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…

¹§. 3. But what faith is necessary, to wit, on mans part to Justification? Is it an assured persuasion of our particular election, or that our sins be already pardoned and forgiven? No: It is one thing to rest on Christ obeying to the cursed death of the Cross, that I may obtain pardon and life everlasting from the grace of God, which is the act of true belief, required to Justification: another to believe that I am one of Gods particular elect people, and that my sins are pardoned and done away: which is a privilege of grace granted to him who believeth, is sealed by the Spirit, and knoweth assuredly that he believeth. It is not an action of Christian faith previous or fundamental to Justification, for a man to believe himself to be one of Gods elect: for we come to know our election by the effects thereof, as Faith, Justification, Sanctification. We must first read the effects of Gods love in our hearts, and see that he hath wrought in us the saving graces of faith, love, hope, fear, &c. and sealed us by the spirit of promise, before we can come to know his eternal decree and purpose towards us: therefore the belief of our particular election is an act of faith following Justification, not precedent to it. No man is justified ⟨p. 89⟩by believing himself to be Just, nor pardoned,² by believing that he is pardoned: but if his belief be true, he must be truly Just, before he can or ought to believe himself to be Just, and actually pardoned, before he can be assured that he is pardoned. This is the order of spiritual blessings conferred upon us in Christ, Faith is the band whereby we are united unto Christ: after Union followeth Communion with him: Justification, Adoption, Sanctification, be the benefits and fruits of Communion: Being made sons by faith, God sends forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba Father; and this Spirit beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God; assurance or certain persuasion that our sins be pardoned, follows this witness of the Spirit, as the fruit and effect thereof. In which it is most manifest, that faith in Christ is before Justification in order of nature, though not in time; and Justification is precedent to the sense & feeling of remission:

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