Page:Sermon preached on a preparation-day, before the sacrament of the Lord's-Supper, at Bruntisland, upon 2 Sam. vii. 20. Do as thou hast said.pdf/4

 ; he ſees it to be the word of God, and a word ſpoken in ſeaſon to his weary ſoul. They will never take the word by faith that do not underſtand it; Philip ſaid unto the Eunuch, Underſtandeſt thou what thou readeſt? So we may ſay, underſtandeſt thou what thou heareſt? Are your eyes opened to ſee the wonders of his law, or doctrine; to ſee the glory of Chriſt held out to you in the word?

2. Faith takes the word of God by a particular application of it, with the heart; inſomuch that it is a cordial apprehenſion, or a cordial aſſent that is given to the word; with the heart man believeth unto righteouſneſs. Saving light goes to the heart. Many have only their heads enlightned, their judgments informed, but not their hearts engaged, nor their affections captivated. Faith is a cordial applying the word, and that particularly to the man's own benefit; whether we call it aſſurance or not, it comes to the ſame thing: as when inconviction the threatning is applied, the man trembles under the fear of hell and wrath, becauſe he applies the law threatning to himſelf, ſaying, I'm the man to whom this threatning is ſpoken; ſo, in the day of converſion or believing, the promiſe, is applied, the man is relieved with the view of the grace and mercy of God in Chriſt, becauſe he applies the goſpel-promiſe to himſelf, ſaying, "I am the man to whom this promiſe is ſpoken, and I receive and reſt upon Chriſt for ſalvation, as he is promiſed or offered to me in this goſpel To me is this word of ſalvation." And if the man did not take it to himſelf, there would be no believing at all. But then,

IV. The fourth thing propoſed, was, to ſhew how faith plead the accompliſhment of the promiſe.

1. It pleads upon the mercy that made the promiſe that it is everlaſting mercy, unchangeable mercy; the Lord, the Lord God merciful and gracious.

2. It pleads upon the truth that is to make out the promiſe; it is called, The truth in Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, Micah. vii. 20. that his name is faithful and true.

3. It pleads upon the power of the promiſer, being fully perſuaded, that he that hath promiſed is able to perform; that he hath not out promiſed his own promiſe, or ſaid what he cannot do.

4 It pleads upon the blood of the covenant that ſeals all the promiſes thereof; hence they are all yea and amen in Chriſt Jeſus.

5. It pleads upon the love of God to Chriſt; this is to pray