An end of doctrinal controversies which have lately troubled the churches

§. 2. And their reason also against this necessity, is, because believing is an act of the Intellect; and Intellection is not free, and in its self is no moral Act. A man cannot know or believe what he would, no, though he most earnestly desired it: And will God condemn men for that which they fain would do, and cannot? Especially when mens intellectual Capacities do so greatly differ, that some seem to differ but little from the Brutes.

§. 3. This Scandal ariseth from their not well understanding the Nature and Reasons of our Faith in Christ. 1. They falsely suppose it to be only an Act of the Intellect (where many Divines have given them the Scandal.) 2. They falsely suppose, That the Intellect herein is necessitated to unbelief. 3. And they consider not the Ends and Uses of our Faith.

§. 4. 1. The true nature of our Faith, is our Trusting in Christ, as our Saviour, who hath reconciled us to God, by his Sacrifice and Merit, that he may bring us to God, by Justification, Adoption, Sanctification, and Glory. It containeth Assent, Consent, ⟨p. 213⟩and Affiance, though through penury of Words, we are fain to call it by some one of these names oft-times, as the occasion requireth: But indeed the very sense of [Greek or Hebrew], fides, and Trust, includeth all. And when the Act of the Intellect only is named, it is as including, or informing both the other.

§. 4. 1. The true nature of our Faith, is our Trusting in Christ, as our Saviour, who hath reconciled us to God, by his Sacrifice and Merit, that he may bring us to God, by Iustification, Adoption, Sanctification, and Glory. It containeth Assent, Consent, ⟨p. 213⟩