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…

As God invites us to receive the promise of pardon offered in the Gospel,¹ so it is necessary that we embrace it by a lively faith. For in our selves we be sinful and cursed, no way able to make any satisfaction, where by we might be delivered, and remission which is of grace, can be obtained by no other means, but only by faith n Jesus Christ. To him that worketh not, ²but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness; even as David also describeth the blessedness of the Man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works; Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; ³Blessed is the Man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Faith goeth directly unto Christ, that by him we might be Justified, and embraceth the promises of God concerning Justification, which is the manner by which alone God hath ordained to justify us. No man can be heir according to the hope of eternal life, unless he be justified from sin by the free grace of God:⁴ for sins, not blotted out by the free pardon of grace, separate betwixt God and us, and hide his face from us.⁵ Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us &c. That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal glory. But no pardon is obtained, unless the promise of pardon be received by faith. Faith in the promises of mercy, that we might be acquitted from sin, and accepted as Just and righteous, doth commend and maintain the glory of Gods grace entire, ⟨p. 220⟩and in this respect also it is the more necessary. As a penitent malefactor, if he were to plead his cause before the Prince himself, would not stand upon terms of innocency or present integrity, because he had his pardon under seal, seeing that was given him to plead for mercy, not for justice: so the faithful soul relieth upon the free mercy of God and promise of pardon proclaimed indefinitely to all burdened and penitent sinners, and sealed to every believer in particular by the pledges of the Spirit not upon those sanctified graces which are given unto him, that he might be qualified and fitted to plead for grace and mercy.