The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…

Hitherto what I have mentioned belonging to the Scripture it self; it is to be taken as part of our Religion objectively considered: But that which followeth is the effect of that, even our Religion subjectively considered: To observe how God maketh men Believers, and by believing sanctifieth their hearts and lives, is a great motive to further our own believing. Consider the work, 1. As it is in it self, 2. As it is opposed by all its enemies, and you may see that it is the work of God.

1. As the Goodness, so also the Greatness of it, is Gods own Image. It is the raising up of our stupid faculties to be lively and active to those holy uses, to which they were become as dead by sin. To cause in an unlearned person, a firmer and more distinct belief of the unseen world, than the most learned Philosophers can attain to by all their natural contemplations: To bring up a soul to place its happiness on things so high, and far from sense! To cause him who naturally is imprisoned in selfishness, to deny himself, and devote himself entirely to God; to love him, to trust him, and to live to him! To raise an earthly mind to Heaven, that our business and hope may be daily there! To overcome our pride, and sensuality, and bring our senses in subjection unto reason, and to keep a holy government in our thoughts, and over our passions, words and deeds; And to live in continual preparation for death, as the only time of our true felicity: And to suffer any loss or pain for the safe accomplishment of this! All this is the work of the POWER of God.

2. Which will the more appear when we consider, what is done against it within us and without us! what privative and positive averseness we have to it, till God do send down that Life, and Light, and Love into our souls, which is indeed his Image! How violently our fleshly sense and appetite, strive against the restraints of God, and would hurry us contrary to the motions of grace! How importunately Satan joineth with his suggestions! What baits the world doth still set before us, to divert us, and pervert us! And how many instruments of its flattery, or its cruelty, are still at work, to stop us, or to turn us back! to invite our affections down to