(2.) The understanding or mind must be excited and awakened to regard and consider these things which we see and are convinced of. For otherwise, in seeing we see not, and in hearing we hear not. As when you tell a man of a business whose mind is taken up about other things, he mindeth it not, regardeth it not, or carrieth himself as if he minded it not. They do not think of God, and Christ, and heavenly things ; they mourn for sin as if they mourned not, rejoice in God as if they rejoiced not, seek after heaven as if they sought not after it. Now to cure this inadvertency, or to bring us to a more attentive consideration of these things, requireth a lively faith. The same light and Spirit that doth open the eyes of the mind to discern heavenly things doth also awaken us to the minding of them : Acts xvi. 14, 'Whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended to the things that were spoken of Paul.' Many precious truths lie by, and are lost for want of con- sideration. Non-attendency is the bane of the professing world : Mat. xxii. 5, ' They made light of it ; ' when men will not suffer their minds to dwell upon these things, that they may consider what is true misery, and what is true happiness.
168 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
[2] That which is next to be considered in the entertainment of truth, or of the gospel is the heart, which is to be subdued to God: Kom, vi, 17, ' But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin ; but 3^e have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to yon.' JSTow how shall this be done without foith ? to gain the heart to a holy and heavenly life, which is naturally so averse from it. The credulity and belief required of christians is as the mattere which are presented to our belief. Christianity, which is mostly con- versant about things practical, must be received not only with the mind, but the heart : Rom, x. 9, 10, ' If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart, that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved ; for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto sal- vation ; ' so Acts viii. 37, ' If thou believest with all thy heart thou niayest be baptized.' You must receive the truth in the love of it : 2 Thes, ii. 10, ' They received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.' That which was made for the heart must be admitted into the heart ; till it is there it is not in its proper place, it is rejected where it seemeth to be received. For if you be convinced of the truths of the gospel, and do not admit them to come into your hearts, you are false to them and yourselves, and cannot expect they should profit you. This is the difference between the unsanctified and the regenerate : the one receiveth the truth in the light of it, by a mere speculation, but shuts up his heart against it ; the other receiveth it in the love of it, openeth his lieart to it, and admitteth it to its proper place and work ; the one imprisoneth it in unrighteousness, the other eritertaineth it with love and regard. Now this is the true receiving, and that which is proper to faith, to receive all holy truths with a practical intent, to work them upon your hearts according to their nature, weight, and use. Now if it be so, we may see how little we profit by the gospel till we mingle it with faith in the hearing ; that is, so apprehend and believe the truth as to get the heart affected with it. [3.] The life is bettered and overruled by the word received. For a believer is to be considered as to his head, heart, and life. When the mind is enlightened and the heart sanctified, the truth is to break out into the conversation ; the life must be holy and obedient : 1 Peter i. 14, 15, ' As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.' Now how shall this be done without faith ? By a lively faith it may be done. How dare you neglect Christ if you believe that he is the Son of God, who must be your judge ? or indulge the flesh, be mindless of heavenly tilings, if you believe the necessity of self-denial, and the reality of the world to come ? There is a great deal of difference between the name, title, and profession of a believer, and the real efficacy of true faith. A true believer is to get the truth of the gospel into his mind, heart, and life ; that truth which enlighteneth his mind, doth also purify his heart : Acts xv. 9, ' Purifying their hearts by faith ; ' so that by it not only mistakes are discovered, but lusts subdued. And it doth not only purify tlie heart, but overcome the world : 1 John v. 4, ' This is the victory whereby we overcome the world, even our failh.' And it pro-