364 Waiting the firft fruit of Faith in a way of Duty. Waiting thefirfl fruit of Faith,&c. PC21.130. repeaten.On this account I fay,we lhall pais through themwith all briefncfs poflibie ; yet fo as not wholly to omit any direelions that are here tend red unto us, as to the guidance of the foul, whole condition and the working of whole faith is here de- fctíbed. Tais therefore in the firfi place is propofed. The f r i proper fruit of faiths d ifcovery of fórgivene fs in God unto a fin- diffreffed foü1, is waitingin patience and expetiation. This the Pfalmiff openly and dì'rce}: applies himfelfunto, and exprefleth to have been as his duty, fo his praaice. And he loth it fo evnphaticaky, as was mänifctled in the opening of the words, that I know not that any duty is any where in the Scri- pture fo recommended and lively reprefented unto us. You mufi therefore for the right underilandirg of it, call to mind what hath been fpoken concerning theftate of the f,ul inquired into ; its depths, intanglements, and fenfe offin, with its Applicationuntopod about thofc things ; As alto remem- ber what hath been delivered about the nature of forgivenefs, with the Revelation that is made of it unto the faith of Be- lievers, And that this may be done, where the foul path no refrefhing fenfe of its own intercti therein. It knows not that its ownfins are forgiven, although it believes that there is for- givenefs with God. Now the principal duty that is incumbent on fuck a foul, is that laid down in the propofition, namely, patient waiting and ; xpeartation. Two things mull be done in reference hereunto : Firll, The nature of the duty it fell is tobe d4clared : And fecondly, The nece ty and ufetulnefs of its pradice is to be evinced and de- monfirated. For the Nature ofit, fomething hath been intimated giving light into it , in the opening of the words here ufed by the Pfalmiff to cxprefs it by. But we may oblerve that thefe duties as required of us, do not confiti in any particular aging of the foul, but in the whole fpiritual frame and deportment of it in reference unto the End aimed at in and by them. And this waiting, as here and elfewhere commended unto us, and which is comprehentiveof the efpecial duties of the foul in the cafe infified On, and defcribed, comprehends thetè three things. (I .) uiet-
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