A03064:96
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.
Faith is an evident assent:1 perspicuity of truth in the object apprehended and certainty of persuasion are two twins that live and die together. In this life it is impossible for us fully to comprehend any one point of Christian faith; yet are they plain and perspicuous in a sort to the spiritual, not to the natural man. There is a manifestation of things by reason and by revelation: and there is an evidence direct & an evidence by consequence: an evidence of the thing in it self, and by the effect: an evidence to the natural man, and an evidence to the spiritual man. Matters of faith are manifest by revelation, but to reason unsearchable, incomprehensible: seen by faith, to the natural man invisible, incredible. The Divinity ⟨p. 24⟩of the Scripture is in it self evident to the spiritual man, so is it, that there is a Providence: other things are evident from this ground; That all truth contained in Scripture is to be embraced, though with opposition to all other professions: and that the profession of Religion is not to be relinquished, nor good success to be despaired of, for all the arguments the Devil, the World, and the Flesh can oppose against them. The apprehension of the joys of Heaven cannot be distinct and evident in this life: but that God hath provided such joys for his Elect, as it is certain from testimony of Scripture, so it is evident from the present peace of conscience, which the faithful enjoy.2 Beloved (saith the Apostle) now we are the sons of God, and yet it doth not appear what we shall be: but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him: for we shall see him as he is. The joys which be prepared for the godly, & of which the Apostle steadfastly hoped to be partaker, are as yet unseen: but that they shall actually be accomplished, is confirmed by the faithful promise of God, whereof we have evident and full assurance. The Apostle describing faith to be the evidence of things not seen, 3doth it not to disparage the evidence, but rather to set forth the excellency of that heavenly grace, which includes an evident knowledge and apprehension of some things present, which the world sees not.
Faith is an euident assent: