N04105:297
The sound believer. A treatise of evangelical conversion. Discovering the work of Christ's spirit,…
The sound believer. A treatise of evangelical conversion. Discovering the work of Christ's spirit, in reconciling of a sinner to God. / By Thomas Shepard, sometime of Emanuel-College in Cambridge, since preacher of God's word in New-England. ; [One line from Matthew]
Boston: printed by Green for D. Henchman, 1742
Title page typeset from the transcription.
THE Sound Believer. › Chapter 1 › Section 5 › Explication 3: III. The Form of Faith.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Now observe it, this very Coming, this very Motion of the Soul to Christ, (a Grace which Adam neither had, nor had Power to use) is Faith; the Spirit of Christ moving or drawing the Soul, the Soul is thence moved, and so comes to Christ, John 6.64, 65. The Soul by Sin is averted from God, and turns his Back upon God; the Turning or Coming of the Soul (not unto Duties of Holiness, for that is ⟨p. 135⟩Obedience properly, but) unto God, in Christ again, is properly and formally Faith. All Evil is in Man's self, and from himself; all Man's Good is in Christ, and from Christ. The Souls of all God's Elect, seeing these Things, forsake and renounce themselves, in whom and from whom is all their Evil, and come unto Christ, in whom and from whom is all their Good. This Motion of the Soul between these Extremes, through' that vast and infinite Distance that is between a sinful wretched Man and a blessed Saviour, is Faith; for by Faith principally we pass from Death to Life, John 5.24. The Soul of a poor Sinner wounded and humbled; sometimes knows not Christ, and then cries out, as those Acts 2.37. What shall I do? Whither shall I go? Sometimes dares not, sometimes cannot, it hath no Heart to stir or come, it therefore looks up, and longs, and goes unto the Lord to draw it, like poor Ephraim, Jer. 31.18. Oh turn me Lord, and then I shall be turned, Lam. 5.21. and this is the lowest and least Degree of Faith. But at some other Time, the Soul mourning for Want of the Lord, the Lord comes unto it with great Clearness, Glory and Sweetness of Grace and Peace; and hence the Soul cannot but come and close with him, and cry, Rabboni, and say, Oh Lord, is it thy good Pleasure to have Respect to such a Clod of Earth, to render such Riches of Grace to one so unworthy, and to bid, nay, to beseech me to come and take? Lord, behold I come: This is Faith. Would you have a Proof of it? Consider therefore these Particulars, 1. Consider these Scriptures: John 6.35