A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 218 (Question 86)
SERMON CCXVIII.
QUESTION LXXXVI.
WHAT is Faith in Jeſus Chriſt?
ANSWER.
FAITH in Jeſus Chriſt is a ſaving Grace, whereby we receive and reſt upon Him alone for Salvation, as He is offered to us in the Goſpel.
UNDER the former we have taken an Account of the things that are preſcribed in the Goſpel, as the Media for our obtaining of Deliverance from Miſery, and obtaining of Salvation: In which we conſidered, 1. The Terms of the New Covenant; ſhewing us what is neceſſary on our part, in order to our being inveſted with a Right to this great Benefit; and theſe are Faith & Repentance 2. What is required of us in order to our obtaining of this, viz A diligent Uſe of all outward Means appointed to this end.
NOW before I come to treat of theſe particularly, it may not be amiſs to offer ſome general Rules for our better underſtanding of this Affair, and preventing of the Miſtakes which too many labour of in theſe reſpects.
1. THAT Faith & Repentance are the Gifts of God, and do exceed the Powers of the Natural Man. This is one difference between the Covenant of Works and of Grace, that the former required no more of Man than he was furniſhed with a Power of performing whereas in the latter, the things required are more than he hath Ability to do of himſelf; for this the Word of God is clear. Man hath not only loſt the Power of Legal Obedience, but is equally unable to that which is Evangelical: Hence it is ſaid of Faith, Eph. … 8. For by grace are ye ſaved thro' faith; and that not of your ſelves: it is the gift of God. And of Repentance, Acts 11.18. Then hath God alſo to the Gentiles granted Repentance unto life. The Acts of Faith and Repentance require a Principle in the Man, from whence they muſt flow, & that muſt be a vital Principle; whereas it is ſaid of all ſuch, Eph. 2.1. They are dead in treſpaſſes and ſins. The Equity of this on God's part, hath been formerly proved, and may further appear in the ſequel preſently: And that God doth not illude Men by offering them Terms, which they cannot of themſelves come up to, will alſo be diſcovered to us indiſputably. They are therefore greatly miſtaken, who think the Grace of the New-Covenant conſiſts in God's offering Men Terms, which they have a natural Power of performing; but it muſt be reduced to another Head, as will be conſidered.
2. THAT hence God doth not require or expect, that Men ſhould exert theſe, by the Power remaining in their Corrupt Nature. If we meaſure our Conceptions of the Covenant of Grace by this Rule, we go clear off from the Foundation of the Goſpel; in which we are acquainted that God hath provided help for us in another, and made diſcoveries to us where it is to be had. When God Commands us to make to our ſelves a New Heart, to Believe in His Son Jeſus Chriſt, to be renewed in the Image of our Mind, and many the like Precepts given in His Word, He knows that it tranſcends any remaining Powers in us; and if we ſhould offer at it, and offer to Him any ſuch thing, He would not accept it of us: When therefore Paul commanded his Philippians, Chap. 2.12. Work out your own ſalvation with fear and trembling. He tells them preſently upon it, in Ver. 13. For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleaſure. And tho' this may ſeem a Riddle to our Carnal Reaſoning, yet it is exceedingly accommodated to His great Deſign of ſaving Sinners by CHRIST; for we are told, Iſa. 40.29. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might, he increaſeth ſtrength.
3. THAT nevertheleſs theſe are propoſed to us in the Goſpel Treaty, as the Terms on which we may come to obtain the Promiſes. That they are thus propoſed is evident, for that the Promiſe is connected with theſe, and made on this Hypotheſis, Mark 16.16. He that believeth and is baptized, ſhall be ſaved; but he that believeth not, ſhall be damned. Luke 13.3 Except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh. And if it be demanded, for what reaſon is it thus exhibited, if we cannot perform it of our ſelves? It may be anſwered, That God doth it,
1. TO aſſure us, That theſe muſt be wrought in us, if ever we be ſaved. It gives to underſtand, that Faith & Repentance are made neceſſary Media, by which we may obtain the Promiſe; and except they be wrought in us, we muſt needs abide under the Wrath of God, Joh. 3.36. He that believeth on the Son, hath everlaſting life: and he that believeth not the Son, ſhall not ſee life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. That if ever God deliver us from Wrath to come, and exalt us to the Kingdom of Life, He will give both of theſe Graces to us; Pſal. 84.11. The Lord will give grace and glory. And hereby we are given to underſtand, that ſo long as we remain in our Unbelief and Impenitence, we remain ſtrangers to the Covenant of Promiſe. So that hereby we have a ſure Rule of Trial, by which we may prove our preſent State: Hence, 2 Cor. 13 5. Examine your ſelves, whether ye be in the faith, 2. Pet. 1.10.
2. TO convince us, That our Deliverance is beyond our Power to procure. God will have Sinners to go out of themſelves, in order to their coming to Chriſt: which that they may do, they muſt be made to find that they can do nothing of themſelves, that can lift them out of the Pit into which they are fallen. There is a Pride in every Natural Man, which makes him to think, he can comply with the Command: When therefore he is apprehenſive of his own inſufficiency to this, this helps to Humble him out of himſelf, and convinceth him that he can do nothing; and that therefore without His help, we muſt ſtill ly and Periſh: And that our Salvation entirely depends on His Grace, Eph. 2.8.
3. TO excite us to ſeek to God and wait on Him for His Grace to enable us to Anſwer the Covenant Condition. It is not to drive us to Deſpondency, and bid us to caſt off all Hope; but to make us ſee where our Help is, that ſo, deſpairing in our ſelves, we may be perſwaded to accept of His Offers of Salvation; and no longer either neglect it, or ſeek to obtain it in any way wherein we ſhall loſe our Labour, and miſs of it in the end. God therefore, together with this Conviction holds forth to us this great Truth, Hoſ. 13.9. O Iſrael, thou hast deſtroyed thy ſelf, but in me is thine help. And puts us upon making of his requeſt, Pſal. 61.2. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. And hereby God takes the Opportunity to ſignalize His glorious Grace to miſerable Sinners, and make Chriſt more precious to us, when we Conſider, Pſal. …2.12. For he ſhall deliver the needy when he crieth, the poor alſo, and him that hath no helper.
4. THAT the Succeſs of the outward Means depends upon God's Arbitrary Pleaſure. We are not to ſuppoſe, that becauſe we give our Attendance on the Ordinances, that this brings God under an Obligation to give us th…ſe Graces, and ſhould wrong us if He with-held them from us: He hath indeed appointed theſe, and made it our Duty to Attend on them; but the Succeſs of them is in His diſpoſe. That therefore may be applied hither, Eccl. 11.6. In the morning ſow thy ſeed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether ſhall proſper, either this or that, or whether they both ſhall be alike good. And we are given to underſtand that ſuch a Plea as this, will not ſtand Men in any ſtead in the Day of Accounts, Luke 13 26, 27. Then ſhall ye begin to ſay, We have eaten and drunk in thy preſence, and thou haſt taught in our ſtreets, but he ſhall ſay, I tell you, I know you not whence you are; depart from me all ye workers of iniquity.
5. THAT the Neglect of Diligent uſing of theſe, expoſeth us to miſs of this Benefit. Tho' the Succeſs of theſe depends entirely on God, and He can work theſe Graces in us immediately; yet becauſe He hath put the Honour upon them to make them the Ordinary way in which He will communicate Himſelf to us, He hath put a Preceptive Neceſſity on our giving this diligent Attendance upon them, and hath accordingly threatned the Neglect of ſo doing; and indeed this Neglect caſts a Contempt on the Divine Precept. And if it be a Miſery to be without Means, (Prov. 29.18. Where there is no viſion the people periſh.) it muſt needs be a ruining thing to diſregard them; and if this be the way which God hath choſen for the Conveyance of the Bleſſing, ſuch do put themſelves out of the way, and may well expect to miſs of it.
