2. That Faith by which we are said to be justified, is as much the Free-Gift of God's Grace to us, as Christ is the Free-Gift of his Grace for us: and hence Faith is called the Gift of God Eph. 2. 8, 9. and also a Fruit of the Spirit, Gal. 5. 22. And as it is a Grace wrought in us, so also such a Grace that was promised to us as part of Christ's Purchase; To you it is given (saith the Apostle) in the behalf of Christ, 1not only to believe, but also to suffer for his sake; that is, it is given freely of God's mere Grace, yet upon the account of Christ's Merits and Mediation. Their believing in Christ was not in their own Power; No Man can come to me, 2that is, believe in me, except it were given unto him of my Father: And all that the Father hath given to me, 3shall come unto me, that is, believe on me. And again, No Man can come unto me, except the Father which sent me draw him. That by the drawing here, is not meant of any coaction or force upon the Will, is out of Question; the Will acts freely according to the Nature of that Faculty, but as it is acted and influenced by the Spirit; according to that Text in the Psalms, My People shall be willing in the Day of my Power: 4But that it is to be understood only of a rational drawing, by Arguments used in the Ministry of the Word, we do deny; though in this sense some do take it, and conclude, it is of the same import with that compelling mentioned, Luk. 14. 23. for the Ministers of the Gospel (as one observes) have no other Power to compel. But the Act of drawing here is not ascribed to the Servants, but to the Master, not the Preacher, but the Father; therefore doubtless it signifies a Divine Power put forth upon the Soul of Man, by which the Lord opens the Heart, as he ⟨p. 39⟩did the Heart of Lydia, so that he is made obedient to the call of God, and willing to close with the Offer of Christ. And that this must be the meaning of the Text, it is rational to conclude, considering the nature of the motion in coming unto Christ, which is the motion of the Soul to a sublime spiritual Object to do; which as no Soul hath any power of it self, such is the darkness of the Mind, the obstinacy of the Will, and pravity of the Affections, unless influenced and wrought upon by the Spirit.
2. That Faith by which we are said to be justified, is as much the Free-Gift of God's Grace to us, as Christ is the Free-Gift of his Grace for us: and hence Faith is called the Gift of God Eph. 2. 8, 9. and also a Fruit of the Spirit, Gal. 5. 22. And as it is a Grace wrought in us, so also such a Grace that was promised to us as part of Christ's Purchase; To you it is given (saith the Apostle) in the behalf of Christ, 1not only to believe, but also to suffer for his sake; that is, it is given freely of God's meer Grace, yet upon the account of Christ's Merits and Mediation. Their believing in Christ was not in their own Power; No Man can come to me, 2that is, believe in me, except it were given unto him of my Father: And all that the Father hath given to me, 3shall come unto me, that is, believe on me. And again, No Man can come unto me, except the Father which sent me draw him. That by the drawing here, is not meant of any coaction or force upon the Will, is out of Question; the Will acts freely according to the Nature of that Faculty, but as it is acted and influenced by the Spirit; according to that Text in the Psalms, My People shall be willing in the Day of my Power: 4But that it is to be understood only of a rational drawing, by Arguments used in the Ministry of the Word, we do deny; though in this sense some do take it, and conclude, it is of the same import with that compelling mentioned, Luk. 14. 23. for the Ministers of the Gospel (as one observes) have no other Power to compel. But the Act of drawing here is not ascribed to the Servants, but to the Master, not the Preacher, but the Father; therefore doubtless it signifies a Divine Power put forth upon the Soul of Man, by which the Lord opens the Heart, as he ⟨p. 39⟩did the Heart of Lydia, so that he is made obedient to the call of God, and willing to close with the Offer of Christ. And that this must be the meaning of the Text, it is rational to conclude, considering the nature of the motion in coming unto Christ, which is the motion of the Soul to a sublime spiritual Object to do; which as no Soul hath any power of it self, such is the darkness of the Mind, the obstinacy of the Will, and pravity of the Affections, unless influenced and wrought upon by the Spirit.
- 1Phil. 1. 29.
- 2Joh. 6. 65.
- 3Joh. 6. 44.
- 4Ps. 110. 5.
