Book I
The acts of faith in the understanding are a sight of Christ, a
discerning and knowledge of his excellencies, and a hearty assent to the truths of the gospel concerning him. That this mere assurance of the object, or a general assent to the truth of the promises, is not the act of faith justifying, but an application is necessary. What the acts of the will are, which are exercised on Christ in believing. . 257
BOOK II.
Of faith of assurance. That all justifying faith is not an assur ance of our personal interest in Christ. That yet assurance of salvation may be obtained. How assurance is caused by three witnesses in heaven, and three on earth, and of the difference of their testimony. The discoveries and mani festations which Christ makes of himself to the soul. Of joy in the Holy Ghost. Directions unto the faith of such who want assurance how to take in, and to make use of God s
eternal, electing love, in believing with comfort. . . 338
BOOK III.
Of the actings of faith in prayer. That we are not bound to pray with assurance of obtaining the very particular blessing which we ask. That God, neither in the revelation of him self and of his attributes, nor in his promises, hath obliged himself to give us the very particular blessing which we ask.
-That the essential acts of faith in praying do not neces
sarily require that we should have such a certain particular persuasion. How we are in prayer to act faith upon tem
poral promises, and how upon spiritual. . 420
PABT m-OF THE PEOPEETIES OF FAITH,
BOOK I.
Of the excellence and use of faith. That good works are not
slighted by exalting faith. Of the excellency of faith, in that
it gives all honour to God and Christ ; and that for this
CONTENTS. Vll
PAGE reason God hath appointed it to be the grace by which we
are saved. Of the excellency of faith, as it hath a general influence on all our graces. . . . . 459
BOOK II.
The difficulty of faith. That it is above all the powers and
faculties in man. That all which is in man is so far from
enabling him to believe, that it doth withstand his believing.
That faith is the work of the alone mighty power of God. 480