Use II: Of Exhortation and Direction

USE. II. Of Exhortation and Direction.

Take heed of resting in a dead faith; and labor for a lively faith. In other words, see that you accept the offers of the Gospel, sincerely; or that you submit to, accept of Christ as offered in the Gospel: I use that word submit: the Apostle uses it (Romans 10:3). We cannot find a better word. You will say, how is Christ offered? Answ. As a Prophet, as a Priest, as a King. These things, I shall briefly open, when first of all, I have premised these things.

1. It is the person of the Lord Christ that true faith closes with: it is Him that true faith looks to (Isaiah 45:22). Look to ME. He is the propitiation: as many as received him (John 1:12). He is the portion of the soul, and in Him it hopes (Lamentations 3:24). In Him the soul does acquiesce and rest (Psalm 73:25). And hence the counsel, and direction here is this, namely, see that you don't fall short of Christ himself; for nothing else but Christ himself, will stand you in any stead. You have it may be many things; as gifts, common graces, affections, and enlargements comforts, and the like: but have you Christ [illegible]self? Are you married to him? Have you [illegible]osed with him? He that has the Son has life, and he that has not the Son, has not life; for life is in the Son (1 John 5:11, 12). But it comes to none, but to such as receive him. If a woman be never so rich, he only has hers, that has her, or matcheth with her. Would you have Christ's benefits (he is rich) than match with him; if you have him, you have all; miss of him, and you have nothing, but conceit.

If you say, how shall I know whether I have Christ or no? I Answ. As your conviction is, such your faith is: as is the preparation work, such is the closing with Christ. It is a sure rule; and this is the reason, why we so much, and so often press for preparation work. The soul must be prepared for Christ, before it can come to Christ, or close with Christ. See Luke 3:4, 5, 6. And there is more preparation needful, than many think for: it is a great work of God to prepare the soul for Christ, which is naturally full of all enmity and opposition, against Christ: the heart being every way, on every side, straitly shut up, and fortified against Christ; and there are strong holds to be pulled down. Consider that place (2 Corinthians 10:4, 5). Here then consider whether you have seen Christ or not: for till a person see him, he cannot come to, or close with him, as John 6:40. As we have already intimated, persons do not use to match with a person, whom they have never seen; or if they [illegible] it seldom proves well afterwards: so in th[illegible] case: Christ must be seen, and then the soul will love, and choose, and close with him: otherwise it may match indeed with him, after a sort, through common convictions &c. but it will not prove well; in a time of trial and temptation, such an one will forsake Christ, and his cause: and thus many do, that do not openly apostatize, yet their hearts are secretly withdrawn from him, and his works, and they inwardly cast off his yoke: and will not mortify their lusts, and purify themselves, as he is pure; as all true believers do (1 John 3:3). Now if you have seen Christ, you have seen your ignorance of him. See Proverbs 30:2, 3. That light which discovers Christ to the soul, shows a person both his former, and yet abiding ignorance of him (2 Corinthians 4:6). This light comes out of darkness.

2. If you have seen him, it has been a wonderful sight. Jesus Christ is a wonderful one; his n[illegible]me is wonderful (Isaiah 9:6). And when he is seen he appears so to be to the soul: he is so in himself, and will be so to his for ever. His prayer for his was, that they might behold his glory (John 17:24). A little glimmering of which, here, at times, outbids all that the world has to give; and makes us despise the one, and long for more of the other. See Romans 8:23. We have the first fruits, &c.

3. When Christ is seen, it makes a person vile in his own eyes (Isaiah 6:5). When his eyes had seen the King, the Lord of Hosts, he cries [illegible]ut, I am unclean &c. The more any one knows [illegible]f Christ, the viler he is in his own eyes: who ever knew more of Christ than Paul did? Yet see what he says of himself. See 1 Timothy 1:15 — chief of sinners. And Ephesians 3:8, less than the least of all saints. Hence several sorts of persons may receive conviction.

1. Such as close with Christ only upon a notional historical knowledge of him: they have had, it may be great convictions, and much inward trouble, about their own sinfulness, and guiltiness; and hence fly to and catch hold of Jesus Christ; and the bottom of all is (if they could see it) to ease them in, and not to save them from their sins: and this faith of theirs smothers their convictions; and they are healed slightly; and cry peace, peace to themselves, when there is no peace. Consider what knowledge of Christ you have, is it more than may be obtained by common industry, without a supernatural work of the Spirit of God? It is true; you may have great enlightenings, and yet fall short of Christ: such as hardly fall short of a miracle (Hebrews 6:5, 6). Yes, you may work miracles, and yet perish for ever, as Matthew 7:22. Therefore consider further.

Such as close with Promises, but not with Christ in them. Thus do many: there be precious Promises in the word; as to such as mourn; to such as hunger and thirst after righteousness &c. I am such one, says a person, and hence takes comfort, takes not Christ. Perhaps you have read many Promises, and have had much comfort from them, but have you had Christ in them? Comfort without Christ, is but like a shadow without substance, or worse. Many there be that catch at, and take hold of Promises, that do miss of Christ, and hence have nothing, when they think they have all things (Revelation 3:17). Among the rest that might be named, I shall mention one sort, namely, such as look at peace more than holiness. Consider wherein is your rest: is it in peace and satisfying convictions, or in conformity to the will of God? To be conformed thereto, is this glory, and happiness in your account? Christ came to save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21), and to unloose, or destroy the work of the Devil in them (1 John 3:8), to set men at liberty from sin, as well as to deliver them from wrath to come. Is he then, on that account dear, and precious to you? And consider all that has been said; and what is it, that you have closed with? Is it Christ himself, or is it not? And I further add two things.

If you close with, and love the Lord Christ himself.

You will abhor your selves; and there will be a continual contest with, and opposition against your own righteousness: you will still endeavour to be beating down that: as he (Philippians 3:8, 9), and you will never wholly get clear of a self righteous principle, and the workings of it while you live; it will still be working, and making trouble one way or other, more or less: when you would reject it, and think perhaps you have, it will arise again, and be present (Romans 7:21).

If you love him, you will love what is his: his house (Psalms 26:8), his laws (Psalms 119:97), his people (1 John 3:14). Here note, that true love springs out of a seen, felt enmity against God, and all of God, which the soul has been greatly humbled, and abased for.

If you love him, you will love his holiness, his graces; and seek to keep all his Commandments: see John 14:21. He that has my Commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me. And there will be not only some outward conformity thereto; but more than that; as he said (Psalms 119:129), your testimonies are wonderful, therefore does my soul keep them.

We have shown that Christ himself is closed with by a true faith; now I add more particularly; in all his offices he is closed with, or accepted of, otherwise we fall short of him at last.

As a Prophet: Jesus Christ is a Prophet; and it is a precious consideration: it was foretold of him that he should be so (Deuteronomy 18:15; Acts 3:22), and he executes this office in revealing to his people the will of God, and their duty towards him: this he does, not only in his Word, (for so it is revealed to multitudes of reprobates) but by a mighty work of his Spirit, in them that are his: else his Word would be as a clasped or sealed book to them, and the Gospel be hid, as to any saving knowledge thereof; and so in seeing, they should see and not perceive, which is the woful condition of many (Matthew 13:14).

I shall open this particular thus.

We have the will of God revealed to us, in the Word of God: and the Word of God is complete, and perfect; there is no need to have it altered, by adding to it, or taking from it (Proverbs 30:5, 6; Revelation 22:18, 19), so that if in any case we would know what our duty is, what we be, or what God would have us be, we must look into the Word of God (Isaiah 8:20), to the law and testimony: and if we will follow the guidance of the Word of God, we shall walk safely: in all our difficulties, temptations, dangers, we shall at last be more than conquerors; and he took that course (Psalms 119:24). Kings use to have their counsellors, and so had David; but above all, in all his difficulties, which were many, he sought his guidance in, and from the Word of God; his testimonies were his counsellors; and verse 105, his word a lamp to his feet, and a light to his path.

Hence all that do indeed believe, have a great respect to the Word of God: have they been born again? It is by the word of God (1 Peter 1:23). I have begotten you through the Gospel, says Paul to them, in (1 Corinthians 4:15). And have they found the narrow way which leads to life, which few do find (Matthew 7:14)? It is the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, which showed them the way, and led them by Christ, to God, whom they had lost, and were mere strangers to, when there was no judgment, or nothing right in their goings, but they made crooked paths to themselves, not knowing the way of peace (Isaiah 59:8), and had wandered and wildered all their days, and perished for ever, had not the Word of Christ been a light to their path: it is from the Word that they seek the mind, and will of Christ their Prophet: and it is by that, that he teaches them, that are his: it was by that, that he got understanding; and hence the Word was so sweet to his taste (Psalms 119:103, 104); and hence that request, verse 133, Order my steps in your Word. The best and sweetest life is when a person's steps are most of all ordered in, or according to God's word: hence a true believer loves, and esteems much of God's Word: as (Psalms 119:127, 128), Teach me the way of your statutes, give me understanding, and I shall keep your Law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart: make me to go in the way of your Commandments, for therein do I delight.

Now then consider what esteem you have of the Word, by which Christ reveals his, and his Father's Will to his people? If you accept of him, as your Prophet, you will regard his Word: and hence we enquire what esteem you have thereof? Hear what he said (Job 23:12): I have esteemed the word of his mouth, more than my necessary food. It may be you will say, I hope I love and prize, and esteem his word much more: but to some I may reply, how is it then that you look into it no more? That you meditate in it so little? Perhaps you can let the Book of God ly by you day after day, and not so much as look into it at all: others there be that do indeed read in it daily, by course, but improve it not; they labor not to find the power of it in their hearts: and when so, is it not a dead faith that such rest in; or in great measure a religion of words without works, or such works as may evidence a lively faith? The matter should be considered by them, whom it does concern.

2. Christ reveals things to us by his Spirit, and hence we have the Promise of the Spirit (John 16:7). And we read of the Spirit of wisdom, and of revelation (Ephesians 1:17). The word indeed is full of light (2 Peter 1:19): it is a light that shines &c. But the misery is, our minds are full of darkness: we walk in the thick, dark shades of our natural blindness, until God call us out of it: and though the light shine in the word, and in the dispensation of it, never so brightly, our darkness comprehendeth it not, as (John 1:5). Hence we need the Spirit to enlighten; and a great work of the Spirit it is to call us out of darkness, as the phrase is (1 Peter 2:9). It is a work of the Spirit to give us eyes: we have much light in the word, but alas we want eyes: sin and Satan has put out our eyes, and blinded us (2 Corinthians 4:4). And it is the work of the Spirit to open the blind eyes (see Isaiah 42:7). And if your faith be right, it will lead you to Christ for this: for the Spirit will never come unless he send it.

And of these that come to him, for this enlightening, these things may be said.

1. They have seen their need of it: how else should they go to him, for his help? Did you ever mourn under your darkness, and find a need of the Spirit to enlighten you? Did you ever see yourselves to be in darkness, in the midst of light? Do you know what that means, to see, and yet not to see (Matthew 13:14)? — Seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive. Did you ever see a need to know the things, that you knew before: to know spiritually, what you know doctrinally; there is a form of knowledge, and of the truth (Romans 2:20). And there is a spiritual discerning of spiritual things, which no natural man has (1 Corinthians 2:14, 15). In heaven, we shall see Christ with bodily eyes (Job 19:27): but even there, there is a spiritual sight of him, and of spiritual things, something of which is here; and before conversion there is nothing of it: but when it comes it is life eternal (John 17:3).

They know something of the necessity thereof. There is not only some need, but a great necessity thereof. He that walks in much darkness, will quickly come into much deadness; and formality of spirit will grow upon him: and hence that request of Paul for them, in the forenamed (Ephesians 1:17). This light is indeed, in some sort, the life and strength of the soul: where there is no light, there is no life, no strength. See Psalms 36:9: With you is the fountain of life, in your light &c.

2. They have tasted the sweetness of this light: it is a pleasant thing to behold the Sun: much more to have the light, which comes from the Son of God, the Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2). Whenever he shall arise upon the soul; for there is also healing in his wings, and such shall go forth, and grow up: if you would grow, labor for an increase of spiritual light.

3. They have seen something of the enmity, and opposition of their hearts against the knowledge of the truth, and the light of the Gospel; the heart naturally is full of this enmity, and opposition (2 Corinthians 10:4, 5). The true believer knows something of this, of those strong holds, of those reasonings, of those high things, which exalt themselves (in the soul) against the knowledge of God, and the things of God: and he sees the more a need, a necessity of Christ, of going to, and closing with him, for his help: man's natural frame is that in Proverbs 1:29, he hates life, but Christ teaches powerfully, commands the light to shine (2 Corinthians 4:6).

