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

3. And the work of Faith is much promoted by the spiritual experiences of Believers. When they find a considerable part of the holy Scriptures verified on themselves, it much confirmeth their Faith as to the whole. They are really possessed of that heavenly disposition, called, The Divine Nature, and have felt the power of the Word upon their hearts, renewing them to the Image of God, mortifying their most dear and strong corruptions, showing them a greater beauty and desirableness in the Objects of Faith, than is to be found in sensible things: They have found many of the Promises made good upon themselves, in the answers of prayers, and in great deliverances, which strongly persuadeth them to believe the rest that are yet to be accomplished. And experience is a very powerful and satisfying way of conviction. He that feeleth, as it were, the first fruits, the earnest, and the beginnings of Heaven already in his soul, will more easily and assuredly believe that there is a Heaven hereafter. [We know that the Son of God i• come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ: This is the true God and eternal life,] 1 Joh. 5.20. [He that believeth on the Son hath the witness in himself, Vers. 10.] There is so great a likeness of the holy and heavenly nature in the Saints, to the heavenly life that God hath promised, that makes it the more easily believed.

3. And the work of Faith is much promoted by the spiritual experiences of Believers. When they find a considerable part of the holy Scriptures verified on themselves, it much confirmeth their Faith as to the whole. They are really possessed of that heavenly disposition, called, The Divine Nature, and have felt the power of the Word upon their hearts, renewing them to the Image of God, mortifying their most dear and strong corruptions, shewing them a greater beauty and desirableness in the Objects of Faith, than is to be found in sensible things: They have found many of the Promises made good upon themselves, in the answers of prayers, and in great deliverances, which strongly perswadeth them to believe the rest that are yet to be accomplished. And experience is a very powerful and satisfying way of conviction. He that feeleth, as it were, the first fruits, the earnest, and the beginnings of Heaven already in his soul, will more easily and assuredly believe that there is a Heaven hereafter. [We know that the Son of God i come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ: This is the true God and eternal life,]