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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-in
walking with
God, he
shall grow
rich in experience,
and
shall
learn
to say
with
triumph,
I
know whom
I
have
believed;
and
am
persuaded
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 watchfully
and humbly
with
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
of
a
weaker
mind
have
felt
a
strong
and divine impression
from some
'partieular
scripture, or
from some
bright sentence
in
a