BUT we may now paſs over to a particular Conſideration of theſe things; and the Firſt of theſe that is offered in our Catechiſm, is FAITH in JESUS CHRIST, whereof we have here a Deſcription given us▪ I am not ignorant, that there have been hot Diſputes about the Order of theſe Two Graces; ſome giving the Priority to Faith, and others to Repentance: To which a few words may be here ſpoken. And here we may obſerve, That Divines do very well diſtinguiſh between the Order of Nature, and the Order of Time. As to the Order of Time wherein theſe Graces are ingenerated in us, it muſt be acknowledged that there is no diſtance, but they are both wrought in the ſame Inſtant. In Paſſive Converſion or Regeneration, the whole Body of ſanctifying Graces is infuſed at once, which is therefore called the New Creature, or the New Man: Hence that, Eph. 4.24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteouſneſs and true holineſs. And. 2 Cor. 5.17. If any man be in Chriſt he is a new creature. But if we ſpeak of the Order of Nature, Faith may challenge the Precedency, as being the principal and leading Grace. There is … a … which is … it is Legal, and … be enumerated … of the Spirit, but is …und it Unregenerate M…n; but this is not the …; that we are now in the Contemplation of; it being … Work of the Spirit, and … it ſo … to us. Nor can any Repentance be acceptable to God, or carry in it an Evidence of our Salvation, but only that which is influenced with Faith. Heb 1….…. Without faith …. It is farther to be obſerved, that … … Faith is the only Condition of …, that hath any Sort of … in it; it being an Instrument, tho' it is ever accompanyed with Repentance: And alſo it is by Faith, that we fetch from Chriſt all that help, whereby we may exerciſe aright all the Graces of the Spirit that are in us, and for that reaſon it may well have the …r…e…e…cy afforded to it.
BUT I proceed to enquire into the Deſcription it ſelf, that is here given us of Faith in Chriſt. And here obſerve,
1. THE thing it ſelf deſcribed; it is called, Faith in … Chriſt. As to the Word Faith, there are … diſputes about the meaning of it, in the Holy Scriptures; and it is not to be denied, that it hath diverſe ſenſes, in which it is there uſed; and therefore we muſt fix it in the preſent Deſign: It is … here to mention, that it is ſometimes uſed for the Credit that a given to a Teſtimony, on the Word of him was given it: ſometimes for the Doctrines of the Goſpel, by a Me…y, becauſe they are to be Believed by us on the Authority of God, … the Author of them: ſometimes for the external Profeſſion which M…n make of the Chriſtian Religion, becauſe this Profeſſion is grounded on the Belief of the Truth contained in the Articles of it: ſometimes it is taken for a …re Aſſent to the Truth of a thing: ſometimes for a Reliance or Re…y on the Object ſo … …: ſometimes it is uſed for an word, ſometimes a Temporary, and ſometimes a Fa…e of Miracles; and ſometimes for that which we call a Juſtifying or Saving Faith: All of which Senſes might have been inſtanced in the ſeveral Texts of the Word of God, where they are ſo uſed. Now it is the … of theſe Senſes … we are here to underſtand it, inaſmuch as it is here brought in as one of thoſe Media, whereby …ful Man may … to obtain a delivery from the Wrath and Curſe of God, and Inherit Eternal Life, which includes in it both Juſtification and Salvation. There is alſo an elu… Diſtinction of Faith obſerved; ſometimes it … Fi…s … …red…tur; ſometimes, Fides … the former pointing to the Object, the other to the Subject of Faith, the … hath been formerly conſidered in the … part of the Catechiſm, and latter falls under … preſent Conſideration. As to the great … among many, whether Faith be appropriated … the Underſtanding, or is rooted alſo in the … …or thoſe who will have it in the Will, … the Underſtanding; the difference between theſe, is becauſe they do not …pute … not a … of …, … that the Word … a … to the Goſpel, including … or …; and muſt … the Believing in or … all that underſtand the … according to the ſenſe of …; and that it is thus intended here, … manifeſt by the … or Denomination given to it in Queſtion, Faith in Jeſus Christ. … therefore … that which … to diſtinguiſh … it in every other Faith, and direct … to the … and proper nation of it
WHEN therefore it is called Faith in Jeſus Christ … us to … as the Object to whom we are … by it, and on whom we ….
BUT for our better and more … taking up this matter, there are Two things here to be conſidered,
II. THAT the Object of Faith may be conſidered, … as the …: And we have … for this diſtinction given in, Joh. 1….1. …e … in God, ….
