OF THE NATURE OF FAITH; ITS EFFICACY AND EXCELLENCE AS A PRACTICAL PRINCI. PLE OF HOLINESS, AND CONSEQUENTLY THE REASON ABLENESS OF ITS POSSESSING SUCH A DISTIN GUISHED PLACE IN THE CHRIS TIAN SYSTEM. HAVING already pronounced faith to be the condition of the Covenant of Grace, and briefly spoken of the justification, adoption, and sanctification of the believer, as among the precious fruits of this covenant, I have, however, thought it necessary, on account of the high importance of the doctrines of faith in the christian system, to treat of it with somewhat greater extent and precision. As it is the fundamental article of the gospel, it has accordingly been attacked by the enemies of christianity with peculiar virulence, and with the most disingenuous sarcasm; insultingly presuming that the gospel needs the support of faith, only in proportion as it is destitute of reason. The evidences on which our faith is sustained have been already discussed, as far as this compendious system would admit. And, on the most rigourous investigation, it will be found to rest on secure and solid foundations. Its enemies, taking advantage of an obvious prejudice against the name of faith, find an occasion, either through ignorance or enmity, to impeach the whole system as an appeal to the credulity of mankind. On the contrary, this doctrine, when calmly and dispassionately considered, will be found, notwithstanding the objections of its enemies, not less conformable to the principles of reason, than it isto the prescriptions of Christ. For it is equally true of every moral institution, as of the gospel, that its doctrines, its laws, its sanctions, and the authority on which the whole depends, must be clearly comprehended, and heartily believed, before they can acquire an influence on manners and conduct. Had christianity been simply a philosophic institute, intended to regulate morals, and to persuade mankind to a virtuous life, yet must its doctrines have been received as truth, with a proper understanding of their nature, worth, and importance, (and what else is faith?) before they could have exerted any practical effect on the heart and affections.Thus does the principle of faith become, not only a necessary, but a most rational basis of the gospel, whether we consider it as a code of doctrine addressed to the intellect, or a system of precepts regulating the practice. And, inasmuch as the mass of mankind are incapable of deducing the system of their duties from the fountains of reason alone; still less are the wisest of their sages capable of entering into the unsearchable counsels of God, so as explain to us on what terms the repentance of a sinner may be accepted of him, in order to his reconciliation; or of penetrating the darkness which hangs over the everlasting destinies of mankind; and since truth, and comfortable hope, on these subjects, must be purely the effect of revelation, faith is, with still more propriety, made the fundamental principle of the christian system. It is confessed that the peculiar and discriminating doctrines of christianity cannot rest on the discoveries of human reason. They must be received, if they are rationally received at all, upon the evidence of those omnipotent works performed by Jesus Christ, which identify him with the Author of all truth. We believe, not because he hath taught like the leader of a philosophic sect, in a chain of the most accurate and conclusive reasoning; but because he hath made it evident, that, in his words, God himself, the Author of all truth, hath spoken. For, we can have no doubt of the presence of God in the midst of those astonishing displays of divine power, with which the Saviour hath invited the attention of the world; nor of the veracity of that testimony, the truth of which the Almighty has deigned to confirm with his own seal. As it is the privilege of children to receive the lessons of duty and wisdom from the mouth of a wise parent, which they ought to admit with implicit reverence, before their minds are sufficiently mature to discern their foundations in the eternal principles of reason, so the disciple of Christ humbly learns, by faith, at the feet of his Redeemer, those truths which he could not otherwise receive, till the soul, ripened by the instructions of his grace and Spirit, shall be enabled to contemplate them, in the light of heaven with an angel's reason.-I proceed, therefore, to exhibit the nature of Faith, which is our best reason, till the period arrive of immediate vision. DEFINITION OF EVANGELIC FAITH. Evangelic Faith, in its most general import, consists in receiving the holy scriptures, with clear understanding, and with inward and profound conviction of their truth, as containing the infallible word of God; and in embracing Jesus Christ, who is the principal subject of them, as the Son of God, and the Saviour of the world. Apostles, and prophets, and inspired men are his organs to declare his will to mankind; but, to the believer, it is God himself who speaks in them. On this definition several guards and explanations are to be made, in order to the more distinct understanding of the subject. The holy scriptures, besides the revelation of Jesus Christ, and of eternal life through him, contain a wide compass of miscellaneous information, more or less directly connected with their principal end, the publication of the glad tidings of peace, to a guilty world. Faith, therefore, besides receiving these miscellanies as truths which highly concern the church, respects the holy sciptures chiefly as revealing a system of mercy to fallen man. And, amidst their various contents, those subjects are more peculiarly incorporated in the object of faith, which are most essentially conjoined with this idea of divine mercy: For example; the fallen and guilty state of human nature; the perfect atonement for sin made by our Lord Jesus Christ; the infinite greatness, holiness, justice, goodness, sovereignty, and truth of God; the beauty and excellence of the law of holiness; and the promise of eternal life to the penitent. On other subjects opinions may be more various, ideas may be more indefinite and obscure: but on these, belief ought to be precise, clear, strong. In stating the nature of faith, however, a distinction is to be made between that belief which has a reference merely to the integrity and veracity of the prophet, the apostle, or the messenger of Heaven, and that which respects also the nature, importance, and excellence of the doctrines which these divine instructors communicate. Let me illustrate my meaning by a familiar example. We may possess perfect confidence in the wisdom of an eminent moralist, or admire the talents of a fine writer, who points out, with all the truth of criticism, the beauties of any classic work; but for want of having the reason properly cultivated by education, we may not perceive the soundness of his remarks, or the accuracy of his reflections; or, through deficiency of taste, may not be able to discern the beauty of his examples, nor the delicacy of his illustrations. The principles and doctrines |