C..1 c` .1:) TREAT'S A Gl . CONCERNING uftifying or laying Faith. WHÉREIN ,` The N A T ü F< E of FAITH is largely handled ; particiularly,hat refec`ls the AFl of Faith ; the 71-):1) Manner of Faith ; the Fulnefs of Faith's Af- 5 fent ; of the Afúrancëof Faith,and whatAffurance ì's' neceffary ; and of particular Application of the G Prornife:c ; of the OhteU and S'ubjea ofFaith ; of 4 the Efficient Caufe and End of juflifying Faith ;\-42. with Anfwers to OhieFtions, and iraaical tes G .0 and ItfirtíFZions from each Point. 4N By the -late reverend and learned Mr. JamesFra® fer of .6rea, Minii}er of the`Gofpel at Culrofr Gr *ritten by him while he vai Prifoner in the a'.Bafs, 1679. G`- Carefully revifed according to the original Ma- t. ID nrtfcripta Roth. i: 17. For therein is the Riglíteoufnefs of Cod re. yrealed from Faith to Faith, as it is ivritte9z, -T°he ,741 17tau live by Faith. ColoÇ aa. 12. ---- Wherein allo ye are rifrn through the GI- :D . Faith of the Operation of Gad. Heb. xi. 6. Without Faith ",it is änpo(%rble to p'eafe C°roaé . lieh. x. 22. -Let ua dram near with a true Hearty ias the '!:) full ,.11i]urance of Paithä - . E:aDTI`dIrJRGII. . 7;) Prirted by`lohn .Ñofman and Company, and fold by Mr. ;~ ., , 53 lame s hf Euen, and other Booltfeliers in Edinbs;'i srr 7 and Clafosrr ivY.D:CC.XX'II, ' ' tC. á C-4 y`6 gM+7 öy.7* }]/J ?.. g13 R. <IY3 °.i A" 8iP -r` 9^'. I
.. The Preface to the Reader. S there is no SubjeE that needs more to be treated of, than that of faxing Faith, fo the Way, and Manner of handling it, does either very much Good, or Hurt ; nor is there a Point in Religion about whichDivines have more di ered, each (peaking of the Jame, accord- ing to that Meafire of Light, and Uptaking which they had of the SubjeCi. Faith having fuch an Influence upon the Whole of our Conveifatwon ao that nothing we do is pleating to God without it ; it bath much Need to be right Plated, and infifled upon, fee- ing a Make in this Point is very dangeroa ; Amongft the many Errors that have been ven- ted concerning this important Subjec`i, this is a
The Preface to very great. One, the at utiitg too much tazto itq, making the Aec of our R.i;hteouí`- nefs befóre God, and thxts imputing Faith, irk- tend f of the Surety's .iglreeoufnef.s, for tle, Sin- ner's yuf ificat7oaz ; which' is fubflituting it in the Room of Chrifi, and making a Saviour of Se:vice. 2hìs`®pinion, though 'very grofs, and intirely fiebverfive of the Gofpel of our Lord fjfefts Chrifl, was keenly efpoufed by Mr. johg !Goodwin, in his Itñputa- tio Frdei, which is learnedly and folidly refut- ed by our Country-Man Mr. john . Brown, in his Treatife` upon 'jìaltificatiora. -And the O- pinion of 111r. Baxter ?* and his Followers, is NO much a Kin' to it, by fubfitu * See his'Con- ing Faith and Obedience to the feffionofFaith, new and .7ofpel- !_aW, (ai they his Apho- . rifms of Jußi- with foe other DiVines are ;Hirtck,- fond tri term the Covenant of f kis, Tramein and Grace) in Roo`íi'a, ,of the Do in 'others: the fill Covenant , thttia run- ning back again into Egypt, and iuzni`g the Co- venant cf Grace into a C;venant of Worki, and giving Men Ground for Bonging, which, by the Law of Faith, zs' irztirelÿ excluded. frhis C3pi-nián is the.. more dangerom,' that it bath feverals, who were r eputeci god Men, to countenance, ,it, and the lurking Poifoá2i is the jefs difcernrtble, bectitrfe' it is jet ofwith thefpe yom Pretext of .I-Ioliiaefs, and religious Duties ,» that' it may be the lefs f afeCied, it is co-' . vere
the Reader. iïF. tiered with an Evangelical 7inEure ; and thus the Heart of the unwary Reader is ,loon capti- Zvated, and, by Reafon of the Subtilty of this legal Set of Spirit, the Danger is not fo eafily feet:. The Patrons of this Docfrine,in Beat of Dfpute againfl the Antinornians, who run too much to another Extreme, are, of a Sudden, thenfelves plunged into the Depths of Legalifm And, to it is not to be doubted,. but that even forne who have been on the 'bleged Foundation, 7efus Chrifl, have yet here built much of their Hay, Wood, and Stuble, whofe Work and Superfiruc- ture God will defiroy, though he Pave there, o to by Fire yet, at the .fame rime, we oug-ht,,to keep at the greatefl Diflancefrom every chin-, that may, in the legal, derogate from the blpffed Surety, and his compleat Righteou/nefs : And- therefore have all thofe, to whom Chri¡l has been made precioús, (according to that Metfbre of Light God bath be/lowed upon them). given a firenuous Teflimony againfl every Thing that had a legal Byafs, or' tended to take us in the legal, off the Foundation, Cárifl 7efiii, and /e:ttle Us on our felves : And though, blefi be the Lord, the Church of Scotland bath ao patre a Cònfeifion ai any inlhe World, and ha. /i been blef with many' able Miniflers of the New Vie-- fáainent,' wheref there are not a Few yet in the Land: Notwithflanding it has been the com- plaint of many godly and learned Miniflers, as well as juclicioa s aad exe, cfed Chriflians, th_xt lept
TH iv. The Preface to legal Principles have crept in among us: We with the Differences amongll us were only in the Manner of Exprefficn; er that it were only a Reproach call upon us by our ,Enemies But alas! Even the Church of Scotland's-be/1 Friends have, with Grief of Heart, fibb'd out their Com- plaint on this Head, whereof many Inflances might be given. Jim§ adduce only three, whole Names are jayowl in this Land, and who, in their Day, were loath fo much as to inlinu- ate a Reftexion on any, if there were not too ap- parent Ground. The Firft is of the bleß'd Au- thor of the following Evangelical 7"reatife, who, in the Memoirs of his Life wrote ky himfelf; bath theft remarkable Words; I law little of the Glory of Chrift appear in the Writings of fame, and that the mofl Part, yea of Mi- nifters, did wofully confound the two Co- venants, and were of an Old Tefiament Spirit. The Second is that fhining Light, Mr. fames Webfier, who, in his Preface before little VaElate,intituled, The Covenants of Re- demption and Grace difplay'd, exprejjeth him- lf on the Head, la the Mowing Words 'awl thy of our Notice ; IndiftinEt Notions of the Co- venants have been a 'plentiful Source of ma7 ny Errors that have corrupted the Church a great many of the Pelagian, Popith, Soci- nian Arminian Errors take their Rife from are owing to an utter Ignorance of, c Miaake about them : Yea, many in our Time
the Reader,: V Time have high Precenfons to Orthodoxy ; yet by being Strangers to the Tenor of the Covenant, are carried away by a legal Spi- rit, than which there cannot be a worfe Temper and Difpofition : For if a legal Strain run through our .Doarine and wor- ihip, our Exhortations, Motives and Direc- tions to Duty, it will take us from off the alone Foundation, Jefus Chrifl, and fettle us all upon our felves, which will make ano- ther Gofpel, and would bring, even an An- gel, under a dreadful Curfe. I am inclin- ed to think, that one chief Reafon, why the Gofpel hath fo little Succefs in our Time, is the legal Sermons; for we cannot expeét that the warm Influences, and powerful O- perations of the Spirit will be conveyed by any other Way than by the hearing of Faith. The Third is of the godly and learned Mrs Thomas Halyburton, Profeffor of .Divinity at St.. Andrews, in the Memoirs of his Life, a Book which is almofl in every One's Hands, page 145, faith; I faw the Evil of legal Preach- ing, which lies in one of two Things, or both; rid}, In laying too much Strefs on the Works . of the Law, our Duties and Strength : Or, 2dly, in preffing Evangelical Duties, without any Eye to that which is the Spring of the Church's Edification, the: Spirit of the Lord : Some preis to Duties fo,, that they feem to think, that their Rea-
he Pcefacé to 'foningi are able to inforce 'a..Complianee ®r at leaft, they do not take Care to keep tip upon themfelves and Hearers both, a confiant Senfe of the Contrary, in Order to ingage Eagernefs in Dependance upon the. Spire of the Lord ; this is legal Preaching. And then he adds theft remarkable Words ; O Lord, thou knowefi, how much of it is in this poor Church. And alas ! what wefhould have Ground for the fame Complaint at this' Day : While fame are magnifying the Law to filch a Hight, as to give it the Room which Chrif only fhould have ; While they 'land not in exprefs 7ords,f7'o172 the Pulpit; to tell their Hearers, that Obedience is the Condition of Life: Sure, whatever their Meaning be by this, yet by fuch Exprelons as thee, a becoming De- ference is notpayed to the bleffed Surety's Righte- oùfnefs, which is the only Condition upon which a guilty Sinner can plead upon, for 5ufliftcati- on unto Life, before God. And tho' the real Be- liever in Chrifi hath a high Efleem of Obedi- ente, and will, through Grace, endeavour to main- tain good works,yet will he not fubflitute his own Obedience in the Room of Chrifi's. He is bet® ter acquainted with the Spirituality of the Laws; than to think, that even his moll fincere °be- enonce is any Part of his Title, to Life; which only Chrifi's, every Way perteel, and corre- ponding to the full Extent if the Law, can proms cure'.
the Reader. ix. nothing to look to from fen ible Things, yet his .t%ings of Faith were flrorg and vigorotts, and the (harper his 4lic`7ions were, the flronger we his Faith ; for he endured, as Peeing hire who is invifible. The Reader may be pleafed to know that the following . reatife is both genuine, andfaithful- ly printed according to the Original. I did not think there would have been Need. have men- tioned this; but that fórne ignorant People have been prepofeffed with fuch Prejudices, without the leaft Shadow of Ground : And ifany :doubt of it, they may have Accefs to fie the original Ma- nufcript,. which can be attefted to be -his, and that there is neither the Addition, nor Dimi- nution of a Sentence ; .only, as ways faid before, the Reft, viz. On the Grounds of 7'aith, is af- terwards to follow. May the fame Spirit of Grace, that af f fled the worthy Author in writ* Ling it, bief s it to tvery Reader of it.. 4
On1120k9ginl eakeocroaowomleoft s e. wá wÁw ° www e .ww-w w°Ñ, swww> :rws d wwv eaC'd wwd w,wd 'wwd ww w w ww w rw , w {y ¡[[yyr"y yçyyyy ëwn CONTENTS. . ZlYOCluaion. Chap. I. Qf the 141 of fuftïfying Faith. Sed. I. Some general -" Rules necejfary. tQ be abferved in .Order to the right Up:- taking of juflifying Faith. I() Se& II. What Faith is not. 1.4 Sed. III.; What Faith is, and its potive c`1. 19 Chap: II. Of the Manner}or "Form of f Faith, z Sea. I. Yuflif,ying Faitl.«is cordial and praaacal. 4 . Se6t. II. Of the Fulnefs of Faiths Agent, where, oftheAfiurance of Faith, and zvhat ilffurance is neceffary. 42 Sea. III: Some OGjedions an f vered. 53 Seéi. 1V. Ofpirrticular Application of the I'romifes:'' Sed. V. Containing d.more full Enquiry into the Nature of Fa2thes particular Application of the Prorni(ès. §. What id itFait particularly applies? 7v Sei1, Pab.
