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for inftance, afflictions they ftile judgments; and trials, more precious than the beloved gold, they call miferies. On the other hand, they call the preferments of the world by the name of honour, and its wealth, happiness; when for once that they are fo, it is much to be feared, they are fent of God an hundred times for judgments, at least trials, upon their poffeffors. Therefore, what to keep, what to reject, what to want, is a difficulty God only can refolve the foul. And fince God knows better than we, what we need, he can better tell us what to afk, than we can him: which made Christ exhort his difciples to avoid long and repetitious prayers; telling them, that their heavenly Father knew what they needed before they asked: and therefore gave them a pattern to pray by; not as fome fancy, to be a text for human liturgies, which of all services are most justly noted and taxed for length and repitition; but exprefsly to reprove and avoid them. But if those wants, that are the fubject of prayer, were once agreed upon, though that might be a weighty point, yet how to pray is still of greater moment than to pray; it is not the request, but the frame of the petitioner's fpirit. The what may be proper, but the how defective. As I faid, God needs not to be told of our wants by us, who must tell them to us; yet he will be told them from us, that both we may feek him, and he may come down to us. But when this is done, To this man will I look, faith the Lord, even to him Mat. vi. 7, 8.

that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my word: to the fick heart, the wounded foul, the hungry and thirsty, the weary and heavy laden ones; fuch fincerely want an helper.

§. XIV. Nor is this fufficient to complete gofpel-worfhip; the fourth requifite must be had, and that is faith, true faith, precious faith, the faith of God's chofen, that purifies their hearts, that overcomes the world, and is the victory of the faints. This is that which animates prayer, and presses it home, like the importunate woman, that would not be denied ; to whom Chrift, feeming to admire, faid, O woman, great is thy faith! This is of highest moment on our part, to give our addreffes fuccefs with God; and yet not in our power neither, for it is the gift of God: from him we must have it; and with one grain of it, more work is done, more deliverance is wrought, and more goodness and mercy received, than by all the runnings, willings, and toilings of man, with his inventions and bodily exercises: which, duly weighed, will easily spell out the meaning, why fo much worship should bring fo little profit to the world, as we fee it does, viz. true faith is loft. They ask, and receive not; they feek, and find not: they knock, and it is not opened unto them: the cafe is plain; their requests are not mixed with purifying faith, by which they fhould prevail, as good

Ifa. lxvi. 2.

Tim, i. 5. Acts xv. 9. Tit. i. 1. 2 Pet. i. I 1 John, v. 4.

• Mat. xv. 28

James iv. 3.

Jacob's were, when he wrestled with God, and prevailed. And the truth is, the generality are yet in their fins, following their hearts lufts, and living in worldly pleasure, being strangers to this precious faith. It is the reason rendered by the deep author to the Hebrews, of the unprofitableness of the word preached to fome in those days; Not being, fays he, mixed with faith in them that heard it. Can the minister then preach without faith? No: and much less can any man pray to purpose without faith,. especially when we are told, That the just live by faith. For worship is the fupreme act of man's life; and whatever is neceffary to inferior acts of religion, muft not be wanting there.

§. XV. This may moderate the wonder in any, why Chrift fo often upbraided his difciples with, O ye of little faith! yet tells us, that one grain of it, though as little as that of mustard, one of the leaft of feeds, if true and right, is able to remove mountains. As if he had faid, There is no temptation fo powerful that it can. not overcome: wherefore thofe that are captivated by temptations, and remain unfupplied in their spiritual wants, have not this powerful faith that is the true caufe. So necessary was it of old, that Chrift did not many mighty works where the people believed not; and though his power wrought wonders in other places, faith opened the way: fo that it is hard to fay, whether that power by faith, or faith by that power, wrought the cure. Let us call to mind what famous things a little clay and

fpittle, one touch of the hem of Christ's garment, and a few words out of his mouth, did by the force of faith in the patients: Believe ye that I am able to open your eyes?' Yea, Lord, fay the blind, and fee. To the ruler, only Believe; he did, and his dead daughter recovered life. Again, If thou canst believe: I do believe, fays the father, help my unbelief: and the evil spirit was chafed away, and the child recovered. He faid to one, Go, thy faith hath made thee whole;" and to another, Thy faith hath faved thee; thy fins are forgiven thee. And to encourage his difciples to believe, that were admiring how foon his fentence was executed upon the fruitlefs fig-tree, he tells them, Verily, if ye have faith, and doubt not, ye fhall not only do this, which is done to the fig tree; but also, if ye fhall fay unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and caft into the fea, it fhall be done: and all things whatsoever ye fhall afk in prayer, believing, ye hall receive. This one paffage convicts Chriftendom of grofs infidelity; for the prays, and receives not.

§. XVI. But fome may fay, It is impoffible to receive all that a man may ask. It is not impoffible to receive all that a man, that fo believes can ask.' The fruits of faith are not impoffible to those that truly believe in the God that makes them poffible. When Jefus faid to the ruler, If thou canft believe, he adds,

Mat. ix 29, 30. 8 Mat. ix. 23.*

John ix. 6. Luke viii. 47, 48.
h Mark x. 52. Luke vii. 48, 50.
Mat. xviii. 19. Luke xviii. 27.

i

Mat. xxi. 21, 22.

Mark ix. 23.

all things are poffible to him that believeth." Well, but then fome will fay, It is impoffible to have fuch faith: for this very faithlefs generation would excuse their want of faith, by making it impoffible to have the faith they want. But Chrift's answer to the infidelity of that age, will best confute the disbelief of this. The things that are impoffible with men, are poffible with God." It will follow then, that it is not impoffible with God to give that faith; though it is certain, that without it, it is impoffible to please God: for fo the author to the Hebrews teaches. And if it be else impoffible to please God, it must be fo to pray to God without this precious faith.

n

§. XVII. But fome may fay, What is this faith, that is so neceffary to worship, and gives it fuch acceptance with God, and returns that benefit to men? I fay, it is an holy refignation to God, and confidence in him, testified by a religious obedience to his holy requirings, which gives fure evidence to the foul of the things not yet feen, and a general fenfe and tafte of the fubftance of those things that are hoped for; that is, the glory which is to be revealed hereafter. As this faith is the gift of God, fo it purifies the hearts of those that receive it. The apostle Paul is witnefs, that it will not dwell but in a pure confcience: he therefore in one place couples a pure heart and faith unfeigned together: in another, faith and a good conscience." James joins faith with righ

Mat. xix. 26. Luke xviii. 27.

I Tim. i. 5, 1 Tim, iii. 9.

■ Heb. xi. 6. P James ii.

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