THAT which our Lord Iesus from Heaven writ vnto the Church of Sardis ; Rev. 3.1 . Thou hast a name that thou liuest , but art dead , may be truly spoken of the greater sort of not-counterfeit Professors of the Faith in our time : for it is cleare by the Text , that this is not spoken of hypocrites , who are starke dead , but of such who having some life remaining in them , are in a dead sleepe : Many drowsie professors . for these of whom I speake , take good paines to keepe vp a name of Christianitie , both in the exercises of Religion , and in their outward behauiour , ( though in both there be much sayling ) but in very truth there is but a little life of faith and loue in all their Profession , as may appeare in their cold and vncomfortable prayers , in their wandering and drowsie hearing of the Word , and vnfruitfull receiving of the Sacraments , and much more in their abuse and neglect of the secret exercises of Prayer , reading , and meditation by themselues , and conference with others , seldome deepely bewayling their estate , lesse reioycing in the assurance of their salvation by Christ , as seldome delighting in God , with a zeale to set forth his glory in every part of their life .

Though this be the state of the greater part of those that haue some truth of grace in them , yet may we say againe , A few worthy . that there are with vs , ( as in the Church of Sardus ) a few names that haue not defiled their garments , that is , doe liue vnrebukably , and walke worthy their holy calling , having a sweet feeling of Gods favour vnto them , and so can boldly come vnto him in time of need , with assurance that he doth graciously respect them , their prayers , and vnfeigned obedience ; who likewise doe more delight themselues in God , then in all earthly things , accounting it their greatest griefe to offend him , and greatest ioy to please him ; possessing their soules with confidence and patience in their greatest trialls , looking for the appearing of Christ .

This is that blessed estate to be inioyned in this life , What a blessed life here may be attained . which God hath prepared , ( though in divers measures ) for the faithfull , all which may well bee contained in this short sentence of the Psalmist . Psal. 37.4 . Delight thy selfe in the Lord , and he will giue thee thy hearts desire : which I doubt not but all true Christians ( when they haue well considered it ) would be glad to attaine vnto : Desired by many , not attained . But either through ignorance of the way how to attaine it ; or through negligence ; not putting in practise what they know : they spend many yeares , either securely , or vncomfortably , seldome attaining to that heauenly feasting , which ( if they were wise ) might be their daily refreshing : How this life is attained . whose estate I much tendring , doe endevour to shew them , how this happie life may be attained ; which I conceiue to be onely by a more plentifull feeding vpon Christ by faith . It is without question , that all and every part of our spirituall life is in Christ , of whose fulnesse we receiue grace for grace : and this is as cleare , Ioh. 1.26 . that we receiue no grace first or last from Christ , but by beleeving : in which respect Christ is truly and principally said to be our spirituall food , Ioh. 6.27.35 . and beleeving to be the true feeding vpon him . Which being so , 34. it necessarily followes , that feeding seldome or weakely , we cannot haue much spirituall strength : and otherwise feeding plentifully and soundly , we shall be fat , and flourishing in grace , and so attaine vnto the blessed life spoken of .

How to feed oft in the day on Christ . For the better vnderstanding and practising whereof , this is specially to be considered , How every true beleever may daily , yea , oft in the day , by faith feed vpon Christ , that so he may receiue from him all spirituall nourishment , for his refreshing and strengthening to every good worke .

This is done by setting before vs those sweet promises , which God hath made to vs , for the strengthening of our faith in all our necessities : and , so particularly to apply them to our selues . Whereby we may comfortably assure our selues , that we shall enioy that which God hath promised . Wherein we are first to get the true meaning of that which is promised .

Secondly , To see we haue a good warrant , that this is promised to vs , that therevpon we may conclude , we shall certainly enioy that which God hath promised , seeing he is faithfull who hath promised .

But seeing this is not well conceived by many , Example . I will make it plaine by example , 1 Cor. 1.30 it is said ; But of him are yee in Christ Iesus , who of God is made vnto vs wisedome , and righteousnesse , and sanctification , and redemption . In which is as much sayd as may be conceived , or desired ; the meaning whereof is , that every true beleever , is by Gods spirit made a living member of Christ Iesus , from and in whom , he is made by God a true partaker of all things needfull to salvation : that whereas he is by nature foolish , guiltie , filthy , and in bondage , now in Christ he is made perfectly wise righteous , holy , freed from all his enemies , and so restored to full happinesse . This promise of God being clearely vnderstood , must now be applyed particularly by every beleever to himselfe , thus : Seeing God who is all-sufficient ; and faithfull , that in his Word , which is Truth it selfe , promised these great benefits ( in which all are contained ) to every true beleever , therefore I who doe truly , though weakely , beleeue in Christ , may boldly assure my selfe , that all these be mine , and therefore I shall not want any thing needfull for my present comfort , or eternall happinesse . Which whosoever doth daily practise in this manner to maintaine , and increase his faith by application of this , and all other of Gods promises , he shall daily more and more enioy in this life that blessed estate wee speake of .

Pray for faith . But for as much as faith is the gift of God , and we cannot further beleeue then wee be drawne by Gods spirit , therefore wee must ioyne often and fervent prayer , that God by this meanes would increase our faith .

This may seeme easie to be performed , Not easie . but vpon better triall , it will not be found so easie to doe it effectually ; for besides our owne great vntowardnesse to beleeve , I cannot thinke of any dutie , wherein our common Adversary , will vse more cunning , and diligence to hinder vs , then in this : either by keeping vs from the worke , or beguiling vs in it : whereby it comes to passe , that very few doe ( to any good purpose ) practise the same .

Two chiefe letts . Amongst many lettes which hinder the faithfull practise hereof , I obserue these two , in two divers sorts of beleevers . The former in those , 1. Not prizing Christ . in two divers sorts of beleevers . The former in those , who not sufficiently feeling their wants , and too much contented with their estate , doe not so prize Christ , and this blessed estate in him , as may moue them to take this paines , and therefore neuer reach vnto this growth in grace wherevnto they might come , if the fault were not in them selues . The other let is in those who highly prizing the benefit , 2. Our vnworthines . and earnestly labouring for it , are by the sense of their owne vnworthinesse , so kept downe ' that they cannot with any hope looke vp , for so great a blessing .

Remoue of the first let . For the remooving of both these lettes , the first sort are to bethinke themselues , what an vncomfortable account it will be , when God shall call them to it , to see how many yeares they haue spent , with little growth in grace , either to the glory of God , or good example to others , or to the peace of their owne soules . Whereas on the other side , they might haue attained vnto such a sweet life , as would haue beene a heauen vpon earth ; namely , To reioyce alwayes in the Lord .

Of the second let . For the other poore soules , who are kept downe with the sense of their owne vnworthinesse , they are to know , that all Gods promises , are free and vndeserved , so as no vnworthines ought to hinder them from beleeving : yea , rather they that haue the most sense of their owne vnworthinesse , haue most incouragement to beleeve , for that voice of Christ , Mat. 11.28 . Come vnto me all you that are weary and heavie laden , and I will ease you : serue not onely for our first conversion , but in all our distresses whatsoever , throughout the whole course of our life .

Satan will beguile ; If any escape both these lets , and goe about this worke , then will Satan vse all his skill to beguile both sorts : such as are weake and heauie hearted , Some that they beleeue not ; soone discouraged , he tempts and perswades , they labour in vaine , and doe not beleeue , when indeed they doe , as shall appeare . Others , that they haue more faith then they haue . The other sort who are too well conceited , and light hearted , Satan labours to perswade , that they haue more faith then indeed they haue , and that their case is better then in truth it is .