Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

(1.) He worketh and increaseth those Graces of his Spirit in them which are destructive hereof, and opposite hereunto: you'll say, which are they?

(1.) He worketh and increaseth those Graces of his Spirit in them which are destructive hereof, and opposite hereunto: you'l say, which are they?

1. There is the Grace of Faith: This is the Grace that conquers the World, that conquers the Devil, and that conquers also the slavish fear of Death. This excellent Grace of Faith hath such an excellent hand in the conquering of all these, that it is called the conquest and victory it's self; This is the victory, (says the Apostle John,) 1 John 5.4. even your Faith: Our Saviour tells Peter, Luke 22.31, 32. That Satan had desired to have him, that he might sift him as Wheat. And with what did he sift and shake him? Why, it was with the fear of Death; he was afraid they would deal with him, as they did with his Master: It was his slavish fear of Death that made him deny Christ, and to do it once and again; but anon he recovered himself, and got above this fear, he was re•dy by and by boldly to confess Christ, and that in ⟨p. 67⟩the face of Death and danger. How came this about? Why it was by means of Faith: Christ had prayed for him that his Faith should not fail; it may be said of those that are fearful of death, that they are of little Faith.

1. There is the Grace of Faith: This is the Grace that conquers the World, that conquers the Devil, and that conquers also the slavish fear of Death. This excellent Grace of Faith hath such an excellent hand in the conquering of all these, that it is call'd the conquest and victory it's self; This is the victory, (says the Apostle John,)