Growing Strong in the Faith

On how “to grow strong in the faith of the Gospel”: “Why, surely, the best advice and counsel that I can give you, is to exercise that faith which you have, and wrestle against doubting, and be earnest with God in prayer for the increase of it. ‘Forasmuch,’ says Luther, ‘as this gift is in the hands of God only, Who bestoweth when, and on whom, He pleaseth, thou must resort unto Him by prayer, and say with the apostles, “Lord, increase our faith,”’ (Luke 17:5). And you must also be diligent in hearing the word preached; for as ‘faith cometh by hearing’ (Rom. 10:17), so is it also increased by hearing. And you must also read the Word, and meditate upon the free and gracious promises of God; for the promise is the immortal seed, whereby the Spirit of Christ begets and increases faith in the hearers of all His. And lastly, you must frequent the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, and receive it as often as conveniently you can.”
- “The Marrow of Modern Divinity” (1645)

Boston on the Ordinary Means

A beautiful reminder that the Word and Table are the means Christ uses to build up His people: “It is in the courts of our God where the trees of righteousness flourish, Psalm 92:13. The waters of the sanctuary are the means appointed of God, to cause His people to grow as willows by the water courses. Therefore drink in with ‘desire, the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby,’ 1 Peter 2:2. Come to these wells of salvation; not to look at them only, but to draw water out of them. The sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is in a special manner appointed for these ends. It is not only a solemn public profession, and a seal of our union and communion with Christ; but it is a means of most intimate communion with Him; and strengthens our union with Him, our faith, love, repentance, and other graces, 1 Corinthians 10:16, ‘The cup of blessing, which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?’ And chapter 12:13, ‘We have been all made to drink into one Spirit,’ Give yourselves unto prayer; open your mouths wide, and He will fill them. By these means the branches in Christ may be further nourished, grow up, and bring forth much fruit.”

- Thomas Boston (1676-1732), “Human Nature in its Four-Fold State of Primitive Integrity”