Mans Active Obedience, Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
How faith is diſcerned, and the true being thereof made manifest, both to the beleeuer himſelfe, and to others.
Queſtion.
NOw if it pleaſe you to returne againe to your former ſpeech you were in hand with, I would be glad to heare ſomwhat more of that point: how faith (which you hauehave ſaid) may hauehave a being in a mans heart, when yet it is not felt, commeth at all to be diſcerned; and how at length the true being thereof may be made manifeſt?
A. When the ſeed of God his Word, which is immortallHow faith is diſcerned, and abideth euer, whereof this precious faith is begotten, is once ſowne in our hearts, and becommeth ſo bleſſed there, and proſpered from aboue, as it ſhooteth out this bleſſed bud, and cauſeth this pleaſant plant of ſauing faith (how tender ſoeuer it may appeare to be at the firſt), to ſpring vp as from a moſt ſure laſting and liuely roote, full of ſappe and good nouriture, ſo to feede and cheriſh it alwaies, as it can neuer die afterward, till wee be ſaued. In whom it is ſo planted, that this ſauing faith hath once giuen vntounto it a ſound beginning of the true being therof, that it is now habituated and incorporated into the minde of the true beleeuer (which is called the firſt act of faith); when (I ſay) we once become to hauehave the habite of this grace put into vsus, and ſoundly planted and ſeated in our hearts: the knowledge of this (if it can be truly diſcerned, and vndoubtedly faſtened vponupon), is queſtionleſſe the ſureſt and ſafeſt to truſt vntounto, for them that are able to find out ſuch a work thus to be wrought in them: for this worke being once done, is neuer to doe againe, becauſe it cannot be vndone for euer any more; for ſuch grace once truly had, neuer faileth the hauer afterward, it being a part of the regeneration and newbirth of a Chriſtian, whereby power is giuen vntounto him to become the Sonne of God; now once borne the child of God he remaineth ſo euer, he is no more to bee borne againe the ſecond time: euen as Baptiſme (the outward Sacrament of the new-birth) is once onelyonly adminiſtred, and ſo is ſufficient for all our whole life time, and is no more reiterated at any time againe. But though this bee the ſureſt, yet becauſe it is the hardeſt to finde out, otherwiſe then by the ſecond act, which is the more liuely and effectuall working of this grace, the ſame is moſt euidently and manifeſtly diſcerned and made knowne, to hauehave a true and liuely being in that ſubiect, wherein ſo effectually it is ſeene to hauehave that manner of working. Euen as it is a farre readier and eaſier way for one to know in himſelfe, or make manifeſt to another that hee hath life in him, and is indeed a liuing man; by ſpeaking, by walking, by working, and doing the actions of one that is liuing: then by the apprehending the time of his firſt conceiuing or quickening in the wombe; or of his firſt entring into the world when hee was new borne. Therefore it is vſuall in the Scripture for men to bee directed in this caſe, to find out and manifeſt their faith by the fruits and workes that it doth bring forth: to diſcerne the ſureneſſe of their graces, by the effectualneſſe of their operation, and by the ſoundneſſe of all that which is ſeene to come from them: eueryevery man being willed to conſider his owne wayes in his heart, and to looke vponupon the workes of his hands, and thereby to giuegive iudgement how the caſe doth ſtand with him as touching his ſaluation. Which is an eaſie way of triall, and ready courſe taken to finde out this matter by: for euen a blind man will truly iudge by the effects which hee can ſenſibly feele, the certaine and vndoubted being of ſuch a thing as neceſſarily doth cauſe ſuch effects as he ſo doth feele, though in regard of his blindneſſe he cannot ſee the ſame thing, nor diſcerne where it ſhould bee. As bring him to the fier, and let him feele the heate thereof, he will as certainly apprehend, and as vndoubtedly conclude that there is fier, as thoſe that by ſeeing it, are able by their ſight beſt of all to diſcerne it. And otherwiſe without a feeling of ſome manner of the working of faith, I thinke it to be moſt rare and difficult for any to finde that he hath faith in himſelf at all. I denie not but faith may hauehave a being, where the working of it is not felt; but ſo long as the working of it is not felt, I hold that the being of it is not found; and doubtleſſe true and ſauing faithFaith may be without feeling. hath no ſooner giuen vntounto it a true being at all, then it hath alſo giuen vntounto it ſome kind of acting and working together with the being at the very ſame time, though not alwayes ſeene. For it is a liuing and a liuely faith, and not a dead faith, which muſt be a ſauing faith: now in eueryevery thing that hath the being of it in life, there is an act of liuing in that thing that hath ſuch a being: and as the Apoſtle ſaith, that workes are to faith, as is the ſpirit andIam. 2. 26. breath of life to the body: and concludeth thereupon, that as the body without the ſpirit is dead; ſo faith, without ſome kind of working and operation, is dead alſo. It is true a body may hauehave life remaining in it, though the ſpirit and breath of life cannot be ſeene nor perceiued to hauehave any ſtirring or motion at all in the ſame; but then that remaining of life, and being in this world in ſuch a body, is neither found nor felt by it ſelfe, but in ſuch an exſtaſie ſeemeth to it ſelfe to be as in another world; neither is iudged by others that looke vponupon it, to bee otherwiſe then if it were truly dead, and had no life at all in it: and yet for all this ſuch a partie hauing his life ſtill remaining in him, may recouer and get ſtrength againe. Thus may it fare with ſauing faith in the heart of a true beleeuer, it may hauehave ſuch weakneſſe come vponupon it, ſuch faintnes and feeblenes may ouertake it, it may fall into ſuch an exſtacie, and into ſuch qualmes and ſwoundings away, that ſhall ſo ſtint the ſenſible working thereof, as no remainder of the life of it, by any working that can be perceiued to come from it, may either be felt by the hauer, or any way diſcerned by the beholder that ſtandeth & looketh vpō ſuch a weak Chriſtian ſo fallen & fainted away; and yet for al that, true faith is alwaies liuing faith, hauing euer the truth of life, and being remaining in it, though many times with much fainting, yet neuer wholly failing for altogether.
Q. But if I may be ſo bold as to leade you on a little further in this digreſſion from your former ſpeech, before you returne to it againe; I demand (if it be poſſible, that it may fare thus with ſauing faith in the heart of a true beleeuer, that it may remaine in life and being, when there can be perceiued no manner of operation and working to come from the ſame), how that will ſtand true which you affirmed before, that faith hath no ſooner giuen vntounto it to hauehave life and being, then it is alſo in hand with ſome kind of action and working, which doe neuer ceaſe ſo long as that remaines to be: for what kind of working can you ſhew faith to be in hand withall then, when it is in ſuch a caſe, as laſtly was mentioned and ſet downe?
A. Euen the worke of liuing, as I ſaid before, it is in hand with the continuing of the act of life, till life it ſelfe ſhall ceaſe to be (for life ſo long as it laſteth, is a continued act of that that ſo hath life in it), and beſides by this meanes of the liuing of it that is in hand, with another moſt bleſſed and happie worke of the preſeruationWeakeſt faith ſaueth. of the ſoule in which it liueth, that it may keepe that ſafe from periſhing for euer, ſo long as that may hauehave any abiding and remaining in the ſame. The liuing and being of pretious faith, how weakly ſo euer, it doth liue in the heart of a true beleeuer, ſtandeth that ſoule in as great ſtead (ſo long as it abideth in it) as doth the ſpirit of life, or the liuely ſpirit ſtand the body in ſtead ſo long as it remaineth and abideth in the ſame: which being that golden claſpe which handfaſteth the ſoule with the body, keepeth the body from being a dead carkaſe; and is as ſalt to keepe the body ſweete (ſo long as it abideth in it) from ſtinking, rotting and corrupting, which quickly otherwiſe it would doe, if it were once diſſolued and gone from out of the ſame. So doth true and ſauing faith, which is the golden button and claſpe of our ſoules, that claſpeth and handfaſteth vsus vntounto Chriſt, and will neuer let goe the hold that it hath of him, till he hath taken vsus to himſelfe, and ſet vsus ſafe in his kingdome, paſt all peraduenture of more miſcarrying. So long as this faith liueth and hath any being, it aſſuredly preſerueth that ſoule, in which it ſo liueth, from all poſſibilitie of euer periſhing; yea though it ſhould abide in the heart of a true beleeuer in all ſuch weakneſſe, as before was ſpoken of, vntill the very time of the diſſolution of the ſoule and the body; and that a true beleeuer ſhould dye in all that weakneſſe and feeblenes of his faith: yet were it not poſſible that ſuch a beleeuer could miſcarrie, becauſe he dieth in Chriſt his faith, holding him faſt in Chriſt, and holding Chriſt faſt to him; faith being of that nature that hauing once taken hold of Chriſt, in the greateſt weakneſſe that can come vponupon it, it neuer letteth goe the hold it hath taken (though being benummed for a time by ſome diſeaſe of tentation, it may not feele the hold it truly hath), till that ſoule be ſaued that once hath entertained it, and