A. 2. Such as arc redeemed by Christ are redeemed from the world. Gal. i. 4., " ^^^lo gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver (or redeem) us from this present evil world." Such as are redeemed by Christ are risen with Christ, Col. iii. 1. As the birds, though they light upon the gi'ound to pick up a little seed, yet imme- diately they take their wings and fly up to heaven again : so the redeemed of the Lord, though they use the world, and take the lawful comforts of it, yet their hearts are presently off these things, and they ascend to heaven ; live here, and trade above. Such as Christ hath died for, are ' dead to the world ;' to the honours, profits, and preferments of it. What shall we think of them who say, they are redeemed of the Lord, yet are lovers of the world ? Like the tribes who desired to have their portion on this side Canaan : Phil. iii. 19., " WTio mind earthly things." They pull down their souls to build up an estate. They are not redeemed by Christ who are not redeem- ed from the world.
Use Sd. Of comfort, to such as are re- deemed. You are happy, — the lot of free grace is fallen upon you, — you who were once in the devil's prison, you have broke this prison, — you that were once bound in the chains of sin, God hath begun to beat off your chains, and hath freed you from the power of sin, and the curse due to it. What a comfort is this ? And is there any consolation in Christ ? it is thine. Is there any sweet fruit growing upon the promise? thou mayest gather it. Are there any glo- rious privileges in the gospel ? they are thy jointure, justification, adoption, coronation. Is there any glory in heaven? thou shalt shortly drink of that river of pleasure. Hast thou any temporal comforts ? these are but a pledge and earnest of more : thy meal in the barrel is but a l)ait l)y the way, and an earnest of that angels' food which God hath prepared for tliee. How mayest thou be comforted in all worldly afflictions, though the fig-tree flourish not ! Nay, in case of death, death liath lost its sting. Mors ebiit morte Christ i. Death shall carry
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thee to thy Kedeemer ; fear not dying since you cannot be perfectly liappy but by dying Use u/t. Of exhortation. Long for the time wlien you shall have a full and per- fect redemption in heaven, an eternal jubi- lee ; wlien you shall be freed, not only from the power but from the presence of sin. Here a believer is as a prisoner that hath broken prison, but walks with a fetter on his leg; when the banner of glory shall be displayed over you, you shall be as the angels of God, — you shall never have a sin- ful thought more, — no pain or grief, no aching head or unbelieving heart. You shall see Christ's face, and lie for ever in
his arms ; you shall be as Joseph, Gen. xli. 14., " Tliey brought him hastily out of the dungeon, and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment and came in unto Pharaoh." Long for that time when you shall put off your prison-garments, and change your raiment, and put on the em- broidered garment of glory. O long ! yet be content to wait for this full and glorious redemption, when you shall be more happy than you can desire, «'hen you shall have " that Avhich eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor can it enter into man's heart to conceive."
OF FAITH.
Gal. ii. 20. The life that I noio live iii the flesh, I live hy the faith of the Son of God.
IL THE Spirit applies to us the redemp- tion purchased by Christ, by working faith in us.
Christ is the glory, and faith in Christ the comfort of the gospel.
Quest. JV/iat are the kinds of faith ?
Ans. Fourfold: 1. An historical or dog- matical faith, which is the believing the truths revealed in the word, because of di- vine authority.
2. There is a temporary faith, which lasteth but for a time, and vanisheth. Mat. xiii. 21., " Yet hath he no root in himself, but dureth for a while." A temporary faith is like Jonah's gourd, which came up in a night and withered, chap. iv. 10.
3. A miraculous faith, which was grant- ed to the apostles, to work miracles for the confirmation of the gospel. This Judas had ; he t;ast out devils, yet was cast out to the devil.
4. A true justifying faith, which is called " A faith of the operation of God," Col. ii. 12., and is a jewel hung only upon the elect.
Q u E ST. 1 Vhat is justifying fa ith ?
Ans. I shall show, 1*^. What it is not. It is not a bare acknowledgment that Christ is a Saviour. Indeed there must be an ac- knowledgment, but that is not sufficient to justify. The devils acknowledged Christ's
Godhead, Mat. viii. 29., ' Jesus the Son of God.' There may be an assent to di- vine truth, yet no work of grace on the heart; many assent in their judgments, that sin is an evil thing, but they go on in sin, their corruptions are stronger than their convictions, and that Christ is excellent, they cheapen the pearl, but do not buy.
2d. Wliat justifying faith is ? I answer, true justifying faith consists in three things.