but that it breedeth assurance, in a reflect knowledge, always that a believer is in Christ, is not true: for, 1. I may believe, and be justified, and not know; yea positively doubt, that I believe and am justified;1 as thousands have pardon, and have no peace nor assurance of their pardon, and have faith in Christ, and in his free love, and have no feeling of Christ, and of his free love. For we believe amore truth of our own graces (and so of our faith and assurance of our pardon) then we can see or feel, which is Gods dispensation, ⟨p. 86⟩that our life should be hid with Christ in God; Ergo, the life of Faith, by which the just doth live, is hid; and above the reach of feeling at all times. 2. As Faith which is the direct act of knowing and relying on Christ for pardon, is a work of the Spirit, above the reach of reason; so also the reflect act of my knowing and feeling, that I believe and am in Christ, which proceedeth sometime from Faith, and the immediate Testimony of the Spirit; sometime from our walking in Christ, 1 John 2.3, 4. 1 Joh. 3.14. is a supernatural work, above the compass and reach of our Free-will, and is dispensed according to the spirations and stirrings of the free grace of God; and as the keeping of his Commandments,3 actu primo, and in it self, giveth Testimony that the soul is in Christ, and justified, even as the act of believing in it self doth the same; yet that we actu secundo, efficaciously know and feel that we are in Christ, from the irradiation and light of Faith, and sincere walking with God, is not necessary, save only when the wind of the actual motion and flowing of the Spirit, concur with these means; just as the Gospel-promises of themselves are life, and power, but they then only actually, actu secundo, animate and quicken withered souls, when the Lord is pleased to contribute his influence, in the shining of his Spirit. Otherwise I may walk in darkness, yea, b••eeve, pray, love, die for pain of love, and have no light […] reflect knowledge, and feeling that I am in Christ, Isaiah •0.10. I may be sick of love for Christ, call, knock, pray, confer with the watchmen, and daughters of Jerusalem, and be at a low ebb in my own sense; yea the beloved may to my feeling and actual assurance have withdrawn himself, Cant. 3.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Cant. 5.5, 6, 7, 8.
but that it breedeth assurance, in a reflect knowledge, alwaies that a beleever is in Christ, is not true: for, 1. I may beleeve, and be justified, and not know; yea positively doubt, that I beleeve and am justified;1 as thousands have pardon, and have no peace nor assurance of their pardon, and have faith in Christ, and in his free love, and have no feeling of Christ, and of his free love. For we beleeve amore truth of our owne graces (and so of our faith and assurance of our pardon) then we can see or feele, which is Gods dispensation, ⟨p. 86⟩that our life should be hid with Christ in God; Ergo, the life of Faith, by which the just doth live, is hid; and above the reach of feeling at all times. 2. As Faith which is the direct act of knowing and relying on Christ for pardon, is a worke of the Spirit, above the reach of reason; so also the reflect act of my knowing and feeling, that I beleeve and am in Christ, which proceedeth sometime from Faith, and the immediate Testimony of the Spirit; sometime from our walking in Christ, 1 John 2.3, 4. 1 Joh. 3.14. is a supernaturall work, above the compasse and reach of our Free-will, and is dispensed according to the spirations and stirrings of the free grace of God; and as the keeping of his Commandements,3 actu primo, and in it selfe, giveth Testimony that the soule is in Christ, and justified, even as the act of beleeving in it selfe doth the same; yet that wee actu secundo, efficaciously know and feele that we are in Christ, from the irradiation and light of Faith, and sincere walking with God, is not necessary, save onely when the winde of the actuall motion and flowing of the Spirit, concurre with these meanes; just as the Gospel-promises of themselves are life, and power, but they then onely actually, actu secundo, animate and quicken whithered soules, when the Lord is pleased to contribute his influence, in the shinin• of his Spirit. Otherwise I may walke in darkenesse, yea, b••eeve, pray, love, die for paine of love, and have no ligh• 〈…〉 reflect knowledge, and feeling that I am in Christ, Esay •0.10. I may be sicke of love for Christ, call, knock, pray, conferr with the watchmen, and daughters of Jerusalem, and be at a low ebbe in my own sense; yea the beloved may to my feeling and actuall assurance have withdrawne himselfe,
- 1We do not at all times know that we believe.We doe not at all times know that we beleeve.
- aSaltmarsh ibid. 84.
- 3There is need of the a••uall influence of grace to the reflect knowledge of ou• faith, and spiritual condition.There is need of the a••uall influ•nce of grace to the refl•ct knowledge of ou• faith, and spirituall condition.