) Seven applicatory y whicl, the Soul doth apply ChriflYand Salva- tion, and the Promifes toit felf: 78 §. 3. Reafons for Applicati- on f the .Pyorni fes. 83 §. 4. Objeelions againfi particular , p-.{ plication of the .i?rontifes anfZUered. 93 §. 5. Wes of InflruElion and .Exhorta- tion, from the DoElrine of particular Application of the ,l?romifes.. 113 Chap. III. Of the Objea of faving Faith., 119; 'Sea. L Diverfe Opinions concerning the ObjeEl of ` juflifYing Paith, and fome Diflinc`ioñs fi-ren?ifed. 120 Sea. II. What isnot the Objea of juflifp- ing Faith. 123 Sea. III. What is the Obje3 of jufifj- ing Faith. 134 . Sea. IV, Ufes and praElical Nflrui-, onso > Chap. IV. Of the Subjea of Faith. 166 Sea. I. Some Poftions touching the Sub- jeEl of Faith. 158 Sea. II. Rea holding forth that the Under/landing is the proper, and imme- diate SubjeEl of Faith. a 75 Sea. III. Ob1eaions anf.uered. 179, Sea. IV. Shelving that the moral Subjeg of Faith is the humbled Soul,, where is treated briefly, o,e. preparatory Dz o atr- ,.y (' ' 3' fL" .i9 oiâs to .Faith: 185' í_ Se,
Sea. V. 4. t . A moreparticuh ; Enqui- ry into the Nature, Meafure, Nece f ty, and Influence of Preparations by the Law, in Order to our Uílion with Chrifl. '88 g. 2. Containing a Vindication of Mr. Thomas Shepherd in New England, his Do47rine of Humiliation, from the Exceptions ofGiles Firmin, in a Book publi/b'dby him,called, The real Chri- I}ian. 196 Se&. VI. Some T.Jfes of the Point. , 2 21 Chap. V. Of the Efficient Caufe of . Faith. z 37 Sea. I, ib. Sea. II. What is that Wov-k or Action, by which the Lord produceth Faith ? 243 Sect. III. The Manner how God draws the ,Soul to himfelf by Faith. 25 5 Sea. IV. Os andpraclicalIurue` ions. 260 Chap., VI. Of the End ofjuif jinn Faith. 275'
R Ala agagagagagtfng oet_zto.z*iokg eocza TREATISE CONCERNING Ingying or flying Faith. Of the Nature of Faith: The Author's Introduilion, °THING is more fre. quently in the Mouths ofMen thanFaith; and yet nothing lefs known in aright Manner, and laying Way, and no--; thing more millakeni and mifreprefented by weak and unfan&ified Heads. So that the. unfoundeft Hearts tha ever have been in the Church, have vented their, Poifon moft about this Head And, according' A
2 The Introdutt ion. to the Model of that Religion they would obi trude upon the World, have they fquared their Faith, and Notion thereof; and, as I think, hé who errs in Faith, and in the Article of the Covenant of Grace, cannot be accoun- ted found in other Points: (fuch Influence it hath ow the whole of Religion) So, I can hardly think himheterodox, or dangeroufly fo, who is found in this Article. But however various, diverfe and contra- cdiaory Folk's Conceptions and Sentiments of juftifying Faith have been ; yet is it on all Hands granted, That Faith is a Matter of fuch Importance, that it is the great Concern of all, not to be miftaken therein, and very defireable not only to have true, but clear Conceptions of this Myflery; of which, who acknowledge not the Difficulty, do, to the oft exercifed herein, but difcover their flight and fuperficial Acquaintance therewith, infomuch, that they who have the Root of this Matter in then?, and have been, through Grace, able to hold out the Candle to others, and that with great Satisfation and ,bleffed Succefs, muff yet acknowledge force Knots, they cannot get looted, force Paths unfeen by the Vultures' Eye. Tho it be true, ( and I heartily dole with it), that it is better to live by Faith, than to be able to give an ac- curate Definition thereof; and that many who live this Life, yet cannot exprefs, or djUin6tly
r The IntroduGtionò diftinaly conceive what it is, the W fdom of God thinking it fit, that we thdu1d ratherex- ercife this Grace in our Hearts, than curioufly contemplate the Nature thereof. Chrift be- lieved in, was, is, and will be a great My- fiery, i Tim. 3. i 6. And it cannot be denied, that many approven Builders, ,whofe work hath abidden the Fire, and who themfelves havebeen faxed ; yea, and that have builded Gold, Silver, and precious Stones upon the blefï'ed Foundation Chrift Jelus, have yet here builded fome of their Hay adStubble, which the Day of the increafing Light of the Go- fpe1, and Fire hath tried, difcovered, and burnt up, and yet will more and more. To, undertake, much lefs to profefs try attempt to clear all the Difficulties and Intri- cacies which occur in the handling of this Myftery, deferves, no doubt, juilly tobe ac . counted an high Prefumption but the true Grounds moving me both to write on this Subject, and publifh what I have written, were, (i.) The Sweetnefs and Advantage re- dounding to the Soul exercifed with this Sub-; jed, and humbly fearching into thisMyftery abundantly more than recompenfing the Pains andToil thereof : This, I fay, mademe allow my Soul and Spirit to feed here ;; and being defirous to improve the Truths relating to the Gofpelto mySoul's Profit, I have nowmotiy if not only converted with thefe Truths, out Az of
The Introdurlton, of Defign chiefly, at firff, to advantage mY felf, and fatisfy my Confcience. (2.) In 'pur Bing this Motion and Inclination of Heart, I have found fuch Contentment and Advan- tage, through the Lord's Mercy, being clear- ed and fatisfied in feveral important Difficul- ties, which much ffraitned my Confcience, that I faw no Ground to repent of my Under- taking: And I conceived, That what was ufeful to me, might, through the Lord's Bleffing, be fo to others, towhom I am de- voted, and whore I am more than my own. This I looked upon as a call to put Hand to this Work. (3.) I have been made, with ,Grief and Sorrow of Heart, to apprehend the doleful Miflakes, and dangerous Errors of Tome in this Matter, who being of rank Wits, and - unfantified Hearts, and fending up ,the Fume of their frothy and exuberant Conceptions, fìrff flagger, and then intricate' their fimple Readers Hearts; and by whom Satan, I think, bath, at this prefen4 a woful, but, alas! prevalent Defign to.overturn the Gofpel, and to draw us from the Simplicity thereof ; and all this Poifon, in the mean Time, vailed with the Authority of Men in Repute for Piety, Learning, and with the Concourfe of the multitude of all Ranks; who, with a loud Voice, cry up this Diana,. and finally masked with the fpecious Pretext, of crying up, and advancing Holinefs, and Neceff
