VE x.15, Ephefltns,Chap.i. ceived,as propoundirgChrift the Pimple object of faith : The fecond phrafe noteth Chrift the obje&,together with our adheringtohim : The third, noteth Chrift the object, our inhering inhim, together with the word propounded,as the way andmeaneby which we come beleevingly to inhere in him ; for that diftincìionwhich fome make,following fome of the ancient, isnot by Scripturewarrantable,which doth indifferent- ly appropriate thefe two phrafestothe Saints, to beleeve in the Lord Jefus, & to beleeveonhim. Chrift is every where madethe thing which faith embraceth to falvation ; So God loved theworld, that hegave his Soiene, whom he hath Pet forth a propitiatory facrifice, through faith on his bloud : Through faith on him we hope to be favedas others ; not that Chrift is the onely object, about which faith is exercifcd ; but it is theprincipali of all others , and the foie objet about which itis occupi- ed, that it may obtaine righteoufneffeand life everlafting ; otherwife, as faith iscalled juftifying faith, not that to juflifie is the foie adæquate or full act of it; but becaufeto juftifie to life, is the molt eminent ad of all others: fo it is Paid to apprehend Chrift, not that Chrift is the ada.- quate, the full objeét of faith,as colour is of fight; but becaufeit is the moft eminentof all other. In likefort, Love is called thelove ofGod, not that the fame love wherewith we love God, doth not love men alto ; the contrary whereof, fee, t john 4. 12. but becaufe God is the moft excellent object, about which it is converfant. Further to open this point: a. Things mull be Chewed ; firft,what faith in Chrift, oron Chrift, is ; fecondly,why faith as it juflifieth and faveth, is carried to Chrift onely : Faith on Chrift, isnot onely to know, and with the eye ofthe mind to fee that God fent his Sonne, that he was born and fuf- fered for mankind ; butto reft or flay onChrift, that we may find mer- cy in him, to the forgiveneffe of our fins ; to flay on him ; for faithis not onlya knowledge in the mind,but agodly aftClion in the wil,which doth goe to, embrace , reft upon Chrift , or the graceoffred in Chrift, Ergo, receiving is made an effe& offaith,lohn x.12 .and going to Chrift, bethat beleeveth, he thatcommeth tome, John 6.and the natureoffaith is defcrihcd by words which lignifie to roll our felveson God, to leave on him, as one would flay himfelfeupon a flaffe; forthe wordofpro mire, not onely containing truth,but offering forcegood thing unto us, we cannot fully receive it with underftanding, but the willalto mutt; move toward ir. Againe,let me bediftrefl'ed for ahundred pound,orfo, ifone promife me I (hall have it ofhim, Idoe not onely knowand think, and periwade myfelfe he faith true; but Itruft tohim, reftonhim,and write as we fay, on that he hash fpoken. Betdes, ifthere were no particular confi- dence in a Chriftians faith, the reprobate might haveall that is inhis beleefe. Now though our faith beleeve many other things, yet it jufti- fieth and reconcilethus to God, as it doth fee and tell uponChrift : As a malefactor, though his hand will receive innumerable matters, yet as it receiveth the Kings pardon onely, it doth acquit him and rellore him to liberty; fo it is with us condemned ones, as our faith receiveth Gods 153
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