A Golden Chain

Object. 10. We pray for the pardon of our own sins, and therefore we are uncertain of pardon: the man which knows that he hath pardon, need not pray for it. I answer first, when we are taught by Christ to pray for the forgiveness of our debts, we are put in mind not to seek the pardon of all our sins, whether past or present; but specially of our present and daily offences, whereby we make our selves day by day guilty, till such time as we humble our selves & repent of them. Secondly by this petition we are taught to ask the increase of our assurance; because though God bestow endless mercy on us, yet we are scant in receiving of it: our hearts being like a narrow necked vessel, which being cast even into the Ocean sea, receiveth in water only drop by drop.

Obiect. 10. We pray for the pardon of our owne sinnes, and therefore we are vncerten of pardon: the man which knowes that he hath pardon, neede not pray for it. I answer first, when we are taught by Christ to pray for the forgiuenes of our debts, we are put in minde not to seeke the pardon of all our sinnes, whether past or present; but specially of our present and daily offences, whereby we make our selues day by day guiltie, till such time as we humble our selues & repent of them. Secondly by this petition we are taught to aske the increase of our assurance; because though God bestow endlesse mercie on vs, yet we are skant in receiuing of it: our hearts beeing like a narrow necked vessell, which beeing cast euen into the Ocean sea, receiueth in water onely droppe by droppe.

Object. 11. No man can believe his own salvation, as he believes the articles of faith: therefore no man can believe the pardon of his sins and his salvation by an infallible certainty. I answer, first that every one that looks for salvation by Christ, is bound in conscience as certainly to believe his own salvation and adoption by Christ, as he believes the articles of faith. Because to the promise of life there is annexed a commandment to believe and apply it. Secondly this faith whereby we are to believe our own salvation, if we respect the true and proper nature thereof, is as certain as that faith, whereby we believe the articles of faith. Thirdly, as there be diverse ages in the life of man, so there be divers degrees and measures of true faith. There is first of all a beginning or rudiment of faith, like the smoking flax and bruised reed, which Christ will neither quench nor bruise. Again there is weak faith, which believeth the promise truly, but yet is perplexed with many doubtings. Lastly, there is strong faith, which hath overcome all doubtings, and is not only for nature certain (as the former is,) but also a large and plentiful persuasion of Gods mercy in Christ. Examples of this we have in Abraham, David, the Martyrs and such like worthy men. Now by the second faith, men do as certainly believe their adoption as the articles, but not so firmly and fully.