1Though Repentance, Assent, Good works, &c. are required to our full Justification, as subservient to, or concurrent with Faith;2 yet is the true nature of this justifying Faith it self contained in this [most affectionate accepting of Christ, for Saviour and Lord.] And I think it necessarily contains all this in it: Some plead it is the Assenting act; some a Fiducial adherence, or recumbency. I call it [* Accepting,] it being principally an act of the Will; but yet also of the whole soul. This [Accepting] being that which the Gospel presseth to, and calleth the [receiving of Christ:] I call it [an Affectionate accepting,] though Love seem another act, quite distinct from Faith, (and if you take Faith for any one single act, so it is;) yet I take it as essential to that Faith which justifies: To accept Christ without Love, is not justifying Faith. Nor doth Love follow as a Fruit, but immediately concur; nor concur as a mere concomitant, but essential to a true accepting. For this Faith is the receiving of Christ, either with the whole soul, or with part; ••t with part only, for that is but a partial receiving: And […] clear Divines of late conclude, That justifying Faith resides, ••rn in the Understanding and the Will; therefore in the whole soul, and so cannot be one single act. All those Affections that are for the receiving and entertainment of Good, called the concupiscible, must receive and entertain Christ. I add, it is the [most] affectionate accepting of ⟨p. 159⟩Christ; because he that loves Father, Mother, or any thing more then him,4 is not worthy of him, nor can be his Disciple; and consequently not justified by him. And the truth of this Affection is not to be judged so much by feeling the pulse of it,5 as by comparing it with our affection to other things. He that loveth nothing so much as Christ, doth love him truly; though he find cause still to bewail the coldness of his Affections. I make Christ himself the Object of this Accepting, it being not any Theological Axiom concerning himself, but himself in person. I call it [an Accepting him for Saviour and Lord.6] For in both relations, will he be received, or not at all. It is not only to acknowledge his sufferings, and accept of pardon and glory; but to acknowledge his sovereignty, and submit to his Government, and way of saving; and I take all this to be contained in justifying Faith.
1Though Repentance, Assent, Good works, &c. are required to our full Justification, as subservient to, or concurrent with Faith;2 yet is the true nature of this justifying Faith it self contained in this [most affectionate accepting of Christ, for Saviour and Lord.] And I think it necessarily contains all this in it: Some plead it is the Assenting act; some a Fiducial adherence, or recumbency. I call it [* Accepting,] it being principally an act of the Will; but yet also of the whole soul. This [Accepting] being that which the Gospel presseth to, and calleth the [receiving of Christ:] I call it [an Affectionate accepting,] though Love seem another act, quite distinct from Faith, (and if you take Faith for any one single act, so it is;) yet I take it as essential to that Faith which justifies: To accept Christ without Love, is not justifying Faith. Nor doth Love follow as a Fruit, but immediately concur; nor concur as a meer concomitant, but essential to a true accepting. For this Faith is the receiving of Christ, either with the whole soul, or with part; ••t with part onely, for that is but a partial receiving: And 〈…〉 clear Divines of late conclude, That justifying Faith resides, ••rn in the Understanding and the Will; therefore in the whole soul, and so cannot be one single act. All those Affections that are for the receiving and entertainment of Good, called the concupiscible, must receive and entertain Christ. I adde, it is the [most] affectionate accepting of ⟨p. 159⟩Christ; because he that loves Father, Mother, or any thing more then him,4 is not worthy of him, nor can be his Disciple; and consequently not justified by him. And the truth of this Affection is not to be judged so much by feeling the pulse of it,5 as by comparing it with our affection to other things. He that loveth nothing so much as Christ, doth love him truly; though he finde cause still to bewail the coldness of his Affections. I make Christ himself the Object of this Accepting, it being not any Theological Axiom concerning himself, but himself in person. I call it [an Accepting him for Saviour and Lord.6
- 1What justifying Faith is.
- 2Its proper Act is the Acceptation of Christ offered.
- *So Doctor Prestons judgment is, and Master Woollis against the Lord Brook, p. 94. It is an Accepting of Christ offered, rather then the belief of a Proposition affirmed So that excellent Philosopher and Divine. Love to Christ, whether it be not Essential to justifying Faith. See more of this in the Positions of Justification. Love to Christ, must be the strongest Love.
- 4Luke 14.26.
- 5Doctor Sibbs, Souls Conflict.
- 6Justifying Faith is the Accepting Christ both for Saviour and Lord. So that our Subjection to Christ, as our Lord, is part of that Faith which justifieth. How this differs from the abhorred doctrine of the Socinians, you may see in the Aphorisms of Justification.
