of_o child_n from_o the_o covenant_n of_o grace_n yet_o the_o covenant_n of_o grace_n be_v one_o for_o all_o the_o son_n have_v covenant_v from_o eternity_n for_o all_o the_o elect_n to_o bring_v they_o into_o the_o covenant_n of_o grace_n by_o regeneration_n exert_v according_a to_o their_o capacity_n by_o actual_a believe_v of_o those_o who_o be_v capable_a so_o to_o act_v which_o also_o be_v a_o evidence_n that_o the_o act_n of_o faith_n be_v not_o save_v by_o any_o thing_n absolute_o necessary_a in_o itself_o but_o by_o the_o free_a choice_n and_o institution_n of_o god_n the_o three_o point_n propose_v be_v what_o act_n of_o faith_n that_o be_v by_o which_o man_n enter_v into_o the_o covenant_n of_o grace_n and_o which_o be_v their_o part_n of_o the_o covenant_n many_o hold_v it_o to_o be_v a_o persuasion_n of_o the_o covenant_a person_n that_o christ_n die_v for_o he_o whereby_o it_o must_v be_v a_o act_n of_o the_o understanding_n but_o i_o see_v not_o how_o that_o can_v hold_v 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the_o midst_n of_o the_o fire_n lest_o you_o corrupt_v yourselves_o and_o make_v you_o a_o grave_a image_n the_o similitude_n of_o any_o figure_n what_o a_o pitiful_a evasion_n be_v it_o that_o a_o grave_a image_n be_v only_o forbid_a when_o also_o be_v express_o forbid_v the_o similitude_n of_o any_o figure_n and_o the_o reason_n add_v be_v general_a for_o you_o see_v no_o manner_n of_o similitude_n the_o fire_n out_o of_o the_o midst_n of_o which_o god_n speak_v be_v there_o express_v to_o be_v no_o similitude_n or_o figure_n of_o god_n or_o the_o sun_n for_o which_o there_o may_v be_v the_o great_a pretence_n yea_o it_o be_v make_v one_o of_o the_o ten_o word_n of_o the_o decalogue_n after_o all_o this_o shall_v we_o imagine_v that_o god_n have_v change_v this_o precept_n which_o be_v not_o ceremonial_a but_o opposite_a to_o ceremony_n be_v it_o not_o a_o horrid_a and_o impious_a boldness_n to_o leave_v that_o command_n out_o of_o the_o decalogue_n rather_o than_o to_o forbear_v 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covenanter_n by_o their_o choice_n and_o consent_n both_o as_o to_o the_o matter_n and_o manner_n there_o be_v covenant_n where_o the_o performance_n be_v of_o equivalent_a value_n deserve_v each_o other_o but_o it_o be_v arrogance_n enough_o for_o adam_n to_o have_v think_v the_o covenant_n of_o work_n be_v such_o and_o it_o be_v insolence_n to_o imagine_v the_o covenant_n of_o grace_n to_o be_v such_o as_o in_o the_o covenant_n of_o work_n there_o be_v two_o branch_n a_o covenant_n between_o god_n and_o adam_n for_o himself_o and_o his_o posterity_n and_o if_o he_o have_v stand_v there_o behove_v to_o have_v be_v a_o covenant_n between_o god_n and_o each_o of_o his_o elect_a posterity_n particular_o for_o himself_o the_o word_n make_v it_o appear_v to_o be_v so_o in_o the_o covenant_n of_o grace_n the_o father_n do_v covenant_n with_o the_o son_n foreknow_v adam_n fall_n to_o become_v the_o second_o adam_n to_o restore_v and_o exceed_v that_o which_o be_v know_v the_o first_o will_v lose_v by_o assume_v the_o nature_n of_o the_o first_o adam_n and_o with_o it_o not_o only_o perform_v that_o in_o which_o adam_n fail_v by_o not_o continue_v in_o integrity_n perform_v the_o whole_a will_n of_o god_n and_o thereby_o put_v all_o mankind_n in_o a_o near_a capacity_n