I Believe, &c. SERMON III. OF THE VIRTUE AND REASONABLENESS OF 2 PET. i. 1. -to them that have obtained like precious faith with us. SERM. OF all Chriftian virtues, as there is none more approved III. and dignified by God, fo there is none lefs confidered or valued by men, than faith; the adverfaries of our religion have always had a special pique at it; wondering that it fhould be commanded, as if it were an arbitrary thing, or in our choice to believe what we please; why it should be commended, as if it were praiseworthy to be fubdued by reason; either by that which is too strong for us to refist, or by that which is too weak to conquer us. But that faith worthily deferveth the praises and privileges affigned thereto, we may be satisfied, if we do well confider its nature and ingredients, its causes and rise, its effects and confequences. In its nature it doth involve knowledge, or the poffeffion of truth, which is the natural food, the proper wealth, the special ornament of our foul; knowledge of truths moft worthy of us, and important to us, as converfing about the highest objects, and conducing to the noblest ufe; knowledge peculiar and not otherwise attainable, as III. lying without the fphere of our fenfe, and beyond the SERM. reach of our reafon; knowledge conveyed to us with great evidence and affurance; the greatest indeed that well can be, confidering the nature of its objects, and the general capacities of men, and the moft proper way of working upon reasonable natures. It implieth (that which giveth to every virtue its form and worth) a good ufe of our reafon, in carefully weighing and uprightly judging about things of greatest concernment to us; it implieth a clofing with God's providence difpenfing opportunities, and reprefenting motives. ferving to beget it; a compliance with God's grace attracting and inclining our fouls to embrace his heavenly truth it implieth alfo good opinions of God, and good affections toward him, which are requifite to the believing (upon his testimony, promise, or command) points very fublime, very difficult, very crofs to our fancy and humour. The causes alfo, which concur in its production, are very excellent; many virtuous difpofitions of foul are requifite to the conception and birth of it: there must be a fober, composed, and wakeful mind, inquifitive after truth, apt to observe it starting, and ready to lay hold on it: there must be diligence and induftry in attending to the propofals, and confidering the enforcements of it: there must be fincerity and foundness of judgment, in avowing its cause, against the exceptions raised against it by prejudice and carnal conceit, by fenfual appetites and paffions, by temptation and worldly intereft: there must be great humility, difpofing us to a fubmiffion of our understanding, and a refignation of our will unto God, in admitting notions which debase haughty conceit, in espousing duties which repress sturdy humour: there must be much refolution and courage, in undertaking things very difficult, hazardous, and painful; much patience, in adhering to a profeffion, which exacteth so much pain, and exposeth to fo much trouble: there must be great prudence, in applying our choice (among so many competitions and pretences claiming it) to that which is only good; in feeing III. SERM. through fallacious difguifes, and looking over prefent appearances, fo as to defcry the juft worth, and the final confequence of things: there muft, in fine, be a love of truth, and a liking of all virtue, which is fo highly commended, and fo ftrictly prefcribed by the Chriftian doc (Acts xi. 24.) trine. Thefe particulars, commending faith to us, I have already largely profecuted; I fhall only therefore now infift upon the last head, concerning its effects, whereby (as the goodness of a tree is known by its fruits) the great excellency thereof will appear. Its effects are of two forts; one fpringing naturally from it, the other following it in way of recompenfe from Divine bounty: I fhall only touch the first fort; because in this its virtue is most seen, as in the other its felicity. Faith is naturally efficacious in producing many rare fruits; naturally, I fay, not meaning to exclude supernatural grace, but fuppofing faith to be a fit inftrument thereof; for God worketh in us to will, and to do, but in a way fuitable to our nature, employing fuch means as properly serve to incline and excite us unto good practice; and fuch is faith, fupported and wielded by his grace; for indeed Even in common life faith is the compafs by which men steer their practice, and the main fpring of action, fetting all the wheels of our activity on going; every man acteth with serious intention, and with vigour answerable to his perfuafion of things, that they are worthy his pains, and attainable by his endeavours. What moveth the husbandman to employ fo much care, toil, and expence in manuring his ground, in plowing, in fowing, in weeding, in fencing it, but a persuasion that he shall reap a crop, which in benefit will answer all? What stirreth up the merchant to undertake tedious voyages over vaft and dangerous feas, adventuring his stock, abandoning his case, expofing his life to the waves, to rocks and shelves, to storms and hurricanes, to cruel pirates, to fweltry heats and piercing colds, but a perfuafion, that wealth is a very and janence' what a les tre, what our La de holy tetre viata furm rmaceminus minna, but a fan of taning wriy moonpenis for dig well? what can meras un efecal die and bread of offending, but a fuch of incang imos pun3. ANN and fat michień hence In reafon a frong and feady beef but of one point or two, would ffice to engage us upon all duty, and to m ftrain us from all fc. Did we only believe the future jude ment, with the refults of it, that alone would be an ef fectual both spur and curb to us: for who believing that his foul then fhall be laid bare, that his inmoft thoughts and fecreteft purpofes fhall be difclofed unto the view of all the world, will prefume to harbour in his breath any foul thought or bafe defign? who believing that he thall then be obliged to render an account of every idle word, will dare to utter villanous blafphemies, wicked curfes, fond oaths, profane jefts, vile flanders or detractions, harsh cenfures, or bitter reproaches? who being perfuaded SERM. that a rigorous amends will then be exacted from him for III. any wrong he doeth, will not be afraid with violence to Luke xii. 33. Heb. xii. 28. opprefs, or with fraud to circumvent his neighbour? who deeming himself accountable then for every talent and opportunity, will find in his heart to fquander away or misemploy his time, his power, his wealth, his credit, his wit, his knowledge, his advantages in any kind of doing God fervice? who knowing himself obnoxious to a fudden trial, whereat his eftate, his reputation, his life, all his interest and welfare muft lie at ftake, will contentedly lose his mind in wanton fports or wild frolics? In fine, if we are really perfuaded, that presently after this short. and transitory life, we shall openly, in the face of God, angels, and men, be arraigned at an impartial bar, where all our thoughts, our words, our actions shall most exactly be fifted and scanned; according to which cognizance a juft doom shall be pronounced, and certainly executed upon us; how muft this needs engage us to be very sober and serious, very circumfpect and vigilant over our mind, our tongue, our dealings, our converfation, our whole life! Again, If a man firmly believeth, that by a pious course of life, he shall gain the present favour and friendship of the Almighty, with all the real goods whereof he is capable; and that hereafter he shall be rewarded for it with an eternal life in perfect reft, in glory, in joy, in beatitude 1 Pet. i. 4. unspeakable; that he shall obtain an incorruptible inheritance, a treasure that can never fail, a crown that will not 1 Pet. v. 4. fade, a kingdom that cannot be shaken; wherein he fhall enjoy the blissful vifion of God, fmiling in love upon him; the presence of his gracious Redeemer, embracing him with dear affection; the most delightful fociety of blessed 1 Cor. ii. 9. angels, and juft fpirits made perfect; a state of felicity, furpaffing all words to exprefs it, all thoughts to conceive it; of which the brighteft fplendors, and the choicest pleasures here can yield but a faint resemblance; how can he forbear earnestly to embrace and pursue such a course of practice! what zeal must such a persuasion inspire; what vigour must it rouse within him! who upon |