fruit oâ— the Spirit Gal. 5. 22. 6. Forget not the exemplary instances of Believers who though great offendors yet have received and apply'd Christ by Faith and have been graciously accepted and entertained by him and all this for the encouragement of thee and of all that afterwards should believe As The Jaylor Act. 16. 30 c. Paul 1 Tim. 1. 13. to 17. Act. 26. 9. 10 11. The penitent Woman Luk. 7. 37. to the end The Thief on the Cross Luk. 23. 42 43. The 3000 Hearers of Peter Act. 2. 36 37. c. 7. Ask seek knock importunately at the Throne of Grace for this soul-saving Grace The Spirit is promised to them that ask Luk. 11. 13. Fly unto Christ the Author and finisher of Faith Heb. 12. 2. And cry Lord increase my Faith Luk. 17. 5. Lord I believe help thou mine unbelief Mar. 9. 24. XVI Direction QUestion and examine the self often impartially touching the truth of thy Faith in Christ for thy Recovery and Salvation 2 Cor. 13. 5. For There is a counterfeit and fained Faith Luk. 8. 13. Act. 8. 13. Iam. 2. 14 17 20 26. And there is a Faith unfained 1 Tim. 1. 5. 2 Tim. 1. 5. 'T is the Faith unfained that accepts and applies Christ Ioh. 1. 12 13. Act. 8. 37. and will afford thee solid comfort Now Faith in Christ unfained may be discovered by these and the like Characters which if thou canst really find in thy self doubtless thou art a true Believer True saving Faith in Jesus Christ is 1. A Christ-applying Faith If Faith be sincere and salviâ—ical it never rests till it bring the soul to Christ till it possess the soul of Christ. It is the soul's eye that beholds Christ lifted up Ioâ— 3. 15. It 's the soul's feet whereby it comes to Christ Mat. 11. 28. Ioh. 6. 35 37. It 's the soul's hand whereby it receives Christ and arms wherewith it embraceth Christ Ioh. 1. 12. Heâ— 11. 13. It 's the soul's mouth wherewith it eats Christs flesh that bread of life and drinks Christs blood that water of life Ioh. 6. 47 53 54 55. By all which acts of Faith the soul comes to have Christ to possess and enjoy him and life in him 1 Joh. 5. 12. True Faith in Christ contents not it self only to know Christ or only to assent to the truth of Gods Record touching Christ that life is in him but it further proceeds to receive and apply Christ to the soul to appropriate him and enjoy him actually to the particular Believer 2. A Christ-retaining Faith True saving Faith in Christ not only entertains Christ but also retains him in the best room of the soul the heart That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith Eph. 3. 17. The Believer's heart is Christ's home And Faith gives Christ the acceptable entertainment 1. As it cleanseth the heart of every thing that might be offensive to him Act. 15. 9. 2. As it ascribes all salvation and sufficiency for it only unto Christ counting all self-excellencies loss and dung Phil. 3. 7 8 9 10. So then if Christ be dwelling in thine heart Faith is there also 3. A Christ esteeming Faith Faith most highly esteems Christ accounts him most precious Unto them which believe he is precious 1 Pet. 2. 7. So precious That he sells all that he hath for him Mat. 13. 44 45 46. That he denies all that he hath yea all that he is for him Phil. 3. 7 8 9 10. Luk. 9. 23. and 19. 43. That he disesteems and as it were hates all dearest Relations in comparison of Christ Mat. 10. 37. Luk. 14. 26 c. Yea so precious That it sets more store by Christ at his lowest then by all worldly treasures at their highest Heb. 11. 26 27. If Christ be truly precious to thy soul Faith is planted in thine heart 4. An heart purifying Grace According to that Purifying their hearts by Faith Act. 15. 9. 1 Joh. 3. 3. Faith makes the inside clean hypocrisie only the outside Mat. 23. 25 26. Faith purifies the heart 1. Formaliter formally as it is an holy inherent principle of Grace and Purity resisting sin and temptation Gal. 5. 17. 1 Ioh. 3. 3. Eph. 6 16. To this effect it 's stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most holy faith Jude verse 20. 