to_o blessedness_n than_o adam_n have_v do_v though_o he_o have_v stand_v for_o there_o be_v no_o ground_n to_o think_v his_o posterity_n will_v have_v be_v confirm_v without_o their_o own_o trial_n more_o than_o he_o but_o the_o second_o adam_n put_v not_o only_o all_o mankind_n out_o of_o the_o necessity_n of_o misery_n but_o it_o become_v effectual_a unto_o all_o so_o far_o as_o it_o be_v congruous_a to_o the_o divine_a perfection_n which_o can_v not_o admit_v of_o reconciliation_n with_o sinner_n cleave_v to_o their_o sin_n or_o of_o those_o who_o partake_v of_o divine_a illumination_n and_o of_o the_o taste_n of_o the_o power_n of_o the_o world_n to_o come_v shall_v despiteful_o hate_v the_o spirit_n the_o worker_n of_o these_o all_o the_o rest_n of_o mankind_n as_o the_o father_n foreknow_v they_o and_o predestinate_v they_o to_o be_v conform_v to_o the_o son_n so_o the_o son_n undertake_v effectual_o to_o redeem_v they_o and_o glorify_v they_o and_o the_o holy_a ghost_n to_o call_v they_o sanctify_v and_o preserve_v they_o the_o second_o adam_n do_v undertake_v yet_o much_o more_o than_o the_o first_o to_o satisfy_v the_o justice_n and_o manifest_v the_o purity_n of_o god_n more_o than_o if_o all_o mankind_n have_v perish_v this_o branch_n of_o the_o covenant_n of_o grace_n be_v complete_a as_o to_o the_o elect_n that_o can_v not_o through_o incapacity_n covenant_n for_o themselves_o but_o those_o that_o can_v be_v to_o have_v the_o offer_v of_o the_o covenant_n of_o grace_n make_v to_o they_o by_o their_o vocation_n though_o not_o to_o all_o in_o equal_a fullness_n and_o clearness_n it_o be_v not_o suitable_a to_o the_o wisdom_n of_o god_n that_o those_o who_o reject_v the_o 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a_o act_n of_o faith_n whether_o it_o be_v a_o special_a act_n of_o faith_n and_o what_o that_o be_v whether_o it_o be_v one_o single_a act_n only_o or_o if_o to_o be_v renew_v and_o whether_o it_o be_v save_v by_o any_o thing_n in_o itself_o and_o if_o we_o may_v perceive_v any_o consideration_n why_o god_n make_v that_o act_n of_o faith_n man_n part_n of_o the_o covenant_n rather_o than_o any_o other_o as_o to_o the_o first_o point_n to_o have_v faith_n and_o to_o believe_v be_v use_v as_o equivalent_a term_n both_o in_o common_a use_n and_o in_o the_o scripture_n but_o in_o a_o great_a latitude_n for_o to_o believe_v do_v oftentimes_o signify_v a_o judgement_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o any_o proposition_n man_n do_v believe_v that_o be_v they_o think_v likely_a or_o probable_a whatever_o the_o ground_n of_o their_o opinion_n be_v but_o more_o strict_o belief_n be_v take_v for_o a_o judgement_n which_o have_v for_o its_o motive_n the_o perfection_n of_o some_o person_n express_v it_o endue_v with_o such_o perfection_n as_o may_v warrant_v a_o assent_n without_o any_o other_o reason_n that_o person_n must_v be_v a_o virtuous_a person_n from_o who_o act_n it_o appear_v that_o he_o do_v own_o the_o principle_n of_o morality_n and_o have_v no_o tentation_n to_o fail_v in_o the_o application_n of_o they_o in_o that_o point_n so_o not_o only_o a_o liar_n but_o a_o vicious_a person_n or_o one_o in_o necessity_n or_o bias_v by_o favour_n or_o hatred_n in_o prudence_n be_v not_o a_o credible_a person_n or_o if_o the_o matter_n be_v that_o which_o be_v not_o the_o particular_a