2. In order to the forenamed second cause of this distemper, be sure Direct. 2 you be close with, and often taking hold on God by renewed acts of Faith. My Brethren, Faith is not to be acted only at first, for our entrance into the State of Grace, but 'tis our duty and wisdom, to carry on the exercise of Faith for our continuance, and progress in that state, and passage through all those temptations, difficulties, oppositions, discouragements we are to meet withal therein: Faith and Prayer must be as the breathing of our Souls in and out, to keep the heart in life, the just shall live (i. e. every part, degree, and act of life) by his ⟨p. 372⟩Faith; this again is the order the great Physician of our Souls prescribes, John 14.1. Let not your hearts be troubled, why how shall they prevent or help it? believe! they were believers already. O! but they must still in reference to every change and condition, or occasion of life, especially in order to this, that they may not be troubled in trouble, that the storm get not into their hearts, to shake, and shatter them within, they must believe, i. e. they must be much in the acting and exercising of Faith, upon the grounds thereof; 'tis sad that I shall now say. We come to some Christians in their dumps and despondencies, show them the Promise, Christ in it, the way to it, they are so to seek, that they scarce know what we mean; we are as Barbarians to them, they are ready to faint under our hand, before we can (as it were) stanch their bleeding, or apply any plaster, or cordial, or make them understand their way and ground of support and comfort, and all this for want of use and exercise of Faith; the acting of any faculty (where life is not come to the declining state, as it never fares with the life of Grace) strengtheneth that faculty; and that person can readily even in the dark to his rest or cordial, where he uses himself to be; therefore, take a Christian which makes conscience to bear his weight on the ground and object of Faith (Christ in the promise of free grace to a sensible lost undone sinner) let World, and Devil, conspire to trouble him, and God try him, saith he, I know not what to do, but I'll try my old way, 'tis good for me to draw near still, I'll do so still as I use to do,1 I'll cast my self down and away upon free grace in Christ in the promise;
2. In order to the forenamed second cause of this distemper, be sure Direct. 2 you be close with, and often taking hold on God by renewed acts of Faith. My Brethren, Faith is not to be acted only at first, for our entrance into the State of Grace, but 'tis our duty and wisdom, to carry on the exercise of Faith for our continuance, and progresse in that state, and passage through all those temptations, difficulties, oppositions, discouragements we are to meet withall therein: Faith and Prayer must be as the breathing of our Souls in and out, to keep the heart in life, the just shall live (i. e. every part, degree, and act of life) by his ⟨p. 372⟩Faith; this again is the order the great Physitian of our Souls prescribes, John 14.1. Let not your hearts be troubled, why how shall they prevent or help it? believe! they were believers already. O! but they must still in reference to every change and condition, or occasion of life, especially in order to this, that they may not be troubled in trouble, that the storm get not into their hearts, to shake, and shatter them within, they must believe, i. e. they must be much in the acting and exerciseing of Faith, upon the grounds thereof; 'tis sad that I shall now say. We come to some Christians in their dumps and despondencies, shew them the Promise, Christ in it, the way to it, they are so to seek, that they scarce know what we mean; we are as Barbarians to them, they are ready to faint under our hand, before we can (as it were) stanch their bleeding, or apply any plaster, or cordial, or make them understand their way and ground of support and comfort, and all this for want of use and exercise of Faith; the acting of any faculty (where life is not come to the declining state, as it never fares with the life of Grace) strengtheneth that faculty; and that person can readily even in the dark to his rest or cordial, where he uses himself to be; therefore, take a Christian which makes conscience to bear his waight on the ground and object of Faith (Christ in the promise of free grace to a sensible lost undone sinner) let World, and Divel, conspire to trouble him, and God try him, saith he, I know not what to do, but I'll try my old way, 'tis good for me to draw near still, I'll do so still as I use to do,1 I'll cast my self down and away upon free grace in Christ in the promise;
- 1Psal. 73.25.
