CHAPTER II.

FAITH ALONE AND PRAYERLESS DOCTRINE CON

SIDERED.

WE teach that faith is the leading principle in the econoiny of grace, and that without faith, not one of the items in the plan of salvation can be observed acceptably. "But without faith it is impossible to please God; for he that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Heb. x. 6. "And he that doubteth is damned if he ezt, because he eateth not of faith; for whatsoever is not of faith is sin." Rom. xiv. 23; v. "But he that believeth not shall be damned." Mark xvi. 16. "He that believeth on him, is not condemned; but he that believeth not, is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John iii. 18. Having established the necessity of faith, we shall now proceed to give you a short definiton of faith. First the thing to be believed-second, the testimony of the truth of the thing to be believedand thirdly, the reception of the testimony by him who has heard it.

Now in order to salvation, Jesus Christ or the gospel is the object to be believed, and the testimony to produce faith in the gospel, are miracles and prophecies, or signs and wonders, and every person that hears the gospel and credits or receives the testimony of the gospel, is a believer. Now let us hear what the Testament says on the subject: "We know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him." John iii. 2. "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of hist

disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." John xx. 30, 31. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Rom. x. 17. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Heb. xi. 1. See also Heb. ii. 4. John iv. 39-42. The reader will please to reflect upon the above passages and he no doubt will find that we have taken a right view of faith. From the whole we learn, faith has for its object the gospel. The word of God is the thing or object believed. To this end we have a standing ministry to publish the proclamation of life and salvation, the everlasting gospel, unto the children of men for the obedience of faith. "Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according the revelation of the mistery which was kept secret since the world began: But now is made manisfest, and by the scriptures of the prophets according to the commandment of the Everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith." Rom. xiv. 25, 26. Now no man can believe in the gospel, until he has heard the gospel-hearing is before believing. Therefore, when the gospel is heard and the testimony received, then all the gospel facts are believed; and it is not faith, but the thing believed, that effects the believer; and I furthermore remark, that the result of faith will be agreeable to the nature of the report believed. If you receive tidings of a distressing, alarming, or joyful character— and you believe the news, you are accordingly affected, but should you discredit the truth of the tidings, believe it to be a false report-you remain unmoved or unaffected by the report. So it is in regard to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; for there is but one way to

believe in any thing. All the difference that I can perceive between believing in the gospel, and the History of Alexander the Great, or any other History, is the testimony upon which the gospel and those histories are based-the one is divine, the other human testimony. The testimony of God is stronger than the testimony of man, as John writes: "If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: He that believeth not God, hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son." i John v. 9, 10. The clergy have acquired so much learned nonsense on the subject of faith, that they are measurably to blame for the ignorance that prevails among the people on the word faith. Now in the Apostle's day every person knew what was meant by believing in Jesus Christ or the gospel; but now it is differently understood. From the manner in which some people express themselves on the faith commanded in the gospel-we might infer that no one can believe in Christ or the gospel-until the Holy Spirit instils faith into their hearts. If this be the case, it is not the sinner but the Holy Spirit that believes. That the Holy Spirit is in the gospel, and works or co-operates with the gospel, that the testimony of God might be received, is very evident for Christ said he would send the Spirit in his name and describes the office of the Spirit, and the advantages that would redound by the coming of the Comforter. It certainly would be contrary to the character of the Holy Spirit as described by Christ, for us to be taught a private doctrine-a doctrine that had not been taught by Jesus Christ himself. It has been expressly declared by Christ: "For he (the Holy Spirit) shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear

that shall he speak and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me; for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine; therefore said I that he shall take of mine and shall shew it unto you." John xvi. 13-15. "Now the sending of the Spirit being a part of Christ's royalty, as Mediator, it was not convenient that the Spirit should be sent till Christ was crowned, and sat down on his throne in his kingdom; then the Spirit was to make application to us of the redemption purchased for us." And reader mark what I tell you, the Holy Spirit will not teach you any other doctrine than what Christ and the Apostles taught, consequently he cannot believe for you, he cannot repent for you, &c., you must do these acts yourself. In fine, the Holy Spirit independent of the testimony of God cannot cause or produce faith in one individual sinner of Adam's family. He can do nothing separate from the gospel, but he co-operates with the gospel in all things. Christ is declared to be the author and finisher of faith. Heb. xii. 2. That is, Christ's holy doctrine is the foundation of faith-his miracles, the signs and wonders by which the gospel was established, are the special means of faith-and Christ is the finisher of faith; that is, as a certain writer says:-"The first part of our faith is in Christ so is the last; he is the beginning and the end. All we are to believe, is to be received from him. There are but few who attend to this; for with Christ they have some other author to finish their faith." Smith. And that Christ may be the author and finisher of faith, a pure testimony accompanying the ministration of the word is indispensable.

How all-important that the gospel should be preached in its original and divine meaning. The church should never lose sight of this matter, for a true and faithful ministry is one of heaven's choicests blessing, but a false

and corrupt ministry is one of the devil's greatest engines to pervert and blind the mind of man. It is a very easy matter for people to believe in that which they wish to believe, but how hard to believe in that for which they have no relish. Here comes the doctrine of the cross based upon the strongest testimony, but how few are willing to believe the testimony of God. Ah! the reason is obvious, they have no relish for the doctrine of the Master. The prophet Isaiah foresaw what small success the preaching of the word of life would have to, and among the Jews. "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed." Isa. liii. 1-5. The nations must hear, that they may believe, and God's word must be preached, that they may hear, see Rom. x. 17; i Cor. i. 21. Thus it is very obvious that the doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious and heavenly light must be transmitted to the ends of the world for the enlightening of man, the obedience of faith. From the whole we learn, that the applicant for salvation is one who believes in the existence and character of the Supreme Being, and in Jesus Christ his only begotten Son, and that the Testament contains a revelation from God to man. He is also fully convinced of his lost condition, and that in order to his recovery he must reform and be baptized. Bnt it is a lamentable fact, that a per son may have the faith as above described, and not be an applicant for salvation. To make application for sal vation is a matter of choice with the believer, God having put it in his own power to say whether he shall be saved or damned. Should he sincerely and earnestly desire the salvation of his soul, he will no doubt communicate his desire to Jesus Christ, in humble prayer and supplication. But this course is opposed by some, on the grounds that it is not in harmony with the gospel; they tell us that "none but such as have their sins remitted