The real Christian, or, A treatise of effectual calling wherein the work of God…

If then after this discourse you ask me, What is saving Faith in Christ?

I shall answer: It is that Grace whereby we receive Christ as he is offered to us in the Gospel, and so resting upon him Salvation.

By receiving I intend that Act of the Will, which I mentioned in the fourth Head, yet including the other in the understanding, I shall open it by a plain Similitude presently. As he is offered, &c. he that receives him not as he is offered, doth not receive the Christ that God in the Gospel offers, but a Christ of his own making. I said, it was the Person of Christ clothed with all his Offices, or complete Redemption. This reception makes the union. Having thus received him, now rest upon him for salvation: by salvation is understood all the benefits of Christ, which are salvation begun, prepare and make fit for salvation to be completed in glory: thus we rest upon him, for pardon, justification, peace, holiness, mortifying of corruptions, support against all temptations, grace to perform duties, and perseverance in all these: There are abundance rest upon Christ, or trust to him for salvation, therefore I said, so resting: How is that? As you received him: How did you receive him? As God offered him: This must be looked to, else your resting upon Christ is but in vain. But this so resting takes in communion.

By receiving I intend that Act of the Will, which I mentioned in the fourth Head, yet including the other in the understanding, I shall open it by a plain Similitude presently. As he is offered, &c. he that receives him not as he is offered, doth not receive the Christ that God in the Gospel offers, but a Christ of his own making. I said, it was the Person of Christ cloathed with all his Offices, or compleat Redemption. This reception makes the union. Having thus received him, now rest upon him for salvation: by salvation is understood all the benefits of Christ, which are salvation begun, prepare and make fit for salvation to be compleated in glory: thus we rest upon him, for pardon, justification, peace, holiness, mortifying of corruptions, support against all temptations, grace to perform duties, and perseverance in all these: There are abundance rest upon Christ, or trust to him for salvation, therefore I said, so resting: How is that? As you received him: How did you receive him? As God offered him: This must be looked to, else your resting upon Christ is but in vain. But this so resting takes in communion.