Again this makes the difference between the Christian and Christian, namely Faith, and hence it is that some are weak, and others are strong, hence it is that some are more able then others, for the greatest duties of Religion, as for example Caleb and Joshua can do more then the rest of the people, and what is the reason but because they were stronger in the faith then others? And so Paul said of himself that he could do more then they all, because Paul had a stronger faith: for the truth of a mans strength is known by his strength of faith that he hath, it discovers whether he be naturally strong or spiritually strong; for this is the first work of the spirit after Humiliation in the conversion of a sinner, namely to work faith in him, and ⟨p. 55⟩no sooner faith but as soon strength, and the promise follows faith. He that believeth, and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned, Mar. 15. 15. And this 1is the course that we take, first we preach the Law unto you, and we do it to this end to humble you, and to break the hard disposition of your hearts, that so they may be fit to receive Christ, And when we have thereby humbled you, then we Preach unto you the Gospel, beseeching and exhorting you to believe in Christ, for the pardon of sins, past, present, and to come, and to lay down the arms of Rebellion, which you have taken up against Christ, and you shall be saved, And yet notwithstanding how few are either humbled by the one or persuaded and provoked by the other, but are (as the Prophet saith) having eyes and see not, ears, but they hear not, that is, seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, as for example, when a man is showed a thing but yet he minds it not, that is the eye of the mind is upon another object, that man may be said to see and not to see, because he doth not regard it, or a man that hath a matter pleaded before him, hears it, but his mind being otherwise employed he regards it not: in that respect he may be said to hear, and not to hear, because he minds it not, And what is the Reason that we Preach the Law, and the judgements of God so much unto you, and what is the Reason that we beseech and entreat you so often to come in and receive Christ, and you shall be saved, time after time, and day by day, and yet we see how little efficacy the word hath?
Again this makes the difference between the Christian and Christian, namely Faith, and hence it is that some are weak, and others are strong, hence it is that some are more able then others, for the greatest duties of Religion, as for example Caleb and Ioshua can do more then the rest of the people, and what is the reason but because they were stronger in the faith then others? And so Paul said of himself that he could do more then they all, because Paul had a stronger faith: for the truth of a mans strength is known by his strength of faith that he hath, it discovers whether he be naturally strong or spiritually strong; for this is the first work of the spirit after Humiliation in the conversion of a sinner, namely to work faith in him, and ⟨p. 55⟩no sooner faith but assoon strength, and the promise followes faith. He that believeth, and is baptixed shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned, Mar. 15. 15. And this 1is the course that we take, first we preach the Law unto you, and we do it to this end to humble you, and to break the hard disposition of your hearts, that so they may be fit to receive Christ, And when we have thereby humbled you, then we Preach unto you the Gospel, beseeching and exhorting you to believe in Christ, for the pardon of sins, past, present, and to come, and to lay down the arms of Rebellion, which you have taken up against Christ, and you shall be saved, And yet notwithstanding how few are either humbled by the one or perswaded and provoked by the other, but are (as the Prophet saith) having eyes and see not, ears, but they hear not, that is, seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, as for example, when a man is shewed a thing but yet he mindes it not, that is the eye of the mind is upon another object, that man may be said to see and not to see, because he doth not regard it, or a man that hath a matter pleaded before him, hears it, but his mind being otherwise imployed he regards it not: in that respect he may be said to hear, and not to hear, because he mindes it not, And what is the Reason that we Preach the Law, and the judgements of God so much unto you, and what is the Reason that we beseech and intreat you so often to come in and receive Christ, and you shall be saved, time after time, and day by day, and yet we see how little efficacie the word hath?
- 1Mark 15. 15.
