A Golden Chain

Object. 6. Where there is no word, there is no faith. For faith and the word of God be relatives. But there is no word of God that saith to particular men; Cornelius, or Peter, or John, thy sins are pardoned, excepting a few persons, as Mary Magdalen, and the palsy man, &c. Therefore there is no particular faith. Ans. Though there be no word set down in Scripture touching the salvation of this or that particular man, yet there is set down that which is equivalent to a particular word, and as much in effect. For the promise of remission of sins and life everlasting, is given with a commandment that every man ^aapply the promise to himself, as I have before proved: and this is altogether as much as if every mans particular name had been put in the promise. I add further that the promises of the gospel must be considered two ways, first as they are generally set down in Scripture without application to any person: secondly as they are taught and published in the ministry of the word, the end whereof is to apply them to the persons of men, partly by preaching and partly by administering the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lords supper, which are seals of righteousness of faith. Now the promise applied and (as I may say) particularized to the members of the Church, is by the virtue of Gods ordinance as much as if God himself had given the promise particularly, and annexed mens names unto it. It is further answered that the promise of remission of sin, is preached not simply but upon condition of mens faith and repentance, which indeed cannot be certainly known. I answer again, (as I have already proved) that he which truly believeth and repenteth, knoweth that he doth certainly believe and repent.

Obiect. 6. Where there is no word, there is no faith. For faith and the worde of God be relatiues. But there is no word of God that saith to particular men; Cornelius, or Peter, or Iohn, thy sinnes are pardoned, excepting a fewe persons, as Marie Magdalen, and the palsie man, &c. Therefore there is no particular faith. Ans. Though there be no word set down in Scripture touching the saluation of this or that particular man, yet there is set downe that which is equiuolent to a particular worde, and as much in effect. For the promise of remission of sinnes and life euerlasting, is giuen with a commandement that euery man ^aapply the promise to himselfe, as I haue before prooued: and this is altogither as much as if euery mans particular name had beene put in the promise. I adde further that the promises of the gospel must bee considered two waies, first as they are generally set downe in Scripture without application to any person: secondly as they are taught and published in the ministery of the word, the end whereof is to apply them to the persons of men, partly by preaching and partly by administring the Sacraments of Baptisme and the Lords supper, which are seales of righteousnes of faith. Nowe the promise applied and (as I may say) particularized to the members of the Church, is by the vertue of Gods ordinance as much as if God himselfe had giuen the promise particularly, and annexed mens names vnto it. It is further aunswered that the promise of remission of sinne, is preached not simply but vpon condition of mens faith and repentance, which indeede cannot be certainely knowne. I answere againe, (as I haue alreadie prooued) that he which truly beleeueth and repenteth, knoweth that he doth certainly beleeue and repent.