A03064:93
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.
1Verily, I have cleansed my heart in vain; and washed mine hands in innocency. I said in my haste, All men are liars. And though it be out of question, that we are to endeavour for the perfection, as of all other graces of Gods Spirit, so of that faith whereby we give assent to what God hath revealed: yet by reason of our weakness it comes to pass, that doubtings do many times arise in our hearts.
1Ʋerily, I haue clensed my heart in vaine; and washed mine hands in innocencie. I said in my haste, All men are lyers. And though it bee out of question, that wee are to endeuour for the perfection, as of all other graces of Gods Spirit, so of that faith whereby wee giue assent to what God hath reuealed: yet by reason of our weaknesse it comes to passe, that doubtings doe many times arise in our hearts.
- 1Psal. 73.13, 16, 22. & 116.•1.
1The assent that faith gives to the Word of God is absolute and unlimited; viz. to the whole truth, promises, threatenings, commandments. It will not take and leave at pleasure: but if it apprehend in one thing what the Lord saith, it will receive his testimony, if it can apprehend it to be of God, in every thing, and that simply because it is the Word of God, though it exceed humane capacity and likelihood.2 So worship I the God of my Fathers, believing all things that are written in the Law and the Prophets. It is a sin for a man not to believe whatsoever God hath made known in his Word, and in that respect it is damnable not to believe or to misbelieve any thing: But through ignorance and infirmity a Christian may misbelieve many things without the danger of damnation. Faith should be entire in all things, must be entire in all fundamental points, without the knowledge and faith of which, a man of age and discretion cannot be eased: but all error and misbelief doth not destroy the truth of faith, no more then every imperfection doth the truth of righteousness.