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…

Eighthly, It assureth that we are made heir of everlasting life, to which God of his grace will bring us in his time appointed.¹ Behold what love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. Beloved, ²now are we the sons of God, and it doth not y•t appear what we shall be: ³We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. Neither doth the manner of speaking savour of ought but certainty, neither could it agree with the gravity of the Apostle to speak so indefinitely, so indeterminately of that, whereof he had no certain ground, no firm resolution, but only some likely guess, or conjectural hope. And grant it of John & the Apostles that they knew their own Adoption, and we may infer, that this knowledge is a privilege of all believers in their measure as well as theirs.⁴ For the faith whereby they were assured, was ordinary; the grounds of assurance common to them with all true believers; the benefit it self general▪ not in any special manner appropriated. What promises soever concerning life and happiness were made to the Apostles, the same are made to all believers, and confirmed and sealed unto them after the same manner. For they have all one God,⁵ one Christ, one Spirit they are under one Covenant, and live by the same faith. The Adoption of Believers is confirmed on Gods part unto them by his word, seals, oath, pledge and witness of his Spirit with the graces thereof. And what God so sufficiently confirmeth, we by faith may receive it: for faith ⟨p. 265⟩enableth us to believe what God revealeth. Faith giveth assurance, but every believer is not assured in himself,⁶ nor is any assurance in this life, so certain, that it is never intermixed, nor disturbed with doubtings. There is a state in which faith showeth it self, rather in earnest longings and paintings after mercy, then in certain apprehension of it: there is a state of infancy, a state of temptation and spiritual conflict, in which the soul cannot attain this certainty and assurance. And even in the grown and confirmed state the believer must not look to walk on smoothly without any rubs, or to enjoy perfect assurance without doubtings and assaults. The assurance of this believer is an assurance aiming and striving after assurance; an assurance wrestling and combating with many assaults: