The Dead Saint Speaking to Saints and Sinners Living, Treatise 3 · Royalty 8
Eight Royalty. 8. Chriſt is an Heart-transforming-Grace.
8 Royalty of Faith. Its an Heart-transforming-GraceSuch a Grace as doth transform the Soul into the nature of the Object. Faith is as powerful in this ſpiritual conception, to work in us the image of the Object ſeen, as Fantaſy is oftentimes in the natural conception.
The Poets tell us of ſome that did transform ſuch as beheld them, into ſtones: ſuch a power there was in the Object, the thing beheld, as to transform ſay they. But here it is true. If by Faith wee caſt our Eyes upon Chriſt, of ſtones, wee ſhall bee turned into men; of ſinners into Saints; of a hard heart, to a ſoft and fleſhly; of Children of Satan, to the Sons and Daughters of God, Joh. 1.12. — As many as beleeved on him, to them hee gave power to bee the Sons of God. Sons, not born of the fleſh, or the will of the fleſh: but of God, who begets like himſelf. — As that which is born of fleſh, is fleſh: So that which is born of the Spirit, is Spirit. — Hence wee are ſaid to bee — made partakers of the Divine Nature. — To bee transformed into the image and likeneſs of God. To bee Holy, as Hee is Holy: Pure as Hee is Pure. To bee as hee is in this World.
Never ſoul that looked on him by Faith, but came away with another heart. — They looked to him, and were enlightened, ſaith the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 34.5.
But plainly you ſhall read the Transforming Power of Faith, 2 Cor. 3.18. — Whiles beholding as in a Glaſs, the Glory of the Lord; wee are changed into the ſame image, from Glory to Glory.
Such a Glaſs hee is, that never did the Eye of Faith behold him, but the Soul was changed with the ſight, from a Wolf into a Lamb; from a ſinner, into a Saint; from Darkneſs to Light. — You were once Darkneſs; now are you Light in the Lord. It turns a man upſide down; wholly transforms him.
Indeed, there is no change of the ſubſtance of ſoul and body; nor of the faculties of ſoul and body: but the qualities of the faculties are cleer changed.
The Head is transformed; where before was darkneſs, now there's Light: where before it did judge highly of carnal things, and low eſteemed ſpiritual: it doth now the quite contrary.
The Will is transformed: where before it was full of obſtinacy and ſtoutneſs, contradiction and rebellion: now there is pliableneſs to good. and conformity between Gods Will and his. They are not two, but one Will. Gods Amen, is his Amen: Gods Fiat. his Fiat: Gods Will, his will.
So the Heart, that is transformed; whereas before it was nothing but a noiſome ſink of ſin, nothing but a Cage of unclean birds, the womb of ſin, a ſeminary of luſt: Now it is waſhed, purged, purified, ſanctified, made a fit Receptacle for Chriſt, an Habitation for God, by his Spirit.
Thus you ſee Faith is an Heart-transforming-Grace. Wee cry and ſay, Oh! If I had another heart I could beleeve. If my heart were more holy, more ſanctified: why the way to get another heart is to beleeve: do but beleeve, and you ſhall ſee another heart come into you; another Spirit; another Soul. Do but look upon Chriſt, and you ſhall bee transformed. It is ſuch a look as ſends a man away with another heart.
As the Wiſe men; It is ſaid, — After they had ſeen Chriſt, beheld Chriſt, they went home another way: So, when by Faith wee have ſeen Christ, it ſends the Soul another way, with another ſpirit, with other Principles, with other Reſolutions.
There is this Power of Faith, to transform the Soul into the nature of the Object beleeved. Belief of the Promiſes breeds Principles in the Heart ſuitable to the Promiſes. Belief in Chriſt breeds a Spirit ſuitable to Chriſt.
As Faith, Belief in God a Father, breeds Principles of Love, Fear, Reverence, and Obedience in the Soul; ſuch things as are agreeable: So the belief in Chriſt a Saviour, breeds Principles of Truſt, of Love, of Deſire, with the like.