The hntroduc`iion: Neceffity thereof ; than which, yet nothing lefs can we fee in its Effeíts it bath, on the World,or on its Abettors : And therefore, if not able to flop the growingPoifon and Gangrene, Iwas yet defirous to give my Teflimony againft ito and for the Faith once delivered to the Saints. (4,) I truft'it (hall not be judged Prefumpti- on for me to fay, That in my Apprehenfion, this DoEirine of Faith and Juflification by ir, bath been flrangely jumbled and obfcured by many, through their Logical Intricacies and Subtilties, fore inextricable Difficulties ail' appearing, ftraitning the exercifed Confcience, infomuch as here bath been the Place of the breaking forth of Children, where force unwife ;eons have long flayed, being like the Ram, - Gen. 2 2. caught in the 2'hicket, ,which could neither win forward nor backward, come to the Birth, andyet not able to bringforth, : andwhich Difficulties have not been fo much as noticed by fame; and if touched by others, yet ill cleared, and but confounded by general Phi- lofophick Notions ; in which the Senfe, as wraps in a Cloud, bath been delivered us; forrme flraitning the Grace of God, through the malicious turning of it to Wantonnefs; in others, whom, in Oppofition to fuch as ,did plead for fuftifacation by the Works of the Law, they did perceive dafn on that Rock. Here is at leafl a Difcovery of force of thefeDifficulties, and the Finger put upon the Knot, if not A 3 100E4
The Introduction. loofed; withal], an Attempt and modeít E fay, to clear feveral Things in fome Meafure, and to prefent our prefent Doárine as more agreeing with our firft Reformers, than force, who fwerving therefrom, will allow ; which, if not fo effectually done, may yet, I hope, move and ftir up others of better Spi- rj,ts and Parts, more fuccesfully to bring to pafs. And finally, I was invited, yea, ne- ceflarily compelled to this, by an afflicting Providence, of which :I fhall not fpeak par- ticularly, becaufe of my Refpe& and Tender- nefs to Perfons therein concerted, infomuch, that it feemed neceffary to give the World an Account of what I hold therein. I know and acknowledge, that in forne Things I feem to fiep out of the common Road wherein the modern Divines of our Church, in Britain and Ireland, have walked; efpeciallyas to what relates to particular Ap- plication of the Promifes, unregenerate Per- fons having, Right to them, ere they clofe with Chrift by Faith, and the Extent of Chrift's ]death. But however, I exprefs my feif diverfly from force, whofe PerfonsI much love and refpeét ; yet I truft it fhall be found I maintain no. fingular Opinions But what, however gainfayed . by fume, yet ftrenuoufly maintain'd ' by others reputed Learned, Pious and Orthodox ; and that itfhall be found,that we differ more in Appearance, than Reality. and
The Introduction. 7 and in Exprefiïon, than the Thing it felf; and. each Man choofes his own Words, which be- ing different, mayoccafon Tome to imagine a real Difference; what I have written I be- lieve ; I delire not to kindle a Flame, or mi- sifter any Occafion - of further Divifion, nar to fill folk's heads with Fancies ; I profefs my Aim to have been the Information of God's Truth, and the fpiritual Advantage of others, and to level at the fame Mark with thofe Godly Divines with whom I , feem moll to differ..: Tho' I do not always ufe the fame Means for compaffing the fame End ; I am fenfible of my rn-any Infirmities which adhere to me and my 'Deft Works : And for all which, and for what may have efçaped me in this little Tra&ate, I have heartily defired Pardon of the Lord through Chrift's Blood, and a Bleffing thereon, and Acceptance thereof, in as far as agreeable to his Will To whom be Praife for ever. Amen. I have divided -this Tra8ate in two Parts, in the firft Part, I treat of the Natureof Faith where I handle the Ad, the Obje&, the Man- net or Form, the Subjeé-, Efcicot Caufe, and End of Faith. In the fecund Part, I handle the Groundsof Faith ; whereunto I have fubjoined an Appendix, concerning the ob- *ive Extent of Chrifl's Death. And finally, have endeavoured to illuftrate the Nature of A 4 Faith
Of the Al Faith withrfeveral Scripture Metaphors and Notions, udder which it is holden out to us. 4lottlattlodottlatlotttloa;, CHAP. I. OftheAaof yuftifying Faith. A I TH, in general, is an Affent unto a Teftimony, or an Affent unto any Truth upon the Authority of the Te- itityer; for, ere we can ` affent unto any Thing, we muff have force Evidence of the Truth of that whereunto we Affent. Now, all Evidence is either in the Thing' it felf, and then the A& by which we affent to ir, is Knowledge, or it is extrinfical to the Thing it;felf, and flows from the Authority of forte Teflimony ; which Teflimony is either hu- mane, and then the Affent given upon Autho- rity of Tuch Teflimony, is an humane Faith ; ' or Divine, and then it is Divine Faith ; which therefore, Heb. s r r. is called, The Evidence of ?hings not feen ; becáufe not difcovered frog; anyEvidence of the Na- ture of the Things themfelves; for then were our Affent Knowledge, but -by Reafon of the Light of theTeflimony, : by Which the Truth of thefe things is Peen ; which Evidence is nei=
of jt.iflfying Faith, 9 neither from Senfe or Reafon, (for there I fee not here) but fromFaith, which beholding, and looking into the Glafs of the Proinife that which before could not be feen, is evident from this, That he is faithful that hash prc- mifed. Faith in general beingan Affent, juftifying Faith participating the Nature of its Gene- ral, muft include in it an Affent, which is the Act of Faith; this Ad of Faith is in Scrip- ture exprefïed by feveral Names, as believing on, coming to, receiving of Chrift, laying hold on the Covenant, eating and drinking the Flefhand Blood of the SonofGod, open- ing of the Door, looking to Chrift; yea, and fometimes by Repaltance, Aas 2 38. All which Expreffions come to one Thing, and do not fo much hold out divers, as one 'Filing under feveral Notions, which the Lord con- defeends to for our Weaknefs, and the D ver- Pity of our Spirits, with whomChrift holden out in the Gofpei, may better fuit and agree under one form and Notion, than another, Now then, to knowwhat this Faith is, by 47liich_,the Sinner is Juf}ifyed in the Sight of God, we (hall, (ï.) Propofe force Rules, to which to fquare our Notions of Faith. (2.) We lhali lay down our Thoughts of. the Act of Faith negatively what it is not. (3.) Ex- prefs our Thoughtspoficively what it is.
