3. Faith is an obediential grace, Rom, xvi. 26., ' The obedience of faith.' Faith melts our will into God's ; faith runs at
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God's call ; if God commands duty (tli()ii<^li cross to flesh and ])lood) faith obeys. Hoi) xi. 8., " By faith Abraham obeyed." Faitli is not an idle grace, as it liatli an eye to see Christy so it hath an hand to work for him. Failh doth not only believe God's promise, but obey his command. It is not your having knowledge will evidence you to be believers ; the devil hath knowledge, but wants obedience, and that makes him a devil. And the true obedience of faith is a cheerful obedience ; God's commands do not seem grievous. Have you the obe- dience, and obey cheerfully ? ^\niat say you to this ? Do you look upon God's command as your burden, or privilege, — as an iron fetter about your leg, or a gold chain about your neck ?
4. Faith is an assimilating grace. It changeth the soul into the image of the ob- ject; it makes it like Christ. Never did any look upon Christ with a believing eye, but he was made like Christ. A deformed person may look on a beautiful object, but not be made beautiful ; but faith looking on Christ transforms a man, and turns him into his similitude. Faith looking on a bleeding Christ causeth a soft bleeding heart ; looking on an holy Christ causeth sanctity of heart; looking on an humble Christ makes the soul humble. As the ca- melion is changed into the colour of that whicli it looks upon ; so faith looking on Christ, changeth a Christian into the simi- litude of Christ.
5. By the growth of it ; if it be a true faith, it grows ; living things grow, Rom. i. 17., " From faith to faith."
Quest. How may we judge of the groivth of faith ?
Ans. Growth of faith is judged, 1. By strength. We can do that now, which we could not do before. Wlien one is man- grown, he can do that which he could not do when he was a child ; he can carry a heavier burthen, so thou canst bear crosses with, more patience.
2. Growth of faith is seen by doing du- ties in a more spiritual manner, viz. with fervency ; we put coa's to the incense, from a princi[)le of love to God. When an ap- ple hath done growing in bigness, it grows in sweetness ; thou dost duties in love, and now art sweeter, and come off with a bet- ter relish.
Obj. But I /car I hare no faith ?
Ans. We must distinguish between weak- ness of faith and nullity; a weak faith is true. The bruised reed is but weak, yet it is such as Christ will not break. Thoujrh thy faith be but weak, yet be not discou- raged.
1. A weak faith may receive a strong Clirist ; a weak hand can tye the knot in marriage, as well as a strong; a weak eye might have seen the brazen serpent. The woman in the gospel, that but touched Christ, received virtue from him. The touch of faith.
2. The promise is not made to strong faith, but to true. The promise doth not say, whosoever hath a giant-faith that can remove mountains, that can stop the mouths of lions, shall be saved ; but whosoever be- lieves, be his faith ever so small. Though Christ sometimes chides a weak faith ; yet that it may iu)t he discouraged, he makes a promise to it, Mat. \. 3 , Beati qui esitriiint.
3. A weak faith may be fruitful. Weak- est things multi})ly nu)st ; the vine is a Weak plant, but it is fruitful. Weak Christians may have strong affections. How strong is the first love, which is after the first planting of faith !
4. Weak faith may be growing. The seeds spring up by degrees ; first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the car. Therefore be not discouraged ; God who would have us receive them that are weak in faith, Rom. xiv. 1., will not himself re- fuse them. A weak believer is a member of Christ ; and though Christ will cut off rotten members from his body, yet not neak members.
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EFFECTUAL CALLING
EFFFXTUAL CALLING.
Rom. viii. 30. Them he also called.
Quest. XXXL WHAT is effectual call- ing?
Ans. It is a gracious work of the Spirit, wliereby he causeth us to embrace Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.
In this verse is a golden chain of salva- tion, made up of four links ; this is one, vo- cation,— " Them he also called." Calling is nova creatio, — a new creation, the first resurrection. There is a two-fold call : L An extrinsic or outward call ; 2. An intrin- sic or inward effectual call.
L An extrinsic or outward call, which is God's off'or of grace to sinners, inviting them to come in and accept of Christ and salvation. Mat. xx. 16., " Many are called, but \\iw chosen." This outward call shews men what they ought to do in order to sal- vation, and renders them inexcusable in case of disobedience.
2. There is an intrinsic or effectual call, when God with the offer of grace works grace ; by this call the heart is renewed, and the will effectually drawn to embrace Christ. The outward call brings men to a profession of Christ, the inward to a posses- sion of Christ.
Quest. What are the means of this effec- tual call ?