thy way, thy son liveth; and the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way, &c. And himself believed, and his whole house. -John iv. 39. 41, 42. 49, 50. 53. He that believeth on him that sent me, &c. Had ye believed Moses, &c. But if ye believe not his writings, &c. -John v. 24. 46, 47. This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent, &c. Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hath the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure, that thou art that Christ the Son of the living God.John vi. 29. 68, 69. For if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins, &c. Abraham saw my day, &c.-John viii. 24.56. The man who was born blind Christ cured: and when the Jews had cast him out, Jesus heard of it; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? And he answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? &c. It is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe; and he worshipped him.-John ix. 33-38. Jesus, &c. whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord, I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.-John xi. 2527. vi. 14. He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but, &c.-John xii. 44. That when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. John xiii. 19. Acts xxvi. 18. Ye believe in God, believe also in me.-John xiv. 1. The Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God, &c. Now are we sure, that thou knowest all things, &c. By this be believe that thou camest forth from God.-John xvi. 27.30. I have given unto them the words which thou gavest to me, and they have received them; and they have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.--John xvii. 8. 25. xi. 45. 1 John v. 10, 11. Thomas, &c. said unto him, My Lord and my God! &c. Jesus saith, &c. Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. These things are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.-John xx. 28, 29. 31. The Eunuch said, What doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He baptized him. Acts viii. 36-38. Paul preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God, &c. Proving that this is very Christ.Acts ix. 20. 22. xvii. 3. God gave them the like gift, &c. Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. Acts xi. 17, 18. We believe, that through the grace of the Lord Jesus, we shall be saved even as they.-Acts xv. 11. Testifying both to the Jews, &c. faith towards our Lord Jesus.--Acts xx. 20, 21. Believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets, and have hope towards God, which they themselves also allow, that there, &c. -Acts xxiv. 14, 15. John ii. 22. That they may receive forgiveness of sins, &c. by faith that is in me.Acts xxvi. 18. Paul said, Be of good cheer, for there shall be no loss, &c. Be of good cheer; for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.-Acts xxvii. 21-25. To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness, &c. Abraham against hope believed in hope, &c. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, &c. but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform: and therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.-Rom. iv. 5. 16. 18-22. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. Rom. vi. 8. We are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for, what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it, &c. I am persuaded that neither life, &c. Rom. viii. 24, 25. 38, 39. The righteousness which is of faith, speaketh on this wise: say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? that is, to bring Christ down from above: or, Who shall descend into the deep? that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead. But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, 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. Rom. x. 6-10. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, &c. Rom. xiii. 14. No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the holy Ghost.-1 Cor. xii. 3. My preaching was not with enticing words, &c. that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.-1 Cor. ii. 4, 5. We also believe, and therefore speak; knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus, shall raise up us also, by Jesus, and shall present us with you, &c. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen, &c. which are eternal.-2 Cor. iv. 13, 14. 18. We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, &c. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord, &c. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men, &c. -2 Cor. v. 1. 6. 8. 11. That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted (or hoped) in Christ.-Eph. i. 12. Buried with him in baptism; wherein also you are risen with him, through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.Col. ii. 12. We pray always for you, that our God would, &c. fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith, with power.-2 Thess. i. 11. Therefore we both labour, and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of those that believe.1 Tim. iv. 10. Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold on eternal life.-1 Tim. vi. 12. When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, &c. I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed; and I am persuaded, that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.-2 Tim. i. 5. 12. James i. 5, 6. According to the faith of God's elect, &c. In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began, &c. Rebuke them sharply, that they may be found sound in the faith. -Titus i. 1, 2. 13. ii. 2. And faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus.-Phil. 5. Acts xx. 20, 21. The word, &c. did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it, &c. We which have believed do enter into rest. Heb. iv. 2, 3. We, &c. who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us. Heb. vi. 18. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him, &c. By faith Abraham, &c. sojourned in the land of promise, &c. For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Through faith also Sarah herself receiveth strength, &c. because she judged him faithful who had promised, &c. 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, &c. Abraham offered Isaac, &c. accounting that God was able to raise him up from the dead, &c. Moses had respect unto the recompense of reward, &c. as seeing him who is invisible. And some refused deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Heb. xi. 1. 6.8-11.13.17. 19. 26, 27.35. vi. 18. seen. For he that cometh to God We have seen and do testify, that If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, &c. but let him ask in faith, nothing wavering: for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, &c. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. -James i. 5-7. Blessed be God, &c. which hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, &c. whom, having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, &c. who by him do believe in God, &c. that your faith and hope might be in God. -1 Pet. i. 3. 8. 21. To whom coming as unto a living stone, &c. ye also, as lively stones, are built up, &c.-1 Pet. ii. 4, 5. To them that have obtained like precious faith with us.-2 Pet. i. 1. Who is a liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? - 1 John ii. 22. We know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ-1 John iii. 2, 3. 