SERM. greater endearments can be imagined, what more III. potent incentives of love, what more indissoluble bands of friendship, than are these? Can such a believer forbear to wish his neighbour well, to have complacence in his good, to sympathise with his adversities, to perform all offices of kindness to him? Can he in the need of his brother shut up his bowels of compassion, or withhold his hand from relieving him? Can a man know that God requireth this practice as the noblest fruit of our faith, and most acceptable part of our obedience, which he hath promised to crown with most ample rewards; can he believe, that God will recompense his labour of love with everlasting rest, and for a small expense of present goods will bestow immense treasures in the other world, and yet abstain from charitable beneficence? Who can forbear sowing, that believeth he shall reap so plentiful a crop; or abstain from dealing in that heavenly trade, whereby he is assured to be so vast a gainer? In like manner is faith productive of meekness, in comporting with injuries, discourtesies, neglects, and provocations of any kind: for who can be fiercely angry, who can entertain any rancorous grudge or displeasure against him, whom he believeth his brother, and that upon so many accounts he is obliged to love him? Who that believeth God hath pardoned him so much, and doth continually bear so many wrongs, so many indignities from him, will not in conscience and gratitude toward God, and in compliance with so great an example, bear with the infirmities of his neighbour? Who can look upon the pattern of his Saviour, patiently enduring so many grievous affronts, without a disposition to imitate III. him, and to do the like for his sake? Who that SERM. taketh himself for a child of God, a citizen of heaven, an heir of eternal glory, can be so much concerned in any trivial accident here; can design to have his passion stirred for any worldly respect? as if his honour could be impaired, or his interest suffer diminution by any thing said or done here below. 2. Again, Faith is the mother of sincerity, that comprehensive virtue, which seasoneth all other virtues, and keepeth them sound: for it assuring us, that an all-seeing eye doth view our heart, doth encompass Ps. cxxxix. our paths, is present to all our closest retirements ; that all things are naked and open to the eyes of Heb. iv. 13. him with whom we have to do, how vain must it appear to us anywise to dissemble, or prevaricate, speaking otherwise than we think, acting otherwise than we pretend, seeming otherwise than we are; concealing our real intents, or disguising them under masks of deceitful appearance! If we believe that we shall be judged, not according to the opinions of men concerning us, or our port and garb in this world, but as we are in ourselves, and according to strictest truth; that in the close of things we shall be set forth in our right colours and complexion, all varnish being wiped away; that all our thoughts, words, and deeds shall be exposed to most public censure; that hypocrisy will be a sore aggravation of our sin, and much increase our shame; how can we satisfy ourselves otherwise than in the pure integrity of our heart, and clear uprightness of our dealing? Likewise the admirable virtue of humility, or sobriety of mind, doth sprout from faith; informing III. SERM. us, that we have nothing of our own to boast of, but that all the good we have, we can do, we may hope for, are debts we owe to God's pure bounty and mercy; prompting us to assume nothing to ourselves, but to ascribe all the honour of our endowments, of our performances, of our advantages unto God; keeping us in continual dependance upon God for the succours of his providence and his grace; representing to us our natural weakness, vileness, and wretchedness, together with the adventitious defects and disadvantages from our wilful misbehaviour, the unworthiness of our lives, the many heinous sins we have committed, and the grievous punishments we have deserved. He who by the light of faith doth see, that he came naked into the world, heir to nothing but the sad consequences of the original apostasy; that he is a worm, crawling on earth, feeding on dust, and tending to corruption; that he liveth only by reprieve from that fatal sentence, The day thou sinnest thou shalt die; that he was a caitiff wretch, a mere slave to sin, a forlorn captive of hell; and that all his recovery thence, or capacity of a better state, is wholly due to mercy; that he subsisteth only upon alms, and hath nothing but his sins and miseries, which he may call his own; he that believeth these things, what conceit can he have of himself, what confidence in his own worth, what complacency in his estate? Faith also doth engage to the virtue of temperance; discovering not only the duty, but the necessity thereof, in regard to our state, which is a state of continual exercise and strife; wherefore as wrestlers with many strong adversaries, as racers for a noble prize, we by good diet and constant labour III. must keep ourselves in heart, in temper, in breath SERM. to perform those combats; according to that of St. Paul, Every man that striveth for the mastery is 1 Cor. ix. temperate in all things. Again, Faith is productive of contentedness in our state for how is it possible that he, who is fully satisfied that God appointeth his station, and allotteth his portion to each one; that all occurrences depend on his will, and are managed by his providence, should take any thing amiss; as if it could hap better, than as infinite goodness pleaseth, and infinite wisdom determineth? How can he, that believeth God most powerful and able, most kind and willing, ever present and ready to help him, be in any case disconsolate, or despair of seasonable relief? What can discompose him, who knoweth himself, if he pleaseth, immoveably happy; that his best good is secure from all attacks, and beyond the reach of any misfortune; that desiring what is best, he cannot fail of his desire; that (himself excepted) all the world cannot considerably wrong or hurt him? pro I 25. Matt. vi.25. Phil. iv. 6. I 17. Psal. xxxiv. He that is assured, those precepts (Be careful for nothing; Cast all your burden on God; Be content with such things as ye have) were not given to mock and gull us; that those declarations and mises (There is no want to them that fear God; 29. No good thing will God withhold from them that 9. viii. 11. walk uprightly; There shall no evil happen to the Prov. xii. just; The desire of the righteous shall be granted; All things work together for good to them who Rom. viii. love God; Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and Matt. vi.33his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you) were seriously made, and will surely be performed, how loose must his mind be 21. X. 24. 28. III. SERM. from all solicitude and anxiety! how steady a calm, how sweet a serenity will that faith spread over his soul, in regard to all worldly contingencies! 13. ix. 14. It will also beget a cheerful tranquillity of mind, and peace of conscience, in regard to our future Rom. xv. state; that which St. Paul calleth all joy and peace in believing; which the apostle to the Hebrews Heb. iii. 6. termeth the confidence and rejoicing of hope; of peti. 8. which St. Peter saith, Believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: for he that is persuaded that God (in whose disposal his fortune and felicity are) is reconciled and kindly affected toward him; that he doth concern himself in designing and procuring his salvation; that to purchase the means thereof for him, the Son of God purposely came down, and suffered death; that an act of oblivion is past, and a full remission of sins exhibited to him, if he Rom. viii. will embrace it; that now there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus; and that, being justified by faith, we have peace with God ; Col. i. 5. that blessing is his portion, and that an eternal heritage of joy is reserved for him, what ease must he find in his conscience, what comfort must possess his heart! how effectually will that of the prophet be Isa. xxvi.3. accomplished in him, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee! I. V. I. Again, It is faith which breedeth the courage, and upholdeth the patience requisite to support us in our spiritual course. It doth inspire courage, prompting to attempt the bravest enterprises, disposing to prosecute them resolutely, and enabling happily to achieve them: for he that believeth himself in his undertakings backed |