CJ~AP.:Z. uponthe~piftleof ]AM E s. VE RS.l9· · 1. Bllre ajfent to the Articles l)f Rcligiqn doth not in- Obferv~ I . fer true faith. ·True faith unireth to Chrifr, ~cis coriverfant' about his Perfon; 'cis not ·only ajfenfus axiomati, an a!fent to aGofpelMa·xim or Propoficion; you are not jufiified by char, but by being one w~th Chrifi. 'Twas the mifiake of_the former age to make the promife, rather then the per{on of Chnfl:, to be the formal . ~ objed of faith; the Promife is the Warrant, Chrift the Object: the.r.efore the work of faith is terminated on h1m in ~he expreffions of Scripture. We read of coming to him, receivinghim,&c. We cannot clofe with Chrill: withollt a promife ; and we mufr not clofe with a promife without Chrifl: : In thorr, there is not only t~~J{ent in faith, but confent; not only an ~jJmt to the truth of the Word, but a confent · to take Chrifl: ; the: remufi be ·an aCl: that is direCtly and formally cooverfant about·the Pcrfon ofChrifi. Well then, do not mifiake anak_ed illumination,or fame generaladmowledgment of the Articles of Religion for faith: A man may be right in opinion and ju~~mmt, but of v ileaffertions; and a carnal \ Chri.O:ian is in as great danger as a Pagan, or Idolater, or Heretick; for though his judgment be found, yet his manners are hererodGx ) and heretical : True believing is not an a[f_ of the underftanding only, but aWor/z.O'f all the heart, Acts 8.37. I confefs fame expreffions of Scripture'feem to lay much upon af{ent, as I John 4· z. & 5· I. I Cor.12.3. Mat.I6.I7· but thtfeplacesdoeitherlhew, that Aifents, where they are ferious)and upon full conviction, come from fame fpecial Revelation; or elfe if they propound them as Evidences of grace, we muft difl:ingUllh times; the greatefl: difficulty lay tben upon af{mt, rather [hen affiance: The Truths of God fuffering under fo many prejudices, the Gofpel was a novel. Doctrine, contrary to the ordinary aRd received Principles of Rea~ fon,perftcuted in the world, no friend to natu·ral and carnal affeCl:ions, and therefore apt to be fnfpeCl:ed. The wind chat blov::eth in our backs, blew in their faces; and that which draweth on many to affent to the Gofpel was their difcour:~gemenc. Confent and long prefcription of time,the countenance and favour of rhe world; do beget a veneratton and reverence to Religion<;' and..-therefore · A~e~tnow is nothing fo much as it was then, efpecially when 'cis trwza~ and arreptitiom, rather then deliberate.~ for this is only the frutt of humane te.flimony,and m~edeth notfupermztura/grace~ Thereforedo not pleafeyour felves in nl'lk,sd .AjJents, thefe co.fi no– .. _ R r · · thing,
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