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…

Obj. Though I cannot deny these fore-mentioned particulars to be wrought in me, yet notwithstanding I have no comfortable evidence and assurance of Heaven, nor of my interest in Jesus Christ.

Obj. Though I cannot deny these fore-mentioned particulars to bee wrought in me, yet notwithstanding I have no comfortable evidence and assurance of Heaven, nor of my interest in Iesus Christ.

Ans. For answer hereunto, I shall lay down three comfortable considerations.

1 A man may have the faith of adherence and dependence, though he hath not the faith of evidence and assurance, For the better understanding whereof you must know, there is a two-fold faith, as Divines distinguish, viz. The faith of adherence, whereby we roll our selves upon Christ, and rest upon him and his Merits alone, for •ife, and for salvation; and the faith of evidence and assurance, ⟨p. 66⟩whereby we know and are assured of our interest in Christ, and consequently of our right and title unto Heaven. This latter is the reflex act of the soul, by which a Christian clearly seeth his own happiness, whereas the former is the direct act of the soul. Now, a man may have the faith of adherence, which is true justifying faith, that giveth him an interest in Christ, and a right to Heaven, and yet may want the faith of evidence and assurance, so that he knoweth not his own happiness. As the child may truly hang about the mothers neck, or cast it self into her arms, and yet receive neither kiss nor smile from her, so a poor soul may truly roll it self upon Christ, cast it self into his arms, and rest in his bosom (which is true faith) and yet have neither kiss nor smile from him; therefore far be it from thee to question the truth of thy faith merely for want of Christs smiling upon thee, or to question thy faith of adherence, because thou hast not the faith of evidence and assurance.