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

First, That the things believed bring an objective light with them. As the object that is seen brings a visibility, though faith in respect of humane reason be obscure, and supernatural Arguments be inevident, yet compared with the light in the Word, it hath much evidence: Hence the word of God is so often compared to light, and that illumination which God worketh in the mind, is partly faith, as well as any other grace. The things that are believed bring an evidence with them to the soul; as the Sun brings a visibility with it to be seen: Therefore this believing is said to be by the Word set home in the demonstration of the Spirit; and hence it is a man in some sense is passive in believing, as he is in understanding, because the object doth so powerfully work on the mind, that it cannot withstand it; Even the Arminians could not but grant, That the work of Gods Spirit upon the understanding is irresistible, though not upon the will, because they say, that is an active faculty.

First, That the things believed bring an objective light with them. As the object that is seen brings a visibility, though faith in respect of humane reason be obscure, and supernatural Arguments be inevident, yet compared with the light in the Word, it hath much evidence: Hence the word of God is so often compared to light, and that illumination which God worketh in the minde, is partly faith, as well as any other grace. The things that are believed bring an evidence with them to the soul; as the Sunne brings a visibility with it to be seen: Therefore this believing is said to be by the Word set home in the demonstration of the Spirit; and hence it is a man in some sense is passive in believing, as he is in understanding, because the object doth so powerfully work on the minde, that it cannot withstand it; Even the Arminians could not but grant, That the work of Gods Spirit upon the understanding is irresistible, though not upon the will, because they say, that is an active faculty.

Secondly, The Word doth imply such an evidence, that doth convince and bind up the understanding, that it cannot doubt or dispute any longer. All evidence may not presently convince; We see though erroneous persons read never so many excellent books, yet they are not actually convinced, the evidence indeed is able to convince, as the Sun-beams are able objectively to make a blind man see, there is light enough if he had eyes; but faith is here said, to be the actual conviction of the soul, to silence it, that it hath no more to say, according to the saying of the Schools, Fides non est tantum apprehensiva, sed quietativa; Faith is not only apprehensive, but quietative and resting of the soul; that it is not learning and learning, or seeking, but never coming to the truth.