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…

First, it generally believeth the promise true, and thereby discerns, that sin is pardonable through grace.¹ The knowledge of this, that our sins may be pardoned, or that there is mercy with the Lord to cover sin, is a work of faith. For whatsoever cannot be conceived or found out by sense or reason, that is manifested by revelation, and assented unto or judged true and certain by faith, or else it remains as a mystery unknown. When the Apostle defines,² faith to be the evidence of things not seen; doth he not intimate, that things unseen to sense or natural reason, are discovered and made evident only by faith? But that God will pardon iniquity, transgression and sin, is a truth that can never be comprehended by the light of nature: flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto us. Supernatural truths which exceed all humane capacity, cannot be discerned or received by any power of nature:³ But that God will be, merciful to our sins, is a truth supernatural, hidden from the Angels themselves, until it was revealed in the Gospel. Who hath known the Mind of God or been acquainted with the mysteries of his wisdom? In the days of security, whilst men sleep in sin, without ⟨p. 221⟩all sense of evil, or knowledge of Gods justice, it is an easy matter to say, God is merciful, Christ died for sinners: But whence the conscience is awakened with the terrors of Gods wrath, and the fearful sight of sin;⁴ the experience both of wicked men, and of the Saints of God can testify, that it is a difficult thing, to look beyond the cloud of justice, and contrary to the natural sentence of conscience, comminations of the Law, and present feeling, to believe, that there is forgiveness with God.

First, it generally belieueth the promise true, and thereby disce•nes, that sinne is pardonable through grace.¹