Paul The remedy is double:
⟨p. 159⟩First, the operation of the holy Spirit, stirring up faith and increasing the same. Philip. 1. 6. I am persuaded of this same thing, that he that hath begun this good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Luk. 17. 5. And the Apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
The second is, an holy meditation, which is manifold:
1 That it is the commandment of God, that we should believe in Christ. 1. Joh. 3. 23. This is then his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave commandment.
2 That the Evangelical promises are indefinite, and do exclude no man, unless peradventure any man do exclude himself, Esa. 55. 1. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and ye that have no silver, come, buy, and eat: come, I say, buy wine and milk without silver and without money. Mat. 11. 28. Come unto me all ye that are weary and laden, and I will ease you. Joh. 3. 15. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. Also the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper, do to every one severally apply indefinite promises, and therefore are very effectual to enforce particular ⟨p. 160⟩assurance or plerophory of forgiveness of sins.
3 That doubtfulness and despair are most grievous sins.
4 That contrary to hope, men must under hope believe with Abraham. Rom. 4. 18. Which Abraham above hope believed under hope, that he should be the father of many nations: according to that which was spoken to him, So shall thy seed be.
5 That the mercy of God, and the merit of Christs obedience, being both God and man, are infinite. Esa. 54. 10. For the mountains shall remove, and the hills shall fall down: but my mercy shall not depart from thee, neither shall my covenant of peace fall away, saith the Lord, that hath compassion on thee. Psal. 103. 11. For as high as the heaven is above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 1. Joh. 2. 1. My babes, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not: and if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the just. 2. And he is the reconciliation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. Psal. 137. 7. Let Israel wait on the Lord: for the Lord is mercy, and with him is great redemption.
Paul The remedie is double:
⟨p. 159⟩First, the operation of the holy Spirit, stirring vp faith and increasing the same. Philip. 1. 6. I am perswaded of this same thing, that he that hath begunne this good worke in you, will performe it vntill the day of Iesus Christ. Luk. 17. 5. And the Apostles said vnto the Lord, Increase our faith.
The second is, an holy meditation, which is manifold:
1 That it is the commandement of God, that we should beleeue in Christ. 1. Ioh. 3. 23. This is then his commaundement, that we beleeue in the name of his Sonne Iesus Christ, and loue one another, as he gaue commaundement.
2 That the Euangelicall promises are indefinite, and do exclude no man, vnlesse peraduenture any man do exclude himselfe, Esa. 55. 1. Ho, euery one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and ye that haue no siluer, come, buy, and eate: come, I say, buy wine and milke without siluer and without money. Mat. 11. 28. Come vnto me all ye that are wearie and laden, and I will ease you. Ioh. 3. 15. That whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish, but haue eternall life. Also the Sacraments of Baptisme and the Lords Supper, do to euery one seuerally apply indefinite promises, and therefore are very effectuall to enforce particular ⟨p. 160⟩assurance or plerophorie of forgiuenesse of sinnes.
3 That doubtfulnesse and despaire are most grieuous sinnes.
4 That contrarie to hope, men must vnder hope beleeue with Abraham. Rom. 4. 18. Which Abraham aboue hope beleeued vnder hope, that he should be the father of many nations: according to that which was spoken to him, So shall thy seed be.
5 That the mercie of God, and the merit of Christs obedience, being both God and man, are infinite. Esa. 54. 10. For the mountaines shall remoue, and the hils shall fall downe: but my mercie shall not depart from thee, neither shall my couenant of peace fall away, saith the Lord, that hath compassion on thee.
