The trial & triumph of faithThe tryal & triumph of faith

this lieth fairly for the eternal world of Aristotle; then surely faith doth not bring us to the knowledge, only of our state of justification, as passed, and done from eternity, as if election to glory, and the love of God therein, and justification, and that love, as manifested by faith, were two coeternal twins, both at once begotten from eternity. Sure I am, we are justified by faith; but sure I am, we are not elected and chosen to life eternal by faith: And if to be justified by faith, be as our Masters (though ignorantly) teach, nothing but this, that we come to the knowledge of our justification by faith, as by a sign, even as the day-star maketh not the Sun to rise, it being only a sign that the Sun shall rise, and that justification is as old a child of free-love as election to life. Then say I, Paul might have taken the like pains to prove these Propositions: We are chosen to glory before the world was, by faith, and not by the good works of the Law: and this (men are reprobated from eternity by final unbelief.) For sure it is, that we come to the knowledge of our election to glory by believing; not to say, that Pauls large dispute with justiciaries, ⟨p. 413⟩was not whether we know, and apprehend our own justification by the works of the Law, or by faith in Christ. 3. If Antinomians say, That Christ was slain for our sins from eternity, not §3actually, but only in Gods eternal purpose; and they must say, either he was the Lamb actually crucified for us from eternity (which is a new eternal world) & we are actually justified from eternity, and our sins imputed to Christ, and actually translated off us, and laid on him, and so our sins are actually pardoned from eternity: Or, then they must say, Christ was the Lamb slain from eternity, not actually, not really, but only in the decree and gracious purpose of God; now that is (I grant, sound Divinity) Christ died not from eternity, but God only decreed and purposed that in the fullness of time, he should die; But then it must follow, that God did not actually charge sin on Christ from eternity, and that Christ did not actually from eternity justify the ungodly, but only in his eternal purpose, he did justify the ungodly: Then the ungodly are justified in time; and when is this time? I believe the word of God, that it is never while the poor soul believe;

this lieth fairly for the eternall world of Aristotle; then surely faith doth not bring us to the knowledge, only of our state of justification, as passed, and done from eternity, as if election to glory, and the love of God therein, and justification, and that love, as manifested by faith, were two coeternal twins, both at once begotten from eternity. Sure I am, we are justified by faith; but sure I am, we are not elected and chosen to life eternall by faith: And if to be justified by faith, be as our Masters (though ignorantly) teach, nothing but this, that we come to the knowledge of our justification by faith, as by a sign, even as the day-star maketh not the Sun to rise, it being only a signe that the Sun shall rise, and that justification is as old a childe of free-love as election to life. Then say I, Paul might have taken the like pains to prove these Propositions: We are chosen to glory before the world was, by faith, and not by the good works of the Law: and this (men are reprobated from eternity by finall unbeleef.) For sure it is, that we come to the knowledge of our election to glory by beleeving; not to say, that Pauls large dispute with justiciaries,