C id A P. 21. How faith a Condition , bow not. 345 Condition of the Covenant, and of Juftification , in this fenfe That Chrift having purchafed all the good things of the Covenant all the fire Mercies of David , all Grace , and all Glory , unto the chufen ones , and the Father having promifed the aEtual collation & bellowing of all and every one of the - fe mercies & bleffings , fo purchafed and'ptocured ; and Jehovah & the Me- diator both , in the counfel of their will condefcend ing on fuch a methode & way of making the ranfomed ones. the owne -rs of the Blcilìngs purchafed , that is, fire to give the New Heart and the heart or flelt ?nd in etfeEtuall cal - ling, worke them up to Faith in and Union with Chritt and fo draw them to the mediator , and caufe them accept of him , & wait upon him , and reff: there , for life & falvation ; and then to Jultifie , Accepte or as Righteous, Adc;pte them , and then worke the works of holinefs by his Spirit & mo- re ., in their foul ; and fo carrie on the work unto Perfection till grace be crowned with glory : matters , I fay being thus wifely ordered , in the councel of heaven , there is a Priority of order; Faith, receiving Chritt , and refting on his Surety righteoufnefs, going before; and Juttíficatron following, and a firme connexion made betwixt the two,that who-fo-ever beleeveth thus, shall be juftified, and none shall be juftified who beleeveth not thus Now, when by vertue of this conftitute order & Method , explained & revealed in the Gospel , the Ambaffadours of Chrift , in obedience to their lnjun- &ions,- call_upon ai who heave the Gofpel , to receive thrift and refuge themtelves under his wings , and receive theatonement through his Righ= teoufnefs , and promife them thereupon , in their Matters name, Pardon, Peace with God , Reconciliation ; and acceptance &c, nothing more is here infinuated , than that fuch a Methode & Order is wifely Bete :mined and that there is a fixed connexion made :betwixt Faith & ]unification ; fo that who ever would be Paved from the wrath to come ;. & would enjoy God for ever, mull come unto God in this way , and according ro this methode, and mutt receive his bleffings and Favoures , in this order , firn beleeve , and lay hold on Chrin and his Righteoufnefs, and then receive .Juftification &c. Thus we fee faith is no legal , Antecedent Condition , no Ptoper or Potetta.- tive Condition ; but only a confequent , or Evangelick Condition , or a Condition denoting a fixed and prefcribed Order and Method of receiving of the bleffings purchafed by Chrtft , with a firme and fixed connexion betwixt the performance of the condition , and the granting of the thing promifed thereupon.Thus Chrift ha! h the whole glory of the work; Man is abafe.1,and hath nothing to glory of in himtelf ; The reward is not of debt , but purely of grace ; The wifdom and love of G',d is wonderful and remarkable; All ground of carnal fecurity and felt' confidence is removed; A plaine and po- werful ground is laid for mininers, to press exhort , and obteft to Faith in the firft place , with ali ferioufnefs and zeal ; Full fecurity and ground of confidence of being luttified and Accepted of God upon ourbeleevtng , is given ; The difference betwixt the Covenant of works and the Covenant of Grace, isditlinétlyobferved; The Antinomian minakes, faying we are Jua Rifled from Eternity, oral the death of Chrin, oratany time before faith, are manifeftly obviated; And all grounds of excepting againit , or diífatis- taEtion
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=