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BX-9i-^i^».4^?4-a- ft4 1 7 75 v. 3 u. l
Traill, Robert, 1642-1716
The Works of the late
Reverend Robert Traill, A.M.
Sec
V.3
THE
WORKS
O F
The late Reverend
ROBERT TRAILL, A. M.
Mlnifter of the Gofpel in London.
IN THREE VOLUMES.
VOL. IIL
CONTAINING
The Stedfast Adherence to the Profession of our
Faith recommended in twenty-one Sermons on Heb.
X, 20, 21, 22,23, 24.
GLASGOW:
Printed and Sold by JOHN BR YCE, at his Shop,
oppcfue Gibfon's-wynd, Salt-market.
M D c c L X X V.
T I-I E
RECOMMENDATION,
rH E fithje^s treated upon in thefe fermonSy have beeri a]-
luays ejteemed by well-grounded ChrijlicinSf to have the
greatejl influence both vpon cur duty and comfort.
The promifes of God, are the jnatter of our faith, and
ground of our hope. Faiih in thefe precious promifes y is that
grace -which conveys tons our inter eji intheniy anddv2iVfs, forth
the ftrength andfcjeetnefs of them.
An honeft open profedion of that faith, not only in wcrds,
or inflitiiied folemnities of public ivorfljipy tut in all holy con-
verfation and godlinefsy is the diftinguiihing maik oj^ the
churches of Chrift in the luorLL
Jnd a fteady adherence to that prsfefjion in times of temp'^
tation and great bachflidingy is the believers unqueCrionabie
duty, intereft, and honour.
Thefe great poiiits of fpiritual and pra^ical religion, yoii
have here opened and urgedy with that plainnefsy gravity ^ and
good judgment i by which the late Reverend Mr Traill ha^
been well known in his former evangelical difcourfes. . If any
thing here fiall feem lefs cor re Ely it will eafily be imputed to
the ufual difadvantagcs of p oft humous produtlions.
But furcly great candour and tendernefs will be thought due
iofuch orphans y as are turned out into the world, de/iitut;: of
thofe improvements, which they might have received from the
care and cukivation of their worthy parents, if they had n:t
been by death deprived of them.
In compliance with feme of the author* s particular friends^
who were defrous to have thefe fet mens made public, we would
recommend them to the perufal of aHfuch as are ''defirous to live
more by fai.h upon the promifes cf God, and to bejufl and true
to their holy profeffion. That the. God of all grace would make
them effe^uai to thefe good purpofes, is the earncfi prayer op
Their Servants for Jefus fake,
Will. ToNGUEo
John Nesbit.
M4TT. Clark.
A LETTER from ttie late Rev. Mr. JAMES
H E R V E y, to a Relation of the Author of the
following Treatife.
S I R,
1 Received your very valuable and no lefs acceptable pre-
fent, fome weeks ago. I fhould have acknowledged the
favour fooner ; but I chofe to ftay till I had tafted the diih
you had let before nie. And indeed I find it to be favour/
meat, the true manna ; food for the foul.
Your worthy relative was a .workman that need not be
afhamed. He knew how, clearly to ftate and folidly to e-
ilabllQi the faith of God's dc6\:, and the doctrine accord-
ing to godlinefs. O ! that my heart, and the heart of
every reader, may be opened by the eternal Spirit, to re-
ceive the precious truths !
The letter at the end of the firft volume, is a judicious
performance. It rightly divides the word of truth, and
lays the line, with a maiierly hand between the prefumptu-
ous Legalifi-, and the licentious Antinomian. 1 am par-
ticularly pleafed with the honourable teftimony bore to thofe
two excellent books, Dr Owen's treatife on juflification, and
Mr Marfhali's gofpel-myflery of fan£}:ification : Books fit
to be recommended by fo good a judge !
If the Lord pleafes to give Theron and Afpafio any ac-
ceptance in Scotland, I fiiail be fincerely glad ; but if he
vouchfafes to make them, not only welcome, but ufcful vi-
litants, I fhall exceedingly rejoice. In cafe you fhould
think them calculated to promote the honour and further
the gofpel of JESUS CHRIST, I hope you will fa-
vour them with your recommendation, and accompany
them with your prayers j which will be a frefli inftancc of
kindnefs to,
S I R^
Tour obliged friend,
WESTON,^
July 8th, 1755. 5 and obcdieiit Servant ,
JAMES HERVEY.
THE
STEDFASTADHERENCE
TO THE
PROFESSION OF OUR FAITH,
Recommended in fcveral SERMONS.
SERMON L
Hebrev/s X. 23.
Let us holdfafl the profeffton of our faith without wa-^
vering^ Sec,
HAVING infideJ at fo great length upon
the firfl exhortation of the apoftle, concern-
ing drawing near to God, which is built u-
pon the foundations of the Chriflian privileges, that
the apollle named, and that we have fpoke of, from
the 19th, 20th, and 2i{tverfes; thofe exhortations
that remain are deduced from the fame foundation :
wherefore I thought fit not to let them pafs. The
former exhortation was unto a duty with refpefl to
God, drawing near to him, which the apoftle requires
to be performed in fuch a manner, that all Chriltians,
and the beft of them, mufl: be learning to anfwer e-
very day in their life, that they may come up more
and more thereunto.
The
2 The Jhdfaj} Adherence to Serm. y^
The other two exhoi cations are with refpefl: to our-
felves antl orners. The firl^ is the 23d verfe, with
rerpe<n: to our own protelilDn ; the other, in the 24th
verfe, h with refped to our brethren and fellow-
chriftians.
The firfl: of thefe exhortations, which is contained
in this 23d verfe, plainly divides itfelf into the duty
exhorted to, and the argument to enforce it. The
duty is, Let us hold fajl the profeffion of our faith with-
out UJavering, The argument to this duty is a ftrong
and a proper one. He is faithful that hath promifed.
Our faith iliould always be built on God's promife ;
it is not the right faith if it be not fo ; and «ur faith
on the proraife (houid anfwer the faithfulnefs of the
proaiifer ; the ftrength of our believing the promife,
ihould bear iomt proportion to the great faithfulnefs
of rhe rniiker of it. Now, it is evident, that the a-
pcftie's argument is both pertinent and ftrong : Let
us bold f aft the trofejfion of our faith without zvaveringy
for God the piomifcr does not waver in what he has
iaid.
I fnall begin with the firft of thefe at this time, the
duty he cohorts to. And you may fee here, as I ob-
served from the former exhortations, that the apoille,
the penman of this blclTed portion of fcripture, puts
:n hinifelf in this exhortation; Let us^ fays he, d(aw
7\car^ ike. And let us hold f aft the prof ejjion of our faith
without wavering.
In this duty exhorted to, there are three things to
be confidered,
1. What that is which i?,. as it were, the fubje^^-
m?4rter of this duty ; and that is, the profejfion of our
faith ; fo we tranilate it. The words in the Greek,
in the original, are certainly the confcffion of our hope.
What reafou there hath been in the learned traniia-
tors for akering ir, 1 do not know. However, it is
no great matter ; for profelTion and confelTion, faith
and hope, are clofely kait together; they are but
ic^vercd words cxprciling the lame thing. Confeffioti
and
Serm. I. the Profejion of our Fa'ilb, 3
and profejficn are frequently named one for anoilierj
zndi faith and hope are frequently named one for a-
nother in the word of God.
1. Thc/ecotid thing is the a^, that the apoftle craves
about this profefTion, and we read it, Let us hold it
faft. As if the apoftle had faid, Th? profciriOD of
your fiiith is very precious, keep it well ; it will be
attempted upon by your fpiritual enemies, and they
will be endeavouring to pluck it from you ; hold it
fad, keep it firm.
3. There is the manner of this duty the apoflle
craves about your proFeflioii : HoIdHfafty fays he, -
without waverings without declining, without taroing
it to the one hand or to the other, but holding h
fleady and even. Thefe are the heads that 1 v/ouid
difccurfe upon from this text.
And to begin with the Jirji of thefe, that are m
the duty itfelf exhorted to, the frofejfion of cur fanh^
the apoflle, you fee here, plainly fignifies,' that it was
made already, it was that they had ; they bad pro-
feiTion formerly. Now, fays the apofile, let us lycld
faft this profejion of our faith. This is^ the fubjet?-
matter of the exhortation, the prcfelTioa of faith.
And to make the way yet plainer, unio what I would
obferve and difcourfe from it, I would fpeak a Utile
to the opening of thefe two.
1. What is in this fait h^ that is the ?natter cf this
profejfion.
2. What is in the profejfion of our faith, cr cf this
hope y which is as the form of it.
I. What is in this faith or hope. There is none
can underftand what it is to hold fad faith and hope,
till they know what faith and hope is.
Fir ft. For faith and hope, for I would ftilit^lie
them in both together, and fliew, as we go along,
the very fmall difference that i^ betwixt them; we
~ {ivAfaith/m the word of Qodi^ taken for the doclrine
of faith, for the truth of Gcd. that is tobe received,
taken up, apd embraced by fai?h : Do u-e mah Tuid
4 The Jledfajl Adherence to Serm. I.
ihe law through faith ? fays the apoftle. God forbid^
yea^ we ejlahlijh the law^ Rom. iii. 31. where the
meaning plainly is. Do we make void the law by this
<]o£^rine of faith ? No ; by no means, God forbid.
Divine truth is neceilarily fuppofed to be the ground
of all divine faith ; if there were not fuch a thing go-
ing before, as Thus faith the Lord, no amen of faith
could ever follow.
Secondly y In the confidering of that faith that we
make the profeffion of, we raufl conGder that God
that it is to be believed on. Faith natively, faith ul-
timately, terminates on God : That your faith and
hope might be in God^ 1 Peter i. 21. where he joins
them both together. There can be no believing where
God is unknown, there is no believing in an unknown
God. God cannot be known as the obje<^ of faith,
but only as in Chrift Jefus. It is irapoffible that God
can be grafped, may 1 fo fpeak, by the faith of a poor
fmner, but only as this God reveals himfelf to us in
Ghrift Jefus. There is no approaching to God by
believing immediately : but by him we believe in God^
who raifed him from the dead^ and gave him glory ^ that
your faith and hope might be in God, There is divine
f'aithfulnefs for the ground of our faitb ; there is God
himfelf in Chrift Jems for the objeiSi of our faith.
Thirdly y In faith there is always an outgoing of the
foul in defire and expeftation of fome good from him.
This is believing, this is hoping. Now, this is infe-
parable from the former. Where-ever divine truth
is divinely believed to be true, and God in Chrift is
embraced by the faith of a poor creature, this is un-
avoidable ; immediately there fprings fome expedla-
tion and hope of getting good from him, and that is
believing. All the difference betwixt faith and hope
is this, that faith goes firft unto God in Chrift, on the
ground of the promife for good ; and hope goes forth
to the fame God, upon the fame ground, in the ex-,
pe^aiion of that good ;hat is believed. This is not
Serm. I. the VrofeJJion cf our Faith. 5
fo di(liri6t;iy owned by every believer ; for there are
fome that have true faith in them, who, through the
wealvDcfs of their faith, and manifold temptations,
nip the expectations of faith from buddiDg. But this
is a violence done thereto. Where-ever a poor fm-
ner hath taken the warrant of God's promife, and has
fealed it with the poor weak amen of his faith, that
this is true, and he is faithful that hath fpoken it;
how can he forbear lO add, And therefore t'aere will
be a fulfilment, when the good word that is fpoken
will be accompiiihed, when the good thing fpoken of
will be given I The apoftie Paul fpeaking of his o^^n
faith, gives it two fpccial words, Phil. i. 20. Accord-
ing to my earnejl expsSiation and my hope^ (he made
no doubr, but all things would do well wi^h him),
that in nothing I fljall be afl:amed, but that ivith all
boldnefs^ as always^ fo now alfo Chrift JImll be marni^
f.ed in my body^ whether it be by life or by death. The
word there, earnejl expe^ation, is the fame word ia
the original and our tranilation, with that which is
ufed of the expectation of the whole creation towards
the day of the glorious liberty of the fons of God.
It is an exprelTion borrowed from an intent looking
out as it were, and (Iretching forth of the neck, ia
looking to fee a friend coaiing, that will be very wel-
come when he comes. This is faith, div ne truth
known, God in Chrift received, grafpod, laid hold of
by faith ; expedations raifed thereupon, that the good
will come unto us. Though many poor believers do
not own their expe(n:ations, yet fuch exptCl^tions ire
there, and do difcover themfelves fufficiencly.
11. The fecond thing is. What is this pro/ejJI^n of
faith f Certainly, profefTion and confelTion is a de-
claring of this expedatioa I have been fpeaking cf ;
it is a public declaring it one way or other. The a-
poftle fpeaks of fuch kind of confeffion and profelTion,
Heb. xi. 13. They confejjed that they were Jl rangers
and pilgrims on the earth ; they made an open public
B pro-
6 'The Stcdfaft Adherence to Serm. I.
profefliort cf it. Profellion of faiih is made two ways ;
it is made either by word, or by deed.
Firft^ Profellion is made with words. This the a^
podle does exprcfly limit to the tongue, Rom. x. 9, zo.
Ifthsufialt conjefs ivitb thy fnouf b [ihc fame word
with profellion here in ray text) the Lord Jefus^ and
f<?alt believe in thine hearty that God hath raffed him
from the dead^ thou /halt be faved. For zvith the heart
?nan believeth unto righteoufnefs^ and with the mouth
ccnfejffion is made unto falvation, Confefiioa or puo-
feilion by word is made feveral ways.
1. It is m>ade nnto God in prayer. AH our pray-
ers, and a!! our callings on the nam,e of the Lord, are
a confeffion : all that w^e fay ro him is a profelTion of
eur fairh. O my foul ^ thou haft f aid unto the Lord ^
Jhou art my God. What great matter is that ? Yes,
it was a great word, that David's foul could fay to the
Lord, Thou art my God. There is a duty lying upon
Cbriftians to profefs their faith ua^o the Lord, to a-
vow it before him. Our Lord will have a poor man
do fo. D?ft thcu believe on the Son of God f Why,
was Chrifl ignorant whether he believed or no? No;
he that was the Son of God knew whether the blind
man had faith or no ; bur our Lord will have it out of
his own mouth j he will have him profefs it, and avow
it : as accordingly he did. Lord I believe. And he
ivorfhipped hi?n,
2, Profeffion i^- made by the tongue. In that fpe-
cial cafe of confc;frion, when gofpel- truth is oppoicd,
when i,t is made the (late of fuffering,, then it is that
confeilion i3 fpecially culled for, it is with refpedl to
this that our. Lord*y fevere word is, ?»iatth. x. 32, 33,
Whofoever fball covfefi me hsfare men^ him wili I confefs
alfo before my Father which is in hcljven. But whofo-
ever /ball deny me before men, him zvill I alfo deny be-
fore my Father vohich is in heaven.
Secondly^ The profeilion of our faiih is made by
deed. A man that cannot fpeak may make a profef-
fioa of his faith. He canDot make ii by wordf^^, but
he
Serm. L the Frofeffion of our Faith, 7
he may make it otherwife ; I acknowledge not ^o eafy*
lor che tongue is man's glory.
1. The outward attending on the means of grace
is a profcilion of faith. V\'^hoever they be that give
but their bodily prefence unto prayer and preaching
of the word of God, and other indituticns of Chrift'^
appointment, they pro'fefs their faith of the gofpel.
A great many are liars in fo faying; for they profefs
what they have nor, and God will judge them accor-
dingly. There is more need to be afraid, than peo-
ple commonly are aware of. It is the moit dangerous
employment that an unbeliever can be taken up in,
to make a iecure attendance on the means of faith,
when the man knows in his own heart, that he nei-
ther haih fait>), nor would have it.
2. People may and fhould make a profeiiion of their
faith in their converfations in xiiOT families. This is
one part of Chriftian prcfeiTion, that every one thai:
has a family, that he is mailer or die is midrefs of,
are obliged to make profeiTion of their faiih there.
The Chiiilian conduct of a family is a very honourable
Way of profeffing faiih. / will behave myfclf ivifely^
fays David, in a perfect way : O when wiU thou come
unto mefl will walk %mthin my hcufc with a perfecl
hearty Pialm ci. 2. Several good words he fpeaks
there of his purpofe of owning of God, and declaring
his refpeti- to him, by his condu<fi: in his family.
3. People make a profefhon of their faith by join-
ing to and embodying themfelves' with the cliurcii of
*Cart(l. If there were no more but twenty believers
in a city, I am perfaaded that wiihin a little time i\\tiz
twenty believers w^ould quickly fcrape up acquaintance
one with another, and would unite tiiemfelves in the
profeiiion of their faith. Shall we receive faith, this
great gift, and the honour of fo near a relation to
God and Chrift Jefus as faith brings us to, and (hall
we not own it ? It is remarkable the apodle takes
aciice of this, 2 Cor. ix. 13. Ihey glorify God^ fays
he, for your prcfejled fub'iedion unto the /cfpd of Chrijh
" " Y^i The
8 • The Jledfaft Adherence to Serm. I.
The word in the Greek is more emphatlcal ; it \s for
the fuhjeci'ton cr (looping of y cur prof cjf ion to the gofpel
of Chnft^ and your acknowledgment of it. Pray
what great fubjciftion is there here? Is it fo low a
ftooping for a man to make profeiTion of his faith,
that it mud be called a (looping ? Is it any wonder
that the apoflle called it ftooping to be fubjefi: to the
gofpel, when he fays, Rom. x. 3. that the proud
ielf-jurticiary will not fubmit to the righteoufnefs of
God ? And it is*the fame word with fubjeflion in the
other place.
4. People make a profeiEon of their faith by an
holy converfation. A walk as it becometh the gofpel,
is a profeiTion of our faith, an outward confeffiou of
ir. Ail manner of godly converfation^ and the ador-
ning of the gofpel cf God our Saviour in all things,
is what is required even of fervants, Ticus ii. 10. But,
izy you, what, will the gofpel be adorned, is there
an ornament added as it were to the gofpel, by the
faithfulnefs and obedience of a poor mean fervant ?
Yes, fays the Spirit of God, you are to adorn the
do£lrine of Qo^ our Saviour in all things. We find
it ioftnK^ed in feveral very like things. There is the
giving of charity to the relief of the faints : That is,
fays the apoflle, by the experiment of this mitiiflrationy
they glorify God for your projefjed juhjetiion unto the
gofpel of Chrif} : and yen prove your fubje^lion by
your liberal diflribution fo your poor brethren. Nay,
to bring the matter yet lower, and I cannot bring it
much lower, and that is even in womens apparel :
fays the apoflle, i Tim. ii. 9. Likewife lei women a-
dorn themfekes^ not with hroidered hair^ or gold^ or
fearls, or coflly array^ hut (whhh becometh women
frofejfing godlinefs) with good works. Let the orna-
ment of a Chriftian that feeks to adorn the gofpel be
good works, rather than the vanities of this world,
that are utterly unbecoming the gofpel ; that the gof-
pel never taught, and that it frequently rebukes ; for
ihefe
Serm. I. the FrofeJJton of our Faith. 9
thefe vanities always bring reproach upon it, and u-
pon mens profeffion too.
5. The laft profeffion of our faith is the laft thing
we can do ; that is, dying in faith. After profeffion,
and adorning our profeffion all manner of ways, as
long as we live, in due time, when God calls us we
are to m.ake profeffion of our faith in dying. There
is a dying faith, as the apoftle fays of the old tefta-
ment faints, Heb. xi. 13. Thefe all died in faith. They
confeffijd thcmfelves, all their life long, to be ftrangers
and pilgrims on the earth ; and in the fame faith that
they profeffiid that they v/ere ftrangers and pilgrims
on the earth, in the fame faith they died, and went
to heaven. This is the noblefl of all; and if it be
Dot only dying in faith, but dying for the faith, it i§
fo much the more amiable. The time of my departure
is at hafidy fays the apoftle, 2 Tim. iv. 6, 7. / have
fought a good fight ^ I have finifhed my courfe^ I have
kept the faith. Well, had he no more to do with
faith ? No, but one bit. Henceforth is laid up for
me a crown of right eoufnefs^ See, 1 will die in the ex-
peflation of the crown, 1 will have no more to do with
faith. So Stephen, the firft confeffiDr, the firft pro-
feffiDr of faith by his blood, A6ls vii. 59. And they
floned K^tephen^ calling upon the Lord, and faying^ Lord
Jefus^ receive my fpirit. " 1 have confeffisd thy name
'* before thefe enemies, and they are driving this foul
*« of mine out of my body ; now. Lord, receive i: ;
*« I have believed on thee, I fuffer for thy fake, 1
*' commit this expelled foul unto thy care and con-
*' du£l; Lord J ejus y receive my fpir it P
So much now for the explaining the matter of faith
and profeffion. The truth that 1 would fpeak a little
to, is this.
D o c T. That whoever they be that have Chrijlian
faith and hope in them^ Jhould make a Chriflian ccn-
fejjion or profeffion of it^
It
ic The jlcdfafl Adherence to Serm. I.
It is implied in my text, that a profeffion of their
faith, or a confefTion of their hope, was made, and,
the apoftl^ exhorts them' about the keeping of it. It
is Dot, Let us therefore make profeflioD, we have
done that ah'eady ; but, Let us hold it fad. When
we fir 11 gave our name to the Lord, when we firft left
ihc Jewiih religion, or Paganifh idolatry, and turned
to the true and livinj^ God and his Son Chrift Jefus,
we then made profeiTion ; now let us hold it fall:.
lie lies to God and to the world, that makes profef-
fion of faith, when he hath it not ; he diflembles with
God and the w^orld, that has it, and does not profefs
it. We fmd much fpoken of this profeffion in the
word: Heb. iv. 14. Let us hold f aft cur prof ejjion ; a
word much to the fame purpofe with this. This I
thought to have coiifirmed in a few thing?, and fo
have made fome application. I {hall only give a few
at this time of the grounds upon which this truth
ftands, That all that have Chriftian faith (hould make
a Chriftian profeffion of it.
Firf}^ The honour of Chrift calls for it, Chrid's.
glory and honour. The truth of grace does mod im-
mediately tend unto the falvation of a fmner; but the
profeffion of grace tends mod immediately to the prsifc
of Chrid Jefus. Now remember what fevere words
I named already : Whofoever fhall be afhamed of me^
and of ?ny words ^ fays our Lord, in this adulterous and
finfv.l generation^ of him alfofJyall the Son of man be
cjhamed when he ccmeth in the glory of his Father^
"With the holy angels^ Mark viii. 38. The glory of
our Lord Jefus Chrid is promoted by our profeffing
of him. Do you think that Jefus Chrid, and his fav-
iog triub, and his gracious work upon the heart, are
matters to be adiamed of? Is it not a great fm when-
ever this is committed ?
Secondly^ The good of others calls for this. The
truth of faith is prolirable to us ; the profeffion of
faith is proiitable to others. Were it poffible that all
the %Q'^\Y could kerp in all their grace, that none
in
SERxNf. I. the FrofeJJion of our Faiths ir
in the world could fee it but God and ihcmrelyes.
Done in all the world would be a whit the better For
it. It is the difplaying oF grace and oFthe faith that
God has given, that is the great means of promoting
the reputation of the gofpel, and convincing of the
world : Therefore, fays our Lord, let your light fo
Jhtne before men that they may fee your good works, and
glorify your Father which is in heaven^ Matth, v., i6.
In the very next chapter our Lord feverely iiiveigh^
againfl: the Pharifees', that managed their religious
worfliip with a defign only to be feen of men : that
was all they craved, and their hypocrify was difco-
vered thereby. But our Lord himfelf craves this of
his people, that their light (honld not only fo (bine as
to dirc£l their own ways, but fo (iiine ihar others
might fee it, and be provoked thereby to gioriry their
Father which is jn heaven. The apollle Peter fpeaks
of a cafe, I am afraid the mean h feldom- tried, and\
therefore it is no wonder that the eifecl is feldom
found. The naean is a Ghridian'' converfation, the
effect is converfion. It is the convcrfation of the wife
for the gaining of the husband. Now, the apoflle
craves this, and hints a prcmife. for it. You would
think it ftrange, that the Chriftiah-and fober deporr-
ment of a poor woman at home may accompliln chat
work, that by the ordinary means of grace had been
in vain attem^pted : That if fays the apoft'e, ahy obey
not the word^ &c. that is, it is pofTible foraecimes that
the Spirit and power of God may attend a gofpeMike
converfation, and make it do that which the gofpel
and minifterlal dlfpenfations have not done ; they may
without the word be won ; not that there is any con-
verfion without the word, but that there may be fuch
mcafures of light and convi^ion, given by other means
that God may bring in othcrwife.
Thirdly, We find by this, that our Lord Jefus Cbrift
has a great concern about our profcfTion. Chrift Je-
fus himfelf was the great profeffor : He was fo great
a profcffgrof faiih, ihat hi? wicked enernies reproach-
ed
12 :Lhe Jteajajt Jianerence to oerm. i.
ed him for it when he was upon the crofs, Matth.
xxvii. 42. He trujled on the Lord that he would delivijr
him, Pfaim xxii. 8. The apoftle calls him the high
friejl of our profejjion. He made a profefiion of his
own, 1 Tim. vi. 13. I give thee charge in the fight of
God, and before Jefus Chrifl, who before Pontius Pi-
late witneffed a good confejfion. He told them he was
a King, and that he came into the world to fet up
his kingdom ; but they greatly miftook it. Chrifl
might reign in this world, and all the kings of the
world might fit where they are. Chrifl is trouble-
fome to none, but them that trouble him, and he will
be too hard for them. We find our Lord frequently
upon this in exa£ling profefTion, and none needed it
lefs than he. When people came to him for healing.
What would you, fays he, that I fJoould do unto you?
They tell him ; and then he adds, Believe ye that I
am able f Now, any man might fay. If thou be able
thou mayfl cure whether 1 believe or no ; but our
Lord will have it out of their own mouths. He comes
to one man after he had wrought a cure ; our Lord
finds him out ; but the man had confelTed Chrifl ho-
neftly, he was a found believer, and he was call out
of the wicked church of the Jews, John ix. Chrifl
found him when they had cafl him out, and fays
to him, Dof} thou believe on the 8on of Godf Wha
is he. Lord, that I might believe on him f fays he.
And Jefus fa id unto him, Thou hajl both feen him, and
it is he that talketh with thee, Lofd, I believe, fays
he. And he wcrfhipped him. When Peter is to be
reftored, our Lord will have it by a confefHon : he
had given one great confelTion to Chrift, T^hou art the
Chrifl, the Son of the living God, which our Lord
praifes him greatly for ; but he had fallen foully when
called to confefs Chrill in the high priefl's hall. There
was no excufe for a man to deny that ever he had
feen Chrifl Jefus, or been in his company. Poor
wretched creature i if Chrifl had left him, if Chrifl
had faid, 1 do not know Peter, as Peter faid he is
not
Serm. I. the ProfeJJion of our Faith, I J
not my mafter ; if Chrift had faid, he is none of ray
difciples, what had become of him ? Now our Lord
is refloring him again, John xxi. our Lord asiis tiiin
one queftion, 6imony/on ofjonas^ ioveft thou me ; and,
Loveft thou mef &c. What wonder is it, Uiat the
man is grieved that he fhould come thrice upon him I
Ayy hut^ fays our Lord, / will have thee fay ^ Lord^
thou knoweft all things^ thou kmweft that 1 Love thee*
This is nothing but a profefiion of his faith and love,
Laftly^ Faith irfelf will work a proFeffion in a man-
ner, whether men will or no. it is impollible to keep
the gre of faith without the fnioke of profefiion, and
it is impoflible to fmother this lamp. \\ God hath
kindled this heavenly fire of faith, and of the hope of
the gofpel, in any of your hearts, it will break forth
one way or other. They with whom you live will
know it; your faith will break out fometimes in your
tongue ; and it will appear, for as mcdeft, and fe-
cret, and balhful as the perfon is, that there is forae-
thing of heavenly fire working in him. This now is
the conftant pra(ftice of all nations and all people ;
and the Chrillian is, not to be exempted from this
common neceiTuy ; every fort of people in the world
make a profefiion of what their faith and hope is :
All people^ fays the prophet, will walk every one in the
name of his god^ though they be falfe gods, and we
will walk in the name of the Lord cur God for ever and
ever^ Micah iv. 5. Shall a worfiiipper of Baal be
more bold and confident in profefiing of an idol god,
than Jehovah's worftiippers ? We will walk in the
name of the Lord our God ; we will go up and down,
profefiing and declaring, in ail prudent and fit Ways,
our refpefls to him. We have an obfervable word
of Jephthah ; and truly he was fuch an odd fort of
man, that unlefs it were for Hebrews xi. and one
or two good words in Judges xi. we Ihould hard-
ly own him a believer. One of the words is in verfe
11. He uttered all his words before the Lord in Miz'
feh : that looks fomething like. He was called ex-
C tra-
14 The Jledfafl Adherence to Serm. I.
traordinarily to be the Uead of Ifrael for their reco-
very out of a diftreiTed ftate, and before he attempts
the Work, he acquaints God. The words that 1 fpeak
of, and bring to this purpofe, are thefe, verfe 24. it
is in his meflage to the Aramooites, Wilt not thou pof-
fefs that which Chemojh thy god giveth thee to pojTefs ?
80 whomfoever the Lord our God Jhall drive out from
before us, them "will we pojfefs. Now, here was a
great profefhon of the man's faith ; " You poor blinJ-
** ed idolaters, that call upon your idols, and if you
" have fuccefs in your way, will praife your idols,
** and keep that which they give you to polTc/s :
** Shall not we keep that which the Lord our God giv'
" eth us to pcj/efs f' And, fays he, " Be it known to
•* you we will." Try all the world over, 1 fay, where-
ever there is a form of religion, true or falfe, a pro-
feffion of it is always required. As far funk as the
Antichriflian ftate is, yet when they admit infidels,
and, according to their wickednefs, when they drive
Proteftants to their communion, they crave fomethin^^
of profeilion of faith. But all thefe profeflions are
rather profeflions of opinion. A great many, aik
them what religion they are of, they can tell you ;
ailc them the principles of religion, they can tell you
them ; there is one queftion ftiil that a great many
of our profeiTors are puzzled with ; " Pray, what is
" your falch ?'' thefe truths are the truths of God,
but what truth is there in your faith of them P The
apoftle requires to be ready always to give an anfwsr
to them that fhall ask a reafon of the hope that is in
you. with meeknefs and fear » How many of onr pro-
fefibrs, (and we have a great multitude more than the
gofpcl is honouved by), how many of ihein are not
able to give an account of the hope that is in them ?
Unlefs Lhis religion be well founded in thy heart, it
is none of thy religion ;, it is the religion only of thofe
that believe. But unlefs the divine truths revealed in
the Vvord, be ingrafted in thy heart by a true and
lively faith in them acd on them, they are not thy re-
ligioa
Serm- I. the ProfeJJion of our Faith, i^
ligioD, they are only thy opinion. Take heed ; this
matter of profeifioa, and profeilion of faith, is not fo
flight aod eafy a matter, as people imagine. There
is a very great danger in folks profefiiog to have
faith, when they have it not. We think there was
great feverity in dealing with thofe two poor people,
Ananias and Sapphira, in A<f>s v. There was a cuf-
lom then, and fpecial reafon for it, that feveral rich
folks, in the profpeift of the expelled difficulties that
were coming upon the church, fold their land ; two
people, man and wife, agreed to fell their land, and
keep part of the price in cafe of nccelluy for their
own relief. , Here was but bare lying in this cafe. It
is true, the apoflle aggravates it, as it was lying to
the Holy Ghoft ; and it may be, there was fomething
of a dtCign to try the apoilles. But this was an in-
nocent thing to what it is for a poor creature to make
a profeffion of faith, when he knows he has it nor.
To make a profelTion of that he has nor, is to boafi of
a vain gift. The Lord is flri£^ in obferving mens pro-
feffion ; a little thing will go in God's fight for a pro-
feffion : and accordingly he v/ill deal v/ith men that
are not fincere therein ; but there is no true profef-
fion but that which is found. A profeffion that is of
truth, is not only, that a man profelles to believe
truth, but that he does truly believe that which he
profeffies : therefore in the creed, commonly called
the apoitles creed, the firil word in it, and which is
the greareil myftery in it, is, '• i believe in God, I
" believe that there is a God ; and I believe in," &c,
Ajf but the main thing in thy creed is the firft word,
" I believe this." What convi<Stioii hath the Spirit
of God made upon thy confcience of divine truth to
enforce this belief ? For faving fai-h is nothing eUe
but the mark which a divine irapreffioa of divine truth
hath made upon a man's heart.
C 2 SERMON
1 6 The Jledfajl Adherence to Serm. II.
SERMON II.
Hebrews x. 23.
Let us holdfajl the pofeffion of our faith without wa*
vering^ &c.
T SHALL now proceed to make fome practical
J- improvement of what has been delivered in the
former difcourfe.
APPLICATION.
i'/T-y?, then, we fee what a Chriftian profefiion is ;
it is a profeffion of faiih. This is the name given to
it in my text, la Heb. iv. 14. it is only called our
frojejfion ; fometimes without profeffion, it is called
our faithy our confidence y verfe 35. Cajl not away
therejorc your confidence^ &c. To a Chriftian profef-
fion of faithj there are two things required : i. That
it be true. 2. That it be vifible. i. That it be
true ; rhnt is, that not only it be a profeiTion of di-
vine truth, but that it be a profeffion of a true faith
that men have in the truth. If people profefs error
inftead of truth, they take God's name in vain; if
they profefs they have faith when they have it not, they
lie ogainft God and themfclvcs too. Profeffion muft
be found and true ; a man muft profefs what he hath,
and no more, 2. Chriftian profeffion mult be vifible.
Profeffion is mainly for others, as faith in the reality
of it is rnaialy lor ourfelves ; the apoflle rh-refore,
when he is fpeaking of the great profeffion of the faith
of the patriarchs, faiih, Heb. xi. 13, 14 They con-
fejfed that they were fir angers and f: (grins on the earth.
And they that fiay fiuch things^ declare plainly that they
Jeek a country.^ &c. All who had known Abraham,
and
Serm, 11. the Profefflon of our Faith, 17
and Ifaac, and Jacob, who faw their way of living,
who beheld their way of not mixing with the reft of
the nations, who beheld their faith and hope; thefe
might have feen plainly, thefe were men for another
world than this. There can be no profellion unlefs
it be vifible. This is fo general and well known a
thing, that a vifible credible profeffion of Chrillianity
is that only that deferves this name.
Secondly^ We fee hence, what reafon and ground
miniilers and churches have to call for and require a
confefTion of mens faith and hope. The apoftle ipeaks
of it here, as a thing that had paiTed all thefe belie-
ving Hebrews. He reckons that all of them who had
faith, had one way or other made a profellion of it.
Minifters themfelves are or (liould be eminent profef-
fors. Indeed their profeffion is very public ; every
time they preach, they profefs. The apoftle takes
Dotice of this, i Tim. vi, 12. Thou hajl profejjed a
good profeffion before many wifnejfes ; and every time
Timothy preached faith, and called others to the hope
of eternal life, he did thereby witnefs to his own faith
in fo doing. Churches are focieiies appointed by Je-
fus Chrifl, wherein his name is to be held forth ia
the world ; and there is high reafon, that all who de-
fire to join with them in partaking of gofpel-privi-
leges, fhould make to them a profeffion of their faith.
Notwithftanding all the corruption that is this day ia
the world, (for i chufe rather to call it the world than
the church), yet there is fomething of this remaining
in all that pretend to the name of a church ; only,
that they account their profeffion is moft wofuliy mif-
taken. There are a great many who reckon it pro-
feffion enough, if people be born in a land where
Chriftianity is the common and eftTibliffied profeffion.
Thus it is in the Antichriiliaa kingdom generally.
Some reckon, that their outward attendance on or-
dinances, and outward attendance upon the eilabliih-
ed religion, is enough to get men the name of profef-
fors J it may do fo, but this is ftill (hort of a profeffion
of
i8 The Jledfajl Adherence to Serm. II.
oF faith. Sometimes there is ailent required to be
cxprelTed unto points of truth or do£lrine that a par-
ticular church efpoufes ; and if men pafs that ted,
ihis is ihouglu to be a profeffion by a great many.
lojhe mean time, the thing in ray text is (till omitted,
and that is, the proFclTion of a man's faith. It is not
oriy the profeffion of the truth of the point of doc-
trine he affents to, but of his affent in it, that is ne-
ceiKiry. i. It is greatly for the honour of Jefus Chrid, '
that men (houid knit themfelves vifibly under hisflan-
dard and banner. Our Lord Jefus Chrift is no fuch
mafter, that people ibould be afliamed to wear his
jivery, and give themfelves to him, Again, it is great-
ly for the advantage of people too. You know there
are two great plagues the church of Chrift has been
iliurrifled by, and it will never be quite free from
them ; a multitude of hypocrites in a fair day, and a
nrakitude of apoftatesin a foul day. When fammer-
weather is, hypocrites increafe to a multitude ; when
a florm comes, they are blown away as chaff by the
wind. What is likely to be the only way that can
present the abounding of thefe dreadful fcandals P If
there were (Iriiflnefs in calling for the truth of peo-
ples faith, for the making of them give a true pro-
feffion of it, if they had it, truly they would be found
to adhere to the Lord, far more clofely in a day of
trial. It is thought to be an outw^ard glory to the
gofpel and Jefus Chrid, to have a great multitude of /
profeffors of his name; but the fcandal that their
converiation gives, and the grievous offences that their
apofracy makes, countervail it wofully. Pray what
fort of advantage is it to a poor (inner, to be admiired
and entertained iu the fellowihip of faints, who him-
felf hath no faith at ail ? People are apt to think that
the minifler or church are very (Irift or fevere, that
will not admit them to the Lord's table. Sirs, there
is a great deal of love in this. What have you to do
there, if you have not faith ? It is but as it were
tendering you poifon ; for io the fpQcial ordinances
of
Serm. II. the Profejfion of cur Faith, 19
of the gofpel are unto them that have not faith..
Therefore,
Thirdly^ You fee hence, what your duty is ; to
make a profejfion of faith. Do not look upon ir as a
matter indifferent, whether you profefs it or no. Sa^
you, If I have faith, that will fave me ; what inaicer
is ir, whether the world know it or no r CoiBmonly
they that have moil of it, make the leaft noife of it ;
but it is a duty lying upon believers, to make profef-
fion of their faith. 1 will give you a few things tor
this. I. Let us fee the old te (lament precepts, that
were typical of new leftament praflices. There !,> a
notable one in Deut. xxvi. 3, 5, 6, 7. I will read it
to you, becaufe it hath fomething worth fpecial re-
gard ; vcr. g. And thou (halt go unto the priefl that
fhall be in thofe days^ and fay unto him^ I profefs this
day unto the Lord thy God^ that I am corns unto the
country which the Lord fware unto our fathers for to
give us. They would have all the couarry know that
they are there, and that all the kingdoms round about
them might know that they are there ; nay, but fays
the Lord, I will injoin this upon you, that when yoa
bring the firfl: fruits of the earth, you make this pro-
feflion before God. And there is more of their pro-
feffion, in ver. 5. And thou fh alt fpeak and fay before
the Lord thy God. A Syrian ready to psrifh was my
father^ and he went down into Lgypt^ and fojourmd
with afeWf and became there a nation^ gf'^^t^ migky,
and populous. Poor Jacob went down to Egypt fcr
want of bread to eat, v/here God made him a great
kingdom. Now, how eafy is the fpiritual applicarbsi
of this ? A Chriilian is ro profefs before the Lord his
God, that a Syrian ready to periih was his father,
nay not only ready to periih, but that had penihei
already, and was condemned by the righteous law of
God, and yet the Lord had mercy, and gave hi* grace
to him. 2. We Hnd the old tedair.ent proraifes of the
new teflaraent practices. Several ot them fpeak forth>
this profeffion very perempiorily : Ifaiah xliv. q, 5.
20 The Jledfafl Adherence to Serm. II,
/ will pur (fays the Lord) water upon htm that is
thtrjlyy and floods upon the dry ground : I will pour my
ffirtt upon thy feed y and my hlefping upon thine cff spring.
And what (hall come on it ? One /ball fay^ 1 am the
Lord*s : and another pall call himfelf by the name of
Jacob ; and another /hall fubfcribe with his hand un-
to the Lord^ and furname htmfdf by the name of ifracU
How expHcit are thefe words. One jhall fay, I a^^
the Lord^s ! It is not, that they (hall only be the
Lord's, biu they fiiall fay fo. There is fubfcribiDg
with the hand, there is changing of the name : He
Jhall fubf crib e with the hand unto the Lordy and fur-
name himfelf by the name of Ifrael. What can this be ?
Why, he will account himfelf of, he will enter by his
own a£l and deed into the family of Ifrael Is it not,
that he will compare himfelf with fo great a man as
Jacob, fo mighty a prince and wrefUerwith God ; ne-
Terthelefs, to all the privileges he defires to lay claim,
and to have the fame God to be his God. There is
only one word now that is commonly repeated, and
as commonly ill underftood, as any words we know
in the mouths of people ; it is the word in the creed
as we call it. *' 1 believe in the holy catholic church,
•* the communion of faints." " I believe in the holy
*' catholic church/' is, I believe that Jefus Chrift hath
a holy church fcattered up and down the earth. This
** communion of faints" is of another confideration,
as it were one of the privileges of this great church.
If there were no faints upon earth to have commu-
nion one with another, there would be no church on
earth ; the church would expire. BlclTed be God,
that can never be till the Judge come, when the com-
munion of faiiits ceafeth, and endeth only. Now,
here is a grievous fault among many people that make
fome kind of profeflion, FirTi:, fome enter into a pro-
feffion ; they flip into it they do not know how ; a
great many years they have borne the name of pro-
feffors. What faid you ? what did you ? Do you
think
Serm. II. the Proft'J/ion of our Faiih. 21
think the bare croudiog to aflerablies, where the
word of God and prayer is ufed, will make any think
with therafelves. This is a man thac makes profeffioU
ot faith? He (hould do fo, and the very outward ap-
pearance (hould never be but wuh this defign : but ic
is not enough to convey the convi«Slion: for it is cer-
tain, that is done many times by them that are quite
void of faith. Some again make a profeffion of their
faith once, and they think that is enough for as long ^
as they live ; whereas, all our life long, we ihculd
be declaring the faith thit is lodged in our heart.
The whole courfe of our conv<"rfation is but going oa
in profeffion ; yet many make a profeffion, and con-
tradidf it daily by their converfation. Now it is a prin-
ciple that the world will never beat out of wife mens
minJs, that alwavs deeds Will be regarded before
words ; we will prove mens minds rather by vvbat they
do, than by what they fay. If a man have a profef-
fion of faich in his mouth, and have his converfarioii
quite contrary, no man regaids what he fays. Why
call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which £
fayf fays our Lord, Luke vi. 46. They profefs^ fays
ihe apodle, that they know God ; but in zvotki they
deny him, being abominable and di/ohedient, and unto
every good work reprobate, Tiius i. 16. But fo much
now (hall ferve for this, the fubje^^-matter of the a-
poftle's exhortation, the profeffion of our faith.
The fecond thing in the exhortation, is, the duty
itfelf about this profeffion ihat he injoins ; thit is.
Holding it /a/l without wavering : 1 take them both
together. The thing that I ^ra to fpeak to is thii^,
That Chrijlians fiould be fledfajl in their profajfion.
Whatever faith or hope they ittake by word or deed,
they ffiould be fledfafl in ir, they ffiould hold it fail :
Let us hold fajl our prof ejfion^ fays the apodle, lieb.
iv. 14.
In fpeaking to this, I would (how, what is to be
held faft j why it is j and how : what is the matter
D of
21 The J^edfajl Adherence to Serm. II.
of the duty ; what the enforcements to It j and what
the manner of it.
I. What is it that is to be held fall, when we are
commanded to hold faft the profcffion of our faicb.
I. Hold fafl: the truths profelTed. Whatever truths
of God we have known and made profeffion of, we
mufl be careful to hold them fad. This the apcdle
Paul injoins to Timothy, 2 epift. i. 12. Hold fafl the
form of found words ^ 'which thou hafl heard of me, in
faith and love which is in Chrifl Jefus. Deparri ng
from the faith profefled is a grievous tranfgreflioa ;
and the apoftle here, in this chapter, in thefe dread-
ful words that have been fo frightful unto many a poor
weak confcience, has his eye upon this crime that I
am warning you againft : If we ftn wilfully after zve
have received the knowledge of the truths there remains
710 more facrifce for fin ; A word, I fay, that has been
grievoully miftaken by many a poor exercifed crea-
ture ; a fcripture the devil has made ufe of to difqniet
many an hc^ieft heart. It- is nor, if we fm wilfully,
if we fin againft light and knowledge, that there re-
mains no more facrifice for fin ; that were one of the
moft dreadful things that can be thought of. The
apollle's meaning certainly is this, If we fin wilfully
by abandoning the faith of Jefus Chrift, who is the
only propitiation for our fins, we fhall find that there
is no other (acrifice for fia : if we refifl the only tru'e
One, the blood of the covenant, and the Spirit of
grace working therewith, as he explaineth in the
29th verfe, there is then no more (acrifice for fin, for
the finner then throws away the only facrifice. there is
Eone elfe to be had. Apofiacy from the Lord, and
letting our profefiion flip, hath begun many a time at
fome points of truth, which a great many Chrifiians,
it may be, thought of no great importance. With
what feverity does the apoftle thunder againft the
Gaiatians tor their error in point of jufiification ; and
that was this, that they would mix the works of the
law
Sep.m. II. the 'Prof.'jjloxi of cur Fattb, 23
law with the righteoufnefs of Chrid in the gofpel •
chap. i. 6, 7. / marvel y (fays he) that ye ars fo foon
removsdfrom him that called you into the grace ojChrij}^
unto another gofpel ; which 1$ not another ; hut there
he feme that trouble you^ and would pervert the gofpel of
Chrifl.
2. In the holding fad our profefTion, v/e (hould
hold fad the communion of faints. Whoever they
be that leave the communion of faints for the conver-
fadon of the wicked, that perfon doth certainly fore-
go his profeilion. It is impoiSble, unlefs through a
drong temptation, that a true Chridian can favour
that delight to his heart in the converfation of the
wicked, as in communion with the godly. There-
upon we ficdj that the apodle, in the 25th verfe, does
in a manner explain what he means by holding fad
our profeilion : Not forfaking the affembling of our f elves
together^ as the manner offome is^ &c. As if the a-
podle had faid, ** If you forfake your Chridian af-
** femblies, your meetings together, your edifying and
*' helping one another, if you forfake thefe, fo far
" you forfake your profeiTion."
3. In holding fad the profefiion of our faith, this
is required, that we hold fad the exerclfe of the grace
of faith and hope. If this be not minded, you will
quickly find thai all things elfe in a pro^eiTion do wi-
ther and wade away. When yon are called to hold
fad yoiif profeffion, yen are called to hold on in be-
lieving, in the exerclfe oF ir.
II. l^htfecond thing is, Wherefore is it diat Chrif-
tians diould be fo careful to be dedfad in the profef-
fion of their faith ?
I. Becaufe there are a great many devices of Sa-
tan and the world to drive people from it. Holding
fad does imply that there are endeavours to take
things from us. That which none will pluck away,
none needs to hold. There is rcfidancc that is made
D 2 from
24 ^he fledfajl Adherence to Serm. II.
from without, and great are tbofe that are made by
Satan and the world, ly?, FroiiuSatan. The devil
is a cruel, malicious, and envious enemy. We all have
feme fort of notion of thefe woful wickedncflcs in the
fp.ricual adverfaries. Bat there is one thing concern-
ing the devil we do not duly confider ; the devil n the
moft defperate fmner of all God's creatures. 1 mean
Dot only deiperate in wickednefs, but deftiiute of all
relief under it ; and therefore the profeffion of faith
aau hope in a fmner, is the moft grievous thing that
the devil can behold. He once had all believers his
captives, and would fain bring them back agaiu into
his bondage. There is nothing grates the devil more,
thaa a^ fmner profeffing his hope in that glory he is
fallen from. The devil is a defperate fmner, and he
would fain drive all hnners into the fame (late wi.h
himfelf, and if it v'f re not his cunning, that he knows
the danger of awaking men. If the devil had his will,
he would rather be glad ?hat all fmners were defpair-
ing than flattering rhemfelves with vain hopes ; but
becaufe their fecurity lenders their fta^e more defpe-
rate in the iiTue, therefore the devil befriends them,
and keeps all in peace. 2c//)', From the woild. You
know what enmity the world has teftified againft the
people of God ; and all this enmity arifes from pro-
feflion. Let a man have never fo much fai^h, if this
faith never difcovers iifelf, neither by word or d^z^d.^
the world would never have any fort of difturbance
thereby, and would not be angry at men. It is the
teftimony of the wntntiles that torment?, men that are
upon the earth. What, thick you, is the reafon of
all the perfecution that you read of in the word, and
the bloody perfecution that hath been .in this land, and
feveral other places ? The ♦rue reafoa is the profef-
fion of faith of the people of God. If believers would
part with their profeffion, the world would part with
their quarrels.
2. Chriftians (hould be very careful of their pro-
feffion, to hold it faft \ for the honour of God and his
Son
Serm. II. the Frofejfwn of our Faith, 25
Son Jefus Chrifl: is greatly concerned in it. It is all
we can do for his glory. The higheft glory that is
given to Chrift in this world, is by the lledfaft main-
taining of the profeffion of our faith. The greateft
affront that can be done, is by the people's abandon-
ing the profeffion of that faith they once made. It is
a horrible thing j a thing the Lord calls the heavens
to be aftoniflied at: My people have forfaken me^ and
have forfaken me upon feme alledged fault alfo :
What iniquity have your fathers found in me^ that they
are gone far from me? &c, Jer. ii. 5, 12.
3. Lafiiy^ Chriftians fliould be careful to maintain
their profeffion, to hold it fad ; for their peace and
their falvation (tands mightily on it. It is reraarlcable
how the apoftle divides believing and confelTion : Rom.
X. 9j 10. With the heart man heiieveth unto righteouf-
nefs^ and with the mouth rmjcffion is maae unto falva*
tion. Pi ay obferve, if a ni\n believe with the heart,
he is not only poffelTed of righteoufnefs, and ft^inds
clothed with it before God ; but falvation is fecured
to him, by virtue of thai righteoafnefs too. Yet yoa
fee, that the apoflle circfally (nuns the dividing thefe
two, faith and confeffion, rightecufnefs in the one^
falvation in .ihc other : ConfeJJion is made^ fays he,
unto falvation* After we are once polTLiled of the
righteoafnefs of Chrift by faith, we only want com-
plete falvation, and we mufl go on confeffing his name
till we be poiTeiTed of it. It is obfervable, that of all
the hells upon earth that ever a true believer fell into,
moft of them have been upon this account, when the
violence of temptation hath prevailed upon the peo-
ple of God, in a day of trial, to abandon their profef-
fion. What fad inflances have we of fome of the
mod eminent faints and fervants of God, that have
been left of God in a day of trial, that have left their
profef&on, and have been tortured in their fouls till
they have returned to it again, though with the peril
of their lives ? A (tout and free adhering to the pro-
feffion of their faith, was commonly attended wiih joy
and
2'6 The StedJaJ} Adherence to Serm. II,
2nd peace in believing; and denying thereof, and
complying with the courfe of ihe world, what fad
fmart did it raife in their confciences ?
in. The third and lafl: thing is. How this is to be
done.,., J (hall not now iofift upon all things I thought
^of, with refpefl to this, how a Chriftian is to hold
fafl his profeffion. I ill a 11 only dire6l the exhortation
thcfe three ways.
X. Hold fall the profeilion of your faith before
God. If yen ever have called God your God and
Father, never eat in tliefe words again. How forry
atid pitiful, but eoir.mon a matter is it, that a belie-
ver will call God his God confidently in the morning,
^nd may he in tl:e dark evening call him by another
came ? ThoikJImlt call me. My God, andjkalt riot dt*
fart from me : it is a promife the Lord makes; the
Lord fulfil it to u>:.
2. We mufl learn to hold fad the profefTion of our
faith before the devil. Whenever Satan and we come
together, he begins to alTault ; then be fure to keep
rhe profeiTion of your faith ; hold it faft. Above all^
fays the apoflle Paul, take thejhield of faith, wbers-
ivith ye /.ball be able to quench all the fiery darts of the
'wicked, Epb. vi. i6. JSo alfo fays tht apoflle Peter,
I epift. V. 9. Whom rejijl fledfajl in the faith, knowing
that ike fame affliSticns are accomplifI:ed in ycur brf
then that are in the ivorld.
3. We (hculd be careful to bold fafl the j r: iiioa
of our faith before the world. The world h;.: harp
fight into the iniirmiiiesof the faints, but is :) - iind
as to their virtues : They cannot fee thefc in-
not fee the beauty of the inv^ard maa ; but ti;cy can
fee the fpots in the converfatloa of the people of
God, and they Vi^ill be careful to take notice of them,
and to make more of them than they are/ The moire
captious the world be, the more careful faints fhould
be in their converfations : Be hlamelefs and harmlefs,
fays the apoftle. the fons of Cody without rebuke, 771
the
Serm.il the FrofeJJlon of our Faith. 2,71:
the midjl of a crooked and ferverfe natloriy holdmg forth,
the word of life y &c. Phi!, ii. 15, 16.
1 would only, before leaving this head, name a fe'^v
things that make this holding fad of our profcilloa
very hard, and {hould make us the more diligent in
the exercife of faith, that we may get ilrengrh from
the author of our faith to maintain the profcilioa
of it.
ly?. It is very hard to keep the profelTion of our
faith without wavering, when fin is in the confcience.
The law of God enrers there, and a man fees his own
iniquity. Peter perhaps had made no proFemon of
his faith before ; but if he had, he renounced it v;hea
he fpoke thofe ungodly words, Depart from me. Whad
a Chriftian pray Chrift to leave hira ; is that fpoke
hke a believer ? But the fenfe of fm was raifed la him,
upon the appearance of divine power ia that great
work of Chrifl.
^dly'y It is very hard to keep tlie profeiiion of our
faith without wavering, when we fee a rod in an angry
God's hand, and feel the fmart of it upon our owa
backs. To think the fame thing of God, to have the
fame kind thoughts of Chrill, and lively hopes of
heaven, in this cafe as formerly, is hard indeed. Job
was a man that held faft the profeffion of his faith,
without wavering, at a mighty rate, when he (^iid^
Though he flay me, yet will I truft in him ; but Izvilt
maintain mine own ways before him. He alfo j7:^all be
my falvation ; for an hypocrite jkall not come before
hwiy Job xiii. 15, i6." As if he had faid, '' I ^d^i
•' all hypocrites in the world to fay fo." Is there any
but a believer, and a ftedfaft one, who is able to fay,
A God Haying me ihall be my God.
3<://y, It js hard to keep the profeiiion of cur faitl|,.
w^ithout wavering, when there is a furnace of mens
wrath for our profelTion, and when there are great
hazards a man is expofed to for his profefTion. This.
has tried many a man's profefTion. There are fignal
inftances of this in the v\ and C\\x ciiuptcis oFDan-eL
28 The ftedfajl Adherence to Serm. 11.
The furious king and the fiery furnace was jufl: be-
fore the three children ; " Now," fays Nebuchad-
nezzar, <' will you fall down, and worfliip my golden
** image, or no P Will you profefs flili your faith in
« God V " Yes," fay they, " whether he deliver
*' us, or no, we will not ferve thy gods, nor worfhip
" the golden image which thou haft fet up." Da-
niel would not forbear his praying in ufual times
and places, and ufual circumftances, for all the dan-
ger of death thereby. This was the confeflion of his
faith.
/^thly^ It is hard to hold faft the profeffion of aur
faith without wavering, in the fight and feeling of un-
behef. When a poor creature finds unbelief in him,
yet, noiwithftanding, to adhere to, and hold faft the
profefiion of his faith, is no eafy matter. He was a
young believer for time, but an old fkilful believer
for ftedfaftnefs, that gave an anfwer to our Lord,
Ijordy I believe^ help thou mine unbelief ; *' 1 own
*« faith in the face of unbelief, in the feeling of it."
Thereupon it is that that word turns, I fuppofe a good
part of the meaning of it is this that 1 drive at, 2 Tim,
ii. 12, 13, If we fuffcKy we fhall alfo reign with him ;
if we deny him^ he will alfo deny us ; If we believe
noty yet he abidetb faithful ; he cannot deny himfelf.
Pray obferve. If we believe not, if we have not the
faith, that ftrength of faith that the cafe calls for ;
yet his faithfulnefs will take care of fecuring a graci-
ous iffue : for the meaning cannot be. If you have
no faith at all, but if your faith be weak, and be not
in that high raeafure the cafe calls for, the Lord will
lake care to fupport it ; and he has done fo many
times to many of his people, and they have been only
obliged to God's faithfulnefs in keeping his^ord.
Laflly, 't is hard to hold faft the profefiion of our
faith without wavering, in the fight of death and
judgment. That is the great trial of a man's profef-
fion of his faith : this is the great wind, and ftorm,
and rain that beats upon the houfe, and tries how well
it
Serm. II. the ProfeJJion of our Faith, 29
it is built. It is an eafy matter to make a profefTioa
ia a fair day, and keep to it ; but when this flprm
comes, it is a great matter to hold it faft. How many
fad inftanccs are there? Many, nay moft Chriftians
unconcernedly fit down, and think fometimes that they
have faith enough for their daily work ; but they do
not know what provifion they have for this great trial,
the very forefight of death and judgment. Death
looks near, when it enters, as it were deeply into the
meditation and thought of the heart of a poor fmner.
Canft thou maintain the hope thou proftiTedft the o-
ther day ? canft thou look on death and judgment as
near at hand, and fay, " I retain the fame confidence
« and hope of eternal life, that \ had when I thought:
•' thefe things were afar offf*" The apoftle therefore
did exprefs his faith extraordinarily, and profeiTed ic
highly, when he fang, O deatB, where is thy fling f
O grave ^ zvhere is thy vidory f The Jiing of death is
fin y and the Jlrength of ftr^ is the lata : but thanks be
fo Godf which giveth us the viBory^ through our Lord
Jefus Chrifl^ i Cor. xv. SS^ 5^^ 5 7- ^^ reckons him.-
felf, by faith, as fure of the victory, as if already pof-
feffed of it. The believer can by a ftrong faith (mg
the praife of victory, before the battle be half ended :
for the apoftle Paul had not yet known what death and
the grave were; he knew them only by faith, and
knew who had overcome death, and knew that he had
an intereft in him that had overcome both.
SERMON
JO The jledfajl Adherence io Serm. III.
SERMON III.
Hebrews x. 23.
Let us hold fa ft the profejfion of our faith without wa-
ver'mg^ for he is faithful that hath fromifed.
T H A V E fpoke unto the exhortation to the duty
A that is in the firrt part of the verfe, Let us holdfajl
the prof ejjion of our faith without wavering. The a-
poftle, ye fee, joins himfelf in the exhortation ; and,
as it were, exhorts hirafelF, whilfl he exhorts them.
That great apodle, who had fo much faith, who h id
made fo noble a profclTion of it, joins himfelf with
the reft of believers, Let us hold fafly Szc. Paul's
faith was greater than that of the Hebrews ; his pro-
feffion and confidence higher ; his (lock richer ; he
joins himfelf equally with them : let us all mind this.
Upon this 1 hare fpoken unto thefe two things.
1. That which is the matter that this exhortation is
converfant about, and that is the profefhon or faith,
or the confelTion of our hope ; and of that 1 fpoke un-
der this note, That whoever they be that have Chrijlian
faith and hopc^ tkey Jjjould male a Chriflian profeffion
or confefjlon of it.
2. 'XhQ ft'cond thing in the worJs is the diuy he
calls to, with refpea to this profeflioo ; and that i?,
holding it faft wkhout wavering ; and of that I fpake
lail day, that Chridians (hould be ftedfaft in their pro-
feffion, 7iGt fnoved away from the hspe of the gofpcU
Col. i. 23. This firll part of the verfe I ihall difmifs
wifh two things, and proceed to this argument.
Iheyfr/? is this. That it is a mighty hard thing to
make a true profelTion of faiih. Secondly y It is a migh-
ty hard thing to keep it when \x is made,
Firfl,
Serm. III. the Frcfejfion of our Faith. 31
Firjl^ It is a mighty hard thing to make a true pro-
fefTion of faith. 1 do not mean it is hard f«';r folks to
fay they believe, that is as eafily faid as another word
is; but to make a true profelTion of fairh, is a mat-
ter of great difficulty. No man can make a true pro-
feflion of faith, but he that hath true faith. This is
certain and evident in itfelf ; for if a man make pro-
felTion of what he hath not really, it is but a \\ty and
a lie of grofs fort. No man can make a true profef-
fion of faith, but the man who hath not only true
faith, but hath fome fort cf knowledge that he hath
it ; for the profeflion of faith is fomething beildes the
acting of faith. The acting of faiih is^ that it be
wrought in the heart ; the profefTion of faith is, a
confident owning of that a£l before God, and men,
and devils. They are witneiTes of mens profeflion,
but the Lord only is the witnefs of the trurh and fin-
cerity of faith ; but when faith is come to profeflion,
it is known to more than God. Now, that I may il-
luftrate this- in a few things, That it is a hard thing
to make a true profeflion of faith, I would fpeak a
little to both the words, that in our tranilation, and
that in the original. We call \i pro/ejjton cf faith ;
the original is, the confeffion of our hope*
Flrfl^ To take it for profelTion of faith : / believe^
the firfl word in the apoftlc's creed, applied to divine
things, is in fome the greated lie in the world. Moit
perfons are guilty of lying in faying, I believe ; for
God and their own confciences may tell them, that
though their tongues fpeak the words, their fouls arc
(Irangers to the power and truth of this believing,
1 will name fome few of the beads that people coni-
monly profefs faith on ; and when they are ferioufly
couiidered, it will be found that the faith. of them is
very rare.
1. To begin with that which the a po ft le calls the
firft thing that a man muff believe, that God is, Heb.
2<i. 6. He that cometh unto God. muft believe that he is.
How uncharitably would people ihink ihemfelves to
E- 2 te
3 2 The fiedfajt Adherence to Serm. III.
be dealt ukb, if they were charged with want of
faith as to God's being ? How confident are people
that they are fincere, at lead in this, " I believe that
** there is a God ?" Pray confider what there is in
this believing. He dwelkth in light that ho man can
approach to ; whom no man hath feen^ nor can fee.
Whenever his glory (hines in any manner before the
eyes of a creature, ir is enough to confound him. Do
men believe that there is a God, that live plainly as
if there were none ? Do raen believe that there is a
God, in whofe prefence they are continually, and in
the mean lime have no awlul thoughts of him ? the
true faith of the being of a God would make the world
a mod miferable world, unlefs Chrift were known,
and God in Chriii. There is nothing more terrible
to a man, as a man, and as a Tinner, than any dif-
plays of the glory of God, unlefs there be fome dif-
covery of this glory, as ihining in grace towards men.
There is more fpiritual fenfe, I believe^ than com-
monly is conceived, in that old teftaraent word, IJhall
die ^ for I have feen God. Jacob wondered at the
matter, and called the name of the place Peniel : for ^
fays he, / have feen God face toface^ and my life is"
preferved, Gca xxxii* 30.
2. A future Rate, and the foul's immortality. How
commonly do m^u pretend to believe that they know
God in Chrifl, that they believe the truth of Chrift,
and the mydery of God manifeft in the ileih ? He
that can believe this well, may believe any thiug.
Let people be firm in the fpiritual belief of it, they
are fit 10 believe any thing; that God became man,
Luke i. :^5. Gal. iv. 4. ; that this man is God over all,
bleffed for ever ; that this man came in the fulnefs of
time, and laid down his life a ranfora for many.
There is nothing about Chrill Jefus, or about the
whole myftery of the gofpel, but is incredible to a
natural man, and to a natural reafon. When Paul
/pake aboi3t one point, the refu.te^iion of the dead,
^ king
Serm. III. the ProfeJJion of our Faith. 33
king Agrippay fays he, zvhy jhould it he thought a
thing incredible with you^ that God fhould raife the
dead? Afts xxvi. 8. Here are matters far more in-
credible ; That God (hould become man ; that this
man (hould be ftillGod over all, blelTed for ever; that
this man is made the great ark for the falvation of all
the ele£l: of God. Do not run away eafily with an
imaginauon, that it is a common and ordinary thing
to beheve the truth of gofpel-doclrine. People will
fay, it is very eafy to believe what is written in the
bible ; it is a hard matter to believe, they may fay,
their own falvation ; and that one is a great deal eafier
than the other. If there be a firm affent begotren by
the Spirit of God upon the heart, is to the foundation-
truth of the gofpel, the particulr := application of that
to thy foul for thy falvation ^^ I be found an eafy
thing. Pray now, wherefore \l it faid fo often in the
word, that faith is the gift of God ; that faith is the
operation of God ; that JeTus Chrift is the author and
finiflier of faith ? It certainly points forth this to you.
That believing is a mighty hard taing ; that divine
power is needful to beget it, and bring it foreward,
and a(fl it, and maintain it.
Again, take the matter as to our hope^ there i^
great difficulty to avow the hope of eternal life. Ic
is a hope of the greatclt bleffing that can be conceiv-
ed, it is a hope bottomed only upon the pure word ot
God. When you examine your hearts, you find fo tie
hopes of being faved ; and that, in the day of the
Lord, you Ihail (land with peace and confidence be-
fore your judge ; why {o ? wherefore do you hope
for this ? Is it not becaufe God hath faid ir ? is it not
becaufe the God that cannot lie hath fpoken it ? If
you expe<fl to be faved upon any other ground, but
becaufe God hath faid it, ye mufl change your minds
ere ever you be faved ; for ye are off the rock, ye are
off the fure foundation that all God's Ifrael mud refi:
upon. This hope is a hard thing to have and to
maintain, becaufe it is a hope chat is affaulted j there
is
54 The JleafaJ} Adherence to Serm. III^
is CO natural probability for it, and a great many dif-
iicu);ics lying in its way. What is there now that can
berrieod the matter in the eye of fenfe and reafon ?
There is a poor creature under all the fraihies of body
and mind, that are either natural to us as men, or that
grow and creep upon us by age, and that are in us
becanfe of fin ; our hope is, that we ihall be perfeft
in foul and body in the enjoyment of God. Now we
are encumbered with imperfeflions every day, and
Eoihing fo common and fenfible as diftance from him,
ai)d there is no probability of coming nearer. It is
a probable thing that a young child may live and
grow to be a man or woman, it is probable that a
youDg plant may grow to be a tree ; thefe are the
common works of God in his providence, in guiding
of this world ; but what is there of probability, by
philcfophy, by reafon, or fenfe, unto a poor Chrif-
tJan's attaining the poiTdrion of his hope ? There is
Bone for it, but a great many, on the contrary, a-
g^iafl it. There is the law, confcience, (in, Satan,
and the world, all combating our hope every day.
So that from this you may fee it is a mighty difficult
liiatter lo make a true profeilion of faich ; a man
iTiult have that faith or hope, before be can truly pro-
fefs them ; thefe things are hard to come by, and
hard to keep.
Secondly^ It is as hard to hold fad the pmfefTion
of faith, after we have made it. When a believer aih
ir.ade a true profeilion of faith, and a true CGuUiTfon
of his iiope, and made 1: often, it is very hard to hold
n fall. The greatelt believers have failed here. I
GO not fay failed quite, but they have (tumbled iliame-
fuijy. Who was a greater believer and confeiTor of
his hope than Abraham ? yet he (lumbled by unbe-
lief grievoully, again and again ; Ifaac did fo, Jacob
did fo. David, that great believer and conielTor of
his faith, fays, AH men are liars : na^, it were well if
Lis unbelief fpake no worfe ; it was, in t^tdiy God
is a liar. Samuel, and Gad, and Nathan, and the
other
Serm. III. the Trofejfion of our Faith. jj
other prophets, fpake to him in the name of the
Lord : And yet, fays he, I Jaid in my hafte^ All man
are liars ; anc} fiid, I Jhall one day fall by the ha ids
of Saul ; for all the promifes God had made, iiad
for all the faith David had avowed. Bat above ail
poor Peter, who is recommended above all men for
his confeiTion, Matth. xv*i, how does he fa)i frorn \i ?
Thou art Cbrijly fays he to our Lord, the Son of the
living Gody ver. i6. Blejfed art thou Simon Bar-j^na ;
for fie Ih and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but
my Father which is in heaven. This great confeilor,
what a ftrange confcfTion does he make to the maid !
Art thou one of his difciples f fays (lie. / htS-zv not
the man^ fays he. It is impoffiblc, that a believer caa
keep the profefTion of his faith (ledfaft, iinleU he keep
the exercife of his friith condaot ; if faith decays in
its exercife wiihio, the beauty and iledfadoefs of pro-
feiTion will be marred abroad.
1 come now to i\xcfecond thiog in the words, and
that is, the apoftle's argument by which he eiiforceih
this exhortation : For he is faithful that hath promfed^
fo we read it. Three things I would take notice of,
in the confideration of the reading of the words as
they lie here, before I take them up in themfeives ;
three things I note in general.
1. The apoftle names no perfon promifing, only
fpeaks in general of one that promifes.
2. He fpeaks of no fort of promife, but only, that
there is a promife,
3. This I note alfo, that the W'ord which we have
rendered. He hath froinlfed^ in the origm-xl is in che
prefent time. He ii faithful that is promifing. The
promife here is not Ipoken of as an acl paft and goae,
but of that which was prefent.
I. We find here the apoftie does not fpeak of any
perfon that promifes, but only fays, He is fiithful
that hath promfed* Who then is the promifer ^. Yciii
may be perfuadcd that it is a divine perfon ; ar^d it
isBO great matter which of the Three wc confine it to ;
f^3r
36 The Jledfajl Adherence to Serm. III.
for I know it is generally applied to Chrlft's pronoif-
ing. But we find, 17?, That the promiles that are
the ground of the Chriftian's faith, are the promifcs
of the Father, as the Author, as the grand Contriver
and original Fountain of the covenant. So the apoflle
calls him, Titus i. 2. Li hope of eternal life which God
that cannot lie^ from'tfed before the world began. 2 dly^
We find the ptoraifes afcribed unto Jefus Chrift, and
iie is the promifer. So when he left his people and
went out of this world, he left them with the open-
ing of his heart to them in abundance of promifes.
And in his laft prayer, that is as good as any promife
in the word ; Chrift's prayer is as good as any pro-
mife in the bible. The promifes are alfo given by the
Holy Ghoft : He is called the Spirit of promife ; both
becaufe he is promifed, and becaufe he is a promifer
and performer too ; for promifing and performing are
afcribed ftill to the fame perfon, Heb, x. 15.
2. The apoflle doth not tell us what is promifed,
but only fays, He is faithful that hath promifed. What
then mufl we underfland to be the meaning of this
dark exprefTion, when a promife is fpoken of, and no
particular blefTing fpecified ? It is eafily gathered from
the fcope : for the apoflle is bidding Chriftians hold
fafl the prof ejjion of their faith ; the confeflion of their
hope ; for, fays he, He is faithful that promifes ; he
plainly implies, that what he means by the promife
is as large and broad, as all the foundation of faith
and hope that a Chriftian has, God's promifes and
our faith are to be comraenfurate ; we are to make
our faith as large and wide as the promife j it is to
be (hapen as the promife.
3. The third thing that I note in general is. That
the apoflle's word in the original i?, He is faithful that
is promiftngy that is, in the act of promifing ; fo it is
in the original ; he is faithful that is now, and pre-
fently promifing ; the fame word, as in Heb. xi. 1 1.
The promifes of God are not, as people imagine,
thing?
Serm. III. the Frcfefflon of our Faith. 37
things that are over and pad, as foon as the word is
out of his mouth ; but they arc continued, conflant,
currect dreams that will carry on hi. people that are
in them Oil}, till they be accoinplKlied fully. A pro-
niifc never ends till there be performance ; a promife
is in a£l: and motion fliil, till it be accompillhed. The
like word the apoftle haih, i ThelT. v. 24. i TheiT.
ii. 12. Faithful is be that calleth you^, who alfo will do
it^ as we tranflate it : there had been as good reafoa
to traniiaie it, Faithful is he that is now calling ycu :
he called you at iird, by the efFe£lual working of his
grace with the gofpel ; and that calling continues dill,
and it will never leave you, till it bring you to hea-
ven. Jud fo it is with the promife. There are five
places to God's promife, and we mud have our eye
.djdin<Sdy upon them. }fl, God's proraife is in God's
heart ; and there it is, but a purpofe unknown and
unfearchable to all creatures whatfcever. This is
called a proir.ife ; for it js faid, He promifed before
the world bega?!^ Titus i. 2. idly^ A promife is next
conudered, as it is in the word. There it is recorded,
it is entered, and will never be repealed, ^dly. The
promife of God is in Chrid ; that is another place for
the promife : All the promife s of God in him are yea^
and in him amen^ 2 Cor. i. 20. The covenant is confirm'
med of God in Chrifl^ Gal. iii. 17* There is no change
here ; a promife in God's heart wUl furely have ef-
fe^ from the v;ord ; performance of a promife ia
Chrid's hand can never mifcarry. A^thly^ A protnifc
comes to be in the hand of a believer's faith ; and
this is a fhakirg, trembling hand. As it is in God's
.hands, Chrid's hands, or in the word, heaven and
earth, and hell cannot fnake it ; but as it is in a be-
liever's hand, the lead blad from either will Oiake it.
A poor believer grafps the prom.ife of God frequent-
ly very weakly: yet if he take ir, it is well, if he
lay hold oti it any manner of way^ There would
none of us ever come to heaven, if the promife of
God did not keep us better by its grace aad power,
F thaa
38 The ftedfafl Adherence to Serm. IIL
than we can keep it by our faith ; for this is the or-
der of God, his promife is a mean that catches a be-
liever, and a believer catches the promife by faith.
Our hold of the promife many times fails, but the
promife to us never fails. If the promife of Chrift's
grace come and take hold of ypur hearts, it will hook
you, and pull you, and keep you, and draw you cer-
tainly to glory ; but our faith is off and on. Lajlly^
Believers fomctimes have the promife of God in their
hand ; not only in the hand of faith, bur, if 1 may
fo fpeak, in the hand of performance ; then they
think it is well. If I may ufe the exprciTion, there
was never a good man that had a more blelTed arm-
ful and heartful than old Simeon ; he had all the pro-
mifes of the old teflament, and all the blellings of the
new teflament, and all grace on earth, and all the
glory in heaven, at one time in his arras. When he
took the child Jefus in his arms, JLord^ fays he, now
lettefl thou thy fervant depart tn feace^ according to
thy word ; for mine eyes have feen thy falvatioriy Luke
ii. 29, 30, He had the covenant in his hand, he had
all the blefllngs in poiTeiTion. He might have faid as
Hannah, i Sam. i. 27. For this child I frayed : and
the Lord hath given me my -petition which 1 asked of
him. Something like this believers fometimes have ;
the proftiife of God brings forth, and they have the
birth in their arms ; but this is not that we muft live
by.
The apoflle fays here, that God is promifing :
Faithful is he that is promijing, I would warn belie-
vers of this common fault and failing, they look upon
the promife of God as that which is paft and over :
they are many times faying, 1 had once a promife of
God, 1 do not know what is become of it now. What,
is it out of God's heart ? out of the bible ? out of
thy faith's hand i* The Lord is dill promifing the pro-
mife of eternal life that thou didft lay hold upon in
thy firft venturing thy foul upon Chrift Jefus. God
is making that promife every day to you, and you
ihould
Serm. III. the Frofejjion of our Faith. 39
(hould be believing it every day. We live by faith,
and God keeps us in life by promifing. His promife
runs down through all dates and conditions, and fo
fliould our faith do. So much now for the general
things from the words.
There are feveral doflrines from it, that I intend,
if the Lord will, to fpeak from.
1. The/ry? note that i raife from the words, i?,
(underftand it well and wifely, it may be you will
think it an odd obfcrvation) The Chriflian^s God is a
promifing God. The apoftle defcribes him by this :
" What is the God that I Paul depend upon I He
" that promifes ; I will and can have nothing to do
" with any God, but he that is promifing."
2. God is faithful in ail his promifes,
-^^ The faith of his people in a promifing Gody J/jould
fome way anfwer the faith fulnefs of God in his fromifes,
4. A bold avowing of our faith ^ is not bragging of
curfelvesy but a magntfying the faithfulnefs of the fpeak -
er. This is plainly the fcope of, Hold fa fl the profef
fion of your faith without wavering ; for he is a faith-
ful God you lean upon.
. Of ihtfirjl of thefe a little at this time, The Chrif
tian^s God is a promifing God ; a God made known to
us by his promifes, who comes to us in the malk, and
under the veil of promifes. Let us fee a little how
this comes about, and how the world is changed to
our great advantage, and his great praife. This pro-
mifing God was from eternity bleffed in hlmfelf, and
in the mutual communication of love and delight, and
converfe betwixt the bleffed Three. He is alfo cal-
led a purpofmg God, Eph. iii. 11. 2 Tim. i. 9. In
the falnefs of time he makes a world. He makes hini-
felf known in this world three ways. 1, He makes
known himfeif to fome creatures by their creation.
There are fome creatures that God made on purpofe
that they might know him. He made the greatefl
F 2 psrt
y|o The StedfaJ} Adherence to Serm. III.
part of creatures in a manner only that God might be
known, by others, not by themfeives. The heavens
and earth, and all the hod of them ; this world, and
ail the creatures ihat are therein, fave one fort, are
all incapable of knowing God; but God is made
known by them. The only creatures we know that are
Hiade capable of knowing God, are angels and men.
The one fort, the glorious fpirir?, were made the firft
day of the creation ; the other is man, half fpirit and
half lie(h, that was made on the lad day of the crea-
tion. Now, as foon as thefe rational creatures ftart
out of nothing, by the commanding word of their
Maker : as foon as ever they come into being, imme-
diately the Lord's glory, as a Creator, is daring them
m the face. Adam is no fooner a man, than he is
a knower or Gcd, as his God Creator. 2. We find
God making himfeif known to m.an (for it is about
iman we will keep ourfelves confined) as a Lord Cont-
manderj and as he has made this creature, he will
diipofe of him as he fees good. He determines the
place of his living; he determines his employment ;
he lays him under law, and gives him a jafl and righ-
teous command. He made himfelf known to man
as a threarener too : In the day that thou eatejl there-
cfj thou fialt jurely die. Ay, bur, fay yoUj was there
DO promife in the firit: covenant P Truly the word does
Dot fay there was any : but if people will needs have
it thai there was a promife, ir is not worthy the name
of a promife, in regard of what we have in the new
tedament. That promife laboured under woful dif-
advanrages, that we are now relieved fro'n, ly?, That
promife was a promife of continuance in that happy
itare he was made in, but no promife oF a better.
There was no promife of eternal lire to the firft Adam,
as I'ar as we find in the teriDS of ir. There was no
more fpoken of, but a continuance in that date : and
this is implied in the threatening. In the day thou
tdtefl thereof^ thou Jh alt die ; which implies, Until
the
Serm. III. the ProfeJJion of our Faith. 41
the day thon earefl: thereof thou fliak live. But we
have a prornife in the new covenant of a far better
(late than that we are in. idly^ If there was any pro-
rnife, it was a conditional one, a promife upon the
condition of perfeft obedience. There was no pro-
mife but upon this condition. Do this^ and live. Life
was prorDifed upon the condition o^ doing, but no pro-
mife of grace to enable a man to do it. But now we
are brought under a promife, blefT^d be he that pro-
mi feth. Whatever is required to be done by the man
that would have the blefling proraifed, grace to do
that is promifed by the promifer. Hath he required
faith ? He hath promifed faith, and he works faith.*
Hath he required repentance ? He promifes, and
gives it. Our Lord is a Prince and a Saviour, to give
repentance and remiilion of fins to the houfe of Ifraei.
Are we required to be holy in all manner of conver-
lation ? Hath he not proraifed to fan£lify and make U5
holy ? Hath he not prayed for this, that we may be
fandified ^ I told you but juil now, Chriil's prayer is
as good as a promife. The heft promifes we have ia
the bible are the promifes made by the Father to the
Son j and next to them, are thofe promifes that we
draw out of the Son's prayer to the Father. So that,
upon thefe accounts, whatever there was in the firll
covenant, it is not to be called a promife. 3^/y, There
was no mediator in the firiT: covenant ; and therefore
it cannot be called a covenant of promife, like that
We are now brought under. The mediator of a cove-
n.^nt is to fee the terms kept on both parts., and 10
fee the ground fecure and fafe, that the bargain may
not go back on either fide. This is our LordV under-
taking, and his work. Now you fee, that as foon as
fm came in, grace comes in with a promife. God
made himfelf known to Adam as his creator, command-
er, and threatener of juft puniihment to hirn for his
di (obedience. As foon as he difobeyed, fo foon is he
convi61ed of guilt in his own confcience. As foon as
ever he is arraigned before God, the womb of the
pro-
42 The Jledfajl Adherence to Serm. III.
mife is open; then the fluice of the promlfe was
drawn up, and it hath been flowing to this day. It
began with a promife. Adam and Eve were to know
God DOW under no other name, but the God that faid,
The feed of the -woman fhall hruife the ferfenCs head.
So it went on through all the old teflament ; that flill
went along by the promife. The Chrijlian's God^ I
fay, is a promtfing God,
I. God cannot be known but as z fromifmg God.
There is no faving knowledge of him, but as he re-
veals himfelf in the promife of life through Chrift Je-
fus. 2. There is no worshipping of him but in this
way. The apoftle joins them all together, Rom. x.
13, — 17. How can they call on him of whom they
have nor. heard ? How can they believe on him? They
cannot pray, they cannot believe, they cannot know
him, uulefs it comes by the word of God. Faith^
lays he, comet h by hearings and hearing by the word
cfGcd; that is, the word of promife. Faith never
comes by the word of command ; but it comes by the
word of promife. God commands faith ; but God
never works faith by the commanding of faith as any
duty, but by the promife of faith as it is heard. The
giving of faith, is the performance of the grand pro-
mife of faith. 3. There is no believing on God, but
as a promifmg God ; there is no loving God, but as
a proraifmg God. If you fuffer your hearts to take a
view of God out of a promife, you wander in a maze
and wildernefs : he is a confuraing fire, except in a
promife* The Lord hath framed us in that manner,
that it is impoflible that God can be loved, but by a
perfon that takes up this God as a promifmg God,
All mankind have either to do with God as promif-
ing, or threatening. The threatening God threatens
the moft dread iully : the promifmg God promifes the
greatefl good. It is impolTible that there can be true
and (trong love fixed en that perfon from whom we
do dread the greateft evil : therefore the Lord hath
framed the matter fo in the difpenfing of his grace,
in
Serm. III. the Frofejjion of our Faiths 4^
in the call of the gofpel, that he ftill tenders himfeif
to his people, and at all times hath done fince fin carae
into the world, under fome gracious difcovery of him-
feif. / a7n the God of Abraham^ and the God of Ifaac,
and the God of Jacobs faith the Lord to Mofes. Evea
when the man is afraid to look upon God, faith the
Lord, Do not be afraid, I am the God of Abraham, &C
*« 1 am the God of thy fathers, I appeared to them, I
" fpake my good mind to them, and they lived and
** died in the promife ; and thou, Mofes, art one that
" art concerned therein ;" Exod. iii. 3, 4.
Two things I (hall conclude with at this time.
1. It is a marvellous condefcenfion in God, that he
hath come to us as a promifmg God. He might have
flood upon his ftate, and throne, and dignity; he
might have kept upon the throne of his glories : but
in wonderful grace he comes down, if I may fo fpeak,
as an equal ; and he comes into covenant with us, and
plights his troth. Is not this wonderful ? Solomoa
wondered : Will God indeed dwell with men f No
wonder if God will command men ; no wonder if God
will threaten finners ; thefe things become God, and
are like him, and are fuited to his nature : but will
God promife to man ? Will he make a covenant wilk
man f Job xli. 3,4. So Ezek. xvi. 6,- — 9.
2. As it is a great condefcenfion in God to reveal
himfeif to us as a promifing God, fo it is a great dmy
upon his people to keep that name of God contihuallv
in their eye. Pray what do you d'o in the word ? ia
prayer ? What is the God you deal with ? Do yoa
betake yourfelves to the word, to hear the word oF
God as a commander ? Ay, but where is the itrengtli
for obedience ? That is uncomfortable work then.
Ay, but, faith the believer, God's promifing for ali
that he hath done for his people before, and all that
they have done in their a£iiug^ of iaidi towards him,
encourages me. Would it not put another fort of
edge upon our prayers, were we to eye God as a
promifing God? What do we do in prayer: think
yen.
44 ^ The ftedfafl Adherence to Serm. III.
you, what is the bufincfs of prayer ? The main thing
in prayer is to put God in mind of the promife. The
great work of Chriftians is to turn proinifes into pray-
er, and God will turn both into performance. Every
believer, you know, is to afk according to God's will.
The aiking according to God's will, is to aik in faith,
James i. 5, 6. And not only to afic what God bids us
afk, but to afk what God has commanded us to hope ;
and we know what to hope for, by what God has
promifed. If we ftretch our hope beyond the pro-
rnife, we are out of the way : but his promifes are fo
large, that a believer needs not to fear but he hath
room enough for his faith to work in, nay to run in.
The faith of a believer hath room enough to treat
with God in. Labour for this. All the difquiets
that are in the minds of believers, all the changes that
are in their thoughts about the God they have to deal
with, all proceed from this. In the day of his love, in
the day of their peace, he hath been made known to
them as a promifing God. Ay, but now there is a
cloud comes upon their faith, and may be a veil upon
his face; and he comes to them and appears as if he
were a threatening or commanding God. No deal-
ing with him in this cafe- Learn to mind God's true
name, He is a fromifing God* The Lord teach you
this.
SERMON
Serm. IV. tie Profejfton of our Faith. 45
SERMON IV.
Hebrews x. 23.
For he is faithful that promifed.
YOU heard that thefe words contain the argu-
ment by which the apodle prelTeih the preceed-
ing exhortation to Chriftians, Let in hold f aft the pro-
fejjion of our faith without wavering ; and the arga-
ment is very proper, and very ftrong, Let in hold f aft
the prof ejjion of our faith, for God holds fall his pio-
mifes iufficiently. Yea, our faith is bulk i?poa his
promifcs. It is time enough for ^aith to ^ap:.]er whea
God fails, but never riil then. If God could iail,ihaa
a believer's faith (liculd fail, and never till (beu.
With regard to this argument of the apoftle's, Ididfirft
take a general view of it, with refpe£l to foraething
contained in the manner of fpeaking 1. He fpeaks
of a promifer, and names no perfon, only he that
promifes. He knew well enough, that Cbrifli^ns
knew whom he meant ; that it was God's promif : ;
faith looks to thai only. 2. The apoflle doth not tell
what he promifes ; but only he hath promifed. And
here now it is needful that we gather the extent of
the promife, and the nature of the faith and hope that
the apoflle is exhorting them to maintain the profef-
fion of. God's promifes, and the believer's faith and
hope are juftly and equally commenfurate ; all that
we need to defire and hope for, God's promifes fe-
cure. 3. I noted, that the word here in the original
is, Faithful is he that promijes ; or, that is i\\^ pro-
mifer ; or, that is as it were in the aft of promifing*
The promifes of God are not part: things ; they may
fcenr fo to us ; but they are always current, and -re-
G font
46' The ftedfa/i Adherence to Serm. IV.
fcnt, and ailing, and working perpetually, till perfor-
mance comes.
From the words themfelves, I did propofe feveral
truths to be handled. The firfl that 1 began upon,
was this : That the Chrijharis God is a promifing God.
The name that the apoftle here by the Spirit gives
him, is. He that promifes, Befidcs what was fpoken
lad day, I (hall now further fpeak upon this truth, in
handling ihefe two things.
1. I will (hew you what is a promifing God, and
what is to be considered therciti.
2. What need we have of a promifing God ; that
there is no other God can fave us but a promifing
God.
Lajlly^ I (hall make application of the point.
I. What is a promifing God f It is the true God
fnanifefting his grace and mercy to us, and fecuring
that by his faithful word, that is a promifing God ;
he is the true God, and the Father of our Lord Jefus
Chrift.
I. Confider, in this matter, the high and eternal
rife of all promifes ; and that is the infinite, unac-
countable love of God unto the chofen. The promife
of God is but the birth of the purpofe of God. The
purpofe of God fprings from nothing, the promife of
God fprings from fomewhat. There had never been
a word of good-will to the children of men fpoken by
God, if there had not been thoughts of good-will
framed in his heart from eternity. This we find fome-
liraes called the promife : God that cannot Ue^promifed
before the world began^ Titus i. 2, The meaning is,
he purpofcd it before the world began, and as fooa
as the world began he revealed it. This is carefully
to be taken notice of. That all the promifes of God
fpring from this purpofe of God, and are defigned by
our Lord in their true application to anfwei the pur-
pole ; that as the purpofe of his grace is a fare and
limited one, determined, and diftin^ ; fo the promife
is
SeRM, IV, the Trcfefflon of our Faith* 47
is of the fame defigo. Who hath favsd us^ faith the
apoflle, and called us with an holy callings not accor'
ding to our works, but according to his oivn purpcfe and
grace, which was given us in Chrijl Jefus before the
world began, but is now made manififl by the appear-
ing Qf our Saviour Jefus Chrift, 2 Tim. i. 9, 10.
2. About this promifmg God and his promifes, we
are to confider the channel wherein they run ; and
this is all in and through Jefus Chrift. That man
looks with a bad eye upon any of the promifes of
God, that does not fee Chriilin them: and they do
not fee Chrift rightly, unlefs they fee all the promi-
fes in him. We fee the covenant in him, and him in
the covenant ; all the proniifes of God are in him ;
he was promifed himfelf, and all the bleffings that arc
promifed, are purchafed by him, and left to his peo-
ple as a legacy in bis laft will, confirmed by his own
death.
3. The promifes in this promifiug God, come to
be confidered as they lie before us in the word.
There \hey are indited by the Holy Gholl, and writ-
ten by holy men of God, that were a£led by the Spi-
rit of God ; and, if i may fo fpeak, there we have
-them in black and white.
4. We would confider the proraife as the father of
believers, or the mother in a iigarativc phrafe. Eve-
ry believer is ^ child of promife : Now we brethren,
as Ifaac was, are the children of pumfe. Gal. iv. 2B»
Not only are we heirs of the promife, for that relates
to the eftate. Gal. iii. 29. Heb, vi. 17. and xi. 7, 9. ;
but children of the promife, begotten again to a live-
ly hope through the promife. When a poor crea-
ture is converted, it is the promife of God that does
it. The efficacy of the promife of God, in its begun
performance, does change and renew the heart, Jam.
i. 18. 1 Peter, i. 23. The apoflle, concerning his
own converfion, fays, It pleafed God, who feparated
me from my mother'' s %vomb, and called me by his grace,
G 2 Gah
48 ne JledfaJ} Adherence to Serm. IV^
Gal. i. 15. It was a kind of ft range feparation. The
poor ycuGg man was left of God as eminently as any
youth in ah Judea ; at his beft he was a fuperftitious
blinded Jew, and at his word a bitter enemy to the
Dame ofjefus Chrifi. Who would think now this
mjD was (eparared from his mother's womb for God ?
he feemed to be feparated from God, and feparated
to the vengeance of God. For all tl i', grace feized
his heart, and he is called in ^\xt time. Thefe things
we are to conceive when we fpeak and think of a
promifiDg God : the rile of them, in the purpofe of
God's heart ; the channel of all the promifes, in and
through the heart's blood of our Lord Jefus; record-
ed to us in the word, and io God's good time applied
to the heart, to call in the heirs of promife, and to
bring them home to pofiifs their eft ate.
IL The fecond thing i?, What need we have of a
fromiftng God, This mufi: be a name peculiarly ap-
plied unto the God we call upon and believe in.
Since fm hath come into the world, there is an abfo-
laie neccffity of our having to do with a promifing
God, and of God's dealing wi^h u^ as a promifing
God, otherwife there can be nothing but ruin on our
part.
I. Becaufe God cannot be favinglv known bat as a
promiiiDg God. The promife of God is both a veil,
and a giafs that we perceive God in. It is a veil u-
pon his inconceivable, unapproachable glory : it is a
glafs wherein we may perceive, and may get near to
him. We cannot poffibly take up any comfortable,
faving, right apprenenfionsof God, but as he is cloth-
ed and veiled to us in a promife. His own glory is
unapproachable ; his juftiee, his majefty, the(e great
attributes of his, are all amazing and confounding to
poor creatures. But wl n God comes near to us,
and promifes great and gojd things to us, then we
come to know him. It is remarkable bow Mofes
dealt wiih God, and God dealt with Mofes, iixod.
\ xxxiii.
Serm. IV. the Profeffion of our Fait hi 49
xxxiii. from ver. 13. to the end. The man is there
praying for Ifrael under their great fin, and under
God's great wrath for it : Shew me now thy way^ fays .
he, that I may know thee^ that I may find grace in thy
fight. At laft he arifes, Sheiu ?ne thy glory, ver. 18.
Whether Mofes was led or left unto an unbecoming
defire, to his defiring more than his prefent (late
could permit, we cannot peremptorily fay. He was
in a high degree of communion with God, as any
mere roan in this world ever was. The Lord anfwer-
ed him mofl gracioufly, and fitly to our purpofe. Mo-
fes prays that he may behold God's glory. What !
had he not feen enough already ? He faw, with all
the people, the glory of God in the giving of the law ;
he raw a great deal more in his more near approaches
to Go() ; he faw it yet more in his Haying with God
forty days in the mount; he faw the pattern of the
temple in ttie mount. Mofes yet, for all this, cries,
I befeech thee fkew me thy glory ^ as if he had never
before feen any thing ot the glory of the Lord. Says
the Lord, / will make all viy goodnefs to fafs before
thee, (my greatnefs would confound thee), and I will
proclaim the name of the Lord before thee ; and will be
gracious to whom I will be gracious, and willfhew mer-^
cy on whom I willfhew mercy. Accordingly the Lord
proclaimed it, chap. xKxiv. 6, 7. Will you take in
now this that I drive at from this quotation, that a
clear perceiving by faith of the fovereign grace and
goodnefs of God in hispromlfes of grace and compaf-
fion to poor finners, is the moft beneficial and higheil
difcovery of divine glory that finners can arrive ar,
and that believers fhould defire in this world. When
we pray that God would (hew us his glory, the Lord
will underftand it thus, and anfwer it thus : / will
caufe all my goodnefs to fafs before thee* The more
we fee of his goodnefs, the more we fee of his glory.
2. God cannot be wor(hipped acceptably, but as
a promifing God. Says the apoftle, It is required
that every man that comes to God to wor(hip, muft
believe
50 The /leaf a/l Adherence to Serm. IV.
believe that God is^ and that he is a rewarder of them
that diligently feek him^ Hebrews xi. 6. ; that he is a
gracious God, not only great in his being, but good,
and bo?3ntiful, and kind, and gracious to them that
feck him.
5. God cannot be trufled in, unlefs he be known
as a promifing God. Trufl in God, faith in him, is
a fpecial point of worihip ; it is not a duty of worfhip
fo trndr as it is a grace that ftiould accompany every
duty. Now, whence can faith in God arife unlefs
God fpeak fome good to us ? Faith arifmg from any
other fpring, is a dream and vain imagination of our
own minds, net bottomed upon the fmgle, fole word'
of God, They that know thy name will put their trufl
in thee : for thoUy Lord^ hafl not forfaken them that
feek theey Pfalra ix, 10. In Jacob's pleading. Gen.
xxxii. 9, 13. fee how cxa£lly he (lands upon God's
word. He not only calls God, the God of his father
Abraham, and the God of his father Ifaac, that was
s promifmg God ; but the God that faid unto me.
Return unto thy country , and to thy kindred^ and I will
deal well with thee^ verfe 9. And thoufaidfl^ I will
fureh do thee good, verfe 12. See how Jacob's wreft-
ling freed, how, if 1 may fo fpeak, the man behaved
himfelF in his mighty wreflling with God, all wi:h ihe
force of his word ; upon that word of his ; faith he
to the Lord, " Lord, thou bidft me, 1 am in the way
" thou bidft me go in j and thou faidfl^ I will furely
" do thee good,^^
4. God cannot be loved but as a promifi';^ God.
Love to God is promifed, and love to God ;?>iifes from
the difcoveries o\ God's goodnef^ to us : and the
clearer thefe difcoveries be, love ftill iccreafes.
5. All the enjoyment we have of God in this life,
is enjoying of Lim as a promifing God. Pray now
which way is it that there is that mtercourfe and that
familiarity, that mutual dealing between God and us,
that is called by thofe blclfed names in the word ;
fdloW"
Serm. IV. the ProfeJJlon of our Faith. 51
fdlowjbip with him, enjoy msnt of Him ^ Jin ding o/'him?
All ftanus in this ; we approach to God by the war-
rant oF his promife, he draws near to us according to
his promife, and in the fulfilment of it. The promife
is as it were Jacobus ladder, by which God comes down
to us, and we rife up to him again. The communioQ
v/hich believers have on earth is with God as a pro-
mifing God ; and the communion the glorified have
with him above, is w^iih God as a performing God ;
and, if 1 may fo fpeak, until God has perforaied all
he has promifed, he mnfl never lofe the name of a
promifing God to a believer.
Lajlly^ In the great wifdom of God, this name of
God is appointed to be the great name wherein he
will be glorified. The greateli glory that is given to
God, is given under the name of a promifiag God,
What is the reafon that Abraham is efpeciall? fald to
give glory to God ? He was jlrong in faith^ .V'^'^S
glory to God^ Rom. iv. 20. Believing is but thinking,
it is no more : but it is a rare thing, \i is a great
thought ; and a great many things feem far bigger
than believing. Doing feems to be a great deal great-
er than believing. Abraham's offering his fon ifaac
was a great a<^ ; ay, but the excellency oF it lay m
the faith he did it by. The reafon why believing is
fpecially faid to give glory to God, is, becaufe the
Lord bath a fpecial mind and defign to have himfelf
glorified in the foul, under the name of a promifing
God : and all good things ftiall came to his people^
to make them happy by virtue of the promife. But
the maker of the promife, and the keeper of the pro-
mife, and the performer of the promife, mud: have
all the glory. All that is in the promife is ours, but
all the praife of making it is his ; it is made by grace,
kept by grace, performed by grace ; all this glory
is to be given to him.
Application*
52 The Jledfajl Adherence to Serm. IV.
APPLICATION.
The fr/I ufe is this. That the Chriftian's God is a
promiling God. I therefore call you to inquire and
determine before God and your confcienccs, whether
you do know God under this name. Do you know
God as a promifing God ? A great many Chriftians
there are that know no fuch thing; they are called,
but are not really fo. The acquaintance that mofl
Chriftians have with God, (poor it is), is with him as
a commanding God. But if this does not fettle and
fix ordinarily in your thoughts, and in all your deal-
ings with God, I have now to do with a promifing God,
all you do is worth nothing.
1. If you have not to do with a promifing God,
you do not know God's mind. There is a great dif-
ference, you know, betwixt knowing a man's face,
and fhape of his body, his eftate, and garb, and houfe,
&c. and knowing his heart and thoughts, and how
he ftands affected towards us. All other fpecuiations
about God are tolerable pieces of philofophy to them
that have no better ; but the grand inquiry that fliould
poffefs our hearts is, What does this God think of
me ? What does he intend to do with me ? This can-
not be known but by the promife. Unlefs 1 have
fome good word from this God to (how his good-will
towards me, what do I know more than the devils
do ? for the devils know God better than any men in
this world, faving that they know God's wrath is a-
gainft them to eternity. But this name, a promifing
Godj they know nothing of. A great mercy it is that
ever God (hould be known as a promifing God to fin-
ful men. God was never revealed as a promifing God
to fallen angels, but he was fo to fallen man.
2. Unlefs you know God as a promifing God, you
cannot know God in Chrift ; and you do not know
the true God, unlefs you do know God in Chrift j un-
lefs
Serm. IV. the Profejjlon of ow Faith, 5^
lefs your deterraiaate knowledge of God, be of rh^t
God thac fhines in his glory to ns in rlie face of J:fa5
Clirift. We muft look upon no (tod out of this face ;
for there is no eye that can perceive God, but as :.e
(liines this way, i John v. 20. fays the apoftle, IVe
know^ that the Son of God is coiiie^ and hath given us
an under ft anding^ that we may knozv him that is true :
and we are in him that is true, even in his Sen Jefus
Chrijl, 'This is the true God and eternal life^ i John
V. 20.
3. If you donor know God as a pronnifing God,
you know nothing of the marrow and fubfUnce of
the bible. Take away Qodh promifes out of the
bible, and there is nothing lef' in it, but bones, and
f^ones, and poifon, and daii5 for poor man. If you
do not fee God as proniifing, you do not know the
marrow of tlie fcripture ; for the heart and niarrov/
of the will oF God lies there.
Laftly, If you do not know God as a proTnifing
God, you cannot deal vviih God about falvaiion. Pray
now, which way is it that men deal with Gcd about
their falvarion P 1 do acknowledge, that there are
fome people that make a fadiionof dealing with God
about their faiva^on, who do not underfland the w^iy
of God's de?din^ with them about fa^vuion. Such
kind of dealers fpend their time ro no purpofe. All
right dealing wirU God about our falvation, is in an-
fwering of God's dealing with us ia that matter.
Now, all the Lord's way of dealing with us' about
falvation is by his promifes ; he promifes eternal life,
he fends this promife to us in the gofpel ; we mufl
lay hold OQ or we cannot deal with God, as he deals
with us, Pfal. xxvii. 8. Eph iv. 32. Rom. iv. 13. Hof.
ii. 23.
Seccndlyy I would add an exhortation or two unro
Chriftians. Is the Chriftian's God a promifing God ?
Keep always this name of God in your heart and eye.
You will find no great caufe in this work ; it is a hard
H wo:lc
54 "The ftedfafl Adherence to Serm. IV.
work to keep God as a promifing God (till in the eye,
but it is very needful.
I/?, Do not you iiud God began with you this way,
and you began this way with God P You that arc true
Chriftians, that have been born again, that have beea
tranfplanted out of the old (lock iotothe new, do not
you know fomething of this, thai as long as God was
known to you only as a commanding God, and as a
threatening God, there was nothing but death, and
ruin, and damnation in your eye ? but when he was
revealed as a promifing God, then light, and life, and
hope, and liberty began to arife. Was there ever
a diftrefied confcience in the world truly pacified with-
out a promife I If it were without a promife from
God, the devil was the do(flor, and the difeafc is worfe
than ever it was. If ever thou halt been afraid of
the wrath of God for thy fin, if thy mind has been
quiet without a promife of God through Chrifl Jefus,
you are but dreaming dill ; fuch a cure is worfe ilian
the difeafe. The apoftle tells us bow it was v^ith him ;
When the commandment came, fays he, fin revived^
and I disd^ Rom. vii. 8j 9. There was woful work
when the commandment came. When God is only
known to you as a commanding Qod^^ fms grow great-
er, and appear exceeding fmful ; but when grace
comes, when the promife comes, the matter is alter-
ed, the prifoner is refcued. Before faith catne^ fays
he, we were keft under the law. Gal. iii. 21. — 24.
We were prifoners lill Chrift came, and the promife
came, and faiih came ; for they are all three come
together. Chriil: comes by the promifes, and the pro-
mifes are received by faith, and the prifoner is made
whole by faith.
7diy^ You mufl mind this conlfantly, for ail belie-
vers raufl live by faith.; and if fo be we are called to
live by faith, furely we mufl: remember ihat God is
a promifing God ; this is necellarily implic •. To live
by faith, implies thefe four things, (i.) That a poor
believer in himfelf is a poor em^^ty creature ; he
hath ,
Serm. IV, the Profefion of our Faith, $$
hath nothing at home to live by in his houfe, Ifa. iii.
7. And fjnce there is no bread within, he mnft live
abroad. (2.) It implies, that the (lock that a belie-
ver is to live upon, is elfewhere ; It is "without him,
it is with God in Cbrill, Col. iii. g. (3.) ft implies,
that there are ways, iffaes, venis, by which he may
go out for it, or it may come into him; paiTages by
which communication of this fulnefs in Chrift comes
in to the a^iial poffeffion of the believer. There
were no living by faith, unlefs the ilock that is ia
Chrift had ways of venting itfelf, of being brought
down unto the hand, unto the ufe and benefit of the
poor believer ; and this is by the proinife. And
therefore it follows, (4.) That the daily and conilant
work of a believer, is to be pleading thefe promifes
for his fupply. / live^ faith the apoAle, yet 7ict /,
but Chrift liveth in me : and the life that I now live
in theflejh^ I live by the faith of the Son cf God, who
loved me^ and gave himfelf for me , Gal. ii. 20. Laftlyy
Ke finds the good of it, Ffal. xxvii. 3. and xxviii. 7.
Lafllyy Mind this freqaently, that God is a promif-
ing God ; for as ycu mufl live by faith on a promif-
ing God, fo you muft die and go before him under
this name. The great appearance muft be ventured
upon under this name. There are few folks, Sirs,
that are fo happy, as to make their approaches to
God by faith, with that dread, and reverence, and
awe, that the iafl: approach requires ; we ihould then
a£l firm faith freqaently ; we rnuft die in this', with
this God .in our eye, as a promifiag God. We have
a remackable inilaoce of this in thofe tw^o good Qjen,
the father and the fon, good Jacob 147 years old,
and good Jofeph no years old : Behold^ faith Jacob
to Jofeph, / die^ but God ftjall be with you, Genefis
xiviii. 2 I. aod xlix. 25. with Luke ii. 30, as if Jofeph
had learned It of his father, he tells his brethren that
furvived him, when he came to die. Gen. 1. 24. I die^
fays he, and God vjtll furely vi fit you, and bring ycu
rji of this lands unto the land 'which he f ware to Abra-
II 2 ham.
S6 The ftedfajl Adherence to Serm. IV.
ham^ Sec. As iT thefe two holy patriarchs had faid,
'• Now we die, but our promifing God lives ftill, and
" the promife iives, ai:d will have its accomplilhment
" in due time." It is upon this, that David amongfl
his lall. words fpake that great word, 2 Sam. xxiii. 5.
Altbo'jgh my houfe be not Jo with God ; yet he hath
Wilde with vie an everlajting covenant^ ordered in all
thtm^s' and jure, An. ill-ordered bouie, bift a well-
ordereJ covenant ; many things amifs in the one, but
nothing amifs in the other, faid the believer. So muft
you die, breathing cur, 1. Your foul, Pfal. xxxi. 5.
2. Leaving your body in the duft, Pfal. xvi. 9. 3.
Your prefent cnjoymenii;, 2 Sam, xxiii. 5. 4. All your
finful infirmities.
The fecond exhortation is this, Make ufe of this
name ot God as a promifing God, carefully and wife-
ly. How you fhouid ufe this name ot God, 1 would
iD(lru<5^ you in a few thing-.
I. In ail your extremities mind this name only.
z> In all your walk, or ordinary cafes, mind it
mainly.
I. In all your extremities mind this name of God
only ; there is no other name then to be minded.
There are two forts of extremities that Chriftians feel ;
and it is their great wifdom, when in them, to ufe
this name. ]/i. There are great extremities of con-
fcience. idly^ Extremities of dillrefs and difpenfati-
cns. In e;::remities of confcience, people mud be
very careful to remember no name of God, but the
name of the promifing God j all is terrifyit^i^ but only
thi?, I hinted but juil now, that the promife.of the
gofpel is the only piaiiier for a wounded confcience,
and when God lays it on and bleffes it, it is niarvel-
Jous what a fuJden cure it will do. Health and peace
quickly will foliow this application, in extremities of
didrefs, it is to be only minded, when people are
borne down quite, : !;d know not what to do. Saith
jehoihapliar, J f when iM cometb upon us^ we cry unto
ibee in our ojfli^Vwn^ then thou wilt hear and helpy
% thron,
Serm. IV. the ProfeJJlon of our Faith, 57
2 ChrOD. XX. 9. Good Hezekiah was a follower of
him in this pra£lice, Ifa xxxviii. 14. O Lord^ fays he,
/ am opprejfed, undertake for tne, 1 may allude to the
meaning of the word ; undertaking there is under-
taking as a furety ; I may compare it with the fame
his great-grandfather David ufeth, Pfalm cxix, 122.
Be furety for thy fervant, O what a prayer is that 1
The good man is in deep diftrefsj as if he (hould fay,
** My word fignifies nothing before God, nor men,
*' nor devils ; it will not pacify God, nor qaiet con-
" fcience, nor (lop the devil's mouth : Lord^ befure^
** ty fi^ thy fervant^ fpeak a good word for me, thou
" art a promifing God." It is great boldnefs of faith
for a believer to come to God to pafs his word for
him, to be furety for him.
2. In ordinary cafes, we muft mind this mainly.
There are feveral other names of God by w^hich he
is known to us in the word ; and in his dealings with
us, we muit give them their due room ; but this mud
be the main flill. As for inftance, God is known to
us as a commanding Lord and God, that reveals his
will about our work and duty, hath proclaimed his
mind, and calls for our obedience. Your duty with
refpe6l to this is, ly?, Take the commands of God
out of the baud of a promifmg God : This is not a
bare commanding God, but it is a promifmg God that
does command me. And unlefs you look thus on God's
law, you may quickly over-ftrefs yourfelves in your
endeavours after obedience, and yet do nothing to
any purpofe. See how oblervable this is in the giv-
mg of the law. God^s glory was difplayed, Ifrael
and Mofes trembling, Heb. xii. 15, &c. yet i am
your God. I am the Lord thy God^ which brought
thee out of the land of Egypt y cut of the houfe of bon-
dage ; thou (halt do fo and fo. Obferve now the pre*
face to the commandments, (fee Deut. xxvi. 16,--- 19.)
It is not, Thou (halt do fo and fo, and then I will be
thy God ; the Lord does not firil reveal himfelf to
them as a commanding God, and promife that, upon
thciv
58 The Sfe^faJ} Adherence to Serm. IV.
rhcir obedience, he will become a promifing God ;
but he reveah hirafelf as a promifiag God, and upon
thai requires iheir obedience to him as a commanding
G.';d : Becaufe I was thy God^ I brought thee out of
the land of Egypt ; and after 1 have brought thee cut
of the bod of Egypt, I tell thee my mind about thy
duty. Oa that fome Chriftians (if I may fo fpeak)^
could find as much gofpel in the preaching of the gof-
pel, as is plainly here in the preface of the law ; bur
fome will aiake gofpel-promifes come in after obedi-
ence 10 gofpei'precepts. There is no obedience that
ever was performed by man rightly, nor gracioufly
accepted by God, but that obedience that was per-
formed to the commands of God, as a promifing God.
Again, we are not only to take a command out of his
hand, as a promifing God, but we are to turn the
commands back again, for grace to perform them,
Pfal, cxix. 6, 7, 8. As foon as ever God reveals his
mind to us about our duty by a command, we are im-
iTiediately to turn the command upon him in prayer :
Lcrd^ perform thy word ; zurite them in my heart, that
J -nay keep them^ for that is the promife; Pfal. cxliii.
lo, A/Vhat a great word is that. Teach me to do thy
wiil^ for thou art my God I It is not, to know or love
thy Will, though that is needed and begged, Pfalm
CMix, : it is not, Teach nie to do thy will, that thou
mayft be my God ; but, Teach me to do thy ivill^ for
thou art my God, Faith in God animates his prayer
for grace, to yield obedience to it. God reveals him-
felf fometimes to us as a threatening God. Th: '.aten-
ings and promifes feem to be very crofs to one ano-
ther. It is the promifrag God that does threaten, and
the Lord knows very well how to m.ake his proniifes
and his threatenings agree together, if we were wife
to make them agree together in our faith. Jf his
children forfake my law ^ 8zc. I will vi fit their tranf
grefjicns with the rod^ and their iniquities ivith ftripes,
JSeverthelefs\ my loving-kindnefs will I not utterly take
from kim^ S'lc. Pfalm Ixxxix, 30,-34. It were well
for
SeHm. IV. the Profeffion of our Faith. 59
for us, if we were as able to believe the (landing of
promifes, and the love io his heart, notwithilanding
the threatenings and the flrokes of his baud ; if we
could in fome meafure do that, as well as he can make
all his ways towards us to be mercy and truth. All
the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto fuch as
keep his covenant, and his tejiimonles, Pfal. kxv. io.
We cannot eafily fee it, but God can eafiiy do it.
Sometimes God is manifefting himfelf to his people as
a hiding God ; that is a fad difcovery, if it llioiild be
properly fuch ; but it is a name of God oft knowp :
Verily, faith the church, thou art a God that hidejl
thyfelf^ O God of Ifrael the Saviour i Ifaiah xlv. 15. /
will wait upon the Lord that hidsth his face from the
houfe of Jacob ^ and I iviil look far him, I fa. viii. 17,
Job akm, 3r*-'3» "11^^ fum of all this now i?, that
this name of God, the fromiftng Gody is the leading
name that (hould mainly be rnindtd by ChriQiADS in
all his appearances. We take his commaads, threat-
enings, rods, and corrections, we muft ufe them all,
as remembering, that all thefe are from a promifing
God. If the commands were alone without a promife,
who could perform them ? If the threatenings were
alone without a promife to fweeten them, and take
away the poifon of them, who could endure them ?
But all this is confident with his love, and therefore
fliould not (hake the faith of a believen
SERMON
6o The fledfajl Adherence to Serm. V,
SERMON V.
Hebrews x. 23.
He is faithful that promifej,
YO U have heard again and again, that thefe
words are the argument by which the apofUe
prelTeth the exhortation ucro the duty, of Chriftians
holding f a fl their prof ejfi on of faith without wavering.
The argument is flrong in itfeif, and pertinent 10 the
apoftie's fcope, and is an argument that has a great
deal of good truth in it, with refpe61 to its contents.
1 have (hewn what is in thefe words. He is faithful
that promifes, I firfl: fpake laft day to this truth, That
a ChrifliarHs God is a promifing God. The name the
apoftle here gives him is, He that promt feth. He pro-
iTiifeth like himfelf, hke a God. He is known by his
promifes.
The fecond thing that I am now to fpeak to is this.
That this protnifing God is faithful in his promifes :
He is faithful that pro?iiifes. This is a name of God
frequently given to him in the word, both in the old
and new tedaraent. The prophet hath a great word
about it, Lam. iii. 23. Great is thy fait hfulnefs. His
mercies are renewed towards us every morning. His
compaj/ions fail not. In the new teffament it is fre-
quently ufed alfo: i Cor. i. 9. God is faithful, by
whom ye were called unto the fcllowflnp of his Son Je-
fus Chrifl our Lord, i ThelL v, i^,. Faithful is he
that calleth you, who alfo will do it. 2 ThefT, iii. 3.
But the Lord is faithful, who jhall flahlifb you and keep
you from evil. And I name thefe rather in the new
teftament, becaufe in all thefe three places that I
have named, the word in the Greek is the fame with
that
SEiiivi. V. the Profejfion of our Faith i 6 1
that in my text. This is a naTne of God thnt all be-
lievers know, and all that would be believers mtiH
ftudy. There is never a believer in the world but
kcows that God is faithfal ; and if they knew it bet-
ter, they would be better believers ; and no man caa
be a believer, till he know that his God is faithtul.
There is no truft given to him, till his truilioefs be
known.
I (liall therefore, in handling this name of the Lord
our God, A faithful God that promifes^ give you, FirjJ,
The meaning of it. Secondly ^ The grounds of ic :
the meaning, that you may -underdand \\ ; and the
grounds of it, taat you may believe it the better.
I. The meaning of this word, this name of God,
that he is faithful^ contains thefe things.
1. He promifeth who purpofeth, neither rafhly
nor haftily. All his promKes are fiom eternity.
2. God fpeaks as he thinks. It is one of the g^^eat-
eft and worlt pieces of diihonefty in promlfing, when
people promife what ihey think never to do j that is
lying. There is lying in promifing, when people
do not intend to perform ; as well as in alTerting that
to be true, when they know it to be falfe. The wife
man takes notice that there are fuch kind of folks in
the world, Prov. xxiii. 7. Bat when God promifes,
he fpeaks as he thinks.
3. God is faithful in this fenfe, that he remembers
always what he fays. There are fome ra(h folks that
promlfe a great deal more than tbey perform, becaufe
they forget a great deal of what ihey pro.iiifed. Our
Lord never forgets a word of his promife. When-
ever he has made a promife to a believer, it is fixed
perpetually in his heart. Forgetfulneis is not to be
afcribed to God. 1 know believers fometiraes, in fits
of unbelief, have charged God this way : lialh
God forgotten to be gracious ? Will the protnife fail
for evermore? So in the Hebrew, Pfalm ixxvii. 7,
But that is the infirmity of the fpeaker. We find
fometiraes alfo, the people of God putting God ia
I mi ad
6t The Jledfafl Adherence to Serm. V.
of his pronsifes ; yea the Lord calling them fo to do :
Fut me in remembrance^ Ifa. xliii. 26. But this put-
ting God in remembrance is required of us, and to
be performed by us, not to help God's memory, bm
to exercife our faith : Keep 7iot filence, till he ejlablijh
and make Jtrufalem a fra'ife in the earthy Ifa. Ixii. 6.
Remember^ iays the pfalmift, the word unto thy fervant^
upon which thou hajl caufed me to hope^ Pfal. cxix. 49.
The Spirit of God tells us of the exadlnefs of God's
remembrarce many times. His mercy towards bis
people is exprelTed this way. This is one of his names.
He remembers his mercy to them that fear him. He is
raindful of his covenant^ Pfalm cxi. 5. Nay, as to his
people, it is fpoken aifo^ Mai. iii. 16. that there was
a book of remembrance written before the Lordj for them
that feared the Lord^ and thought on his name, 1 ar-
gue from that, that if fo be the Lord keeps fo exaft
an account of the poor {lender thoughts that his poor
people have of him, how much more will he' keep a
good remembrance of all his own precious thoughts
concerning them, and of all the good Wijrds he paffeth
to tbem : Pfalm xl. 5. and cxxxix. 17.
4, God is faithful in this fenfe, that he never
changeth his mind. Poor frail men may fomeiimes
promife with an honeft mind, and ihey may fee good
reafon for the changing of it. Sometimes it is lav/ful
to change in fome cafes, fometiraes not. There may
be fin in giving a ralh promife, that may be greater
than the breaking of it. The Lord never changes his
mind. Balaam is called a falfe prophet by Peter ;
but the meaning is, he w^as not a falfe prophet in his
prophefying, but a falfe prophet that prophefied.
The^ Spirit of God fpake by him, but never touched
the gracelefs man's heart : God is not a man^ that he
fhould liey neither the fan of ??ian that he fbould repent :
hath he faidy andfhall he not do it f or hath he fpo-
ken^ and f}) all he not make it good? Numb, xxili. 19«
Job xxiii, 13. God never changeth his mind, never
comes to be in another mind, than that wherein he
made
Serm. V. the Profejfton of our Faith. 63
made his promife unto his poor children. Whatever
changes there be in his difpenfations, there is no
change in hi^ mind. If his childroi forfake my law,
&c. / will vifit their tranfgrejjlons with the rod, and
their iniquity with flripes. Here is a great change in
God's difpenfaiions ; inftead of heaping loving-kind-
cefs upon them, he is vifitiag thena with rods and
ftripes. 'Neverthelefsy my loving- kindnefs will I not ut-
terly take from him, nor fuffer my faithfulnefs to fail.
See. Once have I [worn by my holinefs, that I will not
lie unto David, Pfaim Ixxxix. 30,-— 35.
Laftly^ Qo^ is faithful in proraifing, becaufe he al-
ways performs what he promifes; he always does as
he fays, fpeaks as he thinks, remembers what he fays,
never. changes his mind, and always performs his word.
What the tefiimony was, that Jolliua exa(^ed of the
confciences of the Ifraelites, when he poiTeiTed the
land of Canaan, our true Jofhua, Jefus, Will exadl: and
get of all the true Ifrael, when they come to the true
Canaan: jofhua xxiii. 14. And ye know ^ fays he, in
all y cur hearts, and in all your fouls ^ that not one thing
hath failed of ail the good things which the Lord your
God [pake concerning you ; all are come to pafs unto you,
and not one thing hath failed thereof This is briefly
the meaning of this great name of the Lord our God,
a faithful God, faithful in his promifes.
II. ^Hiz fecond ^hing is, to give you fome grounds
for our faith concerning this ; for it is no fmall mat-
ter to have a firm faith of God's faithfulnefs. All
faith is botiofned upon the promifes, and all taith in
the promifes is founded upon the faithfulnefs of the
maker of them. Though the promife be never fo
good, yet if the maker of the promife be not faith-
ful, it is no fecurity to the man that gets it.
1 am to ihew what grounds there are that we may
ufe, and are given us in the word of God, for the
clearing our uaderftanding, and fixing our faith on
this name of God : That this tromifer is faithful,
I 2 I. The
^4 The Jledfafl Adherence to Serm^ V,
1. Thtjirjl I fiiall Dame is taken from the nature
of Gcd. Faithiulnefs is infeparable from bis nature,
as infepaiable as any oti er name that can be given
hkn. Omniporency i of the narure of God ; a weak
God is DO God, but an idol. Truth and faithfulncfs
are in the nature of a god ; a talfe god is an idol.
Therefore, v/hen the apoftle would aggravate unbe-
lief, jrofpel unbelief, he aggravares it by this: He
that believeth not God^ hath made Mm a liar^ becaufe
he believeth not the record that God gave of his 6on^
I Jo! V. lO What is it to make God a liar ? It is
i.TipciTiblc for a creature to do f o ; but they account
him io, that is the meaning of it. When we do not
take G^d's promifcj it is to make God a liar, it is to
nia'<e God a devi! ; for the devil is a liar, and the
father of li, John viii. 44. See what rank wicked-
nefs t::ere is in unbelief, Jerem. xv. 18. Pfalm Ixxvii,
7,-— fO
2. We find this, the vnchangeabknefs of God is a-
nother ground of his faithtnlneis : W:th whom is no
variab/enejs, neither fhadow of turnings James i. 17.
Changing is always a creature infirmity j it is impof-
fible for a creature but to be changeable. Unchange-
ablenefs is a divine property, and cannot be commu-
nicated to any creature. Changing is twofold, i/?.
From worfe to better, idly^ From better ro worfe.
Neither of which can be in him. Whatever there is
of fixednefs in the ftate of believers, it h not un-
changeablenefs ; but it is a coTiiriucicared fecurity by
the grace of God the giver of ir. All quedioning of
the promifes of God always charges him with being
ctiangeable. He is the farce that he was, whatever
t^e unbelcver, or the unbelieving, doubtful believer
•may think. He i? fo as to eftabliilied angels, and
fain s in glory now, icd to eternity.
3. The great rooir. ^ai grace hath in the promifes,
is one good ground fc. oui ^'-iirb, as to the taithful-
nefs of God in the maklig oi chcm. And this is two-
fold.
Sekm. V. the ProfeJJion of our Faith. 6;
fold, ly?, Grace is the fpring of all the promifes.
2^/x, The glory of grace is the defigo of all the mak-
ing of promifes, and performance ot all the promifes :
Therefore it is of faith ^ that tt might be by grace ; to
the end the promife might be fure to all the jeedy Rom/
iv. i6. It is by promife; this promife is by grace,
that ir may be fure to all the feed. If the promife
were given upon any other account, and did flow from
any other fpring but the grace of God, it might grow
dry. If God promifed to us upon the account of any
condition that might be wrought by us, the promife
might not be fure ; but this fpringing from the good-
will and grace of God himfclf, as long as that remains
they mult (land. The defign of all the performance
of promifes is the glory of grace. Our Lord fpeaks
many good words to us in the fcripture, he makes
thele warm foQieiimes upon the hearts of his people
in their faith ; and at lad, when all thefe good words
fliall come to good deeds, and (hall fhine forth in
their glory, what a wonderful fight will that be, to
fee every poor believer have in his face, his heart, his
foul, and body, all the promifes of God fulfilled to him !
Then the queftion will be. Why harh God done all
this ? why hath he refcued, and fcraped, as it were,
a company of vile fmners out of the bottom of hell, to
fil them with (o much glory, and that to eternity ;
all to the praife of the glory of his grace, wherein we
are accepted in the Beloved P Therefore are we a-
dopted, therefore are we e!e<^ed, therefore ar:^ v/e
juitified, therefore are we fanftified, and'^ffiereFore
are we glorified, that it might be to the glory of his
gracey Eph. i. 4, — 14. and ii. 7.
5. The great room Jefus Chrift hath in the pro-
miles in one ground of our faith, that God is faithful
in them, and that they ihall be fulfilled. ChrilFs
room, in the covenant is fo great, that in eficifl he is it,
and he is called the covenanty Ifa. xlix. 8. and xlli, 6,
' He is alfo called the promife^ when the Father fent
him into the world : He hath raifed ut an horn offnl-
vation
66 ^ke Jledfaft Adherence to Serm. V,
vatwn for us^ fays Zacharias, Luke i. 69. Chrift's
jniereli: in the covenant and in the promife is great:
they are faid by the apoflle to be ail in him yea^ and
in him amen, unio the glory of Gd by us^ 2 Cor» i. 20.
God's glcry wants flnners to work upon. If there
were not loll Tinners in this world, promifes of grace
coivd have none to work upon. If we were all per-
fe611y holy, what hath the promife of forgivenefs to
do in this world. Says the apoftle, They are all in
hini yea J and in him amen^ unto the glory of God by us.
We in our fins, iniirrnities, weakneftes, are the field
wherein the glory of God's promifes is difplayed and
advanced, and all this in Chrilt Jefus. Chrid's inte-
red in the promife is threefold, ijl^ Chrifl hath
bought ail the bleffings in the promife, and all the
heirs of the promife ; he hath bought us for the pro-
mife, and the bielTings for us. His interefl: then mud
be very great. There is never a bleffing that a poor
believer partakes of, but Chrift's blood went for it ;
it went for your daily bread, and for more grace and
glory. He is bleff:;d that believes, that his octward
niercies and aflli(^ioa3, &c, are all by promife. What-
ever we have is by promife and purpofe, Phil. i. 29.
And never man received a promife, but he that Chriil
boughi to be the heir of it. We are heirs of pro-
mife, becaufe in Chrift Jefus, We are all the cbil-
dren of God by faith in Cbrift Jefiis ; and if children^
then heirs ^ Rom. viii. 17. Ga!. iii. 29. zdly^ Our
Lord Jefus Chrift hath this intereft in the piomiles,
that his blood went for the confirm/mg cf the whole
covenant. The whole book of the promifes, Chrifl's
blood fealed it ail ; therefore it is called the bio: d of
the everlafling covenant. The teftajmeut of the cove-
nant is made fare by the blood of the teftacor ; no
ni.'in iriuft add any thing to it. There is a curfe unto
ihem that fivail add or pare any thing from the whole
canon of fciipiure, Rev. xxii. i8, 19. How rn.uch
liiore unfuHcrable ro add or pars from our Lord's tef-
taraent I
Serm. V. the Pro/e/fmi of our Faith, 6j
tameht ? The cove?2ant was confirmed before of GcJ in
Chrijij Gal. iii. 17. By his medjatioa at laft, as me-
diator of the covenant, he confirmed it by his blood.
^dly^ A third intereft that Chrift hath in the cove-
nant is, that he is the furety of it. He is to fee the
bargain kept on both fides, that God may not caft us
off for our iniquities, and that we may not leave God
by our unbehef. Chrid is engaged on both ; ?.n<t,
if I may fo fpeak, he has a hard laPxC of it, to keep
devouring juftice from confuming ftubble fully dry»
It is a tafk only fit for him, and he only fit tor it; a
tallc he chearifully undertook and perfectly fulfilled,
and is now fulfilling.
6. The high engagements of divine truth in the
promifes, are great confirmations for our faith in God's
faiihfulnefs. Proraifes are made by the Lord ^o de-
liberately ; he goes fo high in them, that we nuiit
believe he is faithful, and will perform them. See
how the apoftle difcourfes to the Hebrews, chap, vi,
when he is CKhorting believers ro be followers of thera
who through faith and patience have inherited the pro*
mifes : as if the apoftle had faid, *» Be not flothful^
" take pains, follow on ; all thofe that have tried this
*^ courfe of faith and patience, have inherited the
.iLpromifes. And fo will you ;'* why fo P becaufe
when God made the promife to Abraham, becaufe he
could fwear by no greater, he fwore by himfelf ; fay-
ing, Surely^ blejjtng^ I will blefs thee, &c. There are
feveral things of great confideration in that fcripture*
ly?. That there is double fecurity, word, and oath«
The lead hint of good-will from fo great a God, as
our God is, (hould engage all the dependence of his
children; nay, if it came but to only a may-be, God^s
may-be is enough for our rcTerend waiting on him,
God not only fpeaks, but he fWears, Now obferve,
how the apoftle fpeaks, Becaufe he could fwear by n9
greater^ he [ware by himfelf; as if the apoflle had
faid, *' If it had been pofilble for God to have gone
*' higher, he would have gone higher.'' How does
God
68 The Jledfafl Adherence to Sehm. V,
God fwear by himfelf I As I live ; he fwears by his
Ufe ; he fwears by his being ; he fwears by his God-
head, As true as I am God, / will blefs thte^ fays
he to Abraham. What is all this to us now ? God
teftifies a lingular refpe£J: unto an eminent man, upon
a fingular teftimony of the man's refpect to him ; one
of the moft eminent adls of faith, and of obedience
that ever was performed by a mere man, to offer up
freely to God his only fon now grown a man. Here
was a noble a6l of obedience ; but the Lord teftifies
a fpecial regard to this man, and gives him this oath.
What is that to you and me P Now, fays the apo-
ftle, this concerns you and me, that have /led for re-
fuge^ to lay hold on the hope Jet before m ; he leads us
to this, that every poor creature that has a mind for
falvation through Jefus Chrift, fliould fay in himfelf,
As fure as God faid and fwore to Abraham, fo fureJy
hath God faid and fworn to me, that I (hall be bleffed
with eternal falvation in flying for refuge to his own
Son. So the apoftle applies it, That by two immuta-
ble things^ in which it was impojftble for God to lie^
we might have a flrong confolation^ who have fled for
refuge to lay hold on the hope fet before us, Obferve
the vaft difference. Abraham yields a grand a6l of
obedience, and lifts up his knife to cut the throat of
his own fon at God's command : A poor finner what
does he ? A fmner chafed by the torments of his own
confcience, and the threatenings of the law ^ he runs
to Chrift for falvation : he is a felf-feeker, if I may
fo fpeak ; he is feeking the falvation of his own foul ;
nay, fays the apoftle, He that does fo, (hall get that
fame fecurity for his falvation that Abraham got.
It is a great point, and only fit for Paul's divinity, to
fpell fo great a matter out of that extraordinary tef-
timony that God gave to Abraham. Though the fer-
vice that God craved of Abraham be not craved of us,
yet the privilege is allowed to every believer ; fo that
if you fly to Chrift Jefus, there is not a poor belie-
vers
Serm. V. the ProfeJJion of our Faith, 6^
ver, that hath laid hold on the horns of God's altar,
but that poor creature (hal! be as fure of God's eter-
nal blfffing as great Abraham was, when he heard
God fvvearing to him. This is what the apoftle teaches;
the Lord help us to prafHfe it.
7. There is divine forefight of all poiTiMe and fu-
ture impediments of perlorraance, whicn is a great
argument of God's faithfuinefs. That proves to us,
that God is faithful in his promifes. An honeft man
may make a promife upon his bed underftanding, hue
the providence of God may render it quite impofTiblc:
to perform it. Now, there is no fuch thing can be-
fai the Lord our God. Here is a great argument for
your faith in God^s faithfuinefs ; he forefaw all things
ih^t {hall come, or can come to pafs, that look like
impediments. All your hnniDg, all your fainting, all
your unbelief, all your mormurings, all your turnings
and temptings of the Lord, poor believer, they were
all fore fee n by God, yet he made the promife, and
therefore he will keep ir. I believe we are fuch poor
believers, that if we had the forefight of all that comes
in the way to hinder, we would never believe. A
poor believer, if in the day that he gives the hand
unto the Lord, in the day that he marries his foul
unto Chrift Jefus, in the day that he engages to ex-
pe£l life, and righteoufnefs, :^nd falvation in this holy
One of Ifrael ; t fay, if this man, could for* fee all
the fin, and all the mifcarriages and weaknciTes that
will be found in him for but feven years to come, he
would draw back his hand, and be afhamed to fay,
/ believe. The reafon why I fay fo is ihi*, becaufe
when a few of thefe come in our way, they fliake cur
faith. The children of God have one advantage in-
their weaknefs, that our future things are hid from
us ; things that, (hall come to pafs we do not knx>w,
but the Lord ffes them all, and in fight of them ail
he makes the promife, and therefore, notwithltand-
ing them all, he keeps the promife, Ifa. xlviii. 18, 19.
and Pfah Ixix. 5.
K 8. The
•JO The Jledfafl Adherence to Serm. V,
8. The viighty power of God is that which we (hould
ground our faith of his faithfulnefs upon. Omnipo-
tency muft be engaged to fulfil the promifes, and om-
nipotency mufi: be afled upon in believing the pro-
mi fe : 2 Tim. i. 12. I knowwhom I have believed^ and
I am perfuaded that he is able to keep that which I
have committed unto him againfl that day* Abraham
offered up his fon Ifaac, accounting that God was able
to raife him from the dead. He had a promise, nat
in Ifaac his feed Jhould be called ; God bid Abraham
cut his throat, and burn (not bury) his body : fays
Abraham, " That I will do," accounting that he was
able to raife him up from the dead. How frequently do
we find faith fixed this way upon divine power P Rom.
xi. 23. As to the Jews, they (hall be grafted in ; why
fo P God is able to graft them in : as to a weak be-
liever, it is far more eafy, Rom, xiv. 4. lie Jhall be
holden up : for God is able to make him fland. Sirs,
your faith will devcr behave well, till you have a view
of omnipotency. That faith is never foundly tried,
till it is brought into that diftrefs that nothing but om-
Dipotency can relieve out of; and that faith is not
cleanly a^ted, that does not afl purely upon omnipo-
tency. V/herefore do I believe the promife ? Bs-
caufe he is the Lord of hods, for whom nothing is
too hard, that promifes ; it is with this the Lord
chides Sarah's unbelief. Is any thing too hard for the
Lord? Gen. xviii. 4. Jer. xxxii. 17, 27.
Laflly^ There is fomething in the very nature of the
promifes that fpeaks forth the certainty of their ful-
filmcnt. Ye may know by the nature of the promifes,
that he is a faithful God that made them. One is the
abfolutenefs of the main proirife. That I call an ab-
folute promife, wherein the whole of the care and
charge is God's. When God fays I willy they fhail ;
/ will he your God, and ye /ball be my people ; and if I
will be your God, no man (hall fay he fhall not be
my God ; and if thou fay. We fliall be rhy people,
none.
Sekm. V. the Frofefion of our Faith. 1i
none (iiaii fay, We (hall not be thy people* There
is again the w if dom of the order of the promifes, ih-at
There is feme begun perCormance of the promifes ;
the performance of the promife of grace is in a good
way to the performance of the promife of glory.
APPLICATION.
1. Learn to magnify this name. God hath magal-
fied it himfelf, and fo (liould we ; Pfal. ' sxviii. 2.
1 Will praife thy name, for thy loving- kindnejSy and for
thy truth : for thou hajl magnified thy word above all
thy name. Magnifying of God's fauhfulnefs (lands
principally in praifing for it. Praife him for all the
promifes he hath made, and praife him for all the
performance he hath given, and praife him for all the
performance that (liall be given.
2. As you rauft praife him for it, io you mufl count
God faithful This is a great matter. May i fpeak
it in more plain homely words: Every one oF^you
mud count God honefl^ an honefl, faithful, true God ;
that never deceived any that tfuded in him, that is
never worfe than his word ; always a great deal bet-
ter. It is remarked concerning Sarah, Heb.xi.. i i.
\\\2LKfhe judged him faithful who had promifed,^ S.hp
is one of the women that are named there iQ ibat
fiiort catalogue of believers ; and it is well for her (he
was named there, for indeed the account we have of
her in Genefis is not fo much to her honoar ; when
the promife is made in Genelis, it is faid, Sarah laugh-
ed^ Gen. xviii. 12. and xvii. 17.
When do ye think Sarah believed ? I really think
(lie believed when ftie was reproved for her unbelief.
What is her believing called ? Through faith alfo Sa-
rah herfelf received Jhength to conceive feedy becaufe Jhe
judged him faithful who had promifed. She accounted
the promifcr faithful, that isfaiih; to account the
promifes faithful, thac is believing. Is ii not a rea-
fonable thing to crave this of you ? You muft ac-
K z count
72 The JiedfaJ} Adherence to Serm. V,
count him faithful or unfaithful, there is no medi-
um ; if you do not give him the pofitive teftimo-,
ny of faithfulnefs, you reflect upon hira the blaf-
phemy of unfairhfulnefs. Now this would bring me
to the third thing, viz. That the faith of believers
fhould in fome raeafure anfwer ihe faithfulnefs of .
God, Sre rhat your believing anfwer the promife, as
yonr believing is bottomed upon the promife. See
^£ls xvi, 15, Lydia's charge co Paul.
This accounting him faiih'ul craves two things ;
I/?, That you niufl learn, in the nain matter of fal-
v'ation, to take his word alone. We reckon always,
that that perfon is je^alous O' another, that is not wil-
ling to take his word. It is true, that, on earth, meriT,
may pretend prudence for their didrufl ; but in deal- '
ing with God, it is an abomination, a prudence that
comes from hell, James iii. 15. If we account him
faithful that prcmifes, we (hould feek no more, and
jQi-uld crave no more. Believers that have their mul-
tiplied props from fenfe for their faiih, labour uoder
the diiadvantage of a fecret charge of unfaithfulnefs
in God. Will you offer to bring any creature 10 con-
firm God's 'teftimony ? '^dly^ Account hi:n faithiul
that exacts this of us, that as foon a^ ever we get
the promife, we fhould rejoice in hope of per*^or-
maace. God hath f-poken in his hoUnefs^ I will rejoice^
fays David ; " I have got God's woid, that is enough
^* of joy to racj'* Pfal. Ix. 6.
SERMON
Serm. VI. the Frofejjion of our Faith. 73
SERMON VI.
Hebrews x. 23*
For he is faithful that fromifed.
FROM the laft words of this verfe, which is the
apoitle's argument to prefs Chriftians to holdjaft
the profejjion of their faith without waverings 1 have
fpoke already unto two notes that I obferved there-
frc'Ti ; as, 1. It is a name here given to God, he that
fromifes ; and from this 1 fhewed, that the Chrifti^
an's God is a promifing God, and he that knows not
God by this name of a p/omifing God does not -know
the true God ; no man can take up God aright, but
in the veil of a promife ; no man can draw near to
God aright, but in and by the encouragement of a
promife.
2. The fecond note was thi^. That this pro?mfpjg
God is faithful in his promifes^ this promifer is faith-
ful. To this 1 fpoke laft day, and (li^U add but a
little to it, and proceed to the third thing.
I know that there are a great many profeiTors that
bear the name of Chriftians, (God knows how litde
they deferve it, to him they ftand or fall), who won-
der, why there fliould be fo much in the word fpo-
ken of faith ; and that fome mioifters, in their doc-
trine ftiouid infift fo much upon believing : Why not,
fay they, upon doing? Is not believing doing P The
greatell doing that ever was done by a finner is be-
lieving, and all the right doing of obedience flows
from believing. Whoever they be that know what
it is to be a Chriftian, know that their life is a life
of fai-h ; they live by faith, even as we live our na-
tural hte by breathing. U is as impoffible, that a
Chrif-
7^ The StedfaJ} Adherence to Serm. VI.
Chriflian can preferve his fpiritual life, without re-
peated 2^H of believing, as it is for lis to preferve our
natural life, \^iihout puaing forth and fucJcing in the
air v/e breathe in. Therefore it is, that fuch as know
what the life of fairh Is, that is, the Chriftian's life,
never can think enough, they never can hear enough,
becaiife tney can never do enough about believing. For
this end, 1 have fpoke unto tnis great name of the Lord
our God, That he is faithful in his promifes, I did lafl
day, I. Shew you what the meaning of this is, what
our thoughts of God's faithfulnefs do contain by the
warrant of the word, and I gave you four particulars.
Next, 1 ftiewed you the grounds, rather of your faith
on God's faithfulnefs, than the grounds of his faith-
fulnefs* The pfalmifi leads us to this, Pfal. cxxxviii.
2. Thou haji magnified thy word above all thy narjie,
God makes all his name fome way ferviceable for the
advancement of the glory of his word, and his faith-
fulnefs' in his word is a main part of the glory of it.
Several of the names of God chat are ufeful for the
flrengthcning of our faith, as to his faithfulnefs, 1
mentioned laft day ; and (Iiall add two or three more,
and go foreward.
1. The firft is his hoUnefs, His holinefs is a great
ground of faith as to his faithfulnefs : God hath ft o^
ken in his Jiolinefs, I will rejoice^ fays the pfal mi 11,
P fa Ira !x. 6. Once have I fworn by my holinefs^ that I
will not lie imto David, Pfalm Ixxxix. 35. Holinefs
is a natne of God hateful to all finuers, and very aw-
ful to believers. When the purity, the fpoileffnefs
of bis holinefs is feen, what fad reile(Slions ufually does
it occafion ? But thou art holy : But I am a wormy
fays the pHdmifu jr*2^ no man ^ Pfalm xxii. 3. and 6.
When God's holinefs was proclaimed before Ifaiah,
Wo is mey fays hc^for I am undone^ chap. vi. 5. Can
there be any enco^iragement for faith from God's ho-
linefs P A great many Chriflians main fear arifcs from
his holinefs. Now 1 am to fliow you, that the name
of his holinefs is a great corifidcration for ftrer.gthen-
mg
Serm. VI. the Frofejton of our Faith, 75
ing faith. Faithfolnefs, if 1 may (o call it, is a piece
of holinefs ; faithfulnefs is a branch of holinefs, fo
that as God cannot do any thing that is evil, fo he
cannot break his word. Then he fvvears by his holi-
nefs ; as if he would fay, '' Take me for no holy God,
•' if ever I fall (liort of my word of proaiife."
2. The fecond name of God is his unfdom. He
makes promifes in wifdom ; he makes prcmifes about
bleflings that he means to give, and knows, and hath
appoin red when and how to perform. Wc, thar are
poor creatures, that live in time, think a little time a
long while, viz, from the beginning of the promife
in Gen. iii. 15. uaro the end of time, and that is a
great while after the end of the Revelation. You
think it a long while betwixt God's {irft promife, and
his lad performance; but it is nothing uith him, ia
the point of promife. Saiih the apoiHe, One day is
ivith the Lord as a t houf and years ^ and a thoufand years
as one day, 2 Peter iii. 8. and L'a. liv. 8. There"are
a great many ten thoufand days in a thoufand years;
there is a great inequality betwixt thefe, but both a-
like to God. We meafure time, as it were, by our
own duration ; but he that tnhabiteth eternity does
not fo. The wjfe God, Tfay, hath made all his pro-
mifes in wifdom. In his eye, betwixt the making of
them and the performance of them, there is no kind
of diftance at all.
3. Lafilyj The name of his love is a great encou*
ragement to faith in his faithfulnefs. Love made the
promifes, and love will fee to the fulfiilinoj oF them ;
therefore the Pfalmift fays, I zvill pratfe thy name, for
thy loving-kindnefs, and for thy truth, Pfal. cxxxviii. 2*
The more love there be in making the proiriife, the
more certainty there is of the fuifiimenr of ic. Sure-
ly promifes of love, free love, rich and eternal love»
are made in love, Jer. xxxi. 3. and will be fulfilled,
III. The third thing now that I would fpeak upon,
and that I obferved from thefe words, He is faithful
that
7(5 The Jledfajl Adherence to Serm. VL
that promifes^ is, That the believer* s faith Jhould an-
fwer God's faithfulnefs. The ftedfaftnefs of our be-
lieving Qiould anfwer the faithfulnefs of God in pro-
mifing ; for this is the apoflle's argument, Let us hold
faft the prof ejjton of our faiths or the confelTioa of our
hope, without wavering / for he is faithful that prO'
7nifed, Your hope is fixed upon his promifes : hold
fad your faith therefore, for he will hold faft his
word: Ke is faithful that promifes. Be you (led faft
in believing ; the promife is a ftrong promife ; it is
the promife of a ftrong God ; that faith that ihould
be given to it, (hould be a ftrong faith. This is the
glory of believing. Abraham gave glory to God.
"What way ? He was ftrong in faith ; and he was
fully perfuaded that the promife would hold good,
for God was able to perform it, R.om. iv. 20, From
this truth 1 would fpeak a little to tbefe two things.
1, Why our faith muft anfwer God's faithfulnefs.
2. How it can do it.
F/Vy?, Why the believer's faith muft anfwer God's
faithfulnefs.
I. The fir ft reafon is, becaufe faith and God's
faithfulnefs are relatives ; they are necelTarily related
one to another. There were no ufe for divine faith-
fulnefs declared, no promife in time had been made,
unlefs for fome that ftiould believe, John xvii. 20.;
there were no ufe in this world for faith, if there
were not fome appearance of divine faithfulnefs for
faith to a£l upon. God's faithfulnefs is revealed oa
purpofe that it may be believed. Faith is given on
purpofe, that divine faithfulnefs may be trufted in,
and refted on, and applied. They relate one to ano-
ther as neceffarily as the eye and light do, and thefe
are mighty like. If God had created creatures with
eyes, and colours, or any other vifible things, and no
light to fee by, it might be faid, Wherefore gave he
them eyes ? The cafe is juft fo here : All the break-
ings forth of divine faithfulnefs are for faith's fake,
that
Serm. VI. the Profejlon of our Faithi 77
that it may work upon it ; and all the giving of faith
is for faithfulnefs fake, that it may aft upon it.
2. Divine faithfulnefs is the ground of faith, and
the only ground of faith, therefore faith mud anfwer
it. All the expeftations of good from God, all the
warm applications made to God, are all bottomed upon,
"Thus faith the Lord. If God's faithfulnefs be the
ground of faitt), furely then faith (hould anfwer the
ground. If fo be a perfon could believe as firmly,
and build as ftrongly as the groand will bear him, he
might do great things.
3, God's faithfulnefs is the author of faiih ; It is
not only the ground of faith, that lays us under an
obligation to believe when he fpeaks, but the very
author and worker of faith. I do not mean onlv than
God grants and works faith in his faithfulnefs ; bur my
meaning is more drift, that all faith is wrought in the
foul by fome difcovery of divine faithfulnefs at fird,
and in all the after-aftings of it. We fee that there
are great multitudes that have the word of God alike,
they have the fame bible, and the fame miniders,
and the fame fermons ; fome believe, and fome 6.0
not believe ; fome obtain grace to believe, and others
not. Whence comes it ? Wherefore is it, that ever at
any time a poor felf-condcmned finner truds Chrid
Jefus with his falvation upon the warrant of tjie gof-
pel-promife ? when is it he does fo ? Always then,
and never till then, that he gets a difcovery of the
faithfulnefs of God in the contrivance of the gofpel.
When God damps his own faithfulnefs and truth u-
pon the gofpel, then the man believes it, and truds
it : nh is a faithful Jaying, and worthy of all accep-
tation^ that Chrifl Jefus came into the -world to fave
finners ; of whom I am chief , i Tim. i. 15. What is
the reafon there is fo great difference amongd belie-
vers at one time and another, that the fame promife
of God at one time is ftrong under them like a pillar
of brafs ; at another time it is weak, or they think
it weak as a broken reed ? The true reafon is this :
L At
78 The Jledfaft Adherence to Serm. VI.
At all tttnes ihey have the word of the promife ; but
it is not at all times they fee the glory and faithfulnefs
of the fpeaker. When the promife appears in the
glory of the truth of the fpeaker, it is impoflible but
it muft be believed. When God takes his own word
in his own hand, and ftamps it down as the word of
God upon the heart, then that mark is faith. Be-
lieving is another fort of bufmefs than a great many
pretended profeffors of it know, or take it to be. The
faithfulnefs of God is the caufe of believing, i Theff.
ii. 13.
4. LaJIly^ Faith is God's appointed way for the per-
formance of his promife. He will have glory by his
people's believing, before he give them that fatif-
faction that they expe£l, and defire in his performance.
That rebuke our Lord gave to Martha, John xi. .^o.
is of lading ufe in the church of Chrift, Said I not
unto thee^ that if thou wouldfl believe^ thou jhouldfl fee
the glory of God f " Did not 1 tell thee before, that
" if thou wouldft but truft in me, and wait quietly
" to fee the iiTue, thou (houldfl fee the glory of God,
•' for all the appearance to the contrary V
The fecond thing is. How aught our faith to anfwer
God's faithfulnefs f Here fome things muft be pre-
mifed for caution, that we do not carry the matter
farther than the balance of the fan6tuary will admit.
I. You muft not imagine, that any man's faith can
anfwer God's faithfulnefs fully : that is impofiible.
God's faithfulnefs is an infinite perfection in itfelf ;
our faith is a finite grace, given to a poor (hallow
creature. Our faith can anfwer his faithfulnefs no
more, than our holinefs can anfwer his holinefs, tho'
we are commanded to be holy, as he is holy. We are
to take the pattern of our holinefs from his holinefs j
and we are to ftudy conformity to his holinefs; but
perfedl conformicy is impofiible ; and even finlefT-
nefs, which is impofiible here, would not bring us to
perfect conformity to God's holinefs. We muft not
think
Serm. VL the ProfeJJion of our Faith. 7^
think to anfwer God's faichfulnefs with our faith in a
perfe(^ equality.
2. Neither doth a believer anfwer God's faithful-
nefs with faiih as he ought. We do not pay all the
faith that we owe to the truth of God. It is as im-
pollible for a believer to perform the obedience of
faith required in the gofpel perfe£lly, as it is for an
unbeliever to perform obedience to the law perfeftly.
Indeed an unbeliever can obey nothing. Even the
obedience of faith, the obeying of the gofpel by be-
lieving of it, needs gofpel-grace for the forgivenefs
of th'e fin of believing, or the fm in believing. There
is never a believer that believed at firft, but there was
fin in that believing : there are none that do rely u-
pon the word of God fo firmty, as that noble fare
foundation ferveth.
3. There is no believer believes fo firmly as he
would : he does not anfwer God's faiihfulnefs by his
faith fo well as he would. Whoever they be that
think they believe as they defire to believe, I dare-
fay they never believed, and never will learn to be-
lieve as long as they are of that mind. That poor
man fpoke as iF he underflood faith wei!, Mark ix. 2^.
Lordf I believe ; help thou mine unbelief. Believers
are called to anfwer God's faithfulnefs by their faiih ;
but they muft not think ihac they (hail ever attain to
fo much as ihty would : they muil: flill go on grow-
ing in believing, as well as in any other grace. The
right eoufnefs of God is revealed from faith to Jaith^ Rom.
i. 17. We mud go on believing daily.
4. Faith in all believers does not equally anfwer
God's faiihfulnefs. True faich is built upon it, but
every one's faith does not alike equally anfwer it.
There are (omc Jlrong in fait h^ and fome weak in faith.
Thefe are words in the fcripture. Abraham is called
Jirong infaithy young believers are called weak infaithy
Rom. xiv. I. Nay, the fame man is not 2X\viz (Irong
in faiths or weak in faith ^ at all times; fometinacs
ih^flrcng may grow weak^ and the weak may grow
L 2 ftrong
8o ' The Jledfaji Adherence to Serm. VI.
Jlrong, though they have both true faith, and tha^
built upon God's faithfuloefs.
Thcfe things I pretnife, for the preventing any
miflake in the refolving this queftion, what way our
faith is to anfwer God's faithfuinefs ? Our truft in
believing, is to anfwer God's truftinefs in promifing.
ly?, It is to anfwer it by a fudden taking of God's
word of promife, and reding on it. There is no de-
lay for this. Tiiere is no time, no moment of time
wherein a man is allowed to tofs this queftion. Is God
to be truded, or no ? This is an abomination, tocon-
ceive that the Lord will ever fufFer a man to fpend one
moment in making this queftion, Shall 1 take God's
Word, or no ? Does he deferve to be trufted ? This
is wickednefs to think of, or to put it to the queftion.
Sudden receiving of God's word, is the glory we owe
to the faithfuinefs of it. Our Lord found fault with
the difciples, that they were fools, and flow in heart
to believe : they would take time to confider, before
they would believe. This is fin. The apoftle com-
mends the Coloftians for their faith, for their hope
Jaid up in heaven. When began it P Since the day
ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truthy
Col. i. 6. " That very day ye heard the word with
** power, the grace of God came along with it." Our
Lord takes notice of this in John i. 50, 51. So runs
the promife, Pfal. xviii. 44.
7dlyy By taking the leaft hint of God's word for
our encouragement This is to gi've glory by our
faith to his faithfuinefs. The leaft appearance of his
faithful word fnould be enough to engage our hearts.
The great faith our Lord commends fo highly, / have
not found fo great faith^ no not tn Jfrael, is exemplifi-
ed by this, Matth. viii. 8. Lord, fays the centurion,
/ am not wsrihy that thou Jhouldft come under my roof :
but /peak the word only, and my fervant Jhall he healed.
As if the good man would fay, " Lord, I know that
" thou dolt ufe to go to fome mens houfes, and vifit
the
Serm. VI. the Frofejfion of our Faith, 8 1
" the fick, and heal them ; but I am a poor man,
" unworthy of this favour." But is he unwilling to
receive Chrift's grace : No ; he was far from think-
ing fo ; the poor man had a mind to Chrift's grace ;
Lord, /peak the word only^ and my fervant Jhall he heal*
ed. This faith is commended in the nobleman, John
iv. 50. Go thy way^ faith our Lord, thy fon liveth^
And the man believed the word that Jefus had fpoken
unto him, and he went his way. You may be fure he
went believing all the way, till he came near home,
till his fervants came and told him. Thy fon liveth ;
then he believed over again, and believed better.
There is a great failing in the faith of the people of
God in this point, That they offer fometimes, in the
vanity and pride of their hearts and unbelief, to tell
God which way he (hould engage his faithfulnefs.
The lead hint of Chrift's faithfulnefs (hould ferve,
if you have a mind to glorify the faithfulnefs of God.
3^/j/, Faith is to anfwer God's faithfulnefs in the
full extent of it ; that is, in believing in length and
breadth, according to the largenefs and widenefs of
the proraife. Now, here is a great duty that we are
very dark and ignorant about. When a believer be-
lieves rightly, he is to believe every thing God fays.
A great many things we believe, we do not know
what they are; we are to believe them notwithftand-
ing. When thou dofl believe eternal falvation thro^
Chrift Jefus, doft thou know what it is I Doft thou
know what weight there is in the crown of glory ?
what entertainment is with them that behold the face
of God, and of the Lamb? what is done ? what is
itdi on ? and what is enjoyed ? what is faid within the
veil ? We know none of thefe things ; but we mud
believe them notwithftanding. We are to believe the
full extent of the promife ; that there (hall be a per-
formance, though we do not know yet what it (liali
be, l>low we are the fons of God, but it does not yet
appear what wefhall be. But does that (hake their
faith ? No, fays tie apoftle ; we know that when he
fiall
Si The ftedfaft Adherence to Serm. VL
f/jall appear^ we [ball be like him ; for we Jh all fee him
as he is^ i John iii. 2. And with the apoftle's leave,
tor as great a divine as he was, v;hat feeing him as he
\^ and what being like him as he is in heaven, the
good divine John did not know on earth, and tells
us that he did not know ; only in thefe general words
he tells Gs, in ChriiVs words, That hejhould be with
him^ and behold him / and his faith goes forth accor-
dingly.
^thly^ Anfwering God's faithfulnefs by our faith,
is to lay all our weight upon the proraife of God, and
upon it only ; every thing that concerns us for our
fools and eternal falvation, for our out7/ard concerns,
for Zion, for the church and people of God ; it is
to glorify divine faithfulnefs, to lay all thefe burthens
upon the back of the proraifes, not doubting but it
ihali bear them ; laying it upon the promife alone.
It is a great matter for a believer to think God's faith-
fulnefs fecurity alone, that there needs nothing to
prop it and hold it up. We many times fmFully crave
props of fenfe to fupport our faith ; but the matter
indeed is to fupport the proraife ; therefore we would
fain that God lliouid give fomething to fupport us ;
all this like Naanian, 2 Kings v. is unbelief. We
Diud lay all our weights and burthens upon the faith-
fulnefs of God ; fo fays dying David, 2 Sam. xxiii. 5.
Although my houfe be not fo with God ; yet he hath
made with me an everlajling covenant^ ordered in all
things and fare : for this is all my falvation^ and all
my deftre. As if David, in his laft words, had left
this his legacy to all believers in after ages, that now
when a dyiag man, *« 1 have," fays he, " feen a
*' gr^at deal of fin and wickednefs in my family, in
*• my heart and life, and in the land of Ifrael ; in the
*' cafes of Uriah, Abfalora, Amnon, Tamar, Adoni-
^' jah ; but I now die fatisfied with this only. He hath
^' 7nade with me an everlajling covenant^ &c. Here is
all my falvation^ and all my defireP
Sthly,
$c
Serm. VL the Profejfion of our Faith. 83
^thly. The anfv;ering God's faith fulnefs by oar
faith, is in the avowing our faith to God and men.
God avows hispromife publicly, Ifa. xiv. 19. It is
not enough that we believe, but we inuft not be a-
(hamed to own it. How frequently do we find the
faints owning it to God ? Pfal. Ivii. i, 2, 3. Be mer^
ciful unto me^ O God^ be merciful unto me, for my foul
trufleth in thee* 1 will cry unto God mojl high ; unto
God that performeth all things for me. He Jh all fend
from heaven, andfave mejrom the reproach of him that
would fivallow me up ; Selab. God fha II /end forth his
mercy and his truth. Oh what a blelTed fong is this 1
He prays for mercy, becaufe he truils in it : and he
adds this, God fl^ all fend forth his mercy and his truth.
If I may fo fpeak, thefe two mefiengers, mercy and
truth, are enough to pluck a man out of the jaws of
death and hell iifelf ; if God fend them, they corue;
and if they come, they fave one, that is certain. I'h^
pfalmifl: complains moft grievoully of their reile^ing
upon his God ; it was as a fword in his bones, while
they reproached him for trufting in his God. Pfaloi
xi. he is fo confident he will reproach them for xtj
yer, i. In the Lord put I my trufi : how fay ye to my
foul. Flee as a bird to your mountain f " Are ye not
" afhamed," would David fay, " to look upon rae as
^' a forlorn perfon, and tell me to flee to the mouo-
** tains for help, when I have a refuge in my Gcd r"
Laflly, God's faithfulnefs (liould be anfwered by
our faith, in our conftant keeping upon this fonoda-
tion. Faith and pradlice is required in order to the
inheriting of the promife. Performance comes net
immediately as the promife is made, nor as foon as 5t
is believed, Af^s vii. 17. Pfaira xxxi. 15. Believing
muft be drawn forth God's full time, till performance
ripen the ground. Why we fhould believe God'g
faithfulnefs is, becaufe God's faithfulnefs is acoiiltant
thing itfelf. If the Lord's faithfulnefs did change, a
believer's faith might change lawfully ; if there were
any (baking in the word of God, it were no flvi for
^ be-
84 The fledf aft Adherence to Serm. VI
a believer to doubt in that word. The aggravation
of unbelief is, becaufe we change in our faith, when
God is unchangeable in his faithfuisefs;
APPLICATION.
If believers faith (hould anfwer God's faithfulnefs,
I. Then, what can the unbeliever do that has no
fairh ? God's faithfulnefs is before him ; the faith-
fulnefs of God is feen in his threatenings and promi-
fes : the faithfulnefs of God is feen in the law, and
in the gofpel ; the unbeliever hath faith for neither.
When God threatens the unbeliever with everlafting
deftruftion for his fin in the law, every fecure Tinner
fays, God is a liar. Fearleffnefs of wrath, when a
man is under the lafti of God's threatening is a cer-
tain proof that he believes not what he fpeaks. There
is no word of threatening fliall come fhort of its ful-
filment, no more than a word of promife. The un-
believer hath no entertainment to give to the promife
of the gofpel, becaufe h-e hath not faith ; what then
muft the iffue of it be ? A man that hath no faith, is
under thefe two things ; one at prefent, and the o-
iher a-coming, if God prevent it not. Firft, Every
man that is an unbeliever muft blafpheme God now,
whatever he does when he goes to hell. There is no
greater blafphemy againft God, than to fay he lies.
A poor lying man, through the cuftom and faftiion of
this world, looks upon it as one of the greateft pro-
vocations that can be given in words, to fay in his face
he lies. Every poor finner that hears the law and the
gofpel, and neither trembles at threatenings, nor re-
joices at promifes, fays every day to God he lies. He
that receives not his teflimony has made God a liar,
I John V. 10. And he that receives his tejlimony^ hath
fet to his feal, that God is true, John iii. 33. People
that have not faith, have great need to cry for faith,
to beg that God would give it, 1 have nothing to en-
tertain
Serm. VI. the Profefflon of our Faith, 85
terta'iD God's faithfulnefs with, I have no hand to take
a word from God, if I have not faith.
2. How juflly, chargeable are believers themfelves,
if their faith fliould not aofwer God's faithfulnefs?
How guihy are tKoft believers in this matier ? Aa
unbelieving believer is a monfter, nor for the raricy
of it, but for the uglinefs of it ; for there is nothing
more corainon araongfl: believer?, than to be a£liiig
unbelief. There are few believers, but do act more
unbelief than faith; they unbelieve, if 1 may fo fpeaic,
ten times for their unbelieving once. Now, the great
aggravation of this their fm is, that rot only God's
faithfulnefs is engaged for their faith to a£l on, but
God hath wrought faith in them : therefore the guile
of bdievers is very great upon this account. Shall a
man that is in this cafe be iliH aftino; unbelief? Too
frequently they do fo, but I will name a ^t\v thing?,
and conclude at this tJme.
ly?. How many believers act their unbelief, and
are convi£led from this j^oint, in their fearing 10 be-
Jieye, when they are called to lay hold on the hops
fet before them, and to lay the ftrefs of their eternal
falvaiion upon the faithful promife of (^od ? They are
are afraid they (hall fin to believe, I pray now is this
a mannerly queflion, Shall 1 fin in truitmg God ? Is
not this a fearful thing P Is there any danger of fin-
ning in my taking God's word ? i am fore, the greatefl
fm is in refufing it, and there can be none in taking
of it. It is nothing but the power and firength of
unbelief tliat makes fo much fear in believers. la
putting forth the hand of faith, they fee m to put forth
their hand to God, as he i^ a confuming fire, Heb.
xii, 29. and not as he is in his Son reconciling us to
himfelf.
7dly^ Not only are they very fearful to believe,
but very weak in believing. A great many believers
(if I may ufe. fuch a homely firailitude) walk upon the
promife at God's call in the way to heaven, even as a
child upon weak ice, which they aie afraid will crack
M under
^6 Hje Jledfaft Adherence to Serm. VI.
under them, and leave them in the depth. What
can there be but unbelief in the weak truft we have
in the promife of God ? Art thou fure, that thou
haft trufted thy foul upon the word of God ? Do not
reply, there is no more betwixt thee and erernal ruin,
but a bare word of God ; for can that word fail ? is
it pofiible, that it can mifcarry ? Why then fiiould we
Bot believe more firmly ? There is a filly pra^lice a-
mongft us, I Ihall not fpeak ray mind about it, I on-
ly fpeak of it now with refpe^l to my prefent purpofe ;
A great many believers do even venture in their be-
lieving upon the word of God, as too many idle peo-
ple do upon their lotteries, they will try ; but they
do not know whether they (hall get a blank or a be-
nefit. Is this believing and giving glory to the faith-
fulnefs of God ?
3<i/y, There is doubting after believing* When a
poor believer hath once caft his burden upon the word
of God, a cloud comes on, and he begins to queftion,,
whether he did well in trufting God or no ; this is
the Englifh of it. Did I well to truft God ? We trufted
that it had been he which Jhould have redeemed Ifrael^
Luke xxiv. 21. but was it well done, thus to repent
of their truft ?
^thly^ Believers are many times in danger, by u-
Cng finful Ihifts to obtain the thing promifed, as in
Gen. xvi. 2. David would not d,o fo, as you may fee,
2 Sam. i.
Laftlyy Believers are guilty of great unbelief, in
pleading the caufe of their unbelief; they not only
doubt, but they will argue for their doubting. Now,
all objections of unbelief are argum.ents againft faith j
they are all great reflections on God's faithfnlnef?,
and are only to be anfwered by God's faithfulnefs :
and we muft take this as an univerfai anfwer to them
all, All the pleas that the carnal unbelieving heart of
a Chriftian can frame for the fencing himfelf in unbe-
lief, are all to be brokeu upon the rock of God's un-
changeable
Serm. VL the Frofejfton of our Faith. 87
chaageable faithfulnefs. I wiii name fome of their
obje^ions.
