Wilson - BS2663 W54 653

Vert. o;i i. the Epiftle to the Romans. z. Dot-J. !Reaon. lohn 174. John e.4o. Hphef. 3.,z T t M. What it the next dotïrine ? S 1 L. That the feat and fubje& of faith is not the mind alone,but the will alto, which is more fpecially fignified by heart,fltt.8.37.Epbef..3.17. For this confidence is at leaft a neceffary com- panion of faith, but confidence bath place in the heart , therefore faith lod- geth there alto. T', M. What ufe are re to make of this doctrine? S r L. It ferveth to teach, that un- to a lively faith, there is required a double work of the Spirit : Firft,to en- lighten tht minde, that it may certainly fee and afkent to the things written in the Gofpell. Of this firft worke it is, that faith is often in Scripture termed underflanding,and knowledge, and fee- ing. The other work is to bow the af- fe&ions that they embrace, and fully reff in that which the,nlindehath fully aflented unto. From this work , Faith in Scripture is termed trait, confidence, and affiance. Secondly, this do&rine ferveth to confute the Romanifs,which place Faith in the fupernall part of the toule onely, and will have it to be no- thing elfe but .the affent oftheminde to the will of God: whereas it is not writ- ten here, that with the underftanding, but with the heart man beleeveth to righteoutneffe. There may indeed be worthy knowledge and notable affent in the underftanding part, but it is the heart which beleeveth to juftification. Thirdly, here is an exhortation to all Chrillians (as they wil beaffured of this juftifying faith,) not to refs content I with a naked knowledge of the Got; pelf, or that in their mindes they have yeelded agreement and content to the truth ofit;but neerly to look unto this, whether Faith have taken hold of their will and affe &ions, to make them obe- dient to their illuminated tinderfand- ing,with fome meafure of peace and joy; and to refill all contrary thoughts and motions, with a loathing of them, be- ing ready to make confefhon of Chrift in our mouths. T 1 M. What it fignified hereby [confef lion of the mouth ?] 399 S i L. Not onely a plaine and cleare acknowledgement of Chrift, to be the onely Lord and Saviour of mankinde and of all that dchlrine which concerns his office, natures, perfon; and benefits : but the calling upon his name with trtill in him, as in our own Len el and Savi- our, as it is expounded in the t 3. verfe following, wherein vocation is put for confellìon. T 1 M. Wherefore k thk work of confef- fton added unto faith ? S i L. To diffinguiih and put diffe- rence between a dad and a lively faith, by a peculiar fruit of it. T r M. Tint_ why is this work izatned as the witneffe of faith, rather than any other work? S 1L. Fiat , becaufe it is eafilq Solution. gathered out of the trolls of Mfet before alledged in vale 8. where Mo es fpake of the mouth , and joined it! with'the heart. Secondly, becaufe it isa' principal! token of a true faith, when occaliion ferveth, fincerely to conféfle the doarine of Chrift, and to call upon his name faithfully ; which no hypo- crites can doe, for they draw neer with their lips onely, Matth. 15.8. But this confeffión which is a litre marke of faith, comes from faith as from the root of it. Thirdly, becaufe great pronyifes are made to this duty of con feflon, Match. ro.3a. And here falvation is promifèd to fuck as confeffe Chrift out of a lively faith. T 1 M. But 11 what fort and fenfe k fai- Doubt. vat ion annexed to con fetion ? S 1 L. Not as the effe& to his caufe, Soiuti.n. but as the way to the end ; for confeffu- cunfiffio on is but the way onely by which jufti- elf via qua fled perlons doe come to their 'pedal' a vvenátsr a bleffedneffe in heaven, which is here fig- sum. nifed by falvation, As the. higheff dc. Be., ,greeof our happineliê. Seeing righte- Note. oufneffe is'attribured to faith,and falva- don neceffarily follows righteoufneffe therefore faith is the only inffrumentall caute, whereby we be juffified and fa- ved ; and-not confcff on , svhs.h is but the path ónely wherein the godÿ are to walk to heaven, and a fruit of a faxing faith's, fo as vain is that Popilh note, M nl upon Doubt. y

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