i. . . . ,.. . ..... . / x o Of the Act gECT, L Some general Rules neceffary to be obferved, in Order to the right uptaking of juflifying Faith. THere are then four or five general ,No- tions, or Principles, touching Faith, which are of undoubted Verity, to which all our uptaking of Faith mull be fquared and conform'd, and which, as fo many Rules, we mull lay down ; by confìdering of whichex- a&ly, we may come to force Difcoveries, and fatisfying Apprehenfions of this Myflery, which force not noticing, have'foully*and dan; geroufly erred. Firfl Rule. Our Uptakings andconcepti- ,' ons of Faith mull anfwer the Notions and Exprefiions of Scripture, by which the Na- ture of Faith is holden out to us: And there- fore did we ferioufly confider what receiving, believing, taking, retingon Chrifl, marrying of Chrift, and looking tohimwere, which are the chief Notions, under which, Scripture doth let out this Myfiery to us, mull be of fingular Ufe to dire& us aright in this Matter. Rule 2d. Faith being an Eccho, or an Anfwer toGod's Call in the Gofpel, it mull i therefore have, in the Nature of t, that which anfwers that Call : If therefore we would
of .Ïul?ifying Faiths It would underítand the Natureof Faith, we muft take our Meafures by the Call of God in the Gofpel, of which Faith is the Eccho : What God declares in the Gofpel, that Faith muft agent and fay Amen to, what it (peaks to the Soul it fell, it mutt believe ; what the Go pe commands, the Soul muff obey : That Faith therefore which the Gofpel calls for, is, That we are bound to have, and of which our prefent Difquifiticn is, as Cl-irifC is fo is he believed Rom. io. Faith cometb by Hearing, and Hearing by the Word of God. Rule 3d. Our Apprehenfions of Faith muft be fquared to the Notion of an Inftr.u ment of Jufihcatior' : By the Stream of Or- thodox Divines, it is affirmed, That Faith doth not juftify meeriy conditionaly,' but in- trumentally ; which however, to forne, it Teems but a fmall Matter ; yet is it (and will be found fo) to be ofno little Import to affirm, Whether Faith juftify conditionally, or iuitru- mentally : We mutt therefore fo conceive of .. Faith, as to make it fomething in its ownNa- ture apt to juftify ; even as the Hand is more apt to receive and grip any Thing, than any other Member of the Body. Tho' there be no Merit in the Act of Faith, yet it propones fomething that in Law takes away the India- ment ofJuítice againk the poor Sinner : What- ever therefore you fay and do, that in Equi- ty will not abfolve you from the Purfuit of the
1.2 Of the Ad the Law, is.not Faith : Godmight havefaved us without the Intervention of any Means at 'all, had he pleas'd; and the Lord, in his Wif-.. dom, Peeing it fit, that the Benefit of Eternal Salvation fhouldbe enjoyed, not immediately, but through the Intervention of fome Means to be ufed by us : Hence the Lord might have made any Condition, or Terms of Life he pleafed ; but it .feemed good to the Lord fur- ther fo to contrive his Covenant of Grace, as that we Mould not be 'juffified by any Mean, but by Inch as might advance Grace, and f2 tisfy Juftice, Rom. 3. 2,4, 25, 26. fo as there -two lovely Attributes might kifs one another Hence he choofes to juftify and fave by fuch a Mean as was in it felf accommodated and fitted for thefe Ends; otherwife the Lord might have made fincere Love, Obedience to filch a particular Command, the Condition. and Mean, by, and upon which we were to be jufiiñed but this fhould not fatisfie Juftice in the Point of Law, nor fhould there lush a depth of Wifdom appear in the Gofpel, even a manifold Wifdom, which Angels defire to look into. Ephef. 3. 9, to. Man is turn'd Re- bel, broken the Law : Chrift is Pet up in his. Room as the fecond Adam, fatisfies for the Breaches of the Law of Works, fulfills allrigh- teoufirefs, and that in our Stead, purchas'd all we i7 and in need of; and to the Intent we may be made Partakers thereof he requirethFaith, that
6f tufti(ying Faith: i that wheñ called to the Bar, to give an Ac count of what we have to fay for our fclves /' Sre may plead, according to the Law of Works, guilty; but in Refpe& ofthe Law of Grace, we may, on Chrift's Account made the Covenant of the People, plead the fatisfying of the Penalty of the Law by the Sufferings of Chrift for that End and therefore note to be condemned, fnce the Law is aliunde fatisfied, and may likewife plead Chrift's aEtive Obedi- ence in our Stead, and fo plead not guilty, and Right to eternal Life. Here is ult.ice,, yea ftri&efta Janice fatisfied to the full; and in Refpe&we are in the Reverenceofanother for what we for our (elves propone, here is Grace manifefted. But O how jejune and empty are, the Difcourfes of molt, anent this fublime Myftery, and how flat and dull make they the Bufinefs of the Myftery of the Go- fpel, who maintain, that as the Lord required perfe& Obedience, as the Condition of the firít Covenant; fo He requireth a cordial Affent to the Truths of the Gofpel, and fincere Obedience flowing therefrom, as the Condi-, tion of the fecond Covenant. 4th Rule. The great End of God's ap- pointing Faith as the Mean and Inftrument of Justification, and of conveying of the Bleff fngs of the newCovenant, must be looked un- to ; and 'this End is the exalting ofGod's rich Bounty and Grace, and toexclude Boaft-
Of the 4a ing. Rom. iv. i6. and iii. 27. We muft there- fore fo conceive of Faith, as to make it anfwer this Defign of exalting Grace, and humbling of Man ; and therefore, if ye put any Thing in it, which may be any Occafion of Glory, ye have loft Faith. Faith there-. fore Inuit be fuch a Thing as comes out of the Creature it felf, like a Beggar to Chrift, for all Things from difcovered Senfe of Want, of Sin and Mifery ; and hence it is not a gi- ving Grace, as Love, Hope, Fear and Obe- dience, but it is a receiving Grace. (5.1ule) Faith is fuch a Thing as agrees to all, and thefe only which are juftify'd and fav'd. SECT. I L What Faith is not. T HESE Things thus premifed, I come to fhow, in the fecond Place, what is not Faith, or wherein the AE of Faith doth not confift. And, Firfi, Faith doth not pro- perly and adequately confift in an Ad of Knowledge; for the Affents of Faith and Knowledge are difièrent : Indeed I confefs there is fome Knowledge in Faith : For we in fome Meafure underfland and apprehend what we believe, and taking Faith Largely, we may fay, Faith is a firm Knowledge ; but taking Faith properly, it is not Know- ledge
of kflifyiná Faith. I . ledge : For we may know many Things which we do not believe, or affent to as Truths ; and again, the Aífent of Know- ledge is founded on the Evidence of the Things themfelves which are known, Faith is founded on the Authorityof the Teftimony but in Refpe& that we underftand what we believe, and in Oppofition to Papiíts, who did patronize Ignorance fo much, out firm Reformers expreffedFaith by Knowledge, and which is not fo alien to Scripture Expreï'ion, Heb. xi. 3. By Faith we underfland the Worlds were framed. idly, Faith is not any A& of the Will; it follows fromwhat is Paid, Ifye make it an A& of the Will, you muff give it another Name, than Faith or Believing ; for no A& of the Will can be expreffed by Be- lieving ; and betides, when I come to fpeak of the Subje& of Faith, I flail chow, that Faith as to its fubftantial A&, is mainly, the immediately in the Underftanding, tho Will dóth force Way concur to the aeting, of Faith. (3.) Faith is not a general Aífent to the Truths of the Scripture, for elfe Devils, who believe and tremble, fhould have Faith. fam. ii. 19. (4.) Faith is not, as Arminian, contend, the believing of this Propofition Chrift died for all,, as I îha11 prove, when I come to fpeakof the Obje& of Faith. (5.) Faith is not Hope, Refire, Love after Chrift, nor any of the Affe&ions, either Tingly or jointly.
