Verf. fÒ,II,Y2, the Epifiletothe 9la Gmans. 397 A doubt. Solution. il fe. neere and eafie to us in erbczcy , becaufe through the holy Spirit, he is made to dwell in a faithful' heart , really and a &ually : and his righteoufneffe as a robe or garment, is put upon them, to cover their ins and unritthteoufneffe. T 1 ra. Tea, but to beleeve in Chrif}, it no leffeimpolible and hard, then to fulfill the Law : for we have no more power to doe the ene, then the other. S 1 L. It is true : bnt this facility is to be underftood, not in regard of the beginning and eflicitit caufe of Faith, which is;neerly Gods gift without our felves, he working in us both will and deed, Epbef. z. Io. Phil. z. 13. but this righteoufneffe ofFaith is eafier in re- gard of the manner of thework,becaufe the Law requireth the full obedience thereof to be performed by our felves which cannot be in this infirmity, Rom. 8.3. But Faith referreth and fendeth us to Chrift for the performing of the taw; and in regard of the manner of the work , it is Far eafier to beleeve . the Law to bedon'e by another,who was able to fulfill it, and was lent for that end, then to doe it our felves. Allo much eafier it is, to beleeve and give af- fent to a true promife, then to keep ftri&ly, without failing, all Gods corn - mandements. If a King [hould lay to a Subje &,Conquer me fuch a Kingdome, and I will give thee my daughter with large dignities and livings; were it not harder then if he fhould fay, Doe but truftmy word, and I will doe all this for thee. In thefe confiderations one faith, that falvation hath but a fhort cut,it requireth no externall labor, but inward beleif: and Calvin faith, that by the operation of the Spirit thou maiefl eafily beleeve with thy heart, and confeffe with thy mouth. And Lyranus faith, here is (hewed thefacility of the righteoufneffe 'of Faith. And Faius thinketh this flying, of being neer in the heart and mouth, to be a Prover- bial) (perch ,commending the readineffe of that which is in the heart and mouth. T 1st. What ufe hereof ? S 1 L. It admiuiftreth comfort to Chri1tieos, toconitder that the means of patfage to heaven be not unconquer- able and unable to be attained. Second- ly, it declares how uncomfortable Po pith do&nine is, which excludes and thuts out all hope of being ftved,by ty- ing falvation unto an impollible condi- tion of fulfilling of the Law.T hirdly,it ftirreth us up to the love and praife of Gods goodncffe, in appointing fo eafie a condition, and giving us power to keep it,For faith is the gift of God, DIALOGUE VIII. Verf.1o,11, 12. Fer with the heart man teleeveth unto righte- oufneffe : and with the mouth man con - fefeth unto falvation. For the Scripture faith, en. T s MOTH EUs. 7Hat deth this Text contain? Y V S t L. Firfl,a repetition and Coherence confirmation alto of that which was faid touching falvation, the effe& of righteoufneffe by faith ; together with an explication oftheperfons to whom righteoufnefs and falvation belongeth. The-thing here repeated,is,that a Chri_ ftian that beleeveth in Chri(i dead and raìfed to life, and confeffeth this his faith before men, (ball certainly and without doubt be faved. Wherefore Methodor let us obferve thefe things, that faith 4ifpoftiicn i and confeflion are coupled together, as 1C the tree and her fruit,and as the mother and the daughter.Alfo they be let forth by their proper filbje& of feats whereto they cleave, and wherein they flick and refs : Faith in the heart, and confefiion in the mouth. Laflly, not the parts,but the degrees of falvation be pointed at. The firft degree or beginning of it, is righteoufneffe, to wit, abfolution from fin, by free pardon, through the merit of Chrift his death, and being accoun- ted juflbefore God, by the worthinelfe of his obedience to the morali Law. The fecond degree is, perfeL4ion of fal- vation in heaven,and al the proceedings thereunto, from juffification tlhglori- fication Two de- grees of Salrauran.
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