the thing Iohn 2. 14. as Luk. 16. 11. and also in the passive and that also with the accusative of the thing Rom. 3. 2. 1 Cor. 9. 17. Gal. 2. 7. 1 Tim 1. 11. Tit. 1. 3. The seventh error that there is no other justifying faith but that by which we are justified in our conscience 7. The seventh which I take to be the originall of some other of his unsound opinions that he holdeth no other justifying faith but that whereby we are justified in the court of our conscience For before God all the elect as he teacheth stand actually justiâ—ied before and without faith so indeed they doe before this faith and so it is also true that sanctification goeth before this justiâ—ication and remission of sinnes before thiâ— saith for how can a man be assured of that wâ—ich iâ— not The proper act of 〈◊〉 fâ—ith by which we are justified in our Consciâ—nce that is as I understand it assured in some measure of our justification is as he teacheth to trust wholly and perfectly to the promise of forgivenesse of sinne and eternall life for remission and Salvation For by this faith as he teacheth the Lord giveth us assurance of our justification by Christs righteousâ—esse whereupon followeth peace of conscience and that kind of â—iducia Which we call saith he assurance or full perswasion of the pardon of our sins this is a fruit of the other â—iducia or trusting to the promise it selfe wherein standeth the proper act of justifying Faith And it followes not alwayes presently but after sometime haply a long time which he speaketh for the comfort of those who doubt they have no faith because they have not that full assurance Here divers things are to be misliked 1. That he maketh affiance the proper act of justifying faith which I have already disproved 2. That he holdeth that there may be a full affiance whereby a man may wholly and perfectly trust to the promise without the like assurance But this is a manifest errour borrowed from the Papists who hope well of the remission of sinnes but dare not believe it For this full affiance in trusting wholly and perfectly to the promise for the performance of it to a mans selfe is that which the Apostle calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the assurance of hope which ever presupposeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the assurance of faith where by the way you may take notice of a threefold 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mentioned in the Scriptures the first is 1 Col. 2. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the assurance or full perswasion of understanding to the acknowledgement of the mystery of GOD and the Father and of Christ this is the plerophory of assent when a man understanding the mystery of the Gospel giveth full assent thereto that is true and that Jesus the Sonne of the blessed Virgin is the eternall Sonne of GOD and the Saviour of all that truely believe in him The second is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the assurance of faith when thou applying the promise to they selfe doest assuredly believe not onely that Christ is the Saviour of all that believe but also that he is thy Saviour The third is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the assurance of hope when thou being fully perswaded that Christ is not onely the Saviour of the faithfull but that he is also thy Saviour doest assuredly trust and hope to be saved by him Every one of these plerophories or assurances are infallible in their kind nec falsum iis subesse potest but this is absolutely to be understood of the first the object whereof is the word of GOD which is principium â—idei 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the second is not absolutely true as a principle like the former but as a conclusion is necessarily and infallibly true concessis praemissis For if this proposition be true that Christ is the Saviour of all that truly believe which is the undoubted word of GOD and if this assumption be true also but I through GODS mercy doe truly believe which is certainly true in all the faithfull then this conclusion cannot be false therefore Christ is my Saviour whereupon followeth the plerophory of hope that seeing he is my Saviour therefore I do assuredly hope for salvation by him 3 That he maketh the assurance of Faith to be a consequent of that assurance of trust which is nothing else but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the assurance of hope the contrary whereof is true for as hope is a consequent and fruit of Faith so from the assurance of faith proceedeth the assurance of affiance and hope and according to the measure and degree of that is the measure and degree of this Neither is it possible that a man should have a full affiance wholly and perfectly to trust to the promise to â—e performed to himselfe who is not first fully assured that the promise doth belong unto himselfe And therefore it is but a cold comfort to be given to a man distressed in Conscience to tell him that if he have affiance to trust wholly and perfectly to the promise for remission of sinne he hath Faith though he have not full assurance But miserable comforters are they who teach as this man doth not that where is not full assurance there is no Faith But if we desire to minister true comfort to the distressed Conscience perplexed with doubtings concerning