4. Again, This particular faith it is with a high prizing and admiration
considering that whilst the strong man keeps the hold, all things are in peace; whereas there is no Christian but he finds his particular faith strongly assaulted, more than his general: which is the reason why these two equal truths are not equally believed, because Satan doth hinder the application, the minor part assuming more than the general. Those who have no conflict may fear they have no faith at all, God in wrath and justice suffering them to go on in a smooth uninterrupted state. But all who have experience know what this spiritual conflict with an unbelieving heart means, when it comes to application.
3. Again, a man may know his faith to be true by his willingness to search himself, and to be searched by others. He that hath a true sound faith, and particular assurance from thence, is willing oftentimes to search his heart. He would be better and better, labouring to examine himself and to be examined of others. Those who are willing to go on in a still smooth course, because they will not break the peace of their own deluding false hearts, rather thinking all well than to put themselves to the trial, we may know this is but presumption. Where there is true application there is always willingness to search our own evidence; nay, a Christian will be willing, when he cannot find his own evidence, to have the help of other Christians to read his evidence for him, and to tell him of his estate, and is inquisitive, especially when he meets with the skilful in those things.
4. Again, This particular faith it is with a high prizing and admiration of the love of God in Christ, 'who loved me, and gave himself for me.'
It is a sign that he hath no interest in this love, that prizes and values other things above it. If one had any assurance of this, he would value it above all other things in the world. He knows that howsoever
Christ gives other things, riches, kingdoms, and honours to
castaways, that yet Christ gives himself to none but his dear children.
Therefore when he knows that he hath interest in Christ, he values him above all things in the world; will part with all rather than with his interest in him, when others go on with a general conceit that Christ died for them and loves them, or howsoever, that yet come what will, they will go on in their pleasures and profits, though their hearts tell them there is something higher in their souls than Christ and his love. You see then that we may all come in who will. There is ground enough to draw them on, if they be not false to their own comfort, and how we may try whether we be assured or not.
Exhortation. I beseech you, therefore, as we desire to do anything that may please God, labour for particular faith and assurance.
Would we have our whole course of life to stink before God? I tell you, without this faith it is not possible to please God. Would we have all our life to pass fruitfully, and nothing to run upon our account when we are to die? Oh pray that the Lord would increase our faith; above all, labour for particular faith and assurance, for there is nothing Satan opposes us more in. It is a happy estate, a heaven upon earth. If Satan doth oppose it most, and it be the greatest happiness we can enjoy, it is worth the labouring after.
Let especially those that have ground and cause to be assured, humble broken-hearted Christians, let them by all means not yield to Satan, so much as to obscure the beauty of a Christian life, and to weaken the good things in others; who see them so mopish and cast down as though Christianity were a life of perpetual sorrow, and not rather of perpetual rejoicing, Ps. 32:10, 11. Our blessed Saviour indeed shews that mourners are blessed, but it is chiefly because it tends and ends in joy. There is a command to 'rejoice evermore,' but nowhere is it written, 'mourn continually.' Every one, therefore, ought to express by all means this assurance in the beauty of a holy
life. Therefore those who make conscience of holy duties and of their ways, let them not yield to temptations of this kind. If we be in such darkness, let us not trust unto our own judgment, but let us trust the judgment of others. Oftentimes others know more by us than we by ourselves. We ought to yield much to the discerning of Christians in this kind. It is an easy matter when all things go well with us, in a right current, having some feeling, then to have comfort and to be fruitful; but when we are in our dumps, and in the hour of temptation, then it is not so easy. When a tree bears a great deal of fruit, and abounds with leaves, it is an easy matter to say, This is a fruitful tree; but when in winter the sap falls to the root, is covered with snow and frost, the leaves shaken off, and the root that is unseen lies hid, then it requires some judgment and former experience to say, This tree hath life, and is fruitful, though now there appears none. So a Christian may be in such an estate, that he requires the judgment of some others to look upon him. When in such a case, he must go to former times, for God's love is constant, always like himself.
And go to the secret working of grace; when outwardly there appears little, go to the pulses. As, if we would know whether a man who is in a swound hath life and breath, we go to feel the pulses, to see if there be any breath remaining; so in a case of desertion, or seeming deadness of spirit, try which way goes the soul in the desires of it. Is there not a desire to please God? Are there not groans and endeavours with those desires? Are not those desires restless, and thy soul unsatisfied? Thou dost not content thyself with a little faith, but thou desirest more and more, and thou art ashamed, because thou hast so little. This is the pulses beating, and the breathings of a living soul. Yield not to Satan, who tells thee there is no ground for thee to be assured of thy estate. Where we find these evidences of a
living soul, we ought to believe there is true life there; which I speak to those, who, without cause, are carried to doubt of their estates.
Obj. And do not tie Christ to thy conditions: If I had feeling and joy, I could believe, and be cheerful; if God would send a messenger from heaven, an interpreter, one of a thousand unto me, or if I had those supernatural suavities that some others have found, and those joys; or were not corruption so busy with me, and I so prone to be overtaken by them.
Sol. But I say unto thee, know this for thy comfort, that whilst thou art clothed with flesh, two fountains will have two streams; that which is born of the flesh will be flesh, and which is born of the Spirit will be spirit still. Inform thy judgment, mistake not, neither say thou wilt not be comforted unless thou find such a thorough mortification of thy corruption, as admits no strong combustion.
