A03064:385
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…
A treatise of faith divided into two parts. The first showing the nature, the second, the life of faith. ... By John Ball.A treatise of faith diuided into two parts. The first shewing the nature, the second, the life of faith. ... By Iohn Ball.
London: printed by William Stansby for Edward Brewster, 1631
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
It may be objected, If faith certify that our sins be pardoned, and there be such joy in believing, how comes it to pass that many good Christians live so long in fear and doubt,1 who would be contented to take any pains to be settled in assurance of Gods love? The common causes of this slowness of belief are many.
It may be obiected, If faith certifie that our sinnes be pardoned, and there be such ioy in belieuing, how comes it to passe that many good Christians liue so long in feare and doubt,1 who would bee contented to take any paines to bee setled in assurance of Gods loue? The common causes of this slownesse of beliefe are many.
- 1Wence it is that many good Christians live so long in fear and doubt.Wence it is that many good Christians liue so long in feare and doub•.
First, an immoderate aggravation of their sin, and continual thought of their unworthiness. Thus the case stands with many poor Christians; fain they would believe (as they acknowledge) but they are unworthy, they have been sinners. These must know, it is good they should see their own unworthiness, but not that they should be hindered thereby from coming to Christ it is good to deny themselves, but not to doubt of the mercy of the Lord. Christ came to seek that which was lost, 1to bind up the broken hearted, and to save sinners. He died for his enemies, for the unworthy: He inviteth the burdened to come unto him, and makes suit to the poor and worthless, that he might ease and enrich them. If they were not unworthy, what need had they of Gods mercy? or how should God glorify the riches of his mercy in pardoning their offences? The feeling of their unworthiness makes them fit to receive mercy from God who doth vouchsafe it freely: seeing besides their sin which makes them unworthy, they have a sense of it, and an heart broken for it. If they were not unworthy, they could no believe: If their case had not been desperate, what need was there, that Christ should come from the bosom of his Father?