1. That 'tis not enough to believe the Doctrine of Christs coming, but we must improve it to the use of holy Living. The Improvement is pressed in Scripture, as well as the Doctrine is revealed. In Gods account no Faith will go for Faith, but the working Faith; all else is but Opinion and cold Speculation; whatever Truths we ⟨p. 41⟩believe, we must bring forth to practice. Therefore if we believe steadfastly, we must live accordingly; live as men that look for such things. A bare apprehension or assent to the truth is nothing worth, unless it be accompanied with that care and diligence which belongeth to the truth so apprehended. The Christian Religion consisteth not in word, but in deed: And our belief of it is not tried by a speculative assent, especially in the absence of temptations; but by a constant and diligent practice of those duties whereunto this belief bindeth us. So that they do not truly and savingly believe such things, who are not seriously and constantly diligent in the spiritual life. I cannot say that an assent separate from practice is no Faith, but 'tis no saving Faith; 'tis such a Faith as the Devils may have, who know there is a God, and a Christ, and a World to come; they believe it and fear it; So may carnal men believe it so far as to stir up bondage and legal fears in their Hearts; but while they improve it not, and prepare not for their everlasting Estate, their Faith is ineffectual to Salvation. True Faith is tried rather by Living than by Talking: 1 John 2.4. He that saith I know him, and keepeth not his Commandments, is a Liar, and the truth is not in him: There is a difference between an Untruth and a Lye; now where the Actions do not correspond to the Profession, that Profession is not only an Untruth but a Lye: There is a denying in word as well as works, Titus 1.16. Many Profess and believe as Christians, but live as Atheists. Tis not notions but affections, living rather than talking, that will demonstrate true Faith: Now the paucity of serious walkers, showeth the paucity of true Believers.
1. That 'tis not enough to believe the Doctrine of Christs coming, but we must improve it to the use of holy Living. The Improvement is pressed in Scripture, as well as the Doctrine is revealed. In Gods account no Faith will go for Faith, but the working Faith; all else is but Opinion and cold Speculation; whatever Truths we ⟨p. 41⟩believe, we must bring forth to practice. Therefore if we believe stedfastly, we must live accordingly; live as men that look for such things. A bare apprehension or assent to the truth is nothing worth, unless it be accompanied with that care and diligence which belongeth to the truth so apprehended. The Christian Religion consisteth not in word, but in deed: And our belief of it is not tried by a speculative assent, especially in the absence of temptations; but by a constant and diligent practice of those duties whereunto this belief bindeth us. So that they do not truly and savingly believe such things, who are not seriously and constantly diligent in the spiritual life. I cannot say that an assent separate from practice is no Faith, but 'tis no saving Faith; 'tis such a Faith as the Devils may have, who know there is a God, and a Christ, and a World to come; they believe it and fear it; So may carnal men believe it so far as to stir up bondage and legal fears in their Hearts; but while they improve it not, and prepare not for their everlasting Estate, their Faith is ineffectual to Salvation. True Faith is tryed rather by Living than by Talking: 1 John 2.4. He that saith I know him, and keepeth not his Commandments, is a Lyar, and the truth is not in him: There is a difference between an Untruth and a Lye; now where the Actions do not correspond to the Profession, that Profession is not only an Untruth but a Lye: There is a denying in word as well as works, Titus 1.16. Many Profess and believe as Christians, but live as Atheists. Tis not notions but affections, living rather than talking, that will demonstrate true Faith: Now the paucity of serious walkers, sheweth the paucity of true Believers.
