A Treatise of Faith, Part 1 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
Iuſtifying faith is a particular and certaine confidence, reſting vponupon the merciemercy of God in Chriſt for pardon and forgiueneſſe, not an aſſured perſwaſion that our ſinnes be alreadie pardon d and forgiuen.
§. 1. Iuſtifyi g f ith is a particular and certaine confidence.§. 1 IVſt fying faith doth not onelyonly belieue the promiſe of merciemercy in generall; as that there is fo…giuenes for them that lay hold vponupon it: but it relieth vponupon the promiſe for our owne particular, and d…pends wholly thereupon, looking after no other helpe. For truſt or confidence importeth the application of ſome good to him, that truſteth: and ſo he that caſteth himſelfe vponupon the promiſes of merciemercy, drawes neere vntounto Chriſt, throwes himſelfe into his armes, and graſpes about him with all his might. Looke how the poore Infant affrighted with the apprehenſion of ſome danger, clinges cloſe to the parent for ſuccour and defence: or a man in danger of drowning layes hold vponupon ſome willow that growes vponupon the bank, and hangs thereon for ſafetie: ſo doth the ſoule purſued by the terrours of the Law, and affrighted with the vgly ſight of ſinne, flie with ſpeed vntounto Ieſus Chriſt as hee is held forth in the Goſpell hang vponupon him, and to die for it will neuer looſe his hold. For in him it apprehends plentifull redemption, and out of him it knowes no ſuccour is to be …ound. In this ſence, faith applyeth the promiſe of grace to a mans ſelfe in particular, that is, it particularly relieth vponupon the grace of God in Ieſus Chr…ſt to obtaine pardon and forgiueneſſe.Numb. 21.9. Iohn 3.14, 15. Euen as they that were ſtung with the fierie Serpents, did come and looke to the brazen Serpent, belieuing to find the healing of thoſe deadly ſtings that were faſtened in them: Thus a ſoule ſtung with ſin and feare of damnation, commeth by faith to Chriſt, relying on him, truſting to finde in and through him, cure of thoſe deadly euils wherewith it is wounded.
If a Prince ſhould offer a generall pardon to Rebels, cauſing it to be proclaimed, that if they would lay downe armes, ſubmit themſelues and flie to his merciemercy, they ſhould be receiued to fauour, and wee ſhould ſee many heereupon caſt downe their weapons, and ſue for mercy, would wee not preſently know, that they belieued the promiſe, that they ſhould bee pardoned: So when Chriſt ſaith to ſinners, come vntounto mee, or belieue on mee, and I will eaſe you, what faith (thinke we) hauehave ſinners, who reſort vntounto him? Is it not a beliefe, that he will (according to his word) deliuer them from ſinne and death, and reſtore them to life eternall? If there bee a particular word, or that which is equiualent then there is a particular faith. But there is a particular word, or that which is equiualent. For the thirſtie, and barren ſoule, that is ſtung with the terrours of the Law; they, that labour & are heauie laden, Math. 11.28. Eſay 55.1, 2. 1. Iohn 3.24. Iohn 3.16.36. Acts 10.43. & 13.39. Rom. 10.9, 10.are inuited to come vntounto Ch iſt, and exhorted, intreated, perſwaded, commanded to belieue; & the promiſe is, Whoſoeuer belieueth in him, ſhall not periſh, but hauehave euerlaſting life: which is as much as Thomas thou art burdened and doeſt labour, thou art wearie and thirſtie, come thou vntounto mee, behold, I inuite; belieue thou, for vntounto thee doe I reach forth the promiſe of merciemercy, receiue it, and thou ſhalt …iue. Fo… the particulars are euer in their generals. How can we proue,Gal. 3.10. that Iohn or Iames are by nature vnderunder wrath and the curſe? otherwiſe it cannot be proued then thus, Curſed is eueryevery one that continueth not in all things, that are w…itten in the booke of the Law to doe them. How can we proue that Thomas or Peter are bound to louelove the Lord, and to abſtaine from murther, fornication, theft; but becauſe it is ſaid to all men, Thou ſhalt louelove the Lord, Thou ſhalt not ſteale? Deut 6.5. Iohn 7.37.&c. And thus it is ſaid to all, Let eueryevery one that is a thirst come vntounto me, and drinke, Belieue in the Lord Ieſus, Acts 16, 31.and thou ſhalt be ſaued: whence eueryevery thirſtie and burdened ſoule may conclude, I ought to b…lieue, God calleth and commandeth me to belieue; he hath giuen me his promiſe, and offers merciemercy, and belieuing I ſhall be ſaued. The faith of true Belieuers goeth further then the faith of Deuils can doe. But th…y may, and doe belieue or know, that Chriſt died in generall for ſinners, and that they ſhall be ſaued who belieue in him. If Iuſtifying faith hauehave not in it ſome particular confidence, then it is not oppoſed to deſpaire, ſo as to expell it. For things that will not endure the one the other, moſt hauehave contrarietie; as fire and water: if the one doe not fight and driue forth the other, then may they dwell together. But true faith and vtter deſperation cannot ſtand together,Iames 1.6. Math. 6.30. & 1….31. Rom. 4.20. Heb. 10 2…. but doe expell each other. Moreouer true faith in Chriſt doth breed confidence and boldneſſe, according to that, Let vsus enter with confidence and boldneſſe through faith on him. True faith therefore hath in it particular confidence in the grace of God. For as nothing can make hot, which h…th not heate in it ſelfe: …o can nothing make confident, which after ſome manner hath not confidence in it. ToaMath. 1.20. & 2.20. John 17.8. receiue is to take in particular to a mans ſelfe, or to apprehend and lay hold of for conueying a thing to himſelfe. But tobIohn 1.12. Col. 2 6. Rom. 5.11.17. Heb. 8.15. belieue on Chriſt and to receiue Chriſt doe both import the ſame thing. Therefore to belieue on Chriſt, is to reſt vponupon him for the conueying of his benefits particularly vntounto vsus. Meate nouriſheth not vnleſſe it be eaten and digeſted: a plaiſter heales not, if it be not applied: a potion will not worke' if it be not receiued. Chriſt is the true bread of life, Iohn 6.35.that came downe from Heauen, vponupon whom we muſt feed by faith, if we would be pertakers of his benefits: and feed vponupon him we cannot, if we doe not particularly belieue in him for our ſelues. The worke of redemption remaines proper to Chriſt: but the benefit of his death is communicated to eueryevery member of his miſticall bodie for their iuſtification: And how can wee hope to hauehave our ſinnes forgiuen, if we be not made one with him by faith? and reſt vponupon the promiſe made in him for pardon? That profeſſion which Paul makes, may here bee conſidered; I know in whom I hauehave belieued, 2. Tim. 1.12.and I am perſwaded that he is able to keepe that thing wherewith I hauehave entrusted him, or deliuered vp to his keeping: where it is apparant, that to belieue is to commit our ſelues to Chriſts truſt or keeping, or to reſt our ſoules vponupon the performance of the gracious promiſes, which God of his rich grace in Ieſus Chriſt hath made vntounto vsus.
§. 2. This faith is certaine,§. 2. Faith is certaine in the euent, not euer in ſence. though mixed with many doubtings by reaſon of our weakneſſe: Certaine and aſſured in regard of the euent and thing belieued, not in regard of the ſenſe and feeling of him who belieueth. Whether his heart be ſtedfaſt in faith, or trembling through much vnbeliefe, yet vnfainedly belieuing with a welrooted confidence (though with much vnbelief) he ſhalbe ſure of the thing promiſed. For the promiſe is made good to him that truly receiueth it, not for the ſtedfaſt manner of receiuing, but for the thing receiued, which is Chriſt. Now looke as a trembling palſey hand may take the ſame thing, which a more ſteddie one doth take, though the manner be diuers, the one taking it with ſhaking, the other without any trembling: ſo an heart of faith, which yet ſhaketh and doubteth through much vnbeliefe, may take Chriſt, as well as an heart doth, which is more fully perſwaded: and therefore ſhall hauehave the grace promiſed for his ſake, who is receiued by faith.Iohn 3.15. The promiſe is vniuerſall, Whoſoeuer belieueth in Chriſt ſhall not periſh, but hauehave euerlasting life: it is not, whoſoeuer is fully aſſured or certainly perſwaded of his ſaluation, but whoſoeuer vnfainedly bel…eueth in Chriſt, ſhall be ſaued. Now many a poore ſoule may caſt himſelfe vponupon Chriſt, and lay hold vponupon him with purpoſe through Gods grace neuer to leaue him, as being aſſured without wauering in this particular, that it is beſt both ſimply and in compariſon to draw neere vntounto God, and relie vponupon his grace; and ſo in euent is ſure of ſaluation, who yet would giuegive a world to be aſſured of Gods fauour, and