A Preparation to the Receiving of the Lords Supper, Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Of the triall of our Faith, by the grounds thereof.
VVEe may try our Faith; firſt by the ground, then by the ſubiect.
The ground of ture ſauing faith, is the word of God manifeſted vntounto our conſciences by the Spirit of God, to bee the Word of GOD. That Faith which reſteth vponupon any other ground-work, or foundation, can bee no true ſauing Faith.
A good meanes to try whether our Faith be indeed grounded vponupon the Word of God, is; To examine our conſciences in theſe particulars.
1 Whether we beleeue indeed, and in truth, that the Writings of the Prophets and Apoſtles, in the Old and New Teſtament, are the very Word of God? (For the whole Word of God, ſo farre as is needful to be beleeued vntounto ſaluation, is contained therein) or at the leaſt, whether we be exceedingly troubled and grieued in our ſoules, & from our very hearts, when (throgh any temptation) we are moued to doubt of the ſame: And whether we vſe al means we can, to come to bee fully perſwaded thereof? For in ſuch caſes, God accepts the will and indeuour for the deed.Mar. 9, 24 Rom. 7, 18 Matt. 5.6
2 Whether we vnfainedly deſire to be taught & inſtructed in the Word of God, and to come to the true knowledge, and vnderſtanding, & belief thereof? And whether we louelove and affect thoſe meanes moſt, which are moſt powerful and effectuall to that end and purpoſe? For hee (whoſe Faith is grounded vponupon Gods Word, hath his hope grounded vponupon the ſame Word; euen all the hope that hee hath of euerlaſting life. And therefore he muſt needs deſire to bee acquainted therewith, by all meanes poſſible.
3 VVhether our ignorance and dulneſſe, in vnderſtanding of the word, and our forgetfulneſſe thereof, be grieuous and troubleſome vntounto vsus? For how can it chuſe but grieue & trouble a man, when he knowes not, or vnderſtands not, or cannot remember, the Euidence of his owne euerlaſting eſtate?
4 Whether our reading,Pſ. 119, 92 97, 98, 103 or hearing the word read, or preached: our meditating, conference, and ſtudie of it, doe increaſe, or nouriſh our louelove and delight, and beliefe in it? or if wee cannot diſcerne any ſuch matter, whether wee be not vnfainedly grieued and humbled for it.
5 VVhether wee giuegive credit and authoritie vntounto it, aboue all humane Traditions,Pſ. 119, 113 & Cuſtomes whatſoeuer? And whe-we doe not deny credit and beliefe vntounto whatſoeuer wee know to bee repugnant vntounto the ſame word?
6 Whether we finde a lightneſſe, and cheerfulneſſe in our conſciences, when we hauehave done any thing agreeable vntounto the Word of God? And whether wee finde a trouble, or a dulneſſe and heauineſſe in the ſame, when we hauehave done any thing, which we know to be repugnant vntounto the ſame Word?
7 VVhether wee vnfainedly hope in the promiſes, feare the threatnings, deſire the bleſſings, & indeuour to auoid the curſes contained in this Word, and whether we equally beleeue the one, as well as the other?
8 VVhether we iudge it a ſingular bleſſing of the Lord, that he hath in this manner reuealed his will in the written Word; & that he vouchſafeth vsus libertie and meanes to come to the knowledge, vnderſtanding, and beliefe of it? And whether wee iudge it to bee, a great iudgement & curſe vponupon them, from whom this Word is hid, and who want this liberty and meanes that we enioy.
9 Laſtly, whether we can proue, thoſe points of Religion and Faith, which wee hold and beleeue, by the written Word of GOD? And whether wee doe therefore beleeue them, becauſe we know that they are affirmed in the Word of God? And whether we miſdoubt, & ſuſpect all thoſe points of Religion, that we cannot ſee warranted by the Word of God?
If we can finde theſe properties in our ſoules, then hauehave wee found in our ſelues, ſo many infallible ſignes and tokens, that our Faith hath a true and ſound ground.