Page:A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace (John Ball).djvu/31

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by repentance, and partly by faith, but by that faith, which stirreth up godly sorrow for sinne, and enforceth us to pray for pardon and Salvation. Faith is a necessary and lively instrument of Justification, which is amongst the number of true causes, not being a cause without which the thing is not done, but a cause wherby it is done. The cause without which a thing is not done, is only present in the action, and doth nothing therein: But as the eye is an active instrument for seeing, and the eare for hearing, so is faith also for justifying. If it be demanded whose instrument it is? It is the instrument of the Soule, wrought therin by the Holy Ghost, and is the free gift of God. In the Covenant of workes, workes were required as the cause of life and happinesse: but in the Covenant of grace, though repentance be necessary and must accompanie faith, yet not repentance, but faith only is the cause of life. The cause not efficient, as workes should have been, if man had stood in the former Covenant, but instrumentall only: for it is impossible that Christ, the death and blood of Christ, and our faith should be together the efficient or procuring causes of Justification or Salvation. When the Apostle writeth, that man is not justified by workes, or through workes, by the Law or through the Law (opposing faith and workes in the matter of Justification, but not in respect of their presence: faith, I say, and works, not faith and merits which could never be) without doubt he excludes the efficiency and force of the Law and workes in justifying: But the particles By and of doe not in the same sense take Justification from the Law and workes, in which they give it to faith. For faith only doth behould and receive the promises of life and mercy, but the Law and works respect the Commandements, not the promises of meere grace. When therfore Justification and life is said to be by faith, it is manifestly signified, that faith receiving the promise, doth receive righteousnesse and life freely promised. Obedience to all Gods Commandements is covenanted, not as the cause of life, but as the qualification and effect of faith, and as the way to life. Faith that embraceth life is obedientiall, and fruitfull in all good workes: but in one sort faith is the cause of obedience and good workes, and in another of Justification and life eternall. These it seeketh in the promises of the Covenant: those it worketh and produceth, as the cause doth the effect. Faith was the efficient