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…

and therefore that belief which is required on our part to Justification cannot be an assurance that our sins be pardoned already, unless the same thing be before & after it self, & a man be pardoned before he believe, or assured that he is pardoned, before it be granted, or that act of faith which cannot be but in a person already justified, must go before the pardon of sin.¹ The promise of remission of sins is conditional, and becometh not absolute, until the condition be fulfilled, either actually or in desire and preparation of mind. This is the word of grace, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved: when doth this conditional proposition become absolute? when we believe? What? that our sins are pardoned: No: but when we believe in Christ to obtain pardon; which is the thing promised upon condition of belief. Assurance that our sins be pardoned is concluded in a practical Syllogism thus; He that truly believeth in Christ hath obtained pardon of his sins: But I believe: Therefore my sins are pardoned: ⟨p. 90⟩where assurance of the pardon of sin is a conclusion drawn from a two-fold ground, the one expressed in Scripture, the other evident (if true) by the testimony of the renewed conscience, and presupposeth that he believeth, and is assured that he doth believe. Now if assurance of remission be concluded from this ground, that he believeth, and knoweth certainly that he believeth, then the belief which is required on our parts to Justification cannot be an assurance that our sins be washed away already. For if we take the word believe for a persuasion that our sins are done away, then the Syllogism runneth thus; He that is assured of the pardon of his sins, his sins are pardoned. But I am assured of the pardon of my sins: therefore my sins are pardoned. Faith receiveth the pardon of sin, as it is proffered in the word of grace, and groundeth it self solely and immediately upon the promise of God in Jesus Christ: But the ground, whereupon a sinner in himself guilty should build assurance that his sins are pardoned, without some other act of faith coming betwixt the promise & that assurance, there is none. The Gospel offereth pardon to the thirsty and burdened, if he will receive it: assureth them of pardon, who have embraced the promise:

and therefore that belief which is required on our part to Iustificatiō cannot be an assurance that our sins be pardoned already, vnles the same thing be before & after it selfe, & a man be pardoned before he belieue, or assured that he is pardoned, before it bee granted, or that act of faith which cannot be but in a person alreadie iustified, must go before the pardon of sin.