Ver. i. the Epi ftle to the Romans. but duty,and godly fubmillion to him that commands to beleeve in his Sonne. T i M. But how {hall we be able to know the preJurnptionoftbeflefb, from the afTa- rance offaitb,they be f, l¡i;e the one to the other ? S t L. By this marke, which the A- poftle himfeif gives tts,that fitch as have faith and be in Chrifi, walke after the Spirit, that is, by the Spirit they do mortifie the flefh,and the works thereof T t M. But tell as whether it may bee known who they are that are knit to Chrifi by faith? S i L. Yes, it may Purely be knowne though not to others, yet to themfelves, for otherwife this freedome and privi- ledge from condcnmation,could be no ground or matter at all ofany comfort. Secondly, the taking of an cleft foul out of Adam,and the corruption ofna- ture,to graff it into Chrift,is not fuch a flight worke, but that it may be known and perceived of him in whom it is wrought, being a perfon come to yeers and difcretion.For it is the opening the eyes of the blind, the quickning of the dead, the tranflating fromdarkneffe to light, the healing of the withered hand; and making of the lame to walke, the letting at liberty him that was in prifon. All which fhews this work to be both mighty and manifeft. T t M. Seeing youfly that bee that is in Chrifi by faith may know that he is fo , de- clare unto us by what means he may know it. S e L. By two means:Firft,every true beleever hath with his faith a gift and power from Gods Spirit , whereby he underflandeth and feeth his own faith, as one that fees or feels,or walks,knows infallibly that he doch thefe things.Be- frdes it is written, That by the Spirit we knew the things that are given us of God, t Cor, z. 12. Whereunto adde the ex- ample of the man ,Mark.g. 24. and of Paul, 2 Tim. i. i z. excepting the time of fome great falls,or ftrong temptati- ons,or the inf}ant ofa mans new birth, when this knowledge of a mans owne faith is not fo cleate. Secondly , every true beleever may know it by the proper and peculiar fruit of a true faith; to wit, by an holy and upright converfation , which is called here, the not walking after the flefh, but after the Spirit. For as the Sunne is perceived by his heat and light, and the goodneffe ofa tree is knowne by the fruit,and a living man by his motion, fpeech,and of ionssfo a beleeving Chri- iliau is difcerned to bee fetch a one, by his godly and religious rife. Therefore are we exhorted by Peter , to make our calling and elelion lure by good works, 2 Pet. I. ao. For howfoever faith goe alone in the apprehending Chrift,a nd in the matter ofour falvati- on by him, yet in our converfation it is not alone, but accompanied with good works, as tokens and lignes to make it known. Therefore Peeing a faithfull perfon cannot bee condemned and pe- ri(h, and every fetch one bath good means whereby to know his own faith. Hereupon it followes neceffarily., that every faithfull perfon may affuredly know he flail be Caved. T i M. Let us hear what profit and ufe we are to make of this troth. S s L. It Both conviet the Papifls, who teach , that the faithfull in this life can have no ordinary certainty of Gods grace,and their own falvation by their faith. For thus they write in the Rhemifh Teftament, that it is a moil damnable falfe illulion and prefumpti- on,to fay that a particular man can fay, that he is affttred infallibly that himfelf is juflified, and bath certain knowledg of his own predeftinationtthey allow a certain knowledge by fpeciall revelati- on and probable perfwafion by hope. T r M. What harm and inco*venience will follow this incertainty and doubting of falvationi S t L. The overthrow of all Chri- flianity and Religion.For except we be fare of grace and free love to us in Chrill for our falvation, wee cannot love him, nor hope in him, nor pray to him, nor obey him,nor be thankfull to him, nor do any other good work but in hypocrifle,i John 4.19.Rom.5.z, 3. r o.Secondly, this doarin of incertain- ty and doubting of falvation, {hakes the Y fufhciency
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