The Whole Armor of God, Exegesis · Treatise 2 · Part 6 · Section 12 – Section 13
§. 12. Of the kindes of Faith.
THis aſſent may be either to the word of the Cre…, or of the creature. The faith of which now we ſpeake, hath reference to the Creator and his word, and may in generall be defined a beleefe of the truth of God. Faith thus taken, is either common to al, or proper to the elect. That common faith is extraordinary, or ordinary.
dMat. 17. 22.Extraordinary Faith, Miraculous faith.is a beleefe that ſome extraordinary and miraculous thing ſhall fall out. This is grounded either vponupon ſome eſpeciall promiſe, or extraordinary reuelation made to the party in whom it is: and it is giuen but at ſome ſpeciall times, to ſome ſpeciall perſons, on ſome ſpeciall occaſions:eIoh. 11. 10. 51 by it things to come may be foretold, or otherfMat. 7. 22. great workes done: It is a gift of the Spirit, but one of thoſe which are giuen, rather for the good of others, then of that party which hath it;g1 Cor. 12. 9, 10. ſo as it may bee in a wicked reprobate,hMat. 7. 22. as in thoſe who ſhall pleade it at Chriſts Iudgement Seate, but in vaine. This is that which commonly is called a Miraculo… Faith.
Ordinary Faith, Hiſtoricall faith.is either that which reſteth onelyonly in the minde of a man, or elſe draweth the will alſo. The former of theſe is that Faith whereby an aſſent is giuen to the truth of Gods word. This is commonly called as hiſtoricall Faith: becauſe thereby credence is yeelded to the Hiſtory of Gods word, that is, all things which are written in Gods word, are beleeued to be true. This may one doe which is not any whit the better affected … Gods word, either to louelove God, or feare him, or truſt in him the more for this faith. For thus the veryiIam. 2. 19. Di…el… are ſaid to beleeue.
The latter kind of ordinary faith common to all ſorts,Temporary faith. as well reprobate as elect, is that faith whereby ſuch an aſſent of the mind is giuen to the Goſpell, and to the gracious promiſes thereof, as the heart is affected with them, and reioyceth in them for a ſeaſon.kActs 8. 13. This was in Simon Magus, who in regard thereof yeelded to be baptized: and in thoſe Iewes who were willing for a ſeaſon to reioyce inlIoh. 5. 35. Iohns light. This is commonly called a temporary Faith, becauſe it laſteth not for euer, but cleane fadeth away, and that for the moſt part while a man liueth here in this World, eſpecially if hee be brought to any triall. mLu. 8. 13.Chriſt fitly compareth this faith to corne ſowen in ſtony ground. I deny not but that it may continue ſo long as a man liueth, but then with his life it endeth without any fruite, as ſmoake that cleane vaniſheth away to nothing: in which reſpectnPro. 11. 7. Hypocriticall Faith. The hope of a wicked man is ſaid to periſh when he dieth. This faith is alſo called an hypocriticall faith, not becauſe hee that hath it doth onelyonly make an outward flouriſh in ſhew, purpoſely to deceiue men; for then could not the heart be affected, nor the man reioyce therein: but becauſe it is not ſound, but appeareth both to the party himſelfe,Two kinds of hypocriſie. and alſo to others, to be better and ſounder then indeed it is: for there is a double hypocriſie, one whereby men purpoſely ſeeke to deceiue others, as theoMat. 23. 14, 25. Phariſes: another whereby they deceiue themſelues, aspActs 26. 9. Phil. 3. 6. Paul. That former ariſeth from vaine-glory, couetouſneſſe, and ſuch by reſpects: this latter from ignorance, ſimplicity, ſlothfulneſſe, careleſneſſe, ſecurity, and the like, which keepe men from trying that grace which appeareth to bee in …hem, whether it be ſound or no. This faith is called hypocriticall, in oppoſition to an attribute proper to true …auing faith, namelyq1 Tim. 1. 5. & 2 Tim. 1, 5. foreign vnfained.
§. 13. Of the titles giuen to true Faith.
THe faith which is here meant by the Apoſtle,Iuſtifying faith. is a farre more precious Faith then any of theſe: it is proper to the Elect, and by a propriety called,aTit. 1. 1. The faith of Gods Elect: for none but the Elect hauehave it, and all the Elect hauehave it at one time or another: when once they hauehave it, they neuer vtterly or totally loſe it, but it continueth with them till it hath brought them to the purchaſed inheritance, euen to the poſſeſſion & fruition of that which they beleeued, at which time they ſhall hauehave no more need of it. It is therefore called ſauing Faith, becauſebEph. 2. 8. it bringeth vsus vntounto ſaluation; and iuſtifying Faith, becauſe it is that meanes or inſtrument which Gods Spirit worketh in vsus, whereby we apply vntounto our ſelues Chriſt Ieſus, in and by whomcRom. 3. 28. wee are iuſtified: and ſanctifying Faith, becauſedActs 15. 9. by it God purifieth our hearts.