Object. I. Where there is no word there is no faith: for these two are relatives: but there is no word of God saying, Cornelius believe thou, Peter believe thou: or thou shalt be saved. And therefore there is no such ordinary faith to believe a mans own particular salvation. Ans. The proposition is false, unless it be supplied with a clause on this manner. Where there is no word of promise, nor any thing that doth countervail a particular promise, there is no faith. But (say they) there is no such particular word. It is true, God doth not speak to men particularly, Believe thou, and thou shalt be saved. But yet doth he that which is answerable hereunto, in that he giveth a general promise, with a commandment to apply the same: and hath ordained the holy ministry of the word to apply the same to the persons of the hearers in his own name: and that is as much as if the Lord himself should speak to men particularly. To speak more plainly, in the Scripture the promises of salvation ⟨p. 41⟩be indefinitely propounded; it saith not any where, if John will believe he shall be saved, or if Peter will believe he shall be saved: but whosoever believeth shall be saved. Now then comes the minister of the word, who standing in the room of God, and in the stead of Christ him self, takes the indefinite promises of the Gospel, and lays them to the hearts of every particular man: and this in effect is as much as if Christ himself should say, Cornelius believe thou, and thou shalt be saved: Peter believe thou, and thou shalt be saved. It is answered, that this applying of the Gospel is upon condition of mens faith and repentance, and that men are deceived touching their own faith and repentance: and therefore fail in applying the word unto themselves. Answ. Indeed this manner of applying is false in all hypocrites, heretics, and unrepentant persons: for they apply upon carnal presumption, and not by faith. Nevertheless it is true in all the Elect having the spirit of grace, and prayer: for when God in the ministry of the word being his own ordinance, saith, Seek ye my ⟨p. 42⟩face: the heart of Gods children truly answereth, O Lord, I will seek thy face. Psal. 17. 8. And when God shall say, Thou art my people, they shall say again: The Lord is my God, Zach. 13. 6. And it is a truth of God, that he which believeth knoweth that he believeth:
Obiect. I. Where there is no worde there is no faith: for these two are relatiues: but there is no word of God saying, Cornelius beleeue thou, Peter beleeue thou: or thou shalt be saued. And therefore there is no such ordinarie faith to beleeue a mans owne particular saluation. Ans. The proposition is false, vnlesse it be supplied with a clause on this manner. Where there is no vvord of promise, nor any thing that doth countervaile a particular promise, there is no faith. But (say they) there is no such particular word. It is true, God doth not speake to men particularly, Beleeue thou, and thou shalt be saued. But yet doth he that which is answerable hereunto, in that he giueth a generall promise, with a commaundement to applie the same: and hath ordained the holy ministerie of the word to applie the same to the persons of the hearers in his own name: and that is as much as if the Lord himselfe should speake to men particularly. To speake more plainely, in the Scripture the promises of saluation ⟨p. 41⟩be indefinitely propounded; it saith not any where, if Iohn will beleeue he shall be saued, or if Peter will beleeue he shall be saued: but whosoeuer beleeueth shall be saued. Now then comes the minister of the word, who standing in the roome of God, and in the stead of Christ him selfe, takes the indefinite promises of the Gospell, and laies them to the hearts of euery particular man: and this in effect is as much as if Christ himselfe should say, Cornelius beleeue thou, and thou shalt be saued: Peter beleeue thou, and thou shalt be saued. It is answered, that this applying of the Gospell is vpon condition of mens faith and repentance, and that men are deceived touching their owne faith and repentance: and therefore faile in applying the word vnto themselues. Answ. Indeede this manner of applying is false in all hypocrits, heretickes, and vnrepentant persons: for they apply vpon carnall presumption, and not by faith. Neuerthelesse it is true in all the Elect hauing the spirit of grace, and praier: for when God in the ministerie of the word being his owne ordinance, saith, Seeke ye my ⟨p. 42⟩face: the heart of Gods children truly answereth, O Lord, I will seeke thy face. Psal. 17. 8. And when God shall say, Thou art my people, they shall say againe: The Lord is my God, Zach. 13. 6. And it is a truth of God, that he which beleeueth knoweth that he beleeueth:
