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 saved, and thy house. Gal. ii. 20. I am crucified with Chrift: nevertheless I live; 3 yet not I, but Christ 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 himself for me. Acts xv. 11. But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Chrift we shall be faved, even as they. III. k Heb. v. 13. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. V. 14. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised 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 Sara's womb. V. 20. He staggered not at the promife of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. Mat. vi. 30. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Mat. viii. 1o. When Jesus heard it he marvelled, and faid to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so 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 lift you as wheat: V. 32. But CHAP. I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy bre thren. Eph. vi. 16. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 1 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 Jesus is the Son of God? Heb. vi. 11. And we defire that every one of you do thew the same diligence to the full affurance of hopeunto the end: V.12. That ye be not flothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Heb. x. 22. Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, 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 set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, 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, the doctrine whereof is to be preached by every minifter of the gospel, as well as that of faith in Christ. R II. By it a sinner, out of the fight and sense, not only of the danger, but alfo of the filthiness 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, so grieves for and hates his fins, as to turn from them all unto Gods, purposing and endeavouring I. Zech. xii. 1o. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerufalem, the fpirit of grace and of fupplications, and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only fon, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-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. tranfgreffions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. V. 31. Cast away from you all your tranfgrefiions, whereby ye have transgreifed, and make you a new heart and a new spirit; 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 shall lothe yourselves in your own fight, for your iniquities, and for your abominations. Ifa. xxx. 22. Ye shall defile also the covering ofthy graven images of filver, and the ornament of thy molten images of b Luke xxiv. 47. And that-re- gold: thou shalt cast them away pentance and remiffion of fins as a menftruous cloth; thou shalt should be preached in his name say unto it, Get thee hence. Pfal. among all nations, beginning at li. Jerufalem. Mark i. 15. And faying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. Acts xx. 21. Testifying both to the Jews, and alfo to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Chrift. II. Ezek. xviii. 30. Therefore I will judge you, O house of Ifrael, every one according to his ways, faith the Lord God: repent, and turn yourselves from all your 4. Against thee, thee only, have I finned, and done this evil in thy ight: that thou migbteft be juftified when thou speakeft, and be clear when thou judgest. Jer. xxxi. 18. I have furely heard Ephraim bémoaning himself thus, Thou hast chaftifed me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccu stomed to the yoke: turnthou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God. V. 19. Surely after that I was turned I repented; and after that I was instructed I fmote upon my thigh: I vouring to walk with him in all the ways of his command ments d. III. Although repentance be not to be rested in, as any erfatisfaction 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 4 was ashamed, yea, evenconfound- commandments and ordinances ed, because I did bear thereproach 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 rend your heart and not your garments, and turn unto the 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 hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Jofeph. Pfal. cxix. 118. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. 1 Cor. vii. 11. For, behold, this felf-fame thing that ye forrowed after a godly fort, what Carefulness it wrought in you; yea, what clearing of yourselves; yea, what indignation; yea, what fear; yea, what vehement defire; yea, what zeal; yea, what revenge! in all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this mat 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 arose there any like him. III. Ezek. xxxvi. 31. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves 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 house of Ifrael. Ezek. ter. Pfal. cxix. 6. Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect 1 unto all thy commandments. V. 59. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy teftimohies. V. ro6. I have fworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. Luke 1.6. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the xvi. 61. Then thou shalt 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 eftablish my covenant with thee, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: V. 63. That thou mayest remember and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more, because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast 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 back fliding, neccessity to all finners, that none may expect pardon with out it.. IV. As there is no sin so small but it deserves damnation; so there is no sin so 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 justified freely by his grace thro' the redemption that is in Jesus 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 shall all likewise perish. V. 5. I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye shallalllikewiseperish.Actsxvii.30. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: V. 31. Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteouf ness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given afsurance 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 Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom.v.12. Wherefore, as by one man fin entered into the world, and death by fin; and fo death passed upon all men, for that all have finned. Mat. xii. 36. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account there of in the day of judgment. i Ifa. Iv. 7. Let the wicked forfake his way, and the unrighteous k 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, therefore, now no condemnation to them which are in Chrift Jefus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Ifa. i. 16. Wash ye, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from before me eyes; cease to do evil. V. 18. Come now, and let us reasontogether, faith the Lord: though your fins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; thoughthey be red like crimfon, they shall be as wool. V. k Pfal. xix. 13. Keep back thy fervant alfo from presumptuous sins, let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from thegieat tranfgreffion. Luke xix. 8. And Zaccheus stood, and fad 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 false accusation, I restore him fourford. 1 Tim. i. 13. Who was before a blafphemer, and a perfecutor, and injurious. But I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. V. 15. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus 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 shall find mercym: so he that fcandalizeth his brother, or the church of Chrift, ought to be willing, by a private or publick conieifion and forrow for his fin, to declare his repentance to thote that are offended; who are thereupon to be reconciled to him, and in love to receive him.. CHAP. XVI. Of Good Works. OOD works are only fuch as God hath commanded in G his holy word, and not fuch as, without the warrant thereof, them shall have mercy. i John i... If we confefs our fins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our fius, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. VI. Pfal. li. 4. Against thee, thee only, have I finned, and done this evil in thy fight: fight: that thou mightest be juftified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. V. 5. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity: and in fin did my mother conceive me. V. 7. Purge me with hyffop, and Ishall be clean: wash me, and I shall 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 shall fing aloud of thy righteousness. Pial. xxxii.. 5. I acknowledged my fin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid: I faid, I will confefs my tranfgreffions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity ofmy fin. Selah. V.6. For this thall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found; furely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. Prov. xxviii. 13. He that covereth his fins fhall not profper: but whofoconf: frethand forsaketh 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 yourselves: if thy brother trefpafs against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. V. 4. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. Josh. 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 hatt done, hide it not from me. [Pfal. li. throughout.] 0 2 Cor. ii. 8. Wherefore I be'feech you, that ye would confirm your love towards him. I.a Micah vi.8. He hath thewed thee, Oman, what is good: and what doth the Lord require of thee, |