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 overcomel: and fo the faints grow in grace m, perfecting holiness in the fear of Godn. CHAP. XIV. Of faving Faith. Tbelieve to the faving of their fouls a, is the work of HE grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to the spirit of Chrift in their hearts b; and ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the word c: By which also, and by the grims, abftain from fleshly lufts which war against the foul. III. k Rom.7.23. But I feeanother law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of fin, which is in my members. 1 Rom. 6. 14. For fin fhall not have dominion over you:for yeare not under the law,but undergrace. 1 John 5.4.For whatsoever is born of God, overcometh the world: & this is the victory that overcometh theworld,evenourfaith. Eph.4.15. Butfpeakingthe truth in love,may grow up into him in all things which is the head,even Chrift.7.16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together,and compacted by that which every joint fupplieth according to the effectual working in the mealure of every part, maketh increase of thebody,unto the edifying itself in love. 112 Pet.3.18.Butgrowin grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift: To him be glory, both now, and for ever. Amen.2Cor.3.18. But we all with open face, beholding as in a glafs, the glory of the Lord,are changed unto the fame image, from glory to glory, even as by the fpirit of the Lord. n 2 Cor. 7.1. Having therefore, ad these promises,dearly beloved,let us cleanfeourfelves from all filthinefs of the fleth and fpirit,perfecting holiness in the fear of God. I.aHeb.10.39.But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the faving of the foul. b 2 Cor. 4.13. We having the fame fpirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed,and therefore have I fpoken:we alfo believe, and therefore fpeak. Eph. 1. 17. That the God of our Lord Jefus Chrift, the Father of glory, may give unto you the fpirit of wisdom and revelation, in the knowledge of him. v. 18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightned; that ye may know what is thehope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the faints. v. 19.And what is the exceedinggreatness of his powerto us-ward who believe,according to the working of his mightypower. Eph.2.8. For bygrace are yefaved, thro' faith; and that not of your felves: it is the gift of God, c Rom. 10. 14. How then shall 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 cometh by hearing, & hearing adminiftration of the facraments,and prayer, it is increased and strengthned d. II. By this faith, a Christian beliveth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the word, for the authority of God himself fpeaking therein e; and acteth differently upon that which each particular paffage there of containeth; yielding obedience to the commands f, trembling at the threatnings g, and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come h. But the principal acts of faving faith are, accepting, receiving, and refting, upon Chrift alone for justifica tion, fanctification and eternal life, by virtue of the cove hearing by the word of God. di Pet. 2.2.As new born babes, defire the fincere milk oftheword, that ye may grow thereby. Acts 20.32. And now,brethren, I commend you 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 which are fanctified, Rom. 4. 11. And he received the fign of circumcifion, a feal of the righteoufnefs of the faith, whichhehad yet being uncircumcifed that he might be the Father of all them that believe, tho' they be not circumcifed; that righteousness might be imputed unto them alfo.Luke17.5. And the apoftles laid unto the Lord increafe our faith.Rom. 1. 16.For I-amnot afhamed of the gospel of Chrift: for it is the power of God unto falvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew firft& alfo to the Greek. 2.17.For therein is the righteoufnefsof God revealed from faith to faith: as it iswritten,The jult fhall liye by faith. II. e John 4. 42. And faid unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thyfaying; for we have heard him our felves, and know that this is indeed the Chrift, the Saviour of the world. 1 Theff.2.13. For this caufe allo thank we God without ceafing, because when ye received the word of Godwhichye heardofus,yereceived,it not as the nant word of men,but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which effectually workethallo inyouthat believe. 1john 5. 10. He that believeth on theSon of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth notGod, hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the record that God, gave of his Son. Acts 24. 14. But this I confels unto thee,that after the way which they call herefy,fo worship I the God of my Fathers, believingallthings which are written in the law and the prophets. f Rom. 6. 26. But now is made manifeft, and by the fcriptures of the prophets,accordingtothecommandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith. g Ifa.66.2. For all those things hath mine hand made,and all thofe things have been, faith the Lord: but to this man will I look,cvento him that is pure and of a contrite fpirit, and trembleth at my word. h Heb.11. 13. Thefe all died in faith,not having received the promiles, but having feen them afar off,and were perfwaded of them, and embraced them, and confelled that they were ftrangers and pilgrims on the earth. 1 Tim.4.8. For bodily exercife profiteth little: but godlinels is profitable unto all things, having promife of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. i John nant 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 1; growing up in many to the attainment of a full affurance, through Christ m, who is both the author and finisher of our faith n. iJohn 1.12. But as many as received him,to them gave hepower tobecome the fons of God,even to them that believe on his name. Acts 6.3. And they faid, Believe on the Lord Jefus Chrift,and thou fhalt be faved, and thy houfe. Gal. 2. 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 thefaith of the Son of God, who loved me;and gave himfelf forme. Acts 15.11. But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jefus Chrift,welhall be faved even as they. III.k Heb.5.12. For every one that ufeth milk,is unfkilful in the word of righteoufnefs: for he is a babe. v. 14. But ftrong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reafon of ufe have their fenfes exercifed to difcern both good and evil. Rom. 4.19. And being not weak infaith, heconfidered nothisown body now dead,when hewasaboutanhundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb. v. 20. He ftag. gered not at the promile of God through unbelief,but was ftrong in faith, giving glory to God. Mat. 6.30. Wherefore if God fo clothe the grafs ofthe field, which to day is, and to morrow is caft into the Oven,fhall henot much moreclothe you, O ye of little faith? Mat.8. 10. When Jefus heard it, he marvelled,& faidtothemthat followed, Verily I lay unto you, I have not foundfo greatfaith,no not infrael, 1 Luke 22. 31.And the Lord faid, CHAP. Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath defired to have you, that he may lift you as wheat:7. 32. But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not; and when thou artconverted, ftrengthenthy brethren. Eph.6.16. Above all, taking the hield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked. 1 John 5. 4. For whatsoever is born of God, overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.. 5. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that beliveth that Jefus is the Son of God? in Heb.6.11.And we defire, that every one ofyou 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 pa tience inherit the promifes. Heb. 10.22.Letus draw near with a true heart in full affurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil confcience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Col. 2.2. That theirhearts might becomforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full affu rance of understanding,to the ac knowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and Chrift. n Heb.12.2. Looking unto Jefus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was fet before him, endured the crafs, defpifing the fhame, and is let down at the right hand of the throne of God. F I. a Zech CHAP. XV. Of Repentance unto life. R the EPENTANCE unto life is an evangelical grace a, the doctrine whereof is to be preached by every minifter of the gospel, as well as that of faith in Chrift h. II. By it a finner, out of the fight and fenfe, not only of the danger, but alfo 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 grives for and hates his fins, as to turn from them all unto God c, purpofing and endeavouring I. a Zech.12.10. And I will pour upon the house of David,and upon the inhabitants of Jerufalem, the fpirit ofgraceand of fupplications, and they fhall look upon mewhom they have pierced, and they fhall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only fon,and fhall be in bit ternefs for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firft-born. Acts 11. 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 24. 47. And that repentance and remiffion of fins fhould be preached in hisname,among all nations, beginning at Jerufalem. Mark 1. 15. And laying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye and believe the gospel. Acts 20.21. Teftifying both to the Jews,and also to theGreeks.repentancetowardGod, and faith toward our Lord Jefus Chrift. II. c Ezek. 18.30. Therefore, will judge you, O houfe of Ifrael, every one according to his ways, faith the Lord God: repent, and turnyourselves from all yourtranfgreffions; fo iniquity thall not be your ruin. v. 31. Calt away from you all your tranfgreffions,where by ye have tranfgrefled,and make to you a new heart and a new fpirit; for why will ye die, house of Ifrael? Ezek. 36.31.Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, & your doings that were not good, and fhall lothe yourselves in your own fight, for your iniquities, and for your abominations. Ifa.30.22. Ye fhall defile alfo the covering of thy graven images of filver,and theornamentof thy molten images of gold:thou fhalt caft them away as a menftruous cloth: thou fhalt fay unto it, Get thee hence.Pfal. 51.4. Against thee, thee only have I finned,and done this evil in thy fight; that thou mightest be juftified when thou fpeakeft andbeclear when thou judgeft. Jer. 31. 18. I have furely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus, Thou haft chaftifed me, and I was chastised, 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,becaufe I did bear the reproach of my youth, Joel 2. 12. Therefore alfo now,faith the Lord, Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with falting, and with weeping, & with mourning. v. 13. And rent your heart and not your gar to walk with him in all the ways of his commandments d. III. Altho' repentance be not to be refted in,as any fatisfac tion for fin, or any eaufe 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 itg. garments,and turn unto the Lord your God; for he is gracious and merciful, flow toanger andofgreat kindness,and repenteth him of the evil. Amos 5. 15 Hate the evil, and love the good, and eftablish judgment in the gate: it may be that the Lord God of holts will be gracious unto the remnant of Jofeph. Pfal. 119. 128. Therefore I elleem all thyprecepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every falfe way Cor, 7. 11. For behold, this felf fame-thing that ye forrowedafter a godly fort, what carefulness itwrought in you, yea,, what clearing of yourselves, yes, 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. 119. 6 Then fhall I not be ashamed, when I have refpect unto allthy commandinents..59. I thought on my ways,andturned my feet unto thy teftimonies. v.106.I have fworn,and I will perform it,that I will keep thy righ teous judgments. Luke 1.6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the ord, blamelefs.2 Kings 23. 25. And like unto him was there no kingbefore him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and will all his foul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Mofes; neither after him arole there any like him. III. e Ezek.36.31.Then thall ye remember your own evil ways, & your doings that were no good, and fhall lothe yourselves in your own fight, for your iniquities and IV. As for your abominations.v. 32. Not for your fakes do I this, faith the Lord God, be it known unto you; be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, Ohoufe of Ifrael. Ezek. 16.61. Then thou shalt remember thyways,and be afhamed, whenthou shalt receive thy fifters, thine elderand thy younger, and ĺ will give them untotheefor daughters, but not by thy covenant. 7.62 And Iwill establishmycovepant with thee,andthoufhaltknow that I am the Lord, v. 63. That thou mayelt rememberand be confounded and never open thymouth any more, becaufe of thy fhame, when I am pacifiedtoward thee for all that thou haft done, faith the Lord God. f Hofea 14. 2. Take with you words,and turn to the Lord,fayunto him, take away all iniquity, and receive us gracioufly: fo will we render the calves of our lips. v.4.1 will heal their back fliding, I will love them freely :for mine anger is turned away from him. Rom. 3. 24. Being juftified freely by his grace,through theredemption that is in Jefus Chrift. Eph, 1. 7. In whom we have redemption thro' his blood, the forgivenels of fins, accordingtothe riches of hisgrace. g Luke 13.3 I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewife perifh. v. 5,1 tell you, Nay: but except ye repentye fhall all likewife perish. Acts 17. 30. And the times of this ignorance God wir ked at;but now commandethall men everywhere to repent, v.31.Because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world inrighteoufnels,by that man F 2 whom |