The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

When faith hath this divine testimony to lean upon, it ariseth in some by degrees to a full assurance. There are especially fo•r words in the scripture, that set forth faith in its different degrees.

1. As it is said to be [Greek or Hebrew] Heb. 11.1. The substance, subsistence, existence of things: Looking upon things future, as certain as if they were present; among the Hebrews there is usual, a mutation of tenses, turning the future into the praeter-tense.^* Faith is the believers pathach, making things to come as certain to him, as if he did already enjoy them; and putteth a date upon the joys, of the life to come, before he is possessed of them. Noah's faith assured him of the flood, as certainly as if it had then been, when it was firstⁱ foretold; it is a demonstration of things not seen; faith seeth things that cannot be seen. That way of argumentation whereby error is confuted, by Aristotle is called [Greek or Hebrew] ^*the word here used. But here for a certain conviction arising from divine authority, showing us such things which sense cannot perceive, and reason cannot comprehend. When faith thus represents these glorious things to come thus unto the believing soul, then there is [Greek or Hebrew] a good persuasion of the heart, or a holy confidence; and from this persuasion there ariseth [Greek or Hebrew] an humble boldness, or liberty, and freedom of speech to God in prayer, which de jure all believers have; these words you have together, in the Ephes. 3.12. In whom we have boldness, and access with confidence, by the faith of him. And from these resulteth that desirable [Greek or Hebrew] a full assurance of a future enjoyment, of those things that faith presents unto us, and we are persuaded of our title to, and with liberty, freedom, and enlargedness of soul have prayed unto God for. So the Question is not concerning all men, but believers, and not whether all believers have it, but may have it; not by revelation, but by ordinary means; not whether they always keep it; nor about perfect, but certain infallible assurance in these words: thus,