3. And that we may be assured of so doing, we must, before all things, consider, that as there is no true faith, without repentance; so neither can there be any true boldness of faith, unless a man exercise himself daily in it. For the undauntedness of faith is no such groundless rashness, as is found in a wild soldier: but it is the fear of God, which having taken possession of the heart, expels the fear of man; and where the spirit of man is truly humbled, and broken under the mighty hand of God, there the Spirit of God dwells and exerts itself so gloriously, that there is no room for the flesh to boast. Let no man deceive himself. There is no true faith, without holiness of heart and life. Whatever is separate from this, cannot last long, be the appearance of it ever so glorious.
*4. Again, the true boldness of faith, is known, by its continually working by love. By faith a man is made a lord over all; but by love a servant of all. By faith he is a king; but by love a spiritual priest, ministring, not lording, in Christ’s sanctuary. Now when a man doth not abide in love, but is swayed by anger, hatred, or the like, and perhaps breaking out in scoffing, railing, or bitterness, he must not pretend to boldness of faith: and though he may have had some [♦]degree of it before, it is now corrupted and lost. Therefore in this case, a man ought first to humble himself before God, and when he is sincerely renewed in the spirit of his mind, then to press on again in the work of faith, the patience of hope, and the labour of love.
[♦] “degreee” replaced with “degree”
5. To keep up this boldness, we must continue in prayer, and in child like communion with God; for by this the mind is best guarded from vain excursions, and inspired with meekness towards all men. And whoever, by humble, fervent, and constant prayer, labours after a stricter union with God, will not only be fortified against all precipitancy and hastiness of spirit, but also against tempting God; of which men of little faith are particularly careful to caution him.
6. Neither doth this boldness of faith at all interfere with the obedience which inferiors of every kind owe their respective superiors; only remembring, that we are never to pay any one so unlimited, blindfold an obedience, as to prefer the authority of man before the clear command of God.
This caution is highly necessary; there being but too many who think they act entirely in faith, when indeed they are only following their own fancy, without any warrant from the word of God. And this distemper is the more dangerous, the less remedy can be applied to cure it. For those that walk in the light of the fire of their own kindling, if they are advised to true humility, discretion, and obedience, are apt to suspect that it proceeds from a design of lording over their consciences; and that all the advice given them, is no better than the fruit of unbelief, and the fear of man. They think themselves happy that they do not adhere to men, without taking notice how deep they are enslaved to themselves. But he is truly wise who humbles himself more and more, and is always ready to submit to all men. For where humility is, the enemy finds no room for his most dangerous temptations.
7. Let us then continually join the exercise of daily repentance, the denial of ourselves and of our own wills, of true humility, obedience, submission, prayer, of the meekness and patience of Christ, of hearty love for our brethren, and compassion for their failings, and all other virtues that flow from the wisdom which cometh from above. Let us, I say, join and knit all these together with the chearful exercise of faith and trust in God. Let us excite one another, with comfortable words, to cast [♦]off all fear of man. Wheresoever God hath wrought a good will, let us take heed of damping it in any of the least members of Christ; but let us cherish it by the word of the gospel, and by the rules of true Christian discretion, keep it within such bounds, as may bring it to a fuller and more substantial maturity.
[♦] “of” replaced with “off”