2. Instrumentaliter Instrumentally it purisieth the heart by applying thereunto Christs imputed purity Phil. 3. 9. Christ's blood which purgeth the conscience from the guilt and power of dead works to serve the living God Heb. 9. 14. with Rom. 3. 25. By applying Christ's imputed purity and righteousness 5. A soul-purifying and heart-comforting Grace It affords peace with God which produceth two excellent effects 1. Ioy in hope of the glory of God 2. Glorying even in tribulation Rom. 5. 1 2 3. joy and peace in believing Rom. 15. 13. Now the peace of God passeth all understanding and keeps as in a Garrison the heart and mind in Christ Jesus viz. safe and secure Phil. 4. 7. 6. Most dutiful and obediential towards God and this against all interposing difficulties against Reason against Natural Affection c. As in Noah Heb 11. 7. In Abraham when he obey'd God to forsake his kindred and follow God he knew not whither Heb. 11. 8. And when he in a sort offered up Isaac for a Burnt-offering Heb. 11. 17. 7. Most abundant and fruitful in all good works Jam. 2. 14. to the end And this God expects Tit. 3. 8. Faith is a most working Grace it is the root of all good works of piety righteousness and sobriety 1 Tim. 1. 5. Hence that phrase The work of Faith 1 Thes. 1. 3. A workless Faith is as Iames intimates to us a worthless Faith Iam. 2. 17 26. 8. A Grace that acts and works by love Gal. 5. 6. How by love More generally Not by love as fire works by heat the formal property of fire as if love were the form of Faith as Papists say contrary to that in 1 Tim 1. 5. But by love as an external instrument external or outward as to the proper nature of Faith joyned or annexed unto Faith for the exerting of its acts as the soul works by the brain eye ear hand c. More particularly Faith works by love 1. As it tends to principle and store the heart with the love of Christ 1 Pet. 1. 7 8. Faith is as the Captain-Grace that leads on all the rest 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7. 2 As it actuates and incites love with a more ardent flame towards God Christ and all goodness Faith spreads open before the soul Gods love and Christs loveliness how transcendent how infinite So that the soul cannot choose but love them again Ioh. 3. 16 17. Rom. 5. 5 6 7 c. Ioh. 15. 13. 1 Ioh. 3. 16 19. 3. As it exerciseth it self in all duties and acts of obedience to God Christ c. not in a way of servile
the world can actually have any saving share or interest at all in the Redemption or Recovery which Christ hath fully obtained for his people untill he actually accept Christ as his only all-sufficient Saviour and particularly apply to his own Soul that Redemption and Recovery from sin and misery which Christ hath procured and obtained 1 Ioh. 5. 12. Ioh. 1. 11 12. and 3. 16. 18 36. and 8. 24. And this must needs be so For 1. Christs obtaining of Recovery and Redemption for lapsed Sinners renders them only Salvable and that possibly they may be saved which door of Hope is not opened at all to the lapsed Angels but Sinners particularly accepting of Christ and applying of his merit unto themselves personally renders them actually saved and that they are indeed in the state of Salvation already Compare diligently these and like Scriptures Ioh. 3. 16 17. Tit. 2 14. 1 Tim. 1. 15. Gal. 4. 4. 5. Rom. 8. 3. which point out a possibility of Salvation by Christ and his Death with Ioh. 1. 12. 1 Ioh. 5. 12. 1 Cor. 1. 9. And such like as denote their actual Salvation by Christ who have accepted him and applied him to themselves particularly 2. Non-accepting and non-applying of Christ is so great a sin that it is threatned with damnation Ioh. 16. 8 9. with Ioh. 3. 18. 36. and 8. 24. Therefore though Christ be never so able and all-sufficient to restore and save Sinners yet none can have benefit by his Salvation without Application of him and his merits 3. The Promise of effectual and eternal Salvation by Christ is still directed to the actual acceptance and application of Christ. As Spiritual Rest of Soul is promised but to them that come to Christ Mat. 11. 