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A11015 A treatise of Gods effectual calling: written first in the Latine tongue, by the reuerend and faithfull seruant of Christ, Maister Robert Rollock, preacher of Gods word in Edenburgh. And now faithfully translated for the benefite of the vnlearned, into the English tongue, by Henry Holland, preacher in London; Tractatus de vocatione efficaci, quae inter locos theologiæ communissimos recensetur, deque locis specialioribus, qui sub vocatione comprehenduntur. English Rollock, Robert, 1555?-1599.; Holland, Henry, 1555 or 6-1603.; Bèze, Théodore de, 1519-1605. 1603 (1603) STC 21286; ESTC S116145 189,138 276

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which is done against Gods will is said properly to be done against Gods decree and not against his reuealed wil or expresse law but sinne as it is a transgression of the law is not done against any decree therefore sinne as it is a transgression of the lawe is not done against Gods will The Assumption is shewed because God decreed not from euerlasting that sinne as it is a transgression of his law should not be done of an euill instrument Therefore thou saist hee decreed that it should be done Answer It followeth not 1 For both these are true concerning God God hath neither decreed that transgression as it is transgression 2 should not be done neither hath he decreed that transgression in so farre as it is transgression should be done For there is no decree of God extant either in this or that respect touching sinne as it is a transgression or breach of the law of God But thou maist aske is not sinne effected as it is transgression some way by the permission of God Answ A thing is said to be done two wayes by Gods permission either by it selfe or by accident That which by Gods permission commeth to passe by it selfe must of necessitie respect and put on the nature of good seeing God proposeth and directeth the same vnto a good end but that which by an accident is done God permitting it or forsaking the creature nothing hindreth but that as it is such it is euill for God leauing the creature and euill instrument to it selfe the creature doth that which is euil as it is euil neither can it otherwise do being left of him who is the Author of al good But now in respect of God permitting and leauing that euill as it is euill is done by accident not by it selfe because God in forsaking purposed not euill as it is euill but on the contrarie so farre forth as it respecteth good and is a meane of his glorie of that especially which is the consequent of his mercie for all meanes whether wrought by God himselfe or suffered to be done of euill instruments in the first place are both ordained of God himselfe and directed to the glorie of his mercie arising from the saluation of the creature God hath shut vp all vnder sinne that he might haue mercie on all And in the second place for the hardnesse of man and because of the heart that cannot repent sinnes and euils which are done by an euill instrument serue to that glory which God getteth vnto himselfe by his iustice and iust punishments If on the contrarie thou obiect God suffereth sinne that he may punish the same but he punisheth sinne in Or I would answer the maior That God suffereth not sin to punish it for that he respecteth not but for that be hath a purpose to manifest his owne glorie in the punishment of sinne that it is sinne or transgression therefore he permitteth sinne as it is sinne I answer vnto the Assumption Sinne as punishment followes thereupon which in it selfe is good and turnes to the glorie of God in this sin I say hath not respect vnto euill but vnto good producing a good effect for an euill cause as it is euill cannot bring forth a good effect But if that cause which in it selfe is euill be also considered as the cause of a good effect it must needes in some sort take vnto it the nature of good I confesse indeed that sinne as it is sinne is the cause of punishment and the punishment as it is the effect of an euill cause must needs it selfe be euill And indeed punish ment Punishment in it selfe is euill which is inflicted is considered two wayes first as a thing in it selfe euill for there is some transgression How punishmēt is euill in euerie punishment and euery punishment after a sort is also a sinne Againe it is considered as a thing that is good to wit as a meane of Gods glorie This I say in a word that all meanes which in and by themselues are euill in respect of God propounding and of the end which is the glorie of God in some sort are good And that whole chaine of meanes which is betweene God propounding as the head and beginning and the glorie of God as the end is the order of things which either by themselues are good or at the least in some sort may be so accounted For those two extremes chaunge all darknesse after a sort into light CHAP. XXV Of Originall Sinne. THVS farre of sinne in generall the first diuision of sinne is into originall and actuall To speake of originall sinne first we be first to obserue the reason why it is so named It is called Originall sinne why so called original because it is in vs with vs from our first being conception and natiuity for it comes by propagation and is deriued from parents to children as an hereditary disease as a leprie the stone or any such like malady of the body And that there is such a kind of sinne it is most manifest for there is none so fottish and so voide of all sense that he feeleth not this hereditarie sicknes in himselfe as the infection and corruption of his nature But the holy Ghost who best knoweth what is in man doth cleerely auouch this in many scriptures Gen. 5. 3. When as Adam saith he begat a sonne according to his owne image Note heere the propagation of that corrupt image which was in Adam into his sonne Sheth Iob. 14. 5. Who can bring forth a cleane thing of an vncleane not one Behold here the propagation of vncleannes Psalm 51. 7. Behold I was formed in iniquitie and in sinne did my mother cherish * Tremel fouit kept me warme in hir bed mee Behold the sin which we haue from our mothers wombe Ioh. 3. 6. What is borne of the flesh is flesh Behold the propagation of flesh that is of our corrupt nature Rom. 5. 12. Like as by one man sinne entred into the world and by sin death c. Obserue here the propagation of sinne Eph. 2. 3. We were by nature the children of wrath Note here our corrupt nature and therefore how subiect it is to the wrath of God And thus far we see that there is a sin which we call originall Now let vs consider what the subiect thereof is The subiect of originall sinne is the whole man body and soule which thing is taught vs cleerely by that one name Soule infected with Orig. sin which is giuen it Ro. 6. 6. as els where that old man whereby nothing els is signified but the whole man corrupted or the corruption of the whole man That the minde is infected with this sin first we be taught it by very sense it selfe next by many testimonies of scriptures Genes 6. 5. When the Lord saw all the imaginations that is all the thoughts of his heart were only euill continually Gen. 8. 21. Albeit the
for it is deriued either by the soule or by the body of the parents or through their default It cannot bee said that the propagation of this sin is by the soule for the soule of the Father or Mother is not deriued by propagation to the children in whole or in part as is very euident wherfore this sin coms not by the soule of the parents But it may not vnfitly be said that there is some deriuation How sin is deriued from parents to their children of this sin by the body of the parents to the body and soule of the child begotten by them This propagation of sinne by the body of him which begetteth into the bodie of him which is begotten is easily discerned for the seede of the parents being in the child is corrupted infected with sin whence it followeth necessarily that the bodie which is begotten of such corrupt vncleane seede must also be corrupt and vncleane in like manner The propagation of sinne by the body of him which begetteth into the soule of him which is begotten is more hardly expressed yet I deliuer what seemes most How sin infefecteth the verie soule probable vnto me on this manner After that by the bodie of him which begetteth sinne is deriued into the bodie of him which is begotten now the body begotten being corrupt infected with sin this bodie I say infecteth and poisoneth the soule created euen then of God before and infused into it that very moment of time wherein it was created Here you demaund whether the soule were pure and cleane the time it was created and so Quest infused into the bodie and then afterwards so defiled by the contagion of the bodie I answer it is not like to bee so for that the soule is created infused and corrupted in Ans the very selfe same moment of time This corruption of the soule is partly by reason of the desertiō of God partly by reason of the contagion of the body whereinto it is infused for God the very same moment of time wherein he createth infuseth the soule in his iust iudgment forsakes it and giues it ouer to the body to bee so defiled with sinne wherefore this I auouch that the soule is created infused forsaken of God and defiled by the bodie the very same moment of time The manner of the propagation of this sinne which is said to be through the default of the parents followeth and this I expresse on this wise Adam by that his first offence did deriue as by a certaine conduit whatsoeuer corruption was in him to his posteritie for this cause the Apostle Rom. 5. 12. saith By one man to wit sinning sin entred into the world Here it may be demaunded whence proceedes this efficacie or power of that first sin to ingender as it were and to deriue sinne into all and euerie one of Adams progenie I answer this efficacie of that sinne is by reason of that word and couenant which God made with Adam in his creation as it were in these words If man wil stand and persist in that his innocencie which he had by creation he shall stand for his owne good and for his progenie but if he do not stand but fall away his fall shall turn The Couenant of God in the creation as to his owne dammage so to the hurt of his posteritie and whatsoeuer euill shall be tide him the same shall ensue to all his off-spring after him And this last way of the propagation of originall sinne pleaseth me best and ought to content all sober wits for that this is grounded on the authority and words of the Apostle And thus far our iudgement concerning originall sinne Now let vs briefly see what the old hereticks and late aduersaries of Gods truth say concerning this sinne First The opinion of the heretikes cōcerning originall sinne heere wee be to meete with the heresie of Pelagius the Monke and Caelestius his Disciple which said there was no originall sinne that Adam by his fall did hurt himselfe only and not his posteritie excepting onely by his example They said his posteritie sinned not by propagation of his sinne but by imitation of their father Adams preuarication When it was