A09439:26
How to live, and that well in all estates and times, specially when helps…How to liue, and that well in all estates and times, specially when helps…
How to live, and that well in all estates and times, specially when helps and comforts fail.How to liue, and that well in all estates and times, specially when helps and comforts faile.
printed by John Legat, 1601printed by Iohn Legat, 1601
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.
The major or first part of this reason, is the voice of the Gospel: the minor or the second part is the voice of the believing heart, which subjecteth it self in will and affection to the commandment which bids us believe in Christ: and this is the act of special faith. And we may not think that this voice of the believing heart is a false alarm. For he that truly believes hath his mind and conscience supernaturally enlightened to discern that he believes. The third part, or the conclusion is the foundation of all our joy and spiritual comfort. For it contains ⟨p. 27⟩in it the chiefest certainty of our adoption and salvation that can be had in this life, namely the certainty of faith, whence follows in a lower degree in the second place, the certainty that is by works. And thus doth faith certify all such as truly believe that they are the children of God.
The major or first part of this reason, is the voice of the Gospel: the minor or the second part is the voice of the beleeuing heart, which subiecteth it selfe in wil and affection to the commandement which biddes vs beleeue in Christ: and this is the acte of speciall faith. And we may not thinke that this voice of the beleeuing heart is a false alarum. For he that truly beleeues hath his minde and conscience supernaturally inlightened to discerne that he beleeues. The third part, or the conclusion is the foundation of all our ioy and spirituall comfort. For it containes ⟨p. 27⟩in it the chiefest certentie of our adoption and saluation that can be had in this life, namely the certentie of faith, whence followes in a lower degree in the second place, the certentie that is by workes. And thus doth faith certifie all such as truely beleeue that they are the children of God.
Out of the former conclusion, or out of the certainty which is by faith, follows a full and lively certainty of the doctrine of the Gospel, worthy consideration; on this manner. There is a three-fold certainty: the first is certainty of reason or of general faith, when a man by force of argument is convicted of the certainty of the