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

2. That such a special faith is required, appeareth, in that the Scripture limits this faith unto Christ as the peculiar and proper object; Hence the Evangelist John calls it so often believing in him that brings Eternal Life, and it's Rom. 8. By Faith in his blood that we are purged and have pardon of sin, and generally when it speaks of faith as justifying, it relateth to Christ as the Object of it; Not but that it believeth other Truths, only in believing of this we are justified, as the Israelite might look upon other Objects, but beholding of the brazen Serpent only made him whole; yea, as we told you, when the believing of other things is reduced to justifying Faith, all other Truths are sweetened and qualified by that, as if a man had the Philosophers stone, it would turn all other materials into Gold.

2. That such a special faith is required, appeareth, in that the Scripture limits this faith unto Christ as the peculiar and proper object; Hence the Evangelist John cals it so often believing in him that brings Eternal Life, and it's Rom. 8. By Faith in his bloud that we are purged and have pardon of sinne, and generally when it speaks of faith as justifying, it relateth to Christ as the Object of it; Not but that it believeth other Truths, only in believing of this we are justified, as the Israelite might look upon other Objects, but beholding of the brazen Serpent only made him whole; yea, as we told you, when the believing of other things is reduced to justifying Faith, all other Truths are sweetned and qualified by that, as if a man had the Philosophers stone, it would turn all other materials into Gold.

3. That Faith must be in a special manner fiducial and applying, appeareth in the effects that commonly follow it; For to this believing is attributed peace and unspeakable joy, yea, a triumphing over all oppositions and difficulties, a boasting and glorying in tribulation; Now this could never be without a particular interest in Christ, for what peace and joy doth it bring to hear, that Christ in the general came to save sinners; Do not thousands go to hell for all that? It's therefore necessary to true solid peace, that he become my Christ and my Saviour; Hence it is, that believing is the uniting of the soul to Christ as an husband which is an appropriate Interest, as the Church expressed it, I am my Well-beloveds, and my well-beloved is mine,