94 were baptized, Ads 2.41. In every Contra& where the Parties are agreed, there is a signing and [eating; fo they received the Word, and were baptized, that was the next courre to come under there Hopes. A Contra& Beth void and dead, if there be Con- fent, yet no Performance ; So Faith without Work! is dead : Faith is a Content to God's Covenant, yet becaufe there is no answerable Obedience, this Content is void, and to no effect. Now this is the utmoft extenfìon of the Will, in Motions and Addrelés towards Chrift : Faith is expreffed by coming to Chrift; qui fe dat in viam, a Man putteth himself into the way of Salvation, upon a fearch and enquiry after Chrift We know not what will come of it, but we will continue feeking; I will go to my Father. 4. Thefe Endeavours are Cupported by Affiance, or a refolution to wait upon God, till the Blefftngs of the Covenant be accomplished and made good. Tho they meet with Difficulties, they keep wreliling with God : Gen. 32. a6. I will not let thee go ;in - lefì thou blefs me. There is an obttinate purpofe, yob t 3. 15. Tho he flay me, yet will I trufl in him. So they will have Christ,- whatever it colt them. Phil. 3. 8, o. I count ail things but lofs for the excellency of the I nowledg of Chrifi Jesus my Lord, for whom I have fufered the lot of all things, and do count them but Dung, that I may win Chrijl ; 9nd be found in him, not having mine own Righteoufnefs,. which is after the Law, but that which it. through the Faith of Chrifi, the Righteoufnefs which it of God by Faith. Faith may be ( haken, but it will not lofe its hold ; as a Tree groweth tho it be bended with the Wind. Thus you fee what it is to receive the Word with our whole Heart ; not only to ac- knowledg the Truth of it, but to chufe and accept it as our Direction, with all chear- fulnefs, and accordingly make out after the Hopes of. Chri(tianity, refolving not to be dilcouraged, whatever entertainment we meet with from God, and theWorld. Secondly, There is a receiving Chrift with the whole Heart. Art thou willing to take Christ upon there terms ? Yes, faith the Soul, with all my Heart : This Anfwer were enough, if it were Pimple and genuine. But becauf we prophane and pro(titute these words to every flight Matter, the Deceit is not fo easily discovered. We are wont to fay of every Trifle ; I love fuch a thing with all my Heart i I will do it with all my Heart : Whereas there words are of a facred found and importance ; and did not we adulterate them fo often as we do, but keep them confecrate to God, to whom a- lone they are proper, the very pronouncing of them would awaken Confcience; we could not give fuch an Anfwer, but Confciencewould give us the lie. Let us then en- quire into the Thing, and fee a little into the nature of the Thing, ( for there is no tuft in the Expreflion) What this believing in Christ with all the Heart, or receiving Chrift with all the Heart, doth imply. I Anfwer. r. It implieth, that your whole and role dependance rauft be intirely carried out to him. God will have no Rivals in the trust and confidence of the Creature. A King in his Progrefs, that takes up an Inn, will have it wholly to himself, much Iris will he have any to (hare with him in his own BedChamber : So here, you mutt troll Chrift alone with your Welfare. We believewith our whole Heart, when we have fuch a perfwafion of his Sufficiency, that we durfi venture all in his Hands; in matter of'Re- mifíion of Sin we mind no confidence, but in his Grace. Heb.10. 22. Let so draw near with a true Heart, in full assurance of Faith, aìH9ss xaplla, an Heart that doth not fecretly run out to other Props, and Confidences: Truth and Sincerity in Be- lieving is there intended, not in Obedience. Faith is a limpie fingle troll in God's Mercy ; the Heart is very deceitfuL Chrifl beareth the Name, but the Confidence is fecretly built odour own Merits; as thofe Women in Ifaiah, Ira. 4. r. We will eat our own Bread, and wear our own Apparel, only let to be called by thy Name. People will fay, theytrult in Christ alone, and yet fecretly refs on their own Innocency and good Meanings. But molt fenfibly this perverfenefs of Trutt is discovered in Matters of Providence ; chore that put half their Trutt in Christ, and half in the World, do not believe with their whole Hearts. They pretend they can trust Chrift for Pardon, Grace, and Glory, and yet cannot trufì him for a morsel of Bread : they find no diffi- culty in believing in Chrift for Salvation, and Remi(fion of Sins, and yet cannot be- lieve that he will give them daily Bread : What should be the Reason? Heaven, and Pardon of Sins, are greater Mercies; and if Confcience were opened, we should fee the difficulty to obtain them to be greater. There are more natural Prejudices; but bodily Wants are more pressing to a Confcience, not fuffciently convinced. And here Faith S E RM ON S upon Sell-n.11.
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