A godly and learned exposition or commentary upon the three first chapters of the…A godly and learned exposition or commentarie vpon the three first chapters of the…

Secondly, the Gospel also must be applied: not only by believing it to be true, as the Papists teach: but also by applying unto our selves particularly the promises of righteousness and life everlasting by Christ. According as Paul saith, ^dI desire to win Christ, & to be found in him, not having mine own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ. Vers. 15, Let us (saith he) as many as be perfect be thus minded, teaching every one this special duty of particular application. For as saint John saith, he that by faith doth not apply the promises of the Gospel particularly to himself ^emakes God a liar. And the want of this application is the cause of negligence in Religion, and of so many luke-warm Gospellers as be at this day. For it is not sufficient to know the Gospel to be true, or to be able to teach it unto others, unless we can thus apply it to our selves. This then serves to prove that justifying faith must not only be a bare assent to the truth of the Gospel, but a special faith which doth apply particularly unto a man, those promises which are propounded concerning righteousness, and life everlasting by Christ.

Secondly, the Gospel also must bee applyed: not onely by beleeing it to bee true, as the Papists teach: but also by applying vnto our selues particularly the promises of righteousnesse and life euerlasting by Christ. A•cording as Paul saith, ^dI desire to win Christ, & to be found in him, not hauing mine owne righteousnesse which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ. Vers. 15, Let vs (saith he) as many as bee perfect bee thus minded, teaching euery one this speciall dutie of particular application. For as saint Iohn saith, he that by faith doth not apply the promises of the Gospell particularly to himselfe ^emakes God a lyer. And the want of this application is the cause of negligence in Religion, and of so many luke-warme Gospellers as be at this day. For it is not sufficient to know the Gospel to be true, or to bee able to teach it vnto others, vnlesse we can thus apply it to our selues. This then serues to prooue that iustifying faith must not onely be a bare assent to the truth of the Gospel, but a speciall faith which doth apply particularly vnto a man, those promises which are propounded concerning righteousnes, and life euerlasting by Christ.