274 The Life of Faith. advantage toour faith : 1. In an appointed Ordinance which he will blefs. 2. By a fpecial Miaitier appointed to real and deliver it to us as in his Name. 3. By a folemn Sacramental lnve(liture. 2. And our own renewing our Covenant with him, is the renewed exercife of faith, which will tend to firengthen it,and to (hew us that we arc indeed Believers. And there is much in that Sacrament to help the flrengthening offaith : There- fore the frequent and right ufing of it, is one of Gods ap- pointed means , to feed and maintain our fpiritual life; which if we negledi, we wilfully (lave our faith, a Cor, r t. 26, zS, &c. Dire&, 32. Keep allyour own promifes to God and man. For t. Lyars alwaics furped others. 2. Guilt breedeth fufpicioufnefs. 3. God in Office may leave you to your di- ffruff of him, when you will be perfidious your (elves. You can never be confident in God, while you deal falfly with him or with others. The end of the Commandment is Charity out of ,a ;pure heart, a good confcience, and faith unfeigned, a Tim. 1.5. DireC:f. 33. Labour to improve your belief of every promife, for the increufe of holinefs and obedience : And to get more upon your fouls that true Image of God in his Power, Wifdom and Goodne fe, whichwill malte it eafie to you to believe bim. a. The more the hypocrite feemeth ro believe the promife, the more he boldly ventureth upon fin, and difobeyeth the precept; becaufe it was but fear that retirained him ; and his belief is but prefumption abating fear. But the more a true Chriflian believeth, the more he flycth from fin, and ufeth Gods means, and fiudieth more exa6t obedience ; and having thefe proraifeF, labouretb to cleante bimfelffrom all fìlthinefs cf flejie and Spirit, perfeCiing holinefs in the fear ofGod, 2Cor.7.a. And receiving a Kingdom whit cannot be moved, we muff ferve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear , Heb. 12. 28 29. 2. The lifter the foul is to God, the caller it will believe and truft him. As filth caufcth holinefs; fo every part of holinefs befriendeth faith. Now the three great impre(lìons of theTrinity upon us arecxprcffed Mint:fly by the Apoflle, aTim,
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