1. i do not know, if the promife be to me ; If I
"Were fure that the promife were to me, I would be«
lieve it better than 1 do. I anfwer, Is the law to
thee ? is the command to thee ? Does the law of God
threaten thee in the firft Adam I and is not the gofpel
to thee alfo in the fecond ifVdara ? Is not the promife
thine, if it be believed? What is the meaning of the
preaching of the gofpel ? but only this. Preach the
gofpel to every creature, and tell them, He that be-
lieves, (hall be faved. Whoever they be that will
venture their falvajion upon the man (lain at Jerufa-
lem, and expe£l God's favour, and eternal life for his
.fake tendered to them, believe it that will, if they
lake it, it is theirs.
2. K fecond obje^ion is, I am a vile, filthy, guilty
creature, how dare 1 believe ? Satan and unbelief
will multiply things here, and make a hideous ap-
pearance to a poor creature ; as indeed, if the devil
get leave to draw a performs owii picture, and to fet
it before his eyes, or to write the hiHory of his life,
this will be a very dreadful thing ; fome have feen ir,
and felt the terror of it. But what is this to the faith-
fulnefs of God ? Is God unfaithful in his promife, b^-
caufe I am a great fmner P No fuch thing ; nay, Lff
God be triiSy and every man a liar. Is this an argu-
ment, Becaufe 1 am very fick, therefore Jefus Chrift
the Phyfician will take no care of me ; 1 dare not
employ him^ becaufe I am very fick ; AfTure your-
felves of this, Where-ever fm is a man's difeafe, there
Jefus Chrid has been already the Phyfician, and will
certainly cure it. I do not fay, where fin is a man's
delight, where iin is a man^s truce, but where-ever
fm is a poor creature's ficknefs, and when they are
groaning towards Chrid, the Phyfician, our Lord je-
fus, hath begun to cure them, and will perfe<5l it in-
fallibly.
M 2 3. Ano-
88 ne Stedfajl Adherence to Serm. VI.
3. Another objection that unbelieving believers
make, is, 1 am a backfliding creature, 1 have been
iBJghty unfaithful to God. What then ? It may be
God will deal with you, as he did wi'h the bacldliders
of old. See how he calls them, Return^ ye back/lid-
ing- children^ I %uiil heal your back/lidings ; Behold^ we
come unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God, Jer, iii.
22. The name the Lord gives them is, backfliding
children ; the protrjife he makes them is, he tvill heal
their backflidings. Both thefe are entertained by an
silent of faiih, Behold, ive come unto thee ; for thou
att the Lord our God, that only can ft heal us. Some-
times they will plead, God is very angry, and hides
himlelf. Wtiat then? He is not unfaithful for all
that, the promife ftands fure. Verily thou art a God
that hidefl thyfelf, O God of Ifrael the Saviour, \{d\A^
xlv. 15. fee alfo Pfalm cxix. 75. I can affure you,
Chriftians, that that faith is very weak, and that be-
liever will lead but a poor forry life, that hath not
learned to believe in the dark, as well as in the light
cf his countenance. We muft not believe by day-light
only, w^e mud learn to believe in the dark. The
greateft part of the way to heaven lies in the dark ;
if we have not this light of faith, we are but in a bad
cafe. Some may fay, they fee no appearance of per-
formance ; ihey have tried the promife of God, and
it is as unlikely as it was at firil: ; the complete falva-
lion of their foul is far off ; the growth of their cor-
ruptions appears daily; their confcience? fometimes
making as dreadful an alarm as in the days of their
former darknef?. This is a very common and ordina-
ry exercife, and the cure cf it is very eafy ; the reme-
dy is near at hand. We are not to judge of the cer-
tainty of the fulfilment of the word of promife, by the
appearances that are in providences towards us, but
we are to build all upon the faithfulnefs of the fpeak-
cr. Though clouds and darknefs be round about him^
righteoufnefs and judgment are the habitation of his
throne^ Plal. xcvii. 2, The word ftands firmly, what-
ever
Seum. VII. the Frofejfton of our Faith. 89
ever darknefs there be in his works ; wait a while*
and but a little while, (Heb. x. 37.), give him time,
and give him truft, and none that believe in him fhall
ever be afharaed.
SERMON VII.
' Hebrews x. 23.
— 'He is faithful that fromifed,
THE apoftle tells us in Rom. x. 17, th?it faith
Cometh by hearings and hearing by the zvord of
God* Faith both comes by hearing, and grows by
hearing. There is no part of divine truth that is
more profitable for the growing in faith, than the
do6lrine of faith ; it is therefore a great pity, and a
great mifcarriage, that when people hear much of
faith, they do not pra(9:ife much. Every thing that
is fpoken of faith, is fpoken of it, that, ye fliould be
always doing \ that as the ear takes in the report of
the doctrine of faith, the heart may be exercifed in
the acting of it. With refpedl: unto this, i have fe»
Veral times fpoke already, upon this latter part of this
verfe, which is the apoflle's argument, by which he
enforceth the exhortation he gave in the preceeding
part ; and from this argument I have obferved three
things.
I. That the Chriftian's God is a promifmg God,
He is called here by the apoftle. He that promifes ;
and the apoftle knew well God's names, and which
it is that is fitteft: to be ufed on every occafion.
?. That this promifmg God is faithful in all hh pro«
mifes, which he hath promifed from the beginning
of
$Q The Jledfaft Adherence to Serm. Vil,
of the world to this da)'. There have been feme in
all agc!3, and a great many in feme ages, that have
trufted God upon hispromifesj but'tbere hath not
been one that could ever juflly charge God with fail-
ing.
g. The third thing that I fpoke to was. That the
Chriilrau's faith Ihould anfwer God's faithfulnefs ;
that a.^ our faith is fixed on God's proraifes, faith
flionld fome way be as firm as the promifes. A Chrif-
tian is called faithful, becaufe he is a believer ; God
is called faithful, becaufe he is d^fulfiller ; he keeps
his word by doing it, believers are faithful in trujling
it. Upon this note I (hewed, i. Why the Chriftian's
faith (houid anfwer God's faithfulnefs. 2. How ic
may and ought fo to do. Some ways it cannot, fonae
ways it mu ft.
1 concluded with a double reflection ; one upon the
iinful miferable ftate of unbelievers. They have no-
thing to anfwer God's faithfulnefs ; they muft perifh,
becaufe they have not faith ; they dilhonour God
highly, becaufe of their unbelief. The true ftate of
the matter is this : Our firft father and mother, Adara
and Eve, it 1 may fo fpeak, by their fin leapt over-
board, they caft therafelves under the wrath and curfc
of God. in this ftate all we their pofterity are born ;
the Lord, in great mercy through Chrift Jefus, cafts
forth the rope of his promife ; now, what is an un-
believer, but like a poor drowning man ? there is a
f ope cad out that may fave him, the poor man has
no hands to catch at it, therefore mufi perifn ; and
to perilh in the view of a promife, is a fad cafe ; but
to the believer, the Lord will llretch out his hand to
help him.
2. I made a little reflection upon the unbelief of
believers. Believers themfelves are wofully guilty
fometimes in this matter, and their faith is far from
anfwering the faithfulnefs of God. Compare his
faithfulnefs with their faith, and you v/ould think they
do cot relate to one another at all. Strong ground,
ftrong
Serm. VII. the Frofejjim of our Faith, ^i
firong foundation, but forry building upon it ! I nam-
ed four of their common failing*?, which I iball have
occafion to infifl: more upon on the other head, Sonae-
times they fear to believe, as if there were any fin Iq
trufting God ; when diftruft is the greateft fm ; they
believe fearfully and weakly, as if the ground would
not bear ihera : they believe and doubt, and recall
their believing : they plead fometimes the caufe of
their unbelief in many of their ungodly objeOions a-
gainft faith.
That which I would now do in the profecuting
this point, and with refpe£l to all the three, fhall be
to give you, Firft, Some doftrinal inferences from
this point ; then^ if the Lord will, we may come
to make fome pra6lical exhortations unto duiy there-
from.
As to thefe inferences, I (hall fpeak to a few of
them at this time.
I. Hence we fee, what the {lri£l and true nature
of faith is. The doftrine .is, That believers faith
Jhould anfwer God's fait hfmnefi\ We hence infer the
ffri£l and true nature of faving faith j which is cer-
tainly this : It is a trufling of God's word for his own
faithfulnefs in fpeaking it, a trufling God's promife
for the faithfulnefs of the fpeaker ; that is [lri£fly the
nature of faith. It is a pity, but a piry that you will
have occafion to exercife as long as you live in the
world, that faith is fo mightily miftaken by To many
people. People can talk of faith, can difpute of
faith, and in the mean time they are in a cloud, in a
maze about the thing itfelf, and know not what be-
lieving is.
ly?, Believing is not doing, but truding. It is op-
pofed to doing and working, Rom. iv. 5. But to him
that ivarketh not, but believeth on him that jujlifieth
the ungodly y his faith is counted for right eciifnefs^ Joha
VI. 26,-— 29. The juj} lives by faith ; but the law is
not of faith : the law requires doing. Gal. iii. 16, if,
12. Faith is God^s commandraenr, tha: is certain*
The
92 The Jledfajl Adherence to Serm. VII^
The firfi: precept in the decalogue is for faith, Thou
Jhalt have no other Gods hut me ; the pofuive pan of
it is. Thou (hah take me by faith to be the Lord thy
God. Faith is never put forth as obedience ; the
ftri^l nature of faith is trufting the fpeaker. The a-
poftle fpeaks in Heb. vi. i8. of faiih under a blciTed
fimiiitude, as /lying for refuge to lay hold on the hope
fet before us. Now pray confider what the (late of the
man that fled for refuge was. There was no other ap-
pointment of God left for him, but only the next city
of refuge. The man that had (hed innocent blood
cafually, for that was the cafe under the law, there
was nothing elfe required in order to his fafety, but
running with fpeed to the next city of refuge, The
man mud not go to the temple, or altar, and pray^
or offer facrifice there for his life, he mufl not go
home to his houfe, and mind his bufinefs and affairs ;
there was only one thing required of him, if he would
be fafe from the avenger of blood ; to the city of re-
fuge he mud fly. A man mufl not go to fave his life
by doing fome great a£l: of valour for his country, a-
gainft the enemies of it. Flying was the only ftiift,
if I may fo fpeak, that God fixed, and he mufl make
ufe of. Believing is commanded, but it is always ac-
ted in truft.
2 J/)', Faith is not a notional afTent to a divine truth,
but it is an afTent with the heart to the good will of
God. Pray take heed to this ; true faith gives an
afTent unio all that God fays, unto all that God re-
Teals ; but if you came to the ftii^ nature of faving
faith, it is only a trufting of a promifing God, it is
only a hearty affiance in God, in, and under,, and by
virtue of his promifes. To believe, is not only to fay,
God has^faid this, and therefore it is true ; but i;.is
to believe that what God fay?, he fays to me. What
good-will hath God declared in the word concerning
me? A believing of that is this faith that w^e are
fpeaking of. Thus I fay, you are to take up the ftri6t
nature
Serm. VIL the Frofeffion of our Faith. 93
nature of faith; the proper nature of it is trufling
God's promifes, for God's faithfulnefs that fpea!<s it.
And thus we have thefe advantages by this drift no-
tion of faith, and thefe confirmations of its being
right.
(i.) Thus it is dlftinguidied from all falfe faith.
There is a great deal of faith in this world that is lit-
tle worth, there is a great deal more in the next
world that is lefs worth. In this world a great many
of the ungodly have a kind of faith, fuch as it is ;
they know divine truth, they give an alTcnt to it ;
this alTent may be fo ftrong foaiccimes, that it mny
Work fom.e alieration in their converfations, they may
efcape the corruptions of the world thro' the kno^v'-
ledge of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrifl, when, in
the mean time, they have no faith for all that; they
are dogs and fwine fliTl, as the apoflle calls them,
2 Peter ii. 20, 21, 22. The great difference that is
betwixt all the unfound faith of hypocrites, and the
true faith of a believer, is to be determined from the
proper nature of believing. There is no unbeliever
that ever takes God's word for his fecurity, barely as
it is God's word ; there is never an unbeliever that
trufls God's promife, becaufe God makes it ; the pro-
mife is never feen by fuch a one as it is in the hand
of the faithful promifer ; and therefore the man ne-
ver believes with the heart, and therefore never be-
lieves truly. Again, there is a great deal of faith in
the other world. The devil hath faith, all the dam-
ned in hell have faith, but a woful faith it is ; God
fave us from ever knowing what it means. The devil
knows the mind of God in the word better than any
minifter this day in the world ; he knows God and
he knows ChriU wofully : What have I to do iviih
thecy Jefus, thou tion cf the mofl bgh God? Mark v.
7. The devil knows tne gofpel : Afts xvi. 17. 'Ihefe
men are the fervants of the moft high God, which fJoew
unto us the way of fa he at ion. What better can be faid
of the gofpel than thib', to call ii the way of falvatlon ;
N ' and
p4 ^/^^ ft^^f^fi Adherence to Serm. VH.
and to call the fervants that preach u, the fervants of
the moft high God^ that have it for their employment,.
to /hew men the way of Jahation f All the damned in
hell are great believers, but woful ones. They know
certainly that there is a God, for they feel his dif-
pleafure ; they know certainly he is a juft God, foe
they lie under the lafiies of his juftice for ever ; they
believe firmly the day of judgment, for they tremble
in the fears and approaches of it : but there is no
found faith there ; why ? Becaufe there is no pro-
mife there. If there was a promife let down to them
that are in hell, faith might be there \ if the fame
God would give the promife and work faith, it might
be a<5led there ; but there is no promife there, and
therefore there is no faith there, there is no delive-
rance from that prifou, Luke xii. 59.
(2.) This is a fit defcription of the ftri^i: nature of
faith, becaufe it anfwers the firft expreiiion of faiih,
that is in all the word of God» 1 do not fay, that
Abraham was the firfl: believer ; but this you may
fiud, that he is the firfl: man that is fpoken of as a be-
liever, li is true, in the next chapter of thrs epiftle,
there are fome believers named before him ; Abel
was a believer, Enoch and Noah were believers ; but
the firfl: fai^h fpoken of in the word expreily is Abra»
ham's ; and you know how much ufe is tnade of A-
braham's faith^ and pra-flice, and example in the new
teftament, Gen. xv. 4, 5, 6. The word of the Lord
came to Abraham, and faid to him. Look now toward
heaven^ and tell the flars, if thou be able to number
them. And be f aid unto kim^ So f hall thy feed be. And
he believed in the Lord y and he counted it to him for
rightecufnefs , What was this believing in the Lord,
but the believing wuh the heart, the truth of what
God fpoke ? And ye know, by Paul's help, what a
great deal of gofpel there was in this word, Sofhall
thy feed be,
(3.) It anfwers the frequent name that i^ given to
the revelation of God's will, that is, the way of our
/ falva'
Serm, VII. the Profejwn of our Faith. 95
falvation. It is called the gofpel, that is good tidings ;
and what arc good tidings, unlefs they be believed ?
It is called 2l promife ; and what fignifies a'promifa
unlefs traded ? It is called a covenant ; and what fig-
nifies a covenant, unlefs fubfcribed unto, unlefs a maa
enter into it ? The entering into it is by believing hiia
that promifes.
(4.) This is a right notion of faith, becaufe it an-
fwers all faith, all forts of faith whatfoever. It an-
fvt^ers the faith of the llrongeft, and the faith of the
weakeft ; it anfwers Abraham's faith, and it anfwers
them of little faith. What is the reafoii of this dif-
iin6lion, that there are fome ftrong in the faith, but
becaufe they put a (Irong truft in God's (IroQg faith-
falaefsP What is the reafoa fome are called weak ia
the faith, but becaufe they give a weak, wavering,
ftag£.e;ing truft to the faithfulnefs of God? It an-
fwr's all forts of faith ; faith for jull fication ; faith
tor fandfification ; faith for oiir comfortable fupport
in our pilgriarage ; faith for our Tafe landing at hea-
ven. All ihefe confilf in our trufting God's promife,
for his fake who gave the promife : as I (hall fnew
more at large, wh'en I come to lay before you your
duty of believing. Only this (hall ferve for the firfl
inference, that we may hence fee, what the ftri(St. na-
ture of believing is ; it is truiling God upon his pro-
mife, it is taking God upon his word.
2. We fee hence what the reafonablenefs of be-
lieving is ; o: llrong believing ; why ? Becaufe it is
trufting Go-l's faitiifalnefs. What can be more rea-
fonable than this? i know that fenfe and carnal rea-
fon are the greaieft enemies of true believing-, but
there isnoihrng unreafcnable in believing; nay, pure
fi^iriiual reafon is highly for it. Can there be any
thing more reafonable than this, to truft one that can-
not lie ? to take an immutable foundation to build our
confidence upon ? So the apoftle Paul exprelTes it,whea,
pleading his caufe before Agrippa, and Feftus, and
Bernice, Ta great many great folks were there) : and
N 2 Ads
^6 The Jledfajl Adherence to SeRm. Vll.
A6I3 xxvi. 8. He has this exprelTioa to king Agrip-
pa. Why fkruld it ke thought a thing Incredible with yo^y
that Godjhoidd raifi the dead f The apoltle's fcope
there, is not to dilcourfe that head of divinity about
the refurrtclion of the dead, that was not his princi-
pal defign ; but here lay the grand matter, that Paul
laboured to pinch their confciences by, that our Lord
and Mafter Jefus ChriH", that died for our fins, was
xifea again for our juilitication ; the unbelieving world
that faw him before he died, and faw him die, did
not fte him after he was rifen again ; now, fays Paul,
why Jhculd itfeem a thing incredible ^ &c. ? The words
before, and thofe following, (hew they had a promife
for if, and that all the people of tfrael had hope ia
the promife that God had made ; thereupon, in ver.
27. he drives the matter molt clofely upon the confci-
ecce of that great man, Ktng Agrippa^ believefl thou
the prophets f I know that thou be It eve ft ; as if Paul
would fay, " Thou afTcnteft to this, that the pro-
*' phets fpake the mind of God by infpiraiion : dort:
** thou believe that 1 preach noihing elfe but what
*' the prophets foretold, and what 1 know is fcl-
« filled ; that God hath railed his Son Chrift Jefus ?"
Almojl, faith Agrippa, thou perfuadeft me to beaChrif
tian. The higheft reafon for the believing any thing
is. Thus faith the Lord ; the moft certain reafon that
a future thing ihall be, is, that the Lord hath fai(J it
fhail be. Therefore now we (hould tread down car-
nal reafon, and yield to this main grand reafon. Thus
faith ihe Lord ; God hath fpoken, and it rauft be
true, becaufe be faith it ; and I will truit it, becaufe
it is true. Confider an inftance of Abraham's faith
with refpe£l of iiTue from Sarah, Rom. iv. 18, 19,
Who again]} hope believed in hope^ that he might be*
come the father of many nations. — He confider ed not his
own body 'now dead, when he was about an hundred
, years oldy neither yet the deadnefs of Sarah'' s womb.
He fiaggersd not at the promife of God through unbe-
lief ;
Serm. VII. the Profejfion of our Fait hi 97
lief ; but was flrong in faith ^ giving ghry to Godm
Pray obferve, Abraham in this cafe muft believe a-
gainft ftnfe, againfl reafon, and againft all experi-
ence ; though it is likely that, before the flood, wo-
men were fruitful, when they were a great deal older
than Sarah was ; but a little while after the flooid,
men and womens lives and vigour were coatra^led to
much the fame bounds as at this day. Abraham con-
fidered not that Sarah was ninety years old ; " Nay,"
would the man fay, " if (he were ninefcore, or nine
" hundred years old, God hath faid it, and I believe
" it." Now, the grand matter was not barely and
fimply, that Abraham fhould be a father of a fon,
that he fhould be a father of many nations ; but in
this great promife of iffue from God Chrill: was com-
prehended, who was to be the eternal falvation of
the whole church of God. He was to fpring from'
Sarah's womb, and Abraham had the promife of it,
and againft all fenfe, reafon, and experience, he will
believe it. Now obferve what ufe the apoftle makes
of it: It was not written for hi t fake alone, that it
was imputed to him ; but for us alfo, to whom it fhall
be imputed^ if we believe on hhn that raifed up Jefus
our Lord from the dead, who was delivered for our of»
fences, and was raifed again for our juflification^ ver«
23, 24, 25. Pray obferve, what 1 drive at is this,
That the apoftle brings in every believer on Jefus
Chrift for falvation, in the fame lift of enjoying the
blefting with great Abraham, that believed fo ftrangs
a thing about Sarah. And the truth is, that the iui«
vation of a fmner, dead in fins and trefpaiTec, by
Chrift Jefus, is a greater wonder and miracle, thaa
Sarah's dead womb bringing forth a living child %
that, in a manner, was a work of wonder, wrought
by the God of nature according to his word ; and this
is a work of wonderful grace againft the courfe of
finful nature, for the overthrowing of it.
3. Hence we fee why faith is faid to give glory to
God : the reafon is, becaufe faith anfwers God's
faith'
93 The Jledfaj} Adhermce to Serm. VIL
fnithriilncrs. Great faith is faid ro give glory to God ;
one of the fpeciai commendaiions of Abraham's faich
j.s, He was jlrong infaith^ giving glory to God, Rom.
iv. 20. God magnifies his name of faithfulnefs above
all his naiDes ; the believer magnifies his faithfulnefs
by his believing, therefore he gives glory to God.
There are three honourable fervices that fome men
gcc put into iheir hands, and which are denied to an-
gels. There is preaching of Chrifl, fnifering for
Chfift, and believing in him : thefe are three honour-
able pieces of fervicej that only poor mortal men are^
fntroRcd with. The apoflle reckons he had got a
great grace, when he h^sd got that of preaching Chrift
and thit too the unfearchable riches of Chrifl. When
an angel was fentto Cornelius, he was not fent to preach
ihe gofpei to him, but to reil him where a gofpel-
preacher was, A6ts x. Suffering for Chrifl: is a great
honour ; angjels are not capable of it, it does not
Ibiid wir.h thfir blelTed (late. The apoflle feems to
call this a higher matter, than the honour of be-
lieving, Phil. i. 29. For unto you it is given in the be'
half of Chrijl, not only to believe on him^ but alfo tofuf-
jer for his fake. Let us pafs thefe, and co'nfider,
wherein there is an honouring of God by believing;
for it is a point very rarely believed. Who is there^v
of believers that think, that by bare believing they
give God more g^ory^ than any other way they can
do?
ly?, Faith gives glory to God, becaufe it bring?
Dothing to him, but poverty, want, and emptineis.
All graces bring fomething to' God, but faith brings
nothing. Love brings a flaming, burning heart to
God; repentance brings a bleeding, broken heart to
God ; obedience brings a working hand to God ; pa-
tience brings, as it were, a broad back to God, let
hi'U lay on what he will ; poor faith brings juft no-
thing, but the poor man's bare hand and empty di(h.
The poorer man CGines to God, the more glory to
God. h is remaikabie, that in thofe caies wherein
we
Serm. VIT. the Frofejfion of our Faith. ' f^
we bring foniething to God, we are very apt Jo car-
ry away fomething of the glory that belongs tp Uim :
faiih brings nothing at all to God ; it brings uo more
than broken bones, and fores to the great Puyficiau.
As a condemned prifoner, it brings his ch;iins and fee-
lers to the great Redeemer, but norhing to c:^Xk'
mend him to God, nor carries away any thing kom
God.
2t//y, Faith glorifies God ; for it feeks ail in hi^B,
and from him ; as it brings noLhiqg to him, fo it ex-
pe(fts every thing from him, whatever its wants be*
The ^language ot faith is, " All my wants be iipcii
" ihee, O Lord ;" there is no other way of bearia^-
them ; it expedls all from him, and from the iingi<2
warrant of his word.
3^/y, Faith always glorifies God, for it vcatarcs
its all upon his word. The believer is rtill iii thii
frame, in the exercife of faith : ^* Now here I have
" God's faithful promife ; and if it Ihouli fail (iqc, I
" (hould certainly fink for ever. My foul, body, re-
*' putaiion, privileges of the gofpel, all my corjeeras
*' vvhatfoever, are all laid .upon the faith fu hi c fs ©f
*^ God ; they are all put in that bottom of the &ip -
*' if i raifcarry, i am gone for ever." "Who is there
of believers that believes this, that a bare adveiiior-
ing of thy eternal falvation upon the Son of GoJ, ^f
virtue of the promlfe of God, brings more glory ny
God, than all things elfe can do ?
Lajli'y, Faith glorifies God, becaufe all other afrs
of glorifying God are only fo as faith is in them, an<l
as they fpring from faith. When the spoftle is com--
mending the great ejiploits of believers, Keb- xi. t.^*
faith, they all all chtained a good report tbroi^gh faitl.K-
If their works had been done w-ithout faith, therein"
never a good word to be faid of them, whatever thef
did. All our duties, obedience, fuiFerings, the gre:u
things that are done for God, only tend, to the glorf
of God, as they are fpirited and enlivened by fairh.
Take away faith from your prayer^^ and God gets no
^ glory.
100 The Jledfajl Adherence to Serm. VII.
glory, and you no comfort, by your praying, James
J. 5, 6, 7. Let faith be feparaied from the word, and
God gets no glory by your hearing. Whatever you
do, there is no glorifying God, unlefs in the doing
of the thing you do believe : Whatsoever is not of faith
is fiHi Rom. xiv. 23. Heb. xi. 6.
4. Hence we fee how faith is faid to fave the foul,
becaufe it anfwers God's faithfulnefs. Such is ap-
proaching to the faving God, and it<? nearefl abode
with him. It is running to, and abiding with him*
It is going in the nearefl way to heaven : Heb. x. 39.
We are not of them^ fays the apoflle, who draw hack
unto perdition^ hut of them that helieve^ to the faving of
the foul. The poor jailor afks a queftion, What Jh all
I do to he faved ? Believe on the Lord Jefu? Chrijl^
and thoufhalt he favedy fays Paul. Pray now, what is
the meaning of this ? " There is a man Jefus Chrid,
** whofe fervant I am ;" would Paul fiy, " and thou
*' haft perfecuted me for his fake, and for preaching
** of him ; now believe on him, venture thy foul on
*« him, take his word for thy falvation, his righteouf-
" nefs for thy cloathing, his Spirit for thy fanftifica-
** tion, and thou (halt certainly be faved as well as I,
*« or any others." I need not infift upon the frequent
connections that are in the gofpel, betwixt believing
and falvation ; this only is that which I drive at, to
(hew you, how faith comes to be faving to the foul ;
it is an echoing to God's faithfulnefs. Take the matter
in thefe four plain principles, to begin at the top. i/?.
My eternal falvation ftands in the enjoyment of God,
2C^/y, This God comes down to me in Chrift Jefus,
for otherwife he is not to be known, not to be enjoy-
ed. 3 J/jy, This Chrift Jefus comes to me in the pro-
inife of the gofpel, otherwife he is not to be known,
he is not to be received. A^thly^ This promife, in the
day of God's power, is joined with my faith, and my
faith with it. It came to me, and I received it. See
for this. Gal. iii. 23, 25. Hence the believer rifes
up again and fay^, God has wrought faith in me :
Therefore
Serm. VII. the Profeffion of our Faith. loi
Therefore (i.) The proip.ife is mir.e. (2.) Chriii in-
feparable from the promlfe is mine, and then God
infeparabie from Chrifi is mine, and I mn(l be faved
for ever. So that vvhere-ever the behevcr begins, at
the top, at God, or at the bottom, at the dependance
of his loul on God, the realon backward or forward
holds perpetually : now, there is no parting of any
of theie ; God never revealed himfeif a .faithful God
to any, but in Chriii ; Chrift never revealed himfelf
as a Saviour to any, but in the proraife ; the promifs
does no good to any, but a behever. It is true, God
in his great "wifdom maizes ufe of the prorinife, as the
means of faith, as weii as the ground of faith. Ihe
reafon why faith faves the foul, is not becaufe of any
iTiighty thing in faith, for faith is a poor weak thing;
but it is fixed to the faithfulnefs of God, and the
faithfulnefs of God through Chriii is in it, and God
is in it. You ir.ay take faithfulnefs from God the Fa-
ther, as fooo as take falvation from a believer in'
Chrift Jefus. Hence comes it, I fay, that faith is
faving. The rope of falvation is in the promife ; the
poor believer hath but a trembling hand in catching
hold of it ; but, if I may To fpeak, the higher end
of the hope is in heaven, at the right hand of God,
and it catches hold of the believer; unlefs it break,
faved he mufl be ; break it cannot, and therefore fav-
ed he mufl be. See Phil, iii* 12.
5. I might add. Hence :7e may fee foraething of
the eafmefs of believing. I do not fay, it is an eafy
thing for a man to believe; this is a deceiving flat-
tery of wicked, ungodly men. I intend, if the Lord
will, to prove the contrary, that there is great diffi-
culty in the working of faith. All my meaning is,
that it is an eafy thing to a(Sl faith, where God harh
wrought it already. In this cafe, it is but the foul's
echo to the faithfulnels of God, it is only the foul's
faying amen when God promifes. I hear the word
of him that cannot lie, amen, fo be it ; that if 1 may
compare this ordinary inflaace with an extraordinary
O ca ,
I ©2 The ftedfaft Adherence to Serm. VII.
one, Luke i. 38. The augel of the Lord that brought
the virgin Mary the tidings of the conceptions of our
bleffed Saviour, he fent her the news ; (lie daggers
at it at firft, through unbeHef, at lail:, by the power
of God, faith is begotten in her : Behold the hand-
maid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word ;
that, i[ I may To fpeak, was the very confeut oi taith,
that (he miraculous conception of the Son of God be-
gan with. So may it be with us, if the Lord will put
that life, and power, and ftamp on the promife of
the gofpel, that here is life, and falvation, and righ*
teoufnefs, and all good, both of grace and glory, ten-
dered to faith through Chrifl: Jefus. Truft him, truft
God's word, and it (hall be done. Behold the hand"
maid of the Lord^ be it unto me according to thy word.
Though there be nothing more incredible, though
there is nothing that is n^ore impolTible, than that
fuch a vile creature as I am (hould be (aved ; yet God
hath faid it, God hath bid me believe it, and believe
it 1 mud, or call the fpeaker a liar. Believing is
hard only to the unbeliever; but let the Spirit of
faith (as the apoftle calls it) be ftirring, and a belie-
ver cannot forbear to believe. Let the word of God
be heard as the word of God, and this is by the
preaching it as his word, i TheC i. 5. and the af-
ftnt of true faith will be given to if, i ThelT. ii. 13 •
And thus will its fruits be both unknown to the unbe-
liever, and to the non-fee.ling believer.
Laflly^ Hence we fee why-fo much is fpoken of
faith in our Saviour, John iii. 36. He that believeth
on the Son, hath everlajling life : and he that believ-
eth not the Son, /hall not fee life ; but the wrath of
God abideth on hhn.
9ERMO^'
Serm. VIII. the ProfeJJion cf our Faith. loj
SERMON VIII.
Hebrews x. 23.
For he is faithful that promifed.
TH E faithfulnefs of God is one of his great and
glorious names. Whenever he makes it appear
before the eyes of a poor fmoer, when he proclaims
this name, then they believe, but never till then, k
is a fad thing to confider, that when there is fo much
of faith fpoken of in the word, there fliouid be fo
little of it in the exercife of Chriftians. The new
teflament name that is given to the godly, is that of
believers. A man is not called a believer, becaufe
he hath faith, or becaufe he once a61ed faith ; as long
as he lives, he (hould be ftili believing.
1. We find the gofpel is called the ivord of faith.
The apoftle fpeaks of it exprefly in diftinftion from
the law, Rom. x. 8. The word of faith which ive preachy
Gal. iii. 2. it is called the hearing of faith ; that is,
the doftrine of faith. The gofpel is called the word
cf faith, as it is the onlv ground of faiih. All the
hope that is railed in the heart of man, as to good in
time, or as to eternity, is all founded on the bare
word of God. We can believe nothing but his word ;
and we believe it, becaufe it is his word. Again,
it is called the word of faith, becaufe it is the mean^
of faith, and begets faith. What think you is faith ?
hut only the imprelBon, the (lamp that the word of
the gofpel, when brought home with power, leaves
upon the foul. It is the heart's echo to the voice of
falvation by Chrift in the gofpel ; and when the Lord
proclaims ir, as he can, and always does to the cbo-
fcD, this echo will Itill follow. Again, it is the word
O 2 of
I04 , The Stedjajl Adherence to Serm. VllI
of fa'ub, becaufe it is the food of faith, that which
\Ve are to defire, that we may grow thereby^ i Peter
ii. 2. The v\'hole gofpel is ilie word of faith ; peo-
ple get no good by the gofpel unlefs they get faith ;
they caniiot profit by the gofpel but by faith, and by
the increafe of that faith.
2. We hnd Chrift gets a name from faith, Heb.
xii. 2. He IS. ike author andfinijher of our faith When
we think of the niany names and offices of our Lord,
fome of which have a great deal of vifible glory in
them, how (liall we conceive of this, thai our Lord Jefus
ihould be denominated the author and finilher of our
faith ! that Chrift (hould get a name, as it were, in
the word, from the begetting, and cheriftiing, and
preferving, and perfeding of faith in a poor crea-
ture !
3. We find the Holy Ghofl called the Spirit of faith ^
2 Cor. iv. 13. We have the fame Spirit of fait h^ ac^
cording as it is written^ I believed^ and therefore have
Ijpoken ; ive alfo believe^ and therefore fpeak. We
find farther in the word a work of faith fpoken of, a
work of God's working, 2 Theff. i. 11. 'The work of
faith with power. We find alfo a good fight of faith
fpoken of.
Now, from all thefe things you may plainly fee,
that people do not know what pertains to the gofpel ;
they knov/ not Jefcs Chriil, they know not the pro-
mife ; they know not the Holy Spirit ; they know
nothing of a work of God upon their hearts, unlefs
they know fo'.nething of a work of faith. Alas !
many poor creatures are wcfuily deceived about their
fouls. Some have had experience of this, and they
think it a great experience, that whereas they were
ungodly, and carnal, and fecure, and walked ioofely ;
flrong convi£tions of fm came upon them, and fome
reformation from fm followed after ; they immedi-
ately think they are good Chrittians, (many fuch good
Chriftians are in hell), but in ihe meaa time have no
fenfe
Serm. VIII. the Frofejfion of our Faith, 105
fenfe of this Spirit of faith. What have you found
of the Spirit of God as a Spirit of faith, carrying on
a work of faith in your fouls, and drawing forth your
hearts that are naturally unbeUeving, unto a trufting
in God through our Lord Jefus Chrift ?
We find farther, a dior of faith fpoken of, A<5l3
xiv. 27. And hozv be had opened the door of faith
unto the Gentiles, See Heb. iv. i, 2, 3, 1 1. A poor
unbeliever is a prifoner under the law, a prifoner un-
der the chain of God's curfe, and he can do nothing
but flay there ; for remove he cannot, until the de-
vil come to drag him out to hell. In this miferable
liate, the Lord opens a door of faith, that the poor
prifoner may get our, and get into the open air, and
come to partake of the glorious liberty of the fons of
God: Gal. iii. 23. But before faith came^ we were
kept under the law^ and f hut up unto the faith which
fhould afterwards be revealed ; that is, we were pri-
foners till that faith came, then we had our liberty.
We find like wife the footfleps of faith fpoken of.
There are no true Chriftians, but muft know fomc-
thing of this : And the father of circumcifton to them
who are not of the circumcifion only^ but alfo walk in
the fleps of that faith of our father Abraham^ which
he had being yet uncircumcifed^ Rom. iv. 12. He had
the bleffing of the covenant before he had the feal of
it. Now, Abraham's footftepswere (troug ones, fteady
ones, and, if 1 may fo fpeak, they were wide iieps
that he took in the way of faith. It is a hard mat*
ter for you and me to follow hiin ; ay, but though
we cannot walk fo faft, nor fo (trongly as he did,
yet we muft walk in the footileps of the fame faith*
When our faith and his are compared, our fteps and
his compared, it is a fhame to think what a great
diiFerence there is betwixt them ; but this way we
muft walk in ; a child may follow the footfteps of a
ftrong man.
Laflly, There is an end 6f faith fpoken of : Receiv-
ing the end of your faith y even the falvation of your fouls ^
\ Peter
io6 the jledfajl Adherence to Serm. VIII.
I Peter i. 9. The end of faith is that which fajth
aims m, thar which faith attains, atid that witti which
faith hiun no more to ^o^ when it hath got it ; for
there is r.o proper believing in heaven ; and there is
no true believer, but he believes till then. There
is alfo, (f.) The rnyllery of faiih, i Tim. iii. 9. (2.)
The law of faith, Roii). iii. 27. (3.) The work of
faith, 1 Tim. i. 11. (4.) Houfehold of faith, Gf^al.
vi, 10. (5.) Fight of iai;h, 1 Tirt vi. 12.
So much DOW is faid concerning faith in the word,
and of irs great inflaence on all things that pertain to
this life, and that to come, that fare no true Chrif-
lian can polTibly be unconcerned about this affair.
In Ipeakin^ to this word, as I have done feveral
ti?nes. Faithful is hs that promifes^ I have fpoken, i.
To the promifiog God, as the name of our God. 2.
Unto ibe fai-hfuhiefs of this proir.ifing God. 3. That
the faith of believers fhould anfwer the faithfulnefs
of God, that as all our faith is built upon his promi-
fes, fo our faith fliould be built firm, becaufe the
promife is fiim. I did propofe, in the application of
thefe t' uths, fon[ie do-flrinal inferences to be drawn
therefrom, then an exhortation unto believing infer-
red from all.
OF the do£^rina! inferences I named four laft day,
and enrcrcd a \\u\z upon the fifth, which 1 v/ould now
fpeak farther to.
I. Hence we may fee the true nature of faith, that
it is an anfwerinp^ God's faithfulnefs. I fhewed then,
2. The rearonabieaefs of believing, that though cor-
rupt reafon be a great enemy to f.^ith, yet there is
no'hirg more reafonable, that a reafonable creature
can do, ih^m trufl the infallible God. 3. I fhewed
you, that hence you may fee how faith glorifies God.
4. How it is that it conduces fo much to the faving of
the foul : it is called therefore frequently by Chrifti*
2.\i% favir.g faith ; we are faved by faith, kept by the
power of God through faith unto falvation ; and be-
lieve to the faving oi the foul.
5. The
Serm. VIII. the frofejjton of our Faith, loj
5. The jfi/th thing was to fpeak a little of the eafi-
cel's of faith. If fo be, that true faiih be an anf Ber-
ing of God's faithfulnefs, and trulling of God's word,
it items then to be a very eafy aff. I told you, that
it is not eafy to come by it, neither is it eafy ro a<^ it,
but it is eafy in the acfing. To prevent niiftakes a-
bout this on either hand, I would give you but thefe
few things, i/?, Believing is bard and utterly ini-
pofllble to every unrenewed, ungodly man : No man
can come to me^ except the Father zvhich hath fint me^
draw hjii^ fays our Lord, John vi, 44. This word
did break the necks of a great many of Chrifi's hear-
ers : and in verfe 6^, it is repeated, Therefore /aid I
unto you^ fays he, when they began to murmur, that
no man can come unto me, except it were given unto
him of my Father » A little now of this. Believing^
as hath been faid, is but a trulling God's faithfalnefs
in a promife of faivation by Chrift ; it feems 10 be
marvellous, that this fliould be impofiibie to a natu-
ral man ; naturally men think it very eafy, all the
ungodly think they can believe v/hen they will. Bur
how grofsly are they miftaken about it ! I would
therefore Ihew a litde whence it comes that it is im-
pofiible for a natural man to believe. That he can-
not believe, is frequently fpoken of in the fcripture,
John V. 44. How can ye believe f John xii. 39. There-
fore they could not believe ; the fame truth is held forth,
in both places, they could not believe.
(i.) AH natural men are unconcerned about thofe
great things which trufting in God is concerned abouto
Truftingjn God, that is, true faith, is trufliiig in him
through Chrift Jefus, for the great concernment of
our eternal faivation, which is the pardoning of our
guilty fouls, and wafhing of them from all their de-
filements, with the fubduing of all their corruptions.
Now, do you not fee plainly, that rt is impoffible^.
that a man (houid truft God for thofe things, when
he has no heart-concern about them ? The fjiatters
that faith is employed about, and which trufilns: in
God
lo8 The Jledfajl Adherence to Serm. VIII.
God hath in its eye, are altogether remote from the
thought and mind of a natural man ; therefore they
do but lie againft God and themfelves, that fay they
truft God with their eternal falvation upon his word,
when their confciences tell them that their eternal
falvation was never fo weighty with them, as the con-
cerns of this poor frail life ; and that they never were
in fo much earneft in faying. What (hall I do to he
faved ; as they are daily in faying, What Jh all I eat f
and what Jh all I drink f and wherewithal Jhall 1 be
clothed f
(2.) The natural man is ignorant of God, and truft-
ing in God is impofiible to all that do not know him.
There is no trufting of an unknown God. Poor Pa-
gans may worftiip an unknown God, but it is unac-
ceptable worfhip, A61:s xvii. 23. Formal hypocriies
perform feveral duties of worfhip to God, though un-
known ; they may obey a commanding God, though
unknown ; all thefe are but fmful pra(SI:ices : but
trulling in an unknown God is impoffible ; They that
know thy name^ will put their trufl in thec^ fays the
pfalmift, Pfal. ix. 10. The reverfe of it is very plain ;
They that know not thy name, will not put their truft
in thee. When Paul gives an account of his faith,
/ know^ fays he, whom I have believed^ 2 Tim. i. 12.
(3.) All natural men are poffelTed with that which
is inconfiftent with believing in God, vi'ith believing
his word, or the truths contained in it. Hence is that
great word of our Lord, John v. 44. fhw can ye be-
lieve^ fays he, which receive honour one of another^ and
feek not the honour that cometh from God only f Pray
obferve, that there is a greater depth of fpirituality
in thefe words of our Lord, than ordinary readers do
perceive. It hath but a very bare and harfti found,
for to make it to be this. How can you believe that
feek honour apd applaufe from men ? The meaning
principally of it is this, How can you believe as long
as this is in your frame, that the honour that comes
from
Serm. VIIT, the Prcfejlon of our Faith, 109
from God to you, and the honour given to God by
faich, is not more dear to you than any thing elfe?
A natural man can never give God the honour due to
the nanne of his truth, and he cannot fet all his reft
and confidence upon that honour and reputation that
the free grace of God in the gofpel brings to hirn.
How can ye believe^ then, fays Chrid, &c. ? Nay, a
natural man hath not only unbelief in him, but the
nature cf the natural man is unbelief. The apo(i!e
cautions all of thi^, Hcb. iii 12. Take hsed^ brethren^
lejl there be in any of you an evil heart cf unbeliefs
The apoflle fpeaks of unbelief now, not only as a
heart-fill, but as if the heart of the unbeliever were
made up of unbelief, as if there were nothing in it
but unbelief. In fuch there is no ciifpo.'iiion to truH
God upon his word ; all the trud qf the heart is Iodis-
ed on creatures, it is lodged upon things of noughts
This is tie firfl thing, though i fay believioi^ is eafy,
you mufl not think that it is eafy to a natural man,
for to him it is impofiible.
idly^ Neither is believing eafy to a believer; o-
therwife what need is there of the fght of faith ^ as I
named but jufl; now ? The fight of faich, and the war-
fare of faith, do not only (land in faith's fighting a-
gainft ail the .impediments that are in its way, but in
fai;h's fighting againd the unbelief that is lodged in
the fame heart with it. The believer is not perfeflly
renewed ; there are remnants of the heart of unbe-
lief in him ; and from thefe remnants it comes, that
be neither can believe when he would, nor can he at
any time believe as he wcnKi I believe^ fays the good
man, Lord, help my unbelief He fpeaks like a maa
that knew this point well : " I believe, and 1 have
*' unbelief for all that ; 1 will not deny my faith, be-
" caufe of my unbelief; I will not conceal my unbe-
" lief, bccaufe of my faith ; I will acknowledge the
*^ one to thy praife, and the other ro my own (liame ;
" Lord J help my unbeliefs Mark ix. 24." The thing
tbeo that I mean, when I fay faith is ^^^"^^ i^:, that
F it
Ito The ftedfajl Adherens to Serm. VIII.
it is eafy in ihe a61ing ; there is no great difficulty in
ihe a(5iiDg of it, when once received. This I would
(hew you in two particulars.
(i.) Faith is fweetly drawn forth. (2.) It fweetiy
a6ls when it is drawn forth.
(i.) Faith is fweetly drawn forth. The hand that
works faith, deals gently with the foul. It is a draw-
ing with loving-kindnefsy Jer. xxxi, g. ; it is a caufing
of a man to approach to God, Pfalm Ixv. 4. ; it is a
drawing with fuch an arm of love and poster, as there
is no pain in it, but a great deal of pleafure ; there
is a heavenly pleafure in feeling, as it were, the hand
of God drawing the foul fweetly and kindly to him-
felf ; it is a gentle motion. Now, here is the myf-
tery of the wifdom of the grace of God ; A natural
Efeart is averfe from faith : but when the Lord comes
to work faith, he offers no violence unto the nature of
the man ; the way whereby he overcomes unbelief,
h by an overpowering, gracious influence of his Spi-
rit, whereby people are made willing. This day of
power makes a man willing, as the promife is, which,
bkffedbe God, hath been often fulfilled, Pfal. ex. 3.
Thy people /hall be willing in the day of thy power,
(2.) it is kindly a^led too : as the Lord works it
kindly, fo does the believer aft it kindly. What is
there in believing, that fbould not be very kindly and
fweetly done ? There is no other relief found for the
diftrefled foul, but only in God through Chrift Jefus.
This relief is found to be a very amiable and taking
one. Is there any pain, think you ; is there any trou-
ble ; is there any regret feizing upon the fpirit of a
poor creature, when he gives hi? confent to a blefl'ed
bargain ? When the condemned prifonc* takes his
pardon, what pain is there ? is it not an eafy thing
to accept of a pardon ? the captive is willing to have
his chains loofed, and loofed by him that can take
them off fweetly. Sirs, the thing that I drive at is
only this, and in it I do appeal unto all the confcien-
ces of them that hear me, that ever knew what be-
lieving
Serm. VIIL the Profefflen of our Faith. Ill
lieving is. That when God proclaims his natiie, and
ihines in his glory in the promire, and draws the heart
fweetly towards himfelf, was there ever any thing you
did in all your life more fweetly done than to truft
God ? It is one of the nioft cheerful ads that ever the
foul put forth.
6. The fixth inference is about the fenfiblenefs of
faith If fo be that faith anfvvers God's faithfulnefs,
why, then, furely it feems faith may be a fenfible
thing ; my meaning is, that a man may know it when
he does it. 1 know there are a great many believers
who are very doubtful of their faith, and I believe
tbey will be doubtful as long as they live, if they- go
that way ro work that commonly they do. They want
a clearer difcovery oi the caufes and grounds of their
faith, they want a clearer difcovery of the fruits of
their faith, and truly boih the one and the other ^re
pretty hard to be obtained. May 1 now offer an ad-
vice that may be iliorter than this, and that is, Look
to faith itfelf The Spirit of God calls faith an evi-
dencey Heb. xi, i. ; and \% it fo myflical, fo involved,
fo intricate a thing, that people mud go fo far about,
as it were, to find it out ? Pray go to faiih itfelf: It
is the evidence of things not feen^ fays the apoftle.
Faith brings light to dark things, but dark things will
not bring light to it. 1 know the Spirit of God can
Ihine upon faith, and the grounds of faith, and cao
make the fruits of faith appear to the comfort of his
people ; but in the ordinary practice of believers, if
they would m-^nd the a^^ing oF their faith more,
they would come better to underftand, whether they
have it or nor. It is a great word the apoflle hath,
I John V. lo. He that believe th on the Son of God^
fays he, hath the witnefs in himfelf The words in
the original had been better tranilated, if it had been.
He that hdievesy hath the leflimony in himfelf ; for
witnefs fometirnes fignilies the perfon, and fo people
commonly miftake it ; bat the words are. He that
believes^ hath the teflimony in himfelf ; his faith re-
P % ceives
1 1 2 The fledfajl Adherence to S e r m. VIII.
ceives the teitimoDy of God about the truth of the
golpel, fo that the man relies npou his 'faith, appre-
hends and haS if. Now, to bring this matter unto
convi(^ion, that faith is a fet)fible thing, I v^ould only
a/kvouthefe two things, Do you know what you think?
and do you know what you do ? Surely, if people
can know neither of thefe, they can pretend to know
nothing. Bur if you do know what you think, and
v/hat you do, I mud infer this, that you mud know
when you believe, if you do believe." ly?, What do
you think ? What think you of God, and of his
faithful promife P Do you in your heart account him
faithful I and do you account the promifes fure in
your heart and thought? So faith is defcribed in the
words, Har ah judged him faithful who had promifed^
Heb. xi. ri. So that, in a manner, if Sarah had
been to examine herfclf, Whether have I faith in
God ? the matter was to be determined thu?, What
dod thou think of God ? He hath palTed his word to
thee, doft thou judge him faithful ? David thought
him fo, 2 Sam., xxiii. 5. Pfal. 1. 10. Paul thought
him fo, 2 Tim. i. 12. Cannot a man tell whether he
judges God faithful in his great promifes of falvation
through Chrid Jefus ? zJ/y, Cannot you tell what
you do ? In .all other things people know what they
do. A poor child can tell you plainly, as foon as it
is able to fpeak, whom it trods for its daily bread and
raiment. It is carelcfs and thoaghilefs about the
things of this life ; and the ground the child can give,
is this ; My parents take care of me. Shall a child,
as fbon as come to the ufe of reafon, argue fo plainly
as this ? and ftiall not a child cf God be able to do
fo too ? Cannot you tell where you have lodged your
great falvation ? wheic you have lodged your dar-
ling ? It is marvellous if people cannot do this ; but
1 know and diall fpeak farther of it. There are a
great many Chridians dare not deny, that there is in
them the direct a61: cf faith, who yet, for the want
of other things they would fain have, complain that
they
Serm. VIII, the Profejjicn of our Faith, 113
they have not the comfort of the truth of their faith.
7. Hence we may fee the grsatnefs of the fm of
unbelief, fo much fpoken of in the word. Faith an-
fwers God's faithfulnefs ; unbelief will not (tir, but
refleifts on God's faithfulnefs : He that believeth not
Cod) hys the apoflle, 1 John v. 10. hath made hint
a liar ; made God a liar ! A hard word. If it had
been, He that believes nor, is afraid that God is a
liar, that is bad enough ; and. He that believes nor,
calls God a liar, that is yet worfe ; but this is a dread-
ful word. He that believes not, hath made God a
liar. It is impoffible he can make him fo, it is impof-
fible for God to lie ; but the poor man does all he
can to make him fo, and (liall be reckoned as if he
had done the greatelt wrong and hart to God ima-
ginable. Unbelief is aggravated by iwo things up
and down the world, ly?, That it is the boldeil and
mod: provoking afFront that a (inful creature can give
to God, not to believe his word. To call God weak,
is blafphemy ; to call him fooliih is blafphemy; to
deny him his eternal power and Godhead, all thefe
are blafphemy : but to deny his truth, is fomething
above thefe. See how it is among poor filly men.
There is many a man will think it no great affront to
be called poor ; another will think it no great aiTront
to be called weak and foolifh, a man of fmall parts
to be called (hallow ; but to call a man that hath any
thing of a principle of honefty in him, a liar, this is
not well to be endured. A man that hath a great
many other infirmities, yet may be one that makes
confcience of what he fays, Rom. iii. 4. Now, (hall
the pride of man rife fo readily againli refle(flions of
lying call upon him by his fellow-creatures, and yet
(hall he caft this unfufferable aitront upon the God or
truth? The grand tranfgreffion is to disbelieve God ;
and all that do not believe, do fo. 2j/y, Unbelief
hath this in it, that it is the mod certain, the molt
fure, and dreadful way of ruin to men ; it brings de-
ftruclioQ upon men with a fpecial vengeance. If ye
114 '^he fredfaj} Adherence to Serm. VIII
believe not that I am he, fays our Lord, ye Jhall die
in your fins, John viii. 24. If I had 7iot corne^ and
fpoken uniQ them, they had not had Jin : but now they
have no cloak for their fin^ Joha xv. 22. See aifo
verfe 24.
NoWj of this inference, that is fo native, concern-
ing the greatnefs of the nn of unbeiief, there are two
things mip^htily to be regarded, (i.) As great as this
fiii is, and as fare'y damoing as it is, yet it never dif-
turbs the confcience of a natural ungodly man. He
niay be dih-irbed in his mind for fm, he may be dif-
turbed in hxi confcience ix)r his own lying, but is ne-
ver diiiurbed in his confcieQce for calling God a liar ;
be may be diiiurbed in his confcience for his difobey-
ing Goii's law, but never thinks it a fin to disbelieve
God's promife ; (baking ciF of God's authority and
yoke of obedieoce, he may have forae challenges for,
but in defpiiing God's grace and the offers of it in the
gofpei, he is never difquieted ; therefore fomeiimes
you raay marvel, whence this comes. A great many
people, may be, have a hell-ftorm raifed in their con-
iciences, but wait a little while, and you will find, ia
many cafes, it comes to nothing ; they are only fea-
fick, it is the efFe£l only of feme fliarp affliftion, or
fome temptation, or fome alarm upon confcience :
when they come to (hore, and the weather grows fair,
and the wind down, they are as quiet, and fecure,
and harder than ever they were. The reafon is, be-
c;iufe they never v^ere convinced of the fin of unbe-
lief ; they never felt any thing in their exercife about
this, that they have been great finners before God ;
becanfe this grace offered to them in Chrifl Jefus was
pot made precious to them. More hopeful a great
deal is the lUie of that perfon who is bewailing the
heart of unbelief, than of thofe that are bewailing a
covetous, worldly, proud, and filthy heart ; though
thefe deferve their own bemoanings in their ov;n places.
(2.) As great as this fin is, and as much as there is of
it ia the godly, jet it is a fin that very rarely difquiets
even
Serm. VIII. the Trofejton of our Fa'iihi 1 15
even godly mens confciences. This is fad, that Chrif-
tians are feldom troubled about their unbelief. Ouf
Lord fpeaks concerning ir, John xvi. 9. thst he will
fend the Comforter to convince the world of fin, be*
caufe^ fays he, they believe not on me, Mofes may
convince men of fin, of murther, of adultery, of Swear-
ing falfely, of profaning the holy day of God ; Mo-
fes may convince them of a great many tranfgreffioa*
againft the law ; but the Spirit of God only can con-
vince a believer of the Tin of unbelief. Jodge you
now how rare this is, in all the profeffion?, in all the
humbling of believers, when they are alone. I pofe
your confciences about it ; what Chriilian is there to
be found ? Not one among a thoufand have their
hearts broken, their confciences difquieting them,^ as
broken bones within them, becaufe of their unbelief,
iheir jealoufies of Chrifl's love, their doubnng of the
faithlulnefs of the promifes : nay, of the fame pro*
mifes that they have'believed formerly, and have gi-
ven glory to God by believing, they take back agaia
the glory by unbelieving. The mod fpiritual attain-
ment of a Chriftian in the world, the moft fpiiitual^
evangelical mourning and repentance that can be ac-
ted by a Chriftian, is a mourning over his unbelief j
that the word of the Lord is not more precious to him ;
that he cannot truft God's word barely v/ithour props ;
that he doubts of it fo often, when darknefs comes on ;
that he lets go his hold of this great rock, the faith-
ful ncfs of God.
3. and lajlly^ The laft inference is. That here we
may fee the wonderful wiidom of God, in twiding
his glory with the eternal concern's of the ciuldren of
men, and that both in the faving of the ele^^, and m
the perdition of the unhappy remnant ; for xh^ ele6^
are fometimes called the remnant^ and the reprobates
are fometimes alfo called by the faT^enaiBe. The rem-
nant are blinded^ fays Paul, Rom xi. In the fame
place within two or three ve^fe^^ the elec^ arc called
the
Il6 The Jlcdfajl Adherence to . Serm. VIII.
the remnant according to the ekdion of grace ^ and the
reprobates are called the rejl that were blinded. The
Lord, I fay, hach herein linked his glory marvellouf-
]y with the eternal concernments of men. Thus, as
to the falvation of the ele(^, God gives Chrift for
ihem, according to ttie eternal purpofe of his heart :
he gives the proraife to them ; he gives them faith,
to lay hold on the promife ; and he glorifies himfelf,
and faves them in the performance of the promife :
all thefe things are framed fo together, that the glo-
ry of God (hall be greatly advanced in faving of poor
man. There is glory in eledling love, there is glory
in redeeming grace, there is glory in God's faiihful-
nefs in his word, this is glorified by the believing of
the perifliing fmner ; and in and upon this believing,
the performance of the promife, the applying of the
redemption, the accomplifhment of the purpofe of
his grace, is at lad reached. On the other hand, a
great many under the gofpel peri(h. Chrift was ne-
vet given for thera, but he is offered unio them. The
promifes were never meant for them, but they are
offered to them. No man perifties, becaufe Chrift
died not for him ; no m.an raiffes of the performance
of the promife, becaufe the promife was not made to
him ; but heperiflies becaufe of his unbelief, becaufe
the teftimony of God was not looked upon as fufficient
ground to venture his foul upon, therefore he pe-
riflies. And thus the Lord gets the glory of his juf-
tice and faitbfulnefs upon thofe wretches, that have
denied to truft him. The apoftle joins both, 2 Theff.
i. 8, 9, 10. Our Lord is to take vengeance on them
that know not Gody and that obey tiot the gofpel of our
Lord J ef us Chrifl ; and this, when he fh all come ^ fays
he, to be glorified in his faints^ and to be admired in
all them that believe^ (becaufe our teftimony among you
was beiie'vedjy in that day, " You that have believ-
*' ed the teftimony of God in the gofpel," fays the
apoftle, *^ our Lord will be admired in you, and glo-
" rified
Serm. VIIL Jhs ProfeJJion cf our Faith. 117
*' rifled in that day." So tnuch (hall fcrve ^o^ the
dodrinal inferences from this truth.
There is only one pra£lical exhortation, but it is a
large one, that I would deduce from it, and name it
nov/ ; that is, Since believers iliould anfwer the faith-
ful nefs of God, I exhort yoii, in the Lord's name, to
come with your faith and anfwer this faithfuluefs ;
believe as he hath promifed.
I fiiall not enter upon the particulars of it now, on-
ly conclude in general with thefe thrive.
1. If you would anfwer the faith lulnefs of God by
your faith, you muft believe much, for God hath
promifed a great deal ; ou-r faith, 1 fay, mud be a
great one, ii mud be a hirge one, we nuiii believe a
great many things, for God hath promifed greatly ;
the covenant, if I may fo fpeak, is a large charter,
and our faith muft feal every word in it ; we muft put
the amen of our faith unto every true and faiibfai
faying of God, Rev. xix. 9. and xxi. 5. and xxii. 6.
2. If you would anfwer the faithfulnefsof God by
your faith, you muft believe greatly ; not only much,
but ftrongly. The promifes are ftrong in ihemfelves,
fo (hould your faith be.
3. You muft believe long. If your faith anfwers
God's faithiulnefs as it ought, you muft believe al-
ways, as long as promifes are promifes ; and promi-
fes are promifes ftiii, till they be performed j and
therefore faith (hould be faiih ftill, and a^ed ftill,
till the performance come. Te have need of -patter ce^
fays the apoftle, that after ye have dene ^t he will cf
God, ye might receive the prcmi/e, Heb. x. 36. God's
promifes are for a great while to come, as David^s
\|^ord is concerning the Lord's kindnefs to him, Thou
hajlfpoken aljo of thy fervanf s houfe, for a great zvhite^
to come^ 2 Sam. vii. 9. So that the anfwering oF
God's faithfuluefs by our faith, (liouiu bear propor-
tion unto the greatnefs, largenefs, free aefs and length
of the promife. We Ihonld look to the promife, and
fay, Here is a great blefTing, \vhea is it 16 be P H'^re
1 18 The Stedjajl Adherence to Serm. IX,
is a promife leads into eternity, I will believe til
then, fays the believer ; till I launch into eternity ;
for there the grand expe<5lation of the main fulfil-
ments is to be.
SERMON IX.
Hebrews x, 23.
For be is faithful that froinxfed.
YOU have all great need to itudy your bibles
well. According to their diligence in ufing of
the word of God, is the thriving of mens fouls. There
are thefe four things, that (hould itill be minded in
our ufing the bible.
1. To look on it all as the word of God. When
this is impreffed on the foul by faith upon opeoiDg
the book, All this is the word of God, this is fcrip-
ture infpired by the Holy Ghoft, what a great favour
does it leave upon the heart I
2. In ufing your bibles, be fure to pick out the
promifes thereof. This is the main thing in the word,
the tefti monies of God's good-will to the children of
men. People's fpirits are difcerned by this, w^hat it
is in that word they chiefly mind. Some folks read
the bible as they read another hiftory, and the hif-
torical part they like very well ; fome like the wife
precepts of the word for the condu6l of their lives,
of which the fcripture is full. But if fo be you be
Ctiriftians indeed, the main thing you will fpy out in
the word, is, Where does God's good-will appear ?
What
Serm. IX. the Frofejpon of our Faith » 119
What has God faid for me ? What good word has
God pafled that 1 may truft to, and be faved by ?
3* When we have picked out the promifes, we
mud then lay them to the heart ; they never do good
till they meet with the heart. What gracious changes
hath God wrought, when he hath laid a warm pro-
mife to a cold heart ! The fire of heaven kindles it im-
mediately. We cannot put life into the promife, that
is God's gift ; we cannot put life into our own hearts,
that is God's gift too ; but we ihould flrive to bring
the heart and God*s promife as near as may be. Ihy
word have I hid in mine hearty fays David, Pfalm
cxix. 1 1. God's people do as it were eat tbe word,
Jer. XV. 16.
4. Laftiy^ In ufmg your bibles, be fure to pray o«
Ter the promifes. 1 affure you, where-ever faith hath
got but a bit of the bread of life in the promife, it
will immediately lift itfelf upwards in defires, and ia
breathings towards the Lord for performance. For
thouy Lord of hofls^ God of Ifrael^ haft revealed to
thy fervant, faying, I will build thee an houfe^ there*
fore hath thy fervant found in his heart to pray this
prayer unto thee, David was a great believer, and he
argues like one, 2 Sam. vii. 27* David needed thofe
bleffiugs that God promifed, and in the fenfe of hi^
need ot them, he (liould and did pray for them : but
when God gives him a promife, he prays then better
for performance : and it is more of the nature of faith
to pray upon a promife, than to pray for the fupply
of a want. The defires of fupplies of wants are
fomewhat of the voice of nature, but breathings for
the performance of promifes are the very breathings
of faiih itfelf.
Now, this text that I have fpoken from to you To
often, is indeed but a (hort one, but it is in a man*
iier the key of the Bible, Faithful is he that promife d.
I have fpoke at large unto the obfervations from thefc
words, befides what was taken notice of in the words
with refpe6> to their fcope ; as,
(^2 /. That
I20 The fled fa fl Adherence to Serm. IX.
1. That the Chridian's God is a promiung God ;
he is made known by promifing ; and he is never
rightly kuowo, but when known as a promifing God.
2. That this promifing God is faithful in all his
promifes.
g. That rhe faith of believers (hould anfwer the
faithfulnefs of God ; their faith (hou'd come up iii'
fome meafure of correfpondency with the faithfulnefs
of the promifer. Of this lad 1 have fpoke feveral
times in opening up the doftrine, and began to apply
it fird in dovTtrinsl inferences.
My work now is to enter upon the exhortation un-
to this anfwering oF divine faithfulnefs by your faith,
and I vi^ould extend it to thefe three,
1. Anfwer divine faithfulnefs in the promife of fa!-
vation by Chriil in the gofpei. This is the beginning
of faiih, Heb. iii. 14.
2. Anfwer divine faithfulnefs in all the proraifes
oF grace and glory made to believers. This is the
courie and race of faith, Heb. xii. i. i Corinth, ix.
2 4j 26.
3. Anfwer the faithfulnefs of God in the grand
promife of eternal life, to be poffefled upon our de-
parture cut of ihis body. This is the beginning, this
is the life, and this is the end of believing, i Peter
i. 9.
For the fifft of thefe, the exhortation is this, (and
it is an exhortation to every one of you, whether
you be believers or unbelievers), Anfwer the faith-
fuhiefs of God in the promife of falvation by Chrifl
in the gofpei, anfwer it by faith. This is that which
is the (cope of all the gofpei, this is the defign of
God in writing to us the gofpei. But thefe are writ-
ten^ faith the apoille, that ye might believe that Jefus
is the Chrifl y the Son of God^ and that believing ye
viight havs life through his name^ J.>hn xx. 30. This
is what our Lord charges his apoftles with : G^, faith
he, and preach the gofpei to every creature ; zed as the
apofiie laith, which was preached ie every creature
which
Serm. IX. the FrofeJJion of our Faith. 121
which is under heaven^ Col. i. 23.: that is. Every
man and woman that lives in this world, preach the
gofpel to them ; what gofpel ? Tell them thae there
is life and falvation for them in Jefus Chrifl ; if they
will believe it, well and good ; if not, ihey Jhati be
damned, Mark xvi. 15, 16. Upon this now, becaufe
it is a matter of great concernment unto people to be
well informed about it, to be well roufed up unto the
prai^ice of it, I would ihew,
1. The nature of this promife that is to be be-
lieved.
2. The nature of that faith which is to anfwer the
faithfuinefs of God in the promife.
jF/r/?5 For the nature of the promife of fahation
by Chrift in the gofpel^ which is the fum and fob-
ftance of ail the right preaching of the gofpel, there
are three miflakes very ufual araoDgfl: people about
it.
1. This promife is no declaring the eternal pnrpofe
of eled^ioa. Though I know that the promife flows
from the purpofe, and is a proof that there is an e-
leftion, yet the promife is no declaring of the parti-
cular purpofe of eleflion to any particular perfon.
You are not commanded to believe the gofpel becaufe
you are ele<^ed, but you are commanded to believe
the gofpel that you may know your elecTtlon, and that
of God. No man is cad into hell becaufe not elec-
ted, (though all that are not fo, ftiall be feat thi-
ther) ; but men under the gofpel are damned, be-
caufe they are unbelievers, and receive not the tefti-
mony of God.
2. Neither is this promife a declaration of the de*
fign of the redemption of Chrifl:. A promife of the
gofpel does not declare nor determine whom Chrilt
died for; it is not the nature of this promife, nor the
defign of it to do that. Chrift hath laid down his
life for his fiieep ; the promife is made to all, tho*
none but his (heep will receive it : Te believe 7wt^ fays
our Lord, becaufe ye are not of my Jheef^ John x. 26.
3, Neither
12 2 The Jledfafl Adhtnrm to S e rm • IX.
3. Ncicher is the promife of the gofpel, the declar-
ing of the effe^tupJ working of the Spirit upon the
heart. It is the means that God works by, but it
is not that which does dechire the work. It is a bad
argument for one to fay, I know I am elected, and
redeemed by Chrift, and fan^lified and changed by
ihe Holy Gboft, becaufe 1 have the promife of falva-
tion by Cbrift in the gofpel. Indeed, if you can fay,
I have received the promife by faith, you fpeak ac-
cording to the word ; then ail the former are evident,
the faving operation of the Spirit appears, thy inte-
reft in Chrift s redemption appears ; thy name is writ-
ten in the bock of life, and thou may ft read it.
What then is the promife, if it be not a declaring
of any of thefe ? The promife or the gofpel is a de-
claration of God's good-wili to fave men by Chrift
Jeius, and to this declaration he requires their faith.
This good-will of God is tendered to men by promife,
for wife ends.
I. By this means God brings in all the ele£l ; by
the means of the declaring his good-will in a promife.
1^/?, The promife is the means of their faith, and
therefore is a ground of their faith. When the Lord,
in the day of his power, makes ufe of the word, and
fends it borne upon the heart, it begets faith ; and as
foon as faith is begotten, it a£ls upon the fame word
of promife from whence it fprang. Now, here is the
great wiidom of God. His p!.> pofes are all kept hid
wiih himfelf ; he hath determined from eternity, in
bis own thoughts and decrees, the eternal ftate of all
men, anri his counfel will Rand ; he hath his people
whom he haih a mind to fave, lying fcattered up and
down the world. There is no mark upon them that
is vifible to any creature ; they are in the fame mafs,
cf the fame Tump, in the fame (late, children of wrath
even as others, as ripe for hell as any man. The
Lord, to accoraplilh the purpofe of his grace, fends
the gofpel to then;. The promife is no more to them
in the difpenfation of it, than it is to any body elfe*
I know
Serm. IX. the FrofeJJion of our Fait J?. 125
I know the promife in God's purpofe is otherwife de-
figned for ihera than for others ; but this promife is
cafl abroad as an equal ground of fecurity lor all that
will lay hold of it ; and the poor ele«51: man, when he
ventures upon the promife of God, hath nothing be-
fore his eye but only the promife : *' It is a true and
^^ faithful faying^ worthy of all acceptation^ and there-
*^ fore worthy of mine ; 1 will give it due attention,
" and lay hold of ir."
2. By this means God (tops the mouths of the con-
demned remnant of gofpel-defpifers. Pray obfervc
the word that is in the parable, Matth. xxii. 10, 11.
Though parables, you know, are not to be fo (lri£l-
ly urged, yet there are fometbings that are to be ap-
plied, and that is what ferves the fcope of them :
When the King came to view his guefts, be fpiedone
without a wedding-garment ; and he faith unto him.
Friend^ how camefl thou in hither^ not having a wed-
ding-garment f And he was fpeechlefs. Pray obferve ;
we find in the fame feaft the invitation is given to all
forts, the invitation is to good and bad ; fo the word
is ; and it is made efFe^ual upon the lame, and blind,
and halt, and mod miferable that could be found by
the hedges and highway-fide, as Luke hath ir, chap,
xiv. 16. where the fame parable is. Now, wh^t can
be the meaning of this. Friend, how camefl then in
hit her y not having a wedding-garment f Vvhy, if the
poor man had not a wedding-garment, whence thould
he get it? Should he not have fought it? All that
makes us amiable and acceptable before God, is of
the gift of bis grace on us. That which is the perdi-
tion of the ungodly unbelievers of the gefpel, is, be-
caofe ihey do not receive the teftimony of God ; they'
dare not, they are not able, they are not wiiiiag, to
truft their eternal falvation upon God*s bare wordo
So much cow for the nature of this promife. Th«
promife is ChrilVs, and thai which he cafts forth in
the difpenfaiion of the gofpel, and gathers in men
thereby. Where the power of the promife reaches
the
124 ^^ fl^dfajl Adherence lo Serm. IX
the heart, it draws in the chofen ; where only a com-
mon power reaches carnal men, they are only drawn
into a profelTion, and are cajl away as loft, as our
Lord fpeaks oF the kingdom of heaven under the fimi-
litude of a net to catch fifh, Matth. xiii. 47, 48.
ThQ /ec$nd thing to be fpoke to is, What is that
faith that is to anfwer the faiihfulnefs of God in the
promife, the general promife of falvation in the gof-
pel ?
I. It is to believe the gofpel-report firmly concer-
ning Jefus Chrift, and God's great falvation in him
and by him ; that there is life enough in Chrifl for
men, 1 John v. 11. It is to believe the report con-
cerning Chrift, according to the prophet Ifaiah, chap.
liii. J. Which words our Lord applies unto the gof-
pel, mere plainly to himfelf, John xii. 40. where he
applies the words of the fame Ifaiah unto the unbelie-
vers that were in his own days. Some folks may pof-
fibly think there is no great difficulty in this matter ;
but it is bccaufe they are ignorant, and have never
been tried. How hard a matter is h to believe the
myftery of the gofpel, that the Father hath fent the
Son to be the Saviour of the world ; that he came m
the appointed time, that he did all his work, and ob-
tained eternal redemption for us ; that he bought all
his (heep by the price of his blood, and by that blood
entered into covenant to make interceffion for us ?
and that becaufe he is there, he is able tofave them
to the uttermoft^ that come unto God by him? as ia
Heb. vii. 25. Pray obferve this, when a great many
Chriftians doubtings are thoroughly fifted and canvaf-
fed, it will be found that the ihaking of their faith^
as to their intereft in Chrift, proceeds much from the
weaknefs of their faith as to the gofpel-report con-
cerning him. I If people did firmly believe all that is
faid in the old and new teftament, concerning that
righteoufnefs and falvation wrought out by the Son
of God, they would find it an eaCer matter to apply
. it
Serm. IX. the Profeffion of our Faith. I25
it to themfelves, and fay. Surely, (i ) 1 have no righ-
leoufnefs of my own. (2.) Nor can any creature
procure it for me. (3.) Enough is in Chrift. (4.)
All is offered to me in the gofpeL (5.) My foul likes
the offer. (6.) I willingly accept him for my only Sa-
viour. Surely y jhall one fay ^ in the Lord have I righ-
teoufnefs andflrcngth^ Ifa. xlv, 24.
2. It is to believe firmly the truth and the. flnce-
rity of God in the offer of this Saviour, and of all
his falvation as offered to men. Pray obferve here
we {hall come to that which does pinch the coofciences
of many Chriftians. Ye are required by the Lord,
and in his name, by them that preach the gofpel, to
believe the truth and fmcerity of the offer of Chrift
and all his falvation ro thee in particular. You are
to think thus within yourfelves, Verily this Saviour,
and all his great falvation is offered to me. Pray
what conceptions have you of the gofpel, if you do
not admit this ? For you to run away with an imagi-
nation, that Chrift is offered unto the church, that
he is offered unto his people, is wrong. I tell you,
in the gofpel he is offered to you in particular j and
there are none that believe in him, until they take it
up fo. Says the poor jailor. What fhall I do to be
faved f Believe thou on the Lord Jtfus^ fays Paul to
him, and thou /halt be faved, I am preaching Chrift,
and I have got bonds for my reward ; but if thou
wouldft be faved, remember that I in prifon offer
this Saviour to thee : Believe thou on the Lord Jefus
and thou /halt be faved. Unlefs people do come this
length of faith, firmly to believe, that God fairly and
honeftiy, and with an upright meaning, makes free
offer and tender of Chrilt and of all his falvation to
them ; they never will be believers, they never will
believe the fcriptures aright.
3. You are to believe that there is no impediment
nor hinderance, neither on God's part nor thine, to
binder thee from partaking of Chriii, if thou be wil-
ling. This is a part of that faith that anfvvers the
R faiih-
126 The jledfafl Adherence to S E R m . IX.
faithfulnefs of God in the promife of the gofpel, and
which a poor creature (hould believe firmly ; that
there is no impediment on God's part, nor on ray part
to hinder ray partaking of Chrift, according to God's
offer, if J; accept of him. The impediment on our
part is fm, the impediments on God's part are the
law aad juftice. The Lord hath declared thefe (liall
cot ftand. The law and ^uilice (lands in no man's
way to hinder him from partaking of Chrift, if he
will accept thereof. Neither (hall fin hinder him, for
the offer is made to all men as fmners, whatfoever
they have been, and whatfoever they are ; but none
will accept it but enlightened fmners.
4. You are required to venture your falvation on
Jefus Chrifl, according to the warrant of this offer,
and according to the truth of this promife. As you
believe the do<n;rine of Chrift, and believe the offer
of God, and the fincerity, and freedom, and large-
cefs of the offer, you are to accept thereof, and to
venture your all upon it. This is believing. God
has given his promife of life in Chrift Jefus, as the
foundation of afl our hope of falvation ; we Ihould an
fwer his faithfulnefs by building all oar hopes upon
that bottom. Lay hold therefore on this cord of fal-
vation, and ye cannot mifcarry. No man can receive
Chrift out of a promife, do man can receive a pro-
mife of falvation out of Chrift : no man can do both,
no man can do any one of them wirhout faith ; for
believing is receiving ; and none who believe on him
can periili, but fliaii have eternal Itfe^ John iii. 14,
— 20.
5. Laftly^ You are to believe firmly, that if you be
wiliins:, the Lord is willing, and you (hall be welcome ;
nay, you are now welcome at this prefeut on believ-
ing. 1 fay you are to believe firmly, that when your
hearts are drawn forth to accept of him, the Lord
will accept of you, and to be confident of it too. Now,
I dial) offer for the clearing of thi?, as far as feme or-
dinary traaladions amongft men may help, fomc in-
ftances
Serm. IX. the ProfeJJlon of our Faith. I27
ftances which the Spirit of God makes ufe of in the
word to illuflrate this aflair, this firft believing the
promife of Jefus Chrift, or a poor fmner's firft be-
lieving. I know ail fimilitudes that are ufed in the
word, or can be contrived by us, are but like para-
bles, they do not quadrate fully ; but 1 (hall ufe them
no farther, than as fiiall ferve the fcope and drift of
this do£irine. *
The frjl is a common tranfa£lion of mankind, that
of marriage. You all know how this matter is carri-
ed on. The tranfa£lion with God in Chrift Jefus for
our eternal falvation, is frequently exprefTed by this
fimilitude ; I will betroth thee unto me for ever ; yea^
I will betroth thee unto me in righteoufnefs^ and injudg-
menty and in loving-kindnefs^ and in mercieSy—and thou
fhalt know the Lordy Hofea ii. 19, 20, / have e*
fpoufed youy fays the apoftle, to one husband^ that I
may frefent you as a chafle virgin to Chrijl^ 2 Cor,
xi. 2. The exprcfTions are manifold up and down the
word, both in the old and new teftament, about this
fimilitude. Now, to bring it to my purpofe, you know
when a marriage is made up, efpecially of them that
are vaftly unequal, as it is here, the man declares his
love, courts the party, affirms, that if ftie will give
her confentto be his, he is heartily willing to be hers.
The promife upon the man's fide makes no marriage ;
but the promife duly declared by the man, and duly
accepted by the woman, makes one. The promife
of the gofpel comes this way 16 you, finners \ it is
the faithful promife of God in Chrift Jefus, that if
you will accept of him through Chrift for your God
and portion, he will be yours ; give but your confent,
and the match is made. But if the party that is court-
ed fay or think, (i.) That either the bargain is not
good; or, (2.) That the man that promifes is not
true; or, (3.) If her affedlions are let on another ;
or, (4.) If (he be married to another, Rom. vii. 6 ;
or, (5.) If (he hate him, Prov. viii. 36.; in thefs
R 2 cafes
128 The Jledf aft Adherence to Serm. IX.
cafes (he will wiih-hold her confent. In like manner
aiTure yourfelves, that all gofpei-hearers who do not
give their hearty confent to be the Lord's, will be
chargeable with fome of thefe ; for either they think,
that the bargain is not good, or that he that promifes
is not true, or their aifeclions are fet on other objedls,
or they^ hate the ways of the Lord.
2<i/y,' There is a tranfa^llon fpoken of in the word
under the notion of adoption. It is now out of ufe in
the world, but it was ciiftomary of old, when a man
did adopt another's child, and brought in that child
to pofTefs the inheritance, to bear his name, and to
be his heir. There were ufual formalities, as good
reafon there (liould be, where fuch matters are ; the
confent of the child was required ; Are you willing
to be fuch a man^s ? to be under his conducl ? to be
his heir? to be poffeiTed of his eftate ? The very
declaring of the confent is that which makes up the
relation.
The third inftance (hall be that of the King's par-
don given to a company of rebels. So the gofpel is
God's zdi of grace unto a company of franers ; it is
proclaimed as publicly as may be ; and the more fin-
Ders that hear it, the better, if they would believe.
Now, fuppofe there be fuch a thing as proclamation
of free pardon to a company of rebels, it is unavoid-
able, that their not accepting of it mufl be, either,
I. Becaufe they think their caufe is juft, and them-
felves not to be rebels ; or, 2. That they have ftrength
enough to fight it out ; and if they come in, they
{hall be hanged ; if fo, they will rather die in their
arms, they will /land upon their fword^ as the word of
the prophet is, rather than accept of it. But if they
have any hopes of pardon upon their fubmifTion, and
believe the perfon who promifes pardon on fuch terms,
will itacd to his word ; they will accept of it, and em-
brace it. The cafe is juff fo here : Proclamation of
God's free grace and pardon through Chrifl Jefus, is
tendered to the children of men ; it is necefTarily re-
quired
Serm. IX. the FrofeJJion of our Faith. 129
quired to the accepting it, that you have a trufl in
the good-will oi the proclaimer, as well as confidence,
that the mercy is great that is tendered.
We {hall confider this contra^, ^thly^ as in the
cafe o^ furety and debtor, for fo it is reprefented to
us in the word. Our Lord Jefus Chriil is the great
Surety ; we are great debtors, not able to pay ;
Chriil offers to pay our debts ; there is no more re-
quired, when the law and juftice condemn us to hell-
prifon, bur, Lord, take bail of my own Son for me.
But if men will pay part of the debt, and work out
the reft, they defpife the gofpel ; as too many do.
There is 2. fifth firailitude common amongft us, and
that is of buyer zxidi feller^ all managed by faith, la
buying and feiiing, you know how frequently this is
ufed amongft men. (i.) We will fuppofe we know
this, that the man that fells, is willing to part with
his goods at the price named, otherwife he is a deceit-
ful man that offers things, to fell, and will not part
with them. (2.) We all know this, that if I come
up to the price demanded, and pay it down, the goods
are mine. Bring this matter to our purpofe : The
great goods are Chrift and falvation, the price is no-
thing, the poor fmner is the buyer ; now, this little
price ; this no price, this no money, is fo great a
matter, that proud poor man is very unwilling to lay
it down. Ho, every one that thirfteth, come ye to the
waters^ and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and
eat, buy wine and milk without money, and without
price, Ifa. Iv. i. I counfel thee to buy of me, 8cc, Rev.
iii. 18. Then if they be buyers, they had fometbing
to buy with ; no, they had nothing ; for our Lord
tells them in the verfe juft before, that they were
wretched, and miferable, and poor, and blind, and nak»
ed. Now, what can fuch folks have to buy with ?
Gofpel-buying is nothing elfe but honeft begging. But
notwithftanding the gofpel be fo freely offered, many
fay to God, as Abraham faid to the king of Sodom,
I will
1 3© The ft edf a fl Adherence to Serm. IX»
/ luill not take any thing that is thine ^ lefl thou Jhouldjl
fu)\ I have made Abraham rich. Gen. xiv. 23.
