Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Faith.
FAITH .
EWITH AN ELEGANT ENGRAVING . ]] OF this Virtue , we have the following definition by that celebrated Divine Dr . Clarke ; " Faith ( says he ) is that firm belief of things at present not seen ; that conviction upon the mind ^ of the truth of the promises and threatnings of God made known
in the Gospel , of the certain reality of the rewards and punishments of the life to come ; which enables a man in opposition to all the temptations of a corrupt world to obey God in expectation of an invisible reward hereafter . This is that faith , which in Scripture is always represented as a Moral Virtue—nay , as . the principal root and spring of all Virtues : because it is an act not of the
understanding only , but also and chiefly of the will , so to consider impartially to approve and embrace the doctrine of the Gospel as to make it the great rule of our life and actions . " The appstle Paul has defined Faith to be tho substance of things hoped for , and the evidence of things not seen . " Hi ' s meaning is , that Faith is a virtue by which any thing commanded us bGod to
y believe , appears evident , and is accepted by us , although we dp not see , nor can conceive it : because by Faith we rest entirel y upon the truth and power of the Almighty . It is an old and true distinction , that things may be above our reason without being contrary to it . Of this kind are the power ,
the nature , and the omnipresence of the Deity ; with innumerableother points . How little do those who quarrel with mysteries know of the commonest actions in Nature ? The production of the smallest seed , the growth of plants , and the formation of an animal , are still mysteries to the wisest of mankind . If an i gnorant person were told that a loadstone would drawiron at a distance , he mi ° -ht saythat it was an assertion contrary to his reasonand that he
, , could not believe it unless he saw it with his own eyes . The manner whereby the soul and body are united , and how they are distinguished , are wholly unaccountable to us . We see but one part , and yet know that we consist of two ; which is a mystery we cannot comprehend any more than we can the constitution of a tulip . From these instances it appears , that God never commanded
us to believe any doctrine contrary to the reason he has endowed us with ; but has for his own wise ends thought fit to conceal from us the nature of some articles proposed to our assent , purposely to try our faith and obedience , and to increase our dependence upon him . It is highly probable , that if God should please to reveal to us the mysteries in our holy reliion we should not be able to understand
g them , unless he should at the same time bestow on us some new faculties of mind which we have not at present , and which are reserved until our resurrection to eternal life . Fornow as the Apostle says , " we see through a glass darkly , but then face to face . " .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Faith.
FAITH .
EWITH AN ELEGANT ENGRAVING . ]] OF this Virtue , we have the following definition by that celebrated Divine Dr . Clarke ; " Faith ( says he ) is that firm belief of things at present not seen ; that conviction upon the mind ^ of the truth of the promises and threatnings of God made known
in the Gospel , of the certain reality of the rewards and punishments of the life to come ; which enables a man in opposition to all the temptations of a corrupt world to obey God in expectation of an invisible reward hereafter . This is that faith , which in Scripture is always represented as a Moral Virtue—nay , as . the principal root and spring of all Virtues : because it is an act not of the
understanding only , but also and chiefly of the will , so to consider impartially to approve and embrace the doctrine of the Gospel as to make it the great rule of our life and actions . " The appstle Paul has defined Faith to be tho substance of things hoped for , and the evidence of things not seen . " Hi ' s meaning is , that Faith is a virtue by which any thing commanded us bGod to
y believe , appears evident , and is accepted by us , although we dp not see , nor can conceive it : because by Faith we rest entirel y upon the truth and power of the Almighty . It is an old and true distinction , that things may be above our reason without being contrary to it . Of this kind are the power ,
the nature , and the omnipresence of the Deity ; with innumerableother points . How little do those who quarrel with mysteries know of the commonest actions in Nature ? The production of the smallest seed , the growth of plants , and the formation of an animal , are still mysteries to the wisest of mankind . If an i gnorant person were told that a loadstone would drawiron at a distance , he mi ° -ht saythat it was an assertion contrary to his reasonand that he
, , could not believe it unless he saw it with his own eyes . The manner whereby the soul and body are united , and how they are distinguished , are wholly unaccountable to us . We see but one part , and yet know that we consist of two ; which is a mystery we cannot comprehend any more than we can the constitution of a tulip . From these instances it appears , that God never commanded
us to believe any doctrine contrary to the reason he has endowed us with ; but has for his own wise ends thought fit to conceal from us the nature of some articles proposed to our assent , purposely to try our faith and obedience , and to increase our dependence upon him . It is highly probable , that if God should please to reveal to us the mysteries in our holy reliion we should not be able to understand
g them , unless he should at the same time bestow on us some new faculties of mind which we have not at present , and which are reserved until our resurrection to eternal life . Fornow as the Apostle says , " we see through a glass darkly , but then face to face . " .