N04855:654
Some select cases resolved. Specially, tending to the right ordering of the heart, that…
Some select cases resolved. Specially, tending to the right ordering of the heart, that we may comfortably walk with God in our general and particular callings: &c. In a letter to a pious friend in England. / By Thomas Shepard, M.A. Formerly of Emmanuel-College in Cambridge in England: afterward Minister of Cambridge in New-England. ; Corrected by four several editions.
Boston: printed by Rogers and Fowle, 1747
MEDITATIONS AND Spiritual Experiences OF Mr. THOMAS SHEPARD.
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.
but Faith only is that by which I came by it; because Faith makes it mine own, brings it near me, and now it quiets me. It is not by an immediate Testimony, that Christ's Death is mine: for that may be a Delusion, being without the Word; ⟨p. 36⟩but Christ's Death apprehended by me, and so testified by the Word and Spirit; the Word speaking, Every Believer shall live; the Spirit of Adoption (enabling the Soul to see the Work of Faith in itself) speaking, Thou, Believer shalt live. Which Spirit is given immediately after my Justification by Faith, viz. in my Adoption to Sonship.
Now having Peace by Faith, my Conscience will question, Is thy Faith right? Now my Sanctification bears witness to that and so mediately shows me, that my Peace is right. In a Word,
Now having Peace by Faith, my Conscience will question, Is thy Faith right? Now my Sanctification bears witness to that and so mediately shews me, that my Peace is right. In a Word,
The Matter of my Peace, or that wherein I have Peace, is Christ's Death. The Means of this my Peace is Faith only. The immediate Evidence of my Peace and Pacification is Faith apprehending Christ's Death. The Evidences being (1) the Word of the Gospel, (2) the Spirit of Adoption discovering the Work of Faith in the Heart. The Evidence of the Truth of Faith, and so of my Peace is Sanctification. This only I question, whether Faith saith, My Peace is made, and Sanctification saith, Thy Faith is good. Only I add, it's possible for some sincere Christians first to see their Sanctification and Holiness, and so their Faith and Peace. But the Question is, Whether they should not first see their Faith and Peace, and so their Sanctification arising from thence? And so as Mr. Culverwell notes, not build their Faith upon their Life but their life upon their Faith, and their Faith upon God's free Grace.