28 29. Eternal life is promised but to such as believe in him Ioh. 3. 16. but to such as eat this bread of life viz. his flesh given for the life of the world Ioh. 6. 51. 57. 58. Remission of sins is promised but to them that believe in him Act 10. 43. Now how shall man he saved according to Gods promises that perform not the Condition of the Promises 4. Who ever was Restored and saved by Christ till he accepted and applied Christ not the Apostles Ioh. 16. 30. Mat. 16. 16. Not the Sinful woman Luk. 7. 50. not the convert thief Luk. 23. 43. not the Jaylor Act. 16. 31. to 35. Who ever was healed by a Plaister spread and prepared only but never applied to the wound and Sore Who ever was comforted with the richest cordial though never so accurately prepared if it were never eaten or drunk And who ever was actually saved by Christ if not particularly accepted and applied They that accept not that apply not Christ to themselves are without Christ And they that are without Christ are without Hope so remaining and go without Salvation Eph. 2. 12. 5. All Communion with Christ in his saving benefits â—lows from Union to Christ in accepting of him Ioh. 1. 12 1 Ioh. 5. 12. Rom. 8 10. Col. 2. 19. Eph. 4. 16. As the Ciour hath Communion with the Stock in its life growth fruitfulness by being united unto the stock by Ingrafting or as the Wife hath Communion with the husband in his Name state c. by being united to him in marriage or as the members of the Natural body have Communion with the head and heart in their life sense motion c. by being united thereunto by joints and hands 6. Till the Sinner accepts and applies Christ he is not throughly Convinced of the Sinfulness and wretchedness of his Natural state and of the great need he hath of Christ to deliver him out of it For Conviction is the first step to application of Christ Ioh. 16. 8 9. And where there 's not the first step of Conviction There 's no present state of Salvation 7. Till the Sinner accepts Christ and applies him he neglects and despiseth him And he that despiseth Christ how can he obtain Salvation yea how can he escape damnation See Mat. 22. 1. to 3. Luk. 14. 16. to 25. Heb. 2. 3. Direct XIIII OBserve diligently O Natural man that the Proper and Peculiar way whereby Iesus Christ is to be accepted and applied to a man 's own Soul for Recovery out of his sinful and wretched state of Nature is by true saving Faith in Iesus Christ alone Act. 10. 43. Ioh. 3. 16. and 1. 12. Act. 13. 38 39. and 16. 30 31. Eph. 2. 8. Rom. 3. 22. to 27. I. That by true saving Faith alone peculiarly Iesus Christ is accepted and applied for Recovery out of Sin and misery is evident several wayes For 1. The Nature of true saving Faith in Christ principally consists in the Accepting and applying Christ for Salvation as he is offered in the Gospel Thus I have elsewhere described it Iustifying Faith is a saving Grace wrought in the hearts of the Elect at their Regeneration by Gods Spirit and word whereby they not only know Assent to and apply to themselves the Promises Gospel and Doctrine of Iesus Christ for gods glory in their justification and Salvation but also whereby they afterwards walk as becomes justified persons There see the Confirmation and Explanation of this Description of Faith So that the Nature of saving faith in Christ stands much in Applying Christ in the Gospel and promises who is the Kernel and Soul of them 2. The Receiving and Applying Iesus Christ for Recovery and Salvation is one of the chief Acts of Faith which thus I illustrate The Acts of true Faith in Christ are 1 Direct 2. Reflexive 1 Direct and these of 2 Sorts 1. Primary As 1. Knowing Isai. 53. 11. Ioh. 17. 3. 2. Assenting to the truth of Gods record 1 Ioh. 5. 9. Ioh. 3. 33. 3. Applying of the Promises and of Christ Ioh. 1. 12. As Paul did Gal. 2. 20. as Thomas did Ioh. 20. 8. 2. Secondary As 1. Retaining Christ Received in the heart Eph. 3. 17. Col. 2. 6 7. 2. Purifying the heart Act. 15. 9. 