not come into Condemnation: but is paffed from Death unto Life.

Q10. What is the firft Inference hence?

A. Hence it appears how falfe and dangerous the Antinomian Doctrine is, which teacheth that our Sins are pardoned before they are committed, or we either believe or repent, contrary to Acts xxvi. 18. To open their Eyes, and to turn them from Darkness to light, and from the Power of Satan unto God, that they may receive Forgiveness of Sins, and Inheritance among them, which are fanctified by Faith, that is, in me, James v. 20. He which converteth the Sinner from the Error of his Way, fall fave a Soul from Death, &c. A&ts x. 43. To him give all the Prophets Witness, that through his Name whofoever believeth in him fhall receive Remiffion of Sins.

Q. 11. What is the fecond Inference from hence? A. Hence it follows that it is dangerous on the one Side not to ftrive in all the Ways of Duty for Christ and Salvation, contrary to Luke xiii. 24. Strive to enter in at the ftrait Gate, for many I fay unto you, will feek to enter in, and Jhall not be able. And as dangerous on the other Side to reft in, and depend on our own Works and Duties, Phil. iii. 9. And be found in him, not having mine own Righteousness which is of the Law; but that which is through the Faith of Chrift: the Righteoufnefs which is of God by Faith.

Q. 12. What is the third Inference hence?

A. Hence we learn the miserable State of all Unbelievers, and impenitent Perfons; the Curfe and Wrath of God lies upon them, Gal. iii. 10. For as many as are of the Works of the Law are under the Curfe, &c. And their Mittimus for Hell is already made, John iii. 18. He that believeth not, is condemned already.

Q. 13. What is the fourth Inference hence?

A. Hence we learn the happy State into which Faith and Repentance brings the Souls of Men, Acts xiii. 38, 39.By him all that believe are juftified from all Things from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Mofes.

Of

Quest. 86.

Of Saving Faith.

WHAT is Faith in Jefus Christ?

A. Faith in Jefus Chrift is a faving Grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for Salvation, as he is offered to us in the Gofpel.

Q. What is the Root or Caufe of Faith?

A. Not the Power of Man's Will, Eph. ii. 8. For by Grace ye are faved through Faith, and that not of your felves: it is the Gift of God. But the Spirit of God, Gal. v. 22. But the Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, long-fuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, John i. 12, 13. But as many as received him, to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on his Name; which were born, not of Blood, nor of the Will of the Flesh, nor of the Will of Man, but of God. Q. 2. How doth the Spirit of God ordinarily produce Faith?

A. By the preaching of the Word he ordinarily begets it, Rom. x. 17. - Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God; though fometimes he doth it immediately. Q3. Who are the proper Subjects of Faith?

A. Convinced and fenfible Sinners are the proper Sub jects of Faith, John xvi. 8, 9, 10. And when he is come, he will reprove the World of Sin, of Righteousness, and of Fudgment. Of Sin, because they believe not on me: of Righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye fee me no more: of Judgment, because the Prince of this World is judged.

Q. 4. What is the Seat or Habitation of Faith?

A. Not only the Head or Understanding, but principally the Heart and Will, Rom. x. 10.- -With the Heart Man believeth unto Righteousness, &c. A&ts viii. 37. And Philip faid, if thou believeft with all thine Heart, thou mayeft.

Faith?

5. But is not the Affent of the Understanding true

A. The meer Affent of the Understanding to the Truths of Scripture, is not such a Faith as will fave the Soul, Jam. ii. 19. Thou believeft that there is one God, thou doft well, the Devils alfo believe and tremble.

Q6. What's the Act of Faith that juftifies a Sinner?

P 3

A. I

A. It is the receiving of Chrift by the full and hearty Confent of the Heart that juftifies us, John i. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave be Power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on his Name.

Q. 7. What is the Object of Faith?

A. The primary Object of Faith is the Perfon of Christ, and the fecondary are his Benefits, Ifa. xlv. 22. Look unto me, and be faved, all the Ends of the Earth, &c. Phil. iii. 8, 9. Yea, doubtless, and I count all Things but Lofs for the Excellency of the Knowledge of Chrift Jefus my Lord: for whom I have fuffered the Lofs of all Things, and do count them but Dung, that I may win Chrift, and be found in him, not having mine own Righteoufnefs which is of the Law, but that which is through the Faith of Chrift: the Righteousness which is of God by Faith.

Q. 8. May not a Man Fook partly to Chrift, and partly to his own Works and Duties for Righteousness?

A. No, he muft eye Christ only, and exclude all others, or he cannot be juftified, Phil. iii. 9. And be found in him, not having mine own Righteoufnefs, which is of the Law, but that which is through the Faith of Chrift: the Righteousness which is of God by Faith, Rom. iv. 5. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his Faith is counted for Righteousness.

