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clouds; We may thus conceive of the Volume pardon of fin. God in the Gofpel hath

XII.

entered into a Covenant of Grace and Mercy with Sinners; one of the Benefits promised by God in the Covenant, is pardon of fin. The Conditions upon which we shall be made partakers of the Benefit, are comprehended in this one word, Faith, which fignifies the whole of Chriftian Religion, viz. fuch an effectual affent to the Revelation of the Gospel, as doth produce Repentance, and fincere Obedience, and a trust and confidence in Chrift alone for Salvation. The procuring or meritorious Cause of this Benefit, viz. the pardon of our fins, is the death of Chrift, which is called his Blood or Sacrifice. The principal efficient Cause of our pardon is God, in the Sentence of the Law, or which is all one, in the tenor of this Covenant, declaring us pardon'd upon these terms and conditions. Now how can Faith, which is an act on our parts, and the condition to be performed by us, be faid to be an Inftrument in the hand of God of our Par don; unless men will think fit to call a

Con

condition an Inftrument, which I think no propriety of Language will allow.

I should now proceed to the third particular which I propos'd, but shall refer that to my next Discourse on this Argument.

Sermon

VIII.

SER

SERMON IX.

Of Juftifying Faith.

The Third Sermon on this Text.

JOHN XX. 31.

But thefe are written, that ye might believe that Jefus is the Chrift, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

HE Obfervation I am difcourf

Ting upon is this, That to be

lieve that Jefus is the Chrift, the Son of God, is truly and properly Sanctifying,and Juftifying, and Saving Faith I have enter'd upon the latter part of the Obfervation, viz. to fhew that

Sermon
IX.

this is truly and properly Juftifying Volume and Saving Faith,in fpeaking to which, XII. I propos'd to fhew fix things.

1. That Juftification in Scripture fignifies no more, but the Pardon and Remiffion of fins.

2. That Faith can in no propriety of Language, be faid to be the Inftrument of our pardon. Thus far I have gone, and now proceed to what remains, viz. to fhew,

3. That the influence which Faith hath upon the Pardon of fin, is this, that it is the whole and entire condition, required in the Gofpel, of our pardon, upon the performance of which God hath promifed to pardon fin; which appears thus. All the conditions the Gofpel requires on our part in order to Pardon, may be reduced to thefe four heads.

(1.) An Affent to the Truth of the Gospel.

(2.) A Truft and Confidence in Christ as our only Saviour.

(3.) Re

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