object_n of_o that_o sense_n which_o he_o have_v in_o vigour_n it_o be_v but_o a_o matter_n of_o opinion_n faith_n upon_o account_n of_o credibility_n be_v to_o be_v attribute_v to_o god_n alone_o absolute_o who_o can_v neither_o be_v ignorant_a err_v be_v bias_v mistake_v or_o deceive_v and_o be_v infinite_a in_o moral_a perfection_n creature_n may_v also_o be_v trust_v in_o defferent_a degree_n according_a to_o the_o moment_n of_o the_o matter_n but_o no_o man_n ought_v to_o trust_v any_o creature_n as_o to_o the_o necessary_n of_o his_o salvation_n but_o god_n alone_o immediate_o or_o by_o mediation_n of_o those_o that_o have_v his_o evident_a credential_n this_o kind_n of_o faith_n be_v a_o prerequisite_a to_o the_o covenant_n of_o grace_n but_o no_o part_n of_o it_o for_o the_o devil_n do_v thus_o believe_v and_o tremble_v they_o know_v god_n to_o be_v certain_o true_a and_o that_o all_o he_o express_v be_v true_a whatever_o improbability_n may_v arise_v against_o it_o there_o be_v yet_o a_o strict_a sense_n of_o believe_v or_o faith_n whereby_o one_o expect_v good_a from_o another_o when_o it_o be_v suitable_a to_o he_o to_o give_v or_o do_v it_o and_o to_o the_o other_o to_o receive_v it_o in_o this_o sense_n we_o do_v not_o say_v one_o believe_v another_o but_o he_o believe_v in_o he_o he_o trust_v to_o he_o he_o lean_v rely_v and_o rest_v upon_o he_o the_o object_n of_o this_o faith_n be_v faithfulness_n it_o do_v not_o arise_v alone_o upon_o the_o veracity_n or_o truth_n of_o the_o person_n trust_v but_o require_v many_o other_o perfection_n that_o he_o be_v benign_a and_o gracious_a that_o he_o be_v powerful_a and_o plentiful_a as_o to_o that_o wherein_o he_o be_v trust_v it_o do_v not_o require_v his_o promise_n which_o will_v make_v the_o thing_n expect_v a_o act_n of_o justice_n but_o the_o excellency_n of_o his_o nature_n so_o creature_n may_v and_o do_v trust_v to_o creature_n according_a to_o their_o perfection_n a_o secret_n may_v be_v trust_v to_o a_o faithful_a person_n though_o neither_o powerful_a nor_o rich_a and_o if_o experience_n have_v show_v he_o to_o be_v trusty_a it_o will_v be_v a_o confidence_n without_o all_o doubt_n he_o be_v
father_n these_o be_v the_o ordinary_a way_n of_o the_o spirit_n in_o which_o the_o save_a act_n of_o faith_n be_v always_o in_o the_o order_n of_o nature_n anterior_a to_o god_n part_n of_o this_o particular_a covenant_n of_o grace_n whereby_o he_o regenerate_v believer_n beget_v in_o their_o soul_n the_o habit_n of_o grace_n and_o holiness_n which_o be_v a_o new_a creation_n which_o these_o and_o they_o that_o receive_v they_o be_v call_v new_a creature_n and_o ordinary_o both_o part_n of_o the_o covenant_n go_v together_o believe_v and_o regeneration_n yet_o some_o be_v sanctify_v from_o the_o womb_n who_o come_v afterward_o actual_o to_o believe_v the_o ordinary_a procedure_n of_o the_o spirit_n hold_v forth_o in_o the_o scripture_n have_v some_o operation_n of_o the_o spirit_n anterior_a to_o the_o enter_v into_o the_o covenant_n of_o grace_n which_o be_v call_v preparatory_a work_n and_o first_o the_o spirit_n convince_v every_o man_n that_o come_v to_o have_v the_o use_n of_o reason_n that_o he_o be_v a_o sinner_n by_o compare_v his_o life_n with_o the_o light_n and_o law_n of_o nature_n write_v in_o his_o heart_n that_o he_o have_v break_v that_o law_n that_o thereby_o