verance is not the condition of the new covenant, but doth fuppofe it. There are promises made to the exercife of all graces in Scripture; but only faith is the condition of the covenant. I fay then, thefe promises are made to these actings of faith, not as fuch, but as they do fuppofe juftifying faith, which is the condition of the covenant, All these are actings of faith, but not as it is juftifying. Therefore,

(5.) There is fomewhat common to all gracious perfons, which may be fuppofed by all the forefaid actings of faith, wherein the nature and effence of justifying faith ftandeth. And this is the heart's fatisfaction concerning God's device of falvation by Chrift; when man pleaseth God's invention of fatisfaction to juftice, through Chrift Jefus, in whom all fulness doth dwell now by the Father's pleafure; when the foul and heart of man acquiefceth in that, then it believeth unto falvation. As at firft the Lord made man fuitable to the covenant of works, by creating him perfect, and fo putting him in a capacity to perform his will in that covenant; fo, under the new covenant, when God giveth the new heart to man, he fetteth the idea and ftamp of all his device in the new covenant upon the man, fo as there is a confonancy to God's will there: thus he beareth the image of the fecond Adam, Chrift Jefus, on him. This is a great part of the new heart, and is moft oppofed to works; fince now the man abfolutely falleth off works, "becoming dead to the law, as to the point of justification, by the body of Chrift." Man perceiving that God hath devifed a way of fatisfying divine juftice, and recovering loft man by the incarnation of Christ, he thinks this fo good and fure a way, that he abfolutely giveth up with the law, as I faid before, and clofeth with this device; and this is believing or faith, very oppofite to works, and all refting thereupon. This cannot fail to be in all gracious perfons, in whom many of the actings of faith are not to be found. This doth clearly fuppofe known distress in a man, without all relief in himself; this fuppofeth known fulness in Chrift, as the alone fufficient re

lief; this imports a fort of impropriation; for the heart, pleafing that device, in fo far inclining towards it. This is a thing clearly fuppofed in all the actings of faith fpoken of before. He that greedily hungereth, hath this and he that leaneth, hath this; and he that puts on Christ, hath this, &c. This is to esteem "Chrift the wisdom and power of God" to falvation; fo is he faid to be to all that believe. They efteem that device wife and fure, befeeming God; and that is to believe. On this account, "Chrift, who is the rejected ftone to many, is precious to them who believe;" a fit ftone to recover, fortify, and beautify, the tottering building and fabrick of lost man. "To whom coming, as unto a living ftone, difallowed indeed of men, but chofen of God, and precious. Ye alfo, as lively ftones, are built up a fpiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up fpiritual facrifices, acceptable to God by Jefus Chrift. Wherefore allo it is contained in the Scripture, Behold I lay in Sion a chief Corner-stone, elect, precious; and he that believeth on him fhall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious; but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders difallowed, the fame is made the head of the corner; And a ftone of ftumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which ftumble at the word, being difobedient, whereunto alfo they were appointed." "The kingdom of God is like a man finding a treafure, for which with joy he felleth all." Thefe words hold out the very way of believing, viz. falvation is difcovered in the golpel to be by Christ; the heart valueth that invention as fatisfying. This is to believe on the Son of God lifted up; which is compared with the looking to the brazen ferpent. It was man's approbation of that device which made it effectual for his healing; fo is it here, "He that fo believeth, fetteth" to his feal that God is true." True? Wherein? In that record he hath borne, that God hath proved life for men, and placed it all in Chrift; "He that believeth not, maketh God a liar." Wherein? In his faying that Chrift is a fafe and fure way to heaven. This is the

pleafing and acquiefcing in that device; and it is confonant to all I know spoken of juftifying faith in Scripture. This is the believing on Chrift and on his name, the receiving of him, and refting on him, for falvation, in our Catechifm; the believing that Jefus is the Chrift, that is, the anointed One, whom the Father hath fealed, and fet apart, and qualified for the work of reconciling man un to God; and he that believeth that Jefus is the Christ is born of God." This is to "believe with the heart that God hath raised Chrift from the dead." The man believeth Chrift died, and is raised on the account of fatisfaction for man's tranfgreffion. Devils may believe that nay, but the man I fpeak of "believeth it with "his heart," (which no natural man doth, until a new heart be given unto him); that is, he cordially pleafeth, is fatisfied with, and acquiefceth in, this noble invention. And thus faith layeth out itself now and then in its actings, outgoings, and exercife, according to all the covenant-relations under which Chrift is held forth in the Scripture.

