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…

¹§. 3. But to leave this mystery of Romish iniquity, and to return to the matter the authority of the Church is not the ground of Christian faith, but the holy Scriptures, and faith resteth not upon the Saints, but upon Jesus Christ. God and Christ is the object of confidence according to the Scripture. God as the author and parent of all good things, of whom are all things, and we in him: Christ as the only Mediator of God and Men, by whom are all things, and we by him: or by whom God bestoweth upon us all saving blessings, and by whom we come unto God. They are accursed, who make the arm of flesh their stay, and trust in man, in whom there is no help or power. The present faith of Believers hath the same object with the faith of Adam after his fall Abel, Abraham, Noah, David, the Virgin Mary, all the Patriarchs,² Prophets, and Apostles. For faith is one in object and kind, though different in number and degree. But the confidence of Adam, Abel, Noah, Abraham, ⟨p. 133⟩&c. was exercised about, or directed unto God in Christ, not set upon any Saint. Abraham and the rest, who lived before and under the Law, believed in the Messiah to come: The Apostles and all the faithful since, believe in Christ already come: But in nature the object of their faith is one and the same. Our Adversaries confess thus much; Bellarmine proves Christ to be God,³ because it is written of him, Blessed are they that put their trust in him: And the Scripture, saith he, teacheth every where, that we must put our trust in the true God alone.

¹§. 3. But to leaue this misterie of Romish iniquitie, and to returne to the matter the authoritie of the Church is not the ground of Christian faith, but the holy Scriptures, and faith resteth not vpon the Saints, but vpon Iesus Christ. God and Christ is the obiect of confidence according to the Scripture. God as the authour and parent of all good things, of whom are all things, and wee in him: Christ as the onely Mediatour of God and Men, by whom are all things, and we by him: or by whom God bestoweth vpon vs all sauing blessings, and by whom we come vnto God. They are accursed, who make the arme of flesh their stay, and trust in man, in whom there is no helpe or power. The present faith of Belieuers hath the same obiect with the faith of Adam after his fall Abel, Abraham, Noah, Dauid, the Virgin Marie, all the Patriarches,