A03064:193
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…
A treatise of faith divided into two parts. The first showing the nature, the second, the life of faith. ... By John Ball.A treatise of faith diuided into two parts. The first shewing the nature, the second, the life of faith. ... By Iohn Ball.
London: printed by William Stansby for Edward Brewster, 1631
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
A man that dreameth of hono•r & promotion, plenty and abundance, may live in infamy and disgrace, penury and hunger: and yet they that be promoted to honour and live in plenty, may assuredly be persuaded of what God hath given them. Some mens senses are deluded, shall every man therefore be in suspense of whatsoever he seeth or heareth? He that is falsely persuaded of his good estate and strong faith, deceiveth his own soul: shall he therefore that unfeignedly embraceth Christ, and resteth upon him, be ever at uncertainties, whether he doth believe or no? The heart unregenerate is deceitful and wicked above all things:1 the heart regenerate is true and faithful: In respect of the exact measure of grace and strength the regenerate are oft deceived: but of the truth of grace they may be assured: in some particular resolutions they be ignorant of their own hearts: but of their general purpose they may firmly and truly be persuaded. Paul bids us to prove and try our selves, whether we have not that faith, by which Christ dwelleth in our hearts, which worketh by love, which is the faith of such as are accepted with God, are purged from their sin, and are become Temples of the Holy Ghost: intimating that by examination it is to be discerned and known whether we believe. And if we may know that we have faith, whereby Christ dwelleth in us by his Spirit,2 and we in him, then may we know also that we have repented truly of our sins: for faith and repentance be inseparable ⟨p. 105⟩companions, and who so hath the one, he cannot be destitute of the other. It is one thing to repent, another to believe: but these two live and dwell together, that if one be wanting there is neither in truth.
A man that dreameth of hono•r & promotion, plentie and abundance, may liue in infamie and disgrace, penurie and hunger: and yet they that bee promoted to honour and liue in plentie, may assuredly bee perswaded of what God hath giuen them. Some mens senses are deluded, shall euery man therefore bee in suspence of whatsoeuer hee seeth or heareth? He that is falsly perswaded of his good estate and strong faith, deceiueth his owne soule: shall he therefore that vnfainedly embraceth Christ, and resteth vpon him, be euer at vncertainties, whether hee doth belieue or no? The heart vnregenerate is deceitfull and wicked aboue all things: