I62 The Gófpel-Mflery Dire. X. only can give exiftence to things that yet are not, and make a thing to be true upon our believing it, that was not true before. He only can make good that promife, " What things foever ye delire when you pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye fhall " have them, Mark xi. 24. Who is he that faith, " and it cometh to pafs, when the Lord command- " eth it not 1" Lam iii. 37. Therefore, this faith is due to God only, and greatly redoundeth to his glory. Men will often require a believing fornething like it ; as when one fays, " 1 will forgive your of- a' fence, and be your friend, if I can find that you 6' believe it, and that you take me for a friend." But their fallible word is not fuficient ground to make t?. perfuade ourfelves abfolutely, that we (hall have their promifed favour. The faith of miracles gives us force light in this matter. Chrift affured them on whoa they were wrought, and who had power giv- en them of working them, that the miracles fhould be wrought, if they believed without doubting of the event, Mark xi. 22, 23. And there is a reafon for this refemblance ; becaufe the end of working mira- cles, was, to confirm the dael.rine of the gofpel of falvation by faith in Chrift's name, as the fcriptures clearly Phew ; and, indeed, the faivation of a finner is a very great miracle. it is reported, that wizards do often r,quire thofe that come to them, that they fhould believe they fhali obtain what they delire of , them, or at leaft that they are able to fulfil their de- fires ; whereby the devil, the matter of thofe wizards, fìieweth himfelf to be God's ape, and that he would fain have that honour and glory afcribed to himfef that is due to God alone. Having thus explained the nature of that affur- ance which I have direc`"ced unto, I fhail now produce feveral arguments to prove, that there is, and mutt riecefiarily be, fuch an affurance or perfuafion of our falvation in faving faith itfelf.
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