3. But is there therefore no need at all of good Works, because a Man is juftified before God without them? or can that be called a juJob 22. 2, ftifying Faith that has not for its Jam.2.20, Fruit, good Works? Verily good works are neceffary, though God need them not, nor is that Faith, as to Fuftification with God, worth arufh, that abideth alone, or without them. 26. A twofold There is therefore a twofold Faith of Chrift in the World, and as to the notion of Justifying Righteousness, they both concur and agree, but as to the manner of application there they vastly differ. The one, to wit, the non-faving faith,ftandeth in fpeculation and na ked knowledg of Christ, and fo abiJoh.1. 12. deth idle: but the other truly feeeth, and receives him, and fo becometh Heb. 11. 13. 16. Rom. 10. Fruitful. And hence the true juftifying Faith, is faid to receive, to imbrace, to obey the Son of God as tendred in the Gospel: by which which expreffions is fhewed both the nature of Juftifying Faith, in its actings in point of Juftification,and alfo the caufe of its being full of good Works in the World. A gift is not made mine by my feeing of it, or because I know the nature of the thing fo given: but then it is mine if 1 receive and imbrace it, yea, and as to the point in hand, if I vield my felf up to stand and fall by it. Now he that ball, not only fee, but receive, not only know, but imbrace the Son of God; to be juftified by him, cannot but bring forth good works, becaufe Chrift who is now received and imbraced by Faith, leavens and feafons the Ch.26.18, Spirit of this Sinner (through his 19. Faith) to the making of him ca pable jo to be. Faith made Sarah receive Strength to conceive Seed, and we are Sanctified through Faith, which is in Chrift. For Faith hath joyned Chrift, and the Soul together, and being so joyned, the A&s 15.9. Heb.11.11 Heb. 9.14. Soul is one Spirit with him: not effentially but in agreement, and oneness of defign. Befides, when Chrift is truly received and imbraced to the justifying of the finner, in that Mans Heart he dwels by his Word and Spirit through the fame. Faith alfo. Now Chrift by his. Spirit and word must needs feafon the Soul be thus dwells in: fo then. the Soul being feafoned, it feafoneth the Body, and Body and Soul, the Life and Converfation. We know it is not the Seeing, but taking of a potion that maketh it work as it should, nor is the Blood of Chrift a Purge to this or that Confcience, except received by Faith. Shall that then be counted right believing in Chrift unto justification, that amounts to no more than to an idle fpeculation, or naked knowledg of him? shall that knowledg of him I fay be counted. fuch, as only caufes the Soul to be hold hold but moveth it not to good 2 Cor. 3. Works? No verily.. For the 18. true beholding of Fefus to justification and Life, changes from glo-. ry to glory. Nor can that Man that hath sơ: believed, as that by his Faith he hath received and imbraced Chrift for Life before God, be deftitute of good works: for, as I faid, the Word and Spirit comes alfo by this Eaith, and dwels in the Heart and Confcience: now, fball a Soul where the Word and Spirit of Chrift dwels, be a Soul without good Works? Tea, fball a Soul that has received the Love, the Mercy, the Kindness, Grace and Salvati on of God through the Sorrows, Tears, Groans, Crofs and Cruel Death of Chrift, be yet a Fruitlefs Tree! God forbid. This faith is as the Salt which the Prophet caft into the Spring of bitter Was 2 King 2. ter, it makes the Soul good and 19,20,25 ferviceable for ever. 229 If the receiving of a temporal Gift, naturally tends to the making of us to move our Cap and Knee and binds us to be the Servant of the Giver: Shall we think that Faith will leave him who by it has received Chrift, to be as unconcerned as a Stock or Stone, or that it's utmost excellency is to provoke the Soul to a lip-labour, and to give Chrift a few fair Words for his Pains and Grace and fo wrap up the business? No, no: the Love of Christ conftrus thus to judge that it is but reafon2 Cor. 5. able, fince he gave his all for us, that we should give our fome for him. 14 Let no Man then deceive him. Self as he may and will if he takes not heed, with true Notions) but examine himself concerning his Faith, to wit; Whether he hath any, and if fome, Whether of that kind that will turn to account in the day when God fball judge the world. I told |