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.

Solution.

The reason is not good; because the proofes thereof are unsound: for first, it is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not trve, that every proper effect and fruit of the Gospell followes faith: For the saving faith it selfe is a proper effect of the Gospell, yea, the most pro∣per fruit of it. Yet doth it not follow faith in Christ: for how can a thing fol∣low it selfe? Secondly, it is not true, that the Gospell hath no proper effect and fruit in men, till a saving faith bee wrought in them. For that is a proper effect and fruit of the Gospel, which the preaching of the Gospell onely workes in men. The preaching of the Gospell onely, workes in men a beliefe of the Gospell; and a beliefe of the Gospell is wrought in men, before a saving faith, or faith in Christ for salvation; because no man will ever trust in Christ for salvation, before he beleeve this for a truth, that if hee beleeve in Christ, he shall be saved by his faith.

I grant, the Gospell can have no pro∣per

effect or fruit at all in men, till by the preaching of it there bee wrought in men that saith, which is the beliefe of the Gospell: for as long as it is foolish∣nesse to them (which it is, till the truth thereof be beleeved) what effect can it haue?

And I confesse, that the preaching of the Gospell can have no proper ef∣fects or fruits in men unto salvation, untill a saving faith bee wrought in them; for if men dye before this bee wrought, it is not a beliefe of the Gospell, nor the beginnings of repen∣tance that can save them. But I deny, (and I have disprooved it,) that a sa∣ving faith is so the proper effect of the Gospell, that the preaching of it hath no effect at all in men, till a saving faith bee wrought, (for upon this lyes the whole strength of the reason, be∣cause hereby would they proove, that therefore the Gospell could have no power to begin the worke of repen∣tance, before a saving faith, because it hath no power to produce in men any proper effect or fruit, till a saving faith bee wrought in them, by the preaching thereof.) Wherefore this Obiection being as weake as the former, I will no

longer insist upon the disproofe of it, but proceed to the last.

Notes

• Rom. 10.14.
• 1. Cor. 1.23.