Book IV. F A I T H MORE PRECIOUS THAN G 0 LD. 6or Flowers : Self-love, worldly Pleafure, Pride, and Paffion, choak and obftruct its Growth. Faith is a tender Herb. 6. Perhaps Chriftians have no more, becaufe they mind notthofe precious Grounds and Encouragements, which God in his Mercy hath offered for the lncreafe, See gth– ning, and Growing of Faith. Qt.uft. How may Jknow a weak Faith from aflrong.? . Anfw. 1. A weak Chriftian, one weak in Faith, looks more within rhan wahout, o-rounds more on the good DeGres and Heavenlinefs of his Affections, than the Cove– ~ant and Promife of God: Now a ftrong Chriftian looks to Chrift. Becaufe I live, yejhal! live alfo, John xiv. '9· It is not becaufe my Affections live, my Obedience livesv or I have Life in Obedience, or Performance of external Duties, but becaufe Chrift lives, By whom I live, Gal. ii. 20. 2. A weak Chriftian confults more the Power of the Enemy, than he doth the Strength of God, Chri!t, and the Holy Spirit; and is much acted by Senfe, in re– fpdl: of Means, how this or that !hould be done: Can-God furnifh a 'I'able in the Wildernefl? Pfal.lxviii. 19. But a flrong Saint believes in Hope againft Hopr; a thong Faith takes up in the Power, Grace, and Sufficiency of God: 'I'he Lord is on my Side, I ,r'Will not fear what Man can do unto me, Pfal. !vi.+ 3· A weak Faith grows weaker and weaker, and ready to let go its hold at every Difcouragement. If a Corruption or Temptation prevail, all his Hope of Heaven is almoft gone prefently. Thus it was with Peter, Help Lord, I perijh. But ll:rong Faith is rather flrengthened thereby; as appears by the Woman of Canaan. Yo"' may judge of a ftrong Faith by its Power over the Enemy. I have <vrilien unto you, )'oung Men, becaufe you are flrong, and the Word of God abideth in )'OU, and yu have overcome the wicked One, I John ii. '4· 4- A weak Faith is much for doing, that fa he may have Peace and Comfort within : What mufl I do, &c. Afls xvi. 30. And as his Obedience tO God is kept up, fa is his Comfort; not but that great Peace is to them that keep the Law, and that are found in the Way of Obedience. But a ftrong Faith, in all it doth, is kept up by Chrift's doing, by Chrift's Obedience; he fees his Acceptation comes in through the Lord Jefus's Undertaking for him. 5· A weak Faith is fubjetl: to reft too much upon the Means, and eutward OrEii– nances. He performs Duty, and is found in the Appointments of Chrift, becaufe of the Fat and Sweet of them, or fame prefent Comforts of the Spirit in the Performance of them, rather than becaufe commanded of God, and to inaniftft his Obedience and SubjeCtion unto him; and if he meet not with his expeCtation, he is ready prtfenrly to faint, and be difcouraged, and concludes the Ordinances do not belong to him, or he is not a converted Perfon, &c. or elfe thinks wholly to n€glect them for time to come. 6. A weak Believer is ready to judge of his Jullification, by his inward SanCtifi– cation. When he finds eminent Power over Sin, then he begins to com:ude he may be in a faved State; though I do not lay, that a Man is actually juftiGed, before he be in fame meafure or degree made holy; where the one is, the o·,her will follow, as the Effect the Caufe. Qt.tefl. How may a weak Faith or Hand be flrmgtbened, and feeble Knees confirmed? Anfw. 1. Confider a weak Fai•h is precious, a little Gold is Gold, a little Water is Water: Thou art a Believer, though thou art but a weak Bdiever. 2 . A weak Faith, being <rue, may in Time prove ftrong, and grow to be a great Faith. 3· Though thou haft but a weak Faith, it will fave; doubt!tfs fame weak Ey~s be– held the Brazen Serpent, and were healed. 4· Weak Faith if it be true, !hall never fail totally, nor be taken away: He that is the A.,thor of it, will likewife be the Finilbor. Being confident of this very 'I'hin!{, that he that bath begun agood Work in yo(t, wilj perform it to the ))ay of Jefus Chrijt, J'hd. l. 6. . 7 0 HOPE
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