Faith which he now fpeaks of, but Juftifying Faith, and that

1. Because he had before preferred Charity before the Faith of Miracles, faying, though I have all Faith, that is, the highest degree of that kind of Faith, fo that I could remove Mountains and have no Charity, I am nothing. Wherefore it is not probable, that he would here again compare it with that Faith.

2. Because he joyns it with Hope, which is also another eminent Grace, and an effect or fruit of Justifying Faith. And this may fuffice to have been spoken concerning the first particular, namely, what kind of Faith we are here to understand. Now as concerning the second particular, to wit, what we may conceive to be the import of the particle Now in this place, I fhall take it for granted, that it must here relate unto Time, and so understanding it, these words Now abideth Faith, Hope, Charity, may have a double Sense.

.

1. They may be understood in way of oppofition unto what he had before spoken concerning extraordinary Gifts. Those extraordinary Gifts were but for

a

a time, chiefly for the first Ages of the Church. But though those Gifts cease, yet still these Graces remain, and even Now abide, and fhall be of ftanding and perpetual ufe to the end of the World, as long as God fhall have a Church upon Earth.

2. The words may be understood in oppofition to the Life to come; Now abideth Faith, Hope, and Charity, thefe three; they are all of perpetual use as long as we are here: But not fo hereafter; for though Charity shall never fail, yet Faith and Hope fhall extend no farther than this Life, for there fhall be no · use of them in Heaven. When we come thither we shall have attained the end of our Faith, the Salvation of our Souls, and be put into actual poffeffion of the things hoped for. So then, whereas the Apostle faith, Now abideth Faith, Hope, Charity, these three, but the greatest of thefe is Charity; 'tis as much as if he had faid, it's true, there are befides Charity, other Graces alfo of Great and Univerfal ufe in the Church Militant for all Times and Ages thereof, the chief of which are Faith and Hope, but yet however neither of them may be compared with Charity, that excel

lent

lent Grace goes beyond them both. These two points therefore we have in the words.

1. That Faith, Hope and Charity, are Graces of great and fingular ufe, and fhall fo be to the end of the World.

2. That though they be all three very eminent and fingularly useful Graces, yet the most excellent among them all is Charity. To begin with the former of thefe; Faith, Hope and Charity, are Graces of great and fingular use. Concerning the excellency and usefulness of Faith, much might be faid, I shall' confine my self to the particulars enfuing.

1. Faith is that Grace by which alone we apprehend Chrift to our Juftification. Hence is Juftification so often afscribed to Faith. By him, that is, by Christ, all that believe are Justified from all thofe things from which they could not be Juftified by the Law of Mofes, Acts. 13.39. To him give all the Prophets witness, that through his Name, whosoever believeth in him fhall receive Remiffion of Sins, that is, fhall be Juftified and Acquitted from his Sins, Acts 10. 43. Being Juftified by Faith, we have Peace with God, Rom. 5. I. Sin it is that makes a breach between

tween God and us. Your Iniquities have Separated between you and your God, and your Sins have hid his Face from you, Ifa. 59. 2. But now by Faith our Perfons being Juftified, and the Guilt of our Sins removed, the breach that was between God and us is closed up.

3. Faith brings us into the Honourable, Sweet and Comfortable Estate of Gods Adopted Children; to as many as received him, that is, to as many as by a lively Faith received Chrift, to them he gave Power to be the Sons of God, even to them that believe in his Name, John 1. 12. By him we have access by Faith into the Grace wherein we ftand, that is, into the Grace of Sonship and Adoption, Rom. 5. 2. By Faith we have freedom and boldness to make our Addreffes unto God in Prayer. In Chrift We have boldness, and access with confidence thro' the Faith of him, Eph. 3. 12. Through Faith in Chrift it is that we are encouraged to go unto God in Prayer. Having fuch an High Priest, let us draw near with a true Heart, in full affurance of Faith, Heb. 10. 21, 22.

4. Faith is the Root of all other Graces. Faith purifieth the Heart, Acts 15. 9. and confequently purifieth and

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cleanseth the whole Man, and the Life and Conversation; for from the Heart are the Iffues of Life, Prov. 4. 23. As the Heart is, fuch is the Man, and such are his ways, and the course of his Life.

5. Faith makes all our Services pleafing and acceptable unto God. Without Faith it is impoffible to please him, Heb. 11. 6. By Faith Abel offered a more excellent Sacrifice than Cain, Heb. 11. 4. A Sacrifice which was in Gods Account of greater worth and value, and found acceptance with God, which Cain's Sacrifice did not, because it was not prefented unto him in Faith.

6. Faith is a Grace most useful and neceffary in every Estate and Condition. Without Faith a Man can neither use Profperity, no bear Adverfity aright. In either condition, the Just live by Faith, Hab. 2. 3. The Life which I now live, faith the Apostle, I live by the Faith of the Son of God, Gal. 2. 20. And fo much concerning Faith. Now as for Hope, this is alfo many ways fingularly useful. I fhall give a few Instances of the usefulness of it.

1. Hope