QUESTION VII. 95 adult baptism, or confirm that which we passed through in in- fancy, at our coming into a church, if we know nothing of the Holy Spirit, nor the use of him in our religion? It might also be added, as a further argument on this head, that the commu- nionof the Holy Ghost is the great gospel- benediction, joined with the love of God, and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; as in 2 Cor. xiii. 14. So that our initiation into christianity being solemnized in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, our christian life andstate being maintained by their distinct offices or transactions therein, and our hope of happiness depending on their divine benediction, we may reasonably infer, that some knowledge and faith of the blessed Trinity are necessary to christian salvation. " That there shall be a resurrection of the body is another such article ; for if the dead rise not, then is not Christ risen ; and if Christ be not risen, your faith is in vain, ye are yet in your sins." 1 Cor. xv. 16, 17. However this might be doubted by some Corinthians before this epistle was written, yet it can- not safely be doubted now. " That there is a stateof happiness hereafter prepared for saints where Jesus Christ is ;" John xiv. 3. and those that " re- fuse his gospel shall he punishedfrom the presence of the Load wills everlasting destruction; 2 Thess. i. 9. These seem tó be necessary motives to work upon our hope and fear, and without which the gospel could hardly besupposed to be received amongst men; and therefore I count them necessary and fundamental articles of christianity. Thus I have attempted to give some instances of such doctrines 'as seem to be necessary to a christian profession, according to the second character of fundamentals; viz. " such as raise it above natural religion, and distinguish it from Judaism, &c. and are represented in scripture as the found- ation, the substance, and the glory of the gospel." 3. A third character by which several fundamentals may be known, is this : " These doctrines or duties that are expressly madenecessary to salvation in the word of Gad, are certainly fundamentals :" Though the greatest part of these are such as are either necessary to all religion under the first head, or are some of the Most distinguishing doctrines of the christian refl.. gion under the second head; as, he that corneas to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that dili- gently seek him; lieb. xi. 6. That Jesus Christ is the oìtly way to the Father; John xiv. 6. No man cometh to the Father but by me. That Jesus is the Christ : TVlab is a liar, but he that de- Meth that Jesus is the Christ 2 He isantichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son: Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father; 1 John ii. 22, 23. The duties of believing in Christ, mortification of sins of F3
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