fully perſwaded that his ſinnes are pardoned. An houſe well builded vponupon a rocke is as ſure as the foundation: eueryevery thing hanging on a pin or pegg is as ſure as the pin or pegg on which it hangeth: True faith firmely groundeth it ſelfe vponupon the faithfull promiſes of God, and receiueth them as better then life it ſelfe, from which it will not bee with-drawne by any carnall allurements: and therefore in euent it cannot miſcarrie, for the ground is firme and vnchangeable. The truth of God in it ſelfe is more certaine then any thing that can bee apprehended by the ſenſes but it is not euermore ſo apprehended by vsus: and faith which buildeth vponupon the infallible truth of God, comming to him when he calleth, relying vponupon his grace, becauſe hee hath ſpoken, is in euent no leſſe ſure, then the foundation vponupon which it leaneth is certain & vnmoueable, but in the ſenſe of the belieuer it is not alwayes ſo, neither are matters of faith receiued by vsus with ſuch certaintie, as are other things ſubiect to the ſenſes, in themſelues leſſe certaine. Things are to vsus according as we conceiue them, which is not euer anſwerable to the euidence of the thing in it ſelfe, or to the certaintie in regard of the euent. Things moſt ſure in themſelues are ſometimes but dimmely diſcerned of vsus, becauſe our eye-ſight is imperfect: and things leſſe euident in themſelues doe appeare to vsus moſt cleare and manifeſt, when they come within the compaſſe of ſenſe or reaſon remayning in vsus. Beſides, the promiſes of merciemercy in Chriſt being the higheſt and moſt ſpirituall, it is the hardeſt point of ſeruice in Chriſtian warfare firmly to belieue them: and the da…ly weakneſſes which wee eſpie in our ſelues, the many and ſtrong paſſions which ſtil warre within vsus, and many times preuaile, doe impell the minde to diſtruſt. When a Chriſtian calleth to mind what ſtrength worldly allurements hauehave in him, how often hee yeildeth vntounto aſſaults in many pettie temptations, how weake and fraile, dull and negligent hee is in the duties of Chriſtianitie and his particular calling: the conſciouſneſſe of theſe things will, no queſtion, trouble the eye of faith. Not that the comfort of a Chriſtian is grounded vponupon his ſtrength of grace or any good worke that is or can be done by him: but becauſe his beliefe in the merciemercy of God cannot be greater then his ſtrength to ouercome worldly allurements, wherby hee might be withdrawne from God, or care to yeeld vniforme, ſincere and conſtant obedience to all Gods Commandements. Againe, it is one thing to hauehave a thing ſurely, another thing to know I hauehave it ſurely. We ſeeke many things that we hauehave in our hands: we hauehave many things that we thinke we hauehave loſt: ſo a Belieuer, who hath a ſure beliefe, yet doth not alwayes know that he ſo belieueth, ſeeketh but findeth it not; nay, thinketh he is altogether without faith, when he hath it vnfainedly. A man vnregenerate that is wholly corrupt ſeeth little or no corruption in himſelfe: yea, after due, ſerious and long examination many diſorders may ſecretly lurke in the heart of a man ſanctified, which he doth not eſpie: And is it then any maruell, that a true Belieuer ſhould be vnable (ſometimes at leaſt) to ſay that he doth belieue? yea, that hee ſhould not find it, though he make diligent ſearch and inquirie into his owne heart about it. Looke as children liue in the wombe, and know not themſelues, that they doe liue: ſo it is with many true belieuing ſoules, who long belieue, before they come to ſee themſelues belieue, and bee able by a reflexed operation of minde to ſay,2. Tim. 1.11. I know on whom I hauehave belieued. A man of a contrite ſpirit, belieuing that h s ſinnes are pardonable, earneſtly deſiring remiſſion of ſinnes by the merits of Chriſt, and reſting vponupon Chr…ſt alone for ſaluation, aſſuredly he receiueth forgiueneſſe, …lthough he be vexed with ſcruples and temptations, and want the aſſurance and perſwaſion in himſelfe that his ſinnes bee remitted. For faith is neceſſary to ſaluation: but full aſſurance that I do belieue in that ſort, is not of l…ke neceſſitie. And if a man may belieue vnfainedly, who is not fully aſſured that he doth ſo belieue, then faith may be certain in the euent, when it is not certaine to the ſence of the Belieuer.
