DIVINE HONOUR UNTO T ofa Prophet, and that not as vested and exercised in his divine person, so it utterly overthrows the whole foun- dation of the relation of the church unto him, and sal- vation by him. That which suits my present design, is to evince that it is the person of Christ which is the first and principal object ofthat faith wherewith we are required to believe in him; and that so to do, is not only to assent unto the truth of the doctrine revealed by him, but also to placeour trust and confidence in him, for mercy, relief, and protection, for righteousness, life and salvation, for a blessed resurrection, and eternal reward. This I shall first manifest from some few of those multiplied testimo- nies, wherein this truth is declared, and whereby it is confirmed, asalso with some arguments takenfrom then; and then proceed to declare the ground, nature, and ex- ercise of this faith itself. I. As unto the testimonies confirming this truth, it must be observed of them all in general, that wherever faith is required towards our Lord Jesus Christ, it is still called believing in him, or onhis name, according as faith in God absolutely is every where expressed. If no more be intended but only the belief of the doctrine revealed by him, then whose doctrine soever we are o- bliged to believe, we may be rightly said to believe in him, or to believe on their name. For instance, we are obliged to believe the doctrine of Paul the apostle, the revelationsmade by him, and that on the hazardof our eternal welfare, by the unbelieving of them. Yet that we should be said to believe in Paul, is that which he did utterlydetest, I Cor. i. 13, 15. For the places themselves the reader mayConsult a- mong others, John i. 12. chap. iii. 16, 18, 36. chap. vi. 29, 35, 41. chap. vii. 38, 39. Acts xv. 23. chap. xvi. 31. chap. xix. 4. chap. xxiv. 24. chap. xxvi. 18. Rom. iii. 2G.. chap. ix. 33. chap. x. 11. 1 Pet. ii. 6. 1 John v. 10, 13. There is not one of these but sufficiently confirms the truth. Some few others not named may be briefly insisted on. John xiv. 1. " Ye believe in God, believe also in me." The distinction made between God and him, limits the name of God unto the person of the Father. Faith is required in them both, and are distinctly, " Ye brs rie in God, believe also in me." And it is the same faith of the same kind, to be exercised in the same way and manner, that is required, as is plain in HE PERSON OP CHRIST. Cl the words. They will not admit of n double faith, of one sort in God, and of another in Christ, or of a dis- tinct way of their exercise. Wherefore as faith divine is fixed on, and terminat- ed in the person of the Father, so it is likewise distinct- ly in and on the person of the Son ; and it was to evi- dence his divine nature unto them, which is the ground and reason of their faith, that he gave his command un- to his disciples. This he farther testifies, ver. 9, 10, 11. And as unto the exercise of this faith, it respected the reliefof their souls under troubles, fears, and disconso- lations; " Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." To believe in him unto the reliefof our souls againsttroubles, is not to assent mere- ly unto the doctrine of the gospel, but also to place our trust and confidence in him, for such supplies of grace, for such an exercise of the acts of his divine power, as whereby we may be supported and delivered. And we have herein the whole of what we plead; divine faith acted distinctly in, and terminated on, the person of Christ, and that with respect unto supplies ofgrace and mercy from him in away of divine power. So he speaks unto Martha, John xi. 25, 26, 27. "He that believeth in me, though hewere dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth, and believeth in me, shall never die. Believest thou this?" whereunto she answers, "Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ the Son of God." His person was the object of her faith, and her belief in him comprised a trust for all spiritual and eternal mercies. I shall add one more, wherein not only the thing it- self, but the special ground and reason of it is declared, Gal. ii. 20. " The life which I now live in the flesh, S live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." That faith he asserts which is the cause and spring of our spiritual life; that life unto God, which we lead in the flesh, or whilst we are in the body, not yet admitted unto sight and enjoyment; of this faith the Son of God is both the author and the object, the latter whereof is here principally intended. And this is evident from the reason and motive of it, which are expressed. This faith I live by, am in the continual exercise of, because he loved me, and gave himself for me. For this is that which doth powerfully influence our hearts to fix our faith in him and on him. And that personwho so loved us, is the same in whom
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