Faith we must unteach these Doctrines either that justifying Faith is an assurance of remission and much lesse a full assurance or that it is affiance much lesse a full affiance trusting wholly to the promise for the performance of it to a mans selfe which cannot be had unlesse thou hast the like assurance that the promise doth belong to thee For indeed that faith by which we are justified before GOD is neither assurance properly nor affiance for assurance is the second degree of Faith by which we are not justified before GOD but in the Court of our own Conscience and affiance is a fruit and consequent of both Aske then the party distressed this question Doest thou believe that the promise of the Gospell concerning remission and salvation doth belong to thee If thou dost then thou hast assurance that Christ is thy Saviour and that by him thou hast remission and that by him thou shalt be saved If he cannot affirme that he believeth the promise to belong unto him never go about to perswade him that he trusteth to the performance of the promise â—nto himselfe But aske him againe dost thou truly believe that Jesus the sonne of the blessed Virgin is the eternall sonne of GOD and Saviour of all that trâ—â—y believe in him If he say he doth so â—â—ll him then thou hast the condition of the promise therefore thou maist and thou must undoubtedly conclude that he is thy Saviour and that thou shalt be saved by him If hâ— say 〈◊〉 doubteth whether he doth truly believe that Christ is the
grace doth concurre with it to the act of justification So are we sanctified in part â—â—gether with other graces and therefore is never severed from the grace of regeneration or from other sanctifying and saving graâ—â—â— and further it is the property of faith having justified us inwardly to purifie the heart Act. 15. 9. and outwardly to work by love Gal. 5. 6. Therfore though to the act of justification neither outward obedience nor inward graces do concur with faith as any cause thereof Yet in the subject that is in the party justified they must and do concur as necessary fruits of a true and lively faith without which it is dead Iam. 2. 20. And therefore a true lively justifying faith is also a sanctifying faith Now both from the order and conjunction of these graces we may infer a singular consolation to all the trueâ— Children of God For if there be such a conjunction between these two graces of justification and sanctification that whosoever hath the one hath also the other and who hath not both hath neither then it followeth necessarily that as he that is justified is also sanctified So he that is sanctified is also justified and if the order between them be such that a man cannot serve God in the duties of sanctification untill he be justified nor cannot worship God aright untill he be redeemed from his spiritâ—all enemies then it followeth 〈◊〉 that they who are in any true measure sanctified are also justified that they who sincerely desire and endevour to walk in the obedience of Gods holy will making conscience of their wayes are redeemed from the hand of their spirituall enemies And not only may we from our sanctification come to the certain knowledge of our justification but also we may thereby make our calling and our election sure For dost thou professing the true faith endevour to keep a good conscience and to walk uprightly before God then it is certain that thou art justified by a true faith art thou justified then 〈◊〉 is certain that thou art effectually called art thou called according to Gods purpose then without doubt thou art elected art thou elected then undoubtedly thou shalt be saved Seeing then such singular comfort â—â—setâ— from the leading of a godly and upright 〈◊〉 as that thereby we may make our calling and election sure hereby we should all of us be excited to the study of godlinesse and practise of piety for the greatest comfort that we can have in this life is to be 〈◊〉 of our election and salvation But to the knowledge of our election we cannot come 〈◊〉 by any thing going before as the cause thereof but à posteriori by the effects The sâ—ries or chaine of the degrees of salvation may not unfitly be compared to Iacobs ladder which reached from the earth to heaven the lowest step whereof in this life is our sanctification whereon if we can set our foot we may from thence arise to our justification and from thence to our effectuall calling and from thence to our election But if we will without ascending by these degrees take upon us to conclude the certainty of our election we shall be like him that being to go up a ladder would strive at the first to set his foot on the highest step of the ladder neglecting the lower degrees CHAP. V. Of the parts of the gift severally and first of Redemption NOw we are to speak of the parts severally and first of redemption in these words That we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Where wee are to note Three things 1. The parties that are redeâ—med 2. The party by whom and after what manner 3. The parties from whom our enemies 1. The parties redeemed are We who have Abraham to our Father that is to say the faithfull not all men but those only that believe For so God loved the world that he gave his only begotten Sonne that whosâ—ever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Ioh. 3. 16. Thus he is said to have saved his people from their sins Matth. 1. 21. to lay down his life for his sheep Iohn 10. 15. to have given himself for his Church Ephes. 5. 25. that he might redeem us from all iniquity and might purifie to himself a peculiar people Titus 2. 14. The Prophet Esay teâ—tifieth that Christ by his knowledge that is by the knowledgement of him which is faith shall justifie many Esay 53. 11 12. for he shall bear their iniquities and that he bare the sin of many and our Saviour himselfe Matth. 26. 18. that his blood was shed for many for remission of sins It is true that Christ his death is a sâ—fficient price of ransome for the sinnes of the whole world Yea of more worlds if there were more then one for his blood and his sufferings whereby he redeemed us were the blood and sufferings of him that was and is God Act 20. 28. but yet they are effectual only to those that do believe Arg. 1. For if Christ had redeemed all men then all should be saved 1. For all that are redeemed are also justified and all that are justified shal be glorified 2. For for whom Christ died for them he hath satisfied the justice of his father so that there is no condemnation to them whom Christ hath redeemed 3. For whom Christ dyed them by his death he reconciled to God now they who when they were enemies were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled 〈◊〉 be saved by his life Arg. 2. Neither may we think that Christ would die for them for whom he would not pray But for the world faith he Iohn 17. 9. that is for the company of the 〈◊〉 and reproâ—atâ—s I pray not but for them whom thou hast given me out of the world Arg. 3. But if the Oath of an honest man ought to be the end of controversie much more ought the Oath of God in this place end this controversie concerning universall redemption For God hath sworn that to so many as he redeemeth he wil give them to worship him in holsness and righteousness But the greater part of mankind have never the grace to worship God in holyness and righteousness and therefore to them the benefit of redemption doth not belong Now when we do profess our selves to be the redeemed of the Lord we do withall confess that in our selves we are bondmen and servants whom Christ came to redeem out of this bondage But howsoever all will challenge to themselves the benefit of Redemption yet how few in comparison do acknowledg their bondage But like the unbelieving Iews when our Saviour promised them liberty profess that they never were in servitude Iohn 8. 33. and so bewray themselves not to be redeemed But this humble conceipt of our selves before our Justification is necessary for us if either we would seek to Christ or have him to respect us For if by nature we be not
but such as repent of their sinnes and make conscience of their wayes This learned man therefore should have distinguished betweenâ— the merâ—t of redemption and actuall redemption even as well as between the merit of Salvation and the actuall possession thereof Christ merited our redemption and Salvation long since yea his merit thereof hath ever been in force since the beginning of the world Apoc. 13. 8. but yet none are actually made partakers of redemption but such as to whom it is appyed that is to those that truely believe for they only receive it and to them onely according to the Covenant of grace it was intended Otherwise he might say that all the elect are actually saved for whom Christ purchased eternall life who notwithstanding are not saved so much as in hope untill they do truely believe And if all the elect be actually justified before God because Christ did merit their justification why doth he not say in like manner that all the elect are actually sanctifyed seeing Christ was made unto us of GOD not onely righteousnesse 1 Cor. 1. 30. and redemption but also sanctifycation and hath as well merited our sanctification for us as our justification Againe what benefits we obtaine by Christ we receive them by Faith and therefore in the Scriptures the same benefits which we receive from Christ are ascribed to Faith by which Christ and his merits are ours by which also Christ dwelleth in us Eph. 3 17. we live by Christ we live by Faith Gal 2. 20. by Christ we have remission of sinnes by Faith we obtaine remission Act. 10. 43. 26. 18. we are justified by Christ we are justified by Faith Rom. 3. 28. By Christ we are made the sonnes of God by faith we are made the sonnes of GOD Joh. 1. 12. and so in the rest and therefore to imagine that we are justified before GOD without Faith is a dreame Moreover this assertion cannot stand with the perpetuall Doctrine of the Apostle Paul who teacheth that we are justified before GOD by Faith therefore not before nor without Faith By faith saith he without workes that is by the righteousnesse of Christ apprended by Faith and not by inherent righteousnesse Neither doth he in those places speak of justification in the Court of Conscience whereby we are assured of our justification for as before men we are justified Jam. 2. â—4 that is declared and known to be just by good workes so much more by our good workes by which we are to make our election 2 Pet 1. 10. our calling our justification sure we are justified in our own Conscience that is assured of our justification And to conclude this assertion is such a 〈…〉 Protestant nor Papist did ever hold that a man who is come to yeeres is actually justified before GOD before and without faith The fifth erâ—our that Faith is not the mother grace 5. The fifth that faith is not the root nor the mother of other graces and that the soule is not disposed to believe sooner then to love GOD or our neighbour or to produce the act of any other grace But this I have sufficiently disproved in the discourse shewing evidently that as without faith there can be no other grace so not onely from it all other graces do spring but also according to the measure and degree of it is the measure and degree of all other graces We are not disposed to love GOD as we ought untill we be by faith perswaded of GODS love towards us we cannot hope for the performance of Gods promises to us unlesse by faith we are perswaded that they belong unto us we cannot trust in GOD nor rejoyce in him unlesse by faith we are perswaded of his goodnesse and bounty towards us and so â—n the rest and what is more plaine then that love which is the fulfilling in the whole law proceedeth from Faith unfained as being the fruit thereof 1 Tim 1. 5. Chrysostome and Theophilact call faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the mother and fountaine of all graces and Calvin Justit l. 3. c. 2. sect 41. sect 42. c. 3. sect 1. sola est fic'es quae in nobis charitatem primum generat it is faith only which first ingendereth charity in us it begetteth also hope and newnesse of life as he saith But to omit other testimonies St. Peter seemeth to acknowledge this truth 2 Pet. 1. 2 3. where he prayeth for them to whom he wâ—iteth that grace and peace be multiplyed unto them by the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertaine to life and godlinesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the acknowledgement of him that hath called us c. that is by faith The sixt error that Faith is assiance 6. The sixt that faith is assiance and so to be defined and that trusting to the promise is the proper act of faith as it justifieth c. But I have proved that faith is not affiance nor affiance faith But a fruitâ— of faith as well as hope and that by faith we have affiance Eph. 3. 12. whereunto I adde that the trust in GODS promises to be in particular performed to us is not faith but â—ope Yea but promises faith he are both true and good therefore our assent to them is with adherence affiance and trust Answ. The promises are true the things promised are good we believe the promise we hope for the thing promised As contrarywise Gods threatnings are also true and the things threatned evill as therefore he that believeth the threatning to be true feareth if it be applyable to himselfe the thing threatned and yet this feare is not of the nature of faith but a fruit and consequent thereof so he that believeth a promise to be true and can apply it to himself trusteth hopeth for the thing promised which trust in respect of the promise is no more of the nature of faith then feare in respect of the threatning But that affiance is of the essence of justifying faith he will make good by divers reasons first from the phrases of believing Iohn 1. 12. Rom. 10. 1â— â—s Rom 4. 5. Act. 16. 31. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Eph 1. 12. 〈◊〉 that is in or upon which imply affiance A. That as I said in the discourse affiance is such an unseperable fruite of faith that sometimes it is implyed in the phrase of bliâ—ving in Christ. For that phrase may and sometimes doth imply three acts the first of assent that he is the Saviâ—â—r of all that believe in him which ass 〈◊〉 it be lively and effectuall is the proper act of that faith whereby we are justified before God and in this sense the phrase of beliâ—ving in him is ordinarily used in the Scriptures yea sometimes it is attributed to those who have assented onely by a bare historicall and temporary Faith which is the Faith of hypocrites and all
worldlings as Iohn 2. 23. To believe on him and one his name is all one Iohn 3. 8. and 12. 42. compared with Iohn 5. 44. Iohn 4. 39. Many of the Samaritans believed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Christ upon the report of the woman who being confirmed in their faith by hearing himselfe say to the woman 42. we believe no more because of thy report for we our selves have heard him Now what was her râ—port that he had told her all things that ever she did and therefore that he was the Christ. This is all that they believed when they were said to have believed in CHRIST And what was their Faith which was confirmed by hearing himselfe that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the world And this as I said is the ordinary signification of the phrase in the New Testament see Iohn 7. 31. 8. 30. 31. 33. 11. 26. 27. Act 8. 37. So the Hebrew is joyned with beliefe not onely in God but in his Prophets also not that we are to put assiance in them but to give credit to them as to the messengers of God Ex. 14. 31. 2 Chron. 20. 20. The second act is of application when believing truly that he is the Saviour of all that believe I therefore believe that he is my Saviour which is the act of that speciall faith by which we are justified in our conscience in which sense the phrase seemes to be used 1 Iohn 5. 13. in the later clause but in the first part of that verse in the former sense so Iohn 20. 28 29. Gal. 2. 20. The third act is of affiance that because I do believe not onely that he is the Saviour of the world but also my Saviour therefore I rest upon him for salvation and thus it seemeth to be used Iohn 14. 1. But this is not the act of faith as it justifieth us before God nor yet the proper act of the speciall faith which doth justifie us in our conscience but a fruit and consequent thereof For if I truly believe that Christ is the Saviour of all that believe then must I consequently believe that he is my Saviour for the generall alwayes includes the particulars and if I doe truly believe that he is my Saviour then shall I consequently put my trust in him for salvation Or more plainly to use his owne terms he saith that the proper act of faith as it justifieth consisteth in trust or relyance upon the promise for our owne particular when the soule dependeth wholly or trusteth perfectly in the promise for remission of sinnes and for salvation But say I a man cannot at all and much lesse wholly and perfectly trust in the promise to be performed to himselfe unlesse he be first perswaded and in some measure assured that the promise doth belong unto himselfe which perswasion is the act of speciall Faith A man cannot be assured at all that the promise belongeth to himselfe unlesse he have the condition of the promise which is a true justifying faith for the promise is not made to all but to those that truly believe Therefore I must have a justifying Faith which is the condition of the promise before I can be asâ—ured that the promise belongeth to me I must be perswaded that it belongeth to me before I can confidently trust that it shal be performed to me But let us consider his testimonies For he alleageth Iohn 1. 12. Where to believe in CHRIST is the exposition of receiving Christ. Now we receive Christ first by assent and then by application whereof assiance is a consequent 2. Rom. 10. 14. How shall they call upon him in whom they have not believed where the phrase is used as vers 11. whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed and that as the proofe of V. 9. 10 If thou shalt with thy mouth confesse the Lord Iesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved For with the heart man believeth unto righteousnesse c. for the scripture saith whosoever believeth on him c. For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hee citeth 1 Rom. 4. 5. he that believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly as Abraham did his Faith is counted righteousnesse vers 5. Now of Abraham it is said that he believed God vers 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and it was counted to him for righteousnesse 2. Act. 16. 31. Believe on the Lord Iesus sayeth Paul to the Iaylour which he performed vers 34. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 believing God for he quoteth Eph. 1. 12. where the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who have before hoped in Christ he might more truly have quoted Mark 1. 15 though against himselfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 believe the Gospel and the like he might have alleaged for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luk. 24. 25. slow of heart to believe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all that the Prophets have spoken His second argument is taken from the opposition of Faith to distrust or doubting where as he confoundeth Faith and affiance so he confoundeth also doubting which is opposite to Faith and distrust which is opposed to affiance betweene which there is a great difference for doubting is not contrary to asâ—iance but to assent for to doubt is to with-hold the assent the places which he quoteth doe both concerne doubting Rom. 4. 20. Iam. 1. 6. in which sense the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is often used in the Scriptures Matth. 21. â—1 Mark 12. 23. Act. 10. 20. 11. 12. Rom. 14. 23. but never in the signification of distrust I deny not but that distrust and distrustfull feare are repugnant to faith but that proveth not faith to be affiance but because affiance is a necessary consequent of Faith hence it is that distrustfull feare which is want of affiance proceedeth from doubting which is want of Faith Matth. 8. 26. Why are ye fearefull Oye of litle Faith Mark 5. 36. feare not onely believe His third argument from 2 Tim 1. 12. I know whom I have believed c is to litle purpose for although in the words following the Apostle saith I am perswaded that is I believe that he is able to keepe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my depositum or that which I have committed to his trust yet this proveth not that the verbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have believed implieth trust unlesse he understand the words as if the Apostle had said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I know to whom I have entrusted or concredited my selfe But that is another use of the word much differing from that which is in question signifying as much as concrediting or committing to ones trust and is as wel attributed to God as to man Iohn 2. 23. 24. Many believed in Christ to whom he would not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 entrust himselfe And in this sense the word is sometimes used both in the active voice with the dative of the person and accusative of
