Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

1. They who have never found any Conflict in themselves about believing, are destitute of saving Faith.

But they who count it an easy matter to believe, have never found any Conflict in themselves about believing, ergo.

But they who count it an easie matter to believe, have never found any Conflict in themselves about believing, ergo.

If Faith did not act in opposition to carnal Reason, and carry it against all the strong reasonings of the Flesh to the contrary; Supernatural Truths, which never enter, never be admitted, never find acceptance in the Soul, we should never be brought over to assent to them, so as to make them the sure ground of our trust and confidence in God; but Faith captivates all rebellious thoughts, that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God,¹ as if they could disprove all that the Gospel says; but the demonstrations of the Spirit are with that power, that we cannot resist them: Christ teaches, as one having Authority; besides the instructive evidence of Truth in clear reasonings, and full demonstrations of it by the Spirit, there is Authority and Power to back all this; so that having nothing to object that is and fully answered, we dare not but obey, because of his Authority lesh Power over us; were it not for this Authority and Power proud F the would pertinaciously stand out against all the Reasonings of the Spirit; but when the Rationale of the Gospel is made out by art Spirit beyond all contradiction from Flesh and Blood, the carnal p et is nonplust and silenced, cannot speak sense against the Gospel; y e however, 'twill be muttering and kicking against the Truth; her comes in the Authoritative Act and Power of the Spirit, suppressing the insolence of the Flesh, and commanding the Soul in the Name of God to obey, and not stand it out any longer against such clear evidence, resisting the Wisdom of the Holy Ghost. You must know that Flesh and Blood, i. e. that carnal corrupt part that is in every Man is never convinced, 'tis not capable of any such thing; but the Power of the Spirit of God brings on a Conviction upon the Soul from a higher Light, notwithstanding all that the Wisdom of the Flesh can say to the contrary: Flesh is Flesh still in all chose who are born of the Spirit, but 'tis overpowered and kept under by the stronger reasonings of the Spirit, which is the cause of that continual Conflict that is between the Flesh and Spirit, to talk of easy believing, without any resistance from our own corrupt minds, is to talk of that that never was, nor can be in any man whatever; Saints are inclined two contrary ways; though one Principle be predominant, yet the other is not extinct, has not yet lost all its power;