V s R. S. EplaRflanr,Chapoz. 744 "had I do to bePaved ? It is answered, Beleeve on the Lord fella. . And truly the righteoufneffeof Chrift bath not been of more ancient time given to men, then Faith bath been appointed the receiver hereof,cal- led therefore, Therighteoufneffeof But it may be objeéted (as we havebefore taught) that the grace of God cannot ftand with any thing in man. How then (will you ask) can it Rand with Faith ft is true, that the grace of God doth not brook any thing inherent in man, and of man, and yet norwithftanding may well agree with Faith. For, Faith is not of man, no not in man by nature; For all men bave not faith, 2 Thefr. 3. 2. but it is in man renewed , and as a gift of meer grace. Secondly, Faith doth not juftifie, as it is an inherent quality in us, but as it apprehendeth Chrift Jefus the Redeemer, who is made unto us of God righteoufneffe ; Thus you fee that Faith is not at all prejudicial) to Gods favour. And this is not the onely reafon, becaufe that Faith is givenof grace; for then all the gifts of the holy Gholt might come likewifè into the article of Juftification. Again, Faith receiveth onely, and fheweth to God that righteouf- neffe and merit of Chrift which God bath given , and onely for that thing received, not for receiving, doth feek to be juftified. Again, Faith receiving Chrift, ftandeth with grace, becaufe it is of grace,that the faithful) foul laying hold of Chrift , is juftified : for the Law knoweth not this righteoufneffe , but biddeth us bring our own; it is therefore the Lords grace that accepteth Faith for the righ- teoufneffe ofthe beleever, in the agreement of acceptation,and there- fore Faith is faid to be imputed for righteoufneffe. But then here we may anfcver a cavill; Come may ask, Howwe can be faid to be faved by gracealone,fometime byFaith alone,fornetime by mercie, by Chrift; when if by anyof thefe alone, theotherfhould he excluded I anfwer,the word [alone] excludeth fuchcaufes as fight with thefe, or any of them, (for fight with one, and fight with all) not thofe that are ftitordinate. This then doth let us fee howabfurd they are,that will make Faith andGods grace fight together, which the Lord bathfo fweetly cou- pled. This by the way. I come now to the main Do trine, which is this, viz. That Gods grace deth fo fave, that firfl we mull be true beleevers . Grace and be- lief mutt not be fevered in the matterof falvation. God fo loved the world, that whofoever beleeveth in him, be. Look as in the Covenant of the Law, Do this and live; no deed, no life : So in this Covenant of the Gofpel, wherein the Lord promifeth for Chrift to pardon fin, to jullifie, to accept to eternall life ; here it may be Paid, Nofaith, no portion in the promifes of ggod, in thegraceof God in Chrift Jefus: for look asplatters unapplyed, fo is Chrift unbeleeved. Nay more, haft thou Phil ;.g; ObleEf. Anfn. I. 3 Obi;11. e/!nf. Doflr. Scleevers a.. lone partake of grace. loh.I.x6.
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