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CHAPTER III.

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THE NECESSITY OF BELIEVING THE GOSPEL,

SECT. I. Jesus Christ, with all his unsearchable riches, is proposed in the Gospel as a sufficient Saviour, and suitable portion, to a guilty perishing world,

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SECT. II. There is no salvation for Sinners in any other than Jesus Christ, revealed in the Gospel; and there is no other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved, but his name alone,

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SECT. III. Whosoever believeth on the name of Christ shall have everlasting life,

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SECT. IV. He that believeth not the Son, shall not see life;
but the wrath of God abideth on him,
REFLECTIONS,

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CHAPTER IV.

THE VARIOUS KINDS INTO WHICH FAITH IS COMMONLY DISTIN-
GUISHED,

SECT. I. A description of Historical Faith, the Faith of
Miracles, a Temporary Faith, and a Saving Faith,
SECT. II. The difference between these kinds of Faith as-
certained,
SECT. III. The difference of Saving Faith from the other
kinds of Faith, does not lie in any act of the mind,
REFLECTIONS,

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THE HOLY GHOST WORKS SAVING FAITH BY MEANS OF THE WORD, 268

SECT. I. The necessity of Divine Energy to produce a Saving Belief of the Word of God,

269

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE Author of the following Treatise was a respectable Minister of the Secession, first at Torphichen, in Scotland, and afterwards in London; and is already known to the public by several judicious and esteemed Works: particularly, by two volumes on 66 Gospel Worship," an "Essay on Church Fellowship,” a “ View of the Constitution of the Gospel Church," and two Sermons, entitled, "Grace and Holiness," which were published during his life.

Though the present Volume makes its appearance for the first time, after the lapse of more than twenty-five years since the Author's death, its style and manner will, to those who are acquainted with his other writings, afford satisfactory evidence that it is the genuine production of his pen. The manuscript, from which it is printed, is in his own hand-writing, and evidently prepared for the press. It was deposited by him in the hands of his intimate friend, the Rev. Mr. Patison, probably with a view to its publication in Edinburgh; but the death of the Author, which happened soon after, and then of that venerable Minister of the Gospel, to whose care he had entrusted it, occasioned all thoughts of its publication to be laid aside. Through the politeness of Mr. Patison's family, in whose custody it has ever since remained, several of the Editor's brethren in the ministry were favoured with a perusal of it; and it now appears, in consequence of the opinion which they have been pleased to express, that it is in no respect inferior to the Author's other works; and that its publication might be of use for exhibiting clear and evangelical views, of points which have occasioned much disputation in the church of God.

The subject of this Treatise is confessedly of the greatest importance, and cannot fail to recommend itself to the attention of Christians of every denomination. The faith of the Gospel is of indispensable necessity. It enters as an essential ingredient into the Christian character, and, by its benign and powerful influence, adorns it. Without it a sinner can have no interest in Christ, nor communion with him; can perform no acceptable worship, possess no genuine holiness, nor enjoy any well-grounded hope. he can neither live happily, nor die safely. Men are saved through faith, and damned for want of it. It concerns every person, there fore, to know the doctrines which he must believe, and the na ture of that faith with which he must believe them; the founda

tion on which it rests, the means by which it is produced, and the characters by which it is distinguished from every counterfeit.

On these and other highly interesting topics, the reader will find much valuable information in the Volume with which he is now presented. An attentive perusal will satisfy him that it has been composed with great care, and is the fruit of much study and extensive reading on the subject of which it treats.

It is perhaps unnecessary to add, that the Editor is accountable for nothing but his fidelity. The Work appears precisely in the form in which the Author prepared it for the press; and no other liberty has been used than occasionally to supply a word, or part of a sentence, which had, by an incautious use of the manuscript, become illegible.

The Editor regrets that the Work is imperfect. The Author proposed to illustrate the second part of his subject as fully as he has done the first-and had actually completed it; but a fire, which broke out in an adjacent house, destroyed the manuscript, along with most of his books and furniture, and he had proceeded no further in the preparation of his work anew for the press than what is now published, when his labours were interrupted by disease, and soon after terminated by death. Had he lived to complete his plan, the work must have appeared in two volumes. Nine sections would have followed the three which are printed, in order to complete the chapter which treats of the influence of faith upon the character and conduct of the saints; showing its influence in our adoption—in promoting true holiness—comfort -hope-patience and victory over the world, and in enabling saints to resist the devil-depart in peace and anticipate the glories of the world to come. The illustration of these would have been succeeded by two additional chapters; the one illustrating the office of faith in the life, walk, profession, and religious duties of believers; and the other pointing out the genuine marks of unfeigned faith.

The Editor commits the Work in the condition in which it now appears, to Him for whose service it was written; and hopes that, through his blessing, it may be useful for increasing the knowledge, confirming the faith, and promoting the holiness and comfort of the saints.

Edinburgh, August 25, 1803.

JAMES PEDDIE.

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