The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…

Upon these considerations trust your selves confidently on the grace of Christ, and take all your sins but as the advantages of his grace.

Direct. 9. Remember that there is somewhat on your own parts to be done, for the continuing, as well as for the beginning of your Justification; yea somewhat more than for the beginning; even the faithful keeping of your baptismal Covenant, in the essentials of it; and also that you have continual need of Christ, to continue your Justification.

Many take Justification to be one instantaneous act of God, which is never afterwards to be done: And so it is, if we mean only the first making of him righteous who was unrighteous: (As the first making of the world, and not the continuance of it, is called Creation:) but this is but about the name: For the thing it self, no doubt but that Covenant which first justified us, doth continue to justify us; and if the cause should cease, the effect would cease. And he that requireth no actual obedience, as the condition of our begun Justification, doth require both the continuance of faith, and actual sincere obedience, as the condition of continuing, or not losing our Justification, (as Davenant, Bergius, Blank, &c. have well opened, and I have elsewhere proved at large.) As Matrimony giveth title to conjugal privileges to the wife; but conjugal fidelity and performance of the essentials of the contract is necessary to continue them. Therefore labour to keep up your faith, and to abide in Christ, and he in you, and to bring forth fruit, lest ye be branches withered, and for the fire, John 15.2, 3, 7, 8, 9, &c.

Many take Justification to be one instantanious act of God, which is never afterwards to be done: And so it is, if we mean only the first making of him righteous who was unrighteous: (As the first making of the world, and not the continuance of it, is called Creation:) but this is but about the name: For the thing it self, no doubt but that Covenant which first justified us, doth continue to justifie us; and if the cause should cease, the effect would cease. And he that requireth no actual obedience, as the condition of our begun Justification, doth require both the continuance of faith, and actual sincere obedience, as the condition of continuing, or not losing our Justification, (as Davenant, Bergius, Blank, &c. have well opened, and I have elsewhere proved at large.) As Matrimony giveth title to conjugal priviledges to the wife; but conjugal fidelity and performance of the essentials of the contract is necessary to continue them. Therefore labour to keep up your faith, and to abide in Christ, and he in you, and to bring forth fruit, lest ye be branches withered, and for the fire,