2. As a Priest: He is a Priest, and as such to be looked to, and closed with (Hebrews 7:17, 21). The Priest's work was to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins (Hebrews 5:1). Now Christ offered up himself (Hebrews 7:27). His design therein was to take away our sin (1 John 3:5): and hence he is the propitiation for our sin (1 John 2:2).

Christ suffered for us, in our room, and stead: and for our sin (1 Peter 2:21, 24) — that also suffered for us — his own self bear our sin — and chapter 3:18, Christ also has once suffered for sins; and he has fully satisfied for sin, there is nothing left for us to do in that matter, if there were, he would not be a perfect Priest, if he needed any of our help: and hence I say, we must look to him, and to him only, for pardon of sin, and acceptance with God. Therefore accept him and his righteousness, and sufferings, and all is well: and this is the next thing that you are to be exhorted to, and directed in.

And here consider these things.

1. Every man, one as well as another, is inclined naturally to seek righteousness, by the works of the law, as they did (Romans 9:31, 32 and 10:3). Men are not at any time more addicted to their vile lusts, which they hardly part with, than to this; how hard is it to bring persons off from their lusts? And it is as hard, or more hard in some respects, to bring them off from their own righteousness; it is (and on sundry accounts) of the two more hard to deny righteous self, than to deny sinful self: it is naturally so to any man, and to all men. Do you find it thus, or be you a stranger to these things? Consider further,

2. If any man think he be not strongly inclined this way; it is because he does not know himself, and because the matter never came indeed to tryal, in the Soul. Many there be that have a nominal knowledge of the way of the Gospel, and they seem to fall in readily with it, as the only way. But two things are to be considered, wherein they miss it.

1. Those that thus fall in with the way of the Gospel, do indeed but abuse it, while they seem to close with it; they make it an Asylum, or Sanctuary, for them to shelter themselves in, while in the mean time, they live in Sin, and so fight against God, and (as one says) they take the Light of the Gospel, to let them see by, to Sin the more securely; they secretly fight against God with his own weapons: a deep ditch of deceit it is, in which many lurk, and ly hid, until a dreadful day discover them. And here consider that nothing sets a man more against Sin, and strengthens him in his Warfare, then a true discovery of the way of the Gospel. Tit. 2:11, 12. the grace of God teaches us to deny ungodliness.

2. Such persons never had the matter brought to tryal, in their own Souls: persons may think, that they can do this, or that, until the matter be brought to trial, and then they find it otherwise, than they thought: so here, the matter (in this point) was never brought to trial: that is, they were never throughly convinced of Sin: of the strictness of the Law: their consciences (whatever convictions they have had) were never throughly enlightened, and awakened, they never knew what it was to have Sin revive in them, and to work death in them; as he speaks (Romans 7:9, 13). to take hold on them, as (Psalm 40:12). No, they would then know what he did mean, when he said, his heart did fail him, and he was not able to look up: before a mans eyes are opened to see himself, and his Sin, he can look up well enough, his heart don't fail him: but when Sin is seen, there is a great change: if God do not some way or other uphold him, he sinks into the lowest bottom of despair, and no man can help him.

3. When persons make Objections against believing from their own sinfulness and vileness, it is from their ignorance of, and opposition against the way of the Gospel: it is not, because they are deeply humbled, (as some may think) but rather because they are not humbled enough; it is from their ignorance, and spiritual Pride which still prevails in them: to believe, is an act of Obedience. 1 John 3:2, 3. this is his Commandment, that we believe; and what Humility is that which leads us to disobey the Commandment of God? You say, perhaps that you dare not believe, you dare not cast your selves upon Jesus Christ, and you think you are much humbled; but the truth is, you are full of ignorance, and spiritual Pride, and in danger of eternal ruin. See Matthew 16:16. John 3. the wrath of God abides upon you, while you abide in Unbelief: and abiding in that condition there is no hope, nor help for you.

