CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

And Lastly, Diffidence and fear, these are made contrary to Faith, Fear not, but believe, Luk. 8.50. said Christ to his Disciples, which supposeth that faith hath boldness and confidence in it; We then may judge of the nature of faith, by the opposite sinfulness to it, and when we see fears, wanderings, uncertain tossings up and down of the soul, in no ways stable and fixed, then we may conclude that faith it self is a powerful, composing, and firm fixing of the soul upon the Lord Christ.

And Lastly, Diffidence and fear, these are made contrary to Faith, Fear not, but beleeve, Luk. 8.50. said Christ to his Disciples, which supposeth that faith hath boldnesse and confidence in it; We then may judge of the nature of faith, by the opposite sinfulness to it, and when we see fears, wandrings, uncertain tossings up and down of the soul, in no waies stable and fixed, then we may conclude that faith it self is a powerful, composing, and firm fixing of the soul upon the Lord Christ.

5. That faith is thus in a special manner applying Christ appeareth also, because otherwise it would be little better then the faith of devils, and of such who have only a bare dogmatical assent, for the devils made a Confession of faith, That Christ was the Son of the living God, and therefore are said to believe, yet they tremble, and are in unspeakable horror because they know he is not a Saviour to them, and thus many believe, that Christ is the Messiah, but because there is no fiducial adhesion and appropriation of him, therefore he is not so to them; Even as many saw Christ, yet if they did not in particular apply themselves to him, they were not healed of their diseases; The hungry man may starve though he see a Table furnished with plentiful food, if he do not put into his own mouth; It's particular Interest that enricheth, that saveth, and therefore ⟨p. 555⟩it's said, The Just shall live by his faith,