340 The Seules e ttivall callinAto Chrift. vingin Chritt was not in the ftate of his in- nocency ; then why Both God condemne men for not beleeving, feeing they have not this power, and Adam had it not? It is all thedifficulty that lies upon the point : The arifwer is plaine, open, and naked, and therefore I anEver it by diftïn&ion thus: 49fty, 3. Infidelityand not beleeving loth imply two things thus:the firttis themeer want ofthepower of faith, and theabfence of ability to reft upon another; and to fetch theprincipleofgrace from another, neither the Lawnor the Gofpell, nor God himCelfe doth condemne theefor this : nay the Gofpell loth not require this, that a man thould have power of himfelfe to beleeve, nor God doth nor require it, but the promife breeds faith, and feeds faith, it begets faith, and conti- nues faith in the foules of all thole that have it and this is allthat God wouldhave, that the foule ofa poore firmer thould be contented to take ail from him, and bee under the Spirit, that would finablehim tobeleeve, and togoe tohim for that which maymake him beleeve that hee might be made ftrong in the power of the might ofJefus Chr;ft, as in thatplace ofthe Ephefians; the Gof- pell faith, thou art apoore mifera ble finner, here is mercy, only becontented that I thould worke upon thee for thy good, and convey mercie to thee ; fo that the bare want is not the caufe why God doth condemne a man; the Angels in hea- ven this day have not this laving faith, andyet there is no finn i:them : againe, betides the bare
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=