Treatises on the Life, Walk, and Triumph of Faith

Scripture. We are not to mitigate the doctrines of a justifying faith, and an all-perfect righteousness, because of the abuse that has been made of them by hypocrites-but, leaving to these doctrines all their prominency, we are to place by their side the no less important and undeniable truths, that heaven is the abode of holy creatures, and that, ere we are qualified for admittance there, we must become holy and heavenly ourselves. Nor is there a likelier way of

speeding this practical transformation upon our souls, than by keeping up there, through the blood of Christ, a peace in the conscience, which is never truly done, without a love in the heart being kept up along with it. Those who are justified by faith in the righteousness of Christ, and, in consequence of which, have that peace with God which this Author labours so earnestly to maintain in the mind, walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit: and that man's faith in the offered Saviour is not real, nor has he given a cordial acceptance to that grace which is so freely revealed in the gospel, if he do not demonstrate the existence of this faith in his heart, by its operation in his character. A hypocrite may

pervert the grace of the gospel, as he will seek a shelter for his iniquities, wherever it can be found. But because he receives it deceitfully, this is no reason why it should be withheld from those who receive it in truth. The truths which he abuses to his own destruction, are, nevertheless, the very truths which serve to aliment the gratitude and the new obedience of every honest believer, who gives welcome acceptance to all things whatsoever that are

written in the book of God's counsel, and finds room enough in his moral system for both of the positions —that he is justified by faith, and that he is judged by works.

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