Q. 9. Is it enough to eye the Perfon of Chrift only in beLeving?

A. No, we must eye the Perfon of Christ, as cloathed with all his Offices, Acts xvi. 31. And they faid, believe on the Lord Jefus Chrift, and thou shalt be faved, and thine Houfe. Our Ignorance needs him, as a Prophet, our Guilt as a Prief, our Sins and Enemies as a King.

Q. 10. Is true Faith exclufive of all Fears and Doubts? A. No, it is not, but true Believers are troubled with many Fears and Doubtings, Ifa. 1. 10. Who is be among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the Voice of his Servant, that walketh in Darkness, and hath no Light, &c. Mark ix. 24. And traitway the Father of the Child cried out with Tears, Lord, I believe, help thou mine Unbelief.

Q. 11. Is no Man actually juftified till he believes ?

A. No,

A. No, he cannot be justified actually till he believes actually, Gal. iii. 22. But the Scripture hath concluded all under Sin, that the Promife by Faith of Jefus Chrift might be given to them that believe, John iii. 18. He that believeth on him, is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God.

Q. 12. Is every Man that believes juftified immediately and fully upon his believing?

A. Yes, he is, Rom. v. 1. Therefore being juftified by Faith we have Peace with God through our Lord Jefus Chrift, John V. 24. He that heare:h my Words, and believeth on him that fent me, hath everlasting Life, and shall not come into Condemnation: but is passed from Death unto Life.

Q. 13. What is the true Character or Defcription of a Believer ?

A. He is one that having been convinced of his Sin and Mifery, and of his own and all other Creatures Inability to fave him, and of the Ability and Willingness of Christ to fave him, lets go all Hold, and Dependence on Creatures, and his own Righteousness, and cafts himself entirely upon Chrift for Righteoufnefs and Life.

Of the Properties, Signs and Means of Faith.

Q. I.

W

HAT is the first Property of Faith?

It is a most precious Grace, 2 Pet. i. 1.— To them that have obtained like precious Faith with us, &c. And must needs be fo, seeing it is the Bond of our Union with Chrift, Eph. iii. 17. That Chrift may dwell in your Hearts by Faith, that ye being rooted and grounded in Love. That by which we are juftified, Rom. v. 1. Therefore being juftified by Faith, &c. And that by which our Souls do live, Hab. ii. 4. The juft fhall live by his Faith.

Q. 2. What is the fecond Property of faving Faith?

A. The fecond Property of Faith is this, that it is the most useful Grace in this World to à Believer, it being the Soul's Eye, Heb. xi. 27. By Faith he forfook Egypt, not fearing the Wrath of the King: for be endured as feeing him, who is invifible, &c. It's hard to apprehend Christ, Phil. iii. 12.

That

164 Of the Properties, Signs and Means of Faith.

That I may apprehend that for which alfo I am apprehended of Chrift Jefus. It is Cordial in a fainting Season, Pfal. xxvii. 3. I had fainted, unless I had believed, &c.

Q3. What are the Foundations that fupport Faith?

A. The firft Foundation or Prop of Faith is the Power of God, Rom. iv. 20, 21. He ftaggered not at the Promise through Unbelief: but was ftrong in Faith, giving Glory to God. And being fully perfuaded, that what he had promifed, he was able alfo to perform, Heb. vii. 25. He is able alfo to fave them to the uttermoft that come unto God by him, &c.

Q4. What is the fecond Prop of Faith?

A. The Truth and Faithfulness of God in his Promises, Heb. x. 23. Let us hold faft the Profession of our Faith without wavering, for he is faithful that hath promised, Heb. vi. 18. That by two immutable Things, in which it was impoffible for God to lie, we might have a strong Confolation, who have fled for Refuge to lay hold upon the Hope fet before us.

Q: 5: What encourages the Faith of the Saints ?

A. The manifold sweet and fenfible Experiences of others, Pfal, lxxiv. 14. Thou breakeft the Heads of Leviathan in Pieces, and gaveft him to be Meat for the People inhabiting_the Wilderness. And especially their own Experiences, Joshua xxiii. 14.-Ye know in all your Hearts, and in all your Souls, that not one Thing hath failed of all the good Things which the Lordy your God fpake concerning you: all are come to pass unto you, and not one Thing hath failed thereof.

Q. 6. What is the first Sign of a weak Faith?

A. Staggerings in our affent to divine Truths argue the Weakness of Faith, Rom. iv. 20. He faggered not at the Promife of God through Unbelief, but was ftrong in Faith? &c. Q. 7. What is the fecond Sign of weak Faith?

A. Inability to truft God in Time of Danger, evidenced by finful Hafte to avoid it, Ifa. xxviii. 16-He that believeth fhall not make hafte.

Q. 8. What is the third Sign of a weak Faith?

A. When we cannot live purely by Faith, except we have fome fenfible Encouragement, John xx. 25. Except I shall fee in his Hands the Print of the Nails, and put my Finger into the Print of the Nails, and thrust my Hand into his Side, I will not believe.