A25294:239
The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easy draught of the Christian…The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easie draught of the Christian…
The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easy draught of the Christian catechism in LII lectures on chosen texts of Scripture, for each Lords-day of the year, learnedly and perspicuously illustrated with doctrines, reasons, and uses / by that reverend and worthy labourer in the Lord's vineyard, William Ames ...The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easie draught of the Christian catechisme in LII lectures on chosen texts of Scripture, for each Lords-day of the year, learnedly and perspicuously illustrated with doctrines, reasons, and uses / by that reverend and worthy laborer in the Lord's vineyard, William Ames ...
London: printed by T. Mabb for Thomas Davies, 1659
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
especially when the controversy is with Papists, who oppose this persuasion, as a vain presumption. Yet this persuasion is not properly justifying faith, but an act of hope and experience (rather a fruit) in him, who already is justified. It is also such an act, that for some time may be wanting, where yet true justifying faith is, though infirm, as experience in the godly teacheth; and therefore it ought not to be proposed in the essence and definition of justifying Faith, least so the weak consciences of some believers should thence be heavily troubled, as if they had not true faith, when they feel themselves to have no such certain persuasion of the remission of their ⟨p. 52⟩sins. It will appear then to any rightly weighing all things, that justifying Faith, as such, is properly, the affiance of the hear, not any complex knowledge, or judgement of the understanding.
especially when the controversy is with Papists, who oppose this perswasion, as a vain presumption. Yet this perswasion is not properly justifying faith, but an act of hope and experience (rather a fruit) in him, who already is justified. It is also such an act, that for some time may be wanting, where yet true justifying faith is, though insirm, as experience in the godly teacheth; and therefore it ought not to be proposed in the essence and definition of justifying Faith, least so the weak consciences of some believers should thence be heavily troubled, as if they had not tru faith, when they feel themselves to have no such certain perswasion of the remission of their ⟨p. 52⟩sins. It will appear then to any rightly weighing all things, that justifying Faith, as such, is properly, the affiance of the hear, not any complex knowledge, or judgement of the understanding.
Reason 1. Because nothing in the whole Gospel is promised to any that hath yet no affiance or trust in Christ; before this affiance therefore, nothing can be known, that hath the virtue to justify, until it be trusted on; and therefore no knowledge going before this faith of affiance, can justify.