hath, to God his maker, though he hath not the grace vohintarily to make these over to God by promise and covenant. Bnt the great God is so absolute a Sovereign, that none can make a law to bind him but himself: till he be pleased to pass an act of grace, of his own good-will, to give this, or do that good thing, to and for his poor creatures, no claim can be laid to the least mercy at his hands. There are two things therefore that are greatly to be heeded by the soul that would believe.
First, He must inquire for a promise to bear his faith out and warrant him to expect such a mercy at God's hand. And then, secondly, when he hath found a promise and observed the terms well on which it runs, not to stay for any further encouragement, but upon the credit of the naked promise to set his faith on work. First, To inquire out a promise, and observe well the terms on which it runs. Indeed upon the point it comes all to one, to believe without a promise, or to believe on a promise but not observe the terms of it. Both are jjresumptuous, and speed alike. A prince hath as much reason to be angry with him that doth not keep close to his commission, as with another that acts without any commission. O how little considered is this by many, who make bold of God's arm to lean on for pardon and salvation, but never think, that the promise which presents Christ to be leaned on as a Saviour, presents him at the same time to be chosen as a Lord and Prince I Such were the rebellious Israelites, who durst make God and his promise a leaning-stock for their fold elbows to rest upon : ' They call themselves of the holy city, and stay them- selves upon the God of Israel,' Isa. xlviii. 2. But they were more bokl than welcome. God rejected their confidence, and loathed their sauciness. Though a prince would not disdain to let a poor wounded man, faint with bleeding, and unable to go alone, upon his humble request, make use of his arm, rather than he should perish in the streets ; yet he would with indignation reject the same motion from a filthy drunkard, that is besmeared with his vomit, if he should desire leave to lean on him, because he cannot go alone. I am sure, how wel- come soever the poor humble soul, that lies bleeding for his sins at the very mouth of hell in his own thoughts, is to God, when he comes upon the encou- ragement of the promise to lean on Christ; yet the profane wretch that em- boldens himself to come to Christ, shall be kicked away with infinite disdain and abhorrency by a holy God for abusing his promise.
Secondly, When a poor sinner hath found a promise, and observes the terms with a heart willing to embrace them, now he is to put forth an act of faith upon the credit of the naked promise, without staying for any other encourage- ment elsewhere. Faith is a right pilgrim-grace ; it travels with us to heaven, and when it sees us safe got within our Father's doors, (heaven I mean,) it takes leave of us. Now the promise is this pilgrim's staff, with which it sets forth, though (like Jacob on his way to Padan-Aram) it hath nothing else with it. ' Remember thy word unto thy servant,' saith David, 'upon which thou hast caused me to hope,' Psa. cxviii. 49. The word of promise was all he had to shew ; and he counts that enough to set his faith on work. But, alas ! some make comfort the ground of faith, and experience their warrant to believe. They will believe when God manifests himself to them, and sends in some sensible demonstration of his love to their souls ; but till this be done, the promise hath little authority to silence their unbelieving cavils, and quiet their misgiving hearts into a waiting on God for the performance of what there is spoke from God's own mouth. Like old Jacob, who gave no credit to his children, when they told him Joseph was j'et alive, and governor over all the land of Egypt. This news was too good and great to enter into his belief, who had given him lip for dead so long; it is said, ' His heart fainted, for he believed them not,' Gen. XXV. 6. But when he saw the waggons that Joseph had sent to carry him thither, then, it is said, ' the spirit of Jacob revived,' ver. 27. Truly thus, though the promise tells the poor humbled sinner, Christ is alive. Governor of heaven itself, with all power there and on earth put into his hand, that he may give eternal life to all that believe on him, and he be therefore exhorted to rest upon Christ in the promise; yet his heart faints, and believes not: it is the waggons he would fain see, some sensible expressions of God's love that he listens after; if he did but know that he was an elect person, or were one that
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God did love, then he would believe. But God hath little reason to thank him in the meantime for suspending his faith till these come. This is, as I may so say, to believe for spiritual loves, and is rather sense than faith.