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, Faith assureth of that spiritual contract which hath passed betwixt Christ and the Christian soul, and is sealed in the Sacrament;¹ so that he may truly say, My beloved is mine, and I am his. As a couple, who have lawfully given faith to each other, and confirmed the same by pledge or token in the Congregation, are assured of each other: so when we have contracted our selves unto Christ, and received the pledge thereof, we come to be assured by faith, that Christ is ours, and that we have ⟨p. 431⟩communion in all the benefits of his death and passion. Th•s faith reasoneth, God the Father hath freely promised the pardon of all sins in and through Jesus Christ: Christ doth offer himself as a Redeemer to deliver them from the power of darkness, and to bring them into perpetual grace with his Father, to wash them from their sins by his blood and spirit, and to preserve and nourish them unto life eternal, who will receive and believe in him. And being so lovingly called and invited, I have received the merciful promise, and •esigned my self unto Jesus Christ; why then should I stand in doubt? I hear the word of promise, I see and have received the seals annexed to the Word of grace, the true and faithful testimony of God confirmed by oath, and I may not question his truth, nor draw back from mine own promise, to rest upon and cleave unto him for evermore.

Eightly, Faith assureth of that spirituall contract which hath passed betwixt Christ and the Christian soule, and is sealed in the Sacrament;¹ so that he may truly say, My beloued is mine, and I am his. As a couple, who haue lawfully giuen faith to each other, and confirmed the same by pledge or token in the Congregation, are assured of each other: so when we haue contracted our selues vnto Christ, and receiued the pledge thereof, we come to be assured by faith, that Christ is ours, and that wee haue ⟨p. 431⟩commun•on in all the benefits of his death and passion. Ths faith reasoneth, God the Father hath freely promised the pardon of all sinnes in and through Iesus Christ: Christ doth offer himselfe as a Redeemer to deliuer them from the power of darknesse, and to bring them into perpetuall grace with his Father, to wash them from their sinnes by his bloud and spirit, and to preserue and nourish them vnto life eternall, who will receiue and belieue in him. And being so louingly called and inuited, I haue receiued the mercifull promise, and esigned my selfe vnto Iesus Christ; why then should I stand in doubt? I heare the word of promise, I see and haue receiued the seales annexed to the Word of grace, the true and faithfull testimonie of God confirmed by oath, and I may not question his truth, nor draw backe from mine owne promise, to rest vpon and cleaue vnto him for euermore.