d с body of sin is destroyed, and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified, and they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces, to the practice of all true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.f e a 1 Cor. 6: 11; Acts. 20: 32; Phil. 3: 10; Rom. 6: 5, 6. b John, 17: 17; Eph. 5: 26; 2 Thess. 2: 13. c Rom. 6 6, 14. d Gal. 5: 24; Rom. 8: 13. e Col. 1: 11; Eph. 3: 16, 17, 18, 19. f2 Cor. 7:1; Heb. 12: 14. II. This sanctification is throughout in the whole man, yet imperfect in this life, there abides still some remnants of corruption in every part, whence arises a continual and irreconcilable war, the flesh lusting against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh. I g 1 Thes. 5:23. h 1 John. 1: 10; Rom. 7:18, 23; Phil. 3: 12. i Gal. 5:17; 1 Pet. 2: 11. III. 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 overcome, and so the saints grow in grace, m perfecting holiness in the fear of God." k Rom. 7:23. 1 Rom. 6:14; 1 John. 5: 14; Eph. 4; 15, 16. m2 Pet. 3: 18. n 2 Cor. 3: 18; 2 Cor. 7: I. CHAP. XIV. OF SAVING FAITH. I. THE grace of Faith whereby the elect are enabled to believe the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the word; by which also, and by the administration of the seals, prayer, and other means, it is increased and strengthened. d a Heb. 10 39. b 2 Cor. 4: 13; Eph. 1: 17, 18, 19, and 2: 8. c Rom. 10 14, 17; Acts, 20: 32; Rom. 4: 11; Luke, 17:5; Rom. 1: 16, 17. d 1 Pet. 2:2. II. By this Faith, a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the word, for the authority of God himself speaketh therein, ́and acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth, yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life, and that which is to come. h 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 grace. i go 14. f Rom. 16: 26. 4:8. i John, 1: 12; 11. * John, 4: 42; 1 Thes. 2: 13; 1 John, 5: 10; Acts, 24: g Isa. 66: 2. h Heb. 11: 13; 1 Tim. Acts, 16:31; Gal. 2: 20; Acts, 15: III. k This Faith, although it be different in degrees, and may be weak or strong, yet it is in the least degree of it different in the kind or nature of it, as all other saving grace, from the faith and common grace of temporary believers;1 and, therefore, though it may be many times assailed and weakened, yet it gets the victory, m growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ," who is both the author and finisher of our faith.° k Heb. 5 13, 14: Rom. 4: 19, 20: Matt. 6: 30, and 8:10. 1 Job, 8: 13; 1 John, 3 : 9. m Luke, 22: 31, 32; Eph. 6 16; 1 John, 5: 4, 5. n Heb. 6 11, 12 and 10: 22; Col. 2:2. o Heb. 12: 2. CHAP. XV. OF REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE AND SALVATION. I. SUCH of the elect as are converted at riper years, having sometime lived in the state of nature, and therein served divers lusts and pleas ures, God in their effectual calling giveth them repentance unto life. a Eph. 2: 1, 2, 3; 8:30; 2 Tim. 1:9; e с b Tit. 3: 3, 4, 5; 1 Pet. 4: 3. b Rom. II. Whereas there is none that doeth good and sinneth not, and the best of men may through the power and deceitfulness of their corruptions dwelling in them,d with the prevalency of temptation, fall into great sins and provocations; God hath in the covenant of grace mercifully provided that believers so sining and falling, be renewed through repentance unto salvation." Eccl. 7: 20; Jam. 3: 2. Rom. 7:21, 23; Jer. 17:9; Heb. Luke, 22: 31. f 2 Sam. 11: 27; Luke, 22: 57, 58, 60. g Luke, 22 : 32, 61, 62; 1 John, 1:9. c 1 Kings, 8: 46; 65 3, and 40: 12; 3:13. e Matt. 6:13; h III. d Psal. This saving repentance is an evangelical grace, whereby a person being by the Holy Ghost made sensible of the manifold evils of his sin,i doth by faith in Christ humble himself for it, with godly sorrow, detestations of it, and self-abhorrency, praying for pardon and strength of grace, with a purpose and endeavor by supplies of the Spirit, to walk before God unto all well-pleasing in all things.m k h Zech. 12: 10; Acts, 11: 18. i John, 16: 7, 8, 9; Ezk. 18 30, 31, and 36: 31; Psal. 51:4; 1 John, 3:4. k Zech. 12: 10; Jer. 31: 18, 19; Joel, 2: 12, 13; Isa. 30 22; Amos, 5: 15; Psal. 119: 128; Ezek. 6: 9; 2 Cor. 7:11. 1 Psal. 51, per tot. m Psal. 119: 6, 9, 106; 2 Kings, 23:25; Col. 1: 10. IV. As repentance is to be continued through the whole course of our lives," upon the account of the body of death, and the motions thereof; ° so it is every man's duty to repent of his particular known sins particularly.P n Matt. 6: 11, 12; Psal. 51: 17. Rom. 7: 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24; Gal. 5: 17. P Psal. 19: 13, and 18: 23, and 51:4; Luke, 19:8; 1 Tim. 1: 13, 15. མ. Such is the provision which God hath made through Christ in the covenant of grace, for the preservation of believers unto salvation, that although there is no sin so small, but it deserves damnation; yet there is no sin so great that it shall bring damnation on them who truly repent; which makes the constant preaching of repentance necessary.' q1 Pet. 1: 5. Rom. 6: 23, and 5: 12; Matt. 12: 36. s Isa. 55:7; Rom. 8: 1; Isa. 1: 16, 18. t Mark, 1: 15; Acts, 20: 21. |