Three treatises of the vanity of the creature. The sinfulness of sin. The life…Three treatises of the vanity of the creature. The sinfulnesse of sinne. The life…

Now we must observe, that a Branch may be in a Tree two ways. First, by a mere corporeal adherencie, or continuation with the stock; by cleaving and sticking to the body of the Tree; and so every dead branch is in the Tree, as well as those that live: but this alone is not that which our Saviour requires, for such branches the husbandman will cut off and cast […] fire. Secondly, by a real participation of the life, sapp• and influences of the root, which unto the former sort of branches, though offered, yet is not received, because of the inward deadness and indisposition that is in it: thus it is between Christ and Christians. That which makes us to be in Christ after any kind of way is Faith. ⟨p. 465⟩And according to the differences of Faith are these differences of being in Christ to be discerned. Saint James makes mention of a dead Faith, when men are in Christ by some general acknowledgement, by external profession,¹ by a partial dependence (coming to Him only as to a Jesus for room and shelter to keep them from the fire; not as to a Christ for grace and government in His service) not by any particular and willing attraction of those vital influences, those working principles of grace and obedience which are from him shed abroad upon true believers. And this is the semi-conversion and imperfect renovation of many men, whereby they receive from Him only general light of truth and common virtues, which make them visibly, and externally branches in Him. But Saint Paul makes mention of a lively, operative, unfeigned faith, which in true believers draweth in the power of Christs death, and the virtue of His resurrection, unto the mortification of sin, and quickening of Spirit, and bringing forth fruit unto God, and this only is that which is the ground of our life from Him. The Life that I live, I live by the Faith of the Son of God.

Now wee must observe, that a Branch may bee in a Tree two wayes. First, by a meere corporeall adherencie, or continuation with the stocke; by cleaving and sticking to the bodie of the Tree; and so every dead branch is in the Tree, as well as those that live: but this alone is not that which our Saviour requires, for such branches the husbandman will cut off and cast 〈…〉 fire. Secondly, by a reall participation of the life, sapp and influences of the roote, which unto the former sort of branches, though offered, yet is not received, because of the inward deadnesse and indisposition that is in it: thus it is betweene Christ and Christians. That which makes us to be in Christ after any kinde of way is Faith.