2. The second Instant or Moment is that wherein God in and by the Word, so intimately inned in the Heart, doth produce the Principles of Grace there; in the first Moment the indwelling Word makes the Heart a spiritual Bethlehem, a House of Bread, in the second Christ is spiritually born there; in the first Moment the incorruptible Seed is sown in the Heart, in the second it springs up into a new Creature. The Scripture seems to me to hold out this Method very clearly, the engrafted word is able to save the soul, Jam. 1. 21. the Word saves the Soul, but not merely as outwardly expressed, but as inwardly engrafted. Faith comes by hearing the word, Rom. 10. 17. but is that a mere outward hearing? No surely, there is a hearing of the Father and so a coming to Christ, Joh. 6. 45. There is the powerful and intimate demonstration of the Spirit, and so faith stands in the power of God, 1 Cor. 2. 4, 5. that is to say, in that power of God (which intimately demonstrates and closely applies the Word unto the Heart) as its true ⟨p. 427⟩Cause and Foundation. When the Apostle speaks of the Thessalonians Faith and Love, 1 Thess. 1. 3. he there opens the causes thereof, viz. the fontal Cause God's Election, Ver. 4. and the instrumental Cause the Gospel, Ver. 5. but how could the Gospel be an Instrument? The Apostle tells us, that it came to them not in word only, but in power and in the holy Ghost; it was strongly and sweetly set home upon the Heart, and from that Impress came Faith and Love. The Wise Man would have the Word kept in the midst of the heart, and his Reason is, because it is life, Prov. 4. 21, 22. The Word in the Ear only is but a transient […], but the Word in the midst of the Heart is Spirit and Life. Job proves the truth of his Grace thus, The root of the word is in me, Joh 19. 28. The Word as shining on the Head lights up Notions, but as rooted in the Heart springs up in Graces. St. John tells the Young Men that they are strong, and for a •eason adds this, the word of God abides in them, 1 Joh. 2. 14. St. Paul first speaks of his [Greek or Hebrew], or entrance into his auditors, and then of their turn to the living and true God, 1 Thess. 1. 9. The entrance of the word into the Understanding giveth ⟨p. 428⟩light, Psal. 119. 130. and when it passeth from the Understanding to the Will, 'tis spiritually a word upon the wheels, and inwardly becomes free-making truth, Joh.
2. The second Instant or Moment is that wherein God in and by the Word, so intimately inned in the Heart, doth produce the Principles of Grace there; in the first Moment the indwelling Word makes the Heart a spiritual Bethlehem, a House of Bread, in the second Christ is spiritually born there; in the first Moment the incorruptible Seed is sown in the Heart, in the second it springs up into a new Creature. The Scripture seems to me to hold out this Method very clearly, the engrafted word is able to save the soul, Jam. 1. 21. the Word saves the Soul, but not merely as outwardly expressed, but as inwardly engrafted. Faith comes by hearing the word, Rom. 10. 17. but is that a mere outward hearing? No surely, there is a hearing of the Father and so a coming to Christ, Joh. 6. 45. There is the powerful and intimate demonstration of the Spirit, and so faith stands in the power of God, 1 Cor. 2. 4, 5. that is to say, in that power of God (which intimately demonstrates and closely applies the Word unto the Heart) as its true ⟨p. 427⟩Cause and Foundation. When the Apostle speaks of the Thessalonians Faith and Love, 1 Thess. 1. 3. he there opens the causes thereof, viz. the fontal Cause God's Election, Ver. 4. and the instrumental Cause the Gospel, Ver. 5. but how could the Gospel be an Instrument? The Apostle tells us, that it came to them not in word only, but in power and in the holy Ghost; it was strongly and sweetly set home upon the Heart, and from that Impress came Faith and Love. The Wise Man would have the Word kept in the midst of the heart, and his Reason is, because it is life, Prov. 4. 21, 22. The Word in the Ear only is but a transient 〈…〉, but the Word in the midst of the Heart is Spirit and Life. Job proves the truth of his Grace thus, The root of the word is in me, Joh 19. 28. The Word as shining on the Head lights up Notions, but as rooted in the Heart springs up in Graces. St. John tells the Young Men that they are strong, and for a •eason adds this, the word of God abides in them, 1 Joh. 2. 14. St. Paul first speaks of his , or entrance into his auditors, and then of their turn to the living and true God,
