it sweetens afflictions, supporteth under them, teacheth to profit by them, beareth them meekly, expecteth deliverance, and triumpheth before the victory. It seeth things invisible, assureth above likelihood; sense or reason, allayeth perplexing thoughts and fears, and breaketh off temptations. It stayeth upon the word of promise, and is confident of things, to reason incredible, in nature impossible, ro sense direct contrary, because God hath said them. It preserveth from ill means, laboureth conscionably in the duties of our callings, yet without covetousness or distracting care; swalloweth the painfulness of honest labour, and obtaineth many temporal blessings and deliverances,1 yea and spiritual privileges for our selves, for our posterity, and for others. Faith preserveth from falling, raiseth us again being fallen, maketh courageous and hardy in the profession of the Gospel, even to the loss of goods, liberty, and death it self: it sweeteneth the communion of Saints, linketh the heart in love to them that fear God, laboureth the conversion of them that go astray, and the building forward of them that be called, and the comfort of them that be distressed in soul or body; maketh profitably to those that be without, worketh righteousness, obtaineth a good report, & wholly resigneth it self to the will of God. And to conclude, by faith we are certified of our election, are made wise unto salvation, do stand in grace, are assured of prosperous success in what we go about, do learn how to want and how to abound, and possess all things wh•n for the present we have nothing in hand: are enriched with many spiritual graces, are kept to our Heavenly ⟨p. 140⟩inheritance, and shall b•e glorified in the life to come. These be the sound, comfortable, enduring fruits of faith, in which respect who can but say, that faith is an excellent grace? a rich jewel, a pearl of price, the Christian mans treasure? Faith is a principal thing, the merchandise thereof is better then silver, and the fruits thereof then fine gold. Without faith there is no plenty to man on earth: with faith there can be no want of any thing that is good. For how can he lack any good thing, who hath God for his Father, Christ his Saviour, the holy Ghost his sealer and Comforter, the Angels to guard him, Heaven his inheritance:
it sweetens afflictions, supporteth vnder them, teacheth to profit by them, beareth them meekly, expecteth deliuerance, and triumpheth before the victorie. It seeth things inuisible, assureth aboue likelihood; sence or reason, allayeth perplexing thoughts and feares, and breaketh off temptations. It stayeth vpon the word of promise, and is confident of things, to reason incredible, in nature impossible, ro sence direct contrarie, because God hath said them. It preserueth from ill meanes, laboureth conscionably in the duties of our callings, yet without couetousnesse or distracting care; swalloweth the painfulnesse of honest labour, and obtaineth many temporall blessings and deliuerances,1 yea and spirituall priuiledges for our selues, for our prosterie, and for others. Faith preserueth from falling, raiseth vs againe being fallen, maketh couragious and hardie in the profession of the Gospell, euen to the losse of goods, libertie, and death it selfe: it sweeteneth the communion of Saints, linketh the heart in loue to them that feare God, laboureth the conuersion of them that goe astray, and the building forward of them that be called, and the comfort of them that be distressed in soule or body; maketh profitably to those that be without, worketh righteousnes, obtaineth a good report, & wholy resigneth it selfe to the will of God. And to conclude, by faith we are certified of our election, are made wise vnto saluation, doe stand in grace, are assured of prosperous successe in what wee goe about, doe learne how to want and how to abound, and possesse all things wh•n for the present we haue nothing in hand: are enriched with many spirituall graces, are kept to our Heauenly ⟨p. 140⟩inheritance, and shall b•e glorified in the life to come. These be the sound, comfortable, enduring fruits of faith, in which respect who can but say, that faith is an excellent grace? a rich iewell, a pearle of price, the Christian mans treasure? Faith is a principall thing, the merchandise thereof is better then siluer, and the fruites thereof then fine gold. Without faith there is no plentie to man on earth: with faith there can bee no want of any thing that is good. For how can hee lacke any good thing, who hath God for his Father, Christ his Sauiour, the holy Ghost his sealer and Comforter, the Angels to guard him, Heauen his inheritance:
- 1Dan. 6.•3. Jer. 39.18. Rom. 11.20. Rom. 10.10. 2. Cor. 4.13. 1. Tim. 3.13. Rom. 1.12. Psal. 16.3. Luk. 22.32.33. Jam. 5.15. Heb. 10.38.39. and 11 4.6.7.8.33.34. Colos. 2.7. 2. Thess. 2.13. Rom. 11.20. and 5.1.2. Psalm. 1.3. Isay 40.30.31. Phil. 4.11. 1. Pet. 15. Eph. 2.8. Rom. 4.13.14.Dan. 6.•3. Ier. 39.18. Rom. 11.20. Rom. 10.10. 2. Cor. 4.13. 1. Tim. 3.13. Rom. 1.12.