he_o deserve_v punishment_n though_o his_o transgression_n be_v never_o so_o secret_a which_o neeessary_o import_v that_o there_o be_v a_o invisible_a judge_n that_o can_v inflict_v it_o and_o who_o certain_o know_v it_o and_o will_v not_o pardon_v it_o while_o it_o be_v approve_v and_o the_o same_o light_n of_o nature_n show_v that_o there_o be_v hope_n of_o pardon_n to_o those_o that_o do_v not_o approve_v their_o transgression_n and_o be_v grieve_v for_o they_o i_o doubt_v not_o but_o all_o this_o be_v wrought_v upon_o the_o most_o barbarous_a and_o ignorant_a savage_a for_o though_o by_o prepossession_n and_o custom_n many_o of_o the_o law_n of_o nature_n be_v never_o advert_v yet_o ever_o so_o much_o arise_v in_o the_o mind_n as_o make_v the_o natural_a conscience_n perceive_v the_o transgression_n of_o they_o and_o a_o difference_n between_o those_o who_o continue_v and_o delight_v in_o the_o transgression_n of_o they_o and_o those_o who_o grieve_v for_o they_o upon_o account_n of_o punishment_n though_o they_o have_v no_o distinct_a perception_n of_o that_o invisible_a power_n from_o which_o they_o fear_v punishment_n or_o though_o their_o mistake_a interest_n and_o the_o opinion_n of_o their_o neighbour_n seduce_v they_o to_o believe_v that_o that_o fear_v of_o punishment_n of_o secret_a transgression_n be_v but_o from_o a_o groundless_a fancy_n such_o as_o they_o have_v in_o the_o darkness_n and_o not_o in_o the_o light_n that_o which_o persuade_v i_o of_o this_o general_a operation_n of_o the_o spirit_n of_o god_n be_v that_o otherwise_o though_o great_a part_n of_o the_o world_n be_v in_o inevitable_a necessity_n of_o eternal_a misery_n and_o can_v never_o accuse_v themselves_o even_o when_o awaken_v in_o hell_n and_o make_v clear_o to_o know_v that_o 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whence_o there_o arise_v a_o persuasion_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o that_o word_n and_o all_o reveal_v in_o it_o he_o give_v also_o frequent_o the_o perception_n of_o the_o hazard_n and_o horror_n of_o sin_n the_o forbear_n of_o the_o outward_a act_n of_o some_o sin_n and_o the_o inward_a inclination_n to_o some_o other_o a_o natural_a pleasure_n in_o some_o virtue_n and_o thence_o ofttimes_o follow_v a_o unwarrantable_a persuasion_n of_o have_v obtain_v grace_n and_o right_o to_o glory_n if_o these_o or_o some_o of_o they_o be_v not_o the_o reprobate_n will_v become_v without_o all_o hope_n of_o mercy_n and_o as_o malicious_a as_o the_o devil_n yet_o these_o be_v give_v not_o for_o their_o own_o sake_n but_o for_o the_o common_a good_a of_o mankind_n and_o the_o special_a good_a of_o the_o elect_n but_o by_o none_o of_o these_o be_v the_o covenant_n of_o grace_n enter_v the_o act_n of_o faith_n by_o which_o man_n enter_v into_o the_o covenant_n of_o grace_n be_v not_o in_o their_o own_o power_n nor_o can_v they_o exert_v it_o at_o any_o time_n they_o please_v even_o when_o they_o hear_v or_o meditate_v upon_o the_o word_n of_o god_n or_o when_o they_o hear_v read_v and_o meditate_v upon_o the_o most_o convince_a and_o persuade_v preach_v or_o when_o they_o do_v most_o earnest_o pray_v to_o be_v pardon_v and_o accept_v all_o these_o be_v but_o the_o ordinance_n of_o god_n with_o which_o he_o do_v ordinary_o confer_v regeneration_n and_o which_o be_v therefore_o man_n duty_n to_o use_v