I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

Sermon XIII.

Means against Discouragements. Page 327 DOCT. Faith is the Help against all Discouragements. Page 328 For your better understanding, consider, 1 What is Hope. ibid. 2 That Faith quiets the heart in sad times. ibid. 3 It is the day of all the Saints to trust in God, especially at that time ibid. 4 What there is in faith, and how faith can do it ibid. Quest. 1. What is it to trust in God? ib. Answ. 1 To trust in God, is to rely on God for help, &c. ibid. 2 He that trusteth in God, doth trust unto him for some good thing that lieth out of sight. Page 329 Quest. 2. How may it appear that Faith will quiet the soul? Page 330 Answ. It is proved several ways out of Scripture ibid. Faith gives free access to God. Page 331 There are three Veils in Scripture. 1. Of Obscurity. 2. The Veil of covering guilt. 3. A Veil of shame Page 332 Quest. 3. How may it appear, that when discouragements arise, Faith must then be exercised, and then especially? ibid. Answ. It was Davids case, and the Scripture is express for it. ibid. Quest. 4. What power hath Faith to allay discouragements? what is in faith can do it? and how doth faith do it? Page 333 Answ. 1 Faith gives a man the true prospect of things past, present, and to come: And all Discouragements arise, because men do not see things as they are ibid. 2 True saving Faith sees that in God, and in Christ, which ⟨image 296⟩answers all our fears Page 335 3 Faith puts the Soul under Gods Commandments to answer all Objections. Page 336 More briefly of saving Faith. 1 It is the proper work of Faith to resign our wills unto Gods will. Page 337 2 It is the proper work of Faith to apply a suitable Promise ibid. 3 True faith will not venture without Gods Call. Page 338 4 True faith sees the hand of God in every dispensation ibid. 5 True faith looks on both sides of Gods Dispensation, and of our own Condition ibid. 6 Faith sees one contrary in another? ibid. 7 It is the work of true faith to engage God to suffer. ibid. Application. Then if discouragements arise, exercise your faith ibid. Quest. Will every faith quiet a mans heart? ibid. Answ. Negatively. For There is a feigned, and uneffectual; and there is an unfeigned, and effectual faith: A counterfeit faith will not quiet a mans soul, &c. ibid. Quest. How then shall a man exercise his faith, that he may bear up against all Discouragements Page 339 Answ.