Divine considerations treating of those things which are most profitable, most necessary and most perfect in our Christian profession by John Valdesso.

CONSID. X.

In what regard the estate of a Christian that believes with difficulty, is better, then of that Person which believes with ease.

AMongst them which have the name of Chri∣stians, I do consider two sorts of men, the one extremely facil to believe in matters of Religion all that is told them; and the other extremely hard. And as I understand it, the facility of the one grows from superstition, and from little consideration; and the difficulty of the other in believing, grows from too much consideration.

The first on no cause call humane wisdome into counsell; and the second call it in all things: and so with difficulty they are brought to believe that which humane wisdome doth not approve.

The first, amongst some true things which they believe, believe many false; and it comes to passe that they give much more credit to the many false, then to the few true: The second, do not believe the false, and doubt of the true.

Considering further, I find that the first by the spirit of God, when it is communicated unto them, are certified of those true things which they believe, by which certification they go by little, and little, freeing themselves from deceit in false things, and so they leave them.

Moreover I find, that the second, by the same spirit of God, when it is communicated unto them, are certified in the true things, by which certification they fortifie themselves in believing the true things, and in not believing the false things, in such manner, that the holy holy spirit entring into two persons, one very easie to believe, and the other very difficult, it puts them in that estate, that the one combates with his own self, labouring to drive out of his mind those falsities, to which with much faci∣lity he had been perswaded; and the other combates with himself, labouring to certifie him∣self

in those true things, which he hath not been able to believe by the relation of men. Both these persons labour, but I hold for better the estate of the person, that is hard to believe, then of him that is easie, and that for three causes principally,

The first, because it is more easie to believe the truth, whereunto the holy spirit helps, and many other things help, then to unbelieve a lie, which superstition and many other things hin∣der from.

The second, because the person who is ea∣sie to believe, may with ease be deceived; and he that is hard, suffers himself hardly to be de∣ceived.

And the third, because the person that is ea∣sie to believe continueth a long time in errour, as they did in the primitive Church, that were converted from Judaisme to Christian Religi∣on: And he that is hard, remains free from all false opinion, in as much as he onely believes that which the holy spirit teacheth him.

Whereupon I resolve my self, that without any comparison that estate is better, in which the spirit of God puts the person hard to be∣lieve, when it begins to instruct him, then that estate in which it puts him who is easie to be∣lieve.

Together with this, I resolve my self,

that that which is believed without the instru∣ction of the spirit of God, alwayes consisteth more in opinion, then in faith, and is alwayes mingled with false and fained things.

Whereupon it may be understood, that when a person equally gives credit to all things that are said unto him, he is without the spirit of God; he believes by relation, humane perswa∣sion, and by opinion, and not by revelation, nor inspiration.

And it being true, that the blessednesse of a Christian man doth not consist in believing, but in believing by revela∣tion, and not by relation; it is concluded that that is not Christian faith which is by re∣lation, but onely that which is by revelation is the Christi∣an faith, and that which makes us blessed, and that which brings with it Charity, and Hope, and that which pu∣rifies the heart, and is that which in every thing is plea∣sing unto God: In this faith God make us rich by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Notes

• He often useth this man∣ner of speech, believing by Revelation, whereby I un∣derstand he meaneth onely the effectuall operation or illumination of the holy spirit, testifying, and apply∣ing the revealed truth of the Gospel; and not any private Enthusiasmes or re∣velations: as if he should say; a generall apprehensi∣on, or assent to the promi∣ses of the Gospel by hear∣say, or relation from others, is not that which filleth the heart with joy and peace in believing; but the spirits bearing witnesse with our spirit revealing and ap∣plying the generall promi∣ses to every one in particu∣lar, with such sincerity and efficacy, that it makes him godly, righteous, and sober all his life long; this I call believing by Revelation, and not by relation.