The latter kind of ordinary faith common to all sorts,1 as well reprobate as elect, is that faith whereby such an assent of the mind is given to the Gospel, and to the gracious promises thereof, as the heart is affected with them, and rejoiceth in them for a season.k This was in Simon Magus, who in regard thereof yielded to be baptized: and in those Jews who were willing for a season to rejoice inl Johns light. This is commonly called a temporary Faith, because it lasteth not for ever, but clean fadeth away, and that for the most part while a man liveth here in this World, especially if he be brought to any trial. mChrist fitly compareth this faith to corn sown in stony ground. I deny not but that it may continue so long as a man liveth, but then with his life it endeth without any fruit, as smoke that clean vanisheth away to nothing: in which respectn The hope of a wicked man is said to perish when he dieth. This faith is also called an hypocritical faith, not because he that hath it doth only make an outward flourish in show, purposely to deceive men; for then could not the heart be affected, nor the man rejoice therein: but because it is not sound, but appeareth both to the party himself,6 and also to others, to be better and sounder then indeed it is: for there is a double hypocrisy, one whereby men purposely seek to deceive others, as theo Pharisees: another whereby they deceive themselves, asp Paul. That former ariseth from vain-glory, covetousness, and such by respects: this latter from ignorance, simplicity, slothfulness, carelessness, security, and the like, which keep men from trying that grace which appeareth to be in •hem, whether it be sound or no. This faith is called hypocritical, in opposition to an attribute proper to true •aving faith, namelyq unfeigned.
The latter kind of ordinary faith common to all sorts,1 as well reprobate as elect, is that faith whereby such an assent of the mind is giuen to the Gospell, and to the gracious promises thereof, as the heart is affected with them, and reioyceth in them for a season.k This was in Simon Magus, who in regard thereof yeelded to be baptized: and in those Iewes who were willing for a season to reioyce inl Iohns light. This is commonly called a temporary Faith, because it lasteth not for euer, but cleane fadeth away, and that for the most part while a man liueth here in this World, especially if hee be brought to any triall. mChrist fitly compareth this faith to corne sowen in stony ground. I deny not but that it may continue so long as a man liueth, but then with his life it endeth without any fruite, as smoake that cleane vanisheth away to nothing: in which respectn The hope of a wicked man is said to perish when he dieth. This faith is also called an hypocriticall faith, not because hee that hath it doth onely make an outward flourish in shew, purposely to deceiue men; for then could not the heart be affected, nor the man reioyce therein: but because it is not sound, but appeareth both to the party himselfe,6 and also to others, to be better and sounder then indeed it is: for there is a double hypocrisie, one whereby men purposely seeke to deceiue others, as theo Pharises: another whereby they deceiue themselues, asp Paul. That former ariseth from vaine-glory, couetousnesse, and such by respects: this latter from ignorance, simplicity, slothfulnesse, carelesnesse, security, and the like, which keepe men from trying that grace which appeareth to bee in •hem, whether it be sound or no. This faith is called hypocriticall, in opposition to an attribute proper to true •auing faith, namelyq
- 1Temporary faith.
- kActs 8. 13.
- lJoh. 5. 35.Ioh. 5. 35.
- mLu. 8. 13.
- nPro. 11. 7. Hypocritical Faith.Pro. 11. 7. Hypocriticall Faith.
- 6Two kinds of hypocrisy.Two kinds of hypocrisie.
- oMat. 23. 14, 25.
- pActs 26. 9. Phil. 3. 6.
- q1 Tim. 1. 5. & 2 Tim. 1, 5. [Greek or Hebrew]1 Tim. 1. 5. & 2 Tim. 1, 5. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉
