Propositions and Principles of Divinity Disputed, Section 23
PRINCIPLES CONCERNING THE CAVSES AND EFFECTS OF FAITH. XXIII.
1 THe efficient cauſe of faith indeede, and to ſpeake properlie is one; to wit, the merciemercy of God; that is, if the Father in the Sonne, by the holie Ghoſt, that the ſame Coeſſentiall power of the Father and the Sonne, by the which man at the firſt was created in the image of God ſhould reſtore in vsus the ſame being left.
2 The ordinary meanes whereby the ſame is wrought, (that is, wherby both the vnderſtanding of man, is framed vntounto a ſauing knowledge of God in Chriſt, and a particular receauing thereof; and alſo the will powerfullie diſpoſed vntounto a right order of the affections) is the preaching of Gods worde, deliuered vntounto vsus be the Prophets and Apoſtles, and for that cauſe, (ſo farre as it concerneth the elect) appointed to be in the Church.
3 But here two extremities are to be taken heed vntounto: the on of the ENTHYSIASTES, who do not only diſtinguiſh but alſo ſeparate the internall word as they call it: that is, the worke of the Spirite of God in our ſoules, from the preaching of the written word: whence followeth not any faith, but rather a meere dotage. The other is of thoſe, who after the manner of Sorcerers, do transfer the efficacacie, which is the proper and incommunicable worke of God onlie, either vntounto the miniſters which ſpeake, or to the Sacramentall elements: wheras notwithſtanding, they hauehave no other effect, then to repreſent theſe things to our vnderſtanding, which, according vntounto Gods ordinaunce they are appointed to ſignifie.
Wheras then the miniſters are ſaid to worke together with God, it is ſo to bee taken, as they are vſed, but for the outward planting & watering: when as in the mean time, the whole force which worketh in the vnderſtanding and the will, doth flow from God only.
4 Now that which we hauehave ſpoken of the Eccleſiaſtical miniſterie, is ſo to be taken, as in the meane time wee are to know, that God as often as it pleaſeth him, is able in a moment by the inward operation of his Spirit, extraordinarily to regenerate his elect.
5 But this extraordinarie worke of God, is neither to be expected for of vsus, nor yet raſhlie to be admitted.
6 Now the moſt ſure way to try it, whether it be trulie from God, or no; is this: namelie, that whether it be by the ordinarie hearing of the word: or, (which hath beene alwaies moſt ſeeldom) whether God worketh by extraordinarie inſpiration; it muſt needes euermore teach the verie ſame doctrine, which the written word of the Prophets and the Apoſtles do teach.
7 There is not at all times the like majeſty of the good order of this ſacred Miniſterie, becauſe the Lord doeth as often, and as farre as hee thinketh good, reuenge the negligencie and wickednes of the Sheep-heards, and the contempt of the ſheepe in ſuch ſort: that ſometimes it is darkened by ſpots of filthineſſe: and otherwhiles for a time, it goeth as it were, cleane out of ſight, as it came to paſſe in the former ages.
8 Yet the Militant Church, either priuate or publicke from others, or by means of priuate reading, hath euer enjoyed, and euer ſhall enjoy the hearing of the worde, and the vnderſtanding of the trueth that ariſeth therefrom.
9 Nowe that true and liuely faith, whereof wee ſpeake, is no leſſe made knowen, by the perpetuall and neceſſarie effects thereof, then is the life of the bodie, by motion and ſenſe.
10 But theſe effects doe not giuegive beeing vntounto faith, or informe the ſame, as the Sophiſters doe moſt abſurdlie dreame, but they are the vndoubted and ſure ſignes of it.
11 Theſe effects are partly caried out of vsus vntounto Chriſt, with whome we are vnited by faith, and partly they do beget ſome things within vsus.
12 The outward effects, in aſmuch as they doe peculiarly apply Chriſt and his benefits, vntounto thoſe that beleeue, are therefore the moſt excellent, and of greateſt account. And they are, both the full remiſsion of all ſinnes, as well originall as actuall, by the blood of Chriſt; and alſo, the beſtowing vponupon vsus, of all righteouſnes fulfilled by him, together with the moſt full reſtoring and repairing of our nature in the fleſh of Chriſt: All which, are freelie by faith in Chriſt, imputed vntounto vsus, who take holde both of him and his gifts.
13 Another effect of our ſpirituall joyning togeather with him by faith, is; that he gouerneth by his holy Spirit, both our vnderſtanding & wil, being ſanctified and broght out of darknes vntounto that marueilous light; ſo as we begin to thinke, to will, and to doe, the thinges that are of God.
This ſelfe ſame Spirite, encreaſing faith in vsus, being now not vnderunder the authoritie of the law and the fleſh, but vnderunder the grace of effectuall Regeneration; doth teach, comfort, raiſe, and confirme vsus in all our conflictes againſt Sathan: …ill wee obtaine the crowne, which is giuen of free gift, though vntounto theſe onelyonly, that do lawfully ſtriue and ouercome.
Defended by HILARIVS FANTRAT an Engliſh-man of Guernzie.