Milton

¶1Effectum regenerationis alterum est SALVIFICA FIDES.

¶2Ea est DONO DEI INGENITA NOBIS PLENA PERSUASIO, QUA, PROPTER IPSAM PROMITTENTIS DEI AUCTORITATEM, CREDIMUS EA OMNIA ESSE NOSTRA QUÆ DEUS NOBIS IN CHRISTO PROMISIT; GRATIAM PRÆSERTIM VITÆ ÆTERNÆ.

¶3DONO DEI. Eph. ii. 8. gratia enim estis servati per fidem: et hoc non est ex vobis, sed donum Dei est: Philipp. i. 29. gratis datum est vobis in Christi negotio, non solum credere, sed—; a Patre videlicet per Filium et Spiritum. Matt. xi. 25. respondens Jesus dixit, gloriam tibi tribuo, Pater— quod hæc occultaveris—, et ea detexeris infantibus. et xvi. 16, 17. tu es Christus—: caro et sanguis hæc non detexit tibi, sed Pater—. Luc. xxii. 32. egò deprecatus sum pro te, ne deficiat fides tua. Joan. vi. 44, 45. nemo potest venire ad me, nisi Pater traxerit eum: quisquis audivit a Patre et didicit, venit ad me. 2 Thess. i. 11. ut vos dignetur ista vocatione Deus noster, ut compleat totum suæ bonitatis libitum et opus fidei potenter. Heb. xii. 2. intuentes in fidei ducem ac consummatorem Jesum. 1 Cor. xii. 3. neminem posse dicere Jesum Dominum, nisi per Spiritum Sanctum. et 2 Cor. iv. 13. quoniam habemus eundem Spiritum fidei. Gal. v. 22. fructus Spiritus est fides.

¶4PLENA PERSUASIO. Jer. xxxi. 34. quotquot erunt cognoscent me a minimo usque ad maximum eorum, dictum Jehovæ, me condonare iniquitatem ipsorum, et peccati eorum non recordari amplius. Joan. xvii. 3. p. 254hæc est vita æterna, ut cognoscant te esse illum solum verum Deum, et quem misisti, Jesum Christum. Rom. iv. 18, 19, 20, 21. qui Abrahamus contra spem, sub spe credidit fore—: ac plene persuasus est eum quod promiserat posse etiam efficere. et viii. 38. nam mihi persuasum est, neque mortem—. 1 Thess. i. 5. quoniam evangelium nostrum constitit apud vos non sermone solum, sed etiam potentia et Spiritu Sancto, et plena persuasione multa. 2 Tim. i. 12. novi cui crediderim; et mihi persuasum est eum posse—. Heb. x. 22. accedamus cum vero corde, et in plena persuasione fidei. Jacob. i. 6. postulet cum fide, nihil ambigens—. Heb. xi. 1. fides est substantia rerum speratarum, rerum demonstratio quæ non cernuntur: substantia autem intelligitur tam certa persuasio rerum speratarum perinde quasi jam non solum existerent sed etiam nobis adessent; Joan. viii. 56. Abrahamus gestivit videre diem istum meum, et vidit. Hinc fides implicita, quæ cæco assensu creditur, fides revera non est; nisi ad tempus duntaxat in neophytis et primo conversis, qui etiam ante credunt quam in disciplinam se tradunt; ut Samaritani, Joan. iv. 41. et archisynagogus cum familia, v. 53. et Raabba, Heb. xi. 3. et discipuli diu ante in Christum crediderunt quam articulos fidei multos accurate didicissent: et quicunque ad intelligendum hebetiores et prope indociles credunt tamen pro modulo suo atque ex fide vivere conantur, Deoque accepti sunt. Isa. xlii. 3. arundinem quassatam non franget, et ellychnium ipsum fumigans non extinguet. Marc. ix. 24. credo Domine; succurre incredulitati meæ. Fides etiam πεποίθεσις, id est, fiducia eodem sensu vocatur: 2 Cor. iii. 4. fiduciam habemus per Christum apud Deum. Eph. iii. 11, 12. in Christo Jesu, in quo habemus loquendi libertatem et aditum cum fiducia per fidem ipsius: ubi fiducia effectum potius aut gradus quidam fidei aut firma spes videtur, cum hic per fidem esse dicatur; aut hoc loco fides pro doctrina intelligenda est, quæ fiduciam illam pepererit. Joan. xvi. 33. confidite, ego vici mundum. Hinc tam in veteri quam in novo testamento ponuntur promiscue verba ista, confidere et credere. Psal. lxxviii. 22. quia non crediderunt in Deum, neque confisi erant in salute. Isa. x. 20. innitetur Jehova sancto Israelis in fide. Psal. xxxvii. 5. devolve super Jehovam viam tuam, et confide in eo. Jer. xvii. 7. benedictus vir ille qui fiduciam habet in Jehova, et cujus confidentia est Jehova. Matt. ix. 2. p. 255confide fili, remissa sunt tibi peccata tua. Quod autem theologi tres partes fidei vulgo faciunt, notitiam verbi, assensum, et persuasionem seu fiduciam, duæ priores temporariæ, quam vocant, vel etiam historicæ fidei communes sunt, et in persuasione plena continentur, vel eam potius antecedunt.

