The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

This Description of Justifying Faith and its Object, hath been so discussed, and on such evident Grounds of Scripture and Reason rejected by Protestant Writers of all sorts, as that it is needless to insist much upon it again. Some things I shall ⟨p. 107⟩observe in relation unto it, whereby we may discover what is of Truth in what they assert, and wherein it falls short thereof. Neither shall I respect only them of the Roman Church, who require no more to Faith or Believing, but only a bare Assent of the mind unto divine Revelations, but them also who place it wholly in such a firm Assent as produceth Obedience unto all divine Commands. For as it doth both these, as both these are included in it, so unto the especial nature of it more is required. It is as justifying neither a mere Assent nor any such firm degree of it, as should produce such effects.

This Description of Justifying Faith and its Object, hath been so discussed, and on such evident Grounds of Scripture and Reason rejected by Protestant Writers of all sorts, as that it is needless to insist much upon it again. Some things I shall ⟨p. 107⟩observe in relation unto it, whereby we may discover what is of Truth in what they assert, and wherein it falls short thereof. Neither shall I respect only them of the Roman Church, who require no more to Faith or Believing, but only a bare Assent of the mind unto divine Revelations, but them also who place it wholly in such a firm Assent as produceth Obedience unto all divine Commands. For as it doth both these, as both these are included in it, so unto the especial nature of it more is required. It is as justifying neither a meer Assent nor any such firm degree of it, as should produce such effects.

1. All Faith whatever is an Act of that power of our Souls in general, whereby we are able firmly to assent unto the Truth upon Testimony, in things not evident unto us by Sense or Reason. It is the Evidence of things not seen. And all divine Faith is in general an Assent unto the Truth that is proposed unto us upon divine Testimony. And hereby as it is commonly agreed, it is distinguished from Opinion and moral certainty on the one hand, and Science or Demonstration on the other.