2 2 z The Life of Faith. firff Teacher, and bringeth us to oj%nt : And then that of font bringeth. us to take God for our End, and Cbrillfor the Means of our attual Jujfiftcarion and Glory; fo that Chrifi is not by Faithcbefen and ufed by us under the notionof a Whet- tour orMeans to ourfirff att of love and content; but is a Means to that ofthe Fathers cbufing only ; but is in that firif confine chofen by us for the ftanding means ofour 7uffification and Glo- ry, and ofall our folfowiseg rocercife and increafe oflove to God, and our fanCificatiozn ; tò that it is only the affenting ad of faith, and not theeletting att, which is the efficient caute ofot$ veryfirft at`f of Love toGod,and of our firfi degree offandifica_ tion ; snd thus it is that Faith is called the feed and mother grace: But it is not that faving Faith which is our Chriftiani ty, and the condition of Juifification and of Glory, till it come up to a covenant- cnnfeat of heart, and take in the forefaid ads of. Repentance and Love to Godas our God and ultimate end. The obfervation ofmany written miftakes about the order of the workofgrace, and the ill and contentious confequents that have followed them, hath made me think that this true and accurate decifaon of this cafe, is not unufeful or unnem ceffary. DireC:f. 12. 7be Holy Gbo fo farconcurredwith the eternal Word, in our Redemption, that bewas the perfelling Operator, in the avenception, the Holinefs, the Miracles, the RefurrettionofJefits Cbrift. Ofhis Conception it is laid, Mat. r. 20. For that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghoft. And verf, 18. She was . found with childof the Holy Gbof. And of his holy perfection, as it is faid,Luke 2.5 z. that be inereafed in wijdom, and fta- ture,andfavourwith God and men, (meaning chafe pofitive pereedions ofhis humane nature (which were to grow up with,nature it.fclf, and not the fupply of any culpable or pri- vative Weds) fo when he was baptized, the Holy Gboft de- fcended in a bodily.fhape like aDove upon him, Luke 3.22. And Luke 4. r. it is faid, Jefas being full of tbo Holy Ghoff, &c. Ifa. air. a. And the Spirit ofthe Lordfiiall rtft upon him; the Spi., ritof wifdom and under(fanding;:the Spirit of counfel and might ; the Spirit ofknowledge, and thefear of the Lord, and Thai make binsquiçkof underfialding in forfearof the Lord, dPe. joh. 5.34_ For
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