obiected against them that young infants died which could not be but that they are infected with originall sinne They answered that Adam himselfe also had died by the law of nature albeit he had not sinned And this was the Pelagians principall argument against The Pelagians argument against originall sinne originall sinne If sinne be by propagation then it must needs be deriued to the posteritie by the soule or by the body but not by the soule for that it is not by traduction and it is not by the bodie because it is void of reason neither can sinne be said to bee first and properly seated in it and not by both vnited because it is not by the parts therefore there is no originall sinne at all The answere is easie of that which hath beene before set downe in this chap touching the forme or manner of the propagation of this sinne First their proposition Answer doth not number all the formes meanes of the propation of this sinne for there is besides those meanes a deriuation of sinne which is through the default of the parents Next the Assumption is false for albeit there be no propagation of sinne by the soule yet it may well bee by the bodie as is afore shewed And thus farre of Pelagius and Caelestius heresie Next the Schoole-men had diuers opinions of originall Schoolemens opinion of original sinne sinne for some said that originall sinne consisted only in the guilt of Adams apostasy others said it was but the want of original iustice But Peter Lombard reiecting these opinions auoucheth it to be also a positiue euill qualitie contrarie to that first originall iustice Albertus Pigghius Ambrosius Catharinus said that it was nothing els but that first transgression of Adam And out of this conclusion they drew forth three other opinions the first was this Originall sinne is one and the selfe same onely Three grosse opinions of papists concerning originall sin in all men 2. This sin in Adam was reall and actually his but it is ours only by imputation the third that infants in verity haue nothing in them that hath any appearance of sinne for they said that guiltinesse want of iustice and the spots of nature and such like things seeme rather to be punishments then faults if ye speake not happily improperly as when ye apply the name of the cause to the effect Bellarmine following all these first blames Lombards conclusion concerning his positiue qualitie and next Bellarm. obiect against Lumbard Answer condemnes Pigghius assertion as hereticall One of his principall arguments against Lombard is this God is either the cause of that positiue quality or not the cause if the cause then is he the cause of
1. 13. For I did it ignorantly through vnbeleefe This ignorance is either of the law or of the fact The ignorance of the law is to be ignorant of Gods will Of this Sin speaketh Christ Luke 12. 48. He that hath not known his masters wil hath done things worthy of stripes shall be beaten with few stripes This was also Paules ignorance when hee blasphemed and persecuted the Church of Christ 1. Tim. 1. The ignorance of the fact is when a man knowes not what he doth And a man may be said not to know what he doth or to erre in the Sin of ignorance fact either when he doth a thing negligently or when a thing is done by him as we say by fortune or chance or rather by the ineuitable prouidence of God An example of sinne of negligence may be this as when a ship is lost by the negligence of the Gouernour or maister thereof An example of a sinne by fortune or Gods prouidence may be as when one casting a stone killeth a man passing by of whom he neuer thought for this sinne in the old Church the cities of refuge were appointed Numb 35. 23. Thus farre of the external sinne of commission which proceedes of errour or ignorance The externall sinne of commission followeth which is committed in knowledge or as we say wittingly and this is when a man knoweth that hee doth euill hereof speakes Christ Luk. 12. 47. That seruant who knoweth his masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes This sin is either of infirmitie or of contumacie An example Actual external sinne committed willingly of a sinne of infirmitie is in Peter who three times denied his Lord and maister for feare of death and persecution An example of a sin of contumacie we haue in Iudas the traitor Againe a sin of contumacie is either done in hypocrisie as when a man is not openly rebellious but hides his sinne vnder the cloake of hypocrisie this the Apostle taxeth Rom. 2. 5. Thou saith he after thy hardnesse and heart that cannot repent doest treasure vp wrath against the day of wrath Againe it is an open rebellion or pride when a man ioynes to his contumacy pride against God himselfe for which cause he is said to sinne with an high hand Numb 15. 30. This manifest rebellion and Heresie pride is either against the second Table of the law as open murther knowne adulterie and this is the lesser contumacie but if it be a proud rebellion against the first Table the sinne is intolerable And of this latter kind is Open rebellion heresie first when as a man in a proud obstinacy wil defend anie opinion against the manifest truth of Gods word Of all the sinnes before specified this is one property that a man may repent of them or for them all whereupon followes another property that they are all pardonable But if ye adde to knowledge pride frowardnesse a malicious heart striuing against the holy Ghost inlightening a man teaching inwardly then the great sinne ariseth which they call the sinne against the holy Sinne against the holy Ghost Ghost the propertie whereof is this that hee which so sinneth cannot repent him of his sinne whereupon it followeth that this sinne is impardonable And this sin is called irremissible not for that the greatnesse of it exceeds the greatnes of Gods mercy grace in Christ but VVherefore impardonable because finall impenitence is the reward and punishment which by Gods iust iudgment is inflicted vpon this sinne Read of this point Matt. 12. 21. Heb. 6. 4. 5. and chap. 10. 26. 1. Ioh. 5. 16. And thus farre of actuall sinne Now it remaineth to see what the aduersaries say of actuall sinne Here the greatest controuersie is of the diuision of actuall sinne into mortall and veniall We auouch that euery sin by nature is mortall that is that the guilt Sinne mortall veniall a popish doctrine of eternall death followes it And that if any sinne be veniall that is may find pardon of God this commeth to passe not for that it is so by nature but of Gods meere mercie in Iesus Christ Many scriptures approue our assertion Ro. 6. 23. The wages of sin is death He speakes here of sin in generall and of eternall death Matth. 5. 19. Who soeuer shall breake one of the least of these commandements and shall teach men so heshall be called the least in the kingdome of God that is he shal haue be of reckoning in heauen Obserue then here how for the least sin a man deserues to be shut forth out of heauen Deut. 27. 26. Cursed be he that abideth not in all things which are written in the booke of the law Therefore there is no sinne which deserueth not the curse or malediction of God For in that the law denounceth an execration against euery sin there is no exception we see of anie euen the least sinne I am 2. 10. Whosoeuer shall keepe the whole law and yet fayleth in one point hee is guiltie of all Therefore if ye rest in any one sinne against the law ye sinne against the whole law and stand guiltie of all sinnes which are committed any way against the law So there is no cause why wee should measure our guilt by anie one sinne euen the verie least For euen the verie least sinne we liue and lie in without faith repentance The least sinne merits hell caries with it the guilt euen of the greatest sinnes as may clearely appeare by that place of Iames. Matth. 5. 26. Thou shalt not depart thence till thou hast paid the vtmost farthing Therefore God in his accounts respecteth euen the least parts of sinne and the smallest sinnes that are The tenth law condemnes euen the least motions of concupiscence Matth. 22. 37. Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thine heart with all thy soule and with all thy mind Therefore the law requires an exact or perfect obedience Wherefore he that offendeth euen in the least point is a transgressor of the law and that euerlasting curse followeth the breach of the law if redemption be not purchased by Iesus Christ Matt. 5. 18. Till heauen and earth perish one iote or one tittle of the law shall not scape till all things be fulfilled Note here there shal not passe away one iote or one tittle that is the least branch of the breach of the law which shall escape without satisfaction either by our selues or a mediator And thus far touching our iudgment of this matter The aduersaries for actuall sinne respecting it either according to the greatnesse thereof or for the punishment it deserueth they diuide it into mortall and veniall They cal that mortall sinne which doth extinguish charity Mortal sin defined of Papists or iustice making vs enimies vnto God and therefore guilty of eternall death They call that veniall sinne which doth not quench charitie and iustice nor doth not
of this sinne Heb. 6. 4. and 10. 26. 27. the Apostle calling it an apostasy or backslyding from God It is so also described 2. Pet. 2. 20. And 1. Io 5. 16. It is called a sinne vnto death As for the other kinds of this sin before specified some of them are consequently of this sin which we call a blasphemie and appertaine vnto it for desperation and final impenitency are the punishments of this sinne Obstinacie is in the very nature of this sinne for it caries with it an obstinate maliciousnesse And as for the other kinds I cannot see how they may be called sins against the holy Ghost for as for presumption what is it els but hypocrisie To Presumption repine at the graces of God in our brethren is a sinne against our neighbour and against the second table of the law Therefore let this rest that there is but one sin against the holy Ghost so called to wit the blasphemy against the holy Ghost or an apostasy from the grace of the spirit once receiued for these are one and the same to blaspheme against the holy Ghost and to fall from grace receiued Notwithstanding I deny not but that this sin which is but one in substance may haue his increase or growth for then it is come to a height when as it fighteth against all the known truth which is according to godlinesse Next we say that this one sinne is impardonable not for that it is seldome and hardly pardoned but for that it is neuer pardoned because such a one can neuer repent him of his sinne that he hath committed For this mans heart groweth to such a hardnesse and that by Gods iust iudgment as can neuer after be mollified And that this sin is simply impardonable is manifest by y e very words of the lord in y e gospel before cited for where it is sayd in Matth. it shall not be forgiuen him neither in this world nor in the world to come and in Mark This sinne is neuer forgiuen but is culpable of eternall damnation Do not these words cut off all hope of pardon