A discourse of the true nature of the Gospel demonstrating that it is no…

This I must confess looks very plausible at first sight, and the Argument seems to be strongly conclusive. But if we consider the Nature of Faith, it will be manifest, that it was not only commanded to Adam in Innocence, and that it was his Duty, but that it is absolutely necessary to every holy and good Creature: For if we take it as an Act of the Mind, assenting readily to all that God reveals, as infallibly true, it is that to which every Creature in the right Constitution of his Being, is indispensably obliged. It is the Duty of Angels themselves to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that he is the Saviour of Elect Men; that the Pardon and Justification of a Sinner, is by his Blood and Righteousness alone; that God's Justice is satisfied by the Sacrifice of his Son. For all these Truths being published, and made known by God for the Illustration of his infinite Mercy among all his rational Creatures; and that the Praises of his Free Grace might resound as well in the Songs of Angels, as from the Mouths of Men; it is needful, and required as a Duty from them both, who are to honour God in the Celebration of all his Attributes, that they heartily believe all these Truths of the Gospel, in which alone God's Perfections of Mercy and Grace do illustriously shine forth. And as for Man in Innocence, though it was not in express Terms required from him to believe the Gospel not yet revealed to him, or to act Faith on Christ undiscovered; yet such a Command was included, and implied in that general one, that he should without any Doubt or Hesitancy give Credit to all that God said: and that as he was to believe the Sincerity of God's Promise, and the Reality of his Threatenings when the Covenant of Works was made with him, and without doubt he acted such a Faith; so by the same Precept he was commanded and bound to believe every word which God afterward should speak to him, and without scrupulous disputing presently assent to those Truths which were to be revealed, as soon as it appeared to him that they were so. So that indeed the Belief of the Gospel, and Faith in Christ Jesus, were comprehended in this general Precept of Believing in God: and indeed Christ himself tells us so, and useth it as an Argument why they should act Faith on him, because they were obliged to it by the same Command which required them to believe on God; John 14. 1.

This I must confess looks very plausible at first sight, and the Argument seems to be strongly conclusive. But if we consider the Nature of Faith, it will be manifest, that it was not only commanded to Adam in Innocence, and that it was his Duty, but that it is absolutely necessary to every holy and good Creature: For if we take it as an Act of the Mind, assenting readily to all that God reveals, as infallibly true, it is that to which every Creature in the right Constitution of his Being, is indispensably oblig'd. It is the Duty of Angels themselves to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that he is the Saviour of Elect Men; that the Pardon and Justification of a Sinner, is by his Blood and Righteousness alone; that God's Justice is satisfied by the Sacrifice of his Son. For all these Truths being publish'd, and made known by God for the Illustration of his infinite Mercy among all his rational Creatures; and that the Praises of his Free Grace might resound as well in the Songs of Angels, as from the Mouths of Men; it is needful, and required as a Duty from them both, who are to honour God in the Celebration of all his Attributes, that they heartily believe all these Truths of the Gospel, in which alone God's Perfections of Mercy and Grace do illustriously shine forth. And as for Man in Innocence, though it was not in express Terms required from him to believe the Gospel not yet revealed to him, or to act Faith on Christ undiscovered; yet such a Command was included, and implied in that general one, that he should without any Doubt or Hesitancy give Credit to all that God said: and that as he was to believe the Sincerity of God's Promise, and the Reality of his Threatnings when the Covenant of Works was made with him, and without doubt he acted such a Faith; so by the same Precept he was commanded and bound to believe every word which God afterward should speak to him, and without scrupulous disputing presently assent to those Truths which were to be reveal'd, assoon as it appear'd to him that they were so. So that indeed the Belief of the Gospel, and Faith in Christ Jesus, were comprehended in this general Precept of Believing in God: and indeed Christ himself tells us so, and useth it as an Argument why they should act Faith on him, because they were oblig'd to it by the same Command which required them to believe on God;