Ohs. 2. To grow in faith is a means to persevere in faith. Man is of an active nature ; either he groweth better or worse. We shall not keep what we have received if we do not labour to increase in it, as a house begun to be built goeth to decay, and droppeth down more and more, if we do not go on to finish it. Do we grow, then, or decline ? Did we observe our first coolings, the mischief would not be so great ; but we, like the hen, as long as there is one egg in the nest, observe not how many are taken away ; as long as we have any tolerable affec- tions to the things of God, or somewhat to keep us alive, we do not consider how many degrees of grace we have lost.
Ohs. 3. Faith — take it for the grace — is the proper foundation of holiness and good works. Works without faith are but a roof without a foundation, and faith without works is a foundation without a build- ing ; good fruit supposeth a good tree, Mat. vii.
Ohs. 4. The faith of Christians is a ' most holy' faith ; no doctrine hath such pure precepts, such high examples, such raised motives, such mysterious enforcements, such blessed rewards, and all to encou- rage holiness. If ever anything were exactly fitted to its purpose, surely the word is fitted to promote holiness. The precepts of the law require it ; the doctrine of the gospel showeth where virtue and power is to be had to perform it ; the promises encourage it ; the exam})les of God and Christ show the height and exactness of it ; the examples of the saints show it is possible ; the word and ordinances work it, as being instituted by God for such a purpose, and accompanied with the power
336 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [VeR. 20.
of his grace, Epli. v. 26. God liatli reserved this honour of sanctifying the heart to the doctrine of the scriptures, to evidence their divine original : James i. 18, ' He hath begotten us to himself by the word of truth/ This great change which is wrought in the heart of man is by the word. A moral lecture may a little fashion the outward man, and reduce him to a civil course, as Xenocrates' moral lecture made Polemo leave his vicious and sensual course of life ; but regeneration is only found in the school of Christ. Well, then, if you will know the best religion, observe where there is most holiness discovered and wrought, Ps. xix, 7-9, John xvii. 17. In the word of God you have the copy of his holiness ; there is somewhat of good life and moral be- haviour among heathens, but nothing of regeneration and genuine holiness. Once more, an impure life will not suit with a holy faith ; you dishonour God and disparage your religion when you walk as heathens. This holy faith is best * kept in a pure conscience,' 1 Tim. iii. 9.
Obs. 5. From that building up yourselves. In building up, that is, in growth and perseverance, there is a concurrence of our own endea- vours ; we are ' living stones,' 1 Peter ii. 4, after we are converted, and are not altogether dead and passive, as in conversion. After we 'have received Christ' we may 'walk with him,' Col. ii. 6. Motion and operation followeth life : he that made thee without thee will not save thee without thee.
Obs. 6. Prom the other interpretation of the word yourselves — that is, one another — observe, that mutual conference is a means of perse- verance. Solomon saith, Eccles. iv. 10, ' When two lie together they have heat.' Surely good company preserveth and keepeth up our warmth and vigour, as a remedy against apostasy. Spiritual commu- nion and conference is often pressed ; see Heb. iii, 13, and x. 24, 25. When God's people did oftener meet and confer together, there was more life in them.
Obs. 7. Next to conference, prayer is required. Note thence, that prayer is a means of establishment. We are kept by God's power, and God's power is set a- work by prayer ; this is the breath that keepeth in the fire. Men that neglect prayer find sensible decays. When they suspected some distemper upon Job's spirit, they charge him with the neglect of prayer : Job xv. 4, ' Surely thou restrainest prayer.' No wonder if men grow unsavoury, worldly, voluptuous, when they let days go, and weeks go, and God never heareth from them.
Obs. 8. Then we pray aright when we ' pray in the Holy Ghost ;' this concurrence is necessary, both with respect to acceptance and assistance.
1. With respect to acceptance. God will own nothing in prayer but what Cometh from his Spirit ; any other voice is strange and bar- barous to him : Kom. viii. 27, ' He knoweth the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.' The Lord delighteth not in the flaunting of pates and the unsavoury belches and eructations of a human spirit ; the tuneable cadency of words is but an empty ring in God's ears. The psalmist saith, Ps. cxli. 2, ' Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense.'