Beggir.g is di Jixth fimilitude by which this matter
is exprellcd ; begging and receiving. God offers,
we beg ; God gives, we rake ; and all begging of
God is in faith. We have fome kind of faith, thac
God bath thefe good things to give, and is willing to
give, elie wherefore do we ask them P When he
gives them, we receive tliem. Have you received
Chrift Jefus the Lord ? As ye have received him^ fo
walk ye i?2 him, fays the apottle, Col. ii. 6. From ail
thefe now you fee, that the tranfa£tions amongft men,
in all forts of affairs almoft, do difcover the relation
that is entered into^- and that covenants are made a-
niongft men by mutual truft ; that we trufl: him that
promifes, and accept the bargain becaufe we do fo :
So mud there be here. Only there are two great dif-
ferences in this great bargain of the gofpel, which
3re beyond all that we can gather out of any fimili-
tude. (i.) That the confenting truft of the receiver,
is the work of the offerer ; this truft, this faith, this
receiving that we have fpoken of, is God's work. He
thar propofes a good bargain to another, hath no
power over him to perfuade hiai, infallibly to give
his confent; but the Lord hath this power. (2,) The
nature of God's proffer, and his promife, are the
mcaDS by which he works the principle of acceptance.
When the finner is rebellious, (as all men by nature
are, till grace tame them), the Lord can deliver the
promile of promife of falvation by Chrift Jefus in that
beauty and glory, and with that power and ftrength,
that no man can refift it : Thy -people Jhall he willing
in the day of thy power ^ Pfal. ex. 3. If the Lord put
forth this power, this willingnefs, this truft, that i am
calling for, will infallibly be produced.
So much now for the explaining of thefe things,
what the promife of falvation by Chrift in the gofpel
is, that we fliouid glorify God*s faithfulnefs in, and
v;hat that faith is that wefhould meet this promife with.
Application.
Serm, IX. the TrofeJJion of our Fahh. iji
APPLICATION.
1. Hence you may fee the raarvellon? way of far-
ing us by Chrift Jefus. What wonderful grace and
wifdom (liioes here ! All this falvation was prepared
in God's counfel before the foundation of t!ie world
was laid, we had nothing to do with it ; all this fal-
vation was wrought out in God's time, by the life,
and death, and fuiFerings of our Lord Jefus ; that
which he had no hand in^ and in which all our falva-
tion (lands J for all that, all this grace and mercy, and
falvation comes ftreaming unto us in a bare promife
of God ; the Lord proclaims it ; this is the call of
the gofpel, He that dares truft Chrift with his foul,
upon the warrant of the gofpel, (hall be faved for
ever. The Lord tries people this way. We have no
more to do but take pen in hand, and fay, Amen,
Lord ; it is a good bargain, and a true w^ord, and
1 will truft my foul on it. This is believing.
2. See, Sirs, what you have been doing under the
gofpel all your days. 1 know that this affembly, as
moft weekly affemblies are, is made up of a fort of
people that fpend a great part of their time in hear-
ing. For God's fake tell me, what you have beea
doing all this while. Have you put the main matter
of your falvation out of the devil's reach ? Have yoa
made confcience of this, of givitjg glory to God's faith-
fulnefs in the grand promife of falvation by Chrift?
Have you learned to know Chrift P Have yoa learned
to talk of him ? Have you learned to underftand the
gofpel ? to trlk, to reafon, to difcourfe of it ? But
is this all ? Have you never been exercifed about this,
about putting your own feal to the gofpel ? He thai
hath received this tejlmony^ hath Jet to hh feal that
God is true, God will be true, whether we fet our
feal to it or no ; but God's truth will not be to our in-
tereft and advantage, unlefs we fet to our feal. Take
heedj there are few folks, whofe confcience falls un*
der
152 The fledfafl Adherence to Serm. IX,
der conviction of duty in this matter ; that they are
bound before God to believe on Chrift Jefus for eter-
nal life. People will not believe, that they (hould be-
lieve \ and can there be any hope that ever they will
believe, who are of this mind ? How hard is it to
perfuade people that they (hould believe ; that'upon
the preaching of the word, and the proclamation of
God^s falvation by Chrift Jefus, they muft venture u-
pon it ! Say fome, " I know not whether the pro-
*' mife be to me." Is it not to you as much as ever
it was to any ? Is it not to you as much a§ ever it hath
been to any fmner, the hour before he was convert-
ed ? The promife will never be more to you, till it
be believed, than it is now. Repent^ fays the apoftle
to the murtherers of Chrift, yi?r the promife is unto you,
A£ls ii. 38, 39. Ye killed the promifer juft now, yet
for all that you ftiall be faved, if you repent ; one
of the ftrangeft repentance that ever was required in
this world ! The very exa^ling repentance from them
was exprefly exa£^ing of faith ; for it was impoflible
for any man to repent of killing Chrift, but he that
believed he was the Son of God ; therefore, fays the
apoftle, the promife is unto you, and to your children.
Say you, " Natural men are without the promife,
** and fir angers from the covenants of promife ^^^ Eph. ii.
12. And what theii I If they be, what will you in-
fer from that ? I am a poor natural creature, a ftran-
ger from that covenant of promife. But I pray, how
fliall this ftrangenefs be removed ? Juft as if a poor
man, ftanding without like to ftarve with hunger and
cold, fhould fay, Alas! I fhall die in this place, with-
out the houfe. Why, the door is open, in God^s
name enter. We enter by faith ; the promife is
God's door caft open, that poor men may enter in.
Pray now confider that place, which I will fpeak a
little to, as well as from the preceeding and follow-
ing words : Heb. iv. i. Let us therefore fear^ left a
promife being left us of entering into his reft^ any pf
you fhould feem to come fhort of it. The thing that the
apoftle
Serm. IX. the Frofejjion of our Faith, I33
apoftle deduceth his exhortation from, is a moft aw-
ful in fiance ; the inflance of the people of Ifrael in
the wildernefs. Take notice; of the paiTage, and of
tlie Spirit of God's ufmg it. God had fa'id to Mofes,
that, at the appointed time, he would brinir the chil-
dren of Ifrael out of Egypt. He appeared with them,
and for them, in ten great wonders and miracles,
that they might know his calling to be of God, and
his meffage from God. The people believe at Jait ;
ihey believe that God had a good mind towards them,
and w^ould bring them into the land of Canaan, ac^
cording to his promife ; but wlien they are a little
way got through the Red-fea, difficulties meet them,
unbelief arifes, and they hardened their heariSj aod^
tempted God ; from whence we may obferve, Hoiv
hng^ fays the Lord, refiffe ye to keep my commandments
and my laws f That which they were bound to be-
lieve, was this. That God meant well and honeftly
with them in the promife of bringing them to the
land of Canaan ; and becaufe they did not believe ir,
God fware, that not one of them from twenty years
old (hould enter into it. Upon this inftance the apo-
flle makes his exhortation : Let u? therefore fear ^ lejl
a promife being left us of entering into his reft^ any of
you jhould feem to come fhort of it, Alas ! the reft we
are called to, is a far greater reft 'than the reft of
Canaan, the promife is a promife more fure. Ay,
but fays the apoftle. Let us fear ^ lejl a promife being
left us cf entering into his re fly any of you fhould feein
to come fjort of it^ left we iliould/2// after the fame ex-
ample of unbelief ^ as he has it in ver. 1 1. The cafe
then, as to us, is this, The Lord harh proclaimed 10
us in the gofpel, his good-wnll-in liigh and great pro-
mifes, to fave us by Jefus Chrift. He proclaims ir
thus, that whofoever will truft him, and take his pro-
mife, (liall certainly come to heaven. There are fomeri
of the children of men, whom God harh a mind to
bring to heaven, and a great many others have the
promife in their hand, as well as they, bur have not
S fahh
1^4 5rZ>^ fl^dfafc Adherence to Serm. IX.
faith ID tlieir bears ; they let the promife flip, and the
promife lets them flip; and, if I may fo fpeak, to
hell they fall ; but there is no fault in the proniife,
it is becaufe they do not buiid upou it.
Some may fay, *« I am not qualified for the pro-
" mife, 1 am not fo good as 1 fliould be. Anfwer^
Are you qualified for hell or no ? No man (haUbe in
heaven but he that fees himfelf fully qualified for
hell, as a faggot that is bound up for eternal burn-
ings, unlefs mercy pluck the brand out of the fire.
Inftead of thefe objections, I will tell you better, i.
What think you? Is Chrifl: a fit Saviour for you ?
,Chrifl: is exaClly ftiapen, as fit for a finner as poflibly
he can be. God, in making and framing his Son for
a Saviour, confulted to make him as fit to be a Savi-
our for finners, as divine wifdom could make him. 2,
Ask this queflion, whether there be no promife in
the new covenant that looks towards you P Are there
no dreams in this great well of falvation ? Yes, fure-
ly, the covenant flrearas out towards thee. Pray now
can you find nothing in the promife of the new cove-
Bant that fuits you exaflly ? / will pour clean water
vpon you :. who needs this more than the filthy ^
From all their iniquities will I cleanfc tbe7n, I wilt
take away the heart of jlone^ &c. If you have a heart
of f\one, your cure is in the covenant. My meaning
is, that you, feeling the heart of (lone, may piead this
promife. I know nobody that hath a hard heart can
plead this promife ; they that have a truly hard heart,
think nothing ails them, 3. The third queflion you
fiiould ask yourfelves is this. Whether there is any
truft in your heart worldng towards God I Shall ail
the promifes of the gafpel be proclaimed to men eve«
ry day, and no thoughts of trufting in him arife I
That he is a faithful fpeaker, is plain ; therefore his
mellage (hould be received. The myilery of faving
particular peifons by the application of divine grace,
is greater than any can fathom, with refpe61 to them-
felves, but more or lefs they can fearch it with refpefl
to
Serm. IX. the ProfeJJton of our Faith. 135
to others. All the faith that ever was wrought in the
hearts of believers, to raake unbelievers believers,
and make believers better believers, was ever-more
wrought by the appearance of divine faithfulnefs ia
the promife. The better you know the promife, the
better believers you will be ; therefore make confci-
cnce of this. Think that your e,ternal flate depends
upon this, how the gofpel hath been received by
faith. Secure fmners find no diiFiculty in believing,
but poor awakened fmners find ic the greated difficul-
ty in the world. A natural man finds no difficulty ia
believing, becaufe he is not concerned about falva-
lion ; a poor awakened finner finds it a hard matter
to believe, becaufe he is deeply concerned about fal-
vation. Nothing can fave- us but only the bare pro-
mife. This promife can fave no man till it hath laid
hold on him, and till it hath put forth its power upon
him. It ufually appears but a weak and {lender thing
for a man to trufl his all upon. Hov/ (lightly do un-
believers think of the promife of God ? There is not
an ungodly man ia the world, but he reckons a rich
man's promife to provide for him in this world, is a
great deal better than all the promifes in the bible.
But this is a lign the poor creature hath no true faith
in a faithful God, whatever falfe truit he may have
in man, who is not only a liar^ Rom. iii. 4. but a lie^
Pfalm Ixii. 9.
S2 SERMON
1^6 The StedfaJ} Adherence U Serm. X.
SERMON X.
Hebrews x. 23,
For he is faithful that promifed.
T I TTLE do msny people know, that daily hear
•^ the gofpel, what the gofpel is, and what hear-
ing of it Ihould be. The gofpel is a divine procla-
Hiation of -God's gi^od-will towards perifhing finners,
delivered to us in many words in the fcriptures. The
^nm of it is in this offer, Thar whofoever they be, and
whatever they have been, they are content to take
Chriil for their guide, and his fulnefs and grace for *
their flock, and God^s faithful promife for their fe-
curity, as fure as God lives they fliall be faved for
ever. This is the gofpel which is preached in many
forms of words, but the fubflance is the fame. How
many are they that do not know what they are doing
when they hear? It is a proclamation that is either
received to God's highed praife by faith, or is rejec-
ted to his greatefl diil:onour, and to mens mofl cer-
tain ruin. It is the Lord's great wifdom that the gof-
pel fhouid be preached,- and that it fliould be preach-
ed by men, by fmful men that are believers them-.
Selves J and they (hould recommend the lame way of
^^Ivation to the falih of ctheriJ, that they have takea
^0 themreives.
Upon thefe words you know that I have fpoken
feveral times concerning the promifmg God, his faich-
fulnefs in his promifes, and the duty of his people to
-nfwer his faithfulnefs by their faith. The lad day
^ propofed tl)e application of this whole matter in
three exhortationfj and fpake unto the firft lafl day ;
I /hall now add a link mors and proceed.
I. The
Serm. X. the FrofeJJion of our Faith. 1^7
f . The firft exhortation was to this duty. That you
Jhould ali anfwerthe faithfulncfs of God in the great
promife of falvation by Jefus Chrift in the golpel ;
for in a manner this is the promife that faich firil meets
with, and firft fixes on ;. faith is begotten by it, and
faith receives the new life in it, and by it.
2. The fecond exhortation is. That believers mufl
anfwer the faithfuhiefs of this promifing God, ia the
expecting of all good by the way
3. That believers Ihould anfwer the faithfulnefs
of God, ia a firm expectation of the inheritaDcs at
laft.
Of the firft of tfiefe I fpoke fome time iaft day, and
fhewed you, i. What the nature of this promife of
falvation is, that our faith firftftionld take hold of.
2. Wherein the anfwering of faith to the faithful-
nefs of God does confift. ly?, In believing the truth
of the gofpel-record and report, that there is life in
Chrift for men. 2dly^ It is a believing of the truth
and fincerity of God in the offer of it. o^dly, A be-
lieving that there is now no impediment on God's parr,
or on ours, that ftiall hinder the partaking of the blef-
fmg promifed, if we will be wiliiog to truft. The Iaft
is, by venturing our eternal falvation upon it ; that
is believing, taking up, taking in the truth of the
gofpel-promife of falvation by Chrift, that the heart
is refolved here to fettle, and here to adventure its
all. Lard^ to whom jh all we go? fays Peter; thou
haj} the words of eternal life : we will lodge our eter-
nal life on thee, and upon thy word ; no where elfe
can v/e find them, and they are fufFiciently with thee
for our truft ; for we believe and are fur e^ that thou
art that Chrijl the Son of the living God^ John vi. 69.
The only thing I would do, before I leave this firft
exhortation, fhall be a little more fully to bring this
matter near to your confcience, fearching and trying
of you, whether you have given this faithfulnefs of
God a meeting ; the queftion is a queftion of the
greatcft importance, all things elfe, that you may be
concerned
i^S The Jledfafl Adherence to Serm. X"
concerned about, and there are a great tnany other
things that people may lawfully be concerned about
tinder the gofpel, all things elfe 1 fay, are either
trifles in themfelves in regard to this, or very unrea-
fonably ftarted till this grand queflion be determin-
ed. Have I entertained God's o&r and promife of e-
ternal life by Chrift Jefus with true faith or no P The
importance is obvions, foi our eternal falvation (lands
iipoa it ; the qneftion is not only important, bat it
feems eahly refolved, it feems to be a great deal
harder one Way to conceive how a believer (hould be
ignorant of his believing, than how it (hould be that he
ihould know it : though I do acknowledge that many
believers are ignorant that they are believers ; the a-
podie's word puts it out of qucftion, i John v. 13.
Ihefe things have I written unto you that believe on the
name of the Son of God ; that ye may knozv that ye
have eternal Ufe^ and that ye may believe on the name of
the ^on cfGody that is, that ye may believe better, that
ye may know ye believed, and that ye may know
what ye have in and by believing ; The apoftle feems
to fpeak of it as a matter of wonder that people (hould
BO- know it. Examine your felves ^ whether ye be in the
faith; prove your ozunfehes ; know ye not your own
fehes^ how that Jefus Chrift is in you, except ye be
reprobates ** Only now a few things concerning this
maiter, that will make it on a little enquiry appear
at lead to be ealiiy refolved.
I. The greatnefs of the matter intruded in this
believing; the more confiderable the matter of truft
is, the better people ufually know where they traft
it, and \vhen they truft it ; if a man truft his wife
and children, his edate, his houfe, and all his bnfi-
nefs, he knows very w^ell when he trufts that which
is fo dear to him ; but alas, a great many never knew
they had foul?, the precioufnefs of their immortal
fouls was never felt by them ; thefe folks can never
tiuil, or know whom they truft.
2. The
Serm^ X. the FrofeJJion of our Fahh» 139^
2. The party truded is one, one only ; when our
trufl is fcattered as it were, people may forget where
one part of it is lodged, and where another parr ;
but where it is all unitedly centered in one hand,
why (hould people not know where it is ? I knoiv^
fays the apoftle, whom I have believedy 2 Tim. i. 12,
O how bleffedly thefe two words anfwer one another.
Faithful is he that promfedy and / knozv^ &c. There
is God's name, and there is the fakh of tlie Chriftiaa
concerning this God : it is he whom 1 have trudedy
he that promifes, is he whom 1 have believed ;
whereas u double-minded man is unjlable in ail his
ivaysy James i 8,
3. The warrant of this trufl: is fingle, it k upheld
by the word of promife, and that alone, that (epa»
rate from all things elfe ; all our hopes are Fauadcd
barely upon the word o^ God, and the more we
ftrive (as you have heard already) to add fupports
to the word, for the imaginary ilrengthening of our
faith, the more we weaken our faith, and the more
we diftionour the word. If God's word of pro-
mife cannot bear thee up, though all the (boul-
ders of all the angels m heaven (hould prop thee up,.
thou wouldft fink under them.
4. The influence and power that is neeufu! for the
drawing forth this trult, makes it remarkable alfo;
when God caufes us to hope^ as David fpeaks, Pfalm.
cxix. 49. this makes the matter yet more remark-
able ; if faith and trull in God were a plant that
could grow up in our hearts daily, it might ipring
up unobferved, as a great many other tijings do;
there are a great many feeds of knowledge and un-
derdanding, that do naiuraliy grow up in children, as
they grow in years, from the (tock of natural parts
that God gave them in their firfl frame j but faith is
none of thefe things, this truftingis never without a
caufing, a caufing to approach to him ; k is never
without a drawing : Therefore believers are more
fenfible q^ the power that works fikh, than of that
faith
140 The Jledfajl Adherence to Serm. X.
faith working in themfelves, they are more fenfible
of the pains God hath been at to draw forth faith,
than of the living a^ls of faith in themfelves.
5. The light of faith Is to be taken notice of ; as
in Gen. xxv. 22, 23.
6. Laflly^ The grand expectation of faiih is of that
nature, that we cannot tell how it can be acled, tho'
it may be known after it hath been a^ed. What do
we take Chrid's word for, and fet our feal to it, but
for everlafting falvation, for a glory to be revealed
at the appearing of Jefus Chrirt, beyond what our
ear hath heard, or tongue can tell, or heart can con-
ceive ? And noiv^ Lordy what wait I for ? My hope is
in thee^ Pfalm xxxix. 7. We are not of thenl who draw
back into perdition^ but of them that believe, to the
faving of the fcul, Heb. x. 39. We are looking for
the mercy of our Lord Jefus Chrifly unto eternal life^
Jnde 21. Now may not one know thefe things, think
ye ? Nay, there is a fpecial weaknefs in faith, a fpe-
cial cunning of our adverfary the Devil, that makes
this believing not more frequently known by believ-
ers, that we do not know that we truft, when we
trud ; the matter is fo confiderable, the a£ls fo for-
mally and deliberately put forth, that a man may be-
lieve/ and yet not be fenfible of it; but by the fruits
and effeflsof believing, v/hich are the ordinary ways
by which we come to know it, Therefore now unto
fuch of you, as can with fome confidence avow it be-
fore God, that the gofpel promife of falvation by
Chrifl: Jefus hath been fo warm upon your hearts,
that you have built ycnr everlafting hopes upon it,
only three words, and I proceed.
17?, Blefs the Lord, the great promifer, for the
work of faith, and that on his promifes ; praife is
due upon both accounts, his grace made the promif-
es, and his grace works upon the heart, which is al-
ways needful to embrace the promife ; and the heart
that partakes of the bleiTmg, (hould entertain a due
fenfe of its great debt to God, and pay it in praife ;
that
I
S E R M . X. the Profejjlon of our Faith. 1 4 1
that is all the payment we can*glve, though praifiDg
is rather owoing a debt than paying ir.
2dly, You that have built your (alvation and eter-
nal hopes upon the promifc of the gofpe!, relt your-
felves on him ; whatever your Hate and condition ia
the v/orld be, yon are bleiled by God, and (hou!d
own it J Bleffed is Jhe that believed, for there Jhall be
a performance, Luke i. 45. How many bklTcdnefs
are afcribed unto believing andtrufling in God?
Bkffed ar", all they that put their trujl m kiuu PTalm
ii. 12. Here nov/ is a fault that is very ircqucnt
with the godly, they are ready to be fenfiblc of mer-
cy, and to blefs God for mercy, they are feDfible of
promifes, they blefs God for making of thera, and
when God makes a performance of a promife, they
blefs him for that too ; this is the thing 1 find fault
with, that few Chriftians are heartily thankful to
God for trufting, for believing ; a poor child of God
can look upon the promife, and fay, Here is a full pro-
tnife but no performance, no appearance in ihe world
for performance, yet God be thanked, lean trudir, and
believe his faithful word, and wait till his time comes.
Lajlly, You that have built your falvation and e-
ternal hopes upon the promife of the gofpel, never
recal that truft but reaft it every day ; the righteouf-
Defs of God is revealed from faith to faith, and be-
lievers (hould go on believing the promiie of falvarioa
that we believed at firft believing ; we are to believe
flill more and more, growing in faith ; for faith is a
grace to be grown in as well as knowledge, and re-
pentance, and holinefs ; how many believers are
there that are fenfible of the one, and iufenfible of
the other ? They are eafily convinced that rhey can
never be holy enough, but they are not eafily con-
vinced, that they cannot believe flrongly enough,
that there is fomething (fill lacking in their faiih, tliat
they fliould labour to build up and to advance in
more and more ; if I may fo Ipeak, faith is fomething
like a believer, believing is like a believer, a believ-
T cr
I4« T^he fledfajl Adherence to Serm. X.
cr is never perfe^ till he is dead, and faith is never
perfe£^ till it is done : 1 mean, there is always forae
failing in our believing till believing is ended, and
feeing comes in its room. As ye have therefore receive
ed Chrift J ejus the Lord^ fo walk ye in him : Rooted
and built up in hivi^ and eftabli/bed in the faiths as ye
have been taught^ abounding therein with thank/giving^
Col. ii. 6, 7. Wherein obferve the variety of cKprel-
fions concerning faith, i. There is Receiving. 2.
Walking. 3. Rooting. 4. Bui /ding, 5. Stabttjbing*
6. Abounding, To which is added, 7. TJjankf giving.
This leads me to the fecond exhortation, and ihat
}s, that we Jhould anfwer the fait hfulnefs of God by be*
iieving^ that all promi/ed good things J^all be given unto
you, by the way. This is a needful anfwering the
faithfuinefs of God, to believe all good by the way,
and to believe nothiag but good ; this is believing,
to expeel all good by the way from God, and nothing
but good ; fo his promife runs, and Oh ! That our
faith could faden upon it, and kindle with that graci-
ous promife a flame of love. If fire from heaven would
nil the altar and kindle the facrifice, to wit, our faith,
what a blefled meeting would it be i* And I will make
an iverlafting covenant with them^ that I will not turn
away from them, to do them good ; but I will put my
fear in their hearts^ that theyfJmll not depart from me,
Jer. xxxii. 40. Pray obferve, we are not oniy to ex-
pe£t all good from God, but are to expe«5t from God
that all good fliall be with us ; we are not only to be-
lieve he will do us always good, but we are to be-
lieve, we (hall believe, we are to believe cur faith
(liall never fail, for that is a part of the pronnife. /
wt II put my fear in their hearts, that they/hall net de-
part from me. God's faithfu!nefs is equally engaged
in keeping his people from departing from him, as
it is engaged in his net departing from them j he that
fays, / wilt not turn away from them to do them good^
has aho faid, theyfhall not depart from me. Now what
follows, ver. 41. lea^ i will rejoice over them to do
thejn
Serm. X. the Prof effion of our Faith, 143
them good^ and I ivill plant them ia this land, (that is
a pan of the Old Teftament type from the body of
the new covenant) affitredly^ with my whole hearty
and -with my whole fouU Were ever fuch words fpok-
en by God, with my whole hearty and with my foul f
Now who can underftand what is in this ? God's
whole heart, God's whole foul is in this proraifing,
and (hould not the believer^s whole heart and whole
foul, be in the believing of it ? VNThy this is but rea-
fonable, that we (liould give God a meeting, this
way has he promifed to do me good, with his wliole
heart and his whole foul, and (hall not I truft him
with my whole heart and my whole foul I Pfal. cxix.58,
Proy. iii. 6. this is foon faid, but it is notfo foon done,
1 fliall therefore upon this exhortation fpeak a lit-
tle to thefe two particulars.
1. The grounds of this faith that 1 am calling for.
2. The cafes wherein this is efpecially to be a£led.
1. As to the grounds of this faith that 1 am calling
for, the anrwering God's faithfulnefs in the promife,
in expe(f^ing good from him ; the grounds are two.
\ft^ From the (late of the believer, ^dly^ From
the nature, and order, and condition of the covenant.
i^, From the (late of the believer, what fort of a
man is a believer? He is one that is brought within
the chariot failed with love^ for the daughters of Je-
rufalem^ Cant. iii. 10. Every one that is brought to
heaven, is carried in that chariot, love all ever, bot-
tom and top and all the fides of it ; every believer is
a prifcner of love, he is guarded by love, till he
come to heaven ; every believer is an heir of promife,
the promifes are his, he may count them in his ellate;
all the charter we have, is the promife. God is our
father, Chrift is our redeemer, the Holy Ghoft is
our fan<5iifier, heaven is our inheritance, promifes
are our charter : Such a man as this, that is an heir
of promife, furely (hould expert the fulfilling of
the promife?, the cftate his father hath given him,
and may exped to be dealt with accordingly.
T 2 idly^
144 '^^^^ fl^^^j^fl Adherence to Serm, X,
2<i/y, The nature of the covenant calls for the ao-
fwerinr of our faith unto God's faithfulnefs, as to
all good by the way.
1. All good and nothing but good is in the cove-
nant ; all blefnngs are in it, and every thing that is
iq it, is a bitlling, becaufe it is in h ; if the rod be in
the covenant, as it is, it is good, becaufe it is
there ; and it will be found to be good when we
meet ir. / knozu^ O Lordy that thy judgvients are
righty and that thou in fait hfuhiefs ha ft afflided me^
thou haft kept thy promife to me, Pfaim cxix. 75,
and ver. 6>^. Thou haft dealt welt with thyfervant^
O Lordf according unto thy zvord.
2, There is this in the covenant, that trufl: is God's
appointed way for the getting the performance ; the
Lord hath given many great promiles to us in the co-
venant, and he expe^ls to be trufled when he pro-
mife?, if we would have the accompli fliment of what
we want. Befid(^s all the great promifes of the new
covenant, obferve thofe mentioned in Ezek. xxxvi.
25. 57. Then w'ul I fprinkle-clean water upon you ^
and ye Jh all be clean from all your Jilt hinefs^ and from
all your idcls will I cleanfe you^ See. After all which
h added, Thus faith the Lord Gcd^ I will yet for this
be enquired cf by the hoafe of Ifrael, to do it for them.
It was for llraei's fake that the promife was made,
yet he will have Ifraers faith and prayers called upon
and brought forth, in order to the accomplifhmeut of
thein. As the brazen ferpent healed thofe that be-
held it, Namb. xxi. 9. and as Jordan healed Naaman,
after he had dipped himfelf feyen times ^ 2 Kings v.
54. or as E'iiha's Itaf! would not raife up the dead fon,
7 Kings iv. gi. So, unlefs we addrefs ourfelves to
God by prayer for the performance of his promife?,
which cannot be done without truffiug in him, we
cannot exjie^r to receive any real advantages by the
promiies: But if w^e do make our fupplicaiions un-
to hini, re (hail undoubtedly partake of the proraif-
ed rev/2rd?.
3, There
Serm. X. the Profejfton of our Faith. 145
(3.) There is this in the covenant, that the promi-
fer and fulfilier is the fame. God does not intrufl: the
fulfilling of his proraifes to any body elfe ; we are not
to take God's promife as a bill, and call upon another
man to pay it : no, we are to bring then all to hioi-
felf, he is the fulfilier. What a blelTed faying is that
of good Hezekiah, Ifa. xxxviii. 15. Whatf^aU'Ifayf
He hath both fpoken unto me^ and himjelf hath done itf
I got the word from him, and I got the deed from him ;
the words were the words of his mouth, and the deeds
were the work of his hands .* He hath both fpoken un-
to me, and himftlf hath done it. Here is a remark-
able emphafis, :i fpiritual eying that this godly man
had of the eminent hand in fulfilling his gracious word
to him,
Lajlly^ The great Mediator of this covenant 0-
liges us to faith mightily. I defy a believer to take
a look on Ghrift Jefus by faith, but in and by that
look he will find ground for better believing. Look
on him which way you will, fo it will be found. I
will name a few things concerning this, how our faith
fliouid be flrengthened in the expe<5ling of all good
things, according to God's covenant, becaufe of Chriil's
interefts in it.
[r.] The promifes are in the hand of Jefus Chrifl: ;
this covenant is eftabliflied in the hand of a Mediator,
he gets the promifes. You think this" ftrange ; the
promife of the forgivenefs of your fins, of the fanc-
tifying of your nature, of the bringing you fafe to
the kingdom of glory, are firil Chrift's promifes ; they
are made to him for us, and he is fir(t intruded with
them ; but the covenant is confirmed before of God
in Chrid. The promife is made unto the fame Chrifi:
pecfonal and ChriH: myftical, the head of the body,
as the apoflie faith of it. Gal. iii. 18, 19.
[2.] Our Lord is not only the receiver of the pro-
mifes, but he hath already fulfilled the grand condi-
tion of the covenant, the proper ftri6l cohdition of the
covenant, whereupon, without any more, an immediate
accefs
146 The Jledfajl Adherence t9 Serm. X,
accefsto all the bleffings is given to every believer upon
his pleading. When thou Jh alt make his foul an offer -
i?:g for ftn^ that is the condition, hejhatlfee his feed ^
"^he /hall prolong his day s^ and the pUafure of the Lord
fl} all fro [per in his hand. He Jhallfee of the travail
of his foul y dnd fhall he fatisfiedy Ifa. liii. 10, 11, So
that now when you are to believe the proraifes, you
are to exercife your faith thus : " This promife hatli
*' a great biefiing, that I (land greatly in need of ;
•^ our Lord Jefus Chrift hath fulfilled the grand con-
*' dition of the promife, and all the bleffiogs that arc
•• :n the promife, are now made over to me in the
« lafl will and teftament of our Lord Jefus Chrift>
*' confirmed by his blood ; that as fure as Chrifl was
•* dead and is alive, fo furely is the new teftament and
*' all the bleiTings of it confirmed and fealed already."
Our charters for heaven are fealed by our Lord's
blood, we have no feai to put to them, but the fcal
of our poor faith.
[3.] Our Lord is rainiftering in the fan^luary a-
bove. If Chrift were not interceding in heaven, a
poor Chriftian would have a comfortlefs work in be-
lieving on earth : but our poor believing and his grand
interceiTion, when they chime, if I may fo fpeak, make
wonderful mufic above. He fends his Spirit to work
in us thofe defires after covenant-bleiTmgs, that he is
pleading for in the virtue of his blood, in the higheft
fan61uary. Let your faith then argue thus : " Jefus
<' Chrifl is at the Father's right hand : I am a poor
*' pleader at the footftool, but there is a ftrong pleader
*^ at the King's elbow, if I may fo fpeak, in the high*
'' eft court, and it is his bufinefs to mind my affairs.'*
How (Wrongly would believers plead, how believingly
Would they fend up their broken dcfires to heaven, if
they did duly know, that all their petitions muft be
fent up to God through Chrifr, and be perfumed
with another kind of incenfe than they can give! So
much for this, on what ground believers fiiould ex-
pe(rt all good from God by the way.
2. What
^
Serm.X, the Profejton of our Faith. 147
2. What are the cafes wherein this believing and
glorifying God's faiihfulnefs is to be a<^ed ? The an- . ,
fwer is, In every thing. 1 (hall only name a few par- it j
ticulars, which as they are the great trying of faith, I r
wherein believing is moft difficult, fo they are tri- \
umphs of faith, and believing is raoft noble, when in
ihefe cafes,
17?, In cafe of great afBif^Ion from the hand of
God. That is a cafe wherein believers are called ta
expe^ good from God, when things to fenfe and rea*
fon, and to common obfervation, Jeem to go againft
us ; we fay fuch an one is in affli<flion. They arc
called evil things fometimes by faints themfeives :
Shall we receive good at the hand of God^ andjhall we
not receive evil ^ fays patient Job, chap. ii. 10. But
believers fhould learn to name things as God names
them, and as the covenant names them ; we are to
learn to name God's works by his word, and not ta
name his words by his works. Aflli(flions are very
common, and they are very many ; the heads of thenn
are many, the various forts of them are innumerable :
I will only name a few things concerning them, that
are commonly raoft trying . to faith, and name them
to prefs believing the more carncftly,
(i.) There is the furprifmg unexpe^ednefs of af-
fli(ftion, when it comes from a quarter that people did
cot expefl it to come from. The apofile warns Chrif-
tians as to this : Beloved^ think it not /I range ccncern-'
ing the fiery trials "which is totry you^ as though fume
Jlrange thing happened unto ycu, i Peter iv, 12. It is
very obfervable, that there is hardly a perlon that is
foundly afflifled, that is fmanly afflified, but he ap-
prehends there is fomething fpeciai in h s cafe, which
never was in any before. A man that hath a true
fight of his f:ns, thinks they are the g'cateit chat ever
were ; a man that rightly fees his own mercies, [hinks
thofe the moft fpecial mercies that ever were j a man
that narrowly looks upon his own afflifljons, feme:-
times thinks them fo too. Sarprifmg, unexpecfecl,
15,
148 The Jledfajl Adherence to Serm. X.
unacGOUDtable afHi<rtlons5 are commonly very trying ;
and ufually this is in them, that the man thinks them
greater than have befallen others. The infinite wif-
dom of God can fhape and frame aElifrlons ; thofe
which feem to be common, yet by fome form, by
fome reafon, by fome circumftances of them, he (hall
make them as fmgular, as if they had never been
felt by any ; this is a part of the vvifdom of God.
Our Lord fpeaks of a man's taking up his crofs. What,
does not God give a common crofs to a great many ?
No ; every one hath his own, and the Lord makes
it, and (hapes it, and fits that crofs, which is fitted
to be laid upon the back of his poor child.^
(2,) There is an oppreffing affliction that is a great
trial, that feems to threaten all things, and to cut
down the very root of all. A poor creature expe<5^s
that the tree will be cut down from the very root of
it, and that it will be quite plucked up. Lopping olt
the branches is not fo formidable : / am otprtjjedy
fays Hezekiah, Lord^ undertake for me. Sometimes a
dark and dumb affliftion is a very great trial of faith,
and a great many of the children of God meet with
fuch. Says the poor creature, I have had fuch an
afflidtion a long while upon me, and I have many times
laid my ear to it, to hear what it fays, and there is
no voice, if I may fo fpeak. If you cannot hear the
rod's voice, pray hear God's voice in the word. Some-
times the rod cries aloud, and fpeaks God's mind in
the word ; fometimes we mud bring the word to the
rod, and fee if we can put the rod upon the rack, and
make it fpeak what God means thereby. Now, in
all thefe cafes, in any fort of affll(ftion, let it be fur-
prifing and flrange, let it be oppreiTive, let it be dark.
Jet it be dumb and fpeak nothing, believers muft be-
lieve ftill.
[i.] Believe that whatever changes there are in
God's way to you, there is none in his heart. The
Lord hath changed his couatenaQce, the Lord hath
changed
i
Serm. X. the Prcftjfion of cur Faith, i^ip
changed his countenance, the Lord hath changed his
hand, only his heart remains unchangeable, {\\\\ that
is to be firmly believed : As many as I love^ I rdnike
and chajlen. People commonly think as foon as Chrift
begins to rebuke and'chaflen, he begins to ceafe to
Jove; but our Lord faysjalT: the contrary, Ilcv. iii.
19. Sec aifb Prov. xxvii. 6. Pial. cxix. 75.
[2.] Believe this firmly, that God's wifdom is ne-
ver puzzled or nonpluiled, though you be. The Lord
knows his matters, and he wiii not give you an ac-
count of them; but we are to believe he knows w';ac
he dcs, and he has a wife end before him. Chrif-
lians do commonly imagine they are io wife, th^it if
there were any pciTible good, that could be the fruit
of fuch a difpenfation, they could perceive it, bur,
after all their (1 ad ying, they cannot find what good
this can turn to. If it he rnaroeHous in the eyes cf the
rejiinant of this people in thofe days^ faith the Lord,
fhoiild it afo he marvellous in mine eyes ? Zcch. viii. 6.
A fevere rebuke given to an unbelieving people.
^efl. Do you think God's eyes arc no better than
yours I
[3.3 In all the trials of your faith by affli£lion, be-
lieve this, that God's eye is on you, when you can-
not fee him : Behold^ fays Job, I go fcrxvard, but he
is not there ; and backward^ but I cannot perceive
him : On the left hand where he doth zvork, hut I can-
not behold him : He hideth himfeif on the right hand^
that I cannot fee him^ Job xxiii. 8, 9. I take it, fays
he, when t am tried, 1 (hall come forth as gold.
Lajlly^ \n all your afflictions believe a fafe ifTue,
that you (hall get well our of all : Many are the afflic-
tions of the righteous ; but the Lord delivereth him out
of them all^ Pfalm xxxiv. 19. Thefe are they which
come out of great tribulation^ fays the angel to John,
llev. vii. 14. There is no affliction can enter heaven,
but L believe the beft talking of affl £lion that ever
Was, is in heaven. All the glorified m heaven under-
iland better all God's way with them. They were
U many
150 The Stedfajl Adherence to Serm. X,
many of them plagued every morning, and chailened
every moment ; their fouls were filled with bitternefs
and forrow all their life long ; yet there is never a
one there, but fees that every thing was well done,
there was nothing that they could have been without ;
their guide guided them well, and there is nothing
amifs, nothing crooked in all God's way. It is v;ith
refpcift to this, that the apodle calls to believers, to
rejoice^ though in the midfl of manifold temptations ;
why foP knowing that the trial of y cur faith (hali
turn to praife, i Peter i. 6, 7. Te are in heavinefs^
through manifold temptations^ that is, as to the things
of fenfe ; but, fays the apoftle, ye rejoice with joy un-
fpeakahle^ as Chriflians ; and wherefore rejoice in the
midft of heavinefs P Becaufe your faith, though much
exercifed now, will make a glorious appearance at the
lad day. One of the greateft praifes that can be gi-
ven to the Lord by his people, is, that their faith
glorified his faithfulnefs, whiKt ou earth, in the midft
of their greateft diftrefs.
^dly^ People fliould a£l: their faith on God's faith-
fulnefs in cafe of dcfertion, w^hen our Lord hides
bimfelf. Our Lord Jefus went before us as a pattern
in this, My God, my God, why hafl thou forfaken me **
To put a my to a forfaking God, is brave believing.
Our Lord's cafe, I know, is altogether fingular, but
many believers have had forne meafure of his Spirit
in ufing that word in their own cafe. When a man
walks in darknefs^ and has no lights what (hall he do
then ? Let him truf} in the name of the Lord, and flay
upon his God, Ifa. 1. 10. If a man forbear irufting ia
. the Lord, till darknefs be fcattered, and light coaie,
and jf he fays it is time enough for me to believe,
when (Tod lights the candle; no, fays the Spirit of-
God, When he walks in darknefs^ and hath no lights
let him then truft m the name of the Lord,
T^diy, In the cafe of temptation, (I name thefe
things which are fo common, that, in truth, believers
lives are fpent about them), temptation from Satan.
Sirs,
Serm. X. the Trofejfion of our Faith. 1 51
Sirs, if Chrifiiaiis were wife, they would learn, if I
may fo fpeak, of the devil ; the more the Lord loves
us, the more the devil hates us ; and the more the
devil hates us, the more we (liould love the Lord.
As fcon as a Chriflian gets faiih, the devil falls upon
him ; and when the devil falls upon him, he fliould
believe the more. The time was, faith a believer,
when he let me alone ; what makes this great change,
that he is turned to a roaring lion P It is becaufe I
left his camp, and turned to another mailer. Faith
is efpecially to be afted in temptation, and vi6i:ory
over temptation is by faith. When our Lord faid to
Peter, ^imcny Simon, behold Satan bdth deftred to have
you, that he may fijt you as wheat ; our Lord adds,
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not ;
and if rhy faith do not fail, the devil will get the word
of the bargain, Luke xxii. 32. The apoftle puts a
fpeciai mark upon this piece of the Chriftian armour :
Above ail, fays he, taking the fhield of faith, where-
with ye fhall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the
ivicked, Eph. vi. 16. That above ail does not only
point forth the eminent ufe of faith, in the warfare
of faith, but it feems to fet forth the excellency of a
Chridian's armour in this matter. When Satan and
a poor Chriitian engage together, the devil would
fiift have the (hicld of faith laid down, and then he
would be too hard for any of die children of Qod,
for commonly one temptation comes not alone. Now
thou art put upon examining and trying whether thou
haft any faith. Oueftion all, doubt all, fays the de-
vil, and let us argue upon the point. But if you en-
ter with the devil upon ihefe terms, he will cerialniy
be too hard for you ; lay down the conclufion of faith
firmly, and tell the devil, I have intruded my foul
with Chriil Jefus, what haft thou to f^iy to that P will
be fail me or no P If thou fpeakeft any evil of my
Lord, thou fpeakcfl: like the devil, and I do not re-
gard thee ; but if thou fpeak evil of me, I will be-
litve ihce, and can fpeak of ic myfelf, and tell it to
U 2 iry
152 The ftedfojl Adherence to Serm. X.
my Lord, Pfal. xlii. 5, 6. The queftion tlut we are
to propofe in the warfare of faith with the devil, i?.
Is God true or no I If he be true in his promifes, I
will believe them, aiid believe none that coiitradiifl:
xhem, and in all my adverlities will I take the jhieid
x)f faith. SeeEph. vi. 18. and Pfalm xci. 4.
4A6/)', In the cafe of manifold delays and difap-
pointments, as to the performance of pleaded promi-
fes ; in this cafe, 1 fay, you are ftill to believe. If
though yoii have taken the promife, though you have
believed it, though you have prayed upon it, though
you have been looking out' and waiting for; the fulfil-
ment of it, (till delays come in the way, believe (iill.
The Lord in bis wifdom has referved times and fea-
fons tor our mercies, and for his fulfilling his word,
all- to himfelf. He hath told his people what he will
do for thera, but he baih not teid thera when. Tho'
he made a great promife to Abraham, yet he did not
tell him when he would perform' it ; that great be-
liever mufl wait twenty-five years from the promife,
till the performance came, yet no doubt he believed
the promife every day.
5//?/)', In cafes of challenges of confcience for ^m.
Believers mud learn to exerclfe their faith upon this
faithlulnefs of God, in the view and in the face of
chaliengeS'of confcience for fin, Iniquities prevail a-
ganijl 7ne, fays the pfalm-tl, Pfalm Ixv. 3. What
could a man fay after this ? What .could you expe^l
ihould be the next word P MuR it not be, And there-
fore wrath (hall come upon me? No fuch thing : As
for our tranfgrejjions^ thou Jh alt purge them away. If
thou. Lord, jhouldft mark iniquities^ O Lord, who fhall
flandf But there is fcrgivenefs with thee, that th.u
mayfl he feared, Pfalm cxxx. x, 4. Oar confciences
are fot^etimes diilurbed with challenges for old fins
long firce committed, which, according to a fimilitude
that a holy fiint of God gives us in his letters, like
the ghofl of a dead friend ^ continually haunt us. An
old
Serm. X. the FrofeJJton of our Faith, I^j
old fabdued, pardoned fin, may fright one terribly ;
we have great need, if I may fo fpeak, of ftroog
faith, to converfe without fear with this ghoft, the
ghoit of an old tranfgrefiion. A fm that is twenty
years old may appear as formidable as the devil him-
felf ; but if we do not learn to believe and raaintaia
confidence of faith, notwithilanding challenges forfiD,
who can believe ar all ?
Lajlly^ In cafe of God's calling us unto any fpeci-
al piece of fervice, fome fpecial piece of hard, lin-
gular work, that we were never called to before ; in
this cafe faith is to be exercifed, for help in time of
need (hall be given us ; if the fervice be required of
you, the aiTiilance for it (hall be given to you ; real-
ly the faith of Chriftians is tried greatly wiih the
change of work that God purs in their hands, they
think they have fome tolerable meafure of faith for
their daily and ufual work ; but if God call them to
that they never a£led before, to fome new fingular
piece of work, then believing is fpecially called for
CO help out in this lime of need ; as we are to crave
help in all times of need, fo we are to crave fpeci^
al help in times of fpecial need ; I named thefe fiy,
as being thofe in v/hich the life of Chriftians is main-
ly fpent, takeaway the ChrifiiaQ's afiiidlions and de«
fertions, his temptations, challenges of confcience,
delays in promifes, and fpecial turns of God's hand
towards him, and pray what is left in a Chriftian's
life, that is fo diflicult ? And fince our life is fpent a-
bout thefe things, we mud live by faith, we are to
exercife faith in and about all thefe things, that our
life is mainly fpent in ; how bleffed a thing is it for a
believer to go on towards heaven, and in every flep
of the way to be able to fay. Though God hath
changed my way towards me many times, though he
hath brought me into many by-paths, yet blelTed be
his name, there was never a path I was in, but I be-
lieved in him, and if it were an evil one, I hoped to
be delivered out of it, but if a good one, 1 believed
it
154 The Jledfafl Adherence to Serm. XI.
it would advance me towards heaven, 1 believed and
praifed ; and io every one 1 believed it would turn to
ray faivation. I knew they would bring me nearer
to God, that they would at lad bring me to heaven,
where i hope eternally to blefs him for them.
SERMON XL
Hebrews x. 23.
For he is faithful that fromifed*
FROM thefe words I ha^ c fpoke unto three doc-
trines, and they having been again and again
repeated unto you, you may eafily remember them ;
1. That the ChrtJIiaK^s God is a pro mi ft ng God, 2. That
this promififig God is faithful in all his pro?nifes. And g.
that the faith of believers fhould arfwer the faithjul-
nefs cf God in the promifes, 1 referred the main ap-
plicaiion of the whole ''o<^rine unto this lafl: head, in
laying the duty before you, that this truth does ex-
a^, and crave of you. I named three things, where-
in our faith fhould anfwer the faithfulnefs of God,
^nd have already fpoke unto two of them.
The firft was. That our faith ihould anfwer the
faithfulnefs of God, in the grand general promife of
faivation by Chrift Jefus : this is that faith that the
word calls fo much for, it calls for it from unbeliev-
ers, and this call is God's appointed means for work-
ing the faith that it calls for ; faith comes by hearing,
and hearing by the word of God ; the word of God tells
us what we (liould believe, and the word of God, in
the name of God, commands us to believe what God
fays : this 1 did infift fometime upon. I know there
are
Serm. XL the Profejfion of our Faith. 155
are fomc who think it neediefs to prefs people to
believe, and to put forth faith ; at firlt a great many
poor creatures think it an eafy thing to belicYe,
whereas it is a hard matter to awaken the confciesce ;
but when the confcience is awakened, they think it
an eafy matter to believe, but they" only think fa,
tliat never knew what an awakened confcience was;
Jet a poor fmner fee nothing before him but hell,
and nothing within him but what deferves hell, it is
only the wonderfull power of God, that can make
this fmner truft Chrift upon a bare word for his eter-
nal falvation ; believing and trufling the ioul on Chrift
Jefus is found a mighty difficulty by all them, vatli
are concerned about their falvation ; fome think this
anfwering of God's promife in the gofpel improper
to be laid before fmnersat firft ; thefe people imagine,
that there is fomething that finners ihould be Called
to before believing, but as long as thefe two princi-
ples of truth remain, and remain they will, as long
as the world lads, this is always a vain obje£lion.
Firfl^ That no man can do any good, nor f<et any
good, but in and from. Chrift Jefus. Secondly ^ That
no man can do any good with Chrift, nor get any
good from him, but in the way of believing ; and
if fo, will our Lord give his help to them that will
not ,^ive truft to him ?
Thefecond thing 1 was laft day exhorting you to,
was this, To anfwer the faithfulnefs of God in belie-
ving for all covenant-bleffings by the way. This h
properly the life of faith, and a great work this is to
believe, as large as the whole covenant: to believe as
firmly, as the promifes are firm ; to believe as iongai
until the promifes turn to performances, how much of
divine power is needful for this work ! Juftly does the
apoftie call the work of faith a zoork of fa'iih z&ith
power^ 2 Theft*, i. 1 1. j in which not only power is
put forth by the creature that a<Sts it, but there is
power put forth by God to draw it forth, and to keep
it up. Of this. I fpoke laft dav.
The
156 The Jledfajl Adherence to Serm. X,
The third exhortation that remains to be handled,
and that I (hall infift on, if the Lord will, a lirtle more,
is, That believers fliould anfwer the faiihfulnefs of
God in the proraife of eternal life, by believing the
prize and hope of our callings as the apoftle calls it.
The Spirit of God calls this eternal life, the promife^
as if all were contained in it ; 1 John ii. 25. And this
is the promt fe that he hath promijed us^ even eternal
life. Faith in this cafe that I am to fpeak of, is faith
which entereth into that within theveily as the apo-
ftle faith of hope^ Heb. vi. 19. 1 am now to dirc6l
this exhortation unto them that have fome confidence
and good confcience towards God ; that have in fome
meafure regarded the former and performed ir, and
that defire more and more to be in it^; fuch as have
intruded their fouls by faith in Chrift's hand, upon
the warrant of the promife of the gofpel ; fuch as are
exercifed in living by faith upon the promifes of the
new covenant ; it is upon them that I lay this burden,
and a fweet one it is ; that you (hould believe eter-
nal life. The apoftle John, chap. v. 13. fpeaks fome-
thing to the fame purpofe : Ihe/e things have I writ-
ten unto you (fays he) that believe on the name of the
Son of God ; that ye may know that ye have eternal life^
and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God,
The apoftle's meaning certainly was not, to perfuade
them to believe that they were in heaven, for he and
they both knew the contrary fufFiciemly ; but he calls
them to believe that they had eternal life, that they
had already a hold of it by faith ; that they had it
in the root by Chrift's dwelling in their hearts by
faith ; that they had it in the foundation of it, by
their believing the record that God gave of his Son ;
as is plain from the context.
In profecuting of this exhortation, there are three
things that 1 (hall have fome refpe<^ unto, and handle,
1. What is to be believed, or bow it is that a Chrif-
lian in the way of duty muft anfwer the faithfulnefs of
God, in the promife of eternal life.
2. What
Serm, XT, the Prcfejlcn of our Fakh, 157
2. What are the diiEcuhies that lie in a Chriflian's
way, which make this believing io rare and fo hard.
3. What the grounds of this faith are, hat belie-
vers fliould improve, and in the improving of them
triumph over all the dilHcuiiies that are- in the way.
i'/V//, What it is believers are ro believe, when
ihey are called to believe eternal life. I take it, as
you may perceive, flri61iy, as conrradiilinguidied
from all the covenani-blellings that believer^ have a
right to in this life, and have a begun poiTeirioR of,
that they fliould live by that faith, of, which 1 fpake
in the formeir part. Bjt I (liall now refpefl: only ths
pize of our high callingy ths mark that God has fee
before us to run towards, to chear ourfelves wirh the
faith of it before we come at it. And furely rhe
fpeaking and hearing of heaven iliould be a plcafing
fubje(fl unto all them that have anv hope to be in. it ;
the fpeaking of it is fometimes bleiT^d by the Lord to
make them mind it, that nevep thought of it before.
The fum of it is in ihefe lour particulars,
I. In the way of duiy, in anfwcring the faithfn!-
nefs of God,, believers fliould believe this, that a^
foon as the foul departs from the body, it is immedi-
ately received by Chrifl:. A believer is to honour
God's faithfulnefs in believing this, that as foon as the
foul and body are parted by death, the foul is imme-
diately wiih the Lord. This the Spirit of God, by
Paul's pen, teaches us, in two places, very fuliy, 2 Cor.
V. r, "^'J^^^ P^^'^* '• 23. In rhe former the apoflle
exprefiy alierts this do^lrine : For we know^ fay^- he,
that if our earthly houfe of this tabernacle zvere dijfohed^
we have a building of Gody an houje not made with
handsy eternal in the heavens ; knowing that whilfl we
are at home in the body^ we are abfent from the Lord^
— We are confident^ ^ fiy-> ^^^-^^ zuiliing, rather to be
■ abfent from the body ^ and to be prefent with the Lord,
By how many words does the apoflle exprefiy teach
us that the (fate of abfence from the body to a belie-
ver, is immediately attended with a flace of prefence
X with
158 The ftedfajl Adherence to Serm. XI.
with the Lord! And in Phil. i. 23. he fays, For I
am in a flra'it betwixt twOy having a dejire to depart^
and to be with ChriJI, Detartin^^ and being with
Cbrijl, are joined together, as ibkparable. As foon
as Paul is gone out of ihis world, he is with Chrilh
Our Lord gave a very great promife to the believing
thief, for he v^'as then a great believer, though once
as great a thief, Luke xxiii. 42. To-day, fays hz^Jbalt
thou be luith me in paradife* " Thou art dying, thou
*' art dravi^ing near to thy end, as i am, buc this day
** thou and I {hall be together in a better date."
2, Believers mud believe, and glorify God's faith-
fulnefs in^ believing, that the bodies they leave Ihall
be raifed up again glorious bodies, at the appearing
of Chrift. This is as plain as any thing can be ex-
prefTed to be in the word, that the body the believer
leaves, as it were, in the duit, which dearh hath do-
minion over, which rortennefs and corruption triumph
over, the fame body fhaii live again, and be raifed
by his mighty power : Knowing that he which raifed
up the Lord Jefus, fJmll raife up us alfo by Jefus^ and
Jhall prefent us zvith you^ 2 Cor. iv. 14. For if we be-
lieve that Jefiis diedy and rcfe again, evenfo them alfa
which fleep in Jefus, will God bring zvith him, i TheiT.
iv. 14. See alfo i Cor. xv. 58. This faith Job ac-
ted, and it is one of the finguiar exprelTions of a new
teiiam^ent faith in the old tcAament times : For 1 knozif
(fays he, chap, xix. 25, 20.) that my Redcejuer liveth^
and that he f hail ft and at the latter day upon the earth.
And though after my skin, worms defray this bcdy^ yet
in my fief? (hall Ifee God. A great part of the mean-
ing of wliich is ; Job had, by this loaihforae difsafe
that was fent upon him, in a manner dtzxh. beginning
to prey upon him ; now, fiivs the good man, though
worms (hould go on, and after they have deftroyed
my fkin, they (hould dellroy my flelh alfo, yet in my
fitfh Jhall I fee God ; zvhom I fhall fee for my f elf, and
mine eyes [hall beholdy and not another, though my reins
be confwned within me^ verfe 27. The faith of the
refur-
Serm. XL the ProfeJJion of our Failh, 159
refurre£lion of the dead, thoui^h plainly revealed ici
the word, is not a matter fo eafily attained, there
needs a great deal of faith to believe it firmly. How
quietly, how patiently, how cheerfully would believ-
ers look upon death feizing them, and coming in up-
on them, either gradually by age and the infirmities
of ir, or more violendy and fpeedily by ficknefs and
difeafes ; how quietly would they look upon the tum-
bling down of this earthly tabernacle, if they believ-
ed this firmly ? For our converJat'iGn is in heaven^ from
whence alfo we lock for the Saviour, the Lord Jefus
Chrift : what will he do when he comes? Here 13
one thing, fays the.apoille, he will do, he will change
cur vile body, that it may be faJJnoned like unto his
glorious body, according to the working whereby he is
able -even tsfubdue all things unto himfelf, Phil. iii. 20,
21. The faith of the refurreiSlion of the dead can
never flaad, but upon the prop of divine omnipoten-
cy. It is founded upon this, That he has faid it that
can do every thing. Thereupon whea our Lord
checks the Sadducees for their infidelity, he faith,
Te do err, not knoiving the fcriptures, nor the power of
G(5(i, JViatth. xxii, 29. if you underftood the fcrip-
tures fpiritualiy, you would not have aflced fuch a
qticflioc m dcrifion of the: refurre<flion ; it you knew
the power of God, you would firirJy believe that God
can perform it. Our Lord tries Martha with this,
John xi. 25, 26. / am the refurredion, and th^ life :
be that btlieveth in me, though he were dead, yet Jh all
he live ; and whofoever liveth and believeth in me,jhall
never die. Btlievefl thou this f Our Lord, in the
queflioniog of ir, hints the difHculty that was in it,
and fome backwardnefs unto this believing that he
perceived in the good woman. See alfo Luke x.s.
3. That the departed foul and the raifed^body fnall
be eternally united together. This is a part of that
faith that we owe to the faithfulnefs of God in the
pr^mife of eternal life, that not only the body {hail
X 2 be
l6o The jledfaj} Adherence to Serm. XI.
be raifed, but that our fpirit Tnall again, by the migh-
ty power of God, take .poirciTion of theie fame bo-
dies. It is the f^me body the apoftle (fill fpeaks of,
wlien he faith, It is /own in difionour, it is ra'ifsd in
glory; it is fown in iveaknefs^ it is raifed in power ;
it is foivn a natural bod}\ it is raifed a fpiritual body^
Sec. i Cor. XV. 4^, 44, &c,
4. That this united foul and body (hall be unfpeak-
ably bleiltd in the highefi: heavens with that that ig
called the reward of eternal life. This, I fay, is the
iUm of what we are called to believe, and is the duty
Of every believer to believe, in anfwering ».he faith-
fulnefs of God in the prornife that .he hath promifed ;
that when he fees good we Ihall live here no longer,
he will immediately receive our departing fouls ; Lord
Je/us, receive my fpirit ; that when his appointed time
conits, when the morning comes, he will alfo in pow-
er and mercy vifit our rottennefs and dud in the grave,
and raife up a glorious tabernacle, and unite the foul
therewi:h, and blefs both body and foul, the whole
m^n, in the enjoyment of himfelf. Thefe are the
common plain truths that are in this prornife of eter-
nal life ; but this 1 would not leave thus ; therefore
we will take a little farther notice of this great blef-
fing, according to what we gather of it from the
word ; for whoever they be that are called to the e.s:-
ercife of faith, they had need diftinflly to know what
it is they are to believe for, as well as what is the
ground to believe upon. We find this great prize of
our calling fpoken of to us in the word three ways,
and I would handle it a little in all thefe three re-
fpefls.
\J}, It is fpoken of Negatively^ by removing all
the known evils from that ilace, ihat we know to be
evils in this ftate ; this is a way I fay, whereby the
Lord helps our weak (hallow apprehenfions about the
prize of eternal life, that it is a ftate feparare from,
and akogeiher above all the miferies, calamities, and e-
vils
S£S.M.'XI. the ProfeJJlon of our Faith. i6i
vils that are allli£ling and diflurbing in the prefenc
date. So we find in Rev. xxi. 4. And Godfliall wips
away all tears from their eyes ^ and there Jhall be no
more deaths neither forroiv^ nor crying^ neither Jhall
there be any more pain : for the former things are paf
fed away. Sorrow and caufe of forrow are To infe-
parable from the (late we live in, that in a manner
we do not know how to live without them, nor to
think of our hfe, as feparate from them ; we all know
how natural it is for people to frame apprehenfions
ok a happy {late, by removing of miferies from their
thoughts and defires : Now take all the heaps of mi-
feries you know, and concerning thefe you may fay,
none of tl^efe things are there, there is no fin, there
is no forrow, there is no fickncfs, there is no diflurb-
ance without nor within, there is nothing at all of
thofe things, that we are now daily exercifed with
and bewail before God and men ; now this negative
notion of it leads no further than we can diiUndly
know. We know what an evil thefe things are, but
we do not know what a great happinefs it is to be
quite rid of them all, we know what a trouble paia
is, and what a bleillng eafe is, what a trouble there
is in ficknefs, vvhat a comfort in health, what trouble
there is in croiT^s, loffss, diiturbances, in this world,
we know a little of the mifery of them, and the hap-
pinefs of being rid of them, but we cannot conceive
a right notion of that frate, wherein all things that
are evil (hall be quite removed ; therefore you may
find ail along the believer's faith goes beyond his
knowJedge in the believing of eternal life. We believe
what we cannot fully know, i Cor. ii. 9. But as it is
ivritteUy eye hath not feen, nor ear heard^ neither hane
entered into the heart of man^ the things which God
hath prepared for them that love him. It is but a fmall
portion thereof, that we come to attain the know-
ledge of.
idly^ This prize of our calling is known compara-^
tively, by comparing it with other things. We know
ii;
1 62 The flcdfajl Adherence to Serm, XL
ir a little oe^ativeiy, by removing a^li the evil from it
we know. We know it comparatively, v/hea we pre-
fer it to all the good we know : now there arc three
things vyhich bear the name of good, and fome oi:
tbetn iindefervedly, that it is to be coraparcd wirh,
and greatly preferred above.
(i ) The firil is tlie portion of the men of this
world. This eternal life that we believe is a great deal
bigger, higher and better than that. Lord^ deliver me^
fays the Pralmift, from the men of the world, which
have their portion in this life. As for me, fays he, I
€xpe<^ better things than this world can alTord, Pfalm
xvi!. 14, 15. The portion of the men of this world
is fiich a prize, that the greatcd part of the world
run after it all their life long. What pain, what care,
\vbat thoughts are fpent about thefe things? And
when they have got them, what have they got ^
How poor and empty are they ? The believer's por-
tion even in this life is a great deal better than that
of the wicked. Better is that little the righteous man
hath, than many revenues of the wicked ; how much
more muft the prize of the high calling be ? We
Would not, as it were, difgrace our prize fo much as
IQ compare it with the portion of the men of the
world ; and yet what a believer hath in time is beyond
what they have.
(2.) We compare this with the fpiritual allowance
of believers in this life. There is a gracious allowance
of fpiritual blellings given to believers in this life. We
are to compare this with what remains, and to prefer
our expeflations to our pofT-iTions ; there is foraething
of the earned: of the inheritance given now, Eph. i.
14, 15. There is fomething of communion v;i!h
Chrifl, now that fills the heart with joy uvfpeakabky
and full ^f glory, i Pet. i. 8. And what is that now
ro what remains?- There have been believers that
have had heaven upon earth in this world, but when
they came to enjoy heaven in heaven, they doubt-
Lefs found a vail difference. At that day, fays our
Lord,
Serm. XI. the Piofejfion of our Faith, 1^3
Lord, ye fl) all know ^ that 1 am in my Father, and you
in 7ne, and I in you. You (hall know it in a better
manner, than now you can imagine ; all the enjoy-
ments that God affords unto his people here, are all
helps whereby believers may come to know and guefs
better what heaven, is ; they fliould not fay it is good
to be here becaufe of thefe, but he is good that gives
that good here, and there are better things prepared
that we (hould defire more fervently; all fpiritaal en-
joyments that are given in time are for the (harpea-
ing the believers appetite, and raifing their fpirits in
defire of heaven the more fervently.
(3.) We are to compare the prize of our calling,
with the defire and longing of believers; oar defires
are larger than our pcffeirions. There is never a be-
liever but knows this in experience, that he cao de-
fire a great deal more than he can hold. The reward
of eternal life goes beyond our defires. The Lord^
works in us, and does for us exceeding 'abundantly a-
bove all that we ask or thinks Eph. iii. 20. What ufe
fnouid a man make of this name of God ? Think as
as much as you can, and aflc as much as you caUj and
in the faith of that alldng, and in the faiih joined to
that thinking, expedl fome bleffing that is beyond
both, beyond both our afiving, and our thinking :
This is a fecond confideration, whereby we come to
know what the prize of the high calling of God is,
that we are called to believe, by comparing it either
with the poor portion of the men of this world, or the
fpiritual allowance of believers, or the extended de*
fire of Chriflians.
idly. The word of God fpeaks pofttively oif it, and
we are to learn fomething of it this way ; but as poii-
tive as the fpirit of God is in [peaking of it, we aite
ftill very (hort of being able to apprehend ir, there
is a great deal more fpoken of heaven in the word,
than any faint out of heaven can ever underftandj
may 1 fo fpeak, we iliall underfland the Bible a great
deal belter when we come to heaven, efpeciaUy that
part
1(^4 Jhe Jlcdfajl Adherence to Serm. XL
part of it that fpeaks of heaven ; the blefling of eter-
nal life, the greatnefs, the fweetnefs, the vaftnefs of
it, is bed known by enjoying of it. Of the pofitive ac-
count that we have in the word, concerning the flaie
of behevers in eternal life, I would give you fome
hints from the word of God, in thefe fix or fevea
things.
(i.) There is a glorious appearing and, manifefta-
tion of Jefus Chrift fpokea of; from him grace be-
gins, by him grace is carried on, with him glory be-
gins, and continues for ever ; it is called the hlejjed
hope^ and the glorious appearing of the ^reat God, ar:d
cur Saviour Jefus Chrtfl^ Tit. ii, 13. The appear-
ance, 1 fay, of Jefus Chrifl in his highefl glory. AP
the appearances that Chrift hath made have been fome
way under a vail, and under fome eclipfe, therefore
is it that he is fo defpifed. In the iiifl appearance
that Chrift made in the flefli, what a thick vail of in-
firmity was upon it ? The JVord was made flefh^ fays
the Holy Ghoft, arid dwelt among us (and we beheld
his glory ^ the glory as of the only begotten of the Father)
full of grace and truth, John i. 14. Every one could
Dot do fo, he was made flefti, this is called an ap-
pearance of Chrift, he hath brought life and ijnmor-
tality to light by this appearance of his, 2 Tim. i. i.
Chrift makes an appearance unto his chofen firft in
calling them, afterwards in vifiting of them; when he
fi.rft comes to call a poor creature, this appearance
of Jefus Chrift is under a vail, ftill it is Chrift in the
word, Chrift un^er the vail of ordinances, Chrift in
the means ; many times he is not known, when he
does appear. Many poor fmners Chrift hath appear-
ed to in his working upon them, and he hath carried
on his work a good while before they knew who it
was that worked upon them ; his appearing after-
wards to his people in love-vifits, is more fenfible,
but far fliort of this ; / will mamfeft myfelf to hnn^
John xiv. 21, 23. There are fome appearances and
manifeftations of Chrift unto the fouls of his people,
not
Serm. XT, the ProfejJJon of our Faith. 165
not wherein they fee any thing with their bodily eye?,
or hear any voice with their bodily ear- , but in and
under the form of prayer, the means ol his appoint-
ment, there is a gracious difplay of all the glory that
paffes like a beam upon their foul?, that they can
fay, this is the Lord, this is Chrift, this is he I have
waited for ; the (late of eternal life is incomparably
beyond all this; there is a glorious appearance of
Chrifl : The word fpeaks of ii fo, as if Chiid had ne-
ver appeared before ; Col. iii. 4. When Ckiifl who
is our life /hall appear^ the^ Jhall ye alfo appear with
hiJii in glory y i John iii. 2. We know, that when he
Jh all appear, we JJjall he like him, for ive Jhad fee him
as he is,
(2.) The word fpeaks of this bleffed (late, that is
the hope of our calling, under the notion of a full
vifion of hirn, or of feeing him ; he not only apr^ ;rs
in his. glory, but that glory is feen by his people;
thence fprings their happinefs. Our Lord Chriit
knew beft what heaven was; it is beff learning what
it is by fpeaking of it. See how he prays, Johii xvii,
24, Father, I will that they alfo^ who?n thou ha/l
given ine, be with me where I am ; that they may be-
hold my glory which thou ha fl given me, Obferve
Chrifl: there plainly fliews us, what is his great defiga
in defiring to have all liis people with him,' and what
way it is he intends to make them bleiTed, by behold-
ing the glory the father hath given him. Now when
we are living in this body, and are compaiTed about
with frailty without, and fii) within, any fmgular ap-
pearance of his glory is dillurbing and dreadful to us;
may I fpeak fuch a word, and you ucderiland it right-
ly, there is never a believer fo comfortable, but Je-
fus Chrift could render that perfon a very m^ferable
creature, by a difplay of his glory ; faints m;^vy defire
more now than they are able to take in. / befcech thee
fijew me thy glory, fauh Mofes, but the Lord anfwers
him, Thou can/} not fee my face ^ for there fh all no man
fere me, and live, Exod. xxxiii, ip, 20. Obferve liie
• Y vifioQ
1 66 The StedfaJ} Adherence U Serm. XI
■vifion that the Prophet Ifaiah had, was a fight ot
Chrift, and was a fight of his glory too, Ifa. vi. i, 5.
commented upon by the Holy Ghoft, John xii. 41.
Tbe/e things^ faid Efaias, when he Jaw his glory ^ and
/pake of him. Now furely you would think, that when
there is a difcovery made of the glory of Chrifl unto
fuch a man as Ifaiah, fo long before, that there
fliould be a very great contentment therewith ; why
Abraham faw Chrift's day afar off and was glad, A-
braham's heart was cheared by believing Chrid'sday,
and feeing his glory afar oil. But when this glory
(hone, if I may fo fpeak, in thofe beams that mortal
eyes were not able to receive, Ifaiah faith, Wo is me^
for I am undoney -for mine eyes have feen the King^
the Lord of hofls. Here is a fight not fit for a fiuncr
to bear, the frailty 1 fay of our flefh with the cemain-
ing corruption that is in our natures, makes that the
full vifions of the glory of Chriil are very unfit for
us, and we for them ; but this is the ftate promifed
unto us in the gofpel, When he fhail appear^ wejhall
he like him ^ for we fh all fee him as he isy i John iii.
2. What have we never feen Chrifl as he is, be-
fore I No, ye only fee him in the glafs of the gof-
pel ; ye only fee him under that vail, and in that iha-
dow that fs fitted for our prefent ftate ; hence it comes
to pafs, that it is faid concerning believers in this
day, 'That Chrijl jhall be glorified in his faint s^ and
admired in all them that believe, 2 Thefi". i. 10,
(3 ) In this ftate there is full conformity to a feen
Chrift ; Chrtft in his glory is fully feen by the glorl-
iied eye, and perfc<^ conformity to him refulteth
therefrom. For according to the meafures of clear-
nefs with which we fee Chrift by faith, are the mea-
fures of our conformity to him now, 2 Cor. iii. 18.
Bat ive all with open face ^ beholding as in a glafs the
glory of the Lord^ are changed into the fame tviage^
from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord,
Pray obierve, the gradual progrefs of fiin<51:ificaiion
in a renewed man j it is carried on by the vifions of
Chrift
Serm. XI. the Profefion of our Faiths 167
Chrift by faith now ; the more clearly the eye of
faith takes up Chrift, the more ftroQg and abiding
imprelTions of iikenefs are upon the foul. But what
perfect conformity to him is, we cannot yet conceive,
if I may oiFer fuch a fimilitude, we are fuch dung-
hills, fo dark, that when the Sun of righteoufnefs
ftiines upon us, there is but a little beam left, jud
enough to teftify that the fun haih (hone upon us ;
but the ftate of glory will render a believer both in
foul and body like a cryflal wall, that will refle£l the
image of the Sun of righteoufnefs mod purely and
refplendentiy. The ftate of happinefs and eternal
life confifts in being like Chrift : We [hall he like him^
for ive Jball fee him as he is ; the conformity is car-
ried on by that feeing : I fkall he fatisfied when I a-
-wake^ with thy Iikenefs^ Pfalm xvii. 15.
(4 ) There is a ftate of conftant fcrving him fpo-
ken of, a ftate of unwearied delightful ferving of Je-
fus Chrift. Heaven would not be heaven to a hea-
venly mind, if there were no fervice to Chrift in
it. It is ftrange to fee how the apoftle values fervice
to Chrift on earth fo highly, thit he lays it in the
balance with the enjoyment of Chrift in heaven, and
be cannot tell well which to chufe : I a?n in a flrait
betwixt HvOy (fiiys he), having a dejire to depart, and
to be with Cbrijl ; which is far better : Never thelefs^
to abide in the ^efi, is more needful for you. It is na-
tural, I fay, to a f<iirit to love fervice. It is promi-
it6^ ihnt hey f hall fee his face ^ and his name fh ail be
in their foreheads. '-'His fervants /hall ferve him. Rev.
xxi. 3, 4. See alfo chap iv. 10. Little we can do
for Chrift and his glory while we are here, and we
fhould be deeply humbled that we can do fo little.
Chriftians, lay firm hold upon eternal life by ftroiig
faith. You (hall bring more glory to Chrift the firll:
half-hour in heaven, than ever you did, if you lived
fourfcore years, in believing, and praying, and wref-
tling here on earth.' There is pure iiQlefs ferving
y 2 that
1 68 The Jledfaft Adherence to Serm. XL
that is tendered with delight, and received accord-
(5-) There is inexpreiTible fatisfa£lion and content-
ment in this blelTed llaie. h is properly called hap-
pinefs. Whatever there be of goodnefs, the relifh
of ihat goodnefs (lands in the lonl's contentment :
John xvi. 2 2. And ye now thtrefore have for row ^ (ays
our Lord, when about to depart, to his difciples : hut
/, fays he, will Jee you again, and your heart /hall re*
joice^ and your joy no ?7ian taketh from you. Tour heart
Jhall rejoice, A heart full of joy is not to be expected
by believers till this great day come ; but then the
heart (hall be fo full of joy, that there Ihall be fio
room for any thing elfe. \ know there are fome fud-
den floods of joy that the Lord gives even here, and
fuch as there feems to be no room left for any thing
elfe ; but though this joy fill the whole heart, yet
flay a little while, and the flood will dry, the flood
will grow fmaller and fmaller, and the old darknefs
will enter again. This joy will be taken away one
way, or other j but in the (late above, our joy (liali
have no end.
Laftly^ To complete all, there is eternity in this
blcffednefs. Ever and .?i>^/- are the main things in
heaven and hell. Take eternity out of heaven, it
would turn heaven into an hell : take eternity out of
hell, and it would turn hell into a heaven. Eternity
is the joy of heaven, and the torment of hell. Poor
Peter was little time in heaven, as he thought : Lord^
fays he, it is good fo be here. But all that are got up
yonder may fay rightly, It is good to be here^ and
good to be eternally here^ to be ever with the Lord.
The greater any bleilednefs be, it is greatly inhanced
by its lading; the greater any mifery be, it is greatly
aggravated by its continuance. Where the greateft
good comes to be enjoyed with the longeft duration,
even eternity, what inexpreiTible joy is there ! But
where the greateft rnifery is to be ioflii^led unto eter-
nity, what vad heighteaiog is it of the mifery ! So
much
Serm. XI. the ProfeJJion of our Faith, i6^
much now fliall ferve for the firft thing, what it is
that we are to believe, when we are called to glori-
fy God's faithfulnefs in believing the prize of our
calling, that after we have given glory to God by be-
lieving for all the good things by the way, we may
glorify him, by believing the good home he hath
prepared for us.
APPLICATION.
I a/k you in the firfl place. Do you believe that
there is fuch a hope of this calling ? Chriftianity is a
defpifed thing. Chriftians are a defpifed people, be-
caufe the prize is unknown to the defpifers. Do you
believe firmly, I fay, that there is fuch a (late, and
that all that are departed in the Lord are bleffed, be-
caufe they are entered upon the enjoyment of it ; and
that all that believe on him, fliall certainly enjoy it in
hi^ good time ? 1 would reckon, that that man were
.fairly fetting out for heaven, who firmly believes that
there is one, and hath his heart filled with a fenfe of
it, as a great invaluable bleiung above all that time
can talk of,
2. Mud not an intereft in this prize of our calling
be well worthy ihe having, and the knowledge of it
well worthy the feeking ? Are heaven and hell fo
fmall things, and thefe different dates fo like one a-
nother, that people fliould be unconcerned which of
them be their lot ? Indeed the greateft part of people
live, as if they had laid down this conclufion, I care
not whether I come to heaven or hell.
3. Should not Jefus Chrift our Lord be very pre-
cious to us ? Whenever we think of the prize of our
calling, we mud always remember Chrift, and our
debt to him ; he bought this prize by his blood ;
heaven is a fruit of the prize of Chrifl's blood, hea-
ven is a palace built upon the foundation of the blood
of the Son of God ; he hath bought it by his blood,
and he offers it freely to us by his grace : Whoever
I7<^ The Jledfajl Adhereme to Serm. Xll.
accepts his offer, he takes them and leads them kindly
by i\\z hand ; he brings many fons untoghry^ Heb. ii.
lo. and at laft, when he hath brought them through
all, he himfelf puts the crown on with his own hands :
Locking, fciys the apoftle, for the mercy of our Lord
Jefui Chrif}, unto eterfiai Ife. Ye have got a deal of
mercy from him before, but the grand gift of mercy
will be, when the believer (hall kneel at Chrill's feed
and receive the crown of glory at his hands. It is im-
polTible that a man can have right thoughts of heaven
that has not right thoughts of Jefus Chrift ; and it is
impoilible that a man can have right thoughts of Je-
fus Chrift, but his heart will be filled with heaven.
SERMON XII.
Hebrews x. 23.
For he is faithful that promifed.
THOUGH you have heard thefe words but
once) if you be true Chriftiaos, you would ne-
ver forget them ; how much more Ihould they be
well reinembered when they have been fo often re-
peated, and fo long fpoken to. That which remains
Dow is a part of the application of the truths propof-
cd from thefe words. I did propofe three exhorta-
tions in the cooclufion of the application of this doc-
trine.
' ^'i. That youfhould anfwerthe faithfulnefs of God,
by believing the promife of falvation by Chrift Jefus.
This is the firft aft of faith that God craves of all them
to whom the gofpel is preached. Where-ever the a-
poftles came with the glad tidings of falvation by
Chrift
Serm. XII, the FrofeJJton of our Faith, 171
Chrift Jefus, their application was to all. Believe ;
believe chis do^riue with the heart, and ye (hall be
faved.
2. I was calling believers uqto the anfwenng of
God's faithfuloefs, by truftiog him for all coyenaot-
bleffiDgs by the way. And,
3. By anfwering God's faiihfulnefs by faith, as to
the end, eternal life, the great hope of our calliog ;
the hope of eternal lifey as the apoUle Paul calls ir,
which Gcd that cannot lie, pro?nifed before the world,
legan^ Titus i. 1, 2. in the handling this exhonad-
on, there were three heads I propofed to fpeak to.
//>/?, What is to be believed, when a believer ?s
called to believe eternal life promi fed to him in thjg
gofpel ; and this I fpent the lad time in difcourriQff
to. Believers are called to. believe, that as foon a^
the foul is diilodged from the body, ii: is prefect witli
ihe Lord. They are to believe, that the fame body
that is laid in the grave and rots there, Ihall be raifed
again in glory, at the appearance of Jefus Chrid.
They are to believe that this departed foul, and this
body raifed again fhall be eternally united, never to
part morp. Lafily\ That in this ftate of perfeft'on^
we Qiall be eternally blefled in the enjoyment of God
in Chrift Jefus above. Of the particulars of whi?h I
difcourfed the laft day.
^ht fecond \hdX nov/ remains to be fpoke to, is^ a^*
bout the diiHcuky of believing this. Shall I prove
that it is difficult ? Is there pot proof enough, that
this fai[h is fo very rare f Ic may be, you may Uiin^
it an unreafonable formife and. jeaJoufy, but jet eve-^
ly one's confciecce anfwer for themfelves. It may be
(i d.o not know that it is) that, in all this alTembly^
there is not one perfon that can tell when they fpeof
a calm fweet hour in. the hope of the glpry o^ God,
when they had a fatisfyiog rejoicing in the hope o^
this great prize of cur calling. If this be rare^ fure-
ly the faith ofit is rare ; for it. is impoffible thsiC the
:■■■■■■■■■' '-.fauii
172 The Jledfajl Adherence to Serm. XIE
faith of the glory to come can be ftcong in the heaft,
but joy will fpring up thereProm : By whom alfo we
have accefs by faith into this grace wherein we ft and y
and rejoice in hope of the glory of God, Romans v. 2,
Chriftians know this well enough, that when they
have tried their faith upon a great many promifes of
the word, fometimes upon the promife of God, hear-
ing prayer, that their faith does pretty well there;
fometimes upon the promifes of pardon of fin through
the blood of Jefus Chrifl:, and their faith anfwers :
but bring them clofe to believing the prize and crown
of glory, there frequently their faith fails them, they
cannot draw it forth fo confidently as they would.
That it is difficult and rare, I take for granted, and
ftiall not fpend time to prove that which almoft every
exercifed confcience in the company has a witnefs
within to the truth of. My work then (hall be to
ftiew you, whence it comes that believing of eternal
life is fo very hard to be got, and is fo rarely found
with Chriflians.
I. Becaufe this great thing, eternal life, is greatly
unknown to us. It doth not yet appear what wefhall
be^ fays the apoftle, i John iii. i.-— Neither have en-
tered into the heart of man, the things whicLGod hath
prepared for them that love him, 1 Cor. ii. 9. Now, it is
true the apoftle fays, that it is 7nade manifefl by the ap-
pearing of our Saviour Jefus Chrift, who hath aboUfhed
death, and hath brought life and immortality to light, .
thro* the gofpel, 2 Tim. i. lo. Yet tho' it be made ma-
nifeft, we are rather told that it is, than what it is. This
gl.ory to come is yet zuithin the veil, as the apoftle
faith of it, Heb. vi. 19. where Chrift is, whither the
forerunner is for us entered. There is an exprefs allu-
fion to the typical high prieft, who, when he had oft"er-
ed the blood of atonement upon the altar, carried that
blood within the veil to the mercy-feat ; then he was
quite out of the fight of the people, for he muft go
in alone, and none elfe could look after him. Now,
how*
Serm. XII. the ProfeJJion of our Faith, 173
how eafy is it to conceive his, that the darker the
thing believed be 10 us, the harder believi.g is?
Mercies that we cannot well tell how to conceive of,
is it any wonder, we cannot te!i 'low to beheve iheni
firiTily ? For believing has aii expectation of a blef-
fing, as well as it has in it a trufting in the truth of
the promifer. Heaven (o every believer is more
ftraoge, than Canaan was ro Abrahanti, who-'by faith,
v^hen he was called of God, went into that place, and
he went out^ not knowing whither he went ; he was
called to go to a land which he never faw before ;
only the difference is great in this, that ihough it
was a better fpot of the earth, than that where he
was born or dwelt, yet it was a fpot of the fame
earth, but heaven is a quite different country, Yitb,
xi. 8
2. The vaft greatnefs and goodnefs of this prize,
makes fonie difficulty to the faith o' ihe people of
God. ' It is fo great, fo good, iha? they find it hard
to believe the expreffions tliereof in the word, which
are great and many. The hearts of believers are
many times fo taken with them, and thar defervedly,
when ihey have expatiated in their thoughts about
the greatnefs of the hope of their calling, ihat they
are ready fomeiimes to fay, And will God give fuch
a blefling to me ? You know what is faid of the dif-
ciples, and it is one of the oddefl accoujirs that can
be given of unbelief, that while they beheld hirp,
they belie'ved not for joy^ Luke xxiv. 4r. T'hey loved
Chrlfl fo well, they forrowed for his death fo deep-
ly, and were fo overjoyed at the fight of him riien
again, that they could not tell how to believe their
own eyes, as we ufually fay ; the news was, as they
thought, too good to be true. People are fometinaes
flacker to believe that which they would very f?.ia
have come to pafs. Thus Jacobs heart fainted, when
he was told that his fon Jofeph was yet alive, and
more than that, was governor over all the land of E-
gypty Geo. xlv. 26.
Z 3. The
174 ^^^A#^/ Adherence to Serm. XII
5. The awfulnefs of the paflage to eternal life,
makes the faith of it yet harder. If all believers
were dealt with as Elijah was, that after they have
accompli (hed their courfe of lervice and fulFering u-
pon the earth, they (liouid be fen^ for, as it were in
a chariot of fire, to be carried up to heaven ; it would
be an ej^ if 1 may fo fpeak, fuirablc to their ex-
pectation^ But now for a poor believer, that hath
been fed all his life long with the promifes of eternal
life in the gofpel, and has been cheering his heart
thereby, that this man (hould lie down in the duff,
Ihould walk through the vale and fliadow of death,
fhould leave his body a prey to worms and rottennefs
in the grave, this feemeth very hard. Will not eve-
ry one fay, Is this the way to eternal life ? This is a
ftrange way to heaven, that lies through death and
the grave, and through the loweft and mod abje<^
ftate that a man can be in. Yet thus our Lord went
into his glory, only bating the corruption of the
grave, which he could not fuffer; but thro' death, and
fafferings, and groanings, and pain, he yielded up
the ghoft, was buried, and lay under the power of
death, until the time appointed of the Father for his
refurreftion out of if. There is no Chriilian, but
finds this to be true which I fpeak, that the dark black
palTage of death makes the difficulty great in believ-
ing eternal life. How far remote is it from all our
reafon, and from all our defires, that the lad ftep in
cur journey to heaven, (hould be through fo thick
and deep a mire as death itfelf is ?
4. The myflery of the tiile and right that a belie-
ver hath in eternal life, makes the believing of it the
harder (till. His title and right to it lies in another,
and not in bimfelf ; it lies in the righteoufnef^j, and
worth, and purchafe, and merit of the Son of God ;
fo that the faith of eternal life cannot be kept clear
in the heart of a believer, unlefs Cbrifl, who is the
hope of glory, be kept clear in our eye by faith,
5. There
Serm. XII. the Profejfion of our Faith. ijS
5. There are many mifgivings of heart that belie"
vers cannot well avoid ; and if they cannot avoid thenr:*
they muft meet them ; and when they meet them*
they muft wrellle with them, and overcome them.
The poor Ifraelites are not to be excafed, but are
much to be pitied ; they were brought out of the land
of Egypt with a high hand, God granted them a great
deliverance through the lled-fea, they fung joyfully
upon the other fide in the view of the great difcom-
fiture of all their enemies, and like enough they ex-
pelled nothing, but very quickly they (liould come to
the border of the good land. Bat when God led
them about and tried them, they fmned ; when they
finned, he punifhed them ; under their punifliment
they repine and rebel, they vex him, and a great deal
of forrowcame thereupon. Believers are in great dan-
ger of fomething like this ; many fainiings and mifgiv-
ings of heart feize upon believers as tothe hopeof their
calling, (i.) Confcience of utter unworthinefs. (2.)
Sen/e of great unmeetnefa for it. i. Confcience of
utter unworrhinefs of this great prize, and every
Chriftian hath this. No man will ever get to heaven
that thinks he deferves it ; for it is certain, whoever
thinks he deferves heaven, may conclude from the
word of God, there is a bar and bolt drawn upon
heaven's gates againft that proud finner ; for it is the
gift of God through Jefus Chrift our Lord. But this
is not ufually fo hard ; this temptation does not fo
frequently diftrefs believers, as the other ; they know
the reward of eternal life is a reward of grace ; they
know that it was dearly bought, freely promifed,
and h graciouily given unto the feed of Chrift : but
here comes in tht /ecc?7d. A fenfe of great unmeet-
nefs for it, fays the poor Chriftian ; I know I am un-
w^onhy of it. And fo was Paul, the iaft hour of
Paul's life, he was unworthy of heaven. But, fay
you, here is the great difcouragement, I am unmeet
for it. But confider, that God works meeinefs in his
people for heaven : Givirjg thanks unto the Father^
Z 2 which
Ij6 The fledjafl Adherence to Serm. XII.
which hath made us jneet to be partakers of the inheri-
tame of the Jaints in light y Col. i. 12, Though
1 knowiha! the word there in the original might
be very well otherwife rendered, who hath graced
us and privileged us with his favour, as it may al-
fo be rendered in 2 Corinth, iii. 6. But now this on-
ly i would have to be confidered about meetnefs ;
it is certain that none are polTeiTed oF heaven, bat
they thi' are meet for it ; it is as certain that all be-
lievers when rhey come to lay their claim to eternal
life, are^ali alike unmeet in their own apprehenfions.
There is a jTcat difference between forae and others,
as to -heir meetnefs for heaven : an ordinary Chrif-
tian muft not pretend to be as meet for heaven as
Paul was ; but there is not a Chriftian but (lands u-
pon the fame level with Paul, as to his pretenfions and
claim to eternal life. What would Paul be at ? He
would ht found in him, not having his own rightcouf-
nefs ; and fo would every believer be. God works
meetnefs for heaven in rhem, that he makes pofTef-
fors of it in a deep myfterious way. The fenfe of
this meetnefs is, that that is never to obftrufi: pure
and mere faith. Suppcfe, and it is a cafe that 1 wifti
it were not a ba'e fuppofuion, but were more fre-
quent and with a good foundation j fuppofe, I fay,
that the grace of God feize a poor young creature,
call him early, prevent him from wallowing in the
puddle and nr.ire of the world's wickednefs ; fuppofe
Itill the fame grace fancTtify him, and this fan^lified
creature fliouid grov^ up more and more unto the Ma-
ture of a grown ^hiillian for many years in the houfe
of God : now you will fay,Mhis man is meet for hea-
ven ; he is fo, God hath made him fo. Pray now
let this man be examined about his meetnefs, and let
his laft plea as it were be heard, when he is knocking
at heaven's gate for entry at lad. It is only upon the
account of the common foundation that every belie-
ver's faith is fixed upon ; God will fave none but thofe
he fan(^ifies j but eternal life follows more immedi-
ately
Serm. XII. the ProfeJJton of our Faith, 177
ately upon juftification ; our title to eternal life comes
from the fame righteoufnefs that the forgivenefs of
our fins flows from.
6. There is a fpecial zdimiy of Satan in tempting
believers, that makes this work yet the harder. The
devil's great work in this world is to increafe bad
works, and to hinder good works; to keep them that
are bad, bad (till, and make them worfe ; and to hin-
der them that are bad from being good, and the good
from growing better, and the bed from being perfe<n:.
Believers are the fpecial mark of the devil*s malice ;
and there are two times wherein, be fure, if the de-
vil may have his will, and he hath a great deal lent
bim by our Lord ; there are two times wherein a poor
child of God may be fure to meet with the devil, if
the devil be not bound by more than an ordinary re-
flraint. The iirfl: time is, when the poor ele(^ child
of God is ftepping out of nature into grace ; the
other is, when he is ftepping out of grace up to
glory^ If the devil can pofiibly have his will, and it
is rarely denied him, he will (hoot his fiery darts in
ihefe cafes. When a poor finner is leaving Satan's
camp, and going over into Chrift's kingdom, when
he is juft upon delivery from the power of darknefs,
and of being tranilated into the kingdom of his dear
Son, then the devil bends his bow, and lets fly thick
and apace. A great many poor creatures that never
knew there was a devil in hell, or out of helj, till
this time, as long as they were in nature and quiet,
the devil was quiet too ; but when Chrift came to pull
them, and draw them, and bring them home to him-
felf, they then found they had been under the keep-
ing of an enemy, that was loath to part with them.
The lafl: cafe is much the fame : When a poor crea-
ture is going over to Chrift, the devil is lofmg his
right ; when going to heaven, the devil is lofmg all
opportunity againft: him. There are few of the peo-
ple of God that, in walking through the vale of the
fiiadow of death, do not feel this ferpent bruifmg
ihei?
/
;178 The ftedfafl Adherence U Sekm. XII.
their heel ; but if they once be well landed, the fmart
wili quickly be gone.
Lajlly^ There is fome wife deep contrivance of
God in this matter. The Lord hath ordered the mat-
ter of our falvarion fo, that believing (hall be hard,
and the lad believing (till hardeil ; fo he hath order-
ed our right to eternal life : all is lying in another,
norhjDg in us; we have a right in and by Ghrift, our
charter of eternal life lies in God's w6rd. In the
condudlicg of the people of God, the Lord guides
li^em fo, that pure believing is never put out of its
cilice ; whatever he give, whatever path he leads
them in, this remains continually ufefui and needful
to them, that they mud flill go out of themfelves,
and exerciie dependence upon another, upon the
Lord alone. The whole contrivance of the way of
our falvation, I mean the way of God's working with
lis about falvaiion, is framed for this end, that belie-
ving (hall be perpetually ufed ; the contrivance of
the u'ay of falvation for us, is made on purpofe for
the glory of God's grace through Chrifl: Jefus ; it is
contrived for this purpofe, that all the way we (hould
believe ; whatever we receive, we muft truft (till,
for the great hope of our calling. So much for this
fccond thing, What the difficuhies are of believing
eternal life.
The third thing is. How thefe are to be overcome ;
where is ihe vidlory that believers mud have over all
thefe difficulties ? And this is the vi6iory that over-
Cometh the worlds even our faith ^ i John v. 4. The
victory lies in this word, Faitbjul is he that -promifed.
Let the difliculties that lie in the way of believing be
uever (0 great, we mud hold up this as a (hield againd
'them all, Faithful i^ he that promifed ; and in order
ro guide you in the right way of uling it, I would of-
fer you four or five things.
I. Mufe, think often, both on the promife, and
on the promifer. They whofe minds and thoughts
are nor much taken up about the faithful God, and
the
Serm. XII. the Profcjfwn of our Faith, 179
Jhe faithful promife of God, bow can it be expe^ied
that they ihould believe well? Entertain, I fay, a
frequent favoury remembrance both of the pi*oiT>irc
and proraifcr. Oar Lord charges his difci[)les with
this, And now 1 Jfave told you before it come to psfs^
that when it is come to pafs^ ye might bcliet^^ John
xiv. 29. and xvi. 4. Remember it then, that yoa
may believe more. Can you imagine it poffibie, that
fiiith (hould flourifn in the heart, when the proajife
and promifer is out of- the eye, and out of the mind ?
That is utterly impcfllble.
2. Pray to the promifer upon the prornife. He
that prays much, believes well ; and no man that ne-
gle<^s prayer, can a£l faith. We pray upon the pro-
mi fe to the promifer : Remember the word unto thy
fervanty fays David, upon which thou haft caufed me to
hope^ Pfalm cxix. 49. The promifes are given for our
faith, and our faith is to be a£led in praying upon
them ; and when we pray upon the proiniies, we
pray to him that made them, and he that made thena
can certainly perform them.
3. Build upon the promifes^ lay "your weigl^t oa
them. The apoflle Jude requires us to build up our^\
fehes'tn our mojl holy faith. Faith is on the promifes;
and our building ourfelves upon our moft holy faith,
is building on the promifes by faith. The proiiiifeof
God can bear every thing, any thing, and we muil
lay upon it; we muft lay every thing whatfosver u-
pon the promife of God, all our defire, all our cares,
all our weights, all our burthens, but efpecialiy of
eternal life, which, as you know, we cannot bear
ourfelves; let the promife of God bear them ; and
in this matter of our eternal falvation, we know we
cannot bear it of ourfelves. This burthen we mulir
lay upon the promife, fnice it raulf be borne, or we
are undone utterly. If this great affair of our eternal
falvaii6n be not laid upon a foh'd unfinking fonndati-
OD^ we are gone for ever ; there is no foundation,
but
i8o The Jledfafl Adherence to Serm. XII.
but the foundation of God, that ftandeth fuce, iFat
of his faithful word.
4. You muft learn to reafon and argue upon the
promifes. A belTed way of exercifmg faith is to be
reafoning by faith. There are faith's reafonings that
have a great deal of excellency in them, a great deal
of ufe. If 1 may fo fpeak, it is a fort of pity that
fuch good words (hould ever come out of fo wicked
a mouth as Balaam's ; the man fpoke words of faith,
that he knew nothing of; Numb, xxiii, 19. God is
not a man that he Jhould I'le^ neither the fan of man
that he Jhould repent : hath he fa'id^ and Jh all he not
do it f or hath hefpokeUy and /hall he not make it good?
With a better heart ufe thefe bleffed words. The
Spirit of God overawed the man's tongue to fpeak
them, and the Spirit of God guided Mofes's pen to
write them ; therefore, though they are fpoken by
a falfe prophet, it is a part of precious fcripture, it
is of the arguings of faith : Hath God f aid ^ and/hall
he not do it f There is never a man nor all the devils
in hell (hall be able to fay. Here is a word oi God
which he did not make good. See alfo, i Sara. xv.
29. I would only help you to a few of thefe reafon-
ings of faith, that you may think of and ufe at any
time, as God inclines your hearts,
ifi, God knew what he promifed, when he pro-
mifed. Though God promifed me eternal life, I do
Dot know what is in this eternal life, but God knows
full well. We are puzzled, we are darkened in the
ftudying the do^rine of grace, and the great prize
of our calling ; but God knows it well ; he promi-
mifes no bkfTing unknown to himfelf though it be
unknown to us.
2dly^ He knew to whom he gave the promife, he
knew what they were, he knew what they would be,
he knew what they would prove. When 'God deli-
vered to me, faith a poor believer, the promife of eter-
nal life in the gofpel, he knew what 1 was, in the day
I laid hold of it, John xiv. 18. xvi. 31. xiii. 36, 38.
idly.
Serm. Xli. the PiDfefon of our Faith. ig|
idly^ This i$ arguing of faith, when the prormif^
and promifer hath engaged our truft aad cocfidenGe
io any cafe, we may argnc upon that ;. he harh net
only promiied, but he haih begotten expectations lit
our hearts eonceniing the thing he hath fpoken gU
and will he fail in the word upon which he has caufed
us to hope? Haft thou added the power with thd
word, io as to make roe hope \h it, and wiit thoil
cot perform it ? Pfalm cxix. 49. 2 Sana, vih 20. 27.
^thiy. Has Dot God begun to perfoTfa his promt-
fes to us ; and diould we not argue by faith, th?t
we fliould truft in them more and more ? The pro-
mife of eternal hfe is begun to all believers ; He hath
quickened us together with Chr'tfi^ and hath ra:fed ui
up together in regeneration, and made us fit ingethef
in heavenly places in him as our head ; and will not'
reft come on then ? Being cor.fident^. fays i he apGillcji
of this 'very things that he which hath heguh a good
work in you^ zvili perform it until the day of Jefus
Chrijl, Phii. i. 6. i Theff. v. 23, 24. ^ . .
Lafllyy This is an arguing of faith^ God's defigfl
in making, keeping, and performing this promife,- i^
the fame wish the believer's defign in receiring sitid
refting on the promife ; the fame thing that God de=
^igntdi in the making, and keeping, and fulfiUing hi^
t?t'ord ; the fame thing the believer dcfigns in his tak-
ing, and truPdng, and waiting for the performance of
the word. What is God's great defign ? God's great
defign is to glorify'//-?^ exceeding riches cf his kifidhefs
towards us in J^fus Ghrijl^ as the apollle^ rells ti?^
Eph. ih 7. What does the believer defign 1 He de^
figns the fame thing. God promifes us crernsl life' W
the praiie of the giory of his grace in Ghrid , JefiJs J
what more would the believer have ? In the day thaf.
he lays hold on the promife by faith, he meaiis 1^0-
thing eife but this ; he feeks nothing elfe, bat thst-
he m.ay have eternal life, ro the praife of God^s grac(>
in Chrift Jefus. Hath God dofrgned, in making thtl
proaiife, to glorify Lis faithfulncfs P I, in believi^i^^:?
A a ^f^
1 8 2 The Jledfajl Adherence to S e R m. XIl.
the promlfe, defign the fame thing. Now, when-
ever God and a poor believer jump in the fame de-
fign, it is impoiTible that it ihould raiicarry. Indeed,
if God derigned one thing, and we another, God
would reach his end, and we fliould lament our folly ;
but if we intend the fame thing in all our faith in the
promifes, that God intends in making them, a dif-
appointment is impoilible. See Phil. iii. 12. i Peter
y. !0.
The laft thing is. That you rauft take this truth of
God, Faithful is he that promifes ^ and keep it in the
hand of your faith in life and in death ; hold it fall
continually, keep it ftill as your anchor. Wh?n the
body is decayed, when Satan is tempting, when the
heart is mifgiving, when pale death fettles upon your
eye-lids, when an awful judgment is ftaring you in
the face, nothing but thi^, Faithful is he that premi-
fesy will fupport us. Weak is the believer, but
faithful is the promifer. So much for thefe three
exhortations that 1 promifed and have now fpoke to
from thefe words.
There is one more, and that I would conclude with.
I have been exhorting you to glorify God's faithful-
Def?, by venturing on the promife of falvation by
Chrift in the gofpel ; to glorify God's faithfulnefs,
by believing all covenant-bkffings by the way ; and
to glorify God's faithfulnefs, by believing eternal life
in the end. Only one word more, and that is the
greatefl: of all. Glorify God's faithfulnefs by believ-
ing the promifes about Sion and Chrift's kingdom,
though its fiate be ever fo low. It was a good faying
of a believer, in dark and difmal time?, " Now it is
•' time to believe.*' The great believer had a kind of
joy in dark hours, becaufe there was fuch a fair field
for faith to a<51 on God's faithfulnefs. I believe many
of you do not know much of the (late of the work of
Chrift abroad in the world, and a great many arc lit-
tle careful to know \{ thar iliould ; but, by all the
little hints that we have any manner of way, it is ex-
ceeding
Serm. XII, the FrofeJJton of our Faith, 183
ceeding low at this day : let us believe notwithfland-
ing it \hd.\\ be well ; this great faithful promifer hath
pro-oifed great things about Chrid's kingdom, and we
raufl: believe greatly about theui ; the itrongeft faith
(hould be put forth here.
1. The promifes that we are to believe on for
ChrilVs kingdom, are Chrift's promifes. My mean-
ing.i^, not only that they are by Chrift, for all are
fo : but they are made to him ; fo, in fome (znic^ all
are too ; but they are made to him primarily, they
are made to him for his body's fake, the church.
Shall we not believe firm-y the promifes of the Fa-
ther to the Son I Of the increafe of his government a:id
peace there [ball be no end^ upon the throne of David^
and upon his kin-^dom^ to order it^ and to ejlablifh it
with judgment and with jujlicey from henceforth even
for ever : the zeal of the Lord of hofls will perform
this^ Ifaiah ix. 7. Let the faith of believers believe
it then.
2. Thefe great promifes we are to believe about
Chriii's kingdcrn, are moft free to the church, but
they are moft dear to Chrid Jefus, and he hath al-
ready paid the price for them ; he hath bought the
kingdom already, and all that glory that is given him ;
that name which is above every name^ that at the name
of Jefus every knee fhould bow^ of things in heaven^ and
things in earthy and things under the earth ; and that
every tongue Jhould confefs^ thcjt Jefus ChriJ} is Lord^
to the glcry of God the father^ Phi!. ii,.io, i i.
3. Tnt^t, promifes are greatly fulfilled already, and
we Ihould believe them the more firmly upon that ac-
count. Oar LoFd himfelf, the great heir of the pro-
mifes is, as well as we can wiili him, and better ihun
we can think, exaked at the Father's right hand a-
bove all his enemies, if there were a hoft of all
Chrift's enemies together, it may be, they would be
as bold as ever ; but if ail the devils in hell, aild v^ll
wicked men on earth were conjoined again-l hl-ii,
A a 2 * y:t
j[ 3 4 ^^^ fl^(^f^ft Adherencs to S £ r m . XII.
yet a fight of his gjpry would chafe them to hell,
5ph. iii. 2 0,
4. Believe ihefe protr.ifes, for they are the largeft
^nd moft comprehertfive of all. The promifes of
Chrift's kingdom, are the Hock of all the faiih of God's
fchiiclren Id 2!] ages. Pray whence comes thy coover-
fioii, juflification, cailing, or beiag brought ho^ne to
God I* It came cut of the womb of the promifes of
ihc Father made to his Son : He Jball fee his feed ^ he
Jhall prokng his day?, and the pie a fur e of the Lord jb all
frcfper in h:s hand. By his knowledge flj all my righte-
cus fervant f'flify many, for he fhall bear their iniqui^
tie.'^ Aii the faving grace that we receive, comes
from tbefe promifes that are made to Chrift ; and
what we deiire now, is but the fulfilling of them.
What is there that we defirs in all this world but this,
that a great many ungodly people may be converted,
and tha: all the godly may be eminent in grace, and
at lafi ripe for glory ? All thefe are contained in
Chrift's promife?, thefe promifes wherein the faith-
fulnefs of God is engaged i he hath pronii fed this to
David, that he wiil eftablifl^ his feed for ever, and
hui-duf his throne to all generations^ Pfalm Ixxxix. 4,
You have ground fure enough for your faith, and you
cantioc be more happy than to have faith enough for
^]o':lx work. The Lord furnifn you with it.
SERMON
Serm. XIII. the Frofejfwn of our Faith. 185
S E R M O N XIII.
Hebrews x. 24,
And let us confider one another to provoke unto love^
and to good works*
HAVING fpoke fo long upon the preceding
verfes, 1 thought fir, before i left this fcripture,
not to pafs this that follows. The apoftle, from thefe
grounds that you have heard at great length, from
the 19th, 2och, and 21ft verfes, drav/s three exhor-
tations. The firit is with refpefl: to our duty, in the
22d verfe, Thar we (liould* draw near to him. The
fecond exhonation is to a duty that refpe^ls our felve?,
and our proreffion of faith, in the 23d verfe, which
1 have flood long upon. The third exhortation is
in the wordsTead, and that is to a duty that refpefleta
others. This is indeed the right method, that con-
fcience be made of what we are to God^ and care
be taken of what concerneth ourfelves, before v;e'
be in a cafe to difcharge any Chriftiaq duty tcvards
others.
This fcripture I mean to fpeak but a little to, and
was fomething doubl^ljn fpeaking to it at all, not
from any doubt cf its pertioency, but from a mighty
doubt of its fruit; for the duty called to in this verfe
is fo negle£ted, that it is not readily to be hoped peo-
ple will much nriad -ir, when they hear of it, till at
lead they begin to know faith the fpring of it : bur
when 1 confidered that thefe two things, love and
good works, are fo very fcarce, and that Chriftiaa
fellowfhip is fo worn out of ufe aniongd them that are
called Chriftians, I thought fomething ftiould be faid
cf them, though I were never fo afraid that little good
would
1 86 The JJedfaJl Adherence to Serm. XIII.
would be done by it ; and therefore for once I will
fpfak a little to it.
In this verfe thtrrefore lying before us, there is an
exhortation to a duty that is very remarkably expref-
itd by the apoltle. There is, t. The matter of toe
dury in general, to conftder one another. " Let us,"
would the apoitie fay, ** that are bretiiren, ao j that
** know the wwy to the hoheit of ^.li, who have fome
*' faith, 3 fprinkied confcieuce, and aclean converfa-
*^ tien, aod have madeprofeffion oF .our faith, let us
*' corjtder one another,*' The original imports a nar-
row JooKing one. to another. . : . : ,- a y r:
2. There is the end tij-it this duty is injoined ffer ;
and that is, to provoke us unto love, and to good works ^
fo we read ii j but the word in tiie origin il is far
more fig: uficau' than our tranfld-ion carrieih it: Con-
fider one another in order to a paroxyfm^ or high
hor fi[ of iove and good works, to flir up mightily
thereto.
I wouk' at this time fpeak a little to both of thefc.
1. To the matter of the duty, Conftdering one ano-'
ther ; then, 2. The end of it, provoking unto love^ and
to good works,
Firjly The dpty, Conjidering one another. This iin-,
P^^eth, ;
i. That there is a plurality of Chrifuaos. If (q,
be there were but one Chriflian in one place, he would
have nothing to do with fuch a place of fcripiure ; he
i?on!y to walk wifely to them thai are without, where
the providence of God calls him ; but this confideriag
one another is no work for him. - ;
2. li implies, that they are knojcvt! one to another.
When the a[)o(lle bids us confider oni^acother, it ne-
ceflu:ily implies, thai we may knotv^ne anocher ; and
truly Chriftians are eafily known one to another. I
do not mean them that go with the herd, that call
themfelves Chrili ms ou! of conipliiuent, or fafliion,
or are Chrifiiai.s by rtafon the place where they were
born profeiTech Chriftianity ; if this be all, it is no
eafy
Sernt. XIII. the PrnfeffJon of our Faith » 187
eafy matter to know them : but fuch as have the pow-
er of the grace of God at work on their heart ; and
even here it is not fo hard a matter for one Chiiftiaa
to know another.
3. Here is implied, and follows in the text, their
meeting together ; this is a part of their profeflion.
Not for fa king the affemhling of yourfelvef together^ as
the 'manner of fome is. This confidenng^ x\\2it implies
thefe things is ipoken with relpe<5i: to our Lord the
head, with refpe6l to ourfelves, and with refpe(5l to
our brethren. The fame apoftie bids us conftder the
Apcjile and High Fricft of our projeffion Cbrijl Jefus,
chap. iii. i. That is a bleffed conlideration with re-
fpedl: to patience in fufferiog : Conftder him that en-
dured fuch contradidicn of finners agalnfl himfeif^ left
ye be wearied and faint in your minds^ Heb. xii. 3.
As if the apoftie would fay, " If you would ufe to
*' ponder how Chrift was ufed in the world, and how
*^ many foul tongues were employed againfc him, ye
" would think little of all the contradictions you meet
" with." For one fmner to contradi(^ another finner,
is no great matter ; for a finner to contradict a faint,
no great matter neither : but for wicked finners to
contradiiH: the Saviour, is the wonder. We are bid
to confider ourfelves, that if any fee another overtaken
in a faulty zue might re/lore fuch an one in the fpirit
of meeknefsy confidering ourfelves^ left we be afo tempted.
Now particularly what this confidering of others is,
will you hear of it, and mind it a little more, what
that Chriftian duty of confidering Chriflians aright is.
You know, that confidering is a ferious employmeDt
of the mind ; this employment is about other folks,
and this employment rauil be about every thing in
them and about them that we can difcern. Thefe \
would reduce to three heads, their good, their bad,
and what is indifferent, neither good nor bad in it-
Mi^ but as it is guided.
I/?; I,n confidering oF other Chriflrans, ye fliould
confider their good, I will not fay, that always it is
the
l88 . The Stedjajl Adherence to Serm. XIII,
the wifeft work for a man, in coriiidering himfeir,
to begin with confidering his good ; but 1 dare fay^
K is the wifelt work in confidering others, to do
io. Our Lord, in the feven letters he wrote to the
feven churches of Afia, begins always with their good,
.if there were any good in theTi, and conimends them,
before he takes notice of, and reproves for their faults*
A Chriftian is very ill confidered, if ail his good and
the bell things in him is forgot. Amongft thofe good
things that are to be confidered in order to provoke unt6
love, and to good works.
(f.) We ihou'd con(l<ier the grace of God that is
in them, when it becomes vifible, and viilble it will
be, if of the right kind. Barnabas faw the grace of
God among them at Antioch, A61s xi. 23. Theapo-
{lles faw the grace of God that was given to Paul,
Gah ii. 8, 9. Sirs, communion of faints is one of the
articles of our creed, as we call it; and there is io
much fpoken of it in the word, and it is fo great a
bleffing, that it is a thing impoffible, that grace in
faints fiiould not be kuowable by faints, if no maa
could know the grace of God in any other but hiin-
felf, that man indeed might have communion with
God, but he could have no communion with 'he faints.
The main thing that we are to regard and to confider
in Chriliians, is the truth of the grace of God in them,
their (hining in the image of their heavenly Father,
and their partaking of the Spirit of Jofus. Where-
ever thefe chara<fiers and fignatures are, a fpiritual
eye can diicern them.
(2.) We (hould confider the Ration they have in
the body of Jefus Chrili:, and that alfo is difcera-
able ; i mean, what ftate, what place, what room,
the Lord hath called them to, or placed them in, nor
with refpect to their office in the church ; that is a
thing of another confideration, but with refpe£l to
honourable fervice ; the Lord gives his grace in vari-
ous meafures to his people, and infome it is a inatter
very remarkable, that quickly after the Lord hath
begun
Serm. XIII. the Profejfion of our Faith. 289
begun to coairaunicate of his grace to them, he in-
tends to prove ihemin a higher Iphere than ordinary ;
we muit conlider^ what marks the Lord hath put u<
pon them, that we know to be Chridians of a mor(*
than ordinary ilature, and ufcfalnefs, and, fervice \\\
the body of Chrift, of which the apoflle fpeaks fo
much, I Cor, xii. ahnoft througboar.
^d^y^ We are to coofidcr Chriftians in their bad
things • can there be any provoking unto love and
good works, iti feeing of their bad things ? Yes, a
great deal j amongd the bad things la Chriftians, £
reckon,
(n) Their fins and their infirmities ; thefe ate td
be tenderly regarded, and looked upon, iheif weak-
nefs, their (InmbliDg ; the apoftle calls much for a
fpirit of meeknefs towards foch, a great deal of ten^*
dernefs muft be ufed, happy are they that ein repre^
fent and exprefs the tender heart of jefus Chrift to-*
wards Tinners in a Chriilian-lrke tendernefs^ towards
finning and ftiimbiing believers ; fee what tendernef^
ihe apoflle requires as to this^ i Cor. vii^ There Is a
poor weak Chriftian, it may be ftumbled, when he
(aw people making ufeof what was ordinarily botjgh^
in the market, it may be a great deal of the liieat
that was fold there, had firll been (hown before their
idols and prefented in their temples, and the poor
Weak Chriflisn fcrupled this, and thought it a Ud.
thing for a Chrillian to make ufe of his liberty tbi5
Way, fays the apdfile, ^Through thy knowledge Jh all ths
^jueak hrtjther perijh^ for whojn Chrift died? ver. i i,
tor my part fays he, 1 will eat no fief h while the world
ftandeth^ lejl I make my brother to ojfend,
(2.) We fhouid confider folks temptations and af^
iliflions, we Ihould look on them fo as to provoke tints
lovey and to good works ; the more tempted and afHic-
ted they are, the more need have they of pity froni
the Lord their head, andof compaffion from ail their
brethren. The apodle Paul exprelFed this tendernef:^
of fpirit, and oh for fome mcafiirs of it among ns I
B b a G.^i^
Ipo The Jledfajl Adherence to Serm. XIII.
2 Cor. xi. 29. Befides all his own fulFerings, of which
he names a greac many, as perils by fea and land,
and from his own couniry-men, as well as heathens,
nay, all forts of dillrelTes, bcfides all thefe things, he
had the care of all the churches devolved upon him,
what fort of care was this think you ? Was this like
the Pope's care that he pretends to have over tiae face
of the earth, where-ever the name of a Chriftian is ?
This was not thought of by the apoftle, the care of
all the churches was only a care of tendernefs and
fympatby, like the care of a mother to her children,
when any of them are fick, Who is weak^ fays he, and I
am not weak ? Who is of^ ended ^ and I hum not f What a
brave fpirit is here ! Did not a diftrefs come upon a-
ny Chrillian, the apoflie knew of, but his heart felt
the fmart of it ?
g^i/y. There are fome things that we are to confi-
der in Chriftians, that are in themfelves neither good
nor bad, but are of an indifferent nature, yet are to
be confidered, and are of great ufe to f revoke to love,
and to gord works,
(i.) There is a confideration to be had of a Chrif-
tian's education, of the place of his converfation, and
of the means and helps that he hath or wants ; there
is a great matter in this. I do not fay, that always
fuch Chriftians are of the bed compleyjcn, as to their
inner man, that are born again under the greateft ad-
vantages of the gofpel mean?, only this is that 1 drive
at, that the truth of the grace of God may be plant-
ed in the heart of a poor creature, where the means
of grace have been but finall, and his help and ad«
vanages but few ; now a great deal of tendernefs is
to be exercifed towards fuch a one ; the apollie takes
frequent notice of it, as to himfelf, though indeed
the grace of God to him was extraordinary ; A6ts
xxii. 1 do not mean, that the apoftle thinks to exte-
nuate his fm before God by the mentioning it, but ra-
ther he mentions it to inhance the grace of God that
took hold of him ; that it was a fufficient ground for
abating
Serm. XIII. the ProfeJJton of our Faith. 191
abating the feverity oFcenfure from other Chrlftians,
when they refle<^ed upon his former converfation.
(2.) We Ihoiild in things indifferent confider their
natural temper ; tempers of mind vary as much as
features of the face, we commonly obferve it with
great wonder, that there is not to be feen in a whole
kingdom two faces fo exaflly alike, but that we dif-
cern fome difference, and there is a great difference
in the natural tempers of folks minds; where the
grace of God is grafted upon a good natural temper ;
it does fet it oiF, I acknowledge very beautifully ; a-
bundance of grace fown in them, that have an equal
temper of mind, makes a Chriflian appear very ami-
able ; but the grace of God does not ordinarily fall
there, the Lord commonly fows his grace in the worft
foil, the heart of every man by nature is bad enough,
but there are fome worfe than ordinary, and God
plants his grace frequently thcx-e ; now when the
grace of God comes, it is appointed to change our
natural ftate, as v/e are fmners, and to make us be-
lievers, ofiinners to make us faints- but it was never
appointed to change our natural temper, he that is
born, as it were, with a hafty, hot, warm temper,
the grace of God may guide that, and put it into a
right channel, but rarely, if ever, does remove it;
now it is CO be obferved, that a great many of the of-
fences, that Chriilians take one at another, are upon
the account oFthe breakings out of their natural tem-
pers, but we (hould give allowance to thefe things;
it is very likely, that our Lord in calling hi^difciples
had regard unio this, and names them accordingly ^
Peter feems to be a forward, zealous, bold man,
James and John feem to have been warm hot men,
they are called fons of thunder, would our Lord fay,
I will graft my grace upon thefe men ? Alid I will
make ufe of their natural temper for the fetting forth
fome piece of work, that fuch and fuch are fitteit for ?
We fee then the wonderful wifdom of God, in guid-
iflg the corruptions of his people; and Ihould we
B b 2 wonder
19? The fledfafl Adherence io Serm. XilL
wonder at this, that the fame wifdorn fliould guide
?he n?.tural infirmities of his people, and make them
feryiceable fo much the more in their time P We mnft
ponfider I fay, one another's natural temper, and give
foT,e grains of allowance thereto.
{3.) Among the things indiiTereor, I reckon peo-
ples outward eftate in the world : Not many wife
after the flefh, not many noble, not many rich, and
not many mighty are called, but now and then fome
be, and it is very obfervabie, that through v;aat of a
que confideration of this, a Chriftian that is very high
and rich, and wife in this world, and a poor low
weak Chriftian as to his condition and natural parts,
pre ufually very bad company, they are very apt not
duly to coniider one another, with refped 10 this ;
the poor are apt to envy them that are above them,
and they that are high to defpife them that are below
them, the word of God warns again if both.
(4.) People's age and (landing in Chrift's houfe, is
10 be coufidered by us ; when we confider one ano-
ther, we are not, we mull not expe£> thofe experi-
ences and attainments in a novice, and one chat is
newly come to the faiih, thai we may look for, and
expe^ in them that are of long (landing in the houfe
cf the Lord, the apoiiic takes notice of this, and he
checks them that had ihis ftandinpr. For when for
^he time^ fays he, y ought tc be teachers^ yc have need
that one teach you a-^ain^ ivhich he the fi^fl principles
cf the oracles of God ; and are become fuch as have
■(leed of milk ^ and not of firong meat. See how the fpirit
of God by Paul directs T'imothy to his carriage, i
l.lpift. v^ I. Rebuke not an elder^ fays he, but entreat
Dim as a father, and the younger men as brethren. The
flder women as fncthers, the younger as fiflers^ zvith
fJl purity » How didin^lly does the apoftle direct his
^ifconrfe unto fathers, and young men and children.
Lafliy^ Chiiflians different light about fmaller mat-
ters (hduld be confjdered, in order to provoking unto
l^ye^ arid good works ; if people lay afide the duty of
love,
Serm. XIII, the Profeffion of our Faith. 193
love, till they be all of one mind in all things, they
may leave love till they come to heaven, and truly
they look unlike them, that ever will be-in heaven,
that are llrangers to love v^hen ihey be on earth ;
how tenderly does the apoftle apply himfelf unto this ;
Horn. xiv. li— -5. Rom. xv. i. — 4 ! Him that is weak
in the faith y fays' he, receive you, but not to doubtful
difputations : What were thofe doubtful difputations ?
Tnefe were not whether we are juftified by Chrili,
or by good works, or by both together, they were
about fmall little things, they were about food, fome
would eat nothing but herbs, and had no liberty to
eat ilefli, there were others that were llrong, and
they could eat freely any thing, but fays the apoltle.
Let not him that eatethy defpife him that eateth not.
That is his weaknels, and let not him which eateth
pot, judge him that eateth, for the man walks ac-
cordmg to his light, and indeed according to truth j
one oblerves a day and another nor, his non-obferv-
ing is an a<ft of worfliip to the Lord, how excellently
does the apoftle comment upon thefe things ! The
meaning was this, In the beginning of Chriftianity,
there was fome of the Chrillians, that had been
Jews, and were not yet altogether fo far reformed
irom what they had prpfeffed before, but that they
ftill retained, and were fond of their old cereoionies
and cufioms, wherefore the apoftle exhorts them to
bear with love and tenderoefs with all fuch perfous.
The apofile therefore in fome places did tolerate their
weaknefs, yet notwithflanding when thefe {ivl^W things
are brought in upon an high account, how does he
thunder againd them ! He fpeaks fo tenderly to the
Romans, to doubtful believers, yet to fome that
would obferve days, and abftain from meats, he is as
fevere, Te obferve days^ and months y and times^ and
yearsy Sec. Ye are men that are parting from Chriftj
fays he, why fo ? Becaufe they did place a piece of
their worfliip therein, and thought they would ren-
der thera acceptable to God, and therefore brought
ig
194 ^-^^^ fl^^f^fl Adherence to Serm. XIII.
in thefe Jewifh rites and ceremonies into the matter
of juilification before God. The Lord hath not giv-
en all his people the fame light, we are to be fuHy
petfnaded in oar o^*'n minds abont our own light, Let
e^^ery man be fully perfuaded in .his own mind, Rom.
xiv, 5. But that is bin an ill fort of bein^ perfuaded
•in our owii mind, that b'-ings this perfuafion alfo, that
ihey who are not of our mind, are not right before
God ; fo nnich for the iirit thing, the matter of the
daiv, coolid^ring one another.
The fecond rhmg. 10 be fpoke to, is what the end of
this is, To provoke unto love and good works,
I, The firli fiin-^ I nore in this end is. You find
love and good works joined icjgether. Good works, or
hoUnefs will never thrive amongft Chridians, where
lovr is under a decay, Where e7wyin^ and flrife is^
favs the apoftle James, there is confiifiop^ and every
evilwofk^ chap. iii. 16. not only there & anevil work^
bar flic? .: is every evil work. The edifying and build-
in.Pf up o the church by their mutual communion, as
wel as by cominuaications from the head, Eph. iv. 16.
is cxpi'!{ly 'stermined to be in this, edifying ofitjelf
in love. From whom the whole body fitly joined together^
a' owta6led by that which every joint Jiipplieth^ ac-
co\ I ng to the cffeBual zv or king in the meafure of every
frt; makettj increafd of the body^ unto the edifying of
ft feif in love ; as if the apoflie had exprefly pointed
forth, th if he general fpirit of love is as it were the
cement, and nutriment of the whole body o^ Jefus
Chrift; grace from the head, and fpiritual love of
tht members one to another, is as the fpring to their
growth
2- We find that the increafe of love and holinefs,
is t'tie )'oper and right end of Chriftian communfon.
For this end churches are appointed by Jefus Chrid
that they m.iy be focieties for buiiding up a company
that he calls out of rhe world in love to God and to
one ano her in aolmefs, till he tranfplant them to the
church above.
3. The
Serm. XIIL the Prcfefflon of our Faith- 195
3. The making this the end, fpeaks forth this, rhat
the beft of Chriltians (land in need of being mightily
{lirred up unto love, and to good works, or why ftood
the Hebrews in need of being fo flirred up ? We
have the fame word in the original, in 2 Cor. ix* 2..
Tour zeal hath provoked very many. The grace of
God, and the Spirit of holinefs is ingrafted in the
hearts of every Chriitian ; but notwithftanding, e-
very one (houid make confcience to water this, 10 ftir
it up, to blow upon this little fire, and to increafe it.
APPLICATION.
The firft word (hall be a word of reproof or JameQ-
ration. How fadly is it to be bewailed, that lo?e and
good works are fo rare, and the means for theai fo
negle£led ? that there is fo little confidering one abo-
ther, to provoke unto love^ and to good works f if it
were not for the came of churches that is amongftos,
one would hardly underftand, that there is fueh 2 cofir-
pany of Chriflians amongd us ; that confidering oae
another to provoke unto love^ and to good works ^ ilie
Lord knows how few mind. How many are there
of our Chriilians, that are not a bit the better for
their fellow Chrillians, fmce the day God gave grace
to them ? Is there no Chriftian of your acquainraEcc^
that you can labour to do good to P I never expe^
that perfon is fit to get good from others, that is not
ready to do good to others. The fpirir of bumi-
lity, that makes us ready to receive good froia o-
thers, will work a fpirit of love in readinefs to do
good to others. Now, that this matter is negle^ied,
is not all we have to complain of; but the contrary
thereto is that which I would bewail and reprove, and
the Lord makes reproof light where it is m^oft jutlly
deferved.
I. There are a great many people, that confider
one another's infirmities to blaze them abroad; ia-
liead of coDfidcring one another to provoke unto love^
and
1-96 fhefledfajl Adherence td Serm. XIIL
and to good ivcrksy they confider their infirinities to
take notice of them, and to Blow a trumpet upon
their failings. 1 have often feen, and you may ob-
ferve it, and may have found, that very often fnch
profeflbrs as have been given much to the ohferving
of the infirmities of faints, and then publifaing of
them, have been left of God to be apoftates from the
truth of the gofpel themfelves. It is a greater tranC-
greffion than you are aware of, to obferve the infir-
mities of faints, on purpofe as it were to crow over
the profefTion, becaufe of the faults of them that
make it. Let us always be tender of the name of Je-
fus Chrift. If men that are not Chriflians are yet
called fo, and fall, let them get their juft (hame; the
way of the Lord is not a whit the worfe becaufe a
tranfgreiTor falls therein ; the fault is not in the way,
but in the walker. Who is wife^ and he Jhall under-
/land thefe things f prudent ^ and he Jhall know them f
for the ways of the Lord are rights and the juft fhall
walk in them: but the tranfgreffors fhall fall therein^
Hofea xiv. 9.
2. Some confider one another's iofirraities to imi-
tate them, and to excufe themfelves in the like prac-*
tice. This is juft contrary to what is in my text. In-
dead of confidering one another to -provoke unto love^
and to good works ^ they confider others in their fail-
ings and infirmities, they take notice of a great many
infirmities in the people of God \ they think with
themfelves. Why may not I do fo too I Such a mi-
nifter or Chriftian has done fo and {o ; why may not
I ? This is a raoft dangerous praftice, for people to
take notice of the infirmities and failings of faints, to
imitate them, and never take notice of their virtues to
imitate them: therefore the apoftle warns them in
this manner, Whofe faith follow^ fays he, confidering
the end of their converfation ; regard their do(flrinej
regard their pradice, imitate their faith. The wifeft
obferving of one another, is to fpy out one another's
good.
Sehm. XIII. the Frofejfion of our Faith, 197
good, and labour to imitate it immediately. Where-
ever yoa fee faith, and repentance, and be]icvinj[T,
and holy walking wiih God, fet about the iir.i taring
that. May I fpeak of the loweft, of the meaueft, vjd
of the mod foolifh pra<^ice amon»i1: us, a praftice
that, I am afraid, is a great deal too common in rhig
place? inftead of confidering one another to pro joke
unto love^ and to good work^^ many confider one ano-
ther to provoke ro vanity and luperflaity. h>!lead
of taking notice of the virtues of believers, it may be
people take notice of their \vay of living, of their garb ;
it is well if a great many be not hardened thereby ;
If one wear fuch a garb, why may not I ? The righ-
teous judgment of Goci will ever follow, wh^re oiis
Chriftian makes not con< ence to obferve an j imitate
the virtues of another, they (hall be left of C.o^^ to
obferve and imitate the corruptions of one another.
Let me therefore prefs it with thefe few., that yoa
would mind well the plain words of the text, to con-
fider one another^ &c. all the Chriftians ye know, con-
fider in fuch a manner, as that you may flir them up
to love and holinefs.
ly?. Is not this commanded by God ? There is none
that can read the new teftament, and not find this
commanded frequently, as Col. iii. 16, 17. 1 Cor. i.
5, 6, 7. and a great many other places.
2^/y, Hath not this been pra£lifed by the faints of
God in all ages ? There was never a generation of
believers that lived in any time of the world, but if
they could converfe together, they would. There
were a company of them long fince in the o'd te'U-
ment, ih2ii feared the Lord, and ihomht on his name^
that talked often one to another. There were a con-
pany when Chrift was born, and yet it was as dark a
day as ever came upon the church, there was a com-
pany for all that, Luke ii. qo. that were- w^/f/Vi; for
the confolation of Ifrael ; and Anna, th- old prophe-
tefs, knew them, and went to fpeak to ai! of ihem :
like enough, Ihe knew where to find them that wai^-
C c ed
jpS Jbe SUdJaJI Adherence to Serm. XIII.
cd for rederapiion in Jernfalem. This is a duty now
to be praifiifed, and there was never more need of it.
What our Lord faid as a prophecy, hath been plen-
tifully fnliilled in our day : Becaufe iniquity (ball a-
bound, the love of many /hall wax cold^ Matth. xxiv
12, 15. It is a duty the Lord hath always put a fpe-
cial renfiark upon, and hath taken great notice of,
and for which a book of remembrance was written^
Malachi iii. 16. For thofe that had fighed and cried,
becaufe of all the abominations done in Jerufaleir),
thefe are men marked, fe* apart for fpecial mercy.
1 ftiall leave this matter with three or four notes.
(i.) Never did the grace of God reach a poor
creature's heart, but with it there came an inllinft
after converfe with them of its own nature. When-
ever one is made a new creature, they begin to look
upon them that are new creatures in another matter,
and a warmer way, than they did before.
(2.) Where-ever the power of godiinefs is fpread-
ing, Chriflian communion always is. Never did the
power of godlinefs flourifh where this was neglec-
ted. Therefore I look upon it as one of the fad
figns that the power of Chriftianity and the efficacy
of the gofpel is greatly withdrawn from vis, becaufe
Chriflian fellowftiip is fo greatly negle<Sled. I fhall
Dot tell you whence it comes particularly, and how
it may be mended ; much may be done to the. mend-
ing of it. The Lord incline their hearts in wbofe
hand it lies.
(3.) Where love and holinefs is nor, the fmgle
end of Chriltian fellowihip, the fellowihip of Chrif-
tians, is a moft dangerous fnare. The compjunion of
Chriftians one widi another js the molt dangeious
company one can be in, if fo be that this be not the
grand dcfign, to promote love and holinefs. There
have been fuch meetings amongft us, among them
that are called Chridians, and it may be are truly fo ;
many people of different peifuafions have met toge-
ther
Serm. XIII. the Profejfion of our Faith. 199
ther for difputation ; a mod vaia fmful practice, that
always flows from corruption, and always iflues in
deitruflion ; fo far from good works, that it never
was found to fail to provoke to hatred and ill works.
It were far better that Chridians ftiould foberiy re-
tain their particular fentiments.
Lajlly^ Where Chriftians are a plague to one ano-
ther, it is a fad fign that God hath a mind to plague
them all together. Where people neglect to do good
to one another, where Chrillians are hinderances one
to another in the righteous ways of God, it portends
that God will plague them all together. That is a
fad threatening, Ezek. xxii. i8. ^on of man ^ the houfe
oflfrael is to me become drofs ; what fiiall 1 do to them ?
fays the Lord, as they gather filver^ and brafs^ and
lead^ and tin into the niidjl of the furnace ^ to blow the
fire upon ity to melt it ; fo will I gather you in mine
anger y and in my jury ^ and 1 will lea.ve you there, and
melt yoVy good and bad in the fame furnace, the ^A-
ver and brafs, and tin, and iron. It is a fatal fignifi-
cation, when the inftitutions of Chrift's appointment
are not only forgot, but when they are perverted to
contrary ends, than he hath appointed them for; it
is a fad fignificatioa what the iilae may be.
Cc2 SERMON
200 The Jledfaft Adherence to Seilm. XIV.
SERMON XIV.
HebREYv'S X. 20.
By a new and living way which he hath confecrated
for usy thrcugh ihs veity that is to fay ^ his flefly,
THE fum of Chriftianity is to know Chrift, and
10 ufe liira ; to know hmni for ufe, is to ufe him
as known ; his name founds daily in the ears of mul-
tifudes, whofe hearts never did once make ufe of him
in the thing, if 1 may fo fpeak, that our Lord only is
ufetul for ihem in, and that is, his great calling to
falvation. The apollle in the context is upon both
thefe; he is both upon the doftrine of Chrift, and
the improvement of it ; in the do(fi:rine oi Chrift, he
does difcover and reveal this great ufefulnefs for us
in the matters of falvation, that the entry to the holi-
eft of ail is through his blood, that the way to the
holiefl of all is through his fiefh, that he oimfelf is the
great High Prielt fet over the houfe of God ; thefe
are in the 19th, 20th, and 2 id verfes. From the
20th verfe, I take notice of three things to be fpo-
ken to.
FirJIy Where lies the way to heaven ? How may
a man find itf When is it one may be fure he is in
it ? Says the apoil'e, It is through the veil oi the ilefti
of Chrift. They that know not Chrift, whatever they
may pretend to, as to the knowledge of God or hea--
ven, know nothing of either ; and this I was fpeaking
to lafl: day, Thiit the way to heaven lies through the
veil of the flcih of Chrift. Our Lord, in his help-
fiilrjefs to us in our getting to heaven, is many ways
fpoken of in the word. Sometimes this great ufeful-
r.efs iL' expf cfted of his perfin, he is the peace ; forae-
:ifL^cs u is expreffed concerning his office^ he is the
Saviour ;
Serm. XIV. the Profeffion of our Faith. 201
Saviour ; fometimes it is fpoken of his ///<?, and fome-
ticnes of his death ; fomeiiines of \\\^/leJh, and fome-
times of his blood. But whatever the words be that
are ufed in the fcripture, concerning our Lord in his
calling as a Saviour, v^e are to take none of them a-
part, but to take all together ; for Chrift is not di-
vided. His flefh that is here fpoken of, is his hu-
man nature offered in facrifice unto God, for the fms
and fouls of his ele<ft ; and through this we raufc pafs,
if we have a mind to heaven. It was an old cultom,
it is likely its original was from an inftitution, but it
is very vifible that it was feveral times pra6lifed of old
before the Leviticai law, and that it was a ceremony
in making of covenants, that fome living creature
(hould be divided into two, and that the covenant-
ing perfons paffed through the parts thereof ; which
had a great fecret imprecation in the oath, that fo
God might do to them as was done to the bead, if
they did falfify their engagements ; and this the Lord
by the prophet charges feverely upon the people of
Ifrael, for breaking his covenant: Jer.xxxiv. 18. When
they divided the calf in twain, and pajjed between the
farts thereof. Our divided and our ilain Lord Jefus is
the great covenant- mean betwixt the Lord and us; and
ail that feek their peace with God and entrance to
the heavenly kingdom, muft pafs, if 1 may fo fpeak,
through the parts of this divided and flain Son of God.
Chrift's flefli is called the vail, becaufe it hides his
glory, it is a vail, becaufe the paffage to heaven lies
through it, though the vail of the temple covered
thTeholreft of all from the eyes of all the people, yet
through it a paffage was for the High Priefl: at the
appointed time. There are three things fimply need-
ful, not only needful to our falvacion, but grand pie-
ces of falvation. The faving knowledge of God ; ac-
ceptable worfhipping of God ; and enjoyment of hi JU, In
the faving knowledge of God, all graces are exercif-
ed, in acceptable worfhip all duties are performed, in
the enjoyment of God all bleffi rigs and mercies are
received.
292 The fledfafi Adherence to Se.rm. XTV.
receive(3. Thefe three have all a mutual influence
one upon 'another, the more there is of laving know-
ledge, th^ more there is jf acceptable worfhip, and
the more there is of both thefe, the more of communi-
on with God, And thus it is both on earth and in
heaven, only there is a wonderful difference in de-
gree, for all thefe are low here, but are perfect a-
bove ; our knowledge is dark, our worQiip is faulty,
cur enjoyment fcanty, final!, and qoickiy paiTes a-
way, our vellei is narrow, and cannot receive much,
and leaking, and cannot hold much, what it is they
know above, and what worfliip they perform, and
what enjoymeot of God they receive, is above our
knowledge; of their knowiledge too the apoftle fpeaks
ijngulariy. Far now we fee through a glafs darkly ; hut
then face to face^ now 1 know in part ; but than (hall I
know^ even as alfo I a??i known, i Cor. xiii. 12. The
words that the apoftle^hath there, are very hard to
be uoderftootJ, but we might know fomething of
ihem by the former part of them, we know what it
is to know in part^ we know a little what it is to fee
through a glafs darkly, but what face to face knoW"
\t^gt of God is, and what to know even as alfo we
are known, v/e do not know ; what is more common
in the fenfe and thoughts of believers than this, even
in their nearefl approaches to God even in their clear-
eit views of him, It is bur a little that i know of him,i
but he knows me perfedly. Will ever that day be,-
that Paul dial! know Chrill as well as Ghrift knew
Paul ? 1 (hall know even alfo as I am. known, as clear,'
as fatisfyiugly, as far beyond what our prefent know*-
\t^^t is, as any thing c?-n be> We /hall he like him,
fays. the apoille jobu,; F^r ive Jhall fee him as he is^
1 John iii. ::. Beloved.^ fnys he^ .now are -we the fons
of Qcd, and it doth not y ft appear what we f hall be. Ay,'
but will ir ever appear ? Yes, fayshe, it will appear,
when he (hall appear, then we lliall be like him, for
W£ /hall fee him as he is, the knowledge we have of
God and of Chrift Jefus now, is through the glafs o^
the
Serm. XIV. the Frofejfion of our Faith, 205
the gofpel, 2 Cor. iii. 18. And the more that God
fhincs upon that glafs, and the more chat he enlight-
ens the eyes of our nnnds in beholding it, the more
we perceive it ; bin now what a v/onderful knowledge
of Chrift muft that be, that is gathered and learned
out of his face, when we (lull fee him as be is!
Chrift is a great deal better than the Bible, the Bi-
ble is a creature, the Bible is a created manifeftaiioa
of the will of God, all cur knowledge now of God
and Chrift muft be bounded with that, muft be de-
termined by that, muft be fought from it ; but the
apoftle tells us, there is another fort of knowledge
of Chrift, to be hereafter, when we fliall fee hira
as he is ; how they worftiip we do not know, we
know what worlhipping in a temple is, but we do not
know what worlhipping is without it, where the Lord
God almighty^ and the Lamb, are the temple thereof^
Rev. xxi. 22. I only take notice of thefe things, be-
caufe I was faying that thefe Were the main parts of
faivation, and that we coine only to them through
Chrift Jefus ; we cannot worftiip God acceptably but
in Chrift, we cannot enjoy God, but in Chrift; ne-
ver was there a gracious communicarion of God's
love given unto men, but through Jefus. The ap-
plication of this truth, that the way to heaven lies'
through the vail of Ch rift's flelh, 1 fliall forbear un-
til I have gone through the words of the text, upon
rhe fecoud thing, which is the properties of this way^
the way is ihrough his ftefti, but what fott of a way
is : ? The apoftle gives us here three properties of ity
and I will take one of them to fpeak to at this time.
It is called a new way, it is called a living way,,
cind it is called a confecrated way for us ; v/e would
have no need of Chrift's flefti, or of its being made
avail ; unlcfs, that it had been the purpofe of his
grace to fave a multitude of poor loftfmnersin away
confecrated for us.
Of the firft of thefe, it is a new way ; the mean-'
ing of this, is what I would difcourfe a little to.
Firfi,
2 04 ^^^^ fl^<^f^fl Adherence to Serm. XIV*
F/Vy?, To avoid miftakes, I ihall remove thofe
things, that this word may lead people to, and tell
you what is not the meaning of the newnefs of this
way, then pofitively what it is.
1. This is not a new way, as if it were of a new
invention, of late contrivance and device of God, but
is as old as eternity, and there can be nothing before
nor after, in eternity; our Lord is the way to hea-
ven, he is the Lamb flam from the foundation of the
-worldy and that in a ufual fcripture fenfe, as much as
to fay, fro?n eternity^ Rev. xiii. 8. I was fet up from
everlafling^ from the beginnings or ever the earth ivasy
Prov. viii. 24. His way is from everlafting, Mic. v.
2. The way of faving men by Chrift Jefus is not a
way of late invention, It is according to the eternal
purpofey which he purpofed in Chrifl Jefus our Lord^
Eph. iii. 1 1. 2 Tim. i. 9.
2. Neither is it a new way, as if it were newly re-
vealed, as if it were of late revelation, for this way
of faving men by the fon of God, is as old as fm is,
and was revealed immediately upon finning, in that
way that we fhall further hear of. Adam knew this
way, Abel knew this way, and Enoch and Abraham
faw Chrift's day, and Chrift was before him : Before
Abraham was, 1 am^ fays our Lord, John. viii. 58,
3. Neither is it of late as to the ufe of it, for the
benefit has been received by multitudes ; all along by
Abraham and Ifaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets
that are in the kingdom of God ; there is but one
way to heaven, though this feems flrange to us. A-
data died fome thoufand years before Chrift came in-
to the world, before this vail was adlually made ; fo
did Abraham, fo did the Old Teftament churchy ac-
cording to the order of their generations, fome a
longer, and fome a fhorter while before : But they
had the way for fubftance revealed to them, there
was a revelation of God's good will towards them in
fuch ways as he thought good, whereby his par-
doning grace aud acceptance through a mediator, was
pointed
Serm. XIV. the FrofeJJion of our Faith^ 205
pointed out to them ; they had the f^ime hope thai we
have, and the fame faith that we have, only w'*'i this
difference, their faith was to look forward. . 'jd oiir
faith is to look backward, their fairh was in the Mef-
fiah to come, and our faith is in the MelTiah which
is come ; their faith was in the vail of thac fleih that
was to be reared up, and our fairh is in the veil of
his fleili that has been reared up, and is no v gone
up to heaven ; the fame faith we have, faiiii the a-
pon:le, the fame Jpirit of faith ^ 2 Cor. iv. 13, We
find there is a great difference between D.tvid and
Paul, as tD their expreffions of godlinefs, and as to
the clearnefs of their knowledge, 1, bur, fays the a-
poftle, we have the fame fpirit of faith wi:h David,
David faid I beheved, and therefore have I fpoken ;
fays the apodle Pad, The fame fpirit of faith is ia
us. Thefe are the things that are to be removed,
when Chrifl as to heaven is come to be a new way ;
not that it is newly devifed, nor newly revealed, nor
newly ufed. It is called pofitively a new way,
. I. Becaufe it comes after another, as the apoflle
teaches us to argue, Heb. viii. 13. In that^ he faith,
A new CQvenanty he hath made the fir (I old. So may
we fay, when Chrift is faid to be a new way, there
hath been then fome way before, that is now made
void, and made void by it, as this was ; there was a
way by the firft covenant, wherein unlefs man mir^ht
have been fayed and happy, this was a way God y\t*
ver intended to bring one man to heaven by, do not
imagine, that God did ever defign that which he ne-
ver affe^led. When the Lord made the liril: covenant
with Adam, he forefaw the event, if I may fo fpeak,
the firft covenant was but a fcaffold reared no a little
while, that the glory of the new might be difplayed ;
the firft covenant was (r.) A covenant W'ithoi>t a medi-
ator, God and man treated im mediately together ; fm-
lefs creatures made in fo great perfedion, as God
made them, were in cafe, if 1 may fo fpeak, of treat-
D d ins
2 5 The Jledfajl Adherence to S e r m . XI V.
ing with God. (2.) This covenant was made upon
conditioD, that is to fay, ilie bieiliDgs of that cove-
nant were fufpended until the duty of that covenant
was fulfilled. (3.) There were peremptory ihreat-
nings that did make all void, whenever it was in-
curred, In the day thou eatejl thereof^ thcu fihilt die.
Sin broke this quite to pieces, this covenant of works,
this covenant without a mediator, this covenant upon
conditions, this coven:int that might be broken by fia
is altogether removed, and no man can ever get good
by it ; the bridge is quite broke down, but fuch is the
folly of this blind world, that multitudes will labour to
buildup this bridge again, whereas the day of our Lord,
ot a (torra will quickly difcover how rotten it is.
2. It is called nev/, becaufe of its great light in
the revelation of it under the gofpel, becaufe it is new-
ly revealed in greater light than it was before. There
is a pregnant place to this purpofe, Heb. ix, 8. The
apoftie is fpeaking upon the fame thing that I am,
The Holy Ghojl this fignify'ing^ that the zvay into the
holiejl of all ivas not yet made nianifcft^ zvbile as the
Jirj} tabernacle was yet /landing. Pray obferve it, it
is a great fcripture, the Holy Ghoit by thefe things
taught the church of the Jcw.>? ; the holieft of all was
a type of heaven, there was an entrance inio this ty-
pical heaven for the High Pried, ia the name of all
Ifrael, the Holy Ghoit fignified to them, that there
was a greater light to come in the way to heaven, but
that the firft tabernacle mull: be removed before that
light come. How much does the apoftle fpeak, 2
Cor. iii. 6. to the end, of the difference betwixc the
Old Teftament and New Teflament difpenfauon, ht
deprefTcs the one, and raifeih and exalreih the other
greatly, both in the power and glory of the one be-
yond the other ; let us now confider this matter a
little mere narrowly, becaufe it is of confiderable ufe
for directing our paih, in order to m.ake us thankful
for the bleiung of our lot in the New Teftarapnt day ;
you heard there was a revelation of Chrifl, and the
way
Serm, XIV. the Profeffton of our Faith, 207
way to heaven, there were promifes, there was wor-
fliip, there was fairh, and there was falvatioa under
the Old Teftament, but how vaflly preferable is oar
ftare beyond theirs ? (i.) As to the do<ftrine of Chrid,
fee how the matter was difcovered to Adam and Eve,
He was to be the feed of the woman, that is all we
£nd they knew, that was to break the head of the
ferpen: ; there was to be 2 child born into the world,
that (hciild defeat ail that the devil had done in de-
flroying mankind in the firft brood. Oar Lord Je-
fus was to Abraham the feed of the woman, in whom
all the nations c^. the earth (hould be bleifed ; to Ja-
cob he was Shiloh, Gen. xlix xo, 11, Binding his
fole into the vine, &c. and in A61s vii. 37. he is a
Prophet raifed up like unto Mofes, as Mofes foretold
in Deut xviii. If we go further, he was to David the
fon of David. If we go on to the Prophets, Ifaiah
fpeaks greatly of him, chap, ix, 6. He was to be a
child given to us, a Son lorn to us, his name was to be
called Wonderful^ &c. chap, liii He was to be a man
afflided of God, he was to beflain, &c. And Mic. v.
2. But thou Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be lit-
tle among the thoufands of Judah^ yet out of thee [hall he
come forth ante riic^ that is to be ruler in Jfrael. Thefe are
feveral of the bnghtell davVaings of the light and the
knowledge of Chriil in the Old Teilament, but pray
what are all thefe to one word that John Baprifl fpeaks.
Behold the Lamb of God ^ which t a kith away theftns of
the worlds John i. 29. And therefore he is greater than
all the Propherp, that i^,- all the Old Tefiament Pro--
phets, untiil the teitimony of the apoftlep, That which
was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we
have feen with our eyes, which we have looked upon,
and our hands have handled of the word of If e, i John
i. I. Thereupon it was that our Lord faid, Bhjjed
are your eyes, for they fee ; and your ears, for they
hear. For verily J fay unto you, that many prophets
and righteous men have de fired to fee thefe things which
ye fee, and have notfeen them ; and to hear thofe things
D d 2 which
2o8 The fledfajl Adherence to Serm. XIV.
which ye hear^ and have not heard them ; Mattb. siii.
16, 17. Certainly there was, if I may fo fpeak, a
greater tempiaiion unto the Old Teftaraent faints,
to defire to fcv- Chrift in the fieih, than there is to
New Teftament faints, to long impatiently for his
Tecond coming. Surely the (Irong faith of Abraham,
that faw Chrifl's day near two thoufsnd years before
he came, had great defu-es to have feen him in per-
fon, and the Lord was pleafed to gratify him in
fome meafure, for even the Son of God in all ap-
pearance; did take on him the form of a man, in
appearance, not really, not the nature of a man,
but the form of a pian, and did converfe with the
propheis otol-d. The happiell man that we find in
the Old Teflament, as to this point, was old Simeon,
He was both an Old Teftament faint and a New, he
had If revealed unto him, that he Ihould not fee
death before he had feen the Lord's Chrid. I only
touch on iht»"« things, to j(hew that the do^lrine of
Chrift is a great deal more clearly revealed to us,
than te them ; therefore the way may be called new.
Next, as to their worihip, they had in the wildernefs
a curions tabernacle, in Canaan, a ilately temple, and
there was a multitude oi glorious ornaments in the
cuifide aiid in the infide, there were courts, there
were wailiings, there was incenfe, there was blood,
fprinkliog with blood; and whatfignified thefe things?
Since "we have got the true tabernacle lubicb the Lord
pitched^ and not man^ Heb. viii. 2. We worihip to-
wards the true tabernacle, that their tabernacle was
but a type of. How weak a type and refsinblance .
was that of a great houfe of ihreefcore cubits long,
twenty cubits broad, and thirty cubits high, i Kings
vi, 2, 6y. what fort of refemblance was this to a man
like to this? But it was fo, and all that they had.
Our Lord is the miniiler of the true tabernacle, which
the Lord pitched, aud not man ; all their wafhings
and facrifjces were but ihadows of that, of which we
have got the fubftance ; thefe were all \hz jhadows of
things
Serm. XIV. the Profejfion of our Faith, 209
things to cojne^ but the body is of Chrijly Col. ii. 17.
So 1 may fay as to their proraiTes ; they had promi-
fes, but there was fomething of a veil even upoa the
promifes of the old teftament ; a great many fpiritual
promifes were veiled under temporal bleffings. The
apoftle faith concerning them, Thefe all died in faith ^
not having received the promifes ^ but having feen them
afar off^ Heb. xi. 13. That is the fecood, the way
is called new, becaufe it is of a new, lightfome, glo-
rious revelation, under the gofpel. The apoftle Paul
faith. Be it known unto you^ men and brethren^ that
through this man is preached unto you the forgivenefs of
fins^ Sec. A61s xiii. 38, 39.
What great difference is there between Paul's
preaching, and the bringing of a beaft upon the al-
tar? and'the fmner laying his hand upon his head,
and the prieft cutting his throat ? What a poor thing
, was this, in regard of the plain gofpel-revelation of
Jefus Chrifl's facrifice P
3. It is faid to be a new way^ becaufe it is newly
and lately made : and the word in the original has
fomething in it, that favoars this fenfe. Some read
it a new /Iain way. It is a way that comes by blood,
that blood is newly (hed ; there is no abatement of
the virtue of Chrift's death, his blood is as warm, cries
as loud this day, as the day it was (lied : yet notwith-
ftanding, it had fomething in it to work upon people
the more readily, becaufe it was newly done at this
if,ime. Now, when we come to a matter of fixteen hun-
dred years, we are apj to think that the virtue is in a
great meafure impaired ; but this is our fm and folly.
4. It is a new way, becaufe it is always new and
never gives place to another. It is never called old,
for that which is old is ready to decay and vanitli a-
way ; it is called new, becaufe there is never to be
another way to heaven. People had need take heed
how they improve this. If we Jin wilfully after that
we have received the knowledge of the truths there re-
maineth no more facrifce for fins ^ HeU x. a6. A fcrip-
'' " ture
2IO The Jledfajl Adherence to Serm, XIV.
tiir^ rh r, by the cunning of. Satan, and by the dark-
Rcfs of the minds of many good people, has raifeJ a
iioxm in many good people's confciences without
ground. The n:e:ining is this, God will never pro-
vide another way to ihe end of the world, but this
one way. *
Lajliyy It is a new way, becanfe it \% well prepar-
ed, as new ways ufe to be. In the order that God
gives about the city of refuge, Deut. xix. 3, 4. Thou
Jhait prepare thee a way, fays the Lord ; thou {halt
niake a new way on purpofe, a way that a man may
eaiily find, a way that may be diftingailhed from all
other ways, that may dire6l itfelf to the paiTenger ;
whenever ^ man fiiould (land in need of the city of
refuge, that he may find the way ready before him.
Chrill as (lain as the nev^ way to heaven, that is, well
prepared, all impediments being removed out of the
way, and all furtherances being in it ; every thing
th?f may hinder is removed, juftice, the law, confci-
fcierce condemning, and fin working ; of all thefe
we fiiid plenty fpoken of in the word of God. The
Lord puts away fin by the facrifice of himfelf, he
fpr'Dkle^ confcieoce, and gives full aiTiirances of faith ;
bu-: fome of thefe I have fpoken to already. Only
now a little of the pofiiive furtherances that are in
this way, or tlie properties of it, as it is a new pre-
pared way.
ly?, Chrift Jefus is a fafc and fare way, fo that a
Iran needs fear nothing, if he be in Chrift : Who
Jhallfeparate us from the luve of Chrlft? fays the apo-
ftle, ilom. viii. 35. I know that they that are in
Chrilt will fear often, but that is their weaknefs. It
is a refiedion on our Lord Jefus, as to this fure way
to heaven, to have trembling travellers w^alking in it;
people (hould walk confidently, the way is fure and
fafe. There are many enemies in it, that is certain ;
but they are not properly in the way, but are in our
way as we travel in it ; (0 that believers cannot walk
quietly to heaven for them, but they walk fafely for
all
Serm. XIV. the Profefion of cur Faiib. 2il
all that. The devil has been biify for above thefe
five thoufand years upon the road to heaven, yei: he
never flew one believer to this day. If a man be in
Chriil, the ark, he is certainly fafe : he may be
frightened, he may be difturbed, he mny apprehend
danger, but he (hall feci none.
2tV/)', This way is a well-provided way. If a maa
have a great way to go, if there be danger of his be-
ing flarved by the way, he is in a poor cafe ; but
there is no danger of being flarved, if we walk in
Chrift. Here, if I may fo fpeak, we may live upon
the way ; here is a cordial to the foul, food lo the
foul. Remember our Lord's body was givea for us,
his blood was fhed for us ; the eating his ileih and
drinking his blood, is food to the traveller in this way.
:^d//)'. It is a very pleafant way. All they that know
it find it to be pleafing both to God, and to his peo-
ple. May we conceive. Sirs, how pleafing it is to the
God and Father of our Lord Jcfus Chrift, to fee mul-
titudes of poor fianers coming home to heaven in the
arms and heart of his own Son ? to fee the fi:rayed
(Iieep come home upon the good Shepherd's ihoul-
ders ? to hear him fay, Behold, Here am I, and the
children thou hafl given me? It is pleafant alfo to all
believers ; there is no believer that ufaally hath great
trouble, but either v/hen his intereft in Chrift is hid^
or when his enjoyment of Chrift is fmall. When we
know we are in him, and when we do feel the blsf-
fednefs of being in him, it is not ordinary aft];6lioti
that will work much upon the foul of a believer.
With what contempt does the apoftie fpeak of all af-
fliclions ? 7 ^now^ fays he, and am perfuaded^ that
they are not able to fe par ate ?ne from the love of God
which is in Chrijl Jefus, He was walking in the way^
and encompaiTed wiui the love of God in Chrift Je-
fus ; therefore he gives a defiance to things prefenr,
and things to conie, as not being able to hinder hiia
from reaching to hii; journey's end.
^thlu
212 The Jledfajl Adherence to Serm. XIV.
4fA/y, Chrift is the way to heaven, and he is pre-
pared as a near way. It is not far betwixt Chrifl: and
heaven ; for as foon as e-ver a believer fets foot in
Chrifl as the way, he is immediately poflelTed of be-
gun eternal life. We are to lay hold of eternal life ;
that eternal life is in his Son, and he that hath the
Son, hath life, faith the apoflle, i John v. ii, 12.
Alas, poor people commonly mifreckon moft wofully,
that we are fo far from heaven as from death and the
grave ; for though heaven's full enjoyment lies be-
yond both, and fuch as be young may poiTibly be a
good many years from heaven ; yet if fo be that you
be truly in Chrift, Chrift is now in heaven, and hea-
ven is in him : we receive eternal life by receiving
him ; we do not receive the full enjoyment of it, but
we receive a right to it, and earneft of it. It is a
near way, for a man may fee heaven when he is in
the way. There is a promife in the prophet Ifaiah
that has its veil on it : Thine eyes Jh all fee the king in
his beauty i and they fh all behold the land that is very
far off^ chap, xxxiii. 17. All that I allude to is, that
as foon as a believer by faith takes up Chrift Jefus as
his Lord and Saviour, immediately he fees the land
that is far off; for there is no man can have a be-
lieving look of Chrift Jefus, but he ifiuft fee hea-
ven and falvation in his face. . We have accefs, fays
the apoftle, by faith into this grace, wherein we fland,
and rejoice in hope of the glory of God^ Rom, v» 2 .
SERMON
Serm. XV, the Profejjton of our Faith. 2 1^
SERMON XV.
Hebrews x. 20.
By a new and living way which he hath confecraied
for tiSy through the veil^ that is to fay ^ his fisjh.
THERE are two things, that if ibey were more
upon our hearts and minds, would make borh
the fpeakiog and hearing of this fobjcft fwf^cc and
favoury. If our hearts were fet on heaven, it would
be delightful to hear of the way to it; and if our
hearts were filled with love to Chrift Jefus, his n^oft
lovely appearing would be very defirable ; and itie
mcft ufeful and fweeteft fight that believers can have
of Jefus Chrift, till they come before his throne, is to
fee him, as by his death and blood making his way
to heaven for them. Chrifl crucified and Chrift glo-
rified is all tnat we are to ftudy ; the one we are to
ftudy as long as we are on earrh, and the other we
(hall be admitted to fludy when we get well to hea-
ven. It is upon this theme 1 have been fpeaking a-
gain a^id again, and, if the Lord wnll, ihail do it yet
farther, That Jefus Chrift as (lain is the way to hea-
ven ; or. That the flefli of the fla'n Son of God is me
veil through which we muft pafs to heaven, 'i his
point 1 have opened in feveral things ; and before I
come to the large application of k that 1 defiga, I
thought fie firft to fpeak of the commendations of t.iis
way, that are in the text, and lali day fpake to the
firft of them. That it is called a new way^ new not
for its being newly contrived, for the contrivance of
this way is as old as eternnv ; it was an eternal pur-
pofe, that God purpofed in himfelf, about brii ging
the ele^ number of Adam's faliea feed 10 glory by
E e his
214 The fledfajl Adherence to Serm. XV,
his Son Chrift Jefus. It is not new in the revelation
of it ; for it was revealed as foon as fin came into the
world, and fin is as old as the world, within a week
or little more. 1 mean fin is as old as any creature is ;
it may be that fin was on the fixth day, or at lead on
the feventh, it was very quickly. As foon as fin came
in, the revelation of this way comes in alfo. It is not
new for the ufe and benefit of it ; it is not this day, nor
yefterday, nor from the death of Chrift, that belie-
vers get entrance to heaven, but from the beginning,.
from Abel the righteous, unto Zcchariah that was
flain betwixt the altar and the temple ; and in all the
old teilament times, the accefs to heaven was the
fame as it is now. Why then is it called a new ivay f
It is neither newly contrived, nor lately revealed, nor
lately felt in the profit of it. It is nezu^ becaufe there
was another before it ; there was a way to heaven
before it ; but never man got to heaven that way
and never man (hall, God never meant that ever man
fliould perfeft obedience unto himfelf by the terms of
the firfl covenant ; though life was promifed by it,
yet the lead difobedience was threatened with death.
It is new, becaufe it is fo clearly and newly revealed
in the gofpel ; therefore the gofpel, in the declara-
tion that we have of it, is called the new tefiament.
It is new, becaufe it was but lately that this way was
actually declared, and made known by the death of
the Son of God. It is new, becaufe it is conftantly
frefl}, and is never to give place to a fuccefifor ; as
long as the world laRs, God will never contrive ano-
ther way to briog men unto eternal life, but this thro'
his Son Ihall remain for ever. If men fin wilfully in
the contempt of this, fays the apofile, there is no-
more facrifice for fin ; God will never provide another
facrifice for them that contemn tbisn It is new, be-
caufe it is well prepared, and made fit with all the
encouragements that may be to the traveller. Of
ihefe things I have fpoken already.
Sekm. XV. the Trofejpon of our Faiths 215
It remains, that 1 fpeak of the fecond property of
this way, it is a living way. Chrifl (lain as the way
to heaven is a living way. Now, this is a more mar-
vellous property than the former. Here is, in the
preceeding verfe, a man whofe blood was (lied and
ail of it, and by blood (hedding he was ilain ; in this
verfe, here is a man whofe life was taken away and
his flefli rent, fo the word implies in the original, his
body and foul were plucked afunder by violence.
That our Lord Jefus as llaiu is the way to heaven,
and a living way, is what we would inc[uire into the
fenfe of, and fee what we are taught thereby.
I. Chrifl as fl>iin is a living way to heaven, becaufe
there was great life in his death, mighty power, migh-
ty effe6fs, it did great things. The apoftle Paul was
a great divine, you know ; O what a bleiTing were
it to the world, if there were but one man in it that
knew Jefus Chrifl but half as well as Paul did ! Now,
what was this great man's fludy all his life, but to
know him ? That 1 may know him^ and the power of
his refurreflicn^y and the fellow/hip of his fuffe rings ^ be-
ing made conforraahle unto his deaths Phillip, iii. 10.
Obferve, every body knew as well as Paul, that Chrifl
had died and was buried, that Chrid had fiifFered and
had rifen again ; but> fays the apoRle, I do not (lady
that, that I know fulUciently ; there is fometbiag elfe
about it, there is power and virtue in that death, and
fuiFeriug, and refarreclion, that every day I am flu-
dying more and more. See now h^w the apoflle does
mofl excelleniiy aud elegantly vary the word. The
general word is, ^That I m:iy know him, that i-^,
Chrifl : the particulirs are various ; that I may know
his refurreBicn^ and the power of it ^ that is one pbrafe ;
that I may know his fifferings in their power ^ is ano-
ther J and the thiid is, That I may know his death in
being confortnable to it. The feilowfliip of his fuffer-
ings, conformity to his death, and the power of his
refurreftion, are but various words expremng the
fame great fruit, that the apoflle aimed at in his know-
E e 2 ledge
2l5 The Sted/aji Adherence to Serm. XV,
ledge of Jefus Chrift. When I am dead to fm as he
wa? ; wheu 1 am like him in fuffering and weanednefs
from cms world; when I know his refurrectiou, in
being raifed up to newnefs of life, as he was raifed
up, by the glory of the Father, to a new refarre6li-
'on. There (vas never a death in this world, that had
life and power in it, but Chrid's ; God be thanked,
death is the way to life, and we pafs through death
into life ; but there is no life in the death of martyrs,
when ilain for Chrift's fake, as Abel the righteous
was ; when they are dead, their blood cries for ven-
gc'^uce j but in the very death of our Lord there
Wc:e great and mighty elfefls, there were great a61s
ot life. \ will name them for our ffudy and ufe in
our fpirituai knowledge, for in this exerdie of our
faitii ihouid be our daily employment.
ly?, There was life in Chriit's death, for by it he
reconciled us to God. There is a great word to this
purpofe ; And having made peace^ fays the apoftle,
through the blood of his crojs^ by him to reconcile all
things unto himfelf^ Col. i. 20. The greateft quarrel
that ever was in the world, or ever will be, is that
betwixt God and fmners, taking up of which is the
greateit difficulty ; the quarrel isjad on God's fide,
for he is offended ; the quarrel is unjuft on man's fide,
for the fault is his; the parties are mightily unequal
matched, the almighty God and a frail worm. But
our Lord by death made up this quarrel, and there
was no way of making it up but only this, Now, we
commoL'y know this, and fay it, that we are recon-
ciled to God by the death of his Son ; but this mat-
ter (hculd be didinflly known, and narrowly thought
upon ; we (hculd have our faith exercifed fo about
it, as that we may be able to improve it a little. I
would therefore fliew you now, how Cbriil, by his
death, reconciled us to God. He did this,
(4.) In that he fatisfied divine judice by his death.
Theie can be no peace .betwi-xt Gpd and men, as long
as God's juftice is dexuanding vengeance j as long as
the
Serm. XV. the Profejfion of our Faith, 217
the juftice of God has any thing to crave, there is
no man can (land before him. Now, there are only
two ways of fatisfying divine juftice, and there will
never be a third. If all the devils in hell or men on
earth (liould ftudy to devife one,, it will be irapoffible
to find it. Divine juftice is either fatisfied by falling
upon the finner himfelf, or the furety for hini : when
juftice falls upon the (inner, and exa£ls payment of
bim, the poor wretch muft be perpetually paying,
becaufe he can never pay to purpofe : a great reafon
why hell's torments are eternal, is, becaufe juftice can
never get enough of them. But the ratisfa<flion that
juftice got of our Lord Jefus, was full raeafure heap-
ed up and running over; he offered himfelf a facri-
fice to God for a fweet fmeliicg favour ; juftice was
pacified and fatisfied, and love got a vent towards
men.
(2.) The law muft be fulfilled before there can be
•any reconciliation with God. The Jaw of God is not
to be fliifted off or put by ; God's holy law is a per-
petual bar in the way of all men to heaven, unlefs
Chrift remove it and take it out of the way. God's
law demands a perft<^ obedience or death. Our Lord
Jefus comes in and gives both, on the behalf of thofe
that he redeemed ; he was made under the law, and
came under the curfe, that we "might receive the blef-
fing, and that the curfe might be diverted from u?.
(3.) Sin muft be taken out of the way. Juftice was
not only to be fatisfied, and the law honourably ful-
filled, but firi muft be taken away, in order to our
falvation and to our reconciliation with God. About
this great work of our Lord, and that he did it by
his death, the word fpeaks great things : But now
once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put
away fin by the facrifce of himfelf Hebrews is. 26.
He hath done it for ever ; fm is fufficiently put away.
But how is fm put away ? Sin by Chrift's death is
not put out. of the world, but remains ftill in the
W01I4
3i8 The fledfafl Adherence to Serm. XV.
worlsi, and is greatly aggravated by Chrifl's death,
Jf 1 had not come and done among ft them the works that
never man dtd, they had not had fin. Small fin gets
^reat advantage this way, upon gofpel defpifers ;
Chrid did not come then to put Hn our of the world,
iicitb<!r did his death put fin altogether out of his peo-
ple ; where his death and the virtue of it is applied, fia
is fubdued, but is not expelled. The Cauaanites were
worded, but were not quite put out of their coafts.
Much lefs is fm by Chrifl's death put away as to its
vile nature, but remains ftill where-ever it is, a vile
loathfome thing to God ; neither did Chrift put a-
way the defervings of fin. What then did he? Chrift
put away tie condemning power of (in, that it (hall no
m re be an impediment to the peace and reconcilia-
tion of believers, therefore fays the apoftle. There is
therefore now no condemnation to them^ which are in
Cbrijl JtfvLS^ .Rom. viii. i. The fecond word of
Chrift's d;:aih about fm is, that Re condemned fin ^ he
condemned fin in hts flefh ; fm is a word that is too
well underltood even by thofe that are unacquainted
with both the Hebrew and Greek, all fm requires a
facrifice for its expiation. He condemned fin in theflefb;
there is nothing niore reafonable in all the world, rh-m
for a poor creature to fear that fm (hould condemn
him, thai he ihould be ccndemned for fm, there is
Dothiog more known in the fcriptures than that Chrift
died for our fms, then it would feem that fm condem-
ued Chrift, how then did he condemn it P Let us con-
iider now for this where the ftrengih of fm lies. The
apoftle tells us. The ftrengih cf fin is the law^ i Cor.
XV. 56. That which makes fm able to bind a man 0-
ver to eternal vengeance, is the ftrength and power
of God's law, and God's law is as ftrong as God him-
felf, for almighty power is engaged to fee the law
fuifilled. Now when Chrift engages with fm's ftrength,
and hath overcome that, may it not well be under-
flood, that he did condemn fm ? All fm's power to
condemn, is from the law, our Lord hath taken that
on:
Serm. XV* the Profejfiofi of our Faiths 21^
out of the way, he hath fawsfied it fully. The law de-
mands blood for tranfgreirioD, it is granted, it is given,
and blood of a high fort, even the blood of the Son
of God ; fo much for this firft i,hing, Chri/} as jlrJn is
a living way^ for there was life in his deaths as ap-
pears in his reconciliDg us to God by his death. But
never (hall a man, to the end of the world, if it ibouid
laft as long as it hath already (and blefled be God, it
ihall never laft long) get God's peace and favour, but
that man whofe peace with God was bought by this
blood.
2. There was great power and life in Chrift's
death, in his oveicoming the power of hell, he did
it by his death. A great many words there are ia the
fjcripture about this, hell never did a^: more like hell,
than in flaying the Son of God, hell was never fo
rampant as it was at that time, Luke xxii. 555. fays.
our Lord, This is your hour^ and the power of dark-
nefs^ your fad hour of temptation, the deviPs great
power is exercifed now, Chrift is taken, and ro be
condemned ; it is ftrange, if the devil Were ignorant
of the confequeqces of this thing, he that entered in-
to Peter, and got hold of his toDgue to perinade
Chrift not to go to Jerufalem, where he was to die*
Our Lord perceives the devil's hand in it, and calls
Peter 6atan for his pains ; is it not marvellous now,
that this wicked one (hould have entered into the
heart of Judas to betray him, and (hould have ftirred
up the chief priefts and people to cry, Crucify him?
Like enough the devil thought he had done a great-
er exploit than in throwing down the iirll: Adara,
and what fays our Lord concerning ir ? Now is the
judgment of this world: Now f hall the frincs of this
W9rld be caflout^ John xii. 31, Our Lord propbeC-
ed of his own death in thcfe words, Ap.d /, if I be
lifted up from the earthy will draw all men unt-o me,
John xii. 32. And in another place he tells us, The
prince of this world is judged, John xvi. 11. This
Kow we would confider, what way this power of our
Lord's
220 The ftedfajl Adherence to Serm/XIII.
Lord's death appeared in the conquering of Satan,
and in order to this, we would Ihew where Satan's
armour lies, if I may allude to that word, for that
word is fpoken of the fame wicked perfon, the devil,
Luke xi. 22. When a Jlronger than he Jh all come upon
him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his ar-
mour wherein he tnijled, and divtdeth his f foils. Pray
what is the devil's armour think you ? Where lies
his ftrength P His flrengch lies in fin, which is his-
feed and oiF-fpring ; his ffrength lies in the law, where-'
of he is the hangman and executioner ; his ftrength^
lies in the juftice of God, wherein fometimes he is
the inftrument, therefore becaufe of this, the apof-
tle fays expreily, Heb. ii. 4. that our Lord took part*
of flefh and blood, that through death he might de»
jlroy him that hath the power of deaths that is the de-
vil. How came the devil to have the power of death P
According to his interelt in fin, according to his in-
lereft in the executing of God's vengeance, he has the
power of death, but our Lord through death over-
came him. Col. ii. 15. And having fpoiled principal
lities and powers, he made a fheiv of them openly, tri-
umphing over them in it. Though death and hell u-
nited their powers againft him, he proved too (trong
for them, and by dying overcame them. Hereby
alfo he rent the vail betwixt Jew and Gentile, and
becaufe the Spirit of God does exprefly and particu-
larly mention it, therefore we may ; it was a greater
matter at firft than now, through time, it is with
Chriftians ; we do not fufficiently ponder this great
bleffing : For he is our peace, who hath made both one^
and hath broken down the middle wall of partition be-
tween us : Having abolifhed in his flcfJ) the enmity, e-
ven the law of commandment contained in ordinances,
for to make in himfeif, of twain, one new man, fo mak^
ing peace. And that he might reconcile both unto God
in one body by the crofs, having flain the enmity there-
by^ Eph. ii. 14, 15, 16. When Chrifl: died, the vail
of
Serm. XV. the Frofeffton of our Faith » ill
of the temple was rent from top to bottom, Matih-
xxvii. 51. Here now our Lord Jefus hi^ fieQi, was
the vail that we miift go to heaven by ; \vhf.n Chrill
the true vail was rent and died, immediately the ly-
pical vail was rent alfo, as if God had faid, Now let
all men know, upon the death of my Son, that all
the partitions betwixt Jew and Gentile are removed,
but this was a great myftery for a good while in the
church, and Paul reckons upon his knowhtdge in this
myftery of Chrift, Eph. iii. ^, 5, Whereby when ye
read ye may under ft and my knowledge in the myftery of
Chrifty which in other ages was not made known unto
the fons of men ^ as it is now revealed unto his r.oly a-
po files and prophets^ by the Spirit ; that the Gentiles
Jhould be fellow- heirs ^ and of the fame body ^ and par-
takers of his promife in Chrijl by the gofpel. So much
for the firft thing, Chrift as llain, is called a liviug
way, for there were great works of life even in bis
death.
2. He is the living way, becaufe all the life of rcaa
is lodged in him, whatfoever excent life is drawn to,
^vhatever fenfe we put upon this word life, as to all
bleffifigs for this and the other world, they are all
contained together in Chrift Jefus, fo contained ia
him as to be found np where elfe, he is that living
bread that came down from heaven^ that gave his flejh
for the life of the worlds John vi. 51. The brazen
ferpent was a type of this, as the life of the flung
Ifraelites flood in that ordinarxe of God, fo the life
of poor finners ftands in this grand ordinance of God,
his llain fon. The fir Jl man Adam^ fays .the apoftle,
was made a living foul^ the lafl Adam was made a
quickningfpirity i Cor. xv. 45. Surely all the natu-
ral life, that is in the world, of fenfe, and reafon,
and underdanding is derived from the firft Adam, be
bath made of one blood all nations upon the face of
the earth ; Adam appears to have been a very fruit-
ful root, the world now for almoll fix thoufand years,
has been filled with his ofi*-fpring, for of two there
F f fprang
22 2 The fledfajl Adherent o to SeRm. XV.
Iprung si! mankiud that are upon the face of the earth ;
but, there is no quicknioghere, for all this. The fecond
Adam, fays the apod'e, was a quickning fpirit to
this mighty oiT-fpring of the firft Adam.
3. Chrift is a living \7ay, becaufe all that are in
him, as foon -^s they are in him, live ; that is one of
the meanings of this word, there is no dead man can
be in this way. Do not alk the queflion for it is a ve-
ry idle one, Whether is a man quickened before he
is in Chriil, or whether he is in Chrill before he is
quickned ? Neither the one or other, but both toge-
ther, his life comes by being in Chilli, how can men
conceive of quickning now I Quickning is a work of
God; can it be faid, that he quickens before we have
life, or that we have Hfe before he quickens? We
can eafily perceive, that we ad life by his quickning,
but the Lord quickens not a moment before we are a-
livLe ; how did the Lord raife Lazarus ? There went
life giving power along with the word, by which life
was received, and the voice was heard, as our Lord
calls it ; the dead /hall hear the Son of Gcd^ and Rve^
they mud live before they hear, for hearing is Rn
2cl of life, and they receive life by the powerful word
of Chrid.
4. He is a living way, becaufe he lives for ever to
be the way; there is conrinual virtue in Chrift's
death, which perpetually iilhes forth, in order to the
falvation of all his people; you would think it (Irsnge,
if one would alk, What is heaven P What is eternal
life ? Why it is Jefus Chrii*^, that is eternal life, it
• is one of Chriil^s names. And we kmWy that the Son
of God is comcy and halh given u^ an und erf landings
that ive raay know him that is true ; and we are in
/jim, that is true, even in his Son Jefus Chrift, ^his
is the tnie God, and eternal life ; 1 John v. 20. This
way lives for ever, to prefer ve a^l his people, he
\\\t% for ever to -make inter cejfion for theniy Heb. vii. 25.
Nay, if 1 may fo fpeak,- even in heaven, this way is
not forgotten, 1 mean in the fongs of the glorified,
the
Serm. XV. the Profejfion of our Faith, 223
the fong of the Lamb is perpetual. They fang the
foQg of Mofes and of the Lamb, what is in ike foDg
of the Lamb think, ye ? Worthy is the Lamb that was
Jlalriy to receive power ^ and riches^ and w'tfdom^ and
ftrength^ and honour ^ and glory y and hlejfing^ Rev. v,
12. Cbrift's blood in heaven, in the virtue and life
of it, raifes the notes of perpetual praifes raofl: high-
ly. 1 know the book of the Revelation is a myfteri-
ous one, and every word of it is to be narrowly can-
vailed, And in the midjt of the elders^ ftood a Lamb
as it had beenjlain^ {o that though there be no ap-
pearance, nor will be, of any infirmity that attend-
ed the low ellate of the Son of God, when he dwelt
in mortal ileih, yet there will be a perpetual remem-
brance of the deareil afts of his love, and richeil afls
of his grace towards us, ia loving us, and giving hini-
felf for us.
5. It is a living way, for no man can die in this
way; that way may be called a living v/ay indeed, if
there were fuch a one that led to a good place that
no traveller in it could die, and would be a great
temptation for people to undertake It There are fome
places in the world where riches and honours are, that
people run towards, and run through a great many
dangers for ; but they may die in that way, but ne-
ver a man dies in this way, they ilcep in Jefus, but
die not. I a?n the refitrre^tiGn and the life ^ fays he,
he that believe th in me^ though he were dead^ yet (1) all he
iive^ And whofoever liveth and believeth in me^ /hall never
die : Believcft thou this f John xi, 25, 26. O how fweec
a queftion is that P Believeft thou this, that a believer in
Chrift can never die r* Wherefore now fince our Lord
died, death hath got a more fweet name, it is called
fleeping, and fleeping in the Lord, thus it is faid of
Stephen, that he was (loned, calling upon God, and
faying, Lord Jefus receive my fpiritr—And when he
had faid this, he fell aflcep. Ads vii. It is called /i'^/?-
ing in Jefus, i ThelL iv. 14, 15. Do not you fee,
fay you, that believers die like other men ^. Yes, but
F f 2 thea
2 24 ^he fledfafl Adherence to Serm. XV.
then they die in Chrift Jefus, they only fall afleep in
the way, aiivl rhe Lord, the way, will awake in a lit-
tle while, and raife them up again, and bring them
their new apparel, their houfe from heaven, 2 Cor.
V. I, 2, 3.
Laftlyy It is a living way, becatife the traveller
mull live upon this way ; here is a marvellous living
way, the traveller muit live upon this way, he lives
as foon as he is in it, and he lives as long as he is in
it, for he cannot die in ir, and he lives upon it, while
he is in ir ; my meaning is, that all the fare that be-
lievers muft cheriiii their new life with, is Chrift him-
felf y therefore our Lord fpeaks of it fo frequently.
Verily, verily^ ^ fay ^^^^^ J^^^j except ye eat the flejh of
the Son of mcin.^ and drink his hlcod^ ye have no life in
you. For myflefb is meat indeed^ and my blood is drink
indeed^ John vi. 53, 54, 55. BlefTed are they that
can eat and drink plentifully of ir, when the faint and
weary .traveller walks in Chrid as the way to heaven,
snd has uny thing that overtakes him, any faintnefs,
any diilemper that feizes upon him, nothing is he to
do, but only to fall upon Chrid by faith, and to live
upon him, and to eat and drink this bleifed way. This
was Paul's life, "The life which I ?20w live in the flefh^
I live by the faith of the Son of God ^ who loved me^ and
gave himf elf for nie^ Gal. ii. 24, as if the apoftle had faid.
The ftay of mj life, the comfort of my life, the fecurity
and coDtinuacce of my life depends upon this, when-
ever 1 can get but a look, whenever lean gti but hold
of this love of Chrifr, that loved me^ and gave himfelf
for me^ life, and ftrengtb, and vigour return upon
me : 80 much for this fecond property of the way,
that it is a living way ; there was life in his death ; all
our life is lodged in ir, alToon as we are in him, we live.
Whenever a poor fiuner is drawn to Chrift as the way
to heaven, he comes and lives, and lives and comes,
and comes by life, and lives by coming. Turn it
which way you will, the truth lies equally fure on all
hands. This way is living, becaufe Chrift as the way
lives
Serm. XV. the Frofejjion of cur Faith. 225'
lives for ever ; becaufe no man that walks in ir, can
die ; and becaufe a believer can live upon this way,
as long as he is in this world. Never bid better fare
to a child of God, than more of Chrift, more of the
fap and vn"tue of a crucified Saviour, If there were
more of thit among us, our fouls would be more fac
and flourifhing.
A word or two only, at this time of application,
before I proceed to the third property.
1. Is Chriil: a living way to heaven? Is a flam
Chrifl: for us, the living way in which we muft walk
to heaven ? Then furely it fliould be very pleafant to
the people of God to go to heaven. What is there
to make it irkfome to a believer ? What is going to
heaven ? It is nothing but walking in Chrift towards
Chrift, to be ever with Chrifl ; that is going to hea-
ven ; our way is walking in him, our way is walking
towards him, our hope is to be ever with him. I knov/
that there are a great many impediments and hinder-
ances in the way, and yet thefe Chrifl has difarmed
and removed by his death ; they may make an ap-
pearance that may be frightful to fuch weak people as
we be ; weak believers take the fhadow for an arra^
ed m.an, and are afraid many times unreafonably ;
but how pleafant will it be, I fay, for a believer to
find himfelf guarded from all attempts againft him in
his way to heaven? As ye have received Chrifl Jefus
the Lord^ fo walk ye in him ; rooted and built up in
hifUy Col. ii. 6, 7. Fix your root in him, and draw
ybur fruit from him,
2. Is Chrifl a living way to heaven ^ Then what a
forry pitiful cafe are they in, that walk in the ways
of death, that defpife this way of life ? It is very
common, and it does not ceafe to be the more fad,
becaufe it is common, but is fo much the more grie^
vous, that perfons love death rather than life. I'he
matter now is balanced thus : every finner is by na-
ture dead in fin j if he continues in that flate, he dies
in
226 The fledfafl Adherence to Serm. XV,
10 hi> fin, and crying in his fia, he dies for ever, for
his iio : this nvJtrable cafe now is to be balanced
with what our Lord proffers, that he will give the
light of life, that he offers to lead men to heaven j
that if they will but fet foot in him, fet their hearts
OQ hioi, lodge their faith on him^ and put all their
trufc in him, he will guide them fafe thither. You
ihould reckon it a mercy, that you have finners to
preach to you ;. if it were not, that we have the ex-
perieoce of that rebellion of the natural heart in our-
felves, minifters would be mighty impatient in deal-
ing with ungodly perfons. What ails men, that ihey
refufe Cbrift Jefus I What maduefs poileffes the hearts
of mcD, that they will rather go to hell, with the de-
vil, than to heaven with Chrifl jefus P Do not they
well defer ve to be in heli for ever, that make fuch
an abaminable choice ? Yet every natural man does
io, every natural man prefers the way of death to
the way of life, and prefers Satan's driving to hell,
unto Chrifl*s gracious and bleffed leading to heaven.
SERMON
Serm. XVI, Lbe TrofeJJlon of our FaHk «2f"
SERMON XVI
Hebrews x. 20.
By a new and Ihmg way which be hath conftcraUd
for uSf through the veil^ that is to fay y bis ficjh,
I HAVE fpoke, upon the 20th verfe, of the way
that is made to heaven, as the apoftle doesdeljghi-
fully and wifely by the Spirit of God teach k ; the
various afpec^i as k were that Chrift hath on oar fal-
vation, which v/e miift have in our faith on hiin fop
falvaiion, I told you from th^is verfe, that f he way ity
heaven lies through the veil of the flelh oF a iSain Sa-
viour, and this is the oniy way. 1 propofed tij? han^
die the properties of this way, before 1 canie to the
large application that fo great a thep.ie calls for* I
have fpoke of -the firft of them, Thit it is a new way, "
a new ilain way. Lafl: day I fpake of this property
of the way, That it is a living way. Jefus Cbrift as^.
the way to heaven is a very great myrtery ; take but
the words now as they are in our text. This fe.DfeoF
them is infeparabl'e from them ; and can there be any
thing more myfterious than they dO' exprefby that a-
flain Chrift is a living way for dead finners to walk m
unto eternal life ? Who undcrilands this ? who be-
lieves this? I fpake of the fignification of this pro-
perty at fome length lad day, how that Chrid asiiiirts^
is a living way ro heaven, i. In that there was life
in his death. He wascruciiied through weakoef^, as
to outward appearance of his low (late ; yet the great
things that were done by that powerful death, are un»
fpeakably mighty and many. He bath reconciled u«
to God, he overcame Satan, he overcame death la
dying ; death was Kcver conquered uniil it got one"
22 8 The Jledfajl Adherence td Serm. XVI,
man in its hands, that was our Lord Jefus ; and from
that day to this, it is able to mafter none that believes
on him, but muft make an entrance for them to the
heavenly kingdom. Death cannot (top a believer in
Chrift from going on to heaven, but rather it is 'made
now one of the laft dark gates that we muft pafs
through. 2. He is a living way, in that all the life
of poor man, all faving fpiritual and eternal life, is
lodged in the Son of God : This is the record that
God hath given of his Son^ that he hath given us eter-
nal life^ and this life is in his Son^ i John v. 1 1.
There is nobody makes a queftion of that, that calls
themfelves by that common name of Chriftians, that
all life is from Chrift ; and there are but fev;, but
know that all life is in him, and that men get life by
being in him ; that they have it when they have him. •
3. He is a living way, in that, as foon as a man is in
Chrifl, he is made alive. When that power of divine
grace draws a poor wandering fmner, and puts him
in the way of Chrift, he is made alive immediately to
God. 4. He is a living way, becaufe he lives for e-
ver. The virtue and favour of his facrifice is as frefli
in heaven, as in the day wherein it v/as offered. 5.
He is a living way, becaufe all that are in him fli^ll
live for ever; never can a man die in Chrift. 1 know
that we fomeiiraes ufe the word dying fo frequently
that this phrafe is common amongft Chriftians, living
in the Lord^ and dying in the Lord ; but the new tef-
tament phrafe is fitter ; believers in Chrift only /leef)
in the Lord : They that fteep in Jefus ^ will God bring
ivith him. Laflly^ He is a living way, becaufe the
Walker in Chrift lives upon the way, the way is food
to him. The fame facrifice of atonement before God
is made a feaft for the believer. As under the law
and before the law, in peace-offerings, by which co-
venants of peace were confirmed, there was fome
part thereof that was to be made a feaft of ; fo this
flefta and blood of our Lord that is rent for us for a
propitiation, is made a feaft unto faith : Except ye eat
ths
Serm. XVI. the ProfeJJion of our Faith. 229
the fiejh of the Son of man, and drink his hlocdy ye have
no life in you ^ Joha. vi. 53.
The third property oF this way remains now to b^
fpoke to ; that ir is 2 confecrared way : By a nevj
and living ivay which he hath coufecrated for uf, I he
words as they run. in the original have confecrated be-
fore the other two propcrtie?, and ir^ay be equally
fairly rendered, which he hath conf crated for us^ to
be a new and living way ,• and that confecrating re-
lates i3or only to the fubilance of Chrlfi's being the
way, bin 10 his being a new and a living way.
There are three things that I would difcourfe o
you from thefe words.
1. Of Chrifi^s confecration.
2. His own intereft in it, his hand in it ; fo it \i
told us in the text, By a new and living way which
he hath confecrated for us,
3. For whom it is that this Way, this confecrated
way is; it is confecrated for fome body; it is confe-
crated for us, for cur fakes, for our benefit, for our
advantage.
fir/If Of Chrifl's confecration. This word confe^
crate as it is in the Englilh, is not in all the new tef-
tament, that 1 know of, but in this epiftle ; and it
is twice in this epitile, though not the fame Greek
word in both places. See Heb. vii. 28. Confecrate
in the old teflament is very frequent ; and you know
that the apoflle, as hath been frequently obferved to
you, in this epiftle, and parilculiirly in that part of
the epidle, has wifely accommodated himfclf to thofe
he wrote to, who undcrflood thefe words a great
deal better than we do, for they knew well whence
they were borrowed: they were borrowed from the
temple, and tabernacle, and old teftamcnt worililp,
where confecrating was ufed about every thing. Con-
fecrating is dedicaiing and devoting a perfan or thing
to a fpecial or holy fervice ; fo we find confecra.in 5
or dedicating of things and places. There was the book
of the ro'.enant, and there was the tabernacle, £n 1
G f^ all
ijo The Jledfafi Adherence to Serm. XVI.
all the utenfils thereof, all of them dedicated with
blood ; and this ceremony in their confecration was
ufed, that, by being fprinkled with blood, they were
dedicated to the holy ufe and fervice God appomted
them for. So was it alfo as to perfons : we find it
efpecially concerning Aaron, the high pried, who
was the fifft type, and concerning his fons that were
under him ; they were feparated and fet apart by
divine appointment for a fpecial ufe, none eife were
appointed for it ; the fenfe then of this word is. That
Chrift's confecration is that, that he is devoted and
appointed and dedicated to, for a fpecial ufe, and
that is, to be the way to heaven, that by him men
may come to God ; John Baptift underftood this when
he preached Chrift, Behold the Lamb of God ^ fays he,
which iaketh away the fin of the worlds John i. 29,
Here comes the true facrifice, who bears the iniquity
of his people. The apofile in Heb. ix. 22. makes a
deep and excellent ufe of this confecration : Almojl
all things are by the law 'purged with blood ; purging
there is partly in the fame fenfe with our confecraiing.
It was therefore necejfary that the patterns of things in
the heavens fhould be purified with thefe ; but the hea-
venly things themfelves with better facrifice s than thefe.
What were the patterns of the things in the heavens I
The holieft of all was the grand one ; the high pried
was a pattern of our Lord Jefus Chrift; the temple
was a pattern of the heavenly things ; yet thefe were
bat fliadows of them ; the things themfelves mull: be
purified with better facrifices than thefe, even with
the blood of the Son of God. AVe find therefore the
truth of confecrating, and devoting, and dedicating
our Lord Jefus to be the way to heaven ; it is fre-
quently in the word, and ufed upon many accounts.
We will therefore take notice, that it is the Father
hath dedicated him to be the way ; for this is of great
ufe in the exercife of our faith, to know our Lord
Jefus under this name, That he is the confecrated
way to heaven. ^
I. He
Serm. XVI. the ProfeJJion of our Faith. 231
f. He is confecrated by the oath oF God ; as in
Pfal. ex. 4. The Lord hath /worn y and will not repent ^
Thou art a priejl for ever after the order of Melchifedec,
And this the apoflle difcourfes of at great length in
chap. vii. of this epiftle, and noakes one of the grand
differences betwixt his priefthood, and all that wen:
before, to confilt in this. That they were made with-
out an oath ; hinting there was a time when they
fhould ceafe : but when he made our Lord Jefus a
Prieft, it was by an oath ; which was a demonllra-
tion, that he was to continue for ever in that employ-
ment. Therefore in the conclufion of that chapter,
he fays, For the law maketh men high priefisy which
have infirmity ; hut the word of the oathy which was
fince the lawy maketh the Son who is confecrated for
evermore. Take in this matter now by a true faith,
and it may be that fome time or other you will find
food for your faith from it. That by the oath and ap-
pointment of Jehovah, the God and Father of our
Lord Jefus Chrifl, Chrift the Son is fworn and ap-
pointed to be the only way to bring finners to glory.
2. Our Lord Jefus is dedicated and cotifecrated to
be the way to heaven, by preparing him a body to
fuffer in. The covenant betwixt the Father and Son
had all the bleffings therein fecured, by the mutual
faithfulnefs betwixt Father and Son ; but the way by
which thefe were to be brought about, was the facri-
fice of the Son in man's nature ; therefore his confe-
cration is carried on by his getting a human body :
verfe 5. of this chapter, Sacrifice and offering thou
wouldj} noty but a body thou hafl prepared for me. Did
not God will and command facrifices ? Yes, but never
out of his Son Chrift Jefus ; thefe were all but Iha-
dows and types of the great one, and there was no
fuch thing required of our Lord Jefus, neither did he
offer any fuch thing ; but, A body^ fays he, hafl thou
prepared me,
3. By the commiffion and charge that our Lord
had for the ffliing about this great work of redemp-
G g 2 tion.
232 The Jlcdfafl Adherence to Serm.- XVI
tion. He not only had a body to fafrer in, but was
commanded by ihe Father to lay down his life for his
people. 1 his our Lord freqnently takes notice of :
This commandment have I recehed of my Father^ John
X. I 7, I 3.
4, He is dedicated by the holy anointing. One of
the grand ceremonies of coufecrating a perfon under
the old teftamentj was by anointing. Aaron was to
be anointed, and his fons ; when they came in to
be prieils of God appointment, they were God's a-
LointeJ,. And all this is typical oF the true anointing
of cur Lord Jefus, The anointing of Chriil is the
tulnefs of the Holy GhcH, and hi"; pouring upon him :
Iherefore God. thy God hath anointed thee with ths
oil of gladnefs ah we thy fellcws^ Pfal. xlv. 7.
Lajlly^ ]iY giving him ail power over all perfon3
and things, in order to the accompliiliment of his
Work. All judgment is comrnirted to him: As thou
ha fl given him power over all fie fl?^ that he pould give
eternal life to as many ai then haft given him^ Joha
V. 21. Matth. xxviii. 18. John xvii. 2.
^ccondly^ How is it that Chrift hath a hand in his
own confecranon } The word is, He hath confecrated
hi mf elf to he the nezv and living vjay,
1. Chrifi devotes and coniecrates himfi^lf to be the
way to heaven, in a cheerful and willing compliance
with all the will of his-Father about him. In order
to his beirg the way, the Lord God his Father open-
ed his ears, and he was not rebellious ; it was his de^
light to do his will; and in compliance with the di-
vine will a great matter of his confecration ilood ; by
the which will we are fan^tiiied ; the Father's will
willing him to con^.e, the Son's will willing him to come
willin^^iy.
2. By his dying. Our Lord Jefus died willingly
in another manner than any of us either can or fliould.
He laid down that life that he could keep, if he would ;
he laid it down as an a(St of great obedience unto the
will
Serm. XVI. the Profefion of our Faith. 2jj
will of his Father ; he died cheerfully, and died wil-
lingly. See what he fays of it before-hand ; And
for their fakes 1 fanBify myfef^ that they alfo might be
'fanfiified through the truths John xvii. 19. What is
that fan«ftifying of himfelf ? A facrificing of himfclf,
devoting of himfelf to be a facrifice for the faving of
his flieep. They could never come to that fan<f^ifica-
tion, by gofpel-devotednefs to God, unlefs our Lord
Jefus had devoted himfelf to deaih.
Laftiy^ He confecrates and devotes himfelf by the
confequent practice and exercife of his office. Every
poor finner upon whom our Lord Jefus puts forth his
ikili in faving him, is a difplay of his authority to fave,
is a further declaration of the power and might that
he was clothed with in bringing men to glory. There-
fore, fays the apoftle, it became him^ for whom are
all things^ and by whom are all things^ in bringing
many fons unto glory ^ to make^the captain of their fal-
vaticn perfed through fufferingSy Hebrews ii. To. He
was made perfe^l through fufFerings to the end that
he might bring many fons to glory ; and the more
he brings, this perfetflion is the more evident ia
him.
The third thing in the words to be explained is.
For whom is this confecrating of Chiifl P The apo-
ftle fays, he has confecrated this way for Mi, for a
particular fort of people, for feme of the childrea
of men. Chrift did not confecrate and make himfelf
a way to heaven, and fend the gofpel into the worlds,
that men according as they incline, and according to
the direction of their free-wiii might come in and get
life and falvation by him. Our Lord Jefus went a-
bout his woik more knowingly, more fixedly ihaa
that ; he knew what would come of it. It is doncj
I fay, for particular per-fons. Confider, with refped
to this,
I. That all the f?rings of falvation are towards
particular perfons,
s. That
234 "^^^ Stedfajl Adherence to Serm. XVI.
2. That the covenant, the charter of falvation is
with, and for, and to particular perfons.
5. The polTeffion of it, is by, and for particular
perfons.
1. The great fprings of falvation are all for parti-
cular perfons ; the three grand fprings of falvation,
are the election of the Father, the redemption of the
Son, and the fani^ification of the Holy Ghoft ; now
all thefe are determined towards diftin6l and particu-
lar perfons. ly?. The ele^ion of grace isfupon perfons,
there is no election of qualifications, the eleflion is of
perfons ; where-ever it is fpoken in the word, it is
fpoken of perfons. He has chofen us in him before the
foundation of the world. Give diligence to make your
calling and ele6lionfure, God hath not appointed us to
wraths but to obtain falvation by our Lord Jefus Chrifl^
The eleflion is all of^perfons.
2^/y, The grace of redemption by our Lord, with
his redeeming love, is of perfbns. Re laid down his life
for his fheep^ and, / know you are none of my fheep,
fays our Lord. That was a not Chrift could fpealc, but
none of his fervants muft ever offer to fpeak after him,
never was there an apoftle could fay fo in an affem-
bly of people concerning one particular perfon, I know
they are none of ChrifV s fheep^ that is only for the great
fiiepherd to fay. The chief fhepherd can only tell his
deep exadlly.
3^/y, The fan(flification of the fpirit, which is the
great fpring of falvation, as it is begun in us, is of
perfons; there is a devoiingof the whole church, the
body of Chrift. But as it is a work on particular per-
fons, this work muft pafs upon parncular men, the
fprings muft work in every man that is called to this
faivation. For we ourfelves were fometimes foolifh^ dif'
ohedienty deceived^ ferving divers lufls and pleafures,
living in malice and envy^ hateful and hating one anO'
ther. So that we find, I fay, that the fprings of fal-
^vation are all about particular perfons, the fprings run
in one ^iftindl: channel towards particular perfons,
and
Serm. XVI. the Profeffton of our Faith. 235
and always anfwer the fame ; every one that is elec-
ted by the grace of the Father, is redeemed by the
blood of his Son ; every one that is ele<n:ed and re-
deemed, is fan£lified by the inhabitation of the Holy
Ghoft. They are not equally vifible, but equally cer-
tain.
2. The charter of falvation is to particular perfoai.
Every one muft have God's covenant made with hira-
felf; none are faved by'a general covenant 01 God
with a people ; a church covenant under the gofpel
fignifies nothing at all, in matters of falvation. It may
be of good ufe in church order. Every one in parti-
cular mud have falvation come to him, through the
channel of a particular covenant, betwixt God and
himo: He has made with vie^ fays David, an ever la fl-
ing covenant. If it had been only with Ifrael in gener-
al, it had been a cold bufinefs for a dying man's. com-
fort, but he has made with me^ as particularly with
me, as if there were not another man in all the world,
that God covenanted with,
3. The poffeffion of falvation is by particular per-
fons ; people are not faved in crouds and corporati-
ons. There are bodies of Chriftian churches, as they
are called, that are to attend to the means of grace
and mutual edification, according to the Lord's ap-
pointment ; but when we come to partake of begun,
or of compleat falvation, every one mufl have it for
himfelf, no other body's falvation can ferve him. This
is the fubftance of the meaning of this word, that or.r
Lord as flain is confecrated, and hath confecrared
himfeif to be the way to heaven for his people.
1 would make fome little ufe of this at this time,
and referve the more general application of this flain
Chrift, as the way to heaven, unto another opportu-
nity. Two things I (hall infer from hence, and fpeak
to at this time.
I. Is Chrift a confecrated way to heaven, and hath
he confecrated himfelf for his people ? Then behold
how he loved them. If the Jews faid fo of Chrift' s
weeping
2j(5 The JJedfaJl Adherence to Serm. XVL
weeping at Lazarus's grave, what muft we fay of
Chrift's confecrating hirafelf to the death for us, that
he might make a way to heaven for us ? Jefus wept^
John xi. 35. The Jews faid. Behold how he loved
him. We find moll frequently in the word, when either
this great devoting of Chrift to death is fpoken of in
general as to churches ; or applied in particular to
particular perfons, it is flill afcribed to iove as its
fpring. Husbands^ fays the apoflle, love your ivives,
as Chrijl has alfo loved the churchy and gave h'imfeif for
it^ Eph. V. 25. He loved me^ and gave hirafelf for me^
fays the apoflle, Gal. ii. 20. Great mud that love
be, when the love gift is fo great. It mud be a (irorg
love that gave fo great a gift. Who loved us, and
ivaflKd us from our fins in his own bloody Rev. i. 5, 6.
The love of Chrift conjtraineth us^ becaufe we thus
judge ^ that if one died for ally then were all dead ^ &:c.
2 Cor. v. 14. This 1 would fpeak a little to in a few
particulars, this confecrating himfelf to be anew and
living way to heaven.
i/?. Our Lord Jefus did confult the oecefTity
of his people out of meer pure love. He was u-
pon the Father's counfel from eternity about the
way of faving man ; he has the wifdom of God, and
liath an intered in the contriving of it ; the eternal
purpofe was purpofed in Chriil Jefus t)ur Lord. The
contrivance was, What way may poor fallen fiuners
be brought well and fafe to glory ? They are fallen
by fin, conquered by Satan, proclaimed rebels by
God, tainted and condemned by God's holy law, are
beggered and impoveriflied, and cannot pay a far*
thing to divine juftice : The law mud not ji)e broken. ^
judice muft not be affronted, God's power cannot be
refided. How then can man be faved .'' Ic is impodible
but only this way. Here is the mydery of our Chridi-
anity, it is impodible that a man can be brought up to
God, until God come down to man, and become man
for him ; and that God-man is made the great mean to
bring all his people up again to God. The facrifice of
the
Serm, XVL the Profejfion of our Faith. 237
the man and ihe power of God, and the merit of that
facrifice of that God-man is made an everlafling cha-
riot, that will carry all that believe on him cerr, inly
fafe to glory; he confulted, 1 fay, our neceiTitv in
great love. He confulted not his own conveniency at
all, Even Chr'ifl phafed not h'nnfeJf^ &c. O vvu.v. an
argument is here ! The apoftle brings the fweeteft
arguments fometimes to prefs the eafieil ordinary du-
ties. Let us 7iQt pleajs ourfehes^ but every one another^
for edification^ that is vt'holefome advice, hm '.i <■ ar-
gument is beyond it, even Chrljl f leafed not hivfelf,
idly^ Our Lord's love in being thus a coafccraued
way appears in this, that he draws all his redeemed
to himfelf. Chrifl Being the way to heaven is no man's
way till he be in it. No man is brought to heaven by
Chrid, till he be in him ; therefore our Lord knovv--
ing this, draws them to himfelf. And /, if I he lift-
edup^ ivi II draw all men to me^ ihat is, all that I have
laid down my life for.
3^/y, This love appears not only in drawing them,
but in preferving them to the heavenly kingdom. We
do not fall out with ourfelves fo much as we ought,
but we were in a bad cafe if Chrid (liould fall out
with us, as often as we do with ourfeives. IF the Lord
Jefus had had the fame thoughts of us, that we ought
to have of ourfelves, where had we been P But he
pities and fpares in his great love, and by his might
keeps his poor people in the way, and give? them
the crown in the end. Rev. ii. 7. To him that over-
Cometh will I give fo eat of the tree of life ^ ivhich is in
the midft of the faradife of God.
Sirs, Chriil's love is a bleffed thing. If a poor be-
liever can but fee it through a glafs darkly, and per-
ceive fomething of the ftream of it, he is joyful. But
ChriR's love as a Saviour will never appear in its glo-
ry, till the crown of glory comes out of his own
hand. When a believer, W I may fo fpeak, kneels be-
fore the throne of God and of the Lamb, and receives
the crown of eternal life, our Lord may well fay then,
H h Hereby
238 Tbe fiedfaj} Adherence to Serm. XVI.
.Hereby thou may eft know how I have loved thee, Cbrifl:
confecrated himfelf to be the way to heaven, and a
great demonftration of his love we fliould gather our
of it. See ^lev. iii. 9,
2, Did Chrifi: confecrate himfelf to be the way to
heaven ? Then furely men may boldly nfe him as the
way; he is devoted for this end. There are two
grand abufes of confecrated things. When they ei-
ther are not ufed for that end they were confecrated
for^ or when ihey are abyfed to another end,
Is our Lord confecrated to be the way to heaven ?
Men rauft boldly by faith make ufe of him. See our
Lord's own argument, John vi. 27. Labour. not for
the meat which p^r'i/heth, but for that meat which en-
dureth unto ever la fling ///>, which the Son of Jiianft.mU
give unto you : For him hath God the Father fealcd.
He hath confecrated him, fet him a-part to be the
bread of life, and giver thereof. This now i would
only branch out in two particulars,
ifly Chriil as the way to heaven maketh us bold
in entering by him; he is confecrated for this end.
There is a boldnefs of fahh, that in the day of God's
power is practicable. Ac firft believing fome have
found it. 1 will not fay very many. The very firlt
adventure of a finncr, that has been defpairlng of all
relief before, may truft with great confidence upon
Jefus Chi id, as the confecrated way to heaven. But
fay you, I do not know that he has been confecrated
for me: I know he is confecrated to be the only way
to heaven ; but is he confecrated for me r I anfwer,
(i.) No man ever did, and no man can, and you ne-
ver will be able to know that Chrifl is confecrated
for you, till you be in him. This is the great wif-
^dom of God. God's great book of life, 1 fay, is not
to be read by any eyes, but the eyes of a believer*
and when he reads the book, he can only read bis
own name in it. But indeed Paul, by an apofiolic
fpirit and difcerning charity, might fpeak as he did,
Whofe names arc written in the book of life. The book
of
Serm. XVI. the Profeffion of our Faith. 23^
of eleftion and the book of Chrift's (lieep, can be read
by no eyes but the eyes of a believer ; and this is e-
nough, we need no more. It would be enctf-igh to con-
f^Jnd all things in the church of Chrift, if fo be that
the fecret books of God's purpofes were Tifible nnio
and legible by believers. If I may fo fpeak, there
would be no living in the world, if men knew who were
eieiTted, and who not. The very do<n:rina thereof you
fee how many tumults it raifes ; how much more would
it be, if they faw the thing ? Take heed, remember that
Chrift is confecrated to be the way to heaven ; he is
confecrated to be fo for a particular number of men ;
no man can know himfelf to be of that number, but
a believer, and every believer may. Whenever a
poor creature can allure his heart before God, that
he, in the fenfe and plain con virion of liis defer ving
hel), and of his being utterly unable to do any thing
to bring him to heaven, takes Chrift as God's ap-
pointed way, and ventures his all upon the fiaia Sou
of God, this man is a believer, and the wa/ was con-
fecrated for him ; as foon as he is in ir, he may know
it. Make biit your calling fure, and you make your
eleflion fure th^rebf. (2.) Whatever darknefs there
be about this, whether the way was confecrated for
you, you have encouragement to venture upon the
way by ail the fcripture. It is not thedoclrine of the
purpofe of God on the death of Chriif, that h the
ground of our faith ; it is the dG£lrine about the fuf-
ficiency of Chrift's death ; it is the do<5lrine of the gof-
pel, wherein the tender of the Saviour and great falva-
lion is brought to every man's door fo clofely, that the
iilhe muft be either an acceptance unto falvation, or
a refofal with the great aggravation of condemnation ;
and fo will the judgment of the lad day proceed.
idlyy In ufmg Chrift as the way to heaven, we
mull not only, becaufe he is confecrated ior this end^
venture on him boldly, but we mud walk in bins con-
fidently, (i.) Without fear of enemies; I do noc
fay without apprebeDfion ; there is an apprehenfi on
H h 2 of
240 ^h^ fl^^^f^fl Adherence to Serm. XVL
of enemies, that is an a<fl of wifdom, and faith, in
Older to prepare for the encounter. Take ye the
whole armtur of God ; we have need of it, for there
are great enemies; not flc^fii and blood only, tAit
greater enennies we have to fight with. Remember
this, that you cannot get to heaven in that road that
the devil does nor haunt ; there is no path lies to hea-
ven that the devil cannot meet a walker in it. We
mull not expe6i: to get to heaven vviihout meeting
hiai by the way; but let us remember this, I am u-
poc coofecratcd ground ; if I be in Chrift, Satan can-
not prevail agaiufl me. And the more confidence we
have of our fecurity in Jefos Chrift , the more courage
and ilrength we have agaiaft Satan.
(2.) Fear not raifcarryiog at lad, if ye be in Chrifl,
It is a piiiful cafe that a great many believers are in ;
there are believers, God help them, that are fo
weak, they believe all their days, and they unbelieye
all their days ; they walk on in Chrifl, and fear they
ihali never come to the end. What, art thou in
Chrifl;, and yet feared thy miffing heaven ? Whither
can Chrid the way lead a believer, but home to him-
felf? Father^ 1 will that they alfo ivhcjn thou hafl
given ?rie^ be with me where I am^ that they may be-
hold my glory zvhich thou haft given me : For thou lov-
edjl we before the foundation of the worlds John xvii,
24. 1 will not lofe a bit of them, 1 will not \o{t the
man, notwith (lauding his temptation?, corruptions,
and weakncfs in grace. I will make the poor crea-
ture get good of all. It will be feen when our Lord
has perfe<fled his work, that he has loll noihing of all
that was given him.
Laflly^ Walk confidently in Chrifl, and do not
fear wandering. Believers have the promife of the
Spirit to lead them into all truth. If they be in Chrid,
Chrid will keep them. 1 do not fay, but many be-
lievers may be left to great midakes and errors about
feveral things of fmalier moment. But every belie-
ver that is in Chrifl, as to greater matters, is kept in
the
Serm. XVII. the Frofejfion of our Faith. 24 1
the truth as it is in Jefus. O that this were duly
minded ! How wifely does the apoftle fpeak of this
point, Eph. iv. 14, 15, 16. compared with ver. 19,
20. and onward to Col. ii. ? The thing that I obferve
from both thefe places is, the inftru^lion the Holy
Ghofl: gives us of the fpring of error in the church.
The apoftle cautions us, that we be not overtaken
with the cunning craftinefs of them that lie in wait to
deceive. How (hail we know them ? would the poor
man fay. Know them ? Always by this, they do not
hold the head, fays he : Not holding the head^ from
which all the body by Joints and bands having nourijh"
ment minijlred^ and knit together^ increafeth with the
increafe of God^ Colof. ii. 19. As long as a belie-
ver is in Chrift as the way, he can never mifcarry,
never wander totally ; he may miftake in fomething
in his way, but he is in the right way in the great
matters of falvation, and fcall be fafely landed at
laft.
S E R M O N XVII.
Hebrews x. 20.
By a new and living way zvhich he hath confecrated
for us J through the veil, that is to fay ^ his f^jh,
THIS is the fecond encouragement, that the apo-
ftle, by the diredlion of the Spirit of God, gives
in encouraging Chriftians to approach to God. They
are ail drawn from Chrift Je'fds ; and all our encou-
ragements for faith are in Chrift alone ; nothing that
is in him, but is encouraging to faith ; and nothing
that can encourage faith is out of him, or any where
elfe
24? 'The fledfajl Adherence to Serm. XVII.
^elfe to be had. The firft is, That there is an en-
trance allowed to us by the blood of Jefus Chrift,
verfe 19. The fccond is, That there is a way pre-
pared, wild confecrated for us through the veil ; that
is Chrifl too. And the third crcouragement is, That
we have an High Pried himfelf, fet over the houfe
Upon this fecond encouragement from the 20th
verfe, 1 have been feveral days fpeaking upon this
truth. That the way to heaven is through the veil
of tlie 11 lin Son of God, it is through the veil of his
flefh ; and upon it, at feveral times, I have (liewn
what is meant by Chrifl's flefh ; it is his human na-
ture offered in facrifice to God for the falvaiioti of
his people, with all its fpirit, and power, and virtue.
Next, I fliewed, why this flcfli is called the veil. It
hid and covered the glory of his Godhead, and yet
makes a paffagc unto us by faith to approach to God ;
f^r an immediate approach to God, now that fm hath
entered into the world, is impoilible ; therefore all
our approaches mufi: be by a mediator, and this Me-
diator did mediate mainly by his blood and facrifice.
What fort of a way this is, has been fpoke to, both
in general, and ;iccording to the three properties of
it in the text ; That it is a new v/ay, a living way,
and a way of Chrifl's own confecrating for us ; and
upon each of thefe feme little application has been
niade fuirable to the doctrine that has been difcourfed
to. 1 dcfign now, as i prouiifed, to make fome more
Jarge application of this great truth. That our Lord
J el as as ilain is the way to heaven ; though 1 know
ihe apollle makes the grand application in the 2 2d
verfe, for he points forth the ufe we ftiould make
thereof, to draw t:ear to God,
I will notwithflandipg, as the Lord fliall help, fpeak
foujcthing of applicauon previous unto that ; and it
^hail be only in two particulars.
/v>/?, If Chrift be tlije way to heaven, we may
plainly fee how fatally and wofuliy the ereateft part
^ of
Sekm. XVIT. the Frofejftcn of our Faith. 243-
of the world are miftaken about the way ; and if mif-
taken about the way, they mufl: mifs of the en J. If one
do not take the right way to heaven, he can cever
come at it. This is an inference that is very plain^
and very fad. There are two falfe fcrts of rdrgrons
iti the world, I mean that almoft all the reft are re-
ducible to two. Tiiere is natural religion ; and there
is the Antichrilliao one, which is but a grand corrup-
tion of Chrifiianity, and changing of it foine way into
the old Pagans natural reiigion, and many grofs things
ihereip. 1 would fpeak but briefly itnto both of rhens,
and reduce what I mean mainly to warn you of, as
inferences from thence.
I . There is natural religion. I call it by that name,
becaufe fbmeihing of it is every where, and it is on-
ly what remains in that fallen (late that miin is come
into. We will fee now what this is made up of, what
are thofe principles that are fo deeply engraven ia the
hearts of men, that they do fill all the inhabitants of
the earth with fome form of religion. Where-^ver
travellers have come, and obfervations have beea
made, among the mod favage people, there is fome-
ihing left of fome notions of religion ; forms of Ir^
though very forry ones they be, it is acknowledged.
You had need confider this, for this kind of religion
is in every one of your he an 5 ; but unlefs the grace
of God, and the light of the gofpel expel it, and
plant fomething better in its room, you are lo(l for
ever. Natural religion has in it ihefe particulars.
1/?, Some notion of the being of a God, that there
is a God, and that this God is to be woriliippcd, and
ferved, and obeyed. All the world o\^n fomething
of this. The invifible things of him from the creation df
the world are cUarly feen^ being under flocd by the things
that are made, even his eterrtal power and Godhead /
fo that they are without e^xcufe, Rorn. i. jo. There is^
nothing more inviQble than the Ck)dhead ; ersrnal
power is alfo invifible : but, (iiys the apod'e, the
very Heathens have thefe things imde vifible by the
niightf
344 ^^^^ fl^^f^fl Adherence to Serm. XVII.
mighty works of God ; and therr natural reafon can
inftruft them fo far, that the rearing up of this glo-
rious canopy of the heavens, the frame of the earth,
the making of thefe great feas, and the making of fo
many beautiful creatures upon the earth, mud be the
work of forae great, powerful, wife agent. Aiheifm
is againft nature, and is no where found, but where
the principles of natural religion are extinguidied by
the power of the devil, and the juftice of God by
mens abufe of revealed religion. When men come
to itruggle with the right way of the knowledge of
God revealed in the v/ord, and (liut their eyes againft
that, God fuffers them to be blinded, as to thofe
things that the very Heathens have more light in. I
beheve that there are more Atheids in England, than
among all the Pagan nations through the whole earth.
A place where the gofpel-light doth diine, and men
rebel againft it, is the only plac- where fuch mon-
flers are bred.
2 J/y, In natural religion, there is always fome dif-
tinftion made about good and evil, fome light about
good and evil, and fome confcience there is exercifed
about thefe. Confcience is as natural to us, as un-
derftanding, and will, and memory are. It is as natu-
ral to us to have a confcience, as it is to be men and
women, or to have reafon ; for confcience is nothing
elfe but the exercife of reafon about the greated con-
cernments; it is only a man's judging himfelf, accord-
ing as he ftands before a greater and fuprerae judge.
Therefore the apodle fpeaks thus of the Heathen :
Thefe having not the law, are a law unto themj'elvcs :
which Jhewy fays he, the work of the law written i?2
their hearts, Rom. ii. 14, 15. Pray obferve, one of
the grand promifes of the new covenant, is God's
writing his law in our heart. Here the apodle fpeaks
of the law of nature, as written in the heart of a Hea-
then, their confcience in the mean while, fays he, ac-
cuftng, or elfe excitftng one another^ according to the
light that they receive.
Serm. XVII. the Profejton of our Faith, 7^^
^dly^ There is amongfl all natural men, and a na-
tural religion, fome notion of forgivenefs, and par- .
doning mercy and goodnefs in God. Arliidftall their
darknefs about God, yet they do know, that it is a
great excellency, and all excellencies they will afcribe
to God, to be good and graciou?, and ready to for-
give. As there is a confcieoce of fin amongfl all men,
fo they do give this praife to God, that he is a God
that can forgive ; thereupon they.addrafs to hira, in
their feveral ways, for it. All the Heathen have
fome fenfe of judgment co come ; and from thefe
principles all the fabrics of natural religion are reared
up in the world. Now, where this natural religion
comes to be poliflied by the light of the word, it will
look a great deal better, and a great many are de-
ceived by it.
What then are the grand wants and dcfe£>s that
are in a natural religion, which mud certainly leave
a man that has no more, in a condemned itate ?
(r.) With all their light, and ail the knowledge
they have of God, they do not know the true God ;
they do not know the God and Faiher of our Lord
Jefus Chrid, they do not know God in Chrid. All
gods not feen in Chrift are the idols of the nations.
It is a deep word that the apoftle has, For after thai
in the wljdom of Gody the world by "xnfdom knew not
God^ it pie a fed God by the foclijhnefs of preaching to
Jave them that believe^ i Cor. i. 21. Ail their wifdo^n
could not bring them to know God, becaufe they did
not know God in Chrift.
(2.) All natural men, whatever thoughts they may
have of God's goodnefs in faving and forgiving, yec
know nothing of God's way of doing it ; and if they
do not know of God's way of doing it, how can they
come by it ? They do not know God's forgiving thro'
a faiisfa^lion, they do not know of God's fiiving men
by a mediator ; and a great many that hear of thefe
things every day, feem to know it as little as they ;
'I mean, though they fubfcribs to the notion, the
1 i powcj.
24^ The Jledfajl Adherence to Serm. XVII.
power of the truth is as little upon their hearts as u-
poD the Heathens. Therefore all this natural religi-
on, that iiils the nations of the earth, is nothing but
a dark and dim light, a falfe fire that leads men into
the pit, ard never did lead a man to heaven ; for no
man can be made wife to falvaiion, but by the revela-
tion of the. word of God ; and no man can favingly
know the word of God, but by the revelation of the
Spirit of God.
2. The fecocd great religion that fills the world
is Popery, as we commonly call it, Aniichrift's reli-
gion. They call it the way to heaven ; but the word
of God calls it the myflery of iriiquity, and the head
of it, the Jon of perdition^ 2 TheiT. ii. 3. and mo.n of
fin. The fpirit of Popery lies in this, in inventing,
devifing, and impofmg of faUe ways to heaven. Ail
their feveral religions, as they call them, are but {o
many ways to lead people from Jefus Chrid. There
is a way to heaven that they propofe by the merit of
good Vv'orks, fometimes by our own, and foinetimes
by thofe of others : there is ^ way to heaven by the
interceflion of faints or angels, thereupon they pray
to them, and expe^l relief from them; there is a
way to h'eaven in that pardon that they (land much
upon, and that is by the abfolution of a finfnl pried
like themfelves. Really it is amazing to behold the
judgment of God, that fo many of the wife, and pru-
dent, and great, of the kings, and princes, and learn-
ed of the earth, have been fo long bewitched with
thefe forceries. They have another way to falvation
which is yet worfe, and more dangerous becaufe it
comes nearer the true one ; and that is, their carnal
reprefenting the true way to heaven, that is, Chrift
crucified. Here lies a great part of the myftery of
Antichriiiianifm. If fo be that this were laid quite
afide, that Chrifl is the way to heaven, Chriftianity
were firmly and in plain terms laid afide ; therefore
they are left to be fo grofs in their life to ierve their
dcfigD. In the mean lime, Antichrifi: dees fo paint
fonh
Serm.JX.VII. the Profefton of our Faith. 247
forth and reprefent Jefus Chrill: to poor people, ihat
quite enervates and fpoils aii the virtue of this great
contrivance of God. There is reprereniing him by
an image and picture ; they worfhip the pldlare of a
roan extended upon thecrofs, and this is called by them
their faviour ; but the Spirit of God calls it a devil ;
for every image or every creature that becomes the
worliiip of man in the (lead and room of God, is cal-
led worfliipping of devils, worfnipping of (locks, and
(tones, and devils. Another grols abufe of Chrilti-
anicy is this, that is reckoned one of their great ways
to heaven ; and that is, they turn the memorial of
the .death of our Lord, that is to be perpetaally kept
up in the church, into a propitiatory facrifice for the
fins of the quick and dead \ befides the other abomi-
nable things that are therein, is that of tranfubitan-
liation. But that which ferves my purpofe is mainly
the facrifice of it. The defign of our Lord jefus in
appointing his lad fupper was, that bread might be
eaten, and wine drunk amongfl believers in the
churches of Chriil, in the remembrance of ChriU's
deaths ^J^^ ^^ come again ; a plain naked teaching
thing, and has its own fignitication in the inditntion
of it. Inftead of this, they have the bread turned,
as they fancy, into the ileih and body of a man, and
this body eaten ; and this they reckon the way to e-
ternal life, when the abnfe of it is a fin, enough to
damn men. But now, fay you, what does all this
ferve for ? We are neither Pagans nor Papifts. But
not.withflanding there U not one of you, but are in
fome danger this way ; for, from a mixture of natu*
lural andantichridian religion, there fprings up a great
many forts of people among us.
I. There is the fuperftitious formalid. Thefe are
in all forts of religion. They imagine, that becaufe
they are in the true church, therefore they (hall be
faved. The true church is not the way to heaven,
but Chrift is the way to heaven | and all that are in
I i 2 Chriil
248 The Stedfajl Adherence to Serm, XVIl.
Cbrift will betake themfelves to that church that is
true. They commonly lay a great (Irefs upon their
outward performances and duries, and many times on
the fmalleft.
2. There is the moralid. Would any believe ir,
tinlefs they read it in books and in fome mens preach-
ing, that in fuch a land as England is and has been,
there (hould be in it either man or woman, or child
of feven years oF age, that ihould drink in this, dread-
ful noHon, that if i do juftly, and do as 1 would be
done by, 1 fhiil furely be faved P But thou (halt fure-
]y be damned, if thou dofl no more. Is not this a
wonder, that after all thiit light that has fiione from
the word of Gcd about the way of falvation by the
ilain Son of God, that civility that is to be found a-
wongfl: Heathens is all a great many have for their
title to e:erna! life !
3. There is the felf-righteous legalifi: ; a man that
goes beyond the former : he will noc (lint himfelf ia
the matter of his falvation, and lodge it in the form
of his profelTion, but will bring it farther to the ex-
erclfe of his confcience, and the employment of his
heart ibout good work?, about driving to pleafe God;
he is about eftablilhing his own righieoufnef?, and
he will find our a way 10 heaven for himfelf. Much
isfaid againil this in theword of God, and muchfliould
be daily faid againif it by the minifiers of the word.
There are fome men fo i r.patient in hearing any fpeak
a;T:aiD(l feif-rio'hteouffieA, as thoup-h it were not a
fin, and no-body were in danger to be ruined by it ;
when it is the fin that is the lail firong hold of Satan,
and that keeps many men in, that the word of God
hath ferretted out of others What can be the grand
reafon of this, that men fliould fall into (o many fa-
tal raiftakes about the way to heaven ? I do not fpeak
of them that want the light of the word, nor of Po-
pery ; but that there (liould be fo many of thefe re-
maining mi flakes where the light of the word is, is
ftrange. The reafon is only this, the great darknefs
that
Serm.XVII. the PrqfeJJion of our Faith. 249
that men naturally labour under as to the way to hea-
ven ; this darknefs leads men to miftake it, and to
take up other ways, becaufe they do not know the
true way. Every body thinks that it is very hard to
get to heaven, and it will cofl: a great deal of time
and pains, and ftruggling before they get thither;
but here is the mifcbief of it ; people do not know it
is hard to know the way to heaven, they are not con-
vinced of this, that unlefs a beam of light (liine in u-
poQ thy heart, thou mayfl: hear of the way to hea-
ven all thy life long, and not know it. There is the
Spirit of wifdom and revelation in the knowledge of
Chrift, that every one had need to pray fdr. 1 might
inftance a great many of the ordinary fimple miftakes
of people. Some do imagine, that any way that is
contrary to the way to hell, is the way to heaven ;
a great miftake. Every fin is the way to hell, will
you fay, every duty is the way to heaven. Any fin
may ruin a man, but nothing can fave him but Chrifi:
Jefus. Intemperance, drunkennefs, &c. is the way
to hell ; but is there any fo unreafonable as there-
fore to think, that fobernefs is the way to heaven ? It
is a duty, it is that which God commands of them that
are in the way ; and fome imagine, that what every
one that is in the way to heaven does, is the way.
But the way to heaven ftill is through Chrid himfelf ;
for though all this walking is to be in the way, yet
walking is not the way ; we are to walk in holinefs,
but this is but our walking in the way of €hrifl: ;
none can walk in him, but they are fanflified ; and
the more they are fan(ftified, the more they partake of
him. That which is reckoned a very abominable he-
refy araongfl: the Socinians, is indeed that which is
very natural amongft many that would be reckoned
good Chiiftians, that our Lord Jefus Chrift came to
ihew the way to heaven ; but they do not believe, he
came to be the way to heaven ; they think he came
to tell us the way to heaven, and to make a way for
tSo fhe fiedfajl Adherence to Serm. XVIL
us ; but they canoot underftaad, that he came to be
the way to heaven, that we cannot get to heaven un-
fefs we be it) him. So much for the firft. That the
way tu heaven is through the vail of the flefh, of
the flaii5 Son of God. There are many in the world
that are mod wofully and fatally raiftakcn, and we
may make ufe of our Lord's words and arguments
in this point : there are few that find this way.
Broad is the way that leadelh to deftrudion^ and many
there be which go in thereat-, why fo ? Becaufe Jlraight
is the gale, nrid narrow is the way which leadeth unto
life, ^ and few there he that find it, Matth. vii. 15, 14,
The fecond word that I would give in application
of this truth. That Chrift as flain is the way to hea-
ven, (hail be in exhorting of you to take this way.
Labour to be acq -j aimed with a crucified Saviour.
The apotUe Paul was a better preacher than any one
in England : He determined to know nothing but
Chrift, and him crucified, and he knew his work, he
knew wherein profitable preaching lay. You muft
labour, I fay, to be in him ; fee that you be in the
way. This 1 would exhort unto, and inforce upon
yoa in a few things, if the Lord give them force, for
it is in his hand only.
I. ConGder and be ferious in this matter, whether
you have a micd to be in heaven or no. Sirs, mini-
iiers are deceived v/ofully here ; we exped when we
come to preach to people, and ftudy for them, and
pray for them, we expe<9: the company has a mind to
go to heaven ; but the matter is other wife. A great
part of our work is to perfuade people to have a mind
to be ia heaven ; but if you have a mind to be in hea-
ven, have you ever been at tuat queftion ; What
Jh all I do to be faved? Would you pretend to be
Chriftians, or, for God's fake, would you have any to
chink you Chriftians, that have not come this length,
Ph what lliall we do to be faved P Do you think that,
any man will ever come to heaven, that never thought
9i
S E R M . X Vlt. the Vrofejfion of our Faith. 251
of it before he came thicher ? How God deals with
infants, we do not kno7/, but for perfons that live
under the means of grace, the falvation of folks that
are mindlefs of falvation is impolTible. God never de-
figned it, and will never perform it. This is thcfifft
confideration. Enter into your own hearts, and think
wiih yourfelves, what an anfwer ye can give to fo
plain a queflion as this is. Is hell the mod unho'.y and
unhappy place of all P Is heaven the holieil: and hap-
pieft place of all I Is it lovely above all other lovely
things to you ? Then here is the way to it ; Labour
to get into Chrift Jefus.
2. Confider, that if you have a mind to be in hea-
ven, you mufl: be in that way wherein you may be
faie againft all that can affault you. Have you a mind
in earneft to be at heaven, to be furely there ? You
mud be in that way wherein you may be fafe againft
all affaults from enemies ; you mud be found there
where you (hall be furely fafe. This made the a-
poftle Paul fo defirous to h^ found in h'tm^ I Fear no-
thing, if I be found in him, Phil. iii. 9. ; found ia
him, the're lies the bufmefs. I (hall but run through^
and name a few of thofe difficulties that you will have
to encounter withal, and that you can be no way fe-
cured againft, but by being in Chrift as the way.
ly?, You have the world to oppofe you ; 7v?A the
World is too hard for any man that is out of Chrift,
The world has been too hard for a great m^ny that
thought themfelves ttrong enough for ir; its cun-
ning, its wiles, its violence, its temptations have o-
vercome a great many. There is 110 overcoming the
world, but through hrm that has overcome it for us,-
John xvi. 33. We have the devil to oppofe us, at^d
we muft be in that way, wherein we can be fafe a-
gainft him. If you be in Chrid, the gates of heli
Ihall not prevail againft you : Greater is be that is irr
ycu-^ t hart he that is in the zvorldy i John iv. 4, You-
bad need to be in that way, wherein you can give aa
aiafwer to your confciitnoes* How needful is it ta
have
252 The Jledfafl Adherence to Serm. XVII.
have fomeihing that can flop the mouth of the moft:
craving clamorous confcience, that can anfwer it fa-
tisfyingly. So that it (hall fpeak no more ! What can
that be, The anfwer of a good confcience towards God^
by the refurreElion of Jefus ChriJ}^ i Pet. iii. 21. Peo-
ple will imagine now that the grand fecurity is the
anfwer of a good confcience towards God^ as to our
converfation, heart and way ; that indeed has its own
ufe and an inferior ufe ; but when men come to
reckon with confcience, truly there is nothing but
the fprinkling of the blood of Jefus upon it, that
can make it good. But here is more, 1 will not fay
worfe, but more dreadful than all this; God's holy
nature, God's holy law, God's fpotlefs juftice, they
will appear againft you in the way to heaven ; un-
lefs you be in Chrifl: the way, there is no {landing
before thefe. When a man is in Chrift he has a rea-
dy anfwer, I do not fear God's holy nature, for he
hath provided a Saviour ; I do not fear the law,
Chrift, in whom I am, has fulfilled it ; I do not fear
the juftice of God, for Chrift has fatisfied that to the
full. When death, judgment, and awful eternity
flares a man in the face, he had need be fure that he
is in Chrift. Death, that is the great terror to all na-
tural men, to a believer it is looked upon as overcome
by Chrift. This is the great comfort of a believer, I
know I muft die ; but Chrift has died, and has over-
come him that had the power of death. And why
fliould a believer be afraid of judgment, who is in
the way, walking towards him who is the Judge ?
We mujl all appear before the judginent feat of ChriJ}^ '
2 Cor. v. 10. If any man be in Chrifl^ he is a nezv
creature. Do you think that a man that is in Chrift,
has reafon to be afraid to ftand before the judgment-
feat of Chrift ? No ; a believer reckons thus with hira-
felf. He that fpared not his own Son, the Son that
fpared not his own blood, will he not give a favour-
able fentence in that day ^. And for eternity, that
cndlefs awful thing, that we can never fathom in our
thoughts,
S E K M. X V II. the Profefion of our Faith. 2 5 3
thoughts, the believer looks upon it a? a very Amiable
thing ; This eternity that confounds other folks, to
the believer is the great joy of his feeart; for there,
and through all the ages of ir, will he be with the
Lord, prailing him, enjoying his company, and parrak-
ing of his fellowfliip. This i^ the fecond confideration.
You Ihculd be fure, I fay, to be in Chrift the only way
to heaven, where you may be (afe agaioil all ycti can
encounter vvith. Whenever people come to have an
awful profpe^l of thefe things, of God's holy nature,
law and juflice ; of death, judgment, and eternity ;
when their confciences are truly awakened, ail the
fig-leaf coverings that men ufed to cover their naked-
nefs wiihj are all blown olT. It is only mens trifling
thoughts of heaven, and of thefe awful things that
make Chrift fo much defpifed.
3. Confider this, what a great fin it is, how extra-*
ordinarily damnab:e and damning, to negle^l Chrift
as the v/ay to heaven ; a fm, as our Lord /eems to call
it the only fin : If 1 had ?iot come^ fays hJ, and fpoken '
unto them^ they had not had ftn : But r.cw thsy havi
no cloke for their fin. They had been an innocent
kind of people, if Chriit bad never come amongll
them: John xv. 22. 24. This h the co7:deiimathn^
that light is CGjne into the worlds and men love darknefi
rather than hghtj becaUfe their deeds were cvUi Chrili
came into the v;orkl, lightening them in the way xa
beaveUj and they will not make ufe of hiiti. There
are three mod facrcd things ; and whofoever rtumbles
at any one of them, is broken in piece?, if they flam-
ble finally at one or at all. The firil is, The r-ich graca
of God the Father, in providing the v/ay to heaven
by his Son. The (tcond is, The blood of the Son of
God, that made the way to heaven. The third is^
The gracious drivings of the fpirrt of grace in ihs
gofpel, to bring men to walk in this way. Whoever
ihe'y be that live and die under the gofpelj and do
not make ufe of Chriif as the only way to h^nvenj
l.hey are chargeable with all thefe i they frustrate th^
254 ^^^ fli^^f^fl Adherence to Serm. XVII.
grace of God ; they trample upon the blood ofJZlhrin: ;
and do violence and defpiie to the fpirit of grace ;
which are the higheft exprelTions of wickednefs that
are in all the Bible, though 1 know the higheft degree
of ihera is applied to the grand unpardonable fin.
Lajlly, Confider, that all excufes are taken oiF. No-
thing can jullify a man in refufing to betake himfelf
to Chrift as the wlay. The Lord has provided and
framed the gofpel, by which he deals with men-fo,
that they mud be rendered inexcufable, that do not
embrace ir, and venture on Chrift offered therein.
For confider, the light of nature makes men inexcuf-
able, the light of God's law flops mens mouth*, and
all the world are guilty before him. The light of
the gofpel is alfo framed fo, that it much more ftops
all mens mouths, and provides an anfwer for every
thing. And indeed men are very fruitful in thefe ob-
je£i:ions : " I am a fmgular fmner, therefore 1 dare
*' not venture to come into Chrift as the way to hea-
" ven." What fort of an objection is this ? Art thou
a fmgular fmner ? Why, Jefus Chrift is a fingular Sa-
viour ; let that ftand againft that ; and his bufmefs
was with fmners ; he came into the world to fave fir-
Ders ; and all fmners that are in the world, and hear
of him, ihould come to hira for falvation, then there
is a happy meeting, " I am a vile fmful creature."
What then \ We are called to come to a fountain
that is opened for fin, and for uocleaniiefs, if I may
fo fpeak : Come in filthy, and go out clean. Come
now and let us reafon together^ faith the Lordj though
your fim he as fcarlet^ they Jh all he as white as fnow^
though they he red like crimfon^ they /hall he as wool^
Ifa. i. 1 8. What reafon has God to argue thus with
poor finners ? That he fhould reafon thus wiih un-
reafonabie fmners ? That he (liould freely offer his
pardoning mercy to thofe, that are altogether unde-
fcrviug of it ? As if God ftiould fay, I know all that
you can fpeak muft only be from your fins ; I know
them better than you doj come hearken tome, take
my
Serm. XVII. the FrofeJJion of our Faith, 255'
my counfel, your fios fliall be no hindrance, tbev (hall
be removed quickly. But fay you now, what ihall a
poor creature do that would be in Chrift as the way
to heaven ? He is fenfible that he mud be in him, how
iliall he do to get into him P
F/Vy?, Be willing to be taken by him. All that
are faved are begun to be faved when ChrlH: begins
to lay hold of them. The firfl a£l that is upon a fm-
ner, is of Chrid's putting forth : That I may appre-
hend that^ fays the apoftle, for which alfo I am appre-
bended cfCbrifl Jefus, 1 was a poor wandering crea-
ture, as if the apoftle had faid, one lime and for a
long time ; but at lad, Chrid laid hold of me. He
remembered time, and place, and day, as long as he
lived. Belie'ving is fometimes denoted by the name
of comings fo it be by him. Would yau be ac-
quainted with Chrid Jefus, and be in him as the
way? Refolve to fay thus much, Though 1 can-
not climb to Chrid Jefus, and though I cannot find
him ; yet by God's grace, I will not run away fur-
ther from him, I will day and long for his laying hold
upon me. The mifery of people is this, they are
condantly driving agaiod Chrid's faving of them.
Whenever a poor finner is broke as to this refolved
refidiog of the grace of God, grace does overpower
him immediately. Be therefore willing to be taken
by him.
idly, It is a hard matter to look on Chrid Jefus and
be faved ? A man may look on one that he cannot
come to. Look upon him as the way. If people do
but get a view of Jefus Chrid as the way to heaven,
their hearts will follow their eyes immediately ; but
this eye to fee him is of his own giving ; and he has
an eye-falve to give to make us fee, as he promifes,
Rev. iii. 18.
-^dly, Love Chrid as the way to heaven, and you ruall
be in him: nay, you are in him, when you love him.
It is impodible, that a man that loves Chrid Jcfiis,
fhould ever go to hell ) it is impodible, that ever a m:>.n
K k 2 can
55^^ Ths fledjajl Adherence to .Serm, XVII,
can 'ove Chrld Jefu?, but one that is beloved of bim.
But ROW the love of Jefas Chrifl, thoDgh it be the
nioft ferfible of all graces, it is very hard to own it,
bccaufe believers would fain love him more and bet-
ter ; they cannot tell bow to own they love hira at all.
1 wciild aik yen but one o.uedion, Can you read, and
feal, and fubfcribe ycur name, and put your amen to
two verfes in the Bible ? 1 dare warrant you your e-
ternal falvation, if you can do fo. The firft is a dread-
iul word. If any ?nan love r^ci the Lord Jefus Chfifl^
kt him be an anathema^ Maranatba, Amen, fays
ihe poor believer ; if God curfe him, it is no wondero
What, not love the Lord Jefu?; ? The other is, Rev.
V. 12. Worthy is ihe Lamb that was /lain ^ to receive
pciver^ end riches^ and wifdom^ andjlrength^ and ho-
7iour^ and glory ^ and bleffing. Amen, fays the believ-
er. That heart I fay, that is taken up with the love
of Chrift Jefus as the way to heaven, that is bent to
his praife, is one that is in him.
4. If you can trull Chtiil Jefus as the w^ay to hea-
ven, you are in him. Do you know what trufling is ?
You know w^bat it is in matters of m.oney and trade ;
it is juft the fame thing in mauers of your falvarion.
Do you know in whom you have laid your great (Irefs,
of bringing you to heaven ? Say to yourfelves, 1 do
not know a better hand in heaven or earth to lodge
3my immortal foul in, than in Chrifl Jefus the Son of
God. We come to him by faith, and we go on in him
by trufling : 1 know whom I have believed^ and I am
ferfuaded^ that he is able to keep that^ which I have
co?nmHted unto him again/} that day. 1 know my
friend, would the apoitle fay, and 1 am fure he will
give a good account of all 1 haye truded him with,
2 Tim. i. 12.
SERMON
Serm/XVIII. the Profefmi of our Fatth. 257
S E R M O N XVIII.
Hebrews x. 21, 22.
A}2d having an high priejl over the houfe of God : let
us draw near ivith a true hearty in full affurance of
faith^ having our hearts fprinklcd from an evil con-
fcience^ and our bodies wafhed with pure water ^
APPROACHING to God is a very awful and
dangerous thing. Many are undone thereby,
as truly, as readily, as the poor curious priers into
the ark were. There is nothing more comri>on in
people's practice, efpecially amongd u?,' than forms
of approaching to God ; little fear upon mens hearts
in the work, and little profit by it. There is need 6f
great encouragement unto a ferious and fenfible per-
fon to fupport his heart 'n drawing near to God. The
prophet brings in men in diftrefs faying, Wherewith
fhall I come before the Lordy and bow myfelf before the
high God? Micah vi. 6. Where ihe majeily of God
is feen, and our own vilenefs feen alfo, it mud be a
great thing that can encourage fuch a creature as a
finner is, to approach to fuch a God as our God is.
All the encouragements for approaching to God are
in Chrid Jefus, and from him ; every thing that is in
him is encouraging, and every thing that is revealed
of him is encouraging, and there is no encouragement
elfewhere to be had. Our apoftle is here taking ie-
veral views of Jefus Chrid, with an eye to this fcope,
to encourage us tp draw nigh to God. We have
fpoke to two of them already.
I. As his blood makes the entrance to the holiefl,
2. As his flain body is the veil we mufl pafs through.
w^
238 The pdfaft Adherence to Serm. XVIII.
We now come to the third encouragement, which
is taken from Jefu? Chrift, with refpe6t to his grand
ofTice of being a Priefl: : Having an high p^iejiy fays
the apoflle, over the houfe of God, He doth not name
who this high priell is, neither needed he, for he had
fpcken fo much of him before, that none that read
this could doubt that this high pried, though unnam-
ed, is Jefus Chrift our Lord.
1q thefe words are three things, I would take no-
tice of, and fpeak to in order.
1. Ihe name of the office of our Lord; he is an
High Prie/ly and exprelTed in a fingular manner. An
high pried we read it ; but the word in the original is
not an high prieft, but a great priejl* Ic is not the
ufual Greek word that the apoftle ufes in this epidle
frequently, when he fpeaks of Chrift the High Pried
after the order of Melchifedec, chap. vi. 20. and fe-
veral times in chap, vii, viii, and ix. It is a Ipecial
phrafe here : he is a great Pried ; there is fome-
thing very fmgular in it, fomething above all that we
can conceive.
2. Where his charge lies. Says the apodle. He is
an High Priejl over the houfe of God, The houfe of
God, in the new tedament phrafe, has two proper
figniiications. (i.) The things that pertain to God,
as the apodle expreffes it, Heb. ii. 17. That he might
be a merciful and faithful high priefl^ in things per-
iaining to God* Every high priejl taken from among
men, fays he, is ordained for men^ in things pertaining
to God, chap, v. i; (2.) God's houfe in the new tef-
tament, and in this epidle, is God's church and peo-
ple, that is, believers. So the apodle explains it,
chap. iii. 6. — Whofe houfe are we, if we holdfafl the
confidence, and rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
He is a Son and Lord over his own houfe ; whofe
houfe are we, fays he. So the church is called the
houfe of God, I Tim. iii. 15. Hereabout then lies the
charge of our Lord as Pried ; it is in things pertain-
ing to God, for his people : this is a matter that is
to
Serm, XVIII. the Profejfton of our Faith. 259
to be frequently and ferioufly minded, for it is of
great ufe for the direfling the exercife of our faitb*
Ye all know that our Lord Jefus, in his great work
of Mediator and Redeemer, is clothed with three of-
fices, Prophet, Prieft, and King ; and in two of them
he deals with us from God, and in one of them he
deals with God for us. i^s a Prophet he reveals
God's mind from God to us ; as a King he puts forth
God's divine authority upon us, and over us, and all
things elfe ; but as a Pried our Lord's bufmefs is
only with God for us. In all the exercife of our faiih,
the faith of a poor creature that flies to Chrift for
righteoufnefs and eternal falvation, minds him main-
ly, in that office wherein Chrift deals with God for
us.
3. The third ilimg that we have in the words, is
the intereft that the church hath in this High Pried :
Having an High Frieft^ fays the apodle : the word
having is not in the original, but it is neceflarily fup-
plied, to make our language run intelligible ; and it
relates to the former havi?ig^ verfe 19. Having there-
fore boldnefs / and here again. Having there] ore an
High Frie/l, He is not an high prieft to be provided,
not to be got, nor to be fought, but he is already :
every one has him not ; but,, (ays the apodle, we have
him already ; he fays he is in his office, he has done
the greateft part of it, and is ready to compleat it
quite. So much for the 'heads of what I would dif-
courfe upon from this verfe.
Ihtjirjl (hall be to difcourfe to you fomethiog of
the priefthood of Chrift : then afterwards of the fm-
gularity of it, and charge of it, and of the intereft
the church hath in it.
The truth that 1 am to fpeak to is this. That out*
I^ord Jefus Chrift, as the Saviour of the body, is a
true and proper Prieft. So the apoftle calls him, and
fo the apoftle proves him to be at more length, and
with more words in this epiftle, than is any where elfe
in all the bible. Though this office of his be touched
upon
26o the Jledfaji Adherence to Serm. XVIII.
upon both by the prophets and by our Lord himfelf,
and by the other apoftles in other epKUes, yet this
epiftle is principally written to fhew forth the priefl-
hood of our Lord Jefus. Concerning this 1 would
give you a few things to be coofidered.
I. We mull: confider Chrift's inftalment, when and
how it was that he was inftalled the great Priefl over
the houfe of God- He did not take this honour ro
hiiiafelf, but was called of God as was Aaron : He
glorifed not hlnifelf to be made an High Friefl^ hut he
that Jaid to hhuy Thou art my Son^ this day have I
begotten thee^ Heb. v. 4, 5. Chriit*s inftalment into
the office is by oath : and this oath was a declaration,
not only of the authority that was derived upon him,
but of his continuance in it, and that he (hould have
none to fucceed hitn therein ; Thofe priejls^ fays the
apoflle, chap. vii. 21. were ?nade without an oath^ but
this with an oath : therefore is he furety of a better
teftament. The words of the oath confecrated and
made the Son Prieft, who is fo for evermore. The
great charge as Prieft over the houfe of God was de-
rived upon the Son of God in the eternal counfels of
the Trinity, that in time, as foon as fin entered into
the world, he (liould enter upon his office.
2. We are to confider the types of it ; and when
the truth is come, the (liadows may be the better
known ; we may underftand better by the antitype,
what the types did fignify. The greateft part of God's
worftiip of old, until Chrift came, did confift in a great
many (hadows of Chrift's coming; they are called
Jhadows of good things to come^ but the body is of Chrift ;
they are the ihadows, but not the very image of the
things, chap. x. i. Of prieflhoods we find three in
the word ; they do ail fhadow forth the priefthood of
our Lord Jefus.
The firlt was the patriarchal priefthood, the prieft-
hood of the fathers ; tor the firft word you read in
all the bible of worlhip to God i$ expreffed hyfacri-
fice;
Serm. XVIII. the Prof ejion of our Faith. 261
fee ; the firft word of God's good-will towards men,
is in the promife of Cbrifl, Gen. iii. 15. The firft
exprelTion of worfhip to God is in offering facrifice,
by Cain and Abel ; and it is not unlike but Adam
was the priefl:. Adam, and Noah, and AbrahaKi,
thefe fathers that were acquainted with God, were
all priefts by office, neither of the one order, nor of
the other; yet notwithftanding they were priefts, and
did perform facrifice : and all thefe facrifices were
Ihadows of the grand one that was to be offered by
our Lord Jefus.
The fecond is the priedhood of Aaron, There is
.a great deal written of it in the word ; the book of
Leviticus is in a manner all of this prieilhood ; faey
were diflingui(hed into many forts ; there was a high
pried ever all, that had feme of the holy things to
manage, which none elfe (hould meddle v;ith ; there
was the common priefl, that ordinary facrifices were
to be flain by, ar.d offered up according to the law.
This was a (hadow of Chriil's coming, of his be-
ing a facrifice, as the apoflle at length in his epiftie
proves.
The third fort of priefts is that of Melchifedec,
that this aportie in chap. vii. is very exa£l in the ex-
amining of. There are but two places in the old tef-
tament that fpeak of him, yet what great matter does
the apoftie draw from thefe two fcriptures ! He leaves
nothing that concerns the man without a myflery.
He is Melchifedec^ he gathers a myllery out of bis
name; he is king of right eoufnefs^ he gathers a myf-
tery out of the kingdom, that he was king of; he
was king of Salem^ that is, kiyig of peace, fays he ; fo
Chrift was : he gathers a grand myflery out of the
fcripture-filence concerning him ; the fcripture nei-
ther tells when he was born, nor who were his pa-
rents, nor when he died ; in thi^, faith he, he was
made like unto the Son of God, without father, with-
out mother, having neither beginning of days nor end
of life J he gathers a grand mylkry out of his bleffing
L I Abra-
i6i 7he Jledfajl Adherence to SERM.XVlil.
Abraham, and cut of his receiying the tiihes of the
fpoils of Abrahatn ; and from thence proves, that he
was a great prieft indeed, when he was greater than A-
braham hiinfelf, when he received the tithes of Le-
vi, that was then in Abraham's loins ; and here he
fhews that Melchifedec was high beyond that of
Aaron. Yet all this was but a type of Jefus Cbrifl ;
and there is no doubt to be made but this Melchife-
dec was a man, and was born, and did die, and was
buried like other men 5 but becaufe the fcripture
fpeaks of him no otherwife, than by way of ri]enx:e
in thefe things, therefore the apoftle gathers wifely
from the fcripture-filence, thofe things that were ty-
pical of our Lord Jefus Chrift.
3. We are to confider the parts of the pr;eilly of-
'fice, wherein it did confift, Thefe we (hall bring to
our purpofe, ar:d to our Lord's prrefthood. The parts
of the prledly office were efpecially two ; oblation
and intercefliOD, offering a facrifice, and the making
intercefTion in and by the vinue of that facrifice.
Every high friefl taken from among men^ fays the apo^
Ale, that he may offer gifts and facrificeSy is or daisied
for men in things pertaining to God^ that he may offer
both gifts and fa orifice 5 for fviSy Chap. v. i. E'very
high prieft is ordained to of-er gifts and facrifices ;
wherefore it is of neeejjity that this man have fomewhat
alfo to offer. See how ihe apoftle argues. Is Cbrift
called a High Pried P Then he mail have fomethiog
to offer ; the offering that the prielf s of Aaron of-
fered, he could not offer, for he was fprung, of the
tribe of Judah, of which the Holy Gholt fpeaks no-
thing of prieilhood ; nay, if he were on earth, he
mufl not be a priell, not a pried of the order of
Aaron.
ly?. Then of ChrilVs oblation, the facrifice he of-
fered was hirafelf ; the facrifice of his own body, of
bis own foul : He made his foul an offering for fin ;
he poured out his foul unto deaths are the old tefta-
meot expreffions of that facrifice, Ifaiah liii. 11, 12.
Here
Serm. XVIII. the Profeffion of our Faiths 263
Here now is the mofl common word in all Chrifliani-^
ty ; Chrift died for us, and lue very fo'ol of Chrif-
lianity lies in the believing improvement of it. The
meaning of the word is, Chrift died for us, Chrilt
Jefus was offered in facrifice to God for us ; he did
Dot die only in love for us, and he did not die only
to give an example for us, and he did not die only
for our good ; but he died in our flead^ he died as a
facrifice dies. The way in which the beaft that was
to be facrificed died, was this ; there was a transier-
ring 01 the guilt of the mafter of it- upon his head;
that guilt deferved death by the law, and this death
was inEiifled upon the poor innocent creature ; this
was a fhadow of that ^reat facrifice that the Son of
God was to offer. Neither by thg blood ef goats and
cahes^ but by his own bloody he entered in once into the
holy flace^ having obtained eiernal redemption for us,
^hap. ix. iij 12. Here we would confider, ia order
to the fixing and feeding our faith on this.
(i.) The vaft dignity and precioufaefs of this fa-
criiice, the perfoo who did affume this nature, that
it was which raifed its value and dignity inaiiireiy ;
the comparifon is very mean betwixt a man and a beali.
The poor idolaters that fell into that dreadful blipd-
nefs and wickednef;!, as to offer irnto God the fruit of
their bodie^r, for the fm -of their fouls; they did fail
.into that abbri.inab'e wickednefs upon this fame prin-
ciple ; 'they ih-cugiic always the more excellent thd
facriiice 'Wa?, the more pleafing it would be to God ;
if the Lord req'.jir-ed the blood of a beaft for maii'^
fin, would he not be much .more pleafed with the
blood of a child ? Sha/i 1 giv€ my frflborn for viy
trurfjr.effiGnsf Will not he accept of the fruit of my
• bociy fortheilju of my foul I It is marvellous to think
liow'ftdcngthisfpirit of idolatry has been in the. world.
oTChat ■a'itrong'deHre fcii-h there been of, p^.aoe with
{God ! What:a ftrong fenfe of fm hath been in thefs
blinded idolaters, that rujo iato ihefe ways of atone-
ment 1 The. Lord condemns them utceriy, bec^vfe
M m 2 ihey
264 The Jledfafl Adherence to Serm* XVUI.
they were all invented, he' never commanded them.
Now, vthe facrifice is always, if commanded, the mor<;
excellent becaufe of its native dignity. If God com-
imnded the life of man for a facrifice, it had been
much more than that of a beaft ; but here the life of
one that is more than a man is coiinmandcd, it is gi-
ven, therefore it is of infinite dignity. You do not
imagine, it may be, fome of you, what you may feel
before you die, even of the great difficulty of hav-
ing faith firmly fixed, that the death of our Lord u-
pon the crofs, without the gates of Jerufalem,'fliould
be a fufficient atonement to God, for all the provo-
cations that he hath received : yet in truth ye believe
nothing, unlefs you believe that, you believe nothing
that v/ill fland you in (lead in a great ftorm. The
man that was facrificed was in human nature ; but
the divine perfon that aiTumed it, made it of infi-
nite dignity; therefore it is called, the blood of God;
the -precious blood of Chrijly as of a lamb without ble-
mijh and xvii hout fpot .
idly, This facrifice that Chrifl: made an oblation
of, was commanded, and required ; and covenanted,
upon the terms of our falvaiion ; the conditions of
it were adjufled from eternity ; the decree of elet^ioa
adjuiled ir, the covenant of redemption adjufted it,
•that when Chrid ihould make his f^ul an offering for
fin, he jhould fee his feed ^ he fljou Id prolong his days ^
and the pleafure of the Lord fhould profper in his hand»
Thereupon we find, that the apoflle brings Chrill, as
coming into the world with this. Sacrifice and ofering
thou u'Ciddj} not, a body hafl thou prepared me : as
if the apodle would dire^Sl us to this, that Chrift's
thoughts were according to that appointment : " Fa-
*< ther, I know, I am not coming into the world to be
•* a priefl after the order of Aaron, to offer bullocks
«' and goats on the altar at Jerusalem : but I am to
'* offer that body which thou haft prepared me upon
** the altar of my Godhead, for the fatisfying thy juf-
<* lice, and faving thy cls6t." Thcfe thoughts were
i;i his heart. l^h^
Serm. XVIII. the ProfeJJion of our Faith, 265
3d//y, The power that our Lord had to do it. Ne-
ver had any man, no meer man, power over his own
life; We have neither phyfical nor moral power ;
we can neither lay it down lawfully, when we will,
nor can we keep it as long as we will ; but in the
keeping, and having, and lofing it, we are under the
law, under his appointment, and under the conduift
of his word. Our Lord Jefus was the only man that
had power over his own life ; / have power to lay
St down ^ and I have power to take it again^ John x. i3.
Lajlly^ The lad virtue and grand efFe^l of this fa-
crifice is, that that (hould be in our eyes when we
tliink of our Lord's prieflhood, he offered a facriiice,
he gave himfelf a facrlfice to God of a fweet fraell-
ing favour ; the greateft things that ever were done
in this world, were done by our Lord upon the crofs:
The law fulfilled, juftice fatisfied, heaven appeafed,
God reconciled, the world of the ele£l redeemed, e-
ternal redemption brought in, favaiion in God's co-
venant for us ratified and made unalterable by this
blood. This was a great facrifice, and great effects
it had.
Thtfecond part of the prleflly office is interceiTion,
IntercefTion is uoi«hing elfe but the application of the
virtue of th<tt facrifice, according to the appointment
of God. The intercefTion of the high-priefl: under
the law was explained and exprefTed to us, by his en-
tering with the blood of the lin-ofTering into the ho-
lieft of all, and anointing the corners of the mercy-
feat therewith, for an atonement for all the children
of ifrael, that they might be cleanfed from all their
tranfgrefiions. Now, this was a (hadow, I fay, of
the interceilion of our great high-prieft, Chrid Jefus.
I fliall fpeak a little of this intercefTion, and confider
it in three feafons.
I. Before he came into the world. 2, While in
the world. 3, After he went cut of it; for, in all
^hefe feafons, our Lord was a prieft, and managed
interccflion.
I. Be.
«^6 The pdfajl Adherence ts Serm. XVIII.
' i- Before be carrie iQto (he world. Pray obferve,
^ td'liched a little uf)ota Chrift's being inftalied in
the tiSce of high-prien- ; there could be do exercife
of this cffic^, till there were fitiners ; what ufe eouid
ji prieii be of, till there were fiiiners, and fome ele6l
fianers ni the world ? We hope in God, the firfl pair
that lived in it were of that Dumber, I mean our firfl
t)2irents. Pray obferve this, all the falvatidn, and
pardon of fin, and entrance to heaven, that was giv-
cri ro the fathers before Chrift came, was all given
zb the view, and in the virtue of the death of our
Lord, who was to die once for fin. Abel, Enoch,
Koah, and all the faints of old, had their peace with
God, thofe ii^rge meafures of the love and favour of
God ;md (alvation in the end difpenfed to them, thro*
'the virtue of the facrifice of Chrift not yet offered.
'T'^t Fattier trufled his Son firmly, that in the fulnefs
cf i'^^^ he would pay the debt. The difcharge is
given before the paynicnt, the difcharge is given lo
the criTiTiia'. before the payment is made by the furt-
tj. The believers before Chrifl came, looked to hiin
as come ; and according to that fmall light that they
bad in that time, fo was iheir faith. Now, if falva-
"tioa., and all fpiritiial bleffings were given to believers
before Chrid's coming, before he v;as in the Helh,
we m:iy well conceive, that the interceilion which wss
a pan of his office, and which he was to difcharge in
feeaven, was not unminded by him.
2. When he was in the world, when he was la the
jleth. We fiud he was greatly given to prayer. We
find him' fuending feveral nights alone in prayer \o
Ciod: Were it lawful to wrlh, atid may be it is not ;
lii^t far'ely, if it had been lawful to tviili it, 'and i-f-'it
Irad been at rained^, and if grace had been given to
guide it, the mod happy opportunity that ever was
in the world, had ' been iloliave heard ^tir Lord Jefus
prr.yhig'a whole mghf to the Fath^ir. The fcrii>tyte
doe^ not tell ns whiit h^ prayed for; but we are -fee
of this, that he prayed for his flieep : I -pray n^t'for
the
SeRM. XVIII. the Trojejfim of our Faith. i6f
the wQrld^ but for them which thou hajl gvcen me^ for
they are thiney John xvii. 9. Somewhat our Lori tsf-
ed to utter, and to pour forth his heart to his firher
^bout. Many prayers he put up for hirnfdf; pbrift
made no facrifice for himfelf, but he put \\\} ny^xvf
prayers for himfelf : Who in the day ofhis/Isfh^ rvhen
he had offered up prayers and fupplications^ '^{th firo^g
Crying andtea^Sy untQ him that was able to five hbiifrf^f^
deathy and he was heard in that he feared^ Heb. r. 7.
3. The third feafon is, Chriit'sinterceilioo ia hea-
yen, when he went out of the world mio . his ^e^a^ced
ftate ; and that is the word mod commoniy vl^^^ in
the fcripture about his intcrceiTion. His inccfXd'SQa
is frequently both in the Old aiid Nevv Teftaqacat
fubjoioed to his facnfice : He hath poured out hh foul
unto death : And he was numbered with the hmifgref'
Jhrs^ and he bare the fins oj manyj and made irJc reef-
ftonfor the tranfgrejjorsy Ifa. liii. 1 2. It is Chri/i that
diedy yea rather ^ that is rifsn again ^ ivho is c-cen at
the right hand of Gody who alfo maketh inter cejjim far
usy Horn viii. 34. He ever liveth t& make inter cefflon^
Heb. iii. 25. Of this interceffion of our Lord, ajs^
managed in his exalted (late, we find feveralexpref-
fions in the fcripture, and I ch'jfe rathsr, an4 will
advife you accordingly to confiae your thpaghts ta
/cripcure phrafe, about thefe things, wbereia we
may over do, and ov^r think, and think aTnifs.
ly?, His interceflion Hands ia his entering into hea-
ven in our name, and in our r.oorn. See hoiv the
apodle exprelTes it, Heb. ix. 12. 24. Tae m,:;.:l ^\^--
riou;j, the moll powerful entrance, the, ftare,%lv Oaing.
that we can imagine next to his return agiin, was
when a (lain, oaickened, afcended Lord lefus :u rran^s
nature entered into the heavenly places; not ib^^j>'^-
ies made with hands ^ hut into heaven itfelf fays the
apoftle. As long as he is there'we are there, -ior all
his peoples cafes. \;7iil be miiided effetoally.
idlyy It is ealled appearing before God for i^?, not
only entering ij> our nanae, but ftaying there on our
■■' behalf
2 68 The Jledfa/i Adherence to Serm. XVIIL
behalf, for our good^ To this purpofe feems the
word of our Lord to point : The fpirit Jhall convince
the world cf right eoufne/s ; why fo ? Becaufe^ I go to my
Father^ and ye fee me no more. This is a dark exprefTion,
I go to my Father^ and ye fee me no more. The meaning
of it is plainly this, that the certainty of our juflificati-
on by the virtue of the righteoufnefs of Jefus Chrift
ftands in this, that the perfon whofc blood wrought
cut this righteoufnefs is gone into heaven, and is not
returned again. Pray obferve, the high-prieft un-
der the law, was to go in, and accomplifli righteouf-
nefs for the atoning of God's anger againfl: Ifrael, in
the feventh month once, and he was to come out a-
gain, the poor man was not ftay there : But our
grand high-prieft is to ftay for ever in heaven, until
all the virtue of his death is fully applied to them
that it was appointed for : when all that is done, then
he comes out of his throne, in the clouds to gather
all his people.
3^/y, His intercefTion is exprelTed to us by his
knowledge and fympathy, with the ails, wants, and
infirmities of his people. So the apoflle argues, See-
ing then that we have a great high-priejl^ that is paf
Jed into the heavens^ J^f^^ ^he Son of God^ let us hold
fajl our prof ejfton, Heb. iv. 14. Bur, might the poor
believer fay, our dear Lord is pafTed into heaven,
and we are here in this miferable world ; how (hall
there be converfe betwixt him and us f We have not,
fays he, an high-priefl which cannot be touched with
the feeling of our infirmities ; but was in all points temp-
ted like as we are^ yet without fin^ ver. 1 5. Pray ob-
ferve, that of the apoflle's argument, the main thing is
implied, the other things are but the out-fide of it.
The thing that is the out-fide, is, Chrift was once
tempted as we are ; the apoftle's argument from
thence is. Therefore we have an high-prieft, that can
be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but
the force and the fcope of it is, for our confolation,
ibat he is touched w^ith them ) what his glorified ftate
does
Serm. XVIII. the Profefion of our Faith. 269
does admit of, is what we cannot conceive of, but
what our neceffities crave, our faiih is allowed to ex-
pert. Our Lord will not cry and weep at Liz.iius's
grave now ; he will not grieve in himfelf, becaule oi
the hardnefs and unbelief of their heart?, as he did
when on earth ; he does not besr our iiiiirTiitie- nor
feel them with that aiHifling feu fe and forr-jv^ ?; ^ iic
had in the days of his ilefh ; but every ibin^/ihat .uls
a poor believer, is as well felt and as really knowa
by our Lord Jefus, as if Chrift and the man were ia
one place-and room together.
Laflly^ His intercefiion Hands in bleflinf^, aiid willi-
ing well. Thefe wlflies and x\{vj> blefuxng riTe up-
ward to the Father, and come downwards to iisj he
wifhes as it were, he wifhes and wills that all the
bleffings purchafed by his death may be beftowed on
all them for whom his blood was (lied. See how he
expreiTes it in his iniercefTion on earth, how ho prays.
Father^ I willy that they alfowhom thou haft given me'^he
with me where I am^ John xvii. ^'4. is that a word for a
man in prayer to hy^Lord I will f You fee how in feme
cafes cur Lord with the deepeft humility addreiles
the Father, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven
and earth, Matth. xi. 25. But here now, when he is
giving us a copy of his intercefiion, and is fore-a«^ing
bis intercelTion in heaven, he puts on the authority
that in his glorified (late he is fully clothed with : /
willy thai they alfo whom thou haft given vie, may he
with me where I am ; that they tnay behold my glory
which thou haft given me, Chrifrs blelTiag of his peC"
pie Is the virtue of his interceffion ; when his wifhes
as it were, and his will is delivered 10 his Fail.:,
then the bkiTing wifhed for comes down upoL us.
The laft thing our Lord did on earth (liould beden-
10 us, to think how Chrift and his people parted ; he
lifted up his hands andbkfTed them, that they might
remember him as long as they" lived. Chriii ca^ne
into the world to blefs his people, and died to obtain
a blefling; and when he went to heaven, he left his
Mm bkiTiDg
2 70 The fledfajl Adherence to Sehm. XVIIt.
bleffing upon them ; and it was the laCt thing he did
upon earth.
APPLICATION,
Is Chrifl: a proper priefl:, a true pried ? i. Be ve-
ry thankliil to God for this provifion, that we have
an high-prieft. 2. Be careful to nniake ufeof him.
1. Be highly thankful to God for Chrifl, as a high-
prieft. The provifion made is abfolutely needful, no
dealing with God but by him. .It is provifion that is
made in mere grace and mercy ; nothing is in us to
move God to it but mere nierey. It is provifion that
is made very coftly. To be a high-prieft coft our
Lord a great deal : he made him/elf of no reputaticn^
and took on him the form of a fervant^ and became obe-
dient unto deaths even the death of the crofs, Phil. ii. 7,
8. It is however fuch a provifion, as brought a great
deal of honour to Chrift : He glorified not himfelf^ to
he made an high-prieft^ but his Father glorified hina ;
this is a very ft range word, Heb. v. 5. This high-
prieft was to be made a facrifice : was there any great
glory in being made a facrifice ? To be made fin, to be
made a curfe, to be made fliame, to be made as it
were the channel of the wrath and difpleafure of
God, for all the fins of the people of God ; where is
the honour of all this ? But look through this ; there
is grand honour, he is to be the reconciler of all
things to God, the great umpire of heaven and earthy
the great purchafer of eternal falvarion for all the e-
lecl. The condefcenfion and iownefs that our Lord
ftooped to in undertaking this office, had great
dignity in it; and fo it appears in ihe iiTue, and will
appear more when all is done.
2. Be careful to ufe Chrift as an high-prieft. Wo
to them that do not know Chrift ; but a great deal
more wo to them that know any thing ot him, and
do not make ufe of him. Every believer hath need
of every thing that Chrift has to give. Chrift's ful-
nefs
Serm. XVIII. the Profejfion of our Faith. 2yi
nefs was never To laid open before the eyes of a be-
liever, but the more he fees Cbrifl hath, the more
the man is convinced of his need of every thing he
fees. In this.ufing of Chriit as an high-pried, only
take notice of thefe two particulars.
iy?5 Never deal with God without him in any
thing. It is only the pride, and ignorance, and folly
of the children of men, that they dare venture into
God's prefence without Chrifl Jefus. An underftand-
ing believer cannot do fo. He dares not come into
God's prefence, but in the hand of this great hli^h-
prieft, and with him upon his heart. Do not offer,
1 fay, in any concern, to deal with God without this
high-priefl. Judge ye what would have been done
in the ftate of the church of the Jews, if any man had
brought his facrifice to the altar, and laid his own
hands upon it, and faid, This facrifice is mine, and
1 will be prieft myfslf. That foul had been cut off
from amongfi: his people. This was but typical of
the fevere charge we lie nnder. In all things that
pertain to God, wemuil: (lill bring Chrilt along with
us. I will name foTie of thofe things, that we muil
not deal with God in without him, and that we muil
deal with God by him, and with him.
(i.) When we draw nigh to God for the accep-
tance of our perfons, and obtaining p.?ace with God ;
this mufl be by our great high-prieft, for it is in
the beloved only that we are accepted. Eph. i. 6. It
is in his Son only that he is well pleafed. If ever you
think to bring that to God that may make him love
you, or that will render you lovely in his fight with-
out Chriii Jefus, you will find yourfelves dreadfully
miftaken, when it comes to the iffue.
(2.) In all the offerings of fervice to him let theia
be all by the hand of this high-pried. If you pray,
pray in his name, and not in your own ; if you offer
the facrifice of praife, do it by him : By him let us
offer the facrifice of thankfgiving. Whatever you do,
do all in the name of the Lord Jefus. This great
M m 2 high-
2 72 The ftedfajl Adherence to Serm. XVIIL
high-piiefl: mafl receive all oar fervicesand facrifices,
and he only nitirt pre Tent them, if" ever they be ac-
cepted, Hcb. xiii. 15.
(3.) In all your expe£lations of good from God.
Let ail rhefe expe£latioDs be through Chrift, if there
be any looking and working of heart, as there will
be if you be believers, in begging fomeihing, and
looking /or ioajewnar. There is no Chriftiao that is
exerci fed in begging much, but that poor creature
wil! find fome expeifraiion and hope rifing, that there
flia?i be W" .nfwer of peace, there will come fome
good, 10 : buffing will be returned. Now, take
heed of thi^^ in all theie expectations, let thcanfwer
of them all be ihfough Chrift.
In fum. The eyes of a believer are to be fixed in
Chrilt, in all his dealings with God, (if I may divide
tiiem {q.^ and this dividing, is but uniting, the eyes
of faiih that are fixed on Chrill). The one eye is to be
fet on his oblation, and the other on his inierceffion 5
7.v^<^ when your eyes are fixed, ferve God as painfully,
and expert as highly as you pleafe ; afk as largely,
and expeft as confidently according to his word. Then
your eyes are fmgly upon this bigh-priefl fet over the
houfe of God when your hearts bear you witnefs, and
you are' perfuaded in yourfelves, that there is no-
thing in you, nothing done by you, that can ever
turn to a good account in God's fight, uniefs this
great high-prie(l put incenfe thereto, and obtain ac-
ceptance from God for you.
SERMON
Serm. XIX. the ProfeJJion of our Faith. 273
SERMON XIX.
Hebrews x. 21,
Having an High Friejl over the houfe of God*
TH E apoflle prefTing the great duty of drawing
near to God, prelles it from mighty arguments.
The flrength and muhitude of the arguments are fo
many implied proofs of the backwardnefs of our hearts
unto this great work, and of their great indifpofition
for it. His arguments, as you have heard, are all ta-
ken from Jefus Chrift, concerning whom the apoftle
fpeaks and holds forth the ir.yfteries of the gofpel,
under the veil of the expreiTions of the law ; that, by
the blood of cur Lord, accefs with boldnefs is made
unto the hoi i eft ; that through the veil of his flefh,
that is, him as (lain, we have a new and living way
confecrated for us.
The third encouragement is, That this Jefus is a
great Pried over the houfe of God. There was no
approaching to God's worfhip under the law but by
the priefts ; the altar was not to be approached to,
nor facrifice to be offered by any hand but that of
the priefts ; the holieft of all was not to be approach-
ed but only by the high prieft. This the apoftle
here alludes to : We have, faith he, an High Prieft
over the houfe of God. All the Jewifti priefts, all
of the order of Aaron are removed, and the ufe of
the temple is removed alfo, and all the fervice and
ceremonies that belonged to it, are removed alfo :
but the fubftance that they all fignified we have ; we
have Chrift as an High Prieft over the houfe of God.
From this argument for our encouragement, that the
apoftle
2 74^ "^^^^ P<^f(^fl Adherence to Serm. XIX.
spcllle here gives us, 1 did take up three things to
be fpoke to in order.
i. The office of our Lord Jefus, .that though he
be nor Darned, yet he is named immediately before
and quickly after, and all the apoflle's difcourfe was
of hiiii : therefore there -was no hazard of any man's
Kiiliaking ; when the apoftie named the High Priefl,
every Chriflian would underhand whom he meant,
2. We have the extent of his charge in his office;
it is over the houfe of God*
3. We have the church's intereft in him : Having
an High PrieJI, It, is true, that word in the original
is warning, which is to be drawn from the preceding
verfe ; but it is neceiTarily implied ; this is certain ia
the fenfe of it, we have an High Pried.
Of the firft of thefe, Chrifi's office, I fpake lafc
day," That our Lord Jefus Chrift, in the great work
of iaving of men, was and is a true and proper Priefc.
1 fpake both of his inftalment in his office, of the
types and fhadows of his office, and the parts of his
office in the oblation that he made, and in the in-
terccffion that he doth daily make, for cur Lord is
about part of his prieftly office now. Thefe things I
did fpeak to, and entered a little upon the applica-
tion thereof.
Now it remains to take a little further notice of a
word 1 obferved to you before, becaufe it is fingular,
1 would not pafs it, but fpeak foraething to it apart.
The note is this, That our Lord Jefus Chrift is a great
High Pried. I told you that this word that w^e read
here in our iranllation an High FrieJ}^ is not the or-
dinary Greek word by which the high pried is ex-
preiTed ; but it is a fmgular word very different from
what we find in other places of fcripture, a great
friejl, Tliere is fomething Gngular to be obferved
in every iota, in *the fmalled particle of the word of
God. This then is that that 1 would fpeak 11;, what
is pointed forth to us about Chrid's priedhood, when
fie is called a great Priejl,
I. He
Serm, XIX. the Prof ejfjon of our Faith. 275
1. He is a great Prieft, becaufe he is a great per-
fon. He is God's own Son, God's own equal. Tho*
he be man, and converfed among men, the per Ton is
more than man, be is God. If we therefore confi-
der this, that this Prieft, Chrid Jefus, is God, he
muft be a great one. The greatcft prieds that ev-er
were in the world were men. Melchifedec was cer-
tainly a man, though we know Nothing of his pedi-
gree; the Holy Ghofl: conceals it, and makes good
ufe of that concealment, he being the grand type of
the prieflhood of Jefus Chri(t.
2. Our Lord Jefus is a great Pried, for, by the
virtue of his priefthood, he makes all whom he un-
dertakes for priefts; For he hath made us kiyigs and
priejis unto God and his Fathei\, Rev. i, 6r Ht' hath
made us kings and prieJIs unto God^ Rev. v. 10. 7e
are anholy priefthoody 1 Peter ii. 5, 9. Tbefe things
I pafs, as not conceiving them to be of fo tolich im-
portance at prefent.
3. Then and mainly Chrift is a great Pried, I>e-
•aufe of his greatnefs in his office, or the greatnefs
of the office he was clothed with. A proper priefl
as under the law, was a fort of mediator betwixt God
and men ; and this mediatioi" was mod eminently and
folemnly afted and performed in the great day of a-
tenement, when the high pried entered int6 the ho-
lied of all in the name of all Ifrael, and wnrh their
names upon his bread ; never a one of them iiDoa
pain of death mtid follow him ; he brought back the
anfwer of peace from God to them. Our \)(ytd. is a
greater High Pried; ifraeFs fate depended on his
welcome in the holied of all, upon the account of a
far greater office than this. Let us conHder, for the
fhewing of the greatnefs cf the office of Chrid as
High Pried,
\fl\ The greatnefs of the parties he deals betwixt %
he deals betwixt God and creatures ; that is great,
but there is a great deal more ; he deals betwixt an
angry God and provoking finners. That is Chrid's
work.
276 The Jledfajl Adherence to Serm. XIX,
work, 1 fay, that he is a Mediator betwixt God ^^
men, the man Chrid Jefus ; a work that nevei^ any
was fit for, and never any called to, but he alone.
They were but little inferior fhadows that were aded
by fome of the faints of old. We find indeed in the
old teftament, (and there is no reafon to queftion,
but fome may be ^gain in the new, in our days), that
fome have flood, by, faith and prayer, betwixt the
dead and the living, and ftayed the plague ; that when
God hath been angry, and his anger hath begun to
burn, fome of his fervants have flood in the breach
before him to turn his anger away, Pfalm cvi. 23.
That is recorded to the praife of Mofes, Therefore he
/aid that he would dejlroy theniy had not Mofes his cho-
fen flood before him in the breach^ to turn away his
wrathy lefl he fhould deftroy them. If I may fo fpeak,
there was but temporal anger, and a temporal judg-
ment threatened, and a temporal mediator, and a
temporal mercy obtained ; but the mercy is far o-
otherwife here, Chrift undertakes as Priefl betwixt
thefe two great parties, an offended God and a fm-
ful people.
idly^ His greatnefs in his office appears in the great
work he doth in it ; and that is, to reconcile both, to
make up the peace : We are reconciled to God by the
death of his Son^ Rom. v. 10. Therefore being juf-
tified by his blood, we are reconciled to God by the
blood of hiscrofs, Colof. i. 20. What a marvellous
way was this, the taking up this controverfy, that
this great High Prieft's undertaking in this manner
fliould bring about, which otherw^ife was utterly im-
pofTible !
^dly^ His greatnefs in his office appears in the great-
nefs of the facrifice that he offered ; he offered him-
felf ; but who knows the value and worth of th?.ifelff
He gave himfelf a ranfom for ^//, i Tim. ii. 6. Imme-
diately after that he had faid, that there is one Gody
and one Mediator betwixt God and men^ the man Chrifl
Jefus. Sirs, the people that lived when Chrift was
in
SeiIm. XIX. the Profeffion of our Fait hi 277
in the world, and faw him, and heard him preach
that faw him eat and drink, the greateft pan oF them
thought with themfelves they faw no more but a man ;
they could not fee through the veil of his ilcdi, to fee
who dwelt in that temple ; yet there were a few that
did fee : The Word was made fl^Jb^ and we beheld hh
glory ; the glory as of the*only begotten of the Father^
full of grace and truths J^^^ J- M- ^^^^ faciiiice that
Chrifl: off:red was hirnreif; thereupon the apoflle
prefers him greatly unto all the priefts of old ; for it
was but the blood of balls, or calve?, or goats, of
creatures meaner and lower than themfelves, than
they offered in facrifice to God ; but our Lord Jefus
Chrifl becomes a greater Pried by a greater offering.
Nothing but the human nature of Chriil could be the
facrifice ; there was more than the man Chrift that
was the prieft : He offered hhnfdf up to God through
the eternal Spirit without f pot ^ Heb. ix. 14, 1 would
be loath to draw people's imaginations unto the know-
ing of Chrin. after the flefli; but whofoever he be
that believeth not that Jefus is come in the fledi, is a
man not born of God. We muft know Chrift's iledi,
we mud know the facrifice, and what made it to be fi)
great. If Chrifl had been only a man, his blood had
been no more than the blood of another man, only
becaufe it was a fmlefs man that made it better ; as
we may fay of the facrifices that were ofFered to ths
praife and fervice of God, by the blood and fuflerings
of many witneiTes of Jefus, they are called facrifices
in the v;ord ; but there is nothing of prieilhood here,
they are not facrifices of atonement or propitiation,
they are but facrifices of praife and tediinony. The
great view that we have, and thar our faith diould
^ttd on about the lacrifice of our Lord, is this, That
there was a piece of man's nature, by the extraordi-
nary operation of the Holy Ghod, framed in the womb
of the virgin, and which was aiTtimed by the Son of
God, and made the temple wherein God dwelt ; there
dwelled the fulnefs of the Godhead bodily ; it. is this
N n temple
2 78 The JJedfaJl Adherence to Serm. XIX
temple of his body that was the great facrifice, to
which all the worfhip, and ♦ruft, and adoration of his
people was rightly directed. For it is certain, that
if our Lord Jefus Chrifl: were in his human nature on
earth, he in that nature is to be immediately, and
formally, and dire6lly adored and worftiipped j they
are never reproved that didjo. When he Was in his
low eftate, the poor woman fell down and worlhip-
ped him, crying, Lord^ help me, Matt xv. 25. Chrifl
liever found fault with that ; but when any poor be-
lievers, in the height of their zeal or refpe£t either to
apoftles or angels, did (oy they were checked imme-
diately : Sland tip^ faid Peter to the centurion, I my"
felf alfc am a 7Jian, A61s x. 26. See thou do it mt, fays
the angel, 1 am thy fellow -Jerv ant, and of thy brethren.
Rev. xix. 10. and xxii. 9.
Laftly, Chrift's greatnefs in his office appears in the
great g^ory that accrues to hira in it, and by it.
(i.) He in and by this office is made the head of
the new creation ; Chrift is made the head of the new
wor'd. As God equal with the Father, and as rhe
eternal Word of God, he made all things, and with-
out him was nothing mide that was made ; by him
were created all things, both angels, and principali-
ties, and powers, all things were created by him and
for hira. Col. i, 15, 16. But now, if 1 may fo fpeak,
there hath entered one thing idro the world, that hath
marred all the creauou ; that is fin. Our Lo|;d came
to repair this with advantage. For be perfuaded of
it, that unlefs the Lord had contrived to have brought
more glory to his name by fm's entrance into the
World, than its entrance could bring dilhonour to him,
it had never entered ; for he does all things for him-
felf ; and the very permitting of fin was an a£l of in-
finite wifdom in God willing his own glory ; and by
Jefus Chriil, as the great High Pried, is this end
reached ; he is made the head of the whole creation ;
all things are reconciled, all things are fee to rights
in
Serm. XIX. the Profefion of our Faith. 279
in him, all things are to be gathered together unto
an head in him as the head.
(2.) There is this glory to our Lord as Priefl, that
makes him a great one, that the everlafling faivarioa
of all the elcdt and redeemed is purchafed by him.
"What an unfpeakable honour is this ? He is the pro-
per caufe of the falvatioa of all that are faved ; he
becomes the captain, head, and author of our falva-
tion ; He is the author of eternal fahatiGn^ Heb. v. 9.
He hath obtained eternal redemption for us^ Heb. ix. 12.
This I would confider a little.more particularly, name-
ly, the glory that comes to our great High Prieft, by
his being the author of eternal faivation.
[i.j We find that all faith in approaches to God
is to be made through him ; all afts of trud Godward
are to be made through him ; No man cowcth to the
Father but bsj him. He faves them that come unto God
by him^ Heb. vii. 25 By him we believe in Gcd^ that
raifed him from the dead-, and gave him glory y 1 Peter
i. 2 I. Ihis is propei divme honour to be a mean of
peace with God ; and that perfon that is ihtTmean of
approaching to God, ?nd that is the object of our
faiih, is always divine. \¥e can approach to God
by no creature, it is an honour too big for them ; but
we may approach to God by Chriit Jefus, for ^the
Father hath confecrated him in this ftation ; He fiif-
fered the ju ft for the ur.juft^ that he might bring us to
God J I Peter' iii- 18.
[2.] All the gracious communicaeion? that are be-
tvyixt God and men, is all through this great High
Pried. This is his glory., this makes him a. great one.
All the gracious communications and feliowdiip, ei-
ther of God's giving to us, or our returning again to
hiiiJ, are all through this great High Prieft ; the
communications, and bkiTing.'^j and privileges to us,
and the return of praife to God again, are all thro'
Chriit.
I.] The communications that are from God to u5,
do all come from Chrid. if you receive them, you
N n 2 know
2 8o The Jlcdfaji Adherence to Serm, XIX.
know which way they come, for they tafle of the
channel.
[i. Our j unification. This is by the redemption
that is in Chrift Jefus, Rom. iii. 24. Whenever a
finner ilands accepted before God, that fiate of ac-
ceptance is owing to this great High Pried ; if God
look gracioudy upon him, if we may (land with con-
fidence in his pret^eoce, it is all ihrough Jefus Chrift.
[2. Our fan^iification is by the Spirit of Jefus*
Whenever fan<51ification is begun, Chrift is formed
within ; whenever fan61ificanon goes on, conforrairy
to Chrift is advanced, and we are going towards per-
fe£lion. Whar is perfeifl: holinefs, but only confor-
mity to the image of his Son ? And to this the Lord
hath predeftinated all his chofec, Rom. viii. 29,
r^ CaradoDiion is throuoh this s^reat Prielt alfo :
Ih bath redee^v.ed them that were under the law^ that
they might receive the adoption 0/ fons. Gal. iv. 5.
[4 Our perfeverance is only owing to Chrift's
grace and pow'er. He is able to make us ftand, and
he will make us ftand. See what the apoftle fays
concerning the poor w'eak towering Chriftian, that is
weak in the faith, Rom. xiv. 4, Our fupports and
encouragements under all our temptations and difficul-
ties are owing to Chrift ; and eternal glory at laft is
owing to him alfo ; he purchafed it for u><, he hath
pofteifed it in our room, and ^receives us to himfelf
at laft ; that where he isy there we may be alfo^ as his
own words are. So,
2.1 Is it as to all returns of fervice unto God a-
gain. Thefe are all to the honour of our great High
Prieft ; that as God difpenfes all his good-wiii and
favour through Chrift, we are to return all fervice
and worftiip to God in him. This 1 would explain to
you in thefe things.
[i. That all the adoration, and worftiip, and obe-
dience, and fervice, call you them by what name
you will, that is now given by Chriftians, is given at
the
Serm. XIX, the Profeffion of our Faith: 28 E
the command of our Lord Jefus. We muft take this
great High Prieft's will as the rule of our worfbip.
So the Lord hath commanded^ is enough for a Chrlf-
tian's confcience ; and where the Lord hath not com-
manded, no tender confcience will aft. Let men talk
what they will, let the authority of men, either of
churchmen or ftatefmen, work as they will, if they
be in matters of the worlhip of God, our great High
Priell muft command it, or we dare not do it. It
had been a great deal better for the intereft of Chrifl's
church in the earth, if the great High Pried had
been better confulted. Confider^ fays the apoille, the
High Prieji and Apojlle of our -profejjion. How many
names hath the Lord Jefus Chrift in the word ? He
is called the Apoflle and the High Prieft of our pro-
fefTion ; he is the Lord our righteoufnefs. Vf e mud
profefs nothing but what he injoias, believe nothing
but what he reveals, do nothing but what -he com-
mands.
f 2. Not only mud all worfhip, and fervice, and 0-
bedience, be done as obedience to him, but it mud
be all done in his name ; that is more, not only at
his command, but in his name. If we pray, it is in
the nam.e of our Lord Jefus Chrid, John xiv. 13. If
we offer up fpiriiual facrifices unro God, it is" by Chrid
our great High Pried, that we are to offer them,
Heb. XV. 15. To offer worQiip to God in the name
of Chrid, is another fort of bufmefs than people com-
monly imagine ; it is to fet about the performance
with an eye to the great undertaking of this great
High Pried.
I 3. It tends to his glory not a little, that the eter-
nal praifes of the faints in heaven will all depend, and
border, and red upon this great Pried our Lord Je-
fus ; that when the heirs of glory are come to the
poffeffion of the inheritance that is purchafed for them,
the praife of this grace will be eternally fung by them.
That fong in Rev. v. 9, 1 1. is a fong of praife to this
preat
282 The Jlecffajl Adherence to Serm XIX.
great Pricft, Worthy is the Lamb that was /lain ^ to
receive power, and riches^ and wifdorti, and Jlrength^
and, hon'cur^ and glory, and hlejftng. 'Thou hajl redeem-
id us to God by thy bloody fays he. Muft not then
Cbrift be a great Prieft, when all the fal vation that
is (iifpenfed on earth is all owing to him, and all the
praife that v/iil be given in heaven will be all paid
to hiin ? Thereupon the apoftle hath that word, 2
Theff. i. 10. When he flmll come^ (fpeaking of our
Lord's fecond coming), to be glorified in his faints.
The greatnefs of Chriit's priefthood will never appear
io fully, as when the whole virtue of his facrifice (hall
be feen, when all the heirs that his blood has bought
(hall appear together, and all the glory and the pof-
feffors thereof.
APPLICATION.
Our Lord Jefus is a great Pried, i. Then let him
he great in your eye. He is great in himfelf, great
in his cfHce, great in his Father's eye ; let him be
alfo great in yours. Low, and common, and mean
thoughts of Chrift are very ordinary, and very finful.
If people would take the apodie's exhortation, Heb.
iii. I. Confide r the High Fnef of our profejfwn ; if peo-
ple would take a more near and clofe view of Jefus
Chrift in his office of a Pried, what a beautiful fight
would they fee ? Chrill always rifes in mens efteem,
according as he is bright or dark in their eyes. Every
man efteems Chrift highly, that knows him clearly.
It is impoiuble, but the beams of the faving difco-
very of Chrifl: muft imprint upon the foal unfpeakable
apprehenfions of his greatnefs and value. See how
the apoille fpeaks of him ; that very word is enough
to make one have high thoughts of Chrift, if they
were heard by faith ; Heb. i. 2, 3. God- — hath in
thefe Lift days fpoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath
appointed heir of all things y by whom alfo he made the
worlds. Who being the brightnefs of his glory ^ arid the
eicprefs
Serm. XIX. the Profcfjfton of our Faith. 282
es'prefs image of his ferfon^ and upholding all things^ by
the wordofidisfower, Muft not this be a great per-
fon now, that is the very brightnefs of the Faiher's
glory ? that is, another perfon, but the fame God ?
and exa£lly like him ? What docs ih s great one now ?
He upholds all things by the word of his power ;
he made all things of nothing in the beginning, and,
by the fame word of power, keeps all things from
droppmg again into nothing. What more ftatelv caa
be faid in the word of the divine dignity of his per-
fon ? Now, in the next word, he comes to fpeak of
his office, when he had by himfelf purged our fins ^
How marvellous was it that fo great a perfon (hould
come down for fo mean and fordid an employment as
to purge our fms ? A prince removing dung from his
own (table is a mean thing in regard of this : he did
not commit this great work to another, but he did it
himfelf ; he purged our fins by himfelf, that is, him-
felf offered in facrifice for fms.
2. Have a care that you make ufe of Jefus Chrld
as a great Pried,
ly?. Bind this matter upon your confciences, that
the greatefl: fm, or the greatefl: duty, that is commit-
cd or performed by men, lies here. The greateft
fm is not improving Chrift, the greatefl: duty is ufmg
him in that ftaiion the Father hath fet him in. 8ee
fays the apoftle, that ye refufe not him that fpeaketh^
Heb. xii. 25. Pray, obferve what the conneiTrioa is,
Te are come^ faith he, ver. 24. unto Jefus the Ahdia-
tor of the nezu covenant^ and to the blood of fprinkltng^
thatfpeaketh better things than that of Abel. See then
that ye refufe not him that fpeaketh. If Chrift come
to fpeak to you as a Prieft, if Chrid come to you by
his blood ; take heed, that you refufe not him that
fpeaketh : there is no efcaping, if you turn away from
him that fpeaketh from heaven*
2dly^ As you would be careful to make ufe oFChrld
as a Pried to you, fo you (hould learn to (lo it confi-
dently. Wc Ihall have further cccafion to fpeak of
the
284 The JledfaJ} Adherence to S£rm. XIX.
the coDfidcDce of faith which is allowed, in the next
verfe ; yet I would not pafs it now, when it is fo
needful to fpeak of .this great duty, this great grace
of making: u^e of and improving of this great Prieft.
It (hould be done with confidence.
I. With confidence as to the greatnefs of his of-
fice, and the fufficiency of his facrifice. Lay that
down and fettle upon it, whenever you come to a£i
faiih on Chrifl: for the pardon of your fins, and bring-
ing you into the favour of God, Remember, you
come before God in the name of a High Prieft, whofe
facrifice is great. There are many great obje£lions
that hinder confidence ; I will name a few of them,
and I will tell you where their anfwer only lies. You
may try and iearch for other anfwers, and the an-
fwers may pleafe fometimes for a little while.
The firfl: obje^lion is this, " Shall I draw near to
*« God ? I have to do with a great God." So you
have ; in all your dealings with God about falvation,
you have to do with a great God ; his majefty when
it is difcovered, unlefs Chrift be difcovered alfo, is
one of the grandeft (bakings of faith : Wo is me^ faith
Ifaiah, / have feen the holy One of Ifrael.
The fecond objection is, " 1 am a great fioner."
The third is, " That the law h a great and awful
*' law, that I am to anfwer to."
All this is true. What (hall a man do with this ?,
Will God grow lefs, will the law be unbinded, or thy
fin removed ? No ; they (land all as they are, an in-
finitely great God, a vile guilty fian.er, a righteous
holy law, that cannot be defeated.
The only anfwer is here. If I have a great God to
deal with, and if I am a great finner, and if a great law
to reckon with ; I have a great High Prieft, and 1 can
fet this alone againft all thefe : he is a High Prieft
whofe facrifice is of a fweet-fmelling favour before
the great God ; the virtue of it cleanfeth fin, and the
virtue of it fulfils the law. The apoftle therefore,
when he is giving the grand foundation of a Chrlftian's
faith,
Serm. XIX. the ProfeJJlon of our Faith. 285
faith, lodges ir all upon this great High Pried : Who
/ball lay any thing to the charge of GocTs eled f It is
God that juJliJiL'th. But how can God juftify ? It is
Chrifl that diedy fays he, yea rather, that is rifen a*
gain, who is even at the right hand of God, who afo
inaketh intercefpon for us. His dying is the oblatioa
of this great High Priefl-, his rifing again is the ap-
plication thereof, Piom. viii. 33, 34.
(2.) In your making ufe of Chrifl: as High Pried
betwixt God and you, you mufl: do it not only wiih
confidence of the worth and virtue of the facrifice,
but with confidence as to your right to make ufe of
it. Here is a common deceit that Satan hinders the
peace of many a poor Chrifiian by ; the greater our
fhame ; his cunning is not fo great as our folly is great.
The common thought of men is this, there is no doubt
but that Chrrif is a great Pried, and that his fjicrilice
is a great facrifice, happy are they fhat have the vir-
tue of it ; but what right have 1 to make ufe of it.
The meaning of this queilion. What right have i ?
is com.monly this. May 1 adventure upon^ it without
fm ? This is undeniable that thou mayfl ; for there
are thefe three things I would lay before you,
[i.] God commands thee, whoever thou art, to
deal with him about falvatioo. Pray lay this down
for a coDciufion ; it is the certain revealed mind and
will of God, that every man and woman, how great
fmners foever they be, (liould deal with him about
their falvation. God never allows men to run to hell,
neither in fecurity, nor in defpair ; but he proclaims
his difpleafure a^ainli thofe that do cither way. If
men run to hell deeping or roaring, and depart from
God with a tormenting confcience, they are both con-
demned Juflly. This then is a principle, that is fome
way befriended by the light of nature, the only true
God commands me in his Vvord to deal with him about
falvation ; and fmce his patience has kept me out of
fe'ell, he allows me to lay hold of his grace, for the
preventing of that dreadful ruin.
O o [2,]
286 TJje Jledfajl Adherence to Serm. XIX,
[2.] God forbids thee to deal with him about fa!-
varion ia any other name, but in Chrifl's name. That
is as plain as the other. As God would have men
mind their faivation, and glorify biin in feeki'ng for
it from him ; fo he forbids them exprefly, to come
about falvation in any name bnt Chriit's : There is no
Jahution in any other : for there is none other name un-
der heaven given among men zvhtrthy we muft bejaved^
A£ls iv. 12. There are two things that are prerry
plain : God commands us \o deal with him about fal-
vation, and not to go to hell quietly and tamely ; and
he forbids us to deal with him about falvation in any
name but Chrifl's.
[9/. He has revealed and fet forth Chriil Jefus un-
to men in the gofpel to be thus made ufe of: Rom.
iii. 25. Whom God hath fet forth to be a propitiation ^
through faith in his blood, As really as the brazen
ferpent was ere^ed upon the pole, that the flung If-
raelites might look and Jive ; (o truly is Chrift Jefus '
held forth in the gofpel, that every man that has a
TTiiijd to f<^vation may look to him and get ir. All
men that live where the gofpel is preached have alike
right to believe on Chriil Jefus ; no man has a right
in Cbrift, lill he is a believer. There are fecrct'pur-
pofcs and thoughts in God's heart where to apply his
grace; but in the pubhc difpeofafions of ir, all men
are^like afar off, and all have alilie equal right to be-
lieve. There is not a poor creature i:)pon the face of
the earth, that lives where the gofpel is preached,
but he has as much right to believe on ChriO for the
falvation of his foul, as Saul had when he went ta_
Dcmafcus. Indeed an atflual rigb.t follows fairh.
Doe^ God command you to treat abour falvation with
hiivt ? cioih he forbid thee to treat in any other, but
in ChriiFs name ? harh he revealed Chrill Jefus in
the gofpei, for this end to be made ufe of? How
can the defil prevail with aay creature ever to fall
into this dreadful imagination, 1 am afraid Gcd will
be
Serm, XIX. the ProfeJJion of our Faith. 287
be angry, if I Pnould veoture the burthen of ray lofl
foul upon Chrift Jefus ? Be ye perfuaded of it, that'
murther and adnirery, and the greatefr abominaiion?,
are not more difpicafing by yirtue of that command
of the law, than a bare not iipproving of the Son of
God for falvation, h by virtue of the gofpel. This
is the coDdemration, this is that which fends multi-
tudes of poor finners to hell, if I may fb fpeak ; it
fends more to hell in London, than all the profane-
nefs in the niidfl of us ; and until the power of the
gofpel be fent more into the hearts of the people ;
thefe open forts of profaneoefs will never be dellroy-
cd. This confidence is fo far from pride, that it is a
great acl of humility ; and it is only the pride of
mens hearts that hinders this confidence ; they are
unwilling to call themfelves upon this plea alone, to
intruft the whole burthen of their falvation upon this
great Pried alone ; that is the v/ay to make all mif-
carry.
idlyy Make ufe of this great High Pried entirely
in all things, in all things wherein you need him^ in all
things wherein he may be ufeful to you. We mnd:
ufe our High Priell about our good things, aa well
as about our bad. A great many poor creamrcs are
fo ignorant, i hope fome may be Chriilians that are
fo ignorant, but this may be, and it is certain with
many of them, that whenever they come to tre:u wiih
God about their fm, then they know they mnfl treat
with him by Chriii Jefus j but waen they treat with
God about their fervices, and when they prefent their
grace, and faith, and repentance, and love, ajid wor-
ihip, they do not fee {o much need of the High Pried:,
if you make right ufe of Chrifl as the High PrieU:
over the houfeof God, remember this, that you muit
ufe him as really, as humbly, as entirely, in prefent-
ing your good vrorks to God for acceptance, as in
pleading for pardon for your bad ones.
^ihlyy Make ufe of Chrid as a High Prieil: con-
ilanily. There may be fuch a wcaknefs amongd
O o 2 fome
i88 The fledfnjl Adherence to Serm. XIX.
forre believers, that they think, that when they be'
gah urll upon godliaefs, they flood in need daily o
ilie High Priefli they are weak and feeble : but af"
ler they have got a great deal of experience, they
hope that that experience and the means oF grace may
do pretty well with them. And that is the reafon,
why fo many do fo very ill. No Chriftian can ever
oiuiivg the neccfary of employing Chriil: as High Prlefl:
in all the (leps of his life ; and in the lad (Icp thro'
death we muil fliil lea^n upon this High Prieft ; we
go by our High Priefl within the veil leaning, and
going through the veil of his flefti. And truly I am
afraid, the Lord prevent it in you mercifully and gra-
ciouiiy, there are many worfe things to be afraid of;
I am airaid of fame Chriitians, that their bed a<^s of
faith on Chriil Jefus are at their lad, that their be-
lieving through the courfe of their pilgrimage is a lit-
tle mingled and mixed with fomething of themfelves;
aud 'vhen they come to the awful and dreadful (lep,
and look death and judgment in the face, then they
throw all away to the moles and bats ; then their re-
nouncing their own righteoufnefs, is no gre^t buiinefs
to a believer.
Lajtly^ Ufe him delightfully, ufe him with plea-
fare. Sirs, the condraint of confcience is good where
there cau be no better : but I would lead you to a
better conflraint, and that is the conflraint of love:
The kve of Chrijj conjlrains me, fays the apoftle, to
live to him. There is no man ever will be in heaven,
but he that loves heaven, and no man walks in the
way to heaven, but he that loves that way. There
is a perverfe love of heaven, and a midaken love of
the way to it ; and if people could examine their
hearts, and iiod the matter thus with them, I may
fay in a word, there is a determination about your
ftate, A Chriftian loves heaven becaufe Chrid is
there, and there he is feen and enjoyed ; and a Chrif-
tlaa loves the way to heaven, becaufe it all lies thro'
Cbnd : / live by the faith of the Son of Gody who
loved
Serm, XIX. the ProfeJJion of our Faith, 2S9
loved me ^ and gave himfelffor me. The virtue of the
facrifice, giving himfelf for me, is the very Itrengch
of my life ; whenever 1 would be recovered, and re-
frefhed, and (Irengthened, I take a meal by faith of
this love, and of his giving himfelf for me, and do it
delightfully. 1 know that there is fomething of the
Dew nature, that does prompt every believer to fome
fpiritual pleafure in all a£lings of faith ; but fome-
times this is not fo very remarkable. Says the apoftle,
Te fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope fet before you.
Great dangers conftrain people in a manner to rake
the firft way of efcape ; but the believer comes to fee
what a glorious refuge Chrid is, that not only is he
a fure defence, but a glorious habitation ; he bleffes
the danger that drove him, as well as the grace that
welcomes him ; he in a manner blefles the difeafe,
that hath Tent him to fo fweet a phyfician. A great
many make ufe of Chrift as a Prieft, when they can-
not help themfelves otherwife. Let it be your thought.
If there were a poiTibility of doing my matters with
God about falvation, otherwife than by Jefus Chrid,
I would renounce them all, and cake Jefus Chrifl-,
But this is the only way ; it (hould be as our meat and
drink. Believing on the Son of God, will never be
ftrongly done till delightfully done. When the weary
traveller cafts himfelf with delight, as well as with
confidence, upon the (tone laid in Zion, he then feels
the benefit of reft.
SERMON
25:)0 The jleJ/af. Adherence t9 Sekm. XX.
S E R M O N XX.
Hebrews x. 21.
And having an High Fricjl over the houfe of God,
1
H I S verfe contains the third encouragement
which the apoftle draws frooi Jelus Chrift to
flir up believers to approach to God in the right aian-
ner 1 did jTopofe three things to be fpoke to; I
bive fpoke ro the firft of them. The firft thing in
this encouragv^ment is taken from Chrift's office ; he
is a Pried, and a great one. Accordingly I fpake to
ihefe two : i. That our Lord Jefus Chrift as a Sa-
viour is a true and proper Pried betwixt God and
men. 2. That he is a great one ; as it is his office
to be a Pried, he is a great oce in that office. From
tbefe 1 have jpoke.
The iecond thing in the verfe, is that which fol-
lows now to be difcourfed of; and that is our Lord's
charge in this office. AVe are told by the Spirit of
God in the words, that be is a Friejl over the houfe of
God, in it, towards it, and over ir. On this troth,
1 hat Chrift is a great Prieft over the houfe of God,
1 would fpend this time in fpeakiog, and would do it
in this order.
1. Shew you, what is the houfe of God that Chrift's
charge is in and over.
2. What fort of charge and authority he hath in it
and oveftr. Then apply it.
ivr/?. What is the houfe of God that Chrift's charge
lies about and over ? We all know, that there was
of old a typical houfe, and it had a typical prieft,
which was the chief officer over it. Of this there
was a chapge in the wildcrcefs, and a good many
years
Serm. XX. the FrofeJJlon of our Faith. 291
years after they carae to Canaan , the tabernade was
removed in all their journeyings in the wildemers,
and was removed according to God's ordinance and
appointment feveral times ; in the laud ot protnife it
was fometimes in Kirjath-jearim ; the ark was ^ v,rhUc
in captivity ; it was at lait brought to the ciiy or D4-
vid, then fettled by Solomon in the temple, whch
the Lord calls his houfe, 2 Sara. vii..6, 7. This hon'Cc
of God, the temple., was a type of Cariil's body. Sa
our Lord ufes it of his natural body, if i may fo call
it: Dcftroy this temple^ (zyz our Lord, and. I ivill
ratfe it agt/in in three days ; hut he jpake of the temple
of his body, John ii. i(), 20,21. All the glory Ukdt
was in the temple, was but fo many ihadows of the
great glory of that tabernacle wherein God was to
dwellj whera the fulnefs of the Godhead was t--) dwell
in the man Chrift. This temple was typical alfo of
Chi^ft's myftical body, the church : therefore we find
the church often called by this name, the temple of the
living God : Te are the temple of the living God. Oar
bodies are fo, the whole n:an is fo ; : Tim. iii. 15.
That thou mayjl know, h-iiv thou oughtefl to behavs
thyfelf in the houfe of God^ which is the church of the
living God. That we have now no more to do wiih
this typical temple, .it pleafed iht Lord, in the depth,
of his providence, a little while after our Lord Jefus
came in the flejli, and after he had gone to heaven,
and had fulfilled all riglueoufoefs, and had difpatched
all his work ; it pleafed God, I fay, to lay this iCKU-
pie defolate by the hands of ilrangers, and \i remains
a ruin to this day ; and fo perhaps it Vv^ill ro the litt
day. There is now no houfe can be called the houfe
of God, as the temple at Jerufalem w:is. Typical
temples and typical priefts aie all expired with the
ceafing of the levitical fervice ; and it is but an aptng
of this, that Aniiclirifl, and they that would work af-
ter rhe fame fpirit, labour to rear up in the church
of Chrift. What then is the true houfe of God ? The
apoltlc had certainly no laoughts to draw the miadsof
thefs
2^2 The pdfafl Adherence to Serm. XX.
thefe "Hebrews unto the doting upon the outward
>vorldly temple, that he knew was (hortly to be re-
moved and dedroyed. By the houfe of God, that
Chrift's charge is about and over, we are to under-
ftand two things, i. All the matters ; and, 2. All. the
people of God.
I. All the matters of God. All ihofe things where-
in God deals with us, and we with him, our Lord is
concerned about them all : He is a merciful and faith-
ful High Friefi in things pertaining to God^ Heb. ii.
17. Every high prieft is chofen from amongft men
for things pertaining to God, Heb. v. i. Let us look
a little to this.
ly?, In all God's dealing with us, he deals with. us
ahogether by this High Pried. The Lord hath re-
folved, and he keeps his purpofe, that he never will
treat gracioufly with men, bu't only in, and through,
and by Chrift Jefus. (i.) In all the revealings of his
mind to us, they are in and by Chrift Jefus. If ever
God manifeft his will, if he fpeak forth all his mind
unto the children of men, it is by his Son, as the apo-
ftle tells us, Heb. i. 2. (2,) In all his ruling, and ma-
naging, and guiding of his church and people, it is
all done by Chrift Jefus. (3.)^" ^^^ ^^'^ communi-
cations of his love, and grace, and mercy to the chil-
dren of men, they are all given through Chrift Je-
fus. Never did any man obtain a faving blefling im-
mediately out of God's hand, it is all given by Chrift
Jefus.
2dlyy In all our dealings with God, we rauft do fo
too. If God deal with us only by Chrift Jefus, we
muft deal with him, and thereby acknowledge thrs
power that our Lord hath over the houfe of God.
As for inftance, (i.) If ever we fet about the know-
ing of God, or thinking on him, or ftudying of him,
we muft do it all by Chrift Jefus. There is nothing
fo hard to bring your hearts to ; I know it well by
my own : and every one that knows his own heart,
will
Serm. XX. the PrGfeJJion cf our Faith. 29J
will iind it fo ; there is Dothing fo hard as for a per-
fon to confine all his meditations and tbonohts of God
unto tliofe difcoveries that are made of God \^ rhe
face of Chrift Jefas. There are fome natorq^ no ions
wc have of God, and by the light of the word ; thefe
are poliflied in a great many pi*ople ; thereupon you
will find that the religion of a great many folks (a
great part of it) who bear their heads high in Chrif-
tianity before men, lies v;hoily and altogether, if I
may fo call them, in a company of philofopbical
thoughts of the majefly, and power, and attrihntes
of God, and never a thought of God in Chrifr,
Whenever a man thinks o: God out of Chr'.fl:^ he en-
ters immxd lately into a maze and labyrinth, and he
will be confounded and wander unavoidably : Tk^
light of the knowledge of the ghry of God p/mes to us in
the face of Chnfl J ejus ^ 2 Cor. iv. 6. Jf thou haft
feen ?ne, faith our Lord, thou haft fe en the Father afo :.
believeft thou this f John xiv. 9. (2.) In all our
treatings with God for reconciliation, they mud all
be managed in Chrift J^fus. This is one of the mat-
ters, that God is fpecially concerned In thisofEce. It
is a great refledion on Chrift as a High Prieft over
the houfe of God, when a finner offers to make his
peace, or feek his peace from God, without Chrifl-.
No man can come to the Father but by "^iti ; he is
the only introducer of poor men inro Goo's favc ir
and friendfhip. (3.) In all the exercife of grace and
performance of worlhip and duts^, thefe are roarers
of God, thefe are things wdierein we have to da
with God, and in all thefe we muft de.il with (^c^
through Chrift Jefas. Whatever oar facrifices be,
they muft all be olFered up in and by the hand of this
great High Prieft. Never was there a man in ifcis
world, that had fo good a gift to give to God, as that
he durft give it out of his own hand. No, we muft:
put it in Chrift's hand ; and till it come cut of his
own hand, it can never be accepted of God; We are
- built up affiritual hoiife^ to offer up [pi ritual fact '^jicesy
V p ^t-
294 ^^^^ fl^dfaji Adherence to Sehm. XX.
acceptable to God by Jefus ChriJ}^ i Peter ii. 4, 5. So
alfo as to all our expectations from God, all the hopes
that we have of good things from God, are all to be
in Chrift Jefus ; the apoiUe therefore does well call
him Jefus Chrifi^ who is our hope^ i Tim. i. i. That
is the firft thing that is to be'underftood by thehoufe
of God ; all the matters of God, ail things that per-
tain to God, every thing v^'herein God deals with men,
ind wherein men deal with God, he deals with us by
this Mediator and High Prieft, and we muft deal with
him fo too. He knows we cannot bear his immediate
dealings with ns, and we (hould know that we are
not able to deal with him ; therefore the Mediator
is betwixt God and men, that all the affairs of God
and men may be well and fi'ly managed.
2. By the houfe of God, is underftood, in the
word, the people, the church of God, a company of
people that our Lord hath chofen and gathered unto
himfelf in every age. Sometimes they have been
fewer, and fometimes they have been more ; but it
iB a plantation that halh been of i<^ long ftanding, and
there hath been fo many in every age, that doubtlefs
when they come all together, there will be a great
and goodly company ; they are the houfe of God : In
whom you alfo are budded togefher^ fays he, for an ha-
bitation of God through the Spirity Eph. ii. 22. So
much for this thing, What this houfe of God is, that
Chrift's charge is over ; all matters of God, and all
the people of God.
Thefecofid thing to be fpoke to i.^ what is this au-
thority that Chrift has over this houfe of God ? I will
name a few of the general properties of it, and give
you a few of the inltances thereof, that may give fome
underflanding of the nature of it.
i. This authority that our Lord hath is divine,
though delegated, though commiiTioned. All com-
mifiion from God is not divine, is not fo divine as
Chrill's authority is. The apoftles had their autho-
rity from Jefus Chrift, yet thdr auihority was but
that
Serm. XX. the FrofeJJion of our Faith, 295
that of men ; whatever power they are clothed with;
it was ftill in the name oF another, in the name oF
God. Bat our Lord Jefus comes in his own name,
and in the name of his Father ; his power, though
delegated, is divine, becaufe the perfon is fo ; fo
that all the refpeft that we owe to divine authority iu
its moft glorious exertings and exc'rclfes, is due to
the Son oF God. He hath committed all power to
him, that ail mm jhould honcur the Son, as they ho-
nour the Father, He that honoureth not the Son, ho-
7}oureth not the Father which hath fent him, Joha
V. 23.
2. This authority of our Lord's is unlverfii] and ab-
folute ; it is over all things, it is over all things' with
reference to his church and people. The immediate
exercife oF his charge as Prieft is about the houfe of
God, but every thmg befides, as it may ferve that.
So fays the apoille, And hath put all things under
his feet ^ and gave him to he the head ever ail things
to the church,^ Eph. i. 21, 22. He hath put all things
under his feet ; therefore it is evident, that there is^
Dothing that is not put under him, as the apoPile ex-
a£liy reafons upoj Pfal. viii. in Heb. ii. 8. In that hs
Jaith all things are fut under him, it is evident, that
there is nothing left that is not put under him ; where
we have the Spirit of God, \i\ the new tedamenr,
giving a full meaning of the Spirit in the old. This
au'hjriy that Chrift hath over the houfe of God, is
altogciher inco^nmanicabie ; there is none but he
that is God's fellow and equal, th^t is worthy of this
honour, nor able to manage this great truft ; there
is none capable of this trufl: but Chrifl Jefus ; no men,
no angels have a (hare in it. None of the apollles
ever had a fiiare in an authority over the houfe ot God:
they had but the power of fervants and minifters iu
the houfe ; they were not lords in it ; as the fame
apodle in Heb. iii. does mod elegantly compare Mo-
fes and Chrift: Mofes was faithful in all his houfe ;
but bow ? as a Jervant, faith he : hut Chrifl a^ a
P p 2 *^on
7^6 The Jledfafl Adherence to Serm. XX.
8on over his own kovfe ; wkoje houfe are we^ verfe 6.
This now is the gercial nature of this great authori-
ty that our Lord Jefus, as High Pried, hath over the
honfe of God ; it is divine, it is abfoluie in all things,
it it; cominunicable to none, it palTes not from him to
any body. The firft typical priedhood v^'as put into
Aaron's har^ds ; when be died, it was left to his (on,
and fo from one to another's fon ; fays the apoftle,
Tkey could not contiitue in their office by rerjon of death :
but this mariy hecaufe he continueth ever^ hath an un-
changeable friefrhoGd^ Heb. vii. 24. It were well
tbeii. ' fo :.>e, thai the name of a prieft had been
bunt! J In the ruins of the temple ar Jerufalem : for
tha-. ? ame and the office did alone belong 10 that con-
* fliturion, and is quite foreign to the miniftry of the
gofr)ei : i)u: Actichrift hath brought it in, as he
makes himfelf the grand high-priefl, and ordinary
rainrftiTs as underlings unro him : and he hath framed
a fciCfifice for them, which is the very abomination
of abominable Popery ; he has a prieftj and altar,
and facrifice, for they will be perpeiually together ;
where there is no altar, nor facrifice, wherefore
fliould there be a priefl ? If our Lord hath offered
the grand facrifice, and be the everlaRing Prieft, and
about his work in heaven, and hat^^ ended z\\ his work
on earth, there is no work for any man under that
name, and in that office upon earth.
Now, the other thing that I promi fed to fpeak to
about the power of our Lord, is to (liew you fome
particular iuftances of it, that we may not reft only
in generals about Chrilt's power over the houfe of
God.
I Chrifl's power over the houfe of God is feen in
this, that he callerh and bringeth into the houfe of
God whom he will ; he calls ilraogers, he hath the
key of the houfe cf David, and he opens when he
will, and (luirs when ^c will, Rev. iii. 7. T>c any of
you partake of the grace of God f are you brought
in
Serm. XX. the FrofeJJlon of our Faith, 297
^n truly to this fpiritual houfe of God ? All the thanks
is owing to this great High Prieft. Our Lord
puts forth his power and faves whom he will : he
brings men to God ; he follows after (Iraogers ; he
knows them well. There is not an elecl perfon in the
purpofe of God, and there is not a redeemed perfon
in the defign of Chrift's dying, but our Lord knows
them, and will purfue them, and follow them, and
overtake them and bring them in ; Other fheep^ fays
he, / have^ which are not of this fold ; them alfo I
vmft brings and they f hall hear my voice ^ John x. 16.
2. Chrift's power over the houfe of God fs feen
in this, that he difpenfes and difpofes the treafure
of the houfe as he fees good. All the riches of this
great houfe of God are ^iven forth by our Lord Je-
fus, as he thinks good : Unto every one of us, faith the
apoftle, is given grace^ according to the meafure of the
gift of Chiijl^ Eph. iv. 7. No wonder that our Lord
has great power in difpenfmg his grace, for it is all
his own ; all that is given out of his houfe is the pur-
chafe of his blood, and whet he bath dearly bought,
that he might be the Lord thereof: Of his fulnefs
have all we received, and grace for grace.
3. Chrift's power over the houfe of God is feea
in this, that he welcomes all his people to the raanfi-
ODs in his Father's houfe, which he has prepared for
them. After he hath brought them into the lower
houfe here, and hath enriched them as he fees good,
he at laft brings them into his prefence above, and
they enter by him as the gate. John xiv. 2, 3. our
Lord fpeaks of his going to prepare a place for them,
and of his receiving them to himfelf. The crown of
eternal life is given particularly by Chrift Jefus to eve-
ry faved one, as certainly as every bit of faving grace
is Chrift's hte. gift. Now, the crown of eternal glo-
ry is his free gift : Loaking for the mercy of our Lord
Jefus Chrifl unto eternal life, faith the apoille, Jude,
verfe 21. They are vain lookers for the mercy of
our Lord Jefus Chrift unto eternal lifcj that are re*
2^3 The ftedfajl Adherence to Serm* XX.
jet^ers of the mercy of our Lord Jefus in fitting us
for eternal life now. But a poor believer that hath
paiiaked of eternal life in its feed, and hath receiv-
ed a grt'jt d. al of Chrifi's mercy, this man may eafily
expci^l:, and confidently look for the greateft at lalt ;
he that hath lived upon Chrift's grace and mercy
all his days may expc£l the laft gift when he (lands
in need of it, and when our Lord's time is to give
it.
Lafily^ The hft indance of Chrid's great power
over the houfc of God is in his coming again, and
fetching the whole family together. Now heaven is
filled with the fpiiits of jufl men made perfect, as
Chilli calls them. We do not know how heaven is
filled now ; fometimes we fee believers expiring, and
they breathe cue their breath, and leave a carcafe
lying upon the bed ; we can tee no further ; how
the immortal foul maketh its paffageinro the heavens,
and is received there, paiTeth our underftandings.
But there is one filling of heaven that is a- coming,
which every one of you will be witneffes of, God grant
you may be joyfal witneffes thereof; that is, when
pur Lord Oiall come again, and gather the dud of his
people, and raife up glorious temples out of their
vile bodies, and iliall carry up foul and body to hea-
ven. This is a proof, Lfay, of the lad great iaftancc
iof Chri{t*s power over the hou(e of God, that as he
didi afcend himfelf, and entered heaven with Ivis own
blood, having obtained eternal redemption ; fo the
day is coming, and may be nearer than you appre-
hend, when he (liall come again and gather all his
people, and judge then:!, and fave them, and carry
them up 10 heaven, and prefent them to the Father.
The one is as fure as the other. And as it is ap'
pointed unto men once to die^ but after this the judg-
ment : fo Cbrift ivas once offered to hear the fins of
many ; and unto them that look for himfhall he appear
the fecond timey without ftn unto fahation. As if the
iapoitic had (aid. As furc as Chriil died without the
gates
Serm. XX. the ProfelJton of our Faith. 299
gates of Jerafalem, and there were thoufand;> thea
aiive that knew it and faw it, as fure as that was, he
will nnakc another appearance without (in ro faiva-
tion, to all them that look for him. This is the lafl:
aci: of our Lord's conducl in his great guidance of the
houfe of God, that he then pais down all power,
and authority,- and rule, and lays ':S\dit his orv^n medi-
atory difpenfaiion of the kingdom, that Gcd may be
all in all, as the apoftle fpeaks of it, i Cor. xy* 26.
APPLICATION,
Is Chrift a great Pried over the houfe of God?
Then I would, i. Ej^hort you 10 have great and high
thoughts of Chrift Jefas. Pay a great deal of honour
to him. Never think fo highly of Chrift as to be a-
fraid to employ him ; but, in all your employiogs of
him, have a great fenfe of his grandeur and power.
With what reverence, and adoration, and fabmifiion
(hould we employ him, when we exercife faith on him!
Believing on Jefus Chrift, and exercifing faith on him,
trufting him with the concerns of our eternrJ falva-
tion, is one of the moil: bold and familiar, and alfo
one of the mod reverent and awful thiags that a poor
creature can do.
2. Learn to pay your due refpe^l unto, the true
houfe of God, becaufe of its mader's fake. Every
thing that concerns the houfe of God (hoiilJ be re-
garded reverently by us, becaufe it is Chrili's charge,
ly?, All the orders, and all the ordinances of the
houfe of God are to be reverently regarded, becaufe
they are under Chrifl's char,G:e ; he is the Lord and
Mafter of them all. All gofpel-ordi nances are Chrift^s
appointments, and they are to be ufed as fuch ; and
we are to fubmit <o them, and ufe them reverently
as fuch. What our Lord faid of his fapper, may be
faid of every appointment, Do thlsy faith our Lord,
171 remembrance of tne ; hear the word In reTtsembrance
®f Chrid that appelated it ; pray in lemembraace of
him
joo The Jledfaji Adherence to Serm. XX.
him that commands men every where to follow his
example, and to lift up holy hands without wrath and
doubting. All the ordinances and order of his boufe
are to be reverently regarded, becanfe of the Mafter
thereof. The word is the word of Chrift : Let the
word of Chriji dwell in you richly^ Col. iii. i6, This
would make your Bibles dearer to you, and ma*ke you
ufe them fpiritually, if every time you open your
books, you thought, This is Chrift's will, and this is
a. letter to me fent by Jefus Chrift from heaven ; and
he by his Spirit can fpeak them tome, and t by faith
may vent that back in prayer, that may make us true
comfort and converfe with him, as if he were upon
the earth.
2 J/y, There is in Chrift's houfe the dwellers, the
inhabitants ; his people are of the houfe, they dwell
there. That charge our Lord gave, and the Lord
grant its power may reach our hearts : Take heed,
fays he, that ye deffife not one of thefe tittle ones that
believe on me, Matth. xviii. 6, lo. They are little,
they are weak as to a great many things ; wherefore
they may be defpifed. There is a deep providence
of God in this, that there is not a perfect finlefs Chrif-
tian on the earth. I do not believe the world would
like them the better, if they were fo ; I do believe,
if there were a perfe6l holy perfon upon earth, that
perfectly holy perfon would be more perfe611y hated
by all the ungodly than any. But whatever the infir-
mities andf weakneftes of the children of God are,
which things commonly make them to be defpifed,
our Lord w^arns againft it. Now, if I may fo fpeak,
our Lord's argument is not fo great, though it be a
good one, as that which this text does afford. Our
Lord's argument is only drawn from a fmaller thing :
Take heed, that ye defpife not one of thefe little ones that
believe on me ; for as mean as they be, their angels
behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. You
would think it a great thing to have the company of an
angel,
S£RM. XX. the Profeffion of our Faith. 301
angel, you would be loath to defpife an angel ; but
you can defpife a weak filly believer, fays our Lord ;
that weak one that believes in iBe is under the guard
of thefe angels, yea of him who is the iVIafter ol an-
gel?, of our Lord Jefus, who is the head of all prin-
cip?.lities and powers ; take heed therefore you de-
fpife not fuch a believer.
gi/y. There are the concerns of the houfe of God,
that you iliould be concerned about greatly. It is a
(liame to think, how we are ouiftripped by old tcfta-
ment faints in this point. What great things are fpo-
ken of the zeal of the people of God of old 1 The
zeal of thine houfe hath eaten me up^ faith David, ty-i
pically of Chrift. And Pfal. cxxii. 7, 8. For my bre-
thren and companions fakes ^ T will now fay ^ Peace Is
within thee ; peace be within thy walls j and prof per ity
within thy palaces. How much more may. we fay,
ior our Lord's fake, who is the Mader of his houfe,
we wifli well to the church of Chrift. There is a great
want of public-fpiritednefs, and it is a great fign that
God hath no great mind to do any great public work
for his glory, and for his people, in that he hath re-
ftrained the fpirit of due cor-cernment about the houfe
and intereft of Chrift. All men feek their own things,
but no man the things of Jefus Chrill, If a particu-
lar church, and a particular city or land havt the
gofpel in any tolerable quietnefs araongO: them, and -
all is well with them, very unconcerned are they, about
the great difhonour that Chrift fuftains in the world.
For Chrifi-'s fake we fliould be concerned about all
the affairs of his houfe, about the profperity ard ad-
vcrfity of it ; rejoice when it is well with Zion, and
mourn when it is otherwiie.
3. You that have a mind to be in the houfe of God,
to be brought into his favour now, and into his pre-
fence hereafter ; you mu(t\^mind Chrift Jefus, make
ufe of him, for he is fet over the houfe of God ;
you muft enter by him, or you can never come into
this houfe. If .you enter not by him that is the door,
302 The Jledfajl Adherence to Serm. XX.
ye are but thieves and robbers, and will be punilhed
for your trefpafs, rather than coramendably enter-
tained. Now, how (hameful is the pra61ice oi a great
many in this particular ? There are many that do
think they are in God's houfe already, as far as God's
houfe is to be entered into by men on earth, and they
hope they fliall be in God's houfe above for ever ;
whereas in the mean time they have no acquaintance
with JefusChrift, and no employment for him. See
now how men miitake. There are fome that think
they are born in God's houfe, and therefore they
(hall be well, becaufe they are born of godly parents.
There is no man born in God's houfe, no man born
in God's inward houfe ; a great many are born in the
outer courts. There is no man born to good purpofe,
uulefs he be born again. There is no man born in
God's houfe, though I acknowledge, that there is an
exter^ial fcederal right which the children of believers
may have*
Some think they are in God's houfe by education ;
they have light and knowledge, and have been in-
ftru^ed in the ways and things of God from their
youth and childhood : and by the fruits of thefe,
they begin to imagine that furely they are in God's
houfe. There are fome that go yet farther, and they
think they are entered into the houfe of God by their
profeilioa, by their profelled fubjeition to the gofpei*
of Chrift; and 1 acknowledge, that where this is fin-
cerely done, it goes a great way : but that is not a
man's entering into this fpiriiual houfe, but a man's
declaring that he is in it already, and that he defires
to be trained up in it, Unlefs you have a particular
exercife in the employing ChriH to introduce you into
God's prefence : unlefs you have parriciUar experi-
ence, that Chrifl bath taken you by the hand, and
hath brought you in, you have litile to fay for your
being Chrift's. "Our Lord.Jefus Chrifl: is the only
man that can introduce a man into God^s prefence ;
and how fweetly can he do it ? When we fpeak,
we
Serm, XXI. the Frcfejfton of our Faith. 30J
we Qiuft confider that we frame our words with reve'
rence. Oar Lord Jefus, in prer^nting a fioner to the
Father, fays ia a manner, " Father, here is a poor
" one that thou haft given me, and that 1 have re-
" deemed ; he has been wandering from me, and I
*' have purfued, and overtaken, and found, and
" brought him home, and now I prefent him unto
" thee ; Father, welcome this loft fheep." O, when
our Lord as ic were takes a finner in his own hand,
and prefents him to his Father as a returning flieep,
as the apoftle faith, 21?^^ were fcmetimes gone aftray^
hut are now returned to the Shepherd and Bijhop of
your fouls ^ I Peter ii. 25. how fweet, how great, and
how fure is the welcome !
SERMON XXI.
Hebreavs X. 21.
And having an High Friejl over the houfe of God,
YOU have heard again and again, that the fcope
q{ the apoitie, and of the Spirit of God that
guided him in this context, is to encourage believers
in approaching 10 God, by feveral great difcoveries
of Jeius Chrift, and of the great provifion made ia
him for them.
1. That the entrance to the holieft is made by his
Wood.
2. That the way that leads unto the holieft of all,
is through the veil of his flefli.
3. That he is a High Prieft to introduce us, and
JO t>nng us unto God, From this third argument of
(\jl 2 ca-
504 7he Jledfafl Adherence to Serm. XXL
eocouragement that is contained in this verfe, I pro-
pofed three things to be Tpoke to.
1. What that office' is that the apoQle here holds
forth Chrifl: to be in ; he is a High Prieft, a great
one ; the word here is only in the original a great
p'lej}^ our traollators have rendered it an high p^iej} ;
the lime apoflle in chap. iv. 14. calls him a great
Hfgh fried,
2. 1 have fpoke fomething of Chrifl's charge,
whereabout it lies. It is, faith the apoflle, over, or
npon, or in the houfe of God. What this houfe of
God, and what Chrid's power and authority in it,
and over it is, I fpake to you lafl: day. The houfe of
God, is all the matters of God, and all the people of
God, and all things wherein God deals with us. He
deals with us by Chrift ; and in all matters wherein
we deal with God, we muft deal with him by Chrifl.
The high priefl under the law, was a kind of media-
tor betwixt God and men. The immediate approaches
unto Ifrael's God, were not to be made by the peo-
ple immediately, but by the high priefl ; and the an-
swers of peace were to be rerurned by him, when he
came forth from the holiefl of all.
This I Ihall difmifs with a word or two more of ap-
plication ; and that i?, Since believers are the houfe
of God, they that are fuch ihould mind tlieir duty,
A great duty lies on them by this name, that they are
of <he houfe of God.
I will name a few things that are plainly contained
in it, and may be (Irongly urged from it. I fpeak
now to them that are true believers, that are ChriR's
fpecial charge.
I, You that are the houfe of God by faith in Chrifl
Jefus, know humbly and remember frequently your
great debt unto our Lord Jefus. I do not believe
that ever there w^as a believer on earth, that had that
fenfe that the greatnefs of the matter calls for, that
fcofe of thankfulnefs for the marvellous change that
grace makes when it plucks us out of nature, and
brings
SERM. XXL * the Frofejfion of our Faith, 305
brings us into Chrift, that the cafe requires. To be
trqnjlated jrom the power of darknefs into the kingdom
of God's dear Son^ as the apoftie's phrafe is, Col. i.
