A27009:574
The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32…
The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32 directions : written for the use of a troubled friend / and now published by Richard Baxter ...
London: printed for T. Underhil, 1653
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.
ANSWER.
1. I Have answered this Doubt fully before. It is grounded on a Mistake of the Nature of true Faith. You think that Faith is the Believing that you are in Gods favour, and that you are Justified: but properly this is no Faith at all, but only Assurance, which is sometimes a fruit of Faith, and sometimes never in this life obtained by a Believer. Faith consisteth of two parts; 1. Assent to the Truth of the Word. 2. Acceptance of Christ as he is offered; Which immediately produceth a Trusting on Christ for salvation, and a Consent to be Governed by him, and Resolution to obey him; which in the fullest sense are also acts of Faith. Now do not you Believe the truth of the Gospel? And do you not Accept of Christ as he is offered therein? If you are truly willing to have ⟨p. 444⟩Christ as he is offered, I dare say you are a true Believer. If you be not willing, for shame never complain. Men use rather to speak against those that they are unwilling of, then complain of their absence, and that they cannot enjoy them.
1. I Have answered this Doubt fully before. It is grounded on a Mistake of the Nature of true Faith. You think that Faith is the Believing that you are in Gods favour, and that you are Justified: but properly this is no Faith at all, but onely Assurance, which is sometimes a fruit of Faith, and sometimes never in this life obtained by a Believer. Faith consisteth of two parts; 1. Assent to the Truth of the Word. 2. Acceptance of Christ as he is offered; Which immediatly produceth a Trusting on Christ for salvation, and a Consent to be Governed by him, and Resolution to obey him; which in the fullest sense are also acts of Faith. Now do not you Believe the truth of the Gospel? And do you not Accept of Christ as he is offered therein? If you are truly willing to have ⟨p. 444⟩Christ as he is offered, I dare say you are a true Believer. If you be not willing, for shame never complain. Men use rather to speak against those that they are unwilling of, then complain of their absence, and that they cannot enjoy them.