II. FAITH, is a firm persuasion, by which we assent to everything which God has revealed to us in his word, and by which we rest fully assured that the promise of the free mercy of God extends to us for Christ’s sake; and is also an assured confidence by which we receive this benefit of God, and rest upon it which confidence the Holy Ghost works by the gospel in the minds and hearts of the elect, producing in them delight in God, prayer and obedience according to all the commandments of God. “Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established.” (2 Chron. 20:20.)

There is opposed to faith on the side of want,
1. Unbelief, which includes a rejection of what is heard and known respecting God.
2. Doubt, which is neither firmly to assent to the doctrine concerning God, nor yet wholly to reject it; but consists in wavering, and vacillating so as now to incline a little this way, and then a little that way.
3. Diffidence, or distrust. This does not apply to itself the knowledge which it has of God and his promises, but through fear of being forsaken of God flies from duty, and seeks protection out of God. It is said in reference to all these things: “He that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.” (John 5:10.)
4. Hypocritical and temporary faith. This includes an assent to the doctrine of the church, and a temporary joy resulting from a knowledge of this doctrine; but it does not apply to itself with full confidence the divine promise, and is also without regeneration, on account of which it is soon overcome by the force of temptation and other causes, and so casts away again the profession of piety which is made. “He that received the seed into strong places, the same he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while; for when tribulation, or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.” “Which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.” “Then Simon himself believed also,” &c. (Matt, 13:20. Luke 8:13. Acts 8:13.) Those things, on the other hand, which are opposed to faith on the side of excess, include, 1. Tempting God, which consists in departing from the word and order of God, and so to presume upon, or to make a trial of his truth and power, and to provoke him to anger, proudly and presumptuously by unbelief, or distrust, or contempt of God, and by a vain confidence and conceit of our own wisdom, righteousness, power and glory. “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord, thy God.” “Neither let us tempt Christ as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.” “Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than He?” (Matt. 4:7. 1 Cor. 10:9, 22.)

2. Carnal security, which is to live without any thought of God and his will, or of our own infirmity and danger, without acknowledging and deploring our sinfulness and without the fear of God, and yet to expect and hope at the same time for deliverance from punishment and the wrath of God. This state of carnal security is often spoken of and condemned in the holy Scriptures, as when it is said, “As the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark; and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matt. 24:37-40.)