Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BE-LIEVE', v.i.

To have a firm persuasion of any thing. In some cases, to have a full persuasion, approaching to certainty; in others, more doubt is implied. It is often followed by in or on, especially in the Scriptures. To believe in, is, to hold as the object of faith. “Ye believe in God, believe also in me.” – John xiv. To believe on, is to trust, to place full confidence in, to rest upon with faith. “To them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” – John i. Johnson. But there is no ground for much distinction. In theology, to believe sometimes expresses a mere assent of the understanding to the truths of the gospel; as in the case of Simon. – Acts viii. In others, the word implies, with this assent of the mind, a yielding of the will and affections, accompanied with a humble reliance on Christ for salvation. – John i. 12. iii. 15. In popular use and familiar discourse, to believe often expresses an opinion in a vague manner, without a very exact estimate of evidence, noting a mere preponderance of opinion, and is nearly equivalent to think or suppose.