4. That this grace of recovery and restoration is revealed and declared to us in the word ; for the gospel word is both the means and the matter of our faith. It is the means : ' For how sliall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?' Eom. x. 17. And Christ prayeth, John xvii. 20, ' Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe in me through their word.' And it is the matter and object of our faith ; for in the text it is said, we believe in the name of the Son of God ; that is, all which is revealed concerning him in the scriptures, and the way of salvation and recovery offered by him. Christ is the object of faith, and the covenant of grace is the object of faith, called therefore, ' The word of faith,' Kom. x. 8. Now we make a gospel to ourselves if we pitch upon benefits only or pro- mises only ; for the word of faith consists of precepts as well as promises, and requires duties as well as it offers benefits. Therefore, as we expect pardon and life from God, we must perform the duties due from us to God and man.
5. That the acts of faith are three about this word of truth, or Christ revealed therein — assent, consent, trust or dependence.
[1.] As.sent to the truth of the christian doctrine, that Jesus is such as the word representetli him to be, the Christ and the Saviour of the world, who came to recover us to God : John vi. (J9, ' We believe and are sure that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Tliis is the fundamental principle which supporteth all religion, and
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enliveneth all the lesser truths, that they have the greater influence upon our hearts. This begets firm adherence to Christ, whatever temptations we have to the contrary : 1 John v. 5, ' Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God ? ' Many have a human credulity that find no such effects, but not a cordial and hearty assent wrought in them by the Holy Ghost. They take up this opinion upon custom, education, and common induce- ments, but not as a divine testimony brought to us in the word, and 3ealed and confirmed to us by the Holy Spirit.
[2.] Consent to God's offer of Christ, that he may be our Lord and Saviour : John i. 12, ' To as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to as many as believe in his name ; ' Col. ii. 6, ' And as ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him.' Or to the covenant of grace, called ' A receiving the word,' Acts ii. 41. Accepting the benefits offered us, as our only happiness, resolving on the duties required as our constant work.
[3.] Trust or dependence on Christ, or as putting ourselves into his hands, that we may be recovered and saved from sin and punishment, and brought home to God in perfect happiness and glory : Eph. i 11, 12, ' In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will : that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ ; ' 2 Tim, i. 12, ' For I know whom I believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.'
6. The modification of these acts is this, that this assent, joined with consent, is cordial and hearty : Acts viii. 37, ' If thou believest with all thine heart ; ' and both accompanied with a fiducial trust. Now this trust is practical, so as, forsaking all other things, we give up our- selves to the conduct of his word and Spirit.
[1.] It produceth mortification and self-denial. This is included in the nature of faith ; for faith implieth a carrying off the heart from things visible and temporal to things spiritual, invisible, and eternal ; in a recess from the world and worldly things, and an access to God and heaven : 2 Cor. iv. 18, ' For we look not to the things which are seen, but to the things which are not seen ; for the things whifeh are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal ; ' 1 John v. 4, ' Whosoever is born of God overcometh the world ; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.' We must forsake all other happiness and hopes' in confidence of Gods promise through Jesus Christ ; in vow and resolution, as soon as we believe ; actually, when anything in the world is inconsistent with our duty to Christ and fidelity to him : Mat. xiii. 45, 46, ' The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman seeking goodly pearls ; who when lie had found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it;' Luke xiv. 33, 'Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all he hath, he cannot be my disciple.' You cannot continue constant in the profession of Christ, nor uniformly perform the duties he re- quireth of you, unless your hearts be weaned from the world. Christ propoundeth the true happiness, to draw us off from the false happi- ness. Our accepting the one is a kind of quitting the other, or a lessen-