Sixthly, note here the circumstance of time, by which he describeth a true faith. He doth not say, He that shall believe, or, He that hath believed, but, He that doth believe: which is to show us both what we should do with our faith, and what in some measure is done by every believer: for we should not believe at one time only, but at all times, we should every day live by our faith, Gal. 2.21. Christ liveth in us by faith, and so long as we go about without faith, we make Christ to be in us,1 as it were without life. To spend one day without faith, is, to bury Christ, as it were for so long. Now, the life of Christ must be considered of us two ways: namely, as it is in it self, and as it is in our sense. For this latter, it is true, when we employ not our faith, we let Christ dye in us, in respect of sense. But for the first way, it is certain, a Christian doth always believe, after the life of faith is once conceived in him. There is no time, in which it can be truly said, Now he believeth not. Therefore doth the Apostle here say, He that believeth. It is true, that in some particular points or promises, a Christian may fail ⟨p. 206⟩through unbelief; but not in the main point, or promise of salvation by Christ. It is true also, that a Christian may oftentimes, and usually, want the feeling of his faith, and go without the joys of the Holy Ghost, but yet he wanteth not faith: yea, a Christian may violently object against believing, and think he hath not faith, by the temptation of Satan, and the rebellion of that part of him that is unregenerate; and yet God can dispel all these clouds, and in the very dunghill of his unbelief, and sinfulness, can find out his own part of faith. In plain terms there is no time, after conversion, but if a Christian were throughly sifted, and put to it, he would be found resolved in that point, to rest upon the covenant of grace, for all happiness by Christ alone: I say at all times, in that part of him that is regenerate. Christ can dye in no man: and if faith could dye, then should Christ also die in us, seeing he liveth in us by faith.2 A man may be without faith in the judgement of the world, in his own judgement; but never is without faith, in the judgement of God. A man may want this or that faith, but not faith simply, as that faith, Luke. 18.
Sixtly, note heere the circumstance of time, by which he describeth a true faith. He doth not say, He that shall beleeue, or, He that hath beleeued, but, He that doth beleeue: which is to shew vs both what wee should doe with our faith, and what in some measure is done by euery beleeuer: for we should not beleeue at one time onely, but at al times, we should euery day liue by our faith, Gal. 2.21. Christ liueth in vs by faith, and so long as we goe about without faith, we make Christ to be in vs,1 as it were without life. To spend one day without faith, is, to bury Christ, as it were for so long. Now, the life of Christ must be considered of vs two waies: namely, as it is in it selfe, and as it is in our sence. For this latter, it is true, when we imploy not our faith, we let Christ dye in vs, in respect of sence. But for the first way, it is certaine, a Christian doth alwaies beleeue, after the life of faith is once conceiued in him. There is no time, in which it can be truly said, Now he beleeueth not. Therefore doth the Apostle heere say, He that beleeueth. It is true, that in some particular points or promises, a Christian may faile ⟨p. 206⟩through vnbeliefe; but not in the maine point, or promise of saluation by Christ. It is true also, that a Christian may oftentimes, and vsually, want the feeling of his faith, and goe without the ioies of the Holy Ghost, but yet he wanteth not faith: yea, a Christian may violently obiect against beleeuing, and thinke hee hath not faith, by the temptation of Sathan, and the rebellion of that part of him that is vnregenerate; and yet God can dispell al these cloudes, and in the very dunghill of his vnbeleefe, and sinfulnes, can finde out his owne part of faith. In plaine tearms there is no time, after conuersion, but if a Christian were throughly sifted, and put to it, he would be found resolued in that point, to rest vpon the couenant of grace, for all happines by Christ alone: I say at all times, in that part of him that is regenerate. Christ can dye in no man: and if faith could dye, then should Christ also die in vs, seeing he liueth in vs by faith.2 A man may be without faith in the iudgement of the world, in his owne iudgement; but neuer is without faith, in the iudgement of God. A man may want this or that faith, but not faith simply, as that faith, Luke. 18.
- 1Note.
- 2Note.
