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

Answ. 4 4. Faith cannot be presumption, because it doth not only receive Christ, but this particular doth also cleanse and purify the heart, Act. 15. When Peters Faith ⟨p. 556⟩was kept up, then all his other graces were enlivened, therefore Heb. 11. all those notable acts of high Righteousness and Obedience are attributed to faith, so that the same Faith hath two hands, one inward whereby it receiveth and embraceth Christ, the other outward, whereby it stirreth up and quickeneth to other Graces; Justifying faith though it only justifieth as it embraceth Christ, yet at the same time also it worketh by love, by patience, by zeal, by heavenly-mindedness. So that the exercise of all other graces is imperately from Faith, though not elicitely; It's true, there is a dead Faith, and (as Luther called it) an incarnate faith, a dead faith, The Apostle James speaketh against c. 2. which is a bare assent and profession without any lively operation, and such a kind of believer is placed by Sebastian Franco in the Catalogue of Heretics, a lukewarm believer, but that faith which doth justify, carrieth a man not only to Christ, but is a general exciter and promoter to all holy duties and obedience.

Answ. 4 4. Faith cannot be presumption, because it doth not only receive Christ, but this particular doth also cleanse and purifie the heart, Act. 15. When Peters Faith ⟨p. 556⟩was kept up, then all his other graces were enlivened, therefore Heb. 11. all those notable acts of high Righteousnesse and Obedience are attributed to faith, so that the same Faith hath two hands, one inward whereby it receiveth and embraceth Christ, the other outward, whereby it stirreth up and quickeneth to other Graces; Justifying faith though it only justifyeth as it embraceth Christ, yet at the same time also it worketh by love, by patience, by zeal, by heavenly-mindednesse. So that the exercise of all other graces is imperately from Faith, though not elicitely; It's true, there is a dead Faith, and (as Luther called it) an incarnate faith, a dead faith, The Apostle James speaketh against c. 2. which is a bare assent and profession without any lively operation, and such a kinde of believer is placed by Sebastian Franco in the Catalogue of Heretiques, a lukewarm believer, but that faith which doth justifie, carrieth a man not only to Christ, but is a general exciter and promoter to all holy duties and obedience.