1B8 A Faith of the 14w, preparat~ry ing of a word, and of a perfon, and thing, held forth in that word. Now there is a twofold word, to be beiieved or . trufieJ by ~ll thofe, who would enter into the cove.. · nant of grace, in a · faving manner ; namely, the . word of the law, and the word of the gofpe~. The believing of the former, is a faith of the law; the be~ lieving ofrhe latter, a faith of the gofpel: ofwhich, - in order. · . , _ , · .11 Faith of the Law, preparato·ry for- the Covenant. ,THE fail~ of the.~aw, is not indeedJ!It;ing faith : _ for the Jaw IS the word arid mnufirati_on of condemnation, and not of righteoufnefs '; as fpeaking nothing of a Saviout, an atonement, er an imputed righteoufnefs, 2 Cor. iii. 9· Neverthelefs, it is a ne– celfary antecedent !hereof, according to the fl:ated ~rder of the difpenfation of the covenant. Thefaith Df the law is like the hearing of thejlrong wind, the feeling of the earth'quak~, and feeing of the fire; in .-which tho' the Lord was not, yet they ferved . t0 pre~ pare for hearkning to 1 the fii/1 /mall voice, in \vhich he was, 1 Kings xix. u, 12. Accordi'ngly, the faith of the 'law is the work of the Spirit of_God, 3$ well as the faving faith of the gofpel ; tho' wrought . in a different manner. The former he works, as a Spirit of bondage, convincing of fin and mifery, by the law, Rom. _viii. 15. with John xvi. 8. The latter he works as a quickning Spirit,' enlightning the foul in tile knowledge of Chrifi~ by the gofpel, 2 ~ore iii. 17, 18. · ' - W'hofoever then would enter into the covenant of grace, mufi,. in the firfi place, have a faith of the law; for which caufe, it is neceffary, ·that the law, as ~ell as the gofpel, b~ preached unto firiuers. And that faith of the law confifl:s in a beliefof thefe three·things. Firfl, By it a man believes that he is a finner. The -holy law pronounced\ him guilty: · .and he . belie-ves · · · the
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=