468 Vol, I r, SERMON CLXXI. Of the Chriftian Faith, the Means of its Convey- ance, and our Obligation to receive it. The Firft JOHN XX. 3r. Sermonon this Text. Tut thefe are written that ye might believe that fefws is the Cbrif, the Soil of God, and that believing ye might have life through his Name. I iHave largely difcourfed concerning the general Nature of Faith, and more par= ocularly concerning the Faith which is truly Divine and. Religious : in the La- titude of which is contained a Perfwafion concerning the Principles of Natural Religion, the Being of God, the Immortality of the Sdul, and a Future State ; and a Perfwafion of the Divine Revelation of the Scriptures, and the Matters con- tained in them. Now among Matters of Divine Revelation, the Do&rine of the Gofpel is a principal Part: which is the lait and molt perfeót Revelation which God hath made to the World, by his Son Jefus Chrift ; and a firm Belief and Per- fwafion of this, is that which is called Chri/lian Faith, or the Faith of the Gofpel; and which by Way of Eminency, is ufually called Faith in the New Tefta- ment. Now Chriftian Faith is not oppafed to a Divine Faith, but is comprehended un- der it 5 as being a principal and eminent Part of Divine Faith, but not all 'that which may be called Divine Faith; Chriftian Faith fuppofeth a Belief of the Prin- ciples of Natural Religion ; and a Beliefof chofe Revelations whichGod formerly made under the Old Teftament.: But it Both only formally contain in it a Belief of the Gofpel, viz. That Revelation which God hath in theft laft Days made to the World by his Son yefus Chrift. The Heathens who were deftitute of Divine Revelation, did only believe the Principles of Natural Religion g and the Genera- lity of them did not believe thole but in a very imperfe& Manner.- The Jews, to whom were committed the Oracles of God, did fupeeadd to the Belief of the Princi- ples of Natural Religion, the Belief of filth Revelations as God was pleated to make to them under that Difpenfation. Chriftian Faith fuperadds to both the former, a Belief of the Revelation of the Gofpel. I, ¡hall now therefore by God's affiftance, endeavour toopen to you the Nature of Chriftian Faith from thefe words 5 in which you have thefe three things confiderable. Fir(l, The End of committing the Gofpel to Writing, which was to perfwade men to believe in Chrift, to propagate and continue Chriftian Faith in the World; theft things are written that yes might believe that jefas is the Chrifl, the Son of God: And by Faith to bring men to a participation of tholeBenefits, and the Sal- vación which Chrift was the Author of g And that believing, ye might leave life 'throughhis'Name. Theft arewrittenTCG700 theft, which may eitherrefer toonjoie, thefe figes or miracles, referring to the former Verfe, and many other figes, &c. but thefe figes, or miracles are written to confirmYefus to be the Perlon he pretended to be, the Mefas, the Son of God, and confequently to confirm the truthof the Doecrine which he deliver'd 5 that by this confirmation, men might be induced to believe him to be the trueMegas, and to give entertainment to his Do&rine. Or elfe( which is very probable ) the word Tar,.ra, may refer to the whole Hiftory of the Gofpel, in which you have an account of the Life of Chrift, and the Dcétrine which he taught, and the Miracles which were wrought for the Confir- mation
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