mands 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 fins and their need of Christ, and in effect commands all men to repent, that they may believe in him. And whofoever do refuse 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 believe on the name of his Son Jefus Christ,' 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 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 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 Christ importeth help to obey the command: unto which command from Chrift, the Father áddeth his authority and command also; 'For this is his commandment (faith John) 'that we believe on the name of his Son Jefus Christ, 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 fo obedience to the first table; for believ

ing 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 fecond table of the law.

Hence may a weak believer strengthen himself, by reafoning from this ground after this manner;

"Whosoever in the fenfe of his own finfulness and fear "of God's wrath, at the command of God, is fled to Jefus "Christ, the only remedy of fin and misery, and hath engaged his heart to the obedience of the law of love, his "faith is not presumptuous or dead, but true and saving "faith.

“But I, (may the weak believer fay) in the sense of my "own finfulness, and fear of God's wrath, am fled to Jefus "Chrift, the only remedy of fin and mifery, and have engag "ed 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 special motive to believe in Chrift, is much affurance of life given, in case men fhall obey the command of believing; and a fearful certification of destruction, in cafe they obey not; holden forth, John iii. 35

THE Father loveth the Son, and bath given all things into his hand. ver. 36. He that believeth on the Son, hath everlafting life; and he that believeth not the Son, fhall not fee life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Wherein are holden forth to us these five following doctrines;

1. That the Father is well fatisfied with the undertakings of the Son, entered Redeemer and furety to pay the ransom of believers, and to perfect them in holiness and falvation. The Father loveth the Son,' faith he; viz. as he standeth Mediator in our name, undertaking to perfect our redemption in all points: The Father loveth him, that is, doth hearti

ly

ly 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 flefh) all authority in heaven and earth, all furniture of the riches of grace, and of spirit 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 substantially 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 Son's 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 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 he do it. 3. By promise and everlasting covenant, fworn by God, to give the believer strong 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 shall come to receive the fymbols and pledges of life. 5. In Christ 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 righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghoft, 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 righteousness and eternal life to be had by Jefus Chrift; He that believes not the Son, fhall not fee life,' that is, not so 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 shall endure a greater condemnation, in respect 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 faftened and fixed immoveably upon him, fo long as he remaineth in the condition of misbelief; < wrath of God abideth on him,' faith he.

The

Hence may the weak believer strengthen his faith, by reaforing from this ground after this manner;

"Whosoever believeth the doctrine delivered by the Son " of God, and findeth himself partly drawn powerfully to be"lieve 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 intereft unto "eternal life through him."

Ο

The EVIDENCES of true FAITH.

So 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

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 godliness and righteoufnefs. 3. That the courfe of his new obedience run in the right channel, that is, through faith in Christ, 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 first, viz. To convince the believer, in his judgment, of his obligation to keep the moral law, among many paffages, take Matth. v. 16.

LET your light fo fhine before men, that they may fee your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Ver. 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 unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall in no wife pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Ver. 19. Whosoever therefore fhall break one of thefe least commandments, and shall teach men fo, be fhall be called leaft in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the fame fhall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Ver. 20. For I say unto you, That except your righteoufness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharifees, ye shall in no cafe enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Wherein our Lord,

1. Giveth commandment to believers, justified 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