VeI°. 8. the i7tb Chapter of St. J OH N. 9i fay, I trust that my Sins are forgiven me in Chrift. The Gofpel hath nót only Pro- miles, but Commands, Conditions, and Articles of the Covenant, which are no lets to be received than the Promifes. Firft receive the Commandment concerning Repen- tance and Converfion, with a Refolution to cat thy Pelf on Chrift ; and then be of good confidence, thy Sins thall be forgiven thee. There is in Faith, not only an Ail fent, but Confent ; Affent to the Truth of God, Confent to the Articles of the Có- venant ; Affent to the Truth of the Contra &, Content to the Terms, and Affiance or confident waiting for the Promife; all thefe are in Faith. Hypocrites are laid to re- ceive the Word with goy, Luke 8. 13. but they received only the Word of Prothife with Joy. It is pleating to the Confcence to hear of Pardon of Sins ; Men may have vanifhingfleeting Joys. A Carnal Man would have God's Grace, but he would have none of his Counfel. 4. This mull be received with all the Heart. The Work of Faith is not confided to the Acts of the Underftanding, there are Come Motions of the Heart 'Philip puts the Eunuch to this Tryal ; Ads 8.37. Believeft thew with all thy Heart ? and he faid, I believe that gefev Chrift is the Son of God. God is as careful of the Duty of the Gofpel, as of the Duty of the Law; he that requited that we fhortld love his with all otrr Hearts, bath allo required, that we fhould believe in him with all our Hearts ; he required the whole Heart in Love, and he expe ð the whole Heart in Faith. Now becaufe this is the critical Difference between True Faith and Counterfeit, f (hall apply this Receiving to both the Objects of Faith, the Word, and the Perron of Chrift, becaufe the Doctrine concerning both is of near Affinity, and the one is opened by the other. In receiving the Perlon of Chrift, there is the' fame method of the At of Faith, 'as there is in receiving the Word of God. (t.) There is an Offer. Faith receiving, prefuppofeth an Offering ; we do not fnatch at Chrift, but receive him : Sinners thatch at Chrift fometimes, when God's hand is not open to give him. (2.) We mutt look at this Offering as made by God himfelf. Faith taketh Chrift out of his Fa- ther's Hands. (3.) We mutt take whole Chrift, as Lord and Saviour. And (4.) we mutt take him with our whole Hearts. Therefore I (hall explain this Receivingwith the whole Heart, in reference to both Objects, the Word, and Chrift. Firft, What is it to receive the Word with our whole Hearts ? There is nothing fo difficult, as to draw theAds of Faith into a Method. r. It implyeth an A& of the Will ; there mull not only be Ifnowledg and Acknow- ledgment, that the Doctrine is true, but an ar`tual Choice, and a willing Acceptation. Faith apprehendeth the Covenant made in Chrift, not only as true, but good ; and fo anfwerably, there is not only a believing with the Mind, but a believing with the Heart ; Rom, so. to. With the Heart Man believeth. The Faculty anlwereth the Ob- je&. t Tim. r. i 5. This is a faithfxl Paying, ngis ö Tóyp-, and then orsíons ciorokoz,iis worthy of all acceptation, &c. So that there is required Tome Motion of the Heart, be- fides intellectual Affent. 2. This A& of the Will is accompanied with force fenfible Affection. Heb. r t, 13: àazraaúlaæva 'rats i- ,rayisTÌixç, they imbraced the Promifes; they hugged and clafped a- bout, and imbraced the Promifes, All Ads of Faith, do neceffatily ittiply anfwerable Affections: The Children of God embrace the Promifes with delight, receive the Threatnings with trembling and reverence, and the Commandments with all chearful- nefs ; Ads 2. 41. Then they that received the Word gladly, àea4ms, not as a People that are overcome, receive Laws from the Conqueror ; or as Zipporah circumcifed her Childs with grudging and difcontent, but with hearty and chearful confent. I confefs, there is, and ever will be, an oppofition of the Fle(h : a Man Both not receive the whole Word, as a thirfty Man reeeiveth fweet Drink ; but as a tick Man, or one that is thirty after Health receiveth Phyfick, or a bitter Potion, with an earnefi ferious delire, the his Appetite loatheth it. There is an hearty content to God's Terms, becaufe they know it will be for their welfare i as Laban when he heard Jacob's Propofals, What (ball I give thee? the feeltled and fpotted among the Flocks. Gen, 3o. 34: Labatt faid, Behold, I would it might be according to thyWord. Oh would to God that this were my (hare, that God would take up the Quarrel between himfelf and me ! 3. This Affection is accompanied with a purjttit, or feriont making after thefe Hopes: There is a care and anxioufnefs of Obedience, or taking the next courfe to fpeed, that we may find him, and feel him in our Cdnfciencet The; reedird Ike Word slay, and anti
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