Or is there any likelihood, that when other Acts do receive the same Object, Christ, in a way of as high honouring him, that yet God should confine Justification to one Act, setting by all the rest? Yea when the rest are acknowledged to be part of the Condition? (and Receiving as Lord, to be the fides quae?) I know God is not bound to give man a Reason of his Laws: but yet he usually doth it: and we must take heed of asserting that to be Gods Law, which appears unreasonable, till we can prove what we say. Yea what a dangerous loss will Christians then be at, who will hardly ever be able to find out this single Act, what it is and when they have it? And he that knows how quick Spirits are in their actings, and withal how little able we are to observe and discern them, perhaps many doubt, whether you can find a name for any single act of a soul, or know when it is one Act, and when many. In the forementioned Instance, A woman is condemned for Treason; the Prince writeth to her, that he hath dearly paid her Ransom & will not only deliver her, but also make her his Queen, if she will Believe this, and Receive him accordingly; If now the Lawyers should dispute the case, what single act it was that she was Delivered and Dignified by, whether an act of the Intellect only, or of the Will only? whether Assent only, or Affiance? Yea whether agendo vel patiendo (as many here do.) would not men think that learning made them dote? And I would entreat you to consider, whether it were Gods ⟨p. 366⟩Design in the Gospel, to advance any one Act of mans soul above the rest, and so to honour it? or rather to advance the Lord Jesus whom faith Receiveth? as Mr. Gataker tells Sal• marsh, Many speak dangerously in over-magnifying their own faith, when they should magnify Christ whom it relates to. I know the great thing that sticks with some, is that the Scripture oft seems to describe faith by the Act of Assenting. But consider, so it doth in other places by Trusting, Resting, Taking, Receiving, Coming, Eating and Drinking, (which Metaphors must needs signify acts of the Will,) &c. which show that it is not any single Act. Again, as I said, the whole is denominated from the first leading and most difficult Act: the Language of Scripture is much fitted to the times and temper of the persons to whom it was spoken.
Or is there any likelyhood, that when other Acts do receive the same Object, Christ, in a way of as high honouring him, that yet God should confine Justification to one Act, setting by all the rest? Yea when the rest are acknowledged to be part of the Condition? (and Receiving as Lord, to be the fides quae?) I know God is not bound to give man a Reason of his Laws: but yet he usually doth it: and we must take heed of asserting that to be Gods Law, which appears unreasonable, till we can prove what we say. Yea what a dangerous loss will Christians then be at, who will hardly ever be able to find out this single Act, what it is and when they have it? And he that knows how quick Spirits are in their actings, and withall how little able we are to observe and discern them, perhaps many doubt, whether you can find a name for any single act of a soul, or know when it is one Act, and when many. In the forementioned Instance, A woman is condemned for Treason; the Prince writeth to her, that he hath dearly paid her Ransom & will not only deliver her, but also make her his Queen, if she will Believe this, and Receive him accordingly; If now the Lawyers should dispute the case, what single act it was that she was Delivered and Dignified by, whether an act of the Intellect only, or of the Will only? whether Assent only, or Affiance? Yea whether agendo vel patiendo (as many here do.) would not men think that learning made them dote? And I would entreat you to consider, whether it were Gods ⟨p. 366⟩Design in the Gospel, to advance any one Act of mans soul above the rest, and so to honour it? or rather to advance the Lord Jesus whom faith Receiveth? as Mr. Gataker tels Sal• marsh, Many speak dangerously in over-magnifying their own faith, when they should magnifie Christ whom it relates to. I know the great thing that sticks with some, is that the Scripture oft seems to describe faith by the Act of Assenting. But consider, so it doth in other places by Trusting, Resting, Taking, Receiving, Coming, Eating and Drinking, (which Metaphors must needs signifie acts of the Will,) &c. which shew that it is not any single Act. Again, as I said, the whole is denominated from the first leading and most difficult Act: the Language of Scripture is much fitted to the times and temper of the persons to whom it was spoken.
