A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle general of St.…A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle generall of St.…

Of your faith.

Two things I note here.

1. First, that where God gives faith, he will try it, where he bestows the assurance of his favour (let men look for it. For) certainly he will melt them, God will try our faith for divers reasons, he will thereby melt off the rust of antiquity. There be certain odd and old opinions, and conceits in men at their first conversion, and it is Gods manner to school men by afflictions, and many times a Christian in a few days of adversity learns more true knowledge, then otherwise he would do in many weeks. Again, there are dregs of unbelief in the best and these need to go into the furnace to get them off: Besides, by affliction God doth show the truth of his own grace from that, which is but counterfeit in wicked men. The furnace manifestly puts a difference between a justifying faith, and the best of all other faiths, to wit, temporary faith: this may serve to confute their folly, that think themselves happy, because they are not in trouble as other men. But contrariwise, this is an ill sign many times that they are miserable, and have not any faith that would endure the trial. This should also teach us so to seek assurance of Gods favour, or so to hold the possession of it as to look for assaults and trials, while we are in this world more or less.

1. First, that where God gives faith, he will try it, where he bestowes the assurance of his favour (let men looke for it. For) certainly hee will melt them, God will try our faith for divers reasons, he will thereby melt off the rust of antiquity. There be certaine odde and old opinions, and conceits in men at their first conversion, and it is Gods manner to schoole men by afflictions, and many times a Christian in a few daies of adversity learnes more true knowledge, then otherwise hee would doe in many weekes. Againe, there are dregges of unbeliefe in the best and these need to goe into the furnace to get them off: Besides, by affliction God doth shew the truth of his owne grace from that, which is but counterfeit in wicked men. The furnace manifestly puts a difference betweene a justifying faith, and the best of all other faiths, to wit, temporary faith: this may serve to confute their folly, that think themselves happy, because they are not in trouble as other men. But contrariwise, this is an ill signe many times that they are miserable, and have not any faith that would endure the tryall. This should also teach us so to seeke assurance of Gods favour, or so to hold the possession of it as to looke for assaults and tryals, while we are in this world more or lesse.

Again, Faith delivers from the curse of the law, so as what afflictions break in upon a Christian, they are not curses, but chastisements, which may be a great hearts ease in all temptations or trials. Again, Faith quiets a mans heart, and works peace and inward tranquility: for against the force of the curse it gives a man access to the view of the glo•y of heaven, yea it doth as it were give a being to things which are not:¹ it makes the glory of heaven as it were present; it lays hold on eternal life. Lastly, faith is many times the very condition of deliverance; it is with us according to our faith. Faith makes us whole: faith delivers us: as soon as we can get our hearts to ⟨p. 65⟩trust upon God, the Cross is gone: the Lord stayed but till we would believe in him with all our hearts.

Againe, Faith delivers from the curse of the law, so as what afflictions break in upon a Christian, they are not curses, but chastisements, which may be a great hearts ease in all temptations or tryals. Againe, Faith quiets a mans heart, and works peace and inward tranquility: for against the force of the curse it gives a man accesse to the view of the glo•y of heaven, yea it doth as it were give a being to things which are not:¹ it makes the glory of heaven as it were present; it laies hold on eternall life. Lastly, faith is many times the very condition of deliverance; it is with us according to our faith. Faith makes us whole: faith delivers us: as soone as we can get our hearts to ⟨p. 65⟩trust upon God, the Crosse is gone: the Lord staied but till we would beleeve in him with all our hearts.

1. 1[Greek or Hebrew] is the word used. Heb. 11.1.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 is the word used.

Now is this so? doth God stand so much upon our faith in affliction?¹ How is it then, that we do not believe? Oh unbelief! unbelief is ever worse than the cross it self.² There is nothing the tempter would rather deceive us of, then our faith. Oh how is the heart of man turned away from true faith! there are a great number of us,³ as it were reprobates concerning the faith, we are of no judgement, we are altogether blockish in this point of believing in God.

Now is this so? doth God stand so much upon our faith in affliction?¹ How is it then, that wee doe not beleeve? Oh unbeliefe! unbeliefe is ever worse than the crosse it selfe.² There is nothing the tempter would rather deceive us of, then our faith. Oh how is the heart of man turned away from true faith! there are a great number of us,³ as it were •eprobates concerning the faith, we are of no judgement, wee are altogether blockish in this point of beleeving in God.

