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…

Fifthly, It doth certify of pardon granted and sealed unto us: It doth obtain, receive and assure of forgiveness in particular. I know that my Redeemer liveth; ¹Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin; Thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back; As for our transgressions thou shalt purge them away: Christ hath loved me, and given himself for me, We know that we are passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. These are divine conclusions of a lively faith: But this persuasion or assurance that our sins are already pardoned, is not an act of faith justifying, as it justifieth, but an act of faith following justification, a privilege granted of grace to a sinner now set in the state of grace, or an act of experience in a sinner now justified by faith. Forgiveness of sins in and through Christ is offered in the Gospel to every burdened and weary soul, that will receive it as the ground of faith; vouchsafed to every one that believeth; but pardon of sin is apprehended as already granted when we come to be assured that we do believe. Faith in order of nature is precedent to Justification, but Justification it self goeth before the sense thereof. As faith obtaineth and receiveth the promise of special mercy it doth not find us Just when we begin to believe, but maketh us Just by embracing the Righteousness of Christ as it certifieth and assureth of favour, it doth not actively Justify but findeth the thing d•ne already. Faith assureth ⟨p. 226⟩of the pardon of sin by a double act. First, it layeth hold upon the general promises made to Believers, such as these;² He that believeth shall be saved; By faith every one that believeth is justified; He that believeth hath everlasting life: Secondly, it concludes undoubtedly from them, That he believing is already received into favour, and hath obtained remission of sins. Now betwixt these two comes the testimonies of the renewed Conscience,³ working upon the soul by reflection, whereby the true Believer is made privy to his own estate, and assured that he doth believe. The whole is collected thus; He that believeth in Christ is already Justified, or hath received pardon and forgiveness: This is the voice of faith, grounding it self upon the express testimony of God speaking in holy Scripture. But I believe: