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THE

LIFE OF FAITH.

PREFACE

ΤΟ

THE LIFE OF FAITH.

66

THE design of this little Treatise is to display the glory and all-sufficiency of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to encourage weak believers to glorify him more, by depending and living more upon his all-sufficiency. Whatever grace he has promised in his word, he is faithful, and he is almighty to bestow, and they may receive it of him freely by the hand of faith. This is its use and office, as a hand or instrument, having first received Christ, to be continually receiving out of Christ's fulness. The apostle calls this living by faith;" a life received and continued, with all the strength, comforts, and blessings belonging to it, by faith in the Son of God; and he also mentions the work of faith, its working effectually in the hearts and lives of believers, through Christ's strengthening them, and its growing in them, yea, growing exceedingly, from faith to faith, by the power of him who loveth them. This is the subject; and it properly belongs to those only who have obtained the true faith, given them of God, and wrought in their hearts by his word and Spirit. Such persons meet with many difficulties every day to try their faith, and to hinder them from depending continually upon the Lord Christ for all things belonging to life and

godliness. By what means these difficulties may be overcome, is plainly taught in Scripture, is clearly promised, and is attained by faith, which becomes daily more victorious, as it is enabled to trust that he is faithful who promised. The strengthening of it I have had all along in view, hoping to be the means, under God, of leading the weak believer by the hand, and of removing hinderances out of his way, until the Lord thoroughly settle and establish him in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

It is

Faith

But I must admonish the reader, that I do not expect this merely from what I have written. too high and great a work for any mere man. is the gift of God. And he alone who gives it, can increase it. The author of the faith is also the finisher of it; and we do not use the means to set the Lord of all means aside: no; we use them that

we may find him in them. It is his presence which makes the use of them effectual. By this, and this only, can any reader of this little book be rendered stronger in faith. Being well assured of this, I have therefore looked up to him myself, and it will be for thy profit also, reader, to look up to him in prayer for his blessing. Entreat him, of his grace, to countenance this feeble attempt to promote his glory and his people's good. Beg of him to make thy reading of it the means of thy growth in faith, and to accompany it with the supply of his Holy Spirit to every believer into whose hands it may fall. And forget not, in thy prayers and praises, to remember the Author.

April 30, 1793.

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