Downame - Houston-Packer Collection BT70 .D75 1628z

CHAF.7. The KirFdame, Faith,no Chrifl,but there : and hereof the m Arke was a Figure,wherein all that were not,perifhed. Fourthly,The true Church ;whilet} it remaineth here on earth,is inuifible , becaufe their Faith, which onely maketh them members ofthe Church,cannot be known or feene of any,but ofthofe that do receive it.And ifthe true Catholike Church might bee feene,then were it no Article of cur Faith to bcleeue ir. Howbeit at the lal{ Day they (hall be all feene. To fpeake of Faith, which makcth menmembers of the true Church : Properly it is avertue and holyquali- tieof the Mind and Will powted into vs by the Holy Ghof}, for the knowing and apprehendingofChrif}.But as the Scriptures take ir, &Diuines commonlydefine it, by the worke of Faith, it is a knowledge and apprehen- flou ofChrifl now abfent,with all his benefits offered in the Word to beones owns. Howbeit, info great a mat- ter tovfe fomewhat a more large defcription, and in one view to lay forth whatfoeucr is neccfiarie to be knowne of Faith ; Faith proper toGods Elea ( for I meddlenot here with Hifloricall Faith , which n lamer calleth the faithofdetails, nor with o TemporarieFaith, or theFaith ofp workingMiracles; there are but in name only and a- bufe offpeech,or ifproperlyFaith,yet not SauingFaith: but true and Sr.uing Faith, is a fpeciall gift and grace of God,wrought inour hearts by the Holy Ghof{ , and that ordinarily by the preachingof the Gofpel,nouri(hed by the Word & Sacraments : Ioyned it is withknowledge, not a generali or confufed knowledge , but the fauing knowledge ofGods children, that apprehendethChrif}, and applyeth him to curie true Belecuer: But appre- hendingChria abfent in his Word,it is mixed with much weakneffe and vnbeliefe, yet ail holdeth fart and .etteth not goe the hold,but continually groweth, till we come to fee Chri(} in his Glorie; and therefore is perpetually waited vpon by Hope,the hire Anchor ofour foules. C c 4 Now 401 m r.Pet.3, zo,zl n Tamet 2,.19. o 1óÍatt.13.1I. p I.6er.13.z.

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