III. This faith is different in degrees, weak or strong; 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", who is both the author and finisher of our faith. and thou shalt be faved, and thy houfe. Gal. ii. zo. 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. Ill. Heb. v. 13. 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 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 deadnefs of Sara's womb. V. 20. He ftaggered not at the promife of God through unbelief; but was ftrong 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. 1o. When Jefus heard it he marvelled, and faid to them that followed, Verily I say 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 CHAP. 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 shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 1 John v. 4. For whatfoever 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? Heb. vi. 11. 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 con fcience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Col. ii. 2. That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full affu rance 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 cross, 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: REPENTANCE unto life is an evangelical grace, the doctrine whereof is to be preached by every minifter of the gofpel, as well as that of faith in Chrift. II. By it a finner, out of the fight and fenfe, not only of the danger, but alfo of the filthinefs and odioufness 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 Gods, purpofing and endea vouring 1. Zech. xii. 10. And I will pour upon the house 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 bitternefs for him, as one that is in bitternefs for his firft-born. Acts xi. 18. When they heard these 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. As xx. 21. Teftifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jefus Chrift. tranfgreffions; fo iniquity fhall not be your ruin. V. 3. Caft away from you all your tranfgrefiions, whereby ye have tranfgreifed, and make you a new heart and a new fpirit; for why will ye die, O houfe of Ifrael? Ezek. xxxvi. 31. Then fhall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and fhall lothe yourselves in your own fight, for your iniquities, and for your abominatious. Ifa. xxx. 22. Ye shall 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 juftified when thou fpeakeft, and be clear when thou judgeft. Jer. xxxi. 18. I have furely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus, Thon haft chaftifed me, and I was chatifed, as a bullock uncou ftomed to the yoke: turnthoume, 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 W3S vouring to walk with him in all the ways of his command ments d. e III. Although repentance be not to be refted in, as any fatisfaction for fin, or any cause of the pardon thereof, which is the act of God's free grace in Chrift; yet is it of fuch neceffity was afhamed, yea, even confound- commandments and ordinances ed, because I did bear thereproach of the Lord blamelefs. 2 Kings of my youth. Joel ii. 12. There- xxiii. 25. And like unto him was fore alfo now, faith the Lord, there no king before him, that Turn ye even to me with all your turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with fafting, and with heart, and with all his foul, and weeping, and with mourning. with all his might, according to V. 13. And rend your heart and all the law of Mofes; neither after not your garments, and turn unto him arofe there any like him. the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, flow to anger, and of great kindnefs, and repenteth him of the evil. Amos V. 15. Hate the evil, and love the good, and eftablifh 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 esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every falfe way. 2 Cor. vii. 11. For, behold, this felf-fame thing that ye for rowed after a godly fort, what carefulne fs it wrought in you; yea, what clearing of yourfelves; yea, what indignation; yea, what fear; yea, what vehement defire; yea, what zeal; yea, what revenge! in all things ye have approved yourfelves to be clear in this mat ter. Pfal. cxix. 6. Then fhall I not be ashamed, when I have refpect unto all thy commandments. V.59. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy teftimonies. V. ros. I have fworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. Luke 1.4. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the III. Ezek. xxxvi. 31. Then fhall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourfelves in your own fight, for your iniquities, and for your abominations. V. 32. Not for your takes do I this, faith the Lord God, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O houfe of Ifrael. Ezek. xvi. 61. Then thon fhalt rémember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy fifters, thine elder and thy younger; and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy cove nant. V. 62. And I will eftablifh my covenant with thee, and thou fhalt 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 iniqui ty, and receive us graciously: fo will we render the calves of our lips. V. 4. I will heal their back fliding, Chap. XV. necceffity to all finners, that none may expect pardon without it .. IV. As there is no fin fo fmall but it deferves damnation ; fo there is no fin fo great, that it can bring damnation upon those who truly repent).. V. Men ought not to content themselves with a general repentance, but it is every man's duty to endeavour to repent of his particular fins particularly *. liding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. Rom. iii. 24. Being juftified freely by his grace thro' the redemption that is in Jefus Christ. Eph. i. 7. In whom we have redemption thro' his blood, the forgiveness of fins, according to the riches of his grace. Luke xiii. 3. I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye fhall all likewife perifh. V. 5. I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye fhallall likewifeperifh. Actsxvii.30. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now com-mandeth all men every where to repent: V. 31. Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteous nefs by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given affurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. IV. h. Rom. vi. 23. For the wages of fin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Rom. v. 12. Wherefore, as by one man fin entered into the world, and death by fin; and fo death paffed upon all men, for that all have finned. Mat. xii. 36. But I fav unto you, That every idle word that men fhall fpeak, they fhall give account thereof in the day of judgment. i Ifa. lv. 7. Let the wicked forfake his way, and the unrighteous VI. As man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Rom. viii. 1.There is, there fore, now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jefus, who walk not after the flefl, but after the Spirit. Ifa. i. 16. Wafh ye, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from before me eyes; ceafe to do evil. V. 18. Come now, and let us reafon together, faith the Lord: though your fins be as fearlet, they shall be as white as fnow; though they be red like crimfon, they shall be as wool. V. Pfal. xix. 13. Keep back thy fervant alfo from prefumptuous fins, let them not have dominion over me: then fhall I be upright, and I fhall be innocent from the gicat tranfgreffion. Luke xix. 8. And Zaccheus ftood, and faid unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor: and if I have taken any thing from any man by falfe accufation, I reftore him. fourford. 1 Tim. i. 13. Who was before a blafphemer, and a perfecutor, and injurious. But I obtained mercy, becaufe I did it ignorantly in unbelief. V. 15. This is a faithful faying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Chrift Jefus came into the world to fave finners; of whom I am chief. VI, Pfal. VI. As every man is bound to make private confeffion of his fins to God, praying for the pardon thereof; upon which, and the forfaking of them, he fhall find mercy": fo he that fcandalizeth his brother, or the church of Chrift, ought to be willing, by a private or publick confenfion and forrow for his fin, to declare his repentance to thole that are offended; who are thereupon to be reconciled to him, and in love to receive him. CHA P. XVI. Of Good Works. WOOD works are only fuch as God hath commanded in G his holy word, and not fuch as, without the warrant VI. Pfal. li. 4. Against thee, thee only, have I finned, and done this evil in thy fight: that thou mighteft be juftified when thou fpeakeft, and be clear when thou judgeft. V. 5. Behold, I was hapen in iniquity; and in fin did my mother conceive me. V. 7. Purge me with hyffop, and I'fhall be clean: wash me, and I fhall be whiter than fnow. V. 9. Hide thy face from my fins; and blot out all mine iniquities. V. 14. Deliver me from blood-guiltinefs, O God, thou God of my falvation and my tongue fhail fing aloud of thy righteousness. Pial. xxxi.. 5. I acknowledged my fin unto thee, and mine iuiquity have I not hid: I faid, I will confefs my tranfgreffions unto the Lord; and thou forgaveft the iniquity of my fin. Selah. V.6. For this thall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayeft be found; furely in the floods of great waters they fhall not come nigh unto him. Prov. xxviii. 13. He that covereth his fins fhall not profper: but whofoconf:ffethand for faketh thereof, them fhall have mercy. i John i.. If we confefs our fins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our fius, and to cleanfe us from all unrighteoufnefs. "James v. 16.Confefs your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed: The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Luke xvii. 3. Take heed to yourfelves: if thy brother trefpafs against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. V. 4. And if he trefpafs against thee feven times in a day, and feven times in a day turn again to thee, faying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. Jofh. vii. 19. And Joshua faid unto Achan, My fon, give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of Ifrael, and make confeffion unto him; and tell me now what thou halt done, hide it not from me. [Pfal. li. throughout.] ง 2 Cor. ii. 8. Wherefore be'feech you, that ye would confirm your love towards him. I. Micah vi.8. He hath thewed thee, O man, what is good: and what doth the Lord require, of thee, |