A treatise of faith divided into two parts. The first showing the nature, the…A treatise of faith diuided into two parts. The first shewing the nature, the…

§. 5. As faith requireth what God promiseth,¹ because God is faithful, & the promises of great worth and goodness: so it believeth the threatenings denounced in the Word, not barely apprehending them as true and certain, but also declining them as evil. For the whole Scripture breathed from God and every part thereof is Gods Word, of infallible truth, deserving absolute credit. God is as well just as merciful; faithful and true as well in his threats, as in his promises, and equally to be believed in both, so far as by his Word he hath assured us of both. He that believeth the one as he ought, believeth both: and he that believeth not bo h, gives sound credit to neither. Belief of the threatenings is necessary:² For whatsoever things are written (whether precepts, promises, threatenings, examples) are written for our learning: and as the promises of thi• life and the life to come are sharp spurs to quicken us unto godliness: so the threatenings are strong bridles to keep from naughtiness. Firm assent to the certain accomplishment of divine threatenings, •oth beget humiliation for sin past, and vigilancie to sh•nne sin and escape danger: it strengthens against base, carnal fears, and the threats of men that oppose the truth, and reviveth care to serve and please God at all t•mes and in all things. Wherefore do the terrors of men so much affright, but because sleight belief is given •o the threatenings of the Lord? The grace and mercy of God believed breeds love of God, and consequently •rue fear, which is opposed to senseless stupidity and ⟨p. 68⟩carnal presumption, though it casteth out fear which proceedeth from unbelief. But what need Believers fear the threatenings, seeing there is no condemnation or cause of fear to them that believe? The Apostle saith indeed there is no condemnation to such:³ but we cannot therefore conclude, that there is no cause of fear to them, unless no other evils, but final damnation need to be feared. But whilst the soul is subject to bring upon it Gods temporary wrath, sicknesses spiritual; hellish anguish to the sense of it, there is still cause enough to feae. Seeing that concerning temporal threats and punishments God dealeth as sharply,