The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…

There is a general faith, that is common to the godly with the wicked, and a particular faith: the general faith believing that God is, and that he is such a God as he is manifested to be in his word: the particular faith more nearly applieth the things spoken of God to our selves. This particular, is either of the Law or of the Gospel: of the Law as an active faith, of the Gospel as a passive faith. That I call active, which apprehendeth that which the Law promiseth, that is, if we keep every jot of the Law, and continue in it, we shall live by it. That I call a passive faith which apprehendeth that, which the Gospel offereth, that is righteousness done by another, and imputative, not done by us as inherent, as when we seek the doing of the Law not within our selves, but without our selves, believing it to be done by another, which we so through faith do attain as if we should fulfil the Law in our own persons. The active faith was in Adam; and it may be in the devil¹ and most wicked; and yet none of them having the justifying faith: for Adam knew, that so long as he kept the will of God, he should live, who at that time had not passive nor justifying faith, because as it was needless, so it was unknown to him, no sin as yet being committed: and therefore no obedience of any other Mediator for the forgiveness of sin required. The devils may have this, to believe that had they not broken the law of God, they should have lived and not have seen damnation: so may also the wicked believe; and yet because neither of these do believe, that they shall be justified before God by the righteousness of another, covering their unrighteousness, they have not the true justifying faith. The active faith is either of the justice of God, or of his judgements: of his justice either in bidding good things, or in forbidding evil things: of his judgements either in promising life to the obedient, or in threatening death to the disobedient. The passive faith respecteth both the end, which is salvation it self, and the means which bring unto the end: the end as to believe, that Christ Jesus is made of God to us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption: the means, as the right use of the word, prayer, and Sacraments, &c.

THere is a generall faith, that is common to the godly with the wicked, and a particular faith: the generall faith beleeuing that God is, and that he is such a God as he is manifested to be in his word: the particular faith more neerely applieth the things spoken of God to our selues. This particular, is either of the Lawe or of the Gospell: of the Lawe as an actiue faith, of the Gospell as a passiue faith. That I call actiue, which apprehendeth that which the Law promiseth, that is, if we keepe euery iot of the Law, and continue in it, we shall liue by it. That I call a passiue faith which apprehendeth that, which the Gospell offereth, that is righteousnesse done by another, and imputatiue, not done by vs as inherent, as when we seeke the doing of the Law not within our selues, but without our selues, beleeuing it to be done by another, which we so through faith doe attaine as if we should fulfill the Law in our owne persons. The actiue faith was in Adam; and it may be in the diuell