God. And when they came to the country which God promised them, they would build no cities, towns, nor houfes; but lived like ftrangers in tents, that might every day be removed. Their truft was fo much in God, that they fet but little by any worldly thing, for that God had prepared for them better dwelling-places in heaven, of his own foundation and building. This faith made Abraham Gen. xxii. ready at God's commandment to offer his own fon and Eccl. xiii. heir Ifaac, whom he loved fo well, and by whom he was promised to have innumerable iffue, among the which, one fhould be born, in whom all nations should be bleffed, trufting fo much in God, that though he were flain, yet that God was able by his omnipotent power to raise him from death, and perform his promife. He miftrufted not the promife of God, although unto his reafon every thing feemed contrary. He believed verily that God would not forfake him in dearth and famine that was in the country. And in all other dangers that he was brought unto, he trufted ever that God fhould be his God, and his protector and defender, whatsoever he faw to the contrary. This faith wrought fo in the heart of Mofes, that be re- Exod. ii. fused to be taken for King Pharaoh's daughter's fon, and to bave great inheritance in Egypt, thinking it better with the people of God to have affliction and forrow, than with naughty men in fin to live pleasantly for a time. By faith be cared not for the threatening of King Pharaoh: for his truft was fo in God, that he paffed not of the felicity of this world, but looked for the reward to come in heaven; fetting his heart upon the invifible God, as if he had feen him ever present before his eyes. By faith, the children of Exod. xiv. Ifrael paffed through the Red Sea. By faith, the walls of Joh. vi. Jericho fell down without ftroke, and many other wonderful miracles have been wrought. In all good men that heretofore have been, faith hath brought forth their good works, and obtained the promises of God. Faith bath Dan. vi. Stopped the lions' mouths: faith bath quenched the force of fire: faith bath efcaped the fword's edges: faith bath given weak Dan. iii. men ftrength, victory in battle, overthrown the armies of in- Heb. xi. fidels, raifed the dead to life: faith hath made good men to take adverfity in good part; fome have been mocked and whipped, bound and caft in prison; fome have loft all their goods, and lived in great poverty; fome bave wandered in mountains, bills, and wildernesses; some have been racked, fome flain, fome ftoned, fome fawn, fome rent in pieces, fome bebended, fome burnt without mercy, and would not be delivered, because they looked to rife again to a better state. All 1 Cor. iv. All these fathers, martyrs, and other holy men, whom St. Paul fpake of, had their faith furely fixed in God, when all the world was against them. They did not only know God to be the Lord, Maker, and Governor of all men in the world; but also they had a fpecial confidence and truft, that he was and would be their God, their comforter, aider, helper, maintainer, and defender. This is the Chriftian faith, which thefe holy men had, and we alfo ought to have. And although they were not named Chriftian men, yet was it a Chriftian faith that they had ; for they looked for all benefits of God the Father, through the merits of his Son Jefus Chrift, as we now do. This difference is between them and us, that they looked when Christ should come, and we be in the time when he is In Johan. come. Therefore, faith St. Auguftine, the time is altered Tract. xlv. and changed, but not the faith. For we have both one faith in one Chrift. The fame Holy Ghoft alfo that we have, bad they, faith St. Paul. For as the Holy Ghost doth teach us to truft in God, and to call upon him as our Ifa. xliii. Father, fo did he teach them to fay, as it is written, Thou, Lord, art our Father and Redeemer; and thy name is without beginning, and everlasting. God gave them then grace to be his children, as he doth us now. But now, by the coming of our Saviour Chrift we have received more abundantly the Spirit of God in our hearts, whereby we may conceive a greater faith, and a furer truft, than many of them had. But in effect they and we be all one: we have the fame faith that they had in God, and they the fame that we have. And St. Paul fo much extolleth their faith, because we fhould not lefs, but rather more, give ourselves wholly unto Chrift, both in profeffion and living, now when Chrift is come, than the old fathers did before his coming. And by all the declaration of St. Paul, it is evident, that the true, lively, and Chriftian faith is no dead, vain, or unfruitful thing, but a thing of perfect virtue, of wonderful operation or working, and ftrength, bringing forth all good motions and good works. All holy Scripture agreeably beareth witnefs, that a true lively faith in Chrift doth bring forth good works; and therefore every man muft examine and try himself diligently, to know whether he have the fame true lively faith in his heart unfeignedly, or not; which he shall know by the fruits thereof. Many that profeffed the faith of Chrift were in this error, that they thought they knew God, and believed in him, when in their life they declared the contrary which error St. John in his firft Epiftle confuting, confuting, writeth in this wife: Hereby we are certified 1 John ii. that we know God, if we obferve bis commandments. He that faith be knoweth God, and obferveth not bis commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. And again he faith, Whosoever finneth doth not fee God, nor know him: 1 John iii. Let no man deceive qwell-beloved children. And more◄ you, over he faith, Hereby we know that we be of the truth, and fo we fball perfuade our hearts before him. For if our own 1 John iik bearts reprove us, God is above our hearts, and knoweth all things. Well-beloved, if our hearts reprove us not, then have we confidence in God, and shall have of him whatsoever que ck, because we keep his commandments, and do thofe things tbat pleafe bim. And yet further he faith, Every man that 1 John v. believeth that Jefus is Chrift, is born of God; and we know that whofoever is born of God doth not fin: But be that is begotten of God purgeth himself, and the Devil doth not touch bim. And finally he concludeth, and fheweth the cause why he wrote this Epiftle, faying, For this caufe have I 1 John v. thus written unto you, that you may know that you bave everlafting life, which do believe in the Son of God. And in his third Epiftle he confirmeth the whole matter of faith and works in few words, faying, He that doth well