1. The … Object of our Faith, can be no other than God alone. This will … ther appear in the Proſecution of the Deſcription: Here only obſerve, that nothing can be a ſatisfying Object of a Divine Faith, but that which … … Salvation to him that ſo Beh…ves in it; and that can be no other but GOD: He only can Save us from all Miſery, and confer upon as compleat Felicity. To truſt therefore on any other, is to rely on Lying Vanities; and we are told of all ſuch, J… 1.…. They … obſerve lying vanities, forſake their own … Our Believing on CHRIST ariſeth from the Aſſurance we have that He is GOD; and as He is conſidered as a Subſiſtence in the Undivided God-head, ſo He is the Ultimate Object: And the Truth is, that Man's Miſery began here, that he relinquiſhed God as the alone Object of his Reliance, and placed it upon other … in His room; and that is the Comprehenſion of the Nature of Sin, as it is ſummarily Charged upon them in, Jer. 2.13. For my people have committed two evils: they have forſaken me the fountain of living waters, and … them … broken …erns that can be … water.
2. THE … Object of our Faith, is that which we … rely …; which may alſo be called our Mediate Object, becauſe our Faith doth not … determine here, but by it comes to God; and this is JESUS CHRIST God-Men-Mediate: It is certain that no ſinful Man can come to God in any other way but by Him. Hence He tells us, Joh. 14.6. Jeſus ſaith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life no man cometh unto the Father but by me. And we have ſuch an Expreſſion in Heb. 7.25. He is … alſo to ſave them to the uttermoſt, that come unto God by him. GOD out of CHRIST is a conſuming Fire; out of CHRIST He is Armed with Vengeance ready to fall upon the Sinner: It is CHRIST who ſtands between an Holy GOD and Impure Sinners, to take up the Controverſy and make the Peace, which Sin had broken; therefore all the Promiſes which are given for our En…ragement to Believe in God, are laid up and ratified in Him. 2 Cor. 1.20. For all the pro…es of God in him are yea, and in him amen, … the glory of God. This therefore is the Command that is given to all ſuch as come under the Goſpel Treaty; 1 Joh. 3 23. And this is his commandment, that we ſhould believe on the name of his Son Jeſus Chriſt. And without this Faith in Him, our pretended Believing in God, will be a daring Preſumption, and far from that Faith which will ſave us.
[2.] THAT Faith always ſuppoſeth theſe … things;
1. A Diſcovery of that in the Object, which … it fit to be Believed in. We do not ex…de the Underſtanding from being neceſſarily concerned in the acting of a right & regular Faith on Chriſt; and the firſt thing that it is concerned in, is an apprehenſion of the Object, as it is recommended to be ſuitable for us to Believe: Faith is a Confidence grounded upon Knowledge; and to this Knowledge it is requi…, that as we know what our Wants are, ſo we have that repreſented to us in the Object, which renders it as able to ſupply theſe Wants, otherwiſe we muſt Act blindly and unreaſonably; whereas one great Motive urged upon … in the Goſpel, is the Conſideration of the …eneſs and ſufficiency of the Object. And this is that which affords us matter of Deliberation, to guide us in our Election; and without this, we cannot Believe as Men, much leſs as Chriſtians; who ought to be able to ſay as …: Tim. 1.12. I know whom I have believed.
2. … Belief of this Diſcovery. And this is that which we call the Faith of Aſſent; which tho it is not alone ſufficient to denominate a ſaving Faith, yet is a neceſſary Ingredient of it, without which ſuch a Faith cannot be exerted. And this alſo properly belongs to the Understanding; we muſt believe theſe things is to be true, in order to our Affiance: Now the Nature of this Aſſent, is that it is given to the Teſtimony which God hath given us in His Word concerning them; which is called our receiving His Teſtimony; Joh. 3.33. He that hath received his teſtimony, hath ſet to his ſeal, that God is true. And is therefore a Divine Faith, becauſe it is not built on the Teſtimony of Men, … are Liars, but of God who is Truth it ſelf: However this Belief is but a ſtep towards the compleating of the Act of Faith; our Believing of Him muſt be followed with our Believing in Him, unto which it is a proper Me…: But theſe things will be more fully ex-amplified in that which follows.