3. Refreshing the Soul with peace and joy Rom. 5. 1 2. and 15. 13. 4. Breaking forth into good works 1 Thes. 1. 3. Heb. 11. 5. Working by Love Gal. 5. 6. 6. Enlivening the Soul Rom. 1. 17. Gal. 2. 20. 2. Conquering all our Spiritual Enemies 1 Ioh. 3. 2 3. and 5. 4. 1 Pet. 1. 9. Iam. 4. 7. Eph. 6. 16. 2 Reflexive When Faith refle ing upon its own acts sees it self believing 1 Ioh. 2. 3. 1 Tim. 1. 12. By this it appears that the applying act of Faith is a very principal act among all the rest â— or All the Acts before the Applying ast tend to make way for it as Preparatory to it And all the Acts after it result from the Applying Act especially as genuine fruits and effects of it Thus the Applying act of Faith is among the rest as the Sun among the Planets most illustrious 3. Faith is so peculiarly eminent among all
the Graces of the Spirit in its property of Receiving and applying Iesus Christ for Recovery and Salvation of Sinners that it 's set forth to us in Holy Scripture by sundry Emphatical Expressions and Comparisons All pointing out the Applying Act of Faith Faith is 1. A looking upon Christ as the Jews did upon the brazen Serpent when stung Ioh. 3. 15 16. and 8. 56. 2. A coming to Christ. Ioh. 6. 35. Mat. 11. 28. 3. A Receiving of Christ. Ioh. 1. 11. 12. 4. An Embracing of the Promises and so of Christ in the Promises Heb. 11. 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 properly notes Lovingly-embracing eagerly-apprehending and thence signifies Saluting Saluting being performed with embracing 5. Eating of Christs flesh drinking of his blood Ioh. 6. 40. 53. 54. 6. Having of the Son 1 Ioh. 5. 12. 7. Harbouring Christ so that he dwells in the heart by Faith Eph. 3. 17. 4. The Doctrine of the Gospel reveales Recovery and Salvation of Sinners in and by Christ but as Received and applied by Faith Act. 10. 43. and 13. 38 39. Rom. 3. 21. to the end and 10. 9. c. 5. Convinced Sinners enquiring how they may be saved are directed to apply Christ by believing in him Act. 16. 30 31. 6. Recovery and Salvation of Sinners is Promised in and for Jesus Christ and his merit but then Christ must be Received and applied by Faith Faith is often expressed alwayes to be understood as the Condition of the Promise As Mat. 11. 28. Ioh. 3. 16. and 6. 40. 53 54. Mark 16. 16. Act. 10. 43. Rom. 9. 33. 1 Pet. 2. 6. Act. 16. 30 31. 7. Without Faith in Christ there 's no Salvation None can be saved that by believing apply not Christ for Recovery Ioh. 3. 18. 36. and 8. 24. Mark 16. 16. 2 Thes. 2. 12. II. How is Iesus Christ to be Accepted and Applyed by Faith in order to the Sinners Recovery and Salvation by him Answer Jesus Christ is to be accepted and Applyed by Faith in order to the Sinners Recovery by him in such sort as he is offered in the Gospel To accept and apply him otherwise in any other notion upon any other terms c. then God offers him is to apply a Christ of our own not the Lords Christ. Gods offer must be the ground and Rule of our Acceptance Now the Gospel offers Christ unto the Sinner for his Recovery by him and to his Faith 1. As that Messiah and Saviour of Sinners which from the Fall of man was Promised Prophecied of and fore-typified and in fulness of time was manifested in humane flesh for lapsed man's Recovery out of Sin and misery Gen. 3. 15. and 12. 3. and 22. 18. Gal. 3. 8. 16. with Act. 8. 10. 43. Ioh. 1. 41. 45. Gal. 4. 4 5 6. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19 20. 2. As that only Messiah Redeemer and Saviour given among men by whom alone Sinners can be saved and by none other in the whole world Act. 4. 11 12. Ioh. 8. 24. 3. As an All-sufficient Saviour able to save fully unto the Vttermost all that come unto God by him Heb. 7. 24 25 26. and 9. 11 12 13 14. and 10 11. to 19. Ioh. 1. 14 15. Col. 1. 19 20. 4. As God-man Mediator betwixt God and man Ioh. 1. 14. Gal. 4. 4 5. 1 Tim. 3. 16. with 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. 5. As man's Surety Heb. 7. 