As for that mighty power which the Gospel speaks of in those who did believe, let others judge as they please, yet for my part I do not think it is meant only of that power which God puts forth upon the will, but upon the understanding also, in causing that Faith of assent, which so many Christians make light of; for to have the Jews, who had been trained up above a thousand years (that Church) under Moses Discipline: all those things commanded by God, and they bound to observe them; to have so many Scriptures speak as if that Administration should be for ever; and to see Christ in the flesh so low in his state of Humiliation, crucified, &c. for these to lay by all the ceremonial worship, to entertain this low despised person, to look on him in whom they could see no beauty why they should desire him, Isai. 53.2. not only as man, but God in our flesh, (the Jews understood him right, John 10.33. and Matth. 9.3. and had not Christ been God, he would have rejected it with abhorrency, as being a horrible sin, as bad as the Jews made it, for one to make himself God, who was not so) to renounce their own righteousness, and venture their souls only upon him For the Gentiles, Ephesians, &c. who had always been nursed up under dumb Idols, but their forefathers Religion, upon the preaching of a plain fellow, Paul, and other ⟨p. 181⟩Apostles, to believe on the true God, renouncing their false gods; and not only so, but which is much more, to believe on one Jesus Christ, a despised crucified person, one whom they never saw, to believe him to be God-man, to fly to his righteousness and blood, venture their immortal souls and salvation upon him: So to believe these Truths, to assent to them, which were the ground, why they left Idols, Lusts, and embraced Christ and holiness, in spite of persecutions: though the Jews and Gentiles did see miracles, which did help to confirm the Doctrine of Christ, yet I must say, it was a mighty power of God, to make them assent to and believe these Truths, being so supernatural, some so much above, though not contrary to reason, and also cross to flesh and blood. Though I will not contend about the question, whether the power of God were more in making their understandings to assent (I speak of those who were sound believers, not others) to those Truths, or their wills to consent and embrace the goodness held out in those true Propositions?
As for that mighty power which the Gospel speaks of in those who did believe, let others judge as they please, yet for my part I do not think it is meant only of that power which God puts forth upon the will, but upon the understanding also, in causing that Faith of assent, which so many Christians make light of; for to have the Jews, who had been trained up above a thousand years (that Church) under Moses Discipline: all those things commanded by God, and they bound to observe them; to have so many Scriptures speak as if that Administration should be for ever; and to see Christ in the flesh so low in his state of Humiliation, crucified, &c. for these to lay by all the ceremonial worship, to entertain this low despised person, to look on him in whom they could see no beauty why they should desire him, Isai. 53.2. not only as man, but God in our flesh, (the Jews understood him right, John 10.33. and Matth. 9.3. and had not Christ been God, he would have rejected it with abhorrency, as being a horrible sin, as bad as the Jews made it, for one to make himself God, who was not so) to renouce their own righteousness, and venture their souls only upon him For the Gentiles, Ephesians, &c. who had alwayes been nursed up under dumb Idols, but their forefathers Religion, upon the preaching of a plain fellow, Paul, and other ⟨p. 181⟩Apostles, to believe on the true God, renouncing their false gods; and not only so, but which is much more, to believe on one Jesus Christ, a despised crucified person, one whom they never saw, to believe him to be God-man, to fly to his righteousness and blood, venture their immortal souls and salvation upon him: So to believe these Truths, to assent to them, which were the ground, why they left Idols, Lusts, and embraced Christ and holiness, in spight of persecutions: though the Jews and Gentiles did see miracles, which did help to confirm the Doctrine of Christ, yet I must say, it was a mighty power of God, to make them assent to and believe these Truths, being so supernatural, some so much above, though not contrary to reason, and also cross to flesh and blood. Though I will not contend about the question, whether the power of God were more in making their understandings to assent (I speak of those who were sound believers, not others) to those Truths, or their wills to consent and embrace the goodness held out in those true Propositions?