II. NOW follows the Deſcription it ſelf that is given of this Faith, in the reſt of the Anſwer; where obſerve
[1.] THE general Nature of it; it is a ſaving Grace. And in this it agrees with all the other ſanctifying Habits which are beſtowed on Men in Regeneration; mentioned, Gal. 5.22 Here two things,
1. IT is a Grace… The word Grace ſignifies a free favour: and therefore whatſoever is freely given is ſo called; and this ſometimes applied to him that gives, and is ſometimes to the thing given, Metonymically, becauſe it comes freely from the Author of it: In the former reſpect it is aſcribed to God, and is reckoned to be one of His glorious Perfections; and is, God inclined to ſhew Favour to the Creature, of His own good Will, without any Merit or deſerving in that: And this is ſometimes uſed in a more large ſenſe, for all the Benefits which He beſtows upon the Creature; ſometimes in a more reſtrained, for the ſpecial and peculiar Favours that He confers on His Choſen. In the latter reſpect it is applied to the Subject recipient, and comprehends the Benefit it ſelf whatſoever it be; and that becauſe, as it is a thing Beneficial to Him, ſo he received it freely: And if God had not beſtowed it upon him of His Bounty, he could never have laid Claim to it by any Merit of his. Now it is to the latter of theſe, that the notion of Grace is here applied to Faith; it being a Favour which the Man partakes in by the Gift of God: It is ſomething that He hath received, and been made Owner and Poſſeſſor of; but this may be more illuſtrated in that which follows. Hence,
2. IT is a ſaving Grace. And this Epithet is put to it, to diſtinguiſh it from all other Benefits whatſoever that Men partake of thro' the Benignity of God towards them: And here we may obſerve, that if we take the Word Grace in the moſt extended ſenſe of it, it extends to all the Good which the Creature participates in; and may therefore be diſtinguiſhed into Common or Special. And here,
1. THE one of theſe is called Common, becauſe it is beſtowed indifferently on the Good and Evil: An Ungodly Man may have as large a ſhare in it, as one who is truely Godly: This refers to the Head of God's Goodneſs, of whom it is ſaid, Pſal. 145.9. The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. And in this reſpect we are told in Acts 14.17. He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful ſeaſons, filling our hearts with food and gladneſs. Hither are to be referred the outward Favours of this Life which are beſtowed upon Men: So, 2 Cor 9 8. And God is able to make all grace abound towards you; that ye always having all ſufficiency in all things, may abound in every good work. The Gifts which are beſtowed upon Men, whereby they are more eminently fitted for Service in their Generation, Eph. 4.7. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the meaſure of the gift fo Chriſt. And any Priviledge or Advantage which one hath above another for Service: Thus the Apoſtle calls his Commiſſion to Preach to the Gentiles, Grace, Eph. 3.8.
2. THE other is called Special Grace, becauſe it is peculiarly beſtowed on God's Elect, and no other. It is true, God offers this Grace in the Goſpel, to all who come under the ſound of it: Hence that, Tit. 2.11. For the grace of God that bringeth ſalvation, hath appeared to all men. But it is not conferred upon all, but only ſuch as are ordained to eternal Life. Hence we have that remark, Act, 13.…0. As many as were ordained to eternal life, believed. And on this account Grace is contra-diſtinguiſhed from Gifts, and from the Temporary favours which God beſtows upon other men: and to this head is Faith in Chriſt truely & properly referred, for we are aſſured that all have not faith; now this is called ſaving Faith,
1. TO diſtinguiſh it from that common Faith which many pretend to. There are many that do in a ſenſe believe the Truths of the Goſpel, and make profeſſion of the Faith of it, and perſwade themſelves that they are true Believers; but it is not the right Faith which is proper to Gods Elect, or Called, Tit. 1.1. The faith of Gods Elect. And the difference between one and the other, will be evident, when we come to conſider the ſpecial Nature of this.
2. BECAUSE Salvation is by promiſe ſecured to all who have this faith. This is one of the terms of the New Covenant, or the Media by which Sinners come to obtain Salvation thro' Jeſus Chriſt; and none that have this Faith really wrought in them, ſhall ever miſs of it. Hence the Goſpel is full of ſuch Promiſes as give us the Aſſurance, That as none ſhall be ſaved without it, ſo none ſhall miſs of Salvation, who are made owners of it. Hence that in, Joh. 3.16. For God ſo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoſoever believeth in him, ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting life. And on this account we have ſuch an expreſſion, Heb. 10.39. Of them that believe. Nor did ever any true believer fail of this, but was made to receive the end of his Faith, the Salvation of his Soul, according to, 1 Pet. 1.9. Receiving the end of your faith, even the ſalvation of your ſouls.
