these things without faith; for that is what the apostle continually repeats through this whole chapter, that, by means of faith and not otherwise, such and such benefits were obtained.

QUERY X. Were any awakened sinners invited ❝and urged to believe by Christ or his apostles; and told, at the same time, that the thing they were to "believe was not true as yet? Nor had they any evi"dence from scripture, sense or reason, it would ever “be true; but however most solemnly assured by the "promise and oath of God, if they would venture to "believe, without any evidence at all in the case, it "would be according to their faith.Was this the "thing the apostles dwelt upon in all their preaching? "Was this the thing they urged awakened sinners to, "with all their might? No: they never heard of it "neither came it into their hearts, to think that this "was justifying faith."

ANSWER. It seems unnecessary to add to what has been advanced on the subject of this query. Only it may be observed, that, if, instead of saying, "The "thing they were to believe was not true, as yet ;" it had been said, The promise they were called to believe, was not verified to them, as yet; nor was there any evidence from scripture, sense or reason, that it ever would be verified; while they continued to disbelieve it the futility of this and indeed of most of these queries would have been obvious to many readers; who are confounded with the continual repetition of the grossly misapplied expression, believing without evidence. With regard to the way in which Christ and his apostles dealt with awakened sinners, it is easy to shew, that sinners in such a case were still directed

to the grant and promise of Christ immediately, Matth. xi. 28. John vi. 32. Acts ii. 39. That what is

now expressed was, in effect, what Mr. Marshal intended by the words harped upon so much by Mr. Bellamy, will never be denied by such as comply with Mr. Her. vey's reasonable request in his recommendatory letter concerning that excellent treatise, The Gospel-mystery of Sanctification. "Only," says he, "let candour, not "rigour, fill the chair, and interpret an unguarded "expression or a seemingly inconsistent sentence by

the general tenor of the discourse." The expression, however, of which we now speak, can hardly be called unguarded; as it appears to have been intended by the judicious author to set forth the mystery of saving faith in the very peculiar manner wherein it takes possession of the good of the promise by an act of believing. But it is insisted upon as what cannot be refused without the greatest injustice to Mr. Marshal, that this expression be interpreted according to the general tenor and design of his discourse.

QUERY XI. Is not the thing believed a lie? It was not true, before it was believed, as is granted. But believing an untruth to be true cannot make it true. It cannot according to reason: it cannot ac"cording to scripture: it cannot according to expe "rience. It was never known, since the world began to produce this effect in any one instance, unless in this case. And we have no evidence from scripture, "sense or reason that it ever did in this."

ANSWER. What is it that Mr. Bellamy calls a lie? Is it a lie, that a promise of eternal life is exhibited and directed to sinners of mankind indefinitely, to be either believed or disbelieved? Is it a lie, that this pro

anise shall be verified in the experience of such as believe and cordially receive it; but not in the experience of those who disbelieve and reject it? Were some honest, wealthy and generous man to say to his indigent neighbour," I sincerely make you a grant of a cer"tain valuable estate. It is as much your own as my "deed of gift can make it. All that remains in order

to your actual possession of it, is, that you accept "of it:" and were that neighbour to make this reply; "Sir, that estate is not mine: I despise your grant, ❝ and there is no evidence that the estate either is or "ever will be mine. Therefore you bid me believe a "lie :" every reasonable person would be shocked at the stupidity and baseness of such an insulting answer, And is not the same affront offered to the infinite Majesty of Heaven, to the God of all grace, when the call he gives poor sinners to believe the gospel-promise with application to themselves, is represented as a call to believe a lie? This is, indeed, the sin of unbelief, which makes God a li 1 John v. 10, 11.

It may be added here, that such is the high import of this call, (though it be a most glorious display of the Divine condescension) that our falling in with it necessarily implies a supernatural work of the Holy Ghost, bringing us to renounce all carnal and legal confidences; to discern the wisdom, holiness, mercy and faithfulness of God in the gospel-promise exhibiting Christ and his benefits; to discern,. also, our right of applying that promise to ourselves without any hazard of vitious intromission; and to embrace and take it home to ourselves as both true and good; as the everlasting rest of our souls. To represent persons who are truly brought fo this holy and spiritual exercise as only flattering

themselves with a gross lie, is turning the glory, of God's people into shame with a witness.

QUERY XII. "Is it not astonishing' and one of the "most unaccountable things in the world, that a ra❝tional creature, with the Bible in his hands, should "ever be able to work up himself to believe what he "knows is not yet true; and what he knows he has σε no evidence, that it ever will be true. No wonder "these men are so much troubled with doubts. No "wonder they are afraid, they believe a liẻ. No won"der, they are obliged to strive and struggle against

this unbelief, a kind of unbelief we no where read "of in the Bible: a kind of conflict no saint ever had,

that stands on record; as themselves are obliged to ❝own. To struggle daily to believe without any evidence from scripture, sense and reason! As nothing can be plainer than that we ought never to believe

any thing with more confidence, than in exact pro"portion to our evidence; to do otherwise is the most "presumptuous thing in the world; and to think, by "being thus strong in the faith, we shall give glory to "God, is the very first born of delusion, that even "Satan himself ever begot in the heart of a fallen "creature."

ANSWER. While the charge, against Mr. Marshal and others, of teaching men to believe without any evidence, is founded, as we have seen, in the most gross misrepresentation, the passionate aggravations of that charge serve only to expose the folly of the accuser. It seems unncessary to add to what has been already advanced on the subject of this query. A remark, however, in opposition to the reproach cast upon the doctrine of Mr. Marshal, Mr. Hervey and others,

may not be improper. It may be observed, that, were we to believe the gospel-promise, according to the degree of evidence attending it, that is, according to the ground we have to believe it, our persuasion of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ would exclude all fear and doubting. It is true, there is often much doubting in the believer; but that is to be imputed, not to any defect in the evidence attending the grant or promise of Christ in the external dispensation of the gospel, but only to remaining unbelief and other corruptions, according to swch passages of scripture as the following, Psal. lxxvii. 9, 10. Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? I said, This is mine infirmity. Matth. xiv. 31, Jesus said unto Peter, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt ? Hence the believer is represented as wrestling against perplexing doubts and fears, Psal. xiii. 11. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Hence it is nothing against the faith inculcated by Mr. Marshal and Mr. Hervey, that those, who have it, are sensible of remaining doubts, are humbled for them, and wrestle against them, often crying out with the father of the child, in Mark ix. 24 Lord, I believe, help mine unbelief.