22. who by his Obedience Active hath exactly fullfilled the Law of God which we could not perform or keep Gal. 4. 4. And by his obedience Passive to the Death even the death upon the Cross hath endured the curse and penalty of the Law for our sakes which we could neither have endured nor avoided that so satisfying Gods justice to the uttermost for our sins we might be eternally released from sin and wrath and be reconciled to God justified and saved by Christs Obedience imputed to us through Faith Rom. 5. 18 19. and 8. 3 4. Phil. 2. 6 7 8. Rom. 5. 9 10. and 3. 25. Gal. 3. 10. 13 14. Eph. 5. 2. Heb. 9. 12. 14. and 10. 10 to 19. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19 20. Tit. 2. 14. 6. As the Sinners Perfect righteousness before God â—mputed by God unto him through Faith 1 Cor. 1. 30. Rom. 3. 21. 22. to the end and 4. 11 12. and 5. 18 19. and 10. 6. 9. 10. For which all self-righteousness is to be denied Phil. 3 7 8 9 10. 7. As Christ Jesus the LORD The Gospel tenders him As Christ or Messiah i. e. Anointed by the Spirit above measure for his office Psal. 45. 7. As Iesus i. e. A Saviour Mat. 1. 21. Luk. 2. 20. This denotes his office As the LORD to rule and raign over us in us and for us over all our enemies whatsoever As he is a JESUS to save so he will be a LORD to Rule Thus we are to receive and apply him as the Colossians did Col. 2. 6. 8. As that Redeemer for whom we are to deny ourselves take up ouâ— Cross and follow him Luk 9. 23. III. What encouragement may a poor lapsed and lost Sinner have to draw towards Iesus Christ to accept and apply him for his Recovery and Salvation by believing in him Answ. Much every way But especially upon these and like serious Considerations viz. 1. Christ himself hath plainly declared that it is the great duty of the Sinner to believe in Christ and so to accept and apply him by Faith This the work which God chiefly requires and accepts to believe in Christ. Ioh. 6. 28 29. 1 Ioh. 3. 23. 2. Christ most sweetly invites all distressed Sinners and thirsty Souls to come to him for relief to believe in him Mat. 11. 28 29 30. Ioh. 7. 37. with Isai. 55. 1 2. Rev. 22. 17. 3. Christ holds forth the Golden-Scepter of most great and precious Promises to encourage and allure Sinners to approach to him and to apply him by believing Mat. 11. 28 29. Mar. 16. 16. Ioh. 3. 16. 18. 36. and 6. 37. 40. 44. 51. 54. 57. Act. 10. 43. Rom. 9. 33. 1 Pet. 2. 6. 4. Christ never did never will reject any poor Sinful Soul that did but even creep to him by the feeblest Faith Ioh. 6. 37. why then shouldst thou fear that he will not accept and embrace thee 5. Christ hath most readily tenderly and compassionately received even greatest and most hainous offendors upon their coming to him by Faith And all these for Encouraging Patterns and Presidents to all that afterwards shall believe in him 1 Tim. 1. 16. And why should he not in like sort entertain thee notwithstanding all thy Sins if thou canst believe in him Remember the reception of the Prodigal Luk. 15. 20. to the end of Nicodemus the ignorant Pharisee Ioh. 3. 1 2 3. c. of Mathew the griping Customer Mat. 9. 9. of Zachaeus the oppressing Publican Luk. 19. 5. to 11. Of the notorious Sinful woman that washed Christs feet with her Tears c. Luk.
7. 37. to the end of Saul that was injurious a Persecutor and a Blasphemer Act. 26. 9 10. 11. 1 Tim. 1. 13 14. 16. of the Thief upon the Cross that even after his Crucifiction had railed upon Christ Mat 27. 44. compared with Luk. 23. 40. to 44. Yea of those that were guilty of his Death and Blood yet even some of them Christ washed from their Sins by the very blood which they shed Act. 2. 