Therefore in such cases hearken not to what fear says, or humom* saith, or Satan saith, or what the world saith, but hearken what truth itself saith, and what conscience saith, when it is enlightened by the Spii'it, as in good times when we are at the best. True Christians, though more remiss, shall have so much comfort as shall support them from falling into despair, yet not so much as shall strengthen them, and cany them into a vigorous hfe, fi.t for Christians. »
5. When we have found any work of grace ; and thereupon that our faith is true, we ought to comfort ourselves, and to maintain our comfort by all means. Every grace is but faith exercised. When our Saviour saith, ' Ye believe in God, believe also in me,' he might have said also in particular, Be patient, be contented, be comforted. But he names the root of all — Faith — wherein all graces are radically; which is therefore discerned in the fruits of it. So that if any grace be found, as love to the brethren, hope of life everlasting, or the like, there is faith. For the root and branches be together, though the root is not always discerned. And therefore when
VOL. vn. z
054 SECOND SERMON.
we discover any true faith in the i&niit of it, let us support and comfort oiir- Belves with it.
For when a man is in Christ, and by Christ an heir of heaven, and a child of God, what in the world can befall him, that should deject over- much, and cast him down ? Vlhat loss, what cross, what want of fiiends? Hath he not all in God, and in Christ, and in the promise ? Do not the promises weigh down all discouragements whatsoever ? Surely they do. And therefore we must strive against dtvjection. For besides what I spake the last day, it is a dishonour to the profession of religion, which is in itself so glorious ; a dishonom* to God, and to Christ, that when we have such glorious prerogatives and privileges, which the angels themselves ad- mire, yet every petty cross and loss that we meet withal in the world should cast us down. We should take heed exceedingly of this, and should labour every day to have a more and more clear sight of the promises that belong unto us, and to know the privileges of Christianity, and renew our faith in them continually, that they may be fresh to us in all temptations, and occasions whatsoever.
I beseech you, do but consider any one grand promise ; which if it bo rooted in the soul, how it is able to support the soul against all troubles whatsoever. As that, ' Feax not, little flock, for it is yom* Father's good pleasm-e to give you the kingdom,' Luk^ sii. 32. Or that other, * If God spared not his Son for us, how wiU he not with him give us all things else?' Rom. viii. 32,
Labom' to have these things fresh in memory, together with the privi- leges belonging to Christians. Think what it is to be a child of God, and an heh" of heaven !
We must not look only to the blind and dark side of our condition. Christians have two sides, one to heaven- ward and God-ward ; and that is full of glory, certain and immoveable. Another towards the world ; and that is oftentimes full of abasement, full of disgrace, and dejection. That is moveable ; sometimes better, sometimes worse, as God pleaseth to dis- pense his government in the church. Let us look to the grace, to the comforts that belong to that grace ; to the promises ; the best side ; and not to be carrried away with the darkness of the other.
It is a terrible sight to look upon sin, and misery, and hell, and judgment to come ; but what are these to a Christian that is in Christ, that seeth them all subdued, and overcome to him ? The afflictions of the world, and the crosses of the world, what are they to a soul, that is aheady in heaven by faith, and seeth them all overcome in his head Christ ? ' Be of good comfort, I have overcome the world,' John xvi. 83. And therefore we must not be so malignant, as to look all upon one part of a Christian, and that the worser part, which is the object of sense. For shame, live not by sense ! But if we be Christians, let us hve by faith, look to the best part ; look up- wards and forwards to that which is eternal.
6. And withal labour to keep the graces of the Spirit in continual exercise upon all occasions. For gi-ace exercised, brings certain comfort. It may be with a Christian in his feelings as with the worst man living ; but he may thank his own negligence, his own dulness; his notstu'ring up of the graces of God iu him. For therefore it is that he hangs the wing upon every petty cross, on every occasion. Labour to have an heart ready to exercise gi'ace suitable to that occasion. For then grace wiU reflect sweetly, where there is sincerity and grace in exercise. Sincerity alone wiU not comfort a man, unless it grow up to fruitfulness ; and fruitfulness which springs from the exercise of grace, hath