Rome ruin'd by VVhite Hall, or, The papall crown demolisht

SECT. 8. Beleevers may be assured of faith and salvation.

Obj. THe assurance which Abraham had then, was a particular experimentall knowledge, that in that worke he had pleased God.

Ans. Abraham in this particular, was not only assured of Gods favour, but was undoubtedly perswaded of the promise in gene∣rall concerning the Messiah, as the Apostle saith, Neither did he doubt of the promises, but was strengthened in the faith, Rom. 4. 20. and this is that our Saviour saith, that Abraham desired to see his day, and saw it, and rejoyced, Joh. 8. 56. his assurance then which he had of Salvation in the Messiah, procured unto him this great joy.

Obi. Abraham knew that he was in the state of grace by speciall revelation.

Ans. This assurance that Abraham had, was not by any parti∣cular or extraordinary revelation, but by the proper and ordi∣nary operation of faith, as the Apostle saith, He was strengthe∣ned in the faith, Rom. 4. 20.

Obj. This revelation was made to the Patriarkes in the Old Testament, and the Apostles in the N••w; who was (as it were) the founders of the people of God.

Ans. Paul (in matters of faith) maketh no such diffence be∣twixt the Patriarkes and other beleevers, where he saith, Now it is not written for him only, that it was imputed to him for righte∣ousnesse, but also for us, &c. Rom. 4. 23. and he also saith, that a crown of righteousnesse was not only laid up for him, but for them also that love his appearance, 2 Tim. 4. 8. to whom then the same certainty of faith is decreed, the like assurance is not denyed.

Obi. All beleevers are not sure of their Justification, seeing Abraham had served God most faithfully before, and yet never till then, was assured of his Justification.

Ans. It followeth not (because Abraham was not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 assured of his Justification) that therefore every beleever cannot be justified at all; it doth only follow, that there was a time that Abraham had not such an assurance, for the dearest childe of God

(being naturally prone to sinne, as the sparkes to fly upwards) having committed some grievous offence, doth after the act (ma∣ny times) conceive in himself that he is the childe of perdition, or otherwise he could not have been so forsaken of God. In∣stance in David, who had the testimony of the Spirit of God, that he was a man after Gods owne heart, and yet we see after his sinne of Murder and Adultery, he conceiveth that God had forsaken him, and therefore desireth the comfort of his helpe againe, as though he had been utterly deprived of it; and yet at other times both before and after, he was fully assured of it, as the Scriptures doe plentifully make appeare; so likewise it is untrue, that Abraham had not this assurance untill he had offe∣red up Isaac, for the Apostle sheweth, that he had that assu∣rance, when faith was imputed to him for righteousnesse, Rom. 4. 22, 23. which was before he was circumcised, Gen. 15. 6.