A57966:597
The covenant of life opened, or, A treatise of the covenant of grace
The covenant of life opened, or, A treatise of the covenant of grace containing something of the nature of the covenant of works, the sovereignty of God, the extent of the death of Christ ... the covenant of grace ... of surety or redemption between the by Samuel Rutherford ...The covenant of life opened, or, A treatise of the covenant of grace containing something of the nature of the covenant of works, the soveraignty of God, the extent of the death of Christ ... the covenant of grace ... of surety or redemption between the by Samuel Rutherford ...
Edinburgh: printed by Andro Anderson for Robert Brown, 1655
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And since faith is no meritorious cause of right to remission and life eternal, nor a cause in part, or in whole, of our complete and actual reconciliation, it may well be said, that they all are completely reconciled, pardoned, justified, washen in Christs blood, when nothing is wanting, that completes the nature of remission and justification, for faith is only a condition applying, not a cause buying, nor satisfying for us, and no cause giving in part, or in whole, any new right.
And since faith is no meritorious cause of right to remission and life eternall, nor a cause in part, or in whole, of our compleat and actuall reconciliation, it may well be said, that they all are compleatly reconciled, pardoned, justified, washen in Christs blood, when nothing is wanting, that compleats the nature of remission and justification, for faith is only a condition applying, not a cause buying, nor satisfying for us, and no cause giving in part, or in whole, any new right.
3. Conclus. Should we, by faith, have right to the promise of a new heart, by believing,1 we should have a new heart before we have a new heart, for none can believe savingly any promise, and so neither can he believe that promise that God shall give a new heart, until the habit of faith, which is a special part of the new heart, be infused: For actual faith must flow from habitual ⟨p. 234⟩faith. Therefore right to that promise must be absolutely purchased by the death of Christ to the elect before they believe.
3. Conclus. Should we, by faith, have right to the promise of a new heart, by beleeving,1 we should have a new heart before we have a new heart, for none can beleeve savingly any promise, and so neither can he beleeve that promise that God shall give a new heart, untill the habit of faith, which is a speciall part of the new heart, be infused: For actuall faith must flow from habituall