4 Qu. Doth it not much confirm the world in their soul-cozening Faith? Sure that Faith which is by many thought to justify, is it that our people do all most easily embrace, that is, the receiving of Christ for their Saviour, and expecting Pardon and Salvation by him, but not withal receiving him for their Lord and King, nor delivering up themselves to be ruled by him. I meet not with one, but is resolved in such a Faith, till it be overthrown by teaching them better. They would all trust Christ for the saving of their souls, and that without dissembling, for ought any man can discern: Are all these men justified? You will say, They do it not sincerely. Ans. There is evident a sincerity opposite to dissimulation: But a Moral or Theological sincerity there is not; Why is that? but because they take but half of Christ. Let any Minister but try his ungodly people, whether they ⟨p. 210⟩will not all be persuaded very easily to believe that Christ will pardon them and save them, and to expect Justification from him alone? But whether it be not the hardest thing in the world, to persuade them really to take him for their Lord, and his Word for their Law, and to endeavour faithful obedience accordingly? Surely the easiness of the former, and the difficulty of the latter, seemeth to tell us that it is a spiritual, excellent, necessary part of justifying Faith, to accept unfeignedly of Christ for our Governor, and that part which the world among us will most hardly yield to, and therefore hath more need to be preached then the other. (Though some think that nothing is preaching Christ, but preaching him as a pardoning, justifying Saviour.) Indeed among the Turks or Indians, that entertain not the Gospel it is as necessary to preach his pardoning Office, yea and the verity of his Natures and Commission: therefore the Apostles when they preached to Jews or Pagans, did first & chiefly teach them the Person and Offices of Christ, & the great benefits which they might receive by him but when they preach (as James) to Professors of the Christian Faith, they chiefly urge them, to strive to enter, to fight, that they may conquer, so to run that they may obtain to lay violent hands upon the Kingdom, and take it by force, and to be unwearied in laborious obedience to Christ their ⟨p. 211⟩Lord;
4 Qu. Doth it not much confirm the world in their soul-cozening Faith? Sure that Faith which is by many thought to justifie, is it that our people do all most easily embrace, that is, the receiving of Christ for their Saviour, and expecting Pardon and Salvation by him, but not withall receiving him for their Lord and King, nor delivering up themselves to be ruled by him. I meet not with one, but is resolved in such a Faith, till it be overthrown by teaching them better. They would all trust Christ for the saving of their souls, and that without dissembling, for ought any man can discern: Are all these men justified? You will say, They do it not sincerely. Ans. There is evident a sincerity opposite to dissimulation: But a Morall or Theologicall sincerity there is not; Why is that? but because they take but half of Christ. Let any Minister but try his ungodly people, whether they ⟨p. 210⟩will not all be perswaded very easily to beleeve that Christ will pardon them and save them, and to expect Justification from him alone? But whether it be not the hardest thing in the world, to perswade them really to take him for their Lord, and his Word for their Law, and to endeavour faithfull obedience accordingly? Surely the easiness of the former, and the difficulty of the latter, seemeth to tell us that it is a spirituall, excellent, necessary part of justifying Faith, to accept unfeignedly of Christ for our Governour, and that part which the world among us will most hardly yeeld to, and therefore hath more need to be preached then the other. (Though some think that nothing is preaching Christ, but preaching him as a pardoning, justifying Saviour.) Indeed among the Turks or Indians, that entertain not the Gospell it is as necessary to preach his pardoning Office, yea and the verity of his Natures and Commission: therefore the Apostles when they preached to Jews or Pagans, did first & chiefly teach them the Person and Offices of Christ, & the great benefits which they might receive by him but when they preach (as Iames) to Professors of the Christian Faith, they chiefly urge them, to strive to enter, to fight, that they may conquer, so to run that they may obtain to lay violent hands upon the Kingdom, and take it by force, and to be unwearied in laborious obedience to Christ their ⟨p. 211⟩Lord;
