[2.] The second property of that faith that accompanies salvation is this : it is of a growing and increasing nnture. It is like the waters of the sanctuary, that rise higher and higher, as Ezekiel speaks. It is like a tender plant, that naturally grows higher and higher ; it is like a grain of mustard-seed, which though it be the least of all seeds, yet by a divine power it grows up beyond all human expectations. Mat. xiii. 32. Faith is imperfect, as all other graces are, but yet it grows and increases gradually •} Rom. i. 17, ' For therein is the righteousness of God re- vealed from faith to faith : as it is written, The just shall live by faith.' As a gracious soul is still a-adding knowledge to knowledge^ love to love, fear to fear, zeal to zeal, so he is a-adding faith to faith. A gracious soul knows, that if he be rich in faith he cannot be poor in other graces ; he knows the growth of faith will be as * the former and the latter rain' to all other graces ; he knows that there is no way to outgrow his fears but by growing in faith ; he knows that all the plea- sant fruits of paradise^ viz., joy, comfort, and peace, flourishes as faith flourishes ; he knows that he hath much work upon his hands, that he hath many things to do, many temptations to withstand, many mercies to improve, many burdens to bear, many corruptions to conquer, many duties to perform. And this makes the believing soul thus to reason with God : Ah, Lord ! whatever I am weak in, let me be strong in faith ^ whatever dies, let faith live ; whatever decays, let faith flourish.'^ Lord, let me be low in repute, low in parts, low in estate, so thou wilt make me high in faith. Lord ! let me be poor in anything, poor in every- thing, so thou wilt make me rich in faith. Lord ! let the eye of faith be more opened, let the eye of faith be more quick-sighted, let the eye of faith be the more raised, and it shall be enough to me, though Joseph be not, though Benjamin be not.
It was the glory of the Thessalonians, that ' their faith grew exceed- ingly,' 2 Thess. i. 3. A growth in faith will render a man glorious in life, lovely in death, and twice blessed in the morning of the resurrec- tion.* So will not a growth in honours, a growth in riches, a growth in notions, a growth in opinions. That faith that accompanies salva- tion unites the soul to Christ, and keeps the soul up in communion with Christ. And from that union and communion that the soul hath with Christ, flows such a divine power and virtue, that causes faith to grow.*
1 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree, Ps. xcii. 12-14. Now, the palm tree never loseth his leaf or fruit, saith Pliny.
2 An old man being once asked if he grew in grace, answered, Yea, doubtless I be- lieve I do ; for God hath said in his word that we shall flourish and bring forth fruit in oldi age. Ille non est bonus, qui non vull esse melior.
3 That is but a wooden leg that grows not, no more is] that any more but a wooden faith, a counterfeit faith, that grows not.
* The union between Christ and the saints is the nearest and the highest union; and
454 HEAVEN ON EARTH. [ROM. VIIL 32-34.
Yet that no weak believer may be stumbled, or sadded, let them remember,
(1.) That though that faith that accompanies salvation be a growing faith, yet there are some certain seasons and cases wherein a man may decay in his faith, and wherein he may not have the exercise and the actings of his faith. This blessed babe of grace may be cast into a deep slumber ; this heavenly pearl may be so buried under the thick clay of this world, and under the ashes of corruption and temptation, as that for a time it may neither stir, nor grow, as might be shewn in Abra- ham, David, Solomon, Peter, and others.
(2.) Secondly, Remember this, that the strongest faith at times is subject to shakings, as the strongest men are to faintings, as the stout- est ships are to tossings,, as the wisest men are to doubtings, as the brightest stars are to twinklings, &c. Therefore, if at certain times thou shouldst not be sensible of the growth of thy faith, yet do not con- clude that thou hast no faith. Faith may be in the habit when it ia not in the act. There may be life in the root of the tree, when there is neither leaves, blossoms, nor fruit upon the tree ; the life that is in the root will shew itself at the spring, and so will the habits of faith break forth into acts, when the Sun of righteousness shall shine forth, and make it a pleasant spring to thy soul. And thus much for this second particular.
[3.] The third property of that faith that accompanies salvation is this : it makes those things that are great and glorious in the world's account to he very little and low in the eyes of the believer. Faith makes a believer to live in the land of promise as in a strange country, Heb. XL 9. It is nothing to live as a stranger in a strange land, but to \\ye as a stranger in the land of promise, this is the excellency and glory of faith.
Faith will make a man set his feet where other men sets their hearts. Faith looks with an eye of scorn and disdain upon the things of this world. What, says faith, are earthly treasures to the treasures of heaven ? What are stones to silver, dross to gold, darkness to light, hell to heaven 1 Mat. vi. 19, 20. No more, says faith, are all the trea- sures, pleasures, and delights of this world, to the light of thy counte- nance, to the joy of thy Spirit, to the influences of thy grace, Ps. iv. 6, 7. I see nothing, says David, in this wide world, only * thy commandments are exceeding broad.' Faith makes David account his crown nothing, his treasures nothing^, his victories nothing, his attendants nothintj, &c. Faith will make a man write nothing upon the best of worldly things ; it will make a man trample upon the pearls of this world, as upon dross and dung, Heb. xi. 24-26. Faith deadens a man's heart to the things of this world : ' I am crucified to the world, and the world is crucified to me,' says Paul, Philip, iii. 8 ; Gal. vi. 14. This world, says faith, is not my house, my habitation, my home; I look for a better country, for a better city, for a better home, 2 Cor. v. 1, 2. He that is adopted heir to a crown, a kingdom, looks with an eye of scorn and disdain upon everything below a kingdom, below a crown. Faith tells the soul that
80 it advantages their graces, and advances them to a higher degree of happiness than any other creatures whatsoever, John xvii. Christ would have his people one with him and the Father, though not essentially, nor personally, yet really and spiritually.
Rom. VIII. 32-34.] heaven on earth. 455