III. In which war, although the remaining corruption for a time may much prevail k, yet, through the continual fupply of ftrength from the fanctifying Spirit of Chrift, the regenerate part doth overcome 1: And fo the faints grow in grace m, perfecting holiness in the fear of God n. CHAP. XIV. Of Saving Faith.. THE grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the faving of their fouls a, is the work of the Spirit of Chrift in their hearts b; and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the word c: by which alfo, and by the adminiftration gers and pilgrims, abftain from fleshly lufts which war against the foul. III. k Rom. vii. 23. But I fee another law in my members, warring againft the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of fin, which is in my members. / Rom. vi. 14. For fin fhall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. I John v. 5. For whatsoever is born of God, overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Eph. iv. 15. But fpeak ing the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Chrift. v. 16. From whom the whole body fitly joined together,, and compacted by that which every joint fupplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of it felf in love. m 2 Pet. iii. 18. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift: To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Cor. iii. 18. But we all with open face, beholding as in a glafs the glory of the Lord, are changed into the fame image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. n 2 Cor. vii. 1. Having therefore thefe promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse our felves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. I. a Heb. x. 39. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the faving of the foul. b2 Cor. iv. 13. We having the fame fpirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I fpoken: we also believe, and therefore fpeak. Eph. i. 17. That the God of our Lord Jefus Chrift, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wifdom and revelation, in the knowledge of him. v. 18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the faints, v. 19. And what is the exceeding greatnefs of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power. Eph. ii. 8. For by grace are ye faved, through faith; and that not of your felves: it is the gift of God. c Rom. x. 14. How then fhall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how fhall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how fhall they hear without a preacher? v. 17. So then, faith com eth Chap. XIV. stration of the facraments, and prayer, it is increafed and strength ened d. II: By this faith, a Chriftian believeth to be true whatfoever is revealed in the word, for the authority of God himself speaking therein e; and acteth differently upon that which each particular paffage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands f, trembling at the threatenings g, and embracing the mifes of God for this life and that which is to come h. But the principal acts of faving faith are, accepting, receiving, and refting eth by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. I you di Pet. ii. 2. As new born babes, défire the fincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. Acts xx. 32 And now, brethren, I commend to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them who are fanctified. Rom. iv. II. And he received the fign of circumcifion, a feal of the righteousness of the faith, which he had yet being uncircumcifed: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcifed; that righteoufnefs might be imputed unto them alfo. Luke xvii. 5. And the apoftles faid unto the Lord, Increase our faith. Rom. i. 16. For I am not afhamed of the gofpel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto falvation to every one that believeth, to the jew firft, and alfo to the Greek. v. 17. For therein is the righteoufnefs of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The juft fhall live by faith. II. e John iv. 42. And faid unto the woman, Now we believe, not becaufe of thy faying; for we have heard him our felves, and know that this is indeed the Chrift, the Saviour of the world. I Theff. ii. 13. For this caufe alfo thank we God without ceafing, because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but (as pro it is in truth) the word of God, which effectually worketh alfo in you that believe. 1 John v. 10. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himfelf: he that believeth not God, hath made him a liar, becaufe he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. Acts xxiv. 14. But this confefs unto thee, that after the way which they call herefy, fo worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets. f Rom. xvi. 26. But now is made manifeft, and by the fcriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith. g Ifa. Ixvi. 2. For all thofe things hath mine hand made, and all thole things have been, faith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite fpirit, and trembleth at my word. h Heb. xi. 13. Thefe all died in faith, not having received the promifes, but having feen them afar off, and were perfuaded of them, and embraced them, and confeffed that they were ftrangers and pilgrims on the earth. I Tim. iv. 8. For bodily exercife profitèth little but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promife of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. : ing upon Chrift alone for juftification, fanctification and eternal life, by vertue of the covenant of grace i. III. This faith is different in degrees, weak or ftrong k; may be often and many ways affailed and weakened, but gets the victory ; growing up in many to the attainment of a full affurance through Chrift m, who is both the author and finifher of our faith n. CHAP. i John i. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to be come the fons of God, even to them that believe on his name. Acts xvi. 31. And they faid, Believe on the Lord Jefus Chrift, and thou fhalt be faved, and thy houfe. Gal. ii. 20. I am crucified with Chrift: Nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Chrift liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himfelf for me. Acts xv. II. But we believe that through the grace. of the Lord Jefus Chrift, we fhall be faved even as they. III. k Heb. v. 13. For every one that ufeth milk is unfkilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. v. 14. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even thofe who by reafon of ufe have their fenfes exercifed to difcern both good and evil. Rom. iv. 19. And being, not weak in faith, he confidered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb. v. 20. He ftaggered not at the promife of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. Mat. vi. 30. Wherefore if God fo clothe the grafs of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is caft into the oven, fhall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Mat. viii. 10. When Jefus heard it, he marvelled, and faid to them that followed, Verily I fay unto you, I have not found fo great faith, no not in Ifrael. /Luke xxii. 31. And the Lord faid, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath defired to have you, that he may fift you as wheat: v. 32. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, ftrengthen thy brethren. Eph. vi. 16. Above all, taking the fhield of faith, wherewith ye fhall be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked. I John v. 4. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. v. 5. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jefus is the Son of God? m Heb. vi. II. And we defire that every one of you do fhew the fame diligence, to the full affurance of hope unto the end: v. 12. That ye be not flothful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promifes. Heb. x. 22. Let us draw near with a true heart, in full affurance of faith, having our hearts fprinkled from an evil confcience, and our bodies wafhed with pure water. Col. ii. 2. That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full affurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Chrift. Heb. xii. 2. Looking unto Jefus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was fet before him, endured the crofs, defpifing the fhame, and is fet down at the right hand of the throne of God. I. a Zech. CHAP. XV. Of Repentance unto Life. EPENTANCE unto life is an evangelical grace a, the R doctrine whereof is to be preached by every minister of the gofpel, as well as that of faith in Chrift b. II. By it a finner, out of the fight and fenfe, not only of the danger, but also of the filthinefs and odioufnefs of his fins, as contrary to the holy nature and righteous law of God; and upon the apprehenfion of his mercy in Chrift to fuch as are penitent; fo grieves for and hates his fins, as to turn from them all unto God c, purpofing and endeavouring to walk with him I. a Zech, xii. 10. And I will, pour upon the houfe of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerufalem, the fpirit of grace and of fupplications, and they fhall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they fhall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only fon, and fhall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first born. Acts xi. 18. When they heard thefe things, they held their peace, and glorified God, faying, Then hath God alfo to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. b Luke xxiv. 47. And that repentance and remiffion of fins fhould be preached in his name, among all nations, beginning at Jerufalem. Mark i. 15. And faying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye and believe the gofpel. Acts xx. 21. Teftifying both to the Jews, and alfo to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jefus Chrift. II. c Ezek. xviii. 30. Therefore, I will judge you, O houfe of Ifrael, every one according to his ways, faith the Lord God: repent, and turn your felves from all your tranfgreffions; fo iniquity fhall not be your ruin. v. 31. Caft away from you all your tranfgreffions, whereby ye have tranfgreffed, and make you a new heart and a new fpirit; for why will ye die, O house of Ifrael? Ezek. xxxvi. 31. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and fhall lothe yourfelves in your own fight, for your iniquities, and for your abominations. Ifa. xxx. 22. Ye fhall defile alfo the covering of thy graven images of filver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt caft them away as a menftruous cloth: thou shalt fay unto it, Get thee hence. Pfal. li. 4. Against thee, thee only have I finned, and done this evil in thy fight: that thou mightest be justified when thou fpeakeft, and be clear when thou judgeft. Jer. xxxi. 18. I have furely heard Ephraim bemoaning himfelf thus, Thou haft chaftifed me, and I was chaftifed, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me and I fhall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God. v. 19. Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was inftructed, I fmote upon my thigh: I was afhamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. Joel ii. 12. Therefore alfo now, faith the Lord, Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fafting,and with weeping, and with mourning. v. 13. And rent your heart and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord him in all the ways of his commandments d. III. Although repentance be not to be refted in, as any fatiffaction for fin, or any caufe of the pardon thereof e, which is the act of God's free grace in Chrift f; yet is it of fuch neceffity to all finners, that none may expect pardon without it g. IV. As Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, flow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Amos v. 15. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the Lord God of hofts will be gracious unto the remnant of Jofeph. Pfal. cxix. 128. Therefore I efteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every falfe way. 2 Cor. vii. II. For behold, this felffame thing that ye forrowed after a godly fort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of your felves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement defire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! in all things ye have approved your felves to be clear in this matter. d Pfal. cxix. 6. Then fhall I not be alhamed, when I have refpect unto all thy commandments. v. 59. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy teftimonies. v. 106. I have fworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. Luke i. 6. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 2 Kings xxiii. 25. And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his foul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Mofes; neither after him arofe there any like him. III. Ezek. xxxvi. 31. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and fhall lothe your feives in your own abominations. v. 32. Not for your fakes do I this, faith the Lord God, be it known unto you: be afhamed and confounded for your own ways, O houfe of Ifrael. Ezek. xvi. 61. Then thou fhalt remember thy ways, and be afhamed, when thou shalt receive thy fifters, thine elder and thy younger: and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant. v. 62. And I will eftablish my covenant with thee, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord. v. 63. That thou mayeft remember and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more, becaufe of thy fhame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou haft done, faith the Lord God. f Hof. xiv. 2. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord, fay unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us gracioufly: fo will we render the calves of our lips. v. 4. I will heal their backfliding, I will love them freely: for mine is turned away anger from him. Rom. iii. 24. Being juftified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jefus Chrift. Eph. i. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of fins, according to the riches of his grace. g Luke xiii. 3. I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye fhall all likewife perish. v. 5. I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye fhall all likewife perish. Acts xvii. 30. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent. v. 31. Becaufe he hath appointed a day, in the which |