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…

All my help is to look off my self an object of confusion, and look upon Christ an object of consolation, therefore I cleave unto him as mine only Saviour, and trust in him though he should kill me. It doth not please God, that I should stand aloof and strain courtesy, now he encourageth me to come with confidence, or give way to doubtings, now I have his promise, who never failed any that trusted in him, who hath done more for me then ever he promised: therefore I will go unto him in the mediation of Jesus Christ, and importune his grace; if I perish I will perish in his bosom, to die for it nothing shall s perate me from his mercy.

All my helpe is to looke off my selfe an obiect of confusion, and looke vpon Christ an obiect of consolation, therefore I cleaue vnto him as mine onely Sauiour, and trust in him though he should kill me. It doth not please God, that I should stand alooffe and straine courtesie, now he encourageth mee to come with confidence, or giue way to doubtings, now I haue his promise, who neuer failed any that trusted in him, who hath done more for me then euer he promised: therfore I will goe vnto him in the mediation of Iesus Christ, and importune his grace; if I perish I will perish in his bosome, to die for it nothing shall s perate me from his mercy.

A second cause of this slowness may be ignorance of the way how this assurance is to be sought, upon what foundation it is to be laid, in what orde• they come unto it. Sometimes they mis-conceive the promises, as if they were offered only to Believers, and not laid as the foundations of faith, and thereupon falsely conclude, that no promise is made unto them, because they cannot find that they do believe. Sometimes they mistake the nature of faith, taking it to be a persuasion or assurance that their sins are pardoned, and so conclude, that they have no faith, because they want assurance: when in the order of nature, faith is precedent to actual remission. And many times Christians are herein deceived, that they fear to receive and apply the promises of grace, till they can find in themselves such a measure of sanctification, as is scarce, if at all, attainable in this life. These and such like blocks must be removed by good information, acquainting themselves out of the word of God, what faith is, the order in which we must climb up to assurance, how the promises are to be received, and what is the true use of sanctification. But two things are specially to be learned for their direction.