2. Partly because the comfort of the promises is so rich and glorious, and the persons upon whom it is bestowed so unworthy, that it cannot easily enter into the heart of a man that God will be so good and gracious to us, unless we have a sound belief of his merit who hath piocured these mercies and hopes for us : 1 Cor. ii. 9, ' Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.' Therefore since sense and reason could look for no such thing, a strong faith is necessary.
3. The way God hath taken for our deliverance is so supernatural and strange that nothing but faith can receive it : John iii. IG, ' God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoso- ever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life ;
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and Rom. viii. 32, ' He spared not his own Son, but gave him to die for us.'
[4.] The chief of our blessings lie in another world, and nature can- not see so far off: 2 Peter i. 9, 'He that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off.' Unless we believe Christ, and his message to us, we shall never entertain these things.
[5.] For the present Christ's people are assaulted, and afflicted with so many difficulties, and so seemingly forsaken, and temptations to unbelief in this lower world are so manifold and pressing, that we can take no comfort in the new covenant unless we have faith in Christ, who is able to maintain and defend us till he hath brought us home to God : 2 Tim i. 12, 'I know whom I have believed, and I am per- suaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that da}'.'
[6.] Faith in Christ is most fitted for the acceptance of his free gift. Faith and grace go always together, and are put as opposites to law and works: Piom. iv. 16, 'Therefore it is of faith, that it might be of grace ; ' and Eph, ii. 8, ' By grace ye are saved, througli faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God.' Faith establisheth the free grace and favour of God, or his condescension to us in the new covenant, wherein pardon and life are offered to penitent believers. What we receive by the grace of God in Christ cannot be of right, or such as we may challenge by virtue of obedience to the law upon that account. He might condemn us, but he doth accept us upon these new terms which Christ propounded of his mere grace : and therefore faith solvetli the interest of grace in our pardon and salvation.
[7.] Because the duties of the new covenant are opposite to the bent of the carnal heart, which is set upon liberty and uncleanness : Rom. viii. 7, ' The carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.' And nothing will bind us but faith in Christ, to whom we must give an account in the solemn judgment : Acts xvii. 30, 31, ' He commandeth all men everywhere to repent, because he hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained ; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.' In which words I observe four things — (1.) That God requireth of all that will submit to the gospel repentance and new obedience ; (2.) That the binding consideration is, that the judgment of every man's estate is put into Christ's hands, who in the day ap- pointed will declare and determine every man's right and qualification ; (3.) That the efficacy of this consideration depeudeth on the strength of our faith or belief in Christ; (4.) That the strength of our faith dependeth on that assurance given, TrtaTiv irapay^oovrrdacv. Woe be to those that now refuse Christ, or do not believe him so as to obey him : 2 Thes. i. 8, ' In flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.'
[8.] Till we believe in Christ all his offices are useless to us, and therefore without faith he will do us no good. Who would learn of him that doth not believe him to be the great Prophet sent of God to teach the world the way to true happiness ? Who would obey him that doth not believe that he is our Lord, that he hath power over all
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flesh, at whose judgment we must stand or fall ? Who would depend upon the merit of his obedience and sacrifice, and be comforted with his gracious promise and covenant, and come to Gixl with boldness and hope of mercy in his name, and be confident that he will justify and save, who doth not believe that he is a priest who once made an atone- ment, and doth continually make intercession for us ? In the days ut liis flesh, all that would have benefit by Christ he did put them to this question, whether they did believe he was able to do it? To the father of the possessed child, ' Belie vest thou that I am able to do this ? ' Mark ix. 23 ; to Martha, John xi. 26, ' Whosoever liveth and belie veth in me shall never die : believest thou this ? ' So stUl it hokleth good ; this is the most necessary grace, that maketh way for all other respect to Christ.