234 SERMONS upon Serro 27. and fometimes to Faith, which receiveth the Gofpel. Ads 55. 9. Purifying their Hearts by Faith. Our Hearts are purified by the Word of Truth. I Per. I. 22. Seeing that ye have purified your Sods in obeying the Truth, through the Spirit. Here they were puri- fled by Faith. The Word worketh not without an A& on our parr, as well as orí God's': The Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it. Heb. 4. 2. As a Planer worketh not-, till it be applied to the Sore. Nay, the Apoftle's Word implieth more g the Word mutt not only be applied to the Soul, but mingled with the Soul, euyv. s g Oros As in a Medicine, the Ingredients mull be mixed together to do good : So if we have the Word, we mull have the Spirit, and we mud have Faith; mix it altogether, and then it worketh. Faith receiveth the Word as a divine and infallible Truth, and that begets an Awe. In fltort, Faith working to Sanctification, apprehends the Love of God, the Blood of Chrift, the Promifes, Precepts of the Word t and by all there it is ever purging and working out Corruption. By apprehending the Love of God t Gal. 5. 6. In Chrifi jefas neither Circumci ian availeth any thing, nor 'Vncircumc fon, but Faith that worketh by Love. Shall I love that which God hateth? 0 do not this abominable Thing that I hate? Jer.44.4. Faith reprefenteth God pleading thus: Isthis thy Kind - nefs to thy Friend ? Do I thus requite God for all his Kindnefs to me in Chrill ?. There is an Exafperation againit Lulls. It maketh ufe of the Blood of Chrift. t John I. 7. The 'Blood of fefus Chrifi hisSon cleanfeth us from all Sins. Heb.9.14. How much more :ball the Blood of Chrifi, who through the eternal Spirit offered himfilf without fpot to God, purge your Confluences from dead Works, to ferve the Living God? That is an excellent Purger. In outward Purging, it is the Water and the Soap cleanfeth, but the Hand of the Laundrefs applieth it, and rubbeth the Cloaths that are walked t Faith apprehendeth the Blood of Chrift to purge the Confcience, it waiteth for the fanhtifying Virtue of his Blood, and the Grace purchafed thereby. So Faith maketh ufe of the Promifes t this giveth Faith encouragement to expert glori- ous Rewards. Af ìftance is purchafed, and Acceptance is promifed g 2 Cor. 7. z. Ha- ving therefore thefe Promifs, dearly Beloved, let us cleanfe our felves from all Filthinefi of the Flefb and Spirit, perfelling Holinefs in the Fear of God. Then Faith conftantly ma- keth ufe of the Precepts and Counfels of the Word, by which Sin is difcovered and taxed. When the Word is received by Faith, there goeth a Light with it to fee Sin after another manner, altho a Man did not know it before. Faith perfuadeth us, that the Commands of God are jufl and equal t there is a believing Commands, as well as Promifes, this is a Command from God. Pfal. z 59. 66. Teach me good judgment and Knowledg, for 1 have believed thy Command.nents. SERMON XXVII JOHN XVII. SanEhfy them through thy Truth, thy Word is Truth. Thirdly; NOW Proceed to the Reafons why God fanhhifieth by his Truth. It is molt fuitable to God's Honour, and to Man's Nature. I. To God's Honour. It was meet that God fhould give a Rule to the Creatures, or elfe how fhould they know his Will ? And then it was meet to honour this Rule, by owning it above all other Do- &tines, by the concomitant Operation of his Spirit. This is the authentick Proof, the Efficacy of the Wbrd is a Pledg of the Truth of it. John 8.32. And ye frill know the
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