A Golden Chain

And thus much for the three sorts of common faith: Now we come to the true faith, which is called the Faith of the Elect. It is thus defined: Faith is a supernatural gift of God in the mind, apprehending the saving promise with all the promises that depend on it. First, I say, it is a gift of God, Philip. 1.29. to confute the blind opinion of our people, that think that the faith whereby they are to be saved, is bred and borne with them. I add that this is a gift supernatural; not only because it is above that corrupt nature in which we are borne, but also because it is above that pure nature, in which our first parents were created. For in the state of innocency they wanted this faith, neither had they then any need of faith in the same God as he is Messiah: but this faith is a new grace of God added to regeneration after the fall, and first prescribed and taught in the covenant of grace. And by this one thing, faith differeth from the rest of the gifts of God, as the fear of God, the love of God, the love of our brethren, &c. for these were in mans nature before the fall, and after it, when it pleaseth God to call us, they are but renewed: but justifying faith admits no renewing. For the first ingrafting of it into the heart, in the conversion of a sinner after his fall.

And thus much for the three sorts of common faith: Now we come to the true faith, which is called the Faith of the Elect. It is thus defined: Faith is a supernaturall gift of God in the minde, apprehending the sauing promise with all the promises that depend on it. First, I say, it is a gift of God, Philip. 1.29. to confute the blinde opinion of our people, that thinke that the faith whereby they are to be saued, is bredde and borne with them. I adde that this is a gift supernaturall; not onely because it is aboue that corrupt nature in which we are borne, but also because it is aboue that pure nature, in which our first parents were created. For in the state of innocencie they wanted this faith, neither had they then any neede of faith in the same God as he is Messias: but this faith is a new grace of God added to regeneration after the fall, and first prescribed and taught in the couenant of grace. And by this one thing, faith differeth from the rest of the gifts of God, as the feare of God, the loue of God, the loue of our brethrē, &c. for these were in mans nature before the fall, and after it, when it pleaseth God to call vs, they are but renewed: but iustifying faith admits no renuing. For the first ingrafting of it into the heart, in the conuersion of a sinner after his fall.