The main principles of Christian religion in a 107 short articles or aphorisms, generally…

Expl. 85. There were never any more than these two ways prescribed by God unto man, for his keeping or obtaining of that happiness which doth consist in the favour of God. (1) Perfect and sinless obedience to the whole will of his Creator, and this was prescribed in innocency, for his keeping in favour with God. (2) Faith in Jesus Christ; which was prescribed immediately after the Fall, for the recovery of the favour of God which he had lost; for we are to look upon God not only as the party offended by transgression, but also as the supreme Lawgiver, and great Governor of the world; and therefore God as the supreme Governor was bound (by virtue of the perfection of his own Government, and for the preservation of the honour of his Law and Justice) not to treat with man, in order to his being received into favour again, but only in and through a Mediator; and because infinite wisdom ⟨p. 142⟩could not find out a fitter than he who was God-man, God was therefore pleased in the riches of his grace and mercy, to pitch upon this way of recovering lost man, sc. by faith in Christ, who is mediator between God and man: And although the Law of works did not accept of repentance upon the breach thereof, yet the Law of faith doth, or the Covenant of Grace doth as well require repentance toward God, as faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. But then this, repentance must be qualified (as is expressed in the A.) sc. It must be repentance unto life, not a dead repentance, but such as brings forth suitable fruit, namely, that which is unto holiness, and the end everlasting life: And then, in the next place God requires a diligent use of all the means of grace, these being the conduit-pipes whereby Christ, and Grace, and the Spirit, and all the spiritual benefits of our redemption are ordinarily communicated unto us; for though the want of these may not damn any (but other sins) where those that want them are not in the fault that they want them; as those that want the means of grace, and have only the Light of nature, will not be condemned for what they want, but for not glorifying God according to what light they have, though it be but from the dim candle of nature; so those that have these means and neglect them, will have the greater damnation; ⟨p. 143⟩for, This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, Jo. 3.14.

Expl. 85. There were never any more than these two ways prescribed by God unto man, for his keeping or obtaining of that happiness which doth consist in the favour of God. (1) Perfect and sinless obedience to the whole will of his Creator, and this was prescribed in innocency, for his keeping in favour with God. (2) Faith in Iesus Christ; which was prescribed immediately after the Fall, for the recovery of the favour of God which he had lost; for we are to look upon God not only as the party offended by transgression, but also as the supreme Lawgiver, and great Governour of the world; and therefore God as the supreme Governour was bound (by vertue of the perfection of his own Government, and for the preservation of the honour of his Law and Justice) not to treat with man, in order to his being received into favour again, but only in and through a Mediatour; and because infinite wisdom