Thirdly, The peculiar and special property wherein the very point of Faith doth lye, is in the heart and will, particularly applying to one self that which he judged to be so true and good; for Faith is the hand of the soul, to apprehend Christ, and lay hold upon him, as the hand of the body apprehendeth outward things, and layeth hold upon them: And therefore hereby we apply Christ unto our selves, and receive him for our own. And this to be the nature of Faith, the Evangelist expressly teacheth, when he saith, aAs many as received him (or laid hold upon him) he gave them this dignity, to be the sons of God, even to those that believe in his Name. And again, bHe that cometh unto me, shall never hunger; and he that believeth in me, shall never thirst. Where coming unto Christ, is expounded by the words following of believing in him, and that this carrieth with it a particular application, as the word it self doth show. So the Apostle cPeter 4doth more expressly declare, when he calleth it The sprinkling of the blood of Christ, particularly and specially applied to our souls, for the washing ⟨p. 405⟩and scouring of them; for albeit the promises of the Gospel are general, dWhosoever believeth in the Son, shall not perish, but have life everlasting: yet the same are to be understood singularly and particularly, as if they were spoken to thee and me, and to every one by himself in several: Otherwise, what should our faith differ from the faith of the eDevils▪ who knew him and proclaimed him to be that Christ, that Holy one of God? Hence are these speeches so common in the Scripture, fI in righteousness shall see thy face: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. gI know, my Redeemer lineth, whom I my self shall see, and mine eyes shall behold, and not any other for me: hWho hath loved me, and given himself for me. iWe know, that if this our earthly Tabernacle be dissolved, we have a Building from God, a House, not made with hands, everlasting in the Heavens. kWe know, that we are translated from death, unto life, because we love the brethren. lSon, be of good comfort: thy sins are forgiven thee. mChrist Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. As if he should say, One, and a special one. Giving to understand, that he himself was one of those, whom Christ came into the world to save.
Thirdly, The peculiar and speciall propertie wherein the verie point of Faith doth lye, is in the heart and will, particularly applying to one selfe that which he iudged to bee so true and good; for Faith is the hand of the soule, to apprehend Christ, and lay hold vpon him, as the hand of the bodie apprehendeth outward things, and layeth hold vpon them: And therefore hereby wee apply Christ vnto our selues, and receiue him for our owne. And this to be the nature of Faith, the Euangelist expresly teacheth, when hee saith, aAs many as receiued him (or laid hold vpon him) he gaue them this dignitie, to bee the sonnes of God, euen to those that beleeue in his Name. And againe, bHe that commeth vnto me, shall neuer hunger; and he that beleeueth in me, shall neuer thirst. Where comming vnto Christ, is expounded by the words following of beleeuing in him, and that this carryeth with it a particular application, as the word it selfe doth shew. So the Apostle cPeter 4doth more expresly declare, when he calleth it The sprinkling of the bloud of Christ, particucularly and specially applyed to our soules, for the washing ⟨p. 405⟩and scowring of them; for albeit the promises of the Gospel are generall, dWhosoeuer beleeueth in the Son, shall not perish, but haue life euerlasting: yet the same are to be vnderstood singularly and particularly, as if they were spoken to thee and mee, and to euery one by himselfe in seuerall: Otherwise, what should our faith differ from the faith of the eDeuils▪ who knew him and proclaymed him to be that Christ, that Holy one of God? Hence are these speeches so common in the Scripture, fI in righteousnesse shall see thy face: I shall bee satisfied, when I awake, with thy likenesse. gI know, my Redeemer lineth, whom I my selfe shall see, and mine eyes shall behold, and not any other for mee:
