Not the faith of a heathen
First. What faith it is, through which we are saved.
It is not, to begin with, merely the faith of a person who has never heard the gospel.
God does require that person to believe that God is, and that God rewards those who earnestly seek him. God is to be sought by honoring him as God, by thanking him for all things, and by a careful practice of justice, mercy, and truth toward other people. A Greek or a Roman, a Scythian or an Indian, had no excuse if he did not believe at least this much: that God is, and what God is like; that there is a future of reward and punishment; and that moral duty binds us. That is only the faith of a person outside the gospel.
1872 text
What faith it is through which we are saved.
1. And, first, it is not barely the faith of a heathen.
Now, God requireth of a heathen to believe, "that God is; that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him;" and that he is to be sought by glorifying him as God, by giving him thanks for all things, and by a careful practice of moral virtue, of justice, mercy, and truth, toward their fellow creatures. A Greek or Roman, therefore, yea, a Scythian or Indian, was without excuse if he did not believe thus much: the being and attributes of God, a future state of reward and punishment, and the obligatory nature of moral virtue. For this is barely the faith of a heathen.