To the first we say, the means is either by an immediate revelation, or by a particular application of the promises in the Gospel,1 in form of an experimental syllogism, as, Whosoever believes on the Son shall be saved; but I believe on the Son, therefore I shall be saved. The major is Scripture, the minor is confirmed by our faith, which if I have, I may say I believe: True, flesh and blood cannot say this, it is the operation of the holy Ghost; but if the work be wrought, and I feel this faith within my soul, what need I doubt but this assumption is true, I believe on the Son? Yet I hear some complain, they have neither sight nor sense of faith: and thus it is often with Gods dearest children: the Sun that in a clear sky discovers and manifests it ⟨p. 201⟩self, may sometimes with clouds be overcast and darkened; and faith, that in the calmness of a Christian course shines, & shows it self clearly to the sanctified heart, may sometimes in the damp of spiritual desertion, or darkness of temptation, lie hid and obscured: there is therefore in the Saints,2 the assurance of evidence, and the assurance of adherence: The assurance of evidence, is that which is without scruple, and brings an admirable joy with it, and this more especially appears either in our more fervent prayers, or in our heavenly meditations, or in time of martyrdom, or in some quickening exercises of extraordinary humiliation, or in beginning of our spiritual, or end of our natural life, as most needful times, then doth Gods spirit speak comfortably to us, whispering to our souls the assurance of our happiness, that we shall be inheritors of his Kingdom. The assurance of adherence is that, which I doubt not the Saints have in their greatest extremity: for instance, many a faithful soul, that makes conscience of sin, lies and languishes upon the rack of fears and terrors, he shells nothing but a dead heart, and a spiritual desertion, yet in the mean time his soul cleaves unto Christ, as to the surest rock, he cries and longs after him, and for all his fears and sorrows he will still rest upon him, Job-like, though he slay me, yet will I trust in him, Job 13.15.3 Now this adherence unto Christ may assure him of salvation, for (if we speak punctually and properly) faith justifying is not to be assured of pardon, but to trust wholly upon Christ for pardon;
To the first we say, the means is either by an immediate revelation, or by a particular application of the promises in the Gospel,1 in form of an experimentall syllogisme, as, Whosoever believes on the Son shall be saved; but I believe on the Sonne, therefore I shall be saved. The major is Scripture, the minor is confirmed by our faith, which if I have, I may say I believe: True, flesh and bloud cannot say this, it is the operation of the holy Ghost; but if the work be wrought, and I feel this faith within my soul, what need I doubt but this assumption is true, I believe on the Son? Yet I hear some complain, they have neither sight nor sense of faith: and thus it is often with Gods dearest children: the Sunne that in a clear sky discovers and manifests it ⟨p. 201⟩self, may sometimes with clouds be overcast and darkened; and faith, that in the calmnesse of a Christian course shines, & shews it self clearly to the sanctified heart, may sometimes in the damp of spirituall desertion, or darknesse of temptation, lie hid and obscured: there is therefore in the Saints,2 the assurance of evidence, and the assurance of adherence: The assurance of evidence, is that which is without scruple, and brings an admirable joy with it, and this more especially appears either in our more fervent prayers, or in our heavenly meditations, or in time of martyrdome, or in some quickening exercises of extraordinarie humiliation, or in beginning of our spirituall, or end of our naturall life, as most needfull times, then doth Gods spirit speak comfortably to us, whispering to our souls the assurance of our happinesse, that we shall be inheritours of his Kingdome. The assurance of adherence is that, which I doubt not the Saints have in their greatest extremitie: for instance, many a faithfull soul, that makes conscience of sinne, lies and languishes upon the rack of fears and terrours, he shels nothing but a dead heart, and a spirituall desertion, yet in the mean time his soul cleaves unto Christ, as to the surest rock, he cries and longs after him, and for all his fears and sorrows he will still rest upon him, Job-like, though he slay me, yet will I trust in him, Job 13.15.3 Now this adherence unto Christ may assure him of salvation, for (if we speak punctually and properly) faith justifying is not to be assured of pardon, but to trust wholly upon Christ for pardon;
- 1John 3.36.
- 2Certitudo evidentiae, & adhaerentiae.
- 3Job 13.15.
