BT763 O9 1677

and Nature it, declared. i o condition, God by an immediate Inquißtion into the matter of fa &, fh3rpeneth this Convi &ion by the Addition of his own Teftimony unto its Truth, and cafteth him a&ually un- der the Curfè of the Law, in a juridical denunciation of it. In this loft, forlorn, hopelefs condition God propofeth the Proinife of Redemption by Chrift unto him. And this was the' Obje& of that Faith whereby he was to be juftified. Although thefe things are not thus eminently and diftin &ly tranfa &ed in the minds and confciences of all who are called unto Believing by the Gofpel, yet for the fubflance of them, and as to the previoufnefs of the Convi &ion of fin unto Faith, they are found in all that fincerely believe. Thefe things are known, and for the fubftance of them generally agreed unto. But yet are they filch as being duel} confidered will difcover the vanity and miftakes of many de- finitions of Faith that are obtruded on us. For any defini- tion or defèription of it which hath not exprefs, or at leaft virtual refpe t hereunto, is but a deceit, and no way anfwers the Experience of them that truly believe. And fuch are all thofe who place it meerly in an Afent unto divine Revela- tion, of what Nature foever that Affent be, and whatever.. Effe &s are afcribed unto it. For fuch an Affent there may be without any refpe& unto this work of the Law. Neither do I, to (peak plainly, at all value the moli accurate Difpu- tations of any about the Nature and A& of Juftifying Faith, who never had in themfelves an Experience of the work of the Law in Convi &ion and Condemnation for fin, with the Effe &s of it upon their Confciences or do omit the due confederation of their own Experience, wherein what they truly believe is better ftated than in all their Difputations, That Faith whereby we are juftified is in general the a&ing of the Soul towards God, as revealing himfelf in the Gofpel for deliverance out of this ftate and condition, or from un- der the Curfe of the Law applied unto the Confcience, ac- cording

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=