The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• Introduction
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• The Divine Feudal Law Represented
• §1.
• §2.
• §3
• §4
• §5
• §6
• §7
• §8
• §9
• §10
• §11
• §12
• §13
• §14.
• §15
• §16
• §17
• §18
• §19
• §20
• §21
• §22
• §23
• §24.
• §25
• §26
• §27
• §28
• §29
• §30
• §31
• §32
• §33
• §34
• §35
• §36
• §37
• §38
• §39.
• §40
• §41
• §42
• §43
• §44
• §45
• §46
• §47
• §48
• §49
• §50
• §51
• §52
• §53
• §54
• §55
• §56
• §57
• §58
• §59
• §60
• §61
• §62
• §63
• §64
• §65
• §66
• §67
• §68
• §69
• §70
• §71
• §72
• §73
• §74
• §75
• §76
• §77
• §78
• §79
• §80
• §81
• §82
• §83
• §84
• §85
• §86
• §87
• §88
• §89
• §90
• §91
• §92
• §93
• §94

§51

By Faith we are engag’d in this Covenant.But because only a Grief for the Sins we have committed cannot suffice to an Atonement for them, or obtain their Remission, and therefore does not suffice to our Admission into the gracious Covenant of God, nor can of it self produce a Conversion and Amendment of Life; therefore the primary and essential Condition of this Covenant on the Part of Men, and that, which being entertain’d Men become actual Partakers of this Covenant, is Faith in Jesus Christ; or that we place our Trust for Eternal Life only in him, and by his Merit seek Remission of Sins, and a Righteousness, such as may be approv’d by God, and eternal Salvacion. That Faith is call’d the Condition of the Covenant, not for that we thereby deserve the Benefits of the Divine Covenant, as by a Performance of equal Value, or as if we therein perform’d what was equal to that which is done on the Part of God and the Saviour: But because the Covenant and the Divine Benefits are thereby embraced; inasmuch as it is not the Pleasure of God to impose these upon those who are reluctant and unwilling to receive them: Neither can this be done without another Destruction of Morality. Whence it is that in this Matter, the Words Freely and Of Grace are so industriously inculcated in Holy Scripture. To which purpose the Scripture abounds in very manifest Expressions, Mar. 16. Preach the Gospel to every Creature; he that believes, and is baptized, shall be sav’d; he that believeth not shall be damned. Joh. 1:12. To as many as receiv’d him, to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God, even to as many as believ’d on his Name. Joh. 3:15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 36. He that believeth the Son hath everlasting Life, he that believeth not the Son shall not see Life, but the Wrath of God abideth on him. 20:31. Acts 4:12. To this Jesus all the Prophets give Testimony, that whosoever believes on him shall receive Remission of Sins by his Name. 13:38, 39. 15:11. Rom. 3:23, 24, 25, 26, 28. 4:5, 6, 7, 8. 10:4, 9, 10. Gal. 2:16. 3:26, 27. 5:6. Eph. 2:8, 9. Phil. 3:9. Heb. 4:16. 1 Joh. 1:7. 2:1, 2. 3:23. 5:10, 11, 12, 13. And Justification is the Effect of this Faith alone, by which Man is declar’d free from the Guilt of Sin upon the Account of the Satisfaction perform’d by the Saviour, which by Faith comes to be so imputed by God to him that believes, as if he himself had perform’d it, whereby also he is adopted to be a Son of God, and an Heir of Eternal Life, Tit. 3:7. Rom. 5:1, 9. Phil. 3:8, 9.