"the redeemed fhould be imputed to innocent Chrift, and he both • condemned and put to death for them, upon this very condition, "`that whofoever heartily confents unto the covenant of reconciliation "offered through Chrift, fhall, by the imputation of his, obedience "unto them, be juftified and holden righteous before God; for God "hath made Chrift;" who knew no fin, to be fin for us, faith the apostle, that we might be made the righteoufnefs of God in him,'

Hence may a weak believer strengthen his faith, by reasoning from this ground after this manner;

"He that, upon the loving request of God and Chrift, made to him "by the mouth of minifters (having commiffion to that effect) hath "embraced the offer of perpetual reconciliation through Christ, and "doth purpose, by God's grace, as a reconciled perfon, to strive a

gainft fin, and to ferve God to his power conftantly, may be as fure "to have righteousness and eternal life given to him, for the obedience "of Christ imputed to him, as it is fure that Chrift was condemned and put to death for the fins of the redeemed imputed to him.

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"But I (may the weak believer fay) upon the loving request of "God and Chrift, made to me by the mouth of his minifters, have "embraced the offer of perpetual reconciliation through Chrift, and "do purpose, by God's grace, as a reconciled perfon, to strive against "fin, and to ferve God to my power conftantly,

"Therefore I may be as fure to have righteoufnefs and eternal life given to me, for the obedience of Chrift imputed to me, as it is "fure that Chrift was condemned and put to death for the fins of the "redeemed imputed to him."

The third warrant and special motive to believe in Christ, is the strait and awful command of God, charging all the hearers of the gospel to approach to Chrift, in the order fet down by him, and to believe in him; holden forth, 1 John iii. 23.

THIS is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jefus Chrift, and love one another, as he gave us his commandment.

Wherein the apostle giveth us to understand these five doctrines ;

1. That if any man fhall not be taken with the fweet invitation of God, nor with the humble and loving requeft of God, made to him to be reconciled, he fhall find he hath to do with the fovereign authority of the higheft Majefty; for this is his commandment, that we 'believe in him,' faith he.

2 That if any man look upon this commandment, as he hath looked heretofore upon the neglected commandments of the law; he muft confider that this is a command of the gofpel, pofterior to the law, gi

en for making use of the remedy of all fins; which, if it be difobeyed, there is no other command to follow but this, Go, ye curfed, into 'the everlasting fire of hell: For this is his commandment,' the obe dience of which is most pleasant in his fight, ver. 22. and without which it is impoffiole to please him, Heb. xi 6.

3 That every one, who heareth the gospel, must make conscience of the duty of lively faith in Chrift: the weak believer must not think it prefumption to do what is commanded. The perfon inclined to defperation must take up himself, and think upon obedience unto this fweet and faving command. The ftrong believer muft dip yet more in the fenfe of the need he hath of Jefus Chrift, and more and more grow in the obedience of this command; yea, the most impenitent, profane and wicked perfon must not thrust out himself, or be thrust out by others, from orderly aiming at this duty, how defperate foever his condition feem to be; for he that commands all men to believe in Chrift, doth thereby command all men to believe that they are damoed and loft without Chrift: he thereby commands all men to acknowledge their fins and their need of Chrift, and in effect commands all men to repent, that they may believe in him. And whofoever do refule to repent of their bygone fins, are guilty of difobedience to this command given to all hearers, but especially to these that are within the visible church: For this is his commandment, that we should be 'lieve on the name of his Son Jefus Chrift,' faith he,

4. That he who obeyeth this commandment, hath built his falvati. on a folid ground, For, firft, He hath found the promised Meffiah, compleatly furnished with all perfections unto the perfect execution of the offices of prophet, prieft, and king; for he is that Chrift, in whom the man doth believe. 2. He hath embraced a Saviour, who is able to fave to the uttermoft, yea, and who doth effectually save, every one that cometh to God through him: for he is Jefus, the true Saviour of his people from their fins. 3. He that obeyeth this command, hath built his falvation on the Rock, that is, on the Son of God, to whom it is no robbery to be called equal to the Father, and who is worthy to be the object of faving faith, and of fpiritual worship: for this is his command,' faith he, that we believe in the name of his 'Son Jefus Christ'

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5. That he who hath believed on Jefus Chrift (though he be freed from the curfe of the law) is not freed from the command and obedience of the law, but tied thereunto by a new obligation, and a new command from Chrift: which new command from Chrift importeth help to obey the command; unto which command from Chrift, the Father addeth his authority and command alfo; For this is his com mandment (faith John) that we believe on the name of his Son Jefus 'Chrift, and love one another, as he hath commanded us.' The first part of which command, injoining belief in him, neceffarily implieth love to God, and to obedience to the firft table; for believing in God, and

loving God, are infeparable, and the fecond part of the command injoineth love to our neighbour, (especially to the houshold of faith) and fo obedience to the second table of the law.

Hence may a weak believer ftrengthen himself, by reasoning from this ground after this manner;

"Whosoever in the sense of his own finfulness and fear of God's "wrath, at the command of God, is fled to Jefus Chrift, the only "remedy of fin and mifery, and hath engaged his heart to the obedi "ence of the law of love, his faith is not prefumptuous or dead, but "true and faving faith.

"But I (may the weak believer fay) in the fenfe of my own finful"nels, and fear of God's wrath, am fled to Jefus Chrift, the only "remedy of fin and mifery, and have engaged my heart to the obedi"ence of the law of love.

"Therefore my faith is not a prefumptuous and dead faith, but "true and faving faith."

The fourth warrant and fpecial motive to believe in Chit, is much affurance of life given, in cafe men fhall obey the command of believing; and a fearful certification of deftruction, in cafe they obey not; holden forth, John iii. 35.

