THE NATURE OF JUSTIFYING FAITH. 95
ii. 3, — not giving it that admission which the excellency of it doth require. A disallowing of Christ, the stone h d'7rs6ozi/Masav o'l oJkooo- fMov\>Tsg, 1 Pet. ii. 7, — the " builders disapproved of," as not meet for that place and work whereunto it was designed. Acts iv. 11, — this is unbelief; to disapprove of Christ, and the way of salvation by him, as not answering divine wisdom, nor suited unto the end designed. So is it described by the refusing or not receiving of him ; all to the same purpose.
What is intended will be more evident if we consider the proposal of the gospel where it issued in unbelief, in the first preaching of it, and where it continueth still so to do.
Most of those who rejected the gospel by their unbelief, did it under this notion, that the way of salvation and blessedness proposed therein was not a way answering divine goodness and power, such as they might safely confide in and trust unto. This the apostle de- clares at large, 1 Cor. i.; so he expresseth it, verses 23, 24, "We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness ; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." That which they declared unto them in the preaching of the gospel was, that " Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures," chap. XV. 3. Herein they proposed him as the ordinance of God, as the great effect of his wisdom and power for the salvation of sinners. But as unto those who continued in their unbelief, they rejected it as any such way, esteeming it both weakness and folly. And therefore, he describeth the faith of them that are called, by their approbation of the wisdom and poiver of God herein. The want of a comprehension of the glory of God in this way of salvation, rejecting it thereon, is that unbelief which ruins the souls of men, 2 Cor. iv. 3, 4.
So is it with all that continue unbelievers under the proposal of the o]:)ject of faith in the preaching of the gospel. They may give an assent unto the truth of it, so far as it is a mere act of the mind, — at least they find not themselves concerned to reject it ; yea, they may assent unto it with that temporary faith which we described before, and perform many duties of religion thereon : yet do they manifest that they are not sincere believers, that they do not believe with the heart unto righteousness, by many things that are irrecon- cilable unto and inconsistent with justifying faith. The inquiry, there- fore, is, Wherein the unbehef of such persons, on the account whereof they perish, doth consist, and what is the formal nature of it? It is not, as was said, in the want of an assent unto the truths of the doc- trine of the gospel : for from such an assent are they said, in many places of the Scripture, to believe, as hath been proved ; and this assent may be so firm, and by various means so radicated in their mind.s, as that, in testimony unto it, they may give their bodies to be
96 ON JUSTIFICATION.
burned ; as men also may do in the confirmation of a false persuasion. Nor is it the want of an especial fiduciary application of the pro- mises of the gospel unto themselves, and the belief of the pardon of their own sins in particular : for this is not proposed unto them in the first preaching of the gospel, as that which they are first to be- lieve, and there may be a believing unto righteousness where this is not attained, Isa. 1. 10. This will evidence faith not to be true; but it is not formal unbelief. Nor is it the want of obedience unto the precepts of the gospel in duties of holiness and righteousness ; for these commands, as formally given in and by the gospel, belong only unto them that truly believe, and are justified thereon. That, there- fore, which is required unto evangelical faith, wherein the nature of it doth consist, as it is the foundation of all future obedience, is the heart's app)rohation of the way of life and salvation by Jesus Christ, proposed unto it as the effect of the infinite wisdom, love, grace, and goodness of God ; and as that which is suited unto all the wants and whole design of guilty convinced sinners. This such persons have not; and in the want thereof consists the formal nature of unbelief. For without this no man is, or can be, influenced by the gospel unto a relinquishment of sin, or encouraged unto obedience, whatever they may do on other grounds and motives that are foreign unto the grace of it. A.nd wherever this cordial, sincere apiDrobation of the way of salvation by Jesus Christ, proposed in the gospel, doth prevail, it will infallibly produce both repentance and obedience.
If the mind and heart of a convinced sinner (for of such alone Ave treat) be able spiritually to discern the wisdom, love, and grace of God, in this way of salvation, and be under the power of that per- suasion, he hath the ground of repentance and obedience which is given by the gospel. The receiving of Christ mentioned in the Scrip- ture, and whereby the nature of feith in its exercise is expressed, I refer unto the latter part of the description given concerning the soul's acquiescency in God, by the way proposed.