1But this is not all, there is an act also of the will required, which is to take and receive Christ: for this taking is an act of the will; therefore there must be a consent as well as an assent. Now it is the act of the understanding to assent to the truth, which is contained in the promises wherein Christ is offered: but that is not all, there is also an act of will requisite to consent unto them, that is, to embrace them, to take them, and to lay hold upon them, and to apply them to a mans self. This I will the rather clear, because it is a thing controverted. I say, there is a double act, an act of the mind, and an act of the will: to this purpose consider that in Rom. 5 17.2 For if by the offence of one, death reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace, and the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Mark it, you may see what faith is in those words; Those that receive the gift of righteousness: righteousness is given and offered by God, and those that receive that gift of righteousness, shall reign in life: so that ⟨p. 57⟩taking and receiving being an act of the will, it must needs be that the will must come in to this work as well as the understanding. Like unto this is that 1 Joh. 12.3 To as many as received him, &c. That is, to as many as believed in his Name: for so the words afterwards express; that is, when we are willing to take Christ, which is nothing else but the consent of the will, when the will is resolved to take him, being so apprehended as he hath been described, as a Lord, and as a Saviour, this is faith; this, I say, is an act of the will, because it is an act of receiving. Jo•. 5.44 it is evident, How can y• believe which receive honour one of another &c? If believing in Christ were only an act of the mind, as the Papists affirm, and some others besides; it believing were nothing else but an assenting to the truth of GOD, which is an act of the understanding, how could the praise of men be opposite to believing? But the meaning is, How can you believe, & take me for your Husband, and yet seek praise of men too? for that will come in competition with me, and then you will forsake me. I say, this makes it evident, that justifying faith is not only an act of the mind, but an act of the will also;
1But this is not all, there is an act also of the will required, which is to take and receiue Christ: for this taking is an act of the will; therefore there must be a consent as well as an assent. Now it is the act of the vnderstanding to assent to the truth, which is contained in the promises wherein Christ is offered: but that is not all, there is also an act of will requisite to consent vnto them, that is, to embrace them, to take them, and to lay hold vpon them, and to apply them to a mans selfe. This I will the rather cleere, because it is a thing controuerted. I say, there is a double act, an act of the mind, and an act of the will: to this purpose consider that in Rom. 5 17.2 For if by the offence of one, death raigned by one, much more they which receiue abundance of grace, and the gift of righteousnesse, shall reigne in life by one, Iesus Christ. Marke it, you may see what faith is in those words; Those that receiue the gift of righteousnesse: righteousnesse is giuen and offered by God, and those that receiue that gift of righteousnesse, shall reigne in life: so that ⟨p. 57⟩taking and receiuing being an act of the will, it must needs be that the will must come in to this worke as well as the vnderstanding. Like vnto this is that 1 Ioh. 12.3 To as many as receiued him, &c. That is, to as many as beleeued in his Name: for so the words afterwards expresse; that is, when wee are willing to take Christ, which is nothing else but the consent of the will, when the will is resolued to take him, being so apprehended as he hath beene described, as a Lord, and as a Sauiour, this is faith; this, I say, is an act of the will, because it is an act of receiuing. Io•. 5.44 it is euident, How can y• beleeue which receiue honour one of another &c? If beleeuing in Christ were only an act of the mind, as the Papists affirme, and some others besides; it beleeuing were nothing else but an assenting to the truth of GOD, which is an act of the vnderstanding, how could the praise of men be opposite to beleeuing? But the meaning is, How can you beleeue, & take me for your Husband, and yet seeke praise of men too? for that will come in competition with me, and then you will forsake me. I say, this makes it euident, that iusti•ying faith is not onely an act of the mind, but an act of the will also;
- 1What required of the will.
- 2Rom. 5.17.
- 3Joh. 1.12.Ioh. 1.12.
