he doubts whether he should choose, GOD, or the World, there is an uncertainty in his mind, that it is divided: sometimes he thinks it is best, and sometimes he thinks it not best, aliud stans, aliud sedens, when he thus wavers, this is not effectual faith. But now, if a man go beyond this, and pitch upon CHRIST resolutely, when he goeth so far, as that he resolves to take him, although he have many pluck-backs, although there be many things that may dissuade him from it, though there be some reluctancy in his mind, some fear whether it be the best way or no, yet if he pitch on CHRIST, he chooseth him rather then the World, though he have some inclination to the World still, though there be somewhat offensive in his his heart, ⟨p. 24⟩though, as I said, there be some doubts, some fears whether it be the best way or no, yet if faith come so far as to pitch on Christ, to choose him, to take him, this is properly effectual faith. Indeed, it is far from perfect faith, but it is effectual faith, and such as shall save you. Therefore you shall find this rule among the School-men, (I name them, because they were Papists, and their doctrine of faith is contrary to this) they say, it is not faith, except it be a full persuasion; they speak not there of resting on CHRIST, that is not the thing, but of the full persuasion of the truth of the thing to be believed; yet notwithstanding, you shall find this rule among some of the Schoolemen,1 Fides non excludit omnem dubitationem: faith doth not exclude all doubting,2 but that doubting that overcometh, that doubting that casteth the balance the contrary way: if it be such a doubting as doth not overcome, it may stand with true and sound faith. So, I say, if you would know now, what it is to pitch on Christ, and so to take him,3 though there be some reluctancy, some doubt, some fear, you shall know it by this: if a man have so taken him, that still he is growing, still his faith is prevailing, still his faith is overcoming those doubts and fears from day to day, he is better and better resolved; I say, though his faith be not perfect at the first, yet if it be still thus on the growing hand, it is saving ⟨p. 25⟩and effectual faith.
hee doubts whether he should choose, GOD, or the World, there is an vncertainety in his minde, that it is diuided: sometimes hee thinkes it is best, and sometimes he thinkes it not best, aliud stans, aliud sedens, when he thus wauers, this is not effectuall faith. But now, if a man goe beyond this, and pitch vpon CHRIST resolutely, when he goeth so farre, as that he resolues to take him, although hee haue many pluck-backs, although there bee many things that may disswade him from it, though there be some reluctancie in his mind, some feare whether it be the best way or no, yet if he pitch on CHRIST, hee chooseth him rather then the World, though he haue some inclination to the World still, though there be somewhat offensiue in his his heart, ⟨p. 24⟩though, as I said, there bee some doubts, some feares whether it be the best way or no, yet if faith come so farre as to pitch on Christ, to choose him, to take him, this is properly effectuall faith. Indeed, it is farre from perfect faith, but it is effectuall faith, and such as shall saue you. Therefore you shall finde this rule among the Schoole-men, (I name them, because they were Papists, and their doctrine of faith is contrarie to this) they say, it is not faith, except it be a full perswasion; they speake not there of resting on CHRIST, that is not the thing, but of the full perswasion of the truth of the thing to bee beleeued; yet notwithstanding, you shall finde this rule among some of the Schoolemen,1 Fides non excludit omnem dubitationem: faith doth not exclude all doubting,2 but that doubting that ouercommeth, that doubting that casteth the ballance the contrary way: if it bee such a doubting as doth not ouercome, it may stand with true and sound faith. So, I say, if you would know now, what it is to pitch on Christ, and so to take him,3 though there be some reluctancie, some doubt, some feare, you shall know it by this: if a man haue so taken him, that still hee is growing, still his faith is preuailing, still his faith is ouercomming those doubts and feares from day to day, hee is better and better resolued; I say, though his faith be not perfect at the first, yet if it bee still thus on the growing hand, it is sauing ⟨p. 25⟩and effectuall faith.
- 1Papists tenet of doubting.Papists tenent of doubting.
- 2What doubting it is that faith excludeth.
- 3How to try truth of doubting.
