And hereby doth faith evidence itself and its own sincerity, whilst a man is ashamed of, and abased in, himself for eveiy sin, for every thing of sin, wherein it comes short of the holiness required of us, as that which is base and unworthy of our nature, in its present consti- tution and renovation; though it be that which no eye sees but God's and his own, he hath that in him which will grow on no root but sincere believing. Wherefore, whatever may be the disquieting con- flicts of sin in and against our souls, whatever decays we may fall into, — which be the two principles of darkness and fears in believers, — whilst this inward holy shame and self-abasement, on account of the vileness of sin, is preserved, faith leaves not itself without an evi- dence in us.
2. It doth the same by a spiritual satisfaction, which it gives the soul in every experience of the transforming power of this holiness, rendering it more and more like unto God. There is a secret joy and spiritual refreshment rising in the soul from a sense of its renovation
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into the image of God; and all tlie actings and increases of the life of God in it augment this joy. Herein consists its gradual return unto its primitive order and rectitude, with a blessed addition of supernatural light and gi'ace by Christ Jesus; it finds itself herein coming home to God from its old apostasy, in the way of approaching to eternal rest and blessedness: and there is no satisfaction like unto that which it receives therein.
This is the second way wherein faith will abide firm and constant, and doth evidence itself in the soul of every believer. However low and mean its attainments be in this spiritual life and the fruits of it, though it be overwhelmed with darkness and a sense of the guilt of sin, though it be surprised and perplexed with the deceit and vio- lence thereof, yet faith will continue here firm and unshaken. It sees that glory and excellency in the holiness and obedience that God requireth of us, — as it is a representation of his own glorious excellen- cies, the renovation of his image, and the perfection of our natures thereby, — as that it constantly approves of it, even in the deepest trials which the soul can be exercised withal ; and whilst this anchor holds firm and stable we are safe.
III.
The third evidence of the faith of God's elect.
Thirdly, Faith will evidence itself by a diligent, constant endea- vour to keej) itself and all grace in due exercise in all ordinances of divine worship, private and public.
This is the touch-stone of faith and spiritual obedience, the most intimate and difficult part of this exercise; where this is not, there is no life in the soul. There are two things whereby men do or may deceive themselves herein: — 1. Abounding in the outward perform- ance of duties or a multiplication of them. Hereby hypocrites have in all ages deceived themselves, Isa. Iviii. 2, 3. And it was the cover- ing that the church of Rome provided for their apostasy from the gospel: an endless multiplication of religious duties was that which they trusted to and boasted in. And we may find those daily that pre- tend a conscience as unto the constant observation of outward duties, and yet will abstain from no sin that comes in the way of their lusts. And men may and do ofttimes abide constant in them, especially in their families and in public, yea, multiply them beyond the ordi- nary measure, hoping to countenance themselves in other lusts and neglects thereby. 2. Assistance of gifts in the performance of them ; but as this may be where there is not one dram of grace, saving
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grace, so when rested in, it is a most powerful engine to keep the soul in formality, to ruin all beginning of grace, and to bring an in- curable hardness on the whole soul.
Wherever faith is in sincerity, it will constantly labour, endeavour, and strive to fill up all duties of divine worship with the living, real, heart acting of grace ; and where it doth not so, where this is not attained, it will never suffer the soul to take any rest or satisfaction in such duties, but will cast them away as a defiled garment. He that can pass through such duties without a sensible endeavour for the real exercise of grace in them, and without self-abasement on the performance of them, will hardly find any other clear evidence of saving faith in himself.
There are three evils that have followed the ignorance, or neglect, or weariness of this exercise of faith, which have proved the ruin of multitudes: —
1. This hath been the occasion and original of all false worsliip in the world, with the invention of those superstitious rites and ceremo- nies wherein it consists. For men having lost the exercise of faith in the ordinances of worship that are of divine institution, they found the whole of it to be useless and burdensome unto them ; for without this constant exercise of faith there is no life in it, nor satisfaction to be obtained by it. They must, therefore, have something in it, or accompanying of it, which may entertain their minds, and engage their affections unto it. If this had not been done, it would have been utterly deserted by the most. Hereon were invented forms of prayer in great diversity, with continual diversions and avocations of the mind from what is proposed; because it cannot abide in the pur- suit of any thing spiritual without the exercise of faith. This gives it some entertainment by the mere performance, and makes it think there is something where indeed is nothing. Hereunto are added outward ceremonies of vestments, postures, and gestures of veneration, unto the same end. There is no other design in them all but to en- tertain the mind and affections with some complacency and satisfac- tion in outward worship, upon the loss or want of that exercise of faith which is the life and soul of it in believers. And as any persons do decay herein, they shall find themselves insensibly sinking down into the use of these lifeless forms, or that exercise of their natural facul- ties and memory which is not one jot better; yea, by this means, some, from an eminency in spiritual gifts, and the perfonnance of duties by virtue of them, have sunk into an Ave Maria or a Credo, as the best of their devotion.