THe worke of effectuall vocation, is to worke in man a true Faith in Christ, and repentance towards God.

Concerning Faith, the first question is what a man is to doe that he may obtaine true Faith in Christ.

1. Ans. Besides those things which were propounded before, it is further required, 1. that a man do go altogether out of himselfe, renouncing his owne righteousnesse▪ Rom. 10. 3. Phil. 3. 9. The reason is because no man will seeke righteousnes out of himselfe by Faith, unlesse he do first acknowledge himselfe to be destitute of all righteousnesse in himselfe.

2. Secondly, hee ought to propou[gap]d unto himselfe the righteousnesse of Christ, as his chiefest aime, and scope, so that he doth contemne all things in respect of that, Phil. 3. 9. 12. The reason is, because Christ is never sought as he ought to be, unlesse he be preferr'd before all things else, as the onely meanes of eternall salvation.

3. Thirdly, he ought to fasten the eyes of his mind, upon the promises of the Gospell; For the Gospell is the Ministry of the spirit of righteousnesse and of life, 2 Cor. 3. 6. 8. the reason is, because Christ is neither offer'd of God, nor can be apprehended by man, but onely in the promises of the Gospell.

4. Now in fastning our eyes upon the promises of the Gosspell, we must consider first, that Christ onely is propounded in them, and that crucifyed, 1 Cor. 1 23 34. & [gap]. 2. 2. Secondly, that in Christ there is a perfect sufficiency of redemption, and salvation, provided for them that be in him, Iohn 3. 16. Whence also in Scripture it is call'd a rich, and plenteous, abundant, and plentifull grace, Ep. 1. 6. 7. & 2. 4. Rom. 5. 10. 1. Tim. 1. 14. Thirdly, that this grace is particularly offer'd to all those to whom it is preacht, Mark[gap] 16. 13.

The second question is by what motives a man may be stirr'd up to believe in Christ.

5. Ans. First, if he consider that this is the Commandment of God, that he doe believe in Christ, 1 Iohn 3 23. Secondly, if he meditate of that misery, to which all those are subject which believe not, Iohn 13. 18.

6. Thirdly, if he do meditate of the happinesse of those which do truly believe, 1 Iohn 3. 16.

7. Fourthly, if hee consider that there is no other way whereby hee can escape that misery, or obtaine that happinesse but onely by Faith in Christ, Acts 4. 12. Heb. 11. 6.

8. Fifthly▪ if he doe consider the injury which is offer'd to God by the man that believes not, 1 Iohn 5. 10.

9. Sixtly, if he waigh with himselfe how much they do honour God, which believe in him, Rom. 4. 20. Iohn 3. 33.

10. Seaventhly, if he looke upon the cloud of examples, which he hath of those which have believed and have beene saved by Faith, Heb. 12. 1. For they were for patterns to

them which should afterward believe, 1 Tim. 1. 16.

The third Question is by what signes true Faith may be discern'd?

Ans. Faith in respect of the adjuncts, may be distinguisht into a sick Faith and a lively.

11. A sickly Faith is that which is oppressed and hindred so by temptations, and corruptions, that it cannot put forth it selfe in those Fruits, which bring to the Conscience the sense of peace, delight and joy, Ep. 4. 30. an example hereof we have in David, Ps. 51. 14.

12. A lively Faith is that which doth freely exercise its acts▪ so that it is felt of the believer himselfe with a great deale of comfort, 1 Pet. 1. 8.

13. Faith also in regard of the degrees is distinguisht into a weake and strong Faith.

14. A weake Faith is that which is easily hindred in its course, Ro. 14. 1. Ga. 6. 1. It is call'd in Scripture [gap] little Faith, Mat. 16. 8.

15. A strong Faith is that which overcomes all difficulties, & proceeds freely in its course, it is cal'd in Scripture [gap] a full perswasion, Rom 4. 24. Luke 1. 1. 1 Thess. 1. 5. Col. 2. 2.

16. A lively and strong Faith is easily manifest and known to them in whom it is, first because they have the testimony thereof in themselves, 1 Iohn 5. 10. viz. the Spirit of God bearing witnesse with their spirit that they ar the children of God, Rom. 8. 16. Which spirit they have as the earnest of their inheritance, 1 Ep. 13. 14. and by it they are seald till the day of redemption, Ep. 4. 30. 2 They have the Love of God shed abroad in their hearts by the same spirit, Rom. 5. 5. Whereupon it is that they have peace, and joy unspeakeable, and full of glory, 1 Pet. 1. 6. 8. Rom. 5. 1. 2. 3▪ They have and bring forth those Fruits, whereby true Faith is wont to be manifested, and perfected, Gal. 2. 18. Gal. 5. 6.

17. A languishing, and weake Faith may be discern'd to be true, and sincere, principally by these notes.

First, if there be a sincere desire of Union, and Communion with Christ, 2 Cor. 8▪ 12. This desire is distingu[gap]sht from that which may be found in the unregenerate, 1. because it is not a conditionall desire, or a kinde of wishing, which

even many wicked men have after these spirituall good things, if they might also enjoy and still keepe their sinnes, but it is an absolute choise, Heb. 11. 25. 2 Because it is not caried after these spirituall things, onely as beneficiall unto a mans selfe, but as simply, and in themselves good, and things for their owne sake to be desired of all, Psal. 73. 25. & 43. 3. 3 Because it is caried after all choise that is as well after the sanctification, as after the justification and redemption which are in him▪ 1 Cor. 1. 30. 4 Because such a man more esteemes of Christ then of all things else, 1 Pet. 2. 6. 5 There is alwayes joynd with this desire, a sense of sinne, and a serious sorrow for it, Mat. 11. 28. 6 This desire is not vanishing, and fickle, but constant, Luk. 18. 1. 7 It is not slothfull but industrious, Pro. 21. & 26. 15.

18. The sincerity of Faith appeares also, if it hath been begotten, and is preserved and stirred up by the powerfull Ministry of the Word, Rom. 10. 14. Whereupon it comes to passe, that a man is affected towards the Word, as towards spirituall Food, 1 Pet. 2. 2. The reason is because such a kind of desire being a motion of spirituall Life, must needs presuppose life it selfe which consisteth in Faith; for carnall presumption both consisteth without the Ministry of the Word, and can by no meanes indure the effectuall application, and setting home of those things which belong to the power of godlinesse, 2 Tim. 4. 3. But Faith cleaves unto the word as its principall and foundation.

19. The sincerity of Faith appeares in the third place from hence, that although it seeke justification in Christ, yet it embraceth, with a sincere assent, and subjection of heart, the whole Word of God, that is every precept, prohibition and threatning, which comes from God, Psal. 119. 6. Iam. 2. 10. 14. Herod did assent unto many things, Marke 6. 20. The reason is because Faith doth unite a mans heart to God, and deliver it, up unto him, simply without any exeception.

20. Fourthly, it appeares by this, because as touching the purpose of the minde, and his uttermost indeavor, it purifye[gap] a mans heart from all sinne▪ Acts 15. 9. Mat. 5. 7. The reason is because Faith doth principally, and singularly seeke in God the utter abolition or sin.

21. Fifthly, it appeares by this, that it stirs up in the heart a sincere affection of love towards God, whereby it comes to passe, that we prefer the glory of Gods Name above all things else, 1 Iohn 4. 19. Hence it is that the faithfull in the Scriptures are wont to be described by this property of their love towards God, Rom. 8. 28. 1 Co. 16. 22. Ep. 6. 23, 24. The reason is, because they place and apprehend their chiefe good in God.

22. Sixtly, it appeares by that sincere love which it works in a mans heart towards his fellow Brethren, 1 Iohn 3. 14. & 5. 1. The reason is because the Image of God appeares in them.