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…

When a Christian is acquainted with the promises of pardon and forgiveness, believeth in Christ for salvation, and is reconciled unto God; When his conscience is purged, that there remaineth no more terrible remembrance of sins past, his lusts subdued and vanquished, his heart quieted from all perturbations, and all inward disturbance, which was in man against himself done away; and when these things are known unto the Conscience: yet one thing is wanting to sound and full peace, that is, holy security for time to come against all enemies both inward and outward, that they shall not hunt us much less prevail against us. For if what we possess may utterly be lost, or what we hope and expect be merely uncertain and conjectural, built upon the good use of our free-will, and not upon the free and unchangeable grace of God, what rest or quiet in respect of his future estate can any man find in himself? But let the heart be established in this, that God will carry him forward from grace to grace till he have brought him to his everlasting Kingdom; that his faith shall never fail, the graces of the Spirit shall never wither and decay. Satan with all his malice, the world with the manifold allurements thereof shall never prevail against him; this freeth from much heart-grief, perplexity, distrustful sorrow, and unprofitable trouble, when he feels his own weakness, ⟨p. 288⟩thinks of Satan and the worlds power, hears of the falls of some who have gone far in the profession of godliness, and casts with himself what persecutions may be raised against him for the truth and Gospel. This also refresheth the heart with sweet and heavenly comfort in the midst of those many trials and incumbrances which we do and must make account to meet with all: and this our heavenly Father knew to be no more then necessary for our cheerful walking before him. For the which cause I also suffer these things, ¹nevertheless, I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

When a Christian is acquainted with the promises of pardon and forgiuenesse, belieueth in Christ for saluation, and is reconciled vnto God; When his conscience is purged, that there remaineth no more terrible remembrance of sinnes past, his lusts subdued and vanquished, his heart quieted from all perturbations, and all inward disturbance, which was in man against himselfe done away; and when these things are knowne vnto the Conscience: yet one thing is wanting to sound and full peace, that is, holy securitie for time to come against all enemies both inward and outward, that they shall not hunt vs much lesse preuaile against vs. For if what we possesse may vtterly be lost, or what we hope and expect be meerely vncertaine and coniecturall, built vpon the good vse of our free-will, and not vpon the free and vnchangeable grace of God, what rest or quiet in respect of his future estate can any man finde in himselfe? But let the heart be established in this, that God will carrie him forward from grace to grace till hee haue brought him to his euerlasting Kingdome; that his faith shall neuer faile, the graces of the Spirit shall neuer wither and decay. Satan with all his malice, the world with the manifold allurements thereof shall neuer preuaile against him; this freeth from much heart-griefe, perplexitie, distrustfull sorrow, and vnprofitable trouble, when he feeles his owne weaknesse,