Christian directions, showing how to walk with God all the day long drawn up…Christian directions, shewing how to walk with God all the day long drawn up…

Q. How may I know whether I have a true s•ving faith?

A. Most Divines do hold forth the fruits and effects of faith, as the only signs thereof, and means whereby men should try and examine their faith; but the truth is, the fruits of a saving faith in many Christians are often times so weak▪ that if they should examine their faith only by them, they would be apt to question the truth thereof, yea to conclude against themselves that they have no true faith at all, therefore I shall briefly show thee the Antecedents of Faith, by declaring the ordinary method o• Gods Spirit in working true faith in the soul, which is this,

A. Most Divines doe hold forth the frui•s and effects of faith, as the only signs thereof, and means whereby men should try and examine their faith; but the truth is, the fruits of a saving faith in many Christians are often times so weak▪ that if they should examine their faith only by them, they would bee apt to question the truth thereof, yea to conclude against themselves that they have no true faith at all, therefore I shall briefly shew thee the Antecedents of Faith, by declaring the ordinary method o• Gods Spirit in working true faith in the soul, which is this,

1 God by his Spirit in the Ministry of the Word, doth awaken a mans Conscience, and maketh him to see and discern, as, his manifold sins and transgressions, so, his misery by them, in regard of the dreadful punishments due unto him for the same. This method the Lord observed in those three thousand Converts mentioned,