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A Question.
Whether only relyance on Mercy justifies of it self?
Verily as for my part I am not, * 1.1 nor ever was the man that would be, prejudicial to another man's Opinion: I allow that every man should be persuaded in his own mind; I hinder it not. But if I am permitted freely to profess in a free Church, what my Opinion is, my reason leads me to think that this relyance on Mercy, and assurance of Salva∣tion promised, must be a thing very nearly joyned with Faith, and which every man ought to apply to himself; but then when it is most applied, it is not that which properly and ab∣solutely unloads us of our sins, and justifies us before God; but that there is some other thing proposed in Gospel, which by Nature should in some respect go before this assurance, and justifie us in the sight of God. For Faith in the person of the Son, which reconciles us to God, doth necessarily go before. And then relyance on most assured Mercy follows this Faith, con∣cerning which none of those that believe in Christ can doubt.
Objection. But you may say, What, doth not Mercy promised in Christ go before the voca∣tion of Faith? doth not the same Mercy freely justifie Believers? Moreover seeing the Pro∣mises