Hereon, I say, faith doth approve of the form and principle of this holiness, as the renovation of the image of God in us; it looks upon it as that which becomes God to bestow and require, and therefore that which hath an incomparable excellency and desirableness in it. Yea, when the soul is ready to faint under an apprehension that it is not partaker of this holy nature, because of the power of sin in it and temptations on it, it knows not whether itself be bom of God or no (as is the case with many) ; — yet where this faith is, it will discern the beauty and glory of the new creation in some measure, as that which bears the image of God; and thereon doth it preserve in the soul a longing after it, or a farther participation of it.
By this work or act of it doth faith discover its sincerity; which is that which we inquire after. Whilst it hath an eye open to behold the glory of God in the new creature, whilst it looks on it as that wherein there is a representation made of the holiness of God himself, as that which becomes him to require in us, and thereon approves of it as excellent and desirable, it will be an anchor unto the soul in its great- est storms ; for this is a work beyond what a mere enlightened con- science can arise unto. That can approve or disapprove of all the acts and effects of obedience and disobedience, as unto their conse- quents; but to discern the spiritual nature of the new creature, as representing the holiness of God himself, and thereon constantly to approve of it, is the work [of faith] alone.
2. It doth the same with respect unto the internal acts and effects of this new creature, or principle of new obedience. The first thing it produceth in us is a frame of mind spiritual and heavenly; they that are after the Spirit are " spiritually-minded," Rom. viii. 5, 6. It looks on the opposite frame, namely, of being carnally-minded, as vile and loathsome; it consisting in a readiness and disposition of mind to actuate the lusts of the flesh. But this spiritual frame of mind, in a just constellation of all the graces of the Spirit, influencing, disposing, and making ready the soul for the exercise of them on all occasions, and in all duties of obedience, — this is the inward glory of
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the " King's daughter,'"' which faith sees and approves of, as that which becometh God to require in us; whatever is contrary hereunto, as a sensual, carnal, worldly frame of mind, it looks on as vile and base, unworthy of God, or of those who design the enjoyment of him.
3. It doth the same with respect unto all particular duties, internal and external, when they are enlivened and filled up with grace. In them consists our "walking worthy of God, ' Col. i. 10, 1 Thess. ii. 12, — such a walk as is meet for God to accept ; that whereby and wherein he is glorified. The contrary hereunto, in the neglect of the duties of holiness, or the performance of them without the due exercise of grace, faith looks on as unworthy of God, unworthy of our high and holy calling, unworthy of our profession, and therefore doth constantly condemn and abhor.
All this, as we observed before, faith will continue to do constantly, under temptations and desertions. There are seasons wherein the soul may be very weak, as unto the powers, effects, and duties of this spiritual life ; such the psalmist oftentimes complains of in his own case, and it is evident in the experience of most. Few there are who have not found, at one time or another, great weakness, decays, and much deadness in their spiritual condition. And sometimes true believers may be at a loss as unto any refreshing experience of it in its operations. They may not be able to determine in the contest whether sin or grace have the dominion in them. Yet even in all these seasons faith will keep up the soul unto a constant high appro- bation of this way of holiness and obedience, in its root and fruits, in its principle and effects, in its nature, disposition, and duties. For when they cannot see the beauty of these things in themselves, they can see it in the promises of the covenant, in the truth of the gospel, wherein it is declared, and in the effects of it in others.
And great advantage is to be obtained by the due exercise of faith herein. For, —
(1.) It will never suffer the heart to be at rest in any sinful way, or under an}'- such spiritual decays as shall estrange it from the pur- suit of this holiness. The sight, the conviction of its excellency, the approbation of it, as that which in us and our measure answers the holiness of God, will keep up the mind unto endeavours after it, will rebuke the soul in all its neglects of it; nor will it allow any quiet or peace within, without an endeavour after a comfortable assurance of it. That soul is desperately sick which hath lost an abiding sense of the excellency of this holiness, in its answerableness unto the holi- ness and will of God. Fears and checks of conscience are the whole of its security against the worst of sins ; and they are a guard not to be trusted unto in the room of the peace of God. This is one great difference between believers and those that have not iaith. Fear of