76 LA 'Declaration of' the Glorious 1Y1 r s T E R r revealed and propbfed from the foundation of theworld, but only by Jefus Chrift, as declared in the firfi promife. (2.) That there was no way for the participation of the benefits ofthat promife, or of his work ofmediation, but by faith in him as fo promifed. There was therefore faith in him required from the foundation of the world; that is, from the entrance of fin. And how this faith refpeeted his perfon, hath been before declared. Now faith in him as promifed for the works and ends ofhis mediation, and faith in him as aftually exhibited, and as having accomplilhed his work, are ef£entially the faine, and differ only with refpec unto the ceconomy of times which God difpofed at his pleafure. Hence theefficacy ofhis mediation was the fame unto them who then fo believed, as it is now unto us after his aftual exhibition in the flefh. But yet it is acknowledged, that as to the clearnefs and fulnefs of the revelation of the myltery of the wifdom and grace of God in him, as to the conftitution of his perfon in his incarnation, and therein thede- terminationof the individual perfon promifed from the beginning, through the actual accomplifhment of the work which he waspromifed for faith in him,as the foundation of that divine honour which it is our duty to give unto him, is far more evidently and manifeftly revealed and required in the gofpel, or under the New Teftament, than it was under the Old. See Ephef. iii. 8, q, ro, r r. The refpeCt offaith now, untoChrift, is that which renders it truly evangelical. To believe in him, to believe on his name, is that fignal efpecial duty which is now required of us. Wherefore the ground of the aftual Alhgnation of divine honour unto the perfon of Chrift in both branches of it, adoration and invocation, is fath in him. So he faid unto the blind man whole eyes he opened, Be- lievefl thou on the Son ofGod? John ix. 35. And he faid, Lord, I believe, and he worfhhiped `hint. v. 38. All divine worlhip, or adoration, is a con- fequent effect and fruit of faith. So alfo is invocation;for bowfhalltbey call on him in whom they havenot believed,Rom .x. rq.. Him, inwhom we believe, we ought toadore and invocate. For thefeare the principal ways whereby divine faith loth all it fel£ And fo to adore, or invocate any, in whom we ought not to believe, is idolatry. This faith therefore on the ,perfon of thrift is our duty. Yea fuch a duty it is, as that our eternalcondition doth snorepeculiarly dependon the performance or non-performance of it, than on any other duty whatever. For conftantly under thofe terms is it prefcribed unto us. Re that belie- veth on the Son bath everlafling life, andhe that helieveth notthe SonPall notfee life, but the wrath of Gad abideth on him, John iä. 36. Where- fore the nature andexereife of this faith muff he inquired into. [t.] There is a faith which is exercifed towards thofe by whom the mind and will ofGod is revealed. So it is faid of the Ifraelites, They believed the Lord and Mofes, Exod.xiv. 33. that is, that he was fent of God, was no deceiver, that it was the word and will ofGod which he revealed unto them. So z Chron. xx. 20. Believe in the Lordyour'Goe4 fofliallye be ellabliflaed, believe bis prophets, fo fhallyeprofper. It was not theperfons of the prophets, but their mefage that was the :object of the faith required. It was to believe what they faid, as from God, not to believe in them, as if they were God. So is it explained by the apoltle, Allo xxvi. 27. hing Agrippa, believe thou the prophets, I know that thou believe/1? He believed that they were fent of God, and that the word they fpake was from him 3 otherwife there was no believing of them who were dead fo many ages before. And this it . all the faith in thrift himfelf, which fosse will allow. To believe
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