Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

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, Prov. 16.22. and all the vital acts of grace stream from thence. Nay, as our Saviour tells us, it is life eternal, John 17.3. heaven doth dawn and appear in it. Mere notional knowledge hath no spiritual sense in it; the unregenerate man with all his notions, lies as a man in a Lethargy, never feeling the weight of sin and wrath, though heavier then rocks and mountains; nor indeed savouring the sweetness of Christ and grace, though infinitely out-relishing all the things in nature. But as soon as faith comes, there are all the senses of the inward man, a seeing the sun of righteousness, an hearing the sweet charms of Gospel-grace, a smelling the odours of Christ, and the holy unction, a tasting how good and gracious the Lord is, and a touching and handling the word of life. The Learned Anatomists curiously pry into the head to find out the commune Sensorium, where all the species and images of sensible things meet together. In the spiritual man faith is ⟨p. 27⟩an universal sense, taking in all the species and images of heavenly things into the heart. The learned Junius with all his notions, coming into a poor Country mans house, and hearing him discourse warmly and feelingly of Christ, immediately thought that Religion was more then a notion; and thereupon reflecting on himself, was turned unto God, and no doubt sound by experience, that faith was much fuller of life and sense then mere notion.

Fourthly, The meer notional knowledge acquired by reason hath no spiritual life or sense in it, it hath no life in it; meer 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,