And this doth Moses aim at, when he saith,1 Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his Statutes, and his Commandments, and his Judgements, and to hearken unto his voice. Whereby it appears, that unto faith in covenanting with God, this is an inseparable consequent: that if we embrace God by faith, we must and ought to follow his Commandments by our deeds, and he that doth not ⟨p. 34⟩this latter, bewrayeth that he hath not with a true heart and faith received the former. To believe is not only to give credence to what the Scripture saith, but to embrace what is said with an entire adherence of soul, and to cleave unto it.2 He that leaneth upon the Lord, his heart is upright before him: and he, whose spirit cleaveth not steadfastly unto the Lord, is incredulous. Therefore the Prophets which expound the Law,3 in the person of God say thus; A Son honoureth his Father, and a Servant his Master: 4If then I be a Father, where is my honour? and if I be a Master, where is my fear? Now we know that we are Sons no way but by faith: Therefore this Prophet intendeth,5 that we are not joined to the Lord by faith, either as his people, children, or servants, or that he is our God, Father and Lord, except our faith be unfeigned and operative in honour and fear. And another Prophet saith,6 I believed, therefore I spake, making it a most assured thing, that a lively faith will show it self by outward deeds, and namely profession. Mercy and obedience are linked; Christ is both a Lord and Saviour: and that faith which maketh a plea for mercy, doth embrace the Commandments; that which receiveth Christ as a Saviour, submitteth unto him as a Sovereign. The strength of faith is equal to the promises of life, and to the offices of piety and love: or if there be any difference, it is weakest to lay hold upon the promises, because they are most spiritual, and furthest removed from sense. Confidence and relying upon the mercy of God in Christ for salvation may be less then care and ability to walk in obedience, greater it cannot be. The word that in the Old Testament signifieth, to seek▪ is by the seventy translated, Hope, 7which interpretation the Apostle alloweth: whence it followeth, that true confidence, the mother of hope, doth lift up the heart to seek the Lord in the way of his Commandments.
And this doth Moses ayme at, when he saith,1 Thou hast auouched the Lord this day to be thy God, and to walke in his wayes, and to keepe his Statutes, and his Commandements, and his Iudgements, and to hearken vnto his voice. Whereby it appeares, that vnto faith in couenanting with God, this is an inseperable consequent: that if wee embrace God by faith, wee must and ought to follow his Commandements by our deeds, and hee that doth not ⟨p. 34⟩this latter, bewrayeth that he hath not with a true heart and faith receiued the former. To belieue is not only to giue credence to what the Scripture saith, but to embrace what is said with an entire adherence of soule, and to cleaue vnto it.2 He that leaneth vpon the Lord, his heart is vpright before him: and he, whose spirit cleaueth not stedfastly vnto the Lord, is incredulous. Therefore the Prophets which expound the Law,3 in the person of God say thus; A Sonne honoureth his Father, and a Seruant his Master: 4If then I be a Father, where is my honour? and if I be a Master, where is my feare? Now we know that we are Sonnes no way but by faith: Therefore this Prophet intendeth,5 that wee are not ioyn•d to the Lord by faith, either as his people, children, or seruants, or that he is our God, Father and Lord, except our faith be vnfained and operatiue in honour and feare. And another Prophet saith,6 I belieued, therefore I spake, making it a most assured thing, that a liuely faith will shew it selfe by outward deeds, and namely profession. Mercie and obedience are linked; Christ is both a Lord and Sauiour: and that faith which maketh a plea for mercie, doth embrace the Commandements; that which receiueth Christ as a Sauiour, submitteth vnto him as a Soueraigne. The strength of faith is equall to the promises of life, and to the offices of pietie and loue: or if there be any difference, it is weakest to lay hold vpon the promises, because they are most spirituall, and furthest remoued from sence. Confidence and relying vpon the mercie of God in Christ for saluation may bee lesse then care and abilitie to walke in obedience, greater it cannot bee. The word that in the Old Testament signifieth, to seeke is by the seuentie translated, Hope,
- 1Deut. 26.17.
- 22. Chron. 6.8, 9
- 3Psal. 78.9.
- 4Mat. •.6.
- 5Gal. 3.26.
- 6Psal. 116.10.
- 7Isay 11.10. Rom. 15.12.