they_o and_o it_o be_v to_o tempt_v god_n to_o desire_v or_o expect_v convorsion_n in_o another_o way_n neither_o be_v these_o mere_a formality_n or_o solemnity_n but_o have_v their_o proper_a effect_n especial_o in_o loosen_v the_o soul_n from_o its_o addictedness_n to_o sin_n for_o it_o be_v say_v express_o by_o grace_n you_o be_v save_v through_o faith_n and_o not_o of_o yourselves_o it_o be_v the_o gift_n of_o god_n there_o must_v therefore_o be_v a_o present_a inward_a vocation_n motion_n or_o excitation_n of_o the_o spirit_n offer_v to_o the_o soul_n to_o turn_v it_o from_o cleave_v to_o sin_n unto_o god_n and_o to_o give_v pardon_n reconciliation_n holiness_n and_o happiness_n but_o not_o confer_v these_o until_o the_o soul_n be_v willing_a to_o accept_v they_o there_o will_v be_v little_a difficulty_n to_o embrace_v that_o offer_n as_o to_o the_o pardon_n of_o sin_n nor_o to_o have_v the_o general_a notion_n of_o happiness_n though_o if_o the_o particular_a way_n of_o happiness_n be_v explicate_v to_o be_v the_o delight_n in_o god_n and_o spiritual_a thing_n and_o not_o in_o carnal_a delight_n the_o prepossessed_a soul_n by_o sensible_a pleasure_n may_v ready_o loathe_v that_o as_o light_a food_n yet_o the_o great_a difficulty_n will_v be_v in_o be_v willing_a to_o be_v make_v holy_a that_o be_v consecrate_v and_o devote_v to_o the_o love_n of_o and_o to_o the_o delight_n in_o god_n above_o all_o thing_n with_o a_o opposition_n to_o all_o know_a sin_n this_o therefore_o must_v be_v the_o gift_n of_o god_n free_o give_v at_o the_o time_n of_o that_o motion_n of_o the_o spirit_n to_o such_o only_a as_o be_v elect_v whether_o they_o be_v such_o as_o be_v not_o positive_o resolve_v to_o cleave_v to_o sin_n or_o reject_v such_o motion_n or_o such_o who_o god_n even_o against_o that_o reluctancy_n will_v overcome_v and_o make_v willing_a to_o embrace_v and_o accept_v the_o offer_n and_o motion_n of_o the_o spirit_n this_o be_v that_o inward_a call_v which_o be_v one_o of_o the_o link_n of_o the_o golden_a chain_n of_o salvation_n for_o who_o he_o predestinate_v they_o he_o also_o call_v justify_v and_o glorify_v and_o which_o therefore_o be_v call_v effectual_a call_v to_o which_o there_o be_v never_o make_v effectual_a resistance_n it_o be_v ever_o strong_a than_o any_o resistance_n yet_o not_o so_o that_o the_o soul_n can_v not_o possible_o resist_v but_o that_o god_n have_v make_v the_o call_v so_o strong_a that_o though_o it_o be_v willing_o embrace_v not_o necessary_o but_o free_o yet_o always_o effectual_o albeit_o god_n may_v give_v such_o a_o inclination_n to_o accept_v holiness_n as_o he_o give_v to_o desire_v happiness_n yet_o there_o be_v no_o ground_n to_o think_v that_o he_o do_v so_o for_o such_o act_n which_o be_v absolute_o necessary_a deserve_v not_o so_o much_o as_o praise_v be_v but_o as_o the_o instinct_n of_o brute_n it_o be_v a_o great_a mistake_n to_o think_v that_o god_n inward_a call_n can_v be_v effectual_a unless_o it_o give_v as_o strong_a a_o inclination_n as_o be_v the_o desire_n of_o happiness_n for_o he_o know_v certain_o the_o effect_n of_o every_o condition_n by_o nature_n or_o grace_n and_o by_o his_o wisdom_n he_o do_v no_o more_o than_o what_o be_v requisite_a for_o his_o purpose_n they_o high_o derogate_v from_o the_o glory_n of_o god_n that_o imagine_v his_o call_n to_o the_o elect_n be_v