Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

There is a well-pleasingness in all his Services, as being ushered forth from the heart into the hand of the Mediator, and there richly perfumed for the Father; though, as they lie in our hearts, there be much smoke and mixture of weakness in them, yet as they are in the hand of Christ, they are glorified duties, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

There is a well-pleasingness in all his Services, as being ushered forth from the heart into the hand of the Mediatour, and there richly perfuned for the Father; though, as they lie in our hearts, there be much smoak and mixture of weakness in them, yet as they are in the hand of Christ, they are glorified duties, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Fourthly, The Justified man hath more of the sweetness of life, and its outward Comforts, than others. He hath more of the sweetness of life than others. The Jewish Doctors treating about the estimation of Persons, mentioned Levit. 27. say, That if a man be adjudged to death for his transgression, he is not to be valued, because he is but a dead man, and there is no valuation of the dead. An unpardoned man is dead while he liveth, and as our Saviour saith, condemned already, Joh. 3.18. His life, save only as it is a space for repentance, and so for pardon, must be rated at little or nothing. Bajazet, the Great Emperor, valued not his life at all, when he was carried up and down in an Iron-cage: and what is a mans life, when he walks up and down in chains of sin and wrath? but as soon as the pardon comes, he lives indeed. His life, as little a vapour as it is in it self, glitters as a Jewel in the Sun, being irradiated with that precious favour of God, which is better than it self: Moreover, he hath more of the sweetness of outward Comforts than others. The unpardoned man may have Corn, and Wine, and all other Blessings flowing round about him; but if his eyes be open, he can take no more pleasure in them than Damocles did at the Tyrants table, spread with all Royal dainties, whilst the Sword with the point downward, hung over his head by an hair only: If he tastes sweetness in them,