CH.A.P.2. t~pontheEpifllt- ofJ A MIs. V.aas.u. 3ZJ - """'~-.-...,. is come eo fome maturity.and perfection ofgrqw~h.notooly livi.1g 1 but livtlj,when ifcan ,pmduce irs properand neceffil~Y operation$: This fence is probable. . But, z. Ochers. underfiand Jt thus, That , faith or prof,ffion ·is ·not fully and ,compleat · ~ill work! b~joJmfd . wnh it, faith and works being the ~wo dfent1al parts wh•chmake up a Bdecver ; which interpretation ~uiteth ~ell enough With the (cope of the Apofile. 3· The Expofic1on whtch I r4ke to bemoll: fimple and i uicabl~, is, That fai~h eo-working wit~ obedie~cc is. ) . mAde perfea,that JS,bc:ctered and 1mproved ; ~s . .the:mw~rd v1gour 1· . ofthe fpirits is increa(ed by motion and ex:ercife : and fo in filort c (as* Dr Ja~k..fsn explaineth it) work do not perfed: faith bycorn• • J.a' tsm: J rnunication and imputation of their perfetbon ro it, but byLlirring, Fait-h. cxercifing and intending the natural vigour of it. .. . . , . . From this Verfe thus opened ob(frv.e : . · · : I. There is an injlHence ~f faith upqn ~tll . i!t ChrifliAn! af1ings, Ohfcr'U, I . Heb.1 I· Faith is made the grand principle: Acts are there fpoken of, which do more formally belong to other graces. Buc we fay the General won the day, though the private Souldiers did worthily in the highplaces of the field, becau[e ,cwas under his conduct and ' direction : Sobecaufe all other graces m:trch, and are brought np ·in their order, to fight under the conduct of Fai[h, the honour of the day and duty is devolved upon ic. The influence of Faith i$ ) great inco·au the offices of the h~avenly life; 1. Be.caufe it hath the ~dvantageofafweet principle; /t wprk_eeh by love, Gal. 5•6• It rerrefents the Love ofGod, and then maketh ufe of the fweetnefs o it by way of argument ; it urgech by fuch melting intreaties, ) that the Believer cannot fay Nay. P~ul intimateth the argument of Faith, qal.l.'-0· I live bJ faith in the Son ofG()d, who laverl,and · gave himje/ffor me. When the Soul is backward, Faith faith; c;hrift lovedyou, and gAve himfolffor JOH:He was no~ thus back– ward in the work of Salvation ;. as the Sould1er faid to AHgHftm 1 w~en he refufed hiS: Petition, I did nrtt {erveyou fo at the Battel of :-– At-~>iHm. 2. It prefet:Jtsftrot~g encr;ttragemefJts; it feeth a.ffip.. ~n~e in the fOJPer ofGod, acceptan~e in thegrace of God, reward } Ul tbe bount} ofGod. When you are weakened with doubtings and difcottragemems, Faith faith; DoJour endeavQr, .mdGod will J accept yoN : When Chrifi came to feafi with his Spoofe he faith, Cll.!lt. 5~ I. I '!'jil'e~tt 111) hon.t-J comb w.ith .. 111) honq : Though ic were .mtxcdwuh wu, and:c:mbafdd wi~weal<nef&, Chrifi wiU T t z ,cc:ept
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