But you will say, may not a man have faith, and not that fruit you speak of?  May not a man have a good heart to Godward, altho he can not find that ability in matter of fruitfulness?

My brethren, be not deceived; such an opinion is a mere delusion of Satan; wherever faith is it bringeth Christ into the soul; mark that, “Whosoever believeth, Christ dwelleth in his heart by faith.  And if Christ be in you,” saith the apostle, “the body is dead, because of sin, but the spirit is life, because of righteousness.”  If Christ be in you, that is, whosoever believeth in the Lord Jesus, Christ dwells in such a man by faith; now if Christ be in the soul, the body can not be dead; but a man is alive, and quick, and active to holy duties, ready, and willing, and cheerful in the performance of whatsoever God requireth.  Christ is not a dear Savior, nor the Spirit a dead Spirit:  the second Adam is made a quickening spirit.  And wherever the Spirit is, it works effects suitable to itself.  The Spirit is a spirit of purity, a spirit of zeal, and where it is it maketh pure and zealous.  When a man will say he hath faith, and in the mean time can be content to be idle and unfruitful in the work of the Lord, can be content to be a dead Christian, let him know that his case is marvelously fearful:  for if faith were in him indeed it would appear; ye can not keep your good hearts to yourselves; wherever fire is it will burn, and wherever faith is it can not be kept secret.  The heart will be enlarged, the soul quickened, and there will be a change in the whole life and conversation, if ever faith takes place in a man.  I will say no more of this, but proceed to the second point arising out of the affirmative part.

You will say, what fruit is it then?  Or how shall a man know what is the true fruit of faith, indeed, whereby he may discern his own estate?  I answer, the text will tell you:  “He that walketh in the footsteps of that faith of Abraham.”  By footsteps are meant the works the actions, the holy endeavors of Abraham; and where those footsteps are there is the faith of Abraham.  So that the point of instruction hence is thus much (which indeed is the main drift of the apostle).

That, Every faithful man may, yea doth, imitate the actions of faithful Abraham.

Mark what I say; I say again, this is to be the son of Abraham, not because we are begotten of him by natural generation, for so the Jews are the sons of Abraham; but Abraham is our father because he is the pattern, for the proceeding of our faith.  “Thy father was an Amorite,” saith the Scripture:  that is, thou followest the steps of the Amorites in thy conversation.  So is Abraham called the “father of the faithful,” because he is the copy of their course, whom they must follow in those services that God calleth for.  So the point is clear, every faithful man may, yea doth, and must imitate the actions of faithful Abraham.  It is Christ’s own plea, and He presseth it as an