Memorables of the life of faith taken out of Mr. B's sermon preached before the King at Whitehall : published thus for the poor that want money and memory / by one desirous to promote the common salvation. Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691. 1690 Approx. 18 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-IV TIFF page image. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2006-06 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A26953 Wing B1307 ESTC R14225 12390605 ocm 12390605 60984 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A26953) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 60984) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 268:11) Memorables of the life of faith taken out of Mr. B's sermon preached before the King at Whitehall : published thus for the poor that want money and memory / by one desirous to promote the common salvation. Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691. 1 sheet (1 p.) Printed for Tho. Parkhurst ..., London : 1690. Attributed to Richard Baxter. Cf. BM. Three columns to the page. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Faith. Salvation. Broadsides -- England -- 17th century. 2005-07 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2005-08 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-01 Emma (Leeson) Huber Sampled and proofread 2006-01 Emma (Leeson) Huber Text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-04 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion Memorables of the Life of FAITH , Taken out of Mr. B's Sermon , Preached before the King at Whitehall . Published thus for the Poor that want Money and Memory . By one Desirous to promote the common Salvation . Hebrews 11. 1. Faith is the substance of things hoped for , the Evidence of things not seen . Q. 1. WHat means the Apostle by these words ? A. He means , that tho' the glory promised to Believers , and expected by them , be yet to come , and only hoped for ; and be yet unseen , and only believed : yet is the sound Believer as truly affected with it , and acted by its attractive force , as if it were present and before his eyes . Or thus ; That the Nature and Vse of Faith is to be as it were instead of Presence , Possession , and Sight . Or , to make the things that will be , as if they were already in existence ; and the unseen things which God revealeth , as if our bodily eyes beheld them . It is true , 1. Faith changes not its Objects . 2. Nor gives it the same DEGREE of Apprehension or Affection , as the sight of present things doth give . No ; but , 1. Things Invisible are Objects of our Faith. 2. And Faith is effectual instead of sight of them . It is so unto four Uses ; namely , 1. The Infallibility of our Apprehensions . 2. The Determination of our Wills choice . 3. The Moving of our Affections in the degree necessary unto Holiness . 4. The Ruling in our Lives , and bringing us thro' Duty and Sufferings for the sake of the Happiness believed . Q. 2. Do you count Faith an Infallible sort of Knowledge then ? Why so ? A. Why , 1. So speaks the Scripture , Joh. 6. 69. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ , the Son of the living God ; Rom. 8. 28. And we know that all things work together for good , to them that love God , to them who are the called according to his purpose ; 1 Cor. 15. 58. Therefore my beloved Brethren , be ye stedfast , unmoveable , always abounding in the work of the Lord , forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord 2. Believers know , as sure as they know there is a God , that God is true , and his Word true ; Heb. 6. 18. That by two immutable things , in which it was impossible for God to lie , we might have a strong consolation , who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us ; Titus 1. 2. In hope of eternal life , which God that cannot lie , promised before the world began . 3. They know that the Holy Scripture is the Word of God , by his Image which it beareth , the Evidencs of Divinity which it containeth , and the many Miracles by which it is confirmed . God , besides this , gives them to believe , Phil. 1. 29. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ , not only to believe on him , but also to suffer for his sake ; Eph. 2. 8. For by grace are ye saved , through faith , and that not of your selves : it is the gift of God. 4. And Believers have the Spirit of Christ within them to actuate Faith , and help them against Temptations ; 1. Cor. 2. 12. Now we have received , not the spirit of the world , but the Spirit which is of God , that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 5. Spiritual Experiences also advantage Faith. They have part of the Holy Scripture verified in themselves , and that much confirms their Faith of the whole . 6. Likewise very Nature affords us undeniable Arguments to prove a future Happiness and Misery . And that doth exceedingly help us in the Faith of the Supernatural Revelation of it . 7. And those that have seen the Objects of our Faith , have given us their Infallible Testimony ; Joh. 1. 18. No man hath seen God at any time , the only begotten Son , which is in the bosom of the Father , he hath declared him ; Joh. 3. 11. Verily , verily I say unto thee , We speak that we do know , and testifie that we have seen ; and ye receive not our witness ; 1 Joh. 1. 1 , 2 , 3. That which was from the beginning , which we have heard , which we have seen with our eyes , which we have looked upon , and our hands have handled of the word of life : ( For the life was manifested , and we have seen it , and bear witness , and shew unto you that eternal life which was with the Father , and was manifested unto us . ) That which we have seen and heard , declare we unto you , that ye also may have fellowship with us ; and truly our fellowship is with the Father , and with his Son Jesus Christ . Add 8. Satan's rage against the Life of Faith discovers there is more than a fancy in it . Q. 3. But why would not God let us have the SIGHT of Heaven and Hell ; being that would have prevailed for our Conversion more generally and more certainly ? A. 1. Who are you that dare dispute against God ? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it , why hast thou made me thus ? 2. It is fit God's Government suit the nature of its subject . Your Nature is a reasonable one . And Reason is made to apprehend more than we see : and by reaching beyond Sense , to carry us to seek nobler things than Sense can reach . Should a man understand no more than he sees ? a wise man and a fool , and a man and beast would then be very like . In worldly matters , men can go to much cost and pains for things they never saw ; why not in spiritual matters ? You shall believe God's Promises , if you have ever the Benefit of them ; and believe his Threatnings , if ever you escape the Evils threatned . If the Reward and Punishment were seen , what should difference wise men and fools good men and bad ? No man plays the Adulterer in the face of the Assembly . No Thief will steal before the Judge . Q. 4. Who is it ( then ) that with you goes for a Believer , or a Christian ? A. 1. He is one that lives as if he saw the Lord ; that in some measure so lives . He does all , as if he saw God stand by . All the day he waits on God , Psal . 25. 5. Lead me in thy truth , and teach me : for thou art the God of my salvation , on thee do I wait all the day . 2. He is one that liveth on a Christ whom he never saw . Lives on him with Trust in him , Adherence to him , Love of him , Joy in him , 1 Pet. 1. 8. Whom having not seen , ye love , in whom though now ye see him not , yet believing , ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory . 3. He is one that judges of men by their invisible insides . Pitying the ungodly who pity not themselves , because they see not what he sees . And admiring the inward beauty of the Saints , thro' all their poverty seeing God's Image . Valuing none for stature , complexion , cloaths , or learning , &c. Psal . 15. 4. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned : but he honoureth them that fear the Lord : he that sweareth to his own hurt , and changeth not . 4. He is one that seeks a Happiness that he never saw ; and that with a greater estimation and resolution than he seeks any things that he hath seen . 5. He is one , that , all his life , prepareth for a day that is yet to come ; and for the presence of his Judge . One , that is asking , O what Life and Actions will be sweetest upon review when I come to my doom ! Not so much caring , what will now best please the flesh , and ingratiate with men . 6. He is one careful to prevent a threatned misery that he never felt ; and a place of torment that he never saw . — Other Faiths are ineffectual Dreams . And ( remember ) to dream you are Princes , may consist with Beggery . 1. O how rare a Jewel is true Faith ? 2. And how weak in Faith are the most of true Believers ? [ Even as Dying men are weak in Body . ] 3. How plain is the reason , that Believers are seriously holy , just , and charitable ? They are men that do see the Lord , see Heaven , see Hell. Their Faith sees them all in the Glass of Divine Revelations . 4. How plain is the reason , that Vnbelievers are careless of their hearts and ways ; and mock at Believers care , and take them for fools and mad men ? Poor wretches , they do not see the things that Believers see . If they saw the King of glory , as Believers do see him , they must reverence him as Believers do reverence him . Q. 5. Does it not concern every man , then , to make sure of this Faith ? This , that is given to make things to come as if they were at hand , and things unseen as if we saw them . A. It doth infinitely concern every man. For , 1. It is not so common a thing , as most do imagine it . 2. Till you have it , you are no living Members of Christ . 3. Till you have it , you are at enmity with God. 4. Till you have it , you are under the guilt of all your sins . No one of them is forgiven . 5. Till you have it , you will be carnally minded : and thro' the carnal end you will have in them , your works that be good materially , will be corrupt and fleshly . 6. Till you have it , you have no right to Heaven ; Joh. 3. 16 , 18 , 36. For God so loved the world , that he gave his only begotten Son , that whosoever believeth in him , should not perish , but have everlasting life . He that believeth on him is not condemned ; but he that believeth not , is condemned already , because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God. He that believeth on the Son , hath everlasting life : and he that believeth not the Son , shall not see life : but the wrath of God abideth on him . Q. 6. Well , how shall I know whether I have this true Faith and saving , tho' in the least and lowest degree of it ? A. All that have it , tho' in the lowest degree , will have these four signs of it within them . 1. A Practical Estimation of things unseen , above all earthly things . 2. An Habitual Inclination of heart to embrace unseen things freely , delightfully , and resolutely ; above and against earthly things . 3. A Bent of Life for God , and for unseen Blessedness , as in Resolution , so in Practice . 4. A Disposition to let go all sensible possessions , when they be inconsistent with spiritual Hopes and Happiness ; Luk. 14. 