Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

Thirdly, Reason with its notions arrives but at a knowledge falsely so called, for it knows not the things of God as they are proposed to be known; those things are proposed to be known not as mere notions, but as practical things: to be in the first place chosen, loved, embraced and practised, but it knows them only notionally and not practically. That knowledge, whilst materially true, hath a secret lye in it; thus the Apostle, He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 1 Joh. 2.4. 'Tis not in him in a practical way, so as to balance the will and affections with the excellency of the things known; but as soon as faith comes, those things are known as they are proposed to be known, as practical things to be improved in heart and life. The supernatural light digests truths into blood and spirits, and turns mysteries into godliness. It knows Law and Gospel in their true tendency, which is holiness; not to be holy is to blast and profane the meaning of both.

Thirdly, Reason with its notions arrives but at a knowledge falsly so called, for it knows not the things of God as they are proposed to be known; those things are proposed to be known not as meer notions, but as practical things: to be in the first place chosen, loved, embraced and practised, but it knows them only notionally and not practically. That knowledge, whilest materially true, hath a secret lye in it; thus the Apostle, He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandements, is a lyar, and the truth is not in him, 1 Joh. 2.4. 'Tis not in him in a practical way, so as to ballance the will and affections with the excellency of the things known; but as soon as faith comes, those things are known as they are proposed to be known, as practical things to be improved in heart and life. The supernatural light digests truths into blood and spirits, and turns mysteries into godliness. It knows Law and Gospel in their true tendency, which is holiness; not to be holy is to blast and prophane the meaning of both.

Fourthly, The mere notional knowledge acquired by reason hath no spiritual life or sense in it, it hath no life in it; mere notions are but a dead faith, but faith is a living notion. In an unbeliever the notions are all dead, affording no pulse of holy affections, or motion of true obedience, they are all buried in a grave of corruption and covered in the dust of earthly things: But as soon as faith comes, there is a resurrection in the soul, the notions before dead now wake out of the dust, and rise in life and power, every truth lives in the heart, and springs up into the new-creature. This supernatural knowledge is a wellspring of life,