A. 3 In its being the grace which God honcnns to justify and save : thus indeed it is ' precious faith,' as the apostle calls il, 2 Pet. i. 1. The other graces helj) to sanc- tify, but it is faith that justifies, Rom. v. 1., " Being justified by faith." Repenl;iii -e or love do not justify, but faitli. Quest. Hu iv doth fa ith jui^tij'n ? Ans. Faith doth not justify, 1. As it is a work, that were to make a Christ of our faith ; but faith justifies, as it lays hold of t):e * object, vi/. Christ's merits. If a man had a precious stone in a ring that could heal, we say the ring heals ; but properly it Wl
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not tne ring, but the precious stone in the ring that heals. Thus faith saves and jus- tifies, hut it is not any inherent virtue in faith, but as it lays liokl on Christ, so it justifies.
2. Faith clotli not justify as it exereisetli grace. It cannot be denied, faitli doth in- vigorate all the graces, it puts strength and liveliness into them, but it doth not justify luider this notion. Faith works by love, but it doth not justify as it works by love, but as it applies Christ's merits.
Quest. Why should faith save and Just if y more than any other grace ?
Ans. 1. Because of God's sanction. He hath appointed this grace to be justifying: and he doth it, because faith is a grace that takes a man off himself, and gives all the honour to Christ and free grace, Rom iv, 20., " Strong in faith giving glory to God." Therefore God hatli put this honour on faith, to make it saving and justifying. Tlie king's stamp makes the coin pass for cur- ent ; if he would put his stamp upon leath- er as well as silver, it would make it cur- rent ; so God having put his sancticm, the stamp of his authority and institution upon faith, this makes it to be justifying and sav-
ing-
A. 2. Because faith makes us one with Christ, Eph. iii. 17. It is the espousing, incorporating grace, it gives us coalition and union with Chi'ist's person : other gi-aces make us like Christ, faith makes us members of Christ.
Use 1st. Of exhortation. Let us above all things labour for faith. Fides est sanc- tissimvm hvmani pectoris bonuni: Eph. vi. 19. " Above all taking the shield of ' faith." Faith will be of more use to us than any grace : as an eye though dim, was of more use to an Israelite than all the other mem- bers of his body, — not a strong arm, or a nimble foot.— it was his eye looking on the brazen serpent that cured him. It is not knowledge, though angelical, — not repent- ance, though we could shed rivers of tears, — could justify us : only faith, whereby we look on Christ. " Without faith it is im- possible to please God," Ilcb. xi. G. ; and if we do not please him by believing, he will not please us in saving of us. Faith is the condition of the covenant of grace ; without
faith, — without covenant ; and without co- venant,— without hope, Eph. ii. 12.
Use 2d. Of trial : Let us try whether we have faith. There is something looks like faith, and is not ; a Bristol- stone looks like a diamond. Some plants have the sam.e leaf with others, but the herbalist can dis- tinguish them by the root, and taste. Something may look like true faith, but it may be distinguished by the fruits. Let as be serious in the trial of our faith ; there is much depends upon our faith ; if our faith be not good, there is nothing good comes from us ; our duties and graces are adulterate.
Quest. Well then, how shall we knew it iff a true faith ?
A71S. By the noble effects : 1. Faith is a Christ-prizing grace, it puts an high valua- tion upon Christ, 1 Pet ii. 7., " To you, that believe, be is precious." St. Paul did best know Christ, 1 Cor. ix. 1., " Have I not seen Jesus Chvist our Lord?" Paul saw Christ with his bodily eyes in a vision, AA'licn he was caught up into the thivd hea- ven, and saw him with the ey<> of his faith in the holy supper, therefore he best knev/ Christ. And see how he styles all t\>ino-s in comparison of him, Phil. iii. 8., " I ctsi.int all things but dung, that I may win Christ.'' Do we set an high estimate upon Christ ? could we be willing to part with the wedge of gold for the pearl of price ? Greg. Na- zianzcn blessed God, lie had any thing to lose for Christ's sake.
2. Faith is a refining grace, 1 Tim. iii. 9., " Mystery of faith in a pure conscience." Faith is in the soul as fire among metals : It refines and pm-ifics. Morality may wash the outside, faith washeth the inside, Acts XV. 9., " Ha-s-ing purified their hearts by faith." Faith makes the heart a sacristy or holy of holies. Faith is a margin-grace, though it doth not take away the life of sin, yet is takes away the love of sin. Examine if your hearts be an unclean fountain, send- ing out mud and dirt, pride, en\y ; if there be legions of lusts in thy soul, there is no faith. Faith is an heavenly plant, which will not grow in an impure soil.