III.

in three Perfons? If we are affured of that SERM. by the Dictates of our own Minds, so are we no lefs of this by the Dictates of his Holy Spirit.

THIS then is the Trial of our Faith, to embrace all Divine Communications on the Credit of their Author,---to curb the Vanity of our unenlightened Reason fo, as it may fubmit to this higher Principle,---not fit as Judge, where it ought to appear only as Evidence,-----not dare to require of the Almighty a full Account of his Matters (z),--not prefume to think and fay, as fome af fect to do, who will not truft in the Lord, but lean on their own Understanding, that Religion and Mystery are incompatible, and where the one begins, the other ends.

WERE there nothing in the Gospel more than what is eafily fathomable by our fhort Line ;---nothing beyond a just System of found Morality, it would want one main Proof of its Divinity, which it now enjoys. For no Revelation can come from God and be worthy of him, which is not in numerous Refpects enveloped in an awful Obfcurity:

() Job xxxiii. 13.

SERM. Obfcurity: It is moft rational to fuppofe, III. that many Parts of it fhould be above

Man's Understanding: The Nature of the Subject, and the Weakness of our Faculties confpire to make our Ignorance in various Points unavoidable,-----Ignorance, I mean, with Regard to our Capacity of accounting for them by the Deductions of Reason, not 'to our clear Difcernment of their being founded on God's Authority; and Objections flowing from fuch Ignorance can never justly be allowed the leaft Weight. It is therefore exceedingly befitting us, inftead of giving Way to profane Cavil and Difpute, piously to rejoice in the Light, which is afforded us, and adore thofe facred Truths, we cannot comprehend.

THUS far we have confidered, what is meant by Faith, as it is an Affent of the Mind to the Doctrines of revealed Religion; an Enquiry the more neceffary, now it is grown the fashionable Topic of Declamation to decry whatever carries with it a dark and mysterious Afpect. We have seen it to be a very reasonable Subjection of our Understandings to God's infallible Declarations, when conveyed to us through fure Hands. This is one conftituent Part of a found Belief;

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Belief ; yet to render it effectual to Jufti- SERM. fication there is another no lefs effential: If III. it refts in Speculation and Amusement, what defireable End can it anfwer? Is it not common to bad as well as good Men,-to thofe in Favour and those in Enmity with God,---and do not even the Devils themselves believe in this unprofitable Sense of the Expreffion?

A JUSTIFYING Faith must also have an Eye to the Duties of the Gospel, and enjoy the Concurrence of the Will, moved by its Promises and Threatenings, in order to be enlivened by Practice; that, through the gracious Prevention and Affiftance of the Blessed Spirit, there may be a fettled Difpofition to perform thofe good Works, which God has ordained for every true Believer to discharge: And whoever lives not according to this Rule, has in Effect renounced his folemn Engagements and is in fome Refpects worfe than an Infidel. Forafmuch as this Man's Actions tally with his Notions; whilft in That the Performances stand in a fhameful Oppofition to his Profeffions.

SERM.

III.

Ir at the first embracing the Christian Religion to repent be made by our Saviour a neceffary Step to believing; furely afterward it must be as needful to bring forth Fruits meet for both Faith and Repentance. None of the Divine Gifts are for vain Oftentation, but useful Improvement; as we believe through the Spirit, fo are we to walk in the Spirit, and by his Help lead holy and Upright Lives Otherwife we receive the Grace of God in vain. The Regularity of our Affent to the Doctrines ought to be accompanied with the Sincerity of our Attachment to the Precepts of the Gospel,---the Purity of our Belief to be fet off with the Innocency of our Manners,---nor does Faith appear in its proper Majefty, unless fupported with Virtue on one Side, as with Knowledge on the other. To be perfuaded of this is a Branch of Evangelical Faith, and to behave accordingly is an Effect of it: And if we are not renewed in the Spirit of our Minds, nor diligent to adorn the Doctrine of Chrift in all things, our Pretences to Religion are merely fo,---our Title to the Name of God's faithful Servants is altogether without Foundation,---we cannot,

but

but with great Prefumption, hope for the SERM. End of our Calling, even the Salvation of III. of our Souls: For without Holiness, we are exprefsly told, no Man fhall fee the Lord (a). An acceptable Faith is always actuated by Love, and in the Streams of a hearty Obedience fuitable to its Spring is its Perfection feen. Whilft they who in Words believe in God, yet in Works deny him, are abominable (b).

WOULD we therefore be ranked among thofe true Saints, that keep both the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jefus (c), let us not dare to divide what he has infeparably joined,---let us not rely on the ftrictest Morality exclufive of an Orthodox Affent to Revelation,---let us not truft to the moft zealous Profeffion of Gofpel-truths without a pure Converfation: As both are neceffarily included in that Faith, by which we must be juftified.

WHAT Juftification means, I come in the next Place to confider; towards which a brief Difquifition will fuffice: Since Mankind are of themfelves much more prone to H 2 attend

(a) Heb. xii. 14. (c) Rev. xiv. 12.

(b) Tit. i. 16.