An ACT CONCERNING FAITH AND JUSTIFICATION. THE Minifters and Elders, in Synod affembled, finding that dangerous errors are entertained and propagated, concerning the doctrines of faving faith, and of juftification, feel it their duty to declare, and by this act they do declare, what they conceive the holy fcriptures to teach on these important points, chiefly as they are, at prefent, perverted or opposed. I. Of the APPROPRIATION and ASSURANCE of faith. Faith, in its general idea, is affent to, and reliance on, teftimony. Its peculiar character muft arise from the teftimony on which it is founded. That divine faith, therefore, by which alone finners are faved, must be an affent to, and reliance on, the Divine testimony as exhibited in the written word. The gospel is expreffly termed the RECORD OF TESTIMONY which God gave of his Son; and faith a BELIEVING of this record. 1 John v. 10. In perfect harmony with the fcriptures, its general character, its fpecial office, and its true and only warrant, are comprehended in the concise and correct definition of the shorter catechifm. "Faith in Jefus Chrift is a faving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for falvation, as he is freely offered to us in the gospel." 1. In its general character which it has in common with other benefits of the covenant, it is faid to be a SAVING GRACE. A grace, or a free gift; an unmerited favour. It is the GIFT of God;* and that both in its principle and in its exercises. Chriftians believe even as the Lord GIVETH to every man. And it is he who deals, out to every man the MEASURE of faith. A grace-being purchased for us by Christ's precious blood, and freely bestowed on us for his fake. It is given unto us IN THE BEHALF OF CHRIST, to believe on him.§ A grace because it is wrought in the heart of a finner by the free Spirit of God, through the inftrumentality of the word. For this reafon he is called the SPIRIT OF FAITH;|| and the people of God believe according to the working of HIS MIGHTY POWER, which, by the Spirit, he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and fet him at his qwn right hand in the heavenly places. And this faith, so produced, cometh by hearing, and hearing by the WORD OF GOD.** This faith faves. As its origin is grace, fo its * Eph. ii. 8. § Phil. i. 29, ** Rom. X. 17. iffue is falvation from fin and from wrath, both here and hereafter. He that believeth SHALL be faved;* he HATH everlasting life, and fhall NOT COME into condemnation; but fhall receive the end of his faith, even the falvation of his foul.§ 2. The fpecial office of faith is to RECEIVE, AND REST UPON CHRIST ALONE FOR SALVATION. But, in order to have just views of this part of the fubject, we are previously to consider the true and only warrant of faith, which is THE FREE OFFER OF CHRIST TO US IN THE GOSPEL. All that is neceffary for elucidating this pointmay be fummed up in the following propofitions. ift. God hath made a grant of his Son Jefus Chrift, as an all-fufficient Saviour, to a loft and perishing world. He hath not merely revealed a general knowledge of him, but has directly and folemnly given him to finners, as fuch, that they may be faved. God fo loved the world that he GAVE his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him Should not perish, but have everlasting life.|| 2dly. This gift is abfolutely free; independent, in every poffible manner, on the worthiness or good qualities of men. This is effential to the very nature of his gift. Redemption through the blood of Chrift is according to the riches of his grace. It is a faithful faying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Chrift Fefus came into the world to fave the chief of finners.** 6 3dly. This gift is indifcriminately to all the hearers of the gospel, and to every one of them in particular. Unto us a child is born; unto us a Son is given.* The word is nigh THEE, even in THY mouth, and in THINE heart; that is, the word of faith which we preach: That if THOU fhalt confefs with thy mouth the Lord Jefus, and fhall believe in thine heart, that God hath raised him from the dead, THOU fhalt be faved. No fins, however enormous or aggravated, place any finner beyond the reach of this liberal grant. The very terms in which it is conveyed suppose the objects of it to be unbelieving, unrighteous, and even obftinate in tranfgreffion. God gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever BELIEVETH on him might not perish; manifeftly implying, that they to whom he is given are unbelievers. The Lord Chrift, whose invitations to finners must be grounded on the Father's gift of him as the covenant of the people, thus addreffes them: Hearken unto me, YE STOUTHEARTED, that are FAR from righteousness; behold, I bring near my righteousness. The Saviour thus given, God hath made it the duty of every one who hears the gofpel to accept, that he may be faved: and he cannot reject the gift but at the peril of his foul. This is the COMMANDMENT of God, that we should believe on the name of his Son Fefus Chrift.§ Now, the divine command requiring all the hearers of the gospel to receive the Lord Jefus for falva If. ix. 6. † Rom. x. 8, 9. + If. xlvi. 12, 13, $1 John iii. 23. |