32 3:0¢parnionr of Me Z'u1,ü e %ttt tbuttz, Ch. VII. the whole revealed will of God) that is vital to the tArThr-N) Soul, but that which is praCtifed by us. The Apoflle a Con 13. s, faith, Though he had the underfl'andingofall Myfteries, and all Knowledg, and all Faith, yet ifit were notjoin- edwith Love, the principle ofObedience, it were unpro- fitable. There is the fame difference between the spe- culative Knowledg of there Myfteries, and that which is Affe&ionate and Operative; as between the wearing ofPearls for Ornament, and the taking of them as a Cordial to revive the fainting fpirits. In fhort, Such a Belief is required, as prevails up- on the Will, and draws the Affeftions, and renders the whole Man obfequious to the Gofpel. For fuch a Faith is alone anfwerable to the qualityofthe Revela- tion. The Gofiel is not a meer Narrative, but a Pro- mife. Chrift is not reprefented only as an innocent Perfondying, but as the SonofGod dying to deliver Men from Sin, and the effeîls of it. Thefallen Angels may underftand and believe it without any Affections, being unconcern'd in it: To them 'tis a naked Hifto ry, but to Men 'tis a Promife, and cannot be rightly u Tim. 1.15. received, without the mofe ardent Affections. This is .a faithful Saying, and worthy òf all acceptation, That yefirs Chrift came into the world to fave sinners. 'Tis efentially good, as trues its Sweetnefs and Pro- fit are equal to its Certainty : So that it commends it felfto all our Faculties. There are fevere and fad Truths, which are attend- ed with fearful expeFtation, and the Mind is averfe from receiving them: As the Law which like Light- ning terrifies the Soul with its amazing Brightnefs: And there are pleafant illußons which have no folid Foundation: And as Truthdoth not delight the Mind, unlefs united to Goodnefs, fuch as is fuitable to its ,Palate; fo Gooduefs cloth not.affeEt the Will unlefs it be
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=