living, it will bend after a rising.

5. True Faith in Christ, and a mournful heart for sin alwaies go together, Zach. 10 12. They shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and mourn, &c. there are two things that Faith will fetch up in the soul, the one is love to Christ, another is sorrow for sin.

6. True Faith is fruitful, James 2. 18. See Titus 3. 18. Although works do not cause Faith, or Justi∣fication, yet they do clearly manifest to others, whe∣ther we have Faith yea or no.

To close up this point, let me acquaint the Reader,

that there are spiritual and inward characters of Faith, which serve as evidences to him that hath it, many of those I have hinted at under this fore-going head. Secondly there are outward or more external signs of Faith, and they consist in walking, so in the sight of men, that they may in charity judge of our Faith by our works: then there are characters of a strong Faith, and also signs of a weak Faith: First of a strong Faith, Rom. 4. 20. he staggered not at the promise through unbelief. Mat. 8. 6, 7, 8. I have not found so great Faith in Israel. Mat. 5. 22. O woman, great is thy faith, &c. So there are cha∣racters of a weak Faith; One is, he will be hasty to be answered, and be ready to suspect Gods favour, and Christs love, if he be not presently answered. Another is, he will be faint if delayed. And so much for the characte••s or signs of Faith.

The benefits of living by Faith: a Believers comfort, hope, joy and confidence should be in God, the same at all times.

THE Lord hath various dispensations of provi∣dence as well relating to the outward, as to the inward man. Sometimes his way is in the whirl∣wind, and sometimes he is in the small still voice, and sometimes his foot-steps are in the deep waters, and so his way is not known. Nah. 1. 3. & 1 Kings 19. 12. & Psalm 77. 19. His dispensations are ma∣ny times contrary the one to the other; to day per∣haps thou enjoyest peace, strength, riches and honor, with health, prosperity and many friends, and to¦morrow

all these may be blasted; to day God un∣bosoms himself unto thee, and shines forth upon thee, but in a moment he withdraws himself. As blessed Job, David, and divers others experienced. Now the reason why we should believe, hope and rejoyce in God at all times, are as followeth.

1. Because a Believers happiness depends not up∣on his own doing, but upon Christ, who is of God made unto him righteousness, sanctification, &c. who hath saved us, and called us, not according to our works, but according to his purpose and grace, &c. 1 Cor. 1. 3. 2 Tim 1. 9

2. Because the state of a Believer in Christ, as considered in him, is a state of perfection, he is clean from all sin by the blood of Christ, they be removed from us; thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back; as far as the East is from the West, so far hath he re∣moved our transgressions from us: seventy weeks are determined upon the people, to finish the trans∣gression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation, and to bring in everlasting righteous∣ness. Col. 1. 28. John 17. 23. Heb. 10. 14. 1 John 1. 7. Isaiah 35. 8. & 38. 17. Psalm 103. 12. Dan. 9. 24. Ezek. 16. 14.

Hereupon the soul begins to rejoyce in God, for he hath cloathed me with the garment of salvation, and covered me with the robe of righteousness. Our sins are laid upon Christ, and his righteousness is ours: hereupon saith God, thou art all fair my love, there is no spot in thee.

3. Reason: Why a Believers comfort, hope, joy and confidence should be the same at all times, be∣cause that God who hath loved an ever∣lasting

love, loves thee in his Son: thou art not be∣loved for thy own sake, or for any thing in thee, but upon the account of the Lord Jesus, in whom God is well pleased: Believers are never the more just before God for their own integrity, nor the less just for their iniquity. God doth say of himself, I am the Lord, and change not: his love is as himself, ever the same: and Christ in whom thou art beloved, the same yesterday, to day, and the same for ever: and hereupon should we live by Faith, and rejoyce ever∣more with joy unspeakable and full of glory, Heb. 13. 8. 1 Thes. 5. 16. Psal. 32. 11.

4. Because whatsoever thoughts we have of God, he is unchangeable; if he doth withdraw himself, and lead thee into the wilderness, it is that he may speak comfortably to thee. Hos. 2. 14, 15. and all this while thou hast his promise with thee, and his faithfulness is engaged unto thee. Isaiah 54. 7, 8. For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercy will I gather thee: in a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlast∣ing kindness will have mercy upon thee. Jer. 51. 5. Neh. 9. 16, 17. Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them to the end, Iohn 13. 1.

5. God doth ever look upon his as they are in his Son, and not simply as they are in themselves: they dwell in Christ, and he in them, they live in Christ, and their life is hid with Christ in God; and when Christ who is their life shall appear, then shall they also appear with him in glory, and be found in him, not having their own righteousness, &c.

