An humble apology for non-conformists with modest and serious reflections on the Friendly debate…

Quest. Is Faith, or believing in Christ, a coming to Christ, or a relying on Christ for the pardon of our sin? See Debate, p. 43.

Answ. Yes: John 7.37, 38. there coming to Christ, and believing, are all one: And to what end Sinners are called to come to Christ, we my learn from our blessed Saviour, Mat. 11.28. namely, That they may find rest. I believe in God, (saith Bishop Nicholson in his excellent Exposition of the Church-Catechism) as if I said, I put my whole trust, hope, and confidence in him, I •ely upon him: And so may Faith in Christ, I •hink be very well described, to be a relying on Christ for the pardon of our sins, and all good things. If my memory fail not, I have often •eard that Renowned Professor, Dr. Samuel Ward, deliver it for good Doctrine in the Chair, That Faith was Recumbentia in Christum Media•re, &c. a Recumbency on Christ for the pardon of •ins.. One Mr. Down, that wrote too against Separation, defineth Faith to be a rest of the Will upon Christ and his merits, for Justification, and consequently Salvation. And the same Author observes that the Hebrew words [Greek or Hebrew] and [Greek or Hebrew] ⟨p. 80⟩all words equipollent in the old Testament; and what is meant by them in the Old Testament, is expressed in the New by Believing: To instance in one, Trust in the Lord with thy whole heart, saith the Old Testament, Prov. 3.5. If thou believest with thy whole heart, or with all thy heart, saith the New, Act. 8.37. We may define Faith thus: It it a gracious habit infused into the Heart by the Spirit of God, whereby the Soul rests or rolls it self upon Christ for all things appertaining to Life and Godliness, for Gods Glory and its own Salvation.