USE II. Learn hence also how injurious it is to the Children of God, to confound Faith and Assurance. There are that Define Justifying Faith to be nothing else but a firm and confident persuasion in a man, that his sins are pardoned, that Christ died for him, and that he shall assuredly be saved; and that he who hath not this confidence is not a true believer. It is indeed the duty of every one to labour after the getting this persuasion, 2 Pet. 1.10. But yet this is not the proper act of Justifying Faith, as Justifying, but something that results from it afterwards. It doth not properly belong to Effectual Vocation, but is one of the benefits flowing from it, and appertains to the inchoate Glorification of Gods Children in this life. Our comfort indeed flows from this, and hath its measure according to the strength of our hope on this account; and therefore no gracious soul can have rest without it. But yet ⟨p. 156⟩there is a Faith going before it, and is the foundation on which it is built: and that is the true Justifying Faith, which is accompanied with Gods forgiveness. I must first know that I have that Faith, before I can know that I am forgiven. The confounding then of these two must greatly damnify us in an hour of desertion. What shall a Child of God do, when some sin hath wounded him, Guilt stares him in the face, and his confidence is turned into doubts and fears! how forcibly must it sink him into the mire, now to think, if faith were such a confidence, I never had any, for if I had, it would not be lost. Whereas the only support of a Soul at such a time, is to feel that there are the breathings and goings out of the heart after Christ, and if that be not the acting of Faith, he hath none.
USE II. Learn hence also how injurious it is to the Children of God, to confound Faith and Assurance. There are that Define Justifying Faith to be nothing else but a firm and confident perswasion in a man, that his sins are pardoned, that Christ died for him, and that he shall assuredly be saved; and that he who hath not this confidence is not a true believer. It is indeed the duty of every one to labour after the getting this perswasion, 2 Pet. 1.10. But yet this is not the proper act of Justifying Faith, as Justifying, but something that results from it afterwards. It doth not properly belong to Effectual Vocation, but is one of the benefits flowing from it, and appertains to the inchoate Glorification of Gods Children in this life. Our comfort indeed flows from this, and hath its measure according to the strength of our hope on this account; and therefore no gracious soul can have rest without it. But yet ⟨p. 156⟩there is a Faith going before it, and is the foundation on which it is built: and that is the true Justifying Faith, which is accompanied with Gods forgiveness. I must first know that I have that Faith, before I can know that I am forgiven. The confounding then of these two must greatly damnify us in an hour of desertion. What shall a Child of God do, when some sin hath wounded him, Guilt stares him in the face, and his confidence is turned into doubts and fears! how forcibly must it sink him into the mire, now to think, if faith were such a confidence, I never had any, for if I had, it would not be lost. Whereas the only support of a Soul at such a time, is to feel that there are the breathings and goings out of the heart after Christ, and if that be not the acting of Faith, he hath none.
