the PERSON (f CHRIST. 79 believe inChrift, they fay, is only to believe the dottrineof the gofpel re- vealed by him. Hence they deny that they could believe in him, be- fore his coming into the world; and tile declarationof the mind of God in the gofpelmade by him. An affent unto the truth of the gofpel as revealed by Chrift, is with them the whole of that faith in Chrift Jefus which is required of us. Of all that poifon which at this day is diffufed in the minds ofmen, corrupting them from the myftery of the gofpel, there is no part that is more perniciousthan this one pervex a imagination, that to believe in Chrift is nothing at all but to believe the doflrine of the gofpel, which yet we grant is included therein. For as it allows the confederation of no office in him, but that of a prophet, and that net as vetted and exercifed in his divine perfon, fo it utterly overthrows the whole foundation of the relationof the church unto him, and falvation by him. That which tints my prefent defrgn, is to evince that it is the perfoù of Chrift, which is the firft and principal objed of that faith werewith we are required to:believein him; and that fo to do, is not only to alfent unto the truth of the doctrine revealedby him, but alto to place our truft and con- fidence in him, for mercy, relief and protection, for righteoufnefs, life and falvation, for a blefled refurredion and eternal reward. This I Ihall (r.) manifeft from fome few of thole multiplied teftimonies, wherein this truth is declared, and whereby it is confirmed, as alfo with fonie arguments taken from them, and (2.) proceed to declare the ground, nature and exer- cife of this faith it felt. (a.) As to the teftimonies confirming this truth, it muff be obferved of them all ingeneral,that wheneverfaith is required towardsour Lord Jefus Chrift, it is Rill called believing in him, or on his name, according as faith in God abfolutely is every where expreffed. if no more be intended but only the belief of the doctrine revealed by him ì then whole doctrine fo ever we are obliged to believe, we may be rightly faid to believe in them, or to believe on their name. For inftance, we are obliged to believe the doctrine of Paul the apoftle, the .revelations made by him, and that on the hazard ofour eternal welfare, by the unbelievingof them. Yet that we fhould be Said to believe inPaul, isthatwhich he didutterly deteft, 1 Cor. i. 13,--s 5. For the places themfelves the reader may confult among others, John i. 12. chap. iii. 14, --48,- 36. chap. vi. 29,-e 3q, - -41. chap. vii 38, 39, Alas xiv. 23. chap. xvi. 31. chap. xix. 4. chap. xxiv. 24. chap. xxvi. 18. Rom. iii. 26. chap. ix. 33. chap. x. n. 'Pet. ii. 6. ' , ohn v. io,-- -- 13. There is not one of theft but fufficiently confirms the truth. Some fewothers not named may be briefly infifted on. John xiv. r. re believe in God, believe alfo in me. The diftindion madebetween God and him, limits the nameof Godunto the perfon of the Father. Faith is required in them both, and that,diftindly, ye believe in God, believe alfo in one. And it is the fame faith; of the fame-kind, tobe exercifed in the fame way and manner, that is required, as is plain in the words. Theywill not admit of a double faith, of one fort in God, and of another in Chrift, or ofa di- ítindway of their;evtercife. Wherefore as Faith divine is fixed on, and terminated. in the person of the Father, fo is it likewifediflintily in and on the perfon ofthe Son i and it was to evidence his divine nature unto them, which is the ground and reafon of their faith, that he gave his command unto his difciples. This he farther teftifies, ver. 9. no, 11. And as to theexercife of this faith; it refpeded tole relief of their fouls under trou- bles, fears and difeonfolations. Let notyour heart be troubled, ye believe in God, believe alto in nie. To believe in him, unto the reliefof our fouls againft troubles, is not to affent mealy unto the dude-ine of the gofpel, but alto
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