¶5PROPTER IPSAM PROMITTENTIS DEI AUCTORITATEM. Joan. xx. 29. beati qui non viderunt, et crediderunt. Rom. iv. 18. qui Abrahamus contra spem, sub spe credidit. et v. 21. plene persuasus, eum quod promiserat posse etiam efficere. 1 Cor. ii. 4, 5. neque sermo meus et præconium meum versatum est in persuasoriis humanæ sapientiæ verbis, sed in demonstratione spirituali et potente; ne fides vestra consistat in sapientia hominum, sed in potentia Dei. et 2 Cor. iv. 18. non spectantibus nobis ea quæ aspiciuntur, sed ea quæ non aspiciuntur. et v. 7. per fidem ambulamus, non per aspectum. 1 Thess. ii. 13. quod acceptum de Deo sermonem exceperitis non ut sermonem hominum, sed (sicut est vere) ut Dei sermonem—. Heb. xi. 7. per fidem divinitus admonitus Noe de iis quæ nondum videbantur. et v. 19. ratiocinatus Deum potentia præditum esse—. 1 Pet. i. 8. quem cum non videritis, diligitis; in quem nunc non videntes, tamen credentes exultatis. Tit. i. 2. promisit qui non mentitur Deus. Hinc fidei excellentia cernitur, quod summam det gloriam veracitatis et justitiæ Deo. Joan. iii. 33. qui recipit ejus testimonium, is obsignavit Deum veracem esse. Rom. iv. 20. corroboratus fuit fide, tributa gloria Deo. Eph. i. 12. ut nos simus laudi gloriæ ipsius, qui priores spem posuimus in Christo. 2 Thess. i. 10. ut admirandus fiat in credentibus omnibus. Heb. xi. 6. atque fieri non potest, ut absque fide quisquam Deo sit gratus; nam qui accedit ad Deum hunc credere oportet esse Deum, et præmia retribuere—. et v. 11. quod fidelem esse duxerat eum qui promiserat. 2 Pet. i. 1. æque pretiosam fidem nobiscum sortitis per justitiam Dei nostri, et servatoris Jesu Christi. Hinc toties a credentibus fidelis Deus dicitur; ut 1 Cor. i. 9. et x. 13. 2 Tim. ii. 13. ille tamen fidelis manet. 1 Joan. i. 9. fidelis est et justus ut remittat nobis peccata—.

¶6OMNIA. Act. xxiv. 14. ut qui credam omnibus quæ in lege et in prophetis scripta sunt. Rom. iv. 3. credidit autem Abrahamus Deo—. p. 256et v. 16. propterea ex fide est hæreditas, ut firma sit promissio. 1 Joan. v. 14. hæc est fiducia quam habemus apud Deum, ipsum si quid petierimus secundum voluntatem ejus nos audire.

¶7ESSE NOSTRA; id est, qui credimus. Joan. i. 12. quotquot eum receperunt, dedit iis—, iis qui credunt. et xvii. 20. non tantum pro istis rogo, sed et pro iis qui per sermonem eorum credituri sunt in me. 1 Cor. iii. 22, 23. omnia vestra sunt; vos autem Christi, Christus vero Dei est. Gal. ii. 20. vitam quam nunc vivo in carne, vivo per fidem illam Filii Dei, qui dilexit me, et tradidit semetipsum pro me.

