Secondly,II when this is done, this is not all, when there is such a preparation made, that a man is willing to take CHRIST upon any conditions, yet now, if he shall not be ⟨p. 34⟩well built, if he see not just ground to take him, if his understanding shall not see the truth of the promise so clearly, that he can build on it, that he can rest on it, that all the arguments in the World cannot draw him from it again, his faith will not be effectual. Therefore the second thing wherein the effectualness of faith consists, is to have it well built in the mind and understanding of a man, when he clearly seeth the truth of the promise, that he can build upon it infallibly. For your better understanding of this,2 you must know that then a man is said to be well built, to be rooted and grounded in faith, when he hath the first ground right, that so he proceeds from one to another, that it is not a confused superficial knowledge, to assent to the truth, and promises that are delivered in the Word, but when he hath a sure ground, the first ground, and the next, and so he proceeds along.1 As, for example, the first thing that a man must do, is to believe the Scriptures, to know that they are true and infallible, that they are the sure Word of GOD, when a man can say, this I know,2 and this I build upon. And besides that, then we look upon the promises which the Scriptures contain, wherein CHRIST, and forgiveness of sins is offered. Now if the first ground fail you, that is the bottom upon which the promises stands; therefore have that sure: when that ⟨p. 35⟩is sure, you must have the promises sure, that is, you must consider the promises, and examine them, and see if this be the sense of the Scriptures; If there be so much light in you, as to say, I find it so, I find the Scriptures true, I believe them, I find these promises in the Scriptures,5 I find CHRIST offered to every creature under heaven, I find that I have a warrant to take him; when a man, out of himself, out of an inward principle, out of his own proper judgement seeth this, and is convinced of the truth of this, that the promises are so, and that they belong unto him, that he may justly, upon good ground, appropriate them to himself; so that when he looks round about him, and considers all the objections that may be made, yet he can answer all arguments;
Secondly,II when this is done, this is not all, when there is such a preparation made, that a man is willing to take CHRIST vpon any conditions, yet now, if hee shall not bee ⟨p. 34⟩well built, if hee see not iust ground to take him, if his vnderstanding shall not see the truth of the promise so clearely, that he can build on it, that hee can rest on it, that all the arguments in the World cannot draw him from it againe, his faith will not be effectuall. Therefore the second thing wherein the effectualnesse of faith consists, is to haue it well built in the minde and vnderstanding of a man, when he cleerely seeth the truth of the promise, that he can build vpon it infallibly. For your better vnderstanding of this,2 you must know that then a man is said to bee well built, to bee rooted and grounded in faith, when he hath the first ground right, that so hee proceeds from one to another, that it is not a confused superficiall knowledge, to assent to the truth, and promises that are deliuered in the Word, but when hee hath a sure ground, the first ground, and the next, and so he proceeds along.1 As, for example, the first thing that a man must doe, is to beleeue the Scriptures, to know that they are true and infallible, that they are the sure Word of GOD, when a man can say, this I know,2 and this I build vpon. And besides that, then wee looke vpon the promises which the Scriptures containe, wherein CHRIST, and forgiuenesse of sinnes is offered. Now if the first ground faile you, that is the bottome vpon which the promises stands; therefore haue that sure: when that ⟨p. 35⟩is sure, you must haue the promises sure, that is, you must consider the promises, and examine them, and see if this be the sense of the Scriptures; If there be so much light in you, as to say, I finde it so, I finde the Scriptures true, I beleeue them, I finde these promises in the Scriptures,5 I finde CHRIST offered to euery creature vnder heauen, I finde that I haue a warrant to take him; when a man, out of himselfe, out of an inward principle, out of his owne proper iudgement seeth this, and is conuinced of the truth of this, that the promises are so, and that they belong vnto him, that he may justly, vpon good ground, appropriate them to himselfe; so that when hee lookes round about him, and considers all the objections that may be made, yet he can answer all arguments;
- IIWhen the understanding is clear.When the vnderstanding is cleare.
- 2When a man is said to be well built.
- 1When he believes the Scriptures in general.When he beleeues the Scriptures in generall.
- 2The promises in particular.
- 5Application of the offer of Christ.