4. The way to have a Savior is to accept him on free gift: and consider what should hinder your acceptance. (1.) Are your sins many and great? Christ has done enough to satisfy for them all. See Isaiah 1:18. & 55:7, 8, 9. The number and greatness of your sins, should not in the least hinder you from coming to Christ: his Blood cleaneth from all sin (1 John 1:7). All manner of sin (Matthew 3:1). You dishonor him, if you think otherwise; and submit not to the way of the Second Covenant, and see not the vileness of so doing: and wo to you if you do not see, and bewail it, before you go hence and appear in another world. (2) Do you want a Righteousness to render you acceptable to God? The righteousness of Christ, which is the righteousness of God (Romans 10:3). is a perfect righteousness, every way sufficient (Revelation 3:18). (3) Do you say, but I do and shall sin still. Answ. See 1 John 2:1, 2. If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father. One that is every way able to plead, and manage our case. (4) You object, Oh! but I cannot come to, and believe on Jesus Christ. Answ. It is true; but consider what hinders you? The main thing is, you will not come to him (John 5:40). (Revelation 22:17). Whoever will let him come: The Spirit and the Bride, say come. God & Christ, and all that are friends to him, say, Come, and if you do not, it is because your Will is not bowed there to; and from your Ignorance of Christ. Hence the Exhortation is, Come to Jesus Christ. See Isaiah 55:1, 2. And here mind, first the invitation, Come, let him Come; arise then, and Come, behold he calls you; even you, whoever you are: and then mind the terms propounded, against which no Objection can be made, except what proceeds from Pride, Ignorance of, and Enmity against the way of the Gospel, Come without Money, and without price: have you no worthiness, none at all? [illegible] come without: yes, so come, or you will never come, or not aright. And why do you spend your labor for that which is not bread, and which satisfyeth not! The things of this world are such, and your own righteousness is such: you would fain make your selves better, but you labor in vain, you can never do it: when will you see the fruitlesness, folly, and sinfulness of your own way? And if any obstinately stand out, they must perish: yes the Lord says, let them perish; he will not pitty them. 1 Corinthians 16:22. Let them be Anathema Maranatha; it is just they should, and they must perish for ever and ever.

3. Jesus Christ is a King, and as such to be submitted to, and is so, where true Faith is: and this submission also you are to be exhorted to, and directed in. Concerning which I will express my self thus.

1. Jesus Christ is a King: as he is a Prophet and a Priest, so he is a King. Psalm 2:6. Acts 17:7. 1 Timothy 6:14, 15. 1 Corinthians 15:25. He is the blessed and only potentate, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and he must reign: and let his Kingdom come.

2. We must submit to his government: he must rule us; dispense to us, dispose of us, and of all that does concern us, as he will: and he that will be his disciple must deny himself, take up his cross and follow him (Matthew 16:24). This is difficult, and yet it must be done, and that daily (Luke 9:23). This submitting is in a low degree in some of the children of God: but where there is nothing of it, there is no true faith. And he lives the sweetest life of all, that lives most in a real resignation of himself, and of all his concerns, into the hands of Jesus Christ, submitting all to the will, and wisdom of this King of Kings: and this is to be endeavoured by all that profess faith in Christ Jesus. To believe in him, and rebel against him, how do these agree? Or to say, he shall be King, but yet not rule us: but we will direct him in his dealings with us, or with ours, or with the Church of God. It is certain that there are many that reject the government of Christ, and hence whatever they pretend, their faith is not right. And when I have opened this a little, you will further see what it is, that I exhort, and direct you to.

1. Some do openly and manifestly reject the government of Christ Jesus: they live in open rebellion against him (Isaiah 3:9). They practically say as (Luke 19:14, 27), We will not have this man to reign over us; and he calls them his enemies. Some do openly, and manifestly cast off his government. (1) Sometimes by living in sins of commission. (2) Sometimes by living in sins of omission; when they will not attend to every known duty. Luke 1:6: they did walk in all the ordinances, and commandments of the Lord: when any known duty, or ordinance of Christ is neglected, and men continue so to do, how does Christ rule in them; do not they cast off his yoke?

2. Some do secretly cast off his government; though they make an outward profession of religion, and be outwardly conformable to his laws; yet inwardly they reject him, and cast off his government. Thus do many, as,

1. Such as live in any particular known sin, though it be secret: thus do many (2 Kings 17:9). There is secret drunkenness, and secret uncleanness, and secret neglects of duties, and closet work: now when persons live in secret sins, they do really though not manifestly cast off the yoke and government of Christ. Ephesians 5:12: it is a shame to speak what some do in secret. And what some do actually, others do in their secret thoughts and cogitations: there is heart adultery, and heart murder, and heart pride, and the like; little or nothing of which appears outwardly: but the day comes, when the hidden things of darkness, shall be brought to light, and the counsels of the heart made manifest (1 Corinthians 4:5). And then it will be seen that many that now carry a fair face among men, are abominable creatures.

2. Such as are not at all kept at work with their own hearts day by day: these secretly cast off his government. It appears thus; our great work every day is with our own hearts, and we must watch them, and keep them for Christ. He has so commanded (Proverbs 4:23). The heart is the temple of God in which he desires to dwell; and we must endeavour to keep it for him, lest we prove treacherous and traitors. See 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17. We may talk of trusting in him, but we deceive ourselves; we have faith, but it is a dead faith. It is in vain to cry, Hail Master, to make a fair profession, while our hearts are in a manner only a possession of unclean, or vain things.

3. Such as quarrel with crosses and afflictions. Amos 3:6: no evil in the city, but the Lord has done it; no cross but he has sent it; it is his cross; now when persons will not take up the cross, but their hearts will break, before their wills will bow, how does Christ now reign, and rule in their hearts? It is true, much unsubduedness is in some of the children of God, even Jonah was very froward (ch. 4:9). But when persons will not labor to lie under the will of Christ, and so to do is not precious to them; truly they cast off his government, and may consider whether or not there is cause to fear that he will reject, and cast off them at last, as such as would not deny themselves, and submit to his cross.

4. Such as seem to submit themselves to the will of Christ, but not by the power of Christ: what they do is by their own power, and ability: this is to bring in a foreign power secretly, and Christ is not King in that soul, he does not reign there. See 2 Thessalonians 1:11, 12. He must work all, by his power, that he may be glorified. Now consider this; you say, you do this or that, and you submit to the will of God, but by what power? Is it by the power of Christ? You will it may be, say, Yes: but I answer, consider it well: if it be, then the more you attain, the meaner and lesser you will be in your own eyes, as Paul that had attained to much, yet says, I am nothing (2 Corinthians 12:11). Do you find it thus? As I may say, gaining one way, and losing another, growing greater, and yet withal growing less? Understand aright, and consider it.

5. Such as seem to submit to Christ, but not out of respect, and love to Christ, but in all they do, they seek themselves, as they did (Zechariah 7:5, 6). Did you do it to me, even to me.— So here, you read, you pray, you do many things, which Christ commands; did not Herod as much (Mark 6:20)? But if the Lord say at last, did you do it to me, even to me, that will be said. Again, some seem to submit under crosses, and afflictions, but sometimes it is rather hardness of heart, than submission; they cry not when he binds them; they despise the chastisement of the Lord; and then seem to submit: in other some it is more from natural temper, than from grace. And often there is no submission, where there seem to be a great deal; and that which is a great trial to one man, is none at all to another.

Now to close, and shut up all that I shall say on this subject, consider only this word; namely, if your faith be found at last to be a dead faith, it will be dreadful: for consider what else might be said.

1. These few sermons will be so many witnesses against you that have heard them; they will rise up in judgment against you. He that uttered them, and all they also that profited by them, shall appear in judgment against you; and perhaps these and those whom you now despise, shall one day be your judges (1 Corinthians 6:2).

2. It shall then appear that you had means of conviction: but you would not see that you held fast deceit, as they did (Jeremiah 8:5). That you would not come to the light; now it may be, you say, you are willing to see, but then it will appear, that you refused conviction; and being evil, chose darkness rather than light, and indeed hated knowledge (Proverbs 1:29).

3. Your damnation will be the greater, your hell the hotter, your punishment the heavier, and torment the more intolerable: you may now neglect Sabbaths, and make light of sermons, and soon forget all searching truths; but there is a day coming, when persons shall be judged, according to what they have been, and done and means of grace which they have enjoyed. It is good to think much of that great and dreadful day, and thereby be stirred up to labor for, and to make sure of, a faith in Christ, which will not at last be found a dead faith; all such will be led forth with workers of iniquity, as Psalm 125, whose faith is when tried, but a dead faith. Let your great care be to be sound in the faith, as the phrase is (Titus 1:13). And examine yourselves daily, whether you be in the faith; prove your own selves (2 Corinthians 13:5). All we can do here, is little enough to prepare and provide for that one hour of death; that time when we must go from here, and be no more seen in this world.