Certain disputations of right to sacraments, and the true nature of visible Christianity defending…

10. The thing that is necessarily required to the Sacramental participation, is not an Assurance that our faith is sincere and saving, but that it be really that Faith which is sincere and saving, whether we know it so to be or not. Many a man knoweth that he hath that faith which is saving, and yet knoweth not that it is saving. And many one knoweth that he performeth the saving act, but through vain scruples understandeth not whether he do it sincerely: And many think or hope they are sincere that yet doubt of it. I have met with many that have lived in deep distress for want of perceiving the truth of their faith; that have cried out [I have no true faith, I cannot believe! Faith is a persuasion of Gods love to me, or a resting on him for salvation, and I cannot be persuaded of his love to me, nor can I rest upon him.] And when I have convinced them that [the Gospel is 1. a Narrative of what Christ is, and what he hath done and suffered for us; and 2. an offer of Christ, and life to all that will accept the offer: And therefore that faith is 1. an Assent to the truth of his Report, and 2. a Consent to be Christs, and that he shall be ours.] And when I have asked them whether they do these two things or not: whether they believe the Gospel to be true, and are willing that Christ and Life be theirs, and that they be Christs? they profess very cheerfully both this Assent and Consent; they are w•lling to have Christ if they know their own hearts; and yet they dare not say that they are true believers; partly through general fears, and partly because they know not that this which they profess is saving faith. Now in such a case we are to let them know that it is the thing, and not ⟨p. 195⟩their Certainty of the thing that God hath m•de necessary. And therefore we do not, nor must not ask them in Sacramental Administrations, whether they have saving faith by mere name, without description? but whether they believe in God the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost; and renounce the World, Flesh, and Devil? and whether they are willing to have God for their only God, and Christ for their only Saviour, and the Holy Ghost their Sanctifier? And he that saith, yea, doth profess a saving faith, though he know it not so to be. And what would Mr. Blake do with him if he say neither Yea, nor Nay?

10. The thing that is necessarily required to the Sacramental participation, is not an Assurance that our faith is sincere and saving, but that it be really that Faith which is sincere and saving, whether we know it so to be or not. Many a man knoweth that he hath that faith which is saving, and yet knoweth not that it is saving. And many one knoweth that he performeth the saving act, but through vain scruples understandeth not whether he do it sincerely: And many think or hope they are sincere that yet doubt of it. I have met with many that have lived in deep distress for want of perceiving the truth of their faith; that have cried out [I have no true faith, I cannot believe! Faith is a perswasion of Gods love to me, or a resting on him for salvation, and I cannot be perswaded of his love to me, nor can I rest upon him.] And when I have convinced them that [the Gospel is 1. a Narrative of what Christ is, and what he hath done and suffered for us; and 2. an offer of Christ, and life to all that will accept the offer: And therefore that faith is 1. an Assent to the truth of his Report, and 2. a Consent to be Christs, and that he shall be ours.] And when I have asked them whether they do these two things or not: whether they believe the Gospel to be true, and are willing that Christ and Life be theirs, and that they be Christs? they profess very cheerfully both this Assent and Consent; they are wlling to have Christ if they know their own hearts; and yet they dare not say that they are true believers; partly through general fears, and partly because they know not that this which they profess is saving faith. Now in such a case we are to let them know that it is the thing, and not