12, 13. is a juft ground of great ihankfgiving. Every
one by nature is not only in the houfe of the devil,
that is bad enough ; but every one by nature is the
devil's houfe j that is a great deal Worfe : it is a great
deal worfe to have him dwelling in us, than to have
us dwelling with him : Te walked according to the
courfe of this worlds according to the prince of the power
of the airy the f pint that now worketh in the children
of difobedlencey Eph. ii. 2- Is it not wonderful grace,
that our Lord Jefus Chrift will make that heart to be
the temple of the Holy Ghofl:, that was, till he en-
tered, the habitation of the devil, and under the
power of fm, and dominion of 'Satan! For fm and
Satan the father of fin, are perpetually infeparable.
If a man be fin's captive, he is the devil's, and ta-
ken captive by him at his will, as the apodle's phrafe
is. Therefore you that have this change wrought
in you, that are made the houfe of God, and are
brought under the charge of our Lord Jefus, (liould
humbly and heartily own his great goodnefs in this
difpenfation.
2. You fhould know where your (landing is, what
foundation you (land upon. AH grace comes from
Chriil Jefus ; and the end of his giving of grace is,
that^he may be m,ore improved and ufed by his peo'
pie ; .for all the faving graces of the Spirit of God,
are but like fo many various tools and inftruments, by
which the new creature a6ls towards its original.
Now, here is a woful courfe of a great many ; when
Chrift beftows his grace, grace many a time is put
in his own room ; when he makes his grace to dwell
in us, we are apt to forget that our ftanding is ia
himfelf alone, that created and infufed, and difpenfed
the grace that is lodged in us. As we are made vef-
fels of grace, we are as feeble as ever ; no difpenfa-
tion of grace was ever given in this- world for that
end ;
5o5 The fliifajl Adherence to Serm. XXI.
end ; ami if it be nfed for that end, it is grofsly a-
biifed. Jliat a believer (liould live the lefs depen-
dent upon Jefiis Chrlfl, is a fnare that you have great
Deed all ol you to take good heed of, and beware
of. Remember that you do not live, and that you
do not (land by the grace that is in you, but only by
the grace that is in him. Our (Irength ftands in the
fountain ; Be ft rang in the grace that is in Chrijl Je»
fus. A believer thinks himfelf exceeding weak, when
he can fee nothing oF Chrifl's grace in hinifelf ; but
that is a great millake ; that man is exceeding weak
indeedy that can fee no gcace in Chrift Jefus; ; that
man is fallen wofully. HovV excellently does the a-
poftie fpeak of if, 2 Coiinth. xii. 9, 19, Moft gladly
therefore vjill I glory in my infirmities^ that the fo-iver
of Chrijl may reft upon mei For when I am weak^ then
om I flrong. It is befl with me when I am nothing.
What a mighty word is that, Though I be nothings
verfe 1 1.
3. You that nre made the boufe of God, the charge
of this great High Prieft, mind the perfection of yoar
(late, pref' towards that. Though believers are the
houfe of God now, and he dwells in ihem, yet rherc
is another houfe and another fort of dwelliog, that
they do expert and /hould long for. Ail difpenfaticns
o^ grace uixto the children of God, are not only given
. in order to prepare them for glory, but in ordt. to
,€nabie them to prefs further to the obtaining of he
glory of God. Wherefore receive ye one another^ i^s
Chrifl alfo received us^ to the glory of Gsd, Rom. xv. %-
As foon as Chrift's call has reached the heart o" a
poor fmner, immediately he ihould bethinking wi -uij.
himfelf. What is it that I am called to .'' I am calicd
to heaven, I am called to march towards heaven, and
I have Chriil, and the Spirit, and promife, and all
^fifpcnfations of grace as feals and earnefls of that
great profefTion. There are fome things, Sirs, that
are needful to make a lovely Chriilian, and I am a-
fraid, that we may go far, and fearch long before we
can
Serm. XXI. the Frofeffion of our Faith. 307
find any of them ; but we hope fome fuch there are.
A lovely Chriftian is a man whofe root is deep ia
'Chrifl:, rooted and built up in him, Col. ii. 7. People,
will not perceive it, until many fad experiences make
them to feel it ; there are many things amlfs with
many Chridians, and they are full of complaints;
they do not fully ponder this, that the root is not
deep enough, they have not taken deep root in ChriTc
Jefus. Again, a lovely Chiiftian is one whofe fiuit
abounds ; That your fruit may abound through him.
Abide in me, and I in you, fays onr Lord, fo fball you
bear much fruit* Herein is my Father ^Jorified, that
ycu bear much fruit, fo f}?ali ye be my difciples, J) ha
XV. 8. And feveral places in the fame chaprer. Fhe
third property of a lovely Chiiilian is, that his feuF
is green, his prqfeifioa fair, and clean, and nor wi-
thered. It is faid of the i;appy man in the firft pfalun,
Flis leaf fadeth not ; he is well planted, and he brings
forth much fruit in feafon. Alas! fruit is- in a great
meafure gone, and the beauty of the leaves of onr,
profellion is in a great meafure withdrawn alfo. Wo^^
few can fpeak David's v/ords, Pialm lii. S. But I am
like a green olive-tree in the houfe of God, The love-
linefsof our profeflion tends to our Lord's praife, and
our fruitfulnefs therein not only to his praife, but to
our advantage. The lad thing in a beautifal Chrif-
tian is, that I may alhide to the word of the prophet
Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar, that his branches reach to
heaven. My meaning is thi^, that there (hou!d be^
breathings and pantings after per*^c61ion, and there*
(liouid be fpringings up towards eternal life. £.s';i-
mine yourfclves now about this point. I dare hv^
that the greateft part of Chrillians, found honei*:
Chrillians, have more mind to beg grace of God, thar
ihey may glorify him here, than they ht\ of any great
delires of enjoying a perfcil (late hereafter, it is a
fhame, Sirs, to think, how m.any Chrillians are pluck-
ed to heaven againil their will ; my meaning is, he-
fote they would be there. They would be there at*
iaft ',
3o8 • The Jledfajl Adherence to Serm. XX!,
laft ; but the ftiame is, that we (hould be fo unwil-
ling to be there, whenever he calls. A believer, an
heir of heaven, to be forry to leave this earth, is a
mofl: fhameful thing ; but the churches of Chrift are
full of fuch fhameful things. It was wont to be o-
therwife, and God can make it otherwife again. We
groan within ourfehes^ being burthenedy fays the apo-
itle. Why, what burthened the man ? Did his af-
fliflions burthen him ? No ; he gloried in them.
Was it his temptations burthened him P No ; he re-
joiced in them too. His burthen was, that he was
out of them, 2 Cor. v. 2, 3.
Lajlly^ You that are the houfe of God and belie-
vers, concern yourfelves in the profperity of the
great houfe of God. Every believer is a temple of
God, and the whole church \s the great one. Is
Chrifl: fet over the houfe of God as a great Prieft ; is
his charge lying there ? and (Iiould not the care of
our hearts go where Chrift's charge is ?
ly?. Walk honourably, you that are the houfe of
God : do not difgrace and dlfparage the temple of
God : Know ye not^ that ye are the temple of Gcd, and
that the Spirit of God dweileth in you f If any man
defile the temple of Gody him fhall God deflroy. The
true fpring of true tendernefs and holinefs in all man-
ner of converfation, is the faith of thofe privileges*
that by the grace of God we are poffelTed of.
idly^ You that are the houfe of God and believers,
labour to bring in many to the fame houfe with you.
The leavening power of godiinefs is greatfy gone :
time hath been when it was otherwife, when the ene-
mies took notice of it, that Cbriftianity was in a man-
ner catcning where-ever it came ; that fome Chrif-
tians, by their converfations and by their example,
by their exhortations, and fpeakings, and teachings of
others, have been of great ufe to bring in many (Iran-
gers to the houfe. O that that were more minded !
Lafily-i Let us all pray more for the profperity and
incrcafiflg of the houfe of God, There is room e-
DCUgh
Serm. XXT. the Prcfeffton of our Faith. 509
iiough Id this hoiife for Jew and Gentile. The gre^n
High Pried is able to take care of them all, and he
will take care of all that are given him ; they (hall be
fpoke for, and brought in, in his time. So much
now for this fecond thing.
The third thing in the verfe, and which 1 would
difpatch alfo at this time, is the iniereii: that the
church hath in the High Prieft: Having an Hi^h
Priefl- over the houfe of God. Ch^rifl; is the High Prie:^,
the houfe of God is his charge, all his people have
him ; that is what the apoflle (peaks. It is nor, fee-
ing there is an high prieft, though that is fomeihing ;
but it is an argument of far greater force, having
him. But though the word having be not in the ori-
ginal here, it is neceiTarily underitood from the io.h
verfe, and is exprelTed, chap- iv. 14. Thar whvii I
am [o fpeak to then is this, That che church of be-
lievers has ar true and certain intereil in and poiTciTica
of Jefus Chrift, as their High Prieft. 1 (hall oiily
fpeak unto this, and th;'n make application, What
that intereft is that believers have in Jefus Chrift as
a High Prieft, how far we may carry this word hav'
1. We have this High Prieft taken from amongft
men. He is a man as we are ; he is one of our na-
ture, though not of our condition; Every hhh priejl,
fays the apoftle, is taken from among fi men in things
pertaining to Gody Heb. v. 1. So Jefus Chrift mult
be taken from among men.
2. We have this High Prieft, 3s the Spirit of God
calls it, with us : He Jhall be called EinmanuJy God
with tiSy Matth. i. 23. taken, from Ifa. vii. 14.; witU
us not only in the union of nature, but with us in a-
Dother union, as he is our Lord, and head, as he is
the head, and furety, and undertaker for his people,
3. We have him made, and framed, and (hapen
for us. What did Jefus Chrift do in the world, acd
what had he to do to be a High Prieft, but on'jy for
his people ? //; all thincrs it behoved him to be like unta
3 1 o The ftedfafi Adherence h S e r m . XXI.
his brethren ; that he might be a merciful and faith-
ful High Friefly in things pertaining to Godj to inake
reconciliation for the fins of the people^ Heb. ii. 17.
There is a greater word in Heb. vii. 26. For fuch an
High Priefl became us. Pray what doth become us 't
Nothing doth become a finner, as a finner, but hell •,
that he defer ves, and that he is ripe for : bur, fays
the apoflle, fuch an High Friejl became us, who is ho-
ly^harmlefs^ undefiled^ fepar ate from ftnners^ and made
higher than the heavens ; fuch a High Pried became
us. In the framing of our Lord Jefus as a High
Prieft, and as a Mediator, the infinite wifdom of God
confuhed what was fit, and meet, and needful for
poor men. Thereupon fays the apoftle, He is made
unto us of God y wifdom^ and right eoufnefs^ andfandi-
fication^ and redemption^ i Cor. i. 30. So that if we
mud conceive, as indeed we muft fome way, of the
works of God, according to the weak thought that
we are capable of beftowing upon them, the Father,
in framing his Son Chrift, confidered what man need-
ed ; and whatever was needful and wanting in them,
as all good was, that Chrrfl was made to be. If they
are fools, he is made wifdom \ \^ they are guilty fm-
Ders, he is made righteoufnefs ; if they are denied
creatures, he is made fan^lification ; if they be cap-
tives and flaves, he is made redemption.
4. We have him not only made thus, but fent, fear
with the highed authority, coming in his Faiher's
name ; as he fays himfelf, 1 am ccme unto you in my
Father^ s name ; he is confecrated by the word of the
oath for evermore, Heb. vii. 21, 2B. This man is
made a Pried by an oath, by him that faid unto him^
The Lord fwarey a fid will not repent^ Thou art a Friefl
for ever after the order of Melchifedec.
5. We have this Pried with the greated part of
his work done already, and the red he is daily doing.
The comfortable do£trine of Chrid's priedly office
was not fo clearly known, until he had done the great-
ed part of it. It is marvellous to think what dread-
ful
Serm. XXI. the Frcfefton of our Faith. 3 1 r
fill darknefs was In the minds of believers before he
died. Peter very readily faiih, Thou art Chrifly the
Son of the living God^ Matth. xvi. 16. And the Lord
owns biro a blefied man for fo faying, and tells him,
that the Father had revealed this to him ; that it was
true faith he had, and that it was of a divine origi-
nal ; fo that it was an infallible evidence, that the
man was a believer t but as foon as Chrift comes im-
mediately after to preach to them th^ doflrine of his
faiferings, that he was to be a facrifice, and was to
go up to Jerufalera, and there was to be delivered
into the hands of fmful men, and to be flaia. Be it far
from the^^ fays Peter. Accordingly you know how
fharply he was reproved by our Lord. But we need
not aggravate the wickednefs of that worJ of the good
man ; for their darknefs was fuch that they common-
ly flumbled in thefe things grievoufly. What ! fpeak
againft Chrid's ciferlug the grand facrifice, by the
virtue whereof Peter himfelf was to get eternal life i
But fo it was with him. But now we have this ad-
vantage, that the main, the hardeft part of it is paft :
We have a great High Friefty faith the apofile, the
Son of Gody that is pajfed into the heavens. There
were fome that fliw him upon the crofs, that beheld
our Lord in his agony, that faw him paying that price
to divine jnftice, by the flcrihce of himfelf. We fee
JefuSy faith the apofile, who was a little lower than
the angels J for the fufering of death ^ croivned with
glory and honour^ that he by the graCe of GodjJjould
tafle death for every man^ Heb. ii. 9. As for his in-
terceihon, he is daily about it.
Laflly^ Every true believer hath Jefu? Chrift given
to him, and he is pGiTeiTed of him, with all the virtues
and bencfiis of his great oifice, the virtues of his fa-
crifice, and the benefits of his daily intercefHon ; the
virtue of that one offering, and the benefit of his in-
terceeding before God, this is the proper and com-
plete meaning of this word, We have an High Priefl ;
R r 2 we
312 Tne Jledfajfl Adherence to Serm. XXI.
we have an intereft in him, we have all the benefit
of this great oilice the Father hath fet him in.
Thus I have gone through thefe arguments of the
apoftie's. Wnac "Toilows in the following verfes, is
the proper ufe the apoftle makes of this dodlrine ; yet
as 1 have, upon every one of the particular arguments
and branches of them, made fome little ufe thereof;
fo would I of this.
The only thir:^ I would fpeak to you about from
this trarh is. That fiuce believers have Chrifl: the
High Friefl:, 1 would exhort you to try and fee care-
fully wherher you nave him or no. That is a plain
queOion, Have you Chriil or no f Chrifl: fuvcs none
but them that have him : Chriil faves no man at a
diitance ; he enters ioro us, and we into him ; and,
if I may fo fpeak, we go to heaven together. The
qucAionis this now^, and it is a very plain one, and
an important one ; and it h a pity that, the queftion is
Bor more frequently put, and feriocily confiiered, and
tiiat there are fo few can truly anfwer it. Whether
you have Chrift or no ? I believe if there were one
to (land at the door as you go out, and allv every one
this qoellion, wiiether you have Chrift or no, ihsrs
would be confounded anfwers. You can tell what
you have, and what you want of worldly things ; can-
not you tell, whether you have Chriil: or no ? The
importance of this inquiry (hould prompt you highly
to the refolution of it.
I. It is certain, that Jefus Chrift is come into the
World, and did all h's work he came for, and that
he is gone to heaven, and is about that work he has
there, and will quickly finifli it, and return again :
Behold^ I come quickly.
The inference 1 draw from it, as to this queftion,
is. If Chrift be certainly an High Prieft of good things
to come, it is mighty important for people to know,
whether they have a fpecial intoreft in him; for
Chrift's coming doe.- not make ir abfoluiri; neceftary,
that all that are in the world after his coming fliould
be
Serm. XXI. the FrofeJJion of our Faith. 313
be in heaven ; but multitudes perifli, notwithfland-
ing the light is come into the world, and many pe-
riSi thereby, through the corruption of their hearts,
refufmg this tender of the grace of God.
2. ii is certain, that you have heard of Jefus Chrifi:
as a great High Prieft, and this is a great blefliag
that many want, and periih for the want of it. Now,
to hear daily of Jefus ChriH:, and not to have him,
is a grievous thing. The Lord has ways unknown to
us tojuftify himfeif, when he dial I judge the Hea-
then world : but the greateft judgment will be upon
them that daily have heard of Chriil, and never la-
bour to gti him.
3. There is more than that, it is fure that you have
had the ciFer of him. The gofpel is properly made
up of two things, a declaring of what Chrid is by
the Father's appointment, and the tendering of him.
As the Father hath made him unto fmners according
to their need ; fo in preaching of the gofpel, is the
offering of Chrifi to all men. In all the preaching of
the word that you hear, you never hear a word with
one exception ; you never hear our Lord command-
ing his fervants to preach the gofpel with any excep-
tion ; but preach the gofpel, and whoever believes
and is baptized, (hall be faved. The tender of Chrifl:
as a High Priefl: is a great matter. Now, to have
Chrifl: offered, and not to have him, is worfe than
not to hear of him, and not to have him. This gof-
pel-offer of Jefus Chrifl: is of that nature, that every
thing in it, look on it which -way you will, makes the
fm of refufmg him very dreadful ; efpecially if we
confider, who it is that makes the offer, God the
Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft ; all three are witnef-
fes to it ; and if we confider what that offer is, how
great, how taking. Chrifl Jefus deals wonderfully
with them he has a mind to fave ; Chrift courts his
bride, if I may fo fpeak, always in his blood ; and
to a believer, Chrift is never more beautiful, than
when his garments are ftaincd or adorned with his
own
314 The ftedfajl Adherence to S e R m. XXT.
own blood for our redemption. Chrift: is made a
feaft to us in his death : Therefsre let us keep thatfeaj},
(dp the apoftle ; why. What feaft P CbriJI our pa/-
/over is jacrijiced for us^ i Cor. v. 7, 8. That per-
fon is in a very poor cafe, (lark dead in fin, and may
be dead, and in hell within a litde while, unlefs God
prevent it by his grace, to whom Jefus Chrifi was
never beautiful in his bloody garments, in his work-
ing out -eternal falvation for us. The offer is an of-
fer alfo that is mod fit and fuitable for us. What
can be more fit for them that cannot deal with God,
and cannot bear God's dealing with them, than to
have an High Priefl that can undertake for both, that
can fpeak from God to us, fo that we Ihall not be
confounded, and carry our mind to God, fo as we
(liall not be rcje£led ? If God (hould deal with us out
of a mediator, we fiiould be confounded with his glo-
ry ; and fliculd we deal with God out of a mediator,
he would abhor us, and all our attempts, and all our
fervices.
La/IIy^ It is certain, you all make profeflion to have
Ghrirt. Pray take heed to this, that when you have
the offer or the gofpel, and the offer of Chrift in it,
that you get the thing offered, that you have the thing
you profefs to have. Pray, what is the profeffion of
a Chriftian f \¥hat is it to be a profeffor of Chrif-
tianity P Is it to make parties in the church of Chrift ?
"We know a great many things a man may profef?,
but take the matter of Chriftianiiy fimply. What is it
that man profeffes ? He profeffeth he hath Chrift.
A Chriftian without Chrift is a monfter of hypocrify,'
a piece of contradiction. Men muft either make fure,
that they have Chrift, or, I affure you, it were good
manners for them to renounce the name of Chriftiani-
ty. Why iliould 1 be called a Chriftian, and have
not Jefus Chrift ? The advantage of this reafonable
Dame is from the poffeffing the perfon. A Chriftian
is a man that hath, and is poffeffed of, and by Chrift.
How may one know, that he hath Chrift as an High
Prieft P
Serm. XXI. the ProfeJJion of our Faith. 31^
Prieft ? I win name a few things coocerning this, aod
they (hall not be very hard nor very high.
I/?, Do you love 10 have hioi ? Do you look npoa
the poffefTion of Jefus Chrift, as that part which
would make you completely happy P Paul proved his
fiucerity this way : That I may win Chrift^ fays he.
Why, had he not win him long fmce, and got him
long fince ? Yes ; bu* the man is for winning him
flil!, Phil. iii. 8, 9. Abraham's word has more gof-
pel in it, than a great many csrnal profeiFors under-
fland. Gen, xv. 2. When the Lord comforts him af-
ter the (laughter of the kings, Fear net, Abraham^
I am thy Jhield^ and thy exceeding great reward. Lord^
fays Abraham, what wilt thou gire ?ne, feeing. I go
childlefs f Pray obferve, our Lord could give him
fafety from his enemies wiihoat children. Here lay
the (Irefs of the matter, the gofpel bad been preach-
ed to Abraham before ; as ihe apodle Paul cells q5.
Gal. iii. 8. and the gofpel that was preached to Abra-
ham was this, In thy feed flmli all the nations of the
earth he bleffed, Chrid was preached to Abraham,
as one that was to fpring oat of his loins. Now,
Lord^ what wilt thou give me^ f^^^g I g^ childlefs f
It is like Abraham did not well kno'.v, how many ge-
nerations the Meffiah was to come after him ; it may
be he expelled his coming fooner than it was ; like e-
Dough he knew it would be a good while: but here
lay the grand trial of the man's faiih ; God hath pro^
mifed, that in my htdi all the families of the eartb
(hall be bleffed ; the univerfal blemng upon poor maa
after (in came into the world, is to come into the
world by a certain one, that is to be born of my pof-
terity : this is that which Abraham had in his eye :
Now, Lordj fays he, what wilt thou give me, feeing
I go childlefs f In a manner the force lay here ; Lordy
what wilt thou give me, feeing I go Chriillefs ; where
is the bleffmg of all the families of the earth ? Sirs,
rf you can turn this now into the fpiritual fenfe of it,
and your hearts can deal fo with God, if the Lord
(hould
3 1 6 The Jledfajl Adherence to S E R m. XXI,
fliould give you riches, and long life, and poflerity,
and all ihe comforts of this life, Lord, what wilt thou
give me, nay, what canft thou give m?, that can be
a bleffing to me, if I do not receive Jefus Chrift P
idly^ You may know, whether you have Chri-ft or
no by this ; what is it that you are aiming at and
catching at in the gofpel ? I would fain know, what
people come to hear for, what is the inward thought
of your heart to this, and the other places ? Is it, O
that I may get hold of Jefus Chrift ? If I may but lay
hold of the fkirt of this Jew, this great High Piiefl
over the houfe of God, it is enough P Our work ia
hearing the gofpel, is to fee if we can get hold of
Chrift Jefus ; he comes near to us in the word, and
fometimes comes fo near, that a poor creature is ena-
bled to get hold of him. Many ways do poor belie-
vers lay hold on Chrift ; he is only laid hold on by
faith, but faith a<5ls and works many ways ; faith works
many times ftrong defires ; pantings and breathings
after him, fo frequently exprefled by our Lord, by
hungering and th'irjling after htm ; but the proper
meaning of this, is accepting Chrift in the gofpel.
Try yourfelves by it. Can you iruft Chrift Jefus this
great High Prieft with all your affairs ? If you can
truft him, you have him, for he is poffefted by truft-
ing. When the matter of your eternal falvarion is
great in your eye, when you know the precioufnefs
of your immortal fouls, when you fee the multitude
of thofe fms you have to anfwer for, and fear the
ftrength of corruption that is raging in you, and fee
the power of temptation that furrounds you ; now,
in ail this, can you, with the heart, truft this great
High Prieft that is fet over the houfe of God, to caft
yourfelf alone upon him, and to feek no relief elfe-
where, knowing that you need no more than w.hat
he is willing to give P Trufting in Chrift Jefus is a ve-
ry deliberate aft, and a very determinate aci:. That
man that trufts in Chrift jefus, can truft in nothing
elfe
Serm, XXI, the Prcfejfion of our Faiths 517
elfe in that a£t wherewith he truih hira. People
that are trifling, whofc heaVts are fccure and carna),
cab eifily join thefc two toj^ether as they imagiac ;
they can truft in CTirill) and in theiiifelves too. Biic
it is impoilibie ; trufl mull be always determined u-
pon one Tingle foot of account ; it muft be undivided*
Certainly every man may know this eafily, upon what
account it is'that he lodges that fafety of foul. I know
in ivhom I have believed^ and I am perfuaded he is abk
to keep that which I have committed to hi?n.
^diy^ You may know if you have Chrift by thh^
Hath he done any thing in you ? We have not only
a great High Pried for us, but this great High Prieil:
docs many things in us, and by that we know vve
have him. Whenever Chrift comes to take poffeiTioa
of the heart, he does fomething in the heart that will
eafiiy make a difference betwi^^t Chrift the new pof*
fefTor, and the devil that was the old one. You will
find that the favour of his faci ifice hath been power-
ful upon your hearts ; you will find the benefit of ais
intercefTion has been many times perceived by you.
Every child of God finds frequently experience of the
thing. They many times pray and pray poorly, and
are heard gracioufly ; they wonder, they are furprif-
td with mercies they did not look for ; they admire
whence they flow. Alas, the poor creature does not
know that there is a g^^jt friend in heaven that re-
members them, and thefe are the fruits of his re-
membrance.
L-fz/Iiy, You may know if you have Chrid thus ^ if
you have daily- work for him, you have him ; for if
you underflapd i: righclv, it is a certain truth, rh,).t
the employing of Cbriil is the poficiTing of him,, ^die
employing of him is the enjoying of hira. It is ini-
poiTible, that any can employ Chriit in any pan or
his ci^cQy that has not Chrift in that office really be-
ftowed upon them. If therefore you have Chr'R,
this will unavoidably be; you have an 'evidence, a^ac
.Yc«5 have him by this, that you hiive daily work for
S f this
3i8 Thejledfajl Adherence to^ &c. Se^m. XXI.
this great High Prleft, you need the fprinkling of his
blood for your daiiy tranfgreCions, and need the ef-
ficacy of his grace for your daily wants. Never bid a
Wor'fe figa for a man that has not Chrift, than that
he has no fenfe of the want of him. He that has no
work for Chrift, is yet without God and Chrift in the
world ; and a poor believer that groans in a fenfe of
his need of Chrift, is oftentimes difcouraged, when
it fliould be an argument of encouragement. Belie-
vers, if they be lively and growing, will find the uni-
verfal fenfe of all of them is ; In truth I find I have
far more need of Chrift than I had twenty, thirty
years ago. As his fulnefs is difcovered, and our emp-
tinefs difcovered to us, our employing him does in-
creafe, as well as our enjoyment of him.
A LETTER
A
LETTER
F R O M
The late Reverend
Mr. ROBERT TRAILL,
Minifter at Edinburgh,
T o H I s
wife;
AS ALSO
ONE to his CHILDREN.
Both Written by him in the time of his Baniftiment,
TO WHI CH IS ADDED,
An A D V I CE about fome DUTIES.
Fuhlijbed at the Requejl of fome Friends.
GLASGOW:
Printed and Sold by JOHN BRYCE, at his Shop,
oppofite Gibfon's-wynd, Salt-mab^KET.
M D C C L X X ¥•
To the READER,
CHRISTIAN IlEADE^^,
BY this you nwy eafil/ form a chara6ler of this good
man : he was a faichFul fervant to his Mafter, and
adhered to his Mailer's cauly and intereft vjith undaunted
courfige; as may appear by) he many imprifonments and
trials he endured, and at lai^ a long and troublefomc ba-
niihment (a full account of which you have in Mr Wod-
ro\v*s firft volume of the hifiory of the fuiferings of the
church of Scotland, pig. 73, 146.) from all his near and
dear relations, and efpecialiy from his wife and children :
but you fee, his love to theii made him not in the leall dc^
cline the fufiering of this punifhment (by pleading the re-
moval cf this cruel fentence ;) but he fubmitted himi'clf and
family to God's providence ; and although he was abfent
f jom them, yet he had a great concern for them ; you may
fee His concern for them wss greater than for hunielf, as
appears in the following letters. He never forgets them,
but has a weighty concern for the Talv^tion of /.heir fouls ;
it v/as the falvation of their fouls he had moft at heart, and
DOtlo much their welfare in this world. It is a very good
example for every Chrlftian parent to copy after; and if
parents were at more pains with their children, and more at
the throne of God*s grace for them when young, they would
reap more the advantage of their pains when they are old.
You have, at the end of the letters, a very good and fea-
ibnable advice about fome -duties, written by his eldeft for.
Mr William, who was niinUter at Borthwick, attherequeft
of a lady, for her own ufe; fo, it is hoped, the publiihing
of it will do njo harm, but good, It is begged of the rea-
der, that the little efcapes of wording or pointing may be
pafled over, feeing it is a fault very common to all poi^hu-
mous works, fuch as thefe. That this may influence pa-
rents to be more concerned about their own fouls, and the
fouls of their children ; and that children may be ftirred up
by this to follow much of their parents counfdls, is the car-
neft deiire of thy foul's weil-wifiier. Faycv/el.
A LET-
L E T T E R
FROM
The late Reverend
Mr. ROBERT TRAILL
T O U I S
W IF E-
Aly dear and beloved Wife,
np H E ftonii has fcattered our poor family and
X has driven me here to this (traoge land ; and
new ftorms arifmg do keep you that you cannot come
to me here, and you know what hinders me from
coming to you : but blefied be our Lord and our
God, that we know that we may meet often before
the throne in prayer and fupplications one for ano-
ther ; and it is a mercy that we have yet jeave to com-
mune one with anothei^in letters. I do often remem-
ber you, neither do I eat my folitary raorfels without
minding you, and thinks on the days when you and
the children were about our table : but alas ! the days
of our liberty and peace were not improven by me as
they ought and (hould have been ; and now all that
I can do in that land of ray exile, next unto prayer
for you, is to write you at this diftance. The Lord,
whofe gift a good wife is, did choofe you for me, and
has made you a mother of fix children unto nae, and
has preferved you to me a help and yoke-fellow unto
this my old age, yea, has made you comfortable to
me in my fufFerings to which he has cailed me. It
has been no fmall refreftiing to my fpirit to think that
you do chearfully, and I hope comfortably, bear the
part of thefe crofTes which the Lord has laid upoii
me.
32 2 A Letter from Mr Robert Traill
me. I am fully perfuaded, that if we can take any
\ok that we have met with in the Lord's way, and
for hi« honourable caufe, joy.villy ^,^d wir.hou^ mar-
muring, it (hall turn to our good, aijd it fhall well and
abundantly be repaid by him, who give? the hu/idred
fold even in this life, though with perf'^cution. Fret
Dot agaioft unjuft men, who have driven me fo Far
away irorn you ; but pray for ihem, that the Lord
may give them repentance lo thf^ acknowledging of his
troth ?.nd of their own backflidiugs from it. Ye know
that they have done worfe to others than to me ;
princes hav? been hanged by their han'^s, and rhey
have ihed the precious blood of f?»itb{Lil wiiaefles :
and 1 am furc you would rather have me in the ba-
nlfliment far fi om you, than to have had me at home
with you as a Bi(hop, or Dean, or time-ferv'ng Mioi-
f!er. The longer you live, ye fhall tde more clearly
fee the Lord's hand to be wife and good in all that
has befallen us : I hope his thoughts toward u? are
peace, and not evil, to give us an unexpected end.
O pray for yourfelf and for me, that he who has gi-
ven us, upon the behalt of Chrift, not only to believe
in him, but alfo to fufFer for his name, would alfo
give us grace that we may fuffer chearfully, and would
alfo carry us through cleanly and faithfully : he who
hat)} called, yes, he who ha^b called us, alfo will do it.
He fends no man a warfare on his own charges, and
he fits and furnlflies for fufFering work, and bids us
commit all the fleps of our way unto the Captain of
our faivation, even to Jefus, who is the author anJ fi-
niflier of our faiib, who for the joy that was fet before
hirn^ etidured the cro/s^ ^^fp^f^^^ ^^^ fhame^ and is fet
down on the right hand of the throne of God^ Hebrews
Kii. 2.
My dear wife, I intreat you to make your intereft
fure in him. You fee that this world is a changing,
evil world, and they \hz\ are troubled about the many
things in ir, have mucb careful trouble and much toil
in fceking them 5 and when they have gotten their
portion
to his Wife, 323
portion qF them ; they are no? fatisfied, neither taflc
of any true joy in the enjoying of them ; and when they
come to lole them, as (ure they muit at lait, O what
k dJfappointment do they meet with ! and then they
are as a dreaming hungry man that drearaeth that he
eateth, but when he awaketh his foul is empty, Ifa.
xxix. 8. butchufe you the good portion that fliall not
be taken from you, Luke x. 40, 41, 42. the world
can neither give it nor take it away : it is the one
thing needful j there is no more but to chufe it, and
then it is yours, and is fure unto you ; for your chuf-
ing of it is a fure and fweet evidence that the Lord
has chofen it for you from all eternity, and therefore
has made you to embrace his choice; for we have
not chofen him firfl:, but he has chofen us ; becaufe
he has loved us with an everlafting love, therefore
with loving kindnefs will he draw us : but we mud
take heed that the chufrng of that good porrion, evea
Chrifl:, and grace, and glory, be ferious, deliberate^
and fixed ; and therefore we would do well often to
renew it in the Lord's prefence in our moH ferious
hours, and to have our fouls oft faying to him, Thoti
art my God and my fortiori^ and therefore will. I trujl
in thee^ Pfal. xvi. 2. Lam. iii. 24. There is nothing
worth our pains but this ; for in having this, we have
that which will fatisfy the defires of the luimorral
foul, and which fliall through all eternity be the
matter of our eternal fong and joy ; and having th!s,
we fliall have all other things that the Lord thinks
needful for us, while we are upon our way heaven-
ward. My dear heart, make earned of religion : the
moft part that are named Chriftians never make feri-
ous of Chriftianity ; to know him and the power of Lis
refurredion, the fellowfhip of his fufferings, being made
conformable to his death ^ Philip, iii. 8, 9, jo. This
is a blefled and fublime ftudy : the greatefl: divines
cannot go above it, and yet the weakeft bi^liever is
allowed to enter upon it in Chriil's fchocl with the
learnedcft 5 for it rauft be he that mud be our teacher ;
yea.
§24 ^ Lei ter from Mr Robert Traill
yea, it is h*'^ that has made it one article of the Well
ordered covenant, that we (liall be all taught of God,
and (liall all know him froni the lead to the greatefl: ;
and it is therefore the poorefl and weakeft feekers of
him who are long at their A, B, C, and profcfs lit-
tle ; he cafts none out that come to him, and enter
themfelves under his teaching, neither did he ever
put any away becaufe of ignorance or diilnefs of lear-
ning, and in conceiving the great mylleries of the
kingdom ; if he take us in hand, we (Iiall learn and
profit ; and if we offer ourfelves to be taught by him,
he will take us in hand as w-e are, and will make us
better. 'You and I have a fair opportunity now to
grow in acquaintance with Chrift, for he has allured
us to the wildernefs to fpeak comfortably to our
hearts ; he has made us pafs under his rod, that he
may bring us within the bond of the covenant ; he has
abridged us as to our former enjoyments in the things
of this world, that we may learn better than ever we
did before to be crucified to the world, and to have
the world crucified to us ; that ^ve may underfland ex- *
perimentaily what that leiToa means which the apo*
iile leaches us, i Corinth, vii. 30, g i. and that which
Habakkuk won to, Hab. iii, 17, 18. Take courage,
my dear heart : if our way be rough in our journeys
and feemeih harder than it was, it is nearer to the
end ; there are not many (leps to our journey's end ;
the Lord, cur blefied and ftrong guide, lead us fafely
through the laft itep of it, through the dark valley
of the fiiadow of death ! If he be with us in that hour
he (hall enlighten our darknefs, and we fiiall have a
fong in thai night of the fetting of the fun of this frail
life, in hope of a fair morning and of an everlaQing
day. You and I could tell, if our memories could
mind, and if our hearts were in a better fram.e to fet
them a-working to mention, the loving-kindnefs of the
Lord, and much of his goodnefs and patience, where-
by he has been folbwing us all our life-time to this
day:
to his Wife. 325
day : we cannot but fay, he has been doing us good
and not^evii all our days, though we have reputed
him variable and very unkindly: he would take it
very ill at our hand, if Vve fhould now come to ceil
his love and kindnefs in quellion, afier we have had
fo many years experience of it ; let us rather labour
to believe, that he who has -vqt)' tenderly and abun-
dantly cared for us from the womb to this day^ will
not now leave us or forf^ike us when old age haih o-
vertaken ns : he who raade us a family as a flock,
and kept houfe for us, and with'usjfor fo many years.
Will not now caft off the care of usj when unjud men
h^ve fcartered U9j and yet he knows that they found
nothing againd us but in the rfiarcers of our God, and
yet men would needs fcatcer iis, becaufe we would
not yield to forfake our good Shepherd, who had
'laid down his life for u«, (and follow idol-(hepherds,
who feek pk-afure and not the well of the liock.)
wbofe eye is upon us where-ever we be driven in :hl3
cloudy and dark day^ and wbofe hand will gather us
again from all places where we have been fcartered,
nnd will exa^fly reckon with ihofe idol-fhcpherds who
fe^d rhemfelves and not the fiock^ and will bring a
wo and curfe upon them, Ezek. xxxiv. througbour.
But if we were lookirg more to the Lord's juft hand
in all this that hath befallen us, we would not be dif-
cburaged : for albeit we may hold up our faces be-
fore men, and maintain our righteoufoefs againf! tbeiit
that have fpcken evil againtl us, becaufe we would
Dot run on wii> them in the fearful backfliding^ ai^d
becaufe we would not fay a confederacy to all tbofe to
*who?n they /aid a confederacy^ nchher would fear their
fear, nor have any parr with them who have robbed
^Chriil cf many of his royal prerogative!?, to adora
poor dying, fmful clay with them ; (but alasj both
ihieves and refetters mud anfwer fadly for this high-
eft facriiege, in the day when cur Lord fiiall come
to reckon for all the wrongs that have been done a-
gaiaft Zion^ aad againft l-^er King !) yet could we not
T E aafvvef
326 A LeUer from Mr Robert Traill
anfw^r for one of a thoufand, if the Lord (hould en-
ter into judgmeot with us ; for his hand isTioly and
juft, even in that wherein mens hand is cruel and un-
juft ; and that which is hard perfecution againft us,
as it is from man, is a fatherly and juft chaiHfement
upon us as it is from God : and therefore our beft
courfe would be, to turn away our eyes from unjuft
perfecuting men towards the juft correfling hand of
God, and to fay as it is Lam. iii. 39, 40. Did not our
mifimproviug of many days and years of profperity
juftly deferve and require fome years of trouble ? If
he had not feen that we were in danger of fetding u-
pon our lees, he would not have thus poured us from
veiTel to veffei ; had he not feen our drofs (licking (o
faft to us, we (hould not have met with fuch a hot
furnace ; but bleffed be he who in faithfulnefs afflicts ;
who will not with-hold the rod, when fparing of it
Would argue hatred to the child ; who will not fail to
fdt up his fire in Zion, and his furnace in Jerufalera,
when he fees that the fons of love have fuch need of
purifying, and that unlefs the fire confume our drofs,
we are in danger ourfelves of being confumed, Jer.
ix. 9. The Lord brings it to that, that we may fee,
that as he has afflicted us in meafure, and has not ftir-
red up all his wrath againft us, but in the day of his
eaft wind has ftaid and reftrained his rough wind ; fo
we may in due time fee, that by this the iniquity of
Jacob (hall be purged, and that this is all the fruit to
lake away fin, Ifa. xxvii. 8, 9.
And now, fearing left I trouble you with fo long
a letter, 1 (hall, in a few words, Ihew you what I
mean.
I. I recommend to you, to acquaint yourfelf with
the Lord, as he has revealed himfelf to you in his
word. Job xxii. 21, 22. and feek his face in earneft
and fervent prayer ; for a right feeking and patient
waiting will do you much good, Luke xviii. i,-— 9.
Lee the word of God dwell richly in you, and often
look into that glafs which will both give you a fight of
your
to his Wife. 327
yonr own heart and ways, that you tnay lotbe your-
felf : in them you fee a fweet fight of Chritt's kind
heart towards humbled and mourntul fianers, that you
may love him, and feek to tafte and fee that he is
good : and bleffed are they that truft in him.
2. When now you arc deprived ot that large al-
lowance of public ordinances which formerly you en*
joyed, be much in fecret duties ; he can make this
morfel, eaten in fecret both fweet and ikengthening
unto you : next unto your bible, fome good godly
books, as worthy Mr Rntherfoord's letterjJ, a book
which has done much good unto fome fouls, and will
do good to more, and that good litde book of Mr
William Guthrie's.
3. Have a care of the children, now, efpecially,
I am fo far removed from you and them ; fee what
good you can do for their fouls, in often praying for
them, and admonlQiing them in the Lord, as you fee
their cafe doth reqaire. You have fome of them
more ordinarily with you than the reft; let their time
together be well improven, Havedfc care of Marga-
ret your youngeft daughter, whom the Lord keep
with you now in your old age: warn her to feek the
Lord early in the morning of her age ; for thofe who
feek him early (hali find him: charge her to efchew the
vanities aod follies oi a prefent evil world, and to walk
and carry herfeif as becomes the daughter of a pooc
baniih^d minidcr. I have fome good hopes thit the
Lord who faved her from death here in Holland, and
brought her fafe home with you to the land where
{he was born, will glorify himlelf in his mercy and
free grace toward her ; the Lord grant that it may
be fo : 1 hope you and fhe both will join your Amea
to this. You have your fecond fon with you : he may
be helpful to you and to the fmall remnant of that
fcattercd family, that you have with you ; and when
his eldeft brother (hall return, he likewife will be help-
ful to you in family duties. I blefs the Lord for them
both^. that he has begun to make himfelf known to
T t 2 their
32B A lifter from Mr Robert Traill
their foul?, and to incline their hearts to feek hitn,
and to cleave unip him in this backfliding time : rhe
Lord eEcreafe his grace in them, and keep thetu fted-
fafl in nearer commnnioawiih hia'ifelf".
4. Be not troubled with perplexing thoughts about
the world : the meek in the earth are waxing nearer
lb an end ; and you fee no way, in human appear-
ance, how their place (hall be filled up again. Be-
lieve, that he that provides well for his owfi that
trufl and wait on him, will make, that the barrel of
meal fliall not wafte, nor the oil in i\\z criife fail, un-
til the day that ilie Lord ferd the rain upon that poor
Jand, I Kings xvii. 14. Has he tipt protriifed thait
tbofe who walk uprrghrly. before hini, and whofe con-
fidence is in him, ihail dzuell en high: the places of
defence fhall be the muni lion of rocks ^ their bread fh all
he given them, their ivater Jhall he fare f yea, your
eyes fliall yet ice the King in his beauty, and ye (hall
yet again behold the land tha: for the prefenr feems
to be very far oif. That fcriptarc, Philip, iy. 6, 7?
cught to be ofteif'aiid feriouily meditated upon.
Laflly^ I would entreat yoUs dear wife, to be ranch
in chalking out, and trying your evidences for hea-.
ven, and often praying/ that the Lord would write
them clearly and diftin^ly on your heart, and would
help you to read them, and to rejoice in them, or ra-
ther in him, who has made the purchafe for you, and
freely given you the evidence of it : he knows that it
vxuld be no fmail coirifort in this my old age ; and I
^m perfuaded yet to hope to fee you and the Lord's
Jerufalem in that l?.nd in peace, before I fee death.
But this would much fweeten the delay, and rhi^
though it were till death, to have the lively hope that
ye and 1 fhall enjoy the Jerufalem that is above,
"where righieoufnefs and peace dwell, and where no
ftorm can come to fcatter us again. Pray, pray for '
this to you and me, yea, and for all the children the
Lord has given us. Sure 1 am there is roon) enough
for
to his Wife. 329
for us all there. O let us run to him who has gone
thither to prepare maafions for all whotu the Father
has given to him m the eternal decree of election, and
for whom he has laid down his life as a price for our
redemption ! And we cannot better know that (even
we, poor fmfal wretched) we are of the blelTed num-
ber, than by our coming to him to feek and find fal-
vation in him, who has paiTed his word, yea, his oath
dn it, that he will cad none out that come to him ;
and he is a King of his word, and will not fail ta
perform what he has proraifed. Let us grip to thefe
immutable things, his word and his oath, in which
it is impoffible for him to lie, that we may have (Irong
confoiation, when we flee for refuge to the hope fee
before us. Now, I leave this on you ; lay hold upon
him who has tenderly cared for me all my lifetime,
and has been in a fpecial manner kind to me in this
place of cay exile, giving me now and then fweet feafts
in this wiideraefs, for which I defire you may blefs
him : and caft all your cares upon him, for hie will
care for you : he is my God, and w^ill be the God of
my relations after me ; and when I come to fall afleep,
and to be taken oiFthe ftage, I hope there fhajl be a
family ferving the Lord in their generation better than
ever I did in mine ; himfelf grant that it may be (o !
The abundant grace of our Lord, and the fweet con-
foiation of his bleffed Spirit, be wirh you, my deajf
heart, and with the fix children, and with the eldeft
daughter's children and husband. This is the fre-
quent and fervent prayer of your loving husband,
ROBERT TRAILL
A LET,
A
LETTER
FROM A
FATHER TO HIS CHILDREN, &c.
[Rotterdam, March 1665 ]
Dear Children^ whom the Lord my God has gracioujly
given me^
Grace ^ mercVy ard peace be to you ^ from Cod our Father , and
from the Lord Jejus Chriji.
IH /VVC often, in tbi? time of my exile, had many
earncii: wiilies for vour eternal faivation, and fome
weak prayers to ^he hearer oF prayer, for all of you,
that ye may be <aveJ from the wrath to come, and
may, in the day of the Lord Jefus Chrift, be owned
of him, fet on his right hynd, and taken in to dwell
wirh him ror ever ; that ye be of the bkffcd number
of thefe ot whom he will oe admired, and m whom he
fh'I! be i^lor'tied, in that day ^ when he Jh all come m
flaming fir e , to take vengeance on all them that know not
Gody and obey not the gojpel of our Lord Jefus Chrifly
2 ! heff i. 7, 8, 9, 10. and tiiat poor, wretched, un-
profitable 1 mav have to fay in that day. Behold me,
and the children thou hafl given fne^ which were for a
whiie foi figas and wonJers in the world, and now are
for fi^ns and wonders of thy rich mercy, and free un-
deferved giace. The Lord hath often put it into my
heart, to write unio you ail in one letter, that 1 may
flir you up to the ferious and frequent thoughts of that
which is your greateft concernment, even your eternal
falvarion j that ye may make that your main ta/k, to
work out your faivation in fear and trembling ; and, for
that end, to give all diligence to make your calling and
elcftt.njure : fa f ye do thele things^ ye f jail never fall ;
but an entrance Jhall be adminift red to you abundantly,
into
A Letter from Mr Robert Traill, &c. 331
into the everlajling kingaom of our Lord and Saviour
Jefus Cbrifly 2 Peter i. 10, 1 1. Tbere are thc^^e
things mainly that have made me thus to '^rif" unto
you. ly?, Becaufe this is a duty lyes upon Cmi^liiiQ
parents. The Lord did ihew unto Abraham, the fa-
ther of the faithful, that he expedled this at hish rr.l,
in reference to his relations, Gen.xvii. 19, For I k^'^w
that he will command his children a)id his hoifhold af-
ter him^ and they fhall keep the way of the Lord^ &c.
And the Spirit of God in th^ new te{tam<^:nt, does much
prefs this duty. 2dly^ Becaufe my obligations to
Chrift, and to his free grace, aie fo manv, and fo great,
that, had I never fo many children, I wouid think my-
felf bound, to the utmoft of my power, to confecrate
them all to him ; and to prefs upon them, by all that
love could fugged unto me, that they would ferve the
Lord God of their father. <dly^ Becaufe among the
many other challenges 1 have now in my folitary hours,
in this houfe of my pilgrimage, for negle^ of duties
in my days of pe^ce, this is one, that 1 did not improve
my time aright, when the candle of the Lord didfhim
upon my tabernacle^ and ye were as olive plants about
ray table. Alas ! I did not prefs upon you, as 1 ought
and might, the ferious thoughts of eternity, and of
your fouls fahation j and tiicrefore I am the more o-
bliged now to do it, at this diftance ; and who knows
but it may fink deeper into your hearts, that it conies
thus by a letter from an aged, baniftied father ? I re-
mem.ber that 1 was often moved, in prayer with that
family over which the Lord had fet me, to pray for
preparation againft a time of fcattering, though I did
Dot then think that it (bould have been fuch, and fo
far off, before death ; but now it is come, and that
which death will make is following : the Lord give us
the fanflified ufe of the one, and ferious preparation
for the other, ^thly., Becaufe i am under the bond of
a promife and vow ro the Mod Higii God, taken on,
before him, and unto him, at your baprifm, that I
Ihould eadeavour to train you up tor himlelf, that ye
might
334 A Letter from Mr Robert Traill
might learn to know, fear, and ferve him. I rerrjem-
ber, I prefented every one of you to that iacramentj,
except one who was prefenred, in ray abfence, by a
faithful and worthy minifter, who is now at his reft,
and who doubtlcfs did pray fo'^ the blcfiing and fruit
of that ordinance unto tlie child he did prefent ; andf
1 hope, his prayer was heard ; and that the Lord, who
has chofen for her a good husband, and made her the
mother of children, (haii own her as one of the daugh-
ters of Zion, who Ihali be found in the regifter of thefe
of whom it is written, They were born there, by the
new and better birth. Yea, the Lord has been graci-
ouily pleafed to let me live fo long with you, till 1 have
entered all of you (except the youngeft, who, I hope,
fiiall not want his part of the covenant bleiTing) unto
that other facrament of the Lord's fupper, that fo you
might therein, by your own proper a(5land dccd^ make
an open and avowed refignation of yourfelves to the
Lord, as your God^ and your father'* s God^ and declare
before the world, that in him alone ye have faivatioHj
and that ye will live and die to him ; and fo might
perform what was promifed for you by your parents
in that fii'ft facrament, when you could not refiipulate
by yourfelves, but behoved to do it by another, till ye
(hould come to the years of knowledge, that ye might
then give your own adlual and formal confent ; which^,
I hope, ye have done, as often as ye have been parta-
kers of that other facrament. S^^h) Becaufe the Lord
has made me, again and again, in this my Patmos, to
cry unto him, more than ever before, for grace and
glory to myfelf, and to my {^fA ; and to lay out before
him that fweet and large promife, Deut. xxx. 6. And
the Lord thy GGdw'illcircumcife thine hearty and the heart
of thyfeedy to love the Lord thy God with all thine hearty
and with alt thyfoul^ that thou mayjl live ; yea, now
and then to a£l faith and to pray upon i:, and to win
unto fome hopes that it fliall be made goo^d for all of
you. Sure I am, there is room enough for all of you
in heaven, were ye more than ye are : there is mercy
and
fo his Children,, o?^
and grace ecoDgh ia Jefus Chrifl, to bring you thii
ther ; and nothing can keep you out, but unwillingnefi
to enter in by him, who is the ioa)\ the truths and the
i'ljCi and who makes it one of his greateft complaints
againft perilbing fianerS, th?.t they vjill not come unto
hiniy that they may have life. And the 6th and lalt
thing, that hath moved me to fcribble thefe liiies, is.
That the few and evil days of my piifrrimage are faft
tvearing to an end, the (liadows of 'the evening are
flretched out, and my fun is near the fetting, neTther
know Ij if I (hall fee you any more in a prefent world ;
and (herefore, while the Lord lets me yet dwell in this
frail tabernacle, I would dtfire to midd you of dlefe
Ihings which concern your eternal peace ; and that ye
tnay remember thefe things^ when t ftiall be no moret
wiihin time, ehher to fpeak or write to you. Now ajj
that I drill recommend to you, I fhall fuiti up into \\it^t
ic^ heads : Fir/I, ahd chiePiy, There are fome things
I would prefs upon yoa» in reference to your feeking
the Lord, and ferving him in your generations, ih^t
ye may befaved tn the day of the Lord, Secondly, Some
things in reference to yoor netiiral relations. Thirdly^
Some things in reference to the times wherein the
Lo;d has ca ft your Jo: to KiV^.
^ I. For the///?, Mdke it ^6^xc daily tafk, to feek thd
Lord and his face, and to ^zx^^^. him with aii your heart,
as your God, and your father's God : add O that you
and I could exak him ; and that he would prepare for
himielf an habitation in my heart, aqd in the heart of
every ode of you ! Read (he fcripture^ frequently and
ferio'jflv^ ; meditare upon them', and pray upon them;
i. For grace to obey the precepts there fet down, for
To^- 2 For hearts to tremble at the threatnings that
found there, that ye nilay efcape the dint of them, and
iiiay, by your flying into Chriii, be kept from tlie fear-
ful execution of ihem, which Will certainly pafs upo;i
sll the children of difobedience. 3. Pray for faith ic-
believe all the great and precious promifes that ar-
breathed out there, that ye may by thefe be made par! a ^
U u
334 ^ Letter from Mr Robert Traill
kers of the divine Nature^ having efcaped the corruption
that is in the world through lufl, 2 Pet. i. 4. and that
having thefe froinifes^ ye may by them (both as motives
to perfuade, and as mei\ns to help and enable you) pu-
rify yourf elves from allfilthinefs^ both of theflejh andjpi-
rit^ perjeding holinefs in the fear of God ^ 2 Cor. vii. i.
and that ye may be heirs of thefe exceeding great and pre*
cious promifes^ through Jefus Chrijl^ in whom they are
all yea and amen, 4. Fray for wifdom to look aright
upon and confider the examples of the faints recorded
in fcriptnre, both in their failings and falls ; that ye
may be brought to ply your courfe circumfpe£lly, and
with fear, efchewing thefe \ for they are fet up as bea-
cons, to warn thefe that fail through the fame fea, to
beware of the rocks on which they did (Irike, and fu.^-
fered lofs, though they were faved from drowning by
the fkiil and care of their bleifed Pilot, who brought
them in at lad, as (hip-broken paffengers, to their iafe
and quiet haven : and alfo in their virtues, and holy
walking before the Lord, in their generations ; that ye
may in thefe he followers of them^ who through faith and
fatience inherit the promifeSy Heb. vi. 12. and that^ be-
ing compaffed about withfo great a cloud of witnefjes^ye
may lay afide every weighty and the fin that doth fo
eafily befet yoUy and may run with patience the race that
is fet before you^ Heb. xli. i. And as I do recommend
unto you frequent and fervent prayer, fo I would have
you not to forget, or negleiH: praifmg, I mean, finging
of pfalms, even in your fecret worfliip ; but remember
tojlng with thefpirit, and with the under/landing alfo :
this is one main part of our immediate woifhip, and
fhall continue through all eternity, vvhen all mediate
worfhip ihall ceafe. Ye may perform this fwcet part
of worfliip, even in fecret, wiihout letting your voice
be he Hj d by others, who pollibly may be in places or
rooms near you. And then when you have been at
the throne, and have prefented yourlelves and your
fupplicaiions unto him who fits thereon, then look up,
aud exped your anfwer from the hearer of prayer, and
through
to his Children. 335
through his merits and mediation, who has a cer.fer^
and much incenfe is given to him^ that he may offer it with
(or, as it may be read, that he may give or add to it)
the prayers of all faints, Rev. viii. g, Buf, while ye
wait for an anfwer, and look up, do not fet a time to
him ; /7r fare he will make the vifion to /peak, and the
promife, on which ye pray, to be fulfilled in the due
and bed time ; and therefore wait for ir, even when
ye think it larrieth long ; for ye have his word for it,
that it flmll come, and fh all not tarry ^ Hab. ii. i, 2, 3, 4.
And tho' ye cannot be aUvays on your knees in pray-
er, neither is this required of you ; yet know, there
it a way to entertain communion and fellowlliip with
God all the day long, and to give him the conftant fer-
vice of the afF.'a:ioTis of your hearts^ and to be fend-
ing and darting up frequent ejaculations unto him, iii
whatever company you be, whatever ye be looking oa
and fpeaking of. V/e know how it was with honed
Nehemiah, chap. ii. 4. Then the king [aid unto me. For
what dofl thou make reqnejl f So I prayed to the God of
heaven. This were 10 fet the Lord always before your
eyes ; this were to walk with God, and to be in the
fear of the Lord oil the day long ; and fo, when death
ihould come, ye ihould but change your place, and
Dot your beft company.
II. That which 1 would recommend to you, in refe-
rence to your natural relations, is, r. la reference to
your mother : I charge you be. kind to her, now whea
ihe is come to her old age ; and be helpful and com-
fortable unto her, as the Lord (hall enable. Probably
file will live longer with you than I (hall ; and I pray
the Lord that it may be fo. She hath been a kind and
dutiful wife unto me, and comfortable to me in the
time of my fufFerings ; and the Lord will blefs her,
even for that. She has been a very tender and du-
tiful mother to all of you : ia her womb were you con-
ceived, and in pains did fhe bring you forth into the
world, and nourifhed you on her breads ; and fince
that time to thi?, her care towards you has been very
U u 2 lender
p 36 J Letter frotn Mr Robert Traill
lender and grea: ; and the Lord both craves and tx"
pefts a kind reqoiral. 2, In reference to yourrelves,
as brethren and fillers brought up in one fatiiily, tho'
novv fcatiered. O love one aDotber in the Lord, and
fall not out by the way ; but be helpful one to another,
cfpecially as to your fouls concern. Pray one for a-
nother, and, as occafion offers, one with anoiher : ?,nd
ye, who are elder, have a care to ,be(low a word of
admonition upon the younger \ efpecially forget not
your younger brother ; ye who are his elder brethren,
give him v/arning to beware of the evils of the liire
wherein bis lot is cad, and of the fmful city he lives in;
bur, above all, to beware of the evils of his own heart.
Kecomraend unto hi m that fcripture, (which 1 hope ye
recoiDmend to yourfelves), Pfaim cxix. 9. Wherewith
Jhall a young rnan cleanfe his way f but by taking heed
thereto according to thy word, Ecch xii. i. B^eynember
thy Creator in the days of thy youth. He bears the name
pt his grandfather, who was no fcholar^and yet a man
well acquainted with God, and much exercifed in the
fcriptures, and in prayer, and on Chrifl's fide, in the
conrroverfies of Zion, under ;he former Prelates : he
would never countenance any of them, albeit he had
natural relations to fome of them : he did towards bis
end give tcfrimony againll the ufurpation uied by thefe
men upon the congregation where he lived, and where-:
of he was an elder : and fo after, and through inanir
fold temptations and affl(f}ions, be entered into the
kingdom of God, and died in the affured hope of the
blencd days of reformation, which we Qiould fee, and
which we did fee. But alas! our unthankfalncfs for
thefe days, and our many provocations againlt the
Lord, have brought a fad change. The Lord grant,
that, as that young man bears his name,^ fo he may
learn to live and walk in the good old way wherein he
vyuiked, that he may find reft to his foul.
HI, There are fome things I would recommend to
you, 'U reference to the prefent times into which your
jo: is Caft to live. And, i. Beg of the Lord wifdom
to
to his Children. ^^7
to difcern the times, and to know what Ifrael ought
to do, 2. Keep yourfelves from the evils oF the times;
for they are evil days, wherein even the ele^l are in
danger of being deceived : Have no felhwjhip zvllh
the unfruitful works of darknefs^ but to reprove them
rather^ Eph. v. 1 1. And beware lefl ye alfo be led a-
way with the errors of the wicked^ andfo fall from your
ozvn fledfaflnefs : hut grow in grace,, and in the know-
ledge of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrifl, 2 Pet. iii.
17, 18. Pray to be kept from the way of thofe who
are turned afide from the good old way, wherein fome
time they walked ; and wherein they promifed to
' themfelves, and avowed and profefied before others,
that they fhould find reft to their fouls : yea, and fome
preached this before many witneiTes ; but now they
feck their reft in other paths, which the Lord has
curfed, and which he will yet again curfe. Be not
fliarer^ with thefe men in their fms, that ye may not
be partakers of their judgments ; for their judgment
fleepeth not, but is as taft haftening as they are ripen-
ing for it, and that is faft enough. 3. Labour to be
marked among the mourners in Jerufalem, who figh
and cry for all the abominations that dre done in the midfl
thereof^ Ezek. ix. 4. O beware of being reckoned in
the number of thofe who eat and drink, and are not
grieved for the afflictiom of Jofeph ; ox of thofe who
uiake merry ia their fenfual delights, in a day and time
when the Lord is calling to mourning and weepings
and fafling ; againft whom a wo is denounced, and
whofe iniquities (hall not be purged away till they die,
Amos VI. I. Wo to them that are at eafe in Zion. And
Ifa. xxii. 12, 13, 14* And in that day did the Lord God
of hofls call to weeping and to mournings and to baldnefs^
and to girding with fackcloth : and behold^joy and glad-
nefsy flaying of oxen^ and killing fheep^ eating fleft), and
drinking wine ; let us eat and drink^for to ?norroio we
fhall die. And it was revealed in mine ears by the Lord
of hofls ^ fur ely this iniquity fhall not be purged from you ^
till ye die^ faith the Lord God of hofls, Moura for the
blood
3g8 A Letter from Mr Robert Traill
biaod oF the bi<{l>d inanyrs, th-it has been fhed in
tnar f^rear, but iintul city ; and ^lefs the Lord, who
gave to thofe faitnful and valiant witnefies to offer their
blood fo willingly, For fealing tbefe iure truths, that
are now oppofed by a gainfbying generation ; and for
ailerting the royal prerogacive of Zion's King, who
will take no laws of dyii!^ king^^ whofe breath fooa
goes out, and in that h.>ur all their thoughts penili
with thern Let the two precious heads that are fee
on the Netherbow, hut (hall be; feen in the great day,
with crowns upon iheii ; yea, their adverfaries mutt
fee them amongft thefe whom the king will honour ;
Jet, I fay, the he.id'^^ of thefe faithful witneffes (wboy
being dead^ yet /'peak J mind you, and. llir you up 'o
cry. as tht- foul- u * t the ahar do. How iong,0 LorJ,
holy and true, doff thou not avenge the blood of thy fer-
vants on them th':t dwell on the earth ? R'^.v. vi. lo 4.
I would recoil^ meuu unto you, my two eld eft fons, who
were entrif^g upon }our rnals for th" preaching of the
gofpel, wheo thc,tlo?*n[i arofe which razed presby-
teries, (bur their foundation cannot be razed, /(?r // is
built upon the rock of ages ^ againfl which the gates of
hell /hall not prevail ;) iec Lot tins (torm (hake you, or
make you quit y^iur purpofe. You were minting to
fit youilelve^ for putting your hand to that plough,
when the Lord fliould give you a call ; and therefore
look not back, bur purfue your purpofe ; and, by the
Lord'e grace, and his itrength, b': diligent in the ufe
of ail means, whereby ye may ne fitted for that high
and hoiy callmg ; and polfiMy the Lord of the vine-
yard fh»:ll call you, among other?, to woik in his vine-
yard in that poor ianr', when he ih;il! have driven out
thefe wild boars, which have laid it walte for a while.
The Lord know?, that as ir would be a great part of
my joy, to iee a'l my children walking in the truth ;
fo would ir be fome tunhcr degree of 'tjv joy, to fee
you two honouied of the Lord, \o be preache^^ of the
truth. I mean, faithfu*, and not time-lerving preach-
ers, entring by tne door, and not ciimbing up lorne o-
ther
fo his Children: 339
ther way. Tl:u. x^ord can do u, and, if he fee it fit
for his own glory, he will do it ; 'lud on thei'e terms
alienarly do 1, and ftiould ye (ttk it.
Lafilyy 1 would recommend to all of you, both fons
and daughters, and that, w this backflidm^^ rime, zvhen
fo many are turning back from Chrtft^ and walking no
more with hif?i, ye would itrenpihen your refolutioa
not to leave him ; for to whom Jhould ye go^ in turning
away from him^ feeing he only has the words of eternal
life f Jjbh vi, 66, 6j, 68. Fro/n that time many oj /.'/>
difciples went back, and walked no ?nore with him* Then
faid Jefus unto the twelve^ Will ye alfo y^o away ? then
faid Simon Peter unto bim^ Lo^dy to whomfhail we gof
for thou hajl the zvords of eternal life, 3 ay ye noty A
confederacy to all thofe to whom this apofiate generation
fay^ A confederacy ; neither fear ye their fear^ nor be
afraid : butfan^lify the Lord Godofhofis in your hearts^
and let hi?n be your fear and your dready Ifa. viii. 12, ig.
The Lord himfelf f peaks in this to your hearts and
mine, with a ftrong hand, in(tru6lingus. Now, I con-
ceive, that this would much conduce to help you to
fledfaitnefs in a backiliding time, ofcen to make a£lual
refignation of yourfelves to tne Lord, I mean, on your.
knees in prayer, humble and hearty prayer ; to give
up yourfelves,, fou's and bodies to him, who is your
Lord, Creator and R.edeemer, who has bought you by
a dear price, that ye (hculd be his, and that ye fhould
live to him^ and not to yourfelves. This aduai reUgaing
yourfelves to hiai, and explicite and formal covenant-
ing with him, would pleafe him well, would give the
devil and your own corruptions a great dadi, and would
make you underftand fome fcriptures more clearU'^and
more comfortably ; as Pfal. xvi. a. O my fouL thou hafl-
faid unto the Lor d^ Thou art my Lord: my oood'iels tX'-
tendeth not to thee. Pfal xxvii, 8. When thou faidfi^
Seek ye my face ; my heart [aid unto thee^ Thy face^
Lord, will I feek, Jer. xxx. 21, 22. Aw^ their nobles
(kali he of themf elves, and their governor (h all pro-.ced
from the midfl of them^ and I will caufe him to draw ry-ir,
and
34^ A Letter from Mr Robert Trailt
and he Jhall approach unto me : For who is this that en-
gaged his heart to approach unto me^ faith the Lord f
and ye /hall be my people^ and I will be your Gody Zech.
xiii. 9. They Jhall call on my narne, and I will hea^ them :
J will fay y It is my people ; and they Jhall Jay, Thd
Lord is my God, Bat of this worthy and (tedfafl: Mr
William Guthrie has written well ; which liitle great
book I recommend to all of you. And now, my dear
children, whofe everlafting falvatlon my fool prays for,
and defires to believe, and whofe holy and Chriftlan
converfation, in the way thither, 1 earnellly beg, me-
ditate often on that fcripture, Titus ii. it, 12, 13, 14.
t'or the grace of God^ that hringeth Jahation, hath ap-
feared to all men / teaching us^ that, denying ungodlr-
nefs and worldly lufls^ we JJpould live fob erly^ righteouj-
ly and godly in this prejent world ; looking for that blej'^
fed hope, and glorious appearing of the great God, and
our Saviour Jefus Chrijl : who gave hinfelf Jor us^ that
he mivht redeem us from all iniquity^ and purify unto
himfelf a peculiar people^ zealous of good works » And
pray for grace to obey that great and excellent gofpel
leffoD, that ye may affure your hearts bcjore him, and
that it may be well with you in the great day of the Lord.
And {ball 1 mention to you what v»rorthy Mr Bohoil
faid on his death-bed to his children ?■ (I hope, the
rcentioning of it fhall do you no harm, but good) /
charge yoUy faid he, my children^ not to meet me in the
great day, in a ChrijVefs, gracelefs condition ! 1 hope,*
every one of you wiil endeavour, and make it your
main (ludy and care, to be found in Cbrift in that day,
not having your own righteoufnefs^ but that which is
through faith in him. '1 he Lord himfelf grant that it
may be fo ; and the Lord God, my God^ and 7ny father' s
Gody who has fed me ^ and provided for me all my life
long until this day^ and the great Angel of the covenant ^
which r-jdeemedmefrom all evil, blefs the lads, and laffes
aljo. And fo I recommend you to him, as your God
aii-fufficient., and to the word of his grace which is able
to build you up^ and to give you an inheritance among all
them
to his Children, 341
them that are fLindijied through faith that U in him.
And now the very. God of peace fandify you wholly :■
and I pray God, that your whole fpirit,Joul and hodyy
be pr^feried hlamekfs unto the coming of the Ijjrd Jefuf
Chrifi, Faithful is he who calleih you^ who a If will
do it. Children, pray for me, your aged father, who
defires to live and die in the hope, that we (hall, with
joy, meet before the throne ; and that ye talce thefe
lines, as Tome weak help to carry you thiiher. They
are frox,
Tour loving and affcclionate father^
ROBERT TRAILL.
P. S, I would defire, that ye would choofe fome conve-
iaient day, when all of you may meet together, and have
this read amongO: you, with eariieft prayer to God for his
ble/Iing upon it, and for mercy and grace to him who wrote
It, and is now at fuch a diftance from you ; and then let e«
Very one of you have a copy of it, to keep befide you, as
the belt love-token I can fend you. Grace, grace, rich and
free grjice he the portion of every one of you ; and then arc ye
rich enough. Let me have an anfwer from you, fubfcribed
by all your hands, that I may know how you accept of this
counfel, and what your purpofe is of hearkening unto it,
and following it in the Lord's ftrength ; and I fliall careful-
ly keep it by me, and fhall prefent it before the Lord, h'f
prayer to him, who muft work in you both to will and to
do of his good pleafure, that he may give you to work out
your falvation in fear and tren^bling.
A necefTary and excellent
ADVICE ABOUT SOME DUTIES-
I. As to worfhip*
I, pREQUENCY in elTays of worfliip and duty
-»- feems to b* more ufefui and edifying, than
the lengthening out of thefe duties, or fpending much
time at once in any of them, except upon extraordi-
X X na?y
2 4* -^w excellent advice
nary cafes and occafions ; and frequency in thefe da-
ties comes alfo neareft the fcripiure rule, and fcrip-
ture precept, Pfalm Iv, 17. Evening and mornings and
at noon, will I prai/e, and cry aloud, Pfalm cxix. 164.
where the Pfalmift is found to pray feven times a day ;
and it is to be fuppofed,that Chriftians who are much
alone, and whofe time and affairs permit, do ufually
pray much oftener than feven times a day. When
you get an hour or two for^fecret duties, it is better to
pray three or four limes during that fpace, than to
fpend it all in one addrefs, without intcrmiffion, or
intermixing of other duties with it.
2. In fecret, let reading, efpecially of the fcrip-
tures, and meditation, be intermixed with your effays
of prayer.
3. In fecret, make ufe of your voice fo high^ and to
low, as you find, by experience, doih mod conduce
to the help and furtherance of ferioufnefs, fervency,
livelinefs, attention, and fixednefs of heart and mind,
in oppofition to vain, wandring thoughts and imper-
tinencies.
4. Secrecy, and preventing your being overheard,
and the ihew and appearance of oflenration.
5. Reverence the fovereign, unfearchable, holy, and
wife providence of God, in granting you liberty to
pray, foraetimes for one thing, fometimcs for another,
and fomeiimes, it may be for a long time, not grant-
ing you liberty to pray for that fame thing that you
would faineft be at. For we cannot, when we pleafe,
command liberty in prayer ; nor have we any power
over ourfelves, to feek fpiritually and fervently, even
that which we would fain have, Rom. vii. And this
may let us fee a vafl: difference between natural, fpi-
riiual and gracious dellres after the fame thing.
6. Stumble not, nor entertain harlh thoughts of God,
if you get liberty in prayer for a thing, with faith,
fervency and fubmiflion, and yet be denied that thing,
which you were helped more than ordinary to feek ;
for ihele prayers are heard and accepted, though the
thing
about fome duties, 343
be not granted* So it was with Chrifl himfelf, Heb,
ii. 9. Matth. xxvi. 39. O my father, if it be pojjible, let
this cup pafs from me : nevertheiefsy not as 1 willy but
as thou wilt,
7. When ye cannot get liberty to pray for your-
felves, nor for others, nor for the public and general
concerns of the gofpcl and people of God, nor for any
thing, then try confeflion of fin, and renewing of re-
pentance : try thank fgiving and praifes for what you
have got of late and of old, and for the many good
things you prcfently poiTefs, and for what fpiritual
bleilings you enjoy beyond many about you, and for
what liberty you have had at anytime formerly. Praife
and thankfgiving fometimes prove a mean of enlarge-
ment, and loofmg of bonds. Alfo obferve, improve,
and take hold of providential calls, and feafons of fe-
cret prayer, befides your ordinary times for it, fuch as
thofe : immediately after prayer with others, either in
public or in private, then go to your clofet, if oppor-
tunity be given : alio when you are in any commotion,
or diflurbance of pefilon, through fudden anger, fear,
grief, or joy, uoexpccfled or furprifiog accidents, crof-
fes, &c. then effay 10 compofe your heart, by venting
it to God, and breathing out to him in prayer ; like-
wife, after the commiffiori or firfl difcovery of fome
frcfh fin and guilt ; again, immediately before you en-
ter upon any bofinefs cf weight or moment : likewife,
all y*}ur duries of worfhip are to be begun and clofed
with fecrer prayer. Again, when ye get any -liberty,
or loofmg of heart, blefs and praife him for it, both
before you leave the duty, and alfo when you make
your next addrefs to him, for what you got when you
were lait before him. Again, though you gel neither
fenfible accefs, norclefirable returns of prayer, yet you
ought to be encouraged in the faith of that great truth,
Ihat he hath not bidden the feed of Jacob j*A his face
in vain, Ifa. xlv. 19. And if it is ill with you, as it is,
you may be fnre it would be much worfc with you, if
duties of worfliip were (lighted.
X X 2 II. As
344 ^^^ excellent advice
II. As to your cafe and frame.
I. T A B O U II to get out of your fouPi. rroublei
^-^ not To much be can (e it is terrible to you, a»
becaufe it is fKiful, and oppofire to faith, and almofi:
all other duties, John xiv. i. Let not your hearts be
irouhkd ; ye believe in Qod^ believe afo in me. Yet it
JDufl be granted, that it is the ufual fpdt of the children
of God ; and that is a more kindly and hopeful token,
lo-have a little too much of thi?, than to have nothing
of it at all, Pfalm Ixxiii. 14. All the day long have I
been plagued^ and chaftened every mornings Pfal-n Iv. _J.
Labour for much eflabliihrnent of the heart by grace,
and for an eqnal conflant frame of fpirit, that you may
not be foon cad down, nor rafhly frighted with e?ery
me :pe<51ed thing, and often put out of frame, and
iiive fo many ups and dov^^ns, like the legs of the lame.
Pfcv. xxvi. 7. The lej^s of the lame are not equal. Heb,
xiii. 9. It is a good thing thai the heart be eftahlifhed
by grace ; and many other places. Labour much for
the ornament of a meek and quiel fpirit^ which is in the
fight of God of great price^ i Peter iii. 34. and alfo
very favoury to our neighbours. And alfo, guard a-
gainft all paffion, either fperjking or doing any thing
in your hafie ; and efj)eclally againil the hidden vent-
ing of your pailion : if at apy iime you be overtaken
with it, do but think a whiie upon the thing that
Texes you, before you it^>\ yonr mind about ii : and
T^'hen at length you muA fpeak, yer, even then, fpeak
lefs than you think ; fpeak not all the v^orfl o^' 1% for
that would but infiame the heart more than it was be-
fore. Prov. xxix. I I. A fcoluttereth all his mind, but
^ ivfe man ktepeth it in til afterwards^ Prov. xvi. 23,
"-Jbe heart of the wife teacheth his mouth, and addeth
ka^hin^ to his lips. Learn to put a favourable and
/ hopeful CO??. I ru 6] ion upon the providences of God to-
wards you, and tven upon thofe that are dark, fad,
rTid difmal-like : and do not carry like one that is jea-
\om of his kiadnef^ ; and dp qoi think, that, iu every
crofs
about fome duties. 345
crofs difpcnfation, he is feeking advantage of you,
and, as it were, laying a fnare for you ; but rather.
if a difpenfation be liable to leDtation and diffeieDC
conllruflions, whereof nine are bad, and but one of
ihem good, let the praying believer rejedl and leave
the nine bad interpretations, and put only the good
and favourable fenfe upon that fad difpenfa:ion : for
it well becomes him, and it is his duty and wifdom
io to do ; and, with the fcripture warrant, Mark vii,
and lafl, He hath done all things well, Rom. viii. 28.
And we know that all things work together for good, to
them that love God. Pfaliii xxv. 10* All the paths of
the Lord are mercy and truths &c. and in many other
places. Again, in the trial of your cafe, and fince-
rity of your faith, love, and of the refl: of the graces \
1 fay, in the cxannination of them before God, mind
ihe differences mentioned between the marks of llrong
faith, and the marks of true faith, though weak.
2. Often and ferioully put your heart in his hand,
and pray, that he would not fcfFer you to provoke
hira, nor deceive yourfelf, in your trial, and juclg-
ing of your cafe, Pfalm cxxix. 23. Search nie^ God^
(ind know my heart. And Pfalm xsvl. i. Judge nie^
O Lord^ for I have zvalked in mine integrity,
3. When the trial proves dark and diiEcult, and ye
know not what to think of your cafe, being fo con-
lufed ; then put off intricate queftions about your fia-
cerity in former times, and fet about the dire<fi: a6ts of
faith, which (land in the outgoings of the foul to-
wards Jefus Chrifl-, and chufing and cleaving to him,
as a fui), fufBcient and only Saviour of poor lofl fin-
ners ; which fuppofes an heart-humbling and exer-
cifmg fenfe and feeling of your finfulnefs and mifery.
4. Beg that promifed fpirit, i Cor. ii. 12. Now
have we received, not the fpirit of the word^ but the
iSp'trit which is of God, that we might know the things
that are freely given us of God. Lay your account
with many ups and downs in the cafe ; for they are
, ufeful, needful, profitable, and kindly to faints, in theic
voyage
34^ -^^ excellent advice
voyage to the land oi" reft : and we cannot well bear
conftant fair weather, but muft fometimes have ftorms
and crols winds, and fometimes gales of favourable
and fair winds ; and ail is made through prayer^ and
fupply of the Spirit of Chnjl Jefus^ Philip, i. i^. to
contribute for the furtherance of their voyage hea-
ven-ward, and giving them more and frelh difcove-
ries of ttie working of fan6tifying^ and faving grace in
the hearts of his people, and foulrefrefhing exer-
cifes, that are fuitdble tor a militant chriflian la this
world.
111. As to practices of duty,
I . /^ F T E N mind what :s your daily crofs, Heb.
^^ xii. 2. that you nray take it up, and follow
Cbrif>, bearing it, and from time to time taking a
frefh lift of it.
2. Defiring and endeavouring to do all in faith, de-
pending' upon God in Ch'-ifl, {leaning upon him while
ye walk through the wilderne/s of this worlds Cant,
viii. 5 ) for furniture and through-bearing in all the
cafes you can bt in.
3. For acceptance of you and your efTays of duty,
of fuccefs of duty, and growth therein, of holinefs,
and nearnefs to God thereby
4. Of a reward and bleiTing, that it fhall not be io
vain, Ifa. xlv jp. 1 fatd not unto the feed of Jacobs
Seek ye me in vain, i Tim. iv. 8. Godlinefs is profita-
ble unto all things^ having the promijes of the life to come^
and that which is now, Alfo, you muft be prefTing
forward daily, 10 know more of the power, life, and
fpirit of every duty, and flill to be going on from
flrength to ilrength; unto which progrefs, the wife ob-
lervation of our fhort comings doth daily heJp.
5. Keep your eye much upon your predomioantf,
and upon ihtfm that doth mofl eafily befet and over^
throw you ; for thefe may be the Capiain of your foul's
enemies. More particularly, cuquire whether any of
thefe
about fome duties, 34;
thefe preTail over you, viz. doubting, misbelleF, and
calling almoft all truths to queftion. 2dly, God-pro-
voking and felf-difquieting jealoufy of his love to you,
noiwithftanding of his multiplied evidences of the care
of your foul. 3^/y, Tormenting diffidence, impatient
hafte, rafli cenfuring of others, and iiafty venting of
your thoughts when you are vexed : it is better to vent
your heart to God in prayer, which is the breathing
of the foul ; and then, as you fee fit, to vent yourfeif
to your fellow-creatures. /\thly^ Mind the proper
feafon for every duty ; and learn daily more ot taat
great duty of redeeming time, Eph. v. 16. Redeeming
the timey becaufe the days are evil, ^thly^ Whatever
you think Chrift would have done, in fuch a particu-
lar cafe, when he was upon earth, do you the fame.
This may be a direction in very dark and doubtful
cafes, and it is commanded in the imitating of Cbrift,
I Peter i. 15. But as he which hath called you is holy^
fo he ye holy in all manner of converfation. i John iv. 17.
Becaufe as he is, fo are we tn this vjDorld^ i Cor. xii,
1 1. But all thefe worketh that one and the fame fpirit,
dividing to every man fever ally ^ as he will. Mind that
general rule. Matt. vii. 12. Therefore all things what ^
foever ye would that men fhould do to you^ do ye evenfo
to them^ &c. with its due limitations.
6, Learn to keep in mind your latter end ; and be
dying daily, by conftant effays of that precept, i Tim.
vi. 19. Laying up in fore for themfelves a good founda-
tion again fi the time to come^ that they may lay hold on-
eternal life ; by diligence in the great duty of Chrif-
tianity, by labouring to grow daily in grace, and by
adventuring on nothing but wh:n is duty, both lawful
and feafonable, and as you think you would adven-
ture upon, if you had but a day to live. Improve
your fenfe of fliort-coming, not for difcouraging vou
from or in duties, but for ftirring you up to more di-
ligence and watchfulnefs.
IV, As
148 -^^ fx.ceUent advhe^ Sec,
IV, As to your converfe with others,
I. 'W IN D what was formerly hinted, of fpeak-
^y^ ing within bounds ; which feems to be the
fcripiure rule, Pro?, xvii. 27. He that hath knowledge^
fparcth his words^ Sec. and many other places,
2. Study to be both doing good, and getting good
in every company ; let all be for edification, other-
wife you will be getting hurt, or at lead lofin^^your
time, and falling behind in your great work.
3. Let your vifits be mod to the godly. Prov. xiii.
20. He that walketh with wife men^Jball be made wife^
Bcc, Yet not only to thofe ; Prov. xviii. 24. A'man
that hath friends^ muft Jhew himfelf friendly^ &c«
I Cor. V, 10. Tet not altogether with the fornicators
cf this worldy Sec.
4. When you give any vifit, make it (liort, except
tlie company be very good, and their difcourfe edify-
ing.
5. When you receive a yifir, rather lead the dif-
courfe, by propofmg forae pertinent purpofe, than lofe
the time by idle, vain, and unprofitable converfe ; and
the more ferious and fpiritual your difcourfe be, you
will be the fooner quit of their company, if they be
carnal, and they will the feldomer return to trouble
you : yet be not behind the worft of them in coramoa
civility and neighbouring kind offices,
6. Let the difcourfe be led, by talking of remark-
able providences or queftions fuiiable to the company
you converfe with. There are many innocent wiles
of (hortning unprofitable company ; in the ufe where-
of prudence is needful, and wifdom is profitable to di-
re^ ; fo there is need of watchfulnefs and refolution,
10 make them effectual with little obfervation.
At Borthwicky December nth, 1708.
F I N I S.
Pf-'ncetpn Theological Seminary Libra
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