a bare Trusting or Confiding Faith but to a Professing Engaging Contracting Covenanting Faith whereby the persoâ— pass'd himself over gave himâ—â—â—â— a See Mr. Scudder quoted P. 35. Thus to embrace Covenant of Grace and to receive Christ in whom it â—â—â—firmed is to Believe â—â— Preston Treatise of effectual Faith P. 92. If Men 〈◊〉 Faith as it is in it self a Marriage of our selves to 〈◊〉 with all our heart and affections when he hath giâ—â—â—imself to us in Marriage and we are given to him â—â—ing this we should never be deceived 〈◊〉 Brinsley Treatise of christs Mediatorship P. 141. 〈◊〉 i. e. Faith and Obedience without any just ofâ—â— I may call the conditions of this Covenant Faith â—â—â—eby the Covenant is accepted upon the Terms on which it â—â—dered and Christ the Mediator of it received Obeâ—â—â—â—ce whereby it is kept viz. in an Evangelical way in 〈◊〉 of desire and endeavour 〈◊〉 Faith is it self in the life and reality of it A 〈◊〉 and undertaking of such works as are due to Christ Believing received for Lord Saviour and King And â—â—fore he that doth not deport himself towards Christ 〈◊〉 manner as is due upon such his Offices doth deny Faith 1 Tim. 5. 8. i. e. falsify and relinquish his 〈◊〉 For the Faith that is accepted is not speculative practical and pactional They are the words of a â—â—umous Manuscript left by a Judicious Divine up to Christ as to his Lord Master as to his Head Hope Saviour I would not here be misconstruâ—â—â—â—â— when I derogate from a bare â—â—usting Far is it from me to â—ight that precious Act of Faith 〈◊〉 Trust or Affiance much less to deride those expressions which even Scripture seems to set it forth by As a laying or leaâ—â—ing on our Beloved Cantic 8. 5. A staying of our selves upon God Isa 50. 10. Or if we will casting a Psal 55. 22. 37. 5. rowling or restinâ— of our selves upon him who iâ— able to save unto the utter most For surely there can be no greater no sweeter repose unto thâ— Soul than a Trusting in its Saviour a Resting on the Bosom oâ— his Love on the fulness of hiâ— Merit Righteousness Satisfactâ—on and Redemption Isa 26. 3â— Thou shalt keep him in perfect peaâ—â— whose mind is stayed on thee becauâ—â— he trusteth in thee Always provided that this Trâ—sting be well and rightly grounâ—ed that it proceed upon thâ— Terms and Conditions b That is Such Conditions as are joyned with it Isa 50. 10. fearing of the Lord aâ— obeying the voice of his Servants Such as the Book Homilies adds to it Homily of Salvation second 〈◊〉 circa finem A Trusting in Gods Mercy to obtain there â—ods Grace and remission as well of our original sin in â—ptism as of all Actual sin committed by us after our â—ptism if we truly repent and turn unfeignedly to him 〈◊〉 And so Homily of Faith first part circa mediural we return again unto him by true repentance And aâ—â—â— the end of it We trust that our offences be continuly washed and purged whensoever we repenting truly return to him stedfastly determining with our selves â—rough his Grace to obey and serve him Such is the 〈◊〉 Faith that the Scripture doth so much commend of thâ— â—ospel and that in all other â—hings it answer the Call of the â—ospel Otherwise there may 〈◊〉 as the Prophet speaks Mic. 〈◊〉 11. a leaning upon God a â—aying of our selves upon the God 〈◊〉 Israel mentioning his Name 〈◊〉 48. 2. but not in Truth Verse â—e first not warranted by the â—ord of Truth not coming from â—e Grounds of Truth but meerâ— springing from wrong and false â—nd mis apprehensions of God â—nd of his Covenant And therefore as an a Dr. Stillingfleets Sermon upon Rom. 1. 16. Page 165. circa finem able and learned Defender of the Protestant Religion says great care should be taken lest by misunderstanding the notion of believing so much spoken of as the condition of our Salvation Men live in the neglect of whaâ— the Gospel requires and so believe themselves into eternal miâ—sery Affiance or Confidence in God i. e. in him as reconciled abstracting from the Grace of Repentance or not-supposing conversion from sin unto God is noâ— a 2 Tim. 2. 19. Psalm 25. 1 2. Where trusting in God and wilful transgressing against God 1. without a cause are put as terms iâ—compatible as things inconsistent And that no wicked or impenitent person can have a surâ— trust or a true confidence in God or in Christ is fully evidenced from what is delivered in the Homily of Salvâ—tion Part the third Page 18. And more fully in the Hoâ—iâ— of Faith Part the third per totam Christian-confidence but caâ—nal presumption Neither will iâ— ever hold when it comes to trial but sink and succumb notwithstanding all the Artifices to shorâ— and prop it up The real guilt anâ— conscience of sin in the Hearâ— and Life will easily recoil anâ— beat down all such fond forceâ— and ill-founded confidences or perâ—asions And it will be found a â—â—â—tain truth that nothing will â—ord a vivid or lasting hope toâ—ards God or trust in God save â—â—ly the consciousness of our sinceâ—â—y in obeying the Call of the Goâ—â—â—l According to what is hintâ—â— 1 John 3. 21. If our Hearts â—â—demn us not i. e. of prevariâ—ing with God and with the Goâ—â—el by impenitency or hypocriâ—â— then says he and then 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 1. 12. have we confidence towards 〈◊〉 And thus have I done with the â—â—cond Branch of Evangelical Oâ—â—dience i. e. Obedience to the â—ll of the Gospel There is yet a third Branch beâ—â—nd to be added to the former make it full and compleat and â—â—at is Obedience to the special â—â—les to the more particular Preâ—â—pts of the Gospel directing 〈◊〉 appointing us how to live and â—alk in our conversations As for this Branch of Obedience yâ— may know it by the Names of iâ— in Scripture 'T is called a Doinâ— of Righteousness 1 John 3. 7 10 An Obedience unto Righteousness Rom. 6. 16. A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a keeping oâ— observing of the Commandments 1 Cor. 7. 19. John 15. 10. Anâ— lastly a walking 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by thâ— Rule or Canon of the Gospel Phil 3. 16. Let us walk by the samâ— Rule Gal. 6. 16. As many as walâ— according to this Rule Peace be oâ— them and Mercy i. e. the Rule oâ— the New Creature Verse 19. Thâ— Rule and Measure of a Gospel life For this we must know anâ— remember that the Gospel is noâ— only a Rule of right believing buâ— a Rule of holy living as it is thâ— Power of God for our Salvation so it is the Will of God for our instruction in righteousness For there are not only the Crâ—denda the Truths of the Gospeâ— in matters of Faith but all the Agenda the Precepts the Directions and Injunctions of the Gospel in matters of Life and Practise Titus
pure Offering shall be offered to my Name for my Name shall be great among the Heathen Excellently does St. Chrysostome Orat. secunda contra Judaeos urge this Place against the Jews It is not said says he my Name shall be great in Israel as Psal 76. 1. In Juda is God known his Name is great in Israel but great among the Gojim among the Heathen or Gentiles And again not in one two or three Cities or Countries but in every place yea and from the rising of the Sun to the going down of the same Thereby shewing says he that as far as the light and course of the Sun reaches over the Earth so far should be the course and compass of the Gospel But then secondly another grand Effect that followed the promulgation of the Gospel was the Conversion of the Nations of the Gentiles to the Faith and Worship of the True God And is not this from first to last frequently mentioned with and as it were limited to the coming of the Messia Gen. 22. 18. In thy Seed i. e. Christ Gal. 3. 16. shall all the Nations of the Earth be blessed Gen. 49. 10. The Scepter shall not depart from Judah till Shilo till Christ the Peace-maker come And presently he adds And to him shall the gathering of the People be Aggregatio or Obedientia populorum erit ei as it is in Arias Montanus So in Psal 2. 8. says God to his Christ Ask of me and I will give thee the Heathen for thy Inheritance and the uttermost parts of the Earth for thy Possession i. e. for thy Church and People A Psalm which even the Rabbies themselves expound of the Messia says Solomon Jaerchi To these I shall add but one more that in Isa 2. Verse 2 4. where 't is said That in the last Verse 2. days i. e. in the days of the Messiah says the same Rabbi Solomon the Mountain of the Lords House that is the Religion of the Messia shall be established on the top of the Mountains shall be advanced above all others and all Nations shall flow unto it that is to be enriched with the knowledge of Gods Will and Ways as it follows in the third Verse For out of Zion shall go Verse 3. forth the Law The Law of Faith Rom. 3. 27. and the Word of the Lord out of Jerusalem for so was it commanded To be preached unto all Nations beginning at Jerusalem Luke 24. 47. And then it follows And he that is Verse 4. the Lord shall judge among the Nations i. e. shall rule and govern them by the Scepter of his VVord and Gospel From all which Places nothing more evident than the predicting of the calling and conversion of the Gentiles as to be at the appearing of the Messia And it is as evident that these Prophecies have been accomplished in the preaching and progress of the Gospel the Event has verified the Prediction For no sooner was the Sun of Righteousness fully risen but the Idolatry of the Pagan World began to fall as Dagon before the Ark till at length the Worship of their false Gods was destroyed their According to the Prophecies Isa 2. 19 20. Jer. 10. 