Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

And as such is outwardly secured in the Promises, and inwardly realized by Faith, and therefore must needs move the Believer strongly to Obedience; no wonder if he burn in Devotions, or melt in Charity, or labour in other acts of Obedience, all these being but a sowing to the Spirit, will come up in a crop of Eternal Life; his Prayers will be turned into Hallelujahs, his Alms repaid in Everlasting Love, and all his good Works, which follow him into another World, shall be woven into a Crown of Immortality. And upon such an account who would not obey and live in perpetual resignation; as he did, who (as the story goes) always concluded his Prayers thus, Domine, quid me vis facere; Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And lived in such holy joys, as if he had been in Heaven already?

Another Grace actuated by Faith, is Patience. This is Meekness towards God, as Meekness is Patience towards Man, and respecteth Gods Disposing Will as Obedience doth his Commanding: This is a Subjection to God, a Possession of our Selves, and an Admiration to Others. Hence the Constancy of Annas Burgus a Senator of Paris, suffering for the Protestant Cause, made many curious to know what Religion that was for which he so patiently endured death. To promote this Grace, Faith in the first place looks up to God as sitting at the stern and ruling all; every Affliction is a piece of his Government; to murmur against it is rebellion: in such a case nothing becomes us so much as with Aaron to hold our peace; or if we open our lips to do it with Job, Blessing the name of the great Giver and Taker. Is he not the Lord, and may he not do as he will in his own World, and among his own Creatures? Should not all flesh be silent before him? None but himself may or can be Rector of the World, and yet in every act of Impatience we aspire and virtually would be such our selves: and is he not Infinitely wise and just in all that he doth? Every Wheel hath an eye in it, and every Cross its just proportion, and to think that it might have been better is to blaspheme Providence. This made that holy Man Mr. Dod in his Sickness after extreme sits of pain say to his Servant, O think well of God for it, for it is most justly and wisely done whatsoever he doth. ⟨p. 319⟩