3. BECAUSE it is the Inſtrument by which we lay hold on Salvation. It is true, it is Chriſt whom Faith nextly embraceth, it is therefore a believing in Him, as the next Object, as we have obſerved; but is a laying hold of Him in the Promiſe, in which He is offered to us as a Saviour, and the Author of eternal life: So that in and by believing on Him, we embrace this life and accept of it with Him. Hence, Believing is expreſs'd by this, 1 Tim. 6 19. That they may lay hold on eternal life. And therefore by our thus believing we come to have the evidence in us, that we ſhall be ſaved: it is therefore one of thoſe things which the Apostle ſaith do accompany ſalvation, Heb. 6.9.
4. BECAUSE in the Exerciſe of it, we advance our own Salvation. There is a work required of us to do, which, tho' it Merits not, yet is of the way to Salvation: We are therefore Commanded, Phil. 2.12. Work out your own ſalvation with fear & trembling. Now to render theſe works ſervicable to this end, that they may be acceptable to God, and crowned with a gracious reward, it is requiſite that they be done in faith; for we are told, Heb. 11.6. Without faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe him. And whereſoever this Faith is found, God will accept us in Chriſt, and cover the frailty which attends the beſt we do.
Now there are two parts of … thus beſtowed upon us by the Spirit of … the Author of all Grace in … is therefore called Faith of the Operation of God, and He hath that Title, 1 Pet. 5.1…. The God of ….
1. THERE are theſe Graces … upon … Relatively; wh… of themſelves work no change real in our Nature, tho they are always accompanied with a real change: but they work a change in our State, from what it was before theſe paſt upon us; and theſe are our Juſtification and …; which do not only derive to us from the free Grace of God, but confer on us a rich & unconceivable favour, in that we are conſtituted by the one righteous in the ſight of God, and by the other are put among Gods Children; who before were guilty Sinners & enemies: and by both of them we come to have a title to the glorious Inheritance, ſo that theſe may well have the Name of Grace put upon them.
2. THERE are theſe Graces He works in … Effectually; and by vertue whereof there is a real change wrought in our Natures; and theſe are Sanctification and Glorification; by the one whereof we are made. New Creatures, and have all the Graces of Sanctification produced in …, by the other there are al… the Imperfections of Soul & Body finally …one away, and we are made perfect. Now the Grace of Faith belong to this head, and particularly to our Sanctification, as it hath a reſpect to the change of our Nature that is wrought in Regeneration. Now the Faith we are ſpeaking of, is not a tranſcient act, tho' there is the firſt act of it, and repeated exerciſes as long as we live; but it … ſomething abiding which whether we will call an Habit, or a Principle, or a Power, I diſpute not; and I believe that thoſe who call it one or other of theſe, intend the ſame thing, viz, Something in the man from which he is enabled to exert thoſe acts of faith which are required, which no Sinner can do until this power is reſtored or beſtowed upon him. And let us obſerve, that there is a double Conſideration of Faith, viz. Of the Nature of it, which is called, Fides quae Juſtif…at, and of the way & manner in which it influenceth our Juſtification; or quâ Juſtif…t: of this latter we have taken an account formerly, when we conſidered the Doctrine of Juſtification. And that which now lies before us, is what that Faith is, which is of uſe in our Juſtification, and is alſo ſervicable to other purpoſes in the Life and Courſe of a Chriſtian: and it is of great Moment that we be rightly informed in this matter, becauſe a miſtake in it may prove undoing to us; for no Faith but that which is of the right ſtamp will ever prove ſaving. Here then in general, it is to be accounted to be a work of the Spirit, or a Grace that is planted in the Soul, and hath its genuine Operations in the Man who is owner of it; and is therefore to be numbred to that body of Saving Graces, which go in to the Conſtitution of the New-Creature, which is produced in Converſion, and hath its working in us, ſuitable to the Nature of it; and it is no other but God alone can produce it in the Man by His Almighty Power: no Man hath it in Him Naturally, nor is any Man able to obtain it by his own Induſtry, or earn it of God, by his own Endeavours; but it is a Creating Work, and ſo a ſuper natural Grace which comes from above, and is given freely to us; and by the conſideration of this general Nature of it, we may be helped in the more diſtinct Diſquiſition of the ſpecial Nature of it, which will follow next to be enquired into. Only, Here let us remember, that if we have true Faith, we muſt not aſcribe it to our ſelves, but acknowledge it entirely to the Grace of God, and let Him have the Praiſe of it.
[FEBRUARY 4. 1706.]