Certain disputations of right to sacraments, and the true nature of visible Christianity defending…

To these I add another Argument: which is this:

The hearty Acceptance of the Gift, is the first and principal part of our Heart-covenanting with God: The hearty Acceptance of that same Gift, is saving faith; therefore the first and principal part of our Heart-covenanting with God, is the same thing as saving Faith. The like I say of the Professions of each. Or thus: Our Heart-covenanting is the principal condition of the Promise (or Gods part of the Covenant:) Our saving Faith is the principal condition of the Promise; Therefore our Heart-covenanting and our saving faith are the same. The Major I prove by the Medium of the fore-going Argument. Our hearty Acceptance of the Gift, is the Principal condition of the Promise. But this hearty Acceptance of ⟨p. 77⟩the Gift, is the first and principal part of our Heart-covenanting: therefore our Heart-covenanting is the principal condition of the Promise (or the first and chief part of that covenanting at least). The Major is proved, 1. In that it is a free Gift: And our Divines, against the Doctrine of Justification by Works, or Merit, have fully proved, that its so free, that Acceptance is the condition of our Interest. 2. And the free Offers of the Gospel fully confirm it, Isa. 55 1, 2.3. Rev. 22.17. &c. The main point that is necessary for me to insist on, is the proof of the Minor, which yet is so plain from what is said, and the very nature of the Gospel offer, that one would think it should need no more to be said to it: But that I perceive some few do misapprehend the nature of our covenanting with God, as if it were only an Agreement or Covenant to do somewhat for the future, that God may do somewhat for us for the future: And this gross mistake (gross indeed, in the very point of the Gospel promise, which is our only tenure of our Title to Life), doth animate abundance of dark confused quarrelsome contradictions and oppositions, which I have had on this point. It is a matter of very sad consideration, that any Preacher of the Gospel had need to be persuaded, that the first and great part of the Covenant of Grace offered by God, and accepted by us, doth consist in present Giving and Receiving, not only in mutual Promises for hereafter. The Gospel is a most free Deed of Gift: some of its benefits it actually giveth, on condition of mere Acceptance to be presently possest;