Reason to tremble and fear; for, if he lofes the Opportunity of making the best Use of the Affiftance of the Spirit when it is offered, he may lofe the Spirit, and himfelf, for ever. Let us therefore work whilst

we have the Light, and continually pray in the Words of our Church, O Lord, take not thy Holy Spirit from us.

DISCOURSE

DISCOURSE III.

EPHESIANS ii. 8.

For by Grace are ye faved, through Faith; and that not of yourselves: It is the Gift of God.

W

E have here, in few Words, the Argument which St. Paul always infists on, when he has

occafion to set forth the Kind

nefs of God towards Mankind.

Life and Immortality are the greatest Bleffings that we have any Notion of; and these were brought to Light by the Gospel of Christ: Him God gave for a Redeemer to the World, that whosoever believeth on him should not die, but have eternal Life. And even that through Faith in him we are faved, is the Gift of God; for of ourfelves we are able to do nothing. These

Things are taught us in the Compass of the Text, We are faved by Grace: We had no Title or Claim to Salvation, but God of his own Good-will hath fent among us plenteous Redemption; and, according to the Richness of his Mercy, and the great Love wherewith he loved us, hath, together with Chrift, quickened us who were dead in Sins. The Condition of this Salvation on our Part is Faith; for we are faved by Grace through Faith. We must believe our Redeemer, that he cometh from God, and hath the Words of Life; and must rely on him to perform the Word of Salvation which is gone out of his Mouth. But neither upon the Performance of this Condition can we fay that our own Arm. hath faved us, or that we have done any Thing towards perfecting our Redemption; for this Salvation through Faith, and this Faith, is not of ourselves, it is the Gift of God.

I shall discourse on this Proposition, That Faith is the Gift of God: Firft, I fhall endeavour to fhew what the Scripture Doctrine on this Head is; and, Secondly, fhall fuggeft to you fome Confiderations proper to this Subject.

First,

First then, Let us confider what the Scripture Doctrine on this Head is. The Faith which St. Paul speaks of in the Text is fuch a Faith as is effectual to Salvation; for it is the Faith through which, by Grace, we are faved: This Faith he afferts to be the Gift of God. There are different Significations of the Word Faith in Scripture: Sometimes it fignifies barely an Affent of the Mind to the Revelations and Doctrines of the Gospel, grounded upon fuch Evidence as the Things were capable of. This Faith fometimes is merely the Effect of common Sense; for Men cannot help believing the Things they fee. Sometimes this Faith is grounded on the neceffary Deductions of Reafon from common Principles; by this Means we arrive at the Knowledge of God: A Man of Reafon can no more avoid believing the Existence of a First Cause, than a Man with Eyes can avoid thinking that there is a material World, in which he lives. But neither has this Affent of the Mind the true Nature of Faith in it: Thou believeft, faith St. James, that there is one God; thou doeft well; the Devils alfo believe, and tremble. But neither of these Kinds of Faith being

the