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

Fifthly, No other definition hath been yet given, wherein the saving nature of faith in Christ hath been truly opened; ¹not the general assent to Gospel-truths. Soto thus states the Question: Fides Catholica, Christianae familiae necessaria, utpote qua Christiani censemur, non est specialis illa quam indubitato credit quisque, ac constituit sibi remitti peccata propter Christum, & esse in gratia Dei; sed illa potius persuasio Divina atque assensus, quem debemus, praestamusque Deo; omnium in genere, quae ab ipso sunt Ecclesiae revelata, per Christum, per-quae ejus Prophetas, Evangelistas & Apostolos: inter quae & promissiones ipsae divinae connumarantur. Neither of these are true; the latter is deficient: and, as I said, because it troubles not our Christians, ⟨p. 205⟩and they are easily resolved in that point, I let it alone: nor is the first true, that I have opposed in my former discourse: He that hath no other faith but this, I am persuaded and assured Christ is mine, and that my sins are forgiven, shall never see Christ with comfort. That assurance (though true) may comfort me, but cannot save me; for it doth not the saving work of faith.

Fifthly, No other definition hath been yet given, wherein the saving nature of faith in Christ hath been truly opened; ¹not the general assent to Gospel-truths. Soto thus states the Question: Fides Catholica, Christianae familiae necessaria, utpote qua Christiani censemur, non est specialis illa quam indubitato credit quisque, ac constituit sibi remitti peccata propter Christum, & esse in gratia Dei; sed illa potius persuasio Divina atque assensus, quem debemus, praestamusque Deo; omnium in genere, quae ab ipso sunt Ecclesiae revelata, per Christum, per-quae ejus Prophetas, Evangelistas & Apostolos: inter quae & promissiones ipsae divinae connumarantur. Neither of these are true; the latter is deficient: and, as I said, because it troubles not our Christians, ⟨p. 205⟩and they are easily resolved in that point, I let it alone: nor is the first true, that I have opposed in my former discourse: He that hath no other faith but this, I am perswaded and assured Christ is mine, and that my sins are forgiven, shall never see Christ with comfort. That assurance (though true) may comfort me, but cannot save me; for it doth not the saving work of faith.