A tryall of faith by the touch-stone of the Gospel, the word of faith. Whereby Christians may discerne whether or no, they have a saving faith. First preached in the parish church of St Nic. Col. Abby London, by William Chibald pastor there; and now published for the further benefit of that his congregation, and all other that confesse with their mouth the Lord Iesus, and with their heart beleeve on him vnto salvation.

THE SECOND RULE.

CHAP. V. Whether doest thou un∣derstand the use, and end of faith in Christ?

I Will be briefer in the handling of this second Rule, then I was in the first, because it wil not need so long a Discourse; and the rather, for that the former will give light to the latter. For those words of the Definition, (whereby a sinner trusts in Christ for spiritual and eternall blessednesse) doe evidently shew, that the end of faith, is to bring us unto salvation, and perfect blessed∣nesse; in which respect the Divines ge∣nerally with one consent, call it a sa∣ving faith.

Howbeit, because it will not happely so clearely be discerned of all; therefore for the making of it plainer, I will han∣dle

the point in a distinct Rule, and I will handle it thus: First, by shewing how needfull it is to enquire after this point. Secondly, by declaring, that it is possible for us, by inquiry to find, whether wee understand the point or no. And thirdly, by making it manifest, that it will be profitable, by enquiry to find out, whether we understand, what the use and end is of a saving faith.

1. It will bee needfull to enquire, whether wee understand the end and use of a saving faith, because else, wee cannot tell directly, whether we under∣stand it or no; for without this tryall we may mistake it, and thinke it was appointed for some other use and end, then indeed it was; by reason, wee are by nature not onely ignorant of these spirituall graces, but also well enough content to be nouzled up in the igno∣rance of them. For wee may imagine with the Iewes, that the use of our faith is onely to procure us temporall bles∣sings, as they beleeved in the Messiah for a temporall kingdome onely.

To the end therefore, that wee may know, whether we understand it or no; and accordingly be affected with it, it is needful that we make enquirie, whe∣ther

we know the use and end of it to be this, namely, to save our soules; that is, to procure unto them forgivenesse of sinnes, and eternall life in heaven, (con∣cerning the manner whereof, and how it saves us, and is a meanes to that end, shall bee considered in the next Rule, God willing) onely in this place I thought good to speake of the use, and end of it, in generall.

2. But although it bee needfull to search for the understanding of this point; yet if it were impossible by search to find it out, we were never the neerer; therefore will I make it plaine, that by inquiry we may find it out. For if we search the Scriptures, (particular∣ly those that speake of the Gospell, or the Covenant of grace) they will evi∣dently shew, this to be the end thereof; as shall appeare by the good things pro∣mised unto it. For unto faith in Christ, (that is) to them that trust in him, is promised, that they shall not perish,* 1.1 but have everlasting life; that they are transla∣ted from death to life;* 1.2 that they shall ob∣taine remission of sinnes, and be iustified from all things, from which they could not be iusti∣fied by the Law of Moses:* 1.3 which the Apo∣stle Peter also doth plainely shew, where

speaking of the true faithfull, hee saith, they shall receive the end of their faith, which is the salvation of their soules.* 1.4 So that by these and the like places of Scripture, if we commune with our owne hearts, and aske our consciences concerning these promises, we may easily tell, whe∣ther we know the right use and end of a saving faith, or faith in Christ.

3. But though it were easie for us, to find out the use and end of faith in Christ, and whether we know, and un∣derstand it or no, yet if this were not profitable for us, we should have little encouragement to go about this exami∣nation. It is therefore fit to shew the profit of this examination, which con∣sists in this; that knowing by the Scrip∣tures the excellent use and end of it, we may labour to get it, if we have it not, or to increase it, and strengthen it, if we have it; yea to use and exercise it every day, by beleeving in Christ, for the pardon of the sinnes of every day, in faith craving pardon of them.

* 1.5For as in Playsters and medicinal Re∣ceipts, though wee have those that bee never so good, for speciall purposes, in their severall kinds; yet if we know not their severall uses and ends, and the

sicknesses, or sores, to which they are properly to be applied; wee shall have little heart to use them, and therefore they will doe us no good at all, nor any other; nay, they may doe much hurt when they are misapplyed: whereas on the other side, when we have a Plai∣ster or Medicine, that we know is good for such a disease, or sore, we will wil∣lingly use it in our need, because wee know the right use of it, and so it be∣comes profitable unto us. Even so, if we know not the good that will come unto us by a saving faith, (as we cannot, except we understand the right use and end thereof) we will never care to get it. But after the knowledge thereof, we shall be careful to use it, for that end to heale our leprous, and diseased soules, that have beene stung of Satan, even unto death.

Now then, good Reader, try & examin thy selfe, whether thou knowest this to be the end of faith in Christ or no; and if thou find thou didst not know it, then be ashamed of thy ignorance, iust∣ly fearing that as yet thou hast not be∣leeved in Christ: for will a man beleeve in Christ to no end? or can hee beleeve in Christ to any purpose, if not to bee

saved by him? No, no, it is impossible: wherefore being ashamed of thy former ignorance and infidelitie, redeeme the time, and now learne the right and true use, and end of it. Thou mayest know it, if thou wilt search; for God hath re∣vealed it in his Word: it will be need∣full for thee to enquire, because with∣out it, thou canst not tell, whether thou understand it or no, and it will be profi∣table for thee to know the right use and end of it; because hereby thou knowing the excellencie thereof, thou shalt be mooved by Gods grace, both to labour in the use of the meanes to get it, as also to increase it, for thy unspeak∣able comfort and salvation: for what will all the world profit thee, if thou beest not saved?* 1.6 how canst thou be sa∣ved without Christ? how can Christ save thee, if thou have no faith? and how canst thou get faith, if thou doest not know the right use and end of it, namely, the benefit thou shalt receive by thy beleeving in Christ, which is the end of thy faith, even the salvation of thy soule?

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ioh. 3.16. Ioh. 5.24.
• * 1.2

  Act. 10.43.
• * 1.3

  Act. 13.39.
• * 1.4

  1. Pet. 1.5.9.
• * 1.5

  Simil.
• * 1.6

  Matth. 16.26.