THE STKENGTH OF FAITH. 23
do you not think they like the taste, and are affected with it? There are, indeed, innumerable deceits in this business. I might show on how many false and corrupt accounts, on what sandy foundations, many men's affections may be exceedingly taken with the word of promise, preached or considered ; so that there is no concluding of believing to lie in any such thing. When affections go before believ- ing, they are little worth ; but when they follow it, they are exceeding- acceptable and precious in the sight of God.
(4.) It is not solely "fiducia," — a trust, affiance, or confidence. There is a twofold fiducial trust ; — one whereby we trust in Christ for the forgiveness of sin; which you may call adherence. It is such a cleaving to Christ, as that we trust in him for the forgiveness of sins, and acceptation with God. And so much as we trust, so much we adhere, and no more. There is also a trust that our sins are for- given us; we trust or rest upon it. Now, it cannot be that either of these should be faith entirely, and that the whole of it should be included in them. There is something more in believing than in trusting; and something more in trusting than is absolutely necessary to preserve the entire notion of believing : for we may believe that wherein we do not trust. But yet this I grant, that where there is believing in Christ, there will be trusting in him, more or less. And when faith is increased to some good height, strength, and steadfast- ness, it is mainly taken up in trust and confidence, John xiv. 1. So to believe as to free our hearts from trouble and disquietment, upon any account whatever, is to trust properly ; and that doubting, and staggering, and fear, which in Scripture we find condemned as oppo- site to faith, are indeed directly opposite to this fiduciary reposing our souls on Christ. So the apostle describes his faith or believing, 2 Tim. i. 12. So to believe as to be persuaded that God is able to keep what we commit to him, is to put our trust in him.
(5.) Having spoken thus much of these particulars, waiving all the arbitrary determinations of the schools, and exactness of words, as to philosophical rules and terms, I shall give you such a general descrip- tion of faith, or believing, as may answer in some measure the proper and metaphorical expressions of it in the Scriptures ; where it is termed, looking or seeing, hearing, tasting, resting, rolling ourselves, flying for refuge, trusting, and the like.
[1.] There must be, what I spake of in the first place, an assent to the whole truth of the promises of God, upon this ground and bottom, — that he is able and faithful to accomplish them. This cer- tainly is in, if it be not all, our receiving the testimony or witness of God, John hi. 33. Sarah, of whom we spake before, received the testimony of God. How did she do it? She "judged him faithful who had promised/' Heb. xi. 11. This God proposes to us in the
24 THE STRENGTH OF FAITH.
first place. Eternal life is promised by God, who cannot lie, Tit. i. 2 ; that is, who is so faithful, as that it is utterly impossible he should deceive any. So Heb. vi. 17, 18, " Wherein God, willing more abun- dantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath ; that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong con- solation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us." The design of God is, that we may receive encouragement in our flying for refuge to the hope set before us, — that is, in believ- ing. What doth he propose to this end? Why, his own faithfulness and immutability, on the account of the engagement of his word and oath. Abraham's faith spoken of, Rom. iv., compriseth this, — yea, is commended from it, verse 21.
The Scripture, indeed, mentions sundry properties of God, on the credit whereof, if I may so speak, our souls are to assent to the truth of his promises, and to acquiesce therein. Two especially are usually named : —
1st. His power: " He is able." So Rom. iv. 21, xi. 23.
2dly. His faithfulness: as in the places before mentioned, and sun- dry others.
The sum is, that on the account of God's faithfulness and power, this we are to do, if we will believe ;-~-we are to assent to the truth of his promises, and the certainty of their accomplishment. If this be not done, it is in vain to go forward. Let, then, those who intend any advantage by what shall afterward be spoken, stay here a little, and consider how they have laid this foundation. Many there are who never come to any stability all their days, and yet are never able to fix on any certain cause of their shaking and staggering. The foundation was laid disorderly. This first closing with the faithful- ness and power of God in the promises, was never distinctly acted over in and by their souls. And if the foundation be weak, let the building be never so glorious, it will totter, if not fall. Look, then, to this beginning of your confidence, that this fail you not. And when all other holds fail, this will support you from utter sinking, if at any time you are reduced to that condition that you have nothing else.