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condition by sin, before it closes with Christ. 3. A firm perswasion that there is no other

of salvation, but by Christ alone. 4. A clear knowledge that Christ is able to save to the uttermost, all that come to God by him ; and willing to save, and ready to receive such as do own hin for the true Messias, and unfeig. nedly give up themselves unco him.

5. An earnest desire, a real chirsting after an Interest in this Saviour.

6. An actual giving up the soul to Christ, de. pending on him

wholly and alone for pardon und Jife; firmly trusting in him to be justified, Janctified, and everlastingly saved by him.

This is the soul truly and really united unto Christ. And being by Faith and Love thus joyned to the Lord, (as the Apostle speaks, 1 Cor. 6.17.) is one Spirit, i. e, is governed by one and the self-Same Spirit. The Scripture secs forch this admirable spiritual union by these four earthly resemblances. By the union

1. Of the Husband and wife, Eph.5.2 3. The husband is the head of the wife, even as Chrift is the head of the Church: and he is the Savi. Qur of the body.

2. of the Head and Members. Eph. 1.22,23. Hath put all things under his feet, and given bim to be bead over all things to the Church, which is his body.

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3. Of i he stones in the building, with the foundation whereon they rest and are buils, Eph.2.22. In whom you also are builded together, for an habitation of God through the Spirit, i Cor.3.11.

4. of the vine and the Branches, John 15.5. I am the Vine, ye are the Branches.

So that when we do willingly betroth our selves to Christ, and consent to take him for our Lord and Husband, and to be his loyall Spouse : when we are willing to be in subjection to him, and to be ruled by him, as the members of the body are by the head : when we de• pend, and rest and rely on him alone for our salvation, as the stones reft on the foundation : Lastly, when we derive Grace and Holinesse from bim, as the branches derive juice, vertue, and fap from the root and stock, and do bring forth fruits in him, and to him, then is there å real, and spiritual union wrought between Christ and our foules.

Thus much concerning the Nature of saving Faich: The Conclusions I shall lay down concern-. ing ir, are these

1. Though Christ hath paid down a sufficient price on the Crosse, for the ranforing and buying in of lost and undone sinners, yet we are not justified and absolved from che guilc of our fins, till we do actually close with him by Faith. 2. True Saving Faith, is not a strong perfwasior,

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chat all a mans fins are pardoned by Christ's Merits, and that he is in Geds Favour, and in a good state and condition : For 'cis evident many

of Gods dear servants are exercised with doubts, and feares concerning themselves; and many Graceleffe wretches, that never felt the barden of fin, nor ever made much Conscience of walking holily, are most confident of their ow! good condicion : Therefore this confident, uxgrounded perswafion cannot be crue Faith; for then, hardnesse of heart, would make the best Faith ; and he that could prefume most, and be most secure, and free from doubts, would be the trwest believer, For a man to be confident of his good condicion, while he lies under the power and reign of fin, is che grofleft unbelief in the world: 'Tis co believe the flat contrary to what God hath revealed in the Word, i Cor. 6.9. Know ye not (saith the Apostle) that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdome of God: Be not deceived, neither fornicatours, nor Idolaters, por adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of them. felves with mankind, ner thieves, nor covetous nor drunkards, nor revilers, norextortioners,Shall inheris the Kingdom of God. Therefore a confident resting on Christ for salvacion, (if it be not a resting 16cording to the Word) will not serve the curn.

3. Fiducially, and savingly to believe on Christ, is not an act of mans power,but wrought in the soul by the Spirit of God; who doch

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effect nally enlighten, perswade, and draw the heart, and affift, and enable the soul, to give up it self unco Christ. Beg cherefore the assistance or this blessed Spirit, whom God hath promised to give to shem that ask him, Lake 11 9. And in the aid of his Grace, give up thy self unfeignedly unco Christ, co be juftified, sanctified, and everlastingly saved by him.

4. A true believer may fear, and be in doubt, chac he hach poc given up himself to Christ une feignedly ; and this fear may proceed from the abundance of his love to Christ, and earnest defire to be aflur'd of an interest in him, which makes him think he can never be certain enough of him; Love is follicitous, and full of tears, left it should m:sse che person beloved.

5. They that truly close with Christ, do take him tor their Lord, as well as for their Saviour. None come to Christ by Faith, and savingly believe on him, but they cleave to him by love alfo, and live to him by obedience. True Faith on Christ, will beget love to Christ, and love will bring forth obedience.

6. The furest mark of true believing in Christ

, is a new and boly life. 'Tis the property of Faith to purifie the heart, and so to work a change in the life and conversation. Dost chou make Conscience therefore of all Christ's commands? And art thou careful to refrain thy feet from every evil way? Who czer is in Christ, is a

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new Creature, 2 Cor. 5.17. Hath the love of Cbrift shed abroad in his heart, and that love comstraines bim to yeeld foncere obedience: Hath the Spirit of Christ, Rom 8.9. not only to comfort him, but to counsel and direct him, to lead him in the pachs of truth and holinesse, and to uphold him from caking any desperate and irrecoverable falls, either in matter of judgment or practise. These are the Conclusions,

I come now in the third place, to the Mo tives and Encouragements to believe in Christ.

1. Consider for chy encouragement, bow able Christ is to save thee. There is inore merit in the Son of God, to obtain our pardon, than there is guilt of sin in us, to meric condemnation. For the person suffering, being (as to his God-head) infinite, and che merit and value of his sufferings depending on the dignity and worth of his perfon, the satisfaction made, must needs be infinite, and so abundantly sufficient.

2. Consider his willingnes and readinesse to accepc to mercy all poor humbled finners, that come unto him : He never rejected any man chat came unto him, and acknowledged him for the true Messias, and unfeignedly gave up himself to be saved by him.

His willingnesse co fave sinners, cannot but appear to thee, if thou considereft these three things. 1. His gracious words before he came inco the world. The Prophet in the person of

Christ

,