11. Isa 25 6 7. Temples demolished their famous Oracles long ceased and gone and the Knowledge of the One True God and his Son Jesus Christ set up and advanc'd in the room of them And this was that same Shaking of the Heavens Movit Coelum Angelorum Syderum testimonio quando incarnatus est Christus movit terram ingenti miraculo de ipso Virginis partu movit Mare Aridum â—am in Insulis in Orâ—e tuto Christus annuntiaretur Ita movâ—ri omnes Centes vidâ—mus ad Fidem Aug. de Civ Dei L. 18. C. 35. and the Earth yea and of all Nations spoken of Hag. 2. 6 7. that is The universal Change and Mutation that was to come over the Face of the Earth as to the Matter of Religion But so much shall suffice to be spoken of the first Remarkable in the Text i. e. The large spread and extent of the Gospel In being made known unto all Nations I shall now pass unto the second 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Justin M. P. 265. The same is mentioned Rom. 1. 5. Rom. 16. 19. 2 Cor. 10. 5. St. Austin calls it Obedientiam credendi Aug. in Joâ—n tract 29. Considerable in the Text which is more practical and that is to the main Scope End and Drift of the Gospel in being thus made known and that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 says the Apostle For the Obedience of Faith This as ye see is here mentioned as the whole design and intent of the Gospel to frame us to Obedience to the Obedience of Faith For as the Sum of the Gospel on Gods part are the Mercies and Benefits therein tendered and promised so the Sum and Substance of all that it requires on our parts to whom it comes is To believe and obey it This then being the Total of what is expected at our Hands in order unto Life here and Salvation hereafter namely the practice of Evangelical Obedience it will highly concern us in the first place to enquire into the nature of this Obedience and in the next vigorously to pursue it And that we may understand it the better we should here consider three things First The parts and Branches of this Obedience Secondly The Principles and Properties of it Thirdly The Assistances and Encouragements given thereunto The first of these I fear will take up our time at present First then This Evangelical Obedience or the Obedience of Faith it consists in three main Branches or Particulars The first is Obedience to the Truths of the Gospel by receiving and retaining them The second is Obedience to the Call of the Gospel bidding us to Repent and Believe and return unto God The third is Obedience to the more special Rules of the Gospel appointing us in every kind how to live and walk in our Converstions First then The prime and leading part of our Obedience 〈◊〉 lies in yielding the assent of our Minds and Judgments unto the Truths of the Gospel When we captivate our Reasons to the plainness and simplicity of the 2 Cor. 11. 3. 2 Cor. 10. 5. 1 Cor. 4. 6. Gospel for there is Obsequium Fidei as well as obsequium Viâ—â— When we give up our appreheâ—sions to be shaped and our Judgments to be filed as it were and framed according to theat form sound words 2 Tim. 1. 13. according to that Mould of Doctrine Rom. 6 17. delivere to us in the Gospel Now that our assenting 〈◊〉 and embracing of the Truths 〈◊〉 the Gospel is a piece and part 〈◊〉 our Obedience will appear froâ— these few Considerations First 'T is a thing under command Mark 1. 15. Believe the Gospel John 12. 36. Believe in the Light John 14. 11. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father
in me With many the like Passages Now where there is a command on Gods part the Thing commanded to be done must needs be an Obedience on our part Secondly Faith is an assent upon Authority yea upon the highest and greatest Authority In believing of the Positive Truths of the Gospel Faith goes not upon the sight and evidence of the things in themselves but upon the Revelation Testimony and Authority of Gods Word 1 Thes 2. 13. Ye received the Word not â—s the Word of Man but as it is in Truth the Word of God This is it that Commands and captivates the understanding into a compliant persuasion Sic dicit Dominus Thus and thus saith the Lord. Since then Authority is the Ground and Basis of Faith in perswading Obedience must needs be the Act of Faith in assenting in submitting to that Authority Again thirdly Faith or Assent it comes from or depends upon an imperate Act of the Will and upon that score puts on the Nature of Obedience True indeed we do not believe with ouâ— Wills * See Dr. Stillingfleets Rational Account P. 137 138. against T. C. as some of the Pontificians seem to teach For no Man really believes as he list oâ— meerly because he please but upon evidence of Grounds and Reasons But yet since those Evidences will never produce Faith unless we bend and hold our Minds to a due and serious attention to them as 't is said of Lydia a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysostom in locum God opened her Heart to attend and so to believe Acts 16. 