Wilson - BS2663 W54 653

An Ëxpo f tion upon ous unto us,feeing wee have Inch a trea- lure by it ;and therefore, all they are moll wretched, who either negle&, or defpife the Gofpell. Ti M. How may wee declare our precious recle ning, which teedo mak of the Go/14i? S t L. Firft, by our continual( and hearty than kfulneffe to God for it. Se- condly, by our Iludy to know it found - ly and diflinélly. Thirdly, and chiefly, by our beleefe and pra&ife ofit. Fourth- ly, by our dayly and earnell praier to God, for encreafe in the knowledge and Obedience of the Gofpell. T r M. What other things (carne wee here in thin Text ? S i L. That naturally we are ignorant of the Gofpell, because we cannot know it, without revelation from heaven. We are not borne beleevers. Ti M. Tell ut now, what Faith io, that which is the Ju ffifying Faith, and where - unto the righteoufizeffe revealed in the Gofpedl, it imputed and applied? S t L. Not that Hifloricall Faith, which is but a bare knowledge e nor the Miraculous Faith, by which wonders are done : nor the Temporary Faith of Hypocrites, which vanifheth in time of aftli&ion,AQat:h.t 3.but that Faith which hath application of the things beleeved, joyned with the true .knowledg and affurance of underftanding, whence comnieth confidence and boldneffe. T a M. How many thing: are comprehen- ded in this Faith ? S t t. Five things :Firft, apprehenfi on in laying hold on Christ. Secondly, approbation in cfteeming Chrifi above all, or more then all. Thirdly,expeti- tion,in defining him before all. Fourth- ly, oble&ation, delighting in him ;note then all. Lallly, expef ation, looking for the full enjoying of his prefer:cc and glory. Tr M. What meaneth he to fay [from Faith to Faith ?] S r L. Not from one Faith to ano- ther, but from one degree of Faith to another a from weaker Faith to !Iron - ger, from a letter Faith to a greater. Whereas this phrafe [from Faith to Faith] by divers Interpreters is diverfly Chap.Y: expounded : as from an unformed Faith, to a formed, which is Popilh : front the Faith of the Preacher, to the Faith of the hearer : (Thus Auguffine, Junta mifle)for a mans owne Faith jnfli- fieth : therefore, from Faith of Parents, to faith of polled ty,is amiffe:alfo, from the faith of the old Tetlament, to the faith of the new(as Chryfoffom thought) not well, nor fitly : from the Faith of one Article,to the Faith of another, (as Anfelme writech e ) from the faith of things prefent, to the faith of things to come, as the refurre&ion, &c. From the faith of God promiling, to the faith of man beleeving, as Ambrofe and Mart }r thinker yet the Etteft and bell expoltion of the nmeafìzre of one and the fame faith: from Faith beginning, to Faith encrealing toward perte&ion. Faith,fo much the more it groweth, fo much the more it maketh men lure of their Julli- fication. There be the like phrafes to this, elfe.where, in holy Scripture, as Pfalme 84.8. from ftrength to flrength, and2 Cor. 3.16. from glory to glory: firfl, from one degree of ftrength and glory to another; lo here, from an in- firme Faith, t0 a firme Faith. Therefore1 the meaning ofthis forme of fpeech,is,as if it fhould be Paid, that the righteouf- neffe of God is gotten not by the works of the Law, but by the Faith of the Go- fpell alone; for degrees of Faith alter not the kind of Faith ; a weaké and a firong Faith be but one Faith, which without deed cloth juflifie 5 according to that which is afterward written for explication of this Text, in Chap.3. verfe 22. Ta M. What doyecalltheroealo. Faith? S i L. An earnell and cotenant delire to know Chriff, and to make applicati- on of his mercies to our (elves. Tr M. What is the higheft degree of Faith ? S r t.To be fully perfwaded of a mans owneAdoption,and of his owne falva- tion,as Abraham, and Paul, Rom.4. 21. & 38.39. Ti M. Who are hereby adwont hed ? S s L. Such as prefume of full Faith, when they have none at all, Secondly, fuch. _ MY

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