Ver. 7, 8. xxvth Chapter of St. MATTHEW. 4i . believe, we muff bring forth to pra &ice. Therefore if we believe ftedfaftly, we muff live accordingly ; live as men that look for fifpki things. _A bare apprehen. fon or affent to the truth is nothing worth, unlef5 it be accompanied with that care and diligence which belongeth to the truth fo apprehended. The Chriftian. Religion confifteth not in word, but in deed : And our belief of it is nót tried by a fpeculative affent, efpecially in the abfeice of temptations ; but by a confiant and diligent praftice of thofe duties whereunto this beliefbindeth us. So that they do not truly and ravingly believe fuch things, who are not ferioufly and coiftant- ly diligent in the fpiritual life. I cannot' fay that an affent feparate from pra&ice is no Faith, but 'tin no Paving Faith ; 'tis fuch a Faith as the Devils may have, who know there is a God, and a Chrift, and a World to come ; they believe it and fear it ; So may carnal men believe it fo far as to fir up bondage and le -. . gal fears in their Hearts ; but while they improve it not, and prepare not for their everlafdng Eftate, their Faith is ineffeßual to Salvation. True Faith is try ed rather by Living than by Talking : ohn 2. 4. He that faith I know him, and keepeth not his,Commandments, is a Lyar, and the truth u not in him : There is difference between an Untruth and a Lye ; now where the Aftions do not corre fpond to the Profeflion, that Profeffion is not only an Untruth but a Lye : There is a denying in word as well as works, Titus r. 16. Many Profefs and be- lieve as Chriftians, but live as Atheifts. Tis not notions but afleE ions, living ra- ther than talking, that will demonftrate true Faith : Now the paucity of ferious walkers, iheweth the paucity of true Believers. 2. In this Improvement there is an Appeal to Confcience ; for here is a queftion put to our own Hearts, let Reafon and Confcience fpeak : After the Ferious confedera- tion of the glory and terrour of Chrif }s fecond coming, what holinefs and prepa- ration is neceffary on our part ? Surely the hblieft upon Earth, if they would put this queftion to their own hearts, they would not be fatisfied with that liolinefs which they had, but would feek after more ; their delires would be ftrengthned, their endeavours quickened,- their diligence doubled : 'Tis for want of felf- commu- ring that we are fo dull and fluggifh : If men did oftner ask of themfelves, Rea - fon would tell them, that no flight thing will ferve the turn. But Truths are not improved, Fir fl, For want of a' found Belief: Secondly, For want of a.ferious Con- federation. Therefpre in Scripture when any notable Truth is propounded and improved, there are tiefe Appeals to Confcience ; Heb. 2. 3. How fhall we e fcape, if we neglect fo great falvation ? and Rom. 8. 31. What fhall we fay to theft thing r ? 3. In this Appeal the qualification of our perfons is firfl regarded and looked after: For pray mark the queftion: 'tis not How hot ought our Converfations to be? but What manner of perfons?, The frate of the perfon muff be firft regarded, and then the courre of our actions and converfations. There are fome perfòns at whofe hands God will not accept a gift. God had refpeU firft to Abel, and then to his Offer- ing. The fate of the perfon is to be judged of according to the two great pri- viledges of Chriftianity, Juftification and San &ification. [r.] That we be juftified, and reconciled to God through Chrifl; that we daily renew friendlhip by the exercife of a godly furrow for fin, and a lively faith in Chrift. r john 5. r. Whofoever believeth that yefiss is the Chrift, is born of God. And 1 John a. 1. Little Children, thefe things I write unto you, that ye fin not. And if any man fin, we have an Advocate with the Father, yefus Chrift the Righteous. Others are not accepted with God. [2.] That we be fanclified, or renewed by the Spirit, Tit. 3. 5. and fo fitted and framed by this general Holinefs for the particular duties we are called to. A.Bowl muff be made round before it can run remand : The Instrument muff be framed, and ítrung, and put in tune, before it can make any melody: the Tree mutt firft be made good, before we can expe& any good fruit from it, Mat. 12.33. Aaions are holy by their rule ; a perfon is holy by his principle. Therefore till there be a principle of Grace wrought in our hearts, we are not fuch manner of perfons as God will accept: Nor are we fitted to perform him any fervice, or to meet him at his coming. 4. When our Perfons are in frame, we mull look to the courfe of our Actions or Walk: ing : For the tree is known by its fruit, and a man by the court of his a&ionsi We do but imagine we have blind's within, unlefs we manifeft it in our outward converfation ; and will flrive to fhew our felves mindful and refpeftful of Gods ,G commands
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=