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SECT. III.

Now I proceed to the fecond general, viz. the proofes of a strong faith, with the instances of a weak faith in truth.

Three queries, how to know, 1. Whether our faith be great, 2. or little, 3. and yet true.

You fee there are two parts of this, I will begin with the fift, which refpects the difcoveries of faith in Atrength.

Concerning which take these things briefly. Signes of a great Signes of a and strong faith.

1. Confidence of ease answers for great matters is an argument of a ftrong and great faith. As in the Centurion,who came to Chrift for the healing of his fervant, who was fick of a palley and grievously tormented, fpeak the word only and my fervant shall be healed, (that is) Though he be very weak, yet, I am confident that thy power is very strong, thou needeft not to trouble thy perfon, one word from thy pleasure will heal him, Matth.8.6,7,8. What faith Chrift now of this faith? Seev. 10. Verily, I have not found fo great faith, no not in Ifrael. The more difficult we efteem things to be in God or Chrift, the weaker is our faith: If we impofe a different readinefle of help, or mercy, or pardon, on God, according to the different matter which we are putting up unto him, this argues want of ftrength: For it is all one with God to pardon abundantly,as to pardon fingly; and his power, is as able for the greatest difficulty, as for the leaft trouble. But when the foul draws neer unto him, and can beleeve great matters, as well as fmall things; that he will be merciful to great transgreffions, as well as compassionate to ordinary infirmities; that he will fubdue Strong temptations, as well as weak glancings; that he will in time conquer the bufieft inclination to fin, &c. this fhews that faith is come to fome ft ength.

2. Againe, a repetition of adherence and aftedfast following of Christ, notwithstanding the difcouragements which the foule may be apt to take from Chrifts behaviour towards it, argues their faith to be strong, and great, 2 Sam.23.1.6. They were the

three

great and itrong faith.

Job.

three mighty men that brake through the Hoft, and drew water
out of the well of Bethlehem, Matth.15. 22. As in that woman
of Canaan, who came to Chrift to heal her daughter; Have
mercy on me O Lord, thou fonne of David; how did Chrift
entertaine her? (the text faith, be answered her not a word) yet
in the fame verfe it is faid, the cryeth after thee; ( Chrifts fi
lence raised her voice the higher) Againe, she came and wor-
Shipped him, faying, Lord, help me, how is the now answered?
(It is not meet to take the childrens bread and to caft it to dogs;)
fuch an answer to fome fpirits, had been far worse then filence;
Eut mark it, her faith followed Chrift ftill, and that very
word which would difcourage another,encouraged her; (O,
that faith is ftrong which can urge Chrift from a fmall hint)
Truth Lord, faid the, yea, the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall
from their Masters Table. As if the might fay, Be it fo Lord
Jefus, I am no better then a dogge, an unworthy creature, yet
let me have the compaffions to a dogge, though not plenty,
yet the crumbs. Now, what faith Chrift of her? Then Jefu
anfwered, and faid unto her, O woman, great is thy faith. Re-
member it, that the faith which can bring up the foul, which
can lead it up to heaveu against difcouragements. Though
God doth not answer, yet I will feek; though he kill me, jet
I will trust in him: I fay, fuch a faith is ftrong; an expoftu
lating faith,a faith which will make the foul to preffe on after
denials, after fufpenfions; it is come to a great measure of
faith, which will not be answered, or will not be gone; a faith
that will not let God go, or Chrift until it fpeed. Jacob
was as a wrestler, he would not let God go except be blessed
him. A faith that can dispute it much with God, which will
in a holy reasoning, take and urge God with God, and will
fo enforce the promises on him (which he hath made)that God
is even faine to yeild, Be it unto thee as thou wilt, this is faith
ripened.

3. The more entirely the foul is carried to expectation from the fole ftrength of a Divine promise, the greater and the ftronger is that faith. As in Abrahams cale; He wanted a fonne, and God promised him an Isaac ; Abraham did not now ftagger through unbelief, he did not confult the truth of it from his own natural abilities; How unable he was, that

be

be neglected, but how able God was to perform his own word, upon this his faith did pitch. And for this the text faith, that he was ftrong in faith, Rom.4.20. Remember this, that the more fenfible helps the foul needs to draw out the act of beleeving, the weaker is the faith; as the man is judged to be very weak, who cannot go without many crutches and holdings; But the more strength a naked promise hath with the foule, when it alone puts life and quietneffe into us, now faith is grown; As David faid, The Lord is on my fide, I will not fear what man can do unto me. So when we can quash all our troubles with the fight of a promife, I have Gods word for my pardon, his word for my help, his Word for my comfort, I defire no better pay-mafter then God, no better fecurity then his own promife; though all things ftand contrary in fenfe and feeling, yet all is fure in Gods promife, and there I will fettle, this argues a great faith.

and

4. The more ability aman hath to deny himself in neare great occurrences, the greater is his faith: Abraham in leaving of his countrey, parting with Ifaac: The more easily we can beleeve great things, and part with great things, the ftronger is our faith. There is nothing more hard then to give up a mans felf.

There is a threefold felf,

First, his finful felf in refpect of old and dear fins.

Secondly, bis natural felf, in refpect of the feparation of foul and body.

Thirdly, his temporal felf in respect of the comforts of this life. And it must be a strong faith which must enable to ftrong denials of our felves, when a thing comes nearer to the quick, either when God denies a man a fpecial comfort,or draws off from him a fpecial comfort; now to fubmit, now to be quiet, I can do all things through Chrift that strengthens me, faid Paul; I know how to want, and how to abound, to be exalted and to be abafed, I have learned in whatsoever ftate I am there. with to be contented.

To have the heart pleased with Chrift alone, and fatisfied with his prefence, mark it,the more entirely that the foul makes up its ftate in Chrift, and the leffe power that the world imprints upon the heart in its changes, this imports the faith is

come

come to strength. Strong faith is like a ftrong tree, which holds its body unmovable against great tempefts, but weak faith is like a plant which every winde makes almost to touch the ground.

Fifthly, the weaker the arguments of diftruft grow in the heart; this is a figne that the faith is got to a ftrength. This I conjecture, that the ftrength or weakneffe of faith is not to be judged by the multiplicity of distrustful arguments, but by the force and efficacy of them; It is poffible that manifold arguments of feare, and doubts may prefent themselves to the minde of a strong belcever, as well as unto the judgement of a weak beleever, but then, if faith be strong, it doth weigh them down, it doth prevaile ever them, (that is) it brings the foul to Chrift; it cleaves ftill unto him. The foul maintaines its title to Chrift, and owns God in his promifes, it will not caft away its hope, nor its strength, wherein the foul can habitually foyle the reafonings which croffe its way, and can cleare up and vindicate its ftate, what God is to it, and Christ is to it, and what it hath received from them, this is an argument, that it is not weak but strong.

Sixthly, the more eafie compliance with change of a mans condition is an evidence of a faith which is more ftrong. There are feveral changes incident to mans temporal life, the Moon fometimes is ful,andanon'it is in the Eclipfe;our fea doth ebb and flow; fometimes profperity (like the sandle of the Lord) fhines upon us; by and by adverfity (like the winde) blows out the candle; fometimes we abound and our mountaine feemes ftrong; anon we are ftript and our mountaine is shaked; one while health and prefence of friends; another while fickneffe and loffe of all. Now in thefe changes, not to be changed, like the fhip right up in a calme, but toffing and reeling in a torme, but to be as the rock fixed and fetled, holding up, and rejoycing in the God of our falvation, and encouraging our (elves in the Lord our God, and willing to be any thing; in any condition, yea, to bleffe God for all as Fob did. If I die, I fhall go to God; If I live, I will ferve my God; If I enjoy, I will be fruitful; IfI want, I will be thankful; The more Paffive the heart is, the more active and strong the faith is. Paul had been learning that leffon; In every ftate, therewith to be content.

not

O when a Chriftian can comply with contrary ftates, through an infenfiblene ffe of Spirit, but from an apprehenfion and approbation of divine wisdome, goodnesse, love and authority, his faith is fingularly cleared and well impro

ved.

7. The more fatisfaction and quiescence that the foul bath in Chrift alone, the greater is the faith; when a naked Chrift, is the centre and loadstone, and the All in all, As the Sunne to make day, I defire to know nothing but Christ crucified, faid Paul, 1 Cor. 2.2. Whom have 1 in heaven but thee? and there is nove upon earth that 1 defire befides thee, faid Ajaph, Palme 73.25. I count all things but loffe for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, faith Paul again, Phil.3.8. Lord, let thy fervant now depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy falvation, faid Simeon, Luke 2.29, 30. As when we come to heaven, we fhall be fo heavenly, that heaven alone will be enough to us, and this fhews perfection; fo whiles we live on earth,if Chrift alone be heaven and earth to us; if he can fill our hearts, and fatis fie them. O Lord fefus, thou art righteousneffe enough, fatisfaction enough, wifdome enough, peace, and comfort, and pleasure enough to my foul: O this comes from great frength.

8. The more that the body of finne decayes in strength, the leffer prevalency of it, this fhewes that faith is ftrong. When finne becomes more dead in its actions, or more ineffectual in its temptations; When a man can walk and not ftumble, and reele and fall; he is now out-grown his former weaknesse; It fhews weakneffe, when every ftone makes thee apt to fall; It is a figne the army is ftrong, when the enemy many of them are flaine, and the reft are easily discomfited. Sinne is our enemy, and Christ is our general, and faith is our champion, and the more that finnes fall,it is an argument that faith is become ftronger. The victorious faith is much more then the combating faith: Sinnes go down by believing; the more that any grace is in victory the more it is in ftrength. Indeed it argues truth of faith to refift, but to conquer finnes, this fhewes ftrength, to wrestle is fomething, but to overthrow is more; to oppofe fin, is not so much as to vanquish it.

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