And let me conclude this with one more practically useful observation. From this definition of faith, now men may see what to enquire after in their searching of their estates. As faith, being the Gospel-condition, is the main thing to be looked for; So here you see what that faith is. The ignorance of this deceiveth and troubleth multitudes. Some think it lieth in Assurance: Some, in a quieting their hearts in confidence on Christ: Some think, as M. Saltmarsh, That it is nothing else but a persuasion more or less of Gods love: And then when poor troubled souls do feel neither assurance, confidence, nor persuasion of that love, they conclude that they have no Faith. And how will these mistaken Teachers help them to comfort? Why, as Mr. Saltmarsh doth: sometime to tell them, Christ hath believed for them; and sometime to tell them plainly, that he can but commend them to the Lord, who is the Author and finisher of Faith: and sometime to tell them, that they should not question their faith, any more then Christ himself. Thus ⟨p. 177⟩their first way of comfort is to tell them, they do ill to question their faith: If that would serve, all the world might have comfort, and there needs no more. If that will not do, then Christ hath believed for them: Yet if that will serve, there is as much comfort for one as another. But what if they say still, I cannot believe, (that is, as you expound Belief:) why, then he confesseth plainly, he is at a loss; he can drive on the work of comforting no further; he can do no more but pray for them. pag. 31. Is it not a wonder that this lamentable Comforter should be so valued by the troubled spirits? I was many years my self under perplexing doubts: If I had heard such comforting words as these, they would sooner have driven me to despair then to comfort. He that hath not so much wit as to discern so gross fallacies, may as soon be comforted by a false and impertinent argument, as by a sound one. Quest. But how would you comfort such a one, that faith he cannot believe? Ans. Why, I would first make him know, that the very essential form of faith lieth in the Will• acceptance of an offered Christ: Then would I know of him, whether he be willing thus to have Christ both for Lord and Saviour, or not? If he say, He is willing: I shall answer, That then he doth believe; and then he is Justified:
And let me conclude this with one more practically usefull observation. From this definition of faith, now men may see what to enquire after in their searching of their estates. As faith, being the Gospell-condition, is the main thing to be looked for; So here you see what that faith is. The ignorance of this deceiveth and troubleth multitudes. Some think it lieth in Assurance: Some, in a quieting their hearts in confidence on Christ: Some think, as M. Saltmarsh, That it is nothing else but a perswasion more or less of Gods love: And then when poor troubled souls do feel neither assurance, confidence, nor perswasion of that love, they conclude that they have no Faith. And how will these mistaken Teachers help them to comfort? Why, as Mr. Saltmarsh doth: sometime to tell them, Christ hath beleeved for them; and sometime to tell them plainly, that he can but commend them to the Lord, who is the Author and finisher of Faith: and sometime to tell them, that they should not question their faith, any more then Christ himself. Thus ⟨p. 177⟩their first way of comfort is to tell them, they do ill to question their faith: If that would serve, all the world might have comfort, and there needs no more. If that will not do, then Christ hath beleeved for them: Yet if that will serve, there is as much comfort for one as another. But what if they say still, I cannot beleeve, (that is, as you expound Belief:) why, then he confesseth plainly, he is at a loss; he can drive on the work of comforting no further; he can do no more but pray for them. pag. 31. Is it not a wonder that this lamentable Comforter should be so valued by the troubled spirits? I was many years my self under perplexing doubts: If I had heard such comforting words as these, they would sooner have driven me to dispair then to comfort. He that hath not so much wit as to discern so gross fallacies, may assoon be comforted by a false and impertinent argument, as by a sound one. Quest. But how would you comfort such a one, that faith he cannot beleeve? Ans. Why, I would first make him know, that the very essentiall form of faith lieth in the Will• acceptance of an offered Christ: Then would I know of him, whether he be willing thus to have Christ both for Lord and Saviour, or not? If he say, He is willing: I shall answer, That then he doth beleeve; and then he is Justified:
