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

Direct. 24. When you would have an increase of the Spirit, go to Christ for it, by renewed acts of that same Faith, by which at first you obtained the Spirit, Gal. 3.3, 4. Gal. 4.6.

Faith in Christ doth two ways help us to the Spirit: 1. As it is that Condition upon which he hath promised it, to whom it belongeth to give us the Spirit. 2. As it is that act of the soul which is fitted in the nature of it, to the work of the Spirit: That is, as it is the serious contemplation of the infinite Goodness and Love of God, most brightly shining to us in the face of the Redeemer: and as it is a serious contemplation of that heavenly glory procured by Christ, which is the fullest expression of the Love of God: and so is fittest to kindle that Love to God in the soul, which is the work of the Spirit. These are joined, Rom. 5.1, 2, 5, 6. Being justified by Faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ▪ By whom also we have access by Faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the Glory of God —The Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given to us. For when we were without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly—God commended his Love to us, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us—So Ephes. 3.17, 18, 19. Let Christ dwell in your hearts by Faith, and it would help you to be rooted and grounded in Love, and to comprehend with all Saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the Love of Christ which passeth ⟨p. 228⟩knowledge, and so to be filled with the fullness of God. If Faith be the way to see Gods Love, and Faith be the way thereby to raise our Love to God, then Faith in Christ must needs be the continual instrument of the Spirit, or that means which we must still use for the increase of the Spirit.