Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

Thirdly, Faith holds out the Promises as incentives to the work: The Believer is an Isaac, a Child of Promise; the new Creature with its Graces is born of the Covenant, and ever after lives upon it. Every Grace hath some Promise or other to feed on. Love hath God dwelling with it; Fear hath his secret; Meekness his Salvation; Patience a crop of Comforts; and all of them have an entail of Eternal Life. And when Graces are acted there is a Promise of increase, To him that hath, that is, useth Grace, more shall be given, more of the same Grace; his Talent shall be doubled, his Path shineth more and more to the perfect day in Heaven; and withal more of the Divine Indwelling, Secret, Salvation, and Comfort promised; ⟨p. 293⟩and at last more of Glory. Thus St. Peter speaking of divers Graces, saith, That if they be and abound in us, we shall have an abundant entrance into the Kingdom of Christ, 2 Pet. 1.8, & 11. Every Grace hath an entrance into it, and abounding Grace an abundant entrance; and all these Promises are sure in themselves, sealed by Gods Veracity, and Christs Blood, and sure to the Believer, being realized by Faith; and therefore must needs be very attractive to Obedience. Faith in a mere Command will make a Man follow God, though like Abraham he know not whither he go. Much more impulsive is Faith in a Promise, when he knows in so following he is going into an abundance of Grace and Glory. The lying Promises of Sin received into a carnal fancy will draw out Corruption into act, as we see in Men, who are drawn into Sins carnal and spiritual, much as their Father Adam was, by some Apple of Sensual happiness, or appearance of Self-excellency; how much more attractive must the precious true Promises of God be, when entertained by Faith? at the sight of these the Believer, as old Jacob, at the sight of the Chariots, revives and puts himself forth in the exercise of Grace, that he may inherit the Promises, and the vast treasures of good in them.

Thirdly, Faith holds out the Promises as incentives to the work: The Believer is an Isaac, a Child of Promise; the new Creature with its Graces is born of the Covenant, and ever after lives upon it. Every Grace hath some Promise or other to feed on. Love hath God dwelling with it; Fear hath his secret; Meekness his Salvation; Patience a crop of Comforts; and all of them have an entail of Eternal Life. And when Graces are acted there is a Promise of encrease, To him that hath, that is, useth Grace, more shall be given, more of the same Grace; his Talent shall be doubled, his Path shineth more and more to the perfect day in Heaven; and withal more of the Divine Indwelling, Secret, Salvation, and Comfort promised;