Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

Seventhly, Faith is more purely faith then assurance is. In faith we look off from our selves; thus the Apostle, [Greek or Hebrew], looking off from our selves unto Jesus Christ, Hebr. 12.2. but in assurance we look into our selves, by reflecting on our own estate. Whilst faith goes out of self, and hangs upon free-grace in one promise or other; assurance is at home, telling over its riches, and faring deliciously every day in the love of God: in faith there is nothing but mere dependence, but in assurance there is a mixture of sense. If a poor man in his rags and extremities leave himself upon God for daily bread, as having nothing, and yet possessing all things in the promise, his faith is more purely faith then the rich mans is, who hath creaturecomforts flowing about him and running in at every sense. If one poor in spirit, in the midst of his wants and spiritual necessities cast himself upon free-grace; it is more mere faith then for one to sit under assurance with pots of Manna and spiritual flagons round about him. When Jacob heard the report ⟨p. 149⟩of a living Joseph, and put himself upon the chariots sent for him, it was nothing but mere belief, but when he saw Josephs face, his eyes were witnesses of the thing: when a man that walketh in darkness and seeth no light, will yet hang on the report of a Jesus, and put himself upon the chariot of the promises, it is nothing else but pure faith; but when he comes to see the light of Gods face, and in it a piece of the heavenly vision, it is not all faith, but faith and sight together.

Seventhly, Faith is more purely faith then assurance is. In faith we look off from our selves; thus the Apostle, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, looking off from our selves unto Jesus Christ, Hebr. 12.2. but in assurance we look into our selves, by reflecting on our own estate. Whilest faith goes out of self, and hangs upon free-grace in one promise or other; assurance is at home, telling over its riches, and faring delitiously every day in the love of God: in faith there is nothing but meer dependance, but in assurance there is a mixture of sense. If a poor man in his rags and extremities leave himself upon God for daily bread, as having nothing, and yet possessing all things in the promise, his faith is more purely faith then the rich mans is, who hath creaturecomforts flowing about him and running in at every sense. If one poor in spirit, in the midst of his wants and spiritual necessitles cast himself upon free-grace; it is more meer faith then for one to sit under assurance with pots of Manna and spiritual flagons round about him. When Jacob heard the report