THE Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into

his hand. Ver. 36. He that believeth on the Son, bath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son, shall not Jee life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Wherein are holden forth to us thefe five following doctrines;

1. That the Father is well fatisfied with the undertakings of the Son, entered Redeemer and Surety to pay the ranfom of believers, and to perfect them in holiness and falvation. The Father loveth the Son, faith he viz. as he ftandeth Mediator in our name, undertaking to perfect our redemption in all points: The Father loveth him, that is, doth heartily accept his offer to do the work, and is well pleafed with him; his foul delighteth in him, and refteth upon him, and maketh him, in this his office, the Receptacle of love and grace and good-will, to be conveyed by him to believers in him.

2. That, for fulfilling of the covenant of redemption, the Father hath given to the Son (as he standeth in the capacity of the Mediator, or as he is God incarnate, the Word made flesh) all authority in heaven and earth, all furniture of the riches of grace, and of fpirit and life, with all power and ability, which the union of the divine nature with the human, or which the fulness of the Godhead dwelling fubftantially in his human nature, or which the indivifible all-fufficiency and omnipotency of the infeparable, every where prefent Trinity doth import, or the work of redemption can require; The Father (faith_he)

buth

hath given all things into his Son's band, to wit, for accomplishing his work.

3. Great affurance of life is holden forth to all, who shall heartily receive Christ, and the offer of the covenant of grace and reconciliati on through him: He that believeth on the Son (faith he) hath everlaft ing life; for it is made faft unto him, 1. In God's purpose and irrevocable decree, as the believer is a man elected to life. 2. By effectual calling of him unto life by God, who, as he is faithful, fo will be do it. 3. By promile and everlasting covenant, fworn by God, to give the believer ftrong confolation in life and death, upon immutable grounds. 4. By a pawn and infeftment under the great feal of the facrament of the Lord's fupper, fo oft as the believer fhall come to receive the fymbols and pledges of life. 5. In Chrift the Fountain and Head of life, who is entered in poffeffion, as attorney for believers; in whom our life is fo laid up, that it cannot be taken away. 6. By begun poffeffion of spiritual life and regeneration, and a kingdom confifting in righteoufnefs, peace, and joy in the holy Ghoft, erected within the believer, as earnest of the fall poffeffion of everlasting life.

4. A fearful certification is given, if a man receive not the doctrine concerning righteoufness and eternal life to be had by Jefus Christ; He that believes not the Son, shall not fee life, that is, not fo much as understand what it meaneth.

5. He further certifieth, that, if a man receive not the doctrine of the Son of God, he fhall be burdened twice with the wrath of God; once as a born rebel by nature, he shall bear the curfe of the law, or the covenant of works; and next he fhall endure a greater condemnation, in respect that light being come into the world, and offered to him, he hath rejected it, and loved darknefs rather than light and this double wrath fhall be faftened and fixed immoveably upon him, fo long as he remaineth in the condition of misbelief; The wrath of God abideth on him, faith he.

Hence may the weak believer ftrengthen his faith, by reafoning from this ground after this manner;

"Whofoever believeth the doctrine delivered by the Son of God, and findeth him!elf partly drawn powerfully to believe in him, by "the fight of life in him, and partly driven, by the fear of God's "wrath, to adhere unto him, may be fure of right and intereft to "life eternal through him.

"But finful and unworthy I (may the weak believer fay) do believe "the doctrine delivered by the Son of God, and do feel myfelf partly "drawn, powerfully to believe in him, by the fight of life in him; "and partly driven, by the fear of God's wrath, to adhere unto him. "Therefore I may be fure of my right and intereft unto eternal "life through him."

The

The EVIDENCES of true FAITH.

O much for the laying the grounds of faith, and warrants to believe. Now, for evidencing of true faith by fruits, these four things are requifite; 1. That the believer be foundly convinced in his judgment, of his obligation to keep the whole moral law, all the days of his life; and that not the lefs, but fo much the more, as he is delivered by Chrift from the covenant of works, and curie of the law. 2. That he endeavour to grow in the exercise and daily practice of godliness and righteousness. 3. That the courfe of his new obedience run in the right channel, that is, through faith in Chrift, and through a good confcience, to all the duties of love towards God and man, 4. That he keep ftrait communion with the Fountain Chrift Jefus, from whom grace muft run along, for furnishing of good fruits.

For the firft, viz. To convince the believer, in his judgment, of his obligation to keep the moral law, among many passages, take Matth. v. 16.

Ver.

ET your light fo fhine before men, that they may fee your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven 17. Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets : 'I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. Ver. 18. For verily I fay 6 unto you, till heaven and earth pafs, one jot, or one tittle shall in no wife pafs from the law, till all be fulfilled. Ver. 19. Whofoever therefore fhall break one of thefe leaft commandments, and shall 'teach men fo, he fhall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but 'whofoever shall do and teach them, the fame fhall be called great in

the kingdom of heaven. Ver. 20. For I fay unto you, That except ⚫ your righteoufnefs fhall exceed the righteoufaefs of the Scribes and 'Pharifees, ye fhall in no cafe enter into the kingdom of heaven.'

Wherein our Lord,

1. Giveth commandment to believers, juftified by faith, to give evidence of the grace of God in them, before men, by doing good works; Let your light fo fbine before men (faith he) that they may fee your good

works.

2. He induceth them fo to do, by fhewing, that albeit they be not juftified by works, yet fpectators of their good works may be converted or edified; and to glory may redound to God by their good works, when the witnesses thereof ball glorify your Father which is in heaven.

3. He gives them no other rule for their new obedience than the moral law, fet down and explicated by Moles and the prophets; Think not (faith he) that I am come to deftroy the law and the prophets.