Sect. 14. — Marks and evidences of true faith.
Sect. 14. — Marks and evidences of true faith.
Nom. But I ask you sir, are there not other things besides these, that he says he finds in himself, that a man may look at as evidences of his believing, or as you call them, as grounds to believe that he has believed?
Evan. Yes, indeed, there are diverse other effects of faith which, if a man truly has them, he may look at them as evidences that he has truly believed; and I will name three of them:
The FIRST EVIDENCE is when a man truly loves the word of God, and makes a right use of it. And a man does this: 1st, When he hungers and thirsts after the word, as after the food of his soul, desiring it at all times, even as he desires his “appointed food,” Job 23.12. 2nd, When he desires and delights to exercise himself in it day and night; that is, constantly, Psalm 1.2. 3rd, When he receives the word of God as the word of God, and not as the word of man, 1Thess. 2.13 — setting his heart in hearing or reading it, as though in God’s presence: and being affected by it as if the Lord himself were speaking to him. And he is most affected by that ministry, or that portion of God’s word, which shows him his sins, and searches out his most secret corruptions: denying his own reason and affections — yes, denying his own profits and pleasures in anything when the Lord requires it of him. 4th, When he makes the word of God his chief comfort in his afflictions; finding it at that time, to be the main stay and solace of his heart, Psalm 119.49, 50.
The SECOND EVIDENCE is when a man truly loves the children of God, 1John 5.1; that is, all godly and religious persons above all other sorts of men; and that is when he loves them not for any carnal respects, but for the graces of God which he sees in them, 2John 1.2; 3John 1.3. And when he delights in their society and company, and makes them his only companions, Psalm 119.63; and when his well-doing (in his power) extends itself to them, Psalm 16.3. In being pitiful and tender-hearted towards them, and in gladly receiving them, and meeting their needs with a ready mind, Philem. 1.7; 1John 3.17. And when he does not hold the glorious faith of Christ with “partiality,” James 2.1, 2, but can make himself equal to those of lower rank, Rom. 12.16; and when he loves them at all times, even when they are in adversity, such as poverty, disgrace, sickness, or are otherwise in misery.
The THIRD EVIDENCE is, when a man can truly love his enemies, Mat. 6.14. And he does that when he can pray heartily for them, and forgive them their particular trespasses against him; being more grieved that they have sinned against God than for having wronged him; and when he can forbear them, rather than take revenge on them by bringing shame and misery upon them, 1Pet. 3.9; Rom. 12.14; and when he strives to overcome their evil with goodness, being willing to help them, and relieve them in their misery, and do them any good in soul or body; and, lastly, when he can freely and willingly acknowledge his enemy’s just praise, as if he were his dearest friend.