Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

The pure in heart shall see him, not in the blissmaking Vision only, but before in those Love-glances, ⟨p. 454⟩which are the First-fruits of Heaven here below.

The pure in heart shall see him, not in the blissmaking Vision only, but before in those Loveglances, ⟨p. 454⟩which are the First-fruits of Heaven here below.

Again, If thou wouldst be assured, be much in charity and doing good; As the Elect of God put on bowels of Mercy. Open thy heart to the poor in Pity, and thy hand in Charity; draw out thy Alms, and with them thy Soul; give outward Things, and which is more, thy Self in real compassion; Cast thy Bread upon the Waters, upon the Tears of the Poor, that it may be carried into the Ocean of Eternity, and there found again in a glorious Reward. When an Object of Charity meets thee, Say not, Go and come again; pass not by as the Priest and Levite did, but, as the good Samaritan, immediately pour in thy Wine and Oil into the Wounds of thy Brother; omit no Season of Charity: Now is thy Seed-time, scatter thy good Works, Sow upon Blessings, as the Phrase is, 2 Cor. 9.6. Now Christs Bank is open, put in thy Money upon holy Usury, and God himself will be thy Pay-Master; Be still a-doing of good, that in thy little sphere thou mayst resemble him who doth good in the great sphere of Nature: His Sun shines and Rain falls every-where; Be as like him as thou canst, shining in good Works, and dropping in Charities upon all occasions. Give a Portion to seven and also to eight, saith the Preacher, Eccles. 11.2. From this Text the Jews ground a Custom to give an Alms to ⟨p. 455⟩seven or eight poor people every day. However that be, we should be much in Charity: Look on the Poor as Gods Altars erected on purpose, That upon their Backs and Bellies thou mayst offer up thy Charity as an Odour of a sweet smell, a Sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God. Be rich in good Works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate, laying up a good Foundation against the time to come. This is the way to Assurance: Works of Mercy and Charity make Faith visible, and withal put the Believer into a nearer capacity to have the Love of God manifested to him. They make Faith visible; no Assurance can be had, unless that Query, Whether we be in the Faith? be resolved in the Affirmative: That cannot be done, unless Faith become visible; and more visible it cannot be than in such good Works; which as the holy Blossoms of it prove that there is Life at the root. The Mercy and Charity, which hang upon it, may tell thee, That thou hast indeed closed by Faith with the infinite Love and Grace above, and from thence brought down all those drops and models of Goodness which thou sheddest forth in thy Conversation: