CHAP. XIV. Of Saving Faith.

I. THE grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to

their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the word: by which also, and by the administration of the sacraments, and prayer, it is increased and strengthened.

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II. By this faith, a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the word, for the authority of God himself speaking therein; and acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life and that

I. a Heb. x. 39. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

b 2 Cor. iv. 13. We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak. Eph. i. 17. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: Ver. 18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, Ver. 19. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power. Eph. ii. 8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of your selves: it is the gift of God.

Rom. x. 14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? Ver. 17. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

lieve, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also. Luke xvii. 5. And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. Rom. i. 16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Ver. 17. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

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II. John iv. 42. And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying; for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. 1 Thess. ii. 13. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. 1 John v. 10. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believed not the record that God gave of his Son. Acts xxiv. 14. But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets.

41 Pet. ii. 2. As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. Acts xx. 32. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his f Rom. xvi. 26. But now is made grace, which is able to build you up, manifest, and by the Scriptures of the and to give you an inheritance among prophets, according to the commandall them which are sanctified. Rom. ment of the everlasting God, made iv. 11. And he received the sign of known to all nations for the obedience circumcision, a seal of the righteous- of faith.

ness of the faith which he had yet 8 Isaiah lxvi. 2. For all those things being uncircumcised: that he might hath mine hand made, and all those be the father of all them that be- things have been, saith the Lord:

which is to come. But the principal acts of saving faith are, accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.1

III. This faith is different in degrees, weak or strong; may be often and many ways assailed and weakened, but gets the victory; growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ, who is both the author and finisher of our faith."

but to this man will I look, even to the oven, shall he not much more him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

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CHAP. XV.-Of Repentance unto Life.

EPENTANCE unto life is an evangelical grace, the doctrine whereof is to be preached by every minister of the gospel, as well as that of faith in Christ.b

II. By it a sinner, out of the sight and sense, not only of the danger, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, as contrary to the holy nature and righteous law of God, and upon the apprehension of his mercy in Christ to such as are penitent, so grieves for and hates his sins, as to turn from them all unto God, purposing and endeavouring to walk with him in all the ways of his commandments."

I. & Zech. xii. 10. And I will pour as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say upon the house of David, and upon unto it, Get thee hence. Ps. li. 4. the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Against thee, thee only, have I sinspirit of grace and of supplications; ned, and done this evil in thy sight; and they shall look upon me whom that thou mightest be justified when they have pierced, and they shall thou speakest, and be clear when thou mourn for him, as one mourneth for judgest. Jer. xxxi. 18. I have surely his only son, and shall be in bitter- heard Ephraim bemoaning himself ness for him, as one that is in bitter- thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I ness for his first-born. Acts xi. 18. was chastised, as a bullock unaccusWhen they heard these things, they tomed to the yoke: turn thou me, held their peace, and glorified God, and I shall be turned; for thou art saying, Then hath God also to the the Lord my God. Ver. 19. Surely Gentiles granted repentance unto life. after that I was turned, I repented; b Luke xxiv. 47. And that repent- and after that I was instructed, ance and remission of sins should be smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, preached in his name among all na- yea, even confounded, because I did tions, beginning at Jerusalem. Mark bear the reproach of my youth. Joel i. 15. And saying, The time is fulfil- ii. 12. Therefore also now, saith the led, and the kingdom of God is at Lord, Turn ye even to me with all hand: repent ye, and believe the gos- your heart, and with fasting, and pel. Acts xx. 21. Testifying both to with weeping, and with mourning; the Jews, and also to the Greeks, re- Ver. 13. And rend your heart, and pentance toward God, and faith to- not your garments, and turn unto the ward our Lord Jesus Christ. Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow 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 Joseph. cxix. 128. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. 2 Cor. vii. 11. For, behold, this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

II. Ezek. xviii. 30. Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Ver. 31. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? Ezek. xxxvi. 31. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities, and for your abominations. Isa. xxx. 22. Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away

Ps.

d Psal. cxix. 6. Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all

III. Although repentance be not to be rested in, as any satisfaction for sin, or any cause of the pardon thereof, which is the act of God's free grace in Christ; yet is it of such necessity to all sinners, that none may expect pardon without it.g

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.1

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 sins particularly.

thy commandments. Ver. 59. I thought Christ Jesus. Eph. i. 7. In whom we on my ways, and turned my feet unto have redemption through his blood, thy testimonies. Ver. 106. I have the forgiveness of sins, according to sworn, and I will perform it, that I the riches of his grace. will keep thy righteous judgments. Luke i. 6. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances 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 soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.

VI. As every man is bound to make private confession of his sins to God, praying for the pardon thereof; upon which, and the forsaking of them, he shall find mercy; so he that scandalizeth his brother, or the church of Christ, ought to be willing, by a private or publick confession and sorrow for his sin, to declare his repentance to those that are offended;" who are thereupon to be reconciled to him, and in love to receive him.°

CHAP. XVI.-Of Good Works.

I.OOD works are only such as God hath commanded in his holy U word, and not such as, without the warrant thereof, are devised by men out of blind zeal, or upon any pretence of good intention.b