assuring the party already sanctified and justified of his justification and salvation in that we are taught that we are justified by faith alone but in this we are justified that is assured of justification not onely by faith but by good workes and all other meanes by which we are to make our calling and election sure The eighth error that assent is not the act of justifying faith 8. The eighth that faith as it is an assent doth not justifie the contrary whereof speaking of a true lively and effectuall assent I have fully and as I hope sufficiently proved But let us examine his proofes the first is this The Act of justifying faith is supernaturall Eph 2. 8 this assent to the truth of the Gospell concerning salvation by Christ is not supernaturall ergo I deny the assumption and affirme that the true lively and effectuall assent is supernaturall and cannot be had without the helpe of the holy Ghost as being a proper work of the holy Ghost when he doth regenerate any of us No man can say that Iesus is the Lord 1 Cor. 12. 3. but by the holy Ghost And who knowes not that it is the proper work of the holy Ghost in the ministery of the Gospell to open the hearts of the elect as he did the heart of Lydia Act. 16. to assent unto the word To use arguments to perswade the hearers to embrace the Gospell and to receive Christ may be the worke of the Minister but to perswade the hearer thereunto is the worke of the holy Ghost Againe that whereby we become the sonnes of God is not a work of nature but of the regenerating spirit by this lively assent we become the sonnes of God For By this effectuall assent as I have shewed we receive CHRIST But as many as received him to them he gave this power to become the sonnes of God Iohn 1. 12. 13. even to them that believe oâ— his name which are begotten or borne not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of GOD. Would you therefore know who is borne of GOD Whosoever believeth that Iesus is the Christ Iohn 5. 1. is borne of God But the assumption he proveth thus Whatsoever the understanding by the onely light of nature judgeth to be honest and good that the will can desire or will by the onely strength of Nature But by the onely light of nature the understanding judgeth that it is an honest thing to believe Gods authority revealing any thing unto us Therefore 〈◊〉 will by thâ— onely strength of nature â—ay dâ—sirâ— this act of believing and so consâ—quently there is no need of grace to mâ—ve the Will 〈◊〉 command the understanding If aâ—y man imagine that this conclusion doth contradict mine assertion affirming such an assent as I have spoken of to be â—aith he must understand that I speake not of a baâ—â— assent to whatsoever God revealeth unto us but the assent must be â—hus qualified First it must be a willing or voluntary assent For the understanding whereof we must know that what soever the understanding conceiveth and judgeth to be true and good that the will doth receive as true and good for the will is intellectus extensus And such is the naturall harmony betweene the understanding and the will that as the will followeth the judgment and resolution of the practicke understanding so the will having received for true and good that which the understanding hath so conceived the minde or the reasonable soule doth both assent to it as true and approve it as good So that the assent and approbâ—tion of the minde is an act both of the understanding and of the will But how the will which naturally followeth the direction of the understanding should as he speaketh command the understanding to assent or approve I doe not conceive But on the contrary I supposâ— that the minde many times doth assenâ— not onely without the command but also without the consent of the will as namely when the understanding of a man or devill doth know a thing to be truâ— but doth not conceive it to be good but hurtfull and pernicious to himselfe That therâ— is a God who is the Iuâ—ge of the world that this God is just that he hath prepared hell for the wicked the divells and wicked men doe conceive and know to be true and because they cannot dâ—ny 〈◊〉 they doe acknowledge and after a sort assent unto 〈◊〉 but yet this truth they doe abhorre and with horrour they doe believe it Iam. 2. 19. The legion of 〈◊〉 did know our Saviour CHRIST and confesse him to â—ee the Sonne oâ— Go◠〈…〉 câ—me to torment them before their time Mark 8 〈◊〉 so that the wicked botâ— men and Angâ—lâ— doe many times believe that which they doe not willingly assent unto but abhorre and wish it were otherwise But the faith of Gods children is a willing assent Secondly it is a true lively and effectuall assent For in Divinity we are said to believe and by Faith to know no more then we believe effectually and know by a lively faith Now where there is a true lively and effectuall faith it worketh a disposition in us answerable to that which we believe and know The wicked doe believe after a sort that there is a God that he is just and good that he is infinite in essence power and wisdome c. that IESUS the Sonne of the blessed Virgin is the Saviour of the world c. Yet none of all this doe they truely and effectuall believe For if they did believe inded that there is a GOD they would not deny him in their deeds behaveing themselves as if there were no God If they did truly believe that he is good yea goodnesse it selfe they would love him if just they would feare him if omnipresent they would walke before him if omnipotent or all-sufficient they would either trust in him oâ— feare him if omniscient they would not play the hypocrites before him If they did truly believe that IESUS is the Saviour they would desire to be made partakers of his merits they would be carefull to apply them to themselves they would rest upon him for salvation they would obey and serve him as their Lord But he that saith he knoweth him that is believeth in him and hath no desire nor care to keepe his commandements John 2. 