§. 3. Faith as it iuſtifieth is a reſting vponupon Chriſt to obtaine pardon. Zanch. de redempt. lib. 1. c. 13. tit. de Fiducia. col. 282. Muſc. loc. com. de Remiſſ. Meiſner. dec. 3. pag. 329. Par. in Gal. cap. 2. lect. 24. Idem de Iuſtif. l. 1. cap. 10. lect. 227. Albizius exercit. theol. ar. 2. 8. ad 3. Hom. Of faith. part. 1. Auguſt. conf. art. 4. & art 20. Bohemic. conf. art. 6.§. 3. But what faith is neceſſarie, to wit, on mans part to Iuſtification? Is it an aſſured perſwaſion of our particular election, or that our ſins be alreadie pardoned and forgiuen? No: It is one thing to reſt on Chriſt obeying to the curſed death of the Croſſe, that I may obtaine pardon and life euerlaſting from the grace of God, which is the act of true beliefe, required to Iuſtification: another to belieue that I am one of Gods particular elect people, and that my ſinnes are pardoned and done away: which is a priuiledge of grace granted to him who belieueth, is ſealed by the Spirit, and knoweth aſſuredly that he belieueth. It is not an action of Chriſtian faith preuious or fundamentall to Iuſtification, for a man to belieue himſelfe to be one of Gods elect: for wee come to know our election by the effects thereof, as Faith, Iuſtification, Sanctification. Wee muſt firſt reade the effects of Gods louelove in our hearts, and ſee that he hath wrought in vsus the ſauing graces of faith, louelove, hope, feare, &c. and ſealed vsus by the ſpirit of promiſe, before we can come to know his eternall decree and purpoſe towards vsus: therefore the beliefe of our particular election is an act of faith following Iuſtification, not precedent to it. No man is iuſtified by belieuing himſelfe to be Iuſt, nor pardoned,Gallican. conf. art. 20. Belgic. confeſ. art. 23. Bolton walking with God, pag. 320. Pemble, plea for Grace, pag. 258. 259. 260. Rolloc de Iuſtificat. Heming. Syntagm. Gradus ad conuerſion…m 49. Gal. 4.6. Rom. 8.15, 16. by belieuing that he is pardoned: but if his beliefe be true, he muſt be truly Iuſt, before hee can or ought to belieue himſelfe to be Iuſt, and actually pardoned, before hee can be aſſured that he is pardoned. This is the order of ſpirituall bleſſings conferred vponupon vsus in Chriſt, Faith is the band wherby wee are vnited vntounto Chriſt: after Vnion followeth Communion with him: Iuſtification, Adoption, Sanctification, be the benefits and fruits of Communion: Being made ſonnes by faith, God ſends forth the Spirit of his Sonne into our hearts, crying, Abba Father; and this Spirit beareth witnes with our ſpirit, that we are the children of God; aſſurance or certaine perſwaſion that our ſinnes be pardoned, followes this witneſſe of the Spirit, as the fruit and effect thereof. In which it is moſt manifeſt, that faith in Chriſt is before Iuſtification in order of nature, though not in time; and Iuſtification is precedent to the ſenſe & feeling of remiſſion: and therefore that belief which is required on our part to Iuſtificatiō cannot be an aſſurance that our ſins be pardoned already, vnles the ſame thing be before & after it ſelfe, & a man be pardoned before he belieue, or aſſured that he is pardoned, before it bee granted, or that act of faith which cannot be but in a perſon alreadie iuſtified, muſt go before the pardon of ſin.Eſa. 1.16, 17, 18 Ezek. 18.…1. Prou. 28.13. Math. 6.14, 15. Acts 16.30, 31. Iohn 6.29. & 11.25. Acts 10.43. Acts 16.18. The promiſe of remiſſion of ſinnes is conditionall, and becommeth not abſolute, vntill the condition be fulfilled, either actually or in deſire and preparation of minde. This is the word of grace, Belieue in the Lord Ieſus Christ, and thou ſhalt bee ſaued: when doth this conditionall propoſition become abſolute? when we belieue? What? that our ſinnes are pardoned: No: but when we belieue in Chriſt to obtaine pardon; which is the thing promiſed vponupon condition of beliefe. Aſſurance that our ſinnes bee pardoned is concluded in a practicall Syllogiſme thus; He that truly belieueth in Chriſt hath obtained pardon of his ſinnes: But I belieue: Therefore my ſinnes are pardoned: where aſſurance of the pardon of ſinne is a concluſion drawne from a two-fold ground, the one expreſſed in Scripture, the other euident (if true) by the teſtimonie