These Scriptures do fully prove all the fore-going reasons, why a Christians hope, joy and comfort

should be the same in God at all times, and so live by faith, and not by sight, Hos. 2. 19, 20. Jer. 3. 14. Jer. 33. 8. Isa. 62. 5. Heb. 8. 10, 12. Ezek. 16. 62, 63. Heb. 3. 6. Jer. 33. 20, 21. Hosea 14. 5. Isa. 61. 10. Isa. 54. 5. Jer. 31. 9. Heb. 3. 17, 18. Heb. 6. 17, 18. Rom. 3. 3. 2 Tim. 2. 13. Rom. 8. 28, 33, 35, 38, 39. Isa. 41. 10 Isa. 57. 18, 19. Isa. 54. 7, 8. Heb. 10. 19, 20, 22. Psalm 46. 1, 2, 3, 4. Rom. 8. 1, 2. John 13. 1. Isa. 63. 16. Psal. 89. 30, 31, 33.

Several waies for a believer to hold fast his con∣fidence in God, at all times.

To live by Faith in infirmities, is to live upon Christ and his promises, viz.

If under temptations, 1. Cor. 10. 13. there is a promise of supportation and deliverance.

In deadness of heart, Isa. 35. 5, 6. there is a pro∣mise of relief and quickning.

If fallen by transgression, Jam. 5. 17. yet there is others of the Lords own in the same case.

If thou seest thy duty, and want strength to do it, here is help and strength for thee, Job 17. 9. Psalm 84. 7. Isa. 45. 24. and 40. 29, 30. Jer. 17. 8. Psal. 1. 2, 3. Psal. 92. 13, 14. Isa. 61. 9.

In Christ thou hast perfectly obeyed the Law, perfectly suffered and satisfied for all thy sins to the justice of God; so that in Christ, thou art perfectly just and righteous, and thereupon it is said, Col. 3. 3. Ephes. 2. 6. that our life is hid with Christ in God, and we are raised up with Christ, and made

to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus; though in thy self there is a body of lust, and corrup∣tion, and sin, and there is a law revealing sin, accu∣sing and condemning, but if we live by faith in Christ, and in the apprehension of his love, believing in the life, righteousness, obedience, satisfaction, and glory of him whom the Spirit cals ours. Christ is ours, we are Christs, and Christ is Gods: he then lives out of the power of all condemnation, Christ being the end of the Law for righteousness; and thus a believer is blessed only in a righteousness without, not within, and all his assurance, confidence and comforts to flow into him through a channel of faith, and not of works, believing himself happy for what another, even Christ hath done for him, not for what he hath done, nor can do for himself: for when we are at the best, we are but vanity, Psal. 39. 5. and unprofitable servants, Luke 17. 10.

Now this believing in God is attended with these five blessed things.

1. It is the highest piece of obedience to God, Rom. 16. 26. It is called the obedience of Faith.

2. It doth put a new engagement upon God to make good his promise, upon which faith is ground∣ed, Psal. 119. 49. Remember the word unto thy servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope, 1 Chron. 5. 20.

3. Consider also another priviledge is this, the greatest mercies that ever came into a soul, comes in a way of believing, Rom. 15. 13. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, Rom. 5. 1. being justified by Faith, we have peace with God. &c.

4. By it we give the greatest honour to God, John 3. 33. He hath set to his seal that God is true,

but he that believeth not hath made him a lyar, 1 John 5. 10.

5. This is the way to have God take pleasure in us, Psal. 147. 11 The Lord taketh pleasure in those that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy, Psal. 33. 18. The eyes of the Lord are upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy. The joy of a believer would be alwaies unspeakable, did he al∣waies apprehend his happiness in and by Christ Jesus.

Faith in Christ supplies all wants, it honours God, as Heb. 11. the whole Chapter: and God honours those most that live by it: by it, saith the Scripture, the Elders obtained a good report; by faith we may live a life to God, of joy in him our righteousness, as if we had never sinned; by faith we live above sin, in∣firmities, temptations, desertions, sense, reason, fears and doubts: Faith sweetens the sweetest mercy, and the bitterest miseries, it renders great afflictions as none, it is the bulwark of the souls strength and comfort: by Faith we cheerfully, rea∣dily, and universally, and constantly obey God. In a measure it makes the the yoak of Christ easie and sweet, it states the soul in the possession of heaven, whilst the body remains on earth, as John 3. 36. By faith we view the glory of heaven, and know our selves to be happy, even then when to a carnal eye we seem most miserable. By faith we can cheerfully part with, and suffer deprivation of the sweetest outward com∣forts and enjoyments, and welcome them, know∣ing that we do but exchange the worst things, and place for a better; those that live up by faith, live upon God, and are refreshed in his house, which is

plentifully stored with all desirable dainties, having this welcome, eat O friends and drink abundantly: It is O believer thy portion, duty, and priviledge thus to do: O then, O then let us at once believe that God will be to us according to his gracious pro∣mise and Covenant, notwithstanding our daily omis∣sions and commissions, excuses and defects, according to that portion of Scripture, Psal. 89. from 30. to 37. If my children forsake my Law, and walk not in my judgements; If they break my Statutes, and keep not my Commandments, then will I visit their trans∣gressions with the Rod, and their iniquities with stripes: Nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from them, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail, my Covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips, &c. He that lives by Faith in infirmities, may be thus characterized.

