Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

In the Major we have a Plerophory of Knowledge: In the Minor a Plerophory of Faith; And in the Conclusion flowing from the Premises, a Plerophory of Hope.

In the Major we have a Plerophory of Knowledg: In the Minor a Plerophory of Faith; And in the Conclusion flowing from the Premises, a Plerophory of Hope.

In the next place some Commands in the Gospel clearly import that Assurance is attainable; there God would have us To work out our Salvation, Phil. 2.12. To make our calling and election sure, 2 Pet. 1.10. To add to our ⟨p. 401⟩Faith virtue, one Grace upon another, and one degree of Grace upon another, That we may have an abundant entrance into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, 2 Pet. 1.5, & 11. To walk by the Rule of the New Creature, that peace may be upon us, Galat. 6.16. To prove our own state, whether we be in the Faith, whether Christ be in us or not, 2 Corinth. 13.5. To prove our own work, that we may have rejoicing in our selves, and not in another, Gal. 6.4. If these things may be done Assurance is attainable; if they cannot, to what purpose are these Precepts? how vain and impossible are they? In that question, Whether we may perfectly fulfil the Moral Law; the Pontificians urge thus for the Affirmative; If we cannot fulfil it, the Law is impossible and void,¹ Si praecepta essent impossibilia, neminem obligarent, ac per hoc praecepta non essent praecepta, saith Bellarmine, If the Commands were impossible, they would oblige none, and so would become no Commands. But in the Point of Assurance we may with much better reason say, if we cannot fulfil the Commands concerning it, they are then impossible and vain; the Law is an exact Rule of Righteousness, a Copy of the pure Law engraven on Mans Heart at first, in the state of Innocency, unto which it was attemperated. It was not at all impossible, and that it is so now is only from Mans Apostasy: And withal, the very [Greek or Hebrew], the impossibility of the Law is admirably useful to drive us in a deep sense of our Impotence, to