of the renewed conſcience, and preſuppoſeth that hee belieueth, and is aſſured that he doth belieue. Now if aſſurance of remiſſion be concluded from this ground, that he belieueth, and knoweth certainly that hee belieueth, then the beliefe which is required on our parts to Iuſtification cannot be an aſſurance that our ſins be waſhed away alreadie. For if we take the word belieue for a perſwaſion that our ſinnes are done away, then the Syllogiſme runneth thus; He that is aſſured of the pardon of his ſinnes, his ſinnes are pardoned. But I am aſſured of the pardon of my ſinnes: therefore my ſinnes are pardoned. Faith receiueth the pardon of ſinne, as it is profered in the word of grace, and groundeth it ſelfe ſolely and immediately vponupon the promiſe of God in Ieſus Chriſt: But the ground, whereupon a ſinner in himſelfe guiltie ſhould build aſſurance that his ſinnes are pardoned, without ſome other act of faith comming betwixt the promiſe & that aſſurance, there is none. The Goſpell offereth pardon to the thirſtie and burdened, if hee will receiue it: aſſureth them of pardon, who hauehave embraced the promiſe: but where ſhall wee finde ground, whereupon the guiltie perſon who belieueth not to remiſſion of ſinnes may bee aſſured, that his ſinnes not actually pardoned, are yet pardoned and blotted out of Gods remembrance? Faith taketh the pardon preſented to it in the word of promiſe, and trauailing with it, bringeth forth actuall remiſſion of ſinne, which vponupon our faith we receiue. Aſſurance is not before pardon, nor actuall remiſſion before faith, vnleſſe the effect be before the cauſe, and the ſame thing be both cauſe and effect. To be…ieue in Chriſt to ſaluation is to receiue him. Iohn 1.12. Heluet. confeſſ. art. 15.But to receiue Chriſt as hee is offered vntounto vsus in the Goſpell is not to be aſſured that our ſinnes are alreadie pardoned in and through Ieſus Chriſt, but to reſt vponupon him for pardon. Before the act of iuſtification faith hath for obiect this propoſition concerning the future, To mee belieuing my ſinnes ſhall bee forgiuen: but after the promiſe is receiued and pardon obtained,Par: de Iuſtific: lib. cap. 10. it hath this propoſition concerning the preſent or time paſt, To me belieuing in Chriſt my ſinnes are forg…ued. And thus the horned argument of the Ieſuite,Bellar. de Iuſtif. lib. 1. cap 10. Sect. ratio ſecunda. Idem de Eccl. lib. 4. cap. 11. §. Sectary noſtri. whereby he would proue, the ſpeciall merciemercy of God not to be the obiect of faith Iuſtifying, and our doctrine in that point to b e groſſe and abſurd, is eaſily vntied, For thus he reaſoneth; Iuſtifying faith goeth, before Iuſtification: But faith in the ſpeciall merciemercy of God followeth Iuſtification. For hee that belieueth the pardon of his ſinnes, is either iuſt before or not iuſt; if iuſt before, then faith iuſtifye…h not; if vniuſt; then belieuing that his ſinnes bee pardoned, he belieueth a lie. Our anſwere is, that ſpeciall faith hath the ſundrie acts; but to this purpoſe ſpecially two. The firſt heartily to deſire, earneſtly to thirſt after,D. Field of the Ch: lib. 3. cap. 44▪ Bolton of walking with God pag. 321. 322. To belieue that my ſinne is now forgiuen in Chriſt is rather an act of experience in a Belieuer now iuſtified then that beliefe which is required to Iuſtification. P. Bayn. Helpe to true Happines. part. 2. qu. 9. humbly to intreate for acceptation and confidently to reſt vponupon the promiſe of free remiſſion: The other comfortably to aſſure and perſwade, that that is granted, which was deſired and receiued in promiſe. Faith by her firſt act obtaineth and receiueth pardon, and doth not finde vsus iuſt, when wee begin to belieue: by her ſecond act, ſhee doth not actually iuſtifie but finding the thing done, certifyeth and aſſureth vsus of it. So then ſpeciall faith in her firſt act, is before Iuſtification, and procureth, obtaineth and receiueth pardon, but then ſhee hath not the perſwaſion of it as alreadie done in her ſecond act ſhee preſuppoſeth the thing done, and alreadie obtained, and ſo truely perſwadeth the belieuer of it, but procureth not the doing of it. Before Iuſtification faith ſeeketh and receiueth the promiſe of forgiueneſſe: after Iuſtification, it comfortably aſſureth of the bleſſing obtained: in both it hath for it obiect the ſpeciall merciemercy of God in Chriſt. Faith receiueth Chriſt offered in the Goſpell and it perſwadeth and aſſureth of pardon in Chriſt receiued: both theſe bee the acts of faith, ſometimes expreſſedaIuſtifiing faith hath ſome acts as a cauſe diſpoſing preparing and fitti…g vsus to the receit of that gracious ſauour, whereby God doth iuſtifie vsus; and other, as a ſuſceptiue cauſe, receiuing, embracing and enioying the ſame. In the former reſpect faith conſiſts not in a perſwaſion that wee are the ſons of God, but in the latter Feild: appendex to the fifth Booke ſecond part. in the definition of Iuſtifying faith: but if we ſpeake of faith as it iuſtifyeth it peculiarly embraceth Chriſt with his benefits as he is profered in the word and Sacrament. For faith which is required to Iuſtification is not a perſwaſion or knowledge of things alreadie poſſeſſed, but a confid…nce of things promiſed and vponupon belieuing to bee obtained, which in the order of cauſes, not in time, doth goe before remiſſion of ſinnes. Who knoweth not, that we muſt belieue, that we might be iuſtified? Iuſtified, I ſay, and not certified of Iuſtification by the benefite of faith. The Scripture is cleare; Belieue, and thou ſhalt be ſaued, God iuſtifieth the circumciſion by faith; and the vncircumciſion through faith. Doe not theſe, and many the like paſſages ſhew, that Iuſtification and not onelyonly the ſenſe and manifeſtation of Iuſtification alreadie obtained, doth depend on faith.
§. 4. It may bee ſaid, we are iuſtified before in Gods decree. Indeed whom God doth iuſtifie, them he decreed to iuſtifie from all eternitie, but whereas election is manifeſted by faith as by its effect, iuſtification doth depend vponupon faith, as its cauſe, and wee are iuſtified by faith as the inſtrument thereof. For election is an act immanent and eternall,§. 3. Act. 16.31. Rom. 3.30. but iuſtification tranſient and in time, inferring ſome change in the perſon iuſtified, not phyſiciall, but morall & in reſpect of ſtate,§. 4. whereby it comes to paſſe that the perſon is in another condition and account then he was before. In briefe, the act of faith preſwading of the pardon of ſinne alreadie obtained by belieuing, and glorying in the ſenſe of Gods merciemercy, muſt bee diſtinguiſhed from that act of faith which iuſtifieth; and is a leauing or ſtaying vponupon Chriſt to obtaine remiſſion; the priuiledge of grace and comfort which comes to the ſoule by belieuing, muſt be diſtinguiſhed from the condition of the couenant, which is required on our parts, before wee can obtaine pardon. This is the rather to be noted,Fiſhers anſwere to certaine articles. becauſe the maine cauils of the papiſts againſt our doctrine touch…ng particular confidence in Gods merciemercy, and certainetie of ſaluation, are grounded vponupon this ſurmiſe, that wee make that faith, which is an aſſured and certaine perſwaſion of our particular election, iuſtific…tion and ſaluation, to be the ſole cauſe, to wit, on Mans part, of Iuſtification: whereas Iuſtification it ſelfe muſt goe before the aſſurance of it, and ſuch▪ perſons▪ onelyonly can hauehave true aſſurance and certaintie of their Iuſt fication, election, and Saluation, who doe vnfainedly belieue and know aſſuredly that they belieue as they ought. And it makes much for the comfort of many faithfull people, who commit their ſoules vntounto Chriſt Ieſus, and depend vponupon him and no other for ſaluation, who yet are much perplexed, as if they had no faith nor could doe ought pleaſing vntounto God, becauſe they want this certaine aſſurance of the remiſſion of their ſinnes; whereas if they had learned what it is to belieue vntounto Iuſtification, and truſt vntounto the promiſe for pardon, they might for the preſent take comfort in this, that notwithſtanding their feare, they relie vponupon Chriſt …nd commit their ſoules vntounto God as to their faithfull Redeemer, and might with more eaſe and ſpeed grow vp vntounto the deſired comfort and aſſurance, when they ſhould diſtinctly perceiue and diſcerne the ground… of faith and aſſurance, by what ſteps and degrees they muſt clime from the one vntounto the other.