The Breast-Plate of Faith and Love

p. 1OF FAITH. The first Sermon.

For by it the righteousnesse of God is reuealed from Faith to Faith: As it is written, The iust shall liue by Faith.

IN the words I haue read vnto you, Paul tels them that he is not ashamed of the Gospell of CHRIST. For it was a shame to him, partly, because the very substance of the Gospell was then persecution; and partly, because he was plaine in speech; hee came not with excellency of words, or mans wisedome; and therefore you may obserue what adoe he had to defend himselfe in his p. 2Epistles to the Corinthians, a wise people, who partly hated, and partly despised his manner of deliuery: but, saith hee, I am not ashamed of it, for it is the power of God to saluation: it is that which, being receiued, will bring men to heauen; being rejected, will shut men vp in Hell; and therefore it is of no small moment. He giues a reason in these words, why it is the power of GOD to saluation: For, saith he, by it the righteousnesse of God is reuealed. That is, the righteousnesse which is of GOD, which only GOD accepts, and by which alone men can be saued, is reuealed by the Gospell, and no other way.

But to what purpose is this reuealed, if I know not how to come by it? Many things are reuealed, but how shall I know that they are mine? Therefore he addes, it is the power of God to saluation, to euery one that beleeues. As it is reuealed by the Gospell, so something is to be done on our part; as GOD manifests it, exposes it, and layes it open, so you must receiue it by faith.

I, but I haue not so strong a faith, I cannot beleeue as I would, and as I should. Sayes he, Faith hath degrees, it is reuealed from faith to faith. That is, one receiues it in one degree, and the same afterward receiues it in a greater degree, and so forward. All are alike iustified, but there is difference in Faith, some is stronger, some is weaker, which I will afterward shew at large.

p. 3The point to be gathered out of these words is this:

That Righteousnesse by which alone we can be saued now in the time of the Gospell, [Doct.] is reuealed and offered to all that will take it.

p. 3When you heare this, it may be, at the very reading, you may not haue such a conceit of the thi◊g as you should haue: but it is not a matter of light moment, but an exceeding great thing to see the righteousnesse of GOD reuealed. It is the great, glorious mysterie of the Gospell, which the Angels desire to pry into, which made Paul in his Ministery so glorious, which swallowed vp his thoughts, that he could not tell how to expresse it: that now in this last Age, Christ hath reuealed through vs the vnsearchable Riches of his Grace, that is, Riches which I know not how to expresse. Therefore hee prayes that God would open their eyes, that they might comprehend with all the Saints, the height, and length, and breadth of that Redemption, which Christ hath wrought for them. It is past a full comprehension, yet he prayes that they may comprehend it in such a measure as is possible, though there is a height, and breadth, and depth therein, which could not be measured. And this is it that is reuealed to the soules of men, the scaping of Hell and death, this free accesse to the Throne of Grace, which none p. 4before had; this liberty to be made sonnes of GOD, an heyres of heauen, yea, Kings and Priests to GOD, and making good of all promises, and the entayling of them to our posterity, and making them Yea and Amen. All this, I say, is now reuealed, which before was not.

2. It is said to bee reuealed, (marke that) partly, because this of all other things was neuer written in the hearts of men. The Morall Law was written therein, but they had not the least inckling, the least creuice of light to see this; partly, because it is now opened in a larger measure then it was heretofore, in the times of the Prophets: the doore was a little open before, but now it is wide open, and nothing is hid from the soules of men, that is necessary for them to know.

Againe, it is reuealed not onely in regard of the Preachers that make it knowne, but likewise in regard of them that heare it: for there is a greater measure of the Spirit of Reuelation dispensed vnder the Gospell. Therefore, Eph. 1.18. [Eph. 1.1 • .] the Apostle prayes that the eyes of their vnderstanding might be opened, that they might know what is the hope of their Calling, and the riches of his glorious inheritance in the Saints. For what is it to haue a light shining, if their eyes be shut to whom it shines? So the thing reuealed is the Righteousnesse of God. And lastly, it is that Righteousnesse, by which alone men can be saued.

p. 5This is the maine point, which that you may vnderstand, [6. Questions about this righteousnes.] I will open, by answering these 6. Questions.

1. How this righteousnesse of GOD, or, which is accepted of GOD, saues.

2. How it is offered to vs.

3. To whom it is offered.

4. Vpon what qualifications.

5. How it is made ours.

And lastly, What is required of vs, when we haue it. These hang one on another, but for memory sake I haue thus distinguished them.

First: How doth it saue? [1. Quest. How it saueth.] I answer: 1. This righteousnes saues after the same manner that the vnrighteousnesse of Adam did condemne: let vs set these two together, and the thing will be plaine.