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

From all this you may easily and certainly infer, 1. That true faith is a Jewel, rare and precious: and not so common as nominal careless Christians think. What say they, Are we not all believers? will you make Infidels of all that are not Saints? are none Christians, but those that live so strictly? Answer, I know they are not Infidels by profession: but what they are indeed, and what God will take them for, you may soon perceive, by comparing the description of faith, with the inscription legible on their lives. It's common to say, I do believe: but is it common to find men, pray and live as those that do believe indeed? It is both in works of charity and of piety, that a living faith will show it self. I will not therefore contend about the name: If you are ungodly, unjust, or ⟨p. 17⟩uncharitable, and yet will call your selves Believers, you may keep the name, and see whether it will save you. Have you forgotten how this case is determined by the holy Ghost himself, James 2.14, &c. What doth it profit my Brethren, if a man say, he hath faith, and hath not works? Can faith save him? Faith if it hath not works is dead, being alone. Thou believest that there is one God: thou dost well: the Devils also believe and tremble. If such a belief be it, that thou gloriest in, it's not denied thee! But wilt thou know, oh vain man, that faith without works is dead? &c. Is there life where there is no motion? Had you that Faith that is instead of sight, it would make you more solicitous for the things unseen, than you are for the visible trifles of this world.

From all this you may easily and certainly infer, 1. That true faith is a Jewel, rare and precious: and not so common as nominal careless Christians think. What say they, Are we not all believers? will you make Infidels of all that are not Saints? are none Christians, but those that live so strictly? Answer, I know they are not Infidels by profession: but what they are indeed, and what God will take them for, you may soon perceive, by comparing the description of faith, with the inscription legible on their lives. It's common to say, I do believe: but is it common to find men, pray and live as those that do believe indeed? It is both in works of charity and of piety, that a living faith will shew it self. I will not therefore contend about the name: If you are ungodly, unjust, or ⟨p. 17⟩