Sixthly, Faith stands upon the word of God purely, totally and entirely. In point of expectation, it will not look without a word of promise; in point of obedience, it will not stir a foot without a word of command; in point of doctrine, it will not lend an ear without a word of instruction. Hence Reverend Calvin saith,1 Perpetuam esse fidei revelationem cum verbo, nec magis ab eo posse divelli, quàm radios à Sole, unde oriuntur. Faith hath a perpetual relation to the word, and can no more be sundered from it then the beams from the Sun, from whom they arise, should it be sundered from it, it would lose its nature, and cease to be faith; but assurance doth not stand so purely, totally and entirely upon the word: this is also manifest by the manner of attaining assurance, that is not made axiomatically in an Enthusiastical way, as if there were an inward voice, saying, thou art justified, but discoursively, and after some such manner as in this practical Syllogism, Whosoever believeth, his sins are forgiven, but I believe, Ergo, my sins are forgiven. ⟨p. 146⟩Here the conclusion, which imports assurance in it, stands upon two propositions; the Major is merely grounded upon the word, but the Minor stands upon spiritual sense and experience caused by the holy spirit irradiating the soul in its reflections upon its own estate; therefore assurance which is comprised in the conclusion, doth not stand so merely upon the word as faith doth: Thus the Learned Pemble, speaking of that Syllogism, saith, the major is of faith, the minor of sense and experience. And the conclusion of both, but chiefly of faith, as it follows on the premises by infallible argumentation; and partly of sense, as it is founded on the inward experience of Gods grace working upon our souls. What the doctrine of Faith is, is to be sought in Bibles, but whether there be a particular act of faith or not, such as is comprised in the minor, 2must be looked for in the heart. Fides non creditur, sed habetur & sentitur in cord, saith Learned Pareus, Faith is not believed, but had and felt in the heart. Actus reflexivus in ipsam fidem, quo credo me credere, non est ipsa fides, sed potiùs sensus fidei, 3saith Maccovius, The reflexive act, whereby I know that I believe, is not properly faith, but the sense of it.
Sixthly, Faith stands upon the word of God purely, totally and entirely. In point of expectation, it will not look without a word of promise; in point of obedience, it will not stir a foot without a word of command; in point of doctrine, it will not lend an ear without a word of instruction. Hence Reverend Calvin saith,1 Perpetuam esse fidei revelationem cum verbo, nec magis ab eo posse divelli, quàm radios à Sole, unde oriuntur. Faith hath a perpetual relation to the word, and can no more be sundred from it then the beams from the Sun, from whom they arise, should it be sundred from it, it would lose its nature, and cease to be faith; but assurance doth not stand so purely, totally and entirely upon the word: this is also manifest by the manner of attaining assurance, that is not made axiomatically in an Enthusiastical way, as if there were an inward voice, saying, thou art justified, but discoursively, and after some such manner as in this practical Syllogism, Whosoever believeth, his sins are forgiven, but I believe, Ergo, my sins are forgiven. ⟨p. 146⟩Here the conclusion, which imports assurance in it, stands upon two propositions; the Major is meerly grounded upon the word, but the Minor stands upon spiritual sense and experience caused by the holy spirit irradiating the soul in its reflections upon its own estate; therefore assurance which is comprized in the conclusion, doth not stand so meerly upon the word as faith doth: Thus the Learned Pemble, speaking of that Syllogism, saith, the major is of faith, the minor of sense and experience. And the conclusion of both, but chiefly of faith, as it follows on the premises by infallible argumentation; and partly of sense, as it is founded on the inward experience of Gods grace working upon our souls. What the doctrine of Faith is, is to be sought in Bibles, but whether there be a particular act of faith or not, such as is comprized in the minor, 2must be looked for in the heart. Fides non creditur, sed habetur & sentitur in corde, saith Learned Pareus, Faith is not believed, but had and felt in the heart. Actus reflexivus in ipsam fidem, quo credo me credere, non est ipsa fides, sed potiùs sensus fidei, 3saith Maccovius, The reflexive act, whereby I know that I believe, is not properly faith, but the sense of it.
- 1Inst. l. 3. c. 2.
- 2Come. R m. 8. cap.Com. R m. 8. cap.
- 3Loc. Come. 689.Loc. Com. 689.
