their hearts, 6 and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the word; c by which also, and by the administration of the seals, prayer, and o ther means, it is increased and strengthened. d

a Heb. x, 39. b II Cor. iv, 13. Eph. i, 17, 18, 19, and ii, 8. c Rom. x, 14, 17. Acts xx, 32. Rom. iv, 11. Luke xvii, 5. Rom. i, 16, 17. d 1 Pet. ii, 2.

11.

By this Faith, a christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the word, for the authority of God himself speaketh therein, e and acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth, yielding obedience to the commands, f trembling at the. threatenings, g 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 grace. i

e John iv, 42. I Thess. ii, 13. I John v, 10. Acts xxiv, 14. fRom. xvi, 26. g Isa. lxvi. 2. h Heb. xi, 13. I Tim. iv, 8. i John i, 12. Acts xvi, 31 Gal. ii, 20. Acts xv, 11.

III.

This faith, although it be different in degrees, and may be weak or strong, k yet it is in the least degree of it different in the kind or

E

nature of it, as all other saving grace, from the faith and common grace of temporary believers; / 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 n who is both the author and finisher of our faith.o

k Heb. v, 13, 14. Rom. iv, 19, 20. Mat. vi, 30, and viii, 10. 7 Job viii, 13. I John iii, 9. m Luke xxii, 31 32. Eph. vi, 16. I John v, 4, 5. n Heb. vi, 11, 12, and x, 22. Col. ii, 2.

Heb xii, 2.

CHAP. XV.

Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation.

SUCE

UCH of the elect as are converted at riper years, having sometime lived in the state of nature, and therein served divers lusts and pleasures, a God in their effectual calling giveth them repentance unto life. b

a Eph. ii, 1, 2, 8. Tit. iii, 3, 4, 5. I Pet, iv, 3. b Rom viii, 30. II Tim. i, 9. Acts xi, 18

II.

Whereas there is none that doth good and sinneth not, c and the best of men may through

the power and deceitfulness of their corruptions dwelling in them, d with the prevalency of temptation, e fall into great sins and provocations; God hath in the covenant of grace mercifully provided that believers so sinning and falling, be renewed through repentance unto salvation. g

c I Kings viii, 46. Eccl. vii, 20. Jam. iii, 2. Psal. Ixv, 3. and xl, 12. Rom. vii, 21, 23. Jer. xvii, 9. Heb. iii, 13. e Mat. vi, 13. Luke xxii, 31. fII Sam. xi, 27. Luke xxii, 57, 58, 60. g Luke xxii, 32, 61, 62. I John i, 9.

III.

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, detestation of it, and self abhorrency, k praying for pardon and strength of grace, with a purpose and endeavour by supplies of the Spirit, to walk before God unto all well pleasing in all things. m

h Zech. xii, 10. Acts xi, 18. i John xvi, 7, 8, 9. Ezek. xviii. 30, 31, and xxxvi, 31. Psal. li, 4, I John iii, 4. k Zech. xii, 10. Jer. xxxi, 18, 19. Joel ii, 12, 13. Isa. xxx, 22. Amos v, 15. Psal. cxix, 128. Ezek. vi, 9. II Cor. vii, 11. 7 Psal. li, per tot. m Psal. cxix. 6, 9, 106 II Kings xxiii, 25. Col. i, 10.

1

IV.

As repentance is to be continued through the whole course of our lives, n upon the account of the body of death, and the motions thereof; o so it is every man's duty to repent of his par ticular known sins particularly. p

n Mat. vi, 11, 12. Psal. li, 17. o Rom. vii, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24. Gal. v, 17. Psal. xix, 13, and xviii, 23, and li, 4. xix, 8. I Tim. i, 13, 15.

V.

Luke

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 de serves damnation'; r yet there is no sin so great that it shall bring damnation on them who tru ly repent; & which makes the constant preach. ing of repentance necessary.t

q I Pet. i, 5. r Rom. vi, 23, and v, 12. Mat. xii, 36. s Isa. Iv., 7, Róm. viii, 1. Isa i. 10, 18. Mark i, 15. 21

Acts xx,

CHAP. XVI..

Of Good Works.

OOD works are only such as God hath

G commanded in his holy word, a and not

such as without the warrant thereof are devised by men out of blind zeal, or upon any pretence of good intentions. ¿

a Mic. vi, 8. Rom. xii, 2. Heb. xiii, 21. b Mat. xv, 9. Isa. xxix, 13. Rom. x, 2. Job xvi, 2. I Sam. xv, 21, 22, 23. I Pet. i, 8.

II.

These good works done in obedience to God's commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith, c and by them believers manifest their thankfulness, d strengthen their assurance, e edify their brethren ƒ adorn the profession of the gospel, g stop the mouths of the adversaries, h and glorify God, i whose workmanship they are created in Christ Jesus thereunto,k that having their fruit unto holiness they may have the end eternal life. /

c James ii, 18, 22. d Psal. cxvi, 12, 13. I Pet. ii, 9. e I John ii, 3, 5. II Pet. i, 5, 6, 7, i, 9, 10. fII Cor. ix, 2. Mat. v, 16. g Tit. 8, 5, 9, 11, 12. I Tim. vi, 1. I Pet. ii, 15.