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

The Major I proved before, in proving that saving Faith takes in the will: the heart, that is, the will is the subject of it, according to some Divines. If the whole Soul, as Mr. Pemble and others, to be sure the will is included, that cannot be shut out; for the reception of Christ into the will, is that which chiefly denominates Faith saving.

The Minor. But this particular persuasion or assurance, that Christ is mine, and forgiveness mine, is but an Act of the understanding giving an assent to this Conclusion or Proposition as true, upon such Premises laid; but here is no act of the will, such I mean, as we have opened in the reception of Christ; there may be an act of the will indeed, as the will may move the understanding to assent; as we say, You may believe me if you will; but that act of the will terminates there, and is not such an act as we have mentioned: Our ancient Divines use to oppose doubts to faith commonly; but to what faculty doth doubting pertain, I pray, but to the understanding?

The Minor. But this particular perswasion or assurance, that Christ is mine, and forgiveness mine, is but an Act of the understanding giving an assent to this Conclusion or Proposition as true, upon such Premises layed; but here is no act of the will, such I mean, as we have opened in the reception of Christ; there may be an act of the will indeed, as the will may move the understanding to assent; as we say, You may believe me if you will; but that act of the will terminates there, and is not such an act as we have mentioned: Our ancient Divines use to oppose doubts to faith commonly; but to what faculty doth doubting pertain, I pray, but to the understanding?

Third Argument. That which is not cross to the corrupt heart of man, nor doth directly empty a man of himself, that cannot be the essence of saving Faith.