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

6. The high gifts of illumination in divine things, in the understanding of the doctrines of faith, that are above nature: for all men by nature have a veil over their understandings, 2 Cor. 3. 15. Esa. 25. 8. now if this veil be in any part pulled off, it is by the holy Ghost, for he is the only spiritual anointing and eye-salve, 1 Joh. 2. 20. Rev. 3. 18. Now this gift of enlightening, and tasting of the good word of God, and the discerning of the heavenly things in respect of the theory of it, may be found in wicked men, but not with application and practise, Heb. 6. 4, 5. Thus wicked men may receive so much grace, as to hear and receive the word of God with joy, so as to have a taste of the very powers of the world to come, Luk. 8. 13. but this taste is without digestion, they are not soundly humbled for their sins, nor is it sufficient to take them off from the love of this present world, nor will they yield themselves to be ruled in all things by the word they rejoice in: nor do they apply the promises to themselves, so as to believe Gods favour, and their own salvation in the world to come.

6. The high gifts of illumination in diuine things, in the vnderstanding of the doctrines of faith, that are aboue nature: for all men by nature haue a veile ouer their vnderstandings, 2 Cor. 3. 15. Esa. 25. 8. now if this veile be in any part pulled off, it is by the holy Ghost, for hee is the onely spirituall annointing and eye-salue, 1 Ioh. 2. 20. Rev. 3. 18. Now this gift of enlightning, and tasting of the good word of God, and the discerning of the heauenly things in respect of the theory of it, may be found in wicked men, but not with application and practise,