60 FAITH'}Pt1ILT ON ANOWLgDGE. [DISC. Ç. mistakes of the age, and secures it against all the inroads of error on either side. A :christian that takes in all these views, will not easily be led away by the popish, or any other doctrine, where faith is supposed to be a Mere assent to the revelations of the gospel, nor will he be ensnared by the unwary expressions of some great writers, that faith is a full persuasion of-our own salva- tion, which has given too much countenance to Antino- mianm follies. `He that has this knowledge and this belief which I have described, and does thus heartily commit his soul to Christ, " shall in no wise be cast out," and can never miscarry but by :repeated exercises of this faith, and humble watchfulness-inwalking with God, he shall grow rich in experience, and shall learn to say with triumph, I know whom I have believed; and ampersuaded that he is able, &c. 2d Remark. We may infer from this discourse, the value of a solid and regular knowledge of the person of Christ, and his gospel : It lays a good foundation for our first faith, and afterwards for its growth to a steady as4 surance. When we well know whom we have believed) we believe with a firmer confidence, and with boldness we commit our infinite concerns into the hands of a per- son of whose ability and faithfulness we are well persuaded at first, by a distinct knowledge of his gos- pel, and afterwards by an experimental acquaintance with his power and grace. Our hope in his salvation is hereby better established, and. our hearts grow fearless. Such a hope is an anchor" that loses not its hold in the wildest storms, and makes the vessel ride in safety. What is the reason of the perpetual doubts and de- spondencies of some christians, that have made a long profession of the gospel ? Whence is it that they are alarmed at every turn, and tremble, as though,all were lost ? How comes it to pass, that these hurries of mind should return so often, and almost overwhelm some pious souls, that walk watchfullyand humblywith God? Is it not because their faith has been too. much: built . upon sudden and warm affections, without so solid a ground of regular knowledge ? When persons ofaweaker mind have felt a strong and divine impression from some 'partieular scripture, or from some bright sentence in a
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