¶8IN CHRISTO. Joan. vi. 29. hoc illud est opus Dei, ut credatis in eum quem ille misit. et xiv. 1. creditis in Deum? etiam in me credite. 1 Joan. iii. 23. hoc est præceptum ejus, ut credamus nomini Filii ejus Jesu Christi. Rom. x. 9. si professus fueris ore tuo Dominum Jesum, et credideris in corde tuo quod Deus eum suscitavit ex mortuis, servaberis. 2 Cor. iii. 4. fiduciam hujusmodi habemus per Christum apud Deum. Gal. iii. 22. ut promissio ex fide Jesu Christi daretur credentibus. et v. 26. per fidem in Christo Jesu. 1 Pet. i. 21. per eum credentes in Deum—; ut fides ac spes vestra sit in Deo. Heb. vii. 25. servare perfecte potest eos, qui per ipsum accedunt ad Deum. Joan. xii. 44. qui credit in me non credit in me, sed in eum qui misit me. Hinc efficitur, quod supra ostendimus cap. v. objectum fidei ultimum non esse Christum mediatorem, sed Deum Patrem; id quod fatentur theologi scripturæ luce convicti. Hinc etiam est ut mirum non videatur, multos ex Judæis, immo ex aliis gentibus qui ante, immo etiam post Christum sibi nunquam revelatum in Deum solum crediderunt aut credunt, salvos esse; in Christo tamen; is enim datus est ab initio mundi, et mactatus; etiam iis quibus notus non erat modo in Deum Patrem credentibus. Hinc illi sub lege illustres viri, Heb. xi, veræ fidei testimonio ornati cum in Deum duntaxat credidisse dicantur; Abel, Enoch, Noe, &c.

¶9GRATIAM PRÆSERTIM VITÆ ÆTERNÆ. Marc. i. 25. resipiscite, et credite evangelio. Joan. iii. 15. ut quisquis credit in eum, non pereat, sed p. 257habeat vitam æternam. et v. 18. qui credit in eum, non condemnatur; qui vero non credit, jam—; hæc autem loca de iis intelligenda sunt, quibus Christus revelatur: nam credere in eum de quo quis nunquam audivit, plane impossibile est. Rom. x. 14. Sic Joan. vi. 47. qui credit in me, habet vitam æternam. 2 Thess. ii. 13. quod elegerit vos Deus ab initio ad salutem per sanctificationem Spiritus et fidem habitam veritati. Heb. x. 39. qui credamus ad animæ salutem. 1 Pet. i. 9. reportantes mercedem fidei vestræ, salutem animarum. 1 Joan. v. 13. hæc scripsi vobis qui creditis in nomen Filii Dei, ut sciatis vos vitam æternam habere.

¶10Cum autem fides receptio quædam Dei et accessio ad Deum sit, Joan. i. 12. quotquot receperunt eum, dedit iis—, iis qui credunt in nomen ejus, et vi. 35. qui venit ad me—, et qui credit in me—. Eph. ii. 18. quoniam utrique per ipsum habemus aditum per unum Spiritum ad Patrem. et iii. 12. in quo habemus loquendi libertatem et aditum cum fiducia per fidem ipsius. Heb. vii. 25. servare perfecte potest eos qui per ipsum accedunt ad Deum. et x. 22. accedamus cum vero corde; cumque prius sit Deum recte nosse quam Deum recipere aut ad eum accedere (credidisse enim oportet qui accedit ad Deum quod ipse est, et quærentibus ipsum remunerator existit, cap. xi. 6.) hinc sequitur, fidem ex vera Dei notitia, principio licet imperfecta nasci, et in bonum ferri; adeoque non in intellectu proprie, sed in voluntate esse sitam.

¶11Ex fide spes oritur; certissima nempe rerum earum expectatio futurarum quæ in Christo jam nostræ per fidem sunt. Rom. iv. 18, 19. sub spe credidit, fore—. et viii. 24, 25. spe servati sumus: spes autem si videatur, non est spes; quod enim quis videt, cur speret? si vero quod non videmus, speramus, per tolerantiam expectamus. et xv. 13. utinam vero Deus spei impleat vos omni gaudio et pace credendo, ut spe abundetis per virtutem Spiritus Sancti. Gal. v. 5. nos enim Spiritu ex fide spem justitiæ expectamus. Heb. x. 23. retinens professionem spei, non vacillantem. 1 Pet. i. 3. regenuit nos in spem vivam per resurrectionem. p. 258et v. 13. sperate in eam quæ vobis defertur gratiam, quum revelabitur Jesus Christus. et v. 21. ut fides ac spes vestra sit in Deo. Heb. vi. 11. cupimus ut unusquisque vestrum idem studium ad finem usque ostendat, ad certam spei persuasionem. Differt spes a fide ut effectum a causa; deinde objecto, fides enim versatur in promissione, spes in rebus promissis.

