Gods Call from Heaven Echoed, Part 1 · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI. V. What thoſe graces are, which eſpecially firſt put forth themſelves.
They are theſe:
1. Relying. Or 1. Faith.
2. Repenting. Or 2. Repentance.
THeſe two are Siſters; they are the Primeroſe graces, that firſt appear in the Spring of converſion, or effectual calling: For this Work is called by ſeveral names viz. effectual calling, as there is a cloſing with the call of God, converſion, as there is a turning to God, and Regeneration, as there is a Spiritual birth, and ſuch workings of God to the Soul, and the Soul to God, as beareth Analogy and proportion with the natural Birth.
But firſt to ſpeak of Faith, or relying: many S. 1 controverſies there are about Faith, all which I wave as not being made for a Souldier, and being deſirous to improve my time, and talent to edification, and not diſceptation. I mean that Act of the Soul, whereby it doth rely, ſtay, roul, and leane it ſelf upon Chriſt; whoſe Church Cantic. 8. 5.and deareſt Spouſe is ſaid to lean upon him: Spiritual life is from Chriſt in the Habits, and to Chriſt in the Acts: by this Faith doth the Judg. 3. 7▪ &c.Soul as Ruth to Boaz, come ſoftly, as conſcious of it's own unworthineſſe, and layeth it ſelf down at the feet of Chriſt, ſaying, I beſeech thee, ſpread thy skirt over thy poor Creature, for thou art a near Kinſman, Bone of my Bone, and Fleſh of my ſelf: The Soul put's into the Haven of Chriſts righteouſneſſe by Faith: and there throweth it ſelf for life and Salvation. John 3. 15, 16. That whoſoever believeth in him ſhould not periſh, but have Eternal life. Before the Habit of Faith with other graces was planted in the Soul and Heart: Now the Budd's and Acts of that do appear; aſſoon as there is Regeneration by an Ingeneration of Divine principles, the Soul caſts it ſelf into the Lap of Chriſt, the Armes of a Saviour, and Boſome of a Redeemer; when Spiritual ſtrength is put into the Soul, the firſt ſtep it takes is to Chriſt, and by Chriſt to God.
The Soul now layeth its ſelf at Chriſts Door, and gives up it ſelf to the Patronage of his Wing: It believeth on, cloſeth with, and faſteneth it ſelf to him by this Girdle, and this Doctor 1. Lib. Med. 26. c. 26. theſ.Ames calleth the active reception of Chriſt.
2. Relenting: The next grace that put's forth it's hand out of the Womb is relenting, or S. 2 repentance; an averſion from evil, a converſion to good; in heart, in hand, in affection and action: Theſe are often coupled in New Teſtament Preaching, Repent, and believe: Believe, Mark. 1. 15.and repent: And ſometimes the one without the other; & though one of them be not expreſſed, yet it is implyed: Now the Soul goeth from, and goeth to; from Hell to Heaven, from Sin to Grace, from the left hand to the Right: It's Back is now where it's Face was, and it's Face where it's Back was: The Hebrews have two words growing upon one Root fitly expreſſing this, and correſponding to the Latine, averſion, and converſion: foreign, a turning from, and foreign, a turning to: What ſaith the Lord to his People? Iſai. 1. 16, 17. Ceaſe to do evil, learn to do well: By Faith the Soul is willing to poſſeſſe good, that is Chriſt; by repentance to practice good, that is Grace and Piety: Now is the Soul troubled for what is paſt, and diſquieted for all it's Sins; it hateth the evil, and loveth the good: How ſweetly doth Ephraim through the grace of God expreſs himſelf in the 31. of Jeremy, and the 19. Verſe, Surely after that I was turned I repented; and after that I was Inſtructed I ſmote upon my Thigh, I was aſhamed, yea even confounded, becauſe I did bear the reproach of my youth: And how can it be otherwiſe, when the ſoule is turned to Chriſt? It cannot be for Chriſt and Baal too, nor halt between two opinions. It cannot ſerve God and Mammon: If it giveth up it ſelf to Chriſt, it muſt needs give away it ſelf from ſin; and if by Faith it take Chriſt for it's Husband, it muſt forſake the Bed of Adulterous Love: If Chriſt dwell in the heart by Faith, ſin muſt out of the Houſe by force; for they cannot dwell both together with Love, and liking: It now lookes upon ſin with coyneſſe and deteſtation, and upon grace with a pleaſing ſmile: and ſaith, away ye fawning Flatterers, & welcome Faithful Friends, Chriſt, and grace: Theſe, namely Faith and Repentance, are the Beames and Rayes of that Sun, which God ſet in the Firmament of the Soul, when firſt he Created the new world, and implanted grace in the Heart: There is a ſweet Harmony, and loving accord between them though of late ſome have endeavoured to ſet them at variance, by buzzing cauſeleſſe jealouſies in their ears, whereas God never ſet the one for the fall of the other.