Fourthly, faith is then said to be effectual, when it hath not only done all this,4 when there is not only a good preparation made for it, when it is well built in the understanding, and when the will hath thus taken Christ, but there must be a further act, and that is the turning of the whole soul,2 and a seconding of it in our whole lives & practice, ⟨p. 45⟩a seconding of it in our executions, and doing the things that Christ commands, as in Gal. 5.3 In Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but faith that worketh by love. Such a faith as works, that is effectual faith. As if he should have said, Many will be ready to believe in CHRIST, but will do nothing for him, they will not work. (Now working is in doing,4 or in suffering: for in suffering there is a work as well as in doing, only it is a work with more difficulty, a work with more impediments.) Again, if they will do any thing for Christ, it is not out of love, but for other respects: perhaps out of some flash, or good mood, or some other respects; out to do it as being rooted & grounded in love, if faith have this work, it is effectual faith; and therefore when faith hath once taken Christ, it must shoot it self into all the affections: for when they are all set on work, endeavour will follow. If the will be so set on work indeed, the rest will follow after it. Love will follow, Desire after Christ will follow, Fear to offend him will follow, Repentance and turning from Satan will follow, bringing forth fruits worthy amendment of life, and obedience, &c. will follow.5 Therefore you shall find, that the promises are made promiscuously, sometimes to one thing, sometimes to another: sometimes, he that repenteth shall be saved: sometimes, he that believeth shall be saved: sometimes, he that obeyeth shall be saved: ⟨p. 46⟩you shall find them promiscuously; because that when faith is effectual, it hath all these with it, it purifieth the heart, and bringeth forth fruit worthy amendment of life. Therefore this must be added, to show the efficacy of faith; and, if this be wanting, faith is not effectual; not that it can be disjoined from the other, but, that it is that wherein it consisteth with the rest.
Fourthly, faith is then said to be effectuall, when it hath not onely done all this,4 when there is not onely a good preparation made for it, when it is well built in the vnderstanding, and when the will hath thus taken Christ, but there must bee a further act, and that is the turning of the whole soule,2 and a seconding of it in our whole liues & practice, ⟨p. 45⟩a seconding of it in our executions, and doing the things that Christ commands, as in Gal. 5.3 In Christ Iesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor vncircumcision, but faith that worketh by loue. Such a faith as workes, that is effectuall faith. As if he should haue said, Many will be ready to beleeue in CHRIST, but will doe nothing for him, they will not worke. (Now working is in doing,4 or in suffering: for in suffering there is a worke as well as in doing, onely it is a worke with more difficulty, a worke with more impediments.) Againe, if they will doe any thing for Christ, it is not out of loue, but for other respects: perhaps out of some flash, or good moode, or some other respects; out to doe it as being rooted & grounded in loue, if faith haue this worke, it is effectuall faith; and therfore when faith hath once taken Christ, it must shoot it selfe into all the affections: for when they are all set on worke, endeuour will follow. If the will bee so set on worke indeed, the rest will follow after it. Loue will follow, Desire after Christ will follow, Feare to offend him will follow, Repētance and turning from Satan will follow, bringing forth fruits worthy amendment of life, and obedience, &c. will follow.5 Therefore you shall finde, that the promises are made promiscuously, sometimes to one thing, sometimes to another: sometimes, he that repenteth shall be saued: sometimes, he that beleeueth shall be saued: somtimes, he that obeyeth shall be saued: ⟨p. 46⟩you shall finde them promiscuously; because that when faith is effectuall, it hath all these with it, it purifieth the heart, and bringeth forth fruit worthy amendment of life. Therefore this must be added, to shew the efficacie of faith; and, if this be wanting, faith is not effectuall; not that it can be disjoyned from the other, but, that it is that wherein it consisteth with the rest.
- 4Thing wherein the efficacy of faith consists.Thing wherin the efficacy of faith consists.
- 2The turning of the whole soul.The turning of the whole soule.
- 3Gal. 5.
- 4Working in doing and suffering.
- 5Why the promises are made promiscuously.
