When we say, that believing in Christ Jesus is the only way to be saved; you must not understand it so, as if no other grace were required from a man but faith only, but thus, There is no other grace which lays hold on Christ (who is the cause of salvation) but faith only: As it was with the father of the Prodigal, when he met his son, falling down on his knees, he presently forgave him: but before he brought him into his house, he did clothe him with other garments: So doth God our Father, upon our humbling and believing, freely confer on us remission of sins for his Christs sake; yet before he brings us to heaven, he doth invest our souls with the singular graces of his holy Spirit; yea, though justification be not sanctification, yet where God doth the one, he ever bestows and works the ⟨p. 55⟩other. Therefore I pray you remember to distinguish 'twixt these two, justification, and sanctification. The person justified and to be saved. Though this be most true, that there is no other meritorious cause of our justification and salvation, but only Christ; and there is no other instrument to lay hold on this, but faith, yet this is as true, that the person justified, and to be saved, hath more graces in him besides his faith; though there be not a co-operation of faith, and other graces, to justify; yet there is a co-existence of faith and other graces, in the person justified. Thou must have a good heart as well as a good Christ, and an holy life, as well as a precious faith, or else thou shalt never come to heaven. You know that in the body of man, there be Eyes to see, and Ears to hear, and Hands to take, and Feet to go, of all these which are in the body, yet no members are deputed to see, but the eyes, nevertheless the eye must not say of the ears, I have no need of thee, nor the hand to the foot, I have no need of thee: it is granted, that no member sees but the eye, eats but the mouth, walks but the feet, lays hold on but the hands. Their offices are singular, yet their con-corporation is necessary. So, no grace but faith, pitcheth on Christ, lays hold on him as the cause of salvation, yet there is need of other graces in the person to be saved. There must be love, and repentance, and godly sorrow, and true fear, and lively hope, and patience, and zeal, &c.
When we say, that beleeving in Christ Jesus is the onely way to be saved; you must not understand it so, as if no other grace were required from a man but faith only, but thus, There is no other grace which layes hold on Christ (who is the cause of salvation) but faith only: As it was with the father of the Prodigal, when he met his sonne, falling down on his knees, he presently forgave him: but before he brought him into his house, he did cloath him with other garments: So doth God our Father, upon our humbling and believing, freely confer on us remission of sins for his Christs sake; yet before he brings us to heaven, he doth invest our souls with the singular graces of his holy Spirit; yea, though justification be not sanctification, yet where God doth the one, he ever bestowes and works the ⟨p. 55⟩other. Therefore I pray you remember to distinguish 'twixt these two, justification, and sanctification. The person justified and to be saved. Though this be most true, that there is no other meritorious cause of our justification and salvation, but only Christ; and there is no other instrument to lay hold on this, but faith, yet this is as true, that the person justified, and to be saved, hath more graces in him besides his faith; though there be not a co-operation of faith, and other graces, to justifie; yet there is a co-existance of faith and other graces, in the person justified. Thou must have a good heart as well as a good Christ, and an holy life, as well as a precious faith, or else thou shalt never come to heaven. You know that in the body of man, there be Eyes to see, and Eares to hear, and Hands to take, and Feet to go, of all these which are in the body, yet no members are deputed to see, but the eyes, neverthelesse the eye must not say of the eares, I have no need of thee, nor the hand to the foot, I have no need of thee: it is granted, that no member sees but the eye, eates but the mouth, walks but the feet, layes hold on but the hands. Their offices are singular, yet their con-corporation is necessary. So, no grace but faith, pitcheth on Christ, layes hold on him as the cause of salvation, yet there is need of other graces in the person to be saved. There must be love, and repentance, and godly sorrow, and true fear, and lively hope, and patience, and zeal, &c.
