Induction. He that hath faith, believeth God: he that believeth God, believeth his word: he that believeth his word, knoweth well that he is true and faithful and may not lie, knowing that he both may and will fulfil his word. Therefore, he that hath faith, cannot displease God: neither can any man do a greater honour to God, than to count him true. Objection. Thou wilt then say, that theft, murder, adultery, and all vices, please God. Ans. Nay verily, for they cannot be done in faith: " for a good tree beareth good fruit." (Matt. vii.) The fifteenth proposition. Faith is a certainty or assuredness. "Faith is a sure confidence of things which are hoped for, and a certainty of things which are not seen." (Heb. xi. 1.) "The same Spirit certifieth our spirit, that we are the children of God." (Rom. viii. 16.) Moreover, he that hath faith, well knoweth that God will fulfil his word. Whereby it appears, that faith is certainty or assured ness. A MAN IS JUSTIFIED BY FAITH. "Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness. (Rom. iv. 3.) "We suppose, therefore, that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." (Rom. iii. 28. Gal. ii. 16.) "He that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the wicked, his faith is counted to him for righteousness." (Rom. iv. 5.) "The just man liveth by his faith." (Hab. ii. 4. Rom. i. 17.) "We know, that a man is not justified by the deeds of the law; but by the faith of Jesus Christ: and we believe in Jesus Christ, that we may be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the deeds of the law." (Gal. ii. 16.) WHAT IS THE FAITH OF CHRIST? The faith of Christ is, to believe in him, that is, to be lieve his word, and believe that he will help thee in all thy need, and deliver thee from all evil. Thou wilt ask me, What word?-I answer, The Gospel. "He that believeth in Christ, shall be saved." (Mark xvi. 16.) "He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life." (John iii. 36.) 66 Verily, I say unto you, He that believeth in me hath everlasting life." (John vi. 47.) "This I write unto you, that believe on the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life.' v. 13.) (1 John Thomas, because thou hast seen me, therefore hast thou believed? Happy are they which have not seen, and yet have believed in me." (John xx. 29.) "All the prophets bear witness to him, that whosoever believeth in him, shall have remission of their sins." x. 43.) (Acts "What must I do, that I may be saved?" The apostles answered: "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." (Acts xvi. 30, 31.) "If thou acknowledge with thy mouth, that Jesus is the Lord, and believest with thine heart, that God raised him from death, thou shalt be safe." (Rom. x. 9.) "He that believeth not in Christ, shall be condemned." (Mark xvi. 16.) "He that believeth not the Son, shall never see life, but the wrath of God abideth upon him." (John iii. 36.) "The Holy Ghost shall reprove the world of sin, because they believe not in me." (John xvi. 9.) 66 They that believe in Jesus Christ, are the sons of God." (1 John v. 1.) "Ye are all the sons of God, because ye believe in Jesus Christ." (1 John iii. 1.) He that believeth that Christ is the Son of God, is safe. "Peter said, Thou art Christ the Son of the living God; Jesus answered and said unto him: Happy art thou, Simon, the son of Jonas, for flesh and blood have not opened to thee that; but my Father, which is in heaven." (Matt. xvi. 16, 17.) "We have believed, and know that thou art Christ, the Son of the living God." (John vi. 69.) "I believe, that thou art Christ the Son of God, which should come into the world." (John xi. 27.) "These things are written that ye might believe that Jesus is Christ the Son of God, and that ye, in believing, might have life." (John xx. 31.) "I believe that Jesus is the Son of God." (Acts viii. 37.) The sixteenth proposition. He that believeth the gospel, believeth God. Argument. He that believeth God's word, believeth God. Therefore, he that believeth the gospel, believeth God. (See page 7-the doctrine of the gospel.) The seventeenth proposition. He that believeth not the gospel, believeth not God. Argument. He that believeth not God's word, believeth not God. The gospel is God's word. Therefore, he that believeth not the gospel, believeth not God himself, and consequently, he that believeth not those things above written, and such others, believeth not God. The eighteenth proposition. He that believeth the gospel, shall be saved. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel unto every creature: he that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved: but he that believeth not, shall be condemned." (Mark xvi.16.) A COMPARISON BETWEEN FAITH AND UNBELIEF. Faith is the root of all good. Unbelief is the root of all evil. Faith maketh God and man good friends. Unbelief maketh them foes. Faith bringeth God and man together. Unbelief sundereth them. All that faith doth pleases God. All that unbelief doth displeases God. Faith only, maketh a man good and righteous. Faith maketh a man the inheritor of heaven. Faith counteth and holdeth God to be true. Unbelief knoweth him not. Faith loveth both God and his neighbour. Unbelief loveth neither of them. Faith only, saveth us. Unbelief only, condemneth us. Faith extolleth God and his deeds. Unbelief extolleth herself and her own deeds. OF HOPE. Hope is a trusty (confident) looking after that which is promised us to come: as we hope after the everlasting joy, which Christ hath promised unto all that believe in him. We should put our hope and trust in God alone, and in no other thing. "It is good to trust in God, and not in man.' (Psal. cxviii. 8.) "He that trusteth in his own heart, is a fool." (Prov. xxviii. 26.) "It is good to trust in God, and not in princes." (Psal. cxviii. 9.) "They shall be like unto the images which they make, and all that trust in them." (Psal. cxv. 8.) "He that trusteth in his own thoughts, doth that which is ungodly." (Prov. xii. 5.) "Cursed be he that trusteth in man." (Jer. xvii. 5.) "Bid the rich men of this world, that they trust not in their unstable riches, but that they trust in the living God." (1 Tim. vi. 17.) "It is hard for them that trust in money, to enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Luke xviii. 24.) Moreover, we should trust in him only, that may help us: God only can help us; therefore we should trust in him only. Well are they that trust in God: and woe to them that trust not in Him. "Well is that man that trusteth in God, for God shall be his trust." (Jer. xvii. 7.) He that trusteth in him, shall understand the verity. 66 They shall all rejoice that trust in thee: they shall ever be glad, and thou wilt defend them." (Psal. v. 11.) OF CHARITY. Charity is the love of thy neighbour. The rule of charity is this, do as thou wouldest be done unto: for Christ holdeth all alike, the rich, the poor, the friend and the foe, the thankful and unthankful, the kinsman and stranger. A COMPARISON BETWEEN FAITH, HOPE, AND CHA RITY. Faith cometh of the word of God: Hope cometh of faith: and Charity springeth of them both. Faith believes the word. Hope trusteth in that which is promised by the word. Charity doth good unto her neighbour, through the love that she hath to God, and the gladness that is within herself. Faith looketh to God and his word. Hope looketh unto his gift and reward. Charity looketh on her neighbour's profit. Faith receives God. Hope receives his reward. Charity loves her neighbour with a glad heart, and that without any respect of reward. Faith pertaineth to God only. Hope to his reward; and Charity to her neighbour. THE DOCTRINE OF WORKS. No manner of Works make us righteous. We believe that a man shall be justified without works. (Rom. iii. 28.) No man is justified by the deeds of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, and we believe in Jesus Christ that we may be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the |