In respect of the Subject; the seat of faith is in the heart;e with the heart man believeth unto righteousness. It is not placed in the mind and understanding only, but in the will and affections. Faith as Notitia, a knowledge, resides in the mind; as Fiducia, an assured persuasion, in the will. It is not a prattle of the tongue: Herod's tongue belies his soule.2 Dicitis quod creditis, non facitis quod dicitis. Men say what they believe, do not alway do what they say, nor is it a floating opinion of the brain, a contemplative speculation of mysteries: but a certain persuasion of the heart. There is a forged faith, and a forced faith: forged in heretics; who will believe no God, but one of their own making. They believe all that they do believe, Sua side, non ecclesiasticâ, non catholicâ; with a faith of their own, not with the faith of the elect, of the Church. No oracle, no article of holy faith, but they will conceive it, and receive it, their own way, or not at all. Hoc non fidei, sed perfidiae: this is rather an art of treachery, then of faith. Forced in devils; they acknowledge from their own horror, and against their wills, that there is a GOD. It was the relation of a reverend Divine concerning an Atheist in England. A young man was a Papist; but soon fell in dislike of their superstition. He became a Protestant, but that did not please him long: England could not content him, he reels to Amsterdam: There he fell from one Sect to another, till he lighted upon the Familists: the first principle they taught him was this; There is no God. As indeed they had need fear up their conscience, and dam up all natural light, that turn Familists. Hereon he fell to a loose life, committed a robbery, was convicted, condemned and brought to die. At the execution he desired some stay, uttering these words; Say what you will, surely there is a GOD; loving to his friends, terrible to his enemies. Even the lewdest reprobates, that spit in the face of heaven, and wade as deep as Jesuits in blood, yet they shall have a forced faith. Though perhaps they say for the time, as Nero: Verebor esse cùm faciam, Deum? When Seneca reproved him for his vices, and bad him live, ut facta superi comprobarent; that GOD might approve his actions: He answered, Stulte, verebor esse cùm haec faciam, deos?
In respect of the Subject; the seate of faith is in the heart;e with the heart man beleeveth unto righteousnesse. It is not placed in the mind and understanding onely, but in the will and affections. Faith as Notitia, a knowledge, resides in the mind; as Fiducia, an assured perswasion, in the will. It is not a prattle of the tongue: Herods tongue belies his soule.2 Dicitis quod creditis, non facitis quod dicitis. Men say what they beleeve, doe not alway doe what they say, nor is it a floting opinion of the braine, a contemplative speculation of mysteries: but a certaine perswasion of the heart. There is a forged faith, and a forced faith: forged in heretickes; who will beleeve no God, but one of their owne making. They beleeve all that they doe beleeve, Sua side, non ecclesiasticâ, non catholicâ; with a faith of their owne, not with the faith of the elect, of the Church. No oracle, no article of holy faith, but they will conceive it, and receive it, their owne way, or not at all. Hoc non fidei, sed perfidiae: this is rather an art of treacherie, then of faith. Forced in devills; they acknowledge from their owne horror, and against their wills, that there is a GOD. It was the relation of a reverend Divine concerning an Atheist in England. A young man was a Papist; but soone fell in dislike of their superstition. He became a Protestant, but that did not please him long: England could not content him, he reeles to Amsterdam: There he fell from one Sect to another, till he lighted upon the Familists: the first principle they taught him was this; There is no God. As indeed they had need feare up their conscience, and damme up all naturall light, that turne Familists. Hereon he fell to a loose life, committed a robberie, was convicted, condemned and brought to die. At the execution he desired some stay, uttering these words; Say what you will, surely there is a GOD; loving to his friends, terrible to his enemies. Even the lewdest reprobates, that spit in the face of heaven, and wade as deepe as Iesuites in bloud, yet they shall have a forced faith. Though perhaps they say for the time, as Nero: Verebor esse cùm faciam, Deum? When Seneca reproved him for his vices, and bad him live, ut facta superi comprobarent; that GOD might approve his •ctions: He answered, Stulte, verebor esse cùm haec faciam, deos?
- eRom. 10.10.
- 2Hemming.Heming.
