GOD, and leads to GoD: By it the believer is united unto CHRIST, who dwelleth in his heart by faith. It is lowly and humble; for the believer, is moft lively and happy, when he feels, and acknowledges himself to be most dependent: it is a felf-emptying, felf-denying grace; for it caufes its poffeffor to be always rejoicing in another, even in him whom he hath believed, and in whom he trusteth; that is, in JESUS the Son of GOD: Yet not in CHRIST as man only, but as God manifefted in flesh; whofe name is Immanuel: nor in CHRIST as God only; but as God-man, Gov in our nature.

God was in Chrift reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trefpaffes unto them: This truth is the very life of faith; it cannot fubfift without it.

-No Saviour is acknowledged by the believer, but the living and true God; nor any way of procuring falvation for tranfgreffors of God's law, but by fulfilling all its righteousness, and enduring its dreadful curfe, and penalty due to man for fin; and this the believer acknowledges to have been perfectly wrought out, and fuffered by JESUS CHRIST only, in whom God hath given to us eternal life: By him therefore we believe in GOD. CHRIST alfo is the very eternal GOD; for he is the only Saviour of the world, and there is no Saviour but GOD only: As he faith in the Pro

Prophet, there is no God befide, me; a just God, and a Saviour: there is none befide me.Faith then never boasts of, nor glories in itself, but in CHRIST alone, and in GOD even the Father, thro' himWhat is faid of Charity, may be here applied to faith; it feeketh not her own...

When the foul is strong in the grace that is in Chrift Jefus, then faith is ftrong alfo; for its whole dependence is upon CHRIST, in whom it lives, and moves; and from whom it derives her very being. So that 'tis natural for faith to abide in CHRIST, and live upon him: Hence faith St. Paul, the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God.-Some expect to be justified by their own. works, and feek after life by doing the deeds of the law others again hope to be fanctified by their own labours, and duties; expecting high attainments in knowledge, and imagining that they shall acquire ftrength to fubdue their corruptions, by their own striving, and diligence: But faith (in the performance of every duty) cafts her whole burupon the Lord ber ftrength: it expects, and receives nothing but from CHRIST: He is the righteousness, and strength, wifdom, and Sanctification of the believer's foul: who by faith lives upon him; deriving all his fufficiency for compleat victory over

den

fin and Satan, with meetnefs for Heaven, from CHRIST only. Joy and peace, and hope that maketh not afhamed, are all the fruits of faith in CHRIST: By this grace, believers thro' the Spirit are enabled to draw water with joy out of the wells of falvation Faith fees, and acknowledges the neceffity, and ufe of good works, religious duties, &c. and abounds in them; but depends, and trufts in none of them, for they are not her life, nor foundation neither will the believer truft therein, because they have not fulfilled the law, and suffered its curfe for him. He acknowledges the fellowship of the Spirit, and rejoices in the fecret influences, and hidden confolations of the Holy Ghost.But these are not his adorable Redeemer, his once crucified, and now exalted JEsUs; but are only some of the rays of his heavenly light, and love darted into the foul; therefore he makes not these his confidence, and boaft.. Faith eyes the promifes in God's written word, and believes them; but it is eternal life promifed‡, which life is Chrift ||, and in Chrift, that faith beholds, and wherein it trusteth. CHRIST alfo is the believers treasure, and portion; He efteems him above all things precious; and cleaves to him with the whole foul.-GOD faith to Abraham, Fear not, I am thy fhield, and thy exceeding great reward §: and faith replies, I will follow thee

+ Ifa. xii. 3. Tit. i. 2. Coll. iii. 4. § Gen. xv. i.

thee whitherfoever thou goeft; yea, whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth that I defire befides theet. This faith worketh by love, and bringeth good fruit, that is, good works; not from finifter ends, felfifh and mercenary views, as doth the Pharifee; altho' it knows that the believer hath a reward of grace laid up for him in heaven, and that his works fhall follow him: But the love of CHRIST draws, and conftrains him to love GOD, and keep his commandments, with a pure heart, fervently.

Thus the efficacy, and end of faith, hath been declared at large :-Its neceffity alfo is manifeft; for it is written, He that believeth not the Son, shall not fee life, but the wrath of GOD abideth on him. Without faith it is impoffible to please GOD; for he that hath not faith, hath not CHRIST; and he that hath not CHRIST, hath not GOD. Moreover, be that believeth not God, hath made him a liar; because be hath not believed the record which God gave of bis Son:-And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life: and this life is in his Son‡.

Without faith a man cannot know GOD, nor love him. And the true reafon why any man doth not fear God, do good works, and love his neighbour

Q 2

+ Pfal. Ixxiii. 25.

t John v. 10, 11.

bour is, because he hath no faith. Every man's actions are according to the nature of his faith, whether it be right or wrong; and every Christian's good works are in proportion to the degree and measure of his faith, whether it be little or much, weak or ftrong. A man therefore must needs have faith in our Lord JESUS CHRIST, or he is the enemy of GOD, and of all good works; whatever Pharifaical fhew he may make, or pretend to the contrary: for whatsoever is not of faith is fin.

SIXTHLY, I propofed to point out fome miftakes, and dangerous errors, concerning faith in our Lord JESUS CHRIST.

1. It is a dangerous error to fuppofe that faith in CHRIST is no more than a bare affent to the Scripture History concerning CHRIST, as credible and true or that it is only a believing in CHRIST, according to the custom and manner of the age, and country in which men live; juft as they have been taught, and educated from their youth up, by parents, tutors, &c. This is that profeffedly Chrif tian, or national faith which is common, and prevails in our day, from cuftom and education only.

These nominal Chriftians are believers in word, not in deed; in appearance, not in heart.

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