Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

There is the savour of Life unto Life, of a gracious Life unto a comfortable and glorious One. Be much in reading and hearing the Word, but do it in an holy manner, do it attentively; take heed to it, till the day dawn, and the daystar arise in thy heart; do it desiring the Word as the Babe doth the Breast, that thou mayst grow into all the measures and statures of Christ; do it in faith, that the Word may profit and effectually work unto all Graces and Comforts; do it in love to Truth and Righteousness, that the oil of gladness, which is upon Christ thy Head, may run down upon thee; do it obedientially, hearken to the Commands, that thy Peace may be as a River flowing in the joys of Faith: If thus thou wilt hear and open to Christ, who stands and knocks at the door of thy heart, He will come in to thee, and sup with thee, and thou with him, Revel. 3.20. He will come in to thee in intimate Communion, and sup with thee in ⟨p. 445⟩the acceptance of thy Graces, and thou shalt sup with him at a Banquet of Love: Thou mayst experimentally say, That the Gospel is come to thee in power, and in the holy Ghost, and in much Assurance, as the Apostle speaks, 1 Thess. 1.5. In Power in, the first work of Conversion; in the holy Ghost, in the gracious indwelling of it after Faith; and in much Assurance, in the Sealings of Truth and Love upon the heart. Next to that of the Word, I recommend Prayer to thee; This is an excellent Ordinance, it wrestles with God, and like a Prince prevails with him; It unlocks the Treasury of Grace, and fetches down all Blessings; it hath a king of Omnipotency in it; and, if with reverence I may so allude, As God brought forth all things by the breath of his mouth, so the Believer produces all Blessings by the breath of Prayer. Apollonius (as Sozomen relates) never asked any thing of God but he obtained it. And of Luther it was said, Iste vir potuit apud Deum quod voluit; This man could do what he would with God. Ask, and thou shalt have: Ask the sealing Spirit, and thou shalt have it; ask in the Name of Jesus Christ; His Merits are as pure Incense able to perfume thy Prayers; and as a powerful Orator to persuade the Comforter to come down to thee: Ask in the holy Spirit, in the Grace and sweet Gales of it, That the Spirit may be an answer to it self; the Spirit as sealing Gods Love an answer to it self as inspiring thy Prayers: Ask in Faith;