Indeed both may seem to be true in the External Actions of Human Life, in which Faith lies like a dead thing, unless it be enlivened by Charity to the exercise of good Works. And hereunto belongs that saying of Paul, whereby he so much commends Faith working by Love, understanding 1such Works, as Faith working by Love brings forth to the view of a Human Eye. Yet with God Faith hath a far different operation; for it only, without any reliance upon Works, or assistance of Charity, but trusting to the naked promise of God, and the dignity of the Mediator, climbs up to Heaven, and gets access into the presence of God, where it does great and wonderful things, combating ⟨p. 37⟩with the Judgment to come, fighting against the terrors of Death, Satan, and Hell, pleads the cause of a Sinner, obtains his pardon, absolves and justifies him from the accusations of a guilty Conscience, takes away all Iniquity, reconciles God to the Sinner, appeases his wrath, subdues the power of Death and the Devil, and procures Peace, yea and Paradise it self; with the Thief, that had led a wicked Life, and yet at Death was justified by Faith in the Redeemer. Who would desire more or greater things? And now so many and great things being done by Faith, let us enquire, After what manner it does them? Not 2as it lives and works by Love, but as it lives only by Christ, and relies on the promise: for the Life of Faith, which lives (before God) is not Charity, but Christ, not receiving Life from Charity but communicating life unto it, and justifying Works, that they may be acceptable to God, which would otherways be abominable. Unto the truth of this we have a sufficient Testimony given us by Paul: When he says, my Life is 3Christ; and again, the Life, that I now live in the Flesh, I live, not by the Love, but by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Indeed both may seem to be true in the External Actions of Human Life, in which Faith lyes like a dead thing, unless it be enlivened by Charity to the exercise of good Works. And hereunto belongs that saying of Paul, whereby he so much commends Faith working by Love, understanding 1such Works, as Faith working by Love brings forth to the view of a Human Eye. Yet with God Faith hath a far different operation; for it only, without any reliance upon Works, or assistance of Charity, but trusting to the naked promise of God, and the dignity of the Mediatour, climbs up to Heaven, and gets access into the presence of God, where it does great and wonderful things, combating ⟨p. 37⟩with the Iudgment to come, fighting against the terrours of Death, Satan, and Hell, pleads the cause of a Sinner, obtains his pardon, absolves and justifies him from the accusations of a guilty Conscience, takes away all Iniquity, reconciles God to the Sinner, appeases his wrath, subdues the power of Death and the Devil, and procures Peace, yea and Paradise it self; with theThief, that had led a wicked Life, and yet at Death was justified by Faith in the Redeemer. Who would desire more or greater things? And now so many and great things being done by Faith, let us enquire, After what manner it does them? Not 2as it lives and works by Love, but as it lives only by Christ, and relies on the promise: for the Life of Faith, which lives (before God) is not Charity, but Christ, not receiving Life from Charity but communicating life unto it, and justifying Works, that they may be acceptable to God, which would otherways be abominable. Unto the truth of this we have a sufficient Testimony given us by Paul: When he says, my Life is 3Christ; and again, the Life, that I now live in the Flesh, I live, not by the Love, but by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
- 1What Faith Works with God, and what with Men. A twofold Operation of Faith.What Faith Works with God, and what with Men. A twofold Opperation of Faith.
- 2After what manner doth […] only Justify. […] Life of Faith is not Charity but Christ.After what manner doth 〈…〉 only Iustifie. 〈…〉 Life of Faith is not Charity but Christ.
- 3Gal. 2. 1 Cor. 4.
