Satan blinds their eyes with the love of worldly eafe, honor, and pleasure; and therefore, with all their knowledge of Christ, they love him not: and because they receive not the love of the truth, they cannot be faved. That knowledge of Christ then, and that only, which causes the foul to love Chrift, and cleave to him with the whole heart, is the faith of God's Elect; and hence they truft in him, because they both know, and love him.-In this manner alfo the faith of the Patriarchs is defcribed by the Apoftle; thefe all, faith he, died in faith; not having received the promifes, but having feen them afar off, and were perfwaded of them, and embraced them :-And then, as the confequence, and effect of thus believing in, and cleaving to the promise of life in CHRIST JESUS; they confeffed that they were ftrangers and pilgrims on the earth*.

Therefore we conclude, that every true Chrif tian in believing the Gospel, or the teftimony of GoD concerning his Son JESUS CHRIST, hath not only à refpect to the certainty or truth of that teftimony; but also, and that chiefly, to the goodness, excellency, and glory of it: And hence also he trufteth in it; waiting in hope, for the full enjoyment, and poffeffion of thofe unspeakable bleffings therein revealed, and promised thro' faith. Thus charity,

that is, LOVE believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things†; for every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God; but he that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love *.

I fhould now have proceeded to confider,

FIFTHLY, The Author of divine faith in our fouls, with its efficacy, and end:But finding that I have already exceeded the bounds of an ordinary difcourfe, I fhall defer the confideration of what remains, if GoD permit, to fome future opportunity and fhall clofe my prefent difcourfe with a fhort Application.

Reader, thou art eithe& believer, or an unbeliever. If a believer in CHRIST, thou art a child of GOD, and an heir of eternal glory: GoD is thy Father, CHRIST is thy Lord and Husband, and the HOLY SPIRIT which dwelleth in thee, is thy Guide, and Comforter; for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God But, if an unbeliever, thou art under the wrath and curfe of God, a flave to Satan and thy lufts, in the gall of bitterness, and bond of iniquity; whether thou thyfelf feel, and acknowledge it, or not.Thy knowledge of doctrines, and of mysteries in reli

+ 1 Cor. xiii. 7.

gion

1 John iv. 7, 8. Rom. viii. 14.

gion may be great; and thou mayeft have experienced, and felt much light, and joy: But, if the love of CHRIST be not in thy heart, and influence thy practice unto holinefs; if thou art not born again of the Spirit, a new creature; thou haft no living faith in the Son of GOD.What fruit then doft thou bring forth in thy life and converfation? Is it to the glory of GoD, and the good of thy neighbour? or doft thou feek thy own glory? and thy private intereft in the world? If the latter, thou can'ft not be a Chriftian; for every tree is known by his fruit: whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Let no man deceive thee with vain words; be that doth not righteousness, is not of God. I exhort thee then to read, and fearch diligently the Holy Scriptures, and they will fhew thee the fearful ftate of those that know not God, and obey not the Gospel of CHRIST; there thou wilt fee what the end of the ungodly is, and must be, at the laft. Though they flourish, fpread themselves in the earth, and get riches, it is but for a moment: O, how fuddenly do they perish, and come to a fearful end! There also thou mayeft learn, and find the way to life, if thou art willing to be faved in GoD's appointed way; for the Scriptures are able to make us wife unto falvation, thro' faith in Jefus Chrift: and he rejects

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none that come unto God by him.-Therefore if thou rejecteft not CHRIST, he will not reject thee. And canft thou find in thy heart, O finner! to pour contempt upon the Son of GOD? wilt thou fhut the door against the King of Glory wilt thou not receive and welcome him into thy foul, and into thy houfe, to fet up his throne, and reign in thee, who hath all power both in heaven and in earth? and is able to confer upon thee honors, pleasures, and bfeffings for evermore: And this will he certainly do unto all them that bid him welcome to their fouls, without referve, and without hypocrify.-Behold! faith he, Iftand at the door, and knock, if any man bear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will fup with him, and be with me*.-And doft thou not hear his voice, faying, How long, ye fimple ones, will ye love Limplicity; and fcorners delight in their scorning; and fools bate knowledge? Turn ye at my reproof: behold! 1 will pour out my Spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you†.words unto you +.-Who then but a foolish and unwife people would turn a deaf ear to wifdom's voice, and exclude from their hearts the LORD of Life and Glory? Will it not be juft and equitable for CHRIST to fhut the door of Heaven against them, that now fhut the door of their hearts against him?-If any man, faith CHRIST,

Rev. iii. zo.

د

+ Prov. i. 22, 23.

bonor

*

bonor me, him will my Father honor; but they that defpife me fhall be lightly efteemed.

But perhaps thou art a believer that heareft, or readeft thefe words, then shew thy faith by thy works; walk in the fear of GOD, and in love to the Saints, and towards all men; abide in CHRIST: and prove thyself to be a new creature, by doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with thy God +-In all thy affairs fet the LORD before thee, and caft the care, and burden of them upon him. Whitherfoever thou goeft, and whatsoever thou doeft, let CHRIST go with thee, and help thee: afk his prefence, and bleffing continually, that thou mayeft profper in all things.

Finally, my brethren, grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. To whom be glory, and dominion for ever. Amen.

+ Mic. vi. 8.

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