Answer. There be three ranks of Christians: first, some that are yet under the spirit of bondage, that like little children do all for fear. Secondly,§2 those that are under the spirit of adoption, and do many things well, but yet are not altogether free from fear; these are like those children that are moved with reverence to obey their Parents, and yet find their commands somewhat irksome unto them.§3 The third ⟨p. 210⟩are •••h as by the love of God shed into the•• hearts by the Spirit of adoption, are carried with large Spirits to obey their father, and herein like unto those children, that not only obey, but take a delight in it upon a judgement that both obedience and the thing wherein they obey is good; this we ought to labour for, but we find many Christians in the second rank, many truly believe in Christ by some light let into their hearts by the Spirit of adoption, who are not yet fully assured of the love of Christ. There is the act of faith, and the fruit of Faith; the act of faith is to cast our selves upon Gods mercy ⟨p. 211⟩in Christ, the fruit of faith is in believing to be assured of this: we must know that faith is one thing, assurance another, they may have faith, and yet want a double assurance: first, assurance of their faith, being not able to judge at all times of their own act; likewise, secondly, assurance of their state in grace, as in time of desertion and temptation: a soul at such a time casts it self upon Christ, as knowing comfort is there to be had, though he be not sure of it for himself: and this the soul doth out of obedience, though not out of feeling, as the poor man in the Gospel, Lord I believe, help my unbelief: ⟨p. 212⟩the soul often times out of the deep, cries, and in the dark trusts in GOD, and this is the bold adventure of faith, the first object whereof is Christ held out in a promise; and not assurance, which springeth from the first act when it pleaseth God to shine upon the soul, and is a reward of glorifying Gods mercy in Christ by casting the soul upon his truth and goodness. Assurance is GODS seal, faith is our seal; when we set to our seal by believing, he sets to his seal, assuring us of our condition: we yield first the consent and the assent of faith, and then God puts his seal to the contract:
Answer. There bee three rankes of Christians: first, some that are yet under the spirit of bondage, that like little children doe all for feare. Secondly,§2 those that are under the spirit of adoption, and doe many things well, but yet are not altogether free from feare; these are like those children that are moved with reverence to obey their Parents, and yet finde their commands somewhat irkesome unto them.§3 The third ⟨p. 210⟩are •••h as by the love of God shed into the•• hearts by the Spirit of adoption, are carried with large Spirits to obey their father, and herein like unto those children, that not onely obey, but take a delight in it upon a judgement that both obedience and the thing wherein they obey is good; this wee ought to labour for, but wee finde many Christians in the second ranke, many truely beleeve in Christ by some light let into their hearts by the Spirit of adoption, who are not yet fully assured of the love of Christ. There is the act of faith, and the fruit of Faith; the act of faith is to cast our selves upon Gods mercy ⟨p. 211⟩in Christ, the fruit of faith is in beleeving to bee assured of this: wee must know that faith is one thing, assurance another, they may have faith, and yet want a double assurance: first, assurance of their faith, being not able to judge at all times of their owne act; likewise, secondly, assurance of their state in grace, as in time of desertion and temptation: a soule at such a time casts it selfe upon Christ, as knowing comfort is there to be had, though hee bee not sure of it for himselfe: and this the soule doth out of obedience, though not out of feeling, as the poore man in the Gospell, Lord I beleeve, helpe my unbeliefe: ⟨p. 212⟩the soule often times out of the deepe, cryes, and in the darke trusts in GOD, and this is the bold adventure of faith, the first object whereof is Christ held out in a promise; and not assurance, which springeth from the first act when it pleaseth God to shine upon the soule, and is a reward of glorifying Gods mercy in Christ by casting the soule upon his truth and goodnesse. Assurance is GODS seale, faith is our seale; when wee set to our seale by beleeving, hee sets to his seale, assuring us of our condition: we yeeld first the consent and the assent of faith, and then God puts his seale to the contract:
