An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

This fiducial resting of the soul is made by some Learned Men to be only an effect of •aith. The papists make it an act of divine hope. But the most Orthodox do maintain that this is an essential ⟨p. 302⟩thing in faith, yea that the greatest perfection of faith lieth not in knowing, or giving firm assent, but in confidence; and therefore by this they do chiefly define it, although it may be granted that there is also a confidence, or trust which is produced by faith, as that place Ephes. 3. 12. seemeth to intimate, where we are said to have confidence by faith. There is then a divine trust, which is nothing but faith, whereby the heart of a godly man is enabled under all discouragements though the Fig tree fail, though the Olive tree blossom not, to depend upon the Lord; yea with Paul to know how to abound and to want, because it is not Creatures, not this or that condition which supports him, but God alone, and therefore the goodness and power of God being always the same, his heart is the same. This is like an Ark to him in the midst of waters. This trusting in God must be while we have means, as well as when we have them not; so when we have outward supports, its hard to know whether the heart doth rest on them or God only; But of this more in the Positive part.

This •iduciall resting of the soul is made by some Learned Men to be only an effect of •aith. The papists make it an act of divine hope. But the most Orthodox do maintaine that this is an essentiall ⟨p. 302⟩thing in faith, yea that the greatest perfection of faith lyeth not in knowing, or giving firme assent, but in confidence; and therefore by this they do chiefly define it, although it may be granted that there is also a confidence, or trust which is produced by faith, as that place Ephes. 3. 12. seemeth to intimate, where we are said to have confidence by faith. There is then a divine trust, which is nothing but faith, whereby the heart of a godly man is inabled under all discouragements though the Fig tree faile, though the Olive tree blossome not, to depend upon the Lord; yea with Paul to know how to abound and to want, because it is not Creatures, not this or that condition which supports him, but God alone, and therefore the goodness and power of God being alwayes the same, his heart is the same. This is like an Ark to him in the midst of waters. This trusting in God must be while we have meanes, as well as when we have them not; so when we have outward supports, its hard to know whether the heart doth rest on them or God only; But of this more in the Positive part.