1. he is alyar saith Sant Iohn and there is no truth in him That faith therefore which is not lively and effectuall but a dead faith as Saint Iames calleth it Jam. 2. 10. is no more to be accompted a true faith then the carcase or counterfeit of a man is a true man 3. The formall object of this assent as it justifieth is not every truth reavled of God though it believeth whatsoever God hath revealed in his word but that onely which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is called truth of God John 5. 33. 18 37. 1 Tim. 2. 4. that
is the Gospell which is the truth of GOD in CHRIST or his truth concerning salvation by CHRIST Now to give a willing lively and effectuall assent to his truth farre exceedeth the strength of corrupted nature John 6. 44. Matt. 16. 16. 17. These things thus premised I come to his argumentation and first to the proposition which if it were universally true as it is propounded whatsoever the understanding by the onely light of Nature judgeth to be honest that the will can desire by the onely strength of Nature then might I as lawfully assume and conclude thus to the great comfont of the Pelagians and Arminians whom in divers other points he doth worthily But by the onely light of nature the understanding judgeth it to be an honest and a good thing to believe in God and to obey him to believe in him I say not onely as true in his word but also as faithfull in his promises and consequently to trust in him for the performance thereof likewise to obey God commanding us any duety as namely to turne unto him by unfained repentance and to lay holde upon CHRIST by a true faith therefore by the onely strength of nature the will may desire or will any of these acts namely to turne unto God by unfained repentance to lay hold upon CHRIST by a true faith to 〈◊〉 unto God for the performance of his promises to us which in his conceipt is the very act of Faith as it justifieth I come to the assumption where I confesse in a confused generality the understanding by the onely light of â—ature judgeth it an honest and good thing to believe what God revealeth indefinitely but when you come to the particular object of justifying Faith viz. that IESUS CHRIST is the Soâ—â—e of GOD and Saviour of all that believe in him this either they will deny to be revealed by GOD as to the Jewes the preaching of CHRIST crucified was a stumbling block 1 Cor. 1. 23. and to the Greekes foolishnesse or if they doe give a kinde of assent unto it yet they neither doe or can believe it by a lively and effectuall assent His second reason That is no act of justifying faith which is fâ—â—nd in devils hereticks hypocrites and reprobases But this assent to divine revelations because of GODS authority is to be found in devils hereticks hypocrites and reprâ—bâ—tes Therefore this assent is no act of justifying faith Answ. The proposition is not univâ—â—sally true for so much of faith as is found in the wicked either men or Angels is common to them with the faithfull and elect and without it there can be no faith If therefore justifying Faith doe assent to divine revelations because of GODS authority and there can be no justifying faith without this assent then it followeth that to assent is an act of justifying Faith But I answer to the assumption that this assent meaning a willing lively and effectuall assent to the truth of GOD in Christ is not to be found in divels whose assent is not so much as willing but with horrour even to that which they abhor as himselfe confesseth not in hereticks who as they are hereticks dissent from the truth For though that assertion of the Papists that any one act of infidelity bereaveth a man of faith be wicked and desperate yet this is true that howsoever the proper object of faith as it justifieth is Christ notwithstanding by the same faith by the which we are justified we believe not onely all other articles of the Christian faith but also whatsoever GOD hath revealed in his word and whosoever doth refuse to believe whatsoever GOD hath revealed in his word he hath not a true faith Nor in hypocrites and reprobates whose seeming faith is neither lively nor true but dead and counterfeit not formata but informis Indeed this distinction of faith that it is formata or informis according to the meaning of the schoole-men and Papists is to be rejected and that in two respects first because they propound it as a distinction of a true justifying faith when as it is not possible that that faith which wanteth his forme and which is dead and therefore hath not his true being should justifie neither is it possible that that Faith should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is effectuall by an active efficacy as namely to justifie which is called actus secundus which hath not the formall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is called actus primus Secondly because the Papists in this distinction imply that Charity is the forme of faith and as it were the soule thereof which they seeme to ground on Iames 2. 