Fides percipit ju ificattancrn, e,fiétt (andlfi- cätiónem., The Covenant of Works Chap. 1 2. it is the inftrument of God,or man. i.'Not ofman, for man is not the principal) efficient , he doth not juftifie himfelf. 2. Not of God. For (i.) It is not God that beleeveth , though it is'true, God is the first caufe of all adions. (a.) Man is the caufa fecun- da, between God and the a &ion, and iò still man fhould be faid to juftifie himfelf. (3.) For (as Aquinas) the action of the prin- cipal caufe, and of the instrument is one action.; and who dare fay,that faith is fo Gods inftrument?(4.)The instrument muff have an influx to the producing of the effect of the principal caufe by a proper caufality ; and who dare fay that faith bath such an in- flux into our juftification ? I anfwer, It is the inftrument ofman; and though man do not juftifie himfelf, yet he concurres as a willing, ready ag nt with God in it ; Cod t a ju ffi fier of thefe that beleeve in 7ej"ud, Rom. 3. 26. God hathfet C hri,(i forth a propitiation through faith,Rom. 3.25. And becaufe it is the inftrument of in a work of this nature, it is alto an inftrument ofGod. As fome have obferved a commu- nication of Titles between Chrift and his Church : ( the Church being called by his Name,) fo there is a communication of actions in thefe relative works; C,'hrifl «" e is in our hearts by faith, Eph. 3 17. We beleeve, and not Chrirc, and vet faith there is Chrifts infirumerit , whereby he takes up his abode ; p' -srifies the hearts of the gentiles by faith, Ads 15. 17. They beleeved and not God , yet faith is Gods inftrument in the work of their puri- fication ; fo on the other fide , the Spirit is Gods work , yet we by the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the flefh, Rom. 8. 13. Man nei- ther juffifies nor fanctifies himfelf, yet by faith he is raifed to dole with God in both;& fo Faith as an inftrument receives righ- teoufnefs to juffification,and therefore is called the righteoufnefs of faith which is our juftification, and works fandification, pro- vided you underfiand not the firrft work , which is properly rege- neration,and precedent to faith, but the farther progreffe and in- creafe ofit; The Spirit work ri faith, faith takes in a larger mea- fure ache Spirit. ¡oh. 7.3 7. 1.1e that beleeveth on me, as the Scri- ptrre faith, out of his belly (hall flow rivers of living water ; but this he fpalZe of the Sp ;rit, which they that beleevg on him, fhould receive. The Spirit will do nothingwith out our faith, and our faith can do nothing uwithout the Spirit; Man cannot juftifie himfelf by beleeving without God, and God -will not juftifie an unbeleeving man.
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