CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

2. This word receiving implieth, That we are wholly passive in our Justification. ¹That we are not justified by doing any thing, or offering any thing to God, but receiving from him: Even as some Philosophers say, Intelligere and sentire are passions: Though we express them actively, yet the soul therein is passive: So when by believing a man is justified, we are not to consider what he brings to ⟨p. 550⟩God, or doth for God, but what he receiveth from him. This is a fundamental principle to be grounded in, it's a mercy of mercies to be directed in the agonies of thy soul to the right way of believing, to know the way to this City of refuge; If a manslayer pursued by the avenger, had not known the way to the City of refuge, what danger had he been in? It's like the child not coming the right way in it's birth; now naturally we all think by doing to partake of Christ, not receiving, which made the Apostle so industriously assert this, That it's not to him that worketh, but to him that believeth, that grace is vouchsafed: So then be instructed in this, Is thy heart groaning under sin, all thy desires and inclinations are to Christ? Know this is done intra recipiendo, not extra mittendo; This is done by receiving grace from God, not doing any work for or to him; yet how apt are we all to cry out with those, What shall we do I till Christ inform us, that the great work God approveth of, is believing or receiving. It's the looking upon this brazen Serpent that healeth thee.

2. This word receiving implieth, That we are wholly passive in our Justification. ¹That we are not justified by doing any thing, or offering any thing to God, but receiving from him: Even as some Philosophers say, Intelligere and sentire are passions: Though we express them actively, yet the soul therein is passive: So when by believing a man is justified, we are not to consider what he brings to ⟨p. 550⟩God, or doth for God, but what he receiveth from him. This is a fundamental principle to be grounded in, it's a mercy of mercies to be directed in the agonies of thy soul to the right way of believing, to know the way to this City of refuge; If a manslayer pursued by the avenger, had not known the way to the City of refuge, what danger had he been in? It's like the childe not coming the right way in it's birth; now naturally we all think by doing to partake of Christ, not receiving, which made the Apostle so industriously assert this, That it's not to him that worketh, but to him that believeth, that grace is vouchsafed: So then be instructed in this, Is thy heart groaning under sin, all thy desires and inclinations are to Christ? Know this is done intra recipiendo, not extra mittendo; This is done by receiving grace from God, not doing any work for or to him; yet how apt are we all to cry out with those, What shall we do I till Christ inform us, that the great work God approveth of, is beleeving or receiving. It's the looking upon this brazen Serpent that healeth thee.