faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, which is, therefore, called the word of faith. And thus the word is the means in the hand of the Spirit, to dispose the hearts of those who hear it, to receive and to embrace Christ; whereby they attain the righteousness of faith, as Rom. x.

10.

"With the heart man believeth unto righteousness." The heart is the chief thing in believing; for into it Christ is received, and in it he dwells by faith. The vital union between Christ and the believer, is manifested and made known in the heart, and therein it is cemented and established. With joy can the believer say, "My Beloved is mine, and I am his," happy for me, we are but one person in the eye of the law, and our interests are but one. Blessed state this! Christ gives himself freely to the believer, who also gives himself up in faith to Christ. Christ, as the believer's surety, has taken his sins upon himself, and the believer takes Christ's righteousness; for Christ makes over all that he has to the believer, who, by faith, looks upon it, and makes use of it as

his own, according to that express warrant for his so doing, in 1 Cor. iii. 22, 23. "All things are yours, because ye belong to Christ."

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This vital union, between Christ and the believer, is largely treated of in Scripture. Christ thus speaks of it in his prayer for his people, John xvii. I pray for them who shall believe on me through their word, that they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one." And in John vi. 56. he says, "He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him ;" and this indwelling is by faith, as Eph. iii. 17."That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith." And it is the office of the Holy Spirit to manifest this union to their hearts, as John xiv. 20. "At that day, when the Spirit of truth is come, ye shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you." And besides these, and many other plain words, this union is also repre

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sented by several striking images, such as that of husband and wife, who are in law but one person; the husband being answerable for the wife's debts, and the wife sharing in her husband's honours and goods. It is set forth by the union between a building and the foundation upon which it stands secure; between a tree and its branches, which live because they are in the tree, and grow by the sap which they receive from it; between the head and the members, which, by holding under the head, live and grow, having a supply of nourishment administered to every part. Under these beautiful images the scripture sets forth the reality, and the blessed fruits of this union. The Holy Spirit makes it known to the believer, by enabling him to rely on God's word, as infallible truth, and to receive Christ's person as the almighty Saviour; and he strengthens it, by enabling the believer to make use of Christ's fulness, and to live by faith upon him in all his offices, for the partaking of all his promised graces and blessings.

That faith which is of the operation of

God, always produces the knowledge and the fruits of this blessed union, and enables the soul to give itself up to Christ, that it may be one with him, not in a figurative metaphorical way, but as really and truly, as the building is one with the foundation; as much one in interest, as husband and wife; one in influence, as the root and the branches, the head and the members. So that this is not an empty notion about Christ, or some clear knowledge of him, or a mere approving of his way of salvation; but it is an actual receiving of him into the heart for righteousness to justify, and to dwell and reign there to sanctify; a receiving him as a perfect Saviour, and living upon him and his fulness; waiting upon him to be taught daily; trusting wholly for acceptance to his blood and righteousness; resting, relying, leaning upon his promised strength to hold out unto the end; and hoping for eternal life as the free gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. The saving faith thus receives Christ, and thus lives upon Christ.

Now, reader, examine and prove thyself, whether thou hast this faith. Dost thou be

lieve with thy heart unto righteousness? Thou canst not live upon Christ, unless thou art first in Christ. Thou must be first persuaded of thine interest in him, before thou canst make use of it, and improve it and therefore the knowledge of thy union with him must be clear and plain, before thou canst have a free and open communion with him. There must be faith, before there can be the fruits of faith; and strong faith, before there can be much and ripe fruit. Little faith will receive but little from Christ. The weak believer is full of doubts and fears; and when he wants comfort or strength, or any other things which Christ has promised to give his people, he is questioning whether he has any right to expect them; and therefore he does not receive them, because he has not boldness and access with confidence to God by faith in Christ Jesus. From hence appears the necessity of being established in the faith. The believer must have clear evidence of his interest in Christ,