Quest. Shall St Paul, that chosen vessel, have cause to cry out, 'O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?' Rom. 7:24, and canst thou think to be freed from them?
Ans. No; deceive not thyself. Thy comfort stands in this, with St Paul, not to allow the evil that thou doest; that sin shall not have dominion over thee, as the apostle speaks, thou not being under the law, but under grace; for saith he in another place, 'The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these two are contrary, so that ye cannot do the things which ye would,' Gal. 5:17.
Comfort thyself rather from this self-combat, and thence even gather thy assurance, that now sin and thou are not one lump; that a heavenly light hath discovered this thy darkness unto thee; only be sure, sin hath no quiet possession in thee. Complain of thyself, and of thy corruptions, unto thy Christ as fast as they come; lay the burden upon the strongest, and then fear not the issue: that which thou
allowest not of, complainest of, and repentest of, shall not, cannot undo thee, but the Spirit at last shall have a final victory. So much for thy corruptions.
And for thy joy and feeling: tie not thy Saviour to thy conditions and qualifications; look to thy desires, thy constant walk, not thy straying fits and thine infirmities; remember that this is Christian perfection, not to live in any gross sin, nor allow of any smaller sin; and for thy imperfections, look up unto that infinite fulness of thy Saviour, and storehouse of all grace, whence we receive grace for grace: 'who is made unto us of God the Father, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,' 1 Cor. 1:30. And then, whatsoever thy emptiness be, a part of his riches being fetched and applied by the hand of faith, will make thee up complete with the best. And know, that as in the state of innocency under the first Adam, his comfort came from within himself upon his obedience or disobedience, so now under the second Adam, the true and substantial ground of thy comfort is without thyself, in thy justification, and application of his all-sufficient merits and righteousness to thy trembling soul.
Walk on therefore in the obedience of faith, having a respect unto all God's commandments, and then assure thyself the promise is so, thou shalt not be ashamed. Labour as much as thou canst for an higher measure of sanctification and mortification, for this will assure and confirm thy justification the more it is; but with these cautions.
Caution 1. Be not discouraged at thy small measure whatsoever, if in truth, so as to fly off from applying the riches of thy Saviour and sweet husband unto thee; in whom, whatsoever thy poverty be, if married to him, thou art complete and rich with the best; for the
weaker thou art, thou hast so much the more need of a stronger helper to uphold and sustain thee: it being the law of marriage for the wife to be endowed with all the husband's riches, who is to pay her debts, whatsoever she be, being once married unto him.
Caution 2. Again, Whatsoever pitch of sanctification or mortification thou obtainest, rest not in that, but on the all-sufficiency of thy blessed Lord Jesus, who is thine, and so with him all his obedience, righteousness, and merits of his life, death, and resurrection; for there is nothing so exact in thee, but in the time of tentation the devil will find a hole in it, and so make his advantage thereof for thy discouragement; whereas it is clear, 'the prince of this world being come,' as our Saviour says, 'found nothing in him,' John 14:30.
Caution 3. And for the remainder, in those eclipses which damp thy spirit in this thy pilgrimage, by desertion, afflictions, or howsoever, know that precious faith, that it may shine the more, must be tried.
Make then a virtue of necessity, buckle thyself to this business of most importance; strive to obey whatsoever thou feelest; in sense of thy misery believe thy happiness in Christ; in sense of God's anger believe his love, and that he will not be angry for ever. Faith, where it is, is of a victorious nature. Therefore, as in contraries thou wouldst have an evidence of any goodness in thee, in contraries strive against contraries. When thou feelest nothing but matter of discouragement, know the commandment is to believe, and thy duty is to obey. No service can be performed comfortably without some persuasion.
Strive then to get all the arguments thou canst of a good estate; and when thou thyself art not able get others to read thy evidences for thee, believe the judgments of others who can tell thee, that these things found in thee come not from a corrupt and false heart.
And withal, pray for the spirit of revelation, as St Paul doth, Eph.
2:17. Pray that God would vouchsafe thee his Spirit, to discover unto thee that love he bears thee, and the riches thou hast in Christ; to shew thee the height, and breadth, and depth, and length, with all the dimensions of his love in Christ more and more; that so the more we grow in the sense and feeling of his love to us, the more we may be inflamed to love him again; for we cannot love him unless we find him loving us first. So beg of him to give us the spirit of revelation.
And attend upon the means that doth beget faith, which is especially the word, which is called the word of faith, and look to the examples of others, how God hath brought them from a wicked course of life into a sweet state of grace. Take benefit likewise by the example of those we live with. Use all means to take notice of Christ's particular love. It is the main thing we should labour after in this world. Can we know how long we have to live in this world? What will make us die willingly, but when we know that Christ will have a care of our souls?
What made David to commend his soul into God's hands, but this, 'Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth?' Ps. 31:5. What will make us die in the faith cheerfully? Why, Lord, thou hast redeemed my soul; when at the hour of death we can commend our soul to Christ, Take my soul, blessed Saviour: thou hast redeemed me, thou hast loved me, and given thyself for me; look upon that soul in mercy that thou hast sprinkled with thine own blood. Strive we then for this particular faith, without which we cannot resign up our souls comfortably unto Christ at the last.
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