386 The s®ule,r effefluall calling to Chrift. So that as thedead body bath no living venue in it felfe to quicken it felfe, (o the fou'e hath no ability tobeleeve ofitsowne felfe : butTeehow the Apoftle cannot content hitnfelfe to fpeake ofthis worke of God, you (hall fee fivedegrees in it, what is the exceeding greatnefl'e of his power to us that beleeve. Firft, the pow,tr of God: Secondly, thegreatnefli' of It : Thirdly, the'excefivenefíe of this greatnefle: Fourthly, the exceffivenefie of that mightinefí'e: Fifthly, the workingofall together: fo that there is the exceeding greatnefl'e, and the exceflive great- retie, and the mightinefl'e of that excellîvrneffe, and then theworkeof all : as ifhe had faid,view you the heavens, fearch all the f}ories, and be- hold all themiracles that everGod wrought, and there is none equall tohis, to beecompared with this worke ofbeleeving. 1 fay of faith as Jacob didof Reuben, Gen. 49.3. Reuben thou art niyfirft borne, my might, andthe beginningof tyßrength,the excellency ofdigjities, &c. So i fay of faith, it is the firft borneofall other graces, it is the might ofGod, and the beginning, and the excellency ofthe might and power of God : foras the firft borne hath adouble portion appointedby God, fo this is the firft borne, and hath a doublepor- tionofthat AlmightySpirit ofhis. So then ifit be fo, that all the parts that ever a man had, and all the higheft privileges:, and meanes, and duties, cannot reach this worke, and arenot able to worke faith,but are too feeble to worke faith : and ifit bee to, that this worke is extra-
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