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 damned and loft without Chrift: he thereby commands all men to acknowledge their Sins and their need of Chrift; and in effect commands all Men to repent, that they may believe in him, and, whofoever do refufe to repent of their bygone fins,are guilty of disobedience to this Command given to all Hearers, but especially to these that are within the vifible church; For this is his Commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jefus Chrift, faith he. 4. That he who obeyeth this Commandment, hath built his falvation on a folid Ground: For, First, 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 fave, every on that cometh to God through him; For he is Jefus the true Saviour of his People from their Sins. 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 spiritual worship: For this is his command (faith he) that we believe in the name of his Son Jefus Chrift. 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 "Commandment (faith John) that we believe on the name "of his Son Jefus Chrift, and love one another, as he hath "commanded us." The firft part of which command, injoining belief in him, neceffarily implieth Love to God, and fo 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, efpecially to the Dd 4 houshold houfhold of faith) and fo obedience to the fecond table of the law. Hence may a weak believer ftrengthen himfelf, by reafoning from this ground after this manner; Whofoever in the fenfe 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 obedience of the law of love, his faith is not prefumptuous or dead, but true and faving faith. But I (may the weak believer Jay) in the fenfe of my own finfulness, and fear of God's wrath, am fled to Jefus Chrift,the only remedy of fin and mifery, and have engagfed my heart to the obedience 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 Chrift, 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, hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son, shall not fee Life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. Wherein are holden forth to us the fe Five following doctrines 1. That the Father is well fatisfied with the undertakings of the Son, entred Redeemer and furety 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, 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 ftandeth 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) hath given all Things into the Sons hand, to wit for accomplishing his work. 3. Great Affurance of life is holden forth to all, who fhall heartily receive Chrift, and the offer of the covenant of Grace and reconciliation through him; He that believeth on the Son (faith he) hath everlasting life; for it is made fast unto him, 1. In God's purpofe and irrevocable Decree, as the belever is a Man elected to life, 2. By effectual calling of him unto life by God, who, as he is faithful, fo will he do it, 3. By promise 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 Seal of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. fo oft as the Believer fhall come to receive the cymbols 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 fpiritual life and regeneration, and a kingdom confifting in righteoufnefs, peace, and joy in the holy Ghost, erected within the believer, as earnest of the full poffeffion of everlasting life. 4. A fearful certification is given, if a man receive not the doctrine concerning righteoufnefs and eternal life to be had by Jefus Chrift; he that believes not the Son, fhall 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 fhall bear the curfe of the law, or the covenant of works, and next he fhall endure a greater condemnation,in refpect that light being come into the world, and offered to him, he hath rejected it, and loveth darkness rather than light: And this double wrath fhall be faftned 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 strengthen his faith by reafoning from this ground after this manner; "Whofoever believeth the doctrine delivered by the Son of "God,and findeth himself 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 interest 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 myself 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 interest unto e"ternal life through him." 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, thefe 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 curfe of the law. 2. That he endeavour to grow in the exercise and daily practice of godlinefs and righteoufnefs. 3. That the courfe of his new obedience run in the right chanel, 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 must run along, for furnishing of good fruits. For For the first viz. To convince the believer, in his Judgment, of his obligation to keep the moral law, among many paffages, take Matth. v. 16, 86 L ET your light fo fhine before men, that they may fee your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven, Verfe 17. Think not that I am come to deftroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, "but to fulfill Verfe 18. For verily I fay unto you, till hea "ven and earth pafs, one jot, or one title fhall in nowife "pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Verfe 19. Whofo ever therefore shall break one of these leaft commandments, "and shall teach men so, he shall be called leaft in the king"dom of heaven: But whofoever shall do and teach them, "the fame fhall be called great in the kingdom of heaven, Verfe 20.For I fay unto you, That except your righteousness fhall exceed the righteouihefs 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 fhine 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 justified by works, yet fpectators of their good works may be converted or edified; and fo glory may redound to God by their good works, when the witnesses thereof " shall "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 Mofes and the Prophets; "Think not (faith he) that I am come to destroy "the law and the prophets. 4. He gives them to understand, that the doctrine of grace, and freedom from the curfe of the law, by faith in him, is readily mistaken by men's corrupt judgments,as if it did loose or flacken the obligation of believers to obey the commands, and to be fubject to the authority of the law; and that this error is indeed a destroying of the law and of the prophets, which he will in no cafe ever endure in any of his difciples, |