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teachers, are the two other towns mentioned.

By this account of Mr. Eliot we fec, in general, the ftate of the Chriftianized Indians in 1670. Twelve towns, or villages are mentioned in this narrative, as confifting of praying Indians.

ther we are in the faith. All are concerned to understand its nature and effects; for the danger of mistaking whether we have it, arifes in a great measure from our being liable to have wrong ideas concerning it. This differtation is intended to exhibit the nature and effects of faving faith, and alfo the nature and effects of several spu

liable to mistake, and have in fað miftaken for it.

It must have given Mr. Eliot great pleasure, upon his vifitation, to find fo many brought out of arious kinds of faith, which men are ftate of heathenifh darkness into the light of the gofpel-to find fo many teachers among them of their own nation, who appeared to be men of understanding and real religion.

Great must have been his labor and fatigue, in taking this extenfive circuit-in preachingin conferring with the stated teachers, and giving them further inftructions in Christianity, and in the various duties of their station; and in attending to many other ecclefiaftical concerns: But filled with a glowing love to his Saviour, and to thofe that were purchafed by His blood, he purfued the work with chearfulnefs, diligence, and resolution ; and nothing difcouraged him from preaching, to the utmoft of his ability, the unfearchable riches of Christ among the Gentiles, and those who had been lately fuch. He was willing to fpend and be spent in this benevolent work. (To be continued.)

Saving Faith diftinguished from thofe exercifes, which men are in danger of miftaking for it.

FA

AITH is a Christian grace, to which the bleffings of eternal life are connected, by the promifes of God. Such as have it not, muft fuffer the punishment due for their fins. We are required to examine ourselves, wheVOL. IV. No. 3.

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Saving faith implies in it a belief of the doctrines and promises of the gofpel; efpecially of those doctrines, which respect the law of God, the fallen ftate of man, the perfon and work of Chrift, the office of the Holy Spirit in the falvation of men, the foundation of pardon and acceptance with God, and the nature and excellency of the bleffings promifed to believers. All thefe doctrines relate to the way of our falvation, and are fo connected with each other, that faith in Chrift cannot be exercised, without fome juft apprehenfion of

them.

The true believer confiders the law of God holy, and the commandment holy and just and good

a juft declaration of the real duties refulting from the relations in which we ftand to God, and to our fellow-creatures; and a just declaration of the punishment due to fuch as difobey, and refufe to fulfil thofe duties. He confiders

the law as juft in itfelf, and good,

as it is fuited to the state and capacity of the creatures to whom it is given; and holy, because it is pure and free from defect or any connivance at fin. He believes this law is of infinite and unchangeable obligation; that it would be better that heaven and earth fhould pass away, than that one M

jot or tittle of the law fhould be given up that men are bound in all poffible circumftances, to maintain a perfect and invariable obedience to the law, both on account of its fitness, and the infinite authority by which it is given. To him there is force in the fubfcription fo often annexed to the commands, I am the Lord.It is effential to faving faith, that a man should believe that the law is fpiritual, extending to the heart, and all its exercifes-that he understand that it enjoins holy, impartial love, and fuch a life as this love, in perfect and commanding influence, would produce, in all cafes, towards God and The law,' fays infpiration, is fpiritual' and it requires

man.

the heart.

It is alfo neceffary to faving faith, that a man fhould view himfelf a tranfgreffor of this law, guilty of violating infinite obligations, by nature totally depraved in heart, every imagination of the heart being only evil, guilty of total difobedience to the divine law, wholly inexcufable, deferving of its curfe;-that it is neceffary that the law should be fupported, and that he is fo utterly undone, that he can make no atonement, or do any thing to render it just for God to deal with him better than the law provides, on account of any righteousness in his power; and that he is forever ruined, unless faved by a Redeemer. All this is neceffary, in order to have just ideas of the work of Chrift.

Further Saving faith implies fome right ideas of the perfon of Chrift that he is man, and fo capable of obedience and fufferings, that he is God, and fo his obedience and fufferings are of in

finite avail, and that he is fully able to make an adequate atonement for fin.

It is alfo neceffary to underftand that Chrift did come, and obey and fuffer fufficiently to magnify the law, and make it honorable; fo that it is now just and right for God to pardon finners, though he regards them as unworthy of favor, and deserving his curfe. He may, as a reward to Chrift, and to anfwer important purposes, dispense with their punishment, and receive them into favor, and can do it confiftently with infinite holinefs and recti tude. The believer regards Chrift as the only Saviour, fees his fulnefs, fees him perfect in all his offices, as Prophet, Priest and King. He regards Chrift as delighting in the law, and loathing and abhorring every thing of an immoral nature in the finner, even at the time of his making the atonement; and fees, that it was of pure grace, that he undertook the work of a Redeemer. He understands that Chrift infifts on the law, and its immutable obligation, condemns all fin, will fupport his law, and demands our perfect conformity to it. He has no idea that the gofpel is built on the ruins of the law.

