A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written

That have Faith. Here is the Qualification. The definition and excellency of this Grace I refer a little further. Here that we may a little conceive the nature of it, we find it often called a Hand; and that for two reasons: 1. As the hand fastens hold upon the object, to which the heart directs it: so faith apprehends Christ with his blessed merits, whereby we are only saved. 2. As the hand is fittest for ⟨p. 14⟩operation, and doth execute that business which no other member of the body can. So faith worketh godliness, and produceth those effects which no other grace in the soul can. For this purpose it hath an Instrument, Galath. 5.6. Faith worketh by love. The hand can receive a gift of it self, but it cannot cut a piece of wood without an Instrument: but by the help of that it can divide or fashion it to pleasure. So Faith can receive Christ into the heart, that most excellent^h gift of God the Father: but for the duties of the Law, Faith of it self cannot produce them. Join love to it, and then it can: for Faith working by love performs all duties to God and man. Now of this Hand there be five fingers, which for methods sake we may order according to the letters.

That have Faith. Here is the Qualification. The definition and excellencie of this Grace I referre a little further. Here that we may a little conceive the nature of it, we finde it often called a Hand; and that for two reasons: 1. As the hand fastens hold upon the object, to which the heart directs it: so faith apprehends Christ with his blessed merits, whereby we are onely saved. 2. As the hand is fittest for ⟨p. 14⟩operation, and doth execute that businesse which no other member of the body can. So faith worketh godlinesse, and produceth those effects which no other grace in the soule can. For this purpose it hath an Instrument, Galath. 5.6. Faith worketh by love. The hand can receive a gift of it selfe, but it cannot cut a peece of wood without an Instrument: but by the helpe of that it can divide or fashion it to pleasure. So Faith can receive Christ into the heart, that most excellent^h gift of God the Father: but for the duties of the Law, Faith of it selfe cannot produce them. Ioyne love to it, and then it can: for Faith working by love performes all duties to God and man. Now of this Hand there be five fingers, which for methods sake we may order according to the letters.