Propositions

the words seem to run as belonging to Peter (I have prayed for thee, that thy faith should not fail) yet that he prayed as well for the rest of the Apostles, yea for all the faithful: for first he saith not, Simon, Satan hath desired to winnow thee, but you: why then saith he, I have prayed for thee? Verily, because he should more grievously offend than the rest (although their offence was very great) therefore his and our most blessed Saviour applied to him the promise, but did not appropriate it to him only and restrain it from the rest: and compare with this place, John 17. 20. and you shall see that the heavenly verity affirmeth, that he prayed not only for the Apostles, but for all those that should believe through their word: ⟨image 39⟩Yea further, our Lord Jesus Christ was yester day, and to day, and shall be for ever. And as the Fore-fathers were baptised into him, and did eat his flesh and drink his blood; so was his prayer effectual, even to them under the Law, much more unto us under grace: and when you can find testimony of your heart, that when you would do well, yet evil is present with you, and that you do the evil you would not: then do not you it, but sin in you, when it leadeth you captive. Rom. 7. Much more then, when Satan worketh with all, buffeting you, assure your self that God hath pity on you, and that the virtue of his power shall be perfect in your weakness. 2. Cor. 12. 9. If you believe, according to your faith be it unto you; but you will say, you cannot believe, that this vile and crooked hardness of heart, can be remitted and renewed. And this was the second point, within the former part of my Letter, I gave you to understand, what was the cause of your excessive distress. I beseech you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you will not willingly lye, nor offer injury to Gods spirit, nor to your self, who have received it: tell me what is the reason why you think you have no faith? ⟨image 40⟩verily because you have no feeling nor no other fruits thereof as you think: well, first then agree with me herein (as you must if you will not disagree with the trueth) that feeling is but an effect & a fruit of faith: and therefore there may be faith without feeling, as the cause may be without the effect, and the tree without any appearance of fruit, yea of sap for a season.