Meditations on the holy sacrament of the Lords last Supper Written many years sinceMeditations on the holy sacrament of the Lords last Supper Written many yeares since

CHAP. XX.

Of the third, and last means for the trial and demonstration of Faith, namely, from effects or properties thereof.

Of the third, and last meanes for the triall and demonstration of Faith, namely, from effects or properties thereof.

THE last Medium which was assigned for the examination of Faith was the properties or effects of it, by which as by steps we raise our thoughts to the apprehension of Faith it self. To assign all the consequences or effects of Faith is a labour as difficult as it would be tedious. I decline both, and shall therefore touch upon some special ones which if present, all the rest in there order follow with a voluntary train. ⟨p. 225⟩And now as in the soul of man there are two kind of operations, one primitive, and substantial, which we call the act of information, others secondary, and subsequent, as to understand, to will, to desire, and the like: so Faith, being (as hath been formerly observed) in some sort the Actus primus, or form of a Christian, I mean that very medium unionis whereby the soul of man is really united to CHRIST, hath therefore in it two kinds of operations. The first as it were substantial, the other secondary. The former of these is that act of vivification or quickening, by which, Faith doth make a man^a to live the life of Christ, by^b knitting him unto Christ as it were with Joints, and Sinews, and^c