:

II. This sanctification is throughout in the whole man, yet imperfect in this life ; there abideth still some remnants of corruption in every part : whence ariseth a continual and irreconcileable war; the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the fishi,

IU. In which war, although the remaining corruption for a time may much prevail ", yet, through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part doth overcomel, and so the saints grow in grace m, perfecting holiness in the fear of God".

m

cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of III. & Rom. vii. 23. But I see anothe flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness ther law in my members warring a. in the fear of God. Heb. xii. 14. Fol. gainst the law of my mind, and bring: low peace with all men, and holiness, ing me into captivity to the law of sin, without which no man shall see the which is in my members. Lord.

I Rom. vi. 14. Por sin shall not have II. & 1 Thess. v. 23. And the very dominion over you: for ye are not unGod of peace sanctify you wholly: der the law, but under grace. 1 John and I pray God your whole spirit and v. 4. For whatsoever is born of God soul and body be preserved blameless overcometh the world: and this is the unto the coming of our Lord Jesus victory that overcometh the world, Christ.

even our faith. Eph. iv. 15. But b 1 John i. 10. If we say that we speaking the truth in love, may grow have not sinned, we make him a liar, up into him in all things, which is the and his word is not in us. Rom. vii. head, even Christ : Ver. 16. From 18. For I know that in me (that is in whom the whole body fitly joined tomy flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for gether, and compacied by that which to will is present with me, but how to every joint supplieth, according to the perform that which is good I find not. effectual working in the measure of Ver. 23. But I see another law in my every part, maketh increase of the bomembers, warring against the law of dy, unto the edifying of itself in my mind, and bringing me into cap- love. tivity to the law of sin which is in my m 2 Pet. ii. 18. But grow in grace, members. Phil. iii. 12. Not as though and in the knowledge of our Lord and I had already attained, either were Saviour Jesus Christ : to him be gloalready perfect: but I follow after, if ry, both now and for ever. Amen. 2 that I may apprehend that for which Cor. jii, 18. But we all with open also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. face, beholding as in a glass the glory

i Gal, v. 17. For the flesh lusteth of the Lord, are changed into the against the Spirit, and the Spirit a- same image, from glory to glory, even gainst the flesh : and these are contra- as by the Spirit of the Lord. ry the one to the other ; so that ye n 2 Cor. vii. 1. Having therefore cannot do the things that ye would. these promises, dearly beloved, let us 1 Pet. ii. 11. Dearly beloved, I be- cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of seech you, as strangers and pilgrims, the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiabstain from fleshly lusts, which war ness in the fear of God. against the soul.

CHAP. XIV. Of Saving Faith.
HE grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to be-

Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the word c: by which also, and by the administration of the sacraments, and prayer, it is increased and strengthened 4.

II. By this faith, a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the word, for the authority of God himself speaking thereine; and acteth differently, upon that

1. a Heb. x. 39. But we are not all them which are sanctified. Rom. of them who draw back unto perdi. iv. 11. And he received the sign of tion; but of them that believe, to the circumcision, a seal of the righteous. saving of the soul.

ness of the faith which he had yet beb 2 Cor. iv. 13. We having the ing uncircumcised: that he might be same spirit of faith, according as it is the father of all them that believe, written, I believed, and therefore have though they be not circumcised; that I spoken: we also believe, and there. righteousness might be imputed unto fore speak. Eph. i. 17. That the God them also. Luke xvii. 5. And of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father the apostles said unto the Lord, Inof glory, may give unto you the Spi- crease our faith. Rom. i. 16. For I am rit of wisdom and revelation in the not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ : knowledge of him : Ver. 18. The eyes for it is the power of God unto salvaof your understanding being enlighten- tion to every one that believeth, to ed ; that ye may know what is the the Jew first, and also to the Greek, hope of his calling, and what the Ver. 17. For therein is the righteousriches of the glory of his inheritance ness of God revealed from faith to in the saints, Ver. 19. And what is faith; as it is written, The just shall the exceeding greatness of his power live by faith. to us-ward who believe, according to II. e John iv. 42. And said unto the' working of his mighty power. the woman, Now we believe, not beEph. ii. 8. For by grace are ye saved, cause of thy saying; for we have heard through faith ; and that not of your- him ourselves, and know that this is selves : it is the gift of God.

indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the c Rom. x. 14. How then shall they world. 1 Thes. ii. 13. For this cause call on him in whom they have not also thank we God without ceasing, believed ? and how shall they believe because, when ye received the word of in him of whom they have not heard? God which ye heard of us, ye receivand how shall they hear without a ed it not as the word of men,

but (as preacher ? Ver. 17. So then, faith it is in truth) the word of God, which cometh by hearing, and hearing by effectually worketh also in you that the word of God.