14. And since it is the Heart or Will b Recté Tho. Anglus in Sono Buccinae p. 197. Voluntas applicat intellectum ad cogitanda motiva cum sollicitudine desiderio veritatis that under God commands and fixes the Attention both unto the Matters and Motives of Faith it evidently follows that though we do not formally believe by our Wills yet â—ot a Non potest intellectus credere quando vult si absque eo quòd velit nunquam credat White Sonus Buccinae P. 201. See Dr. Stillingfleets Rational Account Pag. 138. without our Wills and that the assent of Faith though it be not the immediate Act of the Will yet 't is undoubtedly under God the Effect of the Will enforcing the Attention against all carnal fears or interests that would divert us from the Faith Upon which score the infidelity of Men seems to be resolved into their unwillingness John 5. 40. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ye will not come unto me i. e. you will not believe or become my Proselytes by Faith Again fourthly and lastly Consider that our assenting to the Doctrine of Faith 't is expresly call'd by the Name of Obedience in Scripture 1 Pet. 1. 22. Ye have purified your Souls in obeying the Truth i. e. in a firm believing it Gal. 3. 1. Who hath bewitchâ—â— you that ye should not obey the Truth i. e. in not sticking to right Belief of the Gospel in the Article of Justification And so Rom. 10. 16. The Apostle having said They have not â—â— obeyed the Gospel expounds it â—â— the very next words by believing for Esaias saith Who hath believâ—â— our report So that 't is evident ouâ— very believing receiving embracing retaining of the Truths of the Gospel 't is a part and piece of our Evangelical Obedience All that I shall draw from this Head is only two short Inferences First is our assenting to the Matters of Faith a piece of Obedience then surely there is more of Disobedience in the World thaâ— some are aware of Even the forsaking or rejecting of Gospel Truths is a piece of Disobedience For Gods Truth comes with Authority comes in Gods Name and lays an obligation upon all that hear it or can hear it to attend and believe And therefore he that either shuts or casts it out of his belief he thereby refuses to be subject and obedient to God Who hindered you that ye should not obey the Truth says the Apostle to the erring Galatians This perswasion comes not of him that calleth you Gal. 5. 7 8. So that whosoever withholds or with-draws his assent or perswasion from such Divine and Evangelical Truths he therein with-draws his Obedience or Subjection Whatsoever Points of this nature we hear from the Gospel we must one day give an account of how we received or why we refused them For where God has a Mouth to speak we must have an Ear to hear and a Mind to attend and a Heart to believe or answer for the neglect of it Secondly Is this a part yea the first part of our obedience our assenting to Gods Truth ouâ— receiving and retaining it in opposition to Errour and corruption of Doctrine Then sure it is a thing of great consequence of what Faith and Belief or perswasion we are in matters of Religion that we mistake not 2 Cor. 11. 13 14. 2 These 2. 10 11. 1 Tim. 6. 5. 2 Tim. 3. 8. Darkness for Light Error for Truth that we embrace not Deceits and Delusions in stead of sound Doctrine the bold Fantasies and Novelties of corrupt Minds in stead of the Verities and Mysteries of Christ in stead of the Words and Truth of Soberness I say 't is a thing of some concern what we shut out or take in into our Minds as Matter of Faith because accordingly we shall be counted of the number either of the Obedient or Disobedient According to the soundness or rottenness of our Principles and Perswasions as to the main accordingly shall we be so John 8. 32. 2 Tim. 2. 25 26. far found either the Subjects of Christ or the Slaves of Satan of error and darkness Would we therefore be true that is obedient Servants unto God Here we must begin and hold on our course Labour for a sound establishment in the main Truths of the Gospel Read and meditate on the Scriptures of Truth as they are called Dan. 10. 21. Attend unto the guidance of those whose Office it is to divide â—nto you the Word of Truth Pray for the Spirit of Truth to 2 Tim. 2. 15. John 16. 13. â—ead you into all necessary Truth â—n a word as it is Prov. 23. 23. Buy the Truth and sell it â—ot that is spare no cost no â—ains in the getting of it And being gotten part with it upon â—â— terms barter not away the plain and pretious Truths of God for the meer fancies and bold presumptions of Men. Let the Word of Christ dwell Col. 3. 16. richly in you in all wisdom that ye may be strong and grounded Christians Not Children in understanding 1 Cor. 14. 20. Heb. 5. 13 14. 1 Tim. 3 9. but Men skilful in the Word of Righteousness and holding the Mystery of Faith in â—â— pure Conscience the best and easiest Depository for Divine Truth Quia facile male creditur ubi nâ—â— recte vivitur But I have done with the first