A03064:78
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.
no more can man dead in trespasses and sins, move himself to receive the promises of grace, until the free and gracious disposition or habit of faith be infused, whereby the will is inclined agreeably to the disposition of it, to come unto God. As man cannot naturally see or perceive the things of God; no more can he naturally will or desire them. And this is apparent by the hardness of mans heart that cannot repent, till God mollify it:1 and by his stiffneckedness and stubbornness to resist the holy Spirit ⟨p. 12⟩speaking in the Ministry of the word, until he be renewed and changed by grace. This habit of faith is received, not by any natural disposition of will in us to heavenly things, for then man should live spiritually of himself, before the life of grace be put into him: but the heart, as it standeth in obedience to Gods Almighty power, to take what stamp he shall imprint, to follow him wither he shall draw, and to contain what he poureth into it,2 admitteth this habit. And as the beginning, so the increase and progress, the consummation and perfection of faith is the gift of God, the work of the Spirit.3 Of God the increase of faith is to be asked, and from him it is received. As we cannot will to believe, unless God prepare the heart, and give that will; no more can we will to persevere in faith, or go forward therein, unless God do minister strength, and sustain us by his grace.
no more can man dead in trespasses and sinnes, moue himselfe to receiue the promises of grace, vntill the free and gracious disposition or habit of faith be infused, whereby the will is inclined agreeably to the disposition of it, to come vnto God. As man cannot naturally see or perceiue the things of God; no more can hee naturally will or desire them. And this is apparant by the hardnesse of mans heart that cannot repent, till God mollifie it:1 and by his stiffeneckednesse and stubbornnesse to resist the holy Spirit ⟨p. 12⟩