he saw it, and was glad.-John viii. 56.-Luke ii. 28, 29. We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.Acts iv. 20. When the Eunuch had believed, he went on his way rejoicing. -Acts viii. 38, 39. Purifying their hearts by faith.Acts xv. 9. If we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. -Rom. viii. 25. Rejoicing in hope. Rom. xii. 12. The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing. Rom. xv. 13. We having the same spirit of faith; according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken: we also believe, and therefore speak.-2 Cor. iv. 13. Ps. cxvi. 10. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord, &c. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men to believe. 2 Cor. v. 8. 11. Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith: prove your own selves: know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?-2 Cor. xiii. 5. In Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith, which worketh by love. Gal. v. 6. In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise. Eph. i. 13. We give thanks to God, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, &c. patience of hope. -1 Thess. i. 2, 3. We which have believed do enter into rest. Heb. iv. 3. 10. We might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which is the anchor of the soul, sure and stedfast, entering into that within the veil, &c. Heb. vi. 18, 19. Ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise, &c. The just shall live by faith.-Heb. x. 35-38. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark, &c. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go, &c. obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went, &c. Confessed that they were strangers, &c. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac, &c. his only begotten son, of whom it was said, &c. By faith Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season: esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for, &c. -Heb. xi. 7, 8. 13. 17, 18.24-26. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works; can faith save him? Faith, if it hath not good works, is dead, being alone, or by itself. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works; shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God, &c. but wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works? and by works was faith made perfect, &c. Faith without works is dead.-James ii. 14.17-22.26. Jesus Christ, whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.1 Pet. i. 7, 8. Unto you therefore which believe, he is precious (or an honour).1 Pet. ii. 7. We know that when he shall appear, we sha'l be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, as he is pure. - 1 John iii. 2, 3. SECT. V. The Dangerous State and Issue of Unbelief. THE Old world, though informed of the flood by Noah, yet, because of unbelief, was destroyed by it. -Gen. vi. vii. When Lot had told his sons-in-law, that God would destroy the city, and had advised them to get out, they believed him not; and were destroyed in the overthrow. Gen. xix. 12-14. 25. Exod. ix. 19. 21. 25. How long will it be ere they believe me? I will smite them. -Numb. xiv. 11, 12. I will hide my face, &c. for they are children in whom is no faith. Deut. xxxii. 20. The lord, in Samaria, because he believed not the word of God concerning relief of provision then in the sore famine as God had spoken, was threatened, that he should not eat thereof; and accordingly was trod to death; and saw it, but did not eat.2 Kings vii. 1, 2. 17-20. A fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel, because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation.-Ps. lxxviii. 21, 22. Woe unto thee, &c. for if the mighty works, &c. had been done in Tyre, &c. they would have repented, &c.-Matt. xi. 21. 23. He did not many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.Matt. xiii. 58. Peter began to sink through unbelief. Jesus said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? -Matt.xiv. 29-31. Luke xxii. 31-34. He appeared unto the eleven, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart; because they believed not them who had seen him after he was risen, &c. But he that believeth not shall be damned. --Mark xvi. 14. 16. Thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed: because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled, &c. -Luke i. 20. The Son of man, when he cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?Luke xviii. 8. But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.-Luke xix. 27. John v. 40. 43. He that believeth not, is condemned already: because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God, &c. He that believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.-John iii. 18. 36. Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. John vi. 53. I said therefore unto you, That ye shall die in your sins; for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. John viii. 24. Ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep; as I said unto you, My sheep hear my voice, &c.-John x. 26, 27. v. 38. If any man hear my words, and believe not, &c. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him; the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. - John xii. 47, 48. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. John xv. 6. He will reprove the world of sin, &c. Of sin, because they believe not on me.-John xvi. 8, 9. Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, &c. Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which you shall no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.-Acts xiii. 40, 41. How shall they call on him, whom they have not believed?-Rom. x. 14. Well, because of unbelief they were broken off; and thou standest by faith, &c. God spared not the natural branches, &c. Rom. xi. 20, 21. He that doubteth, is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith, is sin. -Rom. xiv. 23. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, taking vengeance on them, &c. that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction, &c.-2 Thess. i. 7, 8. Antichrist shall prevail upon such who shall perish; because they received not the love of the truth (or the truth in the love thereof) that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.-2 Thess. ii. 8-12. Holding faith, &c. which some having put away, concerning faith have made shipwreck; of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have delivered unto Satan, that being chastised, they may learn not to blaspheme.-1 Tim. i. 19, 20. Unto them that are defiled and unbelieving, is nothing pure, but even their mind and conscience is defiled. -Titus i. 15. If the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward: how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord? &c. Heb. ii. 2, 3. I sware in my wrath, they shall not (or if they shall) enter into my rest. Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. And to whom sware he, that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see, that they could not enter in, because of unbelief. Heb. iii. 11, 12. 18, 19. Numb. xiv. 21-23. Ps. cvi. 24-26. The word preached did not profit eached them; not being mixed with faith (or because they were not united by faith to it) in them that heard it. They to whom it was first preached (or, the gospel was first preached) entered not in, because of unbelief. Heb. iv. 2. 6. If we sin, &c. there remaineth no more sacrifice, &c. but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, &c. The just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them that draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe unto the saving of the soul.Heb. x. 26-29.38, 39. Without faith it is impossible to please God: for he, &c. Heb. xi. 6. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not, who refused him that spake on earth; much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven. Heb. xii. 25. Let him ask in faith, &c. for he that wavereth is like, &c. Let not that man think he shall receive, &c. -James i. 5-7. Unto you which believe, he is very precious; but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner: and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient; whereunto also they were appointed.-1 Pet. ii. 7, 8. What shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?-1 Pet. iv. 17, 18. He that believeth not God, hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son; and this is the record, That God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son, &c. He that hath not the Son, hath not life.1 John v. 10-12. The fearful and unbelieving, &c. burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.-Rev.xxi.8. shall have their part in the lake which If a man think himself to be some He that despised Moses' law, died without mercy, &c. Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God?Heb. x. 28, 29. thing, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. - Gal. vi. 3. 7. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig-tree, my brethren, bear olive-berries? either a vine, figs? So can no fountain both yield salt-water and fresh. Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge amongst you? let him shew out of a good conversaTHE CHARACTER OF SAINTS, GOOD tion, his works with meekness and depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. Gen. xiii. 8, 9. CHAP. X. MEN, AND BELIEVERS, APPEARING IN WORD AND DEED. SECT. I. That such may be known from others by their Fruits. We should try. SEARCH me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts. -Ps. cxxxix. 23, 24. Let us search and try our ways, and turn again unto the Lord.-Lam. iii. 40. Ye shall know them by their fruits: do men gather grapes of thorns? &c. -Matt. vii. 16, &c. The tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things! for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, bringeth forth good things and an evil man, out of the evil treasure, bringeth forth evil things. --Matt. xii. 33-35. John iii. 6. Luke vi. 43-45. Ye cannot serve God and mammon, &c. That which is highly esteemed among men, is abomination, &c. Luke xvi. 13. 15. Some have not the knowledge of God, I speak this to your shame. 1 Cor. xv. 34. Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith: prove your own selves; know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?-2 Cor. xiii. 5. Gal. vi. 4. Ps. iv. 4. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. - Rom. viii. 9. wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying, &c. this wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. - James iii. 11-14. Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.-1 Pet. iii. 15. Let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, &c.-Gal. vi. 4. SECT. II. Of the particular Fruits of the Spirit which are indispensa bly necessary to real Saints. A GOOD man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good, &c.-Luke vi. 45. And Enoch walked with God, &c. three hundred years, &c. and Enoch walked with God, and was not, &c. (or, walked according to God continually). Gen. v. 22. 24. Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generations; and Noah walked with God.-Gen. vi. 9. And the Lord said unto Noah, Come, &c. for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation, &c. And Noah did according unto all that God commanded him.-Gen. vii. 1. 5. Abraham went into a strange place out of his own country, when God bid him.-Gen. xii. 1-4. And Abraham said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? If thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou And the angel of the Lord said, Abraham, &c. for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only begotten son from me. Gen. xxii. 11, 12. xviii. 19. The saints are grieved at the wickedness of men. Gen. xxxiv. 7. Neh. xiii. 8. Jer. ix. 1, 2. xiii. 17. When Joseph's mistress tempted him to sin, he said, How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?-Gen. xxxix. 9. When Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have heard say of thee, thou canst understand a dream to interpret it: Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me, God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace. Gen. xli. 15, 16. xl. 8. The midwives feared God, and obeyed not the king's command to kill the male children. - Exod. i. 16, 17. And the Lord said unto Moses, I have seen this people, &c. Now let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and I will make of thee a great nation. And Moses besought the Lord, saying, Wherefore should the Egyptians say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, &c. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, &c. Now if thou wilt forgive their sins: and if not, I pray thee blot me out of thy book which thou hast written.-Exod. xxxii. 9-13.32. When Moses was told that Eldad and Medad did prophesy in the camp, and his servant had said to him, My lord Moses forbid them; Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them.Numb. xi. 26-29. God said unto Moses, I will smite them, &c. and make of thee a greater nation, and mightier than they. And Moses said unto the Lord, Then the Egyptians shall hear it (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them), and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land; for they have heard, that thou, Lord, art among this people, &c. Now, if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee, will speak, saying, Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness, &c. - Numb. xiv. 12, &c. Deut. ix. 26-28. When God had told Moses that he must die, Moses prays for Israel: Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, which may go out before them, &c. that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd, &c. And he appointed Joshua. Numb. xxvii. 12-18. He exhorts Israel at large to cleave to the Lord, when he was to die.Deut. iv. 22, &c. When Israel fell before Ai, &c. Joshua said, O Lord, what shall I say when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies? For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear, &c. and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?-Joshua vii. 4-6.8, 9. Joel ii. 17. Choose, &c. whom you will serve, &c. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. - Joshua xxiv. 15. Eli, when he heard the ark of the Lord was taken, fell backward and died: and his daughter-in-law cried out, The glory is departed from Israel, because the ark of God was taken. Yet she was not so much concerned at the news of her husband's death, and herself being near death at the same time.-1 Sam. iv. 17-22. David's heart smote him, because he cut off Saul's skirt.-1 Sam. xxiv. 5. |