is of God, 3 John i. and be that doth evil knoweth not God. And as St. John faith, that as the lively knowledge and faith of God bringeth forth good works; fo faith he likewife of hope and charity, that they cannot ftand with evil living. Of hope he writeth thus: We know that when God Jhall appear, 1 John iii. we fall be like unto him, for we shall fee him even as he is: And whofoever bath this hope in him doth purify himself, like as God is pure. And of charity he faith thefe words: He that doth keep God's word and commandment, in him is 1 John ii. truly the perfect love of God. And again he faith, This is 1 John v. the love of God, that we bould keep his commandments. And St. John wrote not this as a fubtile faying, devised of his own fantasy, but as a moft certain and neceffary truth, taught unto him by Chrift himself, the eternal and infallible verity, who in many places doth most clearly affirm, that faith, hope, and charity cannot confift or ftand without good and godly works. Of faith he faith, He that 1 John vẻ believetb in the Son bath everlafling life; but he that be- John iii. lieveth not in the Son fhall not fee that life, but the wrath of God remaineth upon bim. And the fame he confirmeth with a double oath, faying, Verily, verily, I fay unto you, John vi, be that believeth in me bath everlafting life. Now forafmuch as he that believeth in Chrift hath everlafting life, it must needs confequently follow, that he that hath this faith D I faith must have alfo good works, and be ftudious to obferve God's commandments obediently. For to them that have evil works, and lead their life in difobedience and tranfgreffion, or breaking of God's commandments, without repentance, pertaineth not everlasting life, but everMatth.xxv. lafting death, as Chrift himfelf faith, They that do well fball go into life eternal; but they that do evil fhall go into Apoc. xxi. everlasting fire. And again he faith, I am the first letter and the laft, the beginning and the ending: To him that is athirst, I will give of the well of the water of life freely: He that bath the victory fhall have all things, and I will be bis God, and he fhall be my fon: but they that be fearful, miftrusting God, and lacking faith; they that be curfed people, and murtherers, and fornicators, and forcerers, and all liars, Jhall have their portion in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the fecond death. And as Chrift undoubtedly affirmeth, that true faith bringeth forth good works, fo doth he fay likewife of charity, Whosoever bath my commandments, and keepeth them, that is be that loveth me. And after he faith, He that loveth me will keep my word, and be that loveth me not keepeth not my words. And as the love of God is tried by good works, fo is the fear of Ecclus. i. God alfo, as the Wife Man faith, The dread of God putteth Ecclus. xv. away fin. And alfo he faith, He that feareth God will do good works. Charity bringeth forth good works. John xiv. The Third Part of the Sermon of Faith. OU have heard in the fecond part of this Sermon, YOU a that no man fhould think that he hath that lively faith which Scripture commandeth, when he liveth not obediently to God's laws; for all good works spring out of that faith: and alfo it hath been declared unto you by examples, that faith maketh men steadfast, quiet, and patient in all affliction. Now as concerning the fame matter, you fhall hear what followeth. A man may foon deceive himfelf, and think in his own fantafy that he by faith knoweth God, loveth him, feareth him, and belongeth to him, when in very deed he doth nothing lefs. For the trial of all these things is a very godly and Chriftian life. He that feeleth his heart fet to feek God's honour, and ftudieth to know the will and commandments of God, and to frame himself thereunto, and leadeth not his life after the defire of his own flesh, to ferve the Devil by fin, but fetteth his mind to ferve God for his own fake, and for his fake alfo to love all his neighbours, whether they be friends or adverfaries, doing good to every man, as opportunity ferveth, and willingly hurting no man: fuch a man may well rejoice in God, perceiving by the trade of his life, that he unfeignedly hath the right knowledge of God, a lively faith, a steadfast hope, a true and unfeigned love, and fear of God. But he that cafteth away the yoke of God's commandments from his neck, and giveth himfelf to live without true repentance, after his own fenfual mind and pleafure, not regarding to know God's word, and much lefs to live according thereunto; fuch a man clearly deceiveth himself, and feeth not his own heart, if he thinketh that he either knoweth God, loveth him, feareth him, or trufteth in him. Some peradventure fancy in themselves that they belong to God, although they live in fin, and fo they come to the church, and thew themfelves as God's dear children. But St. John faith plainly, If we say that we have any company with God, and walk in 1 John i. darkness, we do lie. Others do vainly think that they know and love God, although they pafs not of the commandments. But St. John faith clearly, He that faith, I1 John ii. know God, and keepeth not bis commandments, be is a liar. Some falfely perfuade themfelves, that they love God, when they hate their neighbours. But St. John faith manifeftly, If any man fay, I love God, and yet bateth bis 1 John iv. brother, be is a liar. He that faith that he is in the light, and 1 John ii. bateth bis brother, he is flill in darkness. He that loveth his brother dwelleth in the light; but he that bateth his brother is in darkness, and walketb in darkness, and knoweth not whither be goeth: for darkness hath blinded his eyes. And moreover he faith, Hereby we manifeftly know the children 1 John iii. of God from the children of the Devil. He that doth not righteously is not the child of God, nor be that hateth bis brother. Deceive not yourselves, therefore, thinking that you have faith in God, or that you love God, or do trust in him, or do fear him, when you live in fin: for then your ungodly and finful life declareth the contrary, whatfoever you fay or think. It pertaineth to a Chriftian man to have this true Chriftian faith, and to try himtelf whether he hath it or no, and to know what belongeth to it, and how it doth work in him. It is not the world that we can trust to; the world, and all that is therein, is but vanity. It is God that must be our defence and protection against all temptation of wickednefs and fin, errors, fuperftition, idolatry, and all evil. If all the world were on our fide, and God against us, what could the world avail us? Therefore D 2 |