tually would it work in them! It would soon turn their stomachs against all manner of sin, as that which brings the curse of God upon them, and so is the only cause of all the troubles they meet with in this world; and, without sincere repentance, will ruin and destroy them for ever.

3

3. The same may be said of the promises which God hath made to those who keep his laws, which are so many and so great, that, if men did but really believe them, they would need no other arguments to persuade them to do whatsoever he hath commanded for to those who do so he hath promised all the good, all the best things, yea, all things that are in the world, "all shall be theirs," "and all shall work together for their good 3." And who can forbear to do that which he believes will do him good, although it be only one particular good, and although he hath no other ground to believe it, but because a wise and an honest man, as he supposes, hath told him so? How much more, when the all-wise, almighty, all-good and gracious God hath said, that they who obey and serve him shall have all the good things they can desire! As we have all the ground that can be to believe it, so no man can really believe it, but he must needs strive all he can to obey and serve him; which whosoever doth not do, whatsoever he may pretend, I am sure he doth not truly believe God's word; for "true faith worketh by love +." "love is the fulfilling of the whole law "." therefore, he that doth not endeavour to the utmost of his power to fulfil the whole law of God, we may be confident that he doth not truly believe his word and promise to them that do so; and that is the reason, the only reason, that it hath no effect upon him.

But

And,

But in those who believe it works so effectually, that it puts them upon constant endeavours to do what

soever God hath commanded; it inspires them with courage and resolution in it; it keeps them "stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as they know that their labour shall not be in vain in the Lord "." They know, they are sure, that all the pains they take for him will turn to good account for themselves: they have God's word for it, the best security in the world; and, therefore, they never think that they can lay out too much upon it.

And as the word and promise of God animates and encourageth those who believe to obey him in all things which he hath commanded, so it enables them also to put their whole trust and confidence on him for all things that he hath promised, that is, for all things that can any way conduce to their good and welfare: by which means, whatsoever happens, their hearts are always fixed, trusting in the Lord to defend and keep them according to his word, which they are confident can never fail; as we see in the Apostle, God hath said, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee: so that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, I will not fear what man shall do unto me"." So in all the promises which God hath made, they who believe can boldly say, that he will make them good. This is that faith which is so acceptable to God, that by it we are accepted of as righteous before him, through his beloved Son, in whom all his promises are made and confirmed to us: as when God had made a promise to Abraham, it is said, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness 8." Not that we

can believe, and not do the works of God, as I have already shown; but because when we have done all we can, our works are so imperfect, that we cannot be accounted righteous for them; and therefore God is graciously pleased to accept of our faith in his promises, and in his Son, in whom they are made; and tọ count that for righteousness to us, in that we are thereby interested in all the merits of our Blessed

G 1 Cor. xv. 58.

'Heb. xiii. 5, 6.

Rom. iv. 5.

Saviour, in whom we believe, and by whom we are, therefore, justified before God. So effectually do the promises of God work in them who believe and trust on them, that they are thereby both made and accounted righteous, and so are meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.

Neither doth the historical part of the Holy Scriptures want its influence and energy in those who receive it as attested by God himself, and accordingly believe it. When we read there, how God made the world, and what great things he hath since done in it; if we really believe it, we must needs be struck with such an admiration of his infinite wisdom and power, as will make us fall down and worship him. When we read or hear of the dreadful judgments which he hath inflicted upon obstinate sinners; if we really believe it, we cannot but dread the thoughts of falling under his displeasure, and so live in fear all our lifelong. When we read or hear of the great deliverances he hath wrought, and the wonderful works that he hath done for his faithful people and servants in all ages; if we really believe it, we shall be thereby inflamed with holy desires to be in the number of his faithful servants, and encouraged to trust on him, and to hope that he will do as much for us, if there be occasion. When we read or hear of the great sins which the best of men have sometimes fallen into; if we really believe it, our hearts must needs be touched with the conscience of our own infirmities, and of the necessity of observing what the apostle hath taught us in that case; "Be not highminded, but fear"." When we read or hear of the great troubles and afflictions which God's own people have met with in this world, if we really believe it, we shall the more cheerfully undergo whatsoever he shall be pleased to lay upon us, and, with Moses, "choose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season 1." When we read or hear of the

9 Rom. xi. 20.

1 Heb. xi. 25.

virtues and good works, for which the saints of old are commended by God himself; as, that Enoch walked with God; that Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generation; that Abraham was strong in faith, giving glory unto God; that Job was not only patient, but thankful for all his troubles; that Moses was the meekest man upon earth; that David was a man after God's own heart; that Zacharias and Elisabeth were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless; and the like: if we really believe it, what an emulation will it raise in us to come as near them as possibly we can! Especially the life and death of our Blessed Saviour, who did none, and yet suffered all manner of evil; if we really believe it, it would not only make us ashamed of our former sins, but careful for the future to walk in his steps.

But as to what is recorded concerning our Blessed Saviour, I shall have occasion to speak more particularly of that afterwards; as likewise of the prophecies or predictions that are not yet fulfilled. Wherefore passing by those which are fulfilled already, and so are a great confirmation of our faith in God's word, I shall haste to the last of these heads, to which I said whatsoever is contained in it may be referred, which I called affirmations: by which I mean, whatsoever is affirmed in the Holy Scriptures concerning God the Father, the Son, or the Holy Ghost, or any other truth that is there revealed, on purpose that we might believe it. For whatsoever is so affirmed, if we accordingly believe it, it will work so effectually in us, as to cleanse our hearts from all erroneous and corrupt opinions, and fill them with a due sense and right notions of divine things, according to that of St. Peter, where he saith, that "God purified their hearts by faith 2."

4. To make this as plain and practical as I can, that ye may not only understand, but experience in your

2 Acts xv. 9.

selves, what power this part of God's holy word hath upon them who believe, I shall briefly run through the articles of our Christian faith, as they are contained in the Apostles' Creed, and show how every one hath its particular influence, and all work together to cleanse and purify the hearts of those who believe, to take them off from all gross and sensible objects, and to fix them upon God, and the concerns of another life. I know there are other great truths revealed in the Holy Scriptures, which are not expressly named in that Creed. But I shall only instance in those that are there expressed, because that is the Creed which I suppose you can all say, you all profess to believe it, and it is that which we repeat every day in our public devotions. And, therefore, it will be of great use to understand how you ought to be, and how you will be affected with every article that is in it, if you actually believe it, whensoever ye hear or say it: and, by consequence, how proper it is to repeat and exercise our faith upon that Creed in our daily prayers.

First, therefore, "He that cometh unto God must believe that he is "." And accordingly our Creed begins with, "I believe in God the Father Almighty:" "In God," the Lord, the Lord of Hosts; Jehovah, Jab, Being, Glory, Goodness, Purity, Excellency, Superexcellency, Perfection itself, existing in and of Himself, "God blessed for ever." And who can believe there is such a glorious, amiable, infinite, incomprehensible, eternal Being, and not love and honour him? Who can believe in him, and not adore and serve him with reverence and godly fear? It is impossible. Such a belief of God would raise up our hearts, and incline all the powers of our souls to him, and fix them so firmly upon him, that nothing would be able to withdraw them from him. And if we believe in God the Father, we must needs believe he hath a Son, eternally begotten of him, otherwise he could not be the Father; which, by consequence, must needs work so effectually in us,

3 Hcb. xi. 6.