Ver.B. the 17th Chapter of St. JO H N. 95 Faith is prefently to be exercifed with Difficulties. In-Matters of Grace, Men are more flight and inconfiderate, and content themfelves with tome general cold Perfwafions, and therefore do not believe with their whole Hearts. Alas, temporal Salvation is more eafy i Can you look for Heaven, who cannot trip him for a Croft of Bread ? Do you know what it is to venture your Souls in Chrift's Hands, notwithflanding Sins, notwithftanding Death, and yet Coon defpond in time of Danger, and when outward Means of Prefervation fail ? 2. To receive Chrift with the whole Heart, is to receive him as an AlltufcientSa- viour, when every Faculty feeketh contentment in Chrift. We ought not only to ac, knowledg him to be the true Mediator, but to chufe and receive him for our Alifuffici- eat Portion, Worldly Men look to Chrift as fit for their Confciences, but look to the World as an Objet for their Affe&ions. Now Chrift fhould not only pacify the Confcience, but fatisfy the Heart. We fhould come to him, not only as a Phyfician to heal our Wounds, but as a Hufband to fatisfy and content our Love, as a meet Ob= jest for our Affe &ions. The whole Soul is to clafp about him. He is not only good in a way of Profit, but amiable in a way of Excellency ; therefore the whole Heart is to be given him. The things of the World are good but for one thing ; Food is good to fatisfy the Appetite, yet we mull have Cloaths to warm the Back. Bat Chrift is good for all things 3 he is not only the Phyfician of the Soul, but the Beloved. Pfal. 73.2 5. Whom have I in Heaven but thee ? and there is none Earth that I defier be. ides thee; fence there is none fo fit to match and wed their Affections. 3. To receive him with the whole Heart, is to make after him with the carnal Mo- tions, and lively Affe&ions of the Soul, as Defire and Delight. Carnal Men have tf naked imaginary Perfwafion, but no lively Affe &ions to Chrift, unlefs it be for a very fmall while : They never felt the bitternefs of Sin, and fo have not fuch vehement and ftrong motions of Heart towards Chrift. Convi&ion of Confcience, differeth much- from literal Affent : Carnal Men have a literal Aflènt, and a fpeculative Delight in Contemplation, but not fuch labour and travel-of Soul to get an Intereft in Chrift. Swimming is for Life and Death, it is not a Work proper for him that ftandeth on firm Land, but for thofe that are ready to be fwallowed up of the Waves. Nor have they fuch Delight ; a Stomach always full, knoweth not the fweetnefs of Bread. Chrift eelifhethonly with troubled Confciences. VP of the whole. Well then, you fee that there is required to Faith, ys cis & weans, Knowledg and Receiving. i. re nn, Knowledg. There is a Knowledg before Faith, in Faith, and after Faith. Before Faith ; a Man muff know what he believes, or .elfe he cannot believe. See Scriptures; Johnro .38.That'yemayknowandbelieve, that the Father ir in me, and I ite him. t John 4.16. We have known, and have believed the Love that God bath to us John 6.69. We know and believe that thou art Chr f. We muff firft know, before we can believe. In Faith there is a Knowledg, an Apprehenfion as well as Difcourfe, a pregnant Apprehenfion. Faith is a clear Light, it freeth the Soul from the Miffs of Prejudice, by reprefenting God in the Allfufficiency of Grace and Power. Heb.ii.3. Through Faith we underflasd, that the World was framed by the Word of God : It put- zeled the Philofophers, but Faith maketh all clear. After Faith; 2 Pet. t. 5:.r4dd to your Faith, Virtue; and to Perteee, Knowledg. Faith is the Fruit of Knowledg, Knowledg is the Fruit of Faith. So, Pfd. 11 g. 66. Teach me good Judgment and I now. ledg, for I bave believed thy Commandments ; that is, a fuller manifeflation. Firft we receive the Word by Faith, then we know more. Opertet difcentem credere. Firft we know That it is, then How it is: The ground of' Faith is, that they 'are revealed : How or what they are, we learn by more acquaintance and experience.' Light is al- ways increafing, molt neceffary to the Chriftian Life. Faith is as Knowledg is, more or lets explicite ; yet not fo explicite, but that there is tome implicitenefs in it, as long as we live here. a John 2. 3. It doth net yet appear what we frail be ; but this we know, that when be 'ball appear, we fhall be like bier. We have not a particular Account, not a Reafon of the Thing, but we have a Reafon why we believe it. 2. 44s, This is a proper A& of Faith. God is always on the giving, and we on the receiving Hand ; we receive the Word, we receiveChrift, and we receive Remif- lion of Sins, and Glory ; the main of our Duty is but a Receiving. Le.
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