The Soul's Conflict with Itself

Hence it is that trust is an obsequious and an observing grace, stirring up the ¹soul to a desire of pleasing God in all things, and to a fear of displeasing him; He that pretends to trust the Lord in a course of offending, may trust to this that God will meet him in another way then he looks for: He that is a tenant at courtesy will not offend his Lord; hence it is that the Apostle enforceth that exhortation to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, ²because it is God that worketh the will and the deed, and according to his good pleasure not ours; Therefore faith is an effectual working grace, it works in Heaven with God, it works within us commanding all the powers of the soul, it works without us conquering whatsoever is in the world on the right hand to draw us from God, or •n the left hand to discourage us; it works against Hell and the powers of darkness; and all by virtue of trusting as it draweth strength from God; It stirs up all other graces and keeps them in exercise, and thereupon the acts of other ⟨p. 341⟩graces are attributed to faith as Heb. 11. It breeds a holy jealousy over our selves, lest we give God just cause […] stop the influence of his grace toads us, so to let us see that we stand •ot by our own strength: Those that take liberty in things they either know […] doubt will displease God, show they want the fear of God, and this want of fear shows their want of dependency, and therefore want of trust; dependency is always very respective, it studieth contentment and care to comply; this was it made Enoch walk with God, ³•d study how to please him; when we know nothing can do us good or hurt but God, it draws our chief care to approve our selves to him. Obedience of faith and obedience of life will go together; and therefore he that commits his soul to God to save, will commit his soul to God to sanctify and guide in a way of well pleasing: Not ⁴