1. 1Use.Vse.
2. 2M••k 4.40.
3. 31 Thes. 36.

But in the second place, let this doctrine persuade with us, when we feel impatience, or any other perturbation rising in us, to check our selves,¹ and say to •ur own souls, where is my faith now? and with the poor man in the Gospel, let us run to Christ with tears in our eyes, crying, and saying, I believe, Lord help my unbelief: and with the Disciples, let us still pray, Lord increase my faith. Yea thirdly,² since the Lord accounts so much of our faith, we should strive after perfection even to get a strong faith, and to show our selves unmoveable in affliction, and to this end we should be much in the Apostles prayer, that God would so fulfil the Counsel of his own will, that he would be pleased to fulfil the work of our faith with power.

But in the second place, let this doctrine perswade with us, when wee feele impatiency, or any other perturbation rising in us, to check our selves,¹ and say to •ur own soules, where is my faith now? and with the poore man in the Gospell, let us run to Christ with teares in our eyes, crying, and saying, I beleeve, Lord help my unbeliefe: and with the Disciples, let us still pray, Lord increase my faith. Yea thirdly,² since the Lord accounts so much of our faith, wee should strive after perfection even to get a strong faith, and to shew our selves unmoveable in affliction, and to this end wee should be much in the Apostles prayer, that God would so fulfill the Counsell of his owne will, that hee would be pleased to fulfill the work of our faith with power.

1. 1Luke 8.25.
2. 2Luke 17.5. 1 […] 16.13.

But some one may say, what is it in affliction to show our faith,¹ or what must we do to approve our selves to God, that we do believe?

But some one may say, what is it in affliction to shew our faith,¹ or what must we doe to approve our selves to God, that we doe beleeve?

1. 1Quest.

He that would approve his faith in affliction must do four things:¹

He that would approve his faith in affliction must doe foure things:¹

1. 1Answ. How we show our faith in affliction.Answ. How we shew our faith in af•l•ction.

1. First, if he be conscious to himself of any evil that he hath too much favoured, he must speedily repent, and give glory to God, and make his peace with God, Dan. 12.10.

1. First, if he be conscious to himself of any evill that he hath too much favoured, hee must speedily repent, and give glory to God, and make his peace with God, Dan. 12.10.

2. Secondly, he must be sure he hold fast his assurance, so as he call not the love of God into question. For as the Lord will still own his people in all their adversities, saying, they are his people: so must they still stick to this, the Lord is my God. This is to believe, to hold fast this assurance, whatsoever befall us, Zach 13. ult.

2. Secondly, he must be sure he hold fast his assurance, so as he call not the love of God into question. For as the Lord will still owne his people in all their adversities, saying, they are his people: so must they still stick to this, the Lord is my God. This is to beleeve, to hold fast this assurance, whatsoever befall us, Zach 13. ult.

3. Thirdly, he must be sure to lose no ground, either in the affections of godliness, or in the confession or profession of the truth. No affliction must abate his love to godliness, or the Word, or Gods children; nor hinder his free profession of the truth.

3. Thirdly, hee must be sure to lose no ground, either in the affections of godlinesse, or in the confession or profession of the truth. No affliction must abate his love to godlinesse, or the Word, or Gods children; nor hinder his free profession of the truth.

4. Fourthly, he must commit his way to God, and rely himself, and all his actions upon God, putting his trust upon Gods promises and goodness, Psal. 37. Phil. 4.6.

4. Fourthly, hee must commit his way to God, and rely himselfe, and all his a•tions upon God, putting his trust upon Gods promises and goodnesse, Psal. 37. Phil. 4.6.

But especially the praises of faith in affliction will be greatly enlarged, if we can add these things following:

But especially the praises of faith in affliction will be greatly enlarged, if we can adde these things following:

1. First, if we can trust upon […] ••mmit ou• ways unto him ▪ resting upon his promise, though we see no means to accomplish it, Rom. 4.

1. First, if wee can trust upon 〈…〉 ••mmit ou• waies unto him ▪ resting upon his promise, though we see no meanes to accomplish it, Rom. 4.

2. If patience may have her perfect work so as we could go through afflictions with that firm unmoveablenesse that we would resist all perturbations, and that in all sorts of trials.

2. If patience may have her perfect worke so as we could goe through afflictions with that firme unmoveablenesse that we would resist all perturbations, and that in all sorts of trials.