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; 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." 1 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 oυκ επισευεν εαύλον αυλοις. § 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 4 understood by those expressions of coming to Christ, of looking to him, of opening the door to let him in. This is very evident by scripture. It is a coming and taking the waters of life, eating and drinking Christ's flesh and blood, hearing Christ's voice, and following him. John x. 26, 27. " But ye believe not; because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." John viii. 12. " Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world; he that followeth me, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." Isaiah xlv. 22. "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: For I am God, and there is none else." § 17. Faith consists in two things, viz. in being persuaded of, and in embracing the promises: Heb. xi. 13. "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." 1 Cor. xiii. 7. "Charity believeth all things, hopeth all things." If that faith, hope and charity, spoken of in this verse, be the same with those that are compared together in the last verse, then faith arises from a charitable disposition of heart, or from a principle of divine love. John ν. 42. "But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you," with the context. Deut. xiii. 3. "Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: For the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul." 1 John v. 1. "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God: And every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him." § 18. It is a being reconciled unto God, revealing himself by Christ in the gospel, or our minds being reconciled. 2 Cor. v. 18, 19, 20, 21. " And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to as the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ; as 425 though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." Col. i. 21. sometimes alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked "And you that were works, yet now hath he reconciled." It is the according of the whole soul, and not merely of the understanding. Matth. xi. 6. " Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me." §19. There is contained in the nature of faith a sense of our own unworthiness. Matth. xv. 27, 28. "Truth, Lord, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith." See concerning the centurion, Luke vii. 6....9; this woman which was a sinner, ib. v. 37, 38, and especially 50; the prodigal son, Luke xv. the penitent thief, Luke xxiii. 41. Consult also Hab. ii. 4. "Behold his soul which is lifted up, is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith. Prov. xxviii. 25,; Psal. xl. 4, and Psal. cxxxi. None can come un- § 20. It is a being drawn to Christ. to Christ, but whom the Father draws. covenant of grace is represented thus, that the condition of finding is only seeking; and the condition of receiving, asking; and the condition of having the door opened, is knocking. From whence I infer, that faith is a hearty applying unto God by Christ for salvation, or the heart's seeking it of God through him. See also John iv. 10. est the gift of God, and who it is that saith unto thee, Give "If thou knewme to drink, thou wouldst have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water." And Luke xxiii. 42; it is calling on Christ; it is the opposite unto disallowing and rejecting Christ Jesus. John xii. 46, 47, 48. into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide " I am come a light in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not; for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him; the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." ! Pet. ii. VOL. IV 3 F 1 7. "Unto you therefore which believe, he is precious; but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner." §21. Love either is what faith arises from, or is included in faith, by John iii. 18, 19. "He that believeth not, is condemned already; and this is their condemnation, that men loved darkness rather than light." 2 Thess. ii. 10, 12. " And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." §22. The being athirst for the waters of life is faith, Rev. xxi. 6. It is a true cordial seeking of salvation by Christ. Believing in Christ is heartily joining ourselves to Christ and to his party, as is said of the followers of Theudas, Acts v. 36. And we are justified freely through faith, i. e. we are saved by Christ only on joining ourselves to him. It is a being persuaded to join ourselves to him, and to be of his party. John viii. 12. " Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: He that followeth me, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." To believe in Christ, is to hearken to him as a prophet; to yield ourselves subjects to him as a king; and to depend upon him as a priest. Desiring Christ, is an act of faith in Christ, because he is called the desire of all nations; Hagg. ii. 7, that is, he that is to be the desire of all nations, when all nations shall believe in him and subject themselves to him, according to the frequent promises and prophecies of God's word; though there are other things included in the sense, yet this seems to be principally intended. There belongs to faith a sense of the ability and sufficiency of Christ to save, and of his fitness for the work of salvation : Matth. ix 2, and 28, 29, and 21. Rom. iv. 21. " And being fully persuaded, that what he had promised, he is able to perform." Of his fidelity, Matth. xiv. 30, 31. "But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid: And beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, where me. |