60. Indeed the bishop of _Rome_ saith, “If any man hold this, let him be an Anathema Maranatha.” But ’tis to be hoped, _Papal_ Anathemas do not move _you_. You are a member of the church of _England_. Are you? Then the controversy is at an end. Then hear the church. Faith is a sure trust which a man hath in God, that his sins are forgiven. Or if you are not, whether you hear our church or no, at least hear the scriptures. Hear believing _Job_, declaring his faith, _I know that my Redeemer liveth_. Hear _Thomas_, (when having seen, _he believed_) crying out, _My Lord and my God_! Hear St. _Paul_ clearly describing the nature of _his faith_, _The life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me_. Hear (to mention no more) all the believers who were with _Paul_, when he wrote to the _Colossians_, bearing witness, _We give thanks unto the Father, who_ hath delivered _us from the power of darkness, and_ hath translated _us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom_ we have _redemption thro’ his blood_, even the forgiveness of sins, Colossians i. verses 12, 13, 14.
61. But what need have we of distant witnesses? You have a witness in our own breast. For am I not speaking to one that loves God? How came you then to love him at first? Was it not, because you knew that he loved you? Did you, could you love God at all, ’till you tasted and saw that he was gracious? That he was merciful to you a sinner? What avails then controversy, or strife of words? Out of thy own mouth! You own, you had no love to God, ’till you was sensible of his love to you. And whatever expressions any sinner who loves God uses, to denote God’s love to him, you will always upon examination, find, that, they directly or indirectly imply forgiveness. Pardoning love is still at the root of all. He who was offended is now reconciled. The new song which God puts in every mouth, is always to that effect, O Lord, _I will praise thee: tho’ thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away. Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song: he is also become my salvation_, Isaiah xii. 1, 2.
62. A confidence then in a pardoning God, is essential to saving faith. The forgiveness of sins is one of the first of those unseen things, whereof faith is the evidence. And if you are sensible of this, will you quarrel with us concerning an indifferent circumstance of it? Will you think it an important objection that we assert, that this faith is usually given in a moment? First, let me intreat you to read over that authentic account of God’s dealings with men, the Acts of the apostles. In this treatise you will find, how he wrought from the beginning on those who received remission of sins by faith. And can you find one of these, (except perhaps St. _Paul_) who did not receive it in a moment? But abundance you find of those who did, besides _Cornelius_ and the three thousand, and to this also agrees the experience or those who now receive the heavenly gift. Three or four exceptions only have I found in the course of several years, (perhaps you yourself may be added to that number, and one or two more whom you have known.) But all the rest of those, who from time to time among us have believed in the Lord Jesus, were in a moment brought from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God.
63. And why should it seem a thing incredible to you, who have known the power of God unto salvation; (whether he hath wrought thus in your soul or no; _for there are diversities of operations, but the same Spirit_) that _the dead should hear the voice of the Son of God_, and in that moment live? Thus he useth to act, to shew that when he willeth, to do is present with him. _Let there be light_, said God, _and there was light. He spoke the word, and it was done. Thus the heavens and the earth were created, and all the hosts of them._ And this manner of acting in the present case, highly suits both his power and love. There is therefore no hindrance on God’s part; since _as his majesty is, so is his mercy_. And whatever hindrance there is on the part of man, when God speaketh, it is not. Only _ask_ then, O sinner, _and it shall be given thee_, even the faith that brings salvation: and that, without any merit or good work of thine; for _it is not of works, lest any man should boast_. No; it is of grace, of grace alone. For _unto him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted to him for righteousness_.