The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 434

— FAITH

394 and

sincerity of the faculty or habit from

altho no acts spring from

it,

which they spring

the true faith, from which acts would have sprung to

employ

;

so that,

as in deceased elect children, yet they possess if

they had been able

its

powers, not in an

their rational faculties.

"Moreover, the imparted faith develops instant, but gradually

and altho one

;

all

act does not appear as strongly

pronounced as another, this is no sign of insincerity but it is the sign that such act or acts are not apparent. E.g. the sense of taste can be perfect altho one never tasted sweetness, and to form an idea of sweetness is then impossible yet when sweetness is tasted the idea is not produced ;

,

;

by a new faculty to taste sweetness, but by a new object, which excites the faculty and produces the idea which was not possessed before. "The same is true of the inwrought faith with reference to the habit of faith it is imparted and perfected by the supernatural operation of the Holy Spirit in a moment, but it does not act until the soul becomes conscious of it. And this is why some men, who by reason of the bondage of fear of death all their lifetime were never assured of their state in Christ, could still be saved. However, we do not dwell upon this point we wish only to say that the answer describes the real nature and character of imparted/"<zzV^ as a faculty, whereby we receive the knowledge of all that God has revealed to us in His Word, and as a confidence that Christ and ;

;

His grace are freely given us of God.

"Hence

it is

evident

"First, that faith consists in a conviction or persuasion.

genus

of faith.

Faith, whether

conviction of the

When

mind

human

of the reality of the matter which

this is lacking there is

no

faith,

This

is

the

or divine, is impossible without a is

believed.

but only a guess, a fancy, or a sup-

position.

"Secondly that

this conviction or persuasion is the product or act, not

of faith as such, but of the testimony

which is so convincing and persuaThis is the nature of all persuasion the soul in order to be persuaded does not act, but merely receives the proofs of the matter in question, and becomes so deeply convinced that it is no longer at liberty either to reject or accept that conviction, but must ding that its truth can not be doubted.

;

yield itself with greatest willingness to the truth.

"Thirdly, that according to the degree of clearness wherewith the divine testimony, as with an argument, impresses the itnparted faith

concerning the matters of our lost estate and the way of salvation, the conviction of the truth or of the contents of the testimony shall be more or less firm and persuasive. "Lastly, that as faith

is

wrought by a testimony,

active by a testimony of God' s

Holy

spirit.

so

it is

also tnade

Word, rendered by an operation of the

Being therefore in the adult, the daughter of the Word

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