So as I cannot but wonder at the Rhemists so impudently to extenuate Rhemists impudency 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the force of the words of the lord To the Heb. 6. he saith it is impossible that he which so sinneth should be renued by repentance then he addeth a waighty cause and most necessarie for sayth he This man crucifieth againe to himselfe the Sonne of God that is as much as in him lyeth Which point the better to conceiue it we must know there is a difference betweene all other sinnes and this sin against the holy Ghost as touching the remission and expiation of them For to expiat all other sinnes the sacrifice of Christ once offered is sufficient for them all and the vertue thereof extendeth it selfe to purge all sinnes for euer But when a man hath once sinned against the holy Ghost and profaned that pretious bloud the vertue thereof will neuer after be effectual for the expiation of his sin Wherefore he stands in neede of some new sacrifice to purge his sinne which thing shal neuer be granted him For if this were graunted then must Christ be crucified againe or some other sacrifice must be offered but neither can Christ be crucifyed againe neither can any other sacrifice bee offered for him as it is written Heb. 10. 26. For there remaineth no more sacrifice for sinnes Therefore this sin can neuer be expiat because a new sacrifice can neuer be giuen for it And this is the cause of the impossibility of the pardon of this sinne The aduersaries namely the Rhemists in their obseruations on this place do thus interpret this impossibilitie they say there is a double repentance or renuing or purging of sinne They say the first is easie and light in and by Baptisme where say they all the sinnes before Baptisme are purged by that light washing of baptisme The second they call penance or the purging of sinnes Popish sacrament of penanc as they say by the sacrament of Penance and in this Sacrament as they speake such sinnes are purged which are committed after baptisme and this is hard and painfull as consisting of fastings prayers satisfactions and other corporall afflictions If you graunt them this distinction then they say this impossibilitie of being renewed is in respect of that repentance renewing and purging of sinne which is in baptisme For they say it is impossible that a sinne committed after Baptisme some baptisme being iterated should be purged for we may not be rebaptized As for the latter penance and renewing they say there is a possibility in it For the greatest sinne after baptisme may be expiat by it Therefore they affirme the Apostle speakes couertly to such as sinne after baptisme sending them to the Sacrament of Penance that by vertue of that Sacrament their sinne may be expiat and that they may be renewed But by this their interpretation 2. Pet. 3. 16 they peruert the holy Scripture to their owne destruction For this is certaine that the Apostle here takes away all possibilitie of being renewed as the reason annexed manifestly proueth Finally it is euident by that place of Iohn before cited that this sinne is impardonable and that this is proper to that sin that it can by no meanes be pardoned For Iohn saith we may not pray for that sinne If we may not pray for it there is no hope of repentance or pardon for it I know what the Rhemists heere would say to wit that by this sinne vnto death we must vnderstand finall impenitencie finall impenitencie is not remitted because here wants repentance and therfore we may not pray for such a one after his death for he died in impenitency contemning the Sacrament of Penance But they affirme it to be lawfull to pray for other sinnes after death This againe is to peruert Scripture for the Apostle speaketh not of prayer to be or not to be after his death which hath so sinned but that prayer must not bee conceiued for him whilest he liueth after that it hath manifestly appeared vnto the church by infallible arguments that such a one hath sinned vnto death As for Iulian the Apostata for whom the Church prayed not while he liued yea it prayed against him in his life time after it was clearely discerned that hee had sinned vnto death that is had blasphemed against the holy Ghost I passe ouer that place of Peter before cited where the Apostle speakes of no difficultie but of a meere impossibilitie of being renewed of repentance and of remission of sinnes where it is said Their latter state is worse then the first and as it followeth but it hath happened vnto him as it is in the true prouerbe the dog hath returned to his owne vomit and the sow to her wallowing in the mire And thus farre of this second controuersie and so much shal suffice concerning sinne
improper and the name of faith is but by an Homonymie or improperly put vpon them to signifie these things For not any of these may be called by the name of faith vnlesse you say in some respect in part and after a sort and with an addition for example the knowledge of history is termed faith but with this addition historicall or dead and so of the rest Now a generall notion of this word faith is that which is Heb. 11. 1. And that is a knowledge in general with assent and agreement to all those things which are comprehended in the word of God and that whether generall or particular I meane by a particular worde when any thing is reuealed to any one peculiarly out of order by which kinde of reuelation it came to passe that miracles were done by some We must speake therefore in the first place concerning historicall or dead faith and first for the testimonies of scripture touching it Iam. 2. 15 Faith if it haue no works is dead of it selfe 1. Cor. 12. 9. Unto other faith by the same spirit The coherence of the text Historicall or dead saith and comparison made with other gifts of the holy Ghost which in that place are numbred doe shew sufficiently that the Apostle speaketh of historical faith Hitherto belongeth that place which is 1. Cor. 13. 2. If I had all faith so that I could remoue mountaines Here he doth not only meane the faith of miracles but also the historicall for he sayth all faith and after he sets downe one kinde as if he had saide by name miraculous faith to remoue moūtaines The reason of the name is this It is termed historicall because it is only a bare knowledge of the holy history concerning God Christ the will of God and his works and not an holy apprehension of the things knowne And why it is called dead Iames rendreth a reason in the place before cited namely because it hath no Dead faith works the reason is from the consequent or signe For want of works or actions argueth and sheweth that faith is as it were dead and without life and if I may so speake the carcase of faith euen as if there be no motions nor actions in a man neither inward nor outward thereby it is declared that the man is dead and the bodie without life or but the dead carcase of a man Our aduersaries that I may speake of this by the way when they heare out of Iam. 2. 16. that saith is therefore The papists touching faith called dead because it hath no works by by conclude that charitie and the works of charitie is the soule of faith but this followeth not that charitie and the works of charity are the soule of faith but this followeth that charitie and the works of charitie are the signes and tokens of the soule that is by name of that apprehension of Christ which is in the heart for this is indeede the soule and forme of faith I will declare this thing by a like example A man if he haue no workes no actions neither inward nor outward that indeed argueth that there is not a soule or forme in him out of which actions doe proceed but it doth not argue that works or actions are the soule and forme of man But they thinke that the words of Iames chap. 2. 26. do make for their opinion For out of that that Iames saith As the bodie without the Spirit or breath is dead so also faith which is without works is dead thus they infer Therfore as the Spirit is the forme of the bodie so are workes the forme of faith But this consequent is not of force For the comparison and similitude is not in that but in this that euen as the bodie without the soule or breath is dead so faith without works is dead The bodie without the spirit as her soule and forme is dead faith without workes as the signes and tokens of the soule is dead Euen as therefore the want of the Spirit or the soule doth argue the death of the bodie so the want of the signe token of the soule of faith doth argue the death of faith It is therfore a comparison of the spirit and works in the like effect and not in the like nature For both haue the like effect which is death but both the things are not of the same nature Hitherto of the reason of the name The obiect of historicall faith is all the holy storie that is the whole truth which is according to godlinesse and the word of both couenants wherein this faith differs from iustifying faith which hath the word of the Gospel or of the couenant of grace for the obiect thereof The subiect of this faith is the mind which knoweth and iudgeth but the iudgment of the mind doth onely Subiect of an historicall faith reach to the truth of the historie as I thinke and not to the goodnes of the things themselues which are contained in the storie For although an hypocrit do professe that al those things of which the Gospel speaks are true yet he doth not assent to thē in his mind as good things Note well which is the first step of practise or action For after the iudgement of the goodnes of a thing followeth the apprehension thereof which belongs to the will out of which after proeede the motions of the affections and out of them last of all do issue the outward actions of the bodie Therefore this dead faith doth not sincerely at the least assent to those things which are in the word as good things but rather doth indeed reiect them and count them as euill So the diuell who hath this faith is said to tremble Iam. 2. 19. Out of which it is manifest that the diuell doth reiect Christ and all his good things For this horrour ariseth out of reiecting and hating of the thing Therefore in one word this historicall faith pertaines only to the mind and hath that for the subiect of it It followeth that we speake of the nature thereof By these things which haue beene spoken of the subiect it The nature of an historicall faith may easily be learned what is the nature of it For it is wholy comprised but onely in the generall knowledge of the mind and iudgment of truth it hath therefore one or two degrees of iustifying faith Out of all these things which we haue spoken of an historicall faith it is easie to gather the definition thereof For historicall faith is a knowledge in the mind of the whole truth both of the Historicall faith defined law and of the Gospell and the iudgement of the mind made thereupon as farre as concernes the truth thereof And thus farre concerning historicall or dead faith Next followeth a temporarie Of this faith yee haue these texts Matth. 13. 20. 21. But he that receiued the seede 3. Faith a temporary faith in stonie ground