V5ß .13. 6pI efram, Chap. %. 385 On him.] Hrnce in the laft place we are taught What is the thing about whichfaith is occup idfofarreforth a it dccth juftify as, viz. Chrift Dolf. lefiu. As zo. zr. Repentance towards God, and faith towards our lord ¡ootedtne!y tefuChriff. For that which doth juftify, muff layhold of Gods righ- chriR,asitju- teoufneflè as it dorh juftifyus: now Chrift is made of God righreout 4ified,. neffe to every believer, when by faithwe flay on him, and that which hehath done for us; being madeof God, Wifdorne, Righteoufnefse, San. ` eor ' a° fification andRedemption. The not diftinguifhing faith, as it doth go- verne our lives, from it felfe as it doth jultify, will breed great confu- fron. The chicfe and proper objed or fubjec of true juftifying faith is Chrift crucified, or Chrift obeying to the death, that the foule may find righteoufneffè and forgiveneffe of finnes to life in him. For to believe that my finne is now forgiven in Chrift, is rather an apt of ex- perience in a believer now juftified, then that beliefe which is required to juflification: To reft on Chrift obeying to the curled death of the Croffe, that I may get pardon and life everlafting from the grace of God, this is the ad of juftifying faith, with the matter alfo about whichit is converfant. Chrift is the full and adrequate objeét of be- liefe, as it doch juftify, even as colour is thefull objet ofthe power of feeing. Faith dorh not look at any thing elfe, as is doth exercife that facultywhich worketh to the juftification of us, faith doch believe Vhfa ñek,s threamings, doth fuftaine us in adverfities, doth ( like a Queen) guide this only ju_ altour aelions,doth work by love, but it doth not juttify,but only as it a'h"ah doth turne it felfe ro apprehend Chrift. For look as nosh ng in a poore man can make him rich, further then it doth getriches intohis poffefli- on: fo nothing in us finners can make us righteous ro life, further then it doth layholdon fucha righteoufneffe which can take away, fin, and make us righteous to the receiving of life eternal!. VE R S. I 3. Wherefore 1 deftre thatyeefaint not at my tribulations vs,, 3. or you, which isyour glory. Now followeth the conclufion byway ofexhortation. For expli- cation ofche words. r. What is meant byfainting. The word inthe Ekxa ,r. originall fgnifies, after profelïion andendeavour after any good , as what t° weary and overcome with the labours and difficulties ofattaining it, faint. togive over without it, and to fit downe with loffe, and to end our la- bours with evill and hurt to our felves or others , and lofe all our paints: In this place more e:pecialiv is fignifies a falling away from the likingofthe Gofpell, and of the Apoftle his perfon , at leaft the re- membranceofhim, as may be gathered from r Thef. 3, 3.6. compa- red. z. Here is in this verne in the Greeke , a phrafe fomewhat ftrange, TM. The like is Philip. r. a 8. they feem tobe Hebraifinesof that kind whichpit the feminine for the neuter abfolute. The fumme: " I would not have you upon my affli &ions which are for your " good, (as I have proved)fhrinkefrom my doctrine , or me your " Teacher; and though youmay thinke this reproachful!, you (hall t be counted bufy and faEtious, yet it is your glory conftantly to L 13 hol
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