dren that have the Rickets, the Head is only growing, the inferiour parts of the Body being weak, and feeble: When it is fo, we fay; the Child profpers not. It is oftentimes fo with the Soul: It may feemingly profper in fome things, when it doth not really profper in other things, or indeed in any thing. It was fo with many in the Church of Ephesus: Their zeal was warm in externals, in a high and mighty oppofition against falfe Teachers, Errours, and Herefies, these they could not endure, Rev. 2: 6. But it was not fo in other things, in the best things, there was a great decay in the inward Man, in the vitals of Godliness, in thofe graces that accompany Salvation, ver. 4,5, I have fomething against thee, because thou haft left thy firft Love. Remember there fore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do thy first works. This is as far from true Soul-profperity, as a Tradefman from thriving, who gains by fome one pedling commodity, and lofeth thrice as much in greater matters. The Soul profpers, when it grows up in all things. Eph. 4. 15. But Speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things, in him who is the Head, even Chrift. It were endless almost to reckon up the thriving and profpering in every grace. I fhall therefore inftance in 2 things, by the thriving whereof, we may take an estimate of the reft.

E 2

t. When

1. When the Soul thrives in those two graces, which by experience are found to have as great an influence on the health of the Soul, as Natural heat, and Radical moifture, (fo Phyficians fay, and Reason faith fo too) have upon the health of the Body. The juft temperament of thefe, is that which preferves life, and health, and ftrength. So when these two graces, that of Faith, which is as the Natural heat, and that of Repentance, which is as the Radical moisture, are thriving, and growing toward their full height, then the Soul is in a very profper

ous way.

1. When Faith grows, which is the Natural heat, as it did, 2 Thef. 1. 3,--because that your Faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all, toward each other aboundeth.

Now this growth is best discerned.

1. When it grows in depth. So as the Soul is more and more fetled, grounded, rooted, and built up in Chrift. Col. 1. 23, If ye continue in the Faith, grounded, and fettled. And ch. 2.7, Rooted, and built up in him, and Stablished in the Faith. So that the heart is fixed, and is at peace within, when all without is thaken, and the foundation of all Creature-comforts turned upfide down. As a Tree, whofe Root doth remain firm, when the top doth flake. Pfal. 56. 3, What time,

I am afraid, I will trust in thee. He could keep his faith above his fears, Pfal. 112.7. He fhail not be afraid of evil Tydings, his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. Job. 13. 15. Though he flay me, yet will I trust in him. As if he had faid: Though I read a sentence of Death upon what concerns this Life; yet I have fomewhat to truft him for, beyond this Life. No danger, nor death shall beat me off from the holdfaft of my faith in God, through Chrift Jefus: When it is thus, that promife will be made good, Ifa. 26. 3, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whofe mind is stayed on thee, because he trufteth in

thee.

2. When it grows in breadth, fo as it gives a firm, abfolute, unlimited affent to the whole truth of God, and receives the teftimony of God, as in one thing, fo in every thing, which it apprehends to be of God; and that purely, because God faith so, whatever Senfe and Reason, can object to the contrary. So Act. 24. 14. But I confefs unto thee, that after the way, which they call Herefie, fo worship I the God of my Fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law, and the Prophets. Joh. 3.33, He that believeth his teftimony, bath fet to his Seal that God is true, (in every thing.) I speak this of justifying faith, not only confidered in its most eminent act, which is to receive E 3

Jefus:

Jefus Chrift, and rest upon him alone, for whatsoever may give a title to, or a fitness for eternal Salvation; but in its most full, compleat, and perfect act, affenting to whatfoever is hiftorically delivered in the word; believing every Command, every Threat'ning, every Promife, both of this life, and the life to come, So as whatever is recorded in the word, is fo believed, not without fome gratious effect upon the Soul. Obferve it in four particulars.

(1.) A growing, thriving faith fo believes what is Hiftorically delivered concerning the Creation of the World, as nothing is too hard for it. Although the things believed do not yet appear; yet that hinders not a full affurance of their future exiftence; seeing the fame power of God, which created the World of nothing, can give a Being to whatever he hath faid, fhall be, when it seems good unto him, Pfal. 121. 2, My help cometh, from the Lord,which made Heaven and Earth. As if he had faid; I will never distrust his power for whatever I ftand in need of, who could erect fuch a stately Fabrick from nothing.

(2.) A growing, thriving faith believes every Command of God, Pfal. 119. 66, I have believed thy Commandments. He be lieves them to be holy, juft, and good, and brings down every thought more and more

in fubjection unto them all. Thus Abraham's faith growing, and thriving hath many eminent acts of obedience afcribed to it. Heb. 11. 8. By Faith Abraham, when he was called of God, to go into a place which he fhould afterward receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. A hard tryal: For as it is in the Proverb; The fmoak of a Man's own Chimney, is as good as the fire of another's. So that Command, which was yet more hard, of offering up his only begotten Son, that is, of his wife Sarah, the Son of the Promife, in whofe Seed all the Nations of the Earth fhould be bleffed, yet he submitted to it. Heb. 11. 17. though he had but fhort warning, Gen.22.2, 3. He received the Command over-night, and went about it next Morning.

(3) A growing, thriving Faith believes the threat'nings of the Word; and this be lief makes the Soul to ftand in awe of them. Pfal. 119. 161, my heart ftandeth in awe of thy word.So Heb.11.7. Noah'sFaith takes warning at the threat'ning: He was moved with fear, and prepared an Ark to the faving of his House. This is not too low for the beft grown Faith to act, nor be acted upon. God thought it not unmeet for Adam to make ufe of, in Innocency, Gen. z. 17. Job found it in himself, chap. 31.23, Destruction from God was a terrour unto me and by reafon