A03064:217
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.
And if he be overtaken at unawares he is warned by that slip to look more heedfully to his ways begging pardon and seeking help from above, that he may be able to stand fast: so that the slip, which did seem somewhat to loose him, is an occasion of his sticking faster and closer unto God.
And if he be ouertaken at vnawares he is warned by that slip to looke more heedfully to his wayes beging pardon and seeking helpe from aboue, that hee may bee able to stand fast: so that the slip, which did seeme somwhat to loose him, is an occasion of his sticking faster and closer vnto God.
§. 12. But if a godly man fall into a foul and enormous crime wasting conscience,1 for the time he loseth some degree of newness of Spirit, cleanness of heart, comfort of the holy Ghost, integrity in a sort, and peace of conscience. He plungeth himself into the sense of Gods wrath and displeasure, and by his grievous transgression the power of faith is so weakened, that he can neither believe the pardon of any one sin formerly pardoned, nor lay actual claim to any privilege of grace formerly enjoyed. The favour of God towards his children is unchangeable, the sentence of pardon granted shall never be reversed, even after some grievous fall,2 the seeds of grace abide in them, and they remain in the state of Justification: but whilst they continue in such an estate of sin, they can make no actual claim to the promises of eternal life. The seeds of grace abiding in them, they still retain their right and title to eternal life to be given of free and undeserved grace: but they are suspended from actual claim until they rise again by true repentance, and then they recover not a new right or title, but a ⟨p. 124⟩new claim by virtue of the old title. For it is the perpetual ordinance o• God, that if his children str ke out of the way by sin, they m st rise again, and renew their faith and repentance, before they can have any sound or true hope of salvation. There can be no Christian assurance which doth not fully consent and accord with these and such like passages of hol S ripture: