Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers

Secondly, We know little of God, because it is Faith alone whereby here we know him; ⟨p. 138⟩I shall not now discourse about the remaining Impressions on the Hearts of all men by Nature that there is a God, nor what they may Rationally be taught concerning that God, from the works of his Creation and Providence, which they see and behold; it is confessedly (and that upon the woeful experience of all Ages) so weak, low, dark, confused, that none ever on that account glorified God as they ought, but notwithstanding all their knowledge of God, were indeed without God in the world.

Secondly, We know little of God, because it is Faith alone whereby here we know him; ⟨p. 138⟩I shall not now discourse about the remaining Impressions on the Hearts of all men by Nature that there is a God, nor what they may Rationally be taught concerning that God, from the works of his Creation and Providence, which they see and behold; it is confessedly (and that upon the wofull experience of all Ages) so weak, low, dark, confused, that none ever on that account glorified God as they ought, but notwithstanding all their knowledge of God, were indeed without God in the world.

The chief and (upon the matter) almost only acquaintance we have with God, and his Dispensations of himself, is by Faith. He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a Rewarder of them that seek him, Heb. 11.6. Our Knowledge of him, and his Rewarding, (the bottom of our Obedience or coming to him) is believing. We walk by Faith, and not by Sight, 2 Cor. 5.7. [Greek or Hebrew]; by Faith, and so by Faith, as not to have any express Idea, Image, or species of that which we believe: Faith is all the Argument we have of things not seen,