A57982:159
The trial & triumph of faithThe tryal & triumph of faith
The trial & triumph of faith: or, An exposition of the history of Christs dispossessing of the daughter of the woman of Canaan Delivered in sermons; in which are opened, the victory of faith; the condition of those that are tempted; the excellency of Jesus Christ and free-grace; and some special grounds and principles of libertinism and antinomian errors, discovered by Samuel Rutherfurd, professor of divinity in the University of St. Andrews. Published by authority.The tryal & triumph of faith: or, An exposition of the history of Christs dispossessing of the daughter of the woman of Canaan Delivered in sermons; in which are opened, the victory of faith; the condition of those that are tempted; the excellency of Jesus Christ and free-grace; and some speciall grounds and principles of libertinisme and antinomian errors, discovered by Samuel Rutherfurd, professor of divinity in the University of St. Andrews. Published by authority.
London: printed by John Field, 1652
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.
Object. 6. Our act of believing is a work, and no work can be a condition of the covenant of Grace; yea Christ alone justifieth, 12faith is not Christ, nor any partner with him in the work; yea we are justified before we believe, and Faith only serveth for the manifestation of justification to our conscience, for we believe no lie, when we believe we are justified, but a truth, then it must be true that we are justified, before we believe. Ans. 1.3 Christ alone as the meritorious cause justifieth, and his imputed righteousness as the formal cause; and this way Christ alone justifieth the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles and all believers, ere they be born, but ⟨p. 82⟩this is but the fountain ready to wash: but believe it, Christ washeth not, while we be foul, he clotheth us not, while we be naked, he giveth not eye-salve, while we be blind, nor gold while we be poor, nor is his name our righteousness, while we be sinners: 1. Men not born cannot be the object of actual righteousness, the unborn child needeth no actual application of Christs eye-salve, of his gold and righteousness; now justification is a real favour applied to us in time, just as sanctification in the new birth, 1 Cor. 6.11. And such were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified; then they were sometimes not washed: 2. Poverty putteth beauty, worth, and a high price on Christ; sense of sin saith, O what can I give for precious Jesus Christ? But his Father cannot sell him. 2. Yet is Faith a palsy hand under Christ to receive him, Joh. 1.11. Its an Evangelic act, and not a mere passion, but of grace deputed to be a receiver, a certain Inn keeper to lodge Christ; and so Christ his alone doth not justi•ie us, being mere Patients, this is not to put Faith in the chair and Throne of Estate with Christ, Faith giveth glory to Christ, and taketh Grace as an alms, but taketh no glory from him, Rom. 4.20