¶1The other effect of regeneration is SAVING FAITH.

¶2SAVING FAITH is A FULL PERSUASION OPERATED IN US THROUGH THE GIFT OF GOD, WHEREBY WE BELIEVE, ON THE SOLE AUTHORITY OF THE PROMISE ITSELF, THAT ALL THINGS ARE OURS WHATSOEVER HE HAS PROMISED US IN CHRIST, AND ESPECIALLY THE GRACE OF ETERNAL LIFE.

¶3THROUGH THE GIFT OF GOD. Eph. ii. 8. by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Philipp. i. 29. unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; given, that is, by the Father, through the Son and the Spirit. Matt. xi. 25. at that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father ...... because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. xvi. 16, 17. thou art Christ ...... flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. Luke xxii. 32. I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not. John vi. 44, 45. no man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him ...... every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 2 Thess. i. 11. that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power. Heb. xii. 2. looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. 1 Cor. xii. 3. no man can say that p. 354Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 2 Cor. iv. 13. we having the same spirit of faith. Gal. v. 22. the fruit of the Spirit is faith.

¶4A FULL PERSUASION. Jer. xxxi. 34. they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith Jehovah: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. John xvii. 3. this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. Rom. iv. 18—21. who against hope believed in hope ...... and being fully persuaded, that what he had promised, he was able also to perform. viii. 38. I am persuaded that neither death—. 1 Thess. i. 5. our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance. 2 Tim. i. 12. I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him. Heb. x. 22. let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. James i. 6. let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. Heb. xi. 1. faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen; where by substance is understood as certain a persuasion of things hoped for, as if they were not only existing, but actually present. John viii. 56. your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it. Hence implicit faith, which sees not the objects of hope, but yields belief with a blind assent, cannot possibly be genuine faith, except in the case of novices or first converts, whose faith must necessarily be for a time implicit, inasmuch as they believe even before they have entered upon a course of instruction. Such was that of the Samaritans, John iv. 41. of the nobleman and his family, v. 53. of Rahab, Heb. xi. 31. and of the disciples, who believed in Christ long before they were accurately acquainted with many of the articles of faith. Those also belong to this class, who are slow of understanding and inapt to learn, but who nevertheless, believing according to the measure of their knowledge, and striving to live by faith, are acceptable to God. Isai. xlii. 3. a bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench. Mark ix. 24. Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief. Faith is also called πεποίθεσις, or trust, with the same meaning. 2 Cor. iii. 4. p. 355such trust have we through Christ to God-ward. Eph. iii. 11, 12. in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him; where however trust or confidence seems rather to be a particular effect or degree of faith, or a firm hope, than faith itself, inasmuch as it is said to come by faith: or perhaps by faith in this passage we are to understand the doctrine on which this confidence is founded. John xvi. 33. be of good cheer (confidite), I have overcome the world. Hence to trust and to believe are indiscriminately used in the same sense, both in the Old and New Testament. Psal. lxxviii. 22. because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation. Isai. x. 20. it shall stay upon Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, in truth (fide). Psal. xxxvii. 5. commit thy way unto Jehovah, trust also in him. Jer. xvii. 7. blessed is the man that trusteth in Jehovah, and whose hope Jehovah is. Matt. ix. 2. Son, be of good cheer (confide); thy sins be forgiven thee. As to the three divisions into which faith is commonly distinguished by divines, knowledge of the word, assent, and persuasion or trust, the two former equally belong to temporary, and even to historical faith, and both are comprehended in, or, more properly, precede a full persuasion.

