beauty besides himself, yet it is not in these, but in Christ, who is his by faith, that he blesseth himself. Tlie beUever, he can say, through mercy, that he hath a heart beautified with those heavenly graces, to which the heathen's mock virtues, and the proud self justiciary's mock graces also, are no more to be compared, than the image in the glass is to the face, or the shadow to the man himself. He can say, he hath that holiness in truth, which they have but in shew and semblance. And tliis grace of God in him he values infinitely above all the world's treasure or pleasure; he had rather be the ragged saint, than the robed sinner; yea, above his natural life, which he can be willing to lose, and count himself no loser, may he thereby but secure this his spiritual life. But this is not the biggest word that a believer can say ; he is not only partaker of the Divine nature by that principle of holiness infused in him, but he is heir to all the holiness, yea, all the glorious perfections that are in God himself. All that God is, luith, or doth, he hath leave to call his own. God is pleased to be called his people's God, ' the God of Israel,' 2 Sam. xxiii. 3. As a man's house and land bears the owner's name upon it, so CJod is graciously pleased to carry his people's name on him, that all the world may know who ai-e they he belongs to. Naboth's field is called ' the portion of Naboth,' 2 Kings ix. 21 ; so God is called 'the portion of Jacob,' Jer. x. 16. Nothing hath God kept from his people, saving his crown and glory : that, indeed, ' he will not give to another,' Isa. xlii. 8. If the Christian wants strength, God would have him make use of his; and that he may do it boldly and confidently, the Lord calls himself his people's strength, 1 Sam. xv. 29 : 'The Strength of Israel will not lie.' Is it righteousness and holiness he is scanted in ? behold where it is brought unto his hand : ' Christ is made unto us righteousness,' 1 Cor. i. 13, called therefore ' the Lord our righteousness,' Jer. xxxiii. 16. Is it love and mercy they would have? all the mercy in God is at their service : Psa. xxxi. 19, ' O how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee ! ' Mark the phrase, ' laid up for them ;' his mercy and goodness it is intended for them, as a father that lays by such a sum of money, and writes on the bag, This is a por- tion for such a child. But how comes the Christian to have this right to God, and all that vast and imtold treasure of happiness which is in him? This indeed is greatly to be heeded; it is faith that gives him a good title unto all this. That which maketh him a child makes him an heir. Now faith makes him a child of God : John i. 12, ' To as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on him.' As therefore, if you would not call your birthright into question, and bring your interest in Christ, and those gloriovis privileges that come along with him, under a sad dispute in your soul, look to your faith.
Quest. But what counsel, may the Christian say, can you give for the pre- serving of my faith ? — Ans. To this I answer in these following particulars.
First, That which was instrumental to beget thy faith will be helpful to preserve thy faith ; I mean the word of God. As it was seed for the former purpose in thy conversion, so now it is milk for the present sustentation of thy faith : lie sucking at this breast, and that often. Children cannot suck long," nor digest nnich at a time, and therefore need the mope frequent returns of their meals ; such children are all believers in this world. ' Precept must be upon precept, line upon line, here a little and there a little ;' the breast often drawn out for the nourishing of them up in their spiritual life, or else they cannot subsist. It was not ordinary that Moses shoidd look so well as he did after he had fasted so long, Exod. xxxiv. And truly it is a miraculous faith they must have who will undertake to keep their faith alive without taking any spiritual repast from the word. I have heard of some children that have been taken from their mother's breast as soon almost as born, and brought up by hand, who yet have done well for their natural life ; but I shall not believe that a creature can thrive in his spiritual life who casts off ordinances, and weans himself from the word, till I hear of some other way of provision that God hath made for the ordinary maintenance of it besides this; and I despair of living so long as to see this proved. I know some, that we may hope well of, have l)een for a time persuaded to turn their backs on the word and ordinances; but they have returned well hunger-bitten to their old fare again ; yea, with Naomi's bitter complaint in their mouths, ' I went out full, and the liord hath brought me
4(34 ABOVE ALL, TAKING THE SHIELD OF FAITH.