The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

7. It answers not the Experience of them that truly believe. This all our Enquiries and Arguments in this matter must have respect unto. For the sum of what we aim at, is only to discover what they do, who really believe unto the Justification of Life. It is not what notions men may have hereof, nor how they express their Conceptions, how defensible they are against Objections by accuracy of Expressions and subtle Distinctions; but only what we our selves do, if we truly believe, that we enquire after. And although our Differences about it, do argue the great imperfection of that state wherein we are, so as that those who truly believe cannot agree what they do in their so doing, which should give us a mutual tenderness and forbearance towards each other; yet if men would attend unto their own Experience in the Application of their Souls unto God, for the pardon of Sin and Righteousness to Life, more than unto the notions which on various occasions their minds are influenced by or prepossessed withal, many differences and unnecessary disputations about the nature of Justifying Faith would be prevented or prescinded. I deny therefore that this general Assent unto the Truth, how firm soever it be, or what effects in the way of Duty or Obedience soever it may produce, doth answer the Experience of any one true Believer, as containing the entire Actings of his Soul towards God for pardon of sin and Justification.

7. It answers not the Experience of them that truly believe. This all our Enquiries and Arguments in this matter must have respect unto. For the sum of what we aim at, is only to discover what they do, who really believe unto the Justification of Life. It is not what notions men may have hereof, nor how they express their Conceptions, how defensible they are against Objections by accuracy of Expressions and subtile Distinctions; but only what we our selves do, if we truly believe, that we enquire after. And although our Differences about it, do argue the great imperfection of that state wherein we are, so as that those who truly believe cannot agree what they do in their so doing, which should give us a mutual tenderness and forbearance towards each other; yet if men would attend unto their own Experience in the Application of their Souls unto God, for the pardon of Sin and Righteousness to Life, more than unto the notions which on various occasions their minds are influenced by or prepossessed withall, many differences and unnecessary disputations about the nature of Justifying Faith would be prevented or prescinded. I deny therefore that this general Assent unto the Truth, how firm soever it be, or what effects in the way of Duty or Obedience soever it may produce, doth answer the Experience of any one true Believer, as containing the entire Actings of his Soul towards God for pardon of sin and Justification.