Of the jointly confidered, (as force think) atiih either fincerely or intenfely ; for thefe Abe&i- ons could not be properly exprefi by the Tèrtii` Believing. Befides, were the wing of any of the .Affections. towards Chrift, the Condi- tion ofEternal Life, then were it do this and live, love, fear and delire Chrift, fubmit to, and obey him, and live ; it were no more of Grace Iii all thefe Aás we give, and do fomcthing which may occafion boating, we receive not ; therefore thefe are not Faith Finally, Faith is diflinguìíhed from Hope Love, Refire, or Fear, they are all difiin& Graces; and therefore, cannot be Faith.' z Cor. xiii. 13. True, thefe do attend Faith, nor is Faith without them, yet are they not Faith, (6.) Faith is not An Agent to the general Promifes, or Truths of the Gofpel; tho' accompany'd with Love, as Tome think, which in handling of the Obje& of Faith, I Ihall prove. (7.) Nor isFaith (for the Rea- Ions formerly mention'd) an Aífent to the Truths of the GofpeI, withan Eftimation of them, with a fincere Purpofe of Gofpel Obe dience, and fo conffling as a Complex of manyA&s ; for let Men fay and pretendwhat they will, here is nothing but a new Cove- nant of Works on force milder Terms, and accommodated Tome Way to our Weaknefs The Apofile, Rom. v. II. If it were ofWork=; it were no more of Grace; -he loth not fay, ere
fjuffyzvgFa:i/i were it ofperfeEVlork, or ofWorks wrought by our own Power, it were not' of Grace,; but of Works indefinitely ; therefore, what- ever eflablifheeh Salvation upon any Thing we do unto the Lord, or wherein we may glory mull= be renounced here. (8.) Faith is not a Prefumption, or groundlefs Imagi- nation and Fancy of Salvation, it is not a confident Saying, The Lord is ours, and is a.mongfl us and therefore, no Evil Mall come to us, for this is the Faith of Hypo- crites, Mic. iii. and i is .fä, xlviii. 2. Hofea Viii. 2. Many carnal Dogs that {hall be thruft out of Heaven at laf}, do never queftion their Salvation, and prefumptoully hope from the Mercy of God to be Paved, to whom the Lord Jefus {hall profefs, I know you not; de- partfrom me ye Workers of Iniquity. With this, Faith's Adverfaries bran d us, as ifwe thought Faith an Imagination, or. firong Fancy, or Opinion. Opinion, Fancy, or Imagination, is groundlefs; but Faith that juftifieth, bath the ftrongeít and fureft Foundation imagi- nable: This prefumptuous Faith, tho' it dole with the Promife of Mercy and Salvation, yet clofes not with the Promifes of Sanaifica- tion ; and hence is a dead Faith, yam. x3. which is never a juftifying Faith Juf}i fying Faith, is a lively operative Faith, purz- fying of the Heart, and working by. Love. The Lord Jefus on whofe Name we believe and art
;i S Of the Aft are thereby juftified, is a Jefus that not only faveth his People from the Wrath to come, but that faveth them from `their Sins, Matth. i. 2 I. Zech. ix. 7. Atis iii. 26.° {9.) Nor is Faith pro- perly a Willingnefs or Contentednefs to re- ceive Chrift : For however this be, the Seed of Faith from which it fprings, and a necef- fary Difpofitioti of the Soul for Believing ; yet is it not Faith formally, nor to this can the Notion of believing on the Name of Chrift agree : For, as Hunger and a Defire to eat; is not eating fo neither is a Willing- nefs to believe, or a Will to have Chrift,. pro- perly Faith. Faith is a receiving of Chrift, not a Willingnefs to receive him: The Wo- man's Willittgnefs to marry, a Man is not Marriage ; Contentednefs with the Offer of the Gofpel is that Fratne, whereby the Soul is fitted, difpofed, and as it were íhaped for Believing ; not believing it kif : When a Stone is fitted and fquarecl for the Building, it is not therefore united with the Building. Faith is that whereby the Soul is united to Chrift, not that by which it is fit for Union. Contentednefs is an A& of the Will purely : A Man may defire, and be very contented with that which he utterly is in Defpair of The poor Galley Slave in Turky is defirous of, and vvi.th all his Heart contented to be fet at Liberty, but yet defpairs of it Now jufti- fying Faith is inconfifient with this Defpair. This ANN
o f uflìfying Fail& This Contentednefs and Willingnefs, refpeas the Nature of Things themfelves, but Faith looks to, and refpeds their Truth, Futurition, and Existence. Rev. xxii. 17. If any Man will, here is the Difpofition of the Soul for Believing ; Let him take of the Plater of Life freely ; * here is Faith exprefs'd by taking or receiving ; fo that they are difringuifhed This Willingnefs is indeed a Si bfniffion to the Righteoufnefs of God, which the legal ,yews had not, and vvi hich is neceflary to all that be lieve, but ,it is not formal Beliing S E C T . . ill. What Faith is : And its pofi ive 1 ef,I-1 E Reverend Affembly of Divines the Larger Catechifm, and Shorter, exprefs Faith truly and fitly by receiving of. Christ : And Mr. Shepherd in his Sound Be-. liever, exprefles the Act ofFaith by the Soul's corning to Chrilt, which are but different Exprefl ons of the fame Thing, and both of them Scriptural. Yoh. i. 12. and vi 35. But fome may further ask, what this receiving of, and corning to Chrift is By what Aá s of the Soul do we come to, or receive Chrift, or be lieve on him ? And therefore, I anfwer, That Faith be- gun, or virtual Faith, or the ;Seed of Faith 13 z i5
20 Of the ,Aa is, Hope of Salvation from Chrifi's Suffici- ency, his Power, gracious Nature, and bief- fed Offices ; Defire of, from Senfe of Necef- f ty and Love to, from the Excellencyof thole Things holden out in the Gofpel. I call it virtual Faiths or Faith begun, becaufe it is not Faith formally ; becaufe the Affent here is General, without particular Application When Hope, Defire and Love have pitched on Chrift, the Embryo of Faith is form'd. Yea in the Lord's firft Dealing with a Soul, by Convidion and Humiliation, there is fame- thing of Faith wrought, tho' the Building be not confumsn.ate or compleat, yet force Foun dation Stones are laid. Our Convi &ion of Sin, and Mifery, of the Infufficiency of our Duties ; what are ali thefe but relative to the Work of Grace, and our Union with Chrift by Faith ? (2.) Waiting on God in Chrift for Pardon of Sin, and other Benefits of which the Soul ilands in Need, and holden forth in the Gofpel, is Faith continued, either as it is virtual, confuting in Mope in, and Defire after Chrift ; or as Faith is formal and compleat and I6 the Continuation of the Soul be- lieving on Chrifc. (3.) Confummate and compleat Faith, is the a&ual receiving of tbt. t a :Wit/ Nyäng, C/»ifl came to fave Sinners, i artit -alar Application of the Promife, according tr. God's Command for Jufification, Sat ifcatic!:s and Glory. (4.) Reiling on Chrift2
