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# pour out my soul unto thee:" and many others, The description of faith in Christ, given in this treatise, is not therefore at all inconsistent with the soul's thus resting itself on God, hanging upon him, and always expecting help from him; and if that idea do not appear sufficiently prominent; this arises from the nature of the subject, which relates to one important topick in divinity, and not to every part of a believer's experience.

When the doctrines of the gospel are assented to, and men are convinced by argument that there is no salvation, except by faith in Christ; they may more readily imagine that they rely on him, or confide in him to save them, than that they are daily and earnestly applying to him for salvation. I apprehend numbers think that they rely on Christ, even while they habitually neglect the means of grace, especially secret prayer; or while they attend to it formally, as an irksome duty, without importunity, fervency, or entering into the particularities of their case.-But the idea of believing application to Christ precludes this way of self-deception, without discouraging any upright enquirer; as it represents sinners by faith seeking help for their souls from an invisible Saviour, according to their feeling sense of sin and misery; as the blind and lame, the lepers and paralyticks, did for their bodies, when he was visibly present on earth.As an instance how much the idea of reliance, considered as an ade

quate definition of faith in Christ, may be abused, the author once heard a poor prostitute, when avowedly determined on pursuing her infamous course of life, ward off the conviction that she was in the road to eternal destruction, by expressing a firm reliance on God's mercy, and on the love of Christ who shed his blood to save poor sinners!

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Having premised these particulars concerning the general nature of faith, I would observe, that if any persons mean by faith in Christ, a confi"dent persuasion, that Christ died for them in par❝ticular, that they are in a justified state, and shall

certainly inherit everlasting life: it is not only granted, but strenuously maintained, that no man is warranted thus to believe concerning himself, except as he has clear proof that he is "in Christ "a new creature," and "has crucified the flesh "with its affections and lusts:" for this, and vastly more to the same purpose, is constantly spoken of in the Scriptures concerning all true christians without exception. Properly speaking, this confident persuasion of a personal interest in Christ, if well grounded; is hope, or the full assurance of hope; and is opposed to presumption, or a groundless confidence of salvation: nor can it be obtained or preserved except by walking in all the commandments and ordinances of God with persevering diligence.-Again if faith in Christ be considered as a reliance on him for salvation from future punishment, without heartily seeking to him

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for deliverance from sin and from this present evil world, or falling in with the whole design of his coming in the flesh; no man is, or can be wars ranted thus to believe on him: for this is a mere selfish, desire and presumptuous confidence of escaping misery and obtaining happiness, without the least real understanding of the nature, or value for the blessings, of that holy salvation which the Scriptures propose to us. For in fact, it is nothing better than the cry of the evil spirits, when they besought Christ not to torment them; except as these too well knew God's purposes, to expect final impunity.

A few other remarks may tend to elucidate the subject. We are told that "Faith is the evidence "of things not seen," as, it credits; the whole of God's sure testimony, concerning things invisible and future and "the substance of things hoped "for," as it realizes the substantial and eternal blessings which are brought to light by the gospels It is not then a new faculty of the soul: but the exercise of our original faculties in a manner new to us as sinners. To believe testimony, to rely on promises, and to expect the performance of them from the faithfulness of him who made them,) are as natural to us as any other act of the rational soul; and indeed almost all the business of life is conducted by this very principle: but the things, which the Lord testifies, proposes, and promises, are so foreign to our apprehensions, so contrary to

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our prejudices, so humiliating to our pride, so disquieting to our consciences, and so opposite to our carnal passions and pursuits; that we have no disposition cordially and obediently to believe them, till a change has taken place in our hearts. When, however, a man is properly disposed to believe divine truth in general; he will be led to consider and credit the testimony of God concerning his Son, and to believe in Christ for salvation. this faith must imply some perception and understanding of the nature of salvation, some conviction that we need it, and some desire after it: unless it can be supposed that a man seeks an object, of which he knows nothing, of which he feels no want, and about which he has not the least concern! It must also imply a virtual renouncing of all other confidences to depend on Christ alone, a willingness to use the appointed means, and a disposition rather to part with every thing, than fall short of an interest in him. For "the kingdom "of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the "which when a man hath found, he hideth, and "for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, "and buyeth that field. Again the kingdom of "heaven is like unto a merchant-man, seeking

goodly pearls; who, when he had found one "pearl of great price, went and sold all that he "had and bought it.""" This language of ou Lord is so decided; and the difference betweer

1 Mat. xiii. 44-46.

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him "who went away sorrowful, because he had great possessions," and those "who left all and "followed him," is so strongly marked, that we cannot on scriptural grounds allow that any man truly believes, if he is determined in his heart rather to renounce Christ, than part with some worldly object. It may indeed be urged, that these things are the effects of faith, and not implied in its nature: but assuredly the least exercise of true faith in Christ constitutes a man his disci

ple; yet he expressly says, "Whosoever he be of "you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot "be my disciple."" If therefore these are effects of faith, they spring immediately and invariably from its essential nature.-Awakened sinners often hesitate long, before they can be induced thus unreservedly to renounce all selfish confidences and worldly idols, for the sake of Christ and his salvation: some shrinking back on one account, and some on another, as carnal lusts, self-wise or selfrighteous pride, fear of man, or other corrupt propensities preponderate. Even they, who really believe the testimony of God, and are convinced that the gospel is true, are frequently seduced into very criminal delays, before they decidedly “count all "things but loss that they may win Christ." But every genuine exercise of faith implies these things: though in many cases, they are only discernible, as the members of the body in the half

1 Luke xiv. 25–33.

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