are, accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace i π III. This faith is different in degrees, weak or strong; may be often and many ways assailed and weakened, but gets the victory; growing up in many to the attainment of 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 Rwhereof is to be preached by every minister of the gospel, as well as that of faith in Christ". having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 1 Tim. iv. 8. For bodily exercise profiteth little; but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. i John i. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. Acts xvi. 31. And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Gal. ii. 20. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Acts xv. 11. But we believe that, through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved, even as they. III. Heb. v. 13. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. Ver. 14. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Rom. iv. 19. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: Ver. 20. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. Mat. vi. 30. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Mat. viii. 10. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 1 Luke xxii. 31. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: Ver. 32. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. Eph. vi. 16. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 1 John v. 4. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Ver. 5. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? m Heb. vi. 11. And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence, to the full assurance of hope unto the end: Ver. 12. That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises, Heb. x. 22 Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Col ii. 2. That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ. n Heb. xii. 2. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. I. a Zech. xii. 10. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications; and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born. Acts xi. 18. When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. b Luke xxiv. 47. And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Mark i. 15. And saying The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. Acts xx. 21. Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 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 endeavouring to walk with him in all the ways of his commandments d. 1 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 f; yet is it of such necessity to all sinners, that none may expect pardon without it. II. Ezek. xviii. 30. Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Ver. 31. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed: and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? Ezek. xxxvi. 31. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities, and for your abominations. Isa. xxx. 22. Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence. Psal. li. 4. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight; that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Jer. xxxi. 18. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God. Ver. 19. Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. Joel ii. 12. Therefore also now, saith the Lord, Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning; Ver. 13. And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Amos v. 15. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph. Psal. cxix. 128. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. 2 Cor. vii. 11. For, behold, this self-same thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. d Psal. cxix. 6. Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. Ver. 59. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. Ver. 106. I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. Luke i. 6. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 2 Kings xxiii. 25. And like unto him was there no king be fore him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him. III. Ezek. xxxvi. 31. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities, and for your abominations. Ver. 32. Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord God, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel. Ezek. xvi. 61. Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger: ard I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant. Ver. 62. And I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: Ver. 63. That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord God. f Hos. xiv. 2. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. Ver. 4. I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely for mine anger is turned away from him. Rom. iii. 24. Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Eph. i. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. 8 Luke xiii, 3. I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Ver. 5. I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Acts IV. As there is no sin so small but it deserves damnation 1; so there is no sin so great, that it can bring damnation upon those who truly repenti. V. Men ought not to content themselves with a general repentance, but it is every man's duty to endeavour to repent of his particular sins particularly. VI. As every man is bound to make private confession of his sins to God, praying for the pardon thereof; upon which, and the forsaking of them, he shall find mercy m; so he that scandalizeth his brother, or the church of Christ, ought to be willing, by a private or publick confession and sorrow for his sin, to declare his repentance to those that are offended"; who are thereupon to be reconciled to him, and in love to receive him °. xvii. 30. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Ver. 31. Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righte ousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. IV. h Rom. vi. 23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. v. 12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men. for that all have sinned. Mat. xii. 36. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. i Isa. lv. 7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Rom. viii. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Isa. i. 16. Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil. Ver. 18. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson. they shall be as wcol. V. Psal. xix. 13. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Luke xix. 8. And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him four-fold. 1 Tim. i. 13. Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecu tor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. Ver. 15. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. VI. Psal. li. 4. Against thee, thee only, have 1 sinned, and done this evil in thy sight; that thou mightest be justi ed when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Ver. 5. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother con ceive me. Ver. 7. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Ver. 9. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Ver. 14. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salva tion; and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. Psal. xxxii. 5. 1 ae knowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. Ver. 6. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. m Prov. xxviii. 13. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. 1 John i. 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. n James v. 16. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Luke xvii. 3. Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. Ver. 4. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. Josh. vii. 19. And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me. [Psal. li. throughout.] • 2 Cor. ii. 8. Wherefore I beseech you, that ye would confirm your love toward him. CHAP. XVI. Of Good Works. GOOD works are only such as God hath commanded in his holy worda, and not such as, without the warrant thereof, are devised by men, out of blind zeal, or upon any pretence of good intention. II. These good works, done in obedience to God's commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith: and by them believers manifest their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance, edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel, stop the I. a Micah vi. 8. He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Rom. xii. 2. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. Heb. xiii. 21. Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. b Mat. xv. 9. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Isa. xxix. 13. Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men. 1 Pet. i. 18. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers. Rom. x. 2. For 1 bear them record, that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. John xvi. 2. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 1 Sam. xv. 21. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal. Ver. 22. And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. Ver. 23. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king. 11. James ii. 18. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. Ver. 22. Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? d Psal. cxvi. 12. What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? Ver. 13. I will take the cup of salva tion, and call upon the name of the Lord. 1 Pet. ii. 9. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. e1 John ii. 3. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. Ver. 5. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 2 Pet. i, 5. And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; Ver. 6. And to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; Ver. 7. And to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. Ver. 8. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ver. 9. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Ver. 10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. f2 Cor. ix. 2. For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. Mat. v. 16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 8 Tit. ii. 5. To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Ver. 9. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Ver. 10. Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. Ver. 11. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Ver. 12. Teaching us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. 1 Tim. vi. 1. Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. mouths of the adversaries and glorify God', whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereuntok; that, having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end eternal life'. III. Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christm. And that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is re quired an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit to work in them to will and to do of his good pleasure": yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty unless upon a special motion of the Spirit; but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them o. IV. They who in their obedience attain to the greatest height which is possible in this life, are so far from being able to supererogate, and to do more than God requires, as that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do P. h1 Pet. ii. 15. For so is the will of God, that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. i1 Pet. ii. 12. Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles; that, whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may, by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Phil. i. 11. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. John xv. 8. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. Eph. ii. 10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 1 Rom. vi. 22. But now, being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. III. m John xv. 4. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. Ver. 5. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. Ver. 6. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. Ezek. xxxvi. 26. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. Ver. 27. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. Phil. ii. 13. For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Phil. iv. 13. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 2 Cor. iii. 5. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God. Phil. ii. 12. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my pre sence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Heb. vi. 11. And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence, to the full assurance of hope unto the end: Ver. 12. That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 2 Pet. i. 3. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. Ver. 5. And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge. Ver. 10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your call ing and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: Ver. 11. For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Isa. Ixiv. 7. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. 2 Tim. i, 6. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. Acts xxvi. 6. And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: Ver. 7. Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come: for which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. Jude, ver. 20. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Ver. 21. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. IV. P Luke xvii. 10. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which was our duty to do. Neh. xiii. 22. And I commanded the Levites, that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the |