Page:Everlasting love of God, and Mary's good choice.pdf/3

 IV. The benefit and conqueſt of our faith, which is, Salvation.

For this end did the Father love us, that he might ſave us, and give unto us eternal life. For this cauſe came the Son down from heaven, and for this cauſe it was he went to heaven, that he might give us eternal life; and for this cauſe the Father cauſes us believe, and this is the fruit and end of all believing, to-wit, eternal life.—So it remains to tell what are the benefits that believers get in the Son.

Now, leaving all that has been ſpoken concerning this myſtery of faith, as for the benefit that faith gets, in a word, it is Salvation. I know it gets more benefit before it will plant thee in Chriſt, and make thee one with him; it will make thee fleſh of his fleſh, and bone of his bone; it will make thee fit in heaven with him: It will crucify thee with Chriſt, and it will juſtify thee in Chriſt; it will get thee remiſſion in his blood, and it will cleanſe thy heart; for it is that bath of hyſſop that will ſprinkle that blood on thy ſoul, Exodus xii. 22.—Faith, in a word, will make thee to live in peace, and die in peace at the laſt, and will put thee in the peaceable poſſeſſion of endleſs glory! If ye get not that former benefit, ye will not get the laſt; and when thou getteſt the laſt, then thy faith ſhall ceaſe: