The Christian's charter showing the privileges of a believerThe Christian's charter shewing the priviledges of a believer

The first is Knowledge. Faith is an §1intelligent grace; though there may be knowledge without faith, yet there can be no faith without knowledge: They that know thy Name will put their trust in thee, Psal. 9.10. Philo calls it, fides oculata, quick-sighted faith. Knowledge must carry the Torch before faith: 2 Tim. 1.12. For I know whom I have believed. As faith without works is dead, so faith without knowledge is blind. Devout ignorance damns: which condemns the Church of Rome, that think it a piece of their religion to be kept in ignorance; these set up an Altar to an unknown God: they say, Ignorance is the mother of devotion; but sure, where the Sun is set in the understanding, there must needs be ⟨p. 231⟩night in the affections. So necessary is knowledge to the being of faith, that the Scripture doth sometimes baptize faith with the Name of knowledge; Isa. 53.11. By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; knowledge is put there for faith. Now this knowledge of Christ which goes before faith, or rather is the embryo and first matter of which faith is formed, consists in four things: The soul through this optic glass of knowledge, sees

The first is Knowledge. Faith is an §1intelligent grace; though there may be knowledge without faith, yet there can be no faith without knowledge: They that know thy Name will put their trust in thee, Psal. 9.10. Philo calls it, fides oculata, quick-sighted faith. Knowledge must carry the Torch before faith: 2 Tim. 1.12. For I know whom I have believed. As faith without works is dead, so faith without knowledge is blind. Devout ignorance damnes: which condemns the Church of Rome, that think it a piece of their religion to be kept in ignorance; these set up an Altar to an unknown God: they say, Ignorance is the mother of devotion; but sure, where the Sun is set in the understanding, there must needs be