An answer to the discourse of Mr. William Sherlock, touching the knowledge of Christ,…

The humbled Soul may,¹ without doubt, lay hold upon Christ; but we must remember, that we cannot do it by the power of Nature, but must do it by the Grace of God: Faith is a great receiver, it receives Christ, and all blessings in and with him; but this Faith, this very receiving, must be received from Grace: Nothing is plainer in Scripture, than that Faith is the gift of God; hence it is called the fruit of the Spirit, Gal. 5.22. and Faith of the operation of God, Col. 2.12. It is not of our selves, it is the gift of God, Eph. 2.8, And such a gift it is, that [Greek or Hebrew], ⟨p. 513⟩it is freely gratuitously given, Phil. 1.29. Seeing then it is thus, should we not submit to God for every crumb of bread, drop of drink, and moments patience, because they are his gifts; and must we not submit to him for Faith, because it is such? Had not God given a Jesus, a Saviour, to Men, they could not have made a just complaint against him; and now there being one, that he is not known all the World over, the Pagans may not open their lips against God; and in the Church where Christ is known, that all Men have no Faith, no Man may question God about it: Gifts are free and must be submitted for. The Apostle asserts Gods Sovereignty clearly: He will have mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth, Rom. 9.18. And if any dare reply or find fault, the Apostle takes him up: Nay, but O Man, who art thou that repliest against God? If thou hadst but any sentiments of thy own nothingness, or rays of the Divine Majesty, thou wouldest never dare to question, or to implead thy Maker; before whom thou art but a Worm, a piece of Clay to be disposed of at his pleasures: It is certain that God owes us nothing. Though we ⟨p. 514⟩are in the use of means earnestly to seek Christ & Faith; and not in a careless indifferent manner (as without cause the Author would hint Mr. Shepherds mind to be) yet we must still adore Gods Sovereignty, and lye at his feet for all his Gifts, and particularly for Faith. It was horrible insolence and presumption in him, who prayed: Redde mihi vitam aeternam, quam debes; And it would be no less for any one to pray: Redde mihi fidem vivam quam debes: Verbum (debet) venenum habet, as Peter Lombard hath it. These things considered, Mr. Shepherds words need no more but only a candid Interpretation.