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

Direct. 9. By Faith acknowledge GOD as your total Benefactor, from him you have, and must have all that's worth the having: And accordingly live in a dependence on him.

Direct. 9. By Faith acknowledge GOD as your total Benefactor, from him you have, and must have all that's worth the having: And accordingly live in a dependance on him.

Faith taketh every good thing as a stream from this inexhausted spring, and as a token of love, from this unmeasurable Love. It knoweth a difference in the means and way of conveyance; but no difference as to the fountain; for all that we receive is equally from the same original; though not sent to us by the same hand. Faith should not take or look at any good abstractedly, as separated from God; but ever see the streams as continued up to the fountain; and the fruit as proceeding from the tree and roots: Remember still that he doth illuminate you by the Sun; and he doth nourish you by your food (for you live not by bread only, but by his Word and blessing;) and it is he that doth teach you by his Ministers, and protect you by his Magistrates, and comfort you by your friends: You have that from one, which another cannot give you; but you have nothing from any creature whatsoever; which is not totally from God: For though he honour creatures to be his Messengers or Instruments, the benefit is equally from him, when he useth an Instrument, and when he useth none. From him we have our Being, and our Comforts, and ⟨p. 177⟩all the means and hopes of our well-being; and therefore our dependence must be absolutely on him: The blessings of this life, and of that to come; all things which appertain to life and godliness, are the gifts of his incomprehensible benignity. For it is natural to him, who is infinitely good, to do good, when he doth work ad extra; though when to communicate, and in what various degrees is free to him, 1 Tim. 4.8. M•t. 6.33.