Now, I fay, this faith is discernible, not only in thefe actings many times; a man may know if his heart doth hunger after Chrift, and flee for refuge to him, when pursued; and if he doth commit himfelf unto God, but alfo in its very nature as it is juftifying, it is difcernible, and may be known. be known. A man may clearly know, if from known diftrefs in himself, upon the report and fame of Chrift's fulness, his heart doth pleafe God's device in the new covenant; if it goeth out after Chrift in that invention, and pleaseth him as Lord of the life of men, terminating and refting there, and no where elfe; acquiefcing in that contrivement with defire and complacency. This is a defcernible thing: therefore I entreat men impartially to examine themfelves; and if they find that their heart has clofed fo with that device of falvation, and is gone out after him as precious, that thereupon they conclude a fure and true interest in Chrift Jefus, and a good claim and title to the crown, fince he that. believeth fhall never perish, but have everlasting life."

SECTION II.

The difference between the Faith of Hypocrites and true faving juftifying Faith.

Object. HYPOCRITES and reprobates have a fort of faith and are faid to believe: "Many believed in his name, when they faw the miracles which he did. But Jefus did not commit himfelf unto them, because he knew all men." "Then Simon the forcerer himself believed also," and cannot chufe but go out after Chrift, and that device of falvation, when they hear of it; and they profefs they do fo, yet are deluded, and fo may I be.

Anfw. To fay nothing of that thought of your heart, whereby you wonder that any man fhould not please the device of falvation by Chrift, and lead out towards him as a very promifing thing, and fpeaking out juftifying faith to be in your bofom; and, to fay nothing in contradiction to that which you think that a natural man, whilft fuch, and before he gets a new heart, can please that device, and believe with his heart, and affectionately, that which perfectly overthroweth the covenant of works, and abafeth man in the point of felf-righteousness already attained, or that can be attained to by him, which is inconfiftent with many fcriptural truths; I offer these differences between the faith of all hypocrites or reprobates and that true faving juftifying faith whereof we have fpoken.

1ft. They never clofe with Chrift Jefus in that device and him alone, as a fufficient covering of the eyes, as is faid of Abraham to Sarah, they still hold fast somewhat of their own, at least to help to procure God's favor and falvation: their heart doth ftill fpeak, as that young man's fpeech, doth infinuate, "What fhall I do to inherit eternal life ?" Befide that, they do ftill retain their former lovers, and will not break their covenants with hell and death, imagining they may have Chrift with thefe things equally fharing in their heart; contrary to that, "A man cannot ferve two mafters." Either Chrift

muft be judged abfolute Lord, and worthy to be so, or nothing at all; and fo it is clear their heart is not shapen out for that device of falvation by Chrift, whom God hath alone made Lord here, in whom all fulness fhall dwell. But where juftifying faith is, the foul of a man and his heart doth clofe with Chrift, and him alone, "having no confidence in the flesh," he trufteth only in God. Alfo the man here giveth up with other lovers; as they become rivals of Chrift, he refolves "not to be for another." He calls him Lord, "which a man can only do by the fpirit of Chrift."

adly. As hypocrites and reprobates do never clofe with Chrift alone, fo they do never clofe with full Chrift as he is anointed to be a king, to rule over a man in all things; a Prieft, to procure pardon and to make peace for man upon all occafions; a prophet, to be wisdom, and a teacher and counsellor in all cafes to man; so they do not receive Chrift, especially in the firft and third office. But where true juftifying faith is, a man closeth with whole Chrift in all his offices, judging all his "will good, holy, juft and fpiritual," and "right concerning all things," "making mention of his righteoufnefs only."

The man alfo giveth up himself to be taught of him; "Learn of me." So that "Chrift is made to the true believer, with his own confent, wifdom, righteoufnefs, fan&tification, and complete redemption.' "And although he hath not all these things formally in exercife when his heart goeth out after Chrift, yet, upon fearch and trial, it will be found with him, as I have faid.

3dly. Hypocrites and reprobates do never clofe with Christ, and all the inconveniencies that may follow him; they stick at that with the scribe; but where true juftifying faith is, a man doth clofe with him on all hazards; he refolveth to forego all rather than to forego Chrift. "We have left all, and to have followed thee," "he reckoneth all to be lofs and dung för the excellency of Chrift Jefus, as his Lord, and to be found in him."