26. For how can one habit be the forme of another especially such an habite as is the fruit and consequent of the other For Charity which is the end of the law 1 Tim. 1. 5. proceedeth from faith unfayned For when wee are by faith perswaded of GODS love towards us in Christ then are we moved to love GOD and our neighbour for GODS sake and the more we are assured of GODS love the more is our heart inflamed with fervent love towards GOD as I have shewed And if the habit of Charity cannot be the forme of faith then much lesse can good works which are the outward fruits both of Faith and Charity or as the Apostle speaketh of faith quae operatur per charitatem which worketh by love Gal. 5. 6. Neither doth the Apostle St. Iames compare workes to the soule but to the breath as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying to breath doth properly signify and so is used in many places where it is called the Spirit of the mouth and the Spirit of the nostrils so that the meaning of St. Iames is as the body without the breath is dead even so Faith without good workes which are as it were the breathing of a lively Faith is dead Not that ever it lived but because it is without life as many things are said to be blind which never saw and dumb which never spake But howsoever this distinction in the Popish sence is to be rejected yet it cannot be denyed but that as knowledge is either literall which is an idle knowledge swimming in the braine but not working on the heart and Conscience or Spirituall which is a powerfull and operative knowledge so faith is â—ither a true lively and effectuall or else a counterfeit and a dead Faith which some call a bare historicall Faith answerable to the literall knowledge The former is called by the Apostle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in divers places and Gal. 5. 6. It is said to bee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—fficax effectuall as that prayer which availeth much is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jam. 5. 16. or effectually working or active having in it duplicent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a double act both the first and the second the first which is as it were the form wherby it truly is and in respect whereof it may be called formata which as Solomon speaketh of other graces Pro. 3. 21. Tushijah the very essence and entity the soundnesse and integrity of it in respect whereof it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and this is the inward 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereby it liveth and is effectuall having efficacy in it selfe The other which is actus secundus whereby it is lively active and effectuall in bringing forth the acts and operations or the fruits and effects of Faith In respect of the former it is said to have root whereby I understand that apprehensive and attractive power of Faith in apprehending and receiving Christ in respect of the latter it is said to be fruitfull and working by love the latter which is not unfained is counterfeit having neither roote Luke 8. 13. Nor fruit and therefore is as St Iames saith dead Jam. 2. 20. 26. Now as the counterfeit of a man is not truely a man though called by his name so this counterfeit and dead Faith which is the faith of hypocrites though it have a name of faith is not faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 indeed and truely but aequivocè and being not a true faith is not Faith for ens verum convertuntur and in this sence it may well be called informis That faith therefore which is common to devils to hereticks to hypocrites and reprobates is not true but counterfeit not lively but dead not formata but informis And thus have I defended that necessary and as I am perswaded most comfortable truth which I delivered in the Discourse concerning the certainty of Salvation FINIS a By singular dispensation b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in x Chrysost. in Eph. 2. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. y Nihil vnlet nist ad peceandum De spiritu lit c. 1. z Ad â—â—â—facium 〈…〉 Pelag. lib. 3. cap. 8. * Bellorâ— Iustif. â—ib 4. tap 5. * Prov. â—9 14. The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity but a wounded spirit who can â—ear * Being prâ—pared by the Law and other legall means we must attend to the Gospel Rom 10. 8. 17 * By which the Holy Ghost worketh in us faith and that in two degrees * A gâ—pi 112. ad Paulinâ—â— c. 2. Ment 〈◊〉 vides vitâ—m vâ—lâ—ntateâ— cogiâ—atem cogitationem memoriam cogitationem intelligentiam sientiam fidentuam * Aug. de corrept gracia c. 7. Horum sides quae per dilectionemoperâ—tur profectâ— aut omninò nâ— deficit aut si qi sunt quorâ—â— deficit reparatur antequam vita ista â—iniatur deleta quae intercurrerat inique itate usque in finem perseverantia deputatur * Boeth in Top. Ciâ—er Re Pâ—gnantia dicuntur contrariorum consequentiaâ—adalterum contrariem relata vigilare dormiâ—e contraria â— in t stertere a item et vigilare sunt repâ—gnantia