304 The Life of Faith. abougbteff Iwas fach a one as thy Pelf, &e. And partly becaufè Gods Goodneßbeing known to be his very cfIence, and all men being apt to judge ofGoodnefs, by the tneafurc of their own intcrcft, it is far more obvious and facíl to mans under- ftanding, to conclude that forte are faved, than that Tome are damned; and that the penitent believers are faved, than that the impenitent unbelievers are damned: We hear daily how ea- fily almofi all teen are brought to believe that God is merciful and how hard it is to perfwade them of his damning Juffice and feverity. Therefore he that can do the barder, is not un- like todo the eager. And indeed it is mecr ignorance of the true nature of faith, which maketh thofe whom I am now defcribing, to think that they do not believe Gods Promifes, when they believe his Tbreatningr. They think that becaufe they believe not that they themfetvcs are pardoned, jufkified, and thail be favcd, that therefore they believe not the promifc of God : But this is not the reafon ; but it is becaufe you find not the conditir of the promifc yet inyour fclvcs, and therefore think that you have no part in the benefits : But its one thing to doubt of your own ftncerity, and another thing to doubt whether the promife ofGod be true. Suppofe that the Law do pardon a talon if he canread as a Clerk; and one that is a fellon be in doubt whether his readingwill ferve or not ; this is not to deny belief to the pardoning ad of the Law. Suppofe one promife a yearly flipcnd toall that are of full one and twenty years ofage, in the Town or Country : To doubt of my age, is not to doubt ofthe truth ofthe promife. Object. But do not Proteffant Divines conclude agaisff the Papi(ls, that laving Faith muff be a particular application of Cbr41 andthe Promifi to ourfelves, andnot only a general ¡effort T Aafw. It is very true; and the clofet that application is the better. But the application which all found Divines (in this point) require as neceffary in laving Faith, is neither an affix-. rance, nor perfwafionthat your own fins arc already pardoned, or that they ever will be : But it is i. A belief that the Pro- mire ofpardon to all believers, is fo univerfal, as that it in.. eludetbyou as well as others, and promifeth and offercth you pardon, and life, if you will believe in Chritf, 2. And it is a conferst
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