Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

102 of Faith required generally in prayer. be granted, that where this found perfwafion and affurance is in the mind,it worketh afiïanceand hope in the heart, as a proper fruit and necefiarie effed thereof. And therefore in the phrafe ofbelieving in this affiance is implyed. For to believe in God, is not onely to believe that there is a God, and that he is fuch an one as he hath revealed himfelf in his word, but alfo that he is fuch an one to me : as that the Father is my Father,. &c. and confequently, that therefore I repofe my truft and affiance in him. In invocation there is a double faith required:The one more generali, apprehending the main promife ofthe Gofpel; whereby we ftand righteous before God in Chrift, & whereby we are to he perfwaded that both we .and our prayers are accepted of God in Chrift : The other more fpeciall, apprehending the fpeciall promifes made to our prayers; whereby we are perfwaded that our fpeciall requef} (hall br granted unto us. The former, becaufe it doth ge- nerally belong to all invocation, as well thanksgi- ving as prayer, is now to be intreated of. The other fpecially belongeth to prayer, and therefore in the fpeciall dotrine of prayer is to be confidered. The former is that perfwafion or affurance of the foul, we believing inChrifl are inthe fame mea- fure perfwaded of Gods love towards us in Chriff, and therefore are incouraged to come with confi- dence to the throne of grace, not doubting but that both we and our prayers are acceptable unto God in Chrift, Heb. 4.16. And this affurance of faith is grounded partly on the will and love of God, and partly on the merits and intercef ion of our Saviour Chrifi. A double faith requi- red in invo- cation.