The sincere and upright man, in whose spirit there is no guile, 1is justified, not because of his sincerity, but because the Lord imputeth not that sin unto him, which he still unfeignedly acknowledgeth to be in him, continually praying, Lord, enter not into judgement with thy servant; always confessing, Lord, in thy sight no flesh living can be justified, 2to wit, otherwise then by not entering into judgement, or by non-imputation of his sins. And faith that layeth hold upon the promise of mercy offered in Christ, causeth a man every day to humble himself for sin, and to seek pardon by earnest prayer every day it receiveth and feedeth upon the promises made in Christ, and so assureth that his ⟨p. 230⟩sins are done away as a mist. And thus a Christian may live by faith for many days, or rather all the days of his life, in sweet peace and communion with God, if he will lea•ne to maintain, and t•ke pains to use his faith aright. It is to be lamented that amongst Christians, who desire to live honestly and keep a good conscience, so few know, so many neglect the ordinary use and improvement of their faith; as if it served only to give them comfort in the remission of sins at their first conversion, and then had finished all it should or could do, except till they fall into some notable decay, if not great offence, or be plunged into deep doubts, or be exercised with some great afflictions: whereas the daily use and improvement of faith for the continuance and increase of assurance of forgiveness, peace, access unto the throne of grace, Joy, and communion with God, is as necessary, should be as constant as is the use of Fire and Water, of the Light, of Meat or Drink or whatsoever is more ordinary for the comfort of the Body. Serves faith for entrance and beginnings, and not for continuance, progress and increasings? Is faith the breeder and bringer forth of Joy and Peace, and not the Nurse and foster Mother of them, cherishing and feeding them, till we come to a full and perfect age in Christ? All fruits the nearer they c•me to ripeness, the sweeter they be: & so is the fruit of faith, sweeter in the ear then in the blade. If the sense of pardon be pleasant & delightsome at the first, must it not increase as strength of faith & spiritual acquaintance with God increaseth?
The sincere and vpright man, in whose spirit there is no guile, 1is iustified, not because of his sinceritie, but because the Lord imputeth not that sinne vnto him, which he still vnfainedly acknowledgeth to be in him, continually praying, Lord, enter not into iudgement with thy seruant; alwayes confessing, Lord, in thy sight no flesh liuing can be iustified, 2to wit, otherwise then by not entring into iudgement, or by non-imputation of his sinnes. And faith that layeth hold vpon the promise of mercie offered in Christ, causeth a man euery day to humble himselfe for sinne, and to seeke pardon by earnest prayer euery day it receiueth and feedeth vpon the promises made in Christ, and so assureth that his ⟨p. 230⟩sinnes are done away as a mist. And thus a Christian may liue by faith for many dayes, or rather all the daye• of his life, in sweet peace and commun•on with God, if hee will lea•ne to maintaine, and t•ke paines to vse his faith aright. It is to bee lamented that amongst Christians, who desire to liue honestly and keepe a good conscience, so few know, so many neglect the ordinary vse and improuement of their faith; as if it serued only to giue them comfort in the rem•ssion of sinnes at their first conuersion, and then had finished all it should or could doe, except till they fall into some notable decay, if not great offence, or bee plunged into deepe doubts, or bee exercised with some great afflictions: whereas the daily vse and improuement of faith for the continuance and increase of assurance of forgiuenesse, peace, accesse vnto the throne of grace, Ioy, and communion with God, is as necessarie, should be as constant as is the vse of Fire and Water, of the Light, of Meate or Drinke or whatsoeuer is more ordinary for the comfort of the Bodie. Serues faith for entrance and beginnings, and not for continuance, progresse and encreasings? Is faith the breeder and bringer forth of Ioy and Peace, and not the Nurse and foster Mother of them, cherishing and feeding them, till we come to a full and perfect age in Christ? All fruits the neerer they c•me to ripenesse, the sweeter they be: & so is the fruit of faith, sweeter in the eare then in the blade. If the sence of pardon be pleasant & delightsome at the first, must it not increase as strength of faith & spiritual acquaintance with God encreaseth?
- 1Psal. 32.1, 2. Rom. 4.4, 5, 6.
- 2Psal. 143.2.
