§ 1. Preliminary Remarks.
The first conscious exercise of the renewed soul is faith ; as the first conscious act of a man born blind whose eyes have been opened, is seeing. The exercise of vision in such a man is indeed attended by so many new sensations and emotions that he cannot determine how much of this new experience comes through the eye, and how much from other sources. It is so with the believer. As soon as his eyes are opened by the renewing of the Holy Ghost he is in a new world. Old things have passed away, all things are become new. The apprehension of " the things of God " as true lies at the foundation of all the exercises of the renewed soul. The discussions on the question, Whether faith precedes repent- ance, or repentance faith, can have no place if the meaning of of the words be agreed upon. Unless faith be limited to some of its special exercises there can be no question that in the order of nature it must precede repentance. Repentance is the turning of the soul from sin unto God, and unless this be produced by the believing apprehension of the truth it is not even a rational act. As so much prominence is assigned to faith in the Scriptures, as all the promises of God are addressed to believers, and as all the conscious exercises of spiritual life involve the exercise of faith, without which they are impossible, the importance of this grace cannot be overestimated. To the theologian and to the practical Christian it is indispensable that clear and correct ideas should be entertained on the subject. It is one of special difficulty. This difficulty arises partly from the nature of the subject ; partly from the fact that usage has assigned the word faith so many different meanings ; partly from the arbitrary definitions given of it by philosophers and theologians ; and partly from the great diversity of aspects under which it is presented in the Word of God.
The question, What is Faith ? is a very comprehensive one. In one view it is a metaphysical question. What is the psycho-
42 PART III. Ch. XVI. — FAITH.
logical nature of the act or state of the mind which we designate faith, or belief ? In this aspect the discussion concerns the phi- losopher as much as the theologian. Secondly, faith may be viewed as to its exercise in the whole sphere of religion and morality. Thirdly, it may be considered as a Christian grace, the fruit of the Spirit ; that is, those exercises of faith which are peculiar to the regenerated people of God. This is what is meant by saving faith. Fourthly, it may be viewed in its rela- tion to justification, sanctification, and holy living, or, as to those special exercises of faith which are required as the necessary conditions of the sinner's acceptance with God, or as essential to holiness of heart and life.
§ 2. The Psychological Nature of Faith. Faith in the widest sense of the word, is assent to the truth, or the persuasion of the mind that a thing is true. In ordinary popular language we are said to believe whatever we regard as true. The primary element of faith is trust. The Hebrew word ]es means to sustain, to uphold. In the Niphil, to be firm, and, in a moral sense, to be trustworthy. In the Hiphil, to regard as firm, or trustworthy, to place trust or confidence in. In like manner the Greek ttio-tcvo) (from ttiotis, and that from iree'lo, to persuade), means to trust, i. e., to be persuaded that a person or thing is trustworthy. Hence the epithet ttio-to's is applied to any one who is, and who shows himself to be, worthy of trust. In Latin credere (whence our word credit) has the same meaning. In mercantile matters it means to lend, to trust to ; and then in general, to exercise trust in. « Crede mihi," trust me, rely on my word. Fides (from fido, and that from *«#*), is also trust, confidence exercised in regard to any person or thing ; then the disposition, or virtue which excites confidence ; then the promise, declaration, or pledge which is the outward ground of confidence! In the cognate words, fidens, fidelis, fiducia, the same idea is prominent. The German word « Glaube " has the same general meaning. It is defined by Heinsius ( Worterbuch) : « der Zustand des Gemuthes, da man eine Sache fur wahr halt und sich darauf verlasst, i. e., "that state of mind in which a man receives and relies upon a thing as true." The English word « faith » is said to be from the Anglo-Saxon « faegan " to covenant. It is that state of mind which a covenant requires or supposes ; that is, it is con- fadence in a person or thing as trustworthy. « To believe," is defined by the Latin - credere, fidem dare sive habere." « The