The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

A second Effect of Faith ad intra, is to receive virtue and power from Christ, to subdue our corruptions, to conquer our sins; so that faith is the instrument of Sanctification, as well as Justification. Thus we are Members, and Christ is the Head; branches, and he the Vine; and as these are nourished and enlivened, bringing forth fruit, by having sap and virtue from the head or tree; so are we supplied with virtue and efficacy for all imperfections by faith from Christ. In so much that the excellent ready way to conquer any sin, to subdue any passion, or unruly affections, is by Faith to apply Christ to the soul. If the branch would flourish, it must not depart from the tree, but still be engrafted closer to receive power; and thus thy way to overcome any noisome temptation, is not to keep off from Christ, to be discouraged by unbelief; but the more sensible thou art of thy weakness and infirmities, to lay the faster hold on Christ. But oh how hard is it, ere many of the children of God come to learn this good way! They lie discouraged in their combat and conflict with sin; they are ashamed of their hypocrisy, their guile. Oh they are so unworthy, and so wretched, that they dare not come near Christ, and this hinders them! Even as Peter out of a preposterous humility, would not let Christ wash his feet; but (saith Christ) If I wash thee not, thou shalt have no part in me, John 13.8. And then Peter saith, Not my feet, but my whole body also. Oh when thou comest to know how acceptable it is to God, and how comfortable to thy own self! In the midst of all weaknesses and failings, still to catch hold on Christ, then thou wilt be enamoured with it, saying, How foolish and ignorant have I been? Even like a beast, and an enemy to my own good. Therefore if thou art at any time overtaken with a sin, cast not away thy faith also; That is, as if a soldier, because he hath received a blow, should throw away his weapon, by which he might offend his ⟨p. 73⟩enemy. If by thy doubts and diffidence, thou art kept off from Christ, how canst thou ever get power against sin?

A second Effect of Faith ad intra, is to receive virtue and power from Christ, to subdue our corruptions, to conquer our sinnes; so that faith is the instrument of Sanctification, as well as Justification. Thus we are Members, and Christ is the Head; branches, and he the Vine; and as these are nourished and enlivened, bringing forth fruit, by having sap and virtue from the head or tree; so are we supplied with virtue and efficacy for all imperfections by faith from Christ. In so much that the excellent ready way to conquer any sinne, to subdue any passion, or unruly affections, is by Faith to apply Christ to the soul. If the branch would flourish, it must not depart from the tree, but still be ingraffed closer to receive power; and thus thy way to overcome any noisome temptation, is not to keep off from Christ, to be discouraged by unbelief; but the more sensible thou art of thy weaknesse and infirmities, to lay the faster hold on Christ. But oh how hard is it, ere many of the children of God come to learn this good way! They lie discouraged in their combate and conflict with sinne; they are ashamed of their hypocrisie, their guile. Oh they are so unworthy, and so wretched, that they dare not come neer Christ, and this hinders them! Even as Peter out of a preposterous humility, would not let Christ wash his feet; but (saith Christ) If I wash thee not, thou shalt have no part in me,