The ground then of every Chriftian's faith in particular, is God's word, declaring, and testifying that in Chrift Jefus whosoever believeth, bath forgive nefs of fins, and is juftified from all things*.

Our faith therefore, which is a fure foundation for the hope of eternal life, hath itself an immoveable bafis and ground whereon to reft, by which it is firmly fupported in the midft of the greatest trials, and efforts of the enemy. Nothing can fap its foundation, nor can the gates of bell prevail against it; for it is built upon a rock, even God in Chrift reconciling the world unto bimfelft, whofe promife of life is to each indviidual in particular, that believeth in JESUS.

Some persons make not God's word the ground of their faith in divine matters, but the opinions and word of man, the decrees of councils, the judg ment and authority of the Fathers, of the Pope, Archbishops and Bishops, national Synods, &c.

If any indeed, or all of these speak no other things than Mofes and the Prophets, CHRIST and his Apoitles, have already fpoken, and teftified; they are then to be believed, and obeyed; not because of their faying, but because they faithfully speak to us God's word: but if this doth not appear, it is Na against

Acts xiii. 38, 39.

+ 2 Cor. v. 19.

against the truth of GOD, and contrary to his word, that we should believe, or regard them. Therefore let every man fearch the Scriptures for him-. felf, that he may know what he believeth-For what is the chaff to the wheat? faith the Lord+:To the law and to the teftimony: if they speak not according to this rule, there is no light in them ‡.

When therefore the Theffalonians received the Apostle's teftimony, he commends them because they received it not as the word of man, but as the word of God. And he fpeaks honorably of the Bereans allo, who fufpended their belief of what the Apoftles preached unto them, until they had fearched the Scriptures, and examined their doctrine by the Word of GOD: Therefore, he adds, many of them believed §.Here obferve that even the Apoftles fubmitted their doctrines to be examined by the holy Scriptures, and commended them that did fo; nay, they appealed to the Scriptures for the truth of what they preached, and proved all their affertions from thence :-Thus Paul, in his defence be fore king Agrippa, maintains that he faid no other things than what Mofes and the Prophets did fay fhould come to pafs; viz. that CHRIST fhould fuffer, &c. hence he preached both to Jews and Gentiles, that they fhould repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

+ Jer. xxiii. 28.

§ Acts, xvii. 12.

Others

Others there are who ground their faith on what they find in themselves, or on fomething which they have done, and are poffeffed of, more than others; thus leaning not on CHRIST, but on their mutable frames, works, and duties: thefe alfo greatly err, for they make not the word, and promife of GoD in CHRIST JESUS, the ground of their faith; but their own diftreffes or joys, their endeavours or good works; these things are by fome perfons reckoned their fitness, preparation, or meetness for CHRIST, and for the faith of the Gospel. But this foundation is not only precarious and unstable, because it has no fcriptural ground to support it, but alfo deceitful, and pernicious; for when God takes away their comforts, and ability to do as they once did, their faith and their heart fail them together; but the word of our God fball ftand for ever*.

. Diftreffes of foul indeed are fometimes needful, as physic is to the body; and joys also, as refreshing cordials to the finking fpirits: felf-confidence and pride are often checked and fuppreffed by the former; and encouragement and ftrength to hold on our way administered by the latter: yea, whom the Lord loveth be chafteneth, and scourgeth every fon whom he receivetht; and to rejoice in Chrift Jefus only

N 3

Ifa. xl. 8.-1 Pet, i. 25.

↑ Heb. xii. 6.

only is alfo a fruit of the Spirit.-This joy of ite Lord is our frength, or that wherewith our fouls are ftrengthened by the HOLY GHOST, in believing; diligence alfo in the practice of good works is the Chriftian's employment all his days, that he may bring forth fruit unto God: But the Scripture reveals no other foundation for our faith but this, wiz. the word of the truth of the Gospel, or that the things which are written therein, concerning JESUS CHRIST, are the faithful and true jayings of

God.

The written word then of Gon Almighty, who cannot lie, is the firm, and stable ground of every Chriftian's faith, in things pertaining to his eternal falvation.-Were an angel from Heaven, or an Apefile, or the moft renounced vifible Cear.b upon earth, to speak, or command otherwife, they must not be obeyed, nor regarded. And whatever juzgeftion, preffion, or operation on our minds and hearts, lads, or would lead us to act contrary to the plan word of Gon; or to concet, and thek of ourlives...ove what is written; it muût be rejected, and abborred, as coming from fone lying fart: from the Spurt of Go it cannot come, for . it never ingat, a zas many thing on the mund in the heart of man, but what he hath aireasy

poken in his word, or is exprefly agreeable and

confonant thereto.

let

To understand aright the true object of faith which we are to believe in, and depend upon; it be diligently confidered what God hath revealed, and spoken of in the holy Scriptures. What fubject do they treat of? and of whom doth Gon fpeak, when he faith, I have given Thee for a light of the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my falvation unto the ends of the earth +?

It is certain that in the law of Mofes, the Scriptures of the Prophets, and of the Apostles, he mentions but two general doctrines of special concernment to mankind :-And firft the Scriptures fet forth, and teftify that all men have finned, and are juftly liable to the curfe, and wrath of GoD for ever.

Secondly, they declare that God is able in righteoufnefs, hath found out a way in mercy, and is ready to fave sinful, miserable men; and that this way is CHRIST.He is the Saviour, the only Saviour of mankind: GOD fent him into the world for this very purpose, and called his name JESUS, shat he might fave his people from their fins: There

N 4

+ Ifa. xlix. 6.

fore