The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 460

—

XLI. Testimonies. "Without

faith it is impossible to

please God."

Heb.

xi. 6.

In order to prevent the possibility of being led into paths of error, faith is directed, not to a Christ of the imagination,

but to

"

the Christ

garments of the Sacred Scripture," as Calvin expresses it. And therefore we must discriminate between (i) faith as a faculty implanted in the soul without our knowledge (2) faith as Sk power whereby this implanted faculty begins to act; and (3) faith since with this faith (i) we hold the Sacred Scripture as a result, in the

;

—

for truth, (2) take refuge in Christ,

and

(3)

are firmly assured of

our salvation in inseparable love for Immanuel. To which must finally be added that this is the work of the Holy Spirit alone,

who (i)gave

faculty of faith

;

to manifest itself

us the Holy Scriptures; (2) implanted the caused this faculty to act (4) made this faith in the act; (5) thereby witnessed to our souls con-

(3)

;

cerning the Sacred Scriptures

;

(6)

enabled us to accept Immanuel

His treasures; and, lastly, made us find in the love of Immanuel the pledge of our salvation. Wholly different from this is the historical faith, which Brakel briefly describes as follows " Historical faith is thus called because it knows the history, the narrative, the description of the matters of faith in the Word, acknowledges them to be the truth, and then with

all

:

leaves

them alone

as matters that concern

it

no more than the

his-

one can not use them in his business, neither does it create any emotion in the soul, not even sufficiently to cause man to make a confession: Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well, the devils also believe and tremble (James ii. 19). King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou

tories of the

world

;

for

*

'

'

believest' (Acts xxvi. 27)."

Next comes temporary description:

"

faith, of

Temporary faith

is

which Brakel gives the following a knowledge of and a consent to

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