A25470:1472
The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved
The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved by sundry ministers, September 1661.
London: printed for Joshua Kirton and Nathaniel Webb, 1661
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.
1. As we may and shall have all the Promises that are made to Faith made good to us, though we do not believe that we have Faith, and by Consequence do not believe they shall have them made good to us; so when we pray for those things God hath promised to those who love or fear God, or walk uprightly, though we do not believe we have that fear or love, or that we walk uprightly, if we have those Graces we shall receive the Promises made to them.
2. As there are two kinds of assurance, one which comes from the Testimony of our own spirits, when upon serious examination of our selves, we find that we do believe; the other which comes from the Testimony of the Spirit of God, witnessing with our Spirits; So there are two kinds of assurance of receiving the thing we ask, one which proceeds from our believing and improving our believing the Power and goodness of God and Christs Interest in God, and Gods delighting to honour Christ, by giving the mercies we ask in his name, the other from Gods immediate assuring us that we shall receive the very mercy we pray for.
2. As there are two kinds of assurance, one which comes from the Testimony of our own spirits, when upon serious examination of our selves, we find that we do believe; the other which comes from the Testimony of the Spirit of God, witnessing with our Spirits; So there are two kinds of assurance of receiving the thing we ask, one which proceeds from our believing and improving our believing the Power and goodnesse of God and Christs Interest in God, and Gods delighting to honour Christ, by giving the mercies we ask in his name, the other from Gods immediate assuring us that we shall receive the very mercy we pray for.
3. As the immediate Testimony of the Spirit comes with more evidence then the Testimony of our own Spirits, so the immediate assurance that God gives that we shall receive the things we pray for, is clearer and fuller then that which we have by our relying upon the Power and goodness of God, or to speak more properly, we do more fully rely upon the goodness and Power of God when God doth immediately enable us so to do, then when we work out this Confidence by our own endeavours, assisted by the ordinary concurrence of the Spirit.