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§. 6. That not only some uncertain hope and dim sight of Gods favour, but even assurance is to be sought, and may be obtained, is thus manifest. Faith may receive what the Word doth testify: for the Word of God is the object of faith. But there is a word testifying thus much, ⟨p. 101⟩that my particular person beholding the Son, and believing on him, shall have eternal life, and be raised up at the last day; that there is no condemnation to me being in Christ.² Neither could John with the faithful believe Gods love towards them in particular, if some word did not show it. For the Papists themselves will not say, that all o• them were privileged with singular revelation Our Adversaries reply, that there is no Word of God, saying, Cornelius believe thou that thou shalt be saved: and where there is no word, there is no faith: for these two are relatives. This cavil is easily removed: for that cannot be believed as out of the Word of God, which is not found in the Word of God expressly,³ or by consequence but whatsoever is found there expressly, or may evidently by direct consequence be deduced thence, that may be believed as out of the Word of God. Now howsoever it be not said in so many syllables, Peter, Thomas, Cornelius thy sins are remitted to thee believing, yet evidently so much may be concluded out of those general promises, Every man that believeth shall have eternal life: for the universal doth include it particular. Therefore the messengers of the Lord of Host, do give notice to their Congregations, that the matter which they proclaim in the Name of the Lord doth concern them, and every of them, saying in effect,⁴ To you is the word of this salvation sent. What they say to all men, they say to every man: what to penitents, to every penitent; what to Believers, to every Believer; what to sinners and ungodly, to every sinner. God gave his Law to all Israel, speaking to all, as if he had spoken namely and particularly to every one, Thou shalt have no other Gods, &c. ⁵