III. That which makes believing so difficult, is the seeming contradictory acts of Faith, it seems not to consist with it self. Here I take Faith more generally, as it has for its Object the whole Word of God, the Law and the Gospel, the special Object of Faith, as Saving, is the Promise; Saving Faith seeks Life which is not to be found in Commandments and Threats, but in a Promise of Mercy. Faith acting upon the whole Word of God, seems to contradict it self; for Faith believes a Sinner is to die according to the Law, and that he shall live, according to the Gospel; Faith has the Word of God for both, both for the Death and Life of a Sinner, and both are true; the Law must be executed, and the Promise must be performed; but how to reconcile this is not so obvious and easy to every one: Is the Law then against the Promises of God? God forbid, Gal. 3.21. 'tis impossible both should be accomplished in the Person of a Sinner; he cannot die eternally, and live eternally, yet both are wonderfully brought about by Jesus Christ, according to the manifold Wisdom of God, without any Derogation to his Law and Justice; God and his Law are satisfied, and the Promise of Salvation made good to the Sinner, and so both Law and Gospel have their ends; not a tittle of either falls to ⟨p. 227⟩the ground, Heaven and Earth may sooner pass away, than this can be. O what a mystery is Christ! Flesh and blood can't reveal this to us, every believer assents to the truth of the Law as well as the Gospel; he knows that both must have their full course, the Law is fulfilled in inflicting Death, the Gospel in giving Life; the Law contributes nothing to the eternal Life of a sinner, but kills him and leaves him weltering in his blood; is no more concerned about him for ever; if God will bring this dead sinner to life again, he may dispose of him as he please, the Law has done its utmost against him; so the Law did against Christ, spared him not, but killed him out-right, and left him for a time under the power of Death; but having slain a Man, who was God as well as Man, Death was too weak to hold him, he swallows up Death in victory; he whom the Law slew as Man, rises as God, by the power of his godhead; the Law contributed nothing to his Resurrection; the Law had the chief hand in his Death, but none in his Resurrection:
III. That which makes believing so difficult, is the seeming contradictory acts of Faith, it seems not to consist with it self. Here I take Faith more generally, as it has for its Object the whole Word of God, the Law and the Gospel, the special Object of Faith, as Saving, is the Promise; Saving Faith seeks Life which is not to be found in Commandments and Threats, but in a Promise of Mercy. Faith acting upon the whole Word of God, seems to contradict it self; for Faith believes a Sinner is to die according to the Law, and that he shall live, according to the Gospel; Faith has the Word of God for both, both for the Death and Life of a Sinner, and both are true; the Law must be executed, and the Promise must be performed; but how to reconcile this is not so obvious and easie to every one: Is the Law then against the Promises of God? God forbid, Gal. 3.21. 'tis impossible both should be accomplished in the Person of a Sinner; he cannot die eternally, and live eternally, yet both are wonderfully brought about by Jesus Christ, according to the manifold Wisdom of God, without any Derogation to his Law and Justice; God and his Law are satisfy'd, and the Promise of Salvation made good to the Sinner, and so both Law and Gospel have their ends; not a tittle of either falls to ⟨p. 227⟩the ground, Heaven and Earth may sooner pass away, than this can be. O what a mistery is Christ! Flesh and blood can't reveal this to us, every believer assents to the truth of the Law as well as the Gospel; he knows that both must have their full course, the Law is fulfilled in inflicting Death, the Gospel in giving Life; the Law contributes nothing to the eternal Life of a sinner, but kills him and leaves him weltering in his blood; is no more concerned about him for ever; if God will bring this dead sinner to life again, he may dispose of him as he please, the Law has done its utmost against him; so the Law did against Christ, spared him not, but killed him out-right, and left him for a time under the power of Death; but having slain a Man, who was God as well as Man, Death was too weak to hold him, he swallows up Death in victory; he whom the Law slew as Man, rises as God, by the power of his godhead; the Law contributed nothing to his Resurrection; the Law had the chief hand in his Death, but none in his Resurrection:
