Trial 3. There will he courai/e to set vpon any duty, to encounter and resist any sin ; upon this ground, as he should say, have not I a storehouse of eti-ength to go to ? Is not he full of grace and goodness ? Are not all his works wrought for us ? Have not I exceeding many, gi'cat, rich and precious promises of help ? Is not he the truth itself ? Is there not then supply enough in Christ to help me out in all things ? It were Pharaoh- like to set us to work without strength and ability to go through with our work. There is light and heat in the sun to direct and cherish, much more in Christ their Maker. It is grace that leads us through all. We are jus- tified freely through his grace, and by his grace we have continual strength supplied to enable us in all things. It is grace, grace ! A sanctified liver by faith will therefore cheerfully set upon every duty.
Tried 4. Again, in this case, all is lirely in a man. As we see a lively fountain, the water whereof will sparkle and leap, so there will be living joys, speeches, delights, exhortations, sensible of good and evil. He will trust God, rcl}' on his word and promise, because Christ cannot touch the Boul, but we must be livelj'. As the .man who no sooner touched Elisha's bones, but he stood up and revived, 2 Kings xiii. 21, so a touch of Christ quickens and makes vigorous. As Christ's promise is, John iv. 14, ' Who- soever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst ; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up unto everlasting life.'
Let the use of cdl be this. Upon this discorery remember to yo to Christ for succour, and labour to live jilcnt if ully and abundantly in him this life of faith.
Obj. But, may some say, how should I go on to finish this great work of grace ? It is a mighty thing to attain to, so many sins to overcome, so many temptations to buckle with, so many right hands and eyes to cut off and pull out.
Ans. I answer. Faith teaches us to fetch all from Christ," to beg his Spirit to help us in the course of sanctification, that by his might we may prevail ; and so in all mastering sins beg strength of Christ, and then set upon the walls of Jericho, and they shall fall before you.
How shall this be done ?
As they did ; they believed the promise, that compassing it seven times
THE LIFE OF FAITH.
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it should fall to the ground. So we, having so much and so many promises for the suhduing of sin in us, let us set upon them, look up unto Christ, believe the promise ; and our walls of sin shall fall so far before us, as they shall neither hinder our comfort nor our salvation. Eclipse it they may for a little while, but the sun will shine again, break through and dispel all those clouds and mists.
Let us set upon all Goliahs, therefore, by the word and Spirit, and withal set our will against them, that we heartily desire and endeavour to be rid of such lets and incumbrances, and we shall in the end find a notable victory over them ; and so in all troubles and vexations, as Luke xvii. 3, 4, seq., with the disciples beg of God the increase of faith. This will help us out in all storms and tempests ; help faith and help all. This will set heaven and earth a-working for our good. "We see, Heb. xi., that all is attributed to faith. Why ? Many other things concurred in those excellent actions for doing of them ; but all is attributed to faith, because faith is that great wheel which set all the rest a-working, and stirs up all, as, 1 Cor. xiii. 4, seq., it is said of love, that it does all : for the same reason, because in those things there mentioned it stirs up all the rest. So in any grace which is wanting in us, go to Christ and say, Lord, I lack wisdom, counsel, strength, understanding, prudence in thy holy fear. The fulness of these are in thee ; Lord, it is for thy glory to help thy poor servant, and bestow some measure of these upon me to do thy own work with. Lo J Lord, I lay myself down to thee to work by me. I have an angry spirit, full of tossings and turmoilings, but thou art the Prince of peace, abound- ing in meekness. Oh bestow on me such a meek and peaceable spirit, as, learning of thee, I may be meek and lowly in heart. I instance but in a few things ; enlarge them yourselves. In all things let us, with confession of our wants, have an eye unto his fulness, and then we shall find the moi'e of his abundance, when we set not upon these duties in our own strength only.
Two things are opposite to this life of faith.
(1.) Despair. This cuts the pillars of hope. Against this divers, as Luther for one, have been tempted to despair, but yet setting on the work, have overcome.* So the Israelites were afraid, upon the evil report of the spies of Canaan; but when they went on, they overcame and beat down all their enemies. So we say. Oh, I shall never overcome such a sin, or such a corruption, or do such a duty. This is not true, go on, look to Christ, join his strength with thy endeavour, be out of love with it, resolve thoroughly, set upon it strongly, and down it shall before thee.