SERMON VII.

ACTS, XX. 21.

Teftifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jefus Chrift.

WHAT is meant by repentance toward

GOD, hath been fhewn at large already :

And, in a former difcourfe on Faith toward our Lord JESUS CHRIST, it was proposed to be confidered:

1. By fhewing what faith is, in general; and what the faith of the Gospel is, in particular.

2. By fhewing the ground, and object of true justifying faith.

3. Its feat, and place in the foul of man.

4. The nature and neceflity of faith in CHRIST.

5. Its Author, efficacy, and end.

6 Point out fome mistakes, and dangerous errors concerning faith, And,

Lastly, Conclude with an Application.

The four firft of thefe heads have been already difcuffed: I proceed therefore,

FIFTHLY, To confider the Author of divine faith, with its efficacy, and end.

The Author of Faith is the HOLY SPIRIT, as proceeding from the FATHER and the SoN.Therefore this gift and work of faith in our hearts is fometimes imputed to GOD, even the Father, fometimes to his Son JESUS CHRIST, and fometimes to the HOLY GHOST; for the Father doth nothing without his Son JESUS, and the Holy Spirit; and the Son doth nothing without the Father, and the Spirit; and the Holy Ghost doth nothing without the Father and the Son Altho' the SACRED THREE fuftain their

diftinct, and peculiar parts, and offices in the Covenant of Grace, and Oeconomy of man's falvation, yet they cannot be separated, nor divided; but there is an entire concurrence of will and operation thro' the whole for when the Word was made flesh, the Father and Holy Spirit alfo were with him, and in him continually but it pleafed GOD that in the man CHRIST JESUS, as united to the Word, all fullness fhould dwell*. All fullness of light and. life, righteousness and true holiness, power and wisdom, grace and love, glory and bleffedness, dwelleth in CHRIST: All things that the Father bath are bist; from whofe fullness therefore the Holy Spirit receiveth and fhews it unto us, that we may know, and receive the things which, in CHRIST JESUS, are given to us of GOD- As the Son hath glorified the Father, fo the Father hath glorified the Son; and the Holy Spirit, who is glorified both with the Father and the Son, is now fent down from Heaven to glorify both the Father and the Son. Wherefore he faith the ; Holy Ghost, whom I will fend unto you from the Father in my name, he fhall glorify me: And this he doth, when, by the hearing of CHRIST's Gofpel, he enlighteneth our minds to know him, and circumcifeth our hearts to love him; that we may truly believe, and truft in him, whom God hath fent to fave

• Col. i. 19.

+ John xvi. 15.

fave his people from their fins. Therefore no man can fay (that is in truth, knowing what he faith) that Jefus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost

True faith then is given to us, and wrought in us by the Spirit of GOD, and of CHRIST. It is not the work of man's wifdom and power, but of divine teaching and operation; and is therefore a faith of the operation of God.-Man may teach clearly, perfuade powerfully, and prevail with many hearers to affent to the truth of what they hear; but if the LORD; the Spirit, work not with the word fpoken, no man can heartily, and truly believe on JESUS CHRIST.For a Chriftian's faith is not produced nor maintained by man's wisdom, and persuasion, but by the power of God. The Church of the living God is not built up by human reasonings, nor by any created power whatfoever, but by the Spirit of God. As it was GoD alone that gave his only begotten Son to die for our fins; and as it was CHRIST alone that fulfilled all righteoufnefs for us, fuffering in our ftead, the juft for the unjuft; fo it is the HOLY SPIRIT alone that regenerates, and maketh us new creatures.

When Nicodemus told our Lord that they (the Jewifh Rulers) were convinced by the miracles which he wrought