OBSERVATIONS

CONCERNING FAITH.

§ 1. FAITH is a belief of a testimony; 2 Thess. i. 10.

"When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (becausé our testimony among you was believed) in that day." It is an assent to truth, as appears by the 11th of Hebrews; and it is saving faith that is there spoken of, as appears by the last verses of the foregoing chapter: "And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they, without us, should not be made perfect." Mark i. 15. "Saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: Repent ye, and believe the gospel." John xx. 31. "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that, believing, ye might have life through his name." 2 Thess. ii. 13. "But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through. sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth."

§2. It is the proper act of the soul towards God as faithful. Rom. iii. 3, 4. For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged."

§ 3. It is a belief of truth from a sense of glory and excellency, or at least with such a sense. John xx. 29. "Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet

have believed." Matth. ix. 21. "She said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole." 1 Cor. xii. 3, "Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man, speaking by the Spirit of God, calleth Jesus accursed; and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost."

§ 4. It is a belief of the truth, from a spiritual taste and relish of what is excellent and divine. Luke xii. 57. "Yea, and why, even of yourselves, judge ye not what is right?” Believers receive the truth in the love of it, and speak the truth in love. Eph. iv. 15. "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ."

§5. The object of faith is the gospel, as well as Jesus Christ. Mark i. 15. And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: Repent ye, and believe the gospel." John xvii. 8. "For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me." Rom. x. 16, 17. "But they have not obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report ?....So then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

§ 6. Faith includes a knowledge of God and Christ. 2 Pet. i. 2, 3. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord; according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." John xvii. 3. 2o And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent."

§7. A belief of promises is faith, or a great part of faith. Heb. xi."Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen,' &c. 2 Chron. xx. 20. "And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be estabJished; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper." A de

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pending on promises is an act of faith. Gal. v. 5. through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.".

§ 8. Faith is a receiving of Christ. John i. 12. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."

9. It is receiving Christ into the heart. Rom. x. 6, 7,, 8, 9, 10. "But the righteousness which is of faith, speaketh on this wise, Say not in thy heart, Who shall ascend intor heaven? (That is, to bring Christ down from above ;) or, who shall descend into the deep? (That is, to bring up Christ. from the dead.) But what saith it; The word is nigh. thee,.. eyen, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, (that is, the word of faith, which we preach) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

10. A true faith includes more than a mere belief; it is accepting the gospel, and includes ail acceptation. 1.Tim. i.. 14, 15. "And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.". 2 Cor. xi. 4. "For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached; or if you receive another Spirit, which ye have not received; or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him."

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§ 11. It is something more than merely the assent of the understanding, because it is called an obeying the gospel. Rom. x. 16. "But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report ?" 1 Pet. iv. 17. "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: And if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God ?”

It is obeying the doctrine from the heart; Rom. vi. 17, 18. "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin; but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which

was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness," &c.

§ 12. This expression of obeying the gospel, seems to denote the heart's yielding to the gospel in what it proposes to us in its calls: It is something more than merely what may be called a believing the truth of the gospel. John xii. 42. "Nevertheless, among the chief rulers also, many believed on him; but, because of the Pharisees, they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue." And Philip asked the eunuch, whether he believed with all his heart?.... It is a fully believing, or a being fully persuaded: This passage evidences that it is so much at least.

§ 13. There are different sorts of faith that are not true and saving, as is evident by what the Apostle James says, "Shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." Where it is supposed that there may be a faith without works, which is not the right faith :When he says, "I will shew thee my faith by my works," nothing else can be meant, than that I will shew thee that my faith is right.

§ 14. It is a trusting in Christ. Psal. ii. 12. "Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little : Blessed are all they that put their trust in him." Eph. i. 12, 13. "That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ: In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise." 2 Tim. i. 12. "For the which cause I also suffer these things: Nevertheless I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

Many places in the Old Testament speak of trusting in God as the condition of his favor and salvation; especially Psal. Ixxviii. 21, 22. "Therefore the Lord heard this, and> was wroth So a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel; because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation." It implies submission S

Rom. xv. 12.

"And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse ; and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in him shall the Gentiles trust." Tim. iv. 10. "For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of those that believe." 2 Tim. i. 12. "For which cause I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." Matth. viii. 26. "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?" Matth. xvi. 8. "Which Jesus, when he perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread ?" 1 John v. 13, 14. "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life; and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us." Believing in Christ in one verse, is called confidence in

the next.

§ 15. It is a committing ourselves to Christ; 2 Tim. i. 12. "For the which cause I also suffer these things: Nevertheless I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." This is a Scripture sense of the word believe, as is evident by John ii. 24. « Jesus did not commit himself to them." In the original it is oux επιτευεν εαύλον αυλοίς.

16. It is a gladly receiving the gospel; Acts ii. 41. "Then they that gladly received his word, were baptized; and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." It is approving the gospel; Luke vii. 30, 35. "But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. But wisdom is justified of all her children." It is obeying the doctrine; Rom. vi. 17. "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin; but ye have obeyed from the heart, that form of doctrine which was delivered you." It is what may be well