had it abiding and dwelling therein; it dieth not in death, till it ſeeth that ſoule that ſo hath it to be put into life. And to ſhew yet further, how mightie and powerfull this grace is to ſaue eueryevery one that doth truly beleeue, it dealeth with vsus and for vsus towards Chriſt in the office that it hath to ſaue vsus by Chriſt, as Chriſt himſelfe dealeth for vsus towards God his Father, in being our Mediatour, that wee might be brought to God by him. Now we know he neuer will giuegive ouer the office of his Mediatourſhip for vsus, till hauing finiſhed all things for the perfecting of the worke of our full ſaluation, putting downe and ſubduing all the enemies that wee hauehave vntounto the very laſt of them all which is death; drawing vp all his members euen to the laſt and to the leaſt that belong to his body, himſelfe being the head, that all together may be glorified with him; and then ſhall be the end of this his office of Mediatourſhip in the manner as now he doth execute the ſame, and neuer till then: when the kingdome ſhall be deliuered vp euen to God the Father, and he himſelfe as Mediatour become ſubiect vntounto1. Cor. 15. 24. 28. him that put all things vnderunder him, that God may be all in all: we being inſeparably ioyned to him, and vntounto God by him, that ſo we may raigne for euer in his kingdome. After ſome ſuch manner doth pretious faith, which is the faith of Gods elect, diſcharge the office aſſigned vntounto it. Chriſt is the only Sauiour of mankinde, there is no name giuen vnderunder heauen whereby wee can be ſaued, Acts 4. 12.but only by him; he alone by himſelfe hath fully perfected and finiſhed that worke of our ſaluation, and by the price of his bloud hath purchaſed eternall redemption for vsus at the hands of God his Father. The benefit of this purchaſed redemption is effectually communicated only to ſuch as doe truly beleeue: whom hee mindeth to beſtow ſaluation vponupon, hee neuer faileth to giuegive faith vntounto, that they may hauehave a hand to receiue that which he hath a heart moſt freely and willingly to beſtow: the office of faith is to apprehend Chriſt, and neuer more to let him goe: to lay hold of ſaluation which Chriſt bringeth with him, and neuer to ſee it loſt till the ſoule be ſet ſafe for euer, into which for this purpoſe it is once put, and wherein it was wrought at the firſt. Faith is moſt faithful in diſcharging al the truſt yt is thus cōmitted vntounto it; and performeth to the full, the office that it is appointed vntounto: for which cauſe it ſetteth vponupon our enemies that would let our ſaluation, and neuer giueth them ouer, till it hath ſubdued them: it repelleth what would hurt vsus; it remoueth out of our way what would hinder our good; it feareth not our arch enemy, the diuell himſelfe, but couragiouſlyPower of faith. and ſtoutly it dareth ſet vponupon him, and encounter him, and buckle with him, and faileth not to foile him, and in the end moſt valiantly and victoriouſly to triumph ouer him, conquering him in the combate, and forcingIames 4. 7. 1. Pet. 5. 9. him to flight: it dareth take the whole world to task, & ouercome it too in the end; for this is the victory whereby Eph. 5. 4.we ouercome the world, euen our beleeuing: it ſtoppeth ſo the mouth of the Law, and putteth ſinne ſo to ſilence, that they can hauehave nothing to ſay againſt vsus: it iuſtifieth the ſoule in which it is, and ſetteth it at peace with God: it bringeth vsus vntounto Chriſt, and ſo ingrafteth vsus into him, as it ſuffereth vsus not euermore to be ſeparated from him by any kind of diſ-union that can happen: it purifieth and purgeth the heart while we liue: it comforteth and cheareth the heart, when we come to die: it once being entertained of vsus, abideth with vsus for our ſafetie and comfort, euen to the end: it neuer giueth vsus ouer, ſo long as wee hauehave a day to liue; and when death that muſt part vsus doth appeare, it yeeldeth not to death, till we bee bee put into life; and lets vsus not goe, till it hath reſigned vsus vp vntounto Chriſt, who then taketh vsus to himſelfe for euer out of the hand of faith, Thus faith hauing finiſhed the whole worke of our ſaluation, that was to be done by it, and brought it to ſo happie an end, it then taketh a moſt ſweete and happie farewell of vsus for euer after, as not being able any more to ſtand vsus in any further ſtead. Oh happie and bleſſed work of faith, that it thus doth worke for vsus! Oh grace moſt gracious and precious indeed of ſauing faith, which being once giuen to the Saints, they can neuer valew the worthineſſe of the gift that is ſo giuen, nor the good will of the giuer, that moſt freely hath beſtowed it, who can neuer be enough loued of vsus, nor his name ſufficiently magnified by vsus, and praiſed for the ſame!
Q. I will with-hold you no longer, by mouing any further queſtions hereabout; nor draw you any further away from going on to ſpeake your iudgement about that matter you were in hand with; namely, how faith which is a ſpirituall grace, that is inwardly ſeated and ro…ted in the heart, commeth yet at the length to be plainely diſcerned, and made manifeſt. But I deſire to know further your mind in this, what you thinke to be the readieſt and beſt courſe for a man to take, that is deſirous to worke out his owne ſaluation, and m…k… his election ſure, whereby to find out that he hath ſauin… …aith, euen that pretious faith, which is the faith of Gods elect?
A. I find, that the moſt generall courſe in the Scriptures throughout, taken by the Spirit of God himſelfe (who is onelyonly wiſe, and ſearcheth the heart and the reynes, and knoweth all men throughly both behind and before, within them and without them, what they are in moſt exact manner, ſo as nothing can eſcape his knowledge), when he would make the hid things of mans heart manifeſt,Vſuall triall of faith is by life, not heart. and would make men either knowne to themſelues, or manifeſt them what they are vntounto others, or would ouercome them himſelfe, and conuince them to be ſuch, as he doth challenge them for, and charge them to be, what time he doth enter into plea with them, or hold and maintaine any controuerſie againſt them; that then his courſe is to put this more vponupon the triall of ſuch mens liues, then vponupon the diſpoſition of their hearts; more to ſtand vponupon what is ſeene to come from them, then to ſtand arguing the caſe, whether it bee true that they ſay they hauehave, or hauehave not this or that vertue or vice within them. Like as it will alſo be the courſe, that the righteous Iudge of the whole world will take in that great aſſize (according as himſelfe in part hath made it knowne afore-hand vntounto vsus); when all men ſhall be made to appeare, and ſhall bee put vponupon their laſt triall, euen the triall of life and of death, the triall will paſſe, and the iudgement will bee giuen vponupon them, either for guilty or guiltleſſe, not ſo expreſſely according to what hath been in their hearts, as according to what hath appeared in their liues, and what hath been found to hauehave been the deed and workes of their hands, as namely, he telleth vsus, they that hauehave done Iohn 5. 29.good, ſhall goe into life euerlaſting, and they that hauehave done euill vntounto euerlaſting fier; and it will be ſaid, go you curſed,Mat. 25. 34. 41. you gaue me no meat, you did not viſite me: come you bleſſed, you fed mee, and you clothed mee. And this is that which the Apoſtle alſo ſaith, wee muſt giuegive an account,2. Cor. 5. 10. according to that we hauehave done in our bodies. Hee ſaith not, according to that we hauehave had dwelling, and abiding in our hearts: for the plaine manifeſting of the one will be ſufficient and enough, to make the other well enough knowne: So that though we are not iuſtified by our workes, yet ſhall we be iudged by them, they being the infallible teſtimonies of our vnfained faith in Chriſt Ieſus; and though workes doe not iuſtifie vsus, yet workes doe iuſtifie that, that muſt iuſtifie vsus, euen our faith by which we beleeue to be ſaued; that it is a liuely faith, and a faith that is not fained: therefore doth Iames bring forth his workes to manifeſt his faith by, as the directeſt courſe that can be taken, and the moſt ready to hauehave faith made knowne by. Now if any thinke he can doe otherwiſe, and without workes get his faith, to which he truſteth to be manifeſted and made knowne to bee God; hee calles him forth to doe his beſt, in ſhewing how that can bee performed: ſhew me (ſaith hee) thy faith withoutIames 2. 18. works, and I will ſhew thee my faith by my workes. Which he ſo ſpeaketh, not that any can poſſibly do it, but that their folly may the rather be laid open, and the more diſcouered that ſo doe thinke it. They bee the workes which come from faith, that muſt both ſhew faith, and iuſtifie it to be true. Faith is operatiue, and worketh by louelove: if any will find out faith, let him ſeeke after the meaſuresGal. 5. 6. of his louelove to God, and to his Saints. If any would know whether hee bee elect or no to eternall life, let him gather the knowledge thereof from the effectualneſſe of his calling and ſanctification of his life: for by theſe Pcter leadeth the Chriſtians as by the hand to the finding it1. Pet. 12. out. We muſt not ſoare aloſt, to know whether or no we be elected. If any man would know whether the Sunne ſhineth or no, let him looke vponupon the ground, to ſee the reflexion of the Sunne-beames from thence, and not vponupon the body of the Sunne, which will but dazle the more his ſight. As then we gather the cauſe by the effect, the paterne by the picture, and by the forme of a ſeale printed in waxe, we eaſily vnderſtand what is the very forme and faſhion of the ſeale it ſelfe: ſo by the true and proper effects of liuely faith, we conclude the exiſtence and being of true faith it ſelfe; and the ſame effects like ſeales, doe imprint and ſtampe the image of Gods election in vsus.
