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, that assurance that is had by extraordinary revelation is not altogether free from fears and doubts, shaking sometimes the confidence of that which a man hath received immediately from the oracle of Gods own mouth, or by special messengers directed from God for certificate in that behalf. Which is to be seen in the examples of Abraham, Isaac, David, ¹and others, to whom God had given special promise of his protection and favour; and yet upon occasions they have bewrayed great infirmity in the apprehension thereof. And if this befall to faith in those things which are extraordinarily revealed (for it is faith ordinary by which a man believeth such extraordinary revelations) much more we may assure our selves, it befalleth there, where we have no other but ordinary revelation by the written Word of God. Also the Word of God once spoken and often reiterated is of equal certainty in it self: but to help our weakness, the Lord goeth over one and the same thing again and again. Things believed are in themselves more certain then things seen, but not apprehended by us with such assurance. Of these who doubteth? of the other who doubteth not at some times? The Prophets, our Saviour Christ and his Apostles, do labour oft to confirm unto us matters of faith by reasons, similitudes, signs examples, incurring into the senses, not only to better our understanding, but to confirm our faith: which is an argument, that to us things sensible are oft more certain then things believed, though in themselves more uncertain. Moreover, conclusions theological are in themselves as certain, as are the principles upon which they are grounded, but always they are not so infallible to our understanding and conscience: because the inference is not so well, readily and plainly perceived, as hath been showed before. And so though the salvation of the Believer be as certain as the ⟨p. 115⟩word of promise, upon which his faith is surely builded, yet it is not so infallibly known to the Believer himself, it being far more easy to conceive, that a believer shall be saved, then to assure the conscience, that he is a true Believer. What the Lord hath immediately revealed, that faith receiveth with the greatest certainty:

Yea, that assurance that is had by extraordinary reuelation is not altogeth•r free from feares and doubs, shaking sometimes the confidence of that which a man hath receiued immediately from the oracle of Gods owne mouth, or by speciall messengers directed from God for certificate in that behalfe. Which is to be seene in the examples of Abraham, Isaac, Dauid,