1. Those that do believe,1 and yet fail in respect of the efficient cause of Faith, it never had the right maker, never came out of the right shop, nor mint, it was never a Faith of Gods making, but a faith of your own making, so that it's a base bastard Faith, that though it be born in the House, it shall never possess the inheritance, because it was never begotten of the right Father, the Lord never wrought it, but themselves, for many a man is convinced by the Law, and spirit of bondage that he must die, and that he is a most grievous sinner, and that when he hath done all he is unprofitable, but yet he trusts to Christ, and Gods mercy, and so believes, he finds no great difficulty in this, nor no great need of the Almighty power of the Lord to work this, and all men living shall never make him think but that he doth heartily and truly believe: but ask him, have you no doubt of your estate? and of Christs not taking hold of you when you take hold of him? Yes, but seeing he hath been troubled about his estate, and repented of his sin (in his fashion) and reformed himself and Family, and loves the best things, he believes without question, and so misapplies promises to himself, never feeling a need of the revelation and donation of Jesus to him by the Father; and thus the Lord finds this man a Christ, and this man finds the Lord a Faith, and the Lord Jesus redeems this man by price, and this man redeems himself by power, and so the Father shall have some Glory for providing a Saviour, Christ shall have some Glory for paying a price, and the Spirit of Christ which only can draw to Christ, shall lose his Glory, and so this man may take it to himself. And is this good think you? Col. 2. 12. Risen with Christ through Faith of the operation of God, 1 Pet. 1. 3. The same power that raised Christ from the dead, must raise you to a lively hope. Mat. 22. 1, 2, 3. One man came from his hedges and High-ways to the Feast of the Promise, and Ordinances of the Gospel, till the Lord saw him without Christ; but John 6. 64, 65. Unless the Father reveals Christs face, the Father persuades thee of ⟨p. 127⟩Christs love, you can never come to Christ, men know not thy Hypocrisy, thou dost not, but Jesus doth, and what good will thy Faith do thee then? It was a sweet speech of Christ, Thy Faith hath saved thee.
1. Those that do believe,1 and yet fail in respect of the efficient cause of Faith, it never had the right maker, never came out of the right shop, nor mint, it was never a Faith of Gods making, but a faith of your own making, so that it's a base bastard Faith, that though it be born in the House, it shall never possesse the inheritance, because it was never begotten of the right Father, the Lord never wrought it, but themselves, for many a man is convinced by the Law, and spirit of bondage that he must die, and that he is a most grievous sinner, and that when he hath done all he is unprofitable, but yet he trusts to Christ, and Gods mercy, and so believes, he finds no great difficulty in this, nor no great need of the Almighty power of the Lord to work this, and all men living shall never make him think but that he doth heartily and truly beleeve: but ask him, have you no doubt of your estate? and of Christs not taking hold of you when you take hold of him? Yes, but seeing he hath been troubled about his estate, and repented of his sin (in his fashion) and reformed himself and Family, and loves the best things, he believes without question, and so misapplies promises to himself, never feeling a need of the revelation and donation of Jesus to him by the Father; and thus the Lord finds this man a Christ, and this man finds the Lord a Faith, and the Lord Jesus redeems this man by price, and this man redeems himself by power, and so the Father shall have some Glory for providing a Saviour, Christ shall have some Glory for paying a price, and the Spirit of Christ which only can draw to Christ, shall lose his Glory, and so this man may take it to himself. And is this good think you? Col. 2. 12. Risen with Christ through Faith of the operation of God, 1 Pet. 1. 3. The same power that raised Christ from the dead, must raise you to a lively hope. Mat. 22. 1, 2, 3. One man came from his hedges and High-wayes to the Feast of the Promise, and Ordinances of the Gospel, till the Lord saw him without Christ; but Iohn 6. 64, 65. Unlesse the Father reveals Christs face, the Father perswades thee of ⟨p. 127⟩Christs love, you can never come to Christ, men know not thy Hypocrisie, thou dost not, but Jesus doth, and what good will thy Faith do thee then? It was a sweet speech of Christ, Thy Faith hath saved thee.
- 1Sign 1.
