The whole-armour of GodThe vvhole-armor of God

IF upon that fore-named illumination of the mind, and disposition of the heart, the Spirit of God hath drawn us to accept of Christ Jesus tendered in the Gospel, then hath Faith been kindly wrought, and by this manner of breeding Faith, a man may have good evidence of the truth of it, especially if he also find that his Faith doth kindly work, and bring forth the proper fruits thereof. For Faith is operative, ¹even as fire. Where fire is, there will be heat, the more fire the greater heat: if but a little⟨p. 246⟩ heat, there is a small fire, if no heat at all, surely no fire. I deny not but fire may be so covered over with ashes, that the heat will not sensibly appear, but yet heat there is within, so as if the ashes be removed, the heat will soon be felt: so surely, where true and sound Faith is, there will be some holy heat, some blessed fruits thereof: it may for a time, through the violence of some temptation, be so smothered, and suppressed, as it cannot be discerned, but when the temptation is over, it will soon show it self: if not, I dare boldly say, there is no true, living, justifying Faith, but a mere dead Faith. I have my warrant from an holy Apostle,² so to say, (Jam. 2. 20, 26