SEirvION XVIII. 255 this world, the believer may be said to rejoice with joyunspeaka- 'hie, andfull of glory, and to receivethe end of hisfaith, even the salvationof his soul; 1 Pet. i. 8, 9. Before I pass to the second head, I desire leave to make these few remarks. Remark I. Though the first degree of faith or assent tothe gospel be necessary to salvation, yet it is not of itself sufficient; and though the last degree of faith or assurance be gloriously useful in this work, yet it is not absolutely necessary. A mere assent tothe truths of the gospel is not sufficient to save ; for thereare many who by the force of education, or by the force of argument, yield their assentto the doctrine, and be- lieve it to be true, yet it is a cold, feeble, languid assent; it be- gins and ends in the head, and never reaches the heart; it does not awaken,them thoroughly, nor make them long after the par- don and the grace promised : They seem to sit still contented with the forms of their catechism, and a general belief of the christian religion, so far as they know it ; but are under no painful solicitude, or concern of soul, about the forgiveness of their sins, the sanctification of their natures, their interest in the favour of God and eternal happiness; and therefore they proceed no farther, they never heartily apply themselves to Jesus Christ the only Saviour, and they fall short of the bles- sing. The devils believe as much as they do, but are in a state of damnation still. Again, consider that a full assurance of our own interest in the favour of God through Jesus Christ, is the highest degree of attainment on earth; but it is not necessary to the being of christianity, nor doth it belong to every christian. It,is truein- deed, that every one ought to seek after it by the frequent exer- cise of faith and love, and every grace, thus brightening the evidences of his saving interest in the blessings of the gospel daily; and where assuranceis obtained upon solid grounds, holi- ness and joy will rise by swift degrees, and the soul will make gloriousadvances towards the heavenly state andcomplete salva- tion : But some christians scarce ever arrive at this attainment all their days. Since therefore a mere assent to the gospel in generalis not sufficient for salvation, and a full assurance of our own inter- est is not necessary, it follows, that an affiance or trust in Christ as a Saviour is the most essential and important act of faith. This is that sacred and appointed duty of a convinced soul, whereby it ismade partaker of the blessings of salvation accord- ing to the gospel, if it be practised in the way which I have just before described. II. Takenotice here of the difference between the law and Vat. i. S
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