Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

First, It doth it by revealing the excellency of Christ as a Prophet. Oh! says faith, this is the only Rabbi, the Angel of Gods face, the wonderful counsellor, lying in his bosom and knowing all his secrets; his mouth is most sweet, he speaks honey-combs of grace, and breaths beams of light, and utters sparkles of glory; nothing but mysteries and rectitudes and words of eternal life ever came from him, and (to make these come home to thee) he is an inward Ecclesiastes, one who can unlock thy secrets, and come into the midst of thee, and there express himself in words of life and power, and all the while his Majesty shall not swallow thee up. He speaks through an humane nature and veil of flesh, in rare condescension and compassion towards thy weakness. Whilst faith is in the high praises of this great Prophet, the heart cannot choose but be upon the wheels ready to run to him, and say, speak Lord, for thy servant heareth.

First, It doth it by revealing the excellency of Christ as a Prophet. Oh! says faith, this is the only Rabbie, the Angel of Gods face, the wonderful counseliar, lying in his bosome and knowing all his secrets; his mouth is most sweet, he speaks hony-combs of grace, and breaths beams of light, and utters sparkles of glory; nothing but mysteries and rectitudes and words of eternal life ever came from him, and (to make these come home to thee) he is an inward Ecclesiastes, one who can unlock thy secrets, and come into the midst of thee, and there express himself in words of life and power, and all the while his Majesty shall not swallow thee up. He speaks through an humane nature and vail of flesh, in rare condescension and compassion towards thy weakness. Whilest faith is in the high praises of this great Prophet, the heart cannot chuse but be upon the wheels ready to run to him, and say, speak Lord, for thy servant heareth.

Secondly, It doth it by humbling and softening the heart. Before faith a man is in the ruff of pride, and there's no speaking to him; his heart is as a stone or Adamant, and beats off holy truths: but after it, the man becomes as a little child, and Christ may say any thing to him, his stony heart is turned into flesh, and so made ready for God to be manifested in it. Faith doth so meeken the heart, that it will sit down at Christs feet, and hear him, even in his hardest Lectures. Let Christ talk of racks, and bloody persecutions for the Gospel, and the believer will be ready to get up the cross on his back. Let Christ preach of high and transcendent mysteries, such as reason cannot fathom, and the believer will subscribe in silence, what ever reason mutter against it.