The divine will considered in its eternal decrees, and holy execution of them. By…

2. Is not Faith a Grace of the Spirit? It seals to the Gospel, sanctifies the heart, works by Love, waits by Patience, overcomes the visible World, and sensibly presentiates the invisible; for shame let it be a Grace, and if so, it must be Christ's purchase. The Spirit never effected that Grace in fallen Man which Christ never merited. As every Creature in the World is of God's making, so every Grace in the Church is of Christ's meriting: He that saith, Yonder is a precious Stone but 'tis not of God's making, blasphemes the Creator; and he that saith, Yonder is a precious Faith but 'tis not of Christ's meriting, does no less to the Redeemer. But further; Is not Faith the Grace of Union with Christ? Doth not Christ dwell in the heart by faith? Is not Faith the Mother-grace of all? First Faith gives a touch to Christ, and then Love is inflamed with him, Joy triumphs in him, and Obedience follows him. Where do all the rivers of living water flow but in the Believers belly, Joh. 7. 38? What holds all the starry Graces of the Church but [Greek or Hebrew], the firmament of faith, as the Apostle calls it, Col. 2. 5? Now will it not grate thine ears, O Christian, to hear that the Spirit ⟨p. 263⟩of Holiness is from Christ, but not the Spirit of Faith; all the starry Graces are Christ's but the Firmament of Faith is our own; we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ, but not with the Mother-grace which broods and teems out all the rest, not with the Grace of Union which lies nearest to Christ eating his flesh and drinking his blood; that Faith which is nearest to the Merits of Christ in its Union, is furthest off from them in its Origination. What is this but to darken the Sun of Righteousness, dam up the Well of Salvation, and trample the Blood of the Covenant under foot? at which every sober Christian cannot but tremble. Therefore I conclude my second Quaere thus; Faith is a prime and excellent Grace, wrought by the Spirit and purchased by the Merits of Christ.

2. Is not Faith a Grace of the Spirit? It seals to the Gospel, sanctifies the heart, works by Love, waits by Patience, overcomes the visible World, and sensibly presentiates the invisible; for shame let it be a Grace, and if so, it must be Christ's purchase. The Spirit never effected that Grace in fallen Man which Christ never merited. As every Creature in the World is of God's making, so every Grace in the Church is of Christ's meriting: He that saith, Yonder is a precious Stone but 'tis not of God's making, blasphemes the Creator; and he that saith, Yonder is a precious Faith but 'tis not of Christ's meriting, does no less to the Redeemer. But further; Is not Faith the Grace of Union with Christ? Doth not Christ dwell in the heart by faith? Is not Faith the Mother-grace of all? First Faith gives a touch to Christ, and then Love is enflamed with him, Joy triumphs in him, and Obedience follows him. Where do all the rivers of living water flow but in the Believers belly,