The guard of the tree of life, or, A sacramental discourse showing a Christians…The guard of the tree of life, or, A sacramental discourse shewing a Christians…

3. The third benefit that Faith is here to be exercised on Christ for, is the further subduing and conquering of our corruptions. Faith hath a double work to do; It works in Heaven, and it works in Earth: As it works in Heaven for the justification of a sin, so it works in earth for the mortification of sin; and here in this Ordinance is faith acted on Christ for the further killing of sin. Faith hath a special art in going over to Christ, & fetching from him such help as is suitable to the necessities of the soul. If we be weak in Graces, Faith can go over to Christ for the strengthening of them. If corruptions be strong, Faith can go over to Christ for the subduing, and conquering of them. And by making use of the merit, power, promise, Spirit of Christ, gets strength ⟨p. 71⟩from him for the subduing of unruly lusts, untamed corruptions. Why, will Faith say, Lord, thou hast promised to subdue my corruptions, and thou art able to subdue all to thy self, Oh! therefore set thy power against the power of my lusts. These sons of Zerviah are too strong for me, but not for thee: I am burdened with a dead heart, a hard heart, unbelieving heart, &c. But never was there heart so hard, but thou canst break it; never heart so dead, but thou canst quicken it. There is life enough in thee for all the sons and daughters of death in the world, oh! that therefore thou wouldst quicken me, that thou wouldst break me— Thus doth Faith make use of Christ here for the subduing of corruptions.

3. The third benefit that Faith is here to be exercised on Christ for, is the further subduing and conquering of our corruptions. Faith hath a double work to do; It works in Heaven, and it works in Earth: As it works in Heaven for the justification of a sin, so it works in earth for the mortification of sin; and here in this Ordinance is faith acted on Christ for the further killing of sin. Faith hath a special art in going over to Christ, & fetching from him such help as is sutable to the necessities of the soul. If we be weak in Graces, Faith can go over to Christ for the strengthening of them. If corruptions be strong, Faith can go over to Christ for the subduing, and conquering of them. And by making use of the merit, power, promise, Spirit of Christ, gets strength ⟨p. 71⟩from him for the subduing of unruly lusts, untamed corruptions. Why, will Faith say, Lord, thou hast promised to subdue my corruptions, and thou art able to subdue all to thy self, Oh! therefore set thy power against the power of my lusts. These sons of Zerviah are too strong for me, but not for thee: I am burthened with a dead heart, a hard heart, unbelieving heart, &c. But never was there heart so hard, but thou canst break it; never heart so dead, but thou canst quicken it. There is life enough in thee for all the sons and daughters of death in the world, oh! that therfore thou would'st quicken me, that thou would'st break me— Thus doth Faith make use of Christ here for the subduing of corruptions.