350 Holy faith is An Infirurncnt. C HAP. 24, 6. That the Scripture faith exprefly , that God juftifieth rziçEws & isswg, by faith & through faith, & ;'ce by faith R m. 3: z¢, 25, 23,3o. Gat. 3. $. & 2: O. and that even when juthrication is denied to be by works ; So that Faith tuft have a far other intereft in ; & mini otherwife concúrre unto our Jollification., than any other Works , or Graces and therefore mutt be looked upon , as having fame peculiarity of intere{t and influence here , and this peculiarity of intereft , can not be otherwayes better exprefhed, fo as the matter shall be cleared , then by calling it an Intt.Kument. Not as if it did concurre to the produceing of the effec`l of juf }ification by any Phyfi- cal operation , as Phylical Inttruments do ; but as a medium & mean requi- red of us , in order to Jultification according to the free plealure of God, who difpofeth the order & methode of his beftowing of his Favours upon us, and the Relation & Refped , that one hath unto another , asthe feeih mot} for his own glory , and for our good; and that Inch a mean , as concurreth therein , and thereunto , according to what is Paid , in fuch a way, as we be can belt uuderfland by calling it an Inftrument ; for we can not allow it to be called any way meritorious , or any formal difpofiti.on of the foul or Pre- paration unto the Introduâtion of an Inherent Formal Caufc of Juftification, as Papißr fly ; nor can we allow it to be called fuch a proper & Potetlatit e Condition , as fom_e would have it to be, as we law in the forgoing Chapter. 7. That no real inconvenience can follow upon the owning of Faith for an Inftrument in jullification ; for Jultification is not here taken limply & thickly-for that, which is properly God's 261, but more largely & complexly, including other things requi.{ìte unto Jutlification, fuch asthe Imptitation of the Righteoufnefs of Chrift , which Faith , as the Inilrumer;tor hand of the foul ,. layeth hold on , & bringeth-in , for this end , that the man being clothed therewith,, may be acquitted before the Tribunal of God Pardo- ned , & accepted of as Righteous. And howbeit it be God , that juftifieth, & as to this at of God juttifving, Faith hath no real intereft or influence; yet the Scripture laying, that God juftifieth by Faith, and through faith, we waft acknowledge force intereft , that Faith hath, in the work & Effeél; as when the Scripture faith, that Ele puvifieth the heart by faith Ad. is: 9. the purifying ofthe heart is God's work and } -et it is faid to be done by Faith, which is our work. It is faid fleh. It: 1 i. that through' faith Sara herJel f re. cervedßrengthto conceive feed & verf. 33, 34. that for-.e through faith Jubdued 1(iingdomer , flopped the mouthes of Lionr , quenched the violcnce of fire &c. all which were the works or God, & yet while they are faid CO be done by faith, faith mutt have had fame interefl & influence in thefe effeäs. So in working faith in the foul , which is Gou's work alone the Lord ufeth the preaching of the Gofpel, and miniflers & the peoples hearkning & Mining to what is preached , as meanes & midfes thereunto; though preaching & hearing be mens work , yet God ufeth them for his ends; and as he fendeth Preachers to preach, & moveth perlons to hear, that thereby he may , according to his own will & pleafure, work Faith in then; fo he -worketh Faith in fouls that he ma-y thereby Juflify them.. Nor is it of any weight to fay , that if 4aiìh be an lnftrumenr, it muft,work as an efficient caufe, becaufe the Inflru mental
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