23. v. 13. the Father hath sent the Son to be the Saviour, &c. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love which God hath unto us, &c.1 John iv. 14-16. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, &c. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? &c. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater, &c. We know we are of God. We know that the Son of God is come, &c. His Son Jesus Christ; this is the true God and eternal life. -1 John v. 1. 5. 9. 19, 20. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves in your most holy faith, keep, &c.-Jude 20. SECT. III. Farther Benefits and Advantages of Faith. NOAH believed, was moved with fear, built the Ark, was saved. Heb. xi. 7. Pharaoh's servants, who believed God's word secured their cattle from the hail.-Exod. ix. 18-21.24. I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. -Ps. xxvii. 13. Isa. vii. 9. Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. - Prov. xvi. 3. 2 Chron. xx. 20. Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust, &c. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. Isa. xii. 2, 3. Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt, &c. because he believed in his God. -Dan. vi. 23. Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, &c. and God saw their works, and God repented of the evil that he said he would do unto them. - Jonah iii. 5-10. Jesus saith unto the blind men, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened.-Matt. ix. 28-30. Luke xviii. 42. When Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus; but when he began to fear, he began to sink, &c. And Jesus said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?-Matt. xiv. 28-31. When Christ saw the faith of the woman of Canaan, Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole. Matt. xv. 26-28. Luke xviii. 42. vii. 7. The disciples came to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard-seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence into yonder place, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Matt. xvii. 19, 20. Mark xi. 23. Matt. xxi. 21. The faith of the woman with the bloody issue derived virtue from Christ to heal her, &c. Jesus said to the ruler (when news was brought that his daughter was dead), Benotafraid; only believe: and Christ raised her. -Mark v. 27-29. 35, 36.42. If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth, &c. He cried out, Lord, I believe: help thou my unbelief. Jesus healed his child.-Mark ix. 23-27. What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. --Mark xi. 24. James i. 5-7. Matt. xxi. 22. The centurion's faith healed his vant.-Luke vii. 9, 10. Matt. viii. 13. He that believeth on me (as the scripture hath saith), out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive. John vii. 38, 39. iv. 14. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me, should not abide in darkness.-John xii. 46. If thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God.John xi. 40. Christ prayed for those who had, and afterwards should believe on him. John xvii. 20. Through faith in his name, hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know; yea, the faith which is by him, hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. - Acts iii. 16. What doth hinder me to be baptized? If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.-Acts viii. 36, 37. And put no difference between them and us, purifying their hearts by faith. -Acts xv. 9. Paul's faith saved the passengers in their dangerous voyage and in shipwreck; he believed God.-Acts xxvii. 22-25. Rejoicing in hope. Rom. xii. 12. The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing. Rom. xv. 13. We are always confident; knowing that whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord; for we walk by faith, and not by sight. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.2 Cor. v. 6-8. They which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham, &c. We received, &c. the Spirit through faith. -Gal. iii. 7. 14. In whom after that ye believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit.Eph. i. 13. In whom we have boldness, and access with confidence, by the faith of him, &c. that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. -Eph. iii. 12. 17. Heb. iv. 16. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. -Eph. vi. 16. We are the circumcision, &c. which sound and unfeigned faith.-2 Tim. rejoice in Christ, and have no confidence in the flesh. -Phil. iii. 3. Putting on the breast-plate of faith and love; and for an helmet the hope of salvation.-1 Thess. v. 8. Therefore we both labour, and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of those that believe.1 Tim. iv. 10. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life.-1 Tim. vi. 12. The word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it, &c. For we which have believed, do enter into rest, &c. For he that is entered into rest, he also hath ceased from his own works. -Heb. iv. 2, 3. 10. 2 Chron. xx. 20. That by two immutable things, &c. we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us; which hope we have, as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, &c.Heb. vi. 18, 19. Faith enabled men to do and suffer great things for God. - See at large Heb. xi. xii. 1, &c. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.-James v. 15. Who are kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation, &c. receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. - 1 Pet. i. 5.9. To them that have obtained like precious faith with us.-2 Pet. i. 1. This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.-1 Johnv. 4. SECT. IV. The Effects, or Fruits by which we know a right Faith. We should try ourselves. EXAMINE yourselves, whether ye be in the faith.-2 Cor. xiii. 5. All men have not faith.-2 Thess. iii. 2. It is called the faith of God's elect; i. 5. Titus i. 1. 13. ii. 2. That the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold, &c. might be found unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ. -1 Pet. i. 7. Be ready always to give, &c. a reason of the hope that is in you.1 Pet. iii. 15. Abimelech and Pharaoh's servants, believing the divine threatenings, obeyed God.-Gen. xx. 7, &c. Exod. ix. 19, 20. He that believeth, shall not make haste. - Isa. xxviii. 16. vii. 9. Prov. xvi. 3. 2 Chron. xx. 20. The people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, &c. Who can tell if God will turn, and repent? &c. And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way, &c.-Jonah iii. 5.8-10. They trembled at the words of God, when he threatened for sin.-Ezra ix. 4. 2 Kings xxii. 11.13.18,19. Isa.lxvi. 2. The vision is yet for an appointed time: but at the end it shall speak, and shall not lie: though it tarry, wait for it, &c. Behold his soul which is lifted up, is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.Hab. ii. 3, 4. Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?-Mark iv. 40. Heb. xi. 23. 27. The woman who had much forgiven unto her, loved much, and expressed it much; and Jesus said, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.Luke vii. 38. 42, 43. 47. And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. - Luke xvii. 5. Mark ix. 24. The faith of the poor impotent people made them wait at the pool, for the moving of the water: and though they were disappointed often, yet still they waited.-John v. 2-7. Abraham rejoiced to see my day; |