33. So likewise , whosoever he be of you , that forsaketh not all that he hath , he cannot be my disciple . These you will have , if Faith be the Eye you do see by for the conduct of your Life . Q. 7. If Faith be the Eye by which I do see , whereby should I quicken my self to live by it ? Or if it be not , wherewithal should I stir up my self to seek Faith and the Life of Faith ? A. Put to thy Heart these questions , frequently and seriously . Q. 1. What should I be , if I saw the Lord continually before me ? And that as verily as I ever see a man ? If I saw him as Moses saw him , Exod. 34. Or as John saw him , Rev. 1. 13. And in the midst of the seven Candlesticks , one like unto the Son of Man , clothed with a garment down to the foot , and girt about the paps with a golden girdle . Or as St. Paul saw him , Acts 9. Q. 2. What should I be if I had seen the things that God hath done already in time past ? If I had seen the World drowned and the Ark saved ; Sodom and Gomorrah burned , and the righteous Lot saved ; Pharaoh and his Host swallowed up of the red Sea , and the Israelites saved ? And the like memorables of the H. Scripture . Q. 3. What should I be , if I saw the glory of Heaven above ? If I were rapt up but into the third Heaven , and had seen what St. Paul saw . If I had seen what St. Stephen saw before his Death . If I had seen Lazarus in Abraham 's Bosom ? Q. 4. What should I be , if I saw the face of Death , and were under the power of a mortal sickness , and were given over by all Physicians and Friends ? Or had a Messenger from God to tell me , I must die to morrow ? Q. 5. What should I be if I saw the great and dreadful day of Judgment as Christ doth describe it ? Mat. 25. If I saw that fulfilled which St. Paul speaks , 2 Thes . 1. 7 , 8 , 9 And to you who are troubled rest with us , when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven , with his mighty Angels , in flaming fire , taking vengeance on them that know not God , and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ . Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord , and from the glory of his power . Q. 6. What should I be if I heard Satan accusing me for all my sins unto God , and calling for justice against me ? Q. 7. What should I be , if I had seen and did now see the Damned in their miseries ? If I heard them cry out of the folly and self-destruction of their careless lives ; And wishing one were sent from the dead unto me to warn me that I come not unto their place of torment ? Q. 8. What should I be , if in my Temptations unto sin , I saw the Devil the Tempter , and heard him hissing me on to sin , to Swear , Curse , Rail , Lie , Scorn a holy Life ? O should I then ever chuse to be ungodly , or be patient of so being ? Nay , Q. 1. Should I not say in my heart , that the most gainful sin is worse than madness ? Q. 2. Should I not plead for the most serious Godliness ? Q. 3. Should I ever be offended with a Minister again , for plainest Reproof , and closest Exhortation ? Or for too much and plain Preaching ? Q. 4. Should I not hear at another rate than ever yet I heard a Sermon ? Q. 5. Should I not give over my greedy pursuit of worldly Wealth and Credit ? Q. 6. Should I ever be drawn away by Temptations again as I have been ? Q. 7. Should I ever stick at sufferings when God calls for them from me ? Q. 8. Should I not highly value Christ , his Spirit , his Grace , his Promises , his Word , his Ordinances ? Q. 9. Should I ever be quiet under uncertainty of my Reconciliation unto God ? Q. 10. Should I not then be all for Peace , Quietness and Love , with all that love the Lord Jesus Christ , and are seeking invisible things ? 1. O live not too much on things visible ! 2. Live upon the things invisible . 3. Promote the Life of Faith in others . Remember , 1. Worldliness is a loathsom Disease . To live by Sense , is to stand on ones head , and to turn ones heels toward Heaven . 'T is unnatural . 2. Vnseen things be the only great and necessary ones . 3. Faith is the Souls Wisdom , Sensuality is very Blindness . 4. Visible things are transitory . They be things that are not . 5. Things visible , by their changing , give us a disgraceful mutability . Fill us with disappointments and vexations . 6. Fore-seeing Faith is of necessity unto your Eternal blessed Life . 7. Vnseen things kept duly in your thoughts will serve you excellently unto these things . 1. They will repel your Temptations . 2. Quicken you to your Duties . 3. Instruct you to choose your Companies . 4. Furnish you with daily Comforts and Satisfaction . Things Sublunary be something or nothing as they relate unto Eternity . We judge of Means , as they conduce unto their Ends. I desire to know no mercy in any other Form or Name ; and to value none upon any other account . Idem alicubi . I have lived a sweet Life by Gods Promises , and I hope , through Grace , can die by a Promise . They be Gods Promises can stand by us . Through them Life is mine , Death is mine . God's Covenant is all my Salvation and all my desire . Jos . Alleyn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . O that I could by the effectualness of Contemplation behold the greatness of the heavenly Felicity which is provided for me ! Yet , as I can conceive it , I cannot chuse but long to be absent from hence , that I may be present with the Lord ▪ J. Ratliff . These Four Books are lately Published by Mr. Baxter . 1. English Nonconformity , truly stated and argued . 2. A Treatise of Knowledge and Love. 3. Cain and Abel ; or Enmity to serious Godliness Lamented . 4. Scripture Gospel Defended , and Christ , Grace and free Justification vindicated . London , Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chapel ▪ 1690.