fitzon upon Chap. 394 An Expo which is imperfect, and mutt be thus fupplycd ; but what faith the righteouf; neffe of Faith? This queftionferveth to flirre and quicken up attention.Second- ly, an anfwer; This it faith, that the word is neer thee, &e. Thirdly, a decla- rationwhat word he meaneth,not of the Law, but of the Gofpell. T i M. Come we to the Interpretation,an tell us in what fente it is faid,[Ihat this word is veer us? ] S i L. That is to fay, it is propound- ded and offered unto us plainly to be underttood by the miniftry of the Gotpell, fo as we need not croffe the Sea, nor clime up the mountaines, or take any long painfull journeys tofeek it out. T t M. How is it fail to be [neer in our hearts and in our mouths ? ] S IL. It is neer, in our hearts, by being ingrafted or planted in our hearts by faith; and it is neer in our mouths when we make profeffion of it before men, when caufe requireth fo to do for Gods glory, or the benefit of others. T i M. Why is the Go fpel called the word of Faith? S z L,Firft, effe &ively; becaufe it be- getteth faith through the fpirit, as verfe 17. Secondly, obje&ively, becaufe it is received by faith,as the proper and efpe- ciall obje& thereof. Alto becaufe it tea- cheth and requireth not workes, but faith only unto righteoufneffe before God. The Papiftsdo erre, which fay, that the doftrine of faith and life, is meant by the word of faith. Here Paul medleth not with good life, elfewhere fie dealeth about it. T i M. Let us new know what Dotirines we have outofthis eight verfe ? S i L. Thefe three : Firft, that a lively faith, hath the word ofLGod for the foundation and ground of it, to build and ftay upon : whereby [ Word] we may underhand either generally that word which is revealed unto us in the Scripture of the old and new teflament. For faith Both beleeve and glint to all that whichGod (peaks in the Scriptures; becaufe they proceed and come from him who is the God of truth;alI whole Interpre- tation. Doîirine. I 0; words are mofl true and faithful! : how- beit our Chriftian Faith doth more fpe- daily refpe& the word of the Gofpell, the promife of Grace touching the re- million of fines,and life eternal! by Jefus Chrift;as it is Paid here by way of expo. fition [`I Ws is the word of Faith which we preach.] And wherefoever we find Faith and Chrift his blond. and death coupled together , we are given to wit, that the Doétrine teaching Chrifl his perfon and office, is the proper objeâ of our jufli- fying faith, which is therefore by Di- vines defined to be an affiance in the pro- mile ofGrace. T r M.What may be the rearm that Faith 1ookcth in the matter of jufiifying only to the word ofpromife? S t L. Becaufe that word only doth Reafous. offer unto finners the merits of Jefus thrift to be freely enjoyed of them unto remillion of finnes and falvation, fo as they be embraced and received ; and therefore they be called the word of his grace, and the Gofpell of Chriff, and the word of falvation and reconci- liation : becaufe both the free love of God and Chrift, and all his benefits be propounded to the elect In the word of promife. T r M. What ufe are we to make of this firft doirine? S i L. It confuteth the Papifts,which make not the word alone, but their A- pocrypha writings,and humane Tradi- tions,to be the Anchor and flay of faith; which is with the foolilh Builders, to lay our Foundation upon the fand, not upon the rocke. T t M. What is the fecondlnfirullion ? S i L. That faith hath no wavering uncertain opinion , fleeting through ignorance and feare, but is a firme un- moveable and lure knowledge, becaufe it refteth upon Gods word and promife, then the which nothing is more fure and certain. For it is written, the word of God is true, 2 Sani. 7. 28. His teffimonies are fiore and endure for ever, Pfal. 19. 7. I John 2. 28. Allo, Heaven and earth (hall perifT,, but one tittle of Gods word (hall not perifb, and Rom. 9.6. a Cor. r. 2o. r Cor. s.9. Now then, Faith it felf vfe.
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