An exposition upon the thirteenth chapter of the Revelation by that reverend and eminent…

All the doctrines of the Gospel are for the begetting of faith, but they have no efficacy this way, further then they are sprinkled with the blood of Christ: other promises do ⟨p. 175⟩confirm faith, and they may also beget it, but it is with reference to the cross of Christ. That which gives satisfaction to Gods justice, that gives satisfaction to our consciences, for conscience is convinced, that if God deal in justice (as he knows no reason but he should) then he of all men is most miserable: the burden of th•s lies heavy, and is ready to plunge him to hell: what will satisfy the conscience now? nothing in the world except it see some reason why Gods justice should be satisfied; and how shall that be done? only by the death of the lamb of God. So that well doth the Apostle make the cross of Christ the ratification of the Covenant, for that cuts of all sin, and curse, and the rigour of the Law, hell and death, and devil, and damnation, and all evil that can befall us in this or another world, and doth satisfy the justice of God that it might remove all these, and bears the whole burden of the desert of our sins, purchaseth reconciliation with the Father, union with the Son, communion with the holy Ghost. But what is all this to me, will the soul say, unless these be so given that faith be wrought in my heart to discern all these, and find them? The Lord doth indeed all these; the spirit of God comes and so preacheth the Gospel, and so applies the Gospel, as that in preaching these things, he doth beget faith in the heart to believe that all these things are indeed belonging to such a soul, and to every one whom he is pleased to accept, to the benefit of the cross of Christ, and to fellowship therein: and now indeed is the whole Covenant of Grace confirmed when by the death of Christ the virtue of it is applied by the spirit to the soul: Not that there is a reconcilement to God before faith, and union with the Son, and communion with the holy Ghost before faith: It is before in Gods purpose, and Christs purchase, but when the spirit comes to apply this (whose work it is to give accomplishment to the work of the other persons;)

All the doctrines of the Gospel are for the begetting of faith, but they have no efficacy this way, further then they are sprinkled with the blood of Christ: other promises do ⟨p. 175⟩