Questions on Chapter 27.

would be necessary would be an increase of diligence in the study of the evidences of Christianity, which might be effected as well without prayer as with it.

(3) Again: this view of the subject would imply that no man can examine the evidences of Christianity so as to perceive their force, and study the doctrines of revelation so as to gain a general theoretical knowledge of their character, without being an evangelical believer or genuine Christian. This is contrary to the experience of thousands. To say that no man in Christendom has ever examined the evidences of Christianity, so as to arrive at the satisfactory conclusion in his mind that the gospel is true, except such as have embraced salvation, is to manifest a far greater regard for a favorite theory than for the plain testimony of experience, observation, and Scripture.

The great Bible truth is, that man is a being possessed of moral as well as intellectual powers. He has a heart as well as a head; and God requires both in the exercise of evangelical faith. That faith which has its seat in the head, without reaching the heart, will never reform the life or save the soul. It will be as “sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal;” it may embrace “the form,” but will be destitute of “the power” of religion. The faith which consists in the assent of the understanding alone is the “dead faith “ spoken of by St. James, which includes no works of obedience. The faith which, passing through the understanding, fixes its seat deep in the heart, and trusts or relies on Christ for present salvation, is that faith which alone can justify and save a sinful soul.

QUESTIONS ON CHAPTER 27.

QUESTION 1. Is faith a prominent subject in Scripture?

2. Is it a subject well understood?

3. What is its etymological meaning?

4. What is implied in St. Paul’s definition?

5. In what sense is faith the gift of God?

6. In what sense is it the act of the creature?

7. In what sense do Antinomians hold this subject?

8. How is their notion disproved?

9. In what sense is God the author of faith?

10. Name some of the principal texts relied on in favor of the Antinomian view.

11. How are they explained?

12. Are there degrees in faith?

13. How is this proved?

14. Through what channel is faith derived?

15. How is this proved?

16. Upon what ground, or foundation, is faith based?

17. How is this proved from Scripture?

18. How have theologians divided faith?

19. What are the two leading views in reference to the nature of justifying faith?

20. By whom has the first been adopted?

21. Who have adopted the second?

22. How can it be proved that saving faith implies more than mental assent?

23. What serious difficulties encumber the opposite theory?