The real Christian, or, A treatise of effectual calling wherein the work of God…

Secondly, The second thing required to the receiving of Christ, is the Assent, which the understanding gives to all the propositions concerning Christ, his Person, Offices, and works of Redemption, as being true: though propositions be known, yet if not assented to as true, they are not received: I may know abundance of propositions or opinions of other men in Divinity, Philosophy, Physic, but if I do not do, not assent to them as true, I never receive them: Thus when the Soul gives its assent to all those ⟨p. 163⟩things as true, Christ is received into the understanding, the intellectual part; and the ground of this assent, being because he who is the Prima veritas saith it, because of the authority of Gods Testimony, who reveals it, ¹this makes that which we call Historical Faith, or Dogmatical Faith. Though this assent alone is not enough to make a saving reception of Christ, yet it is in saving Faith, and that without which it is impossible there should be any saving Faith: The Spirit convinceth of righteousness, John 16.10. Thus he carrieth on his work by Conviction under the Gospel; so clear and strong in his arguing, that the understanding cannot but assent to what he teacheth: it is more for the Spirit to convince of righteousness, than to convince of sin (unless of that particular sin of not believing in Christ) for in his conviction of sin, our own natural Consciences quickly strike in, and help do the work; but for this Righteousness of Christ, natural Conscience can do nothing in it.

Secondly, The second thing required to the receiving of Christ, is the Assent, which the understanding gives to all the propositions concerning Christ, his Person, Offices, and works of Redemption, as being trùe: though propositions be known, yet if not assented to as true, they are not received: I may know abundance of propositions or opinions of other men in Divinity, Philosophy, Physick, but if I do not do, not assent to them as true, I never receive them: Thus when the Soul gives its assent to all those ⟨p. 163⟩things as true, Christ is received into the understanding, the intellectual part; and the ground of this assent, being because he who is the Prima veritas saith it, because of the authority of Gods Testimony, who reveals it,