The guard of the tree of life, or, A sacramental discourse showing a Christians…The guard of the tree of life, or, A sacramental discourse shewing a Christians…

Thus you see the first grace which is to be exercised in this ordinance, namely Faith. And I have showed you, 1. what Act, 2. upon what Object, 3. for what benefits faith is here to be exercised. I have named four, but here is not all; the Sacrament ⟨p. 76⟩is the Seal of the whole covenant, and what ever particular benefits are folded up in the great draught and covenant of God, here you may exercise faith for the compassing and obtaining of them. Where ever there is a promise in the Word, there is work for faith to sue it out in this ordinance, which is the seal to all, &c.

Thus you see the first grace which is to bee exercised in this ordinance, namely Faith. And I have shewed you, 1. what Act, 2. upon what Object, 3. for what benefits faith is here to be exercised. I have named foure, but here is not all; the Sacrament ⟨p. 76⟩is the Seale of the whole covenant, and what ever particular benefits are folded up in the great draught and covenant of God, here you may exercise faith for the compassing and obtaining of them. Where ever there is a promise in the Word, there is work for faith to sue it out in this ordinance, which is the seale to all, &c.

By the way then, this may discover to us, where the fault is, when we return home, our faith never the more strengthened, our hearts never the more warmed, our graces never the more nourished, our corruptions never the more weakened. It is a shrewd sign faith did not play its part in the mount. It is great suspicion that your faith did succumbere in conatu, did fail and sink in the encounter. Faith was entrusted in this employment to go over to Christ for these ⟨p. 77⟩benefits, and thy faith did fail in the undertaking; therefore God suspends the bestowing of these benefits, because thou suspendest thy faith.