¶5ON THE SOLE AUTHORITY OF HIS PROMISE. John xx. 29. blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. Rom. iv. 18. who against hope believed in hope. v. 21. being fully persuaded, that what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 1 Cor. ii. 4, 5. my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 2 Cor. iv. 18. while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. v. 7. we walk by faith, not by sight. 1 Thess. ii. 13. when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God. Heb. xi. 7. by faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet. v. 19. accounting that God was able to raise him up. 1 Pet. i. 8. whom having not seen, ye love; in whom though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye p. 356rejoice. Tit. i. 2. which God, that cannot lie, promised. Herein is manifested the excellence of faith, inasmuch as it gives to God the highest glory of righteousness and truth. John iii. 33. he that hath received his testimony, hath set to his seal that God is true. Rom. iv. 20. he was strong in faith, giving glory to God. Eph. i. 12. that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 2 Thess. i. 10. when he shall come to be admired in all them that believe. Heb. xi. 6. without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. v. 11. because she judged him faithful who had promised. 2 Pet. i. 1. to them that have obtained like precious faith with us, through the righteousness of God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Hence the title of faithful is frequently applied to God by believers. 1 Cor. i. 9. x. 13. 2 Tim. ii. 13. he abideth faithful. 1 John i. 9. he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.

¶6WHATSOEVER HE HAS PROMISED. Acts xxiv. 14. believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets. Rom. iv. 3. Abraham believed God. v. 16. therefore it is of faith ...... to the end the promise might be sure. 1 John v. 14. this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us.

¶7OURS; that is, ours who believe. John i. 12. as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in his name. xvii. 20. neither pray I for these alone, but for them also that shall believe on me through their word. 1 Cor. iii. 22, 23. all are your's, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's. Gal. ii. 20. the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

¶8IN CHRIST. John vi. 29. this is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. xiv. 1. ye believe in God; believe also in me. 1 John iii. 23. this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ. Rom. x. 9. if thou shalt confess with thy p. 357mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 2 Cor. iii. 4. such trust have we through Christ to God-ward. Gal. iii. 22. that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. v. 26. by faith in Jesus Christ. 1 Pet. i. 21. who by him do believe in God ...... that your faith and hope might be in God. Heb. vii. 25. wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him. John xii. 44. he that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. Hence, as was shown in the fifth chapter, the ultimate object of faith is not Christ the Mediator, but God the Father; a truth, which the weight of scripture evidence has compelled divines to acknowledge. For the same reason it ought not to appear wonderful if many, both Jews and others, who lived before Christ, and many also who have lived since his time, but to whom he has never been revealed, should be saved by faith in God alone; still however through the sole merits of Christ, inasmuch as he was given and slain from the beginning of the world, even for those to whom he was not known, provided they believed in God the Father. Hence honourable testimony is borne to the faith of the illustrious patriarchs who lived under the law, Abel, Enoch, Noah, &c. though it is expressly stated that they believed only in God, Heb. xi.

¶9ESPECIALLY THE GRACE OF ETERNAL LIFE. Mark i. 15. repent ye, and believe the gospel. John iii. 15. that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. v. 18. he that believeth on him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already. These passages are to be understood of those to whom Christ has been revealed; for to believe in one of whom we have never heard, is evidently impossible. Rom. x. 14. So also John vi. 47. he that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 2 Thess. ii. 13. because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth. Heb. x. 39. of them that believe to the saving of the soul. 1 Pet. i. 9. receiving the end of your faith, even the salp. 358vation of your souls. 1 John v. 13. these things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life.

¶10Seeing, however, that faith necessarily includes a receiving of God, and coming to him, John i. 12. as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name; vi. 35. he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth in me shall never thirst; Eph. ii. 18. through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father; iii. 12. in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him; Heb. vii. 25. he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him; x. 22. let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith; seeing also that we must have a right knowledge of God before we can receive him or come to him, for he that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him, xi. 6. it follows, that the source from which faith originally springs, and whence it proceeds onward in its progress to good, is a genuine, though possibly in the first instance imperfect, knowledge of God; so that, properly speaking, the seat of faith is not in the understanding, but in the will.

¶11From faith arises hope, that is, a most assured expectation through faith of those future things which are already ours in Christ. Rom. iv. 18, 19. who against hope believed in hope, &c. viii. 24, 25. we are saved by hope; but hope that is seen is not hope, for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? but if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. xv. 13. now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Gal. v. 5. for we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. Heb. x. 23. let us hold fast the possession of our faith without wavering. 1 Pet. i. 3. who hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection. v. 13. hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the p. 359revelation of Jesus Christ. v. 21. that your faith and hope might be in God. Heb. vi. 11. we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end. Hope differs from faith, as the effect from the cause; it differs from it likewise in its object: for the object of faith is the promise; that of hope, the thing promised.