Q. But may not faith as well bee found out by the cauſes which cauſeth faith, as by the effects which faith worketh and bringeth forth. As for example, the publication of the promiſes of the Goſpell made to poore ſinners, calling all that are wearie and heavie laden with the burden of their ſinnes to come to Chriſt, promiſing they ſhall bee eaſed, and promiſing that all that doo beleeue in Chriſt, they ſhall never periſh, but hauehave euerlaſting life; and withall commanding vsus, that wee doe beleeue in the name of Ieſus Chriſt, the Sonne of God. 1. Iohn 3. 23.Now if with the publiſhing of ſuch promiſes out of the Goſpell preached and declaration of ſuch acommandement giuen, the Spirit of God (who is the onelyonly efficient cauſe and worker of this grace), ſhall be pleaſed to ioyne his owne working with the word of that preaching and ſo open a doore of faith to the poore ſinn…r that heareth ſuch promiſes, as he ſhall not onelyonly aſſent vntounto them, but lay hold of them alſo, and aſſume them to himſelfe, and taking God at his wora, beleeue indeed that hee ſhall hauehave his ſinnes pardoned, and his ſoule for euer ſaued. May not a poore ſinner ſo beleeuing find out this way, that he hath true faith indeed, without any further inquiring, or making any more queſtion about the ſame?
A Yes doubtles, and no way better then thus, if ſo be heFaith knowne by cauſes. can after this manner, apprehend and feele that ſo he doth beleeue, for now he hath ſet his foot vponupon that rocke, that will neuer faile vnderunder him, but beare vp his whole building, and giuegive him a ſure ſtanding for his faith to reſt vponupon, now hath hee come to the very ground worke of his beleeuing, and hath laid open to himſelfe the foundation to the bottome, whereupon his faith is ſet ſo firme & ſure, that it is not poſſible it ſhall bee moued to the ouerwhelming thereof for euermore. And therefore he may comfortably cheare vp his heart (as did the Apoſtle) againſt eueryevery obiect of feare or diſcomfort, that might ſtand before him at any time to diſmay him, and ſay with him, I am not aſhamed, neither doe I paſſe at all for this, for I 2. Tim. 1. 12.know whom I have beleeued▪ and vponupon what I hauehave grounded my ſo beleeuing; and I am perſwaded, that hee that hath thus promiſed, is both able and faithfull to doe that he hath promiſed, and that hee will alſo performe it. But if it be well marked, this faith euen by this ſearch, is not found out by the cauſes alone, but by that which is cauſed by it, and by that which it is in hand with to effect, and worke in the heart of that beleeuer in whom it is ſo wrought; for it is in hand with this worke, to bring the ſinner to his Sauiour, to ioyne the ſoule that hath ſinned to Chriſt that hath ſaued it, by an vnſeparable vnion, that ſhall neuer more bee parted: yea, to take ſuch hold of Chriſt, as hee may dwell in that heart for euer. And can there be a greater, a more powerfull, or more comforta…le worke wrought by faith in a mans whole life-time, then this hand-faſting of Chriſt, and the beleeuer once for euer together? and can there a more bleſſed effect euer flow from faith, then ſo to apprehend Chriſt by our beleeuing in him, that now with Peter we doe ſo beleeue and know him to be our Sauiour, as we can goe away reioycing, and chaunt it out with the Spouſe, in that Song of Songs, My beloued is mine, and I am his, and his deſire is vntounto me. Howbeit,Cantic. 2 16. & 7. 10. it is not eueryevery bodies caſe for faith thus to manifeſt it ſelfe in them at the firſt, ſo ſoone as euer it hath any manner of being at all in the heart into which it is put, eueryevery body that hauehave faith, cannot thus clearely and readily find out the faith, that they hauehave ſo ſoone as they hauehave it at the firſt, neither yet at all times after they hauehave once truly receiued it, when they would be glad to hauehave the comfort of it. The faith of eueryevery one commeth not to grow vp ſo ſpeedily, and to attaine to that ripeneſſe of the ſudden, as they that hauehave it can hauehave ſuch preſent refreſhing by it, and the like benefit to ſhelter and ſhaddow themſelues vnderunder the comfortable couering and ſhaddow thereof, in the feruent aking and fainting of their hearts, as had Ionah Ionah 4. 