A treatise of faith divided into two parts. The first showing the nature, the…A treatise of faith diuided into two parts. The first shewing the nature, the…

yea, after due, serious and long examination many disorders may secretly lurk in the heart of a man sanctified, which he doth not espy: And is it then any marvel, that a true Believer should be unable (sometimes at least) to say that he doth believe? yea, that he should not find it, though he make diligent search and inquiry into his own heart about it. Look as children live in the womb, and know not themselves, that they do live: so it is with many true ⟨p. 88⟩believing souls, who long believe, before they come to see themselves believe, and be able by a reflexed operation of mind to say,¹ I know on whom I have believed. A man of a contrite spirit, believing that h s sins are pardonable, earnestly desiring remission of sins by the merits of Christ, and resting upon Christ alone for salvation, assuredly he receiveth forgiveness, although he be vexed with scruples and temptations, and want the assurance and persuasion in himself that his sins be remitted. For faith is necessary to salvation: but full assurance that I do believe in that sort, is not of l•ke necessity. And if a man may believe unfeignedly, who is not fully assured that he doth so believe, then faith may be certain in the event, when it is not certain to the sense of the Believer.

yea, after due, serious and long examination many disorders may secretly lurke in the heart of a man sanctified, which he doth not espie: And is it then any maruell, that a true Belieuer should be vnable (sometimes at least) to say that he doth belieue? yea, that hee should not find it, though he make diligent search and inquirie into his owne heart about it. Looke as children liue in the wombe, and know not themselues, that they doe liue: so it is with many true ⟨p. 88⟩belieuing soules, who long belieue, before they come to see themselues belieue, and bee able by a reflexed operation of minde to say,¹ I know on whom I haue belieued. A man of a contrite spirit, belieuing that h s sinnes are pardonable, earnestly desiring remission of sinnes by the merits of Christ, and resting vpon Chrst alone for saluation, assuredly he receiueth forgiuenesse, lthough he be vexed with scruples and temptations, and want the assurance and perswasion in himselfe that his sinnes bee remitted. For faith is necessary to saluation: but full assurance that I do belieue in that sort, is not of lke necessitie. And if a man may belieue vnfainedly, who is not fully assured that he doth so belieue, then faith may be certain in the euent, when it is not certaine to the sence of the Belieuer.