Page images
PDF
EPUB

seeking to be quieted in Chrift, for the "End of the law is "love, out of a good confcience, and faith unfeigned.

5 That feigned faith goeth to Chrift without reckoning with the law, and fo wants an errand; but unfeigned faith reckoneth with the law, andis forced to flee for refuge unto Christ, as the end of the law for righteousness, so often as it finds itself guilty for breaking of the law: "For the end of the law is faith unfeigned."

6 That the fruits of love may come forth in Act particularly, it is necessary that the heart be brought to the hatred of all fin and uncleanness, and to a stedfast purpose to follow all holinefs universally: "For the end of the law is love, out of 66 a pure heart.

7. That unfeigned faith is able to make the confcience good, and the heart pure, and the man lovingly obedient to the law; for, when Christ's blood is seen by faith to quiet justice, then the confcience becometh quiet also, and will not fuffer the heart to entertain the love of fin, but fets the man on work to fear God for his mercy, and to obey all his commandments, out of love to God for his free gift of justification, by grace beftowed on him: "For this is the end of the law "indeed," whereby it obtaineth of a man more obedience than any other way.

The fourth thing requisite to evidence true faith is, the keeping strait communion with Christ, the fountain of all graces, and of all good works; holden forth, John xv. 5.

I am the true vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the fame bringeth forth much fruit; "For without me ye can do nothing."

Wherein Chrift, in a fimilitude from a Vine-tree, teach eth us,

1

1. That by nature we are wild barren briers, till we be changed by coming unto Chrift; and that Christ is that noble Vine-tree, having all life and sap of grace in himself, and able to change the nature of every one that cometh to him, and to communicate spirit and life to as many as shall believe in him: " I am the Vine (faith he) and ye are the branches." 2. That 2. That Chrift loveth to have believers so united unto him, as that they be not feparated at any time by unbelief: And that there may be a mutual inhabitation, of them in him, by faith and love; and of him in them, by his word and Spirit: For he joineth these together, if ye abide in me, and I in you, as things infeparable.

3. That except a man be ingrafted in Christ, and united to him by faith, he cannot do any the leaft good works of his own strength; yea, except in as far as a man doth draw Spirit and life from Christ by faith, the work which he doth is naughty and null in the point of goodness, in God's eftimation; For without me (faith he) ye can do nothing.

4. That this mutual inhabitation is the fountain and infallible cause of conftant continuing and abounding in welldoing: For he that abideth in me, and I in him (faith he) the Jame beareth much fruit. Now, as our abiding in Chrift presupposeth three things, r. That we have heard the joyful found of the gofpel, making offer of Christ to us, who are loft finners by the law; 2. That we have heartily embraced the gracious offer of Chrift; 3. That by receiving of him we are become the Sons of God, John i. 12. and are incorporated into his mystical body, that he may dwell in us as his temple, and we dwell in him, as in the refidence of righteousness and life: so our abiding in Christ importeth other three things. 1. An Employing of Chrift in all our addresses to God, and in/all our undertakings of whatsoever piece of service to him. 2. A contentedness with his sufficiency without going out from him to feek righteousness, or life, or furniture in cafe, in our own or any of the creatures worthiness. 3. A Fixedness in our Believing in him, and a fixed ness in our Employing and making use of him, and a fixednefs in our Contentment in him, and adhering to him, fo that no allurement, no temptation of Satan or the world, no terror nor trouble may be able to drive our spirits from firm adherence to him, or from the constant avowing of his truth, and obeying his commands, who hath loved us, and given himself for us; and in whom, not only our life is laid up, but also the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily, by reason of the substantial and personal union of the divine and human nature in him.

Hence

Hence let every watchful believer, for strengthning himself in faith and obedience, reafon after this manner;

OS

doth

cleanfing his confcience and affections from the guiltiness and filthiness of fins against the law, and for enabling him to give obedience to the law in love, he hath the evidence of true faith in himself.

But I (may every watchful believer fay) do daily employ • Jesus Chrift, for cleanfing my confcience and affections • from the guiltiness and filthiness of fins against the law, ' and for enabling of me to give obedience to the law in

'love.

1

Therefore I have the evidence of true faith in myfelf."

And hence also, let the sleepy and sluggish believer reafon, for his own up-stirring, thus;

Whatsoever is necessary for giving evidence of true faith, • I study to do it, except I would deceive my felfand perish. But, to employ Chrift Jesus daily, for cleanfing of my confcience and affections from the guiltiness and filthiness • of fins against the law, and for enabling me to give obedience to the law in love, is neceffary for evidencing of true Faith in me.

Therefore, this I must study to do, except I would de • ceive myself aud perish.'

And, Lastly Seeing Christ himself hath pointed this forth, as an undoubted evidence of a man elected of God unto life, and given to Jesus Christ to be redeemed, if he come unto him that is, close covenant, and keep communion with him, as he teacheth us, John vi. 37. saying, All that the Father hath given me, shall come to me ; and him that cometh to me, I will in no wife caft out; Let every person, who doth not in earneff make use of Chrift for remiffion of firi, and amendment of life, reason hence, and from the whole premises, after this manner, that his confcience n may be awakned;

• Whosoever is neither by the law, nor by the gofpel, fo

Ee

cont

convinced of fin, righteousness and judgment, as to make him come to Christ, and employ him daily for remiffion of ' fin, and amendment of life; he wanteth not only all ' evidence of saving faith, but alfo all appearance of his ' election, so long as he remaineth in this condition.

But I (may very impenitent person say) am neither by the ' law nor gofpel so convinced of fin, righteousness and ' judgment, as to make me come to Christ, and employ him daily for remission of fin, and amendment of life.

Therefore I want, not only all evidence of saving faith, 'but also all appearance of my election, so long as I remain ' in this condition.'

FINIS.

THE

CONFESSION OF FAITH

OF THE

KIRK OF SCOTLAND;

OR THE

1

NATIONAL

COVENANT.

WITH

A designation of such acts of parliament as are expedient for justifying the union after-mentioned.

Josh. xxiv. 25. 80 Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute, and an ordinancein Shechem.

2 Kings xi 17. And Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, and the king, and the people that they should be the Lord's people between the King allo and the people.

Ifa. xliv. 5, One shall say I am the Lords: and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; And another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Ifrael.

[blocks in formation]
« PreviousContinue »