Befides: The believer is fenfible, that the carnal heart is too corrupt to relifh thefe doctrines, and by any created means, to become reconciled to God. He fees the need of the Holy Ghost to fubdue the obftinacy, change the heart, and work in him both to will and to do, that his wicked, corrupt spirit must be changed by the Spirit of God, that he must be born of the Spirit, and that the Spirit must be in him, and dwell in him, and by his own

agency carry on the work of grace | are true, but he

approves of in him, or it will never be effect- them, and relishes them all in his ed. He confiders men as made heart,-fees the excellency of willing in the day of God's pow-them, and takes great comfort in er, and sanctified by the abiding contemplating them. He is fuitinfluence of the Holy Ghost. ed with the divine law, delights in Faith alfo comprises some juft the law of the Lord, and has refideas of the good promised to be-pect to all his commandments, is lievers; that it is of a fpiritual na- pleafed with being under indifture, confifts in holinefs, conform- penfible and eternal obligations ity to God and his law, in ferving to obey it. He rejoices that God him, beholding Chrift, enjoying will fupport it, and delights in God, and the light of his counte him as the moral governor of the nance, and the fociety of holy world. He approves the penalbeings, who are animated with ties, and confiders the gift of this that holy love, which is the ful- law as an expreffion of the infinite filling of the law. The promifes goodnefs of its author, and he deare, that fin fhall be pardoned, fires no abatement or alteration, punishment not be inflicted, that but rejoices in it, as holy, juft believers fhall be with Chrift, fee and good. him as he is, be like him, be immortal, be delivered from all evil, natural and fpiritual, and that they fhall enter into the joy of their Lord. The rewards promised are not temporal nor carnal; they are eternal, and fuch as an holy heart alone can relish. Such, one in the exercise of faith, views them to be.

In the exercise of this faith, a man is fuited that the inhabitants of this world, and that himself in particular, fhould be regarded as finners, by nature wholly depraved in heart, and altogether vile and hateful, that God fhould confider them fo, that Chrift and ho ly beings, and even all intelligent creatures fhould view them in this light, and that the gospel plan of falvation should be fo adjusted, as to hold this out as a prominent idea, and be calculated in all its parts, to exhibit it in the cleareft light, and fave them upon the given point that this is their true character. On this account he

Further Faith implies in it a ftrong confidence that God will fulfil all these promises, to every one that believes. This confidence is founded on the veracity of God, who cannot lie, and is ftrengthened by confidering the wonderful provifion which God has already made for the falva-approves of, and delights in the tion of those who believe on his be- atonement of Christ, because it loved Son, and by reflecting on the does in the moft emphatical manwork of the Holy Spirit, in hav- ner justify God and his law, and ing actually begun the work of condemn fin, and reprefents that fanctification in their hearts. All all who are faved by it, are vile thefe confiderations powerfully and hateful, and actually deferve convince the minds of Chriftians, the curfe of the law to be inflictthat God will not fail in his prom-ed upon them. On this account ifes. alfo, the believer is peculiarly deMoreover One in the exer-lighted with the mediatorial rightcise of an holy faith, not only be- eoufnefs of Chrift, wrought out lieves that thefe gofpel doctrines for those who are justified, be

known as fuch, that the wonder.. ful grace of God might appear moft confpicuous in the falvation of fuch finners.

Saving faith is alfo an exercise, in which the believer takes great delight in the nature of the good promifed to believers. He defires above all things that holiness and enjoyment of God, and that fervice of God, in which the promifed bleffings effentially confift. God in promifing these things to his people, promises to give them the defires of their hearts. It is for fpiritual bleffings that they

cause it clearly represents them as being deftitute of any righteoufnefs, on account of which God could take them into favor. In the exercise of faving faith, the believer wishes the whole truth refpecting himself to be brought to light, that his falvation might be diftinctly seen to be wholly a matter of pure free grace, to the glory of God.-It is a diftinguished beauty in Chrift, and the believer views it fo, that he is a firm friend to the law of God, and has established it by his obedience and fufferings, that he is a determined enemy to all wicked-pant, and these they rejoice to pefs, and is refolved to fee the find promifed. They choose the holy government of God fupport- teftimonies of the Lord for their ed against all its enemies, and heritage forever.' takes effectual measures, both by his atonement, and by the final condemnation of all unbelievers, to manifeft his infinite difpleafure at all fin.

It is a precious circumftance to believers, that the whole work of falvation is all of God, and all of grace, in the preparation madein fingling out the veffels of mercy, fo that they fhould be faved whom infinite wifdom fees bestin the regeneration, fanctification and falvation of the elect.-These are fome of the doctrines which faith confifts in believing, delight

Nor is the believer lefs fuited with the public manifeftation of the entire depravity of the hearts of men by nature, which is made by the provision for the recovery of the elect to a reconciliation unto God. That the Holy-Ghofting in and approving. For thefe is employed to change their hearts reafons, the gofpel appears globy his almighty power, and to rious and excellent in their eyes. take up his conftant dwelling in them, and carry on the work of fanctification, keeping the chrif tian from apoftacy, and preparing him for glory. He is fuited, that by this provifion, God has effectually informed heaven and earth, that even believers in this world, are fo corrupt and unftable, that they must be kept by

the

power of God, through faith, unto falvation, and that he muft work in them both to will and to do. This indeed gives a bad character to man; but the believer knows it is a true one, and wishes it to be acted upon and

Further Saving faith alfo implies in it, that he who believes, does in fact for himself, come juftifying God, condemning himfelf, relinquishing all pretences to natural goodness or any worthinefs, and relies on Chrift, cafts himself upon his atonement and righteoufnefs, and defires pardon and acceptance only in this way; -that he gives up all other dependance and hope, and refts here

-that he alfo looks to God alone for gracious communications of holiness and fanctification, and cafts himself upon mercy, faying unto God, All my expectation

they should have of the wickednefs of others, they must prefer others to themfelves. Their loftinefs will be brought down, and the Lord alone exalted in their eyes.

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Obedience is another effect of faith. Faith works by love, and purifies the heart.' Such an approbation and delight in the law of God, and fuch defires after fpiritual bleffings, as are implied in

is from thee." In this way, does every true believer exprefs his approbation of the whole gofpel icheme, his fenfe of his own vilenefs, and his confidence of the faithfulness of God to his promifes. In doing this, and in obedience to the will of God, he gives the greatest poffible evidence of his cordial approbation of the gofpel. And this he does in proportion to the strength of his faith. It is to the Chriftian a peculiar-faith, cannot lie dormant, they will ly delightful exercife of faith. He delights to prefent himself, foul and body, as a facrifice to God, to be the Lord's, and be a poor vessel, to be put to fuch use, and brightened to fuch excellence, as God fhall choose to bring to pass, that he may be to the glory of God, and of Chrift his Redeemer. In doing this the believer fets his feal to the truth and excellency of the gospel. Thus the prodigal fon, who is defigned to illuftrate the return of finners unto God, caft himself as he was, wholly unworthy, upon the mercy of his Father.

True gospel faith is also known and distinguished from all others, not only by its nature, but also by its effects. Its effects are many, and they are ftrong and confpicuous according to the perfec. tion of the believer's faith.

produce obedience. Faith without works is dead. Faith in A. braham, made him obedient to God in forfaking Ur of the Chaldees, going into a ftrange country, and even in offering up Ifaac at the command of the Lord. By fuch works is faith made perfect. This obedience, in proportion as faith is brought to perfection in the foul, is as extenfive as the divine commands require. And hence it is, that at the laft day, the faith of believers fhall be judged by the deeds done here in the body.

It fhould be further noticed of faving faith, that it is "The fubftance of things hoped for." It is not only a preparation for future good, but is itself the very fubftance of the things which are promifed to believers in the world to come. It is that which as it refpects unbelievers, eye hath not feen, nor ear heard, nor heart conceived of, but which God hath already revealed to them that love him. The bleffings of heaven confift in holinefs-discoveries of God-humility--dependance, and admiration of the law, of Chrift, of the gofpel and of divine things,

One of the first and most excellent effects is humility and fubmiffion to God. This is illuftrated by the examples of the faints, whofe characters are given us in the facred fcriptures. Indeed an approbation of the gofpel doctrines is itself an expreffion of true humility, and those who have this fpirit, muft always feel unworthy in love, praife and obedience. and humble before God, and be And thefe are all included in, and fubmiffive to his will; and hav-neceffarily connected with faith. ing a greater knowledge of their It is true, that faith is very imperown wickedness, than it is poffible fect in this world. We fee as

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