darkness, and translates them into a state of life and light; in which they become sons of God, and heirs of a happy and glorious immortality. 1 Cor. xii. 7. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. Gal. iv. 6. God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts. Eph. ii. 18. Through him [Christ] we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Eph. iv. 7. Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. John v. 39. Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me. 40. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. Rom. xv. 4. Whatsoever things were written afore, time were written for our learning; that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope, 2 Cor. v. 20. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. Acts xx. 32. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. John i. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. John i. 9. That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. Col. i. 12. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. Titus iii. 7. That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 54th Q.-What is understood by living faith? A. A firm trust in the power of Christ alone for righteousness and salvation; and a confidential hope in the promises of God in Christ: it is indeed, as the Apostle describes it," the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." See the Proofs to the following Answer. 55th Q.-Is not faith then essential to a Christian ? - A. Certainly, "for without faith it is impossible to please God." Mark ix. 23. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. Luke vii. 48. And he [Jesus] said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 50. Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. Rom. i. 17. For therein [in the Gospel] is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Rom. iv. 20. He [Abraham] staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God: 21. And being fully persuaded that what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24. But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead. 36. Heb. x. 35. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience; that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 38. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Heb. xi. 1. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 3. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. 4. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. 5. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him. î Peter i. 5. Who [you] are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. 6. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness, through manifold temptations: 7. That the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 56th Q.-To what is man indebted for this. living faith? A. To the grace or Spirit of God, which brings salvation, redeems from the corrupt fallen nature, and forms in man a new birth or life unto holiness. Gal. v. 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, goodness, faith, &c. Eph. ii. 8. By grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Heb. xii. 1. Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. 2 Peter i. 1. Símon Peter a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us, through the righteousness of God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ. John i. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will' of man, but of God. 1 Peter i. 21. Who by him do believe in God that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory, that your faith and hope might be in God. 22. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit: 23. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever. 57th Q.-Can any man be saved without experiencing this new birth? A. No, for as we could not partake of the nature of the first Adam but by a natural birth from him, so we cannot partake of the heavenly nature and righteousness of Christ as the second Adam, but by being born again of the Spirit.* * "Do not the means and manner of redemption show the mature of the fall? By disobedience, man died to his Immanuel or first state; by a new birth produced by the operation of the Holy Spirit, this state is regained." Hints on Regeneration by Richard Phillips, 2d edit. p. 15. John iii. 3. Jesus answered and said unto him [Nicodemus], Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 5. Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit, is spirit. Rom. viii. 13. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 1 Cor. xv. 49. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly. 2 Cor. v. 17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new. Gal. vi. 15. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. §. III. 58th Q.-How does the Spirit of Christ effect this change? A.-It produces repentance, by convincing the soul of the sinfulness of sin; and the sinner being hereby made sensible that, by nature, he is corrupt, fallen, and unregenerate," and totally unable to take a single step towards his own salvation, feels the necessity he has of a Redeemer, and is enabled to pray to God for deliverance from the thraldom and guilt of sin.† *Barclay's Apology, Prop. iv. §. 2. As it is through divine mercy and goodness that the mind is awakened to a sense of the importance of its eternal interests, so |