Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

Seventhly, This way there will be a Congruity between the being of these Graces, and the acting of them; whilst both proceed from Faith depending upon Christ the head of Grace. The Believers life is in Scripture called a life of Faith; not as if there were not Love, Meekness, Obedience, Patience, with all the other Graces in him, but because Faith is the grand principle which moves every one of them. Faith worketh by love, saith the Apostle, Gal. 5.6. and so it worketh by Meekness, Obedience, Patience, and all other Graces, being as it were blood and spirits running in every part of the New Creature. All Graces are set a working by Faith, and if they also receive their being through it, there is a Congruity between their being and working.

Seventhly, This way there will be a Congruity between the being of these Graces, and the acting of them; whilest both proceed from Faith depending upon Christ the head of Grace. The Believers life is in Scripture called a life of Faith; not as if there were not Love, Meekness, Obedience, Patience, with all the other Graces in him, but because Faith is the grand principle which moves every one of them. Faith worketh by love, saith the Apostle, Gal. 5.6. and so it worketh by Meekness, Obedience, Patience, and all other Graces, being as it were blood and spirits running in every part of the New Creature. All Graces are set a working by Faith, and if they also receive their being through it, there is a Congruity between their being and working.

Upon these Congruities I take it, that Faith is first in order, and then other Graces.

As to the actual exercise of Graces, It is Faith which sets them all a working. To this purpose it is observable, That all the worthy acts of Grace mentioned in the 11th. Chapter to the Hebrews, are there ascribed to Faith: so is Abel's excellent Sacrifice. Enochs walking with God, Noah's holy fear of the deluge, Abraham's obedience in leaving his Country, Moses's self-denial as to the Egyptian Court, The valour of some Worthies in subduing Kingdoms; and the patience of others in suffering torments for the truth. The reason of which is, because Faith is the first mover, which sets all other Graces a-moving, the General under whose conduct all Graces come forth in their courses, therefore the honour of all is devolved upon it. Now, how Faith sets other Graces a-working, I shall first show in a general way common to all of them, and then more particularly with respect to some special Graces. In general Faith sets other Graces in motion by such ways as these.