§. 147. Of a just mans living by his own Faith.
THat relative pronoun, HIS, which is plainly expressed by the Prophet, Hab. 2. 4. thus, the just shall live a 1.1 by HIS faith, is implied and understood under the Greek phrase, and sheweth that the •…•…aith whereby a just man lives, must be his own. As it is the wisedome of the prudent to understand HIS way, Prov. 14. 8. And as the just man walketh in HIS integrity, Prov. 20. 7. So the just man lives by HIS faith. To him that believeth HIS faith is counted for righteousnesse, Rom. 4. 5. For every one shall give an account of himself to God, Rom. 14. 12.
Obj. 1. Christ saw the faith b 1.2 of them that brought an impotent man unto him, and thereupon said to that man, Thy Sins are forgiven thee, Matth. 9. 2.
Answ. He saw the faith of the impotent man himself, as well as the faith of his friends.
Obj. 2. Upon the faith of the woeman of Canaan, Christ cast the Devill out of her Daughter, Matth. 15. 28. And on the like ground he did the like for a mans Son, Mark 9. 23, 25.
Answ. This was a temporall blessing: but our text speaketh of a spirituall life.
Obj. 3. The unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, 1 Cor. 7. 14.
Answ. That is in regard of Matrimoniall communion.
Ob•…•…. 4. A believing wife may save her husband, 1 Cor. 7. 16.
Answ. By being a means of working faith in him. So as to be saved by his own faith.
Ob•…•…. 5. Children of a believing parent are in that respect holy, 1 Cor. 7. 14.
Answ. Not in regard of an inherent or imputed holinesse: but in regard of their right to the Covenant of grace and the priviledges thereof.
This directeth every particular soul to labour for faith, as they do desire to live thereby, and to partake of the benefits thereof. Let not Children so trust to the faith of their Parents, as they neglect to get faith of their own. The like may be said to people in reference to their ministers. To wives in reference to their husbands. To husbands in reference to their wives. To servants in reference to their Masters: and* 1.3 to one friend & neighbour in reference to another. That which the wise virgins im∣plied concern•…•…ng their own oyl, that they had but enough for themselves, may be said of every ones faith, they have but enough for themselves. Christ expresly sheweth that of those that are neerly knit together in this world, One may be taken and ano∣ther left, Luk. 17. 34, &c.
What now may we think of works of Superrogation?
What of Implicite Faith?