Of Chriflian Fortitude. id) ful it was, and what danger the chriffians of SERM. the circumcifion (his fpecial charge) were in ÍV. of being led away with the error of the ' ^ wicked, and falling from their fledfalinefs, gives alfo his teftimony to the fame important truth, and exhorts them to perfect their faith and prove its fincerity by abounding in every good work, in all the branches of religious virtue, that they might neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of (efts Chrifl. This is to be underffood as the ftanding doc- trine and rule of chriftianitÿ ; and whatever opinions have a contrary tendency, that is to lay fuch ffrefs on faith as to fuperfede the ne- ceífity of obedience, of fobriety, of righteouf nefs, . of godlinefs, and charity, ought to be regarded as molt dangerous, overturning the very foundation, which fays the apoffle has this feal, * let every one that nameth the name of Chr fl depart from iniquity. Whe= ther we underffand by faith a naked affent to the truth of the gofpel, or a ftrong con- fidence in the merits of yefus Chrifl, on nei- ther of thefe ought we to rely; it is that faith only which worketh by love, which purifies the heart, and reforms the life, by which we can hope to be accepted ; that faith only to * 2 Tim. ii. g. which
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=