the Apostle plainely resolueth in the next words, saying: Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him: but for vs also, to whom it shall bee imputed, if wee beleeue on him, that raised vp Iesus our Lord from the dead, who was deliuered for our offences, and was raised againe for our iustification. If there∣fore Abraham had a speciall and particular faith, then euery true Beleeuer hath the like faith in him. But Abraham had a speciall and particular Faith: for, first he beleeued in God: secondly, hee beleeued in God especially concerning the pro∣mise, the substance whereof was Christ. This Faith was im∣puted to Abraham for righteousnesse. If it had not been Abra∣hams speciall Faith, how had it beene imputed to him for righteousnesse? It was Abrahams peculiar, proper, owne Faith, looking with open eyes vpon the promise of God (which promise was Christ, whose day Abraham, though a farre off, saw and reioyced) which was imputed to him for righteousnesse. Thus it is with euery true beleeuer, whose owne speciall, cleare, Chrystall-ey'd Faith, beholding and ap∣plying Gods promise in Christ, is particularly imputed to him for righteousnesse. This the Apostle concludes in generall, from the example and instance of Abraham, and makes it the common case of all true Beleeuers, saying, Rom 4. 5. To him that worketh not, but beleeueth on him that iustifieth the vngod∣ly, his Faith is counted for righteousnesse. This beeing so cleere a Conclusion, what neede we adde further testimonies? Christ himselfe said to Thomas, when he confessed, and said, My Lord, and my God: Thomas, because thou hast seene me, thou hast beleeued: blessed are they that haue not seene, and yet haue beleeued. Where note two things: first, Thomas his Faith in applying Christ to himselfe, saying, My Lord, and my God: and second∣ly, Christs deduction, shewing the same Faith to be in euery true beleeuer, the property of which Faith, is, to apply Christ to himselfe, as Thomas did, and to say with the voyce of faith, confessing Christ, in his death and resurrection, testified by those scarres in his sacred side, My Lord, and my God.
In a word, all those Creeds vsed in the Church from all an∣tiquity, do vnanimously, and with one ioynt consent, confirme