6. 10.vnderunder the ſhaddow of the Gourd, which God made to grow vp in a night, and prepared ready againſt the morning to come ouer his head, to deliuer him from the feruent ſcorching of the Sunne, and vehement Eaſt-wind that did beate vponupon him (which yet was the caſe of ſome in the beginnings of the Goſpell, vntounto whom both faith and the comfort of faith was giuen to be felt together, as the Eunuch, the Iailor, Lydian, and ſome other.) But though ſome may hauehave comfort of their faith at the firſt, and for ſome good time together, yet is it as poſſible for that courſe to be interrupted againe, and they as much depriued of that comfortable working of their faith, for the cheering and refreſhing of their hearts afterwards for a time, through the ſtrength of ſome ſore tentation aſſailing the ſame; as Ionah was depriued of the benefit of his Gourd for altogether, that refreſhed him ſo well with the ſhadow thereof, when once God had prepared a worme to ſmite that gourd, ſo as it periſhed in one night againe, and became then more diſtreſſed then at the firſt; in ſo much that his heart fainted in him, which made him wiſh in himſelfe now to die, and no longer to liue. So fareth it with many who hauehave once been ſwetly refreſhed with the conſolations of Gods, and hauehave felt much comfort and gladneſſe of heart in their newFeeling loſt. conuerſion; and hauehave been filled with ioy and peace in their firſt beleeuing: who yet hauehave afterwards had all the light of their comforts ſo greatly eclypſed, their faith ſo ſorely ſhaken, their hearts ſo troubled and deepely diſtreſſed, and they caſt into ſuch labyrinths of ſpirituall ſorrowes: as out of which they no way hauehave been able to diſpatch themſelues; but hauehave been forced to yeeld ouer, and fall downe flat, oppreſſed with their burthens, & ouerwhelmed with their griefes; the waight of their ſorrowes, and burthen of their feares, exceeding for a time the ſtrength of their faith; and ſo breaking it downe, that all comfort faileth them for the preſent; and their faith can be no more felt, then if at all it neuer had been. Then are they more troubled, then if they had neuer before knowne what comfort had meant: like Rebeckah, Gen. 25. 22.who was more troubled that ſhe had euer conceiued, when ſhe felt thoſe ſtruglings in her wombe. Such comforts once had, but loſt againe, which (the ſorrowes ſo comming vponupon them, hauehave eaten vp and deuoured, as Pharaohs leane kine did the fat) ſerue but to ſtrengthen their preſent griefes, and to make them twice more grieuous then otherwiſe they would hauehave beene felt, if they had not taſted how ioyous and how comfortable the former conſolations and refreſhings of their hearts had beene. Then begin they to call all things into queſtion, which before they found ſo great comfort in, their conuerſion is doubted of, either neuer to hauehave been ſoundly wrought, or elſe that that which was once happily begun, now to be vntimely brought to an end, and wholly to be vndone againe. Their faith is ſuſpected, either to hauehave bin but a meere fancie, & they all the while deluded, when they thought they had true faith wrought in them, and did beſt of all beleeue; or elſe yt which was once true, for want of ſtrength to be now periſhed frō thē, & to faile thē for altogether, & wholly to be loſt & gone. Then as Rachels voice was heard in Rama, when ſhe wept for her children, and would not be comforted becauſe they were not: ſo are their lamentable voices heard in the Churches, of weeping and mourning and great lamentation; they weeping for the want of theſe graces, and will not be comforted, becauſe (to their ſenſe and feeling as themſelues ſo doe thinke) they now are not, but are quite loſt and gone.