§. 9. What if a Christian cannot find, no not after search and examination, any lively sense or feeling of faith;1 nay, he cannot discern any faith at all in himself? Hereby the Lord may correct our unthankfulness for mercies formerly received,2 or that presumptuous licence we took to our selves in sinning, or in questioning with our selves of his graces: All which things we are heartily to confess and bewail. But for the comfort of the distressed, he is to know, that sometimes graces may lie hid, yea, and work in respect of our acknowledgement insensibly.3 The seed of faith cannot be lost, after it is once planted in an honest and good heart by the holy Spirit: but the sight thereof may be hid from our knowledge, and the lively functions thereof intermitted. The child lives in the mothers womb, though it know not so much. Life remains in a man fallen into a dead swoon, wherein he is ⟨p. 180⟩deprived for a time of understanding, reason, memory, sense, motion, and all apparent vital functions. The tree lives in winter, though nipped with frosts, and weather-beaten with tempests, dead in appearance. Coals raked close under the ashes, that they give neither heat nor light, do y•t retain both, though they show not forth themselves. There is a generation pure in their own eyes, who are not purged from their iniquities:4 the most holy are not privy to all their secret sins, nor throughly acquainted with the deceitfulness of their own hearts: And the graces of the Spirit may lie hid in the hearts of the regenerate,5 and work insensibly to their feeling and discerning, as well as corruption lurk secretly and work privily in the soul both of regenerate and unregenerate. An argument drawn from his sense and feeling: may have some colour in the conceit of a distressed mind: but in truth it is a deceitful reasoning to conclude, That they have no faith, because they have no sense or feeling thereof in their apprehension. In the agony of conscience none are more unfit to judge of our estate, then we of our own. Though at other times we be sick of self-love, and too partial in our own case; yet in this state, towards our selves we are most uncharitable; and being out of love with our selves, we are apt to derogate from the work of Gods Spirit in us.6
§. 9. What if a Christian cannot finde, no not after search and examination, any liuely sence or feeling of faith;1 nay, he cannot discerne any faith at all in himselfe? Hereby the Lord may correct our vnthankfulnesse for mercies formerly receiued,2 or that presumptuous licence we took to our selues in sinning, or in questioning with our selues of his graces: All which things wee are heartily to confesse and bewaile. But for the comfort of the distressed, hee is to know, that sometimes graces may lie hid, yea, and worke in respect of our acknowledgment insensibly.3 The seed of faith cannot be lost, after it is once planted in an honest and good heart by the holy Spirit: but the sight thereof may bee hid from our knowledge, and the liuely functions thereof intermitted. The child liues in the mothers wombe, though it know not so much. Life remaines in a man fallen into a dead swound, wherein he is ⟨p. 180⟩depriued for a time of vnderstanding, reason, memorie, sence, motion, and all apparant vitall functions. The tree liues in winter, though nipped with frosts, and weather-beaten with tempests, dead in appearance. Coales raked close vnder the ashes, that they giue neither heat nor light, doe y•t retaine both, though they shew not forth themselues. There is a generation pure in their owne eyes, who are not purged from their iniquities:4 the most holy are not priuie to all their secret sins, nor throughly acquainted with the deceitfulnesse of their owne hearts: And the graces of the Spirit may lie hid in the hearts of the regenerate,5 and worke insensibly to their feeling and discerning, as well as corruption lurke secretly and worke priuily in the soule both of regenerate and vnregenerate. An argument drawne from his sence and feeling: may haue some colour in the conceit of a distressed minde: but in truth it is a deceitfull reasoning to conclude, That they haue no faith, because they haue no sence or feeling thereof in their apprehension. In the agonie of conscience none are more vnfit to iudge of our estate, then wee of our owne. Though at other times we be sicke of selfe-loue, and too partiall in our owne case; yet in this state, towards our selues wee are most vncharitable; and being out of loue with our selues, wee are apt to derogate from the worke of Gods Spirit in vs.
- 1§. 9. 9. They cannot find any lively sense of of faith.§. 9. 9. They cannot find any liuely sence of of faith.
- 2Remedy.
- 3We may not conclude, there is no truth of grace in us, because we cannot perceive and feel it.Wee may not conclude, there is no truth of grace in vs, because we cannot perceiue and feele it.
- 4Prou. 30.12
- 5Psal. 19.12.Ps•l. 19.12.
- 6In time of temptation the godly do err many ways in examination of themselves.In time of temptation the godly doe erre many wayes in examination of themselues.
