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to the things believed in their minds, fo as to be productive of proper effects. There is no real image or reflection of the things they profefs to believe made upon their fouls. The death of Chrift, for inftance, or Chrift crucified, is propofed to our faith in the bleffed gofpel. The proper effect T 2

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promised in his word, but which are not yet actually enjoyed. It hath been obferved by many learned. men, that the word sλeyxos, used by the apoftle, and tranflated evidence, fignifies a strict proof, or demonftration; it is fuch a kind of evidence as both convinces the understanding, and engages a man to act according to that conviction. Dr. Doddridge's paraphrafe on the latter claufe of the verfe in queftion, is very juft: Faith is the powerful conviction of things which are not feen, but of the certainty and importance of which there is fuch a full perfuafion, that they act upon the mind, in a great measure, as if they were prefent."

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This definition of faith is general, and relates to its efficacy through the whole of our chriftian course, as is evident from the inftances produced, to exemplify it, in the following parts of the chapter. It defcribes the faith by which a juft man lives and walks, by which he overcomes all enemies, all difficulties, and all oppofition in his way to the kingdom. But that particular notion of faith which relates to a finner's looking to Jefus for the remiffion of his fins, the juftification of his perfon, and his acceptance with God, is certainly included. See Hebrews xi. 1.

of true faith in this object, is to deftroy fin, to crucify, or to mortify it in us. But where it is only apprehended by a fuperficial or temporary faith, this effect will not be produced in the foul. Sin will retain its dominion, notwithstanding the profeffion which the man makes of faith in Chrift. He only who believes in Jefus with the heart unto righteoufnefs, becomes dead to fin, fo as not to live any longer therein. He receives the word of promife, revealing Chrift and his atonement, fo as to give it a real admittance into his mind and heart, to abide and dwell there, as in its proper place. It is in him the ingrafted word which is able to fave the foul. Or, to use another allufion, it transforms his whole mind into a new state, as the form of wax is changed by the impreffion of a feal into the image of the feal itself. Christ crucified, we have said, is the principal subject of the gofpel. He himself tells us, that he is the bread that came down from heaven; that his flesh is meat indeed, and his blood drink indeed. Faith is the eating of this provifion. As, in eating, the food is received, and by digestion turned into the very fubftance of the body, fo the divine word is received by faith, and having a subsistence in the foul, produceth the happy fruits of righteousness; for the truth"worketh effectually in them that believe."

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It is through this faith in the complete work of the Redeemer, that, being juftified, we have peace with our offended Sovereign. The atonement, which is made for our fins by the blood of the cross, is no otherwise received than by faith. We joy in God through Jefus Chrift our Lord, by whom we have now received the atonement." This faith is declared to be the gift of God.

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He is pleased to engage the mind of the sinner to a diligent attention to the word preached. “Faith cometh by hearing." Hence the Author of eternal falvation fays to us, "Hear, and your fouls fhall live." It is his usual method, in the converfion of finners, to bring them under the found of the gofpel, and to engage them seriously to regard the meffages of it. A bleffing is therefore pronounced on those who watch daily at wisdom's at wifdom's gates, waiting at the posts of her doors. But a listless and indolent attendance in places of religious worship will be of little advantage. The minds of finners, who are brought to believe, are therefore roused, and excited to take earnest heed to the words of everlasting life, by him who fays unto them, "Hearken diligently unto me." They have before heard the most important truths with indifference, as if they were but idle tales, or cunningly devised fables; it is now otherwise. The arrows

བ》ར་་ར་.

of conviction begin to pierce their confciences, and penetrate their hearts. They regard what is spoken, not as the word of man, but as it is in truth the word of God. They are convinced that there is a facred reality in religion; they are awakened to a fense of their own danger, and begin in good earneft to inquire after fome way of escape.

The minds of fuch finners are likewise further enlightened concerning the nature and neceffity of true faith. They learn from the fcriptures, that without faith it is impoffible to please God; that there is no pardon of fin, no justification, no peace with the offended Majefty of heaven, without faith; that he who believeth not is condemned already, and, continuing in that ftate, fhall furely be damned. Hence they are led to inquire, what that faith is which is fo neceffary to the falvation of the foul. And they are convinced that it must be fomething more than that lifeless affent to the truth of fcripture doctrines of which thousands are 'poffeffed, who are alienated from the life of God, and continue the flaves of fin, of Satan, and of the world; who have no love to God, nor regard for holinefs. They begin to fee, that though they have always thought themselves to be believers, they have but deceived themselves; fince none of the fruits of a living faith have been brought forth by

them.

them. Hence they are convinced, that they have lived to that very day in a ftate of unbelief. It is the work of the Holy Spirit of God to convince men of fin, because they believe not on the name of Jefus.

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Being convinced of unbelief, the awakened finner becomes very folicitous that he may be the fubject of that faith which is of the operation of God, which purifies the heart, works by love, overcomes the world, and has its iffue in the full and everlasting falvation of the foul. Oh,' fays he, that I could lay hold on the promifes of life in Chrift Jefus! O that I could fo behold them as to be perfuaded of them, and embrace them, with fatisfactory acquiefcence of mind in the truth of God, as to their accomplishment in my behalf! But I am like one swimming against the stream, and endeavouring to catch hold on that which, with all his efforts, he cannot reach. I fometimes cry, with the poor man in the gofpel, Lord, I would believe, help thou my unbelief. Conscious guilt fills me with terror. I tremble before that God whose wrath I have fo juftly deserved. I feel fomething within continually upbraiding me with my past offences and prefent unworthiness, and telling me I ought not to derive encouragement from the promises of mercy, for I have neither part

nor

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