believe. 1 John v. 10. He that be. di Pet. ii. 2. As new-born babes, lieveth on the Son of God hath the desire the sincere milk of the word, witness in himself: he that believeth that ye may grow thereby. Acts xx. not God, hath made him a liar, be32. And now, brethren, I commend cause he believeth not the record that you to God, and to the word of his God gave of his Son. "Acts xxiv. 14. grace, which is able to build you up. But this I confess unto thee, that after and to give you an inheritance among the way which they call heresy, 80

grace i

which each particular passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings,

1 and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come. But the principal acts of saving faith are, accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone, for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of

III. This faith is different in degrees, weak or strongk; may be often and many ways assailed and weakened, but gets the victory'; growing up in many to the attainment of worship I the God of my fathers, be. III. k Heb. v. 13. For every one lieving all things which are written in that useth milk is unskilful in the word the law and the prophets.

of righteousness : for he is a babe. f Rom. xvi. 26. But now is made Ver. 14. But strong meat belongeth to manifest, and by the scriptures of the them that are of full age, even those prophets, according to the command. who by reason of use have their sen. ment of the everlasting God, made ses exercised to discern both good and known to all nations for the obedience evil. Rom. iv. 19. And being not weak of faith.

in faith, he considered not his own & Isa. Ixvi. 2. For all those things body now dead, when he was about hath mine hand made, and all those an hundred years old, neither yet the things have been, saith the Lord: but deadness of Sara's womb. Ver. 20. to this man will I look, even to him He staggered not at the promise of that is poor and of a contrite spirit, God through unbelief; but was strong and trembleth at my word.

in faith, giving glory to God. Matt. b Heb. xi. 13. These all died in faith, vi. 30. Wherefore, if God so clothe not having received the promises, but the grass of the field, which to-day is, having seen them afar off, and were and to-morrow is cast into the oven, persuaded of them, and embraced them, shall he not much more clothe you, O and confessed that they were strangers ye of little faith? Matt. viii. 10. When and pilgrims on the earth. 1 Tim. iv. 8. Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said For bodily exercise profiteth little: but to them that followed, Verily I say un. godliness is profitable unto all things, to you, I have not found so great faith, having promise of the life that now is, no, not in Israel. and of that which is to come.

I Luke xxii. 31. And the Lord said, i John i. 12. But as many as re- Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath deceived him, to them gave he power to sired to have you, that he may sift become the sons of God, even to them you as wheat : Ver. 32. But I have that believe on his name. Acts xvi. prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; 31. And they said, Believe on the Lord and when thou art converted, strengthJesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, en thy brethren. Eph. vi. 16. Above and thy house. Gal. ii. 20. I am cru- all, taking the shield of faith, where. cified with Christ ; nevertheless I live; with ye shall be able to quench all the yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and fiery darts of the wicked. 1 John v. 4. the life which I now live in the flesh For whatsoever is born of God over. I live by the faith of the Son of God, cometh the world, and this is the vicwho loved me, and gave himself for tory that overcometh the world: even me. Acts xy. 11. But we believe, that our faith. Ver. 5. Who is he that through the grace of the Lord Jesus overcometh the world, but he that beChrist we shall be saved, even as they. lieveth that Jesus is the Son of God?

a full assurance through Christm, who is both the author and finisher of our faith.

CHAP. XV. Of Repentance unto Life. EPENTANCE unto life is an evangelical grace, the

doctrine whereof is to be preached by every minister of the gospel, as well as that of faith in Christ b.

II. By it a sinner, out of the sight and sense, not only of the danger, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, as contrary to the holy nature and righteous law of God, and upon the apprehension of his mercy in Christ to such as are penitent, so grieves for and hates his sins, as to turn from them all unto God, purposing and endea

m Heb. vi. 11. And we desire that and glorified God, saying, Then hath every one of you do shew the same di- God also to the Gentiles granted religence, to the full assurance of hope pentance unto life. unto the end : Ver. 12. That ye be 6 Luke xxiv. 47. And that repennot slothful, but followers of them,who tance and remission of sins should be through faith and patience inherit the preached in his name among all na: promises. Heb. x. 22. Let us draw tions, beginning at Jerusalem. Mark near with a true heart, in full assu- i. 15. And saying, The time is fulfil. rance of faith, having our hearts led, and the kingdom of God is at sprinkled from an evil conscience, and hand; repent ye, and believe the gosour bodies washed with pure water. pel. Acts xx. 21. Testifying both to. Col. ii. 2. That their hearts might be the Jews, and also to the Greeks, recomforted, being knit together in love, pentance toward God, and faith to. and unto all riches of the full assu- ward our Lord Jesus Christ. rance of understanding, to the ac. II. c Ezek. xviii. 30. Therefore I knowledgment of the mystery of God, will judge you, O house of Israel, eveand of the Father, and of Christ. ry one according to his ways, saith

n Heb. xii. 2. Looking unto Jesus, the Lord God: repent, and turn your. the author and finisher of our faith; selves from all your transgressions ; so who for the joy that was set before iniquity shall not be your ruin. Ver. him, endured the cross, despising the 31. Cast away from you all your transshame, and is set down at the right gressions, whereby ye have trans. hand of the throne of God.

gressed, and make you a new heart 1. a Zech. xii. 10. And I will pour and a new spirit; for why will ye die, upon the house of David, and upon O house of Israel? Ezek.xxxvi. 31. the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spi. Then shall ye remember your own rit of grace and of supplications, and evil ways, and your doings that were they shall look upon me whom they not good, and shall loathe yourselves have pierced, and ihey shall mourn for in your own sight, for your iniquities, him, as one mourneth for his only son, and for your abominations Isa. xxx. and shall be in bitterness for him, as 22. Ye shall defile also the covering one that is in bitterness for his first of thy graven images of silver, and borr.. Acts xi. 18. When they heard the ornament of thy molten images of these things, they held their peace, gold: thou shalt cast them away as a

vouring to walk with him in all the ways of his commandments.

d III. Although repentance be not to be rested in, as any satisfaction for sin, or any, cause of the pardon thereof, which is the act of God's free grace in Christ ; # yet is it of

t menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto thought on my ways, and turned my it, Get thee hence. Psal. li. 4. Against feet unto thy testimonies. Ver. 106. thee, thee only, have I sinned, and I have sworn, and I will perform it, done this evil in thy sight: that thou that I will keep thy righieous judgmightest be justified when thou speak. ments. Luke i. 6. And they were est, and be clear when thou judgest. both righteous before God, walking Jer. xxxi. 18, I have surely, heard in all the commandments and ordiEphraim bemoaning himself thus, nances of the Lord blameless... 2 Thou hast chastised me, and I was Kings xxiii. 25. And like unto him chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed was there no king before him, that to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall turned to the Lord with all his heart, be turned ; for thou art the Lord my and with all his soul, and with all his God. Ver. 19. Surely after that Iwas might, according to all the law of Motomed, I repented'; and after that I ses; neither after him arose there any was, instructed, I smote upon ,my like him. thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even co III. e Ezek. xxxvi. 31. Then shall founded, because I did bear the re- ye remember your own evil ways, and proach of my youth. Joel ii. 12. Theré. your doings that were not good, and fore also now, saith the Lord, Turn ye shall loathe yourselves in your own even to me with all your heart, and sight, for your iniquities, and for your with fasting, and with weeping, and abominations. Ver. 32. Not for your with mourning. Ver. 13. And rend sakes do I this, saith the Lord God, be your heart and not your garments, and it known unto you: be ashamed and turn unto the Lord your God: for he confounded for your own ways, O is gracious and merciful, slow to an- "house of Israel. Ezek. xvi. 61. Then ger, and of great kindness, and re- thou shalt remember thy ways, and be penteth him of the evil. Amos v. 15. ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy Hate the evil, and love the good, and sisters, thine elder and ihy younger ; establish judgment in the gate: it and I will give them unto thee for may be that the Lord God of hosts daughters, but not by thy covenant. will be gracious unto the remnant of Ver. 62. And I will establish my coJoseph. Psal. cxix. 128. Therefore venant with thee, and ihou shalt know I esteem all thy precepts concerning that I am the Lord: Ver. 63. That all things to be right, and I hate eve- thou mayest remember and be conry false way. 2 Cor. vii. 11, For, founded and never open thy mouth behold, this self-same thing that ye any more because of thy shame, when sorrowed after a godly sort, what I am pacified toward thee for all that carefulness it wrought in you ; yea, thou hast done, saith the Lord God.. what clearing of yourselves.; 'yea, f Hos. xiv. 2. Take with you words, what indignation; yea, what fear; and turn to the Lord ; say unto him, yea, what vehement desire ; yea, Take away all iniquity, and receive us what zeal; yea, what revenge! in all graciously: so will we render the things ye have approved yourselves calves of our lips. Ver. 4. I will heal to be clear in this matter.

their backsliding, I will love them d Psal. cxix. 6. Then shall I not be freely : for mine anger is turned away ashamed, when I have respect unto from him. Rom. iij. 24. Being justiall thy commandments. Ver. 59. Í fied freely by his grace, through the

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