He makes them see that

have peace with God. they cannot, by any power of their own, in the least depend upon it; for all their sufficiency is of God. It requires the same arm of the Lord which wrought out this righteousness, to enable them with the heart to believe in it: they are made clearly sensible of this from the word and Spirit of God, and from their own daily experience, and thereby they are disposed to receive their whole salvation from the free grace of God, and to him to ascribe all the glory of it. These are the redeemed of the Lord, to whom it is given to believe. They are quickened from a death in trespasses and sins; their consciences are awakened, their understandings are enlightened with the knowledge of Christ; they are enabled in their wills to choose him, and in their hearts to love him, and to

And

rejoice in his salvation. This is entirely the work of the Holy Spirit; for faith is his gift, Eph. ii. 8. Unto you it is given, says the apostle, Phil. i. 29. in the behalf of Christ, to believe on him: none can give it but the Spirit of God; because it is the faith of the operation of God, and requires the same almighty power to believe with the heart, as it did to raise Christ's body from the grave, Eph. i. 20. this power he puts forth in the preaching of the word, and makes it the power of God unto salvation. The word is called, 2 Cor. iii. 8. the ministration of the Spirit, because by it the Spirit ministers his grace and strength: so Gal. iii. 2. "Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith ?" It was by hearing faith preached that they received the Spirit; for faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, which is therefore called

the word of faith. And thus the word is the means, in the hand of the Spirit, to dispose the hearts of those who hear it to receive and embrace Christ; whereby they attain the righteousness of faith, as Rom. x. 10. "With the heart, man believeth unto righteousness." The heart is the chief thing in believing; for into it Christ is received, and in it he dwells by faith. The vital union between Christ and the believer is manifested and made known in the heart, and therein it is cemented and established. With joy can the believer say, "My beloved is mine, and I am his :" happy for me, we are but one person in the eye of the law, and our interests are Blessed state this! Christ gives himself freely to the believer, who also gives himself up in faith to Christ. Christ, as the believer's surety, has taken his sins upon himself, and the believer takes Christ's righteousness; for Christ makes over all that he has to the believer, who by faith looks upon it, and makes use of it as his own, according to that express warrant for his so doing, in 1 Cor. iii. 22, 23. All are yours, because ye belong to Christ.

but one.

This vital union between Christ and the believer, is largely treated of in Scripture. Christ thus speaks of it in his prayer for his people, John xvii. "I pray for them who shall believe on me through their word, that they all may be one, as thou Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one." And in John iv. 56. he says, "He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him ;" and this indwelling is by faith, as Eph. iii. 17. "That Christ may dwell

in your hearts by faith." And it is the office of the Holy Spirit to manifest this union to their hearts, as John xiv. 20. "At the day when the Spirit of truth is come, ye shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you." And besides these, and many other plain words, this union is also represented by several striking images, such as that of husband and wife, who are in law but one person, the husband being answerable for the wife's debts, and the wife sharing in her husband's honours and goods. It is set forth by the union between a building and the foundation upon which it stands secure; between a tree and its branches, which live because they are in the tree, and grow by the sap which they receive from it; between the head and the members, which, by holding under the head, live and grow, having a supply of nourishment administered to every part. Under these beautiful images, the Scripture sets forth the reality, and the blessed fruits of this union. The Holy Spirit makes it known to the believer, by enabling him to rely on God's word as infallible truth, and to receive Christ's person as the Almighty Saviour: and he strengthens it, by enabling the believer to make use of Christ's fulness, and to live by faith upon him in all his offices, for the partaking of all his promised graces and blessings.

That faith which is of the operation of God, always produces the knowledge and the fruits of this blessed union, and enables the soul to give itself up to Christ, that it may be one with him, not in a figurative, metaphorical way, but as really and truly as the building is one with the foundation; as much one in interest, as husband and wife; one in influence, as the root

and the branches, the head and the members. So that this is not an empty notion about Christ, or some clear knowledge of him, or a mere approving of his way of salvation; but it is an actual receiving of him into the heart for righteousness to justify, and to dwell and reign there to sanctify; a receiving him as a perfect Saviour, and living upon him and his fulness; waiting upon him to be taught daily; trusting wholly for acceptance to his blood and righteousness; resting, relying, leaning upon his promised strength to hold out unto the end; and hoping for eternal life as the free gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. The saving faith thus receives Christ, and thus lives upon Christ.

Now, reader, examine and prove thyself, whether thou hast this faith. Dost thou believe with thy heart unto righteousness? Thou canst not live upon Christ, unless thou art first in Christ. Thou must be first persuaded of thy interest in him, before thou canst make use of it, and improve it; and therefore, the knowledge of thy union with him must be clear and plain, before thou canst have a free and open communion with him. There must be faith, before there can be the fruits of faith; and strong faith, before there can be much and ripe fruit. Little faith will receive but little from Christ. The weak believer is full of doubts and fears, and when he wants comfort, or strength, or any other things which Christ has promised to give his people, he is questioning whether he has any right to expect them; and therefore he does not receive them, because he has not boldness and access with confidence to God by faith in Christ Jesus. From hence appears the

necessity of being established in the faith. The believer must have clear evidence of his interest in Christ, before he can live comfortable and happy upon Christ; therefore, he must look well to the foundation, and see there be no doubts left about his being settled upon it. Christ being the sure foun dation, how can he safely build thereon all his sabvation, unless he be first satisfied that he is upon it? The peace with God in his conscience, every act of spiritual life, and the whole walk and well-ordering of his conversation, depend upon the settling of this point. It ought to be finally determined, and brought to this issue: Christ is mine, I know it from the word of God. I have the witness of the Spirit of God, and Christ allows me, unworthy as I am, to make use of him, and of his fulness, for the supply of all my needs, and I find I do make use of him, and thereby I know, from daily experience, that I am in him, because I live upon him.' According

as this point is settled, so in proportion will be the life of faith. If the believer be thoroughly grounded in it without any doubt or fear, then he may, and will with confidence, improve his interest in Christ; but if he still leave it in suspense, his faith can be but little, and therefore he will obtain little comfort or strength from Christ.

And dost

Reader, art thou one of the weak in faith? Dost thou feel it? Dost thou mourn for it? thou know from whence thy faith is to be strengthened? Who can increase it, but he alone who gives it? O pray, then, to the Lord God, to give thee the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, that the eyes of thy understanding may be enlightened to see the