ofjuff ing Faith. 21' Chrift, or in Chrift, is a Fruit of Faith, and prefuppofes fome prior Aft, even of formal Faith ; even as living a Life of Dependance on Chrift : For Comfort And San&ification are the Fruits and Effeás of Faith, or fe- condary A&s, as Ease, Strength and Com- fort are the Efteés of eating and Drinking ; a Man mull tint take the Staff in his Hand, ere he ref}, or lean on it; fo we firf} receive, or lay hold on Chrift, ere we ref} on him. Matth. xi. 28. Firf} come tome, and then I will give you Refl. (S.) The principal Phyfical Ait of Faith is Affent : Which Aft in its general Nature confidered, even that which juftifies, is no ways dif}inguifhed from the Faith of Devils and Reprobates : Yet am I far from thinking, that the Graces of Saints and Hy- pocrites differ but in Degrees, or that they are one in Nature ; the general Notion of Motion is common to a circular Motion, and a diametral Motion ; Aifent likewife, as a Genus, is predicable both of the Faith of Saints and Hypocrites, as Animality is com- mon both to a Man and a Horfe ; a Man is a living Creature, and a Honk is a living Creature ; but a Man is not fuch a living Creature as a Horfe is. So P Hypocrites Af- fent to the Truths of the Gofpel, and Devils believe and tremble ; we know who thou art, e fus of Nazareth, the Son ofthe living God; and Saints likewife believe or affent, but it is B 3 not
Of the : 71,1àmi0r9 not filch an Affert that 'Reprol.ati~s, have . why, becaufeof a fpecifick Difference arifing from the FOrm thereof, or the Manner of the Agent ; for Things are diflinc.i, and coati- tute, in their diain& Kinds, not , by their Matters which are common to Things of a- nother Kind, but by their particular Forms: Confider therefore in its Material Att, which is Affent, it is common to Devils, Saints, and Reprabates; but confider this A.fYent a.iaag 'in fiach'a Manner , and' ter- minatèd to filch an ®bjea, and by which it is c®nffitutive of juttifying and laving Faith, it differs exceedingly, yea in Nature, from that which is in Devils or Hypocrites. C H A P. IL of the Manner; or Form of Faitliv BY what is laid, it may be perceived that faving : Faith differs from temporarÿi, Faith, not in the Notion of Affent, Which ij common toboth, but in the Form, andMan- ner of that Aflènt> It is true, Faith_ being `. an Aft or Habit, is a certain of Form. . tothe Subject in which it is, or is inforanat.ive ir, but accidentally : But, as in Regard of
or .Form of .Faiths '23 of the Subjc&, in which the Habit or A& of Faith exifcs, Faith may be called an accidental Form of that Subje& ; in RefpeE it is force Way conflitutive of the Subject, in a different Manner fromwhat it waswithout that Form ; ffo the Manner of that Act, by which it ads in fuch a Way and 'Manner, may be called the Form of that Ad ; beeaufe, by fuch a Manner of acting, that Ad is diverhfy'd from other Ads, and put in a feveral I:ind : For look unto Scripture, and ye fha.11 fee the fame Name given to the Faith of Saints, Hypo- crites and .Devils lfa xlviii,"2. compared with ga, 1. io. /Vic. iii. t r. yam- ii. penult. Yana. ii. 13 and 1Matth. xiii. _ .20. Xis viii. 13. Now, tho' in thefe Places it be Paid of both Elea and Reprobate promifcuoufly, that they believe; yet certainly it ¡snot the fame Faith they have, and that which makes it not the fame is the diflin& Forms : Look as all living Creatures are compounded of one Matter. Gen. i. . But they differ in their fpecifical Forms, which figures the fame Matter van- ova-1y ; fó the material Ad of Faith, affent common to both Hypocrites and Believers, yet differs in its Form. Now, becaufe every Ad is fpecified from its Object, Principle, and Manner of tending which is the Form thereof I will therefore (peak of the Manlier of Faith's acting, by which it is difeinguifhed from unfound Faith: 1, Y Thy B 4 C
4 Of f the Mannar, (I.) Then, as to the Manner how juflify- ing Faith ass, and which is peculiar to it felf, take it up in thefe four. (r.) It aSs cordially. (2.) Prahically. (3.) Firmly er fully. (q..) Particularly. SECT. L yuflifying Faith is cordial andpraElical. Say, juftifying Faith a.as cordially with Delre after and Love tá the Thing believed; they who believe, believe the Report of the Gofpel heartily : And that this is fo, appears from thefe eight Confidera- tions and Real Its. .0E.) from exprefs Tef-ti monies of Scripture, Rom. io. 9, Ioo With the Heart Man believes unto Righteoufnef. . ALis 2. 4 T. Theygladly receiv'd the Word. Pfal. i a o. 3. 1'hey faall be a willing People in the Day of thy .power. Heb. I. 13. They not only were perfwaded of the Promifes, but in brac'd them, a9rcea tw-uno as dear Friends do when they Lalute and embrace, taking one another in their Arms, i Thef. .Ala And hence Faith is laid to work by Love. (2.) Pecaufe the Lord chief- ly requires the Heart, Pro7). 23. 26. My Son, give rite thy Heart. And all Services, if not done with the Heart, are unacceptable, Song Vin. 7. Would a man give all the Subiflance of Houfefor Love, it would total be contemned. Deny
or Form of kaith. 2 5 Deny the Lord Love, and you give him no- thing : What the Man's Heart goettf not along with, that is not counted as done by the Man, but counted as the Deed of a dead Man, f arnes ii. 14. without this Faith i dead : Therefore this Faith mull be a cordial Be- lieving, not a dead, heartlefs Belief of the Truth. (3.) B,ecaufe otherwife it is a fruitlefs dead Faith, flames ii. 14. and fo cannot pro- fit, if the Heart go not alongff ; but that the Affent fwirn only in-the Head, it will not give Peace, Comfort, or Satisfa&ion to the Heart, it will not purify the Heart : This cordial believing is all one with a lively Faith, ' and Life is the Principal Operation and A.ai- . on. If thy Faith be not Lively (which it cat-I- r1ot be, uniefs Hearty) it will not operate, it cannot be fruitful, it.profiteth not. (4.) It MLitt be lively or hearty ; becaufe the Seed of it, the Word of God, is a Iiving Word, Yuba vi. 68. And when the Lord draws the Heart to himfelf, he (peaks to the Heart, Hof. 14. t Zinn. i. 15. The Gofpel is not only a faithfrd Saying,a,nd fo tobe believed,but is aSay- ing worthy of a ? Acceptation: All living Crea- tures beget living Creatures, a living Word begets a living Faith. (5.) Besaufe the Spi- rit of God Both not paint out the Privileges of the new Covenant, but holds them out really, and as they are ; and hence the Heart is here- ,rith 4fl'eaed : They are made to fee with the feeing
