THE LIFE OF FAITH. liji)
(Inceth a good conversation, not discourafijeJ with tribulations, nor diverted from the pursuit of eternal happiness by the baits and aUure- ments of the flesh. Yea, it putteth us upon a bold and an open pro- fession of the name of Christ, and respect to his ways, however dis- countenanced in the world: 2 Cor. iv. 13, ' We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken ; we also believe, and therefore speak.' Now this being the case of the person who is to receive and entertain the gospel, to receive it into his mind, and heart, and life, certainly there is a necessity of faith, for it is the office of faith to do all these things.
Secondly, The efficacy of faith. To this end I shall show —
1. Tiiat all efficacy is ascribed to faith.
2, Whence it hath its power and force.
[1.] That all efficacy is ascribed to faith ; for till the gospel be owned as a divine and infallible truth, it bath no effect upon us : 1 Thes. ii. 13, ' Ye received the word of God, which ye heard of us, not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.' The truths of the gospel concerning God, Christ, sin, grace, hell, and heaven, are of such weight and moment as that they might move a rock ; yet they shake not, they stir not the heart of a carnal professor, because they receive the word in word only ; but where it is received in faith, it is not received in word only, but in power. And there it worketh effectually : 1 Thes. i. 5, ' Our gospel came not to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance.' To believe the truth of God's word is the ready way to make it effectual ; it is slighted, because it is not credited. A man may give high and cogent reasons against Ills lusts, and yet follow them, if the truth be not rooted in his heart. All graces are set a-work by faith, as reverence to the word ; some ' tremble at the word' when it convinceth of sin, Isa. Ixvi. 2, because they know it is the word by which they shall be judged at the last day : so for repentance ; some humble themselves at God's warnings and threatenings, it is the fruit of their faith ; Jonah iii. 5, ' The people of Nineveh believed God and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth.' Some prize Christ as he is offered in the new covenant, but this is from faith : 1 Peter ii. 7, ' To you that believe he is precious.' When faith representeth him in all his loveliness, then the soul prizeth him. Some are ready to the duties enjoined : Ps. cxix. 66, ' I have believed thy commandments.' Faith doth all, and enliveneth all truths, and maketh them operative.
[2.] Whence hath faith this power ?
(1.) Because it qualifieth us for the gift of the Holy Spirit : Gal. iii. 14, ' That we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith ; ' and John vii. 39, ' This he spake of the Spirit, which they that believe in him should receive.' The Spirit begets faith and actuatelh faith, and then faith doth enliven all truths.
(2.) From the matter propounded to faith and apprehended by it, which is God's word, and hath a stamp of his wisdom, goodness, and power left upon it. There we see his divine authority, charging and commanding us under pain of his displeasure to mind and regard such things. It is the Lord hath spoken it: 1 Thes. ii. 13, 'Ye received
170 THE LIFE OF FAITH,
it not as tlie word of men, but (as it is in truth) tlie wonl of God. which effectually worketh also in them that believe/ And it is en- forced upon us in the most stronp^ and potent way of argumentation, a.s from the equity and excellency of what he hath commanded : Hosea viii. 12, ' I have written to them the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing , ' from his great love in Christ : 2 Cor. V. 14, 'The love of Christ constraineth us;' from the strict day of accounts, as we will answer it to him another day : Rom. ii. 16, 'In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, ac- cording to my gospel ; ' from the importance and unspeakable concern- ment of those things to us, our salvation or damnation depending thereupon : Mark xvi. Ifi, ' He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.' The danger of refusing him is no less than everlasting death, and the happiness of complying with his motions no less than everlasting life and complete blessedness. Now everlasting life and death being in the case, we had need be serious.
(3.) The Avay of faith's working about these things. The apprehen- sion is clear, the consideration seriou-;, the assent strong, the application close, so that men are pierced to the quick where this faith prevaileth, and are deeply affected with what they iiear The apprehension is clear : Heb. xi. 1, ' Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen.' The consideration serious ; they attend, they search : Acts xvii. 11, ' They searched the scriptures daily.' The assent strong • Acts ii. 36, ' Let the house of Israel know assuredly ; ' and John xvii. 8, ' They have known surely.' And the application close: Eom. viii, 31, ' What shall we say to these things ' ?