A Golden Chain

Reason I. The first reason may be taken from the nature of faith, on this manner. True faith is both an unfallible assurance and a particular assurance of the remission of sins and of life everlasting. And therefore by this faith, a man may be certainly and particularly assured of the remission of sins and life everlasting. That this reason may be of source, two things must be proved: first that true faith is a certain assurance of Gods mercy to that party in whom it is. Secondly that faith is a particular assurance thereof. For the first, that faith is a certain assurance, Christ saith to Peter, Mat. 14.31. O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt. Where he maketh an opposition between faith and doubting: whereby giving us directly to understand, that, to be certain, ⟨p. 921⟩and to give assurance, is of the nature of faith. Rom. 4.20.22. Paul saith of Abraham, that he did not doubt of the promise of God through unbelief: but was strengthened in faith, and gave glory to God, being fully assured, that he which had promised was able to do it: where I observe first, that doubting is made a fruit of unbelief: and therefore unfallible certainty and assurance, being contrary to doubting must needs proceed from true faith: considering that contrary effects come of contrary causes: and contrary causes produce contrary effects. Secondly, I note that the strength of Abraham's faith, did stand in fullness of assurance: for the text saith, he was strengthened in the faith, being fully assured: and again,