"his obedience unto them, be juftified and holden righteous before "God; for God hath made Chrift, who knew no fin, to be fin for us, "faith the Apostle, that we might be made the righteousness of God in " him."

Hence may a weak believer strengthen his faith, by reasoning from this ground after this manner.

"He that, upon the loving request of God and Christ, made to him by the mouth of minifters, (having commiffion to that effect), hath "embraced the offer of perpetual reconciliation through Chrift, and "doth purpose, by God's grace, as a reconciled perfon, to strive a"gainft fin, and to ferve God to his power conftantly, may be as "fure to have righteousness and eternal life given to him, for the "obedience of Chrift imputed to him, as it is fure that Chrift was «condemned and put to death for the fins of the redeemed imputed

❝to him.

"But I (may the weak believer fay) upon the loving request of "God and Christ, made to me by the mouth of his minifters, have " embraced the offer of perpetual reconciliation through Chrift, and "do purpose, by God's grace, as a reconciled perfon, to strive a "gainst fin, and to ferve God to my power conftantly.

"Therefore I may be as fure to have righteoufness and eternal "life given to me, for the obedience of Christ imputed to me, as it " is fure that Chrift was condemned and put to death for the fins of "the redeemed imputed to him.”

The third warrant and special motive to believe in Chrift, is the ftrait and awful command of God, charging all the hearers of the gofpel to approach to Chrift in the order fet down by him, and to believe in him; holden forth, 1 John iii. 23.

This is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jefus Chrift, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

Wherein the Apostle giveth us to understand these five doctrines:

1. That if any man shall not be taken with the sweet invitation of God, nor with the humble and loving request of God, made to him to be reconciled, he fhall find he hath to do with the fovereign authority of the highest Majefty: for "this is his commandment, that we believe in him," faith he.

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2. That if any man look upon this commandment, as he hath looked heretofore upon the neglected commandments of the law; he muft confider that this is a command of the gofpel, pofterior to the law, given for making use of the remedy of all fins; which, if it be difobeyed, there is no other command to follow but this, "Go, ye "curfed, into the everlasting fire of hell:" for "this is his com "mandment," the obedience of which is most pleasant in his fight, verf. 22. and without which it is impoffible to please him, Heb. xi. 6.

3. That every one who heareth the gospel, must make confcience of the duty of lively faith in Chrift: the weak believer must not think it perfumption to do what is commanded; the perfon inclined

to

to defperation muft take up himself, and think upon obedience unto this fweet and faving command: The ftrong believer must dip yet more in the fenfe of his need he hath of Jefus Chrift, and more and more grow in the obedience of this command; yea, the most impenirent, profane, and wicked perfon must not thurft out himself, or be thurft out by others, from orderly aiming at this duty, how def perate 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 fins, 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 difobedience to this command given to all hearers, but especially to thefe that are within the visible church: For "this is his command"ment, that we fhould 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, 1. He hath found the promised Meffiah, completely furnished with all perfections unto the perfect execution of the offices of Prophet, Pricft, 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 whe is worthy to be the object of faving faith, and of fpiritual 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 front 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 first 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 household of faith,) and so obedience to the fecond table of the law.

Hence may a weak believer ftrengthen 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 re"medy 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 say,) in the sense of my own fin"fulness, and fear of God's wrath, am fled to jefus Chrift, the only "remedy of fin and mifery, and have engaged my heart to the obe"dience of the law of love.

"Therefore my faith is not a prefumptuous and dead faith, buț "true and faving faith."

The fourth warrant and special motive to believe in Chrift, is much affurance of ife given, in cafe men fhall obey the command of believing; and a fearful certification of destruction, in case they obey not; holden forth, John iii. 35.

The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. Verf. 36. He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting 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 thefe five following doctrines:

1. That the Father is well fatisfied with the undertakings of the Son, entered Redeemer and Surety 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, 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 fiefh) 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 fulnefs of the Godhead dweiling fubftantially in his human nature, or which the indivifible allfufficiency 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 promife and everlafting 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 feal of the facrament of the Lord's fupper, fo oft as the believer fhall 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

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 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 doetrine concerning righteoufnefs and eternal life to be had by jefus Chrift: "He that believes not the Son, thall 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 shall 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 fastened and fixed immoveably upon him, fo long as he remaineth in the condition of mifbelief: "The "wrath of God abideth on him," faith he.

Hence may the weak believer ftrengthen his faith, by reasoning 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 sure of right and intereft to "life eternal through him.

"But finful and unworthy! (may the weak believer fay) do believe the doctrine delivered by the Son of God, and do feel my"felf 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 eternal life through him."

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 ris 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 exercife and daily practice of godlinefs 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

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 shine before men, that they may fee your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Verf. 17 Think not that I am come to denroy the law or the prophets : I am not come to defrey, but to fulfil. Verf. 18. For verily I fay unto you, Till heaven end earth pafs, one jot or one title fhall in no wife pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Verf. 19. Whofoever therefore jkall break one of thefe leaft commandments, and fhall teach men jo, he shall be called the leaft in the kingdom of heaven: "But whofover shall do, and teach them, the fame fhail be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Verf. 20. Fer Ifay unto you, That except your righteoufnefs jhall 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, 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 "6 may fee your good works.”

2. He induceth them fo to do, by fhewing, that albeit they be not juftified by works, yet fpectators of their good works may be con verted or edified; and fo glory may redound to God by their good works, when the witnefles thereof "fhall 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 or the pro"phets."

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 miftaken by mens corrupt judgments, as if it did loofe 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, it is fo contrary to the end of his coming, which is firft to fanctify, and then to fave believers: "Think not "(faith he) that I am come to deftroy the law or the prophets."

5. He teacheth, that the end of the gofpel and covenant of grace is to procure mens obedience unto the moral law: "I am come (faith hej to fulfil the law and the prophets.'

6. That the obligation of the moral law, in all points, unto all holy duties, is perpetual, and fhall ftand to the world's end, that is, till heaven and earth pafs away."

7. That as God hath had a care of the fcriptures from the begin ring, fo fhall he have a care of them ftill to the world's end, that there fhall not one jot or one title of the fubftance thereof be taken away; fo faith the text, verf. 18.

8. That as the breaking of the moral law, and defending the tranfgreffions thereof to be no fin, doth exclude men, both from heaven,

and