310 The Faiih ofparticular received it -ndt as the word of men, (but as it.is in ·t-ruth) the word of God.' 1 Cor. ii. 5· 'That your £1ith lhould not .(land in the wifdom of men, but in the power of God.' This according to the fcripture, · is fl finner's receiving and re/ling upon Chri/1 for Jal– vation, a~ faving faith is defined in our catechifm: and this is indeed believing, and nothing but believ– ing, according to the fcriptural ufe ofthat word. Firfl; I fay, -This is the fcr,iptural receiving and · refiing on Chriil:. 'Tis the receiving of him.. in the fenfe of the holy Scripture, John i. I~. ' As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the. fons of God, even . to ' them that believe on ·his name:' Where the receiving of Chri!l:, is <:Jxplained by believing on hi,s name. God bath appointed Chrift Saviour of the world, and your Saviour. You hear the fame publifhed in the gofpel; and you accord· 1ngly believe, that he is your Saviour by his Father's appointment, and his own offer : hereupon, you truft on him, and on him alone, for falvation, and a11 · that you need for your falvation. Is not this a receiv– ing of him for your part, iB the charaCter of a Savi– our, wherein his Father fent hil'n forth to you? Is it not a taking of him to yourfelf as offered to you ?Ou'r Lord complain£ ofthe.Jews, John v. 43• that where– as he came in his Fathe~'s name, they 1·eceived him not, to wit, in the · character wherein he was fent, namely, as the M£!_./fias, as the Saviour ofthe world, , ;tnd their Saviour, trufiing in him, that he would fnve them. This plainly appears to be the meaning, ifone compare~ h~re with ·the words there immedi– ately following : , . If another iliall come in his own name, him ye will receive,' q. d. Ye will believe him to be the Me.lfias, and your _Saviour, and trufl: onhim accordingly, that he will fave you ; the which has been often verified, in that nnbel~eving people. ' Tvloreover, this is re!l:ing on Chrifl:, in the Scripture· fenfe of that manner of expreffion, Ifa. xxvi. 3· 'Th~t., " · ·- · . wtlt
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