FAITH OF god's ELECT. 417
sinned, and calls in the witness of conscience to testify the truth of all its allegations: but there is a full and satisfactory answer given unto this whole plea of the law in this way of salvation. God de- clares in it, and by it, how he hath provided for the satisfaction of all these things, and the exaltation of his gioiy in them ; as we shall see immediately.
Here tnie faith will fix itself in all its distresses. " Whatever/' saith the soul, " be my state and condition, whatever be my fears and per- plexities, whatever oppositions I meet withal, yet I see in Jesus Christ, in the glass of the gospel, that there is no inconsistency be- tween the glory of God and my salvation. That otherwise insuper- able difliculty laid by the law in the way of my life and comfort, is utterly removed." Whilst faith keeps this hold in the soul, with a constant approbation of this way of salvation by Christ, as that which gives [such] a consistency unto both its governing desires, that it shall not need forego either of them, — so as to be contented to be damned that God may be glorified, as some have spoken, or to desire salvation without a due regard unto the glory of God, — it will be an anchor to stay the soul in all its storms and distresses. Some benefit which will certainly ensue hereon we may briefly mention.
1. The soul will be hereby preserved from ruining despair, in all the distresses that may befall it. Despair is nothing but a prevalent apprehension of [the] mind that the glory of God and a man's salva- tion cire inconsistent; — that God cannot be just, true, holy, or righteous, if he in whom that apprehension is may be saved. Such a person doth conclude that his salvation is impossible, because, one way or other, it is inconsistent ^vith the glory of God; for nothing else can render it impossible. Hence ariseth in the mind an utter dislike of God, with revengeful thoughts against him for being what he is. This cuts oflf all endeavours of reconciliation, yea, begets an abhorrency of all the means of it, as those which are weak, foolish, and insufiicient. Such are Christ and his cross unto men under such apprehensions; they judge them unable to reconcile the glory of God and their sal- vation. Then is a soul in an open entrance into hell. From this cursed frame and ruin the soul is safely preserved by faith's main- taining in the mind and heart a due persuasion of the consistency and harmony that is between the glory of God and its own salvation. Whilst this persuasion is prevalent in it, although it cannot attain any comfortable assurance of an especial interest in it, yet it cannot but love, honour, value, and cleave unto this way, adoring the wisdom and grace of God in it; which is an act and evidence of saving faith. See Ps. cxxx. 3, 4. Yea, —
2. It will preserve the soul from heartless despondencies. Many in their temptations, darknesses, fears, surprisals by sin, although
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418 EVIDENCES OF THE
tliey fall [not] into ruining desperation, yet tliey fall under such desponding fears and various discouragements, as keep thefia off from a vigorous endeavour after a recovery: and hereon, for want of the due exercise of giMce, they grow weaker and darker every day, and are in danger to pine away in their sins. But where faith keeps the soul constant unto the approbation of God's way of saving sinners, as that wherein the glory of God and its own salvation are not only fully reconciled but made inseparable, it will stir up all graces unto a due exercise, and the diligent performance of all duties, whereby it may obtain a refreshing sense of a personal interest in it.
3. It will keep the heart full of kindness towards God ; whence love and gracious hope will spring. It is mipossible but that a soul overwhelmed with a sense of sin, and thereon filled with self-con- demnation, but if it hath a view of the consistency of the glory of God with its deliverance and salvation, through a free contrivance of infinite wisdom and grace, it must have such kindness for him, such gracious thoughts of him, as will beget and kindle in it both love and hope, as Mic. vii. 18-20; Ps. Ixxxv. 8; 1 Tim. i. 15.
4. A steady continuance in the approbation of God's way of sal- vation, on the reason mentioned, will lead the mind into that exer- cise of faith which both declares its nature and is the spring of all the saving benefits which we receive by it. Now, this is such a spiri- tual light into, and discovery of, the revelation and declaration made in the gospel of the wisdom, love, grace, and mercy of God in Christ Jesus, and the way of the communication of the effect of them unto sinners by him, as that the soul finds them suited unto and able for the pardon of its own sins, its righteousness and salvation ; so as that it placeth its whole trust and confidence for these ends therein.
This being the very life of faith, that act and exercise of it whereby Ave are justified and saved, and whereby it evidenceth its truth and sincerity against all temptations, I shall insist a little on the explana- tion of the description of it now given. And there are three things in it, or required unto it: —