Ball - BT770 B3 1637

Faith io. an obedient:allaffiance. , 3 3 will thew it felfe by outward deeds, and namely pro- feion. Mercieandobedience are linked ; Chriff isboth aLord and Saviour : and that faith which makes plea for mercie, doth embrace the Commandements; thatwhich receiveth Chrift as a Saviour, fubmitteth untohim as a Soveraigne. The frength offaith is equallto the promifes of life, and to theoffices ofpietieand love : or ifthere beanydifference, it is weakefl to lay hold upon the promifes, becaufe they are mofl fpirituall, and furtheff removed from fenfe. Confi- dence and relying upon the mercie of God in Chrìff for falvation, maybe leflè thancareand abi litie towalk inobe- dience,greater it cannot be. The word that in the Old Te- ftament fignifieth, tofeeke, is by the Seventie tranflated, Hope, whichinterpretation the Apofllealloweth: whence itfolloweth, that trueconfidence, themother ofhope, doth lift up the heart tofeeke the Lord in the wayof his Corn: mandements. Moreover, faith is oppofednot onely todoubting, diffi- dence, andfainting : but towavering, double-mindedneffe, halting, difobedience, flubbornnefle; by reafon of the ne- ceffarieconnexion ofthofe parts in both oppofites. eiskye infaith,andwavernot : Adouble-mindedman is unfiable inall his wayes. Throughunbeleefe thou art brokenof,and thouflandefl by faith. Take heed,brethren, left at anytime therebe inyou an evill heart and unfaithfull, to departa- way from the living cod. Theyprofefe that they know God, but by works theydeny him, andare abominable, and difobedient,or unfaithfull. Heethat beleeveth in theSon hash everlafling life : but hee that beleeveth (or obeyeth) not the Son,fhalnotfee life, but the wrath of God abideth on him_,. Now ifincredulitie bee not without diffidence and difobedience, true faith in God is not without confi- dence and affe9ion ofobedience. Hereunto may beadded, that themanifold rebellions of Ifrael in thewilderneffe are called unbeleefe. They belee- vednotin God, and truflednot inhisfalvation : for all this D they Tra.rr.ra. Rom., i :. Jam r.6,s. Romrr.,o. Heb 3.12. rir.r.is. Juh.3 35. Pral.J .22,,32.

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