1. He will hear Christ and not the voice of a stran∣ger, John 10. 27. 5.

2. He is not offended at whatsoever Christ re∣quires, Mat. 11. 6.

3. The revealed will of God in the Scriptures is his Rule, and not the light within, nor the traditi∣ons of men; he walketh more by rule then example.

4. He will trust God, and relye upon his word, he eyeth the promise, and saith, surely in the Lord have I righteousness and strength, Isa. 45. 24. Jude 3. Act. 20. 31, &c.

5. He will hold fast to, and earnestly contend for the truth, and Faith once delivered to the Saints.

6. His sin doth not sink him into despair; though he may have many doubtings, he will say in the mid •• of

all his imperfections, I have as much of the love of God, acceptation in Christ as the best Saint ever had; though I come short in the manifestation, my state is as happy as any of theirs, Heb. 3. 17. Although the Figtree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vine, &c. Yet I will rejoyce in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation, &c. What shall I say more? my body shall be raised. 1 Thes. 4. 16. And I shall have a spiritual body, 1 Cor. 15. 43, 44. I shall have a glorified body, Phil. 3. 21. The Sun in the firma∣ment is not so glorious as my body shall be, because the Sun is but a natural body: I shall have fulness of know∣ledge, Ephes. 3. 18. and fulness of joy and pleasure, Psal. 16. 11. No misery, hunger, cold or nakedness, pain, grief nor weariness shall attend me, but I shall rest without labour, 2 Thes. 1. 7. And I shall have in rest tranquility, and in tranquility contentment, in con∣tentment joy, in joy variety, in variety security, in se∣curity a glorious eternity, then shall I be like him, and see him as he is, 1 John 3. 1, 2. compared with 1 Cor. 13. 12.

To close up all that I shall speak of this grace of Faith, which is of so great concernment, give me leave to answer two considerable questions that do arise in the hearts of many.

1. What conditions or qualifications must or ought I to find in my felf before I believe or lay hold on a promise?

2. If to believe in God is of so great concernment, both to being, and well being, why do so few men and womens sons and daughters believe?

1. Quere is: What conditions and qualifications must, or ought a man to find in himself, before he

believeth or lay hold of the precious promises in the Scriptures of Truth.

Answ. I know no qualifications or conditions re∣quired of us, before we come, unless these be con∣ditions and qualifications; tob uy milk and wine with∣out mony and without price, and to take of the water of life freely, Isa. 55. 1, 2, 3. Rev. 22. 17. Isa. 43. 25. Isa. 45. 22. And this I say there will be found in all that do believe, without which they will not come to Christ: I do not say without which they should not come.

1. A sense of his lost condition, and great need of a Saviour; the whole need not a Physitian, saith our Lord Christ.

2. There will be poverty of Spirit, which doth spring or arise from these two things.

• First, that a soul hath a sense, that it hath nothing that good is in it self.
• Secondly that he can do nothing to procure good to himself.

3. There will be an inquiring after a remedy, &c. Sirs, what shall I do to be saved? Lord what wilt thou have me to do?

4. There will be a willingness to part with any thing for Christ, that stood in opposition to him, that so he may enjoy him.

5. There will be a resolution and purpose of heart to lead a new life, more holily, spiritually and hea∣venly, for time to come.

6. A resolution to wait upon God in his wayes, and to lie at the Pool of Bethesda. Now these and the like things are not required, as that without which we should not come to Christ, but these things

will be in him that doth come, without which he cometh not.

2. Quere: What is the reason why so few do believe in God, seeing the way is so opened, and cleared, and the stumbling blocks removed?

Answ. 1. Ground or reason, why believing on the Son of God is so hard, is because every thing in man doth fight against it: hence it doth come to pass, that believing doth require the greatest piece of self-denyal in them: for a man to break the Law, and yet to be freed from the curse of the Law, this reason cannot comprehend.

2. Ground why so few believe, is, either because they think they do believe already, and yet do not; or else they would believe, but say they cannot: First they think they do believe, and yet do not, and these are of three sorts; First, ignorant persons: now ignorance and unbelief, they alwayes go toge∣gether; we read of Paul that did things before he was converted, in ignorance and unbelief. Jer. 4. 22. My people are foolish, they know not me, to do good they have no knowledge. Secondly, those that boast and glory in their own righteousness, these have no faith in Jesus Christ and his righteousness. The third sort of people that do think they do believe and do not, are prophane persons, and these be of two sorts, men of prophane spirits, and men of prophane lives, pro∣phane practices.

3. Ground or reason why so few believe, is, because it is the great design of Satan either to hin∣der or overthrow our Faith; because believing doth give the greatest glory to God, and brings in the greatest good to us. First, it doth give the greatest

glory to God of any work in the world, it doth give glory to his truth and faithfulness, and power, and mindfulness. So it doth give glory to Jesus Christ, to his name, power and God-head, Of∣fices and attributes; by doubting we dishonour him, frustrate the grace of God, make the death of Christ of none effect.

4. Reason why believing is so hard a work, is, be∣cause of the multitude of false Doctrines that there are in the world, that a man scarce knows who to hear, or whom to believe, &c.