Nowwemay 6eofared that we haue truefaith. 5 t 7 affure our felueshewill makenofrupleofbelying vs. See- ing then Satan is a malitious liar, who defireth nothing more then our deflru&ion,letvs not doubt of our faithbe- caufeofhis telhrnony, nay rather bccaufe he faith we want faith,wemay aufureour felues that we are inducd therwith: for that hemay worke our finali oucrthrow, it is his vfuall cutlome to tell the truebeleeuingChriflianthat hee is defli- tuteoffaith, and contrariwife the vnbeleeuing worldling, that he hath a tlrong faith, whereas in truth there is nothing inhim,but fecure prefümption. And therefore let it fuffice Vs,that weknowwe haue aliuelie faith by the teflimonieof -Gods fpirit, and by trying and examining our faith by the touchfloneofCodswords, for on thefe our faithdependeth, and not on Satans teflimonie. But let vs after amore efpeciall,manner arineour felues 4,Seé1.3 againtl thistentation ; and to thispurpofe it behooueth vs,-Hovv vve firíl,that we prooue againíl`Satans falfe fuggeflions, that we may be f ve haue faith : and fecondly,that wearme our feluesby.all good by f tt- rtínes with the fhieldoffaith,feeking dailie morefirength ing,in our and thereof; vntill atlaft wee attaine vntothat ful- ¡elves the de- neffeoffaith, which will fill our foules with true peace and gees thereof: comfort,and alfobeate backe all the violenceofSatans fub- till and fierce tentations. For the frfi weemayprooue that wee haue atrue iufli- fyingfaithby diuers arguments, ,s firilby the degrees there- of,from whichwe may thus reafon; whofoeuer can trueiie find inhimfelfe the feucrall degrees ofa liuely faith, he may - certainely be allured that he isindued therewith:but I (may euery Chrit}ian man fay) doe ttuely howfoeuer,in weake meafure,finde thefedegreesofa liuely faith in`me,and there- fore I am allured thatI am indued therewith. The firtl degree vnto true faith, is the illumination`ofour The f rti degree -darkead ignorant minds, with the knowledge of the Gof- of truefair!, elI or with the principles"thereof wrought in our tlheillumtnati- P f minds by the outwardneanes ordained Of God, and the mndhe inwardoperation ofhis holy fpirit; wherebywe Niue our af- -lent to that truth ofGod, inwhich thevnderflanciing is in- -formed, Andofthis,theApoftle fpeáketh,i.Tim.a4.where I.1 3 líe
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