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…

The detestation of sin is greatly to be commended, if they ⟨image 12⟩remember withal, that there is hope in Israel concerning this. p. 235 There be sins of ignorance, infirmity, forgetfulness and sudden passion: and there be foul, enormous, notorious sins, which wound conscience. p. 235. 236 If a man have often fallen into notorious offences, he is not to despair. ibid. A foul offence after grace received is not unpardonable. p. 236. 237 Many complain they cannot believe, when indeed they think there is no promise of mercy made unto them, upon which they should ground their confidence. ibid. Such must know, 1. that God calleth them in his word to come unto him, as if he did particularly name them. 2. They must consider of the free grace of God in promising, and his faithfulness in making good whatsoever he bath promised. ibid. The second cause is, ignorance of the way how this assurance is to be sought, upon what foundation it is to be laid, in what order they come unto it. p. 238 Two things are specially to be learned for their direction. 1. That as soon as ever a man feels sin as a burden, and doth truly thirst to be eased of it, he hath a calling to come unto Christ. p. 238 2. The barren in grace must come unto Christ to be supplied of his fullness. p. 239 Directions to the weak, how to stir up themselves to believe, when they feel no comfort. p. 239 1. They must unfeignedly humble their souls before God in the confession of sin, with earnest prayer for pardon. p. 240 2. They must rouse and stir up themselves to believe, with reasons drawn from the promises and covenant of God made in Jesus Christ, considerations taken out of the word, and experience of his dealing with other his servants in former times. p. 241. 242 ⟨image 13⟩3. They must be instant with the Lord to give them both strength of faith, & the sight of their belief. p. 242. 243 4. They must comfort their hearts in the certainty of Gods word, though for the present they feel no comfort. p. 243 Thus faith is daily to be preserved and quickened. ibid.

The detestation of sinne is greatly to be commended, if they ⟨image 12⟩remember withall, that there is hope in Israel concerning this. p. 235 There be sins of ignorance, infirmitie, forgetfulnesse and sudden passion: and there be foule, enormous, notorious sinnes, which wound conscience. p. 235. 236 If a man haue often fallen into notorious offences, he is not to despaire. ibid. A foule offence after grace receiued is not vnpardonable. p. 236. 237 Many complaine they cannot belieue, when indeed they thinke there is no promise of mercy made vnto them, vpon which they should ground their confidence. ibid. Such must know, 1. that God calleth them in his word to come vnto him, as if he did particularly name them. 2. They must consider of the free grace of God in promising, and his faithfulnesse in making good whatsoeuer he bath promised. ibid. The second cause is, ignorance of the way how this assurance is to be sought, vpon what foundation it is to bee laid, in what order they come vnto it. p. 238 Two things are specially to be learned for their direction. 1. That assoone as euer a man feeles sin as a burden, and doth truly thirst to bee eased of it, hee hath a calling to come vnto Christ. p. 238 2. The barren in grace must come vnto Christ to bee supplyed of his fulnesse. p. 239 Directions to the weake, how to stirre vp themselues to beleeue, when they feele no comfort. p. 239 1. They must vnfainedly humble their soules before God in the confession of sinne, with earnest prayer for pardon. p. 240 2. They must rowse and stirre vp themselues to beleeue, with reasons drawne from the promises and couenant of God made in Iesus Christ, considerations taken out of the word, and experience of his dealing with other his seruants in former times. p. 241. 242