36 37. to the end Oh miracles of Christs mercy and Compassion to lost Sinners when Christ accepts such who would not hopefully come to him When Christ saves such who have cause to despair that desire truly to repent and believe in him XV. Direction POwer thus to believe in Iesus Christ God-man and by believing to accept and Apply him for thy Recovery O Natural man out of thy sinful and wretched state of Nature thou hast none at all of thy self But all thy sufficiency in this behalf is wholly of God Nevertheless thou mayst and oughtest to do some things for the furtherance of thy Faith in Christ. I. That of thyself thou hast no power or sufficiency at all to believe in Iesus Christ to receive and apply him effectually by believing without the supernatural influence and assistance of God Is plain For 1. The Testimony of Christ and his Apostles is clear for it No man can come to me i. e. by believing Except the Father which hath sent me draw him Ioh. 6. 44. He cannot of himself or by his own power come and believe till God influence him and enable him Again Without me ye can do nothing viz. nothing in fruit bearing either of Faith or any other good spiritual fruit Ioh. 15. 5. That of the Apostles is punctual By Grace are ye saved through Faith and that not of your selve it is the gift of God Ephes. 2. 8. 2. True saving Faith in Christ and the acting of it unto the accepting and applying of Christ is the special work of God and fruit of the spirit of the Regenerating spirit of God Compare and consider well Ioh. 6. 44. Gal. 5. 22. with Ioh. 1. 12 13. 3. Faith in Christ is the Life of the Soul from Christ it is as the vital spirits from him Gal. 2. 20. Rom. 1. 17. Now can the Soul of natural man which is dead in sins and trespasses Eph. 2. â— quicken it self by believing Hence then these things must needs follow 1. That whosoever do believe in Christ truly and by Faith apply him effectually and savingly they owe all this wholly to the rich Grace and meer favour of God And are to render unto him all the praise thereof 2. That 't is a piece of gross Ignorance and groundless Presumption for any Natural man whatsoever to think he can believe and accept Christ at his pleasure This is impossible 3. Let every natural man take heed he reject not the divine offers of Faith unto his Soul nor resist the Spirits motions and operations inclining drawing and perswading the heart thereunto 1 Thes. 5. 19. Act. 7. 51. Eph 4. Ioh. 6. 44. For what if the Spirit of God draw and move the heart so no more And without God there 's no believing II. Notwithstanding Though the Natural man cannot of himself savingly believe in Christ or apply him by any self-sufficiency or power of his own yet something towards it and towards the furtherance thereof he may and ought to do Act. 8. 13. Luk. 8. 13. For what a meer Natural man hath done heretofore why may not a meer Natural man do again Now then O Natural man though thou canst not of thy self believe in Christ and apply him savingly yet neglect not to do what thou canst do in order to this believing in Christ and applying of Christ to thine own soul. Art thou grieved in thine heart thou canst not enough believe in him Art thou desirous to believe in him alone for Recovery and Salvation I would fain take this for granted Let me then draw thee thou poor trembling soul a few steps further towards Christ. Make use of these few Helps and Furtherances unto Faith in Christ Jesus For this thou canst and ought'st to do viz. 1. Know and Consider Jesus Christ well both in his Person Offices and the effects or acquirements of his Offices as all these are delineated in the Holy Scriptures Ioh. 17. 3. 1 Tim. 3. 16. 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. Heb. 9. 12 13 14. and 10. 7. to 19. Rom. 5. 9 10. And Assent fully to the Record that God hath given of his Son in his Word that eternal life is in his Son 1 Joh. 5. 10 11. Now Knowledge Heb. 11. 3. Isa. 53. 11. Ioh. 17. 3. Assent 1 Ioh. 5. 10 11. And Application Ioh. 1. 12. Gal. 2. 20. make up the Nature of true Faith 2. Ponder often and earnestly upon the Promises of God touching Christ and touching believing in him As That whosoever comes to him by believing shall not in any case be cast out by Christ Ioh. 6 35 37. shall not be ashamed or confounded Rom. 9. 33. 1 Pet. 2. 6. shall not perish Joh. 3. 16. shall never hunger nor thirst more Joh. 6. 35. Isa. 55. 1. shall find rest from Christ unto his soul Mat. 11. 28 29. shall live though he were dead yea shall never die Joh. 11. 25. yea shall have eternal life and be saved Joh. 3. 16 17. Mar. 10. 16. Now these and such like Promises being Yea and Amen in Christ 2 Cor. 1. 20. they are Fundamentum Pabulum Fidei The very foundation whereupon Faith is bottomed and grounded and the food wherewith Faith is nourished See Rom. 4. 17. to the end Heb. 11. 11. 3. Consider well the Nature of God the Promiser For this will greatly encourage Faith to embrace the Promises and Christ in the Promises For Gods Truth is such he cannot lie Tit. 1. 2. 'T is impossible he should lie Heb. 6. 10. Gods Fidelity such he cannot will not deceive Heb. 11. 11. Gods Power such he can fully perform what he hath promised seem it never so improbable impossible incredible Rom. 4. 20 21. His love and free grace such in giving Christ for us Ioh. 3. 16 17. and offering Christ to us Rom. 3. 21 c. 2 Cor. 5. 18 c. That with him he will freely give all things Rom. 8. 32. 4. Be diligent and constant in attending upon Gods Ordinances whereby Faith is bred and nourished Especially be singularly careful and vigilant in hearing the Word faithfully and powerfully preached Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Rom. 10. 14 15 17. The Word preached is the Seed of Faith and Regeneration 1 Pet. 1. 23 25. 5. Cherish and make much of every good motion stirring striving inclination operation of the Spirit of God in thine heart and soul tending to thine accepting and closing with Christ 1 Thes. 5. 19. Eph. 4. 30. Act 7. 51. For Faith is the proper
slavish fear but in a sweet way of love because a man loves God and Christ loves the wayes of vertue loves his Commandements and counts them not grievous 1 Joh. 5. 3. Faith makes all obedience and duty come off lovingly sweetly chearfully 1 Tim. 1. 5. 9. A growing Grace It encreaseth more and more Your Faith groweth exceedingly 2 Thes. 1. 3. See also Rev. 2 19. Counterfeit Faith dead Faith is like a painted Tree or painted Flower upon a Wall seem it never so fair it grows not at all 10. Vigorous in resisting and victorious in conquering all sorts of Temptations viz. Of the World frowning or smiling 1 Ioh. 5. 4. Ioh. 16. 33. Of the Flesh Act. 15. 9. 1 Joh. 3. 3. Of the Devil â— Pet. 5. 9. Eph. 6. 16. 11. Fervent and continuing instant in prayer even against discouragements though prayer seem to be neglected repulsed denied As in the Canaanitish woman Mat. 15. 22. to 29. In Elijah who prayed seven times 1 King 18. 41. to 46. Iam. 5. 17 18. 12. Valiant in confessing Christ in professing and owning of his Gospel Truth and Cause in dayes of greatest danger and persecution 2 Tim. 1. 12. Saul converted to the Faith straightway preached Christ in the Synagogues that he was the Son of God though to the hazard of his life Act. 9. 20 23. The Angel of Pergamos held fast Christ's Name deni'd not his Faith even there where Satan's seat was and even then when Antipas was his faithful Martyr Rev. 2. 12 13. Rev. 13. 10. The Faith and patience of the Saints is most active and illustrious in midst of Antichristian cruelties and persecutions 13. Finally True Faith is constant and persevering False Faith believes but for a time in time of persecution falls away Luk. 8. 13. True Faith holds on unto the end Draws not back unto perdition but believes unto the saving of the soul Heb. 10. 39. The true Believer holds on believing till he attain the scope and end of his Faith the salvation of his soul 1 Pet. 1. 8 9. XVII Direction REpentance from head works not to be repented of Heb. 6. 1. 2 Cor. 7. 10. is an inseparable companion of true faith The Scripture usually coupling them together Mar. 1. 14. 15. Act. 20. 21. and 2. 37 38. and 26. 18. Heb. 6. 1. and therefore every one that would approve himself to believe in Christ sincerely must repent of all his sins unfeinedly as he expects to have his sins remitted freely and his soul saved eternally Luk. 24. 47. Act. 2. 38. and 5. 31. and 3. 19. Act. 11. 18. Ezek. 18. 30 31 32. Luk. 13. 3 5. To Repent is set forth by two Greek words very significant in the New Testament 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Metanoein which properly signifies To have an after-wit wisdom or consideration a return to ones wits and wisdom again As did the Prodigal Luk. 15. 17. This word is used often Mat. 3. 8 11. and 9. 13. To sin is our folly to repent of sin is our after-wisdom 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Metamelesthai To have an after-care to be heedful afterwards It 's through want of care and heed that men transgress 'T is Repentance that makes the offendor more careful to withstand and prevent sin for the future 2 Cor. 7. 8 11. This word is used in Mat. 21. 29 32. Repentance is two-fold 1. Initial fundamental and universal when a sinner at his first coversion repents of all his sins original and actual at once turning from them unto God Mat. 3. 2 8. Mar. 1. 14 15. Act. 11. 18. and 20 21. and 26. 18 20. Heb. 6. 1 2. 2. Secondary and particular when a penitent after his conversion lapseth into any sin or sins and renews Repentance for them particularly As David Psal. 51. tit c. Peter Mat. 26. 75. Here the former is â—hiefly intended but the latter not excluded Godly sorrow works Repentance not to be repented of 2 Cor. 7. 10. But properly godly sorrow is not Repentance but an excellent Preparative Inlet and Harbinger to Repentance The proper Nature of Repentance stands in 1. Aversion from Sin and Satan 2. Conversion unto God and all goodness Act. 26. 18. Now there are very many cogent Motives that may incline a sinner to this initial fundamental and universal Repentance For 1. God himself greatly desires the sinners initial fundamental and universal Repentance Ezek. 18. 23. and 33. 11. and 18. 31 32. See how 1. He commands it Act. 17. 30. Mar. 1. 14 15. 2. He invites to it Isa. 1. 16 c. and 55. 7. Mat. 3. 2. Ezek. 18. 23 31 32. Ier. 3. 1. 3. He promiseth great things to the penitent Isa. 55. 7. Zech. 1. 3. Act. 2. 38. Hos. 14. 1 2 3 4. Ezek. 18. 21 22. Act. 26. 18. 4. He professeth yea sweareth he hath no pleasure in the death of the sinner but that he should repent and live Ezek. 18. 23. and 33. 11. 5. He receives penitents readily compassionately gladsomly Luk. 15. 3. to the end 2. Jesus Christ exceedingly endeavours the Sinners universal Repentance and Conversion Mat. 4. 17. Mar. 1. 14 15. Luk. 24. 47. Act. 26. 17 18. For 1. He sent Iohn Baptist his Harbinger preaching-Repentance Mat. 3. 1 2 3 8. Luk. 3. 3. to 15. 2. His first Sermon was of Repentance Mat. 4. 17. Mar. 1. 1â— 15. 3. He directs his Apostles first to preach Repentance to the Gentiles Luk. 24. 47. 4. He shows the Necessity of Repenting and Converting Luk. 13. 3 5. Mat. 18. 3. 5. He upbraids and laments the impenitent Mat. 11. 20. to 25. and 23. 37 38 39. 6. He accepteth penitents most compassionately Luk. 7. 37. to the end and 19. 8 9 10. and 23. 4 〈…〉 Act. 9. 6 c. 3. The Holy Ghost most frequently incites unto Repentance in Holy Scriptures Isa. 1. 16 17 c. and 55. 6 7. Ezek. 18. 23 31 32. and 33. 11. Hos. 6. 1 c. and 14. 1 c. Ioel 2 12 c. Act. 2. 37 c. and 3. 19. and 17. 30. Heb. 3. 7 c. Rev. 2. 4 5. 4. The time of the Messias coming in the flesh foretold is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God the Messiah's New Testament-Kingdom is at hand yea as to us is already come therefore all should repent and believe Mark 1. 15. Why That thus they may be fitted and qualified for reception of Christ and of his Kingdom to their Salvation 5. There 's mention made in Holy Scripture of an whole cloud of Sinners initially repenting of their â—ins and turning from them unto God encouraging thee to imitate them in this narrow way of Life and Salvation 〈◊〉 Manasses â— Chron. 33. 12. to 18. Iohn Baptist's Hearers Mat. 3. 2 5 6 7 8. with Mat. 21. 32. The sinful Woman Luke 7. 37 c. Zacheus the Publican Luke 19. 7 8 9 10. The Prodigal Son Luke 15. 15. to the end Saul the Persecutor Act. 9. 3. to