[An apology for the treatise, called A triall of faith. Concerning the precedency of repentance for sinne, before faith in Christ for pardon]

The Apology.

The consequence is naught, 1. because it takes for granted (which I deny) that a beleefe that God will be mercifull to a man in speciall, that is in particular to Iohn and William, is a sauing faith. This is false. 1. because this is but an assent to the truth of a proposition, such a beleefe is but an Historicall faith, and such a faith is not a sauing faith. 2. because such an assent cannot be faith, because it doth not rest vp∣on the authority of God, reuealing it in Scripture, for hee hath reuealeth no such thing, touching the saluation of any par∣ticular man but generally to all, but vpon this beleeuing in Christ.

Indeede it is reuealed that God will be

mercifull, in generall to mankinde, and in speciall to those of mankind, which be∣leeue in Christ, so that till they beleeue in Christ, they may not beleeue, or per∣swade themselues that God will be merci∣full to them in speciall.

Before sinners doe beleeue in Christ they may beleeue and perswade them∣selues it is possible for God to haue mercy on them, and that God will certainely be mercifull to them when they repent and beleeue in Christ, but before this they may not. For though exhortations to re∣pentance are founded commonly vpo•• the mercy of God in the Gospell: yet no•• vpon the Mercy of God already receiue•• by iustifying faith: but offered by God and to be receiued vpon Repentance, an•• faith in Christ; for the conditions must be performed before we may expect the ac∣complishing of the promise, and we mus•• feele in our selues by the reflexe of our ow•• conscience, that we do indeede hartily sor∣row for our past sins, and purpose vnfeined∣ly to leaue them, before we may rest o•• Christ or trust to him for saluation: fo•• till then wee are not persons well qua∣lified to receiue mercy, nor fit to trus•• in him for it, so as to bee sure to ob∣taine it certainely in the end: for though

the Scripture say, Repent for the King∣dome of Heauen is at hand, yet doth it not say repent for yee are all ready in the Kingdom of Heauen by a iustifying faith.

Secondly, the consequence is naught, because it prooues no more but that re∣pentance is not begunne till faith in Christ, and not that it is nor begun in time before it: for betwixt these two propositions there is great difference as hath bin wel obserued by them in their answer to my 3 argument.

The Assumption likewise is not true, 1. because a man may beginne to returne by illumination, for that is a turning of men from darkenesse to light, except they neede not repent of their ignorance and in∣fidelity. 2.* 1.1 because a man may begin to returne by a beleefe of that word that threatens the impenitent and for feare of punishment, he may also proceede further herein, by a beleefe of that word which promiseth mercy to the repentant, and in hope of pardon, but a man must beginne to returne before he beleeue that God will be mercifull to him in speciall, or else hee will neuer begin to returne, because there is no such speciall promise in the word, to be beleeued, as may appeare by this reason.

The beleefe that God will be mercifull to a man in speciall, must be either absolute

or conditionall. Absolute it cannot be, be∣cause no man can beleeue in this manner absolutely, but he to whom such mercy is absolutely promised. Now in the word there is mercy promised to none but vnder the condition of repentance and faith in Christ, nor is this mercy promised in spe∣ciall and particular, but in generall to all mankind, viz. which beleeue in Christ.

If it be not absolute, then is it cond••ti∣onall; if conditionall, then may not a sin∣ner beleeue, that God will be mercifull to him in speciall, till he haue performed the condition. And therefore for all this, their third reason is weake, and sinners may be∣ginne to repent in time before they be∣leeue in Christ.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Acts. 26 18.