or Form ofFaith. 4 accidental: (4.) Becaufe of the Lord's Com- mand, we are commanded to draw near with Confidence, with Boldnefs. Heb. iv. icsó: and iii. 6. and x. 22. Lit Ps draw near with a true Heart in full Affurance of Faith : There- fore the Faith that we are commanded o have, rnufc have Affurance. Col. ii. 2. Where- fore, I ask this Q ief ion, Whether, the Soul in its firft Clofing with Chrift, ought todoubt or not ? If ve fay it ought to doubt, them we ought to fn,for Chrift reproves Doubting; if it ought not,then are we to come with full Affurance,and the Weaknefs of the Affent,tho' mixed with Fear, doth not fay there is no De- gree of Perfwafion, but that it is not perfe& ; what that Meafure of Perfwafion is, [Tian afterwards íhow : Look therefore, as the Af- furance of Knowledge, from Signs and E- vidences, may be a true e, in its Kind, tho' it be not perfe& in Degree, but mixed with Fear ; fo may there be an Affurance of Faith, tho' mixed with Fear, which arifes from Unbelief : This I would fay, That tho' in the Believer there be Doubtings, yet not in' Faith, for Faith oppofes Doubting, and it is its Nature rather to confide; the Grounds of Faith do warrand as well Con- fidence, as Hope or Opinion. (S.) Other- wife Faith would not laD, but fail : Slight Impreffions are done away, and eafily wear away, but deep Impreflions abide the Amy
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