.6 . Of the Manner, feeing of the eye, Yob" xlii. 2. Hence there is a fecing of the Son, and then a believing on him, 2 Cor. iii. 18. Thofe Things are feen u.c in -a Glafs. The Glafs reprefents the true Species of Things. Hence Chrifl and. his Be- nefits are Peen really in their own Glory in fore Meafure, look as when the Lord in hum- bling the Sinner, difcovers Sin and Wrath really, hence the Sinner is affe&ed, and mourns ; another knows his Sin, and rational- ly is conviCred of his Sin, yet his Heart is not touched, but continues in his Sin ; be- .caufe he fees not Things really, thefe are painted to him ; the conceives of Sin, as his idolatrous Mind reprefents it; not as it is in it kif; and fo in f Bing fees -not. Ifai. vi. 7. hence is not affected. So, when a Man, by the `marvellous and glorious Light ofthe Go- fpel, fees Chrift's Grace and Glory; becaufe he fees, Things as they are, his Heart cannot but be affected ; but when thefe Things are not feen as they are, they are believed, but the Heart is not touched When a Lion is really Peen, then there is Fear ; but paint a Lion, and none trembles at it : Hence, be- caufe the great Things of the Gofpel are really 4ifcovered, as in a Glafs, hencef the Heart is afeded. (6.) Becaufe the G p and the Promifes are holden forth particular- ly, and particularly applied; general Truths, uniefs particularly apply'd, affeet not but
`ï ` ` or Form of Paitho 7 when they are reach'd to the Man himfelt, then he is awaken'd : So tell a Man prefs'd with the Burden of Sin, there is a Saviour; and many are delivered by him, this makes him hope, but hé is not much atfeeted with it : O what is this to me ! But tell him of a -Saviour offered to him, of a Pardon to him, of Grace ro' him ; this affeEts his Heart; (7.) Becaufe the Revelation of the Gofpel is certain and clear, 'it is not a Conjeerure, or a probable Opinion that the Soul bath, but are deiríondratively holden' out : The good News of the Goípel are-founded on the. Verity of Göd, they leave no Room for doubt- ing ; God that cannot lie hathproanifed this; if" a Man hear goOd News; and have no Cerreain ty thereof, he is not mcch tïken up there- with, his Fears that they may prove fade, weaken his Joy, but here is no filch Hazard. (8.) And, Lafly, In Regard of the Suhjeer-1a or the Dìfpofitioti of the Soul, when the Lord reveals Chrilt toit ; For as the Brazen Ser- pent in the Wildernefs was lifted up to none, but fach" as ,were flung with the Fiery Ser- pents; others` were not, could not be affeaed therewith, but the tormented ifae'iter were The Sick We!:or.e the Phyfician : They t,h.0 be whole itictr:, need not the Phylician ; fo cI'órh tue Spirit of God apply the Promife tfie Gofpel but fuch as through S'enfv'Qf Sin find theit' exceeding great Need of
A 28 Of the Manner, of thefe Things . Hence, when a Plaifler is difcovered fuitable to their tormenting Sore, they cannot but receive it gladly. Muth. ix. 12. So that it is clear, this is, and muff be. ObjeT. r. If Faith, which juftifies, were neceifarily attended with Love, and the reft of the Affèhions, fo as without them, Faith could not juftify ; then, it Teems, that Faith only doth not justify us, that our Love and heartyConfent to Chri f}, as a King to rule, did as much juf}ify us as Faith, and then were the Covenant of Grace force Way of Worts : To the which J anfwer, That if Faith did juflify us merely, as a Condition, for which ; then, as no Faith, but fuck as had Love with it, could juftify ; fo were Love as necefiiry to our Juflification as Faith but teeing Faith juffifies inf}rumentally, and tho' it be mixed with, and infeparable from Love, it doth not follow, that Love juffifies as much as Faith : Now, tho' Faith believes affedionately, yet is it not the Affe tiotl which believes, or by which we are juflikied Heat is infeparably annexed to the Sun, that enlightens us ; but it is riot the Heat of the Sun that enlightens : Faith embraces the Pro- slifes with Love, yet it is not Lové that ¡Lilli- s, or embraces, or fo unites us to Chrifi, as to interefs us in him : Tho' a Man comes with Mouth, Hands and Feet to a Feaft, yet it is not his Foot or Eyes that feed him, It
or Form of Faith. 29 it is the Hand only ; and the Reafon is, be- caufe we are not juftified by Faith, as it is a Work, but as this Act Iays hold on Chrift, and is accommodated for doting with Chrift for our Juftification : The condemned Male-. faéor to whom a Pardon is brought, and pleads Indemnity therefrom, if not without natural Affection, Both certainly plead with Affe±ion, and with much Heart Concern- ruent ; yet it is not his Love to the Pardon that doth abfolve him, 'ris the Pardon pleaded from, and not as the Man is taken up with it, that doth abfolve him. So here it is true, a dead Faith will not juftify, becaufe a dead Faith is not a true Faith. O1jeE . ;2. But doth not this go along with the Pa.pifts, that fay, That Charity is the Form of Faith ; when it is maintain'd, that the Manner or Form how Faith ads, is cor- dially. I anfwer; I differ from Papifis, who make Charity the Form of Faith °iii (three Things) in that, (r.) I make Love but the accidental Form of Faith, tho' infeparable from true Faith : For Proteftants do not de- ny, that Faith worketh by Love ; yea, Pa pills make that Love to God, which they fay, is theForm of Faith, a moral Virtue or Grace aufwering to the Moral Law ; this Afífe&iota or Love that accompanies Faith, is by Pro- teftants affirmed to be an evangelical Grace, flowing4$an infeparabic Property fromFaith: And
Lk-it 30 Of the 2114nner, 9 And the gloriouts,and real Difcovery of the Excellency of the Gofpel ;' and is an affe&io,, nate, glad, and hearty believing of the Truths Of the Gofpel. And, Lafily, Ve differ from. Papifts, in as much as they fay, that jullify-'. ing Faith is a general Merit, but we make the intrinfical Form of ¡vilifying 'Faith to confifl, in particular Application of the Pro- mifes. If it were granted, that this cordial, lively Atfe6tion, had form Influence ,on cur Juitifi- cation, as that without which, Faith being dead, will not juilify ; yet cloth not this in- fer, that we are juilify'd by Works, in the Apofile Paul's Senfe, for he excludes only Works that occafian Boafling; whereas, the hungring cf the Soul after Chrift for Relief, from Senfe of Want and Mifery, do not oc- cafion *Boafting, but exalt Grace, as Faith doth : For they give nothing but receive; and what Beggar will, glory, that he leeks Food, where he can get it, and that he is glad, when he hears tell, where and how his Wants may be fupply'd. Secondly, I fay Faith as praaiCally, the Affent of Faith is a praélical Knowledge, which doth'not mil: in the naked Speculation and Contemplation of its Obieer, but filch a Knowledge or Affent, that is intended to ra6iice The News of a Saviour puts out.. the Man to Leek to Chrift, to plead from his Merits
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