The rule of faith, or, An exposition of the Apostles Creed so handled as…

Thirdly, that we be not deceived with the seeming effects of Faith, but learn to distinguish between the force of the Word upon our hearts, when we are merely as it were patients, and the force of the Word working a habit or action in us. I express my meaning thus: Many a man lives in a place, where the word is taught in the power and glory of it, comes to hear without any care, or purpose to regard, or profit by it; yet the truth in the delivery of it so shines in his heart, that he is not only convinced, but for the time delighted, and hears with great gladness, as feeling his heart to be warmed with the doctrine he hears: yet cares not for it when he is gone away, nor makes any use of it at all, as being destitute of any gift by which he should receive or apply the doctrine: so that this heat in his heart did not arise from any habit in him receiving the Word and making use of it, but only from the forcible penetration of the doctrine. As a stone that is heated by the beams of the Sun, that neither had heat in it self before, nor keeps heat when the Sun hath done shining, but is a mere patient. Now this hearer hath not so much as a temporary Faith: for he that hath the temporary Faith, hath a kind of habit be gotten in him, so as he doth receive the doctrine, and keep it after a sort, and from the force of it so kept, ⟨p. 23⟩doth bring forth some fruit; and so the seed received into his heart, is like grass upon the house top, or seed sown in stony places, where there is a little earth mingled withal: whereas he that believes aright, and so will hold out, hath the natural stoniness of his heart dissolved by the word, and is so affected with it for the present, that he receives it so as it tarrieth in him, and grows in him, and he brings forth the sound fruit of Reformation of life: and his seed abideth in him, it cannot utterly be destroyed, but Faith in him is like the tree of life, that will every year bring new fruit: Whereas in Nature the corn that is sown, after one harvest is destroyed, in respect of that particular grain that was sown. Nor may any say, that he cannot know whether he shall hereafter keep his Faith; he can judge of his Faith what it is now:

Thirdly, that we be not deceiued with the seeming effects of Faith, but learne to distinguish betweene the force of the Word vpon our hearts, when we are meerely as it were patients, and the force of the Word working a habit or action in vs. I expresse my meaning thus: Many a man liues in a place, where the word is taught in the power and glory of it, comes to heare without any care, or purpose to regard, or profit by it; yet the truth in the deliuerie of it so shines in his heart, that he is not only conuinced, but for the time delighted, and heares with great gladnesse, as feeling his heart to be warmed with the doctrine he heares: yet cares not for it when he is gone away, nor makes any vse of it at all, as being destitute of any gift by which he should receiue or apply the doctrine: so that this heat in his heart did not arise from any habit in him receiuing the Word and making vse of it, but onely from the forcible penetration of the doctrine. As a stone that is heated by the beames of the Sunne, that neither had heat in it selfe before, nor keepes heat when the Sunne hath done shining, but is a meere patient. Now this hearer hath not so much as a temporarie Faith: for he that hath the temporarie Faith, hath a